Laughter rippled across the Batcave. Damian Wayne frowned, inclining his head to watch his sidekicks sweep past the bank of computer screens he'd been studying. Unsurprisingly, Grayson was leading the charge, her ebony curls dancing around her cherub face as she banked right, darting in and out of the shadows that dappled the cave. Thomas followed as quickly as his stocky, boyish frame allowed. A retort rested on the tip of Damian's tongue as he watched the pair gallivant through the various trophy cases, the girl's giggles bouncing across the pristine glass.
Hero Grayson swung wide as she came around the fallen Robins display, her lithe form twisting effortlessly. Damian felt of a twinge of sadness. Hero moved like her father, an impossible dance of grace and agility. Thomas swung around the case and tried to tackle Hero, but the older girl darted away in a blink, leaving the younger boy sprawled on the floor of the cave. Damian tutted as he rose from his chair.
"That's enough children," he snipped, drawing the long folds of his cape around his body, "Suit up."
Thomas scrambled to his feet and scurried away. Damian frowned, shooting Hero a withering glare as she loitered, an impish grin playing across her beautiful face. Her crystal blue eyes sparkled mischievously as she moved closer to Damian, unfazed by his glower.
"Grayson, I gave you an order," Damian growled, menacing over the girl. Hero smiled sweetly and brought her hands up to Damian's face, pushing back the cowl. Damian blinked in surprise as his niece wrapped her hands in his cape and pulled him down until he was eye level with the fourteen year old. Hero's smile turned shy for a second as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Damian's left cheek for the briefest second. In a flicker she was rushing towards the locker rooms, her cheeks stained ruby. Hero stopped ten feet from Damian and swung back around. Damian's lip twitched at the corner as he saw her gather up her bravado and stick out her dainty chin.
"Happy birthday, Uncle Damian," Hero yipped before she ran off. Damian waited until the girl was out of sight before he smirked and pulled his cowl back up over his head, hiding his face.