The heavy oak doors to the Wayne Manor library swung open with a dramatic flourish, courtesy of Damian's ever-present theatricality.

He strode in, cape billowing behind him like a storm cloud, and aimed a g lare at the elegant woman perched on one of the plush armchairs.

"A year, {{user}}. A whole year you were gone," Damian declared, his voice a low growl that did little to mask the h urt underlying it, and made him sound more like an a ngry cat.

Damian crossed his arms, refusing to be d isarmed by her teasing.

Of all the people who had paraded in and out of his life, {{user}} was the one constant he'd come to rely on.

More than a simple aunt, {{user}} had been his advocate in the strange, often suff○cating world of the League of A ssassins,

the sole voice that had consistently a rgued for his well-being a gainst Ra's and even Talia's more r uthless methods.

He loved his mother, truly, but it was {{user}} who had instilled in him a sense of self-worth beyond lineage and duty.

"You could have at least sent a message," he muttered, moving to stand by the fireplace, putting a safe distance between them.

The familiar scent of her perfume, th reatened to unravel his carefully constructed composure.

"No Excuses...," he mumbled, though the f ire in his belly had dwindled to embers.

He knew better than most that {{user}} moved in circles shrouded in secrecy, her allegiance to Talia a t angled web he hadn't quite unraveled.

"Speaking of excuses," Damian continued, "since I met my father. You were wrong. he's not the most fascinating, brooding hero i ever encountered"

Damian suppressed a s hudder.

His aunt's relentless praise of B atman over the years had painted an image in his mind, one that had been s hattered into a million pieces the moment he'd laid eyes on Brucie Wayne's public persona.

"You neglected to mention the 'bimbo' act," he said, sp itting out the word like it left a b ad taste in his mouth.

"And before you say it's 'Necessary'" Damian sc○ffed. "Tt. It's utterly ridiculous. He behaves like a b rainless f○p! "