Chapter Text
Four months, three weeks, four days, seven hours, thirty two minutes and twenty three seconds, twenty four. Twenty five.
Damian really never stopped counting, he counted the years until he could meet his father, the months until school stopped, the weeks until Richard’s missions were over, the days until he could go to the art show at the art museum, the hours until patrol. Counting felt right, if you counted everything had an end, no one counts forever.
But looking at the empty dining room with a dinner Damian made for himself, it did feel as if this was never ending. Bruce hadn’t come down for a family meal in four months, three weeks, four days, seven hours thirty four minutes and twelve seconds. Damian could understand. Bruce was busy after all, he had to talk with Tim more, and since Tim didn’t live in the manor, they didn’t need to discuss things at dinner. It was fine, Damian didn’t need Bruce to be with him during dinner, he hadn’t had him for ten years, three months, seven days, fourteen hours and twenty eight minutes of his life. That wasn’t even including his time with Richard.
Damian was a superhero, a senior in high school and had already applied to university in Star City and gotten accepted. He didn’t need to be coddled. He wasn’t jealous of Richard and Todd, who had a father who cared and stayed with them, he didn’t miss the way Alfred made the family meals mandatory-
…
Dinner was cold, and soggy, Damian needed to go shopping, the lettuce was wilted and mushy. The normal green is darker and floppier. After school tomorrow, in fifteen hours and forty three minutes. But for now Damian would eat his salad, count down the hours and prepare for patrol.
Like every night before, like every night will be until he moves into the apartment on campus. The soggy leaves weren’t good. If Alfred were here he would be banned from the kitchen. But he isn’t. It has been three years, six months, seven hours and 29 minutes since he caused Alfred’s death.
Jon was older now, maybe once Damian was in college they could be close again, sharing experiences again. Three years wasn’t too much as an adult, and they were going to the same university. Just three months, four days and twenty one hours until move in. Everything was going to be just fine.
Small vibrations come from Damian’s phone as he takes a bite of the sad salad, putting down his fork he grabs the phone, cracked screen protector in a customized case, subtle anime merch.
Richard: hey lil d
Richard: ill b in gotham tnite
Richard: lets patrol toether
Richard: together*
Damian sighs but smiles softly, Richard being his patrol partner always made his week.
Of course Richard, I will be ready for patrol
“Damian” a deep voice called from the hallway, Damian’s eye shot to the door where Bruce stood.
Damian restarted the counter in the back of his mind as he looked at his father
”Father, it's not time for patrol, I'm surprised to see you” Damian said standing up, leaving the plate mostly full and mostly just moved around. Damian looked slightly up at his father, he had inherited his mother’s height. “Do you need something?”
Bruce shook his head “I don’t have to need anything to come down for a meal Damian” Bruce seemingly teased. It never felt like teasing though. But Damian said nothing. Disrespect was always assumed after all.
”How was school Damian?” Bruce asked, getting some bread to make a sandwich, the gray in his black hair visible in the bright kitchen lights, the crow’s feet and slight smile lines showing his age.
Damian smiled slightly “Nothing much, I am still excelling” he said moving the salad around his plate his green eyes looking at his phone screen lighting up with a text from Jon about move in time. Damian quickly put the phone screen down. Bruce speaking with him was rare.
“Good good” Bruce sat down and went on his phone texting someone while eating slowly.
Thirty seconds, thirty one… thirty two…
”Fathe-“ Damian gets cut off.
”Not right now Damian, I’m texting Jason about family patrol night” Bruce said sternly but not mean.
”Of course, sorry” Damian said softly, grabbing his own phone to text Jon back. Just three months, four days and twenty one hours.
…
”Robin!” Nightwing grinned happily hugging Damian on a rooftop. “It has been too long!”
Three weeks, four days and twenty five minutes specifically, but that didn’t matter, his older brother was here and his patrol partner for the night.
”Robin, you go with Red Robin tonight” Batman said in the gravely tone he used. “Batman, I was planning on goi-“
“No, Nightwing is working with Spoiler tonight, you go with Red Robin,” Damian nodded slightly and walked over to Timothy. The two still weren’t close.
Damian couldn’t even blame Tim, he was an asshole as a kid, and even if Richard had given him Robin, Tim hadn’t. Damian couldn’t fault Tim.
”Red Robin, Robin, you’ll be at the docks tonight” Damian caught the last bit of the speech, he was sure Tim had caught it all, it would be fine.
”Just listen for once Robin” Tim said strictly “you scout, I’ll go in”
Damian nodded, it was normal for things to be like this, he understood it after all, he didn’t listen when he was younger, and it's not like Tim was around.
But Damian didn’t fault Tim, he knew Bruce wasn’t good after Jason died, and while over time he got slightly better, Bruce was never the father that Jason and Dick had. Both Tim and Damian had that in common. Even if it was rarely acknowledged. “Yes Red,” Damian said as he started to climb up to get into position.
Everything would be fine.
…
Every goon was dealt with and the fear toxin was secured by Tim, he had told Damian not to move to keep watch… so he did as asked. Yet…
”Why didn’t you help Tim?” Bruce said to Damian when they returned to the Batcave. Tim’s body was bruised slightly, but it was nothing major, none of them had even any broken bones.
”Father, Drake told me to scout?” Damian said confusedly, “So I was the scout.”
Bruce shook his head “When Tim engages you jump in to help Damian, you should have known this!”
Damian spoke slightly annoyed but trying to stay respectful “Father, you have said that I am not allowed to engage unless stated, and that I should stay as a scout in case of reinforcements coming to alert” Damian said looking at his father’s stone face, one a mirror of his own in many ways “You have gotten upset at me for jumping in in a situation just like this one”
Bruce scoffs “I never did that, stop trying to lie to get out of trouble” He said strictly “Uniform off, you’re benched for the week” Bruce pointed to Damian’s locker, it wasn’t very decorated, just simple paint from a couple spills.
Damian nodded slowly, not arguing anymore, it wasn’t worth it. Besides just three months, four days and sixteen hours.
Damian could wait.