Little ficlet based on, like, one single scene that inspired me from this amazing post by @charlietheepicwriter7! Literally couldn't get this idea out of my head!!
Batman stared at the uniform in his hands.
The uniform consisting of red, green, gold and black colors.
The Robin uniform.
Near him, the glint of a birdarang catches his eye, the green of Damian's domino mask next to it. And the R of the Robin badge alongside the rest of his utility belt and such.
The other members of the Justice League were talking, he can faintly hear their voices echoing in his ears but can't make out any words being spoken.
The only thing he can hear were the words his son said to him when he called to inform the Justice League of any updates on his mission. It was supposed to be easy, Damian would slowly worm his way into this group of villainous teens and the Justice League would have their way in and disband it and have all their 'members' be placed away to what was their rightful punishments.
Starting with that Phantom character who has been avoiding their radars.
Damian had certainly learned at a young age the art of deception from Talia. Her ways of being an assassin slash spy to get what information she could need being passed along to their son.
Talia disowning Damian didn't change that. He was an Al Ghul, no matter what.
He was their ticket in, using the name Al Ghul instead of Wayne as he was accepted into the Phantom's gang.
But maybe... maybe Bruce miscalculated how much acceptance he was going to get by joining said gang.
"I quit." Damian's voice rang clear and loud.
There wasn't a moment to comprehend what Bruce could even say to that before Damian kept going.
"I quit this mission. I quit being Robin and I... I no longer wish to return to Gotham with you, Batman." Not even a 'Father' at the end of his sentence, just Batman.
Because that's what he always was to Damian, not 'Father' or even anything else. Just Batman.
There was some exclaims from the Justice League, Batman recalls some calling Damian a traitor and he wanted to defend his son, tell Damian to come back, anything.
But he was struck frozen in his seat.
Damian was wearing a simple black domino mask, along with a black outfit. Nothing like the outfit of someone in the League of Assassins, just something that was solely him, that he chose to wear.
The call ended at some point, whether from Damian or someone else.
Damian wasn't returning from this mission, he was staying with Phantom.
He was... accepted, it seems. In a way he never was with Bruce, and certainly not with Talia or Ra's.
Dick wasn't going to be happy about this.
As Tucker cut off the call, Damian stepped away from the screen. He… He had hoped that his… that Batman would have some sort of response to his resignation. But the man just stared frozen at him.
He didn’t see Grayson there so maybe he had a response. But he’ll never see the man’s reaction. It was then that Danny walked into his line of vision. “You doing okay Damian?” He brushed away his thought for now. “I’ll be alright.” Danny smiled. “well dinner is still being prepared but everyone banned from cooking is playing some card games.” Danny offered up his hand in invitation to hold.
It’s something he loved about the TVA. Nearly everything was his choice. How long he stayed, if he wanted a private or joined bedroom, physical touch, sparing rules, joining missions or normalish activities. Sessions with Jazz were really the only mandatory part of the group and no one was excluded, even the founders. But you could talk about what ever you wanted.
His most recent choice was how he wanted to celebrate his permanent joining the group. Lots of kids liked to throw a party. Piñatas were popular, usually an ex-mentor or their nemesis. Dancing with a horrendous amount of junk food was often included. Game nights were common too, they were grander then the recurring game nights
Damian though wanted a sit down dinner with a movie afterwards.
Damian took Danny’s offered hand and followed him out to the big decorated living room. Cards were fun, at first they played Blackjack. But quickly they switched to uno because people didn’t want to bet anymore. Damian quite happily took his earnings, he even got a gadget someone had bet.
The Dinner had a focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes. Dinner was a blast and Damian was sat at the head of the table as it was his celebration. He definitely wouldn’t mind having more dinners like this: tension free full of chatter and laughter.
By the time everyone was ready for the movie they were all a bit tired. Damian had pondered over what movie he’d chose. In the end he chose Castle in the Sky. So settled in a large bean bag with Danny, he watched the start of the move.
An odd feeling of peace settles over him.
They all pull back sort of awkwardly. Danny reaches a hand out to help him up while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Danny: Sorry dude. We thought you were here to hurt him.
Nightwing: Ok. So. Can I speak to him alone please?
Danny: ...... If Damian is ok with that yes.
Damian:... I would like for Phantom to be there. At first at least.
Nightwing: Ok. Ok. That's fine.
Dick is hopeful and hurt. Because baby bat asked Dr him not o be hurt! But it seems like he does fully trust him right now. Which, ow. First thing he does once the three are in a separate room is grab him in a hug.
Nightwing: I am so sorry. I didn't know he was sending you away! I can't believe him!
Danny: Yeah. Maybe tell him not to send kids on under cover operations in future. We will not take it well. I can't believe Batman is just as bad as half the bloody villains with his side kicks.
Damian: Yes well. Apparently trusting the son he had with an assassin is impossible for him.
Nightwing:..... Great. Just great. First he gets little wing killed. And gets pissy when he comes back angry. Then Red loses a spleen. And now he's run you off. If I still over with him I'd be hunting him for sport.
Danny: You swear you won't try to guilt trip Damian back? Cause I don't want to have to hurt to t protect him. But I will. He's my little brother now.
Nightwing: Hah! Good. I'm glad he has that! No. If Damian is happy. Just.... It's cool if I visit right?
Damian: Perhaps not as a hero? Or wel, not acting as one. No bugs. No trackers.
Nightwing: I can agree to that. Phantom, thanks for helping the other teens. I'm glad that have you.
Danny: Yeah well. I wasn't actually a villain. Until I had no choice. So I figured there were others like me. Might as well help em out.
Damian: Phantom was the hero of Amity Park. But being non human? They decided he wasn't.
Nightwing:... None of the League even spoke to you did they? I'm punching all of them.
Danny: I mean. You could always join the darkside! We have cookies. And cuddle piles.
Cookies and cuddle piles? And Damien, of course. That might actually tempt Dick away!
Nightwing like.... That's.... Do I have to be a villain? Like do I have to hurt people?
Danny:.... When was the last time anyone here harmed a civilian?
Nightwing: ..... I take it the building you blew up wasn't in fact a government operation?
Damian: It was. One that focuses on the capturing and experimentation on sapient beings.
Danny: So, government sponsored monsters. You know how it is!
Nightwing: I need all the information you have on this branch. So I can subtly lead the League to their unethical practises.
Danny: Dude. He's literally working with them. The GIW? The ones who called me a villain? Yeah them.
Nightwing:.... Hm.
Damian: Ah. I have been warned about that face. Nightwing. Remember to consider if you will regret the consequences.
Nightwing: Nope. Guess I'm going darkside! Should be fun!
Sam:.... Holy shit. Have we managed to nab three of Batman's kids?! He's gonna hate us so much!
Jazz: Then he shouldn't have supported genocide!
My favorite thing about that and the original thread is it’s peak actions have consequences
Ones that not even the league can undo
Basically the league fucked around and now they’re finding out and I love it!!
Nightwing stormed into the meeting room on the watchtower, radiating anger so strongly everyone leaned away from him. Batman clearly expected the punch that was thrown at him. He rolled with the blow to lessen the damage that would be caused, but allowed it to land.
Nightwing: So we support experimentation on sapient beings now do we? We support hurting teens? We support fucking genocide? Since when?!?! I quit, effective immediately. You won't see me again unless Baby bat wants to be escorted to visit you!
Superman: Genocide? What genocide?
Nightwing: Oh let me guess. Doesn't count cause they're ghosts right. That makes it ok to kidnap and torture them?
Wonder Woman: Nightwing. Please. We don't know what you are talking about?
Nightwing: The GIW. They aren't doing catch and release. They aren't arresting them. They are kidnapping them. And hurting them. They made laws so it's legal. You didn't do the research. And people are getting hurt, badly. Like I said. I quit.
No one tried to stop him as he left. They knew how he could be when angry. He would just get worse. And keeping a bat locked up? Not easy. Batman let his face fall into his hands and sighed deeply.
Batman: Three of my boys now. Three. We have to fix the law and the GIW at least. Likely won't get the TVA to break up. But it might help soften them.
Superman:.... I can't believe we missed that. What the hell.
Flash:.... We really should have dragged someone from JLD along. Fuck.
when it's The Flash which must remind us of the existence of the magician/JLD, you know there was a big problem somewhere.
When does the JLD learn of the existence of the laws and the GiW? he asks the league for at least one of their detectors.
AND
surprise surprise~ almost all their members react to this, but not only that, some members of the JL too
Constantine, positive: well, I guess anything that sounds positive is banned from the United States for a while. Well I guess some will crash with me and billy has the house of mysteries time to turn around
Shazam post revelation, positive because champion of Magic, with a capital M, which also counts the magic of death: How am I going to be able to justify this at school?!?
Superman who had been super dead, positive but in denial: let's calm down, it must just be a problem with the detector maybe-
Constantine: I'll stop you there, superdude. You do what you want. But I won't take the risk of having less rights than a white mouse. Good luck protecting uncle sam from supernatural stuff mister big blue. I'm out