Chapter Text
Damian didn’t talk about Danyal after he died, no one did. At least not outright. His name was whispered in the halls of the League’s headquarters but Damian never saw the people who talked again. The only time Damian saw his mother acknowledge his twin was when they were out at night and she would look up at the stars. The stars that Danyal loved so much.
In the safety of his room, he would look at the other side of the room where Danyal’s bed was once placed. Everything that could have hinted at his existence was wiped away. Not even the encyclopedias about the stars and all their legends were safe. Damian would look but never stare, only quick glances. Grief would be seen as a weakness and like Danyal weakness would be wiped away.
He locked away that weakness and vulnerability and pushed himself to be the better. He will be strong and he will not talk about his beloved brother.
This habit of not talking about his brother stuck with him even when he was with his father. He never mentioned Danyal or explained why calling his adoptive brothers his brothers was so hard. He pushed them away because he didn’t want new brothers, he wanted Danyal. He couldn’t help but think how much Danyal would enjoy living with their father. How much he would love to have a big family. Danyal was all bright eyes and smiles in the League and Damian was pretty sure that’s what got him killed.
Damian couldn’t help but think that his twin deserved to be here more than he did.
With all his habits and all his deflection most of all, it hurt. It hurt to think about the ‘what-if’s and ‘could have been’s. It hurt to look over his shoulder and expect someone to be there. It hurt to look in the mirror and see his brother. They would’ve looked completely identical if it wasn’t for Danyal’s blue eyes and the little scar on his lip. It hurt to have Richard call him Dami because only Danyal could call him that. But he never spoke of him. He never told Richard why he shouldn’t call him that. He wouldn’t- couldn’t do that to them.
Damian wouldn’t make them grieve for a boy they would never know. They shouldn’t have to grieve for a son, a brother, that they never met. Damian also couldn’t deny that this was also out of his own selfishness. He doesn’t want them putting Danyal on this made-up pedestal from whatever story Damian could tell them. Damian only had stories made of gold to share. Of all the smiles and laughs and jokes made in the most inconvenient of times. They would only see the sunshine boy version of Danyal and never the killer. Never the side that made him an Al Ghul.
Danyal might have been the nicer one out of the two of them but he was still an Al Ghul. He wouldn’t have made it as far as he did if he didn’t live up to that name.
Danyal Al Ghul the one with the silver tongue. That’s what he was called and for good reason. He could talk himself into and out of almost anything. He brought your walls down with a few words and Damian could admit he was once jealous. Danyal wouldn’t have killed if it could be helped so he talked. He talked like a kid, something Damian could never do.
But he did kill.
He thinks if he told Father about him Father could conveniently forget that Danyal was a killer just as much as Damian.
So he will keep the secret of his brother close to his chest and not let him go. He will quietly glance around his room wondering how Danyal would take up space. He will set up glow-in-the-dark stars in all of his brother’s favorite constellations. He will refrain from stabbing the brothers he knows Danyal would love so quickly. He will not be weak and succumb to grief. He will fight and learn and be Robin and he will survive and live another day.
Just like Danyal would have wanted.
—---
Danny wanted to end his miserable little life.
Sam’s new motto with her parents seems to be if I have to suffer then you do too. That line of thinking is how he got in a too-fancy suit, in a too-fancy limo, on the way to a too-fancy party called a gala. Sam’s parents don’t usually take her to gala’s, too worried she will jump on a table and start screaming about eat the rich. But this gala is apparently one of the biggest of the year with only the highest of class people being invited. It was set in Gotham, New Jersey which is also known as hell on earth.
Sam was originally going to drag both Tucker and Danny to the gala but because Tucker’s parents are actually sane people who are in the right mind they said hell no to Tucker going all the way to Gotham. Danny’s parents? Not so much. And the only reason Sam’s parents even agreed to bring him along is that she promised them she would be on her best behavior if they let her take a friend. Her parents might hate his guts but they love their reputation among the high class more.
So here he was sitting next to Sam in an uncomfortable stare-off with her mother. The Mansons paid for his suit because “If we’re taking you you must look presentable.” Sam was all too happy to sacrifice him so she didn’t have to wear a puffy pink dress. She wore a dress that went well with the gothic vibes of Gotham instead. It would have been all black if not for the dark purple strings that tied up her corset. Danny pulled at the tie around his neck that was too tight. It was the same purple as those strings. Sam’s mom said it made them look like a couple but Danny really knew it meant it made him look like he belonged at one of these galas.
They finally pulled up to the art museum where the gala was being held. From what Danny was able to gather it was a charity gala that the museum holds once a year. Sam said no one really cares about charity or art. The whole thing is used to further connections amongst the rich and make them look good.
It was a private event so no paparazzi were allowed inside but along the entrance into the museum were people with cameras ready to get some type of gossip. They didn’t seem to care about some people from Illinois so not many people were paying attention to them when Sam’s parents stepped out of the car. It wasn’t until Danny stepped out after Sam did anyone take notice. He heard a few whispers of ‘Damian Wayne’ being passed around until all Danny could see were flashing lights.
Momentarily blinded due to his enhanced vision he trusted Sam to lead him away from the chaos. She linked one of her arms around his and with her other hand grabbed his upper arm making it all look casual and not like Danny was about to pass out. It wasn’t long until they got inside and left the paparazzi behind. Sam had to lean up going on her toes to whisper close to his ear, “Your eyes are green.” Quickly closing them and forcing the green away he looked down at her and asked, “Better?” She seemed to inspect his face trying to find any green before nodding and responding, “Better.”
They slowly made their way to one of the sitting areas around the main floor. They planned on setting up camp there and talking shit about the people around them for the rest of the night. Looking around the sitting area they both noticed other teens around their age there. They were most likely also forced to be here against their will.
For an hour or two they just stayed like that, making fun of people who passed and talking about the kids back home. Every once in a while they will get a short laugh out of the kid closest to them. Good to know they were in hearing range of other people. They would have happily done this for the rest of the night if it wasn’t for Sam’s mom walking over to them with a strained smile on her face saying, “Sammykins why don’t you and uh Danny go out and mingle for a bit?” Sam was about to rebuke her with something but her mom beat her to it. “Please Samantha I don’t want to argue, just do what I asked.” Then she turned away and was lost in the crowd.
Sam huffed out a sigh and stood up looking at Danny motioning for him to follow her. Danny let out a dramatic sigh and stuck his hand out asking for Sam to help him up. She rolled her eyes at his antics and pulled him up to his feet. Danny decided to be a little shit and leaned all his body weight onto her, which isn’t a lot considering the whole ghost thing but his 5’10 frame did tower over her 5’5 self.
Their laughter was drowned out by the music surrounding them.
“So who are we even supposed to be talking to?”
“Hell if I know.”
“Great thanks that’s so helpful.”
“Oh shut up and stop complaining.”
“You should’ve dragged Tucker here instead of me.”
“I should’ve maybe he wouldn’t complain the whole time.”
“That’s a fat fucking lie and you know it.”
“Hard to believe anyone can out-complain you.”
“You know if we weren’t in a room full of people I would punch you.”
“Nah you’re just too much of a little bitch to do it.”
“Now when I smack the shit out of you-”
There was a scandalized gasp from behind them. Turning around they were met with an older woman who had a weirdly disappointed face. Danny was about to ask what was wrong when the lady exclaimed, “Mr. Wayne! That’s no way to talk to a young lady. Now I know your father has taught you better than that! What would he say if he heard you speak in such a manner?” It’s sufficient to say that Danny was thoroughly confused. He was about to ask who the lady was when she seemed to notice someone else. “Now I see your father right over there. I do believe he would like to know how his son talks without him around.” She grabbed his sleeve around his wrist. She wasn’t touching him and he could easily break free but Danny is nothing if not chaotic so he followed her. Looking over his shoulder he saw Sam trying not to laugh at him.
He is pulled over to a man in an even fancier suit with black hair and blue eyes. He wasn’t old per se but he did have lines on his face that aged him. He noticed them as they got closer to him and he had a very visible look of confusion on his face. The lady spoke to him saying, “Mr. Wayne I’m so sorry to interrupt but I think you just ought to know what your son here said to this young lady.” He raised an eyebrow at them asking, “If you don’t mind, can you tell me what he said.” The lady blushed a bit probably out of embarrassment but still answered him.
“Well it was such vulgar language to you will have to excuse myself but I don’t feel comfortable repeating. Now I’ll just leave him here to explain himself to you. Please, have a nice rest of your evening.” And with that she let Danny go and walked away. Now he had the full attention of Mr. Wayne on him.
“You’re not my son.”
“No, I don’t believe so.” Danny chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“You do look like him though so I can see the confusion. If you didn’t have blue eyes and instead green then maybe I would have thought you were him too.”
“Wow, we look that much alike?” He looked back to Sam once again trying to convey ‘help me’ in his eyes but she was content to let the drama play out on its own.
“Almost identical.” There was a pause in the conversation where the two just stared at each other before Mr. Wayne continued. “Well seeing as I am not your parent I don’t think I can scold you on how you talk with who I’m presuming is your friend.” He gave Danny an opening to walk away and Danny is going to run with it.
“Yeah yeah okay so I’m just going to go now then.” In a not-so-graceful manner, he turned around caught Sam by the arm and speed walked back to the tables dragging the goth along.
When they finally made it back to their safe haven he let go of her and slumped back down in his seat as she laughed. “Oh my ancients that was so awkward. Please next time I have to make small talk just shoot me.”
“Oh don’t worry the gun's already loaded.”
—-
Bruce watched as the boy dragged his silently laughing friend to the tables off to the side of the room. The boy was so identical to Damian that he could have truly mistaken him for him. If it wasn’t for the blue eyes and the easy smile Bruce doesn’t think he would be able to tell the two boys apart. His first thought was a clone but why would someone send in a clone like this? Why would a clone with nefarious purposes introduce themself as a different person?
Bruce made eye contact with Tim who was across the room by the food table. Tim was watching the whole thing and casually approached Bruce when the two teens sat down out of earshot. “Get Damian then meet me back here.” He told his son in a low and received a nod instead of a verbal response. It didn’t take long for the two boys to come back to him. Damian looked mildly annoyed, if Bruce remembered correctly his youngest was actually looking forward to this gala. He was intrigued by the art that will be auctioned off later in the night.
Bruce nodded to the staircase that led to an upper level but was blocked off by security. They needed to talk away from any prying ears. These types of conversations were not the best to have in such crowded rooms. Bruce led the boys over to the security guard by the stairs with his hands on the back of both his sons’ necks. He looked like a disapproving father trying to scold his troubled kids.
“I’m so sorry sir but may I go upstairs with my boys to talk to them in privet?” He put on one of his most charming smiles as he asked. The security guard’s eyes widened somewhat when he realized who was talking to him. He quickly looked between Tim and Damian and back to Bruce before answering, “Absolutely Mr. Wayne, just come back down these stairs when you are finished so I know you made it back down.” Bruce smiled at him again and sent a thankful nod before leading Tim and Damian up the stairs.
When they got to a blind spot with no cameras and no micks Brucie Wayne fell away to be replaced by Batman. Damian shot him a look with an eyebrow raised, “Father what is the meaning of this?”
“There is a boy who looks exactly like you here minus the green eyes.” Turning to Tim he began to ask, “Tim if you will contact Barbara-”
“Already on it B.” Tim’s phone was out and he was texting who Bruce could only assume was Barbara. No one said anything until Tim spoke up, “His name is Daniel Fenton he arrived here with the Masons from a small town called Amity Park in Illinois. He was adopted at nine by Drs. Madeline and Jack Fenton he has an older sister in college named Jasmine. Nothing really stands out about him other than that no one knows where he came from before he was adopted but the social workers expect abuse from the condition he was found in.
“Other than that the only thing suspicious found about him is the fact he was a straight-A student up until freshman year last year when he started skipping and failing. Barbs found an explanation for it though, he was in a lab accident at the beginning of the year that sent him to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a heart problem. Barbs sent his most recent school photo and wow does he look like the demon brat. Black hair and blue eyes with the same birthday as Damian and apparently he knew more Arabic than English when found.”
Tim held up the photo to Damian’s face and Bruce, even though he just saw it, could barely believe how close the two were. Damian snatched the phone to look at the photo but stopped. He just stared for a few seconds taking everything in the photo in. His eyes scanned it like he was looking for something. Then he pushed the phone back into Tim’s hand and started to walk away back to the party.
“Damian, do you know something?” Bruce questioned.
“It’s him.” That is all he said before he started to walk again. Bruce had to put his hand on his shoulder to stop him. “What do you mean?”
“It’s him,” he repeated. “I’d recognize my own twin anywhere.” Bruce quickly turned his youngest(youngest?) around to look him in the eyes. “What twin, Damian?” Damian looked up and piercing blue met green.
“That’s Danyal, I swear it.”
It’s like the world went silent.
He had another kid?
Another one?
Another one he failed? Another one he didn’t get to know until much later? Another child Talia hid from him?
Tim interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
“Wait wait wait. If he’s your twin then why didn’t he recognize Bruce?”
“I wasn’t told that Batman was Bruce Wayne until later in my childhood. By the time Mother told me Danyal was already gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Bruce felt like he couldn’t breathe.
“Up until now I thought Danyal was dead but I’d know him anywhere. He even has the same scar on his lip that I gave him in training.” In the corner of his eye, Bruce can see Tim bringing the picture back up. “He does have a scar on his lip. It’s small though I probably wouldn’t have noticed if you didn’t point it out.” He hands the phone over to Bruce and he looks at the boy in a different light now. He doesn’t just see a copy of Damian but he sees his eyes and nose Talia’s chin and jaw. He sees his mother’s hair texture that Damian also inherited. While Bruce’s hair lay flat on his head Damians always stood up. As a child, he could remember his mother complaining about it.
This distraction was all Damian needed to speed off down the stairs leaving Bruce and Tim in the dust but not that far behind.
—-
Damian couldn’t believe it.
He shouldn’t believe it.
There is no way Danyal could be here. There is no way Danyal could be alive. But he’d know his twin anywhere. He knew him like the back of his hand even now years later. No matter what he will be as familiar with Danyal as he is with breathing. He doesn’t even know where to start looking at this gala but he will find him. In the end, it doesn’t even take five minutes.
Familiar laughter that now haunts his dreams rings in his ears and Damian is darting over to the sitting area before his mind can catch up. And there he is. His older twin. Right there in a black suit and a ridiculous purple tie. With blue eyes like their father instead of the green of their mother.
He is right there and oh how he missed him. If he wasn’t so above it Damian thinks he might start crying.
“Danyal…” Leaves his mouth before he has a proper plan and those blue eyes are now trained on him. They widen as he realizes just who he’s looking at. And any fear or second-guessing that Damian could have goes away when a smile forms on his twin’s face.
“Dami!” That childish nickname has never felt so right.
He will never admit it later on but he ran into his brothers waiting arms.
—-
One moment Danny was talking with Sam and the next he had his arms filled with his younger twin brother. He never thought he would see him again but here he is and he is hugging him so tightly that Danny thinks his ribs might get bruised. He had a smile on his face so big it hurt and his eyes stung with unshed tears. Damian’s hands are holding tightly onto the back of his suit and Danny his own arms are wrapped around his neck, holding his head and pressing it further into the crook of his neck. Neither of them will mention how they are shaking.
When they finally parted Danny let out a loud and uncaring laugh that Damian returned much more quietly. Oh by the ancients how Danny missed his brother.
“How are you here?” Danny questioned.
“Mother gave me to Father when I was twelve. How are you here? I thought you were dead.”
“Mother didn’t tell you?” Damian paused and gave Danny a blank look. He let out a tired sigh. “Of course, she didn’t tell you this is Mother we’re talking about.” He rubbed his eyes fighting away a subtly growing headache. “I didn’t die in that mission but I did fail it.”
“Failure is death.”
“Exactly, so Mother hid me away.”
“Explain it to me. Explain everything, I want to know everything.” Danny grabbed Damian by his upper arms to drive his point home. “And I will but not here, Dami.” He took hold of Danny’s forearms in a matter Danny knew meant he wasn’t going to let go anytime soon. “Then let us go home.”
Home
Isn’t that a funny thing?
“Yes, let’s go home.”
Danny turned around to a very confused-looking Sam. She seemed like she wanted to demand answers to all her questions but stopped when Danny shook his head. “I’ll explain everything to you too but for now you have to trust me. Tell your parents something, I don’t know what, but I won’t be coming home with you. I’ll think of something to tell my parents in a bit.” She crossed her arms and let out an annoyed huff. “Yeah sure let me just bullshit something up real quick.” Danny sent her a grateful smile. “But you’re so good at it.”
“I know, I’m good at everything. Now go, but you better text me and Tucker later.”
With one last nod, Danny let Damian drag him off.
They didn’t get far before they ran into Mr. Wayne but he was obviously who Damian meant to find. “Father, Danyal agreed to return to the manor with us we should leave.”
Mr. Wayne- his father- looked at him like he was something precious. Danny didn’t know how to feel about that quite yet. But he still smiled at him and not an awkward one like earlier but a real one. His father’s eyes seemed to soften in turn.
“Yes, let’s go.”
And so they left the gala.
Bruce with one more son than he arrived with.
—-
The ride to the manor was quiet but not very awkward or uncomfortable. Danny is a firm believer that something is only as awkward as you make it. He and Damian sat in the back of a fancy car that Bruce apparently drove to the gala himself. In shotgun was a twenty-year-old named Tim who he found out was his adoptive brother. He has a lot of adoptive siblings from his father. He can’t wait to meet them all. He’s being upgraded from being a middle child.
He knew Damian wasn’t one for touch but their knees were still touching. It was nice having a constant reminder that this is real. That his brother being right next to him was real and not just a dream. In the rearview mirror, he caught Bruce’s eyes and sent him a smile he knew he could see.
The ride wasn’t as long as Danny expected it to be but he wasn’t complaining.
They went through big gates and pulled up to the front of a big mansion that Danny knew Sam would love with its gothic architecture. The front door was opened before they even made it up the steps. An older man in a butler outfit greeted them and didn’t even pause or hesitate to include him in the greeting referring to him as ‘Young Master Danyal’.
“Hello to you too and I go by Danny.”
“Of course young master Danny.”
Tim leaned over and mock whispered in his ear, “That’s Alfred, he’s our butler but more like a grandfather if I’m benign honest.” Danny nodded at him as they all walked into the house. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside.
“Why don’t we go to the sitting room?” Bruce asked.
“The others are already gathered in the library, Master Bruce. I shall make snacks and refreshments.” With that Alfred walked away down one of the many halls.
Bruce herded them to what Danny can only guess was going to be the library.
Inside were a bunch of more people who had different levels of excitement on their faces. One of the men in the room jumped up from his spot on a sofa when they walked through the door. He walked over and directly towards Danny. He ruffled his hair and Danny only scrunched up his nose and made a displeased sound, far too used to Jazz doing the same thing. “I’m Dick, it’s nice to meet you kiddo.”
“You go by that willingly?” That got a laugh but he could tell it was a frequently used joke.
“Yeah I do, what’s your name.”
“Legally, actually, or preferably?” There was a bit more laughter from the other people in the room. “Why not all three?” Danny just shrugged.
“Okay, fair enough. Legally my name is Daniel, Mother named me Danyal but I go by Danny.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Danny.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you too.”
Another man with a white strip in his hair walked forward. “No way you’re the demon brat’s twin. You’re too smiley and shit.”
“Well one of us had to be.”
“Ohhhh the shade! I like this one.” Popped up a blond girl who didn’t bother with getting off the couch.
Some more introductions went around until everyone was situated.
“Danyal, I believe you promised me an explanation.” Damian started by addressing the elephant in the room.
“Okay so to start off I guess I have to mention that I’m dead.” Danny flashed his eyes green.
Many hearts skipped beats before the more interesting parts of the explanation even started.