Just wanted to write Damian having a bad day.

"It should be temporary." The doctor said cheerfully, as if what she was telling him could possibly be considered good news, "Your vision should start returning in a week," Emphasis on start, as in he would still be completely blind, but maybe he might be able to differentiate between night and day, "and you should regain total use of your eyes by the end of the month." She might as well have said forever.

He stopped listening. He couldn't patrol if he couldn't see, he couldn't train without supervision, he couldn't wander the grounds with Titus, he couldn't play Cheese Vikings, or even work on his art. He would be utterly useless and helpless until his sight returned. Would Robin even wait that long, or would Father find some new stray to watch his back on patrol. Maybe he'd just call in one of his old ones. Drake had been Father's preferred partner after all. Would whoever took over his place as a vigilante also take over his place at home? That's how it had always worked in the past. Whoever worked with Batman lived with Father in the manor.

A squeeze to his shoulder had him looking up automatically. Seeing nothing when he did, felt like a hollow in his gut. He didn't know why he had looked. He knew he couldn't see, and it wasn't like he didn't know who the hand belonged to. Grayson's arm had been wrapped around him for the whole appointment. Only moving so far as to switch to holding his hand, when the doctor needed space to exam him. Still he just, he knew Grayson's face. He knew how the man would smile at him all warmth and comfort. He could picture it near perfectly, but he couldn't see it. He just, he just, he just wanted. "Dami?" Grayson's voice was concerned. He could feel the tears bubbling up in his eyes trying to escape and betray him. Why could he feel the damn things if he couldn't use them? He tried to suck in a breath to stop the tears before they formed. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be useless, helpless, and weak. He wanted to rip them out. His eyes, his emotions, or both. He wanted to tear them out and throw them away where they couldn't make him into this ever again.

"Hey now, come here," Grayson said softly. Bundling him up into his mentor's lap and wrapping him in his arms. He was too big for this. He didn't think he'd known Grayson when he'd been small enough to fit in his lap. God what was wrong with him. He was too old for this, and it was in front of Father. He felt the first tear break free to slide down his face. Mother would have never been in this position nor Father, they both would have never let their emotions rule them so easily. It was only him that couldn't control them. He didn't think even Grayson cried. Certainly not this easily. He felt a few more tears follow the first, then a few more, and then they wouldn't stop.

"Shhhh, it's going to be okay," Grayson murmured. He felt Grayson's forehead press against his own and a hand cupping his head. He didn't want to be looked at, not when he was like this. He jerked away then tried to jerk forward, to hide his head in Grayson's shoulder. He ended up banging his head on the side of Grayson's and his nose on his older brother's collarbone instead. "Ouch!" Grayson yelped. He couldn't help it, as he buried his head into Grayson's neck he started sobbing. "Oh jeez, Dami it's fine. You just surprised me," Grayson said, rubbing his back, "Come on everything is going to be okay." He shook his head in response. It wasn't going to be okay. He was weak and useless, and Father and the doctor were both watching him and judging him. The door was probably open and everyone in the hall was watching him too. He'd heard it close at the beginning of the examination, but if he's so pathetic he can't even stop himself from crying, he's also probably too pathetic to hear someone opening it again.

"Could you give us a moment, please." Father said lowly, somewhere off in the darkness of the room.

"Of course, call if you want to continue, but you're free to go after, if you don't have any questions." Father gave some noise of confirmation, and Damian heard the click of the door as the doctor left. That meant now he only had Father and Grayson staring at his breakdown. It didn't make him feel any better.

He heard the creak and felt the slight sway of the bed as Father sat down beside Grayson and himself. A third hand rubbed his shoulder. He tried to burrow deeper, where no one could see his face. He couldn't stop the weakness but he could at least hide it. He didn't know how long they stayed like that. Wrapped up in Grayson's arms while Father lent some small assurances here and there. Eventually the tears slowed, and Damian felt himself relax slightly. His eyes closed against the blackness. He knew that he'd end up opening them soon and be reminded once more that there was nothing to see, but he couldn't deny himself the small comfort of hiding here and putting off facing the world for just a few more minutes.

That's why he said nothing when he felt Grayson's jaw start to move. It didn't take long to figure out what he was doing. Every member of the family could read lips, and with his current predicament it was the perfect way to hold a conversation that he wouldn't be able to overhear. He didn't want to know its contents. Shamefully afraid of what they where saying about him. He kept quiet, choosing ignorance over painful knowledge.

They apparently finished their discussion, because he felt a squeeze on his shoulder before Father spoke, "Damian?" Father said.

"Yes," He replied. Rubbing his face in attempt to erase any leftover proof of his tears, before turning to Father's voice.

"I was going to ask Alfred to buy some different types of Ice Creams for tonight. Would you like that?" Father said quietly. He nodded his head in affirmation. "Is there a specific type you want?" Father asked.

"No," He whispered.

He felt a pat on his back. "Alright, I'll ask him to pick up as many as he can find, and we can just try them all." Father said, a little louder this time.

Grayson shifted, and it took him until he put his arms under his legs to realize that Grayson was trying to carry him out. "I can walk." He said, as he quickly put up a struggle. He would not suffer the humiliation of being carried out of the Doctor's office like some sort of child. It was bad enough the doctor had seen him cry.

Grayson stopped and set him down. "You sure Little D? It's not a big deal." Grayson asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," He replied, then added "I'm not crippled!" Grabbing on tightly to Grayson's hand. Grayson wouldn't let him walk into walls or trip over anything. He knew he wouldn't.

"Alright then, lets get you to the car, then all the ice cream you can eat."

End Notes:

Not really sure if there will be more of this. I have some ideas for what happens in the month between this story and him fully regaining his sight, but they aren't super detailed. Best to just assume this will be a one shot.