Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Damian will never admit that he, Damian Al Ghoul Wayne, the blood son, the heir to the demon head, the heir to Bruce Wayne aka THE Batman.

Is probably the most jumpy and most paranoid person known to man. 

In the league, of course Damian was always on his feet, there was never a dull moment that he shouldn't be suspicious around his surroundings.

Shadows. 

Creaks. 

Footsteps. 

Hand gestures. 

Even breathing. 

Damian had to learn that everything around him is his enemy in some way shape or form, it’s not only that, even the slightest touch or breeze in the league is considered a threat. Everything to Damian is a fight response, everything to him is considered a threat. 

Damian hates that, he shouldn't be so jumpy and so paranoid. That makes him a liability, makes him look and feel weak, it’s a flaw that even after getting sent to Gotham, Father reassures him that he’s now safe. But,

To his body he isn’t safe. 

To his mind he isn’t safe. 

To his heart and lungs it’s a switch to start making his lungs hold his breath and make his heart stop thumping so much yet it would always fail.

Even as he screams to himself, tries so hard to create a sense of safety in his own body, trying to tell himself that it’s okay and no one will hurt him again, that father said he’s safe. 

Grayson said he’s safe. 

He still, through his mind and body, still insists he is not safe.

And with the response of him not feeling safe, he becomes this violent person that people tend to create him to be. His family, his own family, his brothers, his father. They portray him as this brat who insists that he is just doing this for pride, that the only reason he fights and bickers is because he’s too cocky, he’s too arrogant. 

But they don’t even see the full picture, maybe Damian can admit some of it is his pride and his own ego. But the majority of the time, it is truly because he feels like he is being threatened, he feels as if whatever someone is gonna say or do is gonna be attacked, that he needs to do something. 

Mother always taught him that a warrior, a prince like himself must always fight back or else he’ll fail. 

So that’s what he does.

Fight back.

Before it had worked, in the league people feared him and in return respected and dared not to try him.

In the end he protected himself in the league.

But here in Gotham?

Fighting back only causes more problems that Damian doesn’t quite understand, he did what his mother taught him? He’s doing what Father says when someone is threatening or making him feel uncomfortable or scared. 

So why does he get punished, get scolded, ridiculed, or get mocked for. 

Why do they see him as a violent person when he was just trying to do what everyone was teaching him. 

Do they really see him as such a violent person?

Because in Damian’s mind, 

He’s just trying to protect himself, he never intends to be violent on purpose.

He just wants to protect himself.

It was just a peaceful Saturday evening, Damian wasn’t on patrol today and for once he liked that idea. He wanted some peace and some alone time, and Gotham isn’t really that peaceful, especially at night. That’s why today, this evening, the sun is dimming, becoming the golden hour. Titus sat beside him and napping while Damian was preparing to paint a family portrait for his school’s art gallery.

That was just a perfect and peaceful time for Damian.

Damian was elected by the school and even by the art club (that he won’t admit but even his own family can’t make him feel, he can really be himself and step out of his comfort zone.) He promised his fellow clubmates that he won’t let them down. Of course they all gave him encouragement and by the look of Damian’s eyes, 

You can tell he was excited. 

And that was yesterday when all of that happened, he didn’t want to tell his family yet because he wanted it to be a gift, to create this big portrait using different mediums like oil paints and a bit of charcoal and ink to give off the realistic yet memorizing piece. His reference is a photo that was taken before he joined the family almost a year ago, it was a big family picture that included everyone. 

And when he means everyone. 

He means everyone. 

Todd for once was smiling and ruffling Drake’s hair, Grayson was next to Gordon holding hands and putting up the peace sign with his usual golden boy smile, Brown was next to Cass on the floor sitting together, Brown having their big cheeky smile as usual. Thomas was next to Father and Pennyworth, Thomas looked so happy since this picture was taken as a welcome gift for Thomas (Which to Damian while he won’t admit was a bit jealous and envied that, since everyone welcomed him was confusion and a bit of fear.) Father looked surprisingly relaxed and actually happy, and Pennyworth was giving a good smile that Damian knew was a genuine smile. 

This portrait showed everyone, everyone that Damian considered his family. Sure he may bicker and such but, this was his family…

He cherishes this family. 

If ever he had to separate or anything that had to do with him getting removed or never seeing them again would be the day he considers the worst day ever. 

Because…

He does love them.

He may not show through words but through his actions.

And hopefully this portrait will show that he loves them deeply. 

As Damian was continuing the sketch, creating the shapes and laying out the format using dimensions and lines to be precise, getting more done than an average person can get done in just two hours, he heard a creak of his door opening. 

Instantly Damian looked over his shoulder to see Drake. 

Drake was holding his usual black coffee, wearing his red hoodie and checkered black and red pajama pants. Drake peaked over and went next to Damaian, examining the big canvas in front of them. 

“Woah brat, this is a bigger painting than what you usually do, for once you’re using your talent for good use.” Drake said, his tone surprisingly genuine, Damian scoffed and glanced up at his older brother and gave him an annoying glare. “Yes Drake, because unlike you I like to challenge my talents. Something you clearly don’t have.” 

Drake rolled his eyes at this response as he looked down at Damian. “I do have talent, and that’s why B let me be the CEO, unlike you.”  

“You are a charity case at most, that is why Father allowed you to be the CEO of W.E.” 

“And you think you aren’t? Look around brat you’re the only one who was dumped on us.” Tim snapped back, he quickly felt a guilt rushing through his body as he looked at Damian who just colder his glare. 

“At least I didn’t beg to be here Drake, look at you.” Damian quickly retorted back to Tim, who felt bad at first and now didn’t, glared as he tightened his grip on his coffee more.

“Jesus Damian, you can’t go even one god damn day without sparking an argument, no wonder this is why everyone thinks you're so cocky?!” 

“You’re the one who always insists with your snarky and obviously ambiguous behavior, and always seems to have a comment. Did you lose brain cells along with your spleen, or are you just that sad of a person that the only love you can get is only when you put yourself in danger?” 

Drake glared, his anger was seething as his grip on his coffee tightened more, as he took a breath and tried to calm down Titus woke up from his nap and barked. Something that Titus tends to do, alarming and announcing to basically the whole world that he has awoken from his slumber. 

With that both boys got startled but Drake with his coffee jumped and spilled the coffee,

Onto Damian’s piece.

Damian and Drake stared, with Drake looking absolutely guilty, no not even, feeling horrible. 

Sure he isn’t a visual artist like Damian, but he knows what it’s like when one of the pieces you have been working for so long had been ruined. 

The coffee dripped on the canvas to the floor, and Damian stared. 

He stared at the piece that took him two hours just to lay out, to get the line are starting, it took him two hours. 

Two hours of the work to show his family he loved. 

Two hours.

Now wasted. 

Damian looked at Drake, he Isn’t one for showing emotions but Drake can see the tears welling in his eyes, fighting to stay in his eyes. Damian stood and pushed Drake. 

“You absolute Idiot look what you done?! That took me two hours to finally get everything laid out and everything?! God Drake I wish it was you who got lost in the timestream because then people would have given up on you right away?!” Damian said as a bit of tears streamed down, how is he gonna show his love for his family now?

Damian knew he didn’t mean those words, but that took him two hours, just once can he just look at something HE made and be proud of it? He just wants to be proud of something he made and express the love for his family through that.

As Damian shoved the stool he was sitting and made a dash for the door, Drake was already behind him. “Br- Damian?! Wait I’m so so sorry?! I didn’t mean too?! Titus scared me and-”

“I don’t wanna hear it Drake?!You ruined my art, and I bet it was out of spite?! I hate you, leave me the hell alone?!” Damian said as he reached for the door.

Tim was desperate, through his eyes he was finally trying to get along with Damian. Finally for the first time in years he went through a week without Damian trying to kill him. He thought he could finally bond with Damian, bond like how a big brother and little brother would?! 

He has always dreamt about having a baby brother, and when Damian arrived he was happy, ecstatic except then that excitement crumbled down when Damian tried to kill him.

Multiple times.

But they were passed that right? Surely if he just tried to explain and get Damian to calm down then maybe just maybe all of this mess would go away. Because he never had seen Damian this upset, and upset over something that was accidental, but he knew he was at fault.

Tim tried to reach for Damian, for his shoulder.

Hoping that just maybe, he can try to calm him down.

Damian was gonna grab the door when he felt a hand about to touch him, he can feel the breeze and can feel the bearing shadow glancing on top of his shoulder.

No.

Not right now.

Damian holds his breath and his heart while trying not to speed up, sped up. 

His immediate reaction was to go for his pocket.

His pocket.

He can protect himself.

This was a threat.

This is a threat.

He’s in danger.

There is danger.

Danger. 

Danger.

DANGER- 

As Tim tried to grab onto Damian’s shoulder to stop him, he felt something stab through his abdomen, he looked down as he looked at the person who stabbed him.

Damian was huffing as he sticked the dagger more into his abdomen.

He always had past attempted kills by Damian but he never really laid a finger on him, just the kicks and remarks.

…

How could he, Tim knows what he did was wrong but-...Did Damian really despite him that much that this was the reason for him to get stabbed?

-

Damian was huffing as he realized what he had just done.

He just stabbed Drake.

No.

He just stabbed Timothy.

In the abdomen, Timothy can’t handle these types of injuries due to his lack of spleen he can easily get an infection.

Why did he think he was in danger?

It was Timothy?!

Timothy for god sakes?!

As Damian looked at his now bloody dagger in his hand, he watched as Timothy’s made a loud yelp from the pain and knelt down on the floor, Damian watched as Timothy’s clothes started to stain, since it was red it just looked more muddier with the blood. 

Damian looked horrified, he tried to reach for Timothy when someone pulled him, more like a yank. 

It was Todd.

Damian can see his family rushing in to Timothy’s side, Bruce holding the deep wound with a towel, Steph grabbing Alfred, Cass staying by Timothy’s side and Dick helping Bruce carry Timothy.

What had he done.

They all one by one as they left Damian’s room looked at him the way he wished he never had to see.

Disgust.

Anger.

Betrayal.

Horrid.

Seething.

Hurt.

Disappointment. 

And the one that hurt him the most was Grayson’s.

He looked at Damian and then looked away, as he did he spoke. “Why would you do this...I thought you changed..."

That word, that one thing that Damian so hard didn’t want to hear,

he had heard.

Todd looked at Damian with seething anger, he didn’t yell but the raw anger, the anger from his brother and from the Lazarus pit was shown in Todd’s face.

He gave Damian a cold glare as he pointed out the door. “Living room. Now. You did enough demon brat.” He spat as he shoved Damian as he walked to where the others were going.

What had he done?

---

Damian stared at his hands as he anxiously waited for his family to come back, his mind was racing with many many things. But the one he kept thinking was becoming a nagging and annoying voice, echoing through his head. 

Why did he think he was in danger?

Why did he think TIMOTHY was danger.

Why?

Why?

WHY-

“Damian.” Damian shot his head up when he looked up to see his Father standing with his whole family just looming over him, and he can see their faces. 

Thomas just came back but he looked confused yet scared a little.

Todd looked like he wanted to just rip Damian's head off, Damian can see the lazuras pit glimmering in his eyes.

Cassandra was behind Todd, making sure he wasn’t gonna attack Damian, by the looks of it she just looked disappointed. 

Brown on the other hand, she was seething with anger and disgust. I mean how can she not? Timothy is her best friend. 

Grayson…

Grayson looked absolutely hurt and angry, the cold kind angry that sent chills down Damian’s spine.

But worse of all Father looked like he regretted something.

Damian was conflicted on what he was regretting, his tone and body language was hard to read, only Cassandra would have known what he regretted.

“Why.” Was all that Father can make out.

Damian stared down and Todd scoffed and spat out as he slammed the bookshelf, making Damian flinch. “He asked you a question, brat?! Answer the goddamn que-”

“Jason.” Grayson quickly snapped as Todd stopped and gritted his teeth, Damian looked up and prepared himself to present his side towards his family. 

“I…Father it was merely an accident, me and Drake where just arguing and Titus had awoken and barked. Drake spilled coffee on my canvas an-”

“So this is all because he spilled something? Something that he couldn’t control?” Bruce said, was a bit of disbelief. 

No.

“Father no- I mean…Well- It was merely because he uh…I was angry but I was also-”

“You stabbed him.” Grayson chimed in.

No.

No not Grayson, anyone but Grayson.

“You stabbed him, not a jab but a deep wound stab that hit his kidney, another vital organ Damian do you understand how much you have done to Tim?” Grayson said, starting to raise his voice, Damian quickly interject. 

“G..Grayson it wasn’t like that again I merely was angry and I tried to go away but Drake held my shoulder and-”

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND DAMIAN.” Grayson yelled, projecting his voice. 

If there was one thing Damian fears (Which he barely has fears, totally.) Was Grayson getting mad or upset with. 

Getting disappointed with him.

He gave Damian a second chance.

He gave Damian a chance to redeem himself.

He gave Damian the chance to be himself.

Damian stared as Grayson stepped forward. “We thought you changed.”

“Clearly he didn’t dickbird.” Todd chimed in. “You stoop so low over what, a hand on the shoulder and a stupid art piece that was fucking ruined? You’re 10 Damian, most fucking ten year olds know fucking better than to stab their own god damn brother?!”

“He’s definitely not your average 10 year old.” Brown said with a distasteful spat in her tone. 

Damian stared as he tried his best to keep the tears that where welling up inside his tear ducts, he stood up and looked at all of them. “I- No?! It wasn’t like that I thought- i thought that-”

“Stop, just stop.” Father said, his voice looming over Damian’s entire body, he quickly stiffened and looked up at Father.

He finally knew what Father regretted.

“I regret taking you in, knowing you would hurt my family.” 

No.

No no no…

Please.

Take it back…

Take it back?! 

Damian’s eyes widen, usually someone would interject or protect him but no one.

No one wanted to protect a monster like him.

“Go to your room, and stay there. I am permanently taking Robin away, not to leave your room. Not even for walking Titus out, Alfred will give you your breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” Bruce said, with Damian’s eyes widened.

Robin was given by Grayson.

Robin was the one thing he loved so much.

He can atone for his sins, and help those in need.

Robin was his way to being free.

“Fat-”

“Don’t, to your room now.”

“No I- please I was just trying to protect-”

Todd scoffed. “Protect? As far as we all know, the only thing to protect is Tim from you. You heard Bruce, get out and go to your fucking room.”

Damian stared,

His family.

No.

It’s not his family, not anymore.

His family doesn’t see him as one,

and…

They don’t see him as the person who tried to change so much. 

Damian’s eyes welled as he quickly nodded and stream to his room, with finally no one looking as tears poured down his face. He quickly locked himself in his room as he started to sob, sob so hard that he couldn’t even breathe.

He wasn’t trying to be violent. 

He wasn’t…

He was just trying to protect himself, that’s what he wanted to say.

He wanted to protect himself from the dangers his body and mind thought where.

Chapter Text

Timothy was no stranger to being stabbed, no stranger to being absolutely betrayed, and no stranger to life threatening stab wounds that hit your vital organs. 

What he was a stranger to was,

His own brother doing all three.  

His own baby brother did all three.

Tim woke up groggy, he felt a splitting headache and felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, he held it quickly, trying to feel and relieve the sharp and now repeating pain scourging through his body. As he tried to sit up, a gentle hand pushed him down gently with pillows prompting behind his back. 

“Easy there son, we don’t want those stitches to come undone.” Bruce said with Jason chiming in. 

“Ya or else Alfred will have your head, for real.” Jason said with a smirk, but knowing Jason. He was just saying that only because he was masking his worries.

Tim groaned and rolled his eyes, he looked over to see Dick just by his side, Duke just waiting a bit anxiously and Cass with Steph just sitting next to each other looking at Tim. 

“What happened…? God it feels like I got ran over by a truck-...Literally.” Tim said, holding his head, trying to shield the big fluorescent lights from the medbay. He looked at everyone, and their eyes just seemed…

Angry.

Protective but angry eyes. 

“Damian stabbed you.” Bruce spat out, Tim had to take a second before remembering it all.

Right.

Damian stabbed Tim.

He stabbed him.

From an accident he didn’t mean to make.

“...Where is h-”

“In his room, probably being the bitch he is and probably getting angry that we’re right and he’s wrong, under house arrest and not even to leave to take Titus out.” Jason said with Steph nodding.

“B, why do we even keep him around when he literally is a threat to all of us?! Like- ya I know Jason has done bad shit but he learned?! Damian is always too prideful and too cocky, and when we TRY to forgive him HE DOES IT AGAIN?!” Steph added with Jason nodding, Tim didn’t really know what to say.

He doesn’t know whether or not he should feel absolutely fucking angry at the brat or to feel betrayed by him. He thought they were finally getting along but maybe…

Maybe it had been just the brat playing tricks on him. 

“He could go on a rampage Steph, you know this. Until then, we keep him here.” Bruce said with an unusual dark and cold tone, Dick sighed and put his hands on his face. 

“I really thought he had changed…I really did…” Dick said with disappointment. 

“Oh please Dickwad, wake up and realize the brat was just fucking playing with us?! First he gets mad over a stupid mistake that Tim made, and then he starts playing the “I was just trying to protect” or some type of bullshit.” Jason said. “Like protect what? The only thing being protected is Tim from that demon.” Jason spat out and looked at Tim.

Wait.

Protect?

“What do you mean protect?” Tim asked, Jason just shrugged and continued. “I don’t know, he was saying he was protecting something but Bruce just sent him to his room.” Jason said.

Tim felt weird or maybe unease, whatever it was he had a gut feeling that maybe there is something that they might be leaving out, 

Had they even asked Damian yet?

“Wait, did you guys not even check on Damian or something?! Like, did you guys not ask what he was trying to protect?” Tim asked, now prompting up, Dick held his shoulder. “Tim be careful you almost lost a kid-”

“Shut up Dick and listen, did you guys not hear him out fully?” Tim asked, the room went silent and Duke spoke up. 

“Well, we did but he was nervous and well I mean who wouldn’t be after trying to kill someone…But, we didn’t get the chance to hear what he was trying to protect.” Duke said, Tim groaned.

God this family is so horrible at actually hearing eachother out it’s insane. Tim sighed, and leaned back to his pillow as his family just started to talk to each other. 

Whatever, right? This isn’t Tim’s problem anymore. 

Damian did this to himself.

He did this to himself, he hurt Tim.

He was just playing them all.

It’s his fault.

Right?

–

Tim was back at his room two days later, just now thinking about the whole ordeal.

It was the brat’s fault for basically almost killing him, sure. Yes that it was Tim’s fault for spilling coffee all over his canvas, but it wasn’t on purpose. 

So why the hell did he get so mad to the point that he should try to kill Tim? 

It made no sense whatsoever to Tim and his mind, and it was driving him insane. Like actually insane. None of the family is even trying to talk to Damian, and the worst part is that he couldn’t even figure out what any of them meant when Damian said “He was trying to protect.” Protect what? His canvas? Titus? 

Like why the hell would he go for the dog?! 

What the hell was he trying to protect?

Tim pondered and pondered which seemed to be going on for hours until finally, with knowing how little his patience is going to be and how much he will probably regret. And most likely he might actually die this time, 

He has to talk to Damian. 

Tim groaned, this was going to be a disaster unless he can play his cards right. 

Tim got up slowly, being careful with his stitches, he put on his Nightwing hoodie and slipped into his bunny slippers from Zatanna (which Tim will say it’s the best slippers ever.) And started walking to Damian’s room, it was roughly around night time and so everyone was out on patrol. 

Meaning no one can fight Tim on this.

Also meaning, if Tim dies from this, 

It was entirely from HIS OWN stupidity. 

Tim sighed, taking a deep breath and knocked on the door, he waited and waited before he just said fuck it and tried to open the door. Surprisingly the door wasn’t locked, but most likely the reason for this was that Alfred, from Tim’s knowledge, was bringing Damian food and forgot to lock the door. 

Tim took a mental deep breath before walking into his room quietly. He had never been in Damian’s room during or at night before, so it was sorta a new experience, but his room, which was usually neat and clean…

It was a mess. 

The food that Alfred brings him was in the trash, only looked half eaten, there where pillows on the floor, the place where Tim was bleeding out was covered by a light blanket, Tim cringed at that, remembering what happened two days ago. 

Then he looked up to seeing the once big canvas on the easel now on the floor.

Ripped up.

He was a bit shocked and moved closer to the ripped up canvas, it was ripped, shredded, jabbed and water thrown to the canvas. As he kept looking around he noticed a picture laying on the floor, he picked it up and was about to turn it over when he heard a hic and sobbing type of sound, he looked up and saw Damian.

He was curled up in a bunch of blankets into a fetal position, he was shaking and from what Tim can point out…

Crying? 

Was Damian crying?

Tim, knowing what happened instead of reaching out for his shoulder, spoke up. “Damian?”

Damian jolted up immediately and quickly held his blanket quickly, he didn’t even turned over and just held his blanket tight. “I did- I…I’m sorry I’m so so sorry…T-Timothy I wasn’t…I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m so so sorry…” 

Oh my god.

Damian was in hysterics, he was sobbing and crying and shaking, rambling and rambling on and on saying he was sorry.

Tim took a step closer and tried to reach out for Damian’s shoulder when he noticed the boy just flinching hard.

No.

Tim didn’t want to confirm his theory yet, but sat next to Damian, who still wouldn’t look at Tim. “Hey hey…I can’t understand you, you need to take a breath before you start passing out…” Tim said, and after a bit Damian nodded and he could see Damian’s body stop shaking as much. Tim sighed and started again. “Everyone thinks you tried to kill me out of spite because of the whole incident…I feel the same way and I’m gonna be honest I’m still fucking angry and betrayed at and by you, but they mentioned you saying you were trying to protect something…And this whole situation can’t get better unless you tell me what is it you’re trying to protect. If it was Titus then dude you must be insane to think I would hurt the best dog in the world, if it’s your canvas a little bit understandable but it still doesn’t give you the fucking right to trying to kill me?!” Tim said as his voice started to raise a bit, getting a bit more emotional now. 

“I thought we where finally past the whole fucking trying to kill me, but if you are that hateful against me then-”

“NO?!” Damian shot up and yelped, Tim was taken back, seeing Damian’s face was puffy and red, his eyes glossing as tears streamed down his face. Damian quickly covered his mouth and tried his best to not shake. 

Tim was confused and spoke up. “No…? What do you mean no?”

Damian looked away and then uncovered his mouth. 

“...I don’t hate you Timothy…I wasn’t protecting Titus…He is highly capable of protecting himself.” 

“True he would definitely bite.” Tim retorted back.

“..A-And it wasn’t the art…I know it was an accident, one you never had control over of…” Damian said as his voice started to shake and his body started to tremble. 

“Then what Damian, spit it out alrea-”

“I was trying to protect myself?!” Damian finally blurted out.

No.

Damian continued as Tim’s eyes were filled with shock. “I…I was raised t-that everything around me…E-Every touch and every s-single breeze is my enemy…T-That they would kill me…I…Y-You touched my shoulder…”

“I did touch your shoulder…? But what does that have to do with-”

“I-It made me think I was in danger…I thought…My mind and body suddenly thought I was in danger?! Why did I thinkI was in danger?! I thought I was. I thought you’re gonna kill me if you touched me?! WHY DID I THINK I WAS IN DANGER?! YOU’RE MY BROTHER I TRULY DO LOVE YOU AS A BROTHER WHY DID I THINK YOU WERE GONNA KILL ME?! WHY DID I-” 

As Damian was gonna say more, Tim grabbed Damian into a hug and quickly rubbed his back, soothing him and holding him tight. “I’m so sorry Baby bat…I’m so sorry…”

No…

No no no…

Why was he so stupid, why where they so stupid to see that Damian was still so fucking traumatized?! 

“Y-Your…Why…I uh- it’s m-my fault I didn’t-” Tim’s heart was breaking as Damian kept trying to speak but his voice was breaking as tears started to wet Tim’s hoodie.

“No no no…That’s…We call that a fight or flight response…It means that while you don’t know it, your body automatically believes you're in danger…And without thinking it tries to protect itself…You didn’t do anything wrong Baby bat…”

“But…E-Everyone else-”

“They suck Damian?! They are just-...They have good intentions but what they did, how they responded with this whole mess is wrong…You…You’re just a kid whose trying their hardest okay…?”

“F-Father said he regretted taking me in, Todd thinks I’m a monster, G-Grayson…He…Everyone hates me…Please…Please say you don’t hate me too…”

That was the boiling point.

No fucking way Bruce said that. 

OH HELL NO.

Tim was about to stand up and call everyone back, but Damian held onto Tim tight. Now that Tim looked down he can see how much this affected Damian, this kid.

He’s only 10.

He recently just got out of an abusive place, he was just out of a freaking assassination cult that traumatized him since birth. Not only that, probably all of the ways they talked to him probably made him go back into his mindset that everything he’s doing is wrong. That he’s gonna get punished. 

What was wrong with everyone?! 

Tim looked at Damian, seeing the way this poor guy who was crying his heart out as he held onto Tim, repeating the words “I’m sorry” Over and over again was breaking his heart.

Tim knew right then and there,

He’s going to absolutely going to go feral on these people who fucking destroyed the definition of family for his baby brother. 

Chapter Text

Duke always knew that this family was never the “Talk it out.” Family, well maybe except Dick, Dick always knew how to get the family to talk it out. 

Jason would say punch out your feelings, or not say anything.

Steph is- well she won’t say anything until you push her to talk about it or ask.

Cass is blunt, she will sign that she’s not okay, but still doesn’t fully say what’s wrong. 

Tim isn’t even the talk it out guy and let’s it all bubble up.

And Damian? Well he is also the one to not say anything, thinks emotions are a liability, and then say his emotions don’t count.

…

Duke wonders if he is the only sane one in the family.

Duke also knew that this whole situation with Damian was going a bit too far in his opinion (by a bit, he meant way too far.), sure yes that Damian shouldn’t have actually stabbed Tim in the abdomen, and yes his reasoning was highly odd and suspicious. But locking him up in his room and treating him like a criminal is something that is way too far even for Bruce?!

And not only that, 

Damian looked scared. He looked defeated and he looked terrified when Dick started to talk, like he dreaded the fact Dick started to talk. And Duke couldn’t tell if Damian was actually holding in tears or if he was trying his best not to yell or defend himself? He also realized for the first time, no one tried to even take a greater look into this situation, Duke was no better and he knows that he didn’t take part in trying to look into the situation. But that all changed when Tim questioned what Damian meant by “Protect”, and Duke knew it wasn’t him protecting his art, because if it was Damian would’ve (and if Damian won’t admit, he very much rants 24/7 about his art without knowing.) been very much overprotective of his art, and it would have been the first thing he would start his argument on. 

But he didn’t, and he also knows that if it was his art then Damian would have just stormed off and cooled off before starting again. 

It wasn’t any of his animals, because then everyone would have known something happened to any of the pets right away, and again, 

Damian is very protective over his animals and would have been the first thing he would argue about.

Duke was going to investigate more when Tim called a meeting,

A family meeting. 

Knowing Tim and knowing his whole ordeal calling a family meeting meant,

This was serious. 

And Duke knows that most definitely it had to do with Damian. 

–

“Okay Timbers, why the hell did you call a family meeting, and why are you up? You should be-”

Tim gave Jason a cold stare and interrupted him. “What did you say to him?” Tim spat out, not even allowing Jason to talk, which was a shocker, literally. 

Everyone went silent, Duke knew automatically though he was talking about Damian. 

Jason gave an annoyed look and crossed his arms. “Okay first off, the fuck Tim let me finish my fucking sentence assface. Second, who? There are a lot of people who I say shit to, and I have a big list. So maybe use some fucking common sense and be specif-”

“Damian.”

Jason stared, he stared at Dick who was surprised and confused, Bruce was a bit surprised and yet Steph rolled her eyes at the name. “The brat? First off why the fuck do you care, you don’t even like him. And why would I care to even remember what I say to him?”

“Is calling him a monster and saying the only person that needs protecting is me from him? A monster like him?” 

Jason stared. How does he know that? 

As Damian went upstairs, Jason snarked. “Protecting, tch. The only fucking thing we have to protect is Tim from a monster like him. Fucking brat.” 

Tim continued and glared at Bruce. “Oh I know what would jog your memories, is saying you regret taking him to the family jogging your memory?” Tim stepped forward at Bruce and then looked at Dick. “Is saying that you thought he could change jog your memory, Richard? Or! Stephanie, is saying he’s not like any other 10 year old? Also asking why he’s still here jogging your memory?”

Tim looked at everyone. “Do you all have no common sense whatsoever? Is for some reason instead of I don’t know getting his full side of the story and actually looking into the situation instead of treating him like a criminal was something that you all threw over your roof? Because for some reason I find this so hard to believe that you all are the people you swore to say that gives second chances?”

Jason stood up and glared. “You don’t know what the fuck happened Tim, he fucking stabbed you? And we gave him so many fucking chances, you don’t know what the fuck your talking about?!” 

“Not only that but Tim…He stabbed you, and he didn’t even apologize or anything.” Dick continued and Steph nodded and scoffed. “Tim, you don’t even like the kid, let alone love him as your brother, the hell? Why do you bother?” Steph said, adding on and Jason giving him the look of: Exactly my point. 

Duke stared at his family, Bruce hasn’t said anything but he looked like he was agreeing. Duke groaned quietly, knowing this,

This is not gonna end well and he knows for a fact they all are digging up their own graves.

Duke stared at Tim, who was at his boiling point and slammed the wall, making a dent in the wall. Sorry Alfred. 

“I’m sorry? I’m so FUCKING sorry, are my ears not working? Am I getting the impression THAT YOU JUST ASKED ME WHY AM I EVEN BOTHERING? Ho- Oh my gosh.” Tim laughed and put his hand and ran through his hair. “I think I have lost it, I generally think I have los- ho- oh my…ARE YOU ALL OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS?!” Tim finally yelled, leaving everyone shocked, Tim grunted a bit holding his abdomen.

“Tim…Calm down you might rupture your stitch-” Dick tried to reach for Tim but he swatted his hand away. 

“No?! You don’t- Damian trusted ALL of you?! Do you guys even know he wasn’t eating for two days straight? Not even drinking water, he was severely dehydrated when I checked on him?!”

Jason eye’s shot up. “You checked on him?! He could’ve killed you what the fuck where you th-”

“JASON JESUS CHRIST SHUT UP, CAN YOUR COMMENTS JUST DIE OUT, YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS TO DIE SO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS DIE OUT TOO..” Tim snapped. Jason looked astonished, and everyone stared.“First off, and everyone shut up and listen when I said Damian wasn’t trying to kill me. You all are detectives, you all should have already known and picked up about cute stress responses or hyperarousal, you guys already know about PTSD, you all know that?! But yet when it comes to Damian it’s like you all throw it away and just portray him as a violent fucking dog thats just bites with an ego?! WHICH! Brings me to another point.” Tim said as he ran his hands over his face and glared. 

“His response was due to MY actions, MINE?! I made him feel he was unsafe, yes I know he shouldn’t have stabbed me. Very much fucking common sense no one wants to be stabbed, but his reason for that was because he felt threatened. Scared, his reaction was due to me TRIGGERING his reaction, TRIGGERING his fight response, TRIGGERING his survival skills…” Tim took a deep breath “I tried to grab his shoulder, I spilled coffee on his canvas, and he tried to storm off. I felt horrible, and I wanted to actually talk it out so I tried to grab his shoulder. That response made him think he was back in the league. My actions made him believe he was gonna get killed if he didn’t do something. And that should say something, that should say we never actually tried to pay more attention to him?! That should say we never actually consider his emotions. His fucking trauma, you guys never did with me? Always calling me Jason, always trying to be overbearing and never consider my emotions and didn’t even try to believe that Bruce was stuck in the timeline. Is this some sort of a recurring response? A recurring loop?” 

Tim glared at the family he once thought was a family he could trust. “You all fucking think what you did justified me? But in reality, you destroyed the idea of family to Damian? You wanna know what his state is right now? He’s right now can’t even eat because he thinks he’s a monster, he can’t stop shaking like crazy and even refuses to drink water. I had to literally FORCE him to drink water, and yet he still cries. Those tears,

The tears YOU all created never stop flowing. 

He’s scared, worse of all HE THINKS WE ALL HATE HIM. I didn’t like him at first, obviously because the kid tried to kill me. But Jason- you have too and you’re right now being a hypocrite. Saying he shouldn’t be here, YOU TRIED TO KILL MY WHOLE TEAM… “ Tim yelled, Dick was covering his mouth and quickly tried to say something. 

“We didn’t mean to we were just try-”

“Like how he tried to explain to you all why he felt the need to protect himself?”

“Tim you kn-”

“NO RICHARD. No… I don’t, because from what I’m seeing. I’ll be even surprised Damian would have so much as to not even flinch anymore at most after this. And that’s the bare minimum.” Tim said as he grunted a bit before grabbing his hoodie and began to walk away.

“You destroyed the aspect of family to Damian, made him think that protecting himself is a crime. His trust in you guys. And quite frankly,” Tim trailed as he grabbed a photo out of his pocket, and Duke was shocked.

The family picture, just a few months before Damian joined the family. 

It was Duke’s welcome gift.

He had the original, and he always kept the copy just in case.

He didn’t know how or when Tim got the copy, but all he knew was that, just like that;

Tim ripped the piece up.

He looked at them and threw it at them and gave them a cold stare. “Damian might not be able to do that, but I will do it for him.” He said as he walked away, everyone stared in silence. 

They all just looked at each other with shame, shock, guilty, but they all had the same thought.

What have they done.

–

Tim was going back to his room when Duke ran up and huffed, Tim sighed and looked over and saw that Duke was tearing up.

Why was Duke tearing up?

“Duke- look listen I’m-”

Duke interrupted with wiping his tears and huffed. “You’re right.”

Tim was shocked and blinked. “W..Wha-”

“You’re right…What they did was horrible, absolutely horrible. Me and Cass while we didn’t say anything it still counts as being part of the issue…I know whatever I say now might not-...Or ever will be forgiven it’s just…Damian is a brother- no. He is my little brother, whether he might not think it now or ever…To me, he will always be my little brother and I wish I could have stood up to him and actually gone deeper into the situation more…”

Tim was shocked, but also a bit proud if he was honest.

Duke was more of the “Follow the leader” type, always just following whatever the adults or what Bruce says. So seeing him take a path that makes him choose what he thinks is right makes Tim feel proud, to the point he didn’t even realize that one he almost just passed out and Duke had his arms both on Tim’s shoulders.

And two, Damian was hugging Tim behind and looking at Duke.

Tim can feel Damian shaking but for once Damian looked a bit calmed, and relaxed. 

Damian stared and then he quietly, while not even above a whisper said. “Thank you…Y-...You are like a brother to me too…Duke…” Damian said.

Tim smiled and ruffled Damian’s hair a bit, and Duke, who was tearing up more, smiled gently and nodded. Wiping his tears and chuckling a little, “Ya…Me too…” 

Tim knew that it was going to take a while and A BUNCH OF TIME for Damian to warm up, but this,

This was a good start.

Chapter Text

Dick: Dick apologizing was more easier, though the way Dick and Damian started to work things out was after Dick burnt himself with water and Damian trying to help out but started having a panic attack. The reason? He was scared that he might hurt Dick or he might make Dick more "Angry" (Which ofc wasn't the case.) And that led to Damian crawling near a corner and started having a panic attack. Dick though, stayed with Damian and helped Damian to calm down, afterwards he explained to Damian how much he felt guilty about what he said, and that in the end though he was glad to see how much Damian improved and changed in so many ways. He knows it won't fix what they use to have, and he explained that to Damian and Damian agreed about how stuff won't go back to how it use to be, but he was willing to at least give it a shot.

Jason: See now with Jason, it was more of Jason avoiding Damian at first but during patrol, some goons got the better of Jason when he wasn't paying attention and Damian helped him out, basically in the end Jason asked why Damian helped him out after everything. Damian admitted that ya he was still and very much still is scared of Jason, he is family even if to them he's not family and family look out for eachother no matter what. This made Jason emotional, and he explained that what he did by jumping to conclusions and immediately cursing and insulting him and creating an unsafe environment was wrong in so many ways. He propose that they take things slow and slowly at Damian's own pace work on their relationship and Damian felt happy about this and agreed. 

Cass and Alfred: No one informed Alfred about anything really, they told him that he was confined to staying in his room and not creating small talk with him, only giving him food and locking the door. Alfred knew something was wrong, he knew what happened with Tim and him being stabbed but no one informed who did it, but just said it had to with Damian being at fault. No one said anything, and when Alfred finally got the information he needed, he was beyond furious. He not only blamed them, but blamed himself, for not even asking Damian himself, for not even thinking about his grandson’s state and not even taking the chance when taking the food up to his room to even consider his physical and mental health.  he formally apologized, he apologized and gave Damian the space he needed and gave Damian time to slowly trust Alfred, but even that took literally two weeks for Damian to even ask Alfred if he could have a sandwich. But hey, progress is still progress. 

With Cass,

Cassandra was easier for Damian to trust again, knowing what it feels for the foundation of trust that has been built up for so long to crumble back down and to start back from the beginning. Cassandra knew that this whole situation was backfiring so much, of course like everyone else she blamed herself for not looking into the situation even further, and like everyone else. To not ask Damian himself. She was able to fully apologize to him, but her viewpoint on everyone now including Dick had changed, mostly her trust through everyone had changed. Again, she knew how it felt to build the sore foundation of trust for so long to only be broken, crumbled and destroyed. She knew what it felt like to see everyone whom she had once trusted and felt safe to be destroyed and the viewpoint be changed. Her and Damian had that in common, and Damian felt like he could reconcile and feel somewhat comfortable about his feelings towards her.

Finally...The Bit- I mean Bruce: Bruce sorta avoided the situation, he gave a half apology but...That was all. (Secretly everyone was trying to get cps involved.)