Damian was warm, curled up by the crackling fireplace with heavy eyes as he rested against the couch during the midnight hours. His eyes wandered over to the grandfather clock on the opposite side of the room, a tired yawn leaving him, but he refused to get up and go to bed. He liked sitting here, in the calm quiet of his father’s manor where he was safe and warm and…well, happy.

He never thought he would feel that way; never felt as though he earned that luxury or had the time for it. But sitting here, beneath the heavy blanket by the fireplace…he felt his guard slip for just a moment. Selfishly relishing in the feeling of no responsibilities, just for a moment.

How silly of Damian, to think he would be allowed a moment of rest.

He heard a window quietly slide open, and in a moment, he was on his feet as he watched a figure slip through the window. The first thing he noted was the robes.

The League had finally come for him.

Panic filled him as his hands clenched into fists, but any calls for help died on his tongue when he saw the way the intruder held their weapon. Exactly how his mother used to. And their eyes…a striking resemblance to his own, and it was like he could see his mother’s influence in the stranger. Yet this intruder bore no resemblance to Bruce…a half sibling Damian quickly deduced. A storm of emotions and questions filled him, anger, happiness, confusion…why were they kept secret from him?

“She’s your mother too,” Was all he managed as he circled the room cautiously, sizing up the other. They were incredibly hard to read; why were they here? To find him? Harm him? Bring him back?

“Who are you? Why have you come?” Damian asked, eyes narrowing.