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Damian was not one for tears, but his cat was worthy of them.
His cat was worth everything. The feline was soft and kind, he was proud and playful.
And Damian loved him.
There had not once in the past been a time where Damian had to turn his gaze away from violence, he was raised in it and he could handle it.
But not his cat.
Damian didn't think he could look for too long. Blood staining his once clean fur, and small body crumpled on the ground; droplets of red laid on the ground under him.
Damian's eyes stung with tears and his throat clogged.
His breath hitched before he was openly sobbing.
Later on Damian sat in the corner of his bed. Titus laid gently on his chest; nuzzling away tears that fell down the boy's cheeks.
Damian sighed. He snuggled closer to his dog, hiding his face in the canine's fur.
This shouldn't be as much of a surprise as it felt, everything Damian loved had to be torn from his arms at some point.
That was how it always worked, Damian could never have anything, why would he be allowed to? Damian had done far too much to be deserving of anything as bright and sunny as Alfred the cat.
Alfred was lovely, he wasn't just a pet; he was a friend, and now he is gone.
Damian supposes he should have known it would go this way.
Damian Wayne knew death like the back of his hand, he had grown with it. Death was something no one could run from, no matter how much they wished they could.
Damian really wished he could. He was good at running, although apparently not good enough.
Not good enough to Alfred the cat.
Damian hugs Titus a little closer as if that will keep him there forever even if he knows it won't.
It never seemed to.
Damian can see the image in his mind. The graphic picture of his cat. His cat that was now gone, picture wounds of canine teeth sunk into the skin of Alfred, breaking the skin and bone.
The lifeless body of his dear cat stuck in his mind.
Damian took a deep shaky breath but they did nothing to stop the sobs escaping his throat. Titus whined and tried to fix it with comfort but nothing really could really 'fix' it.
Damian didn't eat dinner that night, he wasn't hungry.
He wasn't hungry at breakfast the next morning either.
Or lunch.
Or that dinner.
Everyone gave each other nervous glances but no one seemed to really know what to say to make it all better.
Damian thinks they know they can't make it all better. It won't be all better.
Damian is curled up in his room again. Sitting on the floor against the wall with Titus in his lap like a big lapdog.
Damian hand gently pet Titus' fur as a knock sounded against the door of his bedroom. Damian didn't bother getting up to answer; it seemed like a fine decision as the door opened without awaiting a response.
Tim stepped into the room and peered at Damian curiously before stepping closer and sitting next to the young boy.
Tim lightly nudged Damian's shoulder. Damian seemed to be in no mood for it, punching Tim's arm harshly with a frown.
Tim rubbed his own arm carefully.
"Ow, jeez."
Damian didn't respond, Tim sighed.
"I know you're upset."
"Wow! Really?"
Damian shot back sarcastically, hugging his dog closer and glancing away angrily.
Tim didn't try and touch Damian again, instead, he gave him space but kept speaking.
"Really."
He nodded.
"Death is normal, it's all around us. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. That's normal, kid."
Damian scowled. He didn't want to be hearing about this, he wished everyone could stop speaking to him about his cat.
His sweet..darling..little cat...
His lip wobbled slightly and he made sure to turn his head further away. He didn't want anyone to see him cry.
Tim held out his hand and Damian hesitantly, but wordlessly took it. Tim gave his brother's hand a gentle squeeze.
"It's natural, but it's not easy. You can't just stop living when they do though. You're still alive even if he isn't."
He gently shook Damian's hand.
"You think Alfred the cat would be very happy you're not taking care of yourself like you're supposed to? I think he'd want you to eat and sleep, and live."
"Even when he can't...?"
Damian managed to utter the words shakily. Tim nodded, scooting a little close, he gently laid his chin atop Damian's head.
"Even when he can't."
He murmured.
Damian leaned into the touch, still hugging his dog as he let his head fall onto his older brother's shoulder.
He sniffled slightly, wiping at his eyes.
"Sorry I called you an idiot yesterday.."
Tim raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't call me an idiot yesterday."
Tim pointed out, Damian shrugged.
"Well not to your face."
Tim scoffed giving his brother a little shove.
"Alright you little jackass, remind me not to help you again."
"Noted."
Damian not too long after that talk ended up breakfast the next morning, and then lunch, and then dinner after that.
That day it was when he was in the batcave and glanced momentarily at Jason's costume that stayed up even after his revival and return that an idea came to him.
Damian ended up on the floor of his bedroom once more, paint and brushes scattered across the wood as he worked on painting a portrait.
It was from memory but that was fine it was going fine so far.
He hung it on the wall of his room and sighed in content.
A yawn forced it way out of his lips and he let himself fall back onto his bed. He laid on his stomach so he could stay facing the painting.
Later the next morning a smile crept onto Dick's lips as he crossed his arms standing in the doorway of Damian's room.
Damian laid in bed fast asleep as dawn arrived. Dick shook his head in disbelief as he stared at the beautiful painting of Alfred the cat that hung on the wall.
"How in the world did you do that?"
He asked, glancing at Tim as younger stood casually with a hand in his pocket; sipping a brightly coloured energy drink.
"Do what?"
He mused.
"Are you seriously playing dumb right now?"
Dick cocked an eyebrow. Tim simply shrugged.
"Dunno what you're talking about."
He turned and walked down the hall. Dick let out a sound of offense, chasing after his brother.
"Hey, wait- I wanna know what you said!"
Tim only snickered a little. Maybe being a big brother wasn't the worst thing ever if he could make Damian feel the least bit better when it came to things like this.
Still a little gremlin though.