Chapter Text
Damian wasn’t sure how the subject had even come up, but it seemed like there was no going back now.
“It’s gonna be so much fun, Damian! We’ll get to hang out for a whole month.” Jon beamed as he sat on Damian’s bed, letting him pack in relative peace. Summer camp. That was the brilliant idea his father had come up with after having dinner with the Kents last week. His father had been unfortunately observant over the past few weeks and it seemed he had picked up on Damian’s mood. A miracle really, considering his father was quite terrible at reading any emotional situation. Almost as bad as Damian himself.
Even though it had been a while settling in with Bruce after having lived with Grayson was hard, to say the least. Drake moving out and Todd traveling with the outlaws left Damian being the only Robin in Gotham. Not that he needed them to help or anything, but their absence was…noted. Going from having people constantly worrying about him, then Grayson, then his Father, and now no one, was a bigger change than he had anticipated and it began to show in unsatisfactory ways.
His outburst last week was likely the main culprit.
He didn’t mean to act out of turn, but he couldn’t explain what was going through his head. The school had asked for him to participate in an art gallery. It sounded absolutely dreadful. Unfortunately, Alfred had found the flyer and asked the school about it before Damian had a chance to intervene. He agreed on the sole condition that someone from the family, even Drake for all he cared, didn’t leave him to fend for himself.
Every single one of them forgot.
Well, Alfred broke down on the way, but the rest of them had no excuses, and Damian hadn’t exactly coped well. That many people, all talking about how his father was absent and his brothers weren’t around anymore was unsettling. The result was the rough tearing of his sketches off the wall as he found a quiet classroom to wait for his ride home. No one would have really noticed much if he hadn’t given up and walked home with the torn sketches in his backpack. It didn’t take long for his father to find them after that.
“You and I have very different definitions of fun” Damian muttered shoving a large hoodie on top of everything else. Beyond the fact that hanging out with a bunch of civilian children sounded like literal hell, he also would have to be away from all of his pets for nearly a month. Alfred had promised he would take care of them. To which Damian huffed that obviously, he didn’t keep his promises…it was a very silent dinner for one that night.
“Our dads picked a really fun camp. It’s all about wildlife and animals and hiking! You like all of those things. Plus there’s lots of free time so you can practice your art stuff too.” Jon explained and Damian nodded. He’d have to remember to put that in his backpack.
“I have better things to do with my summer” He argued zipping his suitcase stuff before searching his desk for the materials he would need. For a moment he wished Jon wasn’t in the room so that he could grab his favorite dagger. He’d have to settle for the hidden in his jacket for now.
“Like what? Train forever?” Jon mocked, completely unafraid of his best friend’s glare. “Come on Damian! We only get to have so many summer camps before you’re an old man” Damian couldn’t help it when he shoved the super brat for that remark. He had it coming.
“You are still such a child” He scoffed, pulling his now-packed backpack on his shoulders. Jon rushed to hold his suitcase before he had a chance.
“So are you” Jon smiled leading him out of his bedroom and towards the commotion downstairs. It seemed while his siblings had been absent for weeks, the moment he leaves it suddenly is a bigger deal that they won’t be around him. Drake, Grayson, Todd, and Gordon had come to see him off for his ride to camp with the Kents.
“Damian!” Grayson greeted rushing to the stairs to lift him into a hug. As much as he fought he had his way for a few minutes, oblivious to Jon’s laughter at their enthusiasm. Deep down he relished the warmth that came from the bone-crushing hugs his brothers gave. Especially after having not had one in so long. “I missed you” he added letting Damian’s feet hit the manor lobby again.
“Then you should come more often” he forced knowing it would make Grayson’s smile dip just a bit. Even if he was glad to see him, that didn’t mean he wasn’t still upset.
“Ah, sorry bout that Kiddo.” the apology was awkward and stiff, much like Damian’s posture. He was saved by Titus who came to distract his hands. “But hey! We’re all here now” Grayson assured stepping back so he could have the full view of his family. Paying a bit more attention, he could see that Drake was still wearing his suit from work and Todd was holding his motorcycle keys. Clearly, both planned on leaving as soon as he was gone.
“Tt, you didn’t all need to come in the first place,” he replied petting his Great Dane methodically. “Your time would’ve been better served continuing your business.”
“Don’t be such an a-hole Dames, we’re just here to tell you to have fun” Drake smiled as if he didn’t know that Damian needed to learn how to avoid people at galas. As if he wasn’t the one who willingly taught him how.
“That, and to place our bets on how many days before you deck a kid in the face” Todd teased, as expected.
“Boys” Bruce interrupted settling a hand on Damian’s shoulder that made him jump. “I’m certain that Damian and Jon will do just fine. Say your goodbyes and let them get going.” It was nice to know his father was eager to have him away. Perhaps that was why all his siblings came, to celebrate his more official absence.
“I’m sure that it’s gonna be a lot of fun. I also programmed your phone so that it has a direct link to the watchtower and the comm system in case anything goes wrong” Gordon smiled passing him a cell that he could bring for the trip.
“Bruce is right though. You’ll be late if you don’t get going squirt.” Drake added as helpful as ever. He let his hand stroke Titus a bit longer with each pat. This whole thing was a stupid endeavor that would only serve in giving him a lack of training.
“Titus, come” Todd called and Damian smiled when his dog refused to move from in front of him. At least someone had undying loyalty. Grayson laughed and came to pet the dog as well, as if he could bribe him from his spot. He failed.
“Good boy Titus.” Damian praised. “You’ll have to guard my room while I’m gone,” he instructed side-eyeing Drake. “Go to Todd.” He could feel his nerves come back as the dog left his side and he walked back to the door where Alfred was waiting with an extra coat.
“We’ll see you when you come back” his father promised. He nodded and accepted the half-hearted goodbye.
“I’ll take good care of the animals Master Damian” Alfred assured putting the coat gently in his arms. He only hummed in acknowledgment before Jon roughly shoved up against him.
“Say goodbye to your brothers and let's go!” Damian could appreciate his enthusiasm. The sooner they left his family to stand by themselves the better.
“Bye,” he mumbled opening the door only to slam it on all their sickeningly fond farewells.
He’d be back in a month and nothing will have changed. The growing pool of nerves in his stomach would surely dissipate. The nightmares that had been increasing wouldn’t be an issue at the camp. Everything would be fine.
“I can’t wait to know our cabin names. Do you think they’ll let us pick? Would it be weird if we named the cabin krypton? Probably right?”
He was going to die before next month.