[ It was a good choice, talking to him about this out here, without the presence of any of the rest of the family. Otherwise, Damian might not keep his fingers curled around the other's wrists - a grip that's easy to break, but as comforting as he knows how to be.
Too self-conscious of his own displays of weakness around the others. With Todd, and Drake, he can't be anything less than combative, caustic; that's the nature of their relationship, and he's nowhere near socially skilled enough to know how to change it.
But Richard seems to appreciate the gesture, so he continues it for a few more moments. ]
None of them are easy, but -- [ He shrugs, shoulders hitching. Nothing in life is ever easy; not for those like them. Par for the course. ]
We can arrange for you to join a protection program, and be fostered and cared for until you are of age. Father has been speaking with Superman, and it sounds like he would be willing to take you in. You would be safe there, probably safer than here.
[ If safety is what Richard wants, there's no place safer than under the same roof as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Damian may (so irrationally) dislike the alien, but even he can grudgingly admit that he would do a good job of looking after the boy, of caring for him and making him feel welcome. ]
Or if you'd like to try, we can still talk to Haly, see if it might not still be your home, after all. You won't know for sure otherwise.
[ Even with the time difference, and Richard's unnatural youth, there is still a chance he might find happiness there, bleak as the outlook may seem. Damian was already planning on talking to the owner, personally. ]
And if neither of those seem like a possibility--
[ Batman is going to kill him, he thinks, wry and dismissive. ]
--you may always stay here. With us. [ With him. ] As a ward. A brother.
[ Waynes have a bad habit of collecting strays, and Damian is no different. Titus, Alfred the cat, and now this boy. ]
no subject
[ It was a good choice, talking to him about this out here, without the presence of any of the rest of the family. Otherwise, Damian might not keep his fingers curled around the other's wrists - a grip that's easy to break, but as comforting as he knows how to be.
Too self-conscious of his own displays of weakness around the others. With Todd, and Drake, he can't be anything less than combative, caustic; that's the nature of their relationship, and he's nowhere near socially skilled enough to know how to change it.
But Richard seems to appreciate the gesture, so he continues it for a few more moments. ]
None of them are easy, but -- [ He shrugs, shoulders hitching. Nothing in life is ever easy; not for those like them. Par for the course. ]
We can arrange for you to join a protection program, and be fostered and cared for until you are of age. Father has been speaking with Superman, and it sounds like he would be willing to take you in. You would be safe there, probably safer than here.
[ If safety is what Richard wants, there's no place safer than under the same roof as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Damian may (so irrationally) dislike the alien, but even he can grudgingly admit that he would do a good job of looking after the boy, of caring for him and making him feel welcome. ]
Or if you'd like to try, we can still talk to Haly, see if it might not still be your home, after all. You won't know for sure otherwise.
[ Even with the time difference, and Richard's unnatural youth, there is still a chance he might find happiness there, bleak as the outlook may seem. Damian was already planning on talking to the owner, personally. ]
And if neither of those seem like a possibility--
[ Batman is going to kill him, he thinks, wry and dismissive. ]
--you may always stay here. With us. [ With him. ] As a ward. A brother.
[ Waynes have a bad habit of collecting strays, and Damian is no different. Titus, Alfred the cat, and now this boy. ]