Chapter 7:
Key Character(s): Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, & Damian Wayne
Standing right at the front door of Wayne Manor, Jason can't help but wonder why he never came back home.
Home. He would never call this place that, but his subconscious mind forces him to anyway. The manor was historic, large, extravagant, and beautiful. Anyone who lives or spends the night in there is catered 24/7 thanks to Alfred Pennyworth. Living in that manor was a luxury, and anyone would be a fool to refuse to stay the night.
Jason himself must be a fool. However, he wasn't attracted to Wayne Manor because of its materialistic assets. It was the thought of family that allows him to contemplate every now and then about coming back home.
Wayne Manor, where his "father" and "brothers" live.
After ringing the door bell, to his surprise, it wasn't the butler who opened the door. He slightly leaned his head down and spoke to the pre-teen in front of him, "Demon brat."
"Todd," the pre-teen replied, "What brings you here?"
"Dick texted me," he answered as he made his way inside the house.
Damian knew what this was about. Though Jason may claim that there's no use for him to spend time in this manor, he usually finds his way here either because he wants to, or because he cares for someone. Many may not see it, but those who are close to him know that Jason cares. Even Damian himself can see it.
"You're here for Drake, I assume."
Jason sighed, "That's who Dick texted me about. Just want to make sure he's okay, so I can finally leave."
That was half a lie. Damian can tell he was worried over Tim.
"He's not here," the eleven-year-old spoke somewhat bitterly. The last conversation he had with Tim a few days ago still left him sour.
Jason was confused. "What? So why did Dick text me to come here?"
"Because we all have talk about Tim first."
Jason turned to see Dick suddenly walking into the main corridor.
"Come on guys," the eldest brother motioned, "Let's head to the living room."
The brothers walked together along the main corridor. To Dick, having three of his brothers under one room was a rare moment. It's usually two, but three if lucky. Four was the ideal. Having everyone together, with Bruce and Alfred included, would be a perfect moment. Dick himself missed the feeling of being with the family, but he had hope that they'll ALL be under one room again.
After entering the large, spacious living room, Jason took a seat on a separate chair while Dick and Damian sat on opposite ends of the couch.
"So," Jason was the first to speak, "What's going on with Tim?"
"No idea," Dick answered, "He doesn't pick up my calls, and he either brushes me off or ignores me when I text him."
"Well the last time I saw him wasn't exactly pleasant."
"Same here Todd," Damian added, "Seriously, what the hell is wrong with Drake?"
"Can you guys share your experience?" The eldest brother asked, "What was he like the last time you guys saw him?"
"Unexpectedly rude," Damian answered somewhat bitterly, "Not to mention annoying like always."
Dick sighed. "Come on Damian, let's be mature. The last time I saw him, he seemed bothered."
"What do you think was on his mind?" Jason asked him curiously.
"Not sure, but he told me that everyone adores me and that I'm unforgettable. I don't even know where that came from."
The two younger brothers would have rolled their eyes at that assumption. However, they didn't. There are often times when Dick would brag about himself, but it was easy to see the sarcasm. In this case, there was no sarcasm what so ever. It was all seriousness.
"Then he asked me how I'd feel if that was all taken from me. That was when I started to suspect that he probably felt unappreciated or something. I mean, why else would he ask me something like that out of nowhere?"
"I can definitely tell you right now that he does feel that way, Dickie bird."
Dick looked at Jason with a surprised face, though not the good type of surprise. "How do you know?"
"Like I said, wasn't exactly the most pleasant thing running into him last time."
"Care to elaborate Todd?" Damian asked impatiently.
"Chill out demon brat," Jason asserted, "Let me tell you guys what happened. When I questioned why he was patrolling my part of the city in first place, he threw some serious shit at me."
"What did he say, Jason?" Dick asked curiously.
"He basically told me that he doesn't understand why Bruce even likes me."
When hearing that statement, Dick's jaw dropped instantly. Tim would never say that. He actually wanted to ask Jason if he heard Tim right at the time, but there was no doubt Jason didn't hear incorrectly. Jason was fully serious.
"He also said that he feels left out. Apparently, Bruce hasn't been acknowledging him, and he's taking it pretty seriously. He also brought up a bunch of shit from my past and threw it right back in my face. Not gonna lie, it actually hurt."
Dick looked at his younger brother with empathy. He wondered how tense their conversation was.
"I felt the same way Todd."
Both of the older brothers gave a surprised glance to the youngest one.
"What do you mean Damian?" Dick asked.
"Similar to Todd, Drake also told me that he doesn't understand why father loves me. He even insulted me with a bunch of derogatory adjectives, and told me that I don't belong in this family because I have Al-Ghul blood in me."
Dick probably couldn't drop his jaw any further, and Jason was taken aback himself. It was heartbreaking to hear that these words came from Tim Drake's mouth, but it also hurt even more to see that the eleven-year-old looked like he wanted to let tears stream from his eyes after announcing his side of the story.
Are they really talking about Tim Drake right now?
"Damn…."
That was all Dick could say. He felt a mixture of worry and disappointment at his second youngest brother.
"Someone has to get through to him," Damian stated, "How about we let father handle this situation?"
"I don't think that will be a good idea," Jason pointed out, "He specifically mentioned that he didn't want to 'beg for attention.' All this bullshit most likely started because Bruce made him feel left out in the first place. I bet the replacement just wants Bruce to acknowledge him involuntarily, for once."
That made sense to Damian and Dick, but Damian himself still didn't see how he and Jason were involved.
"I guess I see your point, Todd, but why were WE verbally attacked? If it's father that he has a problem with, why did he yell at us?"
Dick then gave Jason a curious, yet knowing look. Jason himself can confirm the answer, but it was hard to spit it out to begin with.
"Why do you think so Dami?" Dick asked when turning his head back to the eleven-year-old.
With his arms crossed, Damian annoyingly spoke, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"C'mon little brat," Jason addressed, receiving a snare from the young one in response, "Out of everyone in the family, what two individuals are the most likely to give him crap?"
Damian rolled his eyes, "I guess us."
"And that's the thing Damian," Jason stated, while surprising his two brothers with the use of a first name for once, "Tim tries his best to be a good Robin, but it's people like us that keep bringing him down. What's Tim ever done to us?"
Damian said nothing, while Dick gave him a straightforward look.
"Plus, Bruce has been so caught up with you and me that he had forgotten about Tim. Imagine how that makes him feel. He tried so hard to make Bruce proud, only to find that he cares more about the two who bullied him the most."
"That's not true," Damian stated, "Father loves all of us just the same."
There was a suspicious tone when the eleven-year-old made that statement, but that will be brought up later.
"I do believe that, Damian," Jason continued, "But he's obviously not doing a good job at showing it, especially to Tim.
"I think we're all at fault here," Dick intervened, "Including me. I myself haven't really acknowledged Tim that much either, and I'm ashamed of myself for that. I've been so caught up with other things."
"Yep, Dickie right here is right. It's all our faults, not just Bruce's. Family is family, and there are no excuses for anyone to not spend time with each other."
Dick smiled, mentally applauding his younger brother. Out of everyone, the person who they'd least expect to give such powerful message would probably be Jason. Yet, here he is, delivering that particular message. Jason changed a lot, and Dick couldn't be any more proud.
However, Damian on the other hand still seemed to have a faraway look in his eyes.
"Something you want to say little D?" Dick asked kindly.
Turning towards Jason, Damian asked, "How did you feel after talking with Tim?"
That was another shocking moment. The eleven-year-old actually used a first name, and it was for Tim. Jason himself didn't even expect that question to begin with.
"What do you mean?"
"Just, how did you feel?" Damian asked in a mellow tone. "I hate to admit this, but after talking with him, I felt hurt. I felt like I wasn't wanted in the family, and that was one of my biggest fears."
Both Dick and Jason gave him a sullen look. Indeed, Damian can be a handful, but he was never unloved.
"You know that's not true, right Dami?" Dick asked while scooting over to pat the young one's back.
"You belong in the family just as much as Tim does, or any of us for that matter," Jason asserted.
"We all love you D," Dick added once more, "And I can bet you Tim does too."
Damian stayed silent for a few moments, allowing Dick comfort him. Finally he admitted, "I never meant to give Drake so much hatred. When mother dropped me off to be with father, I wanted to do anything to gain father's respect. Yet Drake seemed to already have that respect, even if he wasn't father's biological son. I'll admit, I was jealous of him."
"Let me get back to answering your question Damian," Jason added in, "After talking with Tim, I felt hurt too. Why? Because he threw all my past actions back in my face. Just like you, I was jealous of Tim, and I brutally hurt the kid. So yes, I did feel offended, but honestly, I felt like I deserved it."
Damian secretly admired Jason for having the nerve to admit that, which allowed Damian to be a little courageous in confessing more inner feelings himself. "I guess I deserved it too. I myself almost killed Drake, because I let my emotions and selfishness get in the way."
"And that's where me and you screwed up Damian," Jason pointed out, "Like I said earlier, Tim never did anything to us. He just wanted to do whatever he can to make Bruce proud and live up to the Robin mantle. And then what happened? Bruce shifted his attention to us, and Tim was left in the dust. So honestly, I don't blame the kid for what he feels."
Everyone in the room seemed to have finally come to realization. Now, they all know why Tim had been acting strange.
"You know something guys?" Dick asked, gaining curious looks from his younger brothers, "We all came from tough situations, but Bruce was able to guide us to a better path. Tim on the other hand, didn't exactly come from difficult beginnings, but that doesn't make him any less special right?"
The two shook their heads, understanding their eldest brothers' point.
"So we should let him know that he's special to us," Dick stated, "Cause I know both of you love him just as much as I do."
"Your right Dick," Jason admitted, "Damian?"
"I agree," the eleven-year-old responded somewhat uncomfortably, but he knew what Dick said was true.
"Then that's settled," Dick spoke, "I'll try to get in contact with him again, and I'll be sure to get through to him this time."