#tim: do you want that list chronologically alphabetically or in order of severity?

[vcendent]

*out on patrol*

Jason: Hey bro, can I get a sip of that water?

Tim, sipping from a waterbottle: It's not water.

Jason: Vodka! I like your style!

Tim: It's vinegar.

Jason: Wha-

Tim: It's vinegar. Pussy.

[scarlett-green-rose]

It’s not that Damian didn’t have any faith in Richard. It’s quite the opposite, actually. He highly admired his older brother for his successes as the first Robin, Nightwing and temporary Batman. In fact, Damian was sure that he was the only one who currently held any faith in Richard during the “newest Wayne Family Drama” - as Brown coined it.

No, it’s just that he found Father’s longing eyes and Todd’s defensive snark increasingly pathetic. Even Alfred the Cat was starting to find the tension tedious; as evidenced by his refusal to stay in a room with any of the participants to this relational stand-off and increasing discomfort.

Unacceptable. Honestly, the things he had to do for this family.

“Grayson.”

Richard startled on his place on the Manor roof, phone jumping from his hand before he caught it without any of his usual flourish. Tt. This is why Damian refrained from vocalising Richard’s first name. The man currently didn’t deserve the privilege if he couldn’t even detect Damian’s presence. After all, he didn’t even bother to hide it.

“Ah, Damian,” Richard said as he turned towards him, either purposefully ignorant of Damian’s use of his last name or genuinely oblivious to it. Damian didn’t know which was worst. “What are you doing here?”

Damian considered using tact. Of starting this inane, but unfortunately necessary conversation with insipid small talk about the upcoming gala - and how to avoid it - or Tim’s latest sleep-deprived forays into coffee making - and how to avoid the next one - or even just demanding blackmail on either Father or Todd - and watching as Richard attempted to avoid all mention of the two.

Then he remembered that this stupidity has stretched on for over 3 months. Longer if you started to count from before Father’s week long disappearance for that unknown case. Longer still if you included his strange behaviour after his displacement in time.

No, Damian refused to allow this idiocy continue to fester.

“Why do you despise Father and Todd?”

Richard’s eyes widened comically, a reaction that he didn’t even bother try to hide before he yelled, “Why do you think I hate Bruce and Jason?”

Damian inwardly frowned, making sure to keep his facial expression neutral. Could it be that Richard - the most emotionally competent member of the family - was unaware of his negative opinions on the two? This might be harder than he thought.

“Would you like the list in alphabetical, chronological or in order of severity of change in behaviour towards Father and Todd?”

“There’s a list?!” Richard yelped.

“It’s been over three months Grayson; Gordon and Drake have managed to compile dossier. Even the Commissioner has begun to notice,” Damian let his gaze drift to the city’s hazy skyline. “You know that Gotham will soon follow. We cannot let this weakness be utilised against us, not when it can be easily remedied.”

Damian turned back to Richard to meet his eyes. “Isn’t that what you always told me, Batman?”

Richard darted his face away from him. Tt. Damian wanted nothing to do with this, especially when it was increasingly evident that he did not possess the proper emotional skill set nor sensitivity to address Richard’s feelings on the new developments concerning Father and Todd.

But Drake was overloaded with the League of Assassins; Cain was undercover overseas; Gordon was adjusting to Batman’s and Red Hood’s new code of conduct, and it would be a miracle if Richard spends even five minutes in the same room as either of them. Even worse, Alfred already tried confronting Richard once a month ago, and nothing had changed.

Damian sighed and took the last few steps to Richard’s side and sat beside him, leaning on his hands as he stared out to Gotham. It’s been less than five minutes and he already wants to give up. Mother would be disappointed, but then again, Mother would have never challenged him with resolving a similar situation. With or without training.

(Or maybe she would have, it’s been too long since she’s contacted him. He misses her.)

Damian felt, rather than heard Richard sigh beside him. His arm coming up to wrap Damian closer as his older brother leaned his head on his own. Damian let him.

“I don’t-” Richard started, “I don’t hate Bruce. Or Jason. Or both of them, I just...”

Damian felt Richard’s lips press on his hair as he whispered, “it’s not my Bruce.”

Damian felt his eyes widen before he could control his facial expression. An incredulous, “What?” managing to slip past his lips before he can stop himself. How embarrassing.

“I said,” Richard repeated himself, “that man isn’t my Bruce.”

“You think that there is an impostor currently taking Father’s place?” Damian furrowed his brows, there had been blood work stating otherwise. However, the tests were done after Father’s return to linear time, and none were taken after his arrival from that secretive ‘case.’ So, it was plausible, if incredibly improbable. Yet, if Richard believed it. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? This is a horrifying breach in security, Grayson. Even worse if you believe that Todd is also compromised.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s that...” Richard shifted underneath him, both arms now wrapped around his smaller frame. Damian begrudgingly let him, Richard was talking after all, and if it took him his dignity for being used as a stuffed animal then so be it. “They’ve changed. A lot. Bruce and Jason both. It’ll... it’ll just take a while for me to come to terms to that.”

Damian balked at that. “It’s been three months.”

“A long time, then.”

Damian scowled at the words. They didn’t have ‘a long time,’ was Grayson - Grayson now, for his increased incompetence. Honestly, he expected better - not listening when he said that soon even common criminals will notice and exploit their estrangement from one another?

Grayson sighed from above him, as he started to comb his finger through Damian’s hair. “I’ll try harder, I promise. I know anything would be better than what I’ve been doing recently but I promise I’ll try harder. I just...”

Richard Grayson - not Richard yet, he hasn’t earned it yet - stopped combing through Damian’s hair. “I miss them.”

Damian thought back on the despondent behaviour that Grayson had exhibited in the past 3 months. His lack of sociability and increased suspicion towards members of his own family. Yes, Damian supposes he could see where Grayson was coming from.

He misses his older brother too.

Short DPXDC Prompts #549

Bruce has fistfought death before. He’s clung to life in some of the most hopeless situations. And whenever he’s terrified that he might not make it to see another day, a miracle of sorts happens and he makes it out alive. Little does he know that a certain time-wielding specter is ensuring his safety.