No. But it's easier to remain rational about it and protect as many as possible instead of one in particular when you maintain distance.
[Damian watches his father sit back and pinch his nose. The gesture is familiar, but in his mind it comes with the familiar cave around them, or the kitchen table. Somehow here it seems alien to see it. His father, but not. If it's before Damian, Bruce hasn't even been believed dead. He doesn't know the Richard took the cowl and Damian was his Robin. He doesn't know anything about Damian. It's like the day Damian burst into his life all over again, but this time Damian doesn't want to destroy a family Bruce built without him - he just wants to get BACK to them. Nevermind that he'd been on the verge of leaving them behind himself. That was different. They'd have still been there when he came back.
Now he's looking right at his father, who has no shred of connection to him beside Tim's word and the fact that Damian looks somewhat like him.
He hates how that makes him feel small and insignificant and alone in this damned place.
He doesn't recognize the reason Bruce is evading a true answer, he just knows that his father is. Damian looks away again.]
Then I'll do the same.
[It's precise and carefully neutral, face the same kind of mask. But he moves a step away, toward Titus, and strokes the dog's ears as he whuffles at Damian's hip. He clips the leash back on, reverting to almost comically formal, coming from someone as young as he is, posture straight and stiff.]
no subject
[Damian watches his father sit back and pinch his nose. The gesture is familiar, but in his mind it comes with the familiar cave around them, or the kitchen table. Somehow here it seems alien to see it. His father, but not. If it's before Damian, Bruce hasn't even been believed dead. He doesn't know the Richard took the cowl and Damian was his Robin. He doesn't know anything about Damian. It's like the day Damian burst into his life all over again, but this time Damian doesn't want to destroy a family Bruce built without him - he just wants to get BACK to them. Nevermind that he'd been on the verge of leaving them behind himself. That was different. They'd have still been there when he came back.
Now he's looking right at his father, who has no shred of connection to him beside Tim's word and the fact that Damian looks somewhat like him.
He hates how that makes him feel small and insignificant and alone in this damned place.
He doesn't recognize the reason Bruce is evading a true answer, he just knows that his father is. Damian looks away again.]
Then I'll do the same.
[It's precise and carefully neutral, face the same kind of mask. But he moves a step away, toward Titus, and strokes the dog's ears as he whuffles at Damian's hip. He clips the leash back on, reverting to almost comically formal, coming from someone as young as he is, posture straight and stiff.]
Is that all, then, Father?