Chapter Text
Bruce had already lost count of how many times his youngest son had snuck out by now, How can a ten year old pull out all of this? He sighed staring at the empty bed and the open window, Dick came in on soft steps already wearing a mild puppy face, Bruce couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose, All you had to do was keep an eye on him. The words went unspoken as the man looked to his eldest, falling quickly for the big shining blue eyes and the sad pout.
“We were training and talking, he said he would shower then go to bed, I didn't think he was gonna sneak out… sorry?” Dick answered the silent question.
“Alright, you go to sleep. I'll go after him.” Bruce responded calm and Dick nodded knowing better than asking to come and get him upset.
He went down to the cave and suited up again, tired he pulled the cowl over his face blocking the cold breeze that came from the tunnels. Damian had obviously turned off the track on his uniform, Robin was out alone and Batman had no clue of where he was, not wanting to waste time he got into the batmobile with a list of places to check in first.
His son wasn't at any of them and he was starting to get more worried when an uncommon call hit the police line, he listened carefully at the report of an Asian magician downtown that was holding kids hostage for a ritual. He was halfway there and the the radio reported that Robin entered the place without Batman. It wasn't difficult for him to get in the small building he made way through the cages freeing the kids, the place wasn't very secured, whoever this magician was he wasn't that much of a professional. As soon as the hostages were safe and heading out to the cops and doctors he went searching for Damian, a blinding light and an explosion sound threw him back, he hushed up to the center of the last floor and found that the magician was gone and Robin was passed out in a corner.
Batman picked his son and made his way back to the Manor as fast as he could. He had called Alfred so the medbay was prepared, although there was no sign of injuries and the boy just seemed to be sleeping he couldn't shake his worries away. Not losing any time, he also contacted Zatanna to come and check on his son. He parked the batmobile in a hurry he scooped Damian and rested him on his hips racing over to Alfred who had the medical equipment ready. A sudden stir made him stop.
“Daddy?” Damian popped his head up from Bruce's shoulder and rubbed his sleepy eyes with tiny fists, “Daddy?” He asked in a voice so soft and childish that the man never thought was gonna be heard from his son.
“Hey,” Bruce replied not knowing what else to say, startled he wasn't capable of making any more words to come out of his mouth.
Alfred had been staring at the scene as if he'd just seen a ghost, he and Bruce shared a exasperated look before Damian push against his chest trying to free himself. Bruce took a few more steps and placed the boy on the table, while Alfred approached him with a blood pressure monitor, a small light cone for the eyes and ears and a syringe for the blood sample, Damian stared at the trail and scowled, but not the deadly expression his face used to take, instead a soft sullen grim turned to meet the butler.
“Master Damian, would you take your suit off please?” The elder tried.
“No!” He shouted crossing his arms and viciously shaking his head.
“Damian, stop this right now and follow Alfred's instructions.” Bruce's stern voice made the inside of the boy's brow raise and his eyes filled with water, again the man startled and was out of words or actions.
“I'm sorry.” Damian looked down and started unbuttoning his uniform with a pout.
Zatanna appeared right when Damian was finishing taking off his vest, he glanced up to see her then looked to his father. Bruce couldn't figure what those eyes were telling him, but that wasn't his son, he would not act like that. Alfred checked the boy's vital signs along with all the others signs to ensure that nothing was different, at least physically, and it wasn't. Damian kept searching for Bruce’s reassuring touches the whole time, that perturbed the man's mind, but he didn't back down and was there from beginning to end. Meanwhile Zatanna prepared the table beside them with books and some of Damian's belongings.
After they were done Zatanna called them and asked him to sit at center of the table. He was curious and excited about what was to happen, not scared or afraid… Bruce thought relieved that he could see something that reminded his son in that child. The magician rose hands above Damian's head and her eyes shone white as she whispered unknown words. This prolonged itself for about ten minutes, Batman was growing impatient and even more worried until the moment she closed her eyes and turned to him.
“We have to talk.” She said opening eyes in the man's direction.
“Master Damian, would follow me upstairs so you can have something to eat?” Alfred asked the kid, sensing the tension between the two adults, Damian looked from his father to the magician but decided he was hungrier than curious.
They left and Batman sat down with Zatanna expecting some crazy hurtful things to come out of her about his son status. Instead she smiled to him and took his hand.
“Damian is alright.” She stated calming the man down. “He's been hit by a brain twisting spell, the magician who did it had little experience and probably used his whole power to conjure it.” She spoke in a serious tone. “The spell is essentially based on the Yin-Yang energies, inverting the balance in one's mind and heart simultaneously so the inner side of them switches places with the shown outside that we know. But it can only bring something that is already inside one's brain, like another personality that it's hidden, the spell brought it up.” She explained it trying to sound simple even though she knew Batman could handle any level of complexity that was his son she was talking about. “A child's brain is easily manipulated, maybe that's why the magician chose kids, so it would be easier to brainwash them and bring out a side that could be useful for whatever he was planning. The thing is that spells on children are often unstable and our guy is clearly an amateur. I'll look into this magic and find who did it so I can be sure on how to proceed.” She rose her eyebrows noticing Batman's gaze fidgeting. “I will ask you to tell me if Damian's status change and keep things as normal as possible for him during the time he's under the spell.” He nodded in agreement, face stone cold. “Batman-” She called gulping worries “please remember, that however he acts, it is him , it might be a deep hidden part of him but it is him.” She said before standing up and calling the conversation off.
Now that Zatanna was gone, he was left to deal with a boy who just called him 'daddy’, something he was never been called by any of his kids, and that very same boy seeked for his attention to comfort him. That couldn't be Damian, he was always pushing people away, wanting to be above the whole scene, his way of seeking for attention was violent and rude, it couldn't be him. Batman pulled his cowl back rubbing his face with both hands, trying to come up with a plan, he showered and changed into his night clothes, deciding to follow Zatanna’s suggestions and keep things simple with Damian.
It is going to be a long road! He thought as he heard another loud ‘no’ coming from the kitchen. Bruce walked towards it with hesitation. In there Damian sat on the end of the table with an sliced apple placed in front of him, Alfred holding a table knife with a dish towel hanging from his forearm. They both turned to Bruce when he walked in, the butler clearing his throat.
“It seems like our young sir wishes to have the chocolate cookies rather than an appropriate fruit before going to bed.” Alfred informed in a neutral tone.
“That isn't fair, I should have whatever I want and I'm not even tired.” Damian crossed his arms a glared at elder.
“If 'whatever you want’ means a sugar rush at three in the morning then you are not allowed to it Master Damian.” Alfred directed to the boy.
“Daddy?” He changed tactics and looked pleading to his father.
Bruce couldn't answer just yet, he didn't know how, gathering his thoughts and searching for help in his butler's eyes he made himself speak. “I’m sorry son, Alfred is right.” At that Damian pouted. “Finish your apple so you can get ready to sleep.”
“No!”
“Damian,” the man scolded getting closer and locking his gaze with the boy's “please don't be hard for me, okay?” Gentle but unsteady he pushed the plate to the boy who sullenly ate slice by slice.
“I'm done dad.”
“Alright, let's get you to bed.”
“But dad I'm not-” he let out a big yawn “tired.” He said chewing on air.
Bruce couldn't help but be amused at it, Damian folded arms on the table and leaned over. He stepped closer to the sleepy boy and unsure of what to do he picked him up earning another yawn as he let his son's head rest on his shoulder. Damian's body was warm and soft, lighter than he uses to assume, he had never took the time to feel his weight, or temperature, or breathing pace. He had never actually carried his son in his arms unless it was extremely necessary, when there was no worries, no danger, no capes, nothing but the two of them. Bruce climbed the stairs slowly trying to enjoy every second of holding Damian.
“Daaad… I can walk.” The unexpected statement came from his shoulder. “Put me down, I am not a little kid.” It was a weak whining protest that the man wasn't willing to give in to.
When he finished his very slow walk to Damian's bedroom the boy was fast asleep, the room was perfectly organized, settling him on the bed felt like messing something up, then he realized he's never done it before, tucking him in, so little and peaceful. He watched him sleep for a long time, thinking of everything he had lost, of everything Damian had lost… Soon his head was back with Talia, when she told him she'd lost their child, when he neglected every clue of his son's existence, because it was easier. He regretted not being there at all, his mind had already went through the torture and brainwash his son suffered his entire life, blaming Talia, blaming himself. Now, for the first time he regretted missing the day he was born, his first steps, first words, all his new discoveries... The birthdays he missed, teaching him how to ride a bike, every little thing was missing now, was at fault, was his fault.
“You are Damian,” He whispered. “just a little kid, my baby.” His eyes following the steady rise and fall of that small chest. “I'm so sorry, that should have been you… should have been us.” Damian shifted in bed hugging the covers tight, then he relaxed losing his grip.
Dawn announced the day rise when he got himself out of his mind and headed to his own room to try and get some sleep after all.