Chapter Text
The car ride to school with Thomas is not quiet. He keeps talking, which annoys Damian. He keeps going on and on about Bruce and Selina finally getting engaged.
Damian wasn’t paying attention anyway. He only stared out the window. Watching the buildings pass by.
What would happen now? Would father not need him anymore??
He doesn’t know why he is thinking like this. Selina can’t and won’t replace him. No matter how much of a great partner Catwoman is to Batman, she can’t take his stop now, can she? Batman will always need him. He will always need a Robin. Right? Damian can’t understand this unease he feels.
“—mian?”
He feels happy for his father, he truly does. But then why does he not like this news? Why did he not feel a fraction of the excitement his siblings shared? Why did he feel so threatened uneasy about this?
“—mian??”
This was ridiculous, he shouldn’t be feeling this way. Damian did not know what to do, he was clearly upset about this. But he did not know why. He doesn't hate Selina, he likes her somewhat, not that he'd ever admit. Was that going to change? Would Father not pay attention to him anymore? Would he end up like the children who are forgotten when their parent marries someone else in those cliche movies Grayson made him watch? Was that his fate? What if they were to have a child? What then? Would he be truly forgotten? Would Robin be taken away from him–
“Damian!?”
That snapped him out of his thoughts, it was Thomas calling out to him. “Y-yes?” Damian replied, trying to look …. normal.
“Are you okay? We're at school already. I called you a lot of times,but you didn't answer at all. You seem …occupied?” Duke said, he looked worried too.
“I… I'm fine, I was just …thinking,yes.” He opened the door and stepped out and thanked Pennyworth for taking him to school,like he always did. Well,it wasn't always. He didn't thank him when he first started school, but then it kind of grew on him.
Duke followed,still not entirely convinced. “You sure? What were you thinking about?”
“A … test. We have a test. I was thinking about it. I told you I'm fine,stop pestering me!” Damian sped off, leaving Duke confused.
“Since when does he care about tests…?” Duke mumbled to himself before heading to his class.
Damian has never been more grateful for the separate building his school had for middle and high school. He could not deal with Duke right now. He has enough messy… feelings to deal with. He does not need more trouble explaining them to him.
Duke knows Damian. For a little over two years now. Kid does not give a flying fuck about tests. Hell,he was sure Damian would get straight A’s even if he was in Duke’s own class. He does not worry about tests like that. Or even think about it for any longer than a minute.
Something was wrong. But he couldn't tell what. Could it be the news this morning? It was good news though. Why would Damian react like… that? He wasn't sure. But he intends to find out. All the others would be in the manor for this week either way. With a manor full of world class detectives, how hard can it be to learn how a twelve year old feels about his father getting married?
(Turns out quite hard indeed)