Chapter 10:
Key Character(s): Damian Wayne & Jason Todd
While walking pass the family room, Tim halted when he saw Damian sitting on the couch listening to his iPod. On non-busy days, the eleven-year-old would be either training or keeping up with hobbies such as writing. Yet, he was just sitting there, doing nothing except listening to music.
When someone has a lot on their mind, music is a perfect thing to utilize as a distraction. At least that's what Tim thought, and that's what he's assuming right now in regards to Damian.
Tim had said some things he regretted, and now it was time to settle it. They are brothers, even when they don't want to admit it sometimes.
The teenager walked over and sat on another couch facing diagonally from Damian, surprising the eleven-year-old as he sat.
Damian took his earplugs out of his ears and spoke in an annoyed tone, "What is it, Drake?"
"We need to talk," Tim answered as the eleven-year-old rolled his eyes. "I need to talk to you, Damian."
"Then say what you need to say already," Damian told him strictly.
Tim had been prepared to have this conversation ever since he came back home from a pleasant day with Kon yesterday, so he said the first thing that came to his mind. "I'm sorry, Damian."
At that, the eleven-year-old lifted an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry for everything I said to you last time. I didn't mean any of it. I hope you knew that."
Damian could believe that, but it still didn't take away the hurt that came at the time.
"You were disrespectful, and the things you said were rather vulgar. It's okay though, I guess I'll forgive you for being your typical, lackluster self."
Normally, Tim would take offense to such comments. In this case, though Damian was picking up an attitude, Tim still sensed the hurt that was hidden behind that tone.
"You were right Damian," Tim confessed, "Everything you just said, you were right, and I'm sorry."
Damian had a mixed look on his face. It may look like anger, but if one was to examine it closely, one can see that it is a face overcome by sadness.
"Damian, say something."
The eleven-year-old took a brief pause before speaking. "Do you really mean it?"
"Mean what?" The older brother asked confusedly. "About you being right about me? Well I can't deny it."
"No, about what you said about me not belonging in the this family because I have Al-Ghul blood in me," Damian spoke earnestly.
Suddenly, Tim felt a piercing pain in between his chest. He clearly wasn't watching his mouth the last time he spoke to Damian. As a matter of fact, he went way too far. Even if Damian and Tim had never gotten along that much, Tim never should have pushed the limit. Though he usually see's the eleven-year-old as a demon, now, he sees the face of a defenseless child. One that should never be told that he doesn't belong in a family because of the genes that he can't help but have.
Tim looked at him sternly with all seriousness clearly evident in his eyes, "Not at all. I didn't mean any of that."
"But it doesn't make it any less true, doesn't it?" Damian asked weakly, "I may be a Wayne, but I have Al-Ghul blood in me too, and it's not something I can take away. I share the same blood with some of father's greatest enemies."
Tim went over and sat on the same couch Damian was sitting, placing an arm over his little brother's shoulder. "You are Damian Wayne. You belong in this family. You are wanted here, by us, and especially your father. That was why I envied you. No matter what bloodline you have, you are a Wayne to me, and you're my brother."
Damian breathed a little easier when he heard that, especially coming from Tim. He needed to hear that. Even if he came into this family unexpectedly, he wanted to be sure that everyone wanted him regardless. Moreover, despite their casual bickering, it was comforting to hear Tim calling him his brother.
"I was a big loser Damian," Tim admitted, "I was a wimp. You know why? Because I knew what I said will hurt you. Even if I knew it wasn't true, I still said it anyway just to hurt you. It was the cheapest, most foolish thing I had ever done. Therefore, I'm the biggest wimp, and I can't be anymore sorry."
Politely, Damian nudges Tim's arm away from his shoulder, "I don't blame you for feeling what you felt, Tim."
The older brother was taken aback for a moment. Did Damian just call me by my first name?
"Like you, I like it when I feel wanted myself," Damian confessed, "I wanted to be the best son for father. I wanted him to love me like any father would love his son. Therefore, I don't blame you for lashing out at me last time, you wanted to feel the same thing I felt, to be loved."
Tim nodded his head slowly, not just at the fact that Damian was right, but for the fact the he was able to empathize.
"I also wanted to say sorry as well," Damian continued while surprising his older brother in the process, "I've never been quite kind to you, so I just wanted to say I'm sorry too."
Tim smiled.
Damian is growing up. Whether Bruce raised him correctly, or Damian became mature himself, he's proud to see that the eleven-year-old has changed so much ever since they met.
Tim gave him a hug, and Damian was not hesitant in responding back to it.
"Thanks Damian. It's okay though, brothers fight every now and then."
Unbeknownst to Tim, Damian smiled. "That we are. Brothers."
And Tim smiled even more.
Jason opened the door after hearing a few knocks.
"Tim?"
"Hey Jason. You think I can come in?"
Jason had been meaning to talk with Tim, but he didn't expect him to suddenly appear at his doorsteps. "Uh, yeah sure."
Tim walked in and observed the place, while Jason closed the door and looked back at Tim. It was a surprise for sure, and what made it surprising was that Tim actually came to him, not vice versa.
"You hungry?" Jason asked.
"Not right now," Tim answered as his eyes were gazing around. Despite Jason's tough appearance, he knew how to keep quite a tidy apartment. The place was clean and everything was organized.
"Well, anything else you want to do aside from inspecting my studio?" Jason asked indecently. He wasn't exactly a fan of people observing his place.
"Hey hey, come on now," Tim spoke jokingly with hands up, "It's just crazy how you keep a neat and tidy apartment, while my room at the manor is a complete shithole. And I thought I was the geek."
That was another surprise. Tim was actually being comedic, and Jason can't help but let out a soft chuckle.
As the laughter slowed, Tim spoke, "But seriously though, I came here just to say I'm so-"
"You don't need to apologize Tim," Jason interrupted with his hand up, "There's nothing you need to apologize for."
The younger brother was dumbfounded, "What do you mean I don't need to apologize? I said a bunch of harsh things to you and Damian. Things that I didn't mean."
"Did you now?" Jason asked with a smirk, "You're going to tell me that you didn't mean it when you told me how it wasn't fair that Bruce gave me more attention, despite that fact that I was a complete fucking jerk to you."
Tim was about to answer, but he was speechless. Of course, Tim didn't mean to lash out in such a vulgar way towards Jason, and even Damian for that matter. There were some things that he wish he didn't say, but there were other things he said that were actually true. In this case, Jason brought up the latter.
"I can't blame you for how you feel," Jason admitted. That answer was sort of a déjà vu from the conversation with Damian earlier today. "I guess the little demon brat and I were pretty fucked up, that's why daddy Bats always had to keep an eye on us. Thing is, he was so caught up with us that he most likely forgot about you. I don't blame you for feeling left out."
It felt good to know that Jason understood his position. Needless to say, the Red Hood himself had been in that position before.
"I still shouldn't have said some things," Tim commented, "Like when I said that I don't understand why Bruce likes you. I didn't mean that."
Jason gave another sarcastic smirk.
"Okay," Tim continued, "It may sounded like I meant it, and maybe I did, but I let my anger shaped my thoughts. I want to take back what I said."
Jason let out a small chuckle. "It's okay little bird. I guess I deserved it."
Tim spoke calmly, "No you don't."
"I do," Jason continued, "I was an asshole. I let jealousy take over me, and I took it all out on you. You were innocent, not to mention you were just trying to fulfill my role. I was the biggest dumbass ever for attacking you in the first place, and all you ever did was just trying to make me and Bruce proud."
Tim can't help but feel a little happy on the inside. It felt really comforting getting to hear this.
"So, you never truly hated me?" Tim asked specifically.
"Oh I did," Jason answered with his typical smirk, and after seeing Tim's disheartened facial expression, he added, "But definitely not anymore."
This allowed the seventeen year-old to smile.
"I'm not gonna lie," Jason continued, "I wish I was as lucky as you."
"Me, lucky?" Tim surprisingly spoke, "You're the one who's cool here. You're a complete badass. You're like a legend that I can't live up to."
Jason chuckled lightly, "Come on little bird, give yourself some credit too, but that's not what I was aiming at."
Tim lifted an eyebrow, prompting Jason to continue his claim.
"You grew up with loving parents, and you were pretty much the perfect child. Now, you're living in a mansion, and your pretty much the godson of a billionaire playboy, and you still get to see your own parents. You have two dads! The only father I ever had was a shitty one who was never around when I was a kid."
"I'm not perfect Jason, and you also have a family. You have Bruce, and us for that matter," Tim added, "And Bruce is far from a shitty father, even if I made him out to be for the past weeks."
Tim definitely caught him there. Jason had been running away from all his problems, which included the people he loved. In reality, they just wanted to help him. He can't change what happened to him and Bruce in the past, but what will never change is the fact that Jason is practically a son to Bruce, just like the other three. Moreover, the other three were brothers to him as well. Jason should be lucky he has family that cares for him.
"Huh, I guess your right kiddo."
"You plan on coming home anytime soon?" Tim asked.
Jason would say I don't know, but he's not in the mood to crush Tim's spirits, especially since he just gained them. What's important now is that Tim's mood has been lifted. He's back to his casual self, and that's what truly matters at the moment.
"Someday, little bird. I plan on it." That was not a lie for sure.
Tim walked over and gave Jason a hug. The older brother was surprised, but hugged back regardless.
"I missed you, bro," Tim told him.
Bro...
When was the last time he was called that? And yet, it sounded quite settling.
"Missed you too little bro."
And it also felt great to say it.