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Damian had been sent to Gotham to complete his training. Mother had told him his father would make him a better warrior, a better leader.
His mother hadn't told him that his father would treat him like a child—at nine years old!—and would be so adamant about not involving him in his nocturnal activities.
Damian obviously didn't listen. It was a mistake, but what would be the point of sending him away from home, sending him to America of all places, if not to become a better warrior?
He'd told his father, who'd looked so devastated afterward, and hugged him!
(Damian didn't mind that much, but he'd protested, to make his point.)
That's why whenever his chance presented itself, he'd take it.
Like, Superman came to visit and Damian had to challenge him to a duel! His mother had told him repeatedly that the alien was his primary concern, and that he had to deal with him, and Damian had always been good at following orders.
Not so good at completing them: Superman was still alive, father and Richard had intervened, and now they were returning home.
Superman and father had talked at length, away from prying eyes, and Damian had managed to catch something of their conversation.
Something he didn't understand and he was very worried about.
"Father, why did Superman call you babygirl?"
His father stopped mid-belt-fastening. Richard chuckled from the backseat and swore he'd said "he got you, old man."
He frowned at the disrespect, but his father showed no sign of hearing. In fact, he didn't seem very present.
He spoke again, "Father, I asked..."
"I heard you," his father said, interrupting him, his cheeks slightly red, probably from the heat of the evening's patrol. "You...when did you hear us talking?"
"Before the car arrived. You two were murmuring among yourselves. The alien was unusually close, way too close," he said, pouting, not understanding why he felt this way. "And he muttered things. Babygirl is the only thing I understood. So, what it means? It's an insult?"
"Good thing you didn't hear the rest!" Richard exclaimed, receiving a glare from his father that would have made a lesser man tremble, but Richard didn't seem to mind. Yet more proof that his father only allowed exceptional people into his family (and this made Damian wonder how he could prove his abilities when all the suitors were exceptional.)
"Why not? Was he threatening him? Is that why you're continuing this foolish alliance with the alien? Is he blackmailing you?"
"Damian, no," his father exhaled tiredly, "Superman and I...we have a...a close relationship..."
"Yeah, you could say that," Richard smiled, while his father continued, "He would never hurt me."
"Except when he's under mind control."
"Luckily, I know what to do in those cases," his father reassured him, and Damian had no doubts about that.
Still, he remained confused. "So what does 'babygirl' mean? Is it some kind of coded language?"
Father opened his mouth, closed it, and gasped. He looked distressed, and even the thought of it was ridiculous.
Richard urged, "Come on, B. Tell the boy what it means."
"How about if no one talks for a while?" father snapped, clearly angry now, judging by his red cheeks, and if there was one thing Damian had learned, it was never to contradict an angry adult.
So, he decided to obey. Not without first saying, "If that's the case, I'll ask Timothy or Todd later..."
"No!" Richard and Father exclaimed in unison, and Damian stared at them, uncomprehending.
Richard was the first to say, "Baby bat, if Jason finds out, the first thing he'll do is grab his kryptonite bullets and kick Superman out. I'm not kidding."
"But why? Father said Superman isn't threatening him! Did he lie?"
"No, Damian, I didn't lie..."
"Then why can't I talk to Todd about this?"
A long minute of silence followed, with Richard and Father communicating only with their eyes—and ignoring the pang of jealousy at the sight was very difficult—a silent communication from which he was cut off.
Finally, father sighed. Somehow, Richard had won.
"Damian...there's something you should know about me and Superman..."
The most awkward half hour of his life followed, and he understood why his mother was so keen to get Superman out of the picture as soon as possible.
And honestly? Damian understood. Father deserved so much better than the alien!
(And besides, no one still wanted to explain to him what "babygirl" meant!)