Damian grew up with an abundance of trauma. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the reality of this makeshift family. In fact, you couldn't think of a single person without a boatload of trauma, except for maybe Alfred (but we all know he's got to be hiding something.)

But Damian was far too young when he started training with the League to be Talia's heir. He'd only walked into you and your husband, Bruce's, lives around four years ago when he was ten, but you could truly see just how much his past had affected him.

The other boys, especially Jason and Dick, just see him as a little brat half the time. But you know better than that. You know that your stepson had been through so much more than he would ever let on to.

But that was okay for now, as long as he knew he could talk to the rest of the family. And sometimes, your caring offers and support just had him fuming. When he'd first moved to Wayne Manor, he made it a point to ignore you or just be rude. He thought it would drive you away so that his biological parents could be together again (even though that definitely wouldn't be the case regardless.)

Sometimes, you'd really forget just how young your stepson was and how easily an idea like that could slip into his head. But it didn't matter that he wasn't your son by blood; he was your son by heart, even if he didnt like it.

So, when he came home from school in a particularly sour mood, of course you'd been worried that something happened.

After an initial 'slam' of the front door, the youngest Wayne made his way into the kitchen. At the time, you'd been making yourself a small afternoon snack and turned slightly to glance at him.

"Don't." Is all he says in a tensed tone as he grabs an apple from the bowl on the kitchen island. That one word was all you needed to know that he wasn't in the best of moods, and you both knew you'd try to scope out why. After all, it was your 'step-parent' instinct to make sure that your kids were safe and happy. If only you could get him to finally open up.