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[knightowl]

UN: B.Wayne

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[brat]

( the cane swings out towards him, and damian - well. he's armed, but not visibly so: the soft hoodie, slacks, and sneakers are meant to leave him appearing like a normal child, not a trained assassin.

so he doesn't reach for any of his weapons to block the cane when it comes out towards him, instead raising an arm to block it with his forearm. the impact causes him to slide slightly off from where he'd originally intended on hitting the ground - but he manages to land on the balls of his feet regardless, rocking backwards instead of the preferred roll forward into a somersault, so he's instead knocked back onto his ass on the ground.

damian grins, one hand moving back to press his palm against the floor to keep him sitting up even as he leans back against his hand. )

Good. I would be disappointed, if you slowed down in your old age.

[knightowl]

[ He eyes Damian for a moment, mouth tight and brows furrowed. Then he smiles and turns back to the coffee machine to finish preparing his cup. ]

Ambushing me from the air vents would have been clever, [ He takes a sip of his coffee then reaches for a bit of cream. ] if I hadn't heard you coming.

[brat]

You didn't hear me until the vent opened.

( it's not a question. it's a statement, one damian sounds absolutely certain of and will refuse to accept any alternative answer for.

he does start to get his feet back under him, moving up onto his knees before standing upright and raising a hand to - fuss with his hair that's refusing to stay styled up. the woes of being short a butler. )

And if I had opened it any slower to prevent noise, you would have seen me coming.

[knightowl]

You're not as subtle as you think.

[ Subtle enough for their purposes. But Bruce isn't in the business of giving credit where it's due. If Damian thinks he's good and from all appearances, he is, Bruce will let him know he could stand to improve. He picks up his cup when he's satisfied and turns around as Damian gets to his feet. ]

Now that you've found me, what do you want?

[brat]

( those are fighting words, bruce.

but damian, despite the very irked expression on his face, doesn't argue against him. yet. instead, he grabs onto his own paper cup and shoves into bruce to get to the coffee machine. )

I never said I wanted anything.

[knightowl]

[ Thankfully, Bruce does not lose his balance when Damian shoves him. Thankfully, he doesn't spill his coffee either. That settles Bruce back into unamused. ]

Then you need to go home.

[ He doesn't say and stop bothering me. But the implication is there. He told the younger Bruce he wouldn't be too hard on them so that's how he plans on keeping his word. ]

[brat]

I would love to go home. Unfortunately, that's not possible.

( he understands what bruce was getting at. unfortunately for his father, damian refuses to abide by his demands. instead, he stays leaned up against him, and takes a drink out of the coffee cup once it's half-filled.

makes a face over how distasteful it is, then reaches for the sugar. )

[knightowl]

[ You know what annoys him more about this than Damian's refusal to obey? It's how familiar this feels. He'd been a stubborn, willful handful when he was kid himself. He owed Alfred such an apology. ]

Well if you're going to insist, help me.

[ He lifts his cane and points to the bag beside the coffee maker. It's instant coffee and bottles of fresh spring water. ]

Carry that.

[brat]

( he looks over to the bag, with his hand still pouring more sugar into the coffee cup. scrunches his nose at the sight of it, as if it's very existence is somehow distasteful. )

»Tt«.

( the lid goes back onto his own coffee cup, and damian picks that up as he takes a step back from the counter, but not the bag. )

You're more than capable of carrying your own groceries. I don't take orders from those who haven't earned the right to give them.

[knightowl]

[ Damian isn't wrong. It just takes a little adjusting so he can carry everything. He slips the handles of the bag over his wrist and uses the free hand to carry his coffee. He's done here and he's going back to his apartment. ]

If you're coming with me, keep up.

[ not that he's particularly fast - he isn't - but if he and the boy are going to speak then he'd rather do it while they're moving. ]

[brat]

( he rolls his eyes, but falls into step with bruce regardless. bruce isn't very fast, and damian - has little legs and is used to keeping up with people who are significantly taller than him, so this is nothing. )

Where have you decided to settle in?

( not that it matters all that much, really. damian doesn't need the answer, he has plenty of ways to find out himself. but he knows that, occasionally, people prefer to actually tell others their plans, rather than be stalked down to find out. )

[knightowl]

[ A question Bruce is a little surprised to hear Damian ask. Bruce is careful about his comings and goings but they're not secret. If any of them wanted to find him, it wouldn't be terribly difficult. ]

I thought you would have figured that out by now.

[ But Bruce is kind enough to nod toward the apartment building. ]

I'm in one of the units there.

[brat]

( obviously he's figured it out by now. obviously he knows where bruce has been spending his time, given he's been going out of his way to follow his movements. )

Is there a particular reason why?

[knightowl]

I've lived alone for a long time. I prefer to keep it that way.

[ Plus that avoidant attachment style. ]

[brat]

( he's quiet, for several moments. left contemplating what would leave bruce wayne on his own, alone, without anyone to keep him from burrowing deeper into his cave. it's not all too difficult to imagine: he doesn't have damian, his experience with his proteges seems to be much more limited than what damian is accustomed to. but. )

What happened to Pennyworth?

( he may already be ancient by damian's standards, and while he's well-aware that no one lives forever, especially not in their line of work, a future without pennyworth feels - wrong. )

[knightowl]

He died.

[ The answer is short and clipped. Because it still hurts to acknowledge even though it's been years. Though once it's out of his mouth, Bruce realizes how poorly that could sound. Their lives had been fraught with danger for many years, it could be easy to assume something horrific happened. And he didn't want that on the boy's mind, so he adds: ]

Peacefully.

[brat]

( damian doesn't expect anyone in their line of work to have an easy death. a warrior's death, yes. todd died in an explosion, damian died with a sword through his chest, grayson died to save everyone. pennyworth - well. )

That's good. He deserves at least that much.

( to die peacefully, surrounded by those he loves and knowing everything would be taken care of in his absence. )

Grayson?

( they've fought before. grayson leaving the house for an extended period of time isn't - odd, but leaving bruce alone feels off. )

[knightowl]

[ That question has Bruce setting his jaw, as if he can still feel Dick's fist connecting with it. He doesn't want to answer that question. So he ignores it. ]

I can manage the rest of the way.

[brat]

You could have managed this far as well.

( he knows this is bruce trying to get rid of him. damian - just isn't going to let him do it that easily.

so he takes several quick steps forward, turning around in front of bruce to block his path. looks at him. )

What happened with Grayson?

[knightowl]

[ For a moment, he stares at Damian. He could go around, continue on his way without having to think about Dick anymore than he already does. But Damian would never let it go. Better to put it to bed now. ]

He left.

[ Now just going to go around him to finish the rest of the walk home alone. ]

[brat]

( yeah, as if it'd be that easy to avoid your own kids, bruce.

he steps around damian, but damian stubbornly refuses to let him go alone. instead, he starts following him, again. )

Grayson wouldn't just leave.

[knightowl]

[ This kid. This kid is so damned persistent. Just like all of the others. He didn't know when to stop. ]

Maybe the Grayson you know. I haven't spoken to Dick in years.

[brat]

Which means you either did something heinous, or you broke off contact and refused to let him back in.

( dick grayson is a universal constant, regardless of if he deserves the responsibility that comes along with that title. damian knows. refuses to accept anything else. bruce should know. )

[knightowl]

[ Bruce has to stop at Damian's accusation. Not because he's wrong - he isn't. Bruce was incredibly hurtful and never apologized for it. It's been thrown in his face before. With Dick and Tim and Barbara. And now this kid. ]

You don't know what you're talking about.

[brat]

Don't be an idiot.

( bruce stops, and damian stops too, head tipped up to look right at him. )

Look at me. I am a direct result of your inability to communicate well with others. Perhaps not yours, but Bruce Wayne's.