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It was just another night in Gotham City. At least, that's what everyone else thinks.
It's been months now since Robin was last seen on the streets but nobody seems to mind and care about it. Not even Batman.
But why would he? He never cared.
Batman didn't choose him to be his Robin.
Bruce didn't choose Damian to be his son.
Damian Wayne, Youngest son of Bruce Wayne.
Damian Al-Ghul, Heir to the Demon's Head.
Damian the Demon Brat.
Damian the Blood Son.
The Forsaken.
The Unwanted...
"Father didn't choose me to be his son..." Damian said to himself as he sat on top of an abandoned building near the edges of Gotham City. The city that he once called home but not anymore.
Each and every night, Batman fought to rid crime of the streets of Gotham along with the rest of Gotham's vigilantes. Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Black Bat, Spoiler, Signal, and the all knowing Oracle.
But Robin though, he no longer flew with the flock.
Robin was supposed to be the light to Batman's darkness, to be hope.
Damian chuckled to himself as tears fall down his cheeks. Pathetic. He looked pathetic.
"I guess Richard did lie..."
Why did Richard tell him that he will be loved? Why did Richard tell him that everything will be alright?
He lied.
Everything was a lie.
Father never trusted him, after he has proven countless times that he has changed. Father never spend time with him. Father never smiled at him like how he smiles to the rest of his children.
Todd always called him the Demon Brat, the spoiled son of Talia Al-Ghul but never his little brother, never has Todd even looked at him without seeing him as an annoyance.
Drake always seemed to look at him with disdain. Damian tried, He tried so many times to show that he no longer means to cause Drake harm, but they never believed him. Not even Richard.
Damian clench his fist as he thought of the man.
Richard was his Baba.
He was Damian's Baba.
He was the one who showed Damian that he didn't need to be perfect. He was the one that showed Damian what it feels like to be cared for. To be loved.
Many times Richard had told him that he loved him and that they were the best.
But it wasn't enough though, wasn't it?
Richard left Gotham.
Richard left him.
Damian stood at the edge of the building and looked down at the abandoned street below.
He wants to. Oh how he badly wants too.
Just one more step. Just one little step.
And the monster they all know will be gone.
He should've stayed dead a long time ago. Mother- No. Talia already killed him so why did Fa- Bruce have to bring him back to life again?
Damian looked over the edge again and feel himself wavering.
He can't.
He can't.
Damian step down from the edge then looked to the backpack he left near the door to the roof. He slowly walked towards it then knelt down on his knees before sitting down with the bag on his lap.
How could he forget the only person who understood him the most?...
On the zipper of his bag was a wooden superboy keychain. A handmade gift Jon gave him on his birthday, a birthday his supposed family forgot, but Jon didn't.
He rub the keychain gently with his thumb before looking to the night sky of Gotham, always full of dark clouds with no stars to see, unlike Smallville.
He and Jon would always look to the stars as they tell each other stories and promises they would always keep, but there's one promise though that he knows he can no longer fulfill.
"I don't want to be Batman anymore..."
They made a promise to each other that when they become adults they would be the next Superman and Batman. He plucked the keychain off the zipper and held it in his palm.
"I'm sorry Jon, I won't be able to keep my promise..."
A small gust of wind and then a familiar presence was all the sign he needed.
"Damian?"
Damian smiled a little to himself and gave a small sigh.
"Hey Jon."
Damian look to Jon and saw that his friend was wearing light blue pajamas. He must've been getting ready to go to bed. "Dames? What's wrong?"
Jon slowly flew down and stood in front of Damian with his arms open, genuine care written all over it. Damian just couldn't take it. He took shaky steps towards Jon before collapsing in their arms, crying his heart out to his best friend.
"I can't do this anymore! I can't... I'm tired Jon... so tired..."
He sob to Jon as he grip their shirt, staining it with their tears but Jon didn't care. He hug Damian tighter and let them vent everything out to him, he held the back of Damian's head gently as he pulled them closer.
"I'm here Dami... I'm here..."
Jon rocked them both as he pet Damian's hair. Damian may be older but Jon still towers over him ever since they met. Damian doesn't mind, not at all.
Jon always makes him feel protected, safe, love, and right now he badly needs it.
"Are you leaving Dames?"
Damian wipe away some of his tears before nodding his head as he laid it of Jon's shoulder. "I'm sorry Jon..." "Don't be Dami, I understand."
"But-"
"I'm not gonna stop you Dami. In fact." Jon pulled away a little and laid his forehead on Damian's making them look at him in the eye. "Let me help you."
Damian was about to protest again but Jon shook his head and held Damian's hands.
"I don't care about the consequences, all I care about is the fact that my best friend was on the edge of this building and was about to jump a few moments ago."
"I didn't want to-"
"I know Dami, I know. Your in a family full of detectives and yet they don't even know how badly you're hurting..."
"They're not my family."
Damian said quickly and let go of Jon's hand to clench his fist tightly.
"Damian-"
"I renounce the name Wayne and Al-Ghul."
Damian wiped away his tears as he slowly pulled away from Jon.
"I am no longer a Wayne or an Al-Ghul. Never again."
Jon put a hand on his shoulder and nodded in understanding.
"If that's what you want Dames."
Damian glance at Jon, still a little surprise that Jon is willing to help him. Jon just smiled at him before looking to the cloudy skies of Gotham.
"Its been years Dames, and in those years I saw how much you've change."
He looked to Damian and squeeze their shoulder in reassurance.
"If they can't see who you are now, then they don't deserve you."
Jon gave a small smirk before quickly picking up Damian and their backpack, making the smaller boy yelp a little in surprise and hold on to him.
Jon laugh a bit before flying up with Damian in his arms. "I never thought that one day I'll help you get away from the Bats." Jon said as they were now above the clouds of Gotham and can finally see the stars that were hidden.
"I may be leaving them Jon, but not you."
Damian smiled to his friend and poked their chest a little.
"Wherever I am, I know you will always listen to me."
Damian picked up the keychain again and held it gently.
"I have watched you fly away, but now still here will I stay. Don't you ever fret my friend, for one day we'll meet again."
Jon chuckled a little before looking at Damian curiously. "I think I heard you say that before."
Damian just smiled before laying his head on Jon's shoulder.
"I always thought that you would be the one flying away, not me."
"I don't blame you Dami..."
Damian barely notice that they were already very far away from Gotham, but that was good. It was good.
"Sleep Dami, you'll need it."
"Thanks Jon..."
"Anytime Dames, Anytime..."
Damian held the keychain close to his heart as he slowly fell asleep in the arms of his best friend. A friend that he is forever grateful to have met.
...🌤
By the time Jon came home the sun was already peeking through the horizon. He flew in to his room through the window and quickly laid on his bed with an arm on his face.
He laid on his side then look to his desk. On his lamp just dangling innocently was the keychain Damian gave him. He got up and slowly flew over there. He sat on the chair and gently pluck the keychain off his lamp.
At first he thought Damian gave him a Robin but it wasn't, it was a dove.
"Why a dove Dames?"
"A dove symbolizes hope Jon, and so do you."
"But what about Robin?"
"Not anymore..."
Jon held the chain up and watch it sway a little as sunlight slowly filled his room.
"We'll meet again Jon..."
"We'll meet again Dames..."
"I promise."
"I promise."
Jon look to the sun and rose up with the keychain firmly in his hand.
"I have watched fly away, but now still here will I stay. Don't you ever fret my friend, for one day we'll meet again."
He smiled as he felt hope swell in his chest. He put the keychain down and got ready to start his day.
Out there, somewhere. Jon knows.
"You better be getting ready Jon..."
Jon chuckled as he change his clothes, Yeah, they'll be alright.