LUNCH
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Moods were already calmer.
Bruce was still sitting in exactly the same place. He watched the kids try to help Alfred with the mess, watched Dick, Tim and Barbara take Jason to the bedroom, watched the lunch table be set. He was calmer already, but he still felt weak enough not to risk unnecessary movements - he would save whatever energy he had for his nightly rounds.
— Dad? — Damian called him by placing his hand on his shoulder — Is everything okay?
— I'm just distracted... — He put his hand over his son's — Did something happen?
— ... I think so. — replied quietly — My mom has been on the phone for a long time, she seems nervous... Who is Lois?
— Lois is a friend. — Bruce gave a small smile, he knew perfectly well the reason for that nervousness — Son, are you listening to other people's conversations?
— No! — Damian tried to pull his hand towards him — I swear I didn't! I only heard a little bit because I was turning off the video game, I swear! — The eyes got to have some tears stuck.
— Alright, alright... — Carefully, Bruce pulled him over and made his son sit on his legs. He looked like a child afraid of being grounded... a small child, a version of himself that, unfortunately, Bruce never had the chance to meet - maybe not even Talia had met this helpless and fearful Damian — I just asked why before you had this habit.
— Sometimes I feel like... — Damian said softly — ... like listening to what you say with Mr. Pennyworth or with my brothers, but I swear I don't do that!
— What does my adorable son not do? — Selina asked approaching them.
— Nothing... — The oldest Wayne answered for the youngest.
— Nothing but help with lunch! — Alfred commented smiling, finishing placing the dishes on the table — Should I put a plate for Mrs. Lane?
— Actually, Alfred, you must remove mine. — She gently touched Damian's hair, making the little one stare — I will go to Metropolis to visit a friend, I must return tomorrow morning... with a surprise for you!
— Surprise? What surprise?
— If I tell you, it won't be a surprise anymore! — She let a little laugh escape.
— It will make him anxious... — Bruce warned.
— If he gets too anxious he can tell what it is — She laughed again and then kissed her son's forehead.
Damian stood up and hugged her. It was a small attempt to prolong her presence there and, as ineffective as it sounded, it worked: Selina stood embracing him for a few minutes. She waited patiently until he finally released her and then placed another kiss on his forehead.
— I promise to come back tomorrow morning... maybe even before you wake up — She smiled, holding him by the cheeks.
Bruce was about to say something against that match: he knew exactly what Selina would do and, especially, who he would bring with her. He didn't think it was a good idea, not yet. However, before he could say anything, Richard deconcentrated him by placing his hand on his shoulder:
— I'm going to meet Wally — He warned with a smile on his face, a sign that it was just a meeting of friends.
— Are you going back soon? — Damian looked at him, he was visibly sad with so many lefts at the same time.
— I promise to come back before dinner — The older brother smiled and went to the little one, messing up his hair as much as he can — With candies! — He looked at Selina, still with the smile on his face, and then asked: — Shall we go?
Bruce stared at his girlfriend and she nodded.
He was perplexed by that suspicious level of complicity between the two - especially knowing the views of the eldest son. Selina used to act behind his back, anyone's back, but he was in no shape to endure any more blows.
— Cat...!
— It's just a ride to the port — Selina answered him even before he asked anything else — Trust me, bat — asked in a whisper when she was close enough to him to kiss the corner of his mouth.
Damian watched his parents closely, he liked to see them together - although his cheeks were red with the expressions of affection between the two. Bruce continued to stare at Selina in silence, until she and Dick left - the son opened the door for her like the good gentleman he is.
The detective was lost in suspicions and thoughts that brought down all those suspicions, since he didn't want to be suspicious of two people he had as a base...
— Das... — When he got the look and attention of the elder, Damian continued: — What do I like to eat?
Bruce finally looked at something beyond the now closed door. He was so caught up in that internal fight that he didn't realize that Timothy, Barbara and Damian were sitting next to him.
— Dad...? — Damian called him again, anxious for the answer.
— Anything.
— Anything?
— That I remember, yes. — Bruce looked at the faithful butler — He always ate anything, right?
— Fortunately only edible things, but I caught he trying to make tea with the flowers at the entrance — the butler confirmed.
— So why do I always eat different things? Is it because of the drugs?
Alfred and Bruce fell silent, not sure how to explain. They wanted Dick to be there, he was much better at these matters, or even Jason. Tim, who had remained silent until that point, smirked and cut a generous piece of the roast he was eating, then handed it to Damian with a fork.
— Try.
— I really can? — The boy smiled. He was used to the kindness of his older brothers and Mr. Pennywood, even his busy father was more kind to him than Timothy.
— Of course, proof.
— I don't think it's a good idea, son... — Bruce murmured a little seriously, totally disapproving Drake's actions.
— Why? — Damian asked, already holding his fork and ready to try the roast.
— Because you are a vegetarian.
— He was a vegetarian — Tim pointed out, drawing a reproachful look from Bruce.
— Tim, I don't know what the purpose of all this is, but I hope you don't bother Damian again — the father started, soon being interrupted:
— It has no purpose, I only accepted once that Damian lost his memory and we need to help him in this to start his life in a different way... Of course, without trying to give an answer to what happened! — He went back to eating quietly.
— I don't like your tone.
— Ah, B! — The boy hurried and swallowed the food — He forgets everything close to the pinscher-gremlin attacks or whatever, he remembers nothing but the nightmares and still has bouts of pain depending on what he hears! Obviously we don't have to worry about what happened, do we!? — Timothy was visibly irritated by not being taken seriously — I better accept that this is going to be the new version of Damian, is even less boring!
— Timothy! — Bruce was exalted — A little more respect for his conditions!
— What conditions!? He's great, he's just out of memory! — Even if defending himself, the boy would not miss the chance to spill out at once: — He just doesn't want to continue leading the life he used to. It is better for him to end up like this, just losing his memory, than to be discarded when another one arrives or ends up dying, isn't it?
And so an argument started, where the two - Bruce and Timothy - were terribly wrong.
While practically shouting to see who was right, Alfred silently approached the child of the house and helped him to escape with slow and devious steps. Damian said absolutely nothing in the middle of it all, but it was enough that they reached the stairs for him to start crying and blaming himself:
— I swear I didn't want them to fight, I swear I didn't ask for anything bad, Mr. Pennyworth!
— And nobody is blaming you, young man... — in the most docile way possible, the butler ruffled his hair in an attempt to comfort the little one. However, that affection only served to make Damian burst into tears even more, even sobbing.
— I-I don't wa-ant to be discard-ded!
Alfred remained there, he could not do much at the moment besides messing with his spiky dark hair trying to calm the boy. He had even considered the idea of taking Damian in his arms, as he did with little Bruce as a child, but he was not sure if it was the best option - after all, stress was enough to trigger an epileptic seizure, and in those seizures it was better than person to stay on the floor.
Fortunately for the butler, Barbara had already finished lunch in the middle of the discussion. She approached them as quickly as she could when she noticed that little Damian was crying. Without explaining, she grabbed the boy as Dick used to do and took him upstairs... she was worried.
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NOTE
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I know I already talked about Barbara in a previous note (on that Extra before Limbo), but I will take advantage of her presence being becoming more routine for some extra information:
Age: around 22 years old.
Height: 1.80 m approximately.
Weight: 61 kg.
Differential: always goes with strawberry candies.
Soon, we will have an addition in this information of all the characters. But only when Damian finds out what each member of that family "works" for.
Note of note: in Brazil (where I live), lunch is the main meal. It is usually when we bring the family together to eat... I know that in other countries it doesn't work like that, but what better time to "wash dirty clothes", right?
