I've been getting a lot of requests for a Dick and Damian fluffy chapter, so here's a chapter about one of Damian's memories about when he first arrived. And I just wanted to say thanks for all the great comments, messages, and reviews I've been getting

Chapter 26: Don't Send Me Back

Damian's POV

My eighth birthday was approaching fast, when my mother abandoned me to live with my father. We were being followed by assassins, so she dropped me off on my father's doorstep in the middle of the worst storm I had ever seen, because I was slowing her down.

I was afraid; I didn't want her to leave me all alone with people I didn't know. But, I really didn't know her either. I hardly ever saw her and she never wanted anything to do with me.

She ordered me to get out of the car and to ring the doorbell, before following me. I obeyed her command and stepped out into the hurricane. By the time I had reached the door I was soaking wet and shivering from the cold. She came and stood next to me.

The door was opened by a well-dressed older man, who left the door open and retrieved a tall, muscled, younger man. My father. He looked extremely intimidating when his eyes shifted from my mother to me. His piercing blue eyes penetrated my dark brown eyes. I have my mother's eyes and skin tone, yet I look like my father. My parents started arguing loudly, but I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying.

I could see a younger boy who appeared to be the same age as me peering at me with light baby blue eyes from around the corner. The boy then fled and returned minutes later with an older boy. The older boy was tall and muscular, who curled up his lips in disgust as his deep blue sapphire eyes held distrust, while he crossed his arms. The smaller one held tightly to the elder's T-shirt as they watched us.

Another boy appeared beside my father. He had light blue eyes shining with compassion and a slightly darker skin tone, then the others. He ignored my mother and looked straight at me. His eyes were full of understanding and kindness. I felt intimidated by his gaze. It was as if he could see past the false look of bravery I wore, despite my body shivering from the cold, and that he could actually see how scared I was.

My mother turned to leave and I grabbed her belt and tried to follow her into the storm. Instead I received a sharp slap and was ordered to stay where I was. I saw rage enter the eyes of the one standing the closest to my father. He moved to step forward but was held back by my father, who also appeared to be angry. My mother turned and left me standing there without a second glance.

I entered their home, wishing I were anywhere but there. The older man who had answered the door, returned with some towels. The boy with kind eyes selected a towel from the older man and bent down in front of me. My father walked over to the two standing near the staircase. I shrank back against the wall as he came near me with the towel. He stopped for a second, hesitating, before proceeding to wrap the material around my shivering, damp frame. I could see the two standing near the stairs give the older boy looks of disgust as he touched me with the fabric.

My father brought them over to me and introduced them as if they were his real sons. But, they weren't. They were competition that needed to be eliminated. I decided to start with the weakest one first.

********Break********

Drake was down in the cave on my father's computer reviewing case files. I approached him from behind silently and performed a nerve strike, rendering him unconscious. I then tied his limbs together and slid a cloth in-between his teeth. Unfortunately, Todd had chosen to enter the cave at that moment while I was unsheathing a dagger.

The then sixteen year old screamed at me. Fool. How dare he interrupt me! He had made the mistake of interfering. Now I would have to kill them both, instead of picking them off one at a time. I had been watching them practice, yesterday. I quickly learned their fighting styles. I rolled out of the way as he charged me and I leapt onto his back and struck a nerve. He fell to the ground unconscious. After constricting his movements and gagging him, I stood over them telling them how unworthy they were and how pitiful their death would be and how my father would reward me for it.

Then Grayson entered the cave. He was horrified to find me about to kill Drake and Todd. Snatching the knife from my grasp, he performed the most unforgivable punishment. He spanked me! He spanked me in front of my captives and made me untie them! And then he made me apologize! And worst of all, he informed Father of my failed actions!

To my dismay, Father was angry with me. I didn't understand, I thought he would have been pleased with my attempt at taking their pathetic lives, yet he was infuriated. He threatened to send me back to my mother. I was in shock. If he sent me back, then that would mean I would have failed and I would have been sentenced to death for making a mistake. I promised Father it would never happen again to Drake and Todd.

I never promised I wouldn't kill Grayson. I would have my revenge.

********Break********

I waited for the opportunity for us to be alone. Silently, I crept into Grayson's chambers where he had been sleeping. I could tell he was exhausted and a very heavy sleeper. Without disturbing his slumber, I securely tied his wrists and legs down and moved to switch the lights on.

His eyes opened and he looked over to where I stood with my knife. I'll never forget our conversation.

"Damian, what are you doing?" he calmly asked.

"Enough talking! Prepare your soul to enter the next world, for I am about to end your wretched life!" I ordered.

"Why do you want to kill me?" he calmly asked.

"I… To please my father." I replied, uneasily. He was making me quite uncomfortable.

"Don't lie to me, Damian. We both know this isn't what our father wants. You want this, because you're jealous. You see me as a threat." He calmly stated.

"You know nothing! And he is my father! Not your father, my father!" I screamed.

"Don't lie to me, baby brother."

"I am not your brother!" I screamed.

"Of course you are, Damian. And that's why I'm going to give you another chance. You don't know any better. You're only doing this because it's what you were taught to do. But, deep down, you know this is wrong. We both know you hate doing things like this. You're afraid. But, you don't have to be. We can help you, Damian. You know we can. Put down the knife, Damian. You don't want to hurt me."

"I can't." I whispered, tears falling from eyes. I was confused. I was taught that crying was a weakness, yet I was showing weakness in front of someone I could have easily killed.

"Damian, crying isn't a weakness. It only means you've been strong for far too long. You need to know that I forgive you for doing this. Because you're my baby brother and I love you."

I was bawling by now and I didn't understand why. Dropping the knife, I sank to the floor and pulled my knees into my chest, practically choking on tears. I didn't know what was happening. You weren't supposed to tell people you love them. It was forbidden. It was wrong.

The next moment, I was lifted into Grayson's arms. Apparently, he has had a lot of practice with getting out of ropes. He settled back into his bed with me still in his arms. He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead and whispered soothing words of nonsense in my ear. He cuddled me until I fell asleep, then he laid me beside him and allowed me to stay the night.

That was also forbidden. I can remember having nightmares and crying for my mother, only to be punished and told I was weak and abandoned in my dark, drafty chambers.

When I awoke, I found myself encased in his gentle arms, under his blankets. I squirmed out of his grasp and climbed out of his bed. I retrieved my dagger from the floor and I fled from the house and into the forest. Burying the knife deeply under the forest floor, I vowed never to hurt my new family again. I would have to find another way to make my father proud of me. Little did I know, I had already made him proud.

Upon reentering the house, for some strange reason, I returned to Grayson's chambers. He was still 'asleep,' but he was trying not to smile. It was as if he had known what I had done. Silently slipping into his bed, I soon found myself encased in his gentle and protective hold.

"I'm proud of you, Dami. And I know that Bruce is too." He whispered in my ear.

"I have no idea about what you are talking about, Grayson! And my name is Damian! Now, I suggest you shut up before I really do decide to kill you!" I whispered savagely, while suppressing a smile and ignoring the happiness entering my heart.