Chapter 5

Sunsets in Jump City didn't hold a candle to the ones in Tibet. Though the sound of the Pacific Ocean rushing through his ears somehow managed to add to its beauty. It still calmed his mind, like always. So much was changing for the young Wayne, yet he found comfort in the star's daily routine.

It was strange. A few years ago, Damian wouldn't have cared if this City or even the World, for that matter, would have burned. The slither of good in a villain was not worth his life. Cutting off the serpent's head first before it could strike was always the best course of action. To the young Wayne, Humans were unreliable at best. At their worst, they were no better than a bug on a windshield.

Now?

Now he would risk his life to save them, all of them.

The World was indeed a strange, chaotic place. Talia was at least right about that.

"You're thinking very hard, Baby Bird."

"Someone needs to. Your brain's had the challenge of its lifetime, and I fear you'll have a stroke at any moment," Damian retorted. "Father would be proud that you've managed to think so expansively."

"If I didn't know any better, I would have said there was a compliment in there somewhere," the older approached with a grin fixed upon his face.

"It's not a compliment when you manage to do something expected of you."

Nightwing laughed at that comment. "I guess I should have seen that coming."

"I," Robin started, not sure how to continue. He started slow, hoping momentum would take over. "I would, however, like to apologise. For my outburst yesterday. I missed placed my anger. Upon further reflection, you are doing everything I would have demanded you to do. The confrontation was unnecessary stress on your part. I am sorry."

Damian turned to his adoptive brother only to see the senior Robin stood mouth agape.

"What?"

"Nothing!" Nightwing shook his head to relieve himself of shock. "I guess those meditation sessions are helping after all!"

"Shut up." Damian demand keeping a firm gaze upon the horizon.

"Eloquent as always, Baby Bird," His grin returned as he looked out to enjoy the sunset with his successor.

They stayed like that for a while, in silence. An extraordinary feat for the Wayne boys, it was rare for them to be in the same room without bickering or casting snide remarks, as siblings do. But this moment of tranquillity would be one their Father would have been proud of, a moment they would most certainly deny ever existed. No witnesses meant no story, no alibi. It never happened.

As Sun's cycle came to an end, so too did Damian's inner peace. Movement coming out from under the tower caught his eye. Two dark-haired individuals with four amethyst eyes were walking to the island's coast. Their shoulders less than a foot apart, their lips engaged in avid conversation. They had wasted no time catching up, having been in each other's company all afternoon. One was not without the other.

All-day.

How irritating.

"Why do we do what we do, Damian?" came Nightwing's voice. Its tone slightly off, his mind far away from California.

"To ensure justice served unto those who avoid it."

A simple answer. To the point. The truth.

"But why?" he asked. "There are systems in place to catch them and guarantee a fair and honest trial. There are Meta-humans all around the World with abilities that we could only wish to have; wouldn't they do a better job than us? After all, we're only human."

"The justice system is flawed and run by corrupt, ignorant humans. It's only right that we correct it," Damian countered. "Powered individualsarenot immune to nefarious thoughts; someone needs to remind them of that from time to time."

"But why do we do it?" Dick's voice attacked him with a new ferocity.

"What are you getting at?"

"Answer the question," the force behind his demand nearly caused Robin's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Because it's the right thing to do?" He questioned. Dick wasn't making any sense.

"Because we care, Damian! We care too much at times. We care about innocents getting justice. We care about people getting every chance they can to do the right thing, no matter how many times they stumble. Heck," he scoffed. "We even care about the drunk crossing the road!"

"What's your point, Grayson?" The young Robin was thoroughly confused now.

"My point is you, Damian Wayne, care! Whether it's about me, about Bruce or your teammates, it's not my business, but I need you to know what it is that you're fighting for," a sigh escaped from Dick's lips before he turned towards his brother. "You're not stupid, Damian. There are always risks in war. You know what the chances are of us all coming out alive; you need to promise me that you won't lose sight of what's important to you."

"You are acting immature," the teenager had had enough. Visions of the worst possible outcomes had already been plaguing his mind. There was no need to breathe life into them by talking about it aloud. He turned to leave, but the arm of his predecessor stopped him.

That was probably one of the few moments in Damian's short life that he thought of Nightwing as intimidating. He was serious. At that moment, Richard Grayson wasn't 'just' his brother. Richard Grayson wasn't 'just' his leader; this man was both. The youngest Wayne felt the full force of it all. Had he not chosen to look back out towards the coast, it would have been quite overwhelming.

What did he fight for?

It was a question that he had never ask himself. Fighting was his way of being. A life before training didn't exist in his memory; it was all he had known. For a time, he had fought for the love and approval of his Father, only to find he had it all along. After that, he fought to protect his home and new friends. Perhaps that was it? After all, he had everything he could ever want at the tower.

Damian collected his thoughts. Green orbs finally met blue. "You have my word."

A smile spread across Dick's face, knowing that they were finally on the same page. "Well, I shall see you in a couple of hours for dinner," he announced while walking away, his tone having done a complete one-eighty. Just as he was about to enter the building, he stopped. "Oh, don't get too caught up with meditation. I don't want to come to fetch you both." With a Cheshire Cat's grin and an unsavoury wink, the founding Titan left the roof.

Damian was unsure of how to process what had just happened. Part of it he understood, whereas other parts sat together like a poorly made, overcomplicated riddle.

Deciding to ignore Dick Grayson's possible brain aneurysm, he looked back out towards the couple. Only now, just one person stood in the growing dusk. Her skin reflected the dim light. Her hair blowing in the ocean breeze, caressing her face as she stared longingly out at the water. Something he had done just moments ago.

Damian took a moment to marvel at how she no longer stalked the grounds with her hood up. How Raven had become somewhat proud of who she was, inner demons and all. That she no longer felt the need to hide anymore.

Perhaps that's what she was fighting for, a world where nobody needed to hide.