( 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.
Unfortunately for you, I am not a good little soldier who does what is demanded of me. I'm Robin, the blood son of Batman, heir to the League of Assassins, and I'll do what I please.
( including but not limited to - standing right here, getting in bruce's way as he tries to walk away from everyone and pretend he's alone, when he's clearly not. )
If I want to make it my responsibility, there's nothing you can do to stop me.
( bruce starts walking away, again, and damian gives the most irritated sigh he can manage before he rolls his eyes and starts trailing after him again. )
You realize this would be significantly easier on you if you would just listen to me, yes?
No, you didn't. But we both know that you off on your own is a horrid idea.
( he's so tired. first there was the younger bruce wayne, and now there's this - older, more jaded one. damian thought dealing with the naive, barely-batman version of his father was exhausting enough, but at least he. . . acknowledges attachments. he's reached out to damian, held onto him, treated him like a son rather than a nuisance.
[ He has attachments. His dog and his new protege, both of whom mean a great deal to him. But he doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to start forming new ones. Not when the only thing these people have in common with his own versions are their names and their faces. There is no shared history and Bruce wasn't about to talk about what happened with veritable strangers. He barely talked about it with Terry. ]
( damian acknowledges that the younger batman may need more support than this aged one. he's new, still adjusting to the mantle, and as much as damian insists bruce needs someone - bruce has been supporting damian just as much. damian would say he can't, his father is back home, but he understands that's not what he means. there is a bruce wayne here who damian has stuck beside since the beginning, who he intends to return to later, because batman needs robin just as much as robin needs batman.
but that also brings him back to the batman in front of him. )
He wouldn't have recognized me if I hadn't told him who I was. He's yet to meet Mother. Yet you were able to discern my identity in mere minutes.
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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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( including but not limited to - standing right here, getting in bruce's way as he tries to walk away from everyone and pretend he's alone, when he's clearly not. )
If I want to make it my responsibility, there's nothing you can do to stop me.
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[ Doesn't know when he's being pushed away. When it's for his own good. Let this grumpy old man, be old and grumpy in peace. ]
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( damian will fight him regardless of how ancient bruce is, don't think he won't. )
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You realize this would be significantly easier on you if you would just listen to me, yes?
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I didn't ask you to follow me.
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No, you didn't. But we both know that you off on your own is a horrid idea.
( he's so tired. first there was the younger bruce wayne, and now there's this - older, more jaded one. damian thought dealing with the naive, barely-batman version of his father was exhausting enough, but at least he. . . acknowledges attachments. he's reached out to damian, held onto him, treated him like a son rather than a nuisance.
granted, damian is used to it both ways by now. )
I'm not going to leave you alone.
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Go back to your father, Damian.
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( damian acknowledges that the younger batman may need more support than this aged one. he's new, still adjusting to the mantle, and as much as damian insists bruce needs someone - bruce has been supporting damian just as much. damian would say he can't, his father is back home, but he understands that's not what he means. there is a bruce wayne here who damian has stuck beside since the beginning, who he intends to return to later, because batman needs robin just as much as robin needs batman.
but that also brings him back to the batman in front of him. )
He wouldn't have recognized me if I hadn't told him who I was. He's yet to meet Mother. Yet you were able to discern my identity in mere minutes.
( which reminds him - )
How is Mother?
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