Brothers Forgive
By
AJ
Part 5
"Damian!"
Damian heard his father cry out, but the boy wasn't ready to face him. He ran down the hall and through a set of doors leading to the roof deck. There was no one there, and he was grateful for it. He needed to be alone with his thoughts, to understand the cold lump that had dropped into the pit of his stomach. Seeing Tim in that hospital bed did something to Damian that he wasn't quite sure he understood. Ever since he arrived in Gotham and at his father's house, he and Tim had been at odds. He even tried to fight Tim for the title of Robin as if it was some sort of contest. He since learned that assumption had been wrong. Even so, at every turn he and Tim seemed to be at odds with each other.
Damian did not understand why it was so. He had seem Tim's skills in the field and realized the only reason he beat Tim that first time, was because Tim really didn't want to fight him, so why did he continue to goad Timothy Drake into a fight? He did not understand what it was about the older teen that caused Damian to needle him until he got a reaction. Sometimes their fights would get out of hand, but there were plenty of times out of earshot and out of sight from the others that Damian would show some respect for the older teen. This time, however, something was different. Seeing Tim lying in that hospital bed and realizing that he may very well had contributed to Tim's state caused a cold, hard lump of guilt to drop into the pit of Damian's stomach.
Extreme guilt raged in him and all he wanted to do was make right what had been done. If Tim died, surely his father would only see him as a murderer. He would blame Tim's death on him because of the argument they had. Tim had said some awful things to Damian and in turn Damian had also lashed out, saying things just as hurtful, just as cruel. But what Tim had said was no more than the simple truth. Damian had killed before in the course of his training. It was either kill or be killed. That was his grandfather's motto. You either become the best or you become fodder for those who are the best. His mother had taught him about his birthright, that he was the son of the prince of Gotham and the son of a prince of the desert. It was the birthright of a prince to rule over those who aren't born of royalty. His grandfather taught him that a prince must rule with an iron hand, but his father's teachings were different. Bruce taught Damian that a prince didn't always rule, but always treated people justly and honestly, and even with compassion. The prince of Gotham was more than just its figurehead, he was a knight fighting for those who could not fight for themselves, and he was their protector.
Damian's image of his father 's world was confusing. He didn't understand at first why his father would take in boys who did not have any lineage to speak of. What did his father see in Richard Grayson, Jason Todd, and Timothy Wayne to have him "adopt" them and call them his sons? Grayson came from a poor acrobatic family that had been part of a second rate circus. What was his story that caused Father to take him in? Jason Todd, he knew nothing about the man. All he knew was that Todd was a few years older than Drake. He knew that Todd died by the Joker's hand, and somehow came back to life. Jason had issues with anger, which Damian could understand, and yet he really didn't know much about Jason Todd.
Only Tim Drake may have had the bloodline worthy to be called a Wayne and yet the older teen didn't appear to have the backbone to carry out what should be done. And yet Drake was respected far more than Damian, all because he followed their father's code of ethics and honor.
'Their father's?' That thought startled him. Since when did he begin to see Tim Drake as his brother? Drake had what Damian should have had by right of his birth . . . And that was the problem. His father voiced to him that he needed to earn respect and trust; that what Damian believed to be his birthright and entitlement wasn't. Tim had earned his father's trust and respect. He had done that, had been doing that . . . before Damian knew that Drake even existed. With his mother's information, Damian thought he would be taking on Jason Todd, but the boy had died at the hands of the Joker when Damian was just beginning his training at the age of three.
When Damian was old enough, all she told him was that it was his birthright to fight at his father's side and that he would be the one to persuade his father that Bruce was Ra's al Ghul's chosen heir. It was Damian's job to bring his Mother and Father together. His mother, however, had set a trap and if his father didn't choose, then his father would not see Damian ever again. But his Mother didn't count on her plans backfiring.
'She nearly got both of us killed,' he thought.
Now all Damian could think about were her words to him when he returned to Gotham and to his father's house. "You failed . . . You are no longer my son or an Al Ghul," only this time in Damian's mind he twisted the words to reflect the situation he found himself in. "You killed your brother," the voice of his father echoed in his head. "You are no longer my son. You are no longer a Wayne. Leave my house."
Tears of anguish fell down Damian's cheeks. His knees were pulled up to his chest and he hid his face.
'I'm s-s-s-sorry, F-F-Father," Damian wailed. "I-I-I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Didn't mean for what to happen?" Bruce had come up behind his son as he sat on the edge of the roofline.
"We . . . argued . . . I said some things," Damian stated, ashamed. "Please, Father . . . Don't send me away . . ."
"Damian, I'm not going to send you away," Bruce gently said. "I came to find you to let you know your brother is awake. He's asking for you."
Damian swallowed at those words, becoming nervous. What would his brother say? Would he blame him for what happened?
"I . . . I don't know if I can face him," Damian stated.
"Damian, whatever happened between you two, Tim isn't going to hold it against you."
"He left Father, because of me . . . Because of . . ."
"Did you cause the accident?" Bruce interrupted his son.
" . . . No . . . But . . ."
"Damian, someone else did that. And Dick is searching for the one responsible."
"I should have gone with him," Damian exclaimed.
"Perhaps, but Tim is asking for you. So . . . what are you going to do?"
Continues with Part 6