Work Text:
Jealousy.
Damian was never a jealous person, especially since he never had much emotional contact with people in his childhood - if we can call it childhood. The closest thing to love he received was when he was five years old, when he met his language teacher. The man was somewhat gentle with him and really seemed to care about him. It's a shame that he was executed by Ra’s after he found out about it.
He also had Jason, but he doesn't remember the man very well as he was only three years old when he left him. He vaguely remembers Jason showing him paintings and telling him stories, as well as reading books to him when a storm started.
And mother. Mama wasn't bad, she would tell him lots of stories while they were training - since that was the only time they could be together. Grandfather didn't let mama spend too much time with him because she might grow fond of him, but mama always found a way to be closer to him on his birthday or after he was injured.
But with each passing year, mama became more distant, colder. She no longer checked in on him after he was injured or after he was grounded. Damian remembers crying a little at losing his only 'constant' contact.
But nothing like jealousy.
Until he saw his brothers talking to other people. A small group of people were around them. They laughed at something a red-haired boy said. Damian couldn't help but compare him to a carrot.
Damian hated the way he was lying on Jason's shoulder and playing with Richard's hair. Or how a girl had her legs thrown over Richard's lap. Or how Tim was lying on the lap of a blonde girl, who Damian knew was Cassie, one of his brother's best friends.
Damian hated this, hated how his brothers didn't even seem to notice his presence. That feeling that burned in his chest uncomfortably, anger heating in his blood as he heard the laughter of the small group.
Tim and Cassie seemed to be talking about something else, but they were still paying attention to the carrot head's nonsensical and unfunny jokes.
He wanted to go over there and yell at them. Get the idiots away from them. No, he couldn't do that, it would be childish of him and his brothers would be upset.
He wanted to cry. He wanted attention too! He felt his throat burn and his eyes sting with unshed tears. He refused to cry over something so stupid. His mother would be disappointed if he did.
So he just turned around and walked back to his room, choosing to ignore his brothers for long enough. That was what his mother did when he disappointed her.
Some time passed after the incident, Damian was drawing in his sketchbook given to him by Richard when he heard someone knocking on his door. Timothy opened the door a little when he got no answer "hey, Damian, do you want to hangout?" He said softly. No answer. Tim was confused, his shy brother didn't usually talk much, but he always answered questions at least by nodding.
This made him a little upset, Damian had been living with them for a year and two months and he still hadn't gotten used to the manor, feeling out of place. Tim understood this, everyone understood. Damian had shown himself to be very shy and reserved since he started living with them, all his strong and confident personality suddenly disappearing.
"Is that a yes? A no?" He tried again. Nothing. Damian didn't respond. "Um, if you want to go, we'll be waiting for you downstairs in an hour." He said before leaving.
Damian didn't show up. "Are you sure the brat didn't say anything?" Jason asked Tim, losing his patience.
Tim sighed, "Yeah, he didn't say anything, he didn't even nod.”
"Do you want me to go try and talk to him?" Dick asked, getting up from his chair, ready to head towards the stairs.
"No, if he wanted to go, he would have come already, he's never late." Jason said. "But what if something happened? Damian isn't like that.”
"Dick, give the kid some space. Maybe he just wants some alone time." Jason explained. Richard reluctantly nodded. He didn't like the idea of leaving the boy alone, something inside him told him something was wrong.
This went on for several days, Damian was simply ignoring everyone – except Alfred – as if they were just ghosts. He didn't speak, didn't look at them, just followed the orders on patrol without question and remained silent the whole way back home.
It was an uncomfortable feeling to be like this with his little brother. It was strange. But Damian didn't respond and everything seemed to get worse when Roy, Wally or Cassie went to the manor to visit their friends.
Tired of waiting for Damian to just say what was going on or give up ignoring them, they went to Damian's room and knocked a few times. Nothing.
Jason opened the door and they found Damian lying on the rug on the floor next to Titus and with Alfred, the cat, lying comfortably on his belly.
"Hey, kid." Dick called softly, "is something wrong? You've been quiet for a few days..." Yes, everything was wrong. His brothers couldn't know that he had such a ridiculous and childish feeling!
"Look, Damian, if you have something to tell us, then just say it." Tim said, growing impatient with the boy's silence. Damian just took a deep breath and stroked Titus' fur, making the dog wag his tail.
"Okay! Let's play the silent treatment. How fun." Jason said sarcastically.
"I don't like them." Damian finally said, after days of not saying a word to his brothers. They looked confused, unsure of who he was referring to.
"They keep stealing your attention from me! You don't even notice when I'm there..." They look at each other for a few seconds trying to understand the situation, "Dami, who are you talking about, dear?" Dick finally asked, knowing that he wouldn't get anything out of those words from Damian.
Damian took a deep breath, swallowing his anger "at those 'friends' of yours!" His voice was choked with tears, but Damian refused to shed a single tear.
The pieces seemed to fit together now and Tim couldn't help but laugh "you gave us the silent treatment because of jealousy?" He asked in disbelief. "Why the silent treatment?" Jason asked, still confused.
"Yes, mama did that when she was disappointed or angry with me. I felt angry when I was jealous." He explained nonchalantly, not liking having to talk about it.
Tim crouched down and sat next to his little brother, "What your mother did was so wrong, Damian. You can't give people the silent treatment." Naming Talia as a mother left a bitter taste in his mouth, but Damian still loved the woman.
"But I couldn't talk to you! You'd think I was a spoiled child." Damian complained, not wanting to be seen that way. "Jealousy is a useless and childish feeling, I can't feel it. Grandfather would be disappointed and angry with me.”
"Ra's is an idiot. Jealousy is not a 'spoiled child' behavior, Damian. Your feelings are not useless." Richard snapped, the way his brother was treated in the league really stressed him out. No one messes with the people he loves. "That's what makes you human, your feelings. Jealousy is a very common feeling, especially at your age.”
Damian was quiet, not wanting to contradict Grayson, but it was clear that he wasn't quite agreeing.
"Dami, kid. Whatever you're feeling, even if it feels stupid and childish, you can tell us. We're your brothers, and it's okay to feel jealous sometimes." Jason said lovingly, completely discarding the ironic and confused tone of voice he was using earlier.
"Yes, and you can come stay with us when you're feeling like that and we'll give you all the attention you deserve. No one is more worth than our little brother." Dick cooed lovingly. It was funny how he looked like a mother bird taking care of her little birds - his brothers, in this case.
Jason pulled Damian onto his lap, pushing Titus and Alfred away, "You look just as small as the last time I held you." He teased, ruffling Damian's black hair. "Shut up, I was three!" Damian protested, "and I was eighteen. It's not my fault you didn't grow up." Jason explained.
Damian punched his brother in the arm, who just laughed along with Tim. "Stop tormenting the boy, little wing." Dick said smiling, "but it's true, Dick. Damian is no bigger than Hello Kitty, he's five apples tall." Tim said between laughs as he stroked Alfred's fur.
"Fuck you!" Damian cursed.
"Language!" They say in unison.