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He'd gotten used to Batman being able to read him. Know what he was thinking. How he was feeling. Grayson had developed the habit of cornering him into talking. His father didn't do that. He worked independently. It was everything Damian had wanted. A partner who didn't talk endlessly about nonsense and focused on the work. Why did it feel wrong?
Damian had always preferred quiet. He liked solitude and silence.
When he'd first come to Gotham to learn from his father, he knew Batman wasn't known for being chatty. He'd stayed because Grayson would absolutely have drowned if he hadn't stuck around to help.
So when Grayson had picked up the mantle in his Father's absence Batman was no longer a stoic silent creature of the night. He was much more charismatic and emotional. Most of the low levels didn't know the difference but the big guys like Two Face and Joker, they knew. They knew Nightwing had stepped in.
They all were too familiar with Batman.
Damian had adjusted to it. He had to. If he was going to stick around he needed to be reasonable about how much could realistically change for him and what he would need to change for.
He couldn't change Grayson's very nature.
So he got used to a quippy Batman. He always had something to say. Damian would never admit it out loud but he'd grown fond of it. It did take a special skill to always have a comeback ready. It's not as if it can be prepared beforehand.
Then his father came back.
It was everything Damian had ever wanted and nothing like what he'd expected.
He'd grown used to Batman speaking his mind, he couldn't read his father the way Grayson or Drake could. He'd grown used to one liners and quips and smart remarks. He'd grown used to Batman always going high because Grayson always fought above ground instead of on it.
Batman was grounded and unmoveable. He didn't quip, he didn't fight like Grayson. They couldn't be more different. And it made Damian feel weird.
Grayson had stuck around for the adjustment which was nice. It helped them both figure out how to work with each other. Until Grayson decided that he was no longer needed and went back to his own life.
Damian couldn't help but feel like there was something he could've done to convince Grayson to stay. He couldn't decide if he left because Damian was too good or wasn't good enough.
It kept him up at night.
He'd gotten used to Batman being able to read him. Know what he was thinking. How he was feeling. Grayson had developed the habit of cornering him into talking.
His father didn't do that. He worked independently.
It was everything Damian had wanted. A partner who didn't talk endlessly about nonsense and focused on the work.
Why did it feel wrong?
Damian stood at his father's side, hands clasped behind his back, while the Batman worked.
They'd just gotten back from patrol.
He'd told Damian to hit the showers and go to bed. But he hadn't, neither of them had.
"I thought I told you to go to bed?" His Father finally acknowledged that Damian was standing there after about thirty minutes.
"The case is unfinished." Damian explains simply.
"It won't be finished tonight either. You're done for today."
"You're obviously not done. I am useful, I can help."
Father turns to look at him. "I know you're useful but I don't need your help right now. Now go to bed."
Damian jutted his chin out defiantly. "Is that an order?"
"If you want it to be." His father replied, sounding almost helplessly.
Damian turned on his heels and stepped into the changing rooms. It'd been this way since Grayson left. Neither of them really knew how to interact with each other and Damian found it endlessly frustrating.
He'd felt he'd had more agency before, more control over when he stepped away from open cases and whatever else they might be doing. He didn't usually feel sidelined.
It felt as if his father was purposefully avoiding him.
The next night on patrol there was a stake out.
Holding position until the perfect moment to strike. They needed to know who was supplying Scarecrow's newest chemical compound for his toxins. They'd been coming up on dead ends for weeks now.
Tonight would hopefully change that.
Damian's only warning that Batman was going to jump them was when he jumped down into the alley and went after the thugs.
It took him a couple of seconds to adjust and figure out what to do next. The truck was going to get away.
He knew Batman was going to try and get names and he wanted Robin to get samples.
Damian can manage that.
He jumped across the alley onto the neighboring roof before rolling off the side again to land on top of the truck.
He made quick work of the driver and got the truck out of working order.
Batman rejoined him after Robin had collected the samples.
"Where's the driver?" Batman asked after a moment.
Robin gestured over to where he'd zip tied the man to a drainage pipe. "I've already notified GCPD. They should be here soon, I also have the samples we need."
"Good work Robin. Let's head back." Batman turned and went to head back for the Batmobile.
Damian bristled under the compliment. He didn't like it.
His father found him later in the night, after the samples were analyzed and the reports had been written.
"I wasn't sure you were going to follow me or head for the truck." His father begins. "It was good work."
"Thank you." Damian tells him, his voice tight.
It felt as if his father was attempting to talk to Damian but wasn't sure what to say. Damian however knew what he wanted said.
"We were doing fine without you. I do not know why you returned to the role." He can't fully understand why, but Damian wants the comment to sting.
His father studies him. Damian had never wished he could have any of Drake's skills but he would kill to be able to know what he was thinking like Drake always seemed to.
"I'm glad that you've been so informative during the transition. It's been very helpful to have you around as I've gotten reacquainted with everything. I know how hard it's been for you."
Damian narrowed his eyes. He had no idea what was going on. "Well it's been an adjustment for us." He decides on, wanting the conversation to end. "Anyway, good night, father."
He pushes past him to head upstairs. Damian can feel his eyes on him.
Damian decides a quiet day in his room reading, avoiding everyone, is exactly what's needed today. It is immediately ruined by a faint knock on his open door.
Grayson is braced against the door frame. "Hey kid, mind if I come in?"
"It's fine." Damian tells him almost immediately. "I haven't heard from you in a while."
He settles on the edge of Damian's bed. "Sorry. I got busy. You know how it is. How have things been here?"
"They have been fine."
"Fine?" Grayson parroted. "Nothing you want to talk about?"
He thinks for a moment. There was plenty he wanted to talk about, and he was willing to share none of it. "No."
Grayson sighs as if he'd expected Damian to be tight lipped. He probably did. "I know this isn't what you expected. Sometimes he's difficult."
"That isn't it." Damian admits.
"Okay, then what's going on?"
"I don't know. I guess I got used to how we did things. I don't like the change."
"Maybe you should try telling him that."
"Is that why you're here? To play mediary?"
"Uh no. I am here for an unrelated reason. He did mention you might want to talk. He's noticed that you're not as- happy as you were before I left."
Damian really doesn't like that either. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to work with him. He doesn't ever say what his next move will be. I am supposed to follow him blindly. I don't appreciate it. It's hard to anticipate. And yes I am aware of the irony."
"We did have a lot of conversations about that." Grayson agreed. "Damian, you need to tell him this. Right now he's trying to figure you out too. He only has my perspective of things. Your relationship with him is going to be unique. The way he treats you will be unique. Because you're not me, or Tim, or Barbara, or Stephanie, or Cass. He can't treat you the way he treats the rest of us."
"Things were easier when it was just us."
"I know. But it's not just us anymore. You deserve a relationship with him but you do need to put a little effort forward. Maybe stop being so standoffish."
"I am not standoffish." Damian countered immediately.
Grayson made an unimpressed face.
"Perhaps you have a point. I will- try."
Grayson smiled before standing, gripping Damian's shoulder firmly. "I'm heading out after dinner but I need to talk to B for a little bit."
"About me?" Damian could help but ask.
Grayson smiled wider. "Look at you being smart."
That night, after Damian had gotten ready for patrol he kept what Richard said in mind.
He squared his shoulders as his father approached.
"Ready?" His father asked, securing the cowl over his head.
"I am." Damian pulled his hood up. "Scarecrow cannot hide from Batman and Robin for long."
He might've imagined it, but he thinks he saw Batman smile.
Okay, I lied. I have one more fluff piece for tomorrow and then some good old fashion hurt/comfort. You've been warned.