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The lamp posts lining the winding streets of Gotham fluttered their light into the passenger's side of the window. How curious. And annoying. The raindrops on the outer side of the glass defiantly sparkled in contrast to the car's dark leather interior. It left little specks of rainbow light inside the car shining right into his eyes. Which, with a squint at the offending glare, was in turn a good thing. Especially considering he was sure that he could fall asleep at any moment.
As the roads continued to twist and turn, pools of water that were collecting in the current rain storm splashed up against the sides of the car. Its own reflection sparkled like it was liquid gold from the lamps shimmering against them.
Holding back a smirk, Father sighed in resignation behind him.
"I just washed the car..."
"I washed the Batmobile a couple days ago." The mistake was corrected with him turning to face front way in his seat once more.
"If you can call throwing soapy sponges back and forth between your brothers helping, sure, I'll concede." Father replied with a slight hitch -was it amusement- to his voice?
The conversation was remembered exactly as he had been engaged in a spar between all of his idiotic brothers after Drake had 'accidentally' dumped the bucket of soap water on him.
Drake had unwarrantedly attacked him. And what are you supposed to do when people attack you? Yes, Correct. A sponge drenched in soapy water was then aimed next towards his target. Drakes face.
Needless to say, it escalated from then on.
Its still unknown to him how Grayson acquired all those sponges.
Father indeed had practically finished washing the car when the trifle had finally died down.
That car -the car that had been washed just a few days prior- was now was getting soiled in dirty rain water and mud.
Great.
Growling, Father sent a glance out of the outer corner of his eye. Hmpfgh.
Why did patrol have to be cut early? It was just a little rain.
The sky rumbled as a flash of lightening speckled overhead followed by it a crash.
It was still annoying that the whole charade had even happened. Especially when Titus deemed appropriate to join in. Though, at least Titus had acquired a bath.
Choosing to ignore the questioning glance, his attention was turned back to the window. He was missing Titus childishly in that moment. At least Titus would have provided some adequate company.
Still sluggish from the week of battling the incompetent Riddler and his all his too incompetent goons, he slumped his head to the side half-hazardously. Thank goodness it was all over. 'Riddle me this', or, 'Riddle me that.' URGH! At least maybe hire some assailants that know how to fight properly Riddler! Or more so properly named 'Ridd-culous'. But hey, then again what did he know? Its not like he had trained in a league of assassins!
Oh great... puns, he was sounding like Grayson. Whats next? Is he going to be 'whelmed' at everything?
Several minutes of aimlessly staring out of a window he watched as -suddenly- an unfamiliar street post passed by. Huh? This wasn't a route to going home.
Sitting up, and finding that he still did not recognize his surroundings he tensed. "Father?"
"Were almost there."
"There where?"
The answer though, was given just a few moments later as they turned into a very well hidden drive through. Oh how he hated surprises.
"Hungry?"
Giving no response, he squished down far into the seat. No, he was not hungry. The physical needs of his body had been met earlier that evening at dinner. Also, what exactly was Father intending by taking him to such an establishment. It was rather peculiar.
"Wished I could have taken you early when we were in our civilian form but there wasn't any time."
"Tt."
"Anything you want? The menu is right there."
Looking over to the menu briefly, he rolled his eyes.
"If you have forgotten Father, I have turned my life over to the avocation of animals. Which means-."
"Vegan."
"Vegetarianism." He corrected.
Puffing his lips into a scowl, Father continued to pursue the menu with no comment.
All he wanted to do was to go home, draw and maybe pet Titus. The nice soft fur rumbling across his hands as he untangled twigs and knots out of his canine friend's fur was all that he needed to unwind for the day. That, and a cup of PennyWorth's tea also sounded nice.
"Well... I think I'm going to either get the Snappy Sugar Pea and Soba noodles, or the Thai Red Curry with Veggies and rice. You sure you won't join me?"
"No Father. I have stated-" Pausing, he realized something.
Vegetarian dishes?
Looking over at the menu board in a bit more intensity, he furrowed his brows. Indeed.
So... Father had remembered.
That shouldn't really surprise as much as it does. But it does.
With his stomach grumbling unprompted at that moment, he looked down and then out the window avoiding Father's gaze. Coughing discreetly into the crook of his arm, he hoped to mask the gurgling noises of his 'unhungry' self.
"So, still... 'not' hungry then?"
Crossing his arms over his midsection, he darted a scowl furiously as they turned the corner approaching the speaker box.
Ignoring the look, the driver side of the window rolled down. He was not hungry. Batman leaned out the window opening as the person over the intercom spoke prompting for his order.
He would not be orde-
"We will take one of everything."
...
"WHAT!"
There had to be at least a hundred different things on that menu. Quickly covering his mouth, he looked on in shock at his own outburst. Wait, what does it matter to him? They were rich. However, it would be completely wasteful.
"Of course, that could change. One moment." Father said in an almost 'Brucie' like tone to the person over the intercom. "Robin are you going to pick something or is Batman going to have to order the whole entire restaurant for you to pick from."
Hands subconsciously tensing as if prepping for a fight, chest taking deep breathes ready for the cry of war, and teeth grinding into his gum anguished because of the sun beating down on his skin...
"DAMIAN! Right kick! Not FRONT KICK!"
Gasping as the sun beat down on his face, the world faded in and out. Splotchy as the dessert sands flew up around them. Mother's newly appointed teacher was not going easy on him. For three days with no water in the Arabian Sun; his lungs, everything, all that could be- burned.
It was a perseverance test.
"DON'T MISCALCULATE THIS TIME!" Mother called over the whirling sands referring to the new gash on his cheek.
A bit of a misjudgement as his teacher had gotten a good lunge. Lesson learned, the claw marks hurt. But so did the reason for which they were given to him.
"DAMIAN, ARE YOU GOING TO DEFEAT IT? OR am I going to have to rescue you? AGAIN!"
He couldn't do it.
"DAMIAN, Stop thinking. ACT ON INSTINCT!"
Gritting his teeth, he applied the final blow. The teacher, did not survive.
She, did not survive.
Three days and nights of trying to avoid her, rest her, comfort her. For she could not be won. Her heart not soothed. She wanted her cub back. She wanted the one who had killed her cub to pay, and pay he was.
Guilt.
Though this should be a cause of celebration for rest, Mother would procure a new teacher. Soon.
Walking closer to where the leopard lay -seeming to look just asleep-, he allowed a brief moment of tenderness to brush the soft speckled fur of the cat. For just as he had suffered, so had she.
Blinking, he glanced over. Instead of a whirling gush of sand, there was rain. Instead of Mother, there was Father. Whom was watching him, intensely. Though, this normally would bother him. Right now, he felt numb. What happened? There was not a fight to be had, no battle to be won... it was over. Everything was fine. As nails dug into his palms it reassured him. Everything was nor-
"Fine, I'll pick something."
Noticing lots of muffled gasps over the intercom now, -great- he would rather move this along speedily as to not draw any more attention then necessary.
"Tt."
Quickly scanning the menu with distaste, he decided to pick the Snappy Sugar Pea and Soba noodles. "The Snappy Sugar pea and Soba noodles meal with..."
Water?
No. Scratch that. No water.
Tea?
NO. Its not PennyWorth's.
"Apple juice."
Tt. He had to be too old for... 'apple juice'.
"They can't hear you. Come over closer to this side."
Closer?
Looking back and forth, from his seat to the driver window he began to unlatch his seat belt when it clicked for him and he was immediately tugged over to the window.
Resisting a flinch at the touch, he turned around giving a quick look at Father whose lap he was now sitting on. The touch, it felt comforting. Father was acting strang-
"Well go on. Tell then what you want Damufp- Robin."
Snorting as he reached up towards the window on his knees, Father groaned mumbling something about his own knee with a hiss. Reciting his order again promptly, he was promptly pulled down to Father's lap again. Meanwhile, he wiped off the rainwater that had drizzled on his head.
"Make that a double with a Large Fruit Punch on the side. Also add two Avocado chocolate puddings on the sid-"
Curling a lip looking up, he conveyed an ogled expression forgetting at the moment he was on Father's lap. "Avocado..." A Gulp rolled in his throat. "-pudding?"
"It's actually quite good."
His lip remained curled.
Bouncing slightly from the now chuckling ribcage, Father leaned out the window, "I'm... sorry, here is the full order. Two Snappy Sugar Pea and Soba noodle meals. One with apple juice the other with a large Fruit punch, and- Wait. Damian do you want fruit punch instead of the apple juice?"
Raising a brow he shook his head no. "Grayson said ... 'never again.'"
"What does he mean by that?"
"I don't know." He responds remembering the one time he had fruit punch per request when with Grayson.
"I see, well, we can share then- Sorry again." Father said turning back to the speaker, "So the order will be Two Snappy-"
Wait share? Share a drink. Father could do that? Would he not want his own beverage of consumption?
"And that will be all."
"Okay, come up to the next window where you can pay."
"Alright. Thank you."
Being pressed back into Father's chest, the car sped forward. At the moment he was unsure as to how to get back to his own seat. Especially since Father had a arm wrapped around him. It was like the strongest seat belt imaginable. For a moment, he doubted a superman seat belt could compare. No doubt for protection against the momentum of the vehicle of course. However, no doubt annoying.
Crossing his arms, Father held the steering wheel in front of them lightly inching forward by pressing on the gas petal. Jolt. Stop. Jolt. Stop. Jolt. Stop. There were at least two cars in front of them both in line.
Scrunching his eyes to see past the rain drop splattered windshield, -quite an annoyance- the back of the car in front of them had a kid sitting in the back. Or was that a dog? Well anyways, their face was plastered up against the back window bug eyed.
Oh how heroic he must look.
Sitting on Fathers lap.
In a drive thru...
The rain that had slowed down at their arrival began again as it pelted the car.
Sksksksksksksksksksks.
Father raised the car window shuffling a bit as he went for something in a nearby compartment. Shifting off of Fathers lap, he sat in the middle portion besides the shift stick.
Looking up over the dash, he noticed that the two cars had left. They were now behind.
"Fa-" A towel dropped atop his head.
"Don't need you catching a cold."
With that, the car moved forward causing him to hit the back of the said dashboard. Ouch. Did not need to bruise the already bruised rib further, Father.
Running the towel through his hair, he hid a yawn into the towel blinking.
Moving to sit in the passengers seat again, he tossed the red fish embroidered towel into the back. He would have expected 'bat' embroidered, not... fish.
"They were a set gift from a very old friend." Father mumbled beginning to pay with cash.
Old friend?
Strange.
And was it a... parent thing that Father could read his mind? Mother possessed the very same ability.
Brushing it aside for later, he realized something.
"Could you have not spoken the order? That way I need not be wet, nor your 'gift' be used."
"Yes, however it helps to teach you life skills on interacting with people."
"At a... drive through?"
"That- is besides the point Damian."
Pulling up to the next window, the car window was rolled down but again. Fortunately the cover outside the building was long enough to catch most of the pouring rain as drinks and food were passed through hurriedly. And thank goodness, no one seemed to have their cameras out.
Surprised as Father handed him the drinks, he held them steady to make sure none would tilt. Not a drop should be wasted. Too focused, he did not witness but rather heard Father rolling the window to its former upright position. Looking around for a spot to place the drinks, -he noted- there was no place to put the drinks in the Batmobile. No designated tray, table, or even a simple cup holder. All the latest automobile designs at least had one cup holder, nonetheless Father had installed none into the Batmobile.
"Father, you need to install cup holders in the Batmobile."
"Richard told me the same thing."
"It is true."
"But not completely necessary."
"But Father, you have compartments for many other," Well, to put it quite blunt, "-useless things? Why not have a drink holder?" Damian asks looking at the aforementioned useless labeled compartment. Cereal Dispenser.
"It is not necessary."
"But Father, you have a coffee machine installed in the Batmobile. Surely a drink holder would do no har-"
"I said no Damian."
"Ok, but Why not?"
"Because... its the principal of the matter. Without a... partner," Father seemed to struggle for the right words for a moment, "-there would be no one to hold the drinks. That is why Batman needs a Robin."
"TO HOLD YOUR DRINK?"
