Chapter Text
Damian had suddenly changed, Bruce noted. It's like turning eighteen transformed him. He began to wear softer and more colorful clothes compared to the past, it was softer in his acting, calmer, more smiling. He thought of many possibilities, a clone, mind control, a shapeshifter, among other ways that this was not his son. He analyzes the options, collects hair, analyzes it in the cave trying to discard.
Perfect compatibility, he was not a clone or a shapeshifter, no copy is perfect, there is always a small trace, but there is nothing.
I walk the halls of the mansion's rooms at a steady pace, looking outside, the sun sinking below the horizon, casting an orange hue to the sky that you could see even with Gotham's smog. Patrol time was drawing near, but Damian's metamorphosis was still high on his mind, mind control was still on the table as a possibility.
Faster way, now heading to his office to access the cave, he opened the door and ran to the clock, moved the hands of the clock and the hidden elevator opened, he entered and the hatch closed. As he went down he pondered some more, if it was mind control he would have to be a very good one with bad direction or a very bad one with good information, neither seemed less bad to him. He was very good at playing Damien in key moments, like missions, patrols and cases, but bad at acting on a personal level as his son, you saw him act friendly to Jason of all people, in a situation where before he was throw at the neck with weapons in hand. He had past information in family terms, things he knows others don't like, allergies, interests, past conversations not related to cases or patrols.
Something was wrong. Either they were being watched by some dumb but very cunning people, or they were just trying to show that they didn't care about being found out, and with the information they had about us, that theory didn't seem so far-fetched.
The elevator rattled and the hatch opened, the first thing he heard further down the cave was a shouting argument.
I'm going fast is his direction, although not desperate, still no weapons or metal clashes, so it shouldn't be something too serious that can't be fixed with a mediator.
"Drake, you insipid idiot, your brain doesn't allow reason, you can't think?!"
This one looks more like Damián, but not completely, that hint of malice is missing, he seems more frustrated than angry, his posture does not show an index of taking up arms.
"You changed! And not in a normal way! What are you planning?! Are you going to try something against me or against the others?"
Tim had his cane and seemed ready to attack, this scene is almost a reversal of his personalities.
"It's like overnight it's not you anymore, you're not a clone or a shapeshifter, I checked! Subtle mind control is not an option for you, I've seen you fight every little step, we would realize that they control you. But that's not happening, so it just means you want us to let our guard down for something! Acting nice and smooth, what are you planning?!
I stopped approaching, this confrontation, though impulsive, is at least a clue, so I stay in a corner more engulfed by the shadows, long enough to listen and act if necessary.
"What can't I change?! I have to stay with that 10-year-old boy you knew forever, just so you can feel better about me being around you? Do you know what to expect?!" The arms of him making exaggerated gestures, something he hadn't done before
"Know that I despise you, and because of that I can't be completely accepted in this family?! Do you want me away that much?!" Damián's face begins to turn red
"I'm so unreliable, you know me so little, so that, for behaving better, they treat me like this? So suspicious?!" This is almost unheard of, Damian's voice cracks and his eyes from this angle and light look a little wet, like he's about to cry in frustration.
"Wasn't it enough for you to make that blacklist, that file of people to eliminate, which included me?!"
Tim did that? How did you not know?
“He was 11 years old! You know my grandfather, now think about it, having been raised under his teaching, not knowing anything else, I thought it was normal, I thought killing was normal… ”
"But you- "
"Me what?! I learned what true justice is, what is right, what is moral, I worked hard to change a decade of teaching for this family, and when I finally change it, they only treat me with suspicion!" Damián was now openly crying with a sad and frustrated face, he was not angry, and that managed to scare me enough to leave.
Don't just be a mediator. Searching for mind control clues can be done at the same time as calming down my youngest son, the possibility can't be ruled out yet, but it can be combined with appeasing Damian. I can't be direct in my way of calming him down, otherwise he won't accept it. I come out of the shadows.
"Tim! Come here and check Ivy's case files, we need them before we go, Damian, come with me, we need to plan an effective way to counter the new toxin she created" I head to the locker room and don't look back knowing that they would comply with the order and believing that Damián would not appreciate being seen with reddened eyes full of tears. He just needed to give his son something else to think about.
***
They don't trust me.
I thought as I took off Robin's uniform that burned on her skin, I saw Drake continually looking over her shoulder from across the dressing room.
Seven years have passed and they still don't know me.
They still can't turn their backs on me without looking over his shoulder.
It is no longer anger or hatred that he feels in the face of this continuous general distrust in the family, it is frustration and sadness.
He finishes taking off his suit and leaves it on the bench, opens his pseudo locker that contains his school uniform, thinking about putting it on one more time makes his skin itch in the most disgusting way possible, but he puts it on, not willing to go upstairs. almost naked even if Drake's continued surveillance got on his nerves.
He finishes putting on his shoes, which hurt like a bitch, takes Robin's suit, throws it in the clothes hamper, starts to walk out of the locker room with the intention of going to the elevator as fast as he can, in order to return to his room. and put on any of his new clothes.
He could feel their eyes following him as he left.
Ridiculous.
He had no heart to think of anything else. They were all stupid, ridiculous and made him sad.
He reached the elevator and entered. He could still feel the sensitive rim of his eyes, surely no longer red after all the cold Gotham air. He pulled his phone out of his uniform pocket and looked at himself with the camera.
Indeed they were no longer red, but they were an irritated pink color that stands out even more, even with the cell phone in hand he closed his eyes.
His father, before leaving for the patrol, looked him in the eye for a second before turning his gaze in Drake's direction and giving them instructions. He didn't ask, didn't look at him, offered no compassion or calm, just instructions and plans of action, didn't even admonish Drake for what he clearly heard. He did not offer even a guarantee of his confidence. He wanted to cry more.
What a mess..
The elevator rattled and he opened his eyes, he was already in his father's office. There was no one there, he went out and the secret entrance was closed. The room was dark, his skin burned, and he was alone. He clenched his fists and the nails digging into his flesh made the pain of his skin split between her hands and the rest of his body.
He was having a panic attack over nothing. What the hell happened to him?!
brrr brrrr
His cell phone vibrated in his still clenched left hand.
He opened eyes that he hadn't realized had closed again. He relaxed his hand noticing the slight crescent marks of his nails and the shape of her cell phone case stamped on his skin. He took a long breath and unlocked it.
Message from Danny
: Hey I know it's late and you probably won't see this until after the patrol but I was here arguing with the tailors about the dress for the ceremony and you know….
I know I've given you a lot of presents this week and you told me to stop.
But I saw these silks, ask for more to be brought and they were so soft they wouldn't bother you and I knew a dress shirt for you would be perfect, because you're always so elegant. Sooooooo
Which color do you want?
His breath calmed down, his muscles loosened second by second and he stopped lending his fists, a soft smile settled on his face where before there was a face of panic. He began to write as he left his father's office.
: What color will you use in the ceremony?
A flurry of quick messages arrived.
Danny: oh! Reply fast.
OKAY.
Hmm
I will use the purple
They're still a bit old-fashioned here haha
You know what they said about purple
Color of the kings 🤴
How rare it was to get the color and that's why they only used it jada jada
Although with my eyes being green and my hair white surely and the purple suit
I think I'll seem
A strange purple onion haha
or as Ra's
Ancients, how horrible!
I don't want to look all crazy or megalomaniacal!
A confused giggle escaped him as he opened the door to his room.
: I don't think, that you look like an onion, your ridiculous. And you're way out of age to look like my grandfather, you fool.
I want my new dress shirt that you kindly offer to be the same color.
So let's combine...
And I'll be able to accompany you to the ceremony.
Another small laugh came from him, reading the frantic but soft reply.
Danny: sure!
Yes!
I mean..
If you have time?
obviously you can come
Having you by my side would give me a lot of confidence
ONLY IF YOU WANT!
next to me obviously!
HAHA
Uh
I would love for us to combine and for you to be with me at the ceremony...
A blush bloomed on his cheeks and his smile widened, the sadness at his family's mistrust of him momentarily forgotten.
Danny wanted him next to him..
In a ceremony of that magnitude. He would practically introduce it as…
He hurriedly wrote me after closing the door to his room.
: Yes!
I mean
I would like that
His red face as he read his own desperate response. What a shame, he pushed the red face of him counted the door closed.
Danny: OK!
You know time passes differently here so it'll be ready when you get out of school tomorrow.
Or is it today?
It's quite late in the morning there right?
No matter
I will send it to you through the usual channels.
Your family is very paranoid, you know?
Haha
Sleep a little
I know what it feels like to lack your sleep in class and it's not funny.
Even if you know all the school supplies Dami!
Rest
I am happy. Danny with a few messages managed to dispel his panic and sadness.
His eyes were pink with irritation, his face red, and his body ached from the rough clothes he would have to put back on again in the morning, but he had a smile on his face.
He went to his closet, took off his painful uniform and folded it neatly, changed into soft baby blue pajamas.
Another one of Danny's gifts..
His face flushed red as he pulled his pajama bottoms up his tanned legs, the pajama shirt already in place.
He went to his bed and lay down. He had a few hours to sleep before he had to wake up again.
A purple silk dress shirt. Seeing the previous gifts, surely the shirt would be precious. Danny trusted him to be in such an important ceremony and not screw it up.
Danny trusted him and pampered him with what he needed and he wanted.
A radiant smile spread across his face as he closed his eyes to sleep, knowing that another when he got home from school his new gift would be on his delicately and beautifully wrapped in his bed.
He is happy when he slept