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“Dami baby, there's more to life than training.” Dick mused from the doorway, watching as the pup continued doing push-ups despite the sweat rolling off of him.
“S-shut up Grayson!” came the angry strained reply.
Shaking his head Dick stalked forward watching his baby pant. “How long have you been at this Damian?” Crouching down to look the pup in the eye, Dick could see the way his body was close to collapsing.
Damian panted heavily trying hard not to look at mom, knowing the moment he did he’d be forced to stop, but he couldn’t stop he had to get better!
Frowning Dick tilted his head before making a more gruff chuff to get the boy's attention.
Damian finally stopped his push-ups and shyly looked up at his mother feeling his muscles shake with the long-term strain on them.
Dick raised his brow waiting for an answer, but what came first was Damian's strained whimper before his knees finally hit the floor and his muscles gave out on him.
“Whoa there” Dick quickly grabbed the pup before his head could hit too, lifting him until the sweaty panting boy sat on his hip. “Too long is the answer to that” Dick rubbed his back as he moved to sit on the bed, keeping the boy in his lap.
Damian whimpered and whined trying to hide in moms neck so he wouldn’t see Damian’s shame.
“Shh baby, it’s okay… You’re alright.” Cooing gently Dick began rocking gently letting the boy hide his face, his scent was so strong of Shame bad, embarrassment, anger, and pure exhaustion. Dick nosed at the boy's scent gland behind his ear, covering the boy in his scent, trying to erase the sour sad scent.
Feeling Mom rumble and coo against his ear, Damian felt his body slowly relax and though it still shook and trembled, it was slowly dying down.
“There we go” Damian felt a kiss being placed on his head and the arms tightening around him, he whined softly before falling silent.
“How about a bath Dami?” Dick murmured into Damian’s sweaty hair, “Get you feeling nice and clean, plus I’m sure the warm water will help your muscles feel better.”
“...I don’t need to be coddled” Came the soft whisper.
“Hmm… no you don’t” Dick agreed with a nod. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t want it, nor does that mean it's bad to want it.” Pulling back so he could look his baby in the eye, Dick could see the uncertainty and just a hint of want in the boy's emerald-green eyes.
After a moment of just staring, Damian scowled looking away. “But I shouldn’t want it! It’s unfit for an Al Ghul.” Damian looked down at his clenched fists.
Dick felt a smile tug at his lips as he ran fingers through the boy's hair. “Maybe not, but it’s not unfit for a Wayne, or for The Batman.” Moving to catch his pup’s gaze once more, Dick pushed their foreheads together. “And since you’re next in line for the cowl I’d say it’s okay for you too”
Damian's frown deepened and he looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to his mothers and nodding gently.
Smiling, Dick nodded before lifting Damian back onto his hip and walking to the connected bathroom making sure his scent the whole time was ‘ pleased, happy, love love love, my puppy.’
Setting the boy on the counter Dick turned to start the water and plug the tub. Due to so many injuries and the changing between uniforms and normal clothing, modesty became an afterthought for the bat family.
Turning back to the pup, Dick found him sitting where he left him, his head bowed as he fumbled with the zipper and button of his jeans.
Dick walked over, helping the boy undress.
“Wanna tell me what happened that made you want to do all those push-ups?” Not to mention the days of hardcore training that Dick hadn’t been around for but got concerning enough for Alfred to call and ask Dick to haul ass to the Manor and stop the boy before he collapsed.
Damian shrugged lifting his arms for his shirt to be removed. “It doesn’t matter.” Usually, Damian wouldn't allow himself to be undressed unless he was too injured to do it himself but he was so tired plus it was just mom and him, so maybe it was okay.
“It matter’s to me.” Pulling the boy's shirt off Dick helped him down off the counter and into the tub.
They sat there in the bathroom for a while Dick washing the boy's hair and back before any words were spoken. When Damian finally did start speaking it was so quiet in the already silent bathroom that Dick almost missed it.
“... I have to get better…” Head bowed Damian raised his knees till he could rest his head on them and turn his face away from Richard. “It’s unfit for an Al Ghul to be where I am at…”
Feeling his heart sink Dick leaned his arms on the lip of the tub. “Why do you say that?”
Damian simply shrugged, keeping his face hidden in his knees.
Pursing his lips Dick looked for what to say “You’ll get there soon enough baby, but if you overwork yourself you’ll just set yourself back, more than you’ll improve.”
Running his finger’s through his baby’s freshly cleaned hair. “I know it doesn’t feel like it but you are making good progress at an amazing rate, and you should be proud of that.”
Damian shrugged once more, seeming to deflate a little.
Knowing this wasn’t a discussion he was likely to win, Dick sighed softly to himself. “Well I’m proud of your progress”
They sat there in silence for another minute before Damian turned his head to look at Dick, brow furrowed he asked. “how have I progressed?”
Smiling at his baby, Dick proudly stated, “You went from charging right in to prove yourself, to stopping to thinking it through more thoroughly. Not only to make sure of the situation for yourself but for everyone involved.”
Damian’s expression changed slightly from doubtful to slightly surprised.
Feeling a spark of happiness Dick continued. “ You’ve improved with how you talk to victims, from being all ‘give me all the facts now so I can bring them to justice faster!’. Dick laughed softly remembering how much Damian hated talking to victims but now the boy, though uncomfortable with it still, knew how to approach them better.
“To something more like, ‘ I’m sorry this happened, I’d like to bring those who have wronged you to justice.’ “ Damian’s lips tugged up into a small smile, watching Dick explain how Damian has changed.
Seeing the smile, Dick smiled back at the boy, so hopeful to hear that he had in fact changed for the better.
“ so you see Damian.” Leaning forward Dick lowered his voice to something reassuring “You’ve progressed, You’ve gotten better in a lot of areas, and you’ll continue to.” Making sure to keep eye contact Dick murmured. “But you can’t push yourself to the point of exhaustion and pain. You’ll end up hurting yourself and self-destructing, then you won’t be able to help anyone.”
Damian furrowed his brow, frowning and turning to look at his knees.
Tilting his head Dick settled against the tub once more just watching his baby process his words. Hoping that he got through to his baby.
After a few moments, Damian nodded gently in understanding. “Okay.”
Feeling himself grin, Dick nodded back before reaching over to run his fingers through the boy's hair again. “Okay.”
Closing his eyes for a moment Damian turned to Dick, feeling his cheeks heat up as he unwrapped his arms from his knees and reached for Dick, indicating that he wanted to be done bathing now.
Dick smiled looking at his baby’s tired eyes, before standing up and helping Damian out of the tub before offering a towel for the boy to dry off, letting him do his body before running the towel over his hair trying to dry it off before Dick grabbed the towel making quick work of his hair.
Once Dick was satisfied that the boy was dry he leaned down and picked his baby and set him on his hip once more. Happy his baby was letting himself be coddled. Scenting the boy Dick made sure to cover the boy in as much ‘happy, love and proud mama’ as he could.
Once they made it to the bedroom Dick went to the boy's closet and grabbed some PJs before setting Damian on the bed and letting him dress, before sliding under the covers and looking at Dick and begging him with his eyes to join him.
Dick would never say no to cuddling his pup.
Sliding under the covers Dick brought his pup closer, nosing at his fresh-smelling hair.
Damian felt his cheeks heat up again but made sure to hide in his Mother’s throat so Richard wouldn’t know. Enjoy the happy Omega smell that surrounded him. Letting out a happy purr Damian curled up, letting a small smile appear on his face, not like mom would be able to see it anyways.
He would get better, He’d live up to Richard’s legacy and be the best Robin there’ll ever be, before becoming Batman. Richard was right, he’d make sure to go at a better pace and take his time to make sure he did everything right.
There was no need to rush too much, besides he wanted to be Robin for a little while longer, so he could be closer to mom and not have to go out on his own just yet.
Damian didn’t realize he was starting to drift off until Dick kissed his forehead, rousing him slightly before there was a gentle purr rumbling against him soothing him the last little bit he needed to fall into a deep slumber.
Bringing the blanket up higher around them, Dick decided that this moment in time would forever be one of his favorites something to look back on when he needed to remember something good. A moment where everything was good.
And this moment under the covers holding his baby close, everything was good.