Chapter Text
I will be unavailable for the next couple of weeks as I will be attending to family matters.
Damian sent the message and immediately locked his phone. Knowing the company he lives with, it would only be a matter of time before they see it and swarm him with questions. He would do his best to avoid the headache (at least for the time being since they’d undoubtedly eat his ear off about it as soon as they see him). It’s not like his family would be opposing. Well, it wasn't really their business. Damian also never really made the effort to correct their views on the other side of his family. So to spring up with news like this out of the blue, it would open a whole can of worms he was not ready to face.
In truth, Damian would much prefer his worlds to stay separate.
He's not embarrassed by his family, quite the contrary, he prides himself in both his parents’ names. He was an Al-Ghul before he became a Wayne, even if he’s both by blood. Still, Damian was scared. Yes, Damian Wayne who fought(and defeated) some of the worst supervillains in the history of Earth without batting an eyelash was scared. The mortification of introducing them to the extended family they had no idea about filled his body with shudders. The only person who he wasn’t concerned about with the reveal was his father, he already had a bit of a background when it came to how big the al-ghuls really were. The others though, they would never let him live it down. He had built a reputation and he knew that, well, it would come crumbling on top of his head.
He opened the envelope that had his name in elegant writing, delivered in the mail this morning and left by Alfred at a place he was sure Damian would see. He was lucky he got there first because he was sure his brothers would not keep their noses where it belonged. His peace was temporarily saved. Until everyone came to the manor for dinner and questioned/harassed him about the message he sent on the “bat-family” group chat he never used because its purpose was limited to Dick sharing memes that only Jason and Stephanie laughed at.
He takes one final look at the wedding invitation and allows his head to hit the table in frustration. The Arabic words seared into his brain from the amount of time he's read them.
He contacted his mother immediately after receiving the envelope, she seemed pleasantly surprised he called her about it instead of flat-out ignoring its existence.
Damian argued his case multiple times. ‘Mother, there could be a rogue breakout! I am needed,’ and she simply answered that there were plenty of competent people in Gotham that would do fine without his help for a week. ‘I do not know any of the people there!’ She actually scoffed at that and said this was his fault, since he never bothers to keep contact with his family and that ‘they’d ask why you aren't there, Damian. I have defended you enough. khalatak are correct, I am too soft on you.’
Apparently it was enough that he missed years of family celebrations to adjust to his new life away from the league. But league or not he had a responsibility to represent his family, even if he wouldn't inherit the family business from Ra’s al Ghul. When he said his final excuse—and it was rather stupid, he'd admit—that he couldn't possibly find plane tickets to Cairo in the short notice of two days, Talia laughed and told him to pack light comfortable clothes to accommodate Cairo's heat and didn't let him get another word in before hanging up. His mother really was the only person more stubborn than he was.
He sighed in exasperation at the thought of his mother completely disregarding his feelings on the matter. Maybe he was being a bit childish about the whole thing, it was a mere wedding after all and Talia hadn’t asked him to do anything he was against for years. Yet he had a small feeling that being a brutal assassin would be a far easier task than the awkwardness of acting like he knew Egyptian songs and entertaining his extended family, who were for sure going to be judging him to the next galaxy. He sighed, this time in resignation, and put the invitation in the drawer. It was time to pack. He had a wedding to get ready for after all.
A pin drop could be heard in the dining room. Damian busied himself with the contents of his plate, completely ignoring the curious looks he kept getting every few seconds. He was raised by the best after all, if simple pointed looks were what broke his focus, he would not deserve to hold the name he does.
Someone cleared their throat and before a word could get out Damian found himself loudly dropping his spoon and calling for Alfred.
“Yes, master Damian?”
“Pennyworth, I would like to applaud you.”
Somebody choked, Damian didn't bother to check who.
In confusion, Alfred asked “On what, Master Damian?”
“The rice. It is very well done, very…fluffy”
The choking continued, Damian hoped it was one of his brothers dying. It would create enough of a distraction for him to flee after this.
“Thank you, Master Damian” Alfred continued, as puzzled as ever.
“Yes, keep up the good work,” and to his utter horror, he gave him a thumbs up. The heir to Bruce Wayne and the entirety of the Al Ghul empire, including but not limited to the deadly League of Assassins, son of the bat, Damian Al Ghul-Wayne gave his butler a thumbs up.
Alfred gave him one last carefully neutral look before nodding and quietly retreated to the back of the room and Damian was hit with a wave of appreciation for the man. If Damian planned to live after today, he would get him a gift for sure.
“Alright,” Jason said, sounding odd. Damian guessed he was the one nearly dying a couple of minutes ago. He internally sighed, it wouldn't have been a great loss. “If no one's going to address the pink elephant in the room, I will”
“There are no elephants in the room, Todd. Are you sure you're not seeing things again?”
“Oh really? Because from where I am sitting I can see a bright pink stabby elephant,” he pulled out his phone, “there is also this!”
“Yeah, dude. What's that about? You can't just announce something like this without any context and then mute the group chat,” Tim added.
Dear heavens above grant me patience, Damian prayed.
“I have a family…matter where my presence is needed. I sent a message to inform you about it. I will be departing Friday.”
“Damian, hellooo,” Jason waved his hand around. “Your family are in this room”
“No, they are not,” Damian protested “You are only part of my family,”
“AL-GHULS? You mean to tell me you’re spending the next couple of weeks with the Al-Ghuls?” Tim yelled in indignation.
The knife beside Damian's plate looked particularly shiny. He would not have to have this conversation nor will he be present to face his khaltos (maternal aunts) and khalos (maternal uncles) if it was lodged in his neck. A win-win situation if you ask him.
“Damian, please elaborate,” came his father's deep voice at last, silencing Timothy and Jason's inarticulate chatter and protest.
Cass placed a light hand on his shoulder, encouraging him.
He had no idea why he was nervous about discussing this, it was only a family wedding! Throughout the years he lived with his father, he took it upon himself to present the Wayne name in good faith. That meant to keep the bloodshed to a minimum and the press-smile to the full. He would spot the press cameras in his sleep at this point and he would rather die than allow them to take one bad photo of him. Having that big number of people in his family helped keep him out of the spotlight whenever he liked, he was never fond of it and they knew it. But he was a Wayne, the spotlight should come natural to him.
So it was utterly ridiculous for his nerves to be acting up like this.
He sighed “The matter is a wedding. One of my long distance cousins is getting married to the son of a family friend and my presence is required as the grandson of Ra’s Al Ghul and son of Talia Al Ghul. I have neglected my duties towards my family long enough.”
“Okay, can everyone who did not know about Talia’s siblings and Dami’s cousins raise their hands,” Jason said, stupidly raising his hand.
“Tch, stop being an idiot. My mother has no siblings”
“Anymore,” someone whispered. Damian ignored them.
“Okay, I'm lost”
“Direct siblings, Jason,” Dick provided. “They’re probably extended family. Talia’s cousins and R’as’ own siblings?,” he looked at Damian for confirmation.
Damian nodded his head in confirmation, secretly thankful for his brother even if he seemed as weirded out by the idea of his grandfather and mother having family as Jason. Now, Jason had his own history with the league of assassins, but he didn’t particularly get close enough to personally know them. He had spent most of his time training or with Talia, after all. He supposed they did a good job of concealing themselves from the outside world. The league was as old as his grandfather was alive after all, if it was only limited to the area R’as oversaw, they would have gone extinct a long time ago. Siblings and cousins, even adopted ones, along with trusted allies, integrated themselves in society over the years creating league bases in many countries.
“I am not sure I feel safe with the idea, Damian. Like we’re talking about the league of assassins’ heads here,” Dick said. “Are you sure they are being truthful with you? Maybe it's a set up for something and they're intending to trap you.”
“I agree with Dick, son. It’s not wise for you to go. You never know what the Ghuls are really planning, they’re criminals after all.” Damian fought the urge to roll his eyes at the idea of Bruce Wayne, the man working as a vigilante with a burglar as a girlfriend, telling him to beware of criminals.
Damian had to take a deep breath to remind himself that it was neither his father’s nor his brothers’ fault; they were operating with the minimal knowledge provided to them. He was not foolish enough to fall for such bait and the name on the invitation was not one that he didn't know.
“It is not a trap nor is it a set up for a league operation. I get that you do not trust my family but, at the end of the day, they are my family and I would appreciate it if you don't go around throwing baseless accusations. The wedding’s date is set and I will be going whether I have your blessing or not but I would appreciate it if you do not hinder my journey.” He got up and nodded at his father and siblings. “If that will be all.”
As soon as he left the room he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. It could've gone worse, but he was glad it was out of the way.
Back in his room, he stood with an array of clothes scattered on his bed. Alfred the cat sat leisurely on top of the bed frame, licking his palm and peering down on him. He got the slight feeling he was judging him.
He would not be staying more than two weeks so he didn't feel the need to overpack. He had a feeling his mother was arranging his stay down to the smallest detail anyway and what he missed he could buy. Should he bring his text books along? Would he have a single second of time for himself to even open them? He hadn't been to a wedding in a long time but if his memory serves him right, they were always busy. His books would probably never see the light outside his bag. He put them in anyway.
He eyed his art supplies before settling on only his sketchbook and a couple of pencils in a small pencil case then had to actively hold himself back from the bookshelf at the corner of his bed, but it was calling to him. He averted his eyes back to the mess on his bed. They would only be dead weight and you already have many things to keep you entertained, he tried to convince himself, you can always read whatever you want on your tablet.
“Where the hell is..” he murmurs, looking for the extensive three-page list he wrote in case he had to leave his pets for more than a couple of days in the care of his family, he makes sure to text a couple of his friends to come check on them every two days or so as well. For all he knows, the villain of the week may distract them all from, god forbid, feeding the batcow on time.
A light knocking on the door followed by his fathers face took him out of his packing-induced daze.
“Damian, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, father. Do come in,” he responded.
Bruce sat on the chair of Damian’s study desk and gestured for Damian to take a seat. He pushed back his clothes and sat at the edge of bed, facing his father.
“Cass and Dick encouraged me to think about your request,” his father started. Damian held back a scoff. He thought that he made it quite clear it was not a request but a statement. He decided not to push his luck however, Bruce could be as stubborn as Talia sometimes. “And I've given it thought seeing how much you wanted to go, so I decided to allow you to go to your family wedding-”
“Thank you, father”
Bruce held up his hand, “Under one condition.”
Damian gave him a look of confusion. “You will be taking one of your siblings along,” Bruce said and when Damian made a noise in protest, he added, “just for caution, son.”
“Father, I do not appreciate the mistrust.”
“It's not mistrust in you, Damian”
“I am aware, I still do not appreciate it. My mother would never do anything to risk my safety.”
“I know, but the faith you have in your mother shouldn't extend to the family of hers, son. They’re dangerous people, Damian”
“They aren’t a danger to me. They are my family,” He shrugged “Besides, I can handle myself just fine.”
If Bruce was affronted by his son defending his criminal empire of a family so vehemently he never showed it. “The decision is final, Damian, think it through.”
“I could take Maya,” he suddenly said. Now he didn't remember where Maya said she was last but he had no doubt she would immediately agree to tag along if it meant saving him this predicament. He also gets to spend more time with his friend, the pros outweigh the cons if you ask him.
“Unfortunately, Maya wouldn't do in this case only your siblings,” His father replied, and before he could object, Bruce added “and I know you consider Maya a sister, but by ‘siblings’ I mean my children,” he stood up and went by the door. “If you don't like my condition then I would prefer it if you don't go at all.”
“You cannot stop me and you know that. I am visiting my family and I will not be bringing any of your knobheaded children along, they will be a disgrace.”
“You happen to like those children,” Bruce replied.
Damian scoffed but he didn’t deny it.
“Oh and Damian,” his father called from the doorway. “Send my regards to your mother.”
Bruce left Damian gaping in his wake.
“Send regards to my mother?,” Damian hissed and threw his hands in exasperation. He then put his head in his hands and let out a groan. “This moronic, foolish, ridiculous family.”
He wouldn't take any of his siblings even if his life depended on it. He would manage to sneak out. Curse the luggage, he could do with light packing. Maybe he could poison them? Or paralyze them all with a dosage of aconite that would keep them immobile until he left. He chuckled to himself. Great. He wasn't even at the wedding yet and he was already getting homicidal thoughts.
Who was he kidding? He was blessed to have the two most obstinate people in the world as his parents.
Alfred (the cat) meowed in consolation and came to snuggle into Damian's stomach. Damian gently picked him up until he was eye-level. “You and your siblings are the only ones who've got me in this world, Alfred.” He said solemnly and hugged the cat closer to his chest, sighing in resignation.