Chapter Text
A while ago, when Damian had just become Robin while Dick Grayson was Batman and Bruce Wayne was presumed dead, He had been hit relatively hard on a patrol. he'd ended up having Richard hovering and fussing over him, why he didn't understand it wasn't as though he had never been injured before.None the less Grayson was being overbearing and seemingly underestimating Damian's ability to take care of himself.
After a second too long of Richards nonsense Damian snapped," Why are you doing this its not as though I'm incompetent, I'm aware my processor may be less capable but I assure me I don't need you to give me this endless coddling and care, so why do you seem so insistent upon it." The goal of the statement was to get his Baba to stop with the relentless care though Dick of course decided to actually answer the rhetorical question.
"Well, Dami, When you love someone you want to give them everything. So even if you find my assistance as...how'dyouputit- yes - 'endless coddling," He nudged Damians shoulder teasingly and damian would be a liar to say he didn't tense just a bit at the touch. " I care about you. I mean I'd give you the stars, that's how much I care. but right now I'm gonna give you overbearing care for your injury."
One phrase stuck out: I'd give you the stars. So whenever Damian felt like he was failing to show his care and love for his family and others he started giving them stars hoping they would understand.
Damian wasn’t mean on purpose. Really, he wasn’t, he doesn’t intend to come off cold, uncaring, or dismissive. He just had a habit of doing so. He told himself it wasn't his fault, that it was just his instincts, and he always tried to make up for it. That would be why he was now meticulously folding long slivers of paper and molding them into shape. He had hand drawn designs onto them prior to folding. A few strips had small bird designs others had the nightwing symbol. He should have responded better. It wasn't even like he had disliked the display of affection he just didn't know how to react to it and so he just stormed off with a hefty sigh...
"Nice hit Dami," It was Richard's voice, his Baba, that spoke as they rounded off their spar, "See no reason to train so much, Your doing great without working yourself to exhaustion in training before you even get to the patrol." He reaches out towards Damian ruffling his hair gently.
Even if Damian enjoyed the touch, which he did, every instinct and all of his training with the League was screaming for him to pull away. So, as he was not one to go against his training, he quickly pulled away with a harsh glare in Richards direction. He would pretend he didn't see how his face fell a small look of disappointment as Damian turned away with a small 'Tt'.
As he showered and made his way to his room he felt the guilt creep in seemingly filling his entire body with shame, Baba had seemed so happy and he ruined it, the thought left a sickening taste in his mouth. Reaching his room he goes straight to the drawer where he keeps several perfectly clean cut strips of paper about 2 centimeters (roughly 3/4 inch) in width and 35.5 in length (roughly 14 inches) all of which showing off various hand-drawn designs. He has every family members vigilante persona's symbol and various other heroes design too. He grabs a few nightwing and superman ones as well as a few that just hold basic designs. He ended up with two superman designs, three nightwing, one with blue and pink stripes, two different bird designs, a spotted one, and one with golden retrievers on it.
He began the process crafting them into near perfect stars. Why was he like this? Why did he seem to hurt everyone around him? Even now , as he had mostly done good to avoid causing actual physical harm to them, a metaphorical knife still cut his family. His frosty exterior he couldn't seem to shake cold enough to scar those who dare to attempt getting too close. And yet, no one has seemed too deterred by it no one has deemed him a lost cost, at least not that he could tell.
as he finished the last of the stars he made his way back down the steps of the manor. As expected, Richard had left his bag unattended in the sitting area that was often spared for family only. after checking his surroundings, to be sure that no one saw what he was doing, he dropped all then stars into the bag before heading into the kitchen to offer assistance with dinner.