Chapter Text
Damian stared at the father he had only met two days ago. The man in question now wearing an outfit that suspiciously resembled that of Gotham's resident Vivgaantie
"How did you get down here?" Bruce demanded deepening his voice to appear more intimidating.
"Oh please, I was raised by the League of Assassins" Damian pointed out as he looked over the cave "So when do I get to go on patrol with you?"
"I work alone," Bruce said changing back into his civilian clothing, "I think your mom made a huge mistake I don't know how to raise kids"
"Mother says she sent me to help you" Damian stated "and I'm not a kid, I'm the grandson of the demon's head so there is no reason I can't come on patrol with you"
"The answer is still no" Bruce groaned rolling his eyes 'Are all kids as annoying as this one'
Much later
"I know you're there" Bruce called standing in front of the batmobile "Come out" Slowly the small boy climbed over the seat of the vehicle and out.
"You know I will just sneak out after you're gone" It was true. Bruce and Damian had been locked in a battle of wills for the last couple of weeks. He would install more and more security measures only for the little assassin to bypass everyone.
"Fine," Bruce groaned pinching the bridge of his nose "but you need a costume"
"Already taken care of" Damian nodded running upstairs seconds later he came back down wearing a red Keikogi with dark brown pants and a light brown cape.
"You look like a bird" Bruce mused "We should call you Robin"
"Like the tiny bird? Absolutely not" Damian glared at him but the name was kept.
Time skip a few years
"I could have handled that myself" Damian snapped as he stormed out of the cave.
"Damian You almost cost the mission because of your stupid pride" Bruce yelled coming up behind him.
"I wonder where he gets that from," Alfred mussed standing by the entrance with a tray of cookies.
"You don't trust me enough" Damian glared "I could get more respect anywhere else"
"No one is keeping you here" Bruce opened the door.
"Fine" Damian snapped walking out. Bruce stared in shock, his only son was gone.
Days later
Tim Drake pulled out his camera to take a quick picture of Batman standing on top of the police station. He noticed that a figure was missing. Where was Robin? Or Damian Wayne as Tim had figured out both Robin and Batman's identities. He decided to do some snooping.
5 hours later
"Hello, Mr.Wayne," a very tiny Tim said in a shaky voice as he stood in front of the Batman. Bruce stared in shock unable to comprehend how this little child had found out his secret.
"You know" Tim gave a small nod "Have you told anyone?"
"No sir" he felt his chest tighten up.
"Good" Bruce paused seeing that the boy wanted to ask something "Is there something you wanted?"
"Where is Robin?" Tim asked curiously.
"I think you'd better get back to the party," Bruce said looking away. Tim hadn't set out to be Robin. He saw that Bruce was getting careless and taking way more injuries than he needed to, so he tried to get Bruce to make up with Damian. When that didn't work he started following Bruce.
One night Bruce got shot pretty badly and Tim came to his rescue applying first aid and helping him get back to the cave. After Alfred to care of Bruce he immediately took the kid home and told him to stop. But Tim being Tim refused to listen and no matter how hard Bruce tried the kid always managed to sneak out.
Eventually, Bruce gave in and told Tim if he was going to going to be out on the field he would have to train. Tim became Robin to help watch Bruce's back, not because he wanted to but because he needed to.
Damian's reaction
"You did what?!" Damian demanded storming into his father's study "I'm the only son the one true Robin" Bruce and Tim were briefing over last week's patrols.
"You left the role" Bruce reminded him looking up from his notes "You were the one who quit"
"I..."Damian felt his blood boil "So that gives you the right to replace me and with this imbecle no less! I bet he dies before his first mission!!"
"Damian" Bruce sent his son a glare. Tim leaned back in his chair wishing he could just disappear
"I trained my whole life for this" the older boy practically growled.
"He can handle it " Bruce yelled. As Tim stood there and watched
"I'm sorry!" Tim closed his eyes "I never meant to take your place but Batman needs a Robin!!! I'm sorry..." Tim's voice got softer. Damian sent Bruce one last glare before walking off. Not too long later Tim's parents were killed and Bruce took him in. At first, Tim and Damian were always fighting. Bruce feared walking into his house to find that one had killed the other but after a long and I stress the word long time they finally started getting somewhat along. They still argued a lot but no major injuries. They even started patrolling together making a completion of who could take at the most criminals.
Time skip
"I took down twice as many as you" Tim smirked.
"I took out the guys with guns" Damian pointed out.
"I'm the smarter son" Tim pointed to his head.
"I'm the blood son" Damian smirked very happy with himself.
"I'm the favorite son" Tim matched his tone. Bruce groaned.
"Robin, Nightwing shut up" Bruce made a mental note to himself 'Don't have any more kids' "Stop fighting each other and fight the villains" Damian rolled his eyes as Tim lowered his head.
"I'm sorry" Tim whispered apologizing over and over. Damian couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his younger brother.
"Kiss up"Tim stuck his tongue out at Damian. Bruce put his hand on his head, he gave up.
"Boys I am at the point of handing you over to the Joker!" Damian smirked.
"Let's give him Drake as a present" Tim's eyes got big and full of fear. Damian suddenly felt a stab of guilt.
"No names on the field," Tim said in a shaky voice. Damian couldn't help but smile a little. Tim was always more worried about the job than his own well-being. He'd never admit out loud but he had grown attached to kids.
The last time Damian saw Tim
"So how are things with you and Starfire going?" Tim smirked at his older brother.
"What!?!"Damian glared at him. Tim held up a photo of Kori and him sitting in a nice restaurant "How did you get that, You little imbecile?!"
"I have my ways" Tim smiled proudly "Who would have thought fire and Ice?"
"Whatever" Damian jumped onto his bike "I hope the Joker beats the heck out of you" and with that, he zoomed off.
Tim's death
This was not what Tim had planned when he left the safety of the cave. Alone and broken in some unknown warehouse all because he was so focused on solving this case. His body riddled with pain so bad that the feeling of cold concrete against his face was the only thing keeping him grounded.
"Since you are the smart one tell me" That voice so loud and cocky drew closer "What hurts more forehand or backhand?" a hot searing white pain spread across Tims's chest drowning out his senses only for them to come. The defining sound, the blaring light, the lingering pain it was too much.
"...mhm" Tim closed his eyes mumbling something so soft the Joker bent down next to him to hear.
"What's that Lamb Chop you're going to have to speak up I think you have a collapsed lung" the clown grinned causing Tim to slowly open his eyes.
"..." Tim spat blood in Joker's face causing Joker to immediately slam his head into the ground.
"Here now and I thought that you had some manners unlike the first boy blunder, I really should teach you a few things, don't want to follow in his footsteps" He smirked "On the other hand I could just keep hitting you with this crowbar, Yeah that sounds more fun"
After a while the Joker stopped hitting him and started towards the door "Do your homework and be in bed by ten and say hello to the big man" Tim stiffened noticing the bomb in the corner. He struggled to his feet only to fall back against the wall. He could defuse it so easily if his body would just cooperate.
'Tim why don't you take a rest' Bruce's words rang in his mind 'I don't think you're fit to be Robin right now"
'He was right I'm not fit to be Robin' Tim sighed looking at the bomb, 70 seconds left 'Damian would have gotten free by now but I can't even lift my freaking arm, I failed how can I can I look them in the face after this'
"Beep" the timer now read eleven.
'Maybe I won't' Tim realized with dread. He was going to die alone complete failure just like his parents said, just like Damian said.
"Boom" Bruce searched the rubble finding Tim's limp body. He broke down right there, hugging the body of his youngest child 'How could this happen Tim was just a kid'
A week later
"I'm just saying it wasn't that bad" Wally shrugged stuffing another handful of Kettel corn in his mouth.
"West we comment around fifty thousand dollars in property damage" Damian countered clearly not amused.
"Yeah but I mean no one died" The other Titan sat and watched as the two went back and forth.
"Incoming call; The Batman" A computer voice interrupted
"Connect call" Damian groaned walling over to the computer. He couldn't believe Bruce was calling him during a team meeting.
"Someone's in trouble" Wally called from the back of the room.
"Yes, Father what is it?" Damian snapped.
"It's Tim" Damian rolled his eyes Of course it was Tim that idiot always seemed to mess up.
"What did that imbecile do this time" Damian huffed not having the time for this.
"Tim's dead" Damian's eyes widened as the world around him went in slow motion. He tried to remember the last time he had a good time with Drake.
"No how could he die he was just a kid" Tears ran down his face. 'No, he's my brother' Guilt hit him like a wave."It's just a nightmare"
"Damian I'm sorry" Bruce didn't know what to say. "He went after the Joker and-" Damian dropped to his knees.
"I killed him" Damian felt himself shake "No I never wanted this" For the first time in forever Damian felt alone in the world.
"It's not your fault," Kori said hugging him tightly as he broke down.
Tim's grave
"I'm so sorry" Damian placed a Batarang on Tim's grave "I was never a good brother I always hated your guts"
"Damian?" Kori walked up next to him "He would have loved it, he always knew you cared for him"
"Thanks, Beloved" Damian smiled sadly "I never called him by his name" Damian looked down.
"I'm sure wherever he is he can hear you" Damian turned to Tim's grave.
"Tim you were a great little brother ... smart, kind, and a better Robin I could ever have been" Damian took a deep breath "I'm sorry this world was a nightmare you had to face alone"