Chapter Text
Alfred is re-stocking Damian’s stash of the specific dark green paint he likes to use for his paintings (he is doing this while the now teen is at school because he wants to surprise him) when, after having to pull stronger than usual for the drawer to open, a letter sized manila envelope falls from underneath de wood drawer, and with the fall a bunch of pictures spread out of it (because in a family of genius paramilitary-spy trained paranoids just saving files in a computer under ten different encrypted passwords is not enough to have a private life).
It’s around two dozen pictures that Alfred picks up from the floor, all portraying the same young man around Damian’s age in different angles. The lad is deadly pale, with big round eyes with irises an eerie ice-blue, hair colored darker than the void of space styled in what certainly miss Stephanie would call a stylish undercut, his cheeks and nose bridge peppered with faint freckles. In some pictures he is fully smiling, Alfred can see a pair of slightly elongated canines that while unusual in this time and age are not alarming to find in some people, especially meta individuals or alien hybrids such as young Jon or master Tim’s beloved mister Kon. In some pictures the lad is aware that he's been photographed while in some others he clearly is oblivious to the act, Alfred can tell because the picture showcases either the back of the young man or a side of his face or a face that clearly indicates that he is paying attention to something or someone else completely.
Alfred huffs in exasperation as he puts the pictures back in the envelope.
Now, don’t get Alfred wrong, he has nothing against any of his wards having affections or crushes or lovers, but he is very against his wards stalking naive, innocent civilians!
That is not a healthy way to show affection and he has told them many times already! It is amazing how all of them share this particular trait, even miss Stephanie (no matter how many times she denies it, she clearly has picked up in this bad habit as well).
The surrogate grand-father of the family puts the envelope inside his coat, successfully guarding it from praying eyes, and after putting the re-filled drawer back in its place, he walks out of his youngest’s room. When he goes pick up Damian from school they will have to talk.
“Pennyworth.” Damian greets Alfred as he enters the Bentley, softly closing the car’s door behind him as he takes seat.
“Young master Damian.” Alfred greets back and starts the engine, smoothly driving away from Gotham academy.
Fifteen minutes into the drive and while stuck in traffic Alfred decides to takes action.
“How was school today, master Damian?”
“Nothing remarkable, everything same as usual.”
“Shame, it is almost winter break, I was hoping for you to have formed new friendships.”
The way Alfred had said this phrase catches Damian’s attention.
“And what do you mean by that?” The youngest Wayne questions as he suspiciously looks at Alfred through the rear-mirror.
Alfred locks his eyes with Damian, one amused eyebrow lifted.
They look at each other while stuck in the traffic, it lasts but mere ten seconds before Alfred breaks eye contact and sigs in embarrassment.
“It embarrasses me to admit but earlier today, while re-stocking your oils stash, I found this.” The older gentleman sheepishly admits as he pulls the letter sized manila envelope from his coats inner pocket.
Damian, of course, immediately recognizes the envelope. “That is private!” He hisses as he snatches the envelope from Alfred’s hold and hugs it tight to his chest, a full-blown blush painting his neck, face and his ears.
“I swear it was an accident, my dear boy.” Alfred sincerely says, shame clear in his voice and own faint flush on his cheeks.
Damian takes three deep breaths, slow and steady, before the teen calms down and deigns himself to look at Alfred again, his blushing cheeks less red. “It is fine, Pennyworth. I guess it is better that it was you who found these instead of father, or Gods forbid, any of my siblings.”
“If I am allowed, may I ask who the young man is?” Alfred tries his luck and the traffic starts to flow again.
“Tt.” Damina sighs in defeat. His tense shoulders relax and his demeanor goes from defensive and startled to embarrassed and shy, the flush on his cheeks a lovely soft pink hue and his bright green eyes looking at the leather seat. “His name is Daniel Nightingale; we share some classes…”
The rest of the trip back to the manor Damian tells Alfred everything he knows about Danny.
When they arrive home the first thing Damian does is change where he hides the physical pictures of Daniel.
If Alfred has already found them it is a matter of time before any of his other family members does as well.
“Father.” Damian calls some hours before patrol. The boy is standing by Bruce’s office in the manor. Inside the room Bruce was organizing some W.E. files for the meeting he and Tim are gonna have tomorrow with the stockholders. “Pennyworth said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Yes, Damian.” Bruce answers, the is a reassuring smile on his lips. In all honesty he is neither upset or worried, he finds the whole thing quite endearing and sweet actually (at least he is not following some dangerous vigilantes around the city at night like certain boy whose name starts with a T used to do), but Alfred had told him to talk to Damian about healthy boundaries. “I’m so sorry, chum, but Alfred told me about Daniel.” Damian’s eyes go so big Bruce feared that his features would get stuck like that.
“The treason!” Damian hisses like a strangled kitten.
“He is extremely worried, Damian.” Bruce defends his parental figure. “But don’t worry, you are not in trouble.”
“I’m not?” Damian now looks at his father with incredulity, one eyebrow up in curiosity.
“You’re not.” I actually find all of this quite adorable. Bruce says and thinks. “I used to do the same with Selina when we were younger.” Bruce admits with a soft rosy blush painting his pale cheeks.
“And Kyle allowed it?” Now Damian is amused. He is usually not very fond of the embarrassing stories his father and paramour share but Selina Kyle would never allow anyone to just follow her around, Batman or not.
“I know, right?” Bruce chuckles. “But you recognize the difference, right? Selina is trained, Daniel is not. It is true that we follow people around but only when they are involved in active cases, Damian, or if we believe them to be potentially dangerous either for the general population or for themselves. Now, is Daniel involved in any case you may be investigation?”
Damian sighs with annoyance and rolls his eyes. “Tt, no.”
“Is he a danger to the general population or for himself, then?”
“No, father. He is not.” Damian answers with tight lips.
“But you won’t stop, will you?” Bruce questions with his tired dad voice as he massages the bridge of his nose.
“I don’t think I can, father.” Damian says truthfully and a sense of dread fills him. When the hell did he let Daniel have so much power over him? Is this what his mother warned him about? Is this the weakness she warned him? The loss of control?
“In that case, we will have to settle some ground rules.” Bruce says as he clasps his hands over the desk. “Number one: No more pictures, Damian.” Bruce wanted to add that it looked like he was following Tim’s steps but even he knows that’s going too far.
Damian nods in agreement, his eyes are looking at the floor.
“Number two: I know you probably have a lot of sketches and drawings of him too, so, keep them safe, sane and consensual, Damian. No nudes nor sleeping faces.”
“I would never betray Daniel’s trust like that, father!” Damian snaps his head up, green eyes ablaze (he does has some of Daniel's sleeping face though... but only like two! And it was before he realized his feelings!)
“I know, son, but a reminder doesn’t hurt.”
“Tt, fine.” Damian huffs as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Anything else?”
“Number three: No recordings, either video or voice.”
“What if he took those himself with my phone or his?” Damian asks.
“Those are fine, Damian. Safe, sane and consensual. Always remember that.” Bruce acknowledges.
“Very well. Are we done?”
“No, now you have to tell me about him.” Bruce continues with a teasing smile on his handsome face. “I want to know all you know about Daniel Nightingale.”
“Ugh! Father!” Damian whines as he covers his face with both hands.
Bruce good naturedly laughs at his son’s reaction.