Damian Wayne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
demon_brat) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
dear_mun2013-01-12 08:09 pm
demon_brat) wrote in dear_mun2013-01-12 08:09 pm
Entry tags:
[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?
I... what makes it better than... other times?
[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.]
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.]
[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.
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.
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.]
[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.]
[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.]
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.]
So you think that you should never have to learn math because you might never use it? Or a language that you're never going to have to speak? Come on, Damian. Learning how to deal with things - with loss - is a life skill just like anything else we learn on this job.
[He reaches out and nudges Damian gently against the sternum with his index finger.]
And I'm doing it because a little birdie told me that you're going to be my teacher one day, and I don't want to deal with another grumpy old bat.
[One is plenty, as far as he's concerned.]
[He reaches out and nudges Damian gently against the sternum with his index finger.]
And I'm doing it because a little birdie told me that you're going to be my teacher one day, and I don't want to deal with another grumpy old bat.
[One is plenty, as far as he's concerned.]
I use mathematics and languages all the time!
Wh--
[Wait. Damian's brows draw down. And then shoot up, and he actually... brightens, eyes widening and some of the tightness around them easing.]
We'll meet again? For real?
Wh--
[Wait. Damian's brows draw down. And then shoot up, and he actually... brightens, eyes widening and some of the tightness around them easing.]
We'll meet again? For real?
[Yeah, but Damian thinks he can opt out, and doesn't want to be dealing with loss. After all, if he doesn't have anyonething, he can't lose, right? That's... all. Zen and all?]
[The question? Well, he's still not picking up on light jokes, so it makes him consider it.]
Only if you had to?
[The question? Well, he's still not picking up on light jokes, so it makes him consider it.]
Only if you had to?
[Damian. Cringes, but doesn't reach up to catch Terry's arm on the way, just moves so that the swat mostly brushes him harmlessly.]
[He also scowls for a moment at the words, tilts his head.]
Oh.
You might, even would, but I don't think you are lying? [Now he looks down.] At least I hope you are not.
[Look, it's not a threat. Not an ultimatum. Just an admission, which is why getting the point is difficult. He hates that it's how the facts are. He's not strong enough not to want it to be true, and that alters his perception of the facts.]
[He also scowls for a moment at the words, tilts his head.]
Oh.
You might, even would, but I don't think you are lying? [Now he looks down.] At least I hope you are not.
[Look, it's not a threat. Not an ultimatum. Just an admission, which is why getting the point is difficult. He hates that it's how the facts are. He's not strong enough not to want it to be true, and that alters his perception of the facts.]
[Terry lets his hand fall harmlessly to one side, and then he leans forward and just pulls the kid into a hug.
Because screw the Wayne Family Values that put stock on praise and affection being a yearly (or bi-yearly) thing. Damian's getting a damned hug whether he likes it or not.]
I'm not lying. Bat's honour.
Because screw the Wayne Family Values that put stock on praise and affection being a yearly (or bi-yearly) thing. Damian's getting a damned hug whether he likes it or not.]
I'm not lying. Bat's honour.
[Right now, Damian... does. Well, maybe not necessarily like it, but want it, which is a step up? He may have been working up courage to be the one initiating it, but this works fine, anyway.]
[He only freezes for a second, as it is. Then his hand come up and he hugs back, kind of clutching at the back of Terry's shirt.]
Good.
[His voice, almost for the first time since they've met, sounds his age. Even more so with the next, quiet bit.]
I'm gonna miss you, Terry.
[He only freezes for a second, as it is. Then his hand come up and he hugs back, kind of clutching at the back of Terry's shirt.]
Good.
[His voice, almost for the first time since they've met, sounds his age. Even more so with the next, quiet bit.]
I'm gonna miss you, Terry.
[This is making the pain stay a little further back, okay? And he's been contrary and sharp plenty enough. And if this is his last chance to do something different... he'd rather not leave the kind of last impression Mother does.]
Okay.
[He may find it a little difficult to believe, right now (also, heh, family and what it's for...), but Terry's showed him before that he can be wrong. So Damian's not arguing. Just holding on a bit tighter.]
Okay.
[He may find it a little difficult to believe, right now (also, heh, family and what it's for...), but Terry's showed him before that he can be wrong. So Damian's not arguing. Just holding on a bit tighter.]
[Oh, right, that means he has to open his eyes. And not look at all wibbly. He shouldn't right? He mostly manages it, but his look is a little watery. Though a corner of his mouth quirks up.]
I'm going to try and do good, too.
Like him. And you.
I'm going to try and do good, too.
Like him. And you.
At least you're off the boat. [Have a hug from Sherry because she's missed you Damian!]
[... it's possible that the concept of 'enough' should be on Damian't curriculum. Some day.]
[For a moment, he smiles a little, because this feels good, sort of like when actually saving somebody, except this time he only said things, instead of defeating or outwitting somebody bad. Then he cants his head a little.]
What else would I have, if I don't try?
[Because he can't just... stop. There is too much to do, and he has a long way to go before he's satisfied with himself.]
[For a moment, he smiles a little, because this feels good, sort of like when actually saving somebody, except this time he only said things, instead of defeating or outwitting somebody bad. Then he cants his head a little.]
What else would I have, if I don't try?
[Because he can't just... stop. There is too much to do, and he has a long way to go before he's satisfied with himself.]
[Damian... lets her hug him, smiling a very little bit.]
So are you, right?
So are you, right?
[She nods] Mun didn't send me back to Raccoon though.
I'm just kind of here. Though it's alright, I have big sistersolder versions keeping an eye on me, and some of the other people I'm with are really nice.
I'm just kind of here. Though it's alright, I have big sisters
... that's better, then. People were... concerned, because where you come from isn't a good place, either.
Page 1 of 4