Father of mine (After Timmy and Damian stop talking)

[shahzadalghul]

Of course, Damian's good mood faded as soon as he found a note in his father’s handwriting waiting on his desk. “An apology letter to Comissionor Gordon.” He reminded himself that Fake Drake had said his father loved him, but he was still stung by the treatment.  He had nothing to apologize for. Well, perhaps the fire but he wasn't going to admit

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[broodingbat]

Bruce stands before the door silently and debates what to do. he should knock. He will knock. But should he give the boy more time? Was he rushing it? or had he waited too long already.

Damian is nothing like Dick. Or even Jason, of course he hadn't known Jason at this age. He wasn't even going to think about comparing the boy to Tim, though there is a smile trying to make his lips twitch.

He smooths his expression and knocks quietly.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian was annoyed to realize he couldn't detect by the footsteps who it was. He was not becoming soft only a few days from leaving. "Enter," he said, not looking up from his work.

[broodingbat]

Bruce pushes the door open. "You found my note?" He asks calmly, watching the boy. He's trying to pay attention, to see that which the boy will not say.

This is one of the times he's very envious of Cassandra. Perhaps he should ask her to spend some time with the boy.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian felt his spine stiffen as his father stepped inside. Having him around was like having a celebrity living nearby, he had to act properly and yet also pretend they were a regular family. "Yes. I wrote two notes," he answered. "If you wish, just inform me what to write and I'll transcribe it." He would try to be a model son, and impress him.

[broodingbat]

Bruce listens, not interrupting. But his eyes brows do go up on occasion. There is so much in those words. And he wonders how much of it is Talia's doing verses Damian's on lack of understanding.

"Do you know now the American legal system works, Damian?" It's a very open ended question s there are so very many aspects to the system he fights to protect, but which lets the people down time and again.

"In regards to detaining individuals?" He clarifies. Start there. He can examine why Damian thought he had to lie about being Bruce's son later.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian nodded. The best way to stay on the wrong side of the law was to know it. "According to the Gotham Penal code, as I was not under arrest, I had no obligation to answer any of their questions. They had no reasonable suspicion that I had violated the law, so they had no right to detain me. I wanted to leave, but they would not let me go. That blasted bugger Gordon quoted section 9, subsection J, paragraph two, the police can hold a suspect in custody without formal charges for no more than forty-eight hours." He paused for a moment and considered his next words

[broodingbat]

"Yes, you could have waited it out. And should have," Bruce confirms. "Also, the Commissioner--who you will address with respect--could not have brought any charges against you. That would have been my job, since I was the supposed "victim." In the case of a runaway or a kidnap victim, you would have been put into the social services system while they figured out who you are. Meaning a group home, which would have been much easier to escape from," he explains patiently. It's a long speech and is delivered in much the same way the sex talk was, clinical, just facts; information to keep him safe.

Something else occurs to him. "Do you not trust me?"

[shahzadalghul]

Damian shrugged, bristling at the thought of respecting that idiot. He hadn't seen it that way, and it only proved that he needed to be here and perfect himself with his father. "Understood. I will study the American system further."

The second question made him start. "I don't understand your question, Father." What did that mean, trust? He didn't trust his mother, he obeyed her. Trust was something fools did.

His own mother had allowed him to be blown up the first time he had met his father. His father had replaced him with street rats. His ninjas obeyed him because they believed Grandfather to be a Messiah. Grandfather would happily use him for a new body. He...trusted Grayson a little. "I trust in what I know of my parents." It was as good a lie as he could say.

[broodingbat]

Bruce sighs. That. Wasn't what he'd expected. Not exactly. And not entirely true. Not the important parts.

"I do not see Talia or R'as when I look at you. Any more then I see myself. You are Damian, no one else." He says firmly.

There is more. So much more. It WILL be said. Later. For now they can start with this.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian folded his arms. "But you don't trust me," he accused. "You still blame me for them. I see the way you treat me and the other guests of the house."

[broodingbat]

"No, I don't blame you for them. I blame you for your own actions," he corrects, looking at the boy, watching how his words were taken.

"Whatever plans your mother or grandfather have, you alone make the choice of what you do and how you will behave. How you treat others, Damian."

[shahzadalghul]

Damian scowled. He knew he was treated differently, but short of calling his father a liar, he had little else to defend himself. "I will make myself a perfect heir to you. I will train, study, whatever you wish," he finally said, unsure where the conversation. "I know I made mistakes in my escape, but I will fix them. I will be more discreet, more aware. I will do better."

[broodingbat]

"What I want you to say." He frowns, trying to get the words right. "Is what is true. Even if you're not sure what that is, Damian."

He has a bad feeling that he's only complicating things, but he wants. Needs the boy to at least try. A little. To start.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian shrugged, completely confused. He wanted to please his father, but he was so confused. "I am telling you what is true. Is there something wrong with what I want?" he asked. He just wanted to know why his father was talking in riddles. "I want those things because I always wanted those things and I see no better alternative." He racked his brains, trying to know what to say. "I want the freedom to do as I please."

[broodingbat]

"We. Are going to explore the alternatives," Bruce decides.

It's what the boy needs, yet he has no idea how to go about it. He'll figure it out. Somehow.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian's eyes widened. This did not sound promising for his career as the future Batman. "There are no alternatives to me following in your footsteps. It's what I want."

[broodingbat]

Bruce raises an eyebrow. "Your mother has a very active imagination," he says mildly. Of course Talia has everything wrong.The truth is that Bruce doesn't do casual sex. With or without money being exchanged. Not that Damian needs to know that.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian was wondering if this was a test. His father had asked cryptic, meaningless questions, expected an answer and when Damian supplied one, seemed to be talking in a different language. He was getting even more nervous now, he had never spoken to anyone as long as this. "Father, I don't understand what you wish of me," he finally said, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. "Do you mean enjoy your wealth?"

[broodingbat]

Indeed. What DID he want? Well to talk to boy, to get to know him. But more then that, except that he can't define that "more." Not just yet.

The question catches him off-guard. It's really not something he ever thought about. The money was always just THERE, in the background, to be used as needed.

"I. Suppose. Perhaps it's more accurate to say that I enjoy what it lets me do," he muses thoughtfully. Of course much of that is Mission related and if he's honest with himself there is something very satisfying about helping people and closing cases. There is also something very satisfying about being able to go where the police can't.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian nodded, finally understanding. "The power you have over people. Money grants influence, grants prestige. You can fire people, hire them, you can build places or destroy them, you can manipulate events to your favor," he said, with a rare tight lipped smirk of happiness. He was finally getting what his father wanted.