Chapter Text
Damian folded the slips in a bit of a rush. He had meant to start sooner so that he would have more time to get to Todd's safe house before he got back. Finally he finished the last of the four( two different colored ones painted to look like the bindings of a book, a warm yellow, and deep purple-red) carefully setting them next to the letter he'd written ( not in his normal handwriting) inviting his brother to dinner at the manor tonight.
He knew the chances of him coming were low, as he and Father had been fighting again, but it was worth the attempt.
Rushing out the door and hopping onto his motorcycle, he raced to the opposite end of Gotham.
Todd was out fora meeting as Red Hood so the run down apartment was empty. There was a cereal box left on the counter and a bowl in the drying rack beside the sink, the place was quaint. Damian looks around for a place he could leave the stars and letter that they would be noticed. He spots abook with a worn cover on the beat up couch and decides that that is his best bet. He reads the title: 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. It's not one Damian has read but it seems like Todd enjoys it. He sets the letter and stars on top of the book. His brother keeps a tidy place be it poor quaity, it was somewhat admiralble.
He didn't want to linger too long for Todd's return was unpredictable. He reactivates the security on his way out and returns to manor with a sense of cautious optimism.
He goes down to the cave to train for a bit before washing up and going back to his room. He works on a sketch of Alfred the Cat without letting his mind wander; he would not tolerate any error. After a while when he starts losing focus he switches over to reading, his teacher had assigned them a book that had been struggling to actually gain his interest. Another reason he hoped for Jason to make an appearance at dinner.
”Dami,” Damian looks finds Richard standing in his doorway, ”Dinner is about ready if you’re ready to go down,”he says, gently.
Damian sets the book down on his nightstand and meets Richard who settles a hand on his shoulder-something Damian has come to realize as instinctive for the man.
“That a good read?” He asks.
“Not as far as I can tell,” Damian sighs in response,” it feels as though my teacher lives to waste my time.”
“I’m sure your teacher has a reason for it even if you can’t tell yet,” Richard laughs.
They continue the discussion, which mostly consisted of Richard inquiring about Damian’s education.
After people begin filtering into the dining room taking their unofficially appointed seats Damian starts to feel his optimism wear. Todd’s seat was starkly empty. Stephanie was being obnoxiously loud animatedly talking to Thomas and Cain. Dick had walked off to talk with Gordan about a case he is on.
Todd did not arrive, by the time dinner was brought out. Damian did his best to maintain a neutral outward presence while he stared at the seat at the end of the table with an empty plate just waiting for Jason to come.
Right when Damian was ready to accept that he wasn’t going to show he was pleasantly surprised by Todd casually entering the dining room taking his seat and serving himself like it was to be expected.
“Jason?” Father starts from the opposite end of the table, Damian holds his breath waiting for what’s next,” You’re a bit late.” Damian doesn’t let himself relax quite yet watching Jason for any sign that he’s regretting his decision to come.
“What’s it to you Old Man, I was doing something,” Todd laughs, and Damian can breathe again as the table settles back into easy conversation, once again.
”Todd,” Damian says approaching his brother after dinner was finished.
“What’s up Demon Brat?” Damian ignores the nickname choosing instead to get to his point.
“I have a novel I must read for my class and I was wondering if you would be willing to read it with me,” He states plainly, praying he doesn’t come off as desperate as he feels.
Jason seems to contemplate the idea for a second before offering a response.
“Sure,” He shrugs,” I don’t have anything time sensitive that I would be doing on patrol tonight wouldn’t hurt anything.”
The two of them settle in a less used den area of the manor on a couch taking turns reading chapters. Todd pauses every so often to comment on certain aspects of the novel and the plot development.
Damian doesn’t know when or how but at some point he found he was curled into Jason with the throw blanket over him.
He let himself fall asleep to the sound of Jason’s voice.