The Unholy Trinity {The Unholy Trinity: Book Zero}

Everybody Talks

While Damian was training his new body as a Nephilim with the help of Lucifer in Hell, his siblings talked about him back in Gotham City.

"This feels wrong," Dick pouted.

"I know you don't like this; do you think we do?" Tim sighed. "But we need to have a conversation about this. He kept such a big secret from us, and we only found out because he was put in a coma!"

"If I am being honest, I kind of am fucking glad about him keeping it a secret," Jason replied, gaining many startled looks. "What?! None of you were there for when Lucifer and Alfie met each other! If Alfie was not the best person I've ever met, I would have bet all of my money that Heaven put him on track to sainthood just so that he would never meet Lucifer." Jason shivered. "God, I saw him make a demon cry, as Lucifer cheered him on, on the sidelines."

"That's nothing," Alec snorted.

"Akhi makes demon cry every time we visit Hell," Mara agreed with her brother. "It's an art," Cass signed, smile something between angelic- the irony! - and vicious.

"That's not the point!" Tim protested. "Damian kept such a huge secret from us. Something that could have aided us discover what he is much faster... I can't be the only one that feels betrayed."

"Timmy, you need to realize that Baby Bat did not live an easy life," Dick turned to his brother with a calm and gently smile. He might have been the one that felt the most betrayed by the secret, but he was also the one that forgave him the fastest. Because while he might not know all of Damian's secret, Richard had always been the one that understands him the most. "He died." Many flinched at the reminder of that little fact. "He died so young and with so many regrets. Only to end up in Hell. That must have been quite a shock. And while only two months spent here on Earth, we do not know how much time he spent in Hell. If we add his experience in Darkseid and traveling around the universe... we can't really blame him for keeping some things to himself." Dick sighed, wrapping an arm around Alec and Mara, each, in comfort. "He's had so many bad experiences that it's to no one's surprise that he would not want to mention them or recall them. That he was comfortable enough to tell some of us and not keep it to himself, shows how mature he is."

"I understand..." Tim sighed. "I just did not expect it from Damian. He is the most honest person I know." Tim snorted. "If anything, his honesty is too frank and brutal at times. Unlike with you, I do not need to think if his smile is for show or if it's truly real." Dick flinched at the commented but shrugged it off. His brother was right. He faked his smiles too many times, for his siblings not to have noticed. "Because he does not only smile for us, but he also tells us when he is feeling bad and just wants to stay in bed to rest and recover. He practically drags us for cuddles and comfort!" Tim chuckled. "But he kept this from us... something that clearly weighted on him."

"Some things are more difficult to share than other," Jason commented. "I can talk about the Joker; it burns me from within and makes me want to destroy everything around me... but I can. The same way the midget can share his experience with Darkseid and the League of Assassins." Jason grimaced. "However, I've never been able to share about my fucking experience in the streets... I can understand Damian not being able to talk about it." He shook his head, before turning to Tim. "Maybe you should see this as not him keeping a secret from you, but simply not being able to find the right words."

"Whenever Hell is mentioned, I can sense a tension on his body," Cass signed. "He feels familiar love for Lucifer and duty for his position as heir... but the tension remains." Cass smiled sadly. "Gaining the role and respect of Hell is not an easy task, especially for someone as kind and eager to heal others as Dami."

"Now I feel like a bastard," Tim huffed, slumping on his seat.

"Don't be," Mara comforted him, gaining many shocked looks. It is no secret that Alec and Mara were very protective of Damian. So, one would deduce they would be very angry about their siblings talking about him behind his back. "Akhi knew this would happen. That you all would need to talk and take this off your chest. He understands."