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One minute they were sitting in a café, drinking hot cocoa and basking in the sun like content cats, the next Richard was pushing him out of his chair and trapping him between his arms after flipping the table in front of them. He scowled, ready to hiss at the older man for tackling him but stopped when he felt something warm tickling down his chin.
Later, Damian would remember the way the sun reflected on the rifle because of the hitman’s position on the opposite building.
Much later, he would feel guilty and berate himself for not being aware of his surroundings and how that resulted in Richard getting hurt.
Now though, he would focus on his brother.
“Richard?” his voice came small because he was weighed down by his brother’s weight, not because he was worried.
The people were panicking around them. There were a lot of shouts and calls for a medic. Damian couldn’t for the life of him focus on anything other than his brother’s pulse under his thumb.
“You okay?” Richard asked after a moment, a moment too long for Damian’s liking.
“You are crushing me,” Damian replied, still focusing on the pulse that was getting alarmingly high.
“Sorry.” Richard chuckled then started to push himself to the side only for a whimper to escape his mouth. “You okay?” He asked again, with a hint of urgency in his voice.
“I am not hurt.”
Damian pushed him gently to the side and started pulling himself from his brother’s hold. He took his jacket off and put it on the wound to stop his brother from bleeding out. Richard’s pained hiss clutched his heart. He looked around to look at the bullet’s travel path only to find the shooter long gone as expected.
“Stay with me,” Damian demanded when he saw Richard’s eyes start to drop. “Please.” He added in a much softer tone.
Richard didn’t reply but he kept his eyes open so Damian took it as a win.
Not knowing how long time has passed, Damian was startled when bigger hands were on top of his. He looked to find the paramedics had arrived. “We got it from here.”
He moved to the side and stood helpless as he watched them load his brother on the stretcher then to the ambulance.
“Are you hurt?” Another paramedic asked. Damian was confused why she was asking him until he saw the blood that was all over him.
“The blood is not mine,” Damian said. He only has bruised ribs from when Richard pushed him. Other than that he was not hurt.
“Don’t worry. We will do our best for him.” She said with something like pity in her eyes. “Is there someone I can call to pick you up?”
“I am coming with you. He is my f- he is my brother.” Damian’s tone left no place for arguments as he pushed people out of his way to join his brother. There was no way he was letting them take Richard away from him.
“Just stay out of our way.” The same paramedic said. Damian wanted to tell her that he could help. That he possibly knows more than her because of his training and previous personal injuries. That he could have had a masters if his grandfather didn’t kill his tutor. He didn't. They wouldn’t believe a pre-teen anyway so he left them to do their job while supervising them. “And keep this on.” She put a shock blanket on his shoulders.
Damian scowled. He wasn’t in shock. Richard faced far worse when he was Batman or even Nightwing. He will be fine. He has to be.
The drive to the hospital was a blur. There were cameras there when they arrived. The news of how Richard Grayson was shot traveled ridiculously fast. They rushed him in and Damian found himself in the waiting room by himself. Some time passed by when his father rushed in.
“Damian. Are you hurt?” His father asked in the same tone he uses when he says Robin, Report!
Damian hates how his father always uses this tone and how his body straightens when he hears it. Richard once told him when they were still Batman and Robin that he doesn’t like using it and only uses it when necessary.
“Just bruised ribs, father,” Damian replied.
Bruce’s face softened. He crouched and took the boy's hands in his. “Why don’t you go clean up? Alfred will be here soon and will get you something to change into.”
Breaking out of his trance, he nodded. A nurse showed him the directions to the nearest bathroom. He also gave him scrubs to change into. Damian methodically cleaned his hands and removed the blood from them. But that felt like it wasn’t enough. He could still see blood long after he closed the water tap.
When he returned to the waiting room, there were people arguing. He caught his father’s voice.
“Do you know who I am?” Bruce shouted at the nurse in front of him.
“I know who you are, Mr. Wayne. But since Mr. Grayson is still unconscious, only his family, his proxy, and his next of kin can see him or his medical records.” The nurse stood his ground in front of the fury of Bruce Wayne.
“Let me see my son.”
“I’m sorry but you are not on his list.” The nurse replied, still professional.
Damian wanted to marvel at how that petit nurse was able to tell his father off when many others shake in front of him but he was busy thinking about her words and what they mean.
“Father, what does she mean?” Damian finally made his presence known if only to the nurse. Batman knew he was there the moment he stepped into the room.
“Who is on the list then?” Bruce ignored him and asked the nurse with a hint of Batman in his voice.
“I have here a Ms. Donna Troy, a Mr. Wallace West, and a Mr. Roy Harper as the next of kin. Ms. Troy is also his proxy as well. Mr. Clark Kent and Mr. Alfred Pennyworth are listed here as his emergency contacts. These are the registered names in the system.”
Damian wanted to ask if he could be on the list as Richard was his guardian but was afraid of the answer. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. Father said that Pennyworth would be there soon so they had to wait for him. Because last he heard, Troia was in space, the Flash was in the speed force, and the Kryptonian was on a league mission.
When Pennyworth finally arrived, he was followed by Drake. They both looked worried and shaken. Being shot as civilians always shakes the family. They don’t know how to act or react in these situations. Especially when it comes to Richard.
There was an ongoing joke about the graysons luck that Richard has. He survived two bullets to the head as well as the time the joker shot him. The family jokes, but they are actually really terrified of the time when that luck runs out.
Damian was near the doctor when Pennyworth stalked forward and introduced himself as Richard’s emergency contact.
“The bullet was still inside when he came here. It hit an artery so he lost a lot of blood. He is being stabilized as we speak and is expected a full recovery. He will be moved to a room in an hour, give or take. The first aid that he received on scene probably saved his life.”
Damian let out a long breath and couldn’t help but feel warm inside. Richard is going to live. He saved him. Ignoring the fact that he was hurt because of him in the first place. He could almost imagine Richard’s proud smile beaming at him.
Pennyworth talked with the doctor about a couple more medical issues then he gave the family temporary permission for Richard’s case. That’s how Damian found himself, hours later, in the room that they moved his eldest brother to after the surgery was finished, with his two other brothers lurking in the shadows. His father fumed outside the room after he checked on Richard for a while then left to track down the shooter.
“I am surprised you showed up. What do you want?” Damian said to the shadows of the room. He held back multiple other lines that he wanted to say only because he knew that Richard would be disappointed.
“What? Can’t check on my big brother? You don’t have a monopoly on them.” Red hood melted from the shadows as if he belonged there. Damian could probably guess who taught him that move since he was taught it as well.
“Except I do,” Damian said. He could see the rage flickering in Todd’s eyes.
“Listen here you little -“
“Apparently, I have two excuses for big brothers-“ he gestured to Todd where he stood by the wall, and Drake where he was sitting on a chair near the bed. “-and you don’t.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think? Throwing Dickie out of the family for getting shot.” Todd laughed but it was cold and devoid of any emotions. “Watch out, you are pulling a Bruce there.”
Damian wanted to snap at him, to defend his father, to say the great Batman would never do that, but he stopped. The way Todd’s knuckles turned white and Drake was clenching his teeth said otherwise. This day was turning out to be educational.
At least he knew one thing for sure, his batman would never do that.
He looked at him lying in the bed. He looked small when he usually looked larger than life itself. He was pale and still in a way a Grayson should never be.
“Richard was never adopted,” Damian said, still looking at the only person that adopted all his quirks and accepted him.
“What do you mean he was never adopted?” Todd’s tone was calculated. “Tim, you are suspiciously quiet.”
“I thought you knew.” Drake’s confirmation fell on Damian’s head like cold water in the middle of a snowy night in Gotham.
“Knew what? That my big brother is not my big brother.” Todd said.
“Richard John Grayson was Bruce Thomas Wayne’s ward. Bruce took him in when he was 8. Dick left before he turned 18 for unknown reasons. Any and all obligations from both sides fell after that age.” Drake stated the facts as if giving a report in front of the league.
“Actually, that makes an odd amount of sense,” Todd mumbled to himself.
“What does?” Drake asked, curious, waiting for an answer to the mystery.
“The way he was distant in the early days. The shouting matches with Bruce. He probably thought-“ Todd cut himself off but he didn’t have to continue because they were all thinking the same thing.
Dick Grayson was the first one to be replaced but never used it against them.
“You know, I have always wondered, why did he come back? He had his Titans at the time. He was away from Bruce’s shadow for good. And he was happy. So, why did he come back?.” Drake’s voice cut into the silence. The only sound previously was from the heart monitor machine.
“For Todd.” Damian was as surprised by his answer as the other two. And that it took him that long to figure it out. His eyes widened, having finally reached the conclusion. “The same way he came back for Drake and Brown. The same way he came back for me.” The last part was said softly, to himself.
“But why?” and wasn’t that the question of the hour.
“Because you are Robin.” Three heads snapped to the bed where the voice came from. Dick chuckled at their expressions before wincing. Damian found his body moving on its own to help his Safiyy , and mind reverting to his native language to find a way to address Richard.
“Glad to know that you are still as dramatic as ever.” Todd rolled his eyes but his tone was fond.
“What can I say? It runs in my blood. You are just jealous I am better at it than you.” Richard replied. His voice was rough from disuse. Drake got him ice chips and slipped them between his lips. “You okay?” Richard asked Damian, looking straight into his eyes, for probably the third time this day.
“I will be now,” Damian replied because he would never lie to him.
“How long have you been awake?” Drake asked, his eyes narrowing at Richard. His hands though came to rest on the other's hand and gave it a little squeeze.
“Don’t look at me like that. Your little chat could have made a little elephant wake up. Trust me I know from experience.” Richard said, at least looking a little sheepish.
“Wait, go back. What does that have to do with Robin?” The light atmosphere, that was brought by Richard waking, disappeared by Todd’s question.
“Robin was my mother’s name for me.” Damian saw the other’s surprise. He felt proud and maybe a little smug for already knowing this information. “I used it to honor my parents. In a way, to make me feel connected to them. I never wanted it to be a mantle. But the moment each of you took it, you automatically became a part of my family. I don’t care what some paper or even Bruce has to say. You guys are my family and I love you so much it hurts.” His voice and eyes were full of love that Damian had to look away. He doesn't know how can any one project that much emotions and stay sincere.
“Sap,” Todd said in a choked voice. Damian found that not a single eye in the room was dry, including his.
“Softie.” Richard shot back.
“Does that mean I don’t have to come to movie nights at the manor anymore?”