Work Text:
(Damian's POV)
When I had lived with the League of Shadows all I knew was pain and perfection. Endless training where skill and precision measured your worth and dictated how much love you received. The strictness of my grandfather and distance from my mother were all I knew about love almost my entire life. I wasn’t allowed out of our mansion and I was only allowed to read certain books, I never knew there was a whole nother world out there. Not until I met my father.
At first I was confused. Father didn’t hurt me or yell at me and didn’t like that I wanted to train all hours of the day. I respected my father as Batman but my brain kept telling me that he was weak because of the connections he had to others as my mother had taught me. It started to make me wonder if anything I learned from my life in the League was correct.
It was like walking through a dream, everything was backwards and upside down. Father only had one butler whom he insisted was more like a friend and they all made an effort to eat together for dinner. Social interaction and connection was not acceptable in the League so I was always worried about joining conversation.
Everything changed when father called down Dick Grayson to the Manor. Unlike my father who had been integrating me into their lives but never really took the time to sit down and explain how it all worked. Grayson took his time, with infinite patience, to teach me how the world actually worked.
At first I was always picking fights with him, many verbal and once physical, because that’s how I was taught to gain the respect of others. Grayson was quick to shoot that idea down. I’ll also never forget the endless afternoons where Grayson would take me onto the streets of Gotham and explain every little thing we came across. The genuine care that he provided me was monumental, I could hardly believe he was a real person.
It was around that time where I started reading books, all the books that I never had a chance to read before. It was incredibly insightful to the way the world worked and with every book I read I realized more and more that human connection was placed in high value by people. Once father realized that I liked to read we started having movie nights to help expose me to more culture while also serving as bonding moments.
Eventually I started to understand, really understand, how everything was supposed to work. It fractured my entire beliefs and every night I meticulously went over my time at the League to try and find something redeeming about it. And every night, I failed to.
After about 3 months from when I originally moved to Wayne Manor, my father brought back the entire family. Apparently he didn’t want to overwhelm me so they had been staking out in the watchtower. It was one of the first times (save Grayson’s kindness) that I totally felt like I mattered, that I wasn’t just another pawn, that I was someone worth prioritizing.
“Then I met you. And well, you know the rest after that,” I finished off my long story. I peek up at Jon who was watching me with wide eyes, “My father, Grayson, the rest of the idiots, I consider them all family and I wouldn’t want it any other way”. I let my gaze drift off into the distance, I’ve come a long way in 3 years and I feel like a completely different person. In a good way, of course.
“Aww that’s so sweet Dami,” Jon gives me a sweet smile, “I’m happy that everything worked out for you.”
“Yep, I’m never going back if I can help it.”
“You better not, I’ll be too sad if you left,” Jon whines softly.
“Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you anytime soon,” I place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
(Jon’s POV)
He just had to jinx it didn’t he? I don’t know how much Damian is in trouble, but something is definitely not right and I have to find out why. It’s finally the weekend so I tell my dad that I’m going to hang out with some friends before flying off into the skies.
I’ve gotten an excellent handle on my super hearing abilities, now I can pick out certain voices and even Damian’s heartbeat. Though his is the only heartbeat I can fully identify, I’m still working on my parents. I activate my hearing and focus on the surrounding areas as I fly, first I do a sweep of Smallville then I continue to Gotham. The first order of business will be to eavesdrop on the Bats. They’re incredibly secretive and defensive so this is really the only way to get information. I don’t exactly blame them, they’re distrusting so they like to keep issues within their family. Unfortunately, that will be their downfall someday.
I fly high over Gotham city, the endless dark clouds providing me cover so people on the ground won’t be able to see me. I stay as far as possible away from the manor because who knows what crazy security Bruce has in place. I wouldn’t put it past him to have sensors for Kryptonians like myself, he’s always prepared so I will not be taking any risks. I zero in on the batcave and pick up the voices of both Bruce and Tim.
“He’s gone, isn’t he?” Worry laces Tim’s voice.
“I….I really have no idea where he is,” Batman replies with a slight tremble. My eyes widen, the world’s best detective doesn’t even have the slightest clue as to where Damian is? How could they let this happen?!!
“We’ll get through this I promise, the others are looking for leads as we speak,” Tim tried his best to reassure Bruce, “We will find him.”
Bruce lets out a long sigh, “I don’t even know who took him, how will we ever find him?”
It seems like Tim doesn’t have an answer or anything else to offer Bruce because he stays quiet. I keep listening for a couple more minutes just in case they start talking again before tapping out. I can’t stop the fury that rises in me, why won’t they ask for help? Who knows what could have happened to Damian in the last couple days that could’ve been easily avoided if they called me or my dad?
I shake my head to get rid of the emotions. It doesn’t matter anymore and being unnecessarily mad isn’t going to help Damian. I quickly take off and do a perimeter around Gotham, listening carefully for his heartbeat. I just have to hope that they didn’t take him to a completely other country where I can’t find him.
So I take the next 2 hours flying around New Jersey, New York, and the surrounding states. Luckily the night covers me as there’s mostly clear skies tonight, except Gotham of course.
I listen intently for his heartbeat but I never find it. After a long time of searching I start to panic: what if he got taken to another country? What if he’s already dead?
I shake my head to clear my mind, having those thoughts won't help anyone. Maybe they’re keeping him on a ship? I fly out over the coast and listen carefully to all of the cargo and cruise ships milling around in the water. Just as I was about to give up I heard the faint rhythm of Damian’s heart.
I could’ve screamed in relief but I settled for a soft exhale of breath. I was off the coast of Philadelphia and the cargo ship was continuing down the coast. Now that I’ve found my target I start to listen to the many conversations going on inside.
I quickly realize that the League of Shadows has kidnapped Damian. I hear a woman’s voice giving out orders to the other men to make sure that they stay hidden within the ship. I wonder why they didn’t just get their own ship, but I guess this one is less suspicious.
I fly around the back of the ship and softly land on the back railing. Luckily the ship is large enough that the waves don’t reach me. I have to assume there’s no technological security systems because they’re staking out in a normal ship. Hopefully they do not have time to prepare for my ambush. Well, even if they saw me they’d probably underestimate me. After all, I am just a little kid.
I avoid the regular people on the boat easily before approaching a wall that I hear some of the Leagues goons behind. I carefully examine the empty space before running my hands along the edges looking for a latch with no success. I recall Damian teaching me to think outside the box with villains and their secret hideouts so I don’t give up easily.
I survey the surroundings and find a crate that’s slightly out of line with all the others. I examine it closer and then move it in order to align it properly. I hear a soft click and a triumphant smile spreads across my face. Damian would be so proud.
I look back to the wall and see that it’s slightly ajar so without hesitation I push it open. I hop into a different part of the ship lined with wood floors and walls. I close the secret hatch behind me and start listening for goons. The plan is simple: Damian is likely hurt seeing as his heartbeat is so weak, so I’ll clear out all the goons first before going to find him. I’ll keep an ear trained towards the area I know they’re keeping my friend so I can intervene if anything bad starts to happen once they realize my rescue attempt.
I identify about 10 men roaming around the hallways and smirk to myself, this will be easy enough. The first two round the corner and I immediately hit one with a powerful punch to the face, knocking him out cold. The second one tries to slash at me with a sword but it breaks upon impacting my body. I turn to smirk at his horrified face before giving him the same treatment as the first.
Not long after, all the goons are knocked out and locked in a random room I found so if they wake up they won’t cause any further trouble. I listen again but I don’t hear the woman anymore. Though she’s likely still here I’m unable to pick out her heartbeat in the sea of all the others on board. I shrug it off, I’ll leave her if she won’t cause any trouble.
I race towards the room where Damian is held and I try to push the door open only to realize it’s locked. I roll my eyes and take a step back before forcefully kicking open the door. I step inside to see Damian’s body crumpled on the floor.
(Damian’s POV)
Three days before:
Sure, getting captured wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t my fault!! I was just minding my own business, as Damian Wayne not Robin, and I got jumped!! I wasn’t able to fight back because no one expects that sort of thing from a spoiled billionaire's son, so therefore, it was not my fault.
I assume it’s some rando who wants money from Father so I’m not worried. They knocked me out originally but now I’m being led…somewhere. They put both a gag and blindfold on my face as well as cuffing my hands together. We’ve been walking and taking turns so often that I stop memorizing because they’re clearly doing it on purpose.
I notice that the floor sways slightly every couple seconds so I assume that I’m on the ocean somewhere. That thought gives me a twinge of fear; if they take me far away Father may never find me. Eventually I hear a metal door scratch against the floor then in a span of a couple seconds the person holding me rips off both the blindfold and gag then pushes me into a cell. I stumble but manage not to fall or further embarrass myself.
I whip around but the cell door gets slammed in my face. I bang against the metal bars, “Let me go!!”
“Sorry, you’re rather valuable Mr. Wayne,” one of the large men states, “Wait here until our boss comes to deal with you.”
“Not like I can do anything else anyway,” I scoff. The goons don’t reply and just walk out of my field of view. I observe where I’ve been placed, it’s a classic ship jail cell where half the room is a desk area and the other half is the cell. I let out a sigh, I could easily pick the lock on my cuffs then the door with my hidden picks but that’s not expected of Damian Wayne. God how I hate having to maintain civilian identities.
I didn’t have to wait long before I picked up on footsteps walking down the hall. I lean against the bars on the cell, ready to drive whoever dared to capture me insane. The door opens and all the air leaves my chest, standing there in all her glory, is my mother.
“Hello Damian,” She addresses me in a sickly sweet voice. Talia moves into the room and a larger male goon follows her in, probably a bodyguard, “Long time no see, son.”
I’m speechless, some part of me foolishly believed that I would never see her again. My mother is… well no, let’s clarify that I do not see her as my mother. Talia is very calculating so I have no doubt whatever I’m here for is part of a larger plan that she has to exact her power onto others.
“Where’s grandfather?” I ask casually, there’s no need to start a fight right away.
Talia scoffs, “I saw to it that he was removed, permanently. I am now the leader of the League of Shadows and you are my successor.”
Ah, so that’s why I’m here. She’s come to collect me again now that I’m of use to her. Ridiculous. When she remains quiet I assume she’s waiting for my agreement so I speak up, “Sorry, can’t do that.”
Talia’s face changes from calm to pure fury in a blink of an eye, “You do not have a choice, Damian.”
“I’ve learned that there’s always a choice, so I choose no,” I taunt her through the cage. I’m not even lying, Grayson has told me countless times that there’s never a situation where you don’t have a choice. Even if that choice is a difficult one.
Talia let out a long sigh, “It’s no matter, I can take my time breaking you if you continue with this attitude.”
“Please, you’d never be able to break me,” I challenged her statement. Now that was probably a lie, the League is aligned with some particularly sadistic people fully capable of breaking me within an hour. I just hope someone from my family would save me in time or that I can manage an escape.
“Well, of course we won’t be able to break you completely,” Talia had a calculating look in her eyes, “You’re like me s-”
“I am nothing ‘like you’,” I put finger quotes around the phrase. Interrupting her might not have been my greatest idea, seeing as she was getting more angry by the minute.
“Excuse me? I am your mother, you’re at least a little like me even if you refuse to admit it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m strong like Father, kind like Nightwing, smart like Red Robin, cunning like Red Hood, meticulous like Oracle, and supportive like the batgirls. Nothing of who I am is from you and I’d like to keep it that way,” I cross my arms over my chest and give her a glare.
That was clearly her tipping point as she let out a frustrated scream and turned to her bodyguard, “Open the cell and step inside with the boy.”
I took a couple steps back from the door to the cell as the man opened the door and entered. I was smart enough to know I had no chance against him, but still I wanted to at least have the option to defend myself. So the cuffs finally fell to the floor as I released them. I started picking the lock during Talia’s monologue where she was too distracted to notice the soft sound of metal on metal.
“You’re getting sloppy, son. If this were 3 years ago you would’ve been out of that cell already. Batman has made you into something I never thought possible with his emotionless personality. He’s made you weak!”
“I’m not weak,” I spit out, “I’m fighting against you aren’t I?”
Talia gives me a look, “I’d hardly classify this as fighting.”
“It’s subjective,” I throw back in a taunting voice. No matter what, I cannot let this woman break me.
Talia completely ignores me and continues speaking, “You’ve become distracted with silly things that you don’t need to survive in this world. It’s my job as your mother to get you back on track, that’s why you’re here. And you will continue to be under my care until I deem you fit to go back into the world.”
“So what I’m hearing is that you want me to be your little toy puppet again?” I ask with a scowl. After I left the League I vowed I would never fall under their control again. Living in the League of Shadows couldn’t even be considered life. All it was was eat, train, sleep, and repeat. And I know that’s certainly not how I want to live my life.
“No, I want you willingly. Even if you need…some encouragement,” Talia signaled with her hand to the bodyguard and he started stalking towards me. I scrambled backwards but the cell was so small that I didn’t make it very far.
I managed to dodge the first swing but as I attempted to dodge the second I hit the side of the cell. There wasn’t nearly enough space to have a proper fight in here. Hitting the wall left me vulnerable and the man took full advantage of that. He started with a right hook that landed perfectly on my jaw, my whole head turned to the side as pain erupted everywhere on the lower part of my face. He then went for my stomach which had my doubling over and if I wasn’t trained I might’ve fallen down. Well, it’s not like any training can really prepare anyone for a proper beatdown.
The bodyguard fisted my hair and pulled up my face so he could have full access to dish out a couple more punches. Eventually, he let go and I slumped to the floor. After that the man started attacking my ribs and legs with powerful kicks from his steel toed shoes. At this point, my entire body felt as if it were on fire and every breath I took only added fuel to it.
“Stop,” Talia’s voice cut through the fog of my pain, “We’ll come back tomorrow.”
The cell door shutting was the last thing I heard before falling unconscious due to the immense amount of pain.
~
I wake up to a loud banging sound. I slowly opened my eyes to see Talia standing in front of the same bodyguard from yesterday hitting my cell with a metal pipe, “Wake up, Damian. Sorry I missed you yesterday but we had to deal with a few…issues.”
“Issues?” My voice is slightly raspy from sleep. I try to sit up but pain blooms from my abdomen so I abandon that idea altogether.
“Nothing to worry about, son. We have to make up for yesterday,” Talia said in a fake cheery voice. That only pulled a groan out of me as I realized I’ve already been on this ship for three days.
“I thought we could start simple, will you agree to be my successor?”
“Absolutely not,” I didn’t miss a beat when responding. As predicted, this angered Talia and she ordered for the bodyguard to enter the cell. I was lying on my side towards the back corner of the cell, completely curled in on myself. Sure it wasn’t the most dignified position but it was mitigating the pain so I didn’t care.
“We’ll try something different today don’t worry,” Talia signals at the bodyguard and he approaches me much like the day before. I let out a soft groan, I don’t know how many more blows I can take from this guy.
But instead of kicking me around, he unsheathes a small blade. Nothing that could cut off a limb but just big enough to make my eyes widen, is this woman crazy?
“Do you want me to bleed to death?” I exclaim as the bodyguard starts to crouch down to my level.
“Don’t you know? Everyone here is very skilled with knives, he won’t draw too much blood,” Talia says like it's the most normal thing in the world, “Plus, I’ll be giving specific commands just to make sure this doesn’t go too far, you’re very valuable to me.”
“Whatever,” I managed to get out before Talia nodded to the bodyguard and he went in for the first cut on my right leg. I hiss at the sensation, at least she was right, he’s not drawing too much blood. I don’t know how much that comforts me though. I look up at Talia who hasn’t moved much from her position, “Torturing me isn’t going to make me want to be on your side.”
“Stop fighting me!” Talia rages. She nods to the man and he inflicts another small wound on my legs; I gasp out in pain.
“I’ll never stop fighting you and trying to get back to my family,” I gasped out a breath as another cut got bestowed on me like a gift.
“I am your family!” Talia yells out. She signals for the guy to cut me again, I brace for the pain but it doesn’t make it hurt any less when his knife cuts deeper this time. He goes for my abdomen and makes two deep parallel cuts. I let out a loud groan and pain starts to muddle my senses.
“No…you…are…not,” I take a breath at every word, trying to get my world to stop spinning from agony. I don’t know how much time passes as Talia keeps giving orders to make more tiny cuts on my body. It’s like she wants me to remember her every time I look in the mirror. Though I’ll only see the torture, lucky me.
After what feels like days Talia calls out, “Stop!”
The bodyguard backs away and I’m finally given a moment to breathe. My eyes are completely shut and I can feel tiny heartbeats all over my body at every new wound. I curl in on myself but it doesn’t help as much as it did last time. It’s a miracle I’m still awake, or possibly a curse.
“We don’t have to do this, Damian. You can just come with me and this all can go away in an instant,” Talia coos through the bars of the cell. Of course her offer is tempting due to my pain but I’ll never give in. Not as long as I’m alive.
I gather up what little breath I have to full on yell at her, “I’ll never go with you!”
Talia’s face scrunches up in hardly contained fury, “Just submit to me, petulant child!”
“You’ll have to kill me first!!” That line gets her to shut up for a brief period of time.
Talia eventually signals to her bodyguard to leave the cell, “You just need time to understand.”
I don’t have the energy to answer her as I relax back into the ground as much as possible. I reflect on the last couple days and suddenly I’m struck with clarity. I used to think that I would never fit into the Batfamily since I was an assassin and they were heroes. But now I’ve never been so sure that I belong. I always feared that one day I would be tempted back into the mindset the League had drilled into my brain but today was evidence enough I’ll never let that happen.
I leave myself with that final thought before slipping back into unconsciousness.
(Jon’s POV)
“Damian!!” I exclaim before rushing towards him. I drop to my knees next to him and put a hand over his shoulder, “Are you okay?”
Damian slowly lifts his face and I let out a sharp gasp at its condition. There’s a knife mark just missing his eye and multiple bruises on his cheeks and forehead. I survey the rest of him and notice the knife marks littered over his body, ripping his clothing in multiple places. I can only assume more bruises are blooming underneath his clothes.
“Oh my god, Dami,” I gently reach out my hand to brush against his non-bruised cheek, “I’m here to save you. Let’s go home?”
“You came for me?” Damian’s raspy voice fills the room. I can only assume it’s like that from crying, the thought makes my heart ache for him.
“Of course, we promised never to leave each other. So I’m dragging you back whether you like it or not,” I try to lighten the mood with a slight joke. It miraculously works and Damian gives me a small smile.
“Come on,” I stood up and offered my hand to him. Damian only looks at it warily but accepts it. I pull him up but the second he gets on two legs he collapses back down. He hits the ground with a groan and I can’t stop the look of concern that I know flashes across my face.
“Well isn’t this lovely?” Damian bites out.
“Don’t worry~ I can carry you,” I laugh at the glare he gives me but since I hear no objections I reach down and pull him into my arms. He hisses in pain as I put pressure on some of his wounds. I give him an apologetic look before walking out of the room and backtracking to the hidden trapdoor.
I step out of the hidden hatch and come face to face with my father. If I wasn’t holding Damian I would’ve slapped my hand over my mouth in absolute shock. Not only was my father standing there, the entire Batfamily was also present. Well isn’t this just great, I can now be lectured by 8 very angry looking people. We stared each other down for a couple seconds.
“Don’t be angry, he saved me,” Damian is the first to break the silence. I look down at him and smile, always trying to protect me even though he’s barely conscious.
“Can we just save the lecture for later?” I snap out as I see my dad beginning to open his mouth, “Robin clearly needs immediate medical attention.”
When everyone nods in agreement, I close my eyes and let out a breath of air in relief. For now, we need to prioritize Damian’s health. I open my eyes to see Grayson trying to take Damian out of my arms. I jerk back immediately,
“Back off Grayson. He’s mine,” I growl out as Dick tries to take Damian away from me. I pull Damian closer to my chest and back away. Damian only lets out a snicker but doesn’t offer any further comments.
“Come on Jon, he’s my brother,” Grayson reached out for him again and I flew back out of his reach.
“I was the one who saved him, so I will be the one to hold him,” I gave Grayson the best Damian glare I could muster, “Not. You.”
I know Dick is a good person, but I can't shake the memory of Damian's crumpled body in the corner of that room. I need Damian in my arms to convince myself he's alive. Also maybe I'm a bit protective over Damian.
“Wow, protective much,” Damian smirks. I give him a pointed glare and an eye roll,
“It’s because you would get hurt if I transferred you to someone else,” I explain even though it’s a complete lie, “Also I can fly.”
“Sure, Kent. Keep telling yourself that.”
“Shut up. You shouldn’t be allowed to be this snarky when injured.”
“Every bone in my body might be broken, but my sarcasm isn’t and I intend to use it.”
“You’re such a problem.”
“But I’m your problem.”
That pulled a laugh out of me as we flew over the clouds, “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”