Work Text:
Set Up For Failure | Fingerprints | Wrongfully Arrested | "I Warned You"
Damian watches his eldest brother stretch from his spot on the mat. Damian had already stretched, he had actually come down thirty minutes early in anticipation for their training today. Damian and Dick hadn't had as many opportunities to train together recently, and though Damian would never admit it, he missed hanging out with his brother.
"Richard," he says, popping up, "Today you shall teach me that flip Drake did on patrol last night."
Dick shakes his head, smile easy on his face, "I don't know Dames. I think there's a few more things we should work on before you're ready for that one."
"Nonsense," Damian says, waving a hand, "If Drake can do it, surely I can as well."
"I don't know, but we can try it. If you miss it though, we will be reviewing the basics. I'm just glad you waited, you could get hurt trying that on your own."
Damian nods, "I am not an imbecile Richard, I know the consequences of my actions."
"Don't word it like that," Dick laughs, "You make it seem like you're in trouble for not getting something. We're just gonna work on it together, so that you can do it."
Damian rolls his eyes, but nods. "I understand."
Dick sighs, and comes over to ruffle Damian's hair. Damian of course protests, slapping Dick's hand away. Dick laughs, and then starts leading Damian through a few warm ups on the gymnastics equipment kept in the cave. It's not long before they're both ready to go.
Dick explains the move, much to Damian's chagrin. He's not a child, he can do a simple flip. At least, that's what he thinks until he's falling off the balance beam, unable to self correct. He lands hard on his back on the mats, air knocked out of his chest.
"Shit Dami, are you okay?" Dick says, sliding down, onto the floor to help Damian sit up.
Damian wheezes, but nods.
Dick sighs, "I warned you bud—"
Damian tries to pay attention, but his chest and back ache. When he's able to look up, he sees his mother looking down at him in disappointment. From behind him he hears his trainer tsks, "I warned you, you were not ready for such an advanced move. Now you have wasted our time attempting something you were too idiotic to be able to do."
Damian scrambles into a sitting position, ignoring the pain in his back. He wants to apologize, but when he opens his mouth nothing comes out. All he can do is stare up at his mother as she shakes her head. He just wanted to impress her, show her he was taking his studies seriously and now she thinks he's a fool.
"Since you are so eager to defy your instructors, you will execute this maneuver perfectly before you are allowed to leave this room."
He bows his head in humiliation, breath coming in short gasps. He can feel his hands trembling, so he balls them into fist. He forces himself to look up at his mother again, only be face to face with Richard.
"Dames, are you back with me?"
"I…" He trails off, looking around the cave, blinking hard as he tries to remind himself where he is.
"Hey why don't we try to breathe bud. Come on, just follow me."
They stay like that for a few minutes, Dick guiding Damian through a few breathing exercises, until Damian has mostly stopped shaking and his breathing is much more even.
He looks up at his eldest brother, "Thank you Richard, I have no idea what came over me. It was… I apologize. I will do better with learning new moves in the future."
Dick's brows crease, "You don't have to apologize for not getting something the first try. It happens."
"I could've done better," Damian spits, forcing himself up despite the pain in his back.
"Woah!" Dick says, "Take it easy, that was a hard fall."
Damian bats him off, and forces himself to stand up trying to hide his wince, "I am fine. I don't need your hovering."
"Damian…"
Damian looks over at Dick, and scoffs at the look of concern, "That was nothing. I have been through far worse."
"I know that," Dick tries, raising his hands in surrender, "But it doesn't mean I can't be here for you now. Let me look at your back, make sure you didn't hurt anything."
Damian falters at that, and tries to remind himself he's not still with the League. "That would be… Acceptable."
Dick offers him a smile as he guides him over to the med bay, making sure nothing got seriously injured. "You're just bruised, no serious problems!"
Damian nods, he hadn't expected anything else, but still it was nice to be positive. "Thank you Richard… I appreciate your guidance in these matters. My previous teacher's haven't always been so… Forgiving when I made a fool of myself."
Dick offers him a sad smile, "You didn't make a fool of yourself. How can you get better if you don't try things?"
Damian nods, "I am figuring that out. Thank you again Richard."
"No problem bud," Dick says, slinging an arm around Damian's shoulders, "We'll work on it. You'll get it, it just takes time."
Damian nods again, letting himself be comforted by Dick's words. He was okay, he was with his family, and he had time to get better.