#and i also love a good lil good mom talia y'know

[holyadoptionpapersbatman]

First of all, OW!! 🥺💔💔💔 Second of all---

◇°◇°◇°◇

The funeral was.

Was.

It was packed.

Damian Richardson had always been more of a loner than Bruce had.

However.

Unlike Bruce, Damian had always cared for any relationships he had made over the years he's been with Dick.

Dick looks towards Clark, Diana and Commissioner Gordon. Then towards the young heroes in civilian wear that Damian trained.

And then.

He glanced towards the falafel vendor and churros vendor who sold down at 3rd Avenue. He sees Selina and other cat moms murmuring to themselves at the corner of the room, holding their teas and clutching their handkerchiefs.

He sees some school kids Damian taught art to, holding on to their parents' hands or hiding their teary faces in their parents' embrace. He sees some old men who Damian played chess with in the park, all somber compared to the happy faces they made when they were usually with him. He sees some pet and animal owners, some zoo keepers, and animal activists who had grown close to Damian after so many debates and scuffles that made their bonds stronger.

So many people who weren't just the Wayne family, who Damian impacted.

They were all here.

All because Dick couldn't save one of the most precious people in his life. Again.

"How are you holding up, Chum?" Bruce asked, sitting next to Dick.

Both of them now had their eyes on Damian's coffin, but neither could look to where the casket opens.

Neither could bear to see Damian's peaceful face beneath the glass.

Dick doesn't reply.

Couldn't.

If he does, he fears he might start crying again.

He ignores how Tim is openly sobbing into Stephanie's shoulder. He ignores how Stephanie is crying right over Tim's hair. He ignores how Duke is silently alone, how he should be going over to his side to offer some comfort, but Duck just... couldn't find the energy to do it.

He ignores how Jason is being side-hugged by Alfred. Or how Alfred is misty-eyed as he rub's Jason's back. He ignores how Cass is simply standing still near Damian's casket, eyes hollow but fists clenched so tight, it might cause some bleeding.

He's startled out of his thoughts the moment he feels a hand on his shoulder.

He turns his head, and finds Bruce giving him a wobbly smile.

Dick can't. He doesn't want to.

Cry.

He can't break down right now.

Because if he does. This will feel too. Real. That Damian. One of his most loved parental figures in his life. Is. Gone.

"Come here, bud."

Dick feels his body leaning into Bruce and.

He.

"I miss him," he says in Arabic, sucking in a breath as tears freely flows out from his cheeks.

"I know, habibi," Bruce replies, petting his hair softly.

Dick allowed himself then and there to copy Tim, burying his face into Bruce's modest for once suit, and sobbing his heart out.

Damian was gone.

And he's never coming back.

◇°◇°◇°◇°◇

Talia sips her tea, fondly smiling at her son who is sleeping peacefully with a little kitten tucked in his little arms.

She sighs as she looks outside from the airplane's window.

They will be landing in a few hours.

Soon, they will be seeing her beloved.

And hopefully, just as her son from the future said, blood really won't be the deciding factor for her child to be accepted by his father and his family.

AU:

Damian, as an adult (maybe 19), travels back to when Dick's parents had just died.

Damian introduces himself to Bruce (who's 28ish) as a friend, wanting to help him with his mission to save Gotham. It takes time, but Bruce learns to trust Damian, introduces him to his ward Dick Grayson, and even hires Damian for Wayne Enterprises.

They are a weird family dynamic, but Dick settles on calling Damian his older brother. Dick slowly starts to heal from the trauma of his parents' death, especially with Damian there providing additional emotional support.

The older man, of course, changes what he can of the future. He finds Cass, permanently neutralizes the Joker (without killing just in case Bruce catches wind), and supports the Todds, Browns, and Thomases (arresting Willis and Arthur if need be). He invites Tim over to the Manor for "playdates" with Dick.

Overall, Damian is doing a fantastic job of helping Batman establish himself, teaching Bruce how to communicate with his children, saving Gotham, teaching Dick how to communicate his anger in other ways, helping the charity division (in particular the animal ones) of Wayne Enterprises, and overall being a great family member.

Bruce learns not to be an asshole and Dick knows he's loved and appreciated regardless of what labels the kid puts on their familial relationships (i.e. whether he thinks of Bruce as a dad or a loved guardian). Dick is doing fantastic as Robin, even though Damian couldn't convince him to wear pants. With the support of Batman, Damian's moniker, and, eventually, Batgirl, Robin flies through the night sky. He's so happy. He even forms the Titans and Bruce forms the JL.

It's good.

Then Dick has to watch Damian fall to his death in a vicious mockery of the Graysons' last show.