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Damian had let Grayson stay in the line of fire while simultaneously getting moved out of the way. He hadn't attacked the gunmen on site like he should've. He was Robin, and Robin didn't let people get hurt on his watch. In the uniform or not. So instead of sleeping like he should be, he's awake. He's studying. Waiting for the moment when he can help get the last one. When he can get the person who shot his partner, his brother.
The sounds in the apartment were soft.
It was almost homey and comfortable. If the situation were different Damian would probably make use of the bed made up for him.
Grayson had agreed to one more week of supervision.
Part of why Damian had suggested it was to make sure the older man was okay. He wasn't back to his full strength yet. The other part was there were less people watching him here. Less people to get in his way.
Damian looked over the new updates on the open file for the shooting. His father had finally found three of them.
They really were nobodies. One was twenty-four and the other was twenty-one. Both had priors, but for minor things, shoplifting. The third was an old friend, he was twenty-three. All he really did was sell drugs on the side while he was in college. Nothing that suggested they would shoot up a corner store. No known associations with anyone nefarious, thank god. It would hopefully stay that way.
The other one was still at large.
Not for long.
Not with these three found.
Now it wasn't if they were found. It's when.
Part of Damian wanted to go to Gotham and help. But everyone had been a little too relieved Damian would be here. Out of the way.
Despite several reassurances from Grayson Damian still felt this whole thing was his fault. He'd let Grayson stay in the line of fire while simultaneously getting moved out of the way. He hadn't attacked the gunmen on site like he should've. He was Robin, and Robin didn't let people get hurt on his watch. In the uniform or not.
So instead of sleeping like he should be, he's awake. He's studying. Waiting for the moment when he can help get the last one. When he can get the person who shot his partner, his brother.
Damian knew where they were being held.
None of them had attempted to question, leaving all of that to the GCPD. They were in a bind.
Batman had no real reason to be investigating. None of them did. Crimes like this happened every day, and no one died in this incident. If any of them got involved it would raise too many questions.
So instead they poured over every available piece of intel. Every single police report, school and medical records, social media posts, interrogation footage, security cameras, bank statements, every single piece of information any of them could get their hands on. And it was leading to nothing.
The fourth person had no known associations. He was more of a nobody than the other three.
The interrogation footage showed they were willing to protect their buddy. It could only mean two things.
This was his first job ever and they wanted to give him a chance or he was well connected to someone big and dangerous.
Damian had been there. That kid didn't have the stomach to kill, but none of the others had a viable reason to protect him like they were. Especially if there wasn't a single connection found.
It was frustrating. Damian knew one conversation with them would name the fourth gunman. Any of them could conduct the interrogation and they would have a name.
But they couldn't. No matter how much they wanted to.
Grayson had expressed a desire to leave him alone. They caught the main three problems. He didn't think this kid was anything for them to worry about.
Damian worried. He worried a lot. The last month and a half had scared him deeply, more than anything fear toxin had shown him, more than anything that happened to him with shadows.
He didn't like feeling scared. Fear was a crippling emotion he couldn't afford.
He knew where they were being held. He knew he could get a name. He'd snuck his assassin gear with him, just in case. He wasn't supposed to be in the field while he was staying with Grayson, but he could take care of this before anyone knew he was gone.
It would be easy.
Damian checked to make sure Grayson was still asleep. He had reflexes like a cat. The smallest sound and he'd be up.
As gently as he could, Damian latched the bedroom door to help sound proof as much as possible. He made quick work of Grayson's security measures before sneaking out the window and flying into the night.
He needed to be careful and not be caught by anyone.
One slip up and someone would try and stop him.
He knew Gordon would be watching the security camera feed closely and that Drake, Todd, and his Father were out patrolling.
Gordon was the main adversary. It was rare if something slipped past her. What was normally an advantage could easily lead to this falling apart.
He sticks to the shadows as much as possible, trying to stay above the line where security cameras caught.
After making it to GCPD headquarters, he slots himself in a dark window seal and hacks into their feed. He only needs certain cameras. Three to be exact. He finds them easily, looping the footage. He should be able to get in and out before she knows what he's done.
The eldest guy appears asleep but Damian can instantly tell he's not. Everything about him is tense and stressed.
"I know you're awake." Damian whispers lowly.
He shoots upward, looking around wildly before zeroing in on Damian's half hidden figure. He doesn't say anything, he looks absolutely petrified.
"I need information, and you can give it to me."
His eyes glance out at the hallway before looking back at Damian.
"Don't bother, they know I'm here."
He only shrinks back.
"You helped rob a convenience store several weeks ago with three other individuals. Sebastian Malcom and Dexter Freeman have been captured already. Who's the third?"
"I don't know man."
"You don't know? Do I look like I am playing a game?" Damian flashes his sword just enough that it glints in the limited light. "Who is he?"
"He's just a kid. He needed money. I swear I don't know him."
"Give me a name."
He chews his lower lip before shaking his head. "We weren't gonna kill anybody, honest. His gun went off, it was an accident. We didn't mean to kill that guy."
"His name." Damian repeats. "Don't make me ask again."
He hesitates. "He's a kid."
Damian steps forward, more of him is visible. "Kids can be dangerous. What. Is. His. Name."
He seems to take Damian in, he's not any less scared but it's now laced with uncertainty.
"Tanner Williams. He needs the money for his family. We didn't want him involved but he caught us making plans and threatened to turn us in if we didn't let him."
Damian takes him in. "That wasn't so hard was it? Tell the GCPD now." He melts back into the shadows.
Finding Tanner Williams is almost as easy as looping the security feed.
He finds him in under an hour. A personal record.
He lives deep in the narrows, not that he's surprised. You didn't rob a place for money if you weren't desperate or lacking in opportunities.
Damian gets in position, ready to swing into Williams' living room like a dark angel before something large slams into him mid swing. He can even shoot another line to save himself, instead he's wrapped by a large arm keeping him secure before unceremoniously dumping him onto the neighboring rooftop.
"The fuck are you doing?" Todd asks right as he lands. He's angry. "Breaking into GCPD headquarters to interrogate someone and compromising all of us and then planning on doing the same exact fucking thing in someones living room. You've lost your goddamn mind Demon Spawn.
"How are you here?" Damian asks.
"Oracle caught your looped feed. We all saw your interrogation. I happened to be the closest. So I get to yell at you."
"I am doing what all of you were unwilling to do."
"Are you serious right now? I've dropped guys off buildings for less. I cut off eight heads for a taunt. I suggested we interrogate them when we got the names before GCPD picked them up. Dick said no."
"Grayson. He knows."
"Yes, he correctly brought up that none of us have a reason to be involved. Batman agreed. It's too incriminating. I don't like it anymore than anybody else. If you had taken ten more seconds to think about it you would've realized that too."
"I knew, I just didn't care. He can't be allowed to walk free."
"Do you hear yourself? Here's me. Me. Asking you to exercise some restraint."
"I didn't kill him in lockup, I am showing restraint."
Damian couldn't see Todd's face but based on his shoulders and tone, he knew he wanted to throw Damian off of a building.
He doesn't hear Batman land, but knows when he does.
"Hood, watch for GCPD. They're coming to arrest Williams." Batman instructs.
Todd stares at Damian for another moment before acknowledging and heading across the street.
"What's your lecture going to be?" He asks as he turns to face Batman. "The same as his? It's old."
Batman kneels in front of him. Wanting to look Damian in the eye. It takes Damian back, he wasn't expecting this.
"Fear is a difficult emotion to feel." Batman explains, his voice is calm. There's no anger. "It can lead to mistakes and dangerous choices. I know how it feels to be completely out of control in a bad situation. I've been in plenty. It's okay to be scared, but you need to acknowledge it, you can't run from it forever Damian."
Damian stands unnaturally still. Why is he not angry? Why is he talking to him this way? He should be angry, he should yell.
"I had to catch him." Damian doesn't like how small he sounds.
"I know." Batman replied. "You did. Even though you shouldn't have. Damian these things happen. As much as it hurts to realize, we can't save everyone. Dick got lucky but his blood would not have been on your hands. I wish I could take these feelings from you, take you to before but I can't. It was scary, what happened, wasn't it?"
Damian feels the emotions under the surface. "I'm sorry." He hates how his voice trembles. "I shouldn't have done what I did. I know that. I just needed to catch him."
He feels his father grip both of Damian's arms tightly. He doesn't say anything, he just provides a look of empathy of understanding.
"It was scary." Damian finally admits. "It was scary and I didn't like it."
Father nods. "It always is."
Before Damian can register it he hugs Batman tightly. It's not a long hug, but it's enough.
He pulls away and watches Batman stand up.
"I need to ask you a favor, Damian."
Damian looks at him questioningly.
"Keep an eye on Dick while you're there. Stay in and keep him safe. Okay?"
Damian nods. "Okay."
Batman turns to leave as the sirens approach.
"Grayson knows I'm here doesn't he?" Damian asks before Batman vanishes back into the night.
"He does. You better head back before he tries to go looking for you."
Damian can see the Red Hood from his position. Watching, waiting. He trusts Hood to make sure Williams is arrested. He can read up on everything tomorrow.
His father is right. Grayson will try and find him if he doesn't return soon.
How about something light hearted tomorrow? That sounds nice and refreshing
