[action] Around the garden and checking everything out...

[theshortestbird]

[He'd only been here for about a day and a half. Talking to the head instructor, dealing with filling out a class schedule, which meant he had to figure out what half of these classes even meant, and Tim was now ready to go out and explore

Comments

[worthyheir]

[Boxing class could not come soon enough. Every second he had to be near his "classmates," Damian's urge to punch something rose. Though listening to Bronson go on wasn't much better, at least he yammered in an environment that encouraged beating the hell out of something. If he was lucky, he could even take a few swings at the man himself.

So when he saw Drake strolling down the halls examining everything like a poor man's version of his father, Damian wondered if he was delusional. Surely that wasn't the real Drake, but merely a manifestation of his frustration. After all, he did enjoy pretending the bag was Drake's head...

But no, that was actually him, the annoying little gnat, in the flesh. Why must he ruin everything?]

Drake.

[worthyheir]

[The mention of Bruce is the one thing to actually rattle his cage thus far (well, beyond their usual cage rattling, at least). He looks away for a moment, but quickly looks back. He will not give Drake the satisfaction.] So you keep saying. However I have yet to see any evidence to support your bold claim... [Pauses for a fraction of a second. Dick and Damian's romp through the mansion was not a happy memory.] wild goose chase aside. My father is dead, Drake. Face the facts and stop giving people false hope. [Isn't talking about himself.]

[theshortestbird]

[He knows it is, which is why he brought it up. But he can't let it go. Bruce isn't dead, he knows he's not. He can't. Tim can't lose another person in his life.]

He's not dead. And once we get back, I'll prove it. So don't get used to how things are going. When he gets back, everything is going to change.

[worthyheir]

[Sticks his finger in Drake's ugly face.] Stop it. So what if we found a cowl in some random cave under the manor--that doesn't mean anything. Father might have left it there years ago, it certainly was old enough.

I will not have you send Grayson off on any more foolish quests because you cannot grasp that someone else in your life has died.

[theshortestbird]

[Oh no you didn't. Tim narrows his eyes.] It means everything, and you're a fool and a coward if you don't think so.

[His hands clench into fists, and he knocks his hand away sharply.]

I don't remember you ever being someone who could order me what to do.

[worthyheir]

[Doesn't fight back (for once in his life), but stands his ground and glares at Drake with all he's got.] All it means is that Grayson is going to do something even more stupid than create a zombie Ba--[stops himself] from the Lazarus pit. I will not have you do that to him.

[theshortestbird]

[A zombie Batman. Don't let him rattle your cage, Tim. Breathes in, breathes out. It's okay.] He won't have to. Bruce is alive. Dick won't have to do anything like that, because he's alive.

Nothing you say will make a difference.

[worthyheir]

He already did. So whatever nonsense trail you're following in regards to my father, keep it to yourself.

[theshortestbird]

I'll let Dick know when I find him. Obviously you don't care enough about family, or this would be just as important to you, too.

[worthyheir]

I will not allow some orphan lecture me about family. Especially one who is so determined to run his so-called "family" into the ground.

[theshortestbird]

[Tim just closed his eyes for a moment. That one had hit right where it hurt most, but it wasn't true.]

I have a family. And I'm doing whatever I can to make it whole again. What are you doing besides splitting it to the best of your ability? Which, by the way, isn't that good. Dick will always be my brother, whether he wears the cowl or not. And Bruce will always be like a father, because he was always there when I needed him most.

[His mouth tightens.] I pity you, Damian. You don't understand the concept of family. And maybe that's not your fault, but as much as I would like to throw a punch, as much as I would like to show you up, I also know that fighting isn't going to change your mind, or your opinion of anything. You're not able to fully grasp what is going on, and while you can run your mouth off like you think you know everything, in the end, you just don't.

And that's why I'm not going to hit you and risk being put on whatever list they have at this school that might give away my identity back home, or yours.

[worthyheir]

[It's Drake's turn to hit him where it hurts most--his daddy issues.]

I do not need your pity, Drake. I need to you remove your fingers from your ears and listen to me. My father is dead. Grayson does not need to go to any more extremes because you want to convince yourself otherwise. If you wish to continue on your fruitless quest, then by all means, go ahead. Just leave Grayson out of it.

[Why doesn't he understand? This isn't a petty argument this time--he's being serious. He's protecting himself from potentially getting hurled off another rooftop by another zombie Batman his family Grayson Dick... He's being serious.]

[theshortestbird]

[He is stubborn. He's protecting his family just as much as Damian is, how doesn't he understand? In fact, why doesn't he want to find his father as much as he does? That's what he can't understand. Where does his loyalties lie?]

I'll keep Dick up to date on any progress I make, which is what he would want. Anything less, and he wouldn't like it. So no. I'm not leaving him out of it, Bruce is his father as much as he's mine, and yours.

[worthyheir]

[His loyalties lie strictly with the Wayne family, and any insinuations otherwise will result (at the very least) in a broken nose.]

Tt, Grayson is right, you are beyond fanatical. You are sad and pathetic, Drake.

[theshortestbird]

[He is talking to a Wayne, still. Tim considers it his name just as much as anyone else does.]

Sure, Damian. Whatever you say. [Sarcasm laid on heavy once more.]

[worthyheir]

[Until they day you prove yourself, Drake, you will never be considered a Wayne to him.

He rolls his eyes.] Just stay out of my way. If you wish to see your little friend, do it in your room or some common area. I do not want to see you in my quarters.