[ Damian has had— so much of exactly this, of people making promises to him and breaking them and leaving him behind. Dick knows, he remembers Damian showing up in Blüdhaven, furious and sad. And Dick might never want to leave him, but that doesn't mean he hasn't, doesn't. After Bruce came back, after Batman, Incorporated and Spyral, he hadn't known how to be in Gotham anymore. He'd left the city, but in doing so, he'd left Damian, too.
And even now, he's not living in the Manor. He comes by sometimes, but he isn't here all the time. His choices, Damian's choices, it means they aren't ever going to be like they once were: Batman and Robin, Dick and Damian, and if he thinks about it too hard it'll break his heart.
Damian shoves into him, his face wet against Dick's neck and collar and Dick wraps around him even more, a hand spread over the back of Damian's head, an arm tight around his body, all but bodily dragging his baby brother into his lap. He never wants to let go. He never wants to. ]
I promised to watch out for you, too. I had to watch out for you, Damian, I had to, I —
[ His own eyes sting, and he closes them into a tight frown, pressing his head harder against Damian's. ]
I don't want to be in a world that doesn't have you in it. But I did the same thing to you.
[ And now they're here, clinging to each other, and Dick doesn't know how to fix this, but he can't regret it, either, because Damian's heart is beating against his chest and Damian's breath is shaky and tear-filled but he's breathing, he's warm and solid in Dick's arms. ]
I can't promise not to do everything I can, anything I can, to keep you safe. But I hear you. No third time.
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[ Damian has had— so much of exactly this, of people making promises to him and breaking them and leaving him behind. Dick knows, he remembers Damian showing up in Blüdhaven, furious and sad. And Dick might never want to leave him, but that doesn't mean he hasn't, doesn't. After Bruce came back, after Batman, Incorporated and Spyral, he hadn't known how to be in Gotham anymore. He'd left the city, but in doing so, he'd left Damian, too.
And even now, he's not living in the Manor. He comes by sometimes, but he isn't here all the time. His choices, Damian's choices, it means they aren't ever going to be like they once were: Batman and Robin, Dick and Damian, and if he thinks about it too hard it'll break his heart.
Damian shoves into him, his face wet against Dick's neck and collar and Dick wraps around him even more, a hand spread over the back of Damian's head, an arm tight around his body, all but bodily dragging his baby brother into his lap. He never wants to let go. He never wants to. ]
I promised to watch out for you, too. I had to watch out for you, Damian, I had to, I —
[ His own eyes sting, and he closes them into a tight frown, pressing his head harder against Damian's. ]
I don't want to be in a world that doesn't have you in it. But I did the same thing to you.
[ And now they're here, clinging to each other, and Dick doesn't know how to fix this, but he can't regret it, either, because Damian's heart is beating against his chest and Damian's breath is shaky and tear-filled but he's breathing, he's warm and solid in Dick's arms. ]
I can't promise not to do everything I can, anything I can, to keep you safe. But I hear you. No third time.