DISAGREEMENT
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Alfred entered Damian's room with a tray, he knew the boy would be hungry when he woke up. He made sure to leave no trace of what had happened in the mansion and, if it weren't for the different pajamas and a splint in place of the plaster, he could be sure that none of the "detectives" in the room would find out.
Jason was leaning against the door, staring at the floor. Bruce and Dick, also in their civilian attire, were on either side of the bed, taking turns looking between Damian, the ceiling and any other point.
Nobody wanted to talk about what happened.
— Gentlemen, I believe it is better to decide now what you are going to do next. — The butler started — We cannot continue neglecting this poor child, we need to establish routines and shifts so that he is always in the care of someone.
— Teenager, Alfred — Dick corrected him, sitting beside the bed.
— If I were here at least this time... — Bruce began to blame himself.
— I can stay here for a few days and...
— And make him have another crisis?
— I already apologized, damn it! — Jason looked angrily at Dick — I'm good at dealing with children, even...
— Pardon? — It was Alfred's turn to interrupt him.
— I take good care of Bizarro, it's almost the same!
— If taking care of children was that easy... — Bruce murmured and sat on the edge of the bed — I can't continue putting Gothan above everything, but if Batman doesn't continue, eventually Damian will end up suffering the consequences in the same way.
— Then keep saving Gothan and leave the rest of the world to the Justice League, Master Bruce.
— Speaking of the rest of the world, it wasn't just Robin who disappeared, Damian too. He'll end up asking about school, friends, or someone will ask about him — Dick commented.
— Like someone was really going to miss him like Damian… — Jason snapped.
— Young Jonathan constantly asks about him, maybe a visit could do him good... — Alfred said as he fluffed the pillow with the child's broken leg. Following the standards of that family, using something adjustable as a splint would only serve to be removed at the first opportunity. However, Damian was proving to be an extremely obedient and deserving of a chance, despite the short time of this "new relationship".
Before anyone else said anything, the boy murmured a sound of pain. Everyone looked at him anxiously for the boy to wake up and say at least "he was fine", but that didn't happen.
— Barbara, Estelar and the others of the Teen Titans also ask for him... — Dick resumed the conversation from before.
— I was also asked about the brat...
— Keep lying and saying he is unconscious. All he needs less now is several "strangers" talking about his other life. — Bruce got up from the bed, just waiting for some sign was distressing — This was the second crisis, we don't know if it's a passing thing or not. The less stress Damian has, the better.
— I still think it would be more responsible to take him for further examinations, Master Bruce, even putting he in the midia's sights...
— Whathe...!? — Jason interrupted the two older ones — What do you mean, if it's a passing thing or not? Are you saying that even if he goes back to normal, he can still have these pinscher-attacks!? — He ran his hands over his face, he couldn't believe something like that.
— Hey... — Richard approached, placing a hand on his shoulder — I know it's almost crazy to look at things this way, but Damian has plenty of reasons to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress and things like...
— No!
— The truth is that everyone here does, but we prefer to wear a uniform and go out to face it for the night — Bruce began. He stared at the window, he didn't have the courage to look at his children — This is my fault, because I gave you the same life that I chose to lead...
— It may even be a little your fault that I died that time, but not fucking I would rather live the life of daddy's starched little boy than to break idiots face with a crowbar! — Todd took Dick's hand away.
— Maybe Damian prefers it now, that's what we need to accept.
— He prefers nothing! — Jason was in complete denial. Accepting that Damian was not pretending was already a surreal situation, accepting that he somehow wanted all of this was out of the question. — Why would he want that!?
— Because he needs it! — Bruce hit a punch against the wall — Because he had no childhood; does not have a life outside of Robin's mask; because I prefer to take children in risky situations to help me fight crime than to take care of them as I should; because I am a terrible father!
— Gentlemen, if you want to continue with this discussion, I ask you to get out of here! — Alfred stared at the two denouncing how angry and even disappointed he was — The reasons for Master Damian to be in this situation are vast, from badly healed traumas to even a simple blow to the head. If you want to choose the cause, almost slapping to see who is right, leave! — he reinforced — Because what this child needs now is care.
Everyone was silent.
Jason threw himself into one of the armchairs in the room and crossed his arms impatiently; Bruce looked out the window again, blaming himself for not knowing how to manage his two lives; Dick sat on the edge of the bed again, fiddling with his cell phone; Alfred, confident that the discussion would not start again, went to find new pictures to put in place of the broken ones — they fell when Wayne hit the wall.
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NOTES:
For those who ended up getting lost in the fanfic timeline:
On the first day Damian wakes up in the afternoon and has a crisis, recovering his senses just hours later (already at night). On the second day, in the morning, he has a pain crisis and receives strong medications, only waking up hours later (early evening), when he ends up having an epileptic attack again.
When I reread to add the notes, I ended up noticing that he was a little confused by so many "sleep and wake up".
Poor Damian, he just wanted to eat something...
Note of note: Jonathan mentioned above is the son of Clark Kent with Louis Lane (the journalist). He and Damian were patrolling together in Super Sounds. I highly advise! It's a much lighter and funny comic, great for those who don't know much about the universe and want to start with something fun. The title is introduced in Superman (Rebirth) numbers 10 and 11 — a prior reading is not necessary, you can go without fear.
Bizarro, also mentioned, is a character with some different origins and different stories. Jason referred to his participation in "Red Hood and the Outlaws" (Rebirth). He is one of my favorites
Note of Note of Note: I don't like Superman comics very much because I always liked the ones drawn to mystery, like Detective Comics. However, I love reading the titles of the Super in the Rebirth, it has a wonderful comic streak in addition to showing the "super dad" side.
