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Damian sits in the kitchen, Bruce across from him as he looks over the report card that Damian gave him. Bruce has his lips pursed, humming every once in a while.
“The only A you got was in art… is doing thing happening? You always do so well when you’re at home, so why are you struggling in school?” Bruce asks after a moment, looking at Damian with concern. Damian’s eyes burn, embarrassment and frustration tinting his face pink.
“I’m doing fine.” He pushes off. Bruce sighs.
“I just want to get you the things that will help you succeed. I know you said you didn’t need accommodations, but I think that might be the best course of action here, Damian.” Bruce finally says. Damian shakes his head
“I don’t need any extra help, I’m fine how I am.” Bruce reaches his hand across the table, close enough for Damian to notice from where his gaze is locked in his lap, but not close enough to touch him.
“They just want to help.” Bruce tries. Damian sniffles.
“Everyone will think I’m weird.” He admits. Bruce shakes his head.
“They won’t, all it’ll mean is that you’ll take tests in a different room and you’ll have longer to complete assignments.” Bruce explains. Damian lets out a frustrated noise.
“Why won’t you just homeschool me again? It was so much easier when I was homeschooled.” Damian huffs. Bruce chuckles, amused.
“I know, but you need socialization outside of our night life, and school is a good way to do that. Eventually, you’ll understand, I know you will, but for now, I just want to make it as easy as I can.” Bruce replies. Damian finally looks up, meeting Bruce’s gaze.
“Fine.” He relents begrudgingly.
~~~
Bruce sits beside Damian, the receptionist eyeing them suspiciously, which confuses Damian, but a lot of things confuse him, so he lets it go (no matter how much it pains him, or how much it goes against his league training to leave something be; that’s one of the things that Bruce has taught him). They’ve been waiting for almost 30 minutes, and the principal still hasn’t called them in to her room, which frustrates Damian because there isn’t anybody else in there. It’s like the principal likes to make them wait. Damian glares back at the receptionist.
Nearly ten minutes later, the principal finally calls them in to his office, looking very unhappy to have them here, but is civil nonetheless.
“So, we’re here to discuss accommodations for Damian, is that correct?” He asks, straightening a pile of papers before setting them down on his desk, glancing through them as Bruce confirms this.
“Yes, it has come to my attention that Damian has begun to struggle in his classes, and I believe that accommodations will be beneficial to his education.” He responds, nodding. The principal furrows his brows, taking a paper out from the stack and pointing a finger on it, so where in the middle of the page.
“Looking at his report card here, it looks like he’s doing fairly well, getting a B and C average.” The principal points out. Bruce’s polite smiles turns strained.
“Yes, but when we were homeschooling him, he was learning the material quickly and he was able to demonstrate his understanding in things like tests.” Bruce retorts. The principal’s expression turns stoic.
“With all de respect, Mr. Wayne, your child is doing well, and he’s able to keep up with the class, so accommodations shouldn’t be needed.” The principal tries again.
“Except he isn’t. He is an A student, and he is very smart, he just needs a little bit more time on assignments and to have a little bit more for testing days.” Bruce pushes. The principal sighs.
“I just think that accommodations aren’t something that Damian needs.” The principal remarks. Damian scoffs.
“You think that, looking at my report card, you know what I need? My accommodations aren’t anything drastic, it really isn’t hard.” Damian snarks. The principal’s expression hardens.
“You may think that, but on my side, it include copious amounts of paperwork and I would have to organize those accommodations.” The principal replies. Damian nods sarcastically.
“So you don’t want to give me something that will get me a higher grade point average, which, by the way, would reflect well on you, because what, you’re lazy?” Damian monotonously asks. The principal’s face turns to one of offense, looking at Bruce with a baffled look. Bruce sighs tiredly.
“Damian.” He states, warning heavy in his tone.
“I’m right, am I not?! I don’t exactly want them, but I can accept the fact that I need them, all that’s left is for him to grant me something that is his job to do.” Damian points out. Bruce face strains in a way tha Damian has come to notice always happens when he’s trying to withhold a smile, and Damian beams proudly.
“My job is to make sure the school runs smoothly–” Damian cuts the man off.
“And to make sure your students have the best opportunity to learn and thrive, which is what we are asking for here.” The man takes a deep breath, clearly unable to come up with a reason to deny Damian of his requests. Damian puffs his chest up, proud of his words, and when he glances at Bruce again, the man seems to think the same, an easy smile on his face once more as he relishes in the stumped principa’s glare.
“So, I presume that means that we have that settled, yes?” Bruce asks, grinning. The principal clenches his jaw and nods.
“I will start on that paperwork. It should be processed within the next 1-2 months.” The principal states reluctantly. Bruce’s eyes widen.
“The year will be over in three months.” Bruce reminds the man, who looks at Bruce, unimpressed.
“I am aware. The process for accommodations is not a quick one.” The principal responds.
“What’s the point of getting accommodations if they won’t be helpful for several months?” Bruce asks. The principal raises an eyebrow.
“So do you want me to start on the paperwork or not? I am a busy man.” The principal smirks. Bruce closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to ground himself.
“Yes, we will take the accommodations. Thanks ou for your time.” Bruce’s tone turns cold, standing up and dusting off his pants before giving Damian a glance.
“Absolutely, yes, get me out of here,” he mumbles, all but jumping out of his seat and rushing out the door. Bruce give his farewells to the receptionist before speedwalking out of the school.
“We have to wait nearly 45 minutes just to talk to him, and he barely even gives up what we want, only relenting after we all but fight him on it, and then he tells us that they won’t be put in place until almost after the school year ends?” Bruce frustratedly rants, opening the door to the car much more aggressively then he needed to.
“It’s idiotic, I know. You should just pull me out of school and homeschool me again.” Damian replies. Bruce lets out a breathy laugh at that.
“Nice try, bud, not this time. Let’s get food before we go home, yeah?” Bruce looks to the side, where Damian sits in the passenger seat. Damian nods, leaning against the window tiredly. At least he’s getting food out of this awful experience.