INVASION
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, east guest room — 11:59 pm.
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Alfred, the tireless butler, was belittling the title. It was no wonder: spending the day getting around the family's constant fights and working hard to take care of Damian consumed whatever stamina he had managed to gather over the years. On the other hand, it was enough to watch that adorable child for a few seconds to feel that everything was worth it.
— Are you sure you need to leave today, Master Bruce? — The elderly man asked, finishing collecting the several sheets of drawings scattered on the floor.
Bruce kept his gaze focused solely and exclusively on his son, who was enjoying a heavy, peaceful sleep. He wanted to stay there, watching his sleep; running his hand through his son's hair, in a caress, as many times as needed to make sure there were no more injuries there — nothing but the newest scratches, acquired in the midst of an agitated dream.
— ... Yes.
— Although it sounds pretentious: can't they hold these meetings without Batman?
The night watchman, still in his social dress, just sighed and kissed his son on the forehead. He also sighed just before finally walking away and going to the door, murmuring the answer before leaving:
— ... No.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, backyard — 1:24.
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— Man...! Should I have stopped so far from the door!? — Beastboy whimpered, he was exhausted. They had patrolled all of San Francisco in record time before they got a breach — My legs hurt!
— The other portal that I had made was for this same place. I don't know to what extent it is protected here, maybe they have motion sensors... — As she spoke, Raven tried to analyze meticulously what next step she would take — ... and you could have transformed yourself into a hawk.
— I thought about it, but you were already looking over. Two birds in the sky would draw too much attention.
— As if a cheetah running in the middle of the cars didn't call enough attention... — She rolled his eyes.
— Exactly: I stole all my attention and no one noticed you. In fact, my followers love green cats! — The boy put one hand on his waist and with the other showed the cell phone, smiling. The number of followers only increased, he was famous inside and outside the city he protected.
— ... Had you not stopped being excessively... needy?
He was ready to answer, but he was suddenly pulled into the bushes. It was dark, which helped to hide even though the branches were not full of leaves.
Raven kept him immobilized to avoid protests, as well as covering his mouth with one hand. This attack, however, was only a defense: she saw someone approaching and feared they had been discovered so quickly.
However, it was just Alfred walking through the garden to his desired resting place: a cozy, rocky cottage by the lake on one of Wayne's property boundaries.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, east guest room— 00:59.
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Damian was sitting on the bed, staring at the old alarm clock he held in his hands anxiously.
Every day, Mr. Pennyworth put him to wake up at the time of medicine. Damian almost always held him a few seconds before and waited — as if he was even more prepared than the alarm clock. And normally, Alfred would arrive in time to see him turn off the apparatus.
— I hope you will stay on time when you are older, Master Damian — the old man said with a smile as he turned on the bedroom lights.
— I promise to try! — The little one smiled too — Mr. Pennyworth, why can't I take the medication earlier?
The butler just held out the pill and a glass of water to the child, watched him ingest the medicine, and then stroked his dark hair when Damian lay down again. He was thoughtful, or rather, tiredness forced him to think carefully before saying anything.
— Ask your father, Master Damian. He has confusing schedules. — He smiled.
— ... Is that why he leaves for these strange meetings at dawn?
— ... Yes.
— And... are they just business meetings? — He asked quietly, as if he didn't want Alfred to actually hear the question.
— Just boring business meetings, with lots of dull papers and slides — The butler smiled again, assuring the little one should not worry.
Damian looked at him with beautiful green eyes denouncing how interested he was in getting more answers. However, he remained silent and tried to just sleep - he knew that Alfred would only leave him alone when he was asleep.
Latent curiosity made him pay attention to even the smallest details, so he noticed how tired the butler was already. He didn't want to upset Mr. Pennyworth with even more questions... he didn't want to upset anyone.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, backyard — 1:27.
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— ... I'll find a way to get in, you stay here — Raven whispered finally releasing her friend. She got up, dusted her clothes and prepared to create yet another one of her portals.
— No way! — Beastboy took her by the forearm, pulling her down again. Then he continued in a lower tone: — Are you crazy? You can't go in there alone, it's Batman's house! Like, he's Batman! Ready for everything, remember? Even to end Superman... and other heroes... like the two of us!
— I can enter without being noticed, I just need to choose the right place. You stay here in case anyone comes.
— But Raven... — He murmured, pouting.
— ... No. — She frowned and stood up again — If you hear someone coming, you let me know.
— I didn't come here just to be on the lookout! — Despite being apprehensive, Beastboy also wanted to be an active part of the "rescue".
— And you won't just be on the lookout — she said, staring at his friend. —If I don't come back in ten minutes, go after me.
— … Really?
— I was going to ask you to warn Starfire, but I know you're not going to do that.— She lifted her shoulders and gave a little smile with Garfield's predictable features. Then, she added a little more seriously: — At least find a way for her to know where we are.
Beastboy pondered a few seconds, analyzed the alternatives and finally agreed, much more excited than the situation asked:
— Okay!
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Gotham, Batcave, central computer — 1:13.
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Unlike several other times when he stood in front of the giant computer screen, Timothy Drake was not paying any attention to the images that appeared on it. He was much more focused on his notebook making random doodles while talking to his best friend on his cell phone:
— It is not difficult to understand, but no one of them even heard me!
— Did you try not to look obsessed? They would give you more credibility... — Conner did his best to sound optimistic.
— I'm not obsessed about it!
— The simulations you have been doing for weeks say the opposite, Master Tim — Alfred throbbed and soon after yawned, denouncing how exhausted he was already.
— I'll call you later. — the boy answered his friend and hung up the call. And only then did he stare at the butler and was surprised to see him with clear signs of fatigue — Alfred... — he murmured, not sure what he should do — ... you look terrible! Need to rest! — He found the obvious.
— I will go as soon as Master Dick or Master Bruce arrive — The elderly man replied calmly while looking at the screen, he was standing next to the chair where Tim was sitting — Have you managed to reach something conclusive?
— Not yet... — Timothy whispered, but soon afterwards he made it a point to clarify that he still had hopes: — But I'm close to something! The simulations are showing an ever closer pattern, I just need a few more attempts with more variables to make sure...! — He faced the butler again and all the excitement was gone — ... It's nothing that can't wait for a while. You can go rest, Alfred, I will take care of the gremlin until they arrive.
— I think it is not the best alternative...
— You don't trust me anymore, do you? — He stared at the floor — I wouldn't trust either...
— It is not exactly that... — The butler cleared his throat, as if he were about to give one of his long speeches, but young Timmy interrupted him before he even started:
— I know that I am not the best person in the world to take care of children, but I promise that I will not let anything bad happen — He smiled, a shy smile from someone who wanted to repair the mistakes — Give me that chance, Alfred — He asked.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, entrance — 1:28.
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A large, dark house with an almost tactile weight permeating the environment. It looked more like a haunted mansion than the home of a superhero, or at least that was the impression that Rachel had once she stepped inside.
She took a few steps with absolute care - she expected any kind of trap. However, there was no reason for such a precaution: there was nothing there to denounce how paranoid Batman managed to be, much less something that referred to him.
More calm and anxious to see her teammate, the witch walked through the entrance, through the main room and reached the staircase.
Before she could go up to the second floor, where she imagined Damian's room - or captivity - she noticed that someone else was there. She noticed it in time to hide in the shadows and wait until she could continue her searches.
The person seemed not to be a threat: disheveled hair, slippers and a black shirt with the Superman symbol, as well as a jar of cookies on his lap and his cell phone precariously fitted between his shoulder and his ear.
— No, I won't be sending you pictures of him sleeping... Why is it weird! It feels like he'll bite me at any moment! — Tim paused a little to put another cookie in his mouth — Yeah, I know that Dami is cute and everything, but it's weird and I feel bad sending pictures of him to everyone! — He paused to get his hair out of his face before going down the stairs: — Everyone is everyone: Dick, Babs, Jay... Even B asked me for pictures of him! What?... No, I will not post it on the internet, not yet — He gave an evil smile, even jumping the last rung of the stairs excited about how Machiavellian it would be if everyone admired the "adorable Bruce Jr" on the internet - it would also serve as a way of blackmailing the little one when he returned to normal.
Timothy was so excited about his future plans that he didn't realize that there was an intruder in the mansion hidden in the shadows.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, east guest room — 1:31.
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Raven had to cover her mouth with her hands to avoid any whispering — even a laugh. Now she understood how they managed to join Robin, the son of Batman, and the adjective "adorable" in the same sentence:
Damian was sleeping hugging the blanket, wearing one of his favorite pajamas: the one with paw prints. He looked just like a little boy, asleep, with messy hair and a ball of drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.
He didn't seem to be pretending, much less that he would wake up suddenly and bite whoever approached... he didn't look like Damian, always one step ahead of everyone and ready for everything - who, by the way, was in the habit of not sleeping, at least not as heavy as it seemed to sleep now.
She also noticed the room: half-open books, artistic materials scattered on a table, television and a video game still on; various things that a normal boy would have or at least would like to have, but the "old Damian" was not just a normal boy, he would not make his preferences so clear. A curious detail is that the lamp beside the bed was on, that's why everything was so visible, it was another sign that something was wrong.
— Damian... — Raven called in a low tone and moved a little closer to the bed — Damian, we came to help you.
As she had no answers, she came closer and held his face with her hands. It would be so easy if she could just invade his mind and find out what was wrong. However, it was necessary to take the utmost care before doing anything.
And, before she could even think about what she would do when the boy finally opened his eyes, he did. He stared at her with those two emeralds, startled, fighting his heavy eyelids to stay awake.
— ... Damian?
— Ni... gh... — He struggled to try to speak, a really difficult task when he is numb — mar...
— Nightmare?... Are you having a nightmare? — Before she had her answers, the boy closed his eyes again — No, no Damian, stay awake! — She asked, pulling him to at least sit on the bed — Dami, open your eyes — he asked again and, when he was about to use his powers, the friend finally seemed to wake up again:
— H-He... kill me... — he whispered, groping until he could support himself and remain seated alone, or at least something close to that. He held the blanket tightly. — Go… go away — he looked at her. He was apprehensive, exuding fear like the last survivor of a massacre.
Raven held him by the face again before he tried to get up or anything else that required control of himself. She wanted answers before she got him out, she at least wanted to know what they were dealing with, but first she needed to keep him calm:
— ... I promise to help you this time.
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Meanwhile in the Hall of Justice...
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— Bruce... — Superman called him in a whisper — Bruce, the meeting ended exactly five minutes ago — He waited for any kind of answer and, as he didn't get it, continued the one-sided conversation: — And you got out of it more than half hour...
— ... Hun.
— Bruce, I know it's been difficult for you. We all understand that... — The man of steel scratched the back of his neck, not sure how to proceed — ... and we took advantage of this time when he was away to decide what would be best for, er... you can deal with everything.
Batman looked at him, finally.
The entire time he was out of the conference room, he kept looking out the window in that corridor. He seemed intent on watching the stars when in fact he was lost in his world of private thoughts.
— ... And what would be best for me?
— You need some time.
— Batman doesn't need anything — he replied in a cold tone and looked back at the window.
— But Bruce needs... — Superman sighed — This is the conclusion we reached: you need more time. I didn't tell anyone why, by the way, nor would I need to...
— ... Nor?
— Let's say that you stood like a statue out here was a good argument! — He replied with some grace — From now on, Batman will act only in Gotham unless it is strictly necessary — He smiled.
— ... Because?
— Because you need time with your family.
— ... No.
— Bruce, please — he sighed — If you don't want to be with your family, take the opportunity to sleep then. It would improve your bad mood...
— Damian is afraid of me.
— He's afraid of Batman.
— Tim is upset with me.
— He's a good boy, soon he'll get over it.
— Jason blames me.
— I thought Selina had already dealt with this...
— Dick thinks I'm against him.
— Bruce, I could stay here all day giving you reasons to keep hope, but I will say something that Alfred would say in this situation: you are a bad father, take this time to try to be a better one.
— ... How?
— First: get away from that window. Flash bet with the Green Arrow that you would end up breaking it with the power of the mind. — When the friend finally took a few steps grudgingly, snorting, he added: — And the Green Arrow bet that you would start spontaneous combustion later! — He gave a relaxed laugh.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, east guest room — 1:33.
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Raven had already turned on the bedroom light and managed, considerably, to calm Damian. She now had to put the pieces she had together and try to understand everything that was happening so that she could help the teammate.
— He... he always kills me in nightmares— Damian tried to explain again. He pointed to the drawing sheets on the table, she picked them up carefully and analyzed. Some drawings of dogs, people and nightmare scenes, so to speak. The only thing that was repeated in all the scenes was a dark and threatening figure:
— Batman?
This word was enough for Damian to writhe in pain and start scratching his face again. Raven immediately put the drawings aside and went to him, tried to hold his hands and prevent him from continuing - she had noticed the newest scar on the eyebrow that formed with the act, the old one was torn in the same place.
— He is not here! — She tried to calm him down fearing that he had triggered some trigger in his mind, the boy was already flooded with fear again — You are not having a nightmare — she said with the most serene tone she could keep. She held him by the cheeks and forced him to face her — You just lost your memory, so you doesn't remember me... I'm Raven, Rachel. Your friend. — She took his shaking hands again and came to a resolution: — And I have a chance to fix everything now, I just need you to trust me.
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, backyard — 1:37.
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— ... Man, I'm very punctual! — Beastboy smirked and took a selfie. Nothing that would reveal the entire Wayne Mansion, but enough that Starfire — who supposedly knew that place - would recognize it. He posted it along with several other old photos, nothing to arouse the curiosity of others - unless someone was looking for him. After that, he turned into a small bird and flew to single of several windows with the light on.
Before he could turn into an ant or anything as small as to be able to enter, he saw Raven lying on the floor and Damian sitting on the bed looking in her direction.
He was doing nothing but looking.
He probably attacked her quickly enough that nothing else was needed and was now contemplating the result.
Damian was spiteful and vindictive, he would only wait until he could do "justice" with whom he refused to help him. Perhaps he was being kept away from everyone for the safety of the world.
Basically, Beastboy had been waiting for this since the beginning.
He was so blinded by those thoughts that he only realized that he was already inside the room when he finally looked Damian in the eye. He was in wolf form, staring at Wayne like prey cornering the hunter.
— What did you do to her? — The animalistic tone of the speech was highlighted with a growl. — WHAT DID YOU DO!? — He asked again, ready to attack whoever came to rescue before he was attacked too.
Damian, contrary to any expectation, burst into tears.
— And I do not know! — He said quietly, grabbing the blanket hard enough to make his knuckles white. He knew he was going to die, because all the nightmares went on like that, but this one was being so different... deep down, losing hope for a "good dream" hurt even more than the bites he was going to get from that wolf.
— Is it... are these... tears? — Beastly approached him minimally. He was suspicious, but there were no signs of a struggle there. Just as there was no sign that this was really the Damian he knew. As a precaution, the wolf jumped on that boy and tried to recognize him by the scent. There was a strawberry on the clothes, something that seemed to be some kind of medicine, signs of a cigarette… the smell of the Nightwing, Robin Red, Batman…
Damian just cringed and waited for death.
— Deep down... — he brought his snout closer — Yeah, it's you!
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, backyard — 1:38.
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— You are welcome, Bruce. — Superman said as he put his friend down.
— I didn't ask for a ride.
— You don't have to ask — he smiled. When the other was already walking towards the house, he called him: — Ah, Bruce...?
— ... What? — He kept walking.
— I know you're hiding things from me and Lois. I understand that you don't want anyone getting into your affairs, but if you want to talk...
— I do not want.
— It would be good for... — Clark stopped talking when the other stopped walking. Batman turned his face slightly to him and snarled:
— I d'not want.
— Well, when you want... — he sighed — Ah, it's great to finally have accepted the idea of Damian meeting friends again. I think Jon is going to be a little upset about not being the first, but the young heroes he's been around know how to deal with that kind of thing better.
—… Young heroes? — He finally undid the scowl — But I didn't... — He seemed to analyze the possible alternatives with the speed of a computer. Gradually, what most caught the attention of Superman in that place were not the voices of Damian and Beast Boy, the wind passing through the trees or things like that, but Bruce's unrestrained and hurried heart upon realizing the worst: — MY SON YOU ARE IN DANGER!
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Gotham, Wayne Mansion, east guest room — 1:38.
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— Stay calm! Just stay calm! Everything will be fine, we just need to calm down! — Beastboy seemed to be trying to convince himself as he paced the room.
— I swear I didn't do anything... — Damian whispered for the fifth time — She... She just touched me...
— I know, Dami — Beastly sighed — It wasn't your fault, I know it wasn't — He messed up his hair trying to improve his spirits a little — ... You're cute, you know? Strange that I never realized that… no! I always noticed, but now it doesn't look like a cutie that would kill me or... — It was enough to look at those green eyes full of tears to shut up — ... of course you don't kill! Imagine if you would kill someone... right? — He gave a small nervous laugh and stared at his friend lying on the floor, then stared at the window with a futile hope that Starfire would arrive to solve everything. He was apprehensive.
— ... I think I understand what you mean — He ended up smiling, although he still doesn't understand how the monster took the form of a normal boy with greenish skin — The most important thing now is to take her before he arrives. You can get out of here with her even though you're dangerous, can't you? — He asked the last lower part, as if it were almost a secret.
— You will come too — Beastboy said with conviction. Although he did not understand the circumstances and so little what he had gotten himself into, he knew that Damian was completely out of his habit, he was helpless and the worst: he seemed to be even with weakened reason.
— I can't... — The little one looked away — He will go after me, he will end up killing you both too.
— Get it in that hard head that you're not in a nightmare, Dami!
— Yes, I am!
— Is not! And you need to get out of here before it gets worse!
— ... Green people don't exist! Not even green wolves!
— Oh not!? What are you saying I am? Your imagination!? — He debouched raising his arms. Damian opened his mouth, but before he could reply to Beast Boy, he took the floor again: — Don't even try to answer! — He pointed a finger at him in rebuke.
Before the little argument continued, a terrifying sound caused the two boys to shut up. Raven, who until that moment had remained motionless on the floor, began to have tremors - although the body seemed as rigid as that of a corpse -, while she seemed to suffocate with her own air.
— Damn, damn, damn, damn…! — BeastBoy swore, he was about to panic about the devastating consequences that it could have.
— Stay calm, it's just an epileptic seizure... — Damian tried to sound optimistic, but even he was nervous.
— Epilepi of what...!? — The green—skinned boy had to pull out his own hair.
— It will end soon, it always passes.
— How is it going to end soon!? Can't you stop this thing!?
Damian was about to respond with how little he knew about the evil he suffered, but before he could open his mouth to say anything, he opened it in a silent scream of panic as he walked backward with trembling feathers.
— No — a deep, cold voice answered the question, causing BeastBoy to shiver. It was Batman.
— M-Mr. Batman, sir, II... We... Er... It's not what it looks like! — He got closer to Raven — We just thought that... w-what...
— Did you think!? Did you premeditate that!? — He asked in the most frightening way possible. It wasn't on purpose, or rather, it was the only way he wouldn't explode and take out the anger on them.
— I gave the idea, but the Raven who thought more than me! — He admitted, raising his teammate as she could. He quickly searched for Damian, but did not find him... he had probably taken advantage of the cue to escape.
— Out of here! — the eldest ordered.
— Look for Mr. Pennyworth, he will help Rachel! — Little Wayne advised, despite not leaving the obvious hiding place under the bed.
Beast Boy just obeyed what he was told.
Raven, with the slightest tremors, was not conscious yet and could not protest either.
Batman felt his vigilante instincts screaming at him to do something about those invaders. Bruce, on the other hand, just wanted to take off his clothes and find a way to fix the damage possibly done to his son's fragile mind... in the end, those two halves only formed a frustrated, defeated and tired man.
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Meanwhile, in the Batcave…
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— Yeah, he's fine!... Yes, Jason, I'm looking at him every fifteen minutes. — The family nerd rolled his eyes — I told you he's fine! You don't have to come just because I'm alone with him! — And finally ended the call. He still couldn't understand why everyone was so concerned about the gremlin, if his situation was apparently controlled.
He stared at the giant computer screen with his simulations still loading.
— ... It was not exactly this type of question that I wanted to answer with divergent timelines — he murmured, leaning back in his chair again — ... I am a detective and I always look for reasons! — He ran his hands through his hair — But no...! They prefer to be playing "home sweet home" with Damian without even understanding that you can fix him knowing what happened!
His cell phone set off the "check Damian" alarm, temporarily disrupting the poor boy's complaints monologue. Nothing would stop him from grumbling all the way:
— Come on, Tim! Show them what we found! — He repeated his girlfriend's lines with irony — You should know better than anyone, Steph, that Bruce only cares what he wants to care about! — He ran his hands through his hair once again when he arrived at the library — I just want to see his face when I prove that everything is related! — He said convinced, soon after sighing and returning to his usual face of previous defeat before he reached the corridor — Who am I trying to deceive? I just need to sleep... sleep and forget about Damian a little. Then I will be able to dedicate myself to my studies without...
And, before he could complete the sentence, Timothy was faced with the chaos installed in the mansion: Raven lying on the floor next to the stairs; Superman crouched beside her, trying to decide whether to put the poor girl on the couch or take her away from everything and everyone while there was still time; Beast Boy, who wandered from side to side tripping over his own feet, was talking desperately to someone on his cell phone.
— ... and now she doesn't wake up! Besides, I'm sure Batman will kill me! If he doesn't kill me, Raven will probably go! Or you! But it doesn't matter, it just comes before... Hello!? Hello!? Ah, man... that's it: I'm going to die! What the fuck... — He fell silent before finishing, surprised to see the old Robin there.
— ... Intergalactic attack? — Timothy asked making eye contact directly with the most rational of the three.
— No, you don't have to panic — Superman warned — Br... Batman is just stressed, but I think he will do nothing but a long lecture about breaking into his house and trying to kidnap Damian.
— Right... — The boy murmured again and passed by them surprisingly calm, going up the stairs as if absolutely nothing was happening. It could all just be a hallucination caused by lack of sleep - at best. He slowly turned his head back and found that they were still there — Damn…
The mind had already worked on more alternatives to that chaos, all involving Wayne Jr. and Batman - besides the worst possible: Batman close to Damian.
And, as usual, the worst was realized:
In the youngest room, there was a stagnant Batman as if he were in a trance. The child in the house was also there, obviously, but she was rudely hiding under the bed - he didn't even bother to hide her sobs from crying.
Timmy passed the mentor like an arrow and ducked close to his younger brother's "hiding place".
It took some - considerable - time before he managed to get the child out there at the cost of biting his hands, pushing, kicking and anything else Damian could do besides screaming for help, for parents, for siblings, for life... screams muffled in the midst of crying that sounded more like whispers. If he defended how he succeeded, how he could... as just a frightened child.
— It's me, it's me... — Tim murmured when he finally managed to hug the little one — It's okay now... It was just a nightmare.
— It was not! — Damian tried to get rid of him one last time just to look around and see that there were only the two of them there — Tim, it wasn't a nightmare, I swear! He was here! An-and had two more, this time it was a different nightmare! He didn't kill me, but he was here! — He fired as fast as he could, trying not to sob between words.
— Everything is fine now... — He stroked his little brother's dark hair — It was a nightmare, even though it looked real. You must have just fallen out of bed and thought it was for real, maybe you mistook the shadow of something for that monster from your nightmare... everything is fine now.
— ... No... — He grunted trying to keep his version of the facts, but there was no way to reply — ... I saw... — he murmured softly, hiding his face and hugging him — ... I saw...
— Dami... — Tim tried to sound as friendly as possible — you are taking too many medications, maybe they cause this impression of having seen things that are not real...
— ... Yes, it was real!
Timothy was silent. I didn't know how to reassure him now, or what words to use to minimize the situation... the only thing he could do was follow through with the rehearsed lie that reality was a "nightmare".
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NOTE
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I could have sworn that I already mentioned the fact that Alfred didn't live in the mansion on some other final note, but I didn't find anything. Having said it or not, here it is:
In an Empire interview, Jeremy Irons (actor who played Alfred in Batman vs. Superman) said the butler doesn't live at Wayne Mansion, but in a lakefront home.
I researched the home of each of the characters when I was still in the first chapters, that's when I found this information. I took this as an absolute truth and decided to insert it in the fanfic, because nothing would make more sense than the unshakable butler to have his hours of rest away from anything that could interrupt him. In fact, why not do it in a humble and cozy residence that contrasts with the luxury of the Mansion?
That is why in some chapters (Morning, Caffeine and Shock) it is clear that Alfred was not there, but I just forgot to point out where he was. I apologize if it was a curiosity, I just didn't notice that I had forgotten to give this information — as much as I feel I have said it before…