Disclaimer: The Batman characters are owned by DC Comics.

Damian: I am owned by no one!

Me: Is that why you're a fictional character starring in my fanfiction story?

Damian: …

Dick: You just got owned!

Me: Please no puns…

As Dick walked down the hallway in his pajamas, he tried to come up with a plan.

Maybe I should just avoid Damian…No, I doubt that'll work. How can I avoid someone that obnoxious?

"Yes, I understand…No, Mother! I can accomplish this on my own!"

Dick stopped, eyebrows raised, beside Damian's bedroom door.

Damian's talking to someone…His mom?

This got Dick's suspicions going again. No one had told him anything about Damian's mother…Now that he thought about it, why hadn't the woman been with Damian when he first arrived at the manor? Maybe she hated Bruce and refused to see him…But is she hated Bruce so much, why would she let her son live with him? Maybe it was mandated by court….No, Dick would have heard if there was some kind of Wayne custody case going on…Maybe…

"Father does not suspect. No one does."

Damian's words brought Dick out of his speculations. His eyes narrowed.

Bruce doesn't suspect what?

"Of course, Mother…I-"

Damian was apparently cut off. After a few more seconds of silence, Dick heard a heavy sigh through the door.

"Goodbye to you as well,"

Dick's anger ebbed a little at the dejected tone that Damian's voice had adopted.

Instead, he was left even more confused than before.

What was that about?

He silently made his way back to his own room.

Who are you, Damian Wayne?

Damian watched the clock intently. The call he expected from his mother was to be received at exactly 2:47 am. Talia would not tolerate anything short of promptness, and Damian could not tolerate his mother's disappointment.

The phone vibrated, and Damian's hand shot out to grab it.

"Hello, Mother," he answered with confidence he did not feel.

"No pleasantries, Damian," she curtly reprimanded.

Damian winced. Why had he said that? Someone else might attribute uncharacteristic behavior to nerves.

But Damian Ibn al Xu'ffasch al Ghul Wayne did not get nervous.

…I truly need a shorter name.

"Where are you?" Talia asked.

"My new quarters,"

"Why? I told you to find a secure location."

Damian winced and prepared his excuse.

This is going to sound utterly inane.

"The butler will not let me out of his sight unless I am in my room," he quickly explained, "I also found sophisticated surveillance devices throughout the estate…And I do not believe Father trusts me enough to allow me to leave the premises with both an explanation and watchful company."

There was silence on the other line for a few seconds before Talia spoke again.

"Yes, Bruce is such a paranoid man…Very well, this shall be remedied soon."

Damian restrained his relieved sigh.

"Yes, I understand." As he said this, he saw Dick's moving shadow under the door. He reminded himself to be quieter, lest Grayson should decide to eavesdrop.

"I'm sending a few shadows to help you."

His attention snapped back at the words. She didn't believe he could do it on his own? NoNoNo...

"No, Mother! I can accomplish this on my own!"

"Silence, Damian. If your father already suspects you, I refuse to take chances."

"Father does not suspect. No one does," he argued, jaw clenching. What was she doing? What was he doing? He just couldn't believe how he always managed to make things worse for himself.

"Enough! You are my child, are you not?" Her voice was cold. It was always cold, and sharp-edged.

"Of course, Mother..."

"This mission is not a playground wherein you may satisfy whatever folly occupies your young mind. Understood?"

"I-"

"Shiva will arrive in two days."

The phone clicked off.

"...Goodbye to you as well," he whispered. Then he cringed at how emotional - and weak - he had let himself sound.

She knows I hate Shiva. She knows that!

Damian was so busy brooding (no paternity test required) that he soon forgot about the shadow behind the door.