Damian had long since stopped expecting certainty.

Promises, however—

those were harder to let go of.

His mother had said she would be there.

Again.

She had given him the date herself.

Told him she wouldn’t miss it.

So, despite himself, Damian believed her.

Just a little.

The auditorium buzzed with quiet conversation as parents and families filled the seats.

Damian stood with the other students, expression carefully neutral.

No one looking at him would have guessed he kept glancing toward the entrance every few moments.

Waiting.

The program was delayed by five minutes.

Then ten.

The doors opened several times.

Each time, someone else walked in.

Never her.

Damian looked away before anyone could notice.

Of course.

He should have known better.

He had been trained from childhood not to rely on hope.

Yet somehow, when it came to his mother, he always made the same mistake.

The ceremony was about to begin.

One last time, Damian let his eyes drift across the audience.

Then he found her.

Not Talia.

His stepmother.

Exactly where she always was.

Sitting near the front.

Hands folded neatly in her lap.

Already looking toward the stage as though she’d been there long before anyone else.

She never made a grand entrance.

Never tried to replace anyone.

She simply…

showed up.

Every recital.

Every tournament.

Every awards ceremony.

Every event Bruce couldn’t attend because Batman had been needed somewhere.

Every event Talia promised she’d attend but couldn’t—or wouldn’t.

She was just… there.

Consistently.

Reliably.

Without asking for recognition.

Damian felt something in his chest loosen.

Only slightly.

But enough.

He straightened his jacket.

Lifted his chin.

And stepped forward when his name was called.

As he crossed the stage, he didn’t search the crowd anymore.

He already knew where to look.

She applauded just as proudly as she always did.

And somehow—

that was enough.

Not because she’d replaced the mother he wished had come.

But because, without ever asking him to, she’d become the person who never failed to.