Do you guys knows I put up chapter 53, about the Justice League? Because I never got any reviews or feedback on the chapter and that was a little strange to me. Not that there's any obligation for you all to do so now, but it was weird. I mean, normally a chapter gets at least one review!
This takes place over like...Batman&Robin issues 35 to 36. Maybe even a little of 37? I don't know. One chapter left, y'all, then an epilogue. This 'verse is winding down. You know what that means. I don't have a lot of confidence in my skills but expect a whooole lot of emotions.
(and I don't normally ask but man, please review this one, so I don't panic that something's messed up, haha. And you can always go back and review chapter 53, if you find me pathetic enough, haha.)
It was a rare moment of weakness, one that Damian was glad he was dead for, that only Aris could see.
He didn't know what to do.
When his family's trip to Apokolips spanned over twenty-four hours, Damian felt panic rising in his being. Should it take this long? What if something happened? Is it possible for one of them to be left behind? What if that Hellbat suit took down Father's body functions quicker than expected? What if one of them died?
No, stop. Slow down.
He and his clone ended up staying in the cave, seeking comfort in the only ones Damian trusted to give it without judgment – Pennyworth and his animals.
And they all seemed in need of comfort themselves. Pennyworth for his charges, the cat and cow for their canine friend. They were all huddled around the computer, watching as Batwoman and Batwing handled the city. Perhaps it was to take their mind off the five who were gone, or the situation at hand. Perhaps it was to, for once, just not think about the losses they had all suffered in the past year and a half, and the stress those losses caused.
Stress that was somewhat in vain, Damian thought absently as he scratched at Batcow's ear, because Grayson wasn't really dead.
(And if Father succeeded in this mission of bringing him back to life, that would be the first thing they would discuss.)
But still. It was near torture, not knowing what was happening, having no communications with Bruce or any of the team. Not knowing their status. Not knowing if-
"Damian?"
Damian jerked, glancing up at Aris, who was sitting on Batcow's back with the cat. "What?"
"You're shaking."
Damian blinked and looked down at his hands. Indeed he was.
He closed his fists and his eyes, trying to will himself to stop. But it wasn't working. He couldn't focus on himself, all he could see was his father, his brothers, Barbara Gordon, Victor Stone, his dog. All fighting. For their lives, for him. All risking everything just for him.
He wasn't worth it.
And as much as he tried to fight it, his mind went to its dark place. Pictured his allies not being strong enough. Drake stabbed through, Gordon paralyzed again, Stone smashed into millions of electronic little pieces, Todd blinded, deafened, muted as he's beaten over and over.
Imagined the suit not helping Bruce. Imagined it being torn away, his father getting impaled, beheaded, ripped apart. His family, being destroyed for real. Not metaphorically, not emotionally. Physically.
All the king's horses and all the king's men…
No. No, please. Not them. I'll stay. I'll stay dead if you don't hurt them. Please don't hurt them. Please don't take them, too.
"Brother, you're-"
Aris's voice suddenly cut out, and the atmosphere changed. It was…hot, here. Loud. There were shouts and explosions and…barks?
Damian opened his eyes.
The sky was red and the ground was rock. Bodies littered the ground, and Damian couldn't tell how many were dead compared to alive.
But the barking continued.
And it was impossible. Because he and Aris couldn't go through the portal. He and Aris were Earthbound. He-
"Titus!"
-was on Apokolips.
Without another thought, he raced towards the voice, the one that sounded like Batgirl. As he ran, he felt himself lifting off the ground. And if he was ever grateful for his spiritual abilities to levitate, it would be right now.
It was just over the ridge where he found them, fighting off a near-skeletal hoard. Titus was lying on the ground, obviously had just been hit with something. He was conscious, but woozy. And Damian didn't waste another second.
"Down, Titus." He ordered gently, floating to the ground beside his beloved friend's head, taking it in his hands. Titus tried to wag his tail, but it was difficult for him, so he gave out a small whimper instead. Damian smiled at him. "Just stay down, boy."
Titus listened, though hesitantly, turning his attention back to the battle before them. It was everyone but Batman, and they were all fighting as hard as they could. But even then, it seemed that they were struggling against their emaciated foes.
There was a roar across the plains and, faintly, Damian could see his father – the ferocious Bat – fighting his way through a swarm, heading towards what seemed to be a castle, or at least the base of operations.
That must be where I am.
There was a shriek in front of him, and Damian turned to see Batgirl on her knees. Titus gave a harsh growl, trying to push himself to his feet. Even as Damian tried to stop him, the dog went right through his fingertips.
Like Titus had, Batgirl was struggling to get back to her feet, even as the other boys created a wall between her and their attackers
And he doesn't know why. If he was ever asked, Damian would only be able to shrug. But right then, watching Gordon fall, watching Drake try to pick her up and get her out of harm's way, watching Todd and Stone protect them…
He thought of Grayson.
He thought of his eldest brother, and what he would be willing to do. What he would do if he were on Apokolips right now. Bruce may currently be the Hellbat, but Grayson would most definitely be the Bat out of Hell.
Most definitely, whoever hit Gordon would no longer be standing.
Damian could almost see him. Escrima sticks in hand, beating his way through this army, demolishing anyone who so much as laid a hand on his family, on those he claimed to love. Or, at this moment, anyone who would dare to stand in his way of helping Batman retrieve his littlest brother.
(He could even see the surprise. The shock turning to joy and relief on the faces of his brothers and sisters as they realized. As they cried in happiness as their family quickly became void of any missing pieces. That this mission to get one of their members back ended up getting all of them back as well.)
And through Damian's panic and worry, he couldn't help but smile at the idea.
That was all it took.
Damian blinked, and the wasteland was gone. His fighting siblings were gone, his valiant dog was gone. Even the faraway image of his armored father was gone. In its place was a small, plain room, with only a desk, a nightstand, and a bed.
Grayson's dorm.
The man in question was in the bed, apparently deep in slumber. Damian could see the radio to Bruce's frequency laid out on the desk, obviously on and ready to be used at a moment's notice. Even from his position kneeled on the floor, he could see a small photo mixed in with the wires. One taken of their whole family, right after Bruce had returned to them from the time stream.
Bruce had told Dick he wasn't allowed to come to Apokolips. Clearly the man had done the next best thing.
"Brother!"
Damian looked back to the bed, saw Aris leaning over Dick's shoulder, a wide smile on his face. Dick snorted in his sleep, brushing lightly at the spot where Aris was clutching his arm. "You seemed so anxious when you disappeared from the cave, I thought you had come here to relax. But when I got here, I couldn't find you. And I…well, I wasn't quite sure where else to look. I was going to wait until Grayson woke up, try to communicate with him to find you."
"You did the right thing, Aris." Damian flashed him a grin as he stood. "But it's fine, I…I'm here now."
"I see that." Aris hummed playfully, tugging the blanket up to Dick's neck before flopping over it. "Where were you?"
"With…Father, if you can believe it." Damian whispered, sitting on the edge of the mattress. Aris sat up slightly, eyes wide. "I ended up on Apokolips. For however brief a moment."
"But we…we tried…the portal, it…well." Aris settled on. "How's it going, then?"
"Couldn't tell. My…our siblings were separated from Father." Damian described. He didn't elaborate, though. Didn't want to, if only for the fear of those dark thoughts of his family's potential torture popping back into his mind. "Though they all seemed to be holding their own pretty well."
"Hm." Aris pursed his lips. "Think we can go back?"
"I don't know." Damian admitted softly, glancing back down at his hands. He could just see Titus lying injured across his lap. "I… I don't know if I want to."
Aris watched him for a few seconds – obviously reading his expression. How did he get so good at that? – before climbing over Dick's torso and settling into the man's spread arms. "Okay, then. We don't have to."
Damian watched the child make himself comfortable, amuse himself by poking at Dick's nose and mouth. Dick unconsciously fell for the bait, twitching his skin and batting at his own face. "Aris…are you sure?"
"Sure I am. It might be better if we're not there, anyway." Aris said thoughtfully. "You and I tend to become very…intense about these types of situations, where your family is in danger."
"Our." Damian corrected on instinct. "Our family."
"Our." Aris repeated, glancing up at Dick's closed eyes. "Cool."
"But…" Damian scrunched his nose. "If there's anyone who deserves to know what's going on, especially with this, it's us. Don't you believe?"
"We'll know one way or the other. If they succeed your soul will go back to your body and you'll be alive. If they don't, then I'm sure Father will call Grayson to inform him." Aris explained, almost as if he were the adult of the situation. "Don't worry, Damian. What did you just tell me yesterday? Everything will be fine. We don't need to be there watching, not if it'll make you nervous."
Damian frowned, turning and leaning back against Dick's hip, across Aris's legs. "I'm not nervous."
Aris gave out a warm bark of a laugh. "Of course not, Brother. But just in case. We'll stay with Grayson. Whether you want to admit it or not, his presence…well, it calms you."
Damian glanced over at his clone, his twin. His own little brother. He didn't want to argue with him, just on principle and also for the fact that he was right. But even more so, along with the dark, dangerous thoughts of what might happen to his family, there was that one he was still hiding, that one he still wanted to ignore, in all futile hope that it will never happen.
Aris wasn't going to return to the world of the living with him.
As much as Damian wished against it, he knew it was going to happen, knew there was nothing he could do to stop it. And he didn't want to spend what might be his last days in the world of the dead bickering with the child.
Damian smiled, and reached his hand out. Aris pushed upwards instantly, taking Damian's fingers and letting himself be pulled into Damian's embrace. Damian nuzzled the top of Aris's head, closing his eyes as Dick let out a loud snore and Aris giggled.
This. He could do this. Until the situation was resolved. Until he was brought back to life. For the rest of eternity. Whichever came to pass.
"Grayson isn't the only presence that calms me, little one." He whispered. "I love you, Aris."
"I love you too, Damian." Aris repeated. And there was an air of finality to the exchange. It left a bad taste in both of their mouths. But they knew needed to happen anyway, before it was too late. "Always."
And Damian could do nothing but echo the sentiment, glancing up towards Dick's face. "Always."
