Chapter Text
When Damian asked for a pet, Thalia had to make the hard choice between a husky and Jason Todd. This was naturally a fierce debate but one of them was massive and noisy and probably made a mess everywhere and the other was a dog. In the end she brought home another child because surely, if one is a demon, then two must be better!
Damian was sitting on his bed and methodically polishing his katana when the door swung open slowly, to reveal his mother. And also somehow a figure that managed to blot out the rest of the light that really ought to have come through the doorframe. Damians head perked up and he turned slowly, blinking in confusion. “Mother.. what is this”
Suffice to say, the slow smile Thalia gave in answers sent shivers down his spine that should be reserved for Halloween and possessions.
“You begged for a pet. You promised to take care of one. I brought you one”.
Naturally Thalia seemed to dodge the issue with this. But that is what she does best, leaving Damian with a baffled expression and a grown man in his room as she slips out the door quietly.
Damian stayed still for one minute… then two before sitting up straight and taking on a haughty air “and who exactly are you?”. The deep voice that grumbled back in response was not at all what he had anticipated and it took restraint that he had formed through years of training not to flinch at the gravely tone
“Jason…. Todd”
A succinct nod was all that Damian gave in response, mentally spinning from the new development. But Damian was an Al Ghul. And Al Ghuls simply must be one step ahead at all times. That was when Damian decided that if his mother was going to pull a trick like this, he would play into it. Malicious compliance is always more fun to watch unravel its target than plain defiance.
It was a sleepy afternoon when Jason started to come out of his shell. Less grumbling and dragging his body around as a guard for Damian and more.. smirking, joking and pushing Damian around like a sibling who just discovered that they can push back. It was a welcome change Damian decided. After all, Todd needs more exposure. A little joking is good for him. After that Damian would slowly encourage more and more teasing. Letting him get more and more comfortable.
It did come as a surprise when Jason suggested a trip to a theme park. Todd had begun to suggest things to Damian. Framing them as enrichment for Jason, but everyone knew it was simply a manifestation of the older boy’s care for the cranky child. Damian had to pause, and stare at Jason “Todd, i do not find this particular jest amusing. How on earth would a thematic park for children enhance my performance as an assassin?”. There was only an enigmatic smile from the larger boy for a few seconds, then “you promised your mom you would take care of a pet. She got you me. Take care of me.” Damian wanted to slap the shit-eating-grin off of Jason’s face right then and there but he decided to put that in his back pocket for later. “Very well. But no longer than an hour or two. Understood?” A simple nod sufficed on Jason’s end.
And so that was that. Damian packed a backpack and completed it with a bottle of sunscreen and walking around money that Jason swiped from Ra’s at the risk of his own neck. Damian had decided that any of Jason’s mischief was both not his fault and not his problem. Jason’s behavioral issues were simply an inconvenience that Thalia would have to bear. After all, Damian hadn’t asked for an older brother.
The day was turning out better than Damian had anticipated, after all, Todd seemed to be enjoying the rides so surely Damian was doing something right. An unfortunate necessity was Jason’s inclination to stop at every carny booth and win as many prizes for Damian as possible, under the guise of wanting them for himself, but surely Damian wouldnt mind carrying them? Oh.. and Jason’s room was simply too small for so many toys, so would Damian mind storing them? Despite it getting under his skin, he was walking around a theme park, arms laden with stuffed monstrosities. Although the cotton candy was delightful, not that he would ever admit it, Damian was enjoying the day.
By the time the pair had returned, there was an abundance of toys, notable sunburns, and a set of blue tongues (likely from all the sweets they consumed that were most unbecoming to an assassin Damian had adamantly protested before Todd shoved the straw of a slushy into his mouth). Overall the day had been a raging success.