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Damian wasn’t sure if he likes the English language or not. When his mother first came to him and told him that he had to learn another language besides his native one, he didn’t give it much thought. She told him it’s the language the great batman speaks. So, naturally, he had to learn it so that it would link him to his father and make him ready to follow in the steps of the great bat to claim his place. And he did. By the time he was getting ready to be shipped off to Gotham, he mastered English, Italian, and French and his German was halfway decent. But in his opinion, nothing will ever compare to the Arabic language.
Arabic has its own place in Damian’s heart. It’s a poetic, cursive language. It has many different forms and dialects from all over the middle east and Africa, but that didn’t stop it from connecting so many people. It has a couple of sounds and letters that can not be found anywhere. It also influenced some languages and made new inputs in them. That made learning English easier for him. He also finds it funny that the Arabic numbers are used now worldwide, and not many people know their origin.
The first time Richard called Damian “Dami”, he froze. It took him a second to realize that it’s just a nickname and not his brother speaking Arabic. He wonders what Richard would think if he knew that “Dami” means my blood in the first language the little boy ever learned. He would probably say something cheesy about how Damian is as important to him as his blood. His brother is sentimental sometimes. Damian also would never admit that he felt all warm and fluffy the first time Richard called him Habibi or Akhi after he started learning Arabic. Nope. Never happened.
The language is thought to have the richest vocabulary. There are at least 11 different words for love varying in the stages of the relationship and more than 100 words for a camel . Some of those words don’t have a literal meaning in English. It has to be translated into a couple of words to convey its meaning and strength. And even then, it doesn’t. Arabic is a strong and independent language on its own and doesn’t like to be colonized.
Something else that English doesn’t have is the stages and different meanings of the word friend. There are 12 levels of friendship in Arabic and somehow all of them are translated into only one word.
Zameel is the first stage and the most basic of them all. It’s usually used to describe someone you are acquainted with. Like those children in his school for example. Although Damian stated many times that he is superior to all the people in this establishment including the teachers, his father insisted that he keeps going as it is good for him to be among his peers. Personally, he thinks it’s a waste of time. Another example of a zameel could be Ravi. They met when Damian was traveling the world. He takes care of Goliath on an Al Ghul island on the orders of Damian.
The next stage is called Jalees and it’s similar to the previous one except that it’s someone you are comfortable spending a period of time with. Damian’s family was surprised when they found out that he was on a speaking term with Poison Ivy. Sometimes on patrol when things are quiet, they love to talk about their shared interest in plants and the best way to protect them. Ivy once joked that she wanted to make him her spokesperson then she gave him a small Campanula plant. When he searched on Google, he found that it means gratitude and affection. The manor’s garden is decorated every July with them to this day.
Sameer comes next on the list. It’s someone you have a good conversation with. Duke, surprisingly, fills this category. They didn’t know each other for long. Damian’s father took the boy as a ward recently but he still managed to get himself a spot on Damian’s friendship list. He has a different sense of humor. Some may call him the only sane person in the family. But that’s because they never saw him playing Mario kart or that time when he snorted and Pepsi came out of his nose because of a bad joke.
Here’s where things start getting serious. Just a little. Nadeem is a drinking companion. It’s usually reserved for tea. Damian likes to see his pseudo-grandfather as a friend. He is glad that at least one of his grandfathers is nice. When it was just the three of them in the penthouse, Damian and Alfred used to have tea every day together. It's a memory he cherished deeply. They would talk about different cuisines and how the flavors make all the difference in a plate.
Sahib is a little bit more serious than Nadeem. It’s for the people who care and are concerned about your wellbeing and the opposite is also true. This category is mainly filled with the titans’ kids. The original sidekicks love to organize what they call a playdate, which is a silly name in Damian’s opinion, for their children or younger relatives to get together. One of his favorite memories is the one when he, Lian, and the Allen twins ganged together to prank the adults. He will never forget Roy’s horrified face after being pranked.
Rafeeq is the first real rank of friendship. It’s someone you depend upon. You know they will always be there to help even if you have your differences. Those are his two older brothers. Damian was upset to know that Jason doesn’t remember the time he spent in Nanda Parbat after the pit. Talia chose him specifically to be one of Damian’s mentors and because she wanted him to have a family when he was away from his father. He will always remember when he used to call him Akhi and how often Jason gave him his own portion of dessert, something the Jason he knows now sometimes does. The reason Tim is somewhat high on the list is that Damian now understands that his place in the family doesn’t depend on being Robin and that there is no real reason to feel threatened by Tim’s presence. Damian would never admit out loud that he respects the other boy. They learned to coexist together and depend on each other. He knows that if he calls any of his brothers, they will help the best they can. He is sure that by time both of them will advance in the levels.
A true friend, someone who befriends you without ulterior motives is called a Sadeeq . Damian is not sure who approached the other first but suddenly he and Raven were friends. Both being introverts, slightly demon-y ‘him in name and her in nature’, and their mutual love and care for Richard made them have things in common to talk about. They also bond over having terrible father and grandfather figures, but sometimes he’s not sure whether he is talking about his grandfather or his father. They learned how to face their demons together. After a while, he found that he looks for her in any battle knowing that she will have his back as he has hers. They saved each other’s lives more than he can count.
Cassandra could probably be described as a Khaleel . She is one of the most flexible people to be around and her flexibility makes her a comfortable and happy presence in Damian’s life. They don’t need to talk much. They share a common interest and an end goal in the mission. He loves to spar with her as there is always something new to learn or improve. Both of them realize that they are more than what was expected in them in their former homes.
Anees is a funny category as it has both Stephanie and his pets., something she should never know. Both bring him unlimited and unrestricted calm and happiness. Stephanie’s presence can somehow ground him. There are no expectations of him. She actually wants him to do what he wants. Damian still remembers the time she was in the hospital and he had to sit on the other building’s roof to make sure she pulled through. He also loved when the three of them used to go to the arcade and play Cheese Vikings together.
Damian is glad to have met Colin in his life. He could probably be listed as Najiyy . Colin was proof that he can enjoy his time with people his age. He is a confidant, can keep a secret, and trusts him deeply. He also quickly became his partner in crime. Damian’s favorite memory of them together is when he gave Colin a tour of the Batcave and later they dressed as Batman and Robin and played around. He also loves his presence at thanksgiving every year, sitting next to him.
His eldest brother has a place solely dedicated to him in Damian’s heart. He fills so many roles in his life. He is his brother, his baba , his mentor, his batman, his go-to person, the one who never judges him and encourages him to be his age. It’s hard to label him with one title, especially in English. He thinks the word that describes Richard best is Safiyy . A best friend, someone you’ve chosen above all else. If Damian was asked to describe his ideal moment, it would be him sitting on his bed basking in the sun, sitting in Richard’s lap, leaning his back against his brother’s chest, while sketching the view from his window, with his pets surrounding them. There would be peace and tranquility in that moment that Damian would wish for a time-freeze machine to keep it forever.
The main reason that Richard is not in the top category is because of the age difference between them. Damian has no doubts of his importance in his brother’s life, however, he is aware of how big Nightwing’s connection network is and how many people depend on his brother that he might not always be available. And Damian after a while learned that it is okay.
The top category is called Qareen . It’s someone who is inseparable from you. You know how they think and they know how you think. Someone you will be laughing with when you are in your eighties. Someone despite the distance and time, you can always rely on each other. Sometimes they can go months without meeting, but when they do it’s like they never separated in the first place. This someone is Jon. Damian has a lot of memories with Jon. He particularly enjoyed when he stole the batplane to race him. Or when they sneak out together to go on patrol.
Now in English, all those people will fall under the same category: friends. Or if he is generous, two categories: friends and best friends. Not that he will ever tell any of them that. He enjoys the options that his native language gives him. To not label or categorize someone inaccurately.