Damian Wayne was not the same sullen boy who had arrived at his father's side more than seven years ago. Anyone who compared Damian at that time with Damian now could tell.
The change had not been overnight, much less, it had been slow and even painful. Damian had to root out the ideals with which he was raised, forget the voice of Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul and even Bruce Wayne who were always in his head to find his own voice, a path acceptable to Damian , for nobody else.
The boy had matured and had become a young man who had completely left behind the teachings of the League of Assassins.
— Drake, I swear if you don't give me back my katana right now, I'm going to mutilate you.
Well, almost completely, but please, we have all threatened our siblings to death at least once. The thing is that, although Damian and his brothers' relationship had improved enough to call them brothers (in his mind, of course, the boy had a reputation to care for) there were still disputes between them.
In particular between Damian and Timothy Drake.
— You can try if you want demon spawn.
— I'm serious Drake, I have to go out so give me back my katana right now or else ...
— Or else what?
— Or else you can say goodbye to your coffee reserves hidden in the cave.
— You wouldn't dare
— Do you want to take a chance?
Tim watched the remote in his younger brother's hands. He sighed and returned the katana.
— If you are going to meet your friends, What the hell do you need your katana for? — asked Dick Grayson who had watched the game of the cat and the mouse of his two little brothers entertaining.
—You never know — Damian replied as he wrapped his katana.
— If you ask me ...
— No one does Todd
— The little devil's katana is like his teddy bear — Jason Todd said mockingly — I bet he sleeps with her.
— I do not sleep with it - Damian complained - I just keep her at the reach of my hand.
— That's not good little D — Dick said worriedly — You could hurt yourself or hurt someone one day.
— Let him be, Dick— Jason said — as things are going, we get for granted that his katana is the only company in his room that the dwarf will get.
— JASON
— TODD
— You all know it's true — Jason scoffed
— The chances of a girl showing a sincere interest in the little demon are almost zero — Tim confirmed
— Don't listen to them, Damian — said Dick, hugging Danmian's head — I know there is a girl out there who will love you and your katana.
— I'm not interested Grayson
— Interested in what? — From the entrance of the batcave Bruce Wayne looked out with a three-year-old infant in his arms while the little girl slept — Is there something going on Damian?
— Only the delusions of Grayson and the immense stupidity of Todd and Drake — said young Wayne as he approached his father with katana in hand — nothing to worry father.
— We only discussed the non-existent sex life of the demon spawn
— Todd, if you don't shut up ...
— Something worries you son? — Bruce said to his son a little worried — If you need advice about girls I could ...
— Do you really want to discuss that while carrying Helena, father? — interrupted the boy while pointing to the still sleeping girl.
Helena Wayne, daughter of Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, and Bruce Wayne, or Batman, had came in to the lives of the bat family three years ago and everyone, even Damian, loved the little girl.
Both Bruce and the boys went silent, Helena was a sweet creature most of the time, but just awake she was extremely grumpy.
—What are you doing with her here anyway? — Jason asked approaching the little girl who was still comfortably asleep in her father's arms — Why didn't you let her sleep in her room?
— I tried to make her sleep in her bed — Bruce explained — but she caught on to me and didn't want to let go.
— And Selina, where is she?— Tim questioned as he drank coffee. — Generally she can make her sleep in her bed.
— She's out— Bruce said as he tried, unsuccessfully, for his daughter to release him — I think she was going to meet with Harleen and Pamela.
— The Gotham City Sirens gather together and you do nothing? — Jason asked with a raised eyebrow — Wow, the powerful Batman has been tamed by a thief.
— Former thief— Clarified Dick.
Everyone turned to see Damian who was helping his father to take the little Wayne to lay her in the chair in front of the batcomputer.
He turned to see them with a raised eyebrow.
— What?
— Aren't you going out with your speech that criminals are not reformed and that they are only inactive and that they are not reliable blah blah blah? — Jason scoffed.
— If I thought that those three are not reliable, I would never have let Selina set foot in this place. — he clarified looking for one of Helena's stuffed animals that were scattered in the batcave - they are necessary evils to which I have become accustomed.
— But when Bruce said he was going out with Selina, you opposed it— said Tim, — it's hard for me to believe that you now trust them three.
— Make no mistake, Drake— Damian said as he put a Bat stuffed animal in the arms of his little sister.— The moment any of them three become a threat, I will end them personally.
— Damian, the threat was not necessary — scold Bruce — Selina is not ...
— I said " if" they became a threat, father, I am also not threatening anyone — Damian said smiling — I am establishing a fact.
Everyone was silent at Damian's words. Until...
— Can we leave the uncomfortable subject and embarrass the spawn again for not being able to take any girl to bed?
— JASON !!!
— I'm going to annihilate you Todd!
— Don't kill, Damian!
— Please — Jason said laughing while dodging the attacks of his younger brother — even the replacement has had action with Steph!
— That's none of your business Jason!
— You've used protection, right?
— Bruce !!!
— Yeah, don't be offended Bruce but you are not the best example in that.
- Can we leave the subject? — Damian said jaded — I have to go.
— OK Damian — Bruce told his son, Damian was going to thank his father for the intervention (he was going to actuallydo it), until he said with a mocking smile — just remember, it's fine if you take your time to get a girlfriend. After all, I don't think it's easy for you either.
If looks will kill, Damian would be guilty of patricide at that time. Listening to the silent laughter of his brothers, he only shook his head and smiled, a smile that gave his brothers chills and, although he would not admit it, his father as well.
— What are you thinking, demon? — Tim asked cautiously, he really didn't like that smile.
— Nothing — Damian said pretending innocence, which only made everyone more nervous — As I said before, I'm leaving.
He walked slowly to the exit of the cave, and when he was practically outside and his brothers began to calm down, he took out his cell phone and dialed. When he knew thad the person on the other line have answered, he place the phone away from his ear and put it on the speaker.
- DAMIAN WAYNE! WHERE ARE YOU? WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU - the loud voice of Mia Mizoguchi, better known as Maps, sounded that combined with the echo of the cave made everyone cover their ears. Damian smiled and left.
— Shit, that girl could compete with Black Canary — Jason complained. — Still, is that all? I was expecting something worse because of the weird way the brat smiled ...
And while Jason was still talking, the four men watched with a little fear (which really was a lot) as a very, very VERY upset Helena Wayne woke up.
From outside the cave Damian listened with a smile while his little sister started a tantrum for being awakened.
As I said before, he almost, emphasis on almost, had left his murderous side behind.
He took his katana and left the mansion while informing Alfred of the situation, nor was he so ruthless to leave his father and brothers alone with his sister's tantrums. Of course he told Alfred to take his time, the four of them had to suffer because they laughed at him.
He drove to the commercial center of Gothic City.
Curiously, if you had told 10-year-old Damian Wayne that he voluntarily, well almost, would go to a place as banal as a mall to "hang out with his friends," he would have stabbed you without even blinking. But here he is, wearing the clothes of a common teenager while walking with his unique group of friends.
And they really were unique.
As he approached the meeting point, Damian reflected on how unique his friends were. He couldn't help it by seeing two of them jumping to get his attention.
"As if I hadn't seen them yet"
- DAMIAN! HERE WE ARE!
"Or heard, hell Maps"
First there was Jon Kent, also known as Superboy, or as Damian called him, Super-bother. The boy was like a puppy, in need of love, easily excited and hiding his emotions was not his thing. But what could you expect from the beloved son of Superman.
Although he had taken time he had become Damian's first friend. Damian respected his ability and it was he who had crushed some of the barriers Damian had imposed on himself. Same barriers that he was beginning to consider when I saw the boy jump like a puppy.
- DAMIAN! Have you seen us yet?
The girl shouted next to Jon and Damien just wished the earth to swallow him.
Mia Mizoguchi, she had met her at Gotham academy. The girl had stuck like gum and before she realized Damian already considered her as a friend. His skill in mapping was a plus. But his tendency to shout in public places forgetting who was around took points away.
Seeing that she opened her mouth again Damian whispered:
— I saw you and I heard you - fixing his green eyes on Jon, who knew he was listening, he murmured — if you don't make him shut up, I leave.
Jon, using his super ear, listened and conveyed the message, the result was that both Maps and Jon pouted, while Collin and Lucy smiled.
Collin and Lucy were undoubtedly the kind of people with whom the 10-year-old Damian wouldn't hangout, but here they were, he, against all odds, appreciated by him.
Collin Wilkes was basically a meta human, and everyone knew that Batman didn't want meyas in Gotham City. However Colin was an exception, the boy had been kidnapped by Scarecrow at 10 years old and he had experimented with the boy. Colin, however, had not been a victim, had been a survivor, instead of having self-pity the boy had used that traumatic experience and its side effects to become Abuse, a hero who only wanted to help, who from the beginning did not seek the camera flashes because he knew that his appearance would not help him.
Despite everything, the boy had a heart of gold and was extremely patient, something that combined with Damian, and he respected Colin for his courage and determination.
And then there was Lucy ...
Among his entire group of friends Lucy was particularly someone with whom he never thought it was possible to get along and curiously she was the one who understood him the most.
Lucy was a genius when it came to analyzing people and her acrobatic abilities were extremely useful in combat. She was also a great listener and always had good advice. Lucy had everything to become a great psychologist, however she had started a life as a hero for a simple reason, she felt that guilty.
Lucy had lived her life as a model student, a model citizen, and when she turned 13 she became the hero Zinger. At first Damian had been extremely cautious with her, after all, the reason why she tried so hard to prove she was "good" was to not be in her parents dark shadow.
The girl could not help it, it must be difficult to be the daughter of not one but two villains and not any villains, the Joker and Harley Quinn. Although Harley had reformed Lucy felt she had to pay for her mother's crimes. Lucy loved her mother, although Harley had initially left her in the care of her aunt so that Lucy had a normal childhood, in the end, after being kidnapped with Harley, she had realized the truth. Lucy above all hated feeling weak and wanted to protect her mother, which is why Zinger was born, to clear her mother's name and protect the innocent victims of her lunatic father, and according to her the best way to do it was to fight .
Damian respected her. And that respect had grown and now considered her a friend.
This group of teenagers, this unique group of teenagers, had become Damian's team. A team he led and a team he trusted. A team that made him want to take out his katana right now because, for God's sake, why did they have to be so dumb?
Damian sighed, as for the tenth time in the day, and approached his friends.
— Someone can reminds me of what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to be part of this ridiculous waste of time.
—Come on Damian — Jon complained — We needed to get together to hang out.
— I spend time withh all of you every day at the academy.
— It's not the same — Mia complained — in the academy we can't play around.
— I don't want to play around —Damian answered with a grimace.
— Don't be grumpy Damian — Colin said with a conciliatory smile. — I'm sure we'll have a good time.
— Still, it is rare that you are late — Lucy pointed out distractedly — I think you would arrive on time to your own execution.
— DAMIAN DON'T DIE!
— I am standing next to you Mizoguchi — Damian complained while everyone covered their ears — I think you killed Kent's ears
— I'M SO SORRY JON!
— Mia, you are yelling again.
— I'm sorry.
— By the way — Damian commented as if nothing — your screams interrupted Helena's nap.
— Mia don't shout — Lucy interrupted when she saw that the girl was going to start apologizing again — also judging Damian's face I think he used that in his favor.
—Where did you get that Quinzel?
— You have the face of the cat that ate the canary — Lucy pointed out —confess, what did you do?
— I did nothing but answer the call of Mizoguchi — he said while smiling innocent, which gave chills to everyone present — the fact that I was already leaving and that father and the morons I have as brothers now have to appease Helena is no longer my business.
A moment passed before the teenagers understood what the young Wayne had done. And the result was that everyone started laughing out loud at imagining Batman and the previous three Robin's battling to calm a three-year-old toddler.
— Well — said Lucy catching her breath — Thanks for the laugh Damian, but I'm hungry and if I don't eat something in the next 10 minutes, someone will get hurt.
— I'm hungry too — Jon complained — I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.
— Why? Louis would never let you go until this hour without eating — Mia pointed out, watching her watch that said 3 p.m.
— Mom had a conference in London and left early today — replied the boy — and Dad had" work outside ", they gave me money for pizza.
— They left you alone?
— Hey! I know how to take care of myself.
— And what will you do when you have nightmares and mommy and daddy are not there?
— Damian, don't start the teasing — Lucy reprimanded, and when Jon was going to thank her, she added — you're going to make him cry.
—For your information, I will be completely fine — the young Kent replied indignantly
— I'm sure it will be — said Colin conciliatoryly — When does your dad Jon come back?
— If everything goes well, tomorrow morning.
— What do you say if we have a boys night? — He said while looking at Damian with hopeful eyes — The girls had one of those a few weeks ago.
— Great idea Colin! — Jon said turning to see young Wayne — Can we Damian? Please? Please? Please?
Seeing that he had the two boys puppy eyes against him, Damian just sighed.
—Where?
Both Jon and Colin jumped excitedly.
— My home
— I'll be there Kent, but after patrolling.
Watching as the girls laughed softly at the boys' excitement, Damian began to think. The 10-year-old Damian raised by murderers would not be hanging out with a group of friends and would definitely not be planning a sleepover at Jonathan Kent's house, but the 17-year-old Damian was happy to be with his friends.
"Damit, I've softened"
And deep down, deep deep down, Damian was happy about it.
OK so, I was planning to update this on Friday, but a lot of things happened. I promise I will try to post the third chapter on Friday or Saturday.
So this chapter was to introduce a little of the dynamic that I am going to use on the Gotham side of the story.
I know that Helena, Colin, Lucy and Mia doesn't belong to the main timeline, but I really wanted to see how it works.
I'll be using elements of young justice instead of teen titans as well.
So this is basically a free-form au.
If you have any comments let me know.
Thanks for the comments and the votes on the previous chapter.
Farewell fellows
