Damian's Sister

The Manor

~ The Manor ~

Upon arriving at the Batcave, the trio exited the car. Daire looked around, much like Damian had.

"So this is the fabled Batcave. Grandfather told us all about it." She took a few more seconds to take it all in. "It's smaller than I expected."

Batman sighed. This girl was so much like his son. He didn't want to go through this process again. He just finished with Damian.

"Another one, sir?" a formal voice called from the staircase.

"This is my sister, Pennyworth," Damian introduced.

The butler raised a curious eyebrow. "Sister?"

"Not mine," the Dark Knight added.

"So half-sister?"

"Technically, yes, but we don't use the 'half' part."

"For someone who's a stickler about being 'the blood son' I'm surprised you don't pin that detail down," another voice said.

"Shut it, Grayson."

Dick, in his Nightwing outfit, walked up to the duo. The girl cringed back, hiding behind Damian. Dick frowned but stopped.

"Hi, I'm Dick, also known as Nightwing."

"She doesn't talk to men she's unfamiliar with," Damian informed, standing proudly in front of the timid girl. Though his mother and grandfather hated the way she cringed, he felt a surge of pride protecting his sister. He was brave and strong enough to protect them both. Of course, Daire could protect herself. She just tried not to resort to violence.

"Just men?" Batman questioned, his cowl still covering his face.

"Adult men," the boy clarified.

"Why is that?" Dick inquired. Batman thought over his time with the girl, and he realized his son was right. She never once said a word to him before that night. She either ignored, fought, or cringed away from him. And when she had spoken, it was timid and soft.

"Dami!" the girl hushed, horrified as Damian started to answer. "Don't."

"Father is going to find out. He knows everything."

"He didn't know about you for ten years," the girl pointed out. "Besides, this is my past. I don't want people to know. If people know, they might make it happen again."

"Father isn't like that-" Damian tried.

"Mine was."

What happened to this girl? Batman was already forming theories, theories that didn't make him happy. How could Talia let that happen to her own daughter? I mean, she is a cold, heartless bitch, but still. Her own child? How could any mother let that happen to their child? And Damian? With how protective he was over the girl, he couldn't imagine Damian knowing about it and not stopping it. But, if his theory was correct, it would help explain Damian's protective nature with other children.

"Mine isn't. They won't," the boy insisted. Batman shook his head. There was a chance he was wrong. For once, he hoped he was wrong. "I'll kill anyone who tries."

"Damian!"

"I mean it."

Bruce wanted to protest further, but if his theory was correct, he'd have a hard time not killing the offender, too. He let the subject drop.

"Alfred, please settle Daire in the room next to Damian's."

"Alone?" the girl squeaked. "In a room? My own room?"