"Ugh! Do I have to go out with you?" Damian grumbled as he followed Sakura through the street. The young boy was wearing a black shirt and slightly baggy pants. He also had on a yellow hoodie and a baseball cap with Batman's symbol on it.
"No, but do you want to stay cooped up in the house, all day?" Sakura asked. She turned to him and smiled. She was wearing a yellow sundress and a white jacket. Her short pink hair was covered by a long black wig. "Besides, I'd like to have someone keep me company while I'm out."
"Can't you ask one of your friends?" Damian huffed. He walked passed her and grabbed Hana's stroller.
"I did," Sakura answered. "Megan and Artemis were going to join me but a mission came up. The others either had training, missions, or were working."
"What was wrong with Grayson?" Damian asked.
"Working," Sakura answered. "I actually have the day off from work. My boss insisted."
"So you decided to chose me as your day partner?" Damian scoffed and came to a stop at the stop light. He looked down at Hana. Sensing someone looking at her she looked up. When she met Damian's gaze she giggled and blew her lips. She reached out a hand, grabbing at the air. Damian sighed and lowered his finger, allowing her to hold it.
"Yes! Besides, you seem to like Hana." Sakura smiled and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. He looked up at her and sighed, pulling away his finger.
"She doesn't yell or belittle me," Damian answered.
"You know Bruce just wants to protect you." Sakura pushed the stroller as the light turned. Damian followed after her and sighed, taking off his hat.
"Why this one?" He asked glaring at it. "I hate him."
"Dick and I thought it was all fitting. Everyone in the family has Batman merchandise," Sakura said. She sighed and looked at him, a slightly sad look in her eyes. "And you don't hate Bruce. The two of you are just going through a rough patch. Give him time."
"He shouldn't need time!" Damian shouted. "He's had all those other kids, so he should know how to be a father!"
"He does know how to be a father," Sakura said, pulling him closer. "He just doesn't know how to handle you being blood."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Damian growled, pushing away from her. "They weren't blood but he treats them better than me!"
"Damian, you grew up without a father," Sakura said. She stopped and turned to him, rubbing his cheek. "And what's more, you were trained to kill, something Bruce is strictly against. And, he's never had the...for lack of a better word, burden, of Dick or the others being blood. He could always fall back on that fact, but he can't do that with you. Honestly I think that is scaring both of you. You two are just conflicting, give it some time, it'll be over soon."
Damian lowered his head, glaring at the ground. His fists began shaking and Sakura pulled him in for a hug. "How can you be so sure?" He asked quietly. "What if he never trusts me?"
"He'll trust you, just give it time," Sakura told him. After a moment she pulled away and kissed his forehead, smiling. She started walking, Damian following behind her. Sakura stopped in front of a store and sighed. "So, ready to help me shop for groceries?"
"Why are you helping Pennyworth?" Damian groaned as they entered the store.
"Because I have the day off and I hate spending it doing nothing, and so does Hana." The infant in question looked up at the sound of her name. She babbled lightly and chewed on her hand. Sakura gently swatted her hand and gave her a chew toy instead. "Besides, she's been terrible with teething lately, so I need help."
"You can't use your chakra?" Damian asked.
"I can, it just loses affect after a while," Sakura answered. She gave Damian the stroller and grabbed a cart. "Ready?"
"If I have to," Damian said with a huff.
"Stop it." Hana blinked owlishly and looked up at Damian. The young boy scowled as he watched her. Without looking away Hana tugged on her foot and brought it up to her mouth. She let out a shriek as she lost her balance and fell backwards. Damian huffed and picked her up, sitting her back up. "This is why you don't chew on your foot." Hana giggled and grabbed at his hoodie, pulling on the strings. "How can babies be so amused."
Hana looked up at him and giggled, throwing the string around. She slowly stopped and pulled the string into her mouth. Damian immediately pulled it out, glaring at her. Hana's lip trembled and she started crying, causing other families to look over at them. Damian groaned and picked her up, bouncing her on his leg.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Damian asked. "Sakura, hurry up." The trio had finished their shopping and stopped at the food court for some food. About halfway through the meal Sakura realized she had forgotten to grab something and told Damian to stay, claiming that she would be back in a few minutes. After a while Damian had moved himself and Hana towards the play area, setting the baby down on the fake grass right beside him.
"Is everything okay?" A young, redheaded boy crouched in front of him. He looked to be about the same age as Damian. He was wearing a flannel shirt, a Batman graphic shirt on under it.
"Fine." Damian scowled at him. His attention was given back to Hana when she began to cry louder.
"Do she need to be changed?" the boy asked.
Damian sniffed Hana and sighed. "No. And she was just fed. What's wrong?" Hana continued to cry harder, much to Damian's dismay.
"Here, try this!" The boy held out a stuffed bear. "Rory always cheers me up when I'm sad."
"You carry around a teddy bear?" Damian raised an eyebrow in disbelief. The boy's cheeks turned pink and he took back the bear.
"What's your mother going to say when she comes back and sees you crying?" Hana sniffed and moaned, rubbing her eyes. She looked at him, her lip trembling as a new round of tears started. "Wait a minute...you miss her don't you?" He watched Hana cry and sighed, pulling her against his chest. "Calm down, she'll be back." After rubbing her back, Hana seemed to start to calm down. After she had finally stopped crying Damian sighed in relief. "See, everything's going to be fine."
Oh, how foolish and wrong he had been. The moment of relaxation was short lived when an explosion sounded close to the door. Damian jolted up, holding Hana close. The boy ducked behind him, gripping his arms. An insane laugh made him freeze and his blood run cold. The civilians began screaming and running away as fast as they could. They were cut off when there was another explosion on the other side of the food court, causing it to collapse and trap them.
A pale man strolled out of the smoke, his red lips parted in a wide smile. His green hair was slicked back, a purple top hat placed on it neatly. He wore a matching pinstripe suit.
"Hello everybody! Thank you for coming to my comeback tour!" Joker greeted. "I flew here all the way from Arkham, and boy are my arms tired!" Joker began laughing at his joke, but everyone else looked on in horror and fear. Joker's laughter quickly stopped and he looked at all of them, taking in their faces. "Alright folks, let me introduce my lovely assistant! Oh Harley!"
A pigtailed blonde cartwheeled over to him, smiling happily. She wore a red corset and a black jacket over it. A red diamond was on the jacket's breast pocket. She had on red shorts with black diamonds on them, torn black tights underneath. She had on red and black boots, bells hanging on the side.
"Why don't you pick a member of the audience for our first act?" Joker suggested, gesturing to the civilians.
"Right away puddin'!" Harley jumped and flipped through the air, when she landed she strolled over to them, a bright smile on her face. Damian instinctively took a step back, the last, and only, conversation he had about Joker flooding through his mind.
"He's done terrible things to the family."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Damian asked.
"Why do you think I'm in this wheelchair?" Barbara asked quietly.
"He brainwashed me," Tim said quietly from across the room. "He made me think that I was his son. I almost killed Batman, and Joker nearly drove me insane."
"Not to mention, he killed Jason."
He stumbled backwards as Harley approached them, smiling down at him. She leaned over him, looking him over. She pulled off his cap and sneered at it.
"How about 'im, puddin'?" Harley suggested, holding up the hat. "I don't like his hat!"
"Oh! We have a little fan here, do we?" Joker asked, a mock smile on his face. "Tell you what, gather anyone else with that symbol. I think I can use them for one of my later tricks."
"What do I do with the baby?" Damian felt his blood run cold and he gripped Hana tightly, trying to cover her with his own body, even though he knew it was futile.
"Drop it, I don't care," Joker answered.
"Like hell you will!" Damian shouted, shocking all of them, himself included. He narrowed his eyes and glared at them, his nerves coming back. "I'll die before I let you get your psychotic hands on her!"
"Looks like we've actually got a volunteer! Perfect!" Joker said, laughing. "Harley, grab him, and the other kids."
"Alright Mistah J!" Harley turned to the crowd and took out a gun. "You heard 'im! Children to the front! Now!" When no one moved she narrowed her eyes and pointed the gun at a woman who was clutching two girls. The gun went off and twin screams filled the area as the woman's body fell to the ground. "Do I have to repeat myself?" The kids quickly moved towards the Joker, crying softly and calling out. "Shut ya whinin'!"
Harley turned towards Damian and smiled darkly. "If you know what's good for you, you'll join 'em. Both of ya." Damian bit the inside of his cheek and glared at her, stiffly moving over to the other children. The redhead gripped his arms and huddled next to Damian as they walked.
"Thank you, lovely volunteers, now let's see what we have to work with." Joker approached the children and looked over them as if he were looking over produce. He stopped on the red-headed boy that had approached Damian. He flinched back but Joker grabbed his shirt. "Tell me boy, what's your name?"
"C-Colin," he squeaked out.
"Well Colin, I think you're very lucky, know why?" Colin gulped and shook his head. "Because, you get to be a part of the first act! Can't have a good comeback tour if I don't have any good acts!" Colin whimpered as Joker pulled him away. Damian grit his teeth and growled softly. Where was Sakura? Hell, he could settle for Grayson at this point! He was useless in his civilian clothes. If Bruce hadn't drilled the importance of a secret identity into his head Damian would have already lashed out at them, but he wasn't sure if that would have been the smartest thing to do. The only thing that stopped him from making anymore comments was the infant in his hands. He watched as Joker tossed Colin to one of his henchmen. Joker took off his top hat and reached inside, taking out a knife.
"How about we try my latest concoction?" Colin tried to jerk away from Joker as he approached. Joker grabbed his face and his grin grew as he pressed the blade against Colin's neck.
"I wouldn't move if I were you," Joker warned happily. "All this poison needs is the tiniest break of skin in order to enter the system." Colin's whole body froze and he held his breath, trying to keep the blade from touching the skin.
"Leave him alone!" Damian shouted. Joker and Harley turned back to Damian, both of them raising an eyebrow.
"What, you want to take his place?" Joker asked, smiling sardonically. Damian glanced down at Hana, scowling lightly. Hana looked up at him, her amber eyes blinking owlishly, she reached her hand up towards him, babbling quietly. Damian took her hand and shushed her. "That's what I thought. I really hate brats."
Before Joker could do more something flew through the air and pierced his hand. Joker cursed and dropped the knife, screaming as he held onto his wrist. A black batarang was resting in his flesh.
"Colin!" Damian shouted, holding out his hand. The redhead looked at him quickly before scrambling up and running over to him.
"Attacking children? That isn't like you Joker." Batman dropped down from the ceiling and punched him. Joker stumbled back and grabbed his jaw.
"Trying something new, Batsy. Harley!" Harley laughed and ran forward. She pulled something out of her pocket and swung it. The object increased in size, becoming a mallet. Batman ducked to dodge the giant hammer. He took out an object and threw it at the door as he did so. The small area exploded, creating an opening.
"Everyone, run!" Batman shouted. The parents wasted no time grabbing their children and running out the doors.
"Come on, he said we have to run," Colin said, tugging on Damian's jacket. Damian narrowed his eyes as he watched Batman dodge the attacks from Harley and Joker's henchmen.
"Normally when Joker attacks Bruce becomes so wrapped up in the case that he shuts out everything else."
Damian growled softly, his hands curling into fists. Batman kicked Harley away and turned towards them. "I thought I told you to run!"
"Let me help you!" Damian shouted.
Colin's eyes widened and he looked at Damian as if he belonged in Arkham. "Are you insane!? That's the Joker!"
"I know, now shut up!" Damian shouted. Batman growled and punched another henchman. He jumped back and landed in front of the two bickering boys.
"In case you haven't noticed you have an infant in your arms," Batman said, narrowing his eyes under his mask. "Take her and get out of here. I better not see you back here!"
"Come ON!" Colin urged, harshly pulling him towards the door. Damian sent one last look towards Batman and followed him, making sure to keep Hana protected. His eyes narrowed as he sensed someone run towards them. He shoved Hana into Colin's arms and jumped into the air. He spun around and slammed the heel of his foot in the man's face. The henchman stumbled back, grabbing a nearby knife as he righted himself. Damian moved from side to side to dodge the blade. He gasped as it sliced his arm. He grunted and stepped back, grabbing his arm. He narrowed his eyes and surged forward. Damian grabbed the man's arm and twisted it, taking a hold of the knife as it fell from his hand. He ducked and spun, jamming the knife into the man's arm.
The henchman fell to the ground, a small pool of blood forming underneath him. Damian backed up, ignoring the incredible look Colin sent him.
"Shit." He turned around and quickly pushed Colin out of the building. Once they were out Damian groaned, gripping his hair. He swore repeatedly under his breath, barely acknowledging the police as they approached him. He was pulled away from the building and placed inside the ambulance.
"What happened?" An officer asked.
"H-He got cut!" Colin said, looking at Damian, fear filling his eyes. Damian groaned as he saw the look he sent him.
"Alright, we'll patch him up. Son, can you tell me your name?" Damian looked up at the officer and growled, pushing him away.
"Don't call me that!" He growled, jumping up.
"Damian!" His body jolted as Sakura ran over to them. She grabbed his arm and pulled him off the ambulance, hugging him closely. "Oh thank god you're safe!" She held him tightly for a moment before her eyes widened. She pulled him away, "Where's Hana?"
"Colin." Damian jerked his head towards the redhead, who smiled nervously at the woman.
"Hana!" Sakura took her daughter from Colin and kissed her head. Hana babbled and reached towards her mother, giggling. "Thank you."
"I-It was no problem ma'am," Colin said, his cheeks turning pink. "It was your son that actually saved us."
"He did?" Sakura looked at Damian in shock.
"A man was coming at us with a knife, my body just reacted on it's own," Damian said. He groaned and gripped his arm.
"You're arm! You got cut!" Colin said, remembering the injury. Sakura gave him back Hana and reached into the ambulance, grabbing some supplies. "Can she do that?"
"She's a doctor," Damian said simply. He removed his jacket, hissing when the fabric rubbed his wound. Sakura looked at it, and rubbed it with the disinfectant. Damian bit back a yell as she did so. "M-Mother..."
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, looking at him.
"P...Poison...the knife was poisoned," Damian hissed. "S-Something the Joker had come up with."
"The Joker?" Sakura's eyes widened and she looked back at the building, worry and fear on her face. "B-Batman will finish Joker quickly, and he'll be able to treat you, promise. He'd never let you die."
"B...but..." Damian groaned as he felt his vision blurring. His arm twitched faintly and he huffed, trying to catch his breath as it left his lungs all too quickly.
"D-Damian! Stay with me!" Sakura shouted, gripping his shoulders. "Damian!"
"'m trying," he slurred. He groaned and hung his head, barely finding the strength to keep it up. "'m sorry. Tell 'im 'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Sakura asked. Damian groaned and fell forward limply. "Damian!"
Damian groaned as his senses slowly returned to him. He heard a steady beeping and a few other rhythmic noises. He groaned and moved his head, squinting and opening his eyes slowly. The bright white of the ceiling nearly blinded him but he forced his eyes open. His vision blurred for a moment before the lines sharpened and came into focus. He turned his head slowly, taking everything in. Various machines were crowded around his bed, several of them connecting themselves to him via a cord. His head rolled to the side as the drugs began to wear off.
Damian gripped the bars of the bed and slowly sat up, groaning as he did so. He grabbed his arm and fell back to the bed. He could feel the bandages on his arm dampen. Great, he just opened his wound.
"You're not really stupid enough to try sitting up, are you?" Damian flinched as he heard his father. He turned around, seeing him sitting next to his bed.
"Maybe I am," Damian grumbled. He turned his back to his father and curled up, his hand never leaving his arm.
Bruce sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Damian, we need to talk."
"'Bout what?" Damian glared at the bed sheets dreading the conversation that was coming.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Bruce said, his eyes narrowing. "I thought you were making progress with your training."
"I was, I am!" Damian said. He slowly sat up, glaring at his father when he finally managed to.
"Then explain to me why one of Joker's henchmen is currently being cremated," Bruce demanded.
"I...I didn't know," Damian answered, gripping the bed sheets. "He just came at us. My body reacted on it's own."
"Damian, that's what we're trying to stop, you can't just rely on what your grandfather taught you," Bruce said.
"I know that!" Damian shouted. He glared at his father. "I was trying to keep your granddaughter from being killed! That man ran at us so I reacted accordingly! I didn't realize he was holding Joker's poison knife until he was already dead! So back off alright?" He growled and turned away from him, staring down at his fists as they gripped the sheets.
"How about you actually get all the facts before you start just assuming I'm still a killer. I've been doing nothing but follow your rules since we rescued mother. Justice, not vengeance. I don't know how many times I've repeated that in my head. Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Doll Maker, all of them! I've wanted to kill them all! But I didn't because I knew you wouldn't forgive me!"
Bruce sighed and reached over to place a hand on his shoulder. Damian shoved him away.
"Leave." Bruce sighed and stood up, obeying the boy's request. Damian released a breath he didn't even realize he had been holding. The door slammed open, causing him to flinch. His eyes widened as he saw Colin run over to his bed.
"Damian! Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes...who...let you in here?" Damian asked in confusion.
"I did." Sakura smiled as she entered the room.
"Where's Hana?" Damian asked, noticing that the baby wasn't currently in her arms.
"She's with Dick in the waiting room," Sakura answered. "He...didn't really want to come in. But he says thank you, and he'll pay you back, he promises. Dick always keeps his promises."
"He doesn't need to," Damian said with a huff. He turned towards Colin and raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"I never really got to thank you for saving me," Colin answered. He smiled and held out his hand. "Thanks. I'm Colin by the way, Colin Wilkes."
Damian glanced down at the hand before looking at Sakura. The woman smiled and urged him on silently. Damian reached out and hesitantly took his hand. "Damian…Damian Wayne."