[ 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. ]
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. )
[ 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. ]
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. )
[ 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. ]
( 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.
[ 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. ]
( 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. )
[ 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. ]
( 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. )
( 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. )
[ 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: ]
( 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. )
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. )
[ 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. ]
[ Look at him, when Bruce would rather look anywhere but. But he does look because this kid. ]
I never told him he couldn't come back. That was a choice he made.
[ Maybe he made Dick feel like he couldn't come back. Maybe not. But the truth was, he left and neither of them ever reached out. But if he wanted to come home, even now, after all these years, Bruce would have welcomed him. ]
No. It was your choice, just like you're currently choosing to walk away from me. You're very good at that - pushing people away when you're afraid.
( regardless of what happened, damian's not going to let it get pushed onto grayson's shoulders. he knows better, and if there's one person damian is overly protective of - )
Just like Grayson is good at pulling you back from your attempts at self-destruction. That's what Robin was meant for, wasn't it?
[ Or any of theirs. It's what he told Terry when he asked for the suit back. It's what he still thinks now. Maybe he was asking too much of them. They'd give their best but it wasn't enough. ]
So, stop trying to make it yours, because it isn't.
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[ 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?
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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.
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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. ]
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( 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. )
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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.
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»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.
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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. ]
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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. )
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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.
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Is there a particular reason why?
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[ Plus that avoidant attachment style. ]
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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. )
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[ 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.
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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. )
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I can manage the rest of the way.
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( 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?
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He left.
[ Now just going to go around him to finish the rest of the walk home alone. ]
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he steps around damian, but damian stubbornly refuses to let him go alone. instead, he starts following him, again. )
Grayson wouldn't just leave.
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Maybe the Grayson you know. I haven't spoken to Dick in years.
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( 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. )
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You don't know what you're talking about.
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( 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.
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I never told him he couldn't come back. That was a choice he made.
[ Maybe he made Dick feel like he couldn't come back. Maybe not. But the truth was, he left and neither of them ever reached out. But if he wanted to come home, even now, after all these years, Bruce would have welcomed him. ]
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( regardless of what happened, damian's not going to let it get pushed onto grayson's shoulders. he knows better, and if there's one person damian is overly protective of - )
Just like Grayson is good at pulling you back from your attempts at self-destruction. That's what Robin was meant for, wasn't it?
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[ Or any of theirs. It's what he told Terry when he asked for the suit back. It's what he still thinks now. Maybe he was asking too much of them. They'd give their best but it wasn't enough. ]
So, stop trying to make it yours, because it isn't.
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