"Wow!" Dick exclaimed. He gracefully made his way to the trapeze and swung to catch his brother as this one did not make it in time to catch the trapeze he has jumped to. "That was close. What was your plan? Coming here and doing those tricks on your own, without supervision." Dick scolded him gently, as he got them down on the floor. "Here I thought you were the least reckless."
"Me? The least reckless?" Damian laughed incredulously at the words his beloved brother was uttering. "You do realize you are talking to the person who stood up and mouthed off Ra's al Ghul, the Devil, Darkseid, and Larfleeze."
"Point," Dick agreed, sweat dropping. "Still, I know you can fly and heal yourself, but be more careful. If just for your dad and mine's peace of mind."
"Got it," Damian promised with a smile. "Then... maybe you could teach me?" "Acrobatics?" Dick asked surprised, no one has ever asked him that before.
"Well, I cook with Jason, take care of the garden with Alfred, dance with Cass, shop with papa, play video games with Tim, play music with Mara, do art with Alec, and spar with Jade." Damian explained. "But I don't have an activity that it's just our own. I would like to get to bond with you." Damian looked up, to Dick, with a fragile hope that took the older brother by surprise. "I would like to get to know you better."
Ok, this is not fair! Dick whined internally. He is so adorable! I just want to wrap my arms around him and never let him go!
"Of course!" Dick said out loud, instead of what he was thinking. "If we train you up to shape, you can even join me on some of my circus' shows!"
"I would love that!" Damian agreed instantly, being completely honest.
In one life, Dick had been Damian's most important person. Even more than Alfred, Bruce, and Talia. Richard had been his Batman. That meant more than any of his siblings and even his father ever fully understood. That never changed, not even after Bruce had returned and resumed the role of Batman. Richard will always be his Batman. His first baba. Which is why when he traveled back in time, he made the executive decision of never taking the mantle of Robin. His partner will always be Richard, he no longer wanted to lie to himself or anyone else. Which is why he took the name of Flamebird. The Flamebird to Richard's Nightwing. Forever partners.
"You know, something I've noticed about you is that you make sure to always call us for our familiar titles," Richard commented, while they were taking aa break. They've been playing the childish 20 questions game, when Dick pointed that out. "Dad is baba, Alfred is shido, Alec is akhi, so am I, and Mara and Cass are akhti. Why?" Richard's smile stuttered when he noticed.
Damian's eyes glimmer with unshed tears. "I am so sorry! You do not need to answer!"
One of Damian's biggest regrets was not have never called Richard brother... until it was too late. Damian had to watch his entire family be ripped to shreds and he had only been cruel to them. It broke him. In ways the League of Assassins had never been able to. Maybe what they say is true, killing them with kindness is the best way to finish with your enemy. Had it not been by Raven accepting to join him in Nanda Parbat, and later John and William, Damian did not know what he would have done... or what would have become of him.
But the scars were left. Which is why, if you had known the Damian of that first timeline, this new version would be too jarring. He was more mindful of people's opinions and careful with his words. He was still the same confident and proud boy he was raised to be. But this time, while he truly thought he was perfect, his perfection comes from knowing he is imperfect and having learned to accept and love those imperfections. He has learned to heal and love himself and decided to spend the rest of his life healing others. Even when he takes over his great-grandparent's mantle, he will continue to heal the souls of the dammed.
All because a kind young man had decided that there was something worse saving of the broken little boy he had been stuck with and extended a hand. A hand Damian had been too late to accept...
"I... I died without ever telling my family that they were... well, my family," Damian sniffled, looking at Dick with such a sad smile- that it broke his heart. "I do not want for them to ever doubt how much they mean to me, ever again."
"We love you too, Baby Bat," Dick assured him, bringing him into his arms for a warm hug.
Damian finally broke, for the first time since he timed traveled. That nickname got to him. He had never thought he would hear it again. So, he cried and cried. His tears mourned all that he had lost, all the times he had died, all the ones he will never get back. Because, while they might be alive now, they were not the same people he had left behind. He cried for his baba, his akhi, his Batman. They will never be Batman and Robin again. But he hopes that Nightwing and Flamebird will be as much as a good team.
That night the rest of the family found them cuddling in the sofa of the family room. Without asking any question, Bruce lead the rest of his children into making a pillow fort, so they could all be together, while Alfred went to make hot choclate for all of them. Which lead to all of them cuddling together in the pillow fort, even Alfred, while Damian entertained them using his flames. Lian and Cass were especially captivated by the ethereal beauty of the many birds and bats dancing in the ceiling.
"You can ask you know?" Damian chuckled, as he noticed the eye of his father on him. "I know you have many questions."
"I do not want to push," Bruce replied, showing great improvement, even as his eyes could not look away as the flames turned from gold, to blue, to green, in Damian's hands.
"It's not pushing, if I say it's ok," Damian smiled. "I have no issue answering questions about my magic."
Before Bruce could even open his mouth, Tim had already jumped in with his questions. "How does it even work? Your magic that is. Is it a mutation or was it given to you because of..."
Noticing how Tim started losing confidence when it came to his "experimentations", Damian smiled gently and cut in. "I was born with this gift. I do not possess the meta-gene, but my powers were dormant until Darkseid gave me the Shard of Chaos. At first, the only thing it did was bring me back to life, as Darkseid had placed it on my corpse." Everyone flinched at Damian's casual mention of his death, it worried his family greatly. No one should be so casual about their own death. Luckily, for Alfred and Bruce this kid had no issue accepting that he needed help, and had already agreed to go to therapy. They could only pray that Dinah would work her magic on him. "It gave me super strength, speed, and reflexes, which faded with time. Then with time my flames came to be, first my Hell Fire for my connection to Hell," Damian explained vaguely, allowing them to form their own conclusions with their knowledge of the Lazarus Pits and the al Ghuls. "Then came my Holy Fire, and finally, after a second Shard of Chaos was given to me, my Phoenix Fire appeared."
"Can you control fire?" Jason asked curiously.
"No, I can only control my fire not others," Damian shook his head. "I summon them from somewhere within me."
Bruce frowned at Damian's peculiar wording. "Within you?"
Damian turned from where he was laying his head on Dick's chest, to his father with a smile. He has been smiling a lot lately, why wouldn't he when all of his family was alive again? "Mages summon fire during battles, you've seen Zatanna do it. However, she can summon it from somewhere, especially when it comes to types of magical fire like Hell Fire that can only be found in specific places, in this case Hell. Or she can create it, by sparkling an ignition from the nature that surrounds her."
"But that's not what you do," Dick deduced.
"No," Damian whispered, raising his hand above him. Everyone gasped as his veins turned green, blue, and gold, almost as if they were in fire. The contrast was mesmerising, almost as if molten lava was coursing through his veins. "I create the fire from raw, it is 100% pure magical flames. It is... exhilarating."
Bruce frowned as he observed his son be lost in his powers, while the rest of his children praised the flaming masterpieces of Damian. The way Damian spoke of his fire, the lost look on his eyes, all of that can be quite dangerous. Especially, after years of abuse and suffering. He better get working on some contingencies plans.
Just in case.
Right now, the Wayne Manor was bursting with the superhero community in their civilian identities. Anyone related to a Justice League, or a Titan was there. As you can guess it was prompted by Bruce's kids and he simply folded, knowing when he was outnumbered. The only drawback of having so many kids, in Bruce's opinion.
"Congratulations on graduating high school and maturing into your own hero, young prince," Diana beamed at her favorite Batkid. Unlike others she felt no shame in admitting it. Superman favored Dick, Cyborg became quick friends with the tech-genius Tim, Blac Canary and Barbara were a team made in heaven and the Birds of Prey were better for it, Martian Manhunter and Cass shared a quiet and harmonious partnership, everyone knew that the lanterns adored Damian, Mara was, the newly Justice League member, Cheshire's sister and partner in crime, and Alec bonded with Batwoman over their love for violence. "And only at sixteen! You must be very proud my friend!"
"I am," Bruce smiled at his son, who blushed under the praise. Bruce has tried to become more vocal about his feelings, but it still took some getting used to by his two eldest sons. At the moment they, Dick, and Tim were talking with Diana, Clark, and Lois- the rest of the family were around the garden. "He worked very hard for it."
"You are going to study Non-Profit at Gotham University like your brother?" Lois asked, ever the journalist.
"Not like me, but yes he is. He'll also study English and Literature," Dick told them proudly. "I'm changing my major for Communication and Public Relationships. Luckily all the classes I took last year were accepted into my new degree."
"Why the change?" Clark asked his favorite nephew; even is he won't admit it.
"I love helping my city and the work I do with the Foundation is satisfying," Dick explained. "But is not my passion. I grew up as a showman and working with the circus, doing shows from time to time, reminded me of my roots... and how much I've missed it. So, I've decided to take over Wayne Entertainment. Though, I'll wait until Little Wing graduates to hand over the Martha Wayne Foundation Bludhaven branch to him. It will be a good way to train him and prepare him to take over as the Chairman of the main Foundation."
Right, Wayne Entertainment. One of the many subsidiary branches of Wayne Enterprises. It was first born with the creation of Wayne Records, mostly known for their work in rock, rap, r&d, and heavy metal. It had discovered many hidden talents in Gotham City and allowed many people to lift themselves from poverty. In the last decade they had won various music awards and turned Gotham City in the city of rap and heavy metal, kind of like Nashville is the one for country music. Wayne Entertainment also possess Wayne Productions, Wayne Editions, owns the Gotham Theater and various stadiums worldwide. Not to mention, they've recently added the Flying Grayson's Circus and Wayne Galleries- a project Damian had started under the careful eye of
Alfred and Fox.
"I've learned with Dinah's help that it's ok to do stuff I enjoy and..." Dick turned with a smile to Damian who was trading stories with the lanterns. "... and that I don't need to suffer and overwork myself simply because I want to be a hero."
"That's quite healthy," Lois smiled proudly. "Now if only these three could learn that." "Come on! I'm not that bad!" Clark protested, as the rest of the group laughed.
"What about you, young warrior?" Diana turned to Tim, who tensed under the attention but relaxed when Bruce put an arm around his shoulder. "How's being Robin been treating you?"
"Good," Tim blushed at the memory of finally being Robin, it was truly a magical experience. "It was an arduous year, I trained until I dropped, but I can last five minutes against Cass now! And I've finally decided on my own weapon. A bo-staff!" Tim told them excitedly. Even Damian joined my training, so I could get used to fighting someone with powers."
"How did that go?" Clark asked him with a smile. "That bad?" He inquired when he saw all the bats wincing.
"Total fucking obliteration!" Jason answered honestly. "Like honesty! Someone that small should not be that strong!"
"He took us all out in a matter of minutes," Dick admitted proud of his baby bat, the Flamebird of his Nightwing.
"I've seen some of his work as Flamebird," Lois commented with a look of awe. "He has been working with Arthur to fix the petrol and nuclear waste in the ocean, popping all over the world healing people. Not to mention, aiding whatever hero is in a natural disaster zone. He is mostly doing support work."
"His powers are growing daily, and he does not want his fire to get out of hand," Bruce informed them.
"I can understand that" Clark said with a thoughtful look on his face. "Having so much power means to have a complete control over it. So, you won't hurt anyone. It's not something you can gain with only a couple of years of training. The control he possesses at such a young age is incredible."
"Not all the time," Tim commented thoughtfully. "What do you mean Tim?" Bruce asked his son.
"Well, one day I went early to the Batcave to do some training, nothing dangerous! Only some core training!" Tim was quick to assure his worried family. "But what I'm trying to say, is that I found Damian in the furnace."
"Found him... in the furnace..." Bruce repeated slowly, as everyone stared at Tim in disbelief. "Baby bat?!" Dick exclaimed shocked, as Jason cursed.
"Yes, he was... napping," Tim explained.
"Napping?" Bruce repeated again, it seems like they had finally broken him.
"Yes, I've never seen him so relaxed before," Tim told them. "Even when we catch him cuddling Dick in the family room there's some tension on his body. I've never noticed until I caught him. It almost gave me a heart attack."
"He was finally able to just let go," Clark commented thoughtfully. "I feel the same when I fly. Damian enjoying the company of fire makes sense."
"The flames were hugging him, like some kind of fire cradle," Tim explained. "They were not his flames, but natural fire... it still reacted to him."
"He is a being of fire," Diana said. "A prince of flames."
"We still do not know what he is," Bruce replied. "How much Darkseid's experiments changed him. Sleeping in furnaces! Why did he not tell us?"
The bats looked both distressed and thoughtful, as they brooded silently. So, Lois changed the topic of conversation, to distract them. "How's school? Joined any club?"
"Oh, I'm part of the Photography Club," Tim told them, blushing sheepishly. "We work with the school's paper from time to time and are in charge of the Yearbook."
"School's paper!" Lois exclaimed, looking delighted.
"That takes me back," Clark commented. "It was so much fun, it still is!"
"Damian joined the Art Club with Alec, and Mara is the school's orchestra as the first viola," Dick informed them, very proud of his siblings. "Cass is taking her ballet and ballroom classes very seriously, as she works for her GED with a tutor, and on her English with a speech therapist. Oh! And Little Wing is planning on continuing his drama club activities in Gotham University!"
"Hey! Don't call me that!" Jason shouted embarrassedly, at being called that in public.
"Oh, why not Little Wing?" Dick pouted playfully, making the whole group laugh as Jason cursed at his brother.
As the group bickered, Damian had left the lanterns to join the arrow kids. Connor Hawkes, Emiko Queen, and Mia Dearden, three people Damian had arranged for Green Arrow and Black Canary to meet earlier.
"Hey! I don't think I've thanked you for getting me out of the Brotherhood of the Fist," Connor greeted Damian with a smile. "Thank you!"
Damina smiled at the younger self of the old friend he had once made during the Lazarus Tournament. He hoped they'll be able to form a good relationship this time around too.
"No need to thank me, I know what it means to be in a group like that," Damian explained, gaining understanding looks from Connor and Emiko. Damian then turned to Mia. "Hi! You must be the new arrow kid. Speedy, right?"
"I am!" Mia beamed proudly. "And you are?"
"Flamebird," Damian smiled amusedly at Mia's look of wonder, before frowning. "You are sick," he stated, getting a flinch from Mia. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to insult you. But I'm simply confused as why Mr. Queen did not contact me, I can heal you."
"Mia you are sick?" Emiko turned to her foster sister in horror. "Why did you not tell us?!" Connor exclaimed.
"Ah," Damian sighed in understanding, she was ashamed. Even though she had been forced into her previous life of prostitution. "Well, that does not matter now. I can heal you, if you allow me."
"Yes! Please!" Mia begged in tears, accepting Flamebird's flames gratefully. She gasped as the fire burned her AIDS away. "Thank you!" She threw herself into his arms. "Thank you so much!"
"Don't run from me!" Green Arrow shouted, as he followed a furious Arsenal out of the manor and into the party in the garden.
"Oh, no," Emiko sighed.
"Not this again," Mia lamented, sniffling as she let go of Damian. "Those two are always at it," Connor growled.
"You know what? You want to do this now? Let's do it!" Roy growled. He stopped from running away and turned on his heels to glare at him. "First of all, I'm doing great, not thanks to you! I'm starting to get a hang of being a father, while working for Wayne Security. I'm also getting an Engineering degree from Gotham University, so I can move to Wayne Technology one day. Also, let's get one thing clear! I am no longer an addict!" Many people gasped. "I do not know what misconception or misunderstanding happened in the Justice League, but Flamebird can heal more than just physical injuries. Addiction and illnesses are on his reach to cure. Last week I saw him cure the malnutrition of kids in Africa and cure terminal cancer of patients of a small town in China. Why the hell do I care if you know this or not?! I love Connor, Emiko, and Mia, I am glad that they are out of those places. I got to spend a lot of time this last year with wonderful kids that got dealt a bad hand in life. I want to get to know my new siblings, like I got to know them, too. But you Ollie? You are dead to me!"
Silence rang in the room as Oliver stared at his son in shock and horror, before being dragged inside by Dinah. Then many heroes turned to Damian in disbelief, still hung on Roy's revelation.
"You did not know that?" Dmian questioned them surprised, before turning to his dad. "Baba, did you not tell them?"
"I did inform them that your flames can cure anything," Bruce answered him. "Somehow they must have thought I mean anything physical."
"How is that possible?" Iris asked in disbelief.
"Well, I use Hell Fire to burn the drugs and toxins in the system, then Holy Fire to purify the body and stop the system from asking for more drugs, and finally use Phoenix Fire to heal any damage that had been done to the body." Damian explained the process to the bewitched crowd.
"Why aren't you curing everyone then?!" Lois exclaimed stunned. "Lois," Clark tried to stop her, to no success.
"No Clark!" Lois shook him off. "You could cure so many people suffering from addiction and cancer, not to mention so many other illnesses... so, why not?"
"Because I learned from Superman and the Justice League's mistakes," Damian answered to everyone's surprise, even his family. "Did you know that ever since Superman appeared the enlistment to any kind of force dropped a 40%? I mean who needs a firefighter when Superman just sweeps in and take care of everything?"
"That is not the same..." Lois tried to get a word in but stopped at Damian's expressionless face- she had never seen the boy look like that.
"It is, did you know that whenever Superman is hurt or in a mission in space the deaths involved in fires have increased a 15%? Both in civilians, because there's not enough forces, and firefighters, because they do not have the experience... because Superman is there, and they've become dependent on him." The garden was silent as everyone digested what Damian was telling, they've never thought of it like that. "The army has no idea how to deal with aliens, why should they? When the Justice League does it for them. The government how no idea how to debate and discuss with aliens because, once again, you do it on your own! Tell me, what will happen if I start healing everyone I see? If I start dealing with all the environmental contamination?"
"Medical advancements will stop," Barry answered with a grim expression on his usually perky face. "Why try to cure cancer when Flamebird can do it in seconds?"
"Addicts will return to doing drugs because it's ok to get addicted again, as Flamebird is there," Jason added with a frown.
"Why care for the environment because Flamebird is there to fix it?" Arthur sighed, as his wife put a hand of support on his arm- those two had fixed their martial issues after a year of couple's therapy.
"People will became dependent on me, but what happens after I'm gone?" Damian asked them, asked Lois. "Powers come with great responsibility, other more than simply don't hurt innocents and do not kill. Which is why I only go to healing missions to places I know people can't get quality of life or treatment, and make sure to place them under a secrecy spell not to reveal how they got healed. Many places don't even know me as Flamebird but address me as the local deity." Damian sighed. "What we do doesn't only affect people but societies. It's time we all start acting like it." Damian smiled sadly at Lois, who flinched guiltily. "You might not like it, but this is the way I've decided to help people. My way." Damian glared. "That choice has been taken from me for a long time. I won't allow anyone to dictate the way I behave again."
With that said Damian turned around and left, being followed by his siblings. Mara and Alec, of course, took a second to glare at Lois, before following their favorite sibling. Behind they left a very ashamed superhero community with a lot to think about.
A/N: watch?v=m6TXPNybrmk
