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The kingdom of Gotham has a benevolent king. The queen and the concubine bore two princes for the king. The queen bore a son, the king named his firstborn son, Damian Thomas Wayne, meaning to conquer.
The second prince was born 5 years after, from the concubine, the king named him, Richard John Wayne.
There was a secret. The secret that no one knew was, a day before the birth of Prince Richard, a son was born from the concubine's handmaid. She named him Timothy. The handmaid, fearing her child will be named illegitimate kin to the king and would suffer. As a mother, she discreetly switched the two babies one quiet night. Both babies were born chubby, black hair with beautiful blue eyes. No one noticed a difference. The only person who noticed his mother switched his baby brother with the prince was Jason, the biological older brother of Tim.
Damian at the age of five adores his baby brother, Richard. The baby would babble whenever he saw him and grasped a hold of his hand.
Damian adores his brother.
Just like the season changed and time passed, the fake little prince grew up to be a proper one.
"Big brother!" tiny footsteps ran up to the older prince and squeezed him into a tight hug. Damian smiled at the small bean and pat his brother back.
Damian is now 12 and Tim is 8.
"Were you not supposed to be with Sir.Wilson?" Damian asked with an eyebrow raised. Tim pouted cutely and turned his body to sway, "Sir Wilson is too bossy. I'm only eight!"
Who is Damian to argue with that? He practically melted at the cute pout. "You can join me if you like." Damian practically saw Richard's eyes shone like the stars. "Let's go then!" and the eight year old led the way.
Not far from them were two boys. The older of the two was looking at the interaction of Damian and Fake Richard. He sighed in relief when he saw Damian treated Tim well. He came to attention when a small hand pulled the hem of his shirt.
His fake brother, the real prince, stood there and smiled shyly at him and asked, "Older brother, why do you always look at them?"
Jason smiled guiltily and patted the real prince's head, "I was just looking at their clothes."
"Oh"
Damian and Richard were born from the legal wife of King Bruce, therefore they were treated well. However, for Jason and Tim who were born from a handmaid, a mistress, they were merely children of servants and were treated the same way. Jason sometimes wonders how his mother could live with the fact that the real prince is treated rudely, doesn't she fear the retribution if the truth were to come out?
"Let's go,T-..little brother." Jason has always avoided using Tim's name with the real prine. He couldn't get himself to call the real prince with a false name.
So, Jason came up with a clever way to address the real prince. He calls him Dick, which is a nickname for Richard. The real prince was confused but he accepted it, buying into Jason's buffoonery lies.
Jason didn't plan to reveal the secret, because his little brother is living a better life instead of being pushed around. Although he feels sorry for Richard, this is the only way for his little brother to live well. That was the plan of course. However, Jason grew fond of his fake brother, Richard, and the guilt started to eat him alive.
Dick deserves to have a mother and father that loves him. Jason decided.
The truth has its own timing. As the child grew, doubt began to sow itself into the concubine's mind that Richard isn't her son. His eyes did not resemble either parents. His features resembled that of a certain handmaid. The concubine cried that her real son was swap, to the king.
The little fake prince's perfect world falls apart.
"Damian," The fake prince looked to his elder brother for protection.
The older brother that he used to adore now looked at him with empty eyes, always busy trying to search for his real biological brother, Richard.
The once pampered little prince now dressed in rags and became a mere servant. Coincidentally, on the same day, the real prince was found. The king, queen and the concubine rejoiced.
The handmaid that switched the child at birth was executed, but due to the pity King Bruce has for his kin and the little fake prince, he let them live but sent them away from the palace to a barren land.
The king's act of mercy may seem reasonable, however, to those of parentless and homeless children without any pillar of support, it was the same as an execution.
The little fake prince at the age of 15 fell from grace.
They lived in a very small hut. The ground is always muddy and they were living day by day with just enough to eat.
Jason striked the axe heavily. He exhaled as he collected the split woods and looked in a certain direction. Sitting in the front house, on a stone slab, is his biological brother, Timothy.
"What are you doing?" Jason asked as he approached the boy.
The fake prince just glanced at Jason, "Waiting for Damian to come pick me up. Then I'll wake up from all this nightmares."
Jason sighed, "Look, Prince Damian won't be coming." He handed Tim an axe, "The faster you accept your fate the faster it puts food on our table."
The axe dropped into the muddy ground with a splat when Tim didn't' take it. "Why should I be doing this?" The young boy sneered. "I was born to be a prince."
Jason got mad--picked up the axe. "Well, now you are a prince no more. So start chopping these woods!"
The younger boy got angry, stood up and walked away, "Shut up!"
Jason's shoulders slumped when his younger brother strutted away. Ever since they were exiled, Tim had always acted like an entitled brat. He was always bossy and always got angry at every action Jason did. It's always a wonder how all that anger fit into that small body.
It was already dark by the time Jason had finished chopping wood and delivered it for money. He brought back cold,dry and crusty bread. When he got home, the candles were not lit, meaning Tim had not gotten home yet.
Jason frowned, put his bread into his breast pocket and went out to look for his younger brother. His younger brother, as a 15 years old, is more troublesome as Dick as his fake brother. Jason wondered if Dick is doing well. He must be right? After all, he is now back to his rightful place.
As Jason scoured the streets, he saw Tim under the church's candles. Beside him was a girl with blond hair. Both of them were laughing and talking until they noticed Jason.
Tim waved goodbye to the girl as she scrutter away, he then quickly put something into his shirt and walked past Jason.
The older boy grabbed his wrist, "What do you have there?"
Tim tried to pull back his hand, "It doesn't concern you." He sneered.
Frustrated Jason yanked him back to search for what he put in his shirt, Tim eyes widened in panic when Jason yanked up his shirt, "What are you doing! Let go!"
During the struggle, a pouch fell from Tim. Jason crouched down and picked up the pouch. It jiggles when he picked it up. Jason immediately knew Tim couldn't have earned this much from doing odd jobs. Jason looked back to the church, then glared at Tim, "Did you seriously just steal from the church?"
Tim avoided his eyes, "So what? It's just a little money they won't notice."
Jason sneered, "So the mighty prince has fallen so low to be doing theft?"
"Fuck you!" Tim struggled harder, "If your mother hadn't switched me, I wouldn't have to do this!"
An insult to his mother was Jason's last straw, "She did it for your own good! She wanted what was best for you-!"
"Yeah!?" Tim shouted, his angry eyes brimmed with tears, "She fucking suck for ruining my life."
In a blink of an eye, Tim was on the ground with his hand on his cheek.
"Shut up. Don't you dare insult my mother, you imposter." Jason spat.
Tim stopped reacting at his word. The young boy slowly got up and was ready to walk away.
"Where do you think you are going?" Jason was still sensible enough to be a responsible older brother.
But Tim didn't answer. Jason took a hold of his wrist again.
"Dick-!" The air thickened, Jason realised his mistake, Tim also stopped. Jason saw Tim entirely shut down.
The younger boy composed himself and shrugged off Jason's hand. "Do not touch me again, next time."
Jason didn't have a chance to apologise. Fuck, he messed up badly. He mistakenly called Tim, Dick.
The night ended with both of them not talking or apologising to each other.
The next sunrise, Jason woke up to sounds of their wooden door scraping open. There was only one room so both of them had to sleep and eat in that room. Jason immediately woke up to see Tim's back walking out the door.
"Where are you going?" Jason put on his shoes in a hurry and ran after Tim.
Tim stopped for a moment, "To work." he replied and walked out of the house.
Jason was about to grab Tim's hand when he stopped himself remembering yesterday, "Tim, I'm sorry for yesterday. I was angry." Jason apologized sincerely.
Tim didn't turn back to face his older brother, "Yeah, just don't call me his name again."Tim didn't even stay to hear an agreed 'okay' from Jason before he started walking leaving the older boy all alone.
Tim came back late today. Jason was home because the firewood didn't sell well today. Just when he was wondering how to get dinner on the table, he saw Tim put a basket on the table. The basket was full of eggs. Jason's eyes widen thinking Tim probably stole again.
The younger brother also put a pouch, as it clank heavily against each other. Just when Jason was about to start accusing, Tim interrupted him.
"I went to the Kent Manor, they were looking for some workers to put up the fences on some of their farm. I didn't steal any money," Tim looked at him dead in the eyes, "Jason."
Jason swallowed back his guilt for accusing his younger brother.
Tim sat opposite to him on their wobbly table, "They are also looking for a woodcutter. You will have a more stable income there."
Tim went to a makeshift table they call bed, "I'm tired."
On the other side of the two peasant brothers, the real prince and his older brother are also having trouble.
"No!" Dick --Richard screamed at Damian. "I want Jason! He's my only brother!" He flipped the plate and ran back to his room.Damian just sighed tiredly and glanced at Alfred Pennyworth for assistance. The old butler just shook his head.
It has been a month since the real and the fake switched back. However, Richard is not adapting as one hoped. All day, he would scream for Jason. This week he decided to take a new approach and starved himself.
Damian massaged his forehead, "Why must father fool around, now his troubles are everywhere."
The eldest prince turned to Alfred, "Prepare the carriage. We will be going to the west."
The fake child and Jason were not unrelated at all. They were children born from Father's folly. Therefore, they were not even considered illegitimate children of the king. Because of his Father's foolishness, Damian made a decision. He will only have one wife.
It took 2 days to travel to the village Jason and his brother were exiled to. They arrived to the west before nightfall. Richard's face contoured into a more horrified look and disgust when he saw the road all muddy and the people were basically living in slumps.
The carriage stopped in front of a run down hut. Damian glanced outside and frowned, "Is this it, Pennyworth?"
"According to the source, I suppose so, your highness." the butler replied and opened the door.
Once the carriage door opened the young prince practically leaped out of the cart --shouting, "Jason!"
Jason was coming home from work at the Kent manor. He was tired, but during these two days, Jason and Tim's relationship became more stable. He came back to cook dinner when he saw an eye-catching carriage that screams WEALTHY.
Before he knew it he heard a very familiar voice yelling his name. A very familiar boy threw himself into his arms.
"...Dick?" Jason checked twice in surprise.
"Please don't leave me, big brother. I'll be good." Dick burrowed himself deeper into his big brother's arm.
Jason looked up to see Prince Damian and Alfred Pennyworth walking to them. He glances his surrounding to see other people starting to listen in.
"Let's talk inside," Jason gestured to them, "Forgive me, the house is a little inconvenient."
Damian looked around the single room house that his fake younger brother was supposed to be living in. The room is filled with four people inside.Dick was still hugging Jason, not minding the smell or the sweat.
Jason slowly approached the topic, "May I ask...why your highness has come..?" He didn't even dare sit down.
"Richard here wants to see you." Damian glanced at his biological younger brother. "He was starving himself. However, I do have some questions I want to ask you."
"Jason," Damian started as he looked around the condition of the house, "I need to talk to you about something. Richard, please leave us for a moment." Dick pouted, but under Jason's persuasion, he obediently went outside.
Jason secretly glances at Damian and Alfred, "What would you like to talk about my prince?"
Damian spoke with a straight face lacking any emotion, "It was you wasn't it? Who revealed the truth.That day wasn’t just a coincidence."
Jason's spine shivered in fear as the prince finished speaking. He immediately fell to his knee, "Your highness, I-I didn't mean to keep it hidden, I-I-"
"What makes you change your mind?" The prince spoke coldly. "15 years you have hidden the truth. Now your real brother is suffering."
"I..." Jason calmed his racing heart just enough to collect his thoughts. He bowed with his head touching the ground, "The young prince has become someone I held dear. I couldn't condone his suffering before now I could only give him what he deserved from the start."
"Then, what about your other brother?" Jason glanced up to see Damian pitiful eyes.
"I-" Jason was at a loss of words.
Dick went outside just in time to meet with Tim who came back from work. Although they were the same age, Dick was clean and dressed with very expensive clothes while Tim was dirty and had been wearing this rag for 3 days.
Tim stopped when he saw Dick. He wondered which rich family carriage was in front of their home, which turned out to be that of the palace. Tim watched as Dick walked up to him and leveled him in the eyes, "So, you are the one that stole my birthright and my big brother."
"Birthright," Tim repeated, not amused.
Just because of that woman's mistake, he was suffering it. Tim sneered mockingly, "I didn't steal your birthright, it was given to me, so, I just enjoyed it. Now that you have already gotten it back, why are you here?"
"I'm here to settle account with you. The one who committed the crime is you, not Jason. So, Jason will be going back with me!" the proud prince pointed with an accusing finger.
Tim chuckled in mockery, and said to the real prince, "You are not very bright are you?" Tim approached Dick till they were only inches apart, "If you are not quick-witted, Slade Wilson might just gobble you up."
Tim's grin terrified Dick, " After all, he loves little boys."
Tim's hand approached Dick's crotch, "Tell me," he whispered it with malice, "Have he already touched you?"
The real prince immediately slapped the hand that groped his private and screamed, "Prevert!"
The scream immediately alerted the people in the house, and they came running out.
"Richard, what's wrong?"
Tim froze when he saw the brother he admired most came out.
Dick immediately ran behind the eldest prince and pointed at Tim, "He molested me, brother! He touched me! He's one of them," and spat from all his heart and soul, "Disgusting f***ot!"
Jason stepped in between them, "Wait a moment, there might be a misunderstanding." Tim just stood there without defending himself.
Seeing this, the eldest prince was furious, "Pennyworth, we are going back." as he held on his biological brother's arm--dragging him to the carriage, ignoring the younger one's yelling for Jason.
The carriage left without even staying for an hour. Jason turned to scold his brother but his anger disappeared when he saw Tim just longingly staring at the leaving carriage.
Eyes empty and hope lost.
Damian came as Tim wished, but it wasn't to take him back.
Jason sighed, "Welp," he threw his arm up in defeat, "I think what you did just sealed our fate. Come on, let's have our last meal or something." Jason tried to add humor to the situation.
Tim didn't even spare him a glance. But Jason can see his hands are shaking as they balled into fists. When he saw there were nosy neighbors trying to listen in, he shooed them away. Both brothers came back into the house, the only light source was a dimly lit candle.
Jason got to cooking what was left of the eggs, but he put down his wooden spoon in frustration because Tim was too quiet.
"Why aren't you angry?" The elder brother got angry instead. Tim just blankly looked at him, "..What?.."
Jason sat in front of the younger brother, "You always make trouble, screaming and shouting in front of me, but today when your beloved brother came, you didn't even say a peep!"
"Why didn't you defend yourself?!"
An emotion flashed across Tim's eyes, but he looked away "What's the use?"
Jason repeated, "What's the use of what?"
"What's the use of screaming and shouting when your screaming and shouting are no longer important?" Tim said dejectedly.
This made Jason shut up.
Tim chuckled in self-depreciation, "As you said, I am no longer a prince, My voice no longer has authority. No one is willing to listen."
Jason wanted Tim to realize this fact long since they moved here, but in this situation, Jason rather Tim kicking and screaming in anger.
"You are my brother." Jason grabbed the younger brother's arms and shook him, only to release his hold immediately after. "Your voice will always be heard by me."
Tim's eyes teared up, "You are a liar."
Jason was confused, how did he end up a liar?
Tim lay down facing away from his older brother, "I knew that you deliberately leaked the truth. Otherwise, Moth- the concubine wouldn't have known."
"Did you ever think about me then?"
Jason didn't have the correct answer to reply.
On the carriage, on the way back, Damian merely ignored the brawling of his younger brother. He glanced at Alfred for help, but the butler merely shook his head.
"You promised that Jason would come back with us." Dick pointed an accusing finger at the eldest prince. "Liar!"
Damian balled his fist in control, "Richard," the hard and cold voice immediately stopped the whining of the younger prince.
"What happened?"
Dick sniffed and glared out the window, "He insulted me that I wasn't quite bright. He insulted a prince!" Dick angrily retold the tale.
Damian felt a throbbing between his brows, "Thus you accused him of molesting you?"
"Of course, not!" Dick defended himself and crossed his arms in frustration. "He groped my privates and asked whether Slade or something had already touched me!"
The temperature dropped immediately when the name Slade was mentioned. The old butler's eyes widened in fear as of the eldest prince.
Damian repeated, "Slade? Richard, Did he really said Slade Wilson?"
Dick huffs in anger, "Yeah, he told me. I remembered."
Damian turned to the butler with fear in his eyes, "Pennyworth."
Alfred covered his mouth with his hand, "I didn't know, your highness."
"Fuck!" This was the first time Dick has heard the composed first prince swearing. Before he could ask any questions, Damian had already stopped the carriage.
He dismounted one of the horses from the carriage, and got on it.
"Pennyworth," He commanded the butler, "You better make sure that bastard is captured and alive until I make it back. With my authority and order, capture that fucker!"
"As order, your highness."
When Damian came back, it was already deep into the night. He banged on the barely working door.
"Timothy! Jason!"
The door was slowly opened by a sleepy Jason, he woke up immediately when he saw the prince was back, "Your highness?"
Damian barged in, "Where's Timothy?"
Jason pointed to the bed confused, "Tim's sleeping ther-"
There's no Tim. The bed is empty.
"Fuck!" Jason was scared shitless when he heard the always gentle prince swore.
Damian didn't wait for Jason as he strode out of the house. Only bad thoughts were swirling in his mind. The guilt and remorse were eating him away when he saw a dim light from under the willow tree from far out in the field. When he made it close enough, he could make out Tim's face barely under the dim light. The boy was not alone.
The eldest prince flinched when he saw two icy blue eyes glaring at him.
Tim's head was leaning on the shoulder of the girl as he burrowed more into her neck. When he felt the girl stiffen, he groggily woke up, "Steph?"
Tim turned enough to see, there's a man standing there in the field, with a torch in his hand. Tim immediately became vigilant. His hand reached for the knife in his pocket, he froze when he realised who the man was.
Both of them stayed cautious as Damian approached them.
"Timothy," Damian called out of breath.
Tim put Stephanie behind him, shielding her, "What." He spat out. I wasn't a question, it was a threat to leave. Stephanie, herself, has armed herself with her rake.
"Timothy, I just want to talk."
"Why would you need to talk at night?" Stephanie scorned, with her bravery coming from not knowing that Damian is the kingdom's first prince.
"Why would a Mister like you need to talk to my lover?" the girl puffed out her chest to appear bigger. Tim was sweating bullets on the other hand. He yanked at her dress nervously, "Steph, stop."
"Lover?" Damian focused on the wrong thing instead of the dishonor to his title.
"No-, that's not-" The prince exhaled slowly, "I just want to talk to Timothy. Would the young lady please give us a moment?"
Stephanie was about to retaliate when she felt a tug on her dress. Tim gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes. She positioned her rake to Damian's neck ignoring Tim's nervous clanking of teeth. "You better not make my man sad."
Damian was left alone with Tim as they watched Stephanie go to another side of the willow tree.
"From lover to man, you have quite the attraction to fierce women." Damian jestered.
Tim did not play along, "Why are you here,... your highness?"
"Timothy," Damian paused, "Why did you not tell me about Slade?"
The elder prince continued, "Is that why you always ditch Wilson's class? When has this started?" His voice grew more concerned as he asked more questions.
"What's the use now?"Tim shrugged, "Although I regret not being a real prince I appreciate that the truth came before Wilson's waiting time was over."
Tim mocked in an amused voice, "Although you better keep an eye on your littlest brother." Tim turned to taunt his ex-brother, "He's a little slow to things."
"Tim," Damian dropped the formality, "I will not let that bastard live."
Tim shrugged casually, "Why go through the trouble? I'm not an important person anymore."
It was unexpected. The hug was unexpected from his brother who abandoned him. Tim flinched when he was pulled into a hug, "Wh-"
"I'm very sorry, little brother. I couldn't protect you enough." Damian apologized.
Tim's eyes welled up with tears. Damn, how many times has he cried today, that's not manly at all.
"Why did you leave me, elder brother?" He hugged back his older brother, "I thought you hated me."
"I could never hate you even if I tried, little brother. I will take you back. I will talk to father. I will make him change his mind. He won't admit it but he misses you too, little brother."
Is this the end of their suffering?
"What about me?" Stephanie interrupted from behind, "You can't just steal my husband from me."
Damian raised an amused brow, "Husband already? Aren't you guys progressing a little too fast?"
"Well, I have to when I found out my husband is going to be a prince."
Tim just deadpanned at his lover's joke, "Seriously, were you always a gold digger?"
Stephanie pecked at his cheek, "Of course not, hubby." She giggled, "Now that we kissed, my chastity has been taken by you. You must be responsible, Timothy!"
Tim choked on his saliva, and whipped his head to his older brother, "We haven't done anything yet, elder brother!" He defended his chastity.
"Of course, Timothy. I believe you." Damian said in a teasing tone voice.
Stephanie pouted at Tim's defence to his chastity, "What? You don't want to marry me, husband?"
"Of course not!" Tim grinned at her, "Right, no take back. No matter how weird your husband turns out to be."
Damian interrupted the flirting couple, "Please stop. Although I want nieces and nephews in the future, I do not wish to babysit at the current moment. At this rate, Stephanie might become pregnant with just words, brother."
This makes all three of them burst into laughter.
Jason came at the right moment, "Why are you guys laughing?"
Stephanie cheered when she saw him, "Brother-in-law!"
Jason choked on his words and stumbled on his feet, "W-What?"
Thus the fake prince story ended with a happy wedding.