What you eat isn't pizza. I've been to Naples, Grayson, I know what pizza is.
[ That cheesy, thick-breaded monstrosity you always order? Not pizza.
He squints a little at Dick, as if he can't believe that Bruce would ever be angry at the prodigal son. ]
Really?
[ Can't imagine it. Not even a little. Whenever Dick has had to step in and argue on Damian's behalf before, his father's listened. Damian wasn't there for Dick's fallout with Bruce, for when he became Nightwing, or even the subsequent arguments over Tim's treatment as Robin or his reluctance to be the heir to the Wayne name, let alone to Batman.
All he'd seen of Dick, and Bruce, was respect. Disagreement a lot of the time, but understanding and some level of cooperation.
(No major arguments, no blow outs, not like Tim and Jason had seen. Bruce relies heavily on Dick's judgment in all matters regarding Damian, considering his own uncertainty in how to deal with his unexpected, and troubling, existence.)
Sometimes, it seems like Damian's always been a part of the household, with how he elbowed his way right in and took what he pleased. Othertimes, it's obvious how much he missed, how much he really doesn't know.
And also obvious how he tries to skirt around the fact that he doesn't, as if not knowing, not being told, is shameful. If he doesn't ask questions, if he doesn't bring it up, they can overlook where he doesn't fit in. Like now, when his eyebrows furrow, and he turns his attention back to the remote, snorting and clicking the television on to the local news. ]
I'll be joining you on patrol, correct? [ The boy actually looks pretty excited -- as excited as he can look, at least, with a frown on his face. It's been a long while since he and Dick teamed up to do some take-downs. ]
no subject
[ That cheesy, thick-breaded monstrosity you always order? Not pizza.
He squints a little at Dick, as if he can't believe that Bruce would ever be angry at the prodigal son. ]
Really?
[ Can't imagine it. Not even a little. Whenever Dick has had to step in and argue on Damian's behalf before, his father's listened. Damian wasn't there for Dick's fallout with Bruce, for when he became Nightwing, or even the subsequent arguments over Tim's treatment as Robin or his reluctance to be the heir to the Wayne name, let alone to Batman.
All he'd seen of Dick, and Bruce, was respect. Disagreement a lot of the time, but understanding and some level of cooperation.
(No major arguments, no blow outs, not like Tim and Jason had seen. Bruce relies heavily on Dick's judgment in all matters regarding Damian, considering his own uncertainty in how to deal with his unexpected, and troubling, existence.)
Sometimes, it seems like Damian's always been a part of the household, with how he elbowed his way right in and took what he pleased. Othertimes, it's obvious how much he missed, how much he really doesn't know.
And also obvious how he tries to skirt around the fact that he doesn't, as if not knowing, not being told, is shameful. If he doesn't ask questions, if he doesn't bring it up, they can overlook where he doesn't fit in. Like now, when his eyebrows furrow, and he turns his attention back to the remote, snorting and clicking the television on to the local news. ]
I'll be joining you on patrol, correct? [ The boy actually looks pretty excited -- as excited as he can look, at least, with a frown on his face. It's been a long while since he and Dick teamed up to do some take-downs. ]