Chapter Text
Damian was very confused, his mother had told him that his father had three non-biologic children and that the one that went by “Tim” was babied, he just didn’t know it was to this extent.
Damian had just watched Jason Todd, a notoriously known for not being the gentle type, help Drake pick up a median sized pumpkin, one Damian would have no issue picking up while being the same size as Drake. He then watched Dick Grayson, holding a large pumpkin in right arm, hold his hand out Drake, who seemed to have been standing up just fine on his own, still the younger boy took Grayson's hand without a fight. He then witnessed his own father assist in Drake’s babying as once Drake relisted Grayson’s hand father, holding his own large pumpkin, took Drake’s recently freed hand and while double checking Drake’s every step, as though to make sure he won’t trip. The group of four made their way to check out with Drake being checked on at least twice by every person.
Damian, having spent the last twenty days observing the family he was to join, had come to three conclusions : Calling people by their last names would not be seen as normal, seeing as nobody in the manor did so, especially where it concerned Dra-Tim. The next befriending Tim would benefit him greatly. And lastly, respect Alfred Pennyworth.
Damian walked up to the Wayne Manor, knowing Tim would be closeted to the door, he knocked gently. Tim opened the door, Damian said
“Hello, Tim-”
He was interrupted
“Holy shit!”
Damian looked over his shoulder, then over his clothes, while keeping his anger in check Damian continued
“Hello, Tim, my name is Damian Al-Ghul Wayne, I am blood son of -”
“Your Bruce’s kid, no way, dude come in. Let me go grab Bruce or, I guess, we should go together.”
Damian took a deep breath, nodded and followed Tim’s lead, reminding himself that being nice to Tim was a key step in being accepted by his father. Tim while leading Damian through the halls of the manor to his father’s office asked
“How old are you, kid?”
To which Damian responded
“My name is Damian, and I am fourteen.”
Tim mummer under his breath “Damn you're tall for fourteen, well actually maybe I'm just short.”
Soon they reached a door, which Tim didn’t even knock on before entering, much to Damian’s surprise, everyone else seemed to knock on doors before opening them, and what was even more surprising was when his father said
“Hey Tim, you ok hon? Normally you don- whose this?”
“Meet your long lost blood son!”
Tim exclaimed promptly, walking into Bruce's office, sitting on a conveniently placed couch to the left of a large grandfather clock.
Damian sighed before walking into the office and over to his father desk saying
“Hello, father, my name is Damian Al-Ghul Wayne. My mother sent me with a letter to give to you.”
As he placed an envelope on his father’s desk. Damian watched as his father read the letter, his eyes widening, before he stood up walked around his desk and
“What are you doing father? I have seen these often, but I have yet to grasp their usefulness other than calming young children.”
Tim gasped, whispering "Damn, touch starvation got another one.”
Father then said as he let go “It’s called a hug Damian.”
“It makes my chest itch, I don’t wish to do that again.”
Bruce said
“Oh, bud, I’m sorry. I should have asked first.”
“It is okay, father.” Damian responded
“Did you bring anything with you?” Tim asked
“No, nothing that isn’t on my person” Damian answered
“Yeah? Any clothes in that bag of yours?” Bruce asked
“Yes, about three days worth.” Damian answered
Bruce nodded, then thought for a moment before asking
“How about we wash those, get you settled and then we’ll go shopping?”
“That sounds adequate, father”
“Have you eaten yet Damian?” Tim asked after looking down at his wrist watch.
“I have yet to eat, Tim” Damian responded
“Any dietary restrictions or preferences?"
Damian thought for a moment, his grandfather would never allow it but perhaps,
“I tended to not eat mean when given the opportunity"
“Yeah? I’ll make sure to tell Alfred.” said Tim as he left the office
“Damian, how long have you been in Gotham?" Bruce asked as he moved back to his desk, placing Talia’s letter in a drawer before locking it with his thumb. Before getting to the couch Tim had sat on early.
“19 days and 20 twenty nights, counting tonight." Damian said as he sat down in the spot closest to the door.
“Yeah? Any questions about how we do things here?” Bruce questioned softly as he crouched down in front of Damian.
Damian thought before he spoke, he didn’t want to offend his father in any way, for worry of being asked to leave; go back to the league. However, Damian eventually asked
“Why is it you all treat Tim as though he is fragile?”
Bruce’s eyes saddened before saying
“When we first met Tim he was small for his age, much like he is now, and he was already a clumsy sickly boy. However, about two years ago he was leaving the skate park when a car hit him… his left side was greatly affected, with the car slamming Tim into a fence. Part of the fence gate went through his spleen, it was unsaveable.”
Damian wished his mother had told him this before he had to ask.
“I see, Tim is immunocompromised. Is that why you guys are always making sure he doesn’t fall on grass or shake hands with anybody.”
“Yeah, but we’re trying to be better about it. He doesn’t like all the pestering and we haven’t had a big scare in a couple months.”
Bruce said, a little more cheerful than he was earlier. Damian thought for a moment and gasped,
“Tim is immunocompromised and I have been outside. Father, I need to cleanse myself of germs.”
“Yeah, I’ll show you to the showers, and by the time you’re done Alfred should be done with your dinner.”
Bruce said as he stood. Damian quickly followed, trying not to touch anything. Once Bruce handed Damian some clothes and a towel he said
“Set your bag by the laundry shoot, I’ll tell Alfred about it and he’ll thoroughly sanitize everything before putting it in your room.”
Damian nodded, Bruce shut the door and went to sanitize his office space.
Once Damian thought himself clean he changed into the clothes his father offered, and while they weren’t his preferred color they were a very nice texture. Soon after he finished changing there was a knock at his door.
“Hello?” Damian asked moving to open the door
“Hey, Damian it’s Tim, I just wanted to tell you your food is done.”
Damian opened the door stepping out he said,
“Thank you Tim. Would you show me the way?”
“Sure!” Tim exclaimed, walking down the hall.
Damian already knew his way to the dining room, but the more time he spent with Tim the less likely he was to be sent back to the league. Once in the dining room Tim led Damian to the seat Richard normally sat at. Damian knows Richard goes by “Dick” but in English “dick” was also seen as a derogatory term, so Damian was taking the route that was least likely to offend anybody. After Damian sat down Tim joined him, and as Damian ate Tim played on his phone. Once he was done Damian asked
“Where should I put my plate?”
To which Tim said,
“I’ll show you where the kitchen is, then your room. I’m sure you're tired, and I bet Dick and Jason will want to meet you tomorrow.”
Damian nodded, even though he already knew where the kitchen was and he wasn’t tired in the slightest. After Tim showed him to his room, Damian sat on his new bed and thought ‘How am I supposed to earn the Robin title?’ before laying down, on top of the covers, and falling into a light sleep.