Chapter Text
It's been two weeks since they had captured Hood and the whole thing with Damian happened.
Two weeks of the family falling apart by what happened.
The first sign something was off had been Damian skipping patrol.
No argument, no dramatic exit, just a flat "No" when Dick asked if he was suiting up.
Bruce looked apathetic at that, not uttering a word, just a grunt and looking over his shoulder with a disappointed look towards his son, as if he expected the boy to say something…
Maybe it was a bad day for the kid, except it wasn’t just one night.
Damian started vanishing after school, not to the cave, not to the library, just gone. When Dick cornered him in the hall, the kid stiffened like a spooked cat. "I have things to do" He snapped, ducking under Dick’s arm before he could ask what things.
Then came the lies.
"Training with Batman" He’d say bitterly, but Bruce himself hadn’t seen him in days. "Titus needs walks" But the dog sulked by Alfred’s heels, neglected.
Bruce noticed, of course he did,, but every time he tried to talk to Damian, the kid shut down, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on the middle distance like he was weathering an interrogation.
And then, the weirdest thing: Damian stopped fighting with Tim.
No snide remarks, no glares, nothing, just… silence, Tim raised an eyebrow the first time Damian passed him without a muttered insult, but Dick caught the flicker of unease in his brother’s eyes.
Something’s wrong, Tim mouthed later.
He should’ve pushed harder.
Dick had been looking for coffee when he heard it, Damian’s voice, low and uncharacteristically hesitant, drifting from the pantry. Alfred’s reply was warm in a way he usually reserved for birthdays and post-mission hot chocolate.
"—doing alright, then?" Alfred’s tone was carefully neutral, but there was something underneath, concern? Hope?
"Tt, as well as he ever is" Damian muttered, a rustle of grocery bags. "Stubborn, but he’s… better than before..."
A beat of silence, then, softer: "And he’s eating properly? You’d tell me if he wasn’t—"
"Pennyworth" Damian hissed, suddenly sharp, his head snapped toward the doorway where Dick stood frozen, empty mug in hand. Both pairs of eyes, Alfred’s weary, Damian’s blazing, locked onto him.
The butler cleared his throat. "The gala china, Master Damian, one does hope the caterers handled it properly" A perfect pivot, smooth as aged whiskey. "You’d tell me if they didn’t"
Damian’s shoulders relaxed a fraction. "Obviously" He shoved past Dick without another word, but not before Dick caught the way Alfred’s hand had briefly, almost imperceptibly, tightened on the boy’s shoulder.
Dick frowned at the coffee machine, it was obvious they were talking about someone…but who?
He could ask, but Alfred would be evasive and Damian was still avoiding him like the plague.
He knew he’d screwed up, like, big time. He should’ve been way more careful bringing up the whole abuse thing with Damian, but the idea had freaked him out so much, he hadn’t been thinking straight when he cornered his little brother.
So yeah, he understands why the kid wasn’t talking to him anymore, Dick got it, he really did, but that didn’t stop him from pinning half the blame on Hood.
He’d tried talking to Damian, but the kid just shot him death glares and bolted. Bruce wasn’t doing any better, he’d been pissed ever since they’d dragged Hood in, and now he was desperately trying (and failing) to get Damian to talk to him, too.
Things were a mess.
Alfred was somehow the calmest one in all this. Tim was a close second, which honestly shocked Dick, how the hell was his brother just cool with what that psycho had done to him?
“Stop glaring at your food” Tim muttered across the table, eyes fixed on his own plate.
Dick glanced up. “Still can’t believe you’re just rolling with this…”
The other shrugged. “Not like we can change it.”
“We could—”
“Master Richard” Alfred cut in, smooth as always. “Mask business stays off the table”
Dick blinked. Uh, weird, it almost sounded like the butler wanted him to drop it, like he knew something they didn’t. Hell, Aflred had been weirdly soft with Hood that day—and kinda moody after he’d left.
Bruce wasn’t here to interrogate, and Alfred would dodge any questions anyway.
That left Tim.
For now, Dick ate in silence, stealing glances at Alfred. The butler had seemed… lighter lately, not happy, exactly, more like bittersweet.
He wonders…remembering the day he found him and Damian talking…were they talking about Hood? Does…does Alfred know who he is? And if so…it was someone dear to him, someone he trusted.
“Alfred knows something” Dick said to his brother when they were alone in the living room.
Tim looked at him, frowning deep in thought. “He does, I noticed that too…I think I know what it is…but I’m not certain”
That seemed to surprise him. “What do you know?”
The other sighed. “Something that it’s going to break your heart if I’m right” Before he could ask further Tim gave him a sympathetic look. “I really can’t tell you unless I have proof”
“I…alright…is the thing you know the reason you have been so focused on whatever you have been doing since we met Hood?”
“Yes” Is all Tim says.
That night, Timothy left in the middle of the night, coming back home in the morning with dark circles under his eyes, Dick wanted to ask what happened, but the boy seemed too tired for that conversation, so he let it pass.
But things weren’t getting better, Damian isolated himself in his room the next day.
Dick found Tim already waiting outside Damian's bedroom door. "He's been in there for four hours” Tim murmured without looking up. "Door locked, window's open though—I checked"
Dick frowned. "Since when does Damian lock his—"
A muffled thud from inside cut him off, then another. Something heavy being dragged across hardwood.
Tim arched a brow. "You think he's packing?"
Before Dick could answer, the lock clicked, the door swung open to reveal Damian, school bag slung over one shoulder and Titus at his heels, Alfred the Cat on his other shoulder as if he was a light parrot.
His eyes flickered between them, calculating. "Spying now, Drake? How pathetically predictable"
Tim didn’t answer that, just rolling his eyes.
"Taking the menagerie for a walk?" Dick asked, leaning against the wall, forcing casualness. "It's nearly midnight, Dami"
Damian didn't flinch. "Titus requires nighttime exercise, the cat" He scratched Alfred’s chin with one hand. "Has a veterinary appointment"
Dick's eyes caught the duffel bag on the kid’s other hand. "That's a very heavy bag for a vet visit…"
"Tt. these are donation items" Damian stood, shoulders stiff. "The shelter near Robinson Park accepts deliveries after hours"
Tim's voice came out rather skeptical. "Since when do you volunteer at animal shelters?"
"Since Wayne decided my schedule" Damian snarled. "Are you auditing my activities now?"
Dick stepped closer. "We're just worried, you haven't patrolled in weeks, you're barely speaking to anyone—"
"I'm not going." Damian adjusted the strap of his bag, too deliberately casual. " Father –” He spits out the word. “—already knows"
Tim's eyes narrowed. "Funny, because Bruce left for the Watchtower an hour ago, he didn't mention you skipping again"
A beat too long of silence, Damian looked at them as if they were stupid. "It seems Wayne hasn’t ceased from keeping things from you after all"
Dick felt the words like a physical blow. "Dami—"
"Robin" Damian spat the title like a curse. "He's taken it from me, I think he expected me to fight for it” He snorts. “To trade our little deal" His voice cracked on the last word.
Tim went very still. "What deal?"
"Don't play obtuse" Damian sneered, fingers tightening around his bag's strap. "You were present when the terms were negotiated, either permit my Baba access to me, or I'll be forced to elaborate on Father's... indiscretions" His lip curled. "Though the threat was sufficiently conveyed without crude specifics"
The confusion between Dick and Tim was palpable, they'd been there, yes, but all they'd heard was Damian's terse "I know" before Bruce had shockingly acquiesced to Hood's visitation rights. No demands, no explanations, just silent understanding passing between them.
Now their little brother was implying blackmail material so damning it had made the Batman yield. Dick's stomach twisted, what could possibly make Bruce afraid enough to let a known criminal near his son? What the hell had their father done?
“But I won't" Damian continued. “I won't give up on my Baba just to play dress-up in his graveyard"
Dick felt like he was punched at that.
Tim's eyes flicked to the bag. "You're really taking both pets out alone? At night?"
"Pennyworth knows" Damian jerked his chin toward the kitchen, where the faint clink of dishes could be heard.
Clever, using Alfred as both alibi and shield. "Unless you're suggesting I require a babysitter?"
Dick exhaled. "We just want to—"
The grandfather clock chimed midnight, Titus whined.
"I'm leaving" Damian shouldered past them. "Unlike some, I keep my commitments"
They watch as their brother leaves the manor, the door clicking shut.
Then Tim sighed, he crossed his arms as he said. “You know he is lying, right? The nearest 24-hour vet is in Coventry…”
Dick knew. “I know I just…maybe he just needs some time off alone…”
Drake looks him in the eyes at that. “D…you know he is running away, right?”
He takes a deep breath, he wishes he didn’t. “He is going after Hood” He concludes defeatedly.
“Then why aren’t you going after him?” His brother looks surprised at that.
“Why aren’t you?” Dick retorted.
Tim looked around, he knew Bruce was away but still, it didn't hurt to make sure. “This sounds off, Bruce is hiding something from us, what Damian said confirms that, and now I know what it is”
Dick was trying really hard to be on Bruce’s side, but after what just happened, he was starting to think Red Hood may not be the actual problem here. “What is it?”
“I called Kon to meet me at Gotham’s cemetery before yesterday” Tim said carefully.
He blinked slowly at that “Okay… why? Does Bruce know?”
“Nope, as to why, I had a feeling I knew who Red Hood was”
“I’m not going to like it when you tell me, am I?”
“No…and you won’t like what Bruce may have done either”
Shit. “What do you mean?”
“I came here to see Damian cuz I found a flash drive on my desk when I came back to my room a few hours ago, with a letter saying: ‘here is all you need to know’ under it, I haven’t seen was is in the flash drive, yet”
“Well…” Dick took a deep breath. “What are we waiting for, then?”
Damian didn’t expect to be teleported out of nowhere to where his baba was currently located, at first he panicked, thinking he was being attacked, then he saw his father looking at him with wide eyes and confusion, then relief as he noticed a figure behind his son.
“Hello brother” A woman says from behind Damian, startling him, Titus doesn’t growl at her and Alfred seems to relax at her presence so he does not take a fighting stance, yet.
Jason starts to sign. “Sister, what do you think you are doing?” Damian understands.
Sister? He will have to ask about that later.
“Speak with your mind brother, you know I cannot understand that language…on that note I’m sorry for what happened to you”
“There is no need to apologize, it was not you who cut my throat open” He thinks loudly enough for the woman to understand. “Now, why did you bring Damian here?”
“Your child has decided to run away–do not look at me like that, I have the right to watch over my nephew” She scolds him lightly when the man gives her a look. “And since you’re not in Gotham because mother dearest asked your help here, I decided to take him to you instead”
“Ducra is going to be pissed off that you brought an outsider to the Acres of All”
“She won’t, he is your son, therefore he is family”
Jason sighed, a small smile forming on his lips. “Thank you, sister”
“Anything for you, brother” She eyes Damian with a soft look despite her eyes being all black. “I’ll leave you with your father now, little demon, shall I show the place around for your friends?”
Damian exchanged a look with his baba before nodding, he handed Alfred to the strange woman, who took him in her arms carefully, she motioned for Titus to follow, who did so without question.
As she left, he immediately crossed the room to reach his baba, who was ready when Damian tackled him with all his strength, little arms wrapping around Jason’s torso as if his life depended on it.
Jason wanted to ask his son why he ran away, if he was okay, what he could do for him, but all it came out was a pathetic broken raspy sound.
Damian knew what his baba wanted to know, yet it still pains him that he won’t hear his father talk again, of of the reasons he decided to not stay further with Wayne, he knew the man would go after his baba sooner or later and even if he didn’t, he hurts his baba enough.
"Tt, our arrangement with Wayne was always temporary, I anticipated his inevitable betrayal, these past fourteen days were merely strategic patience" His jaw tightened briefly before adding, quieter: "...Your absence was... inefficient, these controlled visitations are unacceptable, I refuse to let that man dictate access to my baba"
Jason sighed, he understood, Bruce is one paranoid and stubborn bastard, if he wanted something, he would get it through any means, if what he wanted was his son to never see Jason again, then he would get it done no matter what.
“On that matter… Drake knows” Damian whispers.
Jason wishes he could talk again, that way he could ask his question and keep hugging his son, alas, he can’t, so he has to lean away, giving himself space to gesture with his hands. “Why do you think so, my heart?”
The kid looked down with a frown. "As much as I detest him, I must admit, he’s far more astute than he appears, even Grayson, for all his charm and theatrics, pales in comparison when it comes to uncovering what others would rather keep buried"
“I see, he will tell the Dick soon then”
“I’m afraid you’re right…that is why I left them a letter and proof”
He arched a brow at that.
“It explains everything, I knew this truce with Wayne wouldn’t last more than a week with how stubborn he is, he took Robin from me first, I was certain he was going to do something more drastic after that…so I prepared…I asked Gordon for help, she was not happy at what she saw but agreed to maintain discretion pending my departure”
Ah, Barbara, he doesn’t hate her for the words she said to him that one time when he was a kid anymore, to be honest, lately all his anger towards his family have been drained by his tiredness, except Bruce, fuck him.
“I know you did not want them to know…but it’s the only way to keep us safe baba—” To keep you safe went unsaid “—I ...I am sorry, baba, I disappointed you, I should never have put you in this position in the first place, if I was strong enough I could have taken Wayne down and we both could have been free” He looked down feeling ashamed.
Jason cupped his son’s face between his hands, tilting the boy’s head upward to meet his eyes, he leaned in to kiss his child’s forehead, the simple show of affection was enough for Damian to know his baba wasn’t disappointed.
Wearily, Jason let go of his son’s face to sign.
“You could never disappoint me, my heart, it is not your responsibility to keeps us safe, I am the one who has failed you”
Damian opened his mouth to protest, his baba didn’t fail him! But Jason put a single finger on his mouth, to motion him to let him ‘speak’.
“I will do anything to keep you safe and happy, that I promise, my prince, for you are my will to live, you are my beating heart, my very soul”
Damian could imagine his father speaking those words, he knew he would have spoken them with such tenderness, such softness and love in his tone.
“I love you, my son” The man signed, eyes so full of love that it made Damian wish he could have heard him say it instead.
“I love you too, baba”
Tim did not stop Dick from punching Bruce real hard in the face when the man arrived at the Batcave that night.
To be honest, he may as well punch the man next.
Because what the fuck?