Story Synopsis: Takes place before the manor scene in Batman and Robin #10. Damian gives Dick his birthday present.

“Family Obligation”

Grayson wanted to be alone this evening. It wasn’t new to Damian, in fact. There were times where Grayson would go off by himself and like the idiot he was, return in worse shape than he left. At first, Damian didn’t care. So what if his father’s successor got the shit beaten out of him? No sharpness off his sword blade.

At first.

Then, Damian began to get angry. The ass—going off by himself. If Grayson would have taken him, then he wouldn’t have become a False Face. He wouldn’t have been gutted in Devil’s Square. He wouldn’t be such an ass.

But all that was behind Damian.

His mother gave him an order. It was time for him to take his place in the world, an heir to the League of Assassin’s leadership.

Perched upon Gotham Tower, Robin looked through the spyglass of his rifle. Below, Grayson fought next to the harlot, Donna Troy (Okay, perhaps not so alone but to Damian, Grayson was.). The harlot was beautiful, though she was no Katana.

Off topic.

Robin glared through the glass. One shot, and he would be at his mother’s beck and call.

One shot, and he would be a servant of the League again.

Robin took down the spyglass, then repositioned it. Mother was right. He couldn’t escape his destiny.

“Master Damian?” Pennyworth’s voice echoed through his earpiece. “Aren’t you coming home?”

Grayson and the harlot were almost done with the rejects of the Injustice Gang.

“What’s it you, Pennyworth?” the boy demanded.

“Mistress Donna and Masters Clark and the rest of the Justice League and Titans are coming for cake. I do believe there will be presents and merrymaking, something you must have surely lacked in your upbringing.”

Merrymaking? Yuck.

“It is a family obligation, Damian. Brothers attend each other’s birthday parties.”

Family, opposed to league. Brother, opposed to heir or servant.

“And,” Pennyworth droned as if he understood Damian’s thoughts, “Richard has been there for you countless times. Wouldn’t it be a nice present for you to be there for him this once?”

Robin followed Grayson—Batman—through his spyglass. The harlot said something, and Grayson tried hard not to laugh in the Batsuit.

Robin dropped the spyglass. He didn’t get Grayson anything—after all, he wasn’t like they were “real” brothers…

He could practically hear Grayson’s voice through his mind.

Define real.

—but this would have to do.

Not tonight.

Damian wouldn’t take his life tonight.

He stood up and uncocked the rifle. “I will return shortly.”

As he turned, he watched Grayson and the harlot leave.

“Happy birthday…Brother.”

He fluttered off into the night himself, never seeing Batman land on the edge of the building he had occupied. Batman turned to Troia.

“See? Told you the kid liked me.”

THE END