Raven Roth and Damian Wayne: The Walk of Life (Book 1 Of 2)

Chapter Ten

A/N: Added a coupling of my own (obviously its a fanfic) that i dont think i've read or seen anywhere else before, people might like it, might not but i dont care. I do what i want. shup. ok, enjoy.

Kori unzipped the tent trying not to wake Dick as she wriggled out of their sleeping bag. As she pulled the fabric door way to one side she saw Damian and Raven were already up. They were sat in one of the borrowed chairs, or rather Damian was sat in the chair whilst Raven sat across his lap with an arm around his neck. Kori reached back to wake Dick, keeping her eyes on the two who were quietly talking to each other. As Kori reached around she inadvertently slapped Dick in the face lightly trying to rouse him from his slumber. "Huh? Agh, hey, hey. I'm up, what?" Said Dick rolling on to his front. Kori whipped her head round with a finger pressed to her lips shushing him and pointed out to the seated couple. "Apparently Grandfather had been looking for a weakness in The Batman and requested the Jokers aid in finding it. Joker went after Todd, secretly helped him track down his real mother and lured him into a trap. He captured both Todd and his mother, beat Todd near to death with a crowbar and then left a bomb, that went off just as father jumped out the batmobile in front of the shed Joker had locked them in. After that father became, angrier, in his pursuit of Joker. A new Red Hood appeared in Gotham sometime after that. Drake had become the new Robin and after some encounters with Hood a theory made its way into fathers head. So he broke into one of my grandfather's compounds, not the one I resided in however, and interrogated him about what had happened with Joker and Todd. Grandfather told him everything. I think for the first time in his life, grandfather felt guilty, like he'd actually gone too far this time. Either way he told father about taking Todd's body and putting it in the Lazarus pit. It was a mistake, injuries are fine to heal but this was a corpse, it shouldn't have happened but after two days soaking in the pit Todd awoke, crazed, mentally shattered and fled, screaming. That was the last my grandfather saw of him and father worked out the rest. After a 'talk' of conflicting opinions on the handling of criminals, a scuffle about killing Joker and a lot of time, Todd has stopped killing criminals out right, still uses his guns though, even visits the manor every so often. He and father are getting better and have moments where they get on very well, but there's still a lot of healing to do. The emotions flowing around them at the manor may feel very heavy if they're in the same room with you, don't be polite and try to carry it by yourself, let me know if it's getting uncomfortable for you." Damian said resting his forehead on Ravens at the end of his tale. Kori turned to Dick, who had, at some point, grabbed his phone and had it pointed to the pair with a grin on his face. Kori looked confused. "Why are you filming them?" She whispered. "I'm not, it's a video call to Bruce and Alfred." He replied keeping his voice down. "Master Dick?" Alfred said quietly from the other end of the video call and Dick switched the camera around to use the front camera. "Yea Alfred?" he whispered into the phone. "As much as I'm sure we're all pleased to see Master Damian, growing, is a video call necessary for each development?" The older gentleman questioned. Dick stifled a laugh into the pillow he was resting on. "No, that's not the reason for the call." He chuckled. "Bruce. I know you're trying with Jay, but sometimes the two of you butt heads, with Raven being empathic, she will feel that, more than anyone. I know you said that they should tell people themselves but given the situation, maybe a talk with Jay about the guests this time would help keep things calm and comfortable?" Dick said sincerely to the man sat in his usual tall backed chair. "I'm already here, Jackass. And heard that entire call." A voice said from behind the two men in view of the call. "You're there already?! Well colour me surprised Jay, I didn't expect you there 'til the day before, if at all." Dick said. "Shut up, Helena wanted to be here to help Alfred. Wasn't allowed to skip out." Jason said walking into view with a tall, black haired woman next to him. Helena was technically Bruce's daughter, be it for another dimension, who had also taken to crime fighting. She had been stranded in their world when the device she used to jump between the worlds had gotten broken and unrepairable in a scuffle with some thugs one night. Bruce had cautiously welcomed her in and allowed her to take up residence with them at the manor, they weren't short on rooms after all. Pulling some strings, setting up a DNA test, which was positive, and dampening his reputation a little, Bruce had managed to get to have Helena officially and legally recognised as his first born child in their world. At first Damian had hated the idea but after some time together he'd found Helena shared many interests that he had, and although he was still guarded around her, he could count on her just as much as any of his adoptive brother and sometimes even more so. "Hiya Dick, ignore the lug-head. How's the trip going?" She asked as Jason folded his arms and put on half a frown. "Good Hel, just woke up to Damian and Rev." Dick cut himself off as he looked up from the phone to see Damian standing in front of him arms folded, foot tapping and face frowning down at him. "Nice chat Grayson?" Damian said and Dick gave a playfully nervous chuckle. "Hey D, beautiful morning right? Isn't camping fun? Don't hit me." He replied as Kori, Raven and everyone, except Jason, on the other end of the phone laughed. "Right in the teeth D." Jason called out through the phone. "Alright, alright. Everyone chill. Dick used good judgement in calling us. I honestly hadn't thought about Ravens empathy when inviting her here with all our, personalities." Bruce said and Jason just scoffed. "Come on old man. You think of everything." He said unfolding his arms and taking a few steps closer to the group around the video monitor. "Jason, I don't think of everything. There are some details that slip my mind." Bruce said in his defence. "So our history is just a slipped detail that you didn't consider then." Jason replied a little ticked off. "Now really isn't the time." Bruce put out trying to defuse the situation. Everyone started looking around at each other with a 'here we go again' expression on their face. "It's never the time as far as you're concerned. Look Bruce. I get that I did some shit, alright a lot. And I'm not holding a grudge about dying or you not getting to me. You were right outside for Christ sake. Even after all that, you have never looked at me the same way. And I would like to know why." Jason continued the argument. "Damn it Jason, It has nothing to do with your death, maybe a bit, you died on my watch. Then you come back and that was beyond amazing. But you didn't come to me. You went to get Joker. And I understand the reasoning behind it. That's all settled, I can live with that. It's just." Bruce trailed off. Damian looked around at Raven. "I'm sorry to ask but are you able to help them, even this far away?" He thought to her and Raven smiled getting up from the chair she'd been sat in and walked forward "You were right. There's a lot of strong emotions from them. Being in that room would be overwhelming and I can feel them out here." She thought back as she crotched in front of Dick extending a hand for the phone. Dick looked up at her slightly confused but handed the phone over regardless. Raven straightened up and studied the arguing pair on the screen. "Mr Wayne feels saddened that it took Damian's grandfather to bring you back, that he wasn't there to console you when you first emerged from the Lazarus pit. He hates that you had to run through the world confused at that time. He wished you'd have come to him and that he could be there for you more now. He isn't very good at expressing what he feels inside because of all the mental training he did in order to fight crime, it all gets bottled up. Mr Todd feels like he let you down by falling into Jokers trap and pursuing the lead about his mother without involving you. He wishes to be a part of your family as he was before. He's still using guns but has replaced the rounds with rubber bullets to better keep in line with the code you taught him. He wants your appro, well that bit he can tell you. He wants the rift that has risen up between you to end though. And agrees that the Lazarus pit has given him rough edges. It took him five months to straighten his mind out as he kept having recurring dreams of his death and knew he'd break your heart if he came back to you insane. Sorry strong emotions such as yours, I can feel out here, only needed the phone to read them correctly." Explained Raven handing the phone back down to Dick and sitting down on the ground to rest. Damian moved forward and leaned over the top of the screen. "Your fighting is ridicules. I asked Raven if she'd be able to expl." Bruce cut Damian off by raising his hand. "I guessed. Raven's a good person she wouldn't look into our hearts without being nudged and I don't think Dick or Kori would have done that." He went on. Jason looked over to Helena and sighed dropping his gaze to the floor. He then started to walk over to Bruce. "No point scolding him either Bruce. We're too alike, too proud, stubborn or whatever else to just come out and say it. So drop it?" He said raising an open hand toward Bruce. Bruce looked him in the eye and then down at his hand. Clasping it with his own the two shook hands respectfully as they finally understood what was in the others head. "we'll more than likely be there by late evening tonight." Dick said after a moments silence. "I'll have the three rooms made up and ready for you." Said Bruce with a smile. "Three?" Damian questioned. "Yes, three. My house, my rules. Separate rooms. If Dick allowed you to share a tent that's up to him. Here, you get your own beds." Bruce said, a small smile creeping onto his face. Damian let out an agitated humph and Raven blushed looking to the ground. "Sure thing Bruce, we'll pack up and make our way to you. See you later. Also you and Jay owe some money to the jar." Dick said and Bruce nodded ending the call. "D. it's not that big a deal. You know Hel will give Raven her room as its next door to yours and she'll go in a guest room. So chill." Dick said as he climbed out his tent and stretched out. "Raven lets you and I take to the shower room and let the boys pack up." Kori said as she stood up next to Dick. "Okay." Raven said simply, getting to her feet and smiling to Damian. "Alright, how do we put these things away. And no laughing this time." Damian said giving a cheery scowl to Dick who chuckled aloud and began by rolling the sleeping bag as he pulled it from the tent. "Sleepers first, then tent. Hop to." He said and the pair began packing away as the girls walked off for their showers.