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"And I'd heard you'd retired the Robin mantle."
The night air around them was a whirlwind of freezing cold. Dragging across exposed skin and causing a chill to penetrate down through the skin. Perhaps closer into the city, the cold wouldn't be so biting. But they'd found themselves by the docks in the dead of night. Daunting black water lapped at the boats left there who'd put their anchors down.
Jason wasn't stupid. He knew when an injury needed to be treated before you could move yourself to a secondary location. When he'd first been hit, it had been about an hour earlier. He'd still been dealing with a few men whose weapons he couldn't afford to take his eyes off of. Still able to move, then he'd all but forced himself to push through the mess of bodies to find the evidence he'd needed.
Deep within his reinforced pockets for protection. Jason had secured the evidence and settled down to finally tend to his wound. A few could be seen as he checked over himself, scanning for the ones he could ignore and those he couldn't. Unfortunately, there was a glaringly obvious injury he couldn't afford to ignore any longer. That had to be treated.
Even though that seemed reasonable in his head. Suddenly, it was as if everything had caught up to him the moment he stopped moving. Gritting his teeth, Jason could finally acknowledge that his facilities were being affected. Unable to administer first aid by himself, he'd mindlessly mumbled something over the comms. Honestly, he isn't even all that sure what he managed to get out.
When he'd finally been able to once again focus back in on the world around him. It had been to the image of Robin kneeling by his side, hands moving so carefully that he hadn't even startled Jason awake. He'd woken at his own pace, with most of the injury already having been tended to. Exhaustion gripped at him, but he still wanted to remain as aware as possible.
Green kneepads cushioned Damian's position on the ground. He'd had to have raced over right after Jason's message, and he'd been kneeling here for some time. Utterly still save for the movements of his hands and his eyes flickering back and forth. Assessing things before mentally calculating and moving on to something else. The pair of hands working were small and nimble, they worked fast and without wasted movement.
Eyes flicking up to look at the red hood covering Jason's face, Damian seemed to calculate something, "I haven't abandoned the mantle, it still belongs to me. I've just been prioritizing actions as a civilian. Appearing in the middle of the night at the docks as a civilian would've been suspicious if anyone had seen. Making my way over as Robin made the most logical sense."
"Mm." Jason hummed in agreement, exhaustion pulling at his awareness.
"I helped to deliver a baby this morning."
Silence dragged on for a few moments as Jason let Damian's words sink in, "They let you do that?"
"It's not my area of expertise, and I'm sure most people wouldn't be comfortable seeing me walk in at my age. Given it's already a sensitive experience with enough risk, but some things had gone wrong, and I'd been the only option."
"How's the baby?"
Continuing the dress the direst of Jason's wounds, Damian continued on to the lesser injuries as he answered, "A little girl. Just a little underweight, but nothing that can't be handled with the proper amount of care. She was loud when she started crying, it was oddly startling to witness. The mother had bled so much during the birth, but I heard she's in recovery and will pull through as well."
"What a little life saver you are." A groan finally left Jason as Damian slapped his hand over a minor injury and stood himself up.
Everyone had stood on in anxious curiosity. Things had been difficult, especially with the strain between Batman and Robin. Gotham was dealing with no end to bigger and bigger issues, and they'd been dragged into situations that pulled them out of Gotham and threw them out of their comfort zone. Bruce had wanted to sideline his sidekick to working alongside his own team.
Not to get rid of him. But as Bruce was called upon to tend to Justice League duties, he'd thought that Damian would want to stand in near-equal footing. Standing at the head of his own team, was the solution Bruce had come up with. With varying reactions from the rest of the batfamily, they'd more or less all agreed that it would make sense.
Most of them had done similar things. Leading and being involved with the Teen Titans was roughly a right of passage for the Robins. However, when Bruce and Damian had stood opposite each other in the batcave to discuss these things, Damian had surprised everyone. Upon request, Dick had already started communicating with the current members of the Teen Titans, everything would've been in order to send Damian over.
In the batcave where Bruce, Dick, Steph, Barbara and even Tim had all been standing, Damian had said, "I'm stepping away from being Robin. Temporarily."
That single word had been tagged on at the end. Sending a cautious look around as if worried that someone else would use this opportunity to jump forward and claim the mantle from him. When nobody said a word, Damian seemed to settle. Only minutely though, his shoulders were still tense, and his face was set. It was clear that this is not some half-baked idea, this was something Damian had been mulling over for a while now.
For a moment things felt like they might blow up. Nobody knew how Bruce would react to this. Yes, members before Damian had stepped away from the mantle to take on one of their own and discover their own path forward. But as Damian explained, he wanted to become involved as a civilian. This wasn't Damian wanting to shed the image of Robin, he adored the mantle of Robin.
It was important to him and not something he'd ever part with lightly. As he explained his thoughts, it wasn't just Bruce who listened in closely. Damian referenced the journey Bruce had taken before becoming Batman himself. Though Damian was experienced and highly trained, those life-experiences were fairly lacking. There were things holding him back, that he couldn't make up for unless he did things his own way.
Just as he'd travelled around to make up for decisions that'd been forced upon him in his youth. This was something else that Damian resolutely believed he had to do, in order to become the boy he wanted to be. Throwing himself into a team with the hope that it'd fix him, turn him into the next Dick Grayson. That wasn't what Damian felt was right for himself.
Each of them had their roles to play. All of them had experienced different things and had been impacted by those experiences. Damian had been forced to mature at such a young age, his training had started basically the moment he'd been born. But those types of maturity, controlled how tightly he gripped a weapon or how stern his voice sounded as he spoke in a meeting.
Those types of maturity hadn't been able to develop Damian's emotional understanding, his sense of self or his interpersonal skills. Though he'd learnt much on the job as Robin, there was also so much he could learn if he took a step away. Immersing himself into a civilian lifestyle that he'd never had the chance to experience before since the moment he was born, this is something he'd been working his way towards.
A smile could be seen on Bruce's face as he'd taken in Damian's resolve and answered with, "Okay, Damian. We'll wait for you."
Though Bruce became quickly distracted by League duties, taking him away from Gotham. He'd spared no effort in keeping up to date with Damian. Instead of butting heads about patrol while being split in two different directions, they'd been able to function alongside each other. Damian kept Bruce updated with his daily activities and Bruce spared his help or his advice whenever he could.
Most of what Damian did was focused in hospitals. He'd taken on the responsibility of medic before for the batfamily, it wasn't something he had any difficult with adapting to. But he wasn't just expected to show up and tend to patience, waiting for them to pass out before he put his hands to work. He was responsible for working with and directing other staff members.
Having to demonstrate his capabilities, while also deferring to those above him. Listening patiently as things were explained to him. Taking on directions and having to stomach corrections as he learnt to adapt further into the inner workings of civilian life. On top of that, he also had to deal with patients while they were awake. Both before and after surgeries, and in different stages of care.
"You were close by?" Jason said with a cough, he'd sat himself up properly after Damian stepped back and the cold air was clinging to him.
A light shiver wracked its way through his body. He'd already been out in the cold for so long, and his injuries had taken a lot out of him. Without being asked to, Damian had already started preparing a way to move Jason to the nearest safehouse. Between the two of them, Damian had one that was closer and that's where he dragged Jason off to, supporting his weight.
Giving a halfhearted answer while he navigated, "I was studying nearby, yes. But I usually have a suit nearby to change into. When your call went up, I was able to respond to it the quickest, so I stepped in."
This wasn't the first time Damian had stepped in to care for an injured batfamily member. Usually though, he would be waiting by for someone to walk in, injured but in one piece. The medical facility Bruce had developed was more suitable to come to for vigilantes like them, who couldn't waltz into a hospital whenever they needed. The next best thing was there, and Damian often appeared whenever someone needed him.
Having already been incredibly skilled as a medic when he first arrived. Damian had only gotten better, not only in his he physical administered care with his hands but also in the way he treated them. Obviously, his personality hadn't done any type of complete one eighty. He was still Damian through and through, but he did add just a gentle touch to his work now.
So, it wasn't the first time Damian had fixed Jason up since he'd stepped back from acting as Robin. But it was the first time he'd had to be treated out in the field, fingers numb and eyes too unfocused to put himself back together. Something had been done to him that he'd pushed through until it was too late, and while he probably could've stumbled and staggered his way to a safe house, it would've done more damage to him.
Calling in backup had been the right call. The immediate response to that call had made Jason feel a certain way. Things were never perfect in relationships, and his dynamic within the scope of the batfamily was still a little hazy. Nothing so bad to the point where he'd ever be completely abandoned. It's just, still, to have his situation be considered and reacted to so quickly, was something he couldn't put words to.
"What were you studying? Before you came out here, I mean."
"Ophthalmology."
"Huh." Although he hadn't known what to expect, the answer had still surprised him a little.
Carefully balancing his attention between supporting Jason and getting into the safehouse, Damian distractedly answered with incredible openness, "We aren't guaranteed a long life, but age doesn't stop for anyone. If the older members of our family continue to age and live out their lives, there's a chance that they'll lose their eye sight or develop other eye related problems. I want to be able to help, if I can."
Though Jason wanted to tease Damian lightly. Point out how much of a softy he is, he couldn't find the words to tease him with. They settled into a comfortable silence as Damian went about sorting things out. Jason was deposited on the couch and Damian had already brought him over a glass of water. The front door had been locked when they'd come inside, but the windows were opened to let the air flow circulate around the place.
Freshening up the space that Damian doesn't usually consider too much. Though he regularly checks his safe houses to make sure they're in good condition. Even when he uses one of them, he doesn't really mind it being dusty or shut in. Having a patient over was another thing all together though, especially someone he cared for. The windows were open and the kettle had been switched on.
Dull lighting filled the space. Unobtrusive but enough to light the way around the space. Plants that don't need too much care decorated this particular safe house. An array of photographs in picture frames lined the walls. Things Damian had taken himself, photos from over the past few months with a camera he'd purchased. Though they couldn't be immediately identified as his own work.
Coming out from a room further in. Damian returned with more medical equipment then he'd shown up with out on the field. He'd gathered what he could to treat Jason's immediate state, but had left the more detailed care for when they'd gotten Jason to a secondary location. Gathering up some things on hand, Damian poured in the hot water he'd heated up and mixed it in together.
Even though the taste wasn't all that desirable. Jason stomached it nonetheless and allowed Damian to get back to treating him. Although he still didn't feel energetic enough to jump bright back out there, he'd overcome his original lethargic state. He'd dealt with enough injuries by himself to understand that his body will do it's best when it can, but it'll also jump at the chance to shut down and protect itself as it tries to heal.
Leaning his head back against the back and the couch and doing his best to take on a relaxed stance. Jason found himself pondering the state of things. Their idly conversation tapered off now that Jason no longer relied on it to keep himself focused and alert. He could lose himself into his own thoughts without worrying about passing out on the street in a daze.
He found himself mildly impressed by Damian's persistence. Damian wasn't bettering himself by leaving the mantle behind and creating a new identify round an 'improved' and 'developed' version of himself. What Damian wanted was to be the most capable and reliable version of himself, in order to be the best Robin, he could be. He wanted to be Robin for as long as he could, and he didn't want to waste this opportunity to establish himself.
It was commendable. Despite everything Damian had been put through, he had a drive that prohibited him from ever slowing down and conceding under the weight of it all. Since they'd both been in Gotham, they'd teamed up numerous times and Jason had to admit that Damian was someone he looked forward to working alongside. They had a few glaring similarities, but some were less obvious but no less important.
Having been close by for Damian's growth from his initial introduction into Gotham up until now. Jason wouldn't hesitate to say he's been impressed. Especially with this new path Damian's found himself on. Though he wouldn't have blamed Damian for abandoning his post as Robin and doing something else, that hadn't been what he'd done at all. This Robin impressed him greatly.
"I could do the rest myself." Jason couldn't help but remind Damian, though there was no heat to his words.
With a role of his eyes, Damian simply hit back with, "I'm using you to train my abilities. This is useful experience, just sit back and be quiet for me like a good boy and it'll all be over soon."
Damian was grinning as he worked. Now it was Jason's turn to role his eyes at him. The domino mask had come off and Jason could see the colours of Damian's eyes as he worked. They were shining with interest as he indulged himself in the repetitive movements of caring for a patient. Damian had really come to enjoy this process, the actions and process were reliable.
Able to ease himself into it and pay attention, for the most part, to nothing but the actions of his hands and his unfaltering brain. Damian left Jason to grumble out a few choice words before he settled in again, quiet once more. He felt like some sort of experiment, being poked and prodded as he was. But he was in Damian's hands for his care, and he couldn't exactly complain about being taken care of.
Something that surprised Jason about the entire situation, though. As he returned to thinking inside the safety of his own head. Was that he'd expected Damian to go abroad for his studies, become a civilian in a variety of places to learn different things. Unlike his position as Robin, as a civilian, he didn't need to be tied down to Gotham for the extent of this experience.
Jason had grown up on the streets of Gotham. His experiences from childhood, into his youth and now into adulthood, had come from Gotham. Everything about Gotham was innate to him. This is where he wanted to be, it's where he'd always been and it was important to him. Damian wasn't so limited. He'd lived elsewhere and his travels have grown broader and broader.
Yet, he'd settled down in Gotham to work in the hospitals. Living amongst the people and attending school within Gotham. He'd even managed to talk Jon into going to school alongside him in Gotham. Damian gave his time to different callings in Gotham and showed no signs of stepping outside of its bounds. It'd been a curious thing, many considered perhaps he was restricting himself.
So, of course, Jason piped up again to speak his mind, "Why stay in Gotham?"
"Hm?" Was all Damian answered back, a little distractedly as he fiddled around with something in his hands.
Coming in off the street, Damian's hands had been covered in blood. Sticky and drenched in the red blood pouring out of Jason's wound. He'd discarded his gloves at once upon arrival, Jason hadn't seen it happen, but he'd watched Damian carefully work with his hands bare. Since arriving at the safehouse, Damian had cleaned his hands of blood and sanitized them.
They were messy once again but no longer with such a concerning amount of blood. Jason hadn't even really put too much thought into questioning what had happened to him. All he'd known was that something was concerningly not right, and he wouldn't last even trying to blindly crawl his way off to some dark corner to recuperate. It didn't seem to matter though as Damian had it all handled.
"You'd probably gain more experience if you travelled."
An uncertain look appeared on Damian's face before disappearing, he looked up at Jason and spoke, "Gotham has become my home. Unlike the rest of you, I didn't even grow up in America let alone Gotham. My ties to this place and my loyalties alone lay with my family and my friends. I want to know Gotham better and I want to live as others live in her, to have a better understanding."
"Wow." Jason said, a little stunned. "You really thought about all of this."
"Of course I did." Damian said with a frown, the ghost of a pout on his lips.
Nodding his head and looking away for a moment, Jason considered things before turning back to Damian, "You've only been here a short while. But you're tenacious, you'll understand Gotham soon enough."
Although Damian seemed pleased to hear these words. He didn't let it show too much on his face. Jason could still tell, watch the tension leaving his body and a softness appear across his features. Damian was someone who carried a whole lot on his shoulders, expectations and assumptions. He wasn't someone who was willing to take any of it lying down.
Grabbing hold of his potential, his future and his fate. Damian held on tightly as he pushed forward with his own passion and purpose. Despite his age or maybe in spite of his age, Damian carried such responsibilities better than most ever could. He could withstand a lot, and he wanted to make himself stronger. More durable and capable, and he was making sure nobody could doubt him.
"Let me know if you need anything in the future." Jason finally spoke, turning away from Damian so he wasn't being scrutinized under his assessing gaze. "As Damian or as Robin. Gotham has already accepted you, and you belong here just as much as any of us. But if you ever want to learn more or experience something, just let me know and I'll come lend you a hand."
Jason had taken off the red hood after being sat on the couch. His expression was earnest despite his appearance being a bit of a mess. Hair untidy from where it'd sat under the helmet, and his exposed skin was bruised in some areas. They knew each other quite well, and although they could read each other's non-verbal ques perhaps better than any of the others, spoken words still held considerable weight.
Sharing these words was appreciated. An acceptance that Damian clung to and held close to his chest. His hands had stopped moving but Jason hadn't called him out on it, sitting there on the couch and staring out the window. Searching the night sky for stars, mostly hidden away by the clouds which had rolled over earlier. Moonlight was barely able to escape behind them all.
Damian was at his side, taking in his words. He gave a short, easy to miss noise to indicate he'd heard and accepted Jason's offer. Though he didn't say much else, quietly he soon returned to Jason's injury. More attentive than he had been earlier. Deft hands finishing up. They were still learning, not just Damian but Jason himself. There wasn't enough love and care in this world, so Jason extended a hand.
Never wanting Damian to feel unwanted, discarded or thrown away. Those feelings are enough to destroy a child. Damian had already overcome so much, had spent too long having to be strong. Jason knew what these strong emotions could do to someone's sense of self. Even he, himself, was still moving past the hurt he'd experienced in his life. But just as a hand had been reached out to him in the past, Jason did the same to Damian.
"Thank you." Were the quiet words Damian said, taking up the medical supplies and excusing himself off to the bathroom again, making a hasty retreat.