Summary: Damian wants to eliminate in any way the threat coming by his clone before it's too late, and for this purpose he manages to get the help of the member of the Batfamily he most admires in secret. But what will be happen when he takes the toddler into his arms? First fanfic, pre-reboot setting with post reboot suggestions. Essentially the story is on Damian's POV. Main pairings Dami/Cass, Dick/Babs, Bruce/Selina. Rated T for bad language and adult suggestions. Reviews are welcomed.

Author's note: This is my first Batfic and also my first work in Fanfiction. In these last two months I developed, navigating through DeviantArt, a great interest towards DCU and in particular towards the Batworld, filling thanks to the infinite fanarts various gaps I had towards the world of the Dark Knight. Essentially, my previous knowledge was based on the films and the cartoons ( essentially Batman:TAS and Batman Beyond). In these last years, during my academic periods, I had the opportunity to read some comic collections in the local libraries, but it was still not enough and however Batman and co. aren't yet my favourites. In fact, it was only in this recent period for example I get to know the characters of Jason and Damian; ironically, they become my favourite characters!

However, it lasted very short until from Deviantart I found the various Tumblr blogs (and by the way, it was thanks to my recent DCU interest that I discovered also Tumblr) and . Then, I started soon to develop some ideas for some fictions, and today I finally started one of them. In truth, the inspiration from this story came after passing from the works of the talented Twinenigma about the possible relationships between Damian and his clone. In this fiction, I supposed: what if Damian abducted his brother as a toddler, but decided to escape with him from both his parents and to raise him almost alone? I guess there could be interesting developments…

The setting will be of course on the final part of pre-reboot timeline (which is also an advantage for me because I can develop the plot without interference of crisis and reboot events and other crossovers), but with post-reboot suggestions: the most important in the plot line so far is the return of Dick to Nightwing persona and his reposition in New York, and the presence of Ace in the manor. As the summary says, the history will focus around the relationships between Damian and his clone and Damian and Cassandra with Dick/Barbara and Bruce/Selina as main secondary, but other pairings will be developed in the course of the history. Personally, I like more Damian/Steph, but I supposed this pairing will function more well. However, enough talks and enjoy this story! Reviews are appreciated not only for critics but also if I make some errors about DCU and Batman in general.

PS: Sorry for my bad English, it's not my first language so have patience for grammar errors!

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman and co. DC yes.

Clone by genetics, brother by heart

Chapter one: The threat

Damian hated his clone. His supposed brother.

He didn't take him so much to define that sensation of delusion, frustration, and anger born soon after he discovered her mother replaced him with a clone.

He made a little, sad smile, catching the irony of the entire situation. Almost all the components of his "family" were replacements of another, after all. Grayson was chosen to be the replacement of his father, as in effect happened after his "last" disappearance. Todd was chosen to become the replacement of Grayson, and later of the first persona of the psycho criminal who murdered him. Drake managed to become the replacement of both Grayson and Todd, a role which continued to claim despite the fact he had a new identity, as the current Robin doesn't count ( another reason to hate him, among the infinite others). Cass-Cain, was chosen to be the replacement of Gordon ( but he isn't really sure of the fact she was a simple substitute when she was Batgirl…whatever). Fatgirl was chosen to be the replacement of Drake, but only to convince Drake to retake his replacement role ( and this consideration hurts Damian very much, even he doesn't understand why. He is only sure of the fact this is another reason to hate him), and later was chosen to be the replacement of Cain. And finally, he was supposed to be the final replacement, of all of them.

Sincerely, he will never supposed to be replaced by another person. In truth, he could imagined that his mother will refill his place in some way after his treason, but he always hoped she will never crossed that line.

After all, he was still a eleven year-old boy.

He tried to confort himself: "At least, she made a replica of me… This means she still considered me her habibi, in some way…" But instead this thought made him more sad. And anger. Not towards her. But towards him.

Despite were passed various months, still Damian didn't say to nobody his discovery. Not to his father. Not to Pennyworth. Not to Grayson (considering also the fact he went - or better, "convinced" for the good of Batman Inc. - away to New York, retrieving his role of Nightwing, left him of the only real support he has in the family). Drake wasn't ever put in consideration. Brown was too stupid to understand the complexity of the entire situation. Todd, he could use these news for his own advantage. Maybe Cain… but she was almost the time in Hong Kong, and she returned in Gotham only when his father called her.

Initially, he thought he didn't say nothing still for the lo- the respect – he still has for his mother, but now he realized the real motivation.

He had fear. Fear to be replaced by him also in the hearts of his family, which is the only thing he had at this point. If he let them know about the clone, surely they will save him from his fate, but them? The toddler will grow in the manor for sure. His father will not permit to give him to adoption, especially after his guilt trip (one of the various he already had) provoked by allow his "fiancèe" Selina Kyle (probably the person Damian hates more after Drake, even despite the fact they have a common interest for cats) to give in adoption her daughter Helena ("in order to give the girl a better and safe life", was his explanation) without trying to search another solution, or better to take the only possible solution. However, in a certain verse the fifth Robin was glad his father didn't take that solution, because he didn't wanted a little sister around him. He always suspected, even if he didn't have any proof, that Helena Kyle was the blood daughter of Bruce Wayne, even if Selina always declared she had her from another man and she made all the DNA tests. Instead to investigate, his father believed in her ( he was always more indulgent towards her, surely even more than Damian, considering her past as a criminal), so he couldn't oppose to the adoption project after all. Damian believed that Catwoman lied to not expose her daughter to Batman's enemies: a really noble reason, but also really stupid. Who better of Batman could protect someone? However, in some way the risk to have another opponent to the Wayne legacy – to the cowl, essentially - was vanished; and surely she could be one of the most dangerous.

Because Damian knew his father's soft spot for toddlers. And to have and raise his own blood sons, in order to teach them his values, his skills, his expectations, his hopes, since their childhood. Because even if his father loved all of his adopted sons (even Todd, despite all), however all the four of them (because Damian knew he is seen by him as an adopted son) will be never win against a "real" Wayne child. And Damian knew that if his clone entered in their life, the attentions of his father will go after him. He will be sure that his father will call the clone Thomas, all of his brothers knows that Bruce will called his first son after his father ( and Damian also knows that his father didn't like the name her mother chose for him). He will be have a happy life, cuddled by everyone ( especially by Grayson; and also this thought made feel the boy very bad, considering he always refused the hug attempts by his older brother), full access to a multi-billionaire fortune…

… And the cowl.

Damian thought for a moment if it wasn't better to not reveal nothing to his family, but he almost immediately discharged the idea: It will only delayed the inevitable for a while. Soon or later, or his mother will revealed the existence of his clone to his father in some spectacular way involving him in one of the League's attempts to destroy humanity ( or more simple, to let him suffer more than the necessary) , or however his father will discovered by himself soon or later: he wasn't the World's finest detective for no reason. In any case, he will also discovered his son already knew; and this will destroy that little of trust Damian managed to build towards both Father and Batman in these months (after all, he was the only Robin to obtain a dog: probably one of the few things he made feel him better, even if he still didn't thank his father; it was also the only time he cursed his pride, even if in his inner self) and in the upcoming years.

No, there is only a logical choice.

He must kill him the more fast as possible. It will be the occasion also to show her mother he will be the only heir of both the houses of Wayne and al Ghul; killing his clone will convinced her to not try anymore those genetic experiments and to not reveal nothing to his family, for pride to not admit her defeat and also for a supposed, hidden sensation of satisfaction.

Then, he will be finally free from this awful sensation.

But he will never thought that decision will changed him and his relatives forever…