On going home, after Singularity and ExitVoid

[demon_brat]

Thank you.

Comments

[punliners]

[And here's Terry, leaning over the back of an old chair.]

We had a heck of a time, huh?

[demon_brat]

[Annnnd there's Damian, scooting close, because ALREADY MISSING YOU and kind of glad he won't remember any of it, because how cope? He takes a moment before he can... actually come up with words, and the question is quiet, rather than fighting the statement.]

I... what makes it better than... other times?

[punliners]

[That earns a bit of a smile.]

That's not really for me to say, Damian.

[He sounds... strangely sombre about that. But after a moment he leans back and ruffles a hand through his hair and stands.]

You know I never wanted a Robin. But I'm glad I got saddled with you, twip.

[Teasing? You bet.]

[demon_brat]

[Sombre doesn't make the bit of a lump in Damian's throat go away. At all. The teasing? Only a little.]

I know you didn't. I didn't think you should be Batman, either, but you changed my mind.

It's just... the going away. I don't want to - to like more people, if it means it feels like this, eventually.

[punliners]

Hey, come on.

[He crouches down in front of Damian.]

People come and go all the time in your life. Sometimes-- [his attention flickers down briefly and he clears his throat.] Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just... leave for no reason. But that doesn't mean the impact they had on your life wasn't real. And it doesn't mean you can't care that they're gone. Shutting yourself away from pain doesn't make you strong, it just makes you incapable of dealing with that pain. Believe me, I know.

[One of those hard-learned lessons.]

[demon_brat]

[Damian... hunches a little, arms crossed in front of his chest, but neither moves nor looks away. He knows - knows - that Terry means that. That he wouldn't want Damian to shut people out. That Dick wouldn't want him to, either. He just... can't reconcile it with logic. Especially not after both of them left, albeit unwillingly.]

Of course it's real. But is it necessary? If one does not expose oneself to - to pain, one wouldn't have to know how to deal with it, wouldn't have to deal with it.

[A moment, before his face scrunches up.]

Why did you - why are you still trying to - teach me otherwise?

[It's only a flicker of anger, though, not the kind of rage he would have flown in with almost everyone else.]

[here_take_this]

At least you're off the boat. [Have a hug from Sherry because she's missed you Damian!]

[demon_brat]

[Damian... lets her hug him, smiling a very little bit.]

So are you, right?

[here_take_this]

[She nods] Mun didn't send me back to Raccoon though.

I'm just kind of here. Though it's alright, I have big sisters older versions keeping an eye on me, and some of the other people I'm with are really nice.

[demon_brat]

... that's better, then. People were... concerned, because where you come from isn't a good place, either.

[hoodbin]

[ LurkLurkluuuuurk ]

[demon_brat]

>Tt.< You are getting better at moving quietly.

['better' is not the same as 'good,' but it's still... something.]

[hoodbin]

Did I surprise you?

[demon_brat]

Almost.

[hoodbin]

Almost there then...

[wintershepherd]

You can be happy you're not somewhere and still miss it, you know.

[demon_brat]

It is not that. I am... she is allowing me to go home. And forget what it's like when they disappeared. That is... preferable.

[wintershepherd]

[ that doesn't sound preferable to him ]

... are you going to forget them completely, though?

[demon_brat]

[yeah, but Jack's had three hundred years to get used to losing people he's attached to. Before Dick disappeared on him, he'd only had the break with his Mother, and that was... not a good example. And he had Terry to prop him through. And then Terry disappeared and he just doesn't want to get that close to anyone again. Ever. And it still hurts. Hence... wanting to forget.]

One of them. For a very long time, probably - he is from the future. The other, I will forget him disappearing.

[wintershepherd]

[ oh Damian... ]

Look, I-- I know it won't mean much but... if you wanted someone to remember for you, I would.

Just in case you ever changed your mind.

[selfmadehero]

Didja miss me?

My mun is mean.

[demon_brat]

[Blink. Blink. Nowwwww this is unexpected. (And makes Damian's mouth twitch in an almost-smile.)]

Probably about as much as you've missed me. [With all the insults and threats and even occasional body damage, he figures that wouldn't be too much... right?]

[selfmadehero]

Technically I haven't gone anywhere since I left, so I haven't been able to miss you at all. But it was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?

[demon_brat]

It was... better than where we went, after.

[selfmadehero]

It was better than where I came from, too. I think we got lucky.