Work Text:
Here we go.
Damian Al-Ghul—Wayne was angry. Not that it showed.
He doesn't even have a clear idea of what happened or what's going on at the moment. All he knows is that some magic user specifically sought him out and had done something that sent him through some sort of portal. The idiot had tossed a letter at him just before the portal closed. It was that letter that had him so angry. Because according to that letter, that magic user had specifically sent him to a universe where he had supposedly died before Mother sent him to live with Father. It's not the only thing he's noticed to have changed in this world.
He never met his father, the only ones who knew of his existence was the League, and life moved on. Rather than sending him back to the time when the version of him in this universe had lived, or the same year as his universe… this date would've been months after he should've gone to Gotham. Meaning, his body returning to that of a ten year old would make sense, only that's not what happened.
It's like his body became an odd mix of his past and present self. It was more like his body had simply shrunk to the size of his ten year old self. All the muscles, scars, and instincts he's gained over the years remain.
Adapt and survive. A lifestyle he's abided by his whole childhood.
The letter said the magic transporting him was permanent? That's fine.
He doesn't have his Robin outfit, merely the black armor underneath? Okay, that makes it easier to blend in.
He's currently in a nearby League of Assassins hideout? Good, he can stock up on his weapons and steal some first aid supplies.
He found Red Robin unconscious, tied to a surgical table near one of grandfather's Lazarus pits, and covered in bandages?
…Damian admits he may have reacted without thinking, a risk that was unnecessary considering no one else was nearby. Though he knew better than to let his guard down, it was not odd how empty the compound was, especially here. However, the relationship between him and his- his brother had gotten better over the years since his initial introduction into the family. He has heard all about Drake's time with the League, starting with what happened in Europe and then telling him about what happened with his journey running around the world. Damian even knows about Drake's spleen being removed without his consent following a fatal injury. Then there's his grandfather's unhealthy creepy obsession with him. After ensuring that Red Robin wasn't on the brink of death, Damian wasted no time in freeing him. Is he still in Red Robin? He can't tell by his clothing. He doesn't look like Red Robin or Robin... Did it matter? To Damian, he's Red Robin. Or would he still be considered Robin since Damian wasn't here to take his place? It took many arguments, and death threats, to realize that Drake had believed Grayson replaced him as Robin. Damian can't deny that it is what had happened.
He carries Drake on his back, and flees the compound. The process is slow going.
He doesn't want to think about what he needs to do next. It's much easier just to focus on the here and the now. On his mission. Taking Drake to safety, and possibly returning him to Gotham? That's where he'll start, it should be around the time frame where Drake is currently the head of W.E, which means that Todd is unreachable, Grayson and Drake are not speaking– maybe. He's not sure if they still would have had a falling out without him there. Cass and Brown are off doing their own thing, essentially keeping their distance from the rest of the family. His best chance would be simply returning to Gotham and staying in a safe house until Drake wakes up, then try to convince him to let Damian help him.
He ignores all thoughts on how no one will recognize him, realize who he is. That once again he'll find himself facing the scrutiny of his family. That in their eyes he'll be nothing more than an enemy. Not that it's any different from how he's normally seen, after all they never seem to forget he was raised as an assassin, no matter how much he tries to change. To them— he will always be Talia’s son, Ra’s grandson.
.
.
.
Little did he know that Talia, upon Damian's death, had sought out Bruce and told him the truth– she told him he had a son, a son who was sent on a suicide mission by her father. A son, who was killed at just nine years old. There were no pictures to be given, no birth certificate or anything like that. Talia described their son with as much detail as she could before leaving, a part of her- a part of her she had long since thought dead- thought that Bruce could at least try to imagine what their son looked like. At least then she wouldn't be the only one to remember him. Information that a devastated Bruce had shared with each of his children, both official and unofficial.
Even without meeting him, all of the brood knew about Damian.
.
.
.
Carrying Drake around all the while dodging assassins his grandfather sent is made twice as hard considering Drake has yet to awaken in the past three days. That and he found Tam Fox at one of the bases? He had freed her and she's been silently watching him like a hawk, following Drake and himself throughout their journey. They're nearly to Gotham, despite having to avoid all public means of transportation, and people as a whole.
Damian knows how to stay hidden, his talents have only improved over time.
The only reason why he finds some frankly disgusting motel to stay in is because he needs to check Drake's wound. He needs to make sure it stays clean and infection hasn't set in.
That and Tam had not so subtly implied that she knew exactly who Drake was— which led to her demanding to check him over for any wounds. He knew that she distrusted him, it didn't help that he refused to give her a name or a clear reason for helping Drake. Although it was odd how she seemed to constantly switch between viewing him as an enemy and then as a child.
It's as he is in the middle of finishing applying new bandages that Drake wakes up. He's not entirely coherent, eyelids barely opening before sliding shut once more. Still, it's the most movement he's seen out of him since he found him. The journey back home grows blurry after that, as much as he knows he should be paying attention- he just can't seem to really focus on what's happening. At least he knows his instincts are enough to keep Drake, Tam, and himself alive as they make it back to Gotham.
.
.
.
Along the way, they pick up a stray.
A woman, obviously an assassin- one of his grandfather's, who seems fond of Drake to the point of insisting on accompanying them to Gotham. Her injuries are just another thing he needs to watch over.