Chapter Text
It was 1:30 in the afternoon when Damian and Tim went down for lunch. After the quick shower, even though a nap was tempting after the long trip, Tim was not going to rest until he got at least one useful clue. And of course, Damian would refuse to admit that he was tired.
And they both still wondered why Dick was so irritated with them.
When they reached the stairs, the smell that wafted up was divine. An aroma of spices like clove, cinnamon and cardamom flooded the room, and the further they went down the stronger it got. It was even welcoming. Damian wouldn't say it out loud, but it reminded him of the quieter mornings in Nanda Parbat. When Ra's was a little more generous - especially when his mother was there - and gave him lighter tasks like helping in the kitchen in the morning. The cook was gentle with him, one of the few in the compound who did not stare at him in fear or anger. He liked to stay in the kitchen and help him stuff the breakfast Baklavas.
Of course, that was before his grandfather discovered the feud between them and forced Damian to kill him. And when he hesitated, the pain of the whip on his back seemed even more cutting. Just like countless other times when...
- Damian!
Damian snapped out of his stupor. His wide, unfocused eyes returned to normal and he looked at Tim. His older brother's eyebrows furrowed.
- Are you okay? I've called you, like, three times," he asked, staring at him with confusion.
Damian opened his mouth to formulate a sentence, but felt a headache hit him. His mistake was closing his eyes tightly in an attempt to help, causing Tim to analyze him further.
- Hello. Yes, I am, I'm just... I'm hungry.
Damian didn't give Tim time to ask again, walking ahead of him in a hurry. It was ridiculous and he knew it, he was vulnerable, acting childish. It was just a bad memory, there's no reason for all this fuss. The pain seemed to cease a little, although it was still present. It was like a throbbing in the background, light, incessant, and irritating.
Tim watched his brother walk quickly. An uneasiness burned behind his ear, Damian was not doing well either here or in China, but he tried not to think about that right now. He had other matters to attend to and Damian could take care of himself, for now he would focus on the investigation.
The rest of the first floor was lovely, Tim could admit. There were plants hanging from the ceiling on the wall opposite the door. Ferns falling like waterfalls, waxweeds, brazilian philanderers, boa constrictors, and in the middle of them, lambari, with its stunning purple color bringing contrast - not that Tim recognized the names, he just knew the fern. They took up most of the wall and yet did not make the environment unfriendly. It was harmonious and beautiful. They hadn't really noticed it when they had gone upstairs with their bags, and judging by Damian's expression, he too was delighted.
The wild scent was soothing.
- It's beautiful," he heard Damian let out softly.
- And isn't it? It looks like a...
- Forest? - Tim turned to see Lindsay with a loose coif and a gentle smile.
- I'd say greenhouse, but I think it'll do, too," he shrugged.
- I guess so," laughed Lindsay. - So, will you be wanting a date to go around town with? - she said with a suggestive smile.
- We'll manage. Besides, I don't think we'd find a last minute guide like this.
- That's okay, not at all. I can take you around the city and show you the coolest parts. Like the museum, the arcade, there is also the square, what do you think?
The museum part caught Tim's attention.
- That would be very nice of you but... Aren't you busy with... ham, well, the inn?
- Oh, don't worry about that. My friend will be arriving shortly to take over the shift. I'm free after that. Besides, it will be fun! - she clapped her hands and danced.
Honestly, she looked like a princess from a Disney fairy tale. Lindsay turned to Damian and leaned over to stand at his height, her hands on her knees and an adorable smile.
- How about you Damian? Are you excited to see the village? - she said, tilting her head to the side.
He let out a strangled snort, like a bull - or rather a little calf - and a scowl immediately appeared.
- Don't treat me like a child of yours...
- Damian! - scolded Tim. Before he could say something they both regretted.
- That's ridiculous. We can manage quite well without help, even more unwanted help," he glared judgmentally at her, "Now, I'll eat and ignore you, thank you.
And then he left, with all his six-foot-forty-three height. Tim wanted to choke him, pull him by the hair, and make him apologize. Really, why didn't he come alone anyway?
Oh yeah. He was the demon's fucking nanny.
He massaged his temple taking a deep breath, he could feel a headache coming on soon.
- Look, I'm really sorry about that. Damian is a brat most of the time, I promise to make him apologize to you," Tim clarified.
- I appreciate that, but I'm not that upset. I know how difficult kids can be sometimes," he laughed, waving his hand and easing Tim's stress.
- Thank you. And again, sorry about that," she pointed out again. She was being too respectful to be treated that way by Damian. - You said that about the children. Do you have experience in the matter? - he ended up asking anyway, even though he sounded stuck-up. Tim was curious about her.
No, Damian, he wasn't hitting on her. Thanks for the analysis that no one asked for.
- Oh yes, I used to help out at the community school here. It's a small town and sometimes resources are lacking. But everyone helps each other, so it always works out in the end," she puffed out her chest, proud of her town. Tim couldn't help but admire the place. It was very different from Gotham.
But Gotham was huge, here it was much smaller. There was no way to compare so much, but who knows, maybe one day the people of his city would be more united. Dreams don't generate bills, right?
- I better go eat soon, otherwise my brother will be even more annoying," he laughed, because it was true. Lindsey followed him.
- I bet this will pass soon, he seems like a good kid, I see. - he smiled gently. The door opened with the sound of the little bell. - Now I must go. Customers have arrived. See you in a few minutes," she said goodbye and went to the counter.
Tim went over her line again. Not believing it, really. He had been living with Damian for two years and sometimes it seemed that nothing had changed, except for the constant assassination attempts. But what does it cost? "I hope you're right..."
And there they were, walking side by side with Lindsay in the middle guiding them and talking about Sainte Cécile.
- Sainte Cécile was founded in 1523, by wanderers fleeing the dynasty imposed by the royalty. Mostly composed of older men and widowed women with children, all poor and very religious. In the future it became a good exporter of coal and apples to the surrounding villages. Well, that was after the conflicts, of course," Lindsay explained cheerfully as she moved her arms.
- What conflicts? - Tim asked after they crossed the street
- The nearby villages didn't like the visit, they were afraid of drawing attention from the king. Although they were all here to avoid the king's eyes, since they had no money to pay taxes in the city and migration to the countryside was frowned upon by the king and the rest of the population. They could even be arrested.
- A hypocrisy, since those who didn't pay taxes could be beheaded," Damian added. Lindsay agreed.
- You are absolutely right, my friend. It's because of this fear that the surrounding villages became nervous, threatening to set fire to their thatched huts during the night if they didn't leave.
- How did they solve this? - asked the boy. He seemed to be interested in the story, Tim noted.
Lindsay gave a huge smile, showing all her white teeth and highlighting her freckles.
- That's where the name comes from. They prayed, prayed hard for some divine miracle. They had no weapons, no money, and even less strength to resist. Their houses were burned down many times, they were beaten and beaten. But they never fought back, never. Then one day, when they tried to attack again during the night, the outsiders heard screams from outside. There was the sound of fire and the sound of breaking flesh, and when the brave men came out of their huts to see what was happening, that's when they saw it - Lindsay had turned to them and was walking backwards, gesturing to her story. - A huge woman in a flaming red dress and with a sword in her hand.
Damian and Tim exchanged glances discreetly. Lindsay was so involved that she didn't seem to notice.
- She was an angel, sent by the Lord to protect them. Many deaths were caused by those men, so they believed it was divine punishment," Lindsay said.
- How did they know her name was Cécile? - asked Tim.
- It is normal in Catholicism to believe that people with great deeds become divine. And a week before she appeared, they ran out of water and were afraid to leave the territory they had set up. A young girl ventured out to fetch it, taking a cart and several buckets of water. She made it back, but had taken so many enemy arrows that she could not resist, but she brought water to last exactly one week. Coincidence? - she smiled suggestively.
Tim was impressed and upset, even. First because Lindsay's knowledge was worthy of praise, and second because it didn't make any sense of the disappearances. I mean, there didn't seem to be anything bad about this Santa. But why did the children claim to see her?
There is also the fact that, in this world, where there is literally a pool that raises you from the dead , nothing can be doubted. And Diana was the daughter of gods, so...
- Did this saint demand anything in return afterwards? - Damian asked, snapping Tim out of his reverie.
- What do you mean? - Lindsay scratched her cheek; she was already walking normally again.
- After that, the conflicts and everything resolved itself? And nothing else bad happened? - she asked again.
- Ah, well... the rivalry between the villages dissolved over time, but it wasn't until winter that they began to exchange goods. But to say that nothing else bad happened is an understatement - he answered.
- What else happened? - Tim inquired.
- Why don't you see for yourselves? Here we are! The museum of Sainte Cécile! - He clapped his hands anxiously.
Tim took a deep breath, this was going to be longer than he expected.
Damian could tell the museum was interesting, if it was. Not that he expected much from a museum in an almost lost city, but from Lindsay's animation he expected more. Well, there wasn't really a reason to have raised his expectations.
The place was tiny, only four rooms if you counted the reception area. In the first there were some old and rusty buckets, wagons and medieval farming tools. In the other one it got a little darker, it was where the instruments of torture used by the church were. Which became a strong symbol after one of the elders appointed himself priest, saying that God had chosen him to keep their prayers to him and to St. Cecilia. The people believed and in the end, it did not become a much better place for those who disagreed with such a religion.
Damian surveyed the room with quick eyes, he didn't exactly know why they were here yet, there was nothing much. Nothing right to look for.
- This is pointless," he grumbled aloud.
- It's not. The room we want to see is closed, it only opens for special exhibitions or when the ladies of the church come to pray. Lindsay is talking to the receptionist to make an exception. She's breaking our backs, you could at least be respectful," Tim remarked, sounding more like a criticism than a suggestion. She turned away to look at the writing on the tool scraps.
Damian grunted angrily, "I just don't like this place. And he really didn't. Circling the room seemed tiring and boring, not being super small, but certainly not five rooms from Wayne Manor. Until his eyes hit something. It wasn't good. His breathing increased, but he didn't cry, he showed no reaction. When his hands trembled, he quickly shoved them into the pockets of his big coat.
In front of them, a log. A damn log, it looked... it looked so much like the one from the league. It looked like it was from the league itself. But, but how...?
He found himself there again, six years old, tied there. It was his first punishment for whipping, he had been drowned and electrocuted before. And that was definitely the worst, it was worse than walking on hot coals.
Damian remembered well the first time he had been tied there, his hands tied at the base by short chains. His neck handcuffed. The whip came down hard, tearing at his back, burning. It burned so badly... make it stop please.
"Please, Mama. Grandpa, coach, anyone. Make it stop!"
"Crying is foolish. It is weakness, you deserve to be punished many more times, you Damian. Damian... Da-"
- Damian! - Tim called out to him shaking his shoulders.
And when his vision focused again, he was no longer there. Not him, not any trunk, it was a damn wagon. How did he see something like that there?
- Damian, what happened? - he demanded an answer. Tim was squeezing his shoulders too tightly, and he pulled away instinctively.
- Don't touch me! - Damian gave a half-shout, hoping that the tremor in his voice wouldn't show. Unfortunately, Tim seemed to notice.
His older brother knelt down in front of him, speaking calmly.
- Damian, hey, relax. There's nothing here, okay? Damian unconsciously shivered as Tim approached.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I... I thought that...
Tim didn't know exactly what to do. Dick was good at this, he wasn't. He didn't remember the brat. He didn't remember the brat having episodes like that out of the blue.
But it's not like he would stick around to find out either.
Anyway, Damian was shaking. He was having a panic attack and fortunately (or unfortunately?) of this Tim knew how to handle. For he had several times himself.
- Okay, count your breaths with me. One... two... inhale. Three... four... sigh. That's it, one more time.
Damian repeated Tim's pattern a few more times before his breathing normalized, but it worked. The boy was calmer now, although his expression was a far cry from his usual arrogant one. Seeing Damian so vulnerable was strange to Tim.
- Can you tell me what happened? I mean, how did it happen? - he asked, just to clear his head about one thing.
Damian wet his lips, looking away anywhere but Tim. That was even stranger.
- I thought I saw a... trunk. That's all, it was nonsense," he concluded quickly, but only confused Tim more.
- A log? What do you mean?
- Not a log . But a different kind, like... like the kind they use in garters. But there was nothing there. It was just my stupid imagination, I'm fine.
No you're not, and Tim knew it. The new information made his heart squeeze, damn...sometimes he forgot where Damian grew up.
- Can I hug you? - he asked.
Tim saw Damian open his mouth to automatically answer no, but surprisingly, he hesitated and then
Tim hugged him a little awkwardly. It wasn't like Dick, but it seemed to be enough. When he put his little arms around him and squeezed back, it finally fell into place that he was also a big brother now. He smiled over Damian's shoulder.
- I heard loud voices, I hope they're not fighting in here and... oh - she saw the cute scene of them hugging and put her hand over her mouth, excited and embarrassed. - Did I disturb the adorable sibling scene? I'm sorry! Pretend I didn't see anything, go back to being cute brothers - she covered her eyes as if she was seeing something super intimate. It was a little, but her exaggeration made Tim genuinely laugh at her clowning around.
Even Damian let out a chuckle after he had disengaged himself from Tim. Although his cheeks were slightly red.
- You two are ridiculous..." he insulted, not really offending the two who just laughed.
- Right. I managed to get the keys, the receptionist is a friend of mine. But you only have thirty minutes, and you have to be careful. In two days they will have another prayer there so we have to be as careful as possible. Do you understand?
- We understand. Don't worry about it, Lindsay," Tim assured him, and Damian nodded as well.
- Great, come with me then," he called, moving his hand as well.
The painting looked normal from the pictures, but up close it was almost menacing. It was large, over two meters high easily, and over one meter wide. A really fantastic work like that should be given more prominence, the details carved into the... was that black marble?
- Who did this? The painting and the structure around it? - Tim asked.
- No one knows," Lindsay shrugged.
- What? - Damian looked incredulous - How do you not know? How did it come about then?
- The painting of Sainte Cécile is the mystery. It appeared in the church after Emilia Mallet's trial," she said and sat down on the floor, she had probably seen the work over and over again.
- Who is Emilia Mallet? - Damian asked.
- The right thing would be _who was_. She was the first and only person accused of witchcraft in the city, burned alive on November twenty-ninth, 1847. Although she wasn't the only one tortured, the rest were just suspects. Known as the witch of Sainte Cécile, today she is a legend that parents use on naughty children," she said, not as animated as before on the other subjects.
- She was accused under what pretext? - Tim asked without taking his eyes off the picture. What did he see so much of there?
- She was a suspect in the disappearance of children. Emilia had been in town for less than a year, she said, fleeing from the famine in her village. The ladies of the church took her in and gave her service in exchange for housing and food. But one day, the story goes, she was caught walking into the forest in the middle of the night and the next day, a child disappeared," Lindsay said as she fixed her hair.
- What's the connection? - Damian whined, more interested after this new information.
- I have no idea. I don't believe in it much either.
- And why not? - Tim asked, this time facing Lindsay.
- Because there is no hard evidence. Okay, there is the painting, but there are many versions of this story. And I don't think it makes sense that this Emilia woman would suddenly take children, she seems to have asked to be taken," she seemed disappointed by the witch's tale.
- But you seem to believe that Sainte Cécile manifested herself to protect her home," Damian pointed out, and Lindsay laughed.
- Well, I can choose what I believe, can't I? From the neighboring towns, many comment about their ancestors having seen her, but about Emilia Mallet, no one knows anything. Now, outside of Sainte Cécile, you are the only ones who know this story. It's quite bizarre really.
- It is bizarre, I'm glad we're used to it," Tim muttered softly to himself.
A bliiip bliiip sound sounded and Lindsay looked at her wristwatch.
- Our time is up guys, time to go. What do you say we take a walk downtown? There's a nice arcade as I mentioned earlier. And the square is nice and would make good pictures for Instagram.
- We appreciate it, but I don't think...
- A great idea! How about we go now so we don't waste any time? - Tim cut Damian off suddenly, with a cheerful smile.
- Oh, great, let's go, let's go, let's go! This is going to be great! - she hopped up and took off.
Damian frowned at Tim, who didn't lose his smile.
- Shouldn't we investigate?
- We will, but we're arriving today. Let's just enjoy it for a while, take our minds off things, why don't we? It'll be nice, D." Tim winked at his brother.
Damian snorted, but said nothing more as he walked along with Tim and Lindsay.
Tim didn't pay much attention to such things when he was on a mission. But it was true that they were traveling anyway, Damian had that crisis, distracting his mind a little wouldn't hurt. What could go wrong? This wasn't Gotham and for now, they were going to have fun.
Too bad Tim didn't notice the little canary watching them right on top of a pole. Her eyes picking up everything and passing it on to her master.
How long it had been since she had seen outsiders. Indeed, it would be fun.