Brothers To The Bitter End

39

1 week later

Damian walked into the training room and found Dick, just like every other day that week, training on the rings he had had Roy install.

"You do know it's ok to take a break for a few days, right?" He called up to his brother.

Dick laughed, supporting himself so that his feet were straight up in the air and his face was facing Damian on the ground. "That sounds like the exact same thing I used to say to you. So here's a little blast from your past: just because you take a break doesn't mean your responsibilities will."

Damian grinned. "That really is annoying."

"Tell me about it." Dick swung around a few times, gaining momentum, then flipped off the rings and landed perfectly on the ground.

"You should go to the Olympics."

Dick just grinned and chugged water from his water bottle. "Can't say that wasn't my dream when I was little."

"What happened?"

"Tony Zucco killed my family and I got taken in and trained by a psychopath." Dick shrugged, a smile still plastered on his face. "But it all worked out. After all, if Bruce hadn't taken me in, you wouldn't have me or Jason or Tim or Stephanie or Cass as your siblings."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "You forgot Wally and Roy."

"And Artemis." Dick picked up his stuff and walked out of the training room with Damian. "You'd probably still have Alfred though."

Damian frowned. "Just how old is Pennyworth?"

Dick paused, frowning. "Uuuhhh immortal? Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure his birth certificate is not from the last century. I don't think he even has a birth certificate."

A grin spread across Damian's face. "I don't doubt that he is immortal. He strikes me as the kind that never dies." His next words were deadly serious, however. "How are you doing? The Lazarus Pit takes a lot out of a person."

"Didn't seem to knock the wind out of your grandfather's sails." Dick grinned briefly then just sighed. "I'm tired, like real bone-weary tired. But getting up on the rings helps me get some energy back."

Damian nodded, but before he could say anything a resounding shout echoed through the intercom.

"Dick! Duck!"

Dick didn't hesitate at the sound of Jason's voice and dove to the right just as a purple clad figure flew through the air where he'd just been standing.

"Jason!" Stephanie hollered. "You ruined the surprise!"

A deep cackle resounded through the Tower. "He almost died, Spoils. Give me a break for wanting to keep him alive."

Dick snorted. Jason just wanted to see him dive for the ground. He would've said something scathing to his brother, but Stephanie tackle-hugged him.

"We've been so worried! We would've come sooner, but Damian told us that more people around would just make things worse! So when he called last night and told us that the juice was our of your system, we rushed right over!"

"We?" Dick asked, the wind rushing back into his lungs finally.

"Yeah, Steph dragged all of us along." Tim walked into the room, his Red Robin suit on, and grinned.

"When you say all of us, do you mean . . ." Dick was cut off by a thrilled squeal.

"Uncle Dick!" Lian ran as quickly as her short legs would allow her to, Roy hot on her heels. Lian leaped into Dick's arms, and he gave her a hug.