To Be Your Son

Let's Take This Outside

It is a foggy Monday morning and Damian is in the city of Boston, heading into the city's favorite Coffee Shop. Why so far away from Gotham? Damian is on the run. He's become a fugitive to his own fears. The fear that he won't be able to fill his father's shoes consumes his mind.

(Damian POV)
I walk into the coffee shop feeling nothing but ease. I'm in a coffee shop in Boston. That's when I realize how safe I really am. There's no way my father would ever find me here. I've been hiding from my father for 5 months. But hiding from Bruce Wayne comes with the package deal of hiding from Dick, Jason, and Tim. I'm exhausted and it's too early to think about the possibility that one of them may stumble upon me and turn me into father or that I may never see them again. I make my way up to the register and order a coffee and a bagel. I turn around to leave the shop with half a bagel in my mouth when I catch a glimpse of the person behind me in line. He's a tall man. Dressed in all black. Our eyes meet for less than a second, and my heart drops into my stomach. I almost choke as I swallow my bagel and try to regain my balance as I walk by him, hoping I've gone undetected. I take one step past him—thinking I am safe—when I feel a heavy hand grasp my shoulder. I was paralyzed. It was my father. The color left my cheeks and I felt like I was about to vomit. Questions flooded my mind. How did he find me? Was he even looking for me? Where do I go? Does he know it's me? These questions were swarming my every thought when it all came to a sudden halt. He whispered, "Let's take this outside".  My eyes started wandering around the shop. I could make a scene, I was right next to the exit—I could make a run for it—but something in me forced me to comply. My mind was locked on escaping his grasp but my heart missed him. Even if I didn't deserve him as a father. Was it selfish of me to think he cared about me?.
My legs wobble and every fiber in my body works simultaneously to carry my stubborn self. I'm terrified. Seven years ago I didn't know what fear was. I didn't give a damn what my father, Dick, Jason, or Tim thought of me. But things are different now. They broke down my walls and taught me how to be human, I loved them and would do anything for them. And that terrified me.

We make our way outside of the shop and he leads me to his car. He opens the door, and I pause. I could still escape. I glance to my left and right, and then at my shoes. I see a lively subway just ahead—I could dash into the crowd of people and catch a ride somewhere. Bruce seemed to know what I was thinking and put his hand against the car. In stern but seemingly pained voice he demanded, "Get in the car, Damian." So I did. I don't know why, but I did. Those five months of concealing my identity, hiding in a city my father would never suspect, cutting off all ties with the people who I selfishly believed loved me...all for nothing. I was tired. I was drained. However, being with my father again felt like a relief...even though I was sure he'd strangle me to death for leaving, I just knew I didn't want to run anymore. The entire car ride was silent. I kept fidgeting in my seat...I could feel the anger and pain that emitted from my father. His eyes were fixed on the road and his brows were furrowed. I rested my head on my elbow and I caught him glance at me, then back at the road.  He let out a small sigh...of relief. It seemed like he was just glad  to know I was safe. My eyes were so heavy. I was trying so hard to stay awake. I would open and close my eyes until I rested my head on the car window. And my vision faded into a black abyss.

I woke up no longer in the car. I jolted up from the couch I was curled up on. I was in the Wayne Manor. I looked outside and saw that the sky was pitch black. Then I heard a voice from the kitchen say, "Come here and sit down. You have a lot of explaining to do. And don't even think about running. Escaping isn't an option and it won't happen again, I promise you that." I had to remove a blanket that was tightly cradled around me. Had Father done this? No...the blanket was probably already there. I gulped and slowly got up from the couch. My heart felt like it was rattling inside my ribs, ready to burst out of my chest. I dragged my feet into the kitchen. There was only one light on so I could barley see Bruce. He had his glasses on and appeared to be reading something. I took my seat at the opposite end of the table. He looked up, and slid me what I could now see as a newspaper. I grabbed it and read the headline. "Son of Bruce Wayne Missing or Killed?"
Bruce muttered, "the press loves these kinds of things. They thrive off of it. Do you have any idea how hard it was for everyone to read this when it came out? We didn't believe it was true but the very idea of it happening...it broke us...it broke Dick...Jason, and even Tim. Damian, I couldn't sleep with the thought in my mind that something could have happened to you. Look, I know you can handle yourself...you always do. But... you've never been gone that long, that far. And we usually were always able to find you when you'd run and we always knew your hiding spots. Now you tell me," —his anger intensified— "why did you run? Why? You better have a damn good explanation Damian."

(Damian POV)
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't mean to cause anyone grief...I didn't think anyone would care...or even miss my presence. The truth was, the older I got, the weaker I felt. I started to develop insecurities I didn't even know I could feel. The one that made me want to disappear off the face of the earth...the reality that I will never live up to be Bruce Wayne's son. To be the son of Batman...those weren't even options for me. I just don't measure up. I couldn't tell anyone this though. I don't want people to know how weak and pathetic I really am. I feel like such a coward. There's nothing more that I want right now than to disappear. I don't deserve to be Bruce Wayne's son.

My thoughts are interrupted by Bruce clearing his throat and saying, "Damian?".

I couldn't look up at him. I could feel my eyes start to glaze over as a tear rolled down my cheek. I tried to swallow my sudden rush of emotion. My chest was about to explode. It felt like chains were wrapped around my throat, I needed to let out the emotions I had been storing away for the last five months. But I couldn't do it in front of him. My throat was burning as I tried to keep my composure. My breathing became heavy. Then I heard a pair of heavy footsteps make their way to where I was seated. Bruce pulled out the chair closest to me and sat in it. My eyes were still glued to the table as I twiddled with my fingers. Bruce reaches out his hand and grabs my chin and lifts my face up. He then says, "Damian, I'm going to ask you one more time. Why did you run?". I thought I was past my tears but it was too late. The moment our eyes met a waterfall of tears gush from my eyes. I try to look away because I don't want him to see how weak I am. I must be such a disappointment to him. He must be disgusted at the thought of me. How could I be the son of Batman? How could I be the son of Bruce Wayne? I needed to get out of here. I stood up and pushed in my chair. I turned away from the table and started to walk back to the couch, feeling numb. I here the chair Bruce was sitting in slam against the edge of the table. I start to quicken my pace when I feel a hand grab shoulder. I'm stopped dead in my tracks. Bruce turns me around and I can say I've never been more terrified In my life. I didn't know what to expect. I had just walked away from him. Disrespected him. I have been in countless life threatening battles. I have become quite acquainted with the face of death, I have a demon for a grandfather, and a mother that used me to blackmail my own father. Yet I've never been afraid. And here I am, with my father tightening his grip on both of my shoulders, our blue eyes locked as I brace for the worst.

I expected to be thrown to the ground, dragged outside, or slammed back into my seat at the table. I started to shut my eyes as I slowly squirmed trying to get him to release me.

But he pulls me closer to him, and wraps his arms around me. He rests his palm on the back of my head, holding me so tight as if it was my last day on earth. The air was squeezed out of my lungs. I'm not sure how to react. At first, my whole body freezes and I think Bruce can feel me tense up so he softens his grip. But suddenly I rest my head on his chest and wrap my arms around him as I listen to the beat of his heart. I feel safe.

He says to me "Don't ever do that again. I need you here."

For the first time in five months, I felt like I belonged here, with him. With my family. And I never wanted to let go.

DONE!
Okay I will be adding more chapters to this story explaining how things led up to this point!
The chapter will be called, "Five Months Ago"

*please let me know what you think. Your feedback is very appreciated!!! It's my first story ever so please don't judge I know it's bad. *