Damian had just finished his melee combat training for the day, sweat gathered over his body lightly as he wiped his forehead with a white towel. The mansion was just as quiet today as other days, nothing to draw interest to the aspiring Robin. Walking over to a small fridge he pulled out some water and downed it, his muscular but lithe figure shown below black exercise equipment.
Tilting his head back and looking at the ceiling he reflected on the slippery slope he had entered of late. The games from Yggdrasil Interactive were far too addictive and he had already skipped half an hour from his training yesterday... Something he didn't do today as he was reminded of his mother's punishments if she were to learn of his slackness.
Lowering his head back down he scanned the room, finding all of the usual training equipment for melee combat. He had been trying to expand into different styles of combat, ranged and other forms, but he still very much preferred close-range fighting. Shaking his head of his loose thoughts he threw the towel to a nearby bench and walked towards the exit of the gymnasium.
*THWIP* *THWIP*
Something cut through the air at a rapid pace, the instincts of a genetically perfect human thrumming through Damian's body, activating all of the adrenal glands throughout his body and triggering dopamine responses to loosen his muscles. Turning he dropped to his knees and proceeded to roll, two ranged objects slamming into the far wall, the pace of combat flowing too fast to fully notice the design.
Three more blades spun through the air, end over end, the noise distinct and ominous. Noting the sound he leapt for a nearby treadmill and then sought cover behind a pillar, his eyes darting to gather information and track his opponents' next step. A creaking sound blared behind the pillar, igniting his battle instinct.
Rushing around the pillar he pulled a small dagger that was always hidden on his person, aiming it for a lethal blow against an adult. A small detail which he had judged. His enemy was an adult, the throwing angle was too high for it to be anything else... There wasn't any high point in the room that could be used without the usage of loud objects that he would have definitely heard of or seen.
Rounding the pillar he found no one, his head immediately turning around to see the point of a dagger hovering above his right eye by just a few inches.
"Heh, almost got you, Little D... Not bad, your reaction time's solid. But let me guess you're gonna act like that was some kind of insult, huh?"
"Tt. If I weren't distracted, you wouldn't have stood a chance. You're the arrogant one, Grayson."
Standing opposite Damian was a previous Robin, a man who wore a blue and black superhero suit with a small blue eye mask. The blue was distinct in his theme with the black almost matching in with the shades of shadow that would usually be present within alleyways or the depths of Gotham.
"Arrogant, huh? Hmm… yeah, maybe getting the better of you went to my head a little. It's been a while since I've had the chance."
Damian tutted before straightening up and stretching a little. His expression was unreadable as he simply looked at his 'brother'.
"What are you here for?"
"Here to talk to Father. Got some strange movement on my end, wanted to cross-analyse. Why? You getting restless?"
Rolling his eyes, Damian simply turned and walked away, lazily waving a hand over his shoulder.
"No. Just wondering why you insist on wasting my time."
The blue-clothed man smirked. "Oh? Well, if working with my little brother is a waste of time, I guess we'll just have all the fun without you."
Damian hesitated for half a second before muttering.
"What exactly are you investigating?"
"Interested now are we?" He grinned wider this time.
Damian flicked his head to match his sight with his brother, sharpness evident in his gaze.
"I don't need your games, Grayson. Just tell me what you're investigating."
"No games huh? Fine. I'll bite. There is some shifty movements from a strange group of sycophants that are tumbling around in the outskirts of Gotham, trying to influence someone in my own case in Bludhaven... Could be nothing, could be something big... But I guess you're not really interested, huh?"
"Tt. I don't have time for your games, Grayson. But you're going to need my help if you want to deal with these 'sycophants'."
Damian halted his movement and turned to face the man that insisted on calling him his 'brother'. Crossing his arms he waited for Dick's response, the man himself shifting into an almost coy stance which quickly shifted to allow himself to lean in just a little.
"Well, I wouldn't say no to a little backup. But you know, I'm also planning to run this by Bruce when he's available. His input could be useful, don't you think?"
Damian rolled his eyes, the usual "Tt." escaping his lips as he gave a dismissive wave.
"Fine. I'll help, but don't think this means I'm interested in your little games, Grayson. If Bruce is involved, then I'll play along. For now."
"Hahaha, you are too stiff little D... He should be in, shouldn't he?
"I'm not 'stiff,' Grayson. You just talk too much. Yes, father is in the cave."
Dick chuckled, not missing a beat.
"Talk too much? Maybe. But you should be thanking me for keeping things interesting. Alright, lead the way to the cave, little D."
Damian ground his teeth a little at the title given by his 'brother', a dour expression spreading along his face as he marched off out of the gym. He would make up for this humiliation at some point, it'd just be when Greyson was least expecting it.
Dick grinned, watching Damian march off, clearly aware of his brother's irritation.
"Heh, you are way too easy to tease kid..."
He followed after his little misguided brother, both travelling down to the Bat Cave. Minutes passed in some amount of silence, their feet being the only creators of noise as Dick calmly followed after his little bro, who was still pouting. This silence was naturally broken a few second later by the thrumming of machinery and the repeated sound of water striking stone.
"You know, little D, you're probably the only one who could look angry walking to the Batcave."
"Shut it. Be lucky I am even willing to work with a flimsy detective such as yourself."
Maintaining his usual calm and unbothered attitude Dick simply continued to follow his miserable little assassin of a brother... Quickly quipping back at him.
"Flimsy detective, huh? I guess that's better than being a brooding vigilante who never smiles." He accentuated his rebuttal with a little knock to the shoulder with his arm, a playful smile curling onto his shadowed face. "You might want to work on your sense of humour, little D, or Bruce might start calling you the 'grumpy one.'"
"If were speaking titles Greyson... He calls you the failure." He stormed off ahead and turned the proverbial shoulder on him.
Dick's attitude faltered for but a moment until it was instilled once again.
"Ouch, little D. That one's a low blow." He shook his head, though the grin never fully left his face. "But hey, if being 'the failure' keeps things interesting for you, then I guess I can live with it."
He sped up a little to catch up, not letting the jab get under his skin.
"Just don't go too far ahead, okay? I can only go so fast when I'm laughing so hard."
Damian stopped abruptly a minute later, the silence of their travels settling in. His hand slowly came to rest on the heavy steel door leading into the Batcave. "Keep your composure, Grayson." He shot a glance over his shoulder, his tone sharp yet composed. "We both know you're the one who's supposed to not be making mistakes on a mission... being the 'hero' and all."
The air around them thickened, and the faint sound of Dick's footsteps seemed to pause for a brief moment as Damian's words hung in the air.
Dick chuckled lightly, though it was a little forced. He wasn't one to back down easily, but he could feel the weight of Damian's words lingering. He pushed the door open, his voice playful, but with a trace of seriousness.
"Alright, little D, I get it. You're the perfect soldier, never a misstep. But hey, I've got a bit of room for a mistake or two now and then, right? You're not the only one with a 'hero' complex."
He walked past Damian, giving him a wink as he continued into the Batcave. Several moments passed before Damian followed, his face showing very little emotion as he watched Greyson's cape flutter with the force of the nearby waterfall...
'Far too Naïve... Mother would hate you.'
...
Thor gazed out into the space beyond the Bifrost, wondering if there was something out there that would allow him a momentary reprieve from the boredom of constant meetings with his father. Seconds passed, nothing happening, before he exhaled and simply pivoted... Turning to leave the Bifrost chamber.
His exit was interrupted however by the glistening green sheen of his brother's magic fizzling off to the side, the golden glow of the chamber almost dodging every speck of green despite its' usual all encompassing nature.
"Brother... I am in no mood for recitals of previous campaigns."
A sickly sweet chuckle escaped the green puff of smoke, the glorious armoured form of Loki stepping out with an amused grin languidly resting upon his admittedly chiselled face.
"Why no, why would I do such a thing? I too tire of all the snoring quiet of Asgard." Thor rolled his eyes and simply continued walking, attempting to ignore his brother.
"I guess I will not share a small facet of information with you, then?" Thor halted immediately, turning half around to gaze at his trickster of a brother.
"What, information? Loki, what have you done...?"
He held a hand over where his heart would be, moving backwards a touch whilst playing a pained expression. "To think you would think so low of me... Me, your own brother..." His tone was dramatic, a theatrical display Thor was all too used to.
"You still haven't answered my question."
Loki immediately ceased his display, rolling his eyes and raising his eyebrows in a modicum of condescension.
"I'm getting tired now... I might go back to my quarters..."
Thor scowled and pulled Mjollnir to his hands, the thunder clap suggested by its mere pull to his hands drawing the attention of the God of trickery.
"Fine. I will tell you, but do note, it was under duress... For future matters."
"Whatever brother, just tell me." Loki sighed, his entire diaphragm rising and lowering with the action. He then walked over to Thor and leaned into his ear, whispering the information Thor threatened him for... A thing that Loki expected Thor to do from the start.
"Midgard!? Really...? That place?"
"Mhm! I even heard from Heimdal that it's called Yggdrasil, 'Interactive', whatever that last part is supposed to mean."
"I must beseech father immediately!" He tried to leave but was grabbed by the ear, Loki looking at him as if he was an utter buffoon.
"'Beseech' father!? Are you mad? He'll just decline."
"B-but he will find out if we leave so suddenly."
"Not if we take a secret passage..." Thor widened his eyes and then began to smile, Loki growing his own menacing grin as both brothers finally got on the same page.
'God he is so gullible sometimes.' Loki kept this thought to himself as his brute of a brother was grinning like a whale who had just found an ocean current to swim through. 'Why did all of the brains of our family have to flow to me?'
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