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[Look Damian didn't sign up for this either okay. A moment later, he retreats from the embrace, hands shooting to his hair to pat it back into place and block his very pink cheeks from view. The flush fades quickly (thank goodness) and he clears his throat, dropping his arms back to his side only seconds later.]
It's also good to see you well, Rogers. [He is a Total Professional. Hug? What hug?]
We should talk, but not here. [Way too open for the sort of conversation he wanted to have and for the things he wanted to ask.]
[He doesn't trust easy. It's a thing that grows in increments, gained like ground on a battlefield and nearly as bloody. It's more than being willing to put his life in someone's hands - that's easy, and always has been. That, he's done at a word, a whisper. There are very few people he'd let hold his heart, less still he truly trusts.]
You have to ask?
[But those he does, he'd follow to the ends of the Earth.]
[Damian hides his smile with the quick turn of his head.]
This way Rogers. [As soon as they're out on the sidewalk again, he resumes a casual pace. Everything about his walk is normal now except for the glances he keeps stealing at Steve out of the corner of his eyes. It's childish and he knows it, but he wants to make sure Rogers doesn't somehow disappear. It's not like it wasn't a possibility given the capricious nature of multiverse travel.]
[He keeps casual pace, distancing himself just enough to make it seem they aren't together. He's not worried about losing Robin - Damian, rather - in a crowd, given their respective skills.
They keep it up until they get to an apartment building tucked away between two aggressively Gothic buildings - one looks to be a law firm, and the other some sort of ostentatious bookstore. Damian gives him a bit of a look over one shoulder that Steve interprets easily, and as the boy heads inside, he falls back to an alleyway. Roof access is a must for little birds, so-- he takes an educated guess, makes sure no one's watching and jumps for the fire escape. He scales the rusting frame easily, avoiding any spots that seem like they won't hold his weight, and gets to the roof in short time to wait.]
[It's less than two minutes when Damian is opening a rooftop entrance and motioning for Rogers to follow him down. The apartment is modest with the barest of decoration, only what was necessary. The complex is owned by Father of course, with security installed by oracle herself as with all of their safe houses. By the time Rogers is down, Damian is standing in the sparsely decorated living room, arms folded across his chest and leaning against a wall.]
Rogers. [Even now, even with time for it to sink in, there's still an unmistakable lilt to his voice and a brightness to his features that betrays his feelings.]
[He sounds deeply amused more than offended or even concerned. Instead, he lifts one shoulder in a shrug. What're the odds they're being listened to? Monitored by someone else. Maybe someone Damian trusts, maybe not. Steve takes a breath.]
I'm looking for something called an Infinity Gem. One of a set. Don't ask me how it ended up here, all I know's it did. Knew coming in this might be a one-way trip. Didn't expect I'd wind up-- [he gestures around, implying Gotham.] here.
[Damian listens, brow furrowing at the mention of the Infinity Gem. He's never heard of it, but that hardly means anything. It could be known by another name here, or known only to a few.]
If you can't find a way, we can help you get home. [Of that, he is confident. But not yet. Not if Rogers is here on a mission.]
I disabled the line. Gr-...[He stops, considering.] Robin-the other one, I would prefer not to keep your presence here from him, but I will not share the details of your reason for being here without permission from you. [Rogers was not a Bat and he was not his partner, but their time together in Haven meant something. There is loyalty there for having gone through that place together. Loyalty because he knows the kind of man Steve Rogers is.]
[Of course not. Makes sense. He still draws a breath, holds it. Lets it out. No, he trusted the other Robin just as much as he does Damian. He'll see what kind of man he's grown into and decide then for himself, but he's not going to shut him out entirely, not after everything.]
He doesn't- remember, does he? Anything about Haven?
[He hates, hates how hope threads through his voice like a vein of ore through stone.]
[His eyes drop to the floor and for a long time he is silent. When he finally speaks, his voice is soft and out of character.]
I think...the memories grow fainter with time. Sometimes he looks at me and I think...perhaps there is some recollection... [He shrugs, carefully casual even though his body language is anything but.]
When I returned from haven nearly two decades had past for him. Maybe he remembered back then, all those years ago. Maybe he never did.
[It's a subtle knife, but it still cuts. Steve nods once, brusquely.]
All right. The Infinity Gem represents Time. Anyone holding it can manipulate it, stop it, go back or forward. It grants virtual omniscience. For obvious reasons, I need to keep it out of the wrong hands.
[He hesitates.]
I'm not against telling him. The other-- Robin. But I'd prefer to meet him first and decide for myself if it's the right call.
[For just a moment, something inside of him hurts for Rogers and he has to look away. (Empathy he reminds himself. Perhaps the Wayne genes would win out after all.) When he looks back, Rogers is already moving on.]
That's more than fair. He'll want to meet you at night. [To protect his identity, Damian doesn't say though they both understand. Honestly, if he's here in Gotham long enough, it'll only be a matter of time before he realizes what family Damian is a part of, but no need to give it away now.]
For what it's worth, he's one of the best men I've ever known. I trust him with my life. [And a hell of a lot more, but that was beyond Damian's capacity to voice.]
[And God willing, will again. But it'll be hard going, this time. Adults have walls that children don't, and Steve knows his own are high and not easily traversed. He knows Damian will vouch for him, but he doesn't know if the man the other Robin grew up to be will take that at face value or not.]
[It's the answer to the question that had been dancing on the tip of his tongue from the moment he'd seen Rogers. The question he hadn't yet built the courage to ask.
He lets a breath out, feels a weight removed from his chest that he hadn't been aware of until this moment. (It's quite possible it has been there for far longer than Roger's arrival today.) Damian blinks and swallows over a suddenly tight throat, one of the corners of his lips pulling up into a shaky half smirk.]
Of course he is. I expected nothing less. [But he had feared all the worse, and he had never thought to get any answers. He had believed he would die not knowing. (The words are a gift.)
Damian's composure cracks and he lets out another breath, this one shuddered as he brings his hands up to cover his face, fingers slipping down to press softly over his mouth. The wall settles under the weight of his body as he no longer bothers to support himself.]
Of course he is... [Through the cracks in his fingers, a smile sneaks through.]
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no subject
Well.
Okay.
It takes him a moment for his shoulders to crawl down from around his ears, but once they do he's hugging Damian back with an equal ferocity.]
Glad to see you're okay, Damian.
[And have a hair ruffle for good measure.]
no subject
It's also good to see you well, Rogers. [He is a Total Professional. Hug? What hug?]
We should talk, but not here. [Way too open for the sort of conversation he wanted to have and for the things he wanted to ask.]
Will you accompany me somewhere more secure?
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You have to ask?
[But those he does, he'd follow to the ends of the Earth.]
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This way Rogers. [As soon as they're out on the sidewalk again, he resumes a casual pace. Everything about his walk is normal now except for the glances he keeps stealing at Steve out of the corner of his eyes. It's childish and he knows it, but he wants to make sure Rogers doesn't somehow disappear. It's not like it wasn't a possibility given the capricious nature of multiverse travel.]
no subject
They keep it up until they get to an apartment building tucked away between two aggressively Gothic buildings - one looks to be a law firm, and the other some sort of ostentatious bookstore. Damian gives him a bit of a look over one shoulder that Steve interprets easily, and as the boy heads inside, he falls back to an alleyway. Roof access is a must for little birds, so-- he takes an educated guess, makes sure no one's watching and jumps for the fire escape. He scales the rusting frame easily, avoiding any spots that seem like they won't hold his weight, and gets to the roof in short time to wait.]
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Rogers. [Even now, even with time for it to sink in, there's still an unmistakable lilt to his voice and a brightness to his features that betrays his feelings.]
Care to explain?
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Interrogation, huh?
[He sounds deeply amused more than offended or even concerned. Instead, he lifts one shoulder in a shrug. What're the odds they're being listened to? Monitored by someone else. Maybe someone Damian trusts, maybe not. Steve takes a breath.]
I'm looking for something called an Infinity Gem. One of a set. Don't ask me how it ended up here, all I know's it did. Knew coming in this might be a one-way trip. Didn't expect I'd wind up-- [he gestures around, implying Gotham.] here.
no subject
If you can't find a way, we can help you get home. [Of that, he is confident. But not yet. Not if Rogers is here on a mission.]
What does it do? It's dangerous I presume?
no subject
I'm sorry I have to ask, but is anyone listening to this?
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I disabled the line. Gr-...[He stops, considering.] Robin-the other one, I would prefer not to keep your presence here from him, but I will not share the details of your reason for being here without permission from you. [Rogers was not a Bat and he was not his partner, but their time together in Haven meant something. There is loyalty there for having gone through that place together. Loyalty because he knows the kind of man Steve Rogers is.]
...he's not Robin here anymore of course.
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He doesn't- remember, does he? Anything about Haven?
[He hates, hates how hope threads through his voice like a vein of ore through stone.]
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I think...the memories grow fainter with time. Sometimes he looks at me and I think...perhaps there is some recollection... [He shrugs, carefully casual even though his body language is anything but.]
When I returned from haven nearly two decades had past for him. Maybe he remembered back then, all those years ago. Maybe he never did.
no subject
All right. The Infinity Gem represents Time. Anyone holding it can manipulate it, stop it, go back or forward. It grants virtual omniscience. For obvious reasons, I need to keep it out of the wrong hands.
[He hesitates.]
I'm not against telling him. The other-- Robin. But I'd prefer to meet him first and decide for myself if it's the right call.
no subject
That's more than fair. He'll want to meet you at night. [To protect his identity, Damian doesn't say though they both understand. Honestly, if he's here in Gotham long enough, it'll only be a matter of time before he realizes what family Damian is a part of, but no need to give it away now.]
For what it's worth, he's one of the best men I've ever known. I trust him with my life. [And a hell of a lot more, but that was beyond Damian's capacity to voice.]
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I did too.
[And God willing, will again. But it'll be hard going, this time. Adults have walls that children don't, and Steve knows his own are high and not easily traversed. He knows Damian will vouch for him, but he doesn't know if the man the other Robin grew up to be will take that at face value or not.]
Bucky's-- he's fine. He's all right.
no subject
He lets a breath out, feels a weight removed from his chest that he hadn't been aware of until this moment. (It's quite possible it has been there for far longer than Roger's arrival today.) Damian blinks and swallows over a suddenly tight throat, one of the corners of his lips pulling up into a shaky half smirk.]
Of course he is. I expected nothing less. [But he had feared all the worse, and he had never thought to get any answers. He had believed he would die not knowing. (The words are a gift.)
Damian's composure cracks and he lets out another breath, this one shuddered as he brings his hands up to cover his face, fingers slipping down to press softly over his mouth. The wall settles under the weight of his body as he no longer bothers to support himself.]
Of course he is... [Through the cracks in his fingers, a smile sneaks through.]
Who else would keep you in line?