Notes: Minor OC is a very minor OC hehehe.
abbycat: Thanks! InvisibleBrunette and I are very glad you took the time to read our fic :) We hope you enjoy what we've got till the last chapter!
"He's my son, Damie." Dick told his youngest brother, knowing full well that any attempt at stalling would only irritate Damian.
The newest Robin met his declaration with his arms crossed, waiting for a further explanation.
Dick ran a hand through his hair again, at a loss for words. How do you explain to a kid - who was technically your adoptive father's illegitimate child - that you technically had your own illegitimate child? In his growing up years, Dick had always known other heroes often compared him to Bruce. But he didn't think he'd end up imitating his adoptive father even in this.
"Well, Grayson?" Damian was not tapping his foot. No he wasn't. But it sure felt like he was.
Dick sighed and plopped down on the couch. "After Bruce, Tim and I came back from...from his trip... I went back to live in New York City-"
"I know that," the boy snapped. "I also know you worked in the disreputable modelling industry. And-"
"-and I had a relationship with Cheyenne Freemont," Dick interrupted before Damian could recite his life story from New York onwards. He didn't need to rehash all of his memories of that time. "She...she came to Gotham a few days ago."
"And?"
"And just today, she told me she had a baby. Mybaby."
Damian harrumphed. "And?"
"And what? Look, it's not like I planned to be a father so soon!"
The ten year old blinked. Dick knew that it was the closest to a flinch that his youngest brother was capable of.
"I see..."
Dick regretted his outburst at Damian's soft tone. His brother wasn't at fault here, and he shouldn't be taking out his frustration on the kid. "I really didn't plan for this to happen, Damie..."
"And yet it did." The newest Robin stepped closer and stared down his nose at Dick, his arms still crossed. The eldest found himself staring into unwavering blue eyes that reminded him so much of Bruce.
"I'm giving you fair warning, Grayson." Damian said steely. "This infant will not disrupt our partnership. I'm letting today pass because of unexpectedness but take note," he leaned forward and Dick suddenly imagined Bruce leaning in to intimidate a petty crook, "I will not let another disruption happen."
Message delivered, Damian turned on his heel and stalked off.
The elder of the two was left on the couch, stunned into immobility. Was he...was Damian jealous of the baby? Crap, how was he going to handle that?
"Master Richard." He nearly jumped, not having heard the butler come into the room. If Alfred noticed his surprise, he politely ignored it. "I suggest you turn on the news, Sir."
Curious, Dick went to plug in the TV, absently grabbing the remote as he stepped back to watch. There was no scrolling caption below the reporter that told of a breaking news, so it must not have been a crisis that Alfred wanted him to see.
Then the screen shifted to previous footage of a car accident. The silver sedan lay on its roof in the middle of a ravine. Uniformed personnel swarmed around the vehicle, latex gloves and cameras in hand. The footage panned for an overview of the scene before zooming in on the license plate.
Dick felt the blood drain from his face.
"The police have confirmed that the victim was California designer, Cheyenne Freemont. Freemont is the only casualty known at this point and time. Stay tuned for-"
The remote thudded against the thick carpet but Dick didn't hear it. Oh G-d, Chey...