Batman believed it too—
and he hunted him relentlessly.
Damian almost got caught. Twice.
Almost Capture #1: Rooftops of Park Row
Batman's grapnel line snapped around Damian's ankle—
but Damian turned into flames for less than a second,
causing the line to pass through him.
Batman froze.
"...Meta?"
He was stunned.
Damian escaped by leaping off a 14-story building
and evaporating into heat mid-fall.
Almost Capture #2: Batgirl's Trap
Batgirl cornered him in a warehouse,
having calculated his escape routes perfectly.
"Got you."
"Almost," Damian corrected softly.
He moved with Sun Footwork—
and Batgirl's eyes widened.
She whispered:
"...That stance… That form… That's Robin's— no…"
Damian vanished in a burst of flame before she could finish.
Year 4 — The Truth Talia Buried (Age 13)
"Fire Shadow… you deserve to know."
Damian had lived alone, trained alone,
and protected Gotham from the shadows.
Talia watched from afar for months
Talia's eyes softened.
"Damian… Bruce is getting closer.
He's hunting you harder than ever."
Damian didn't look surprised.
"He almost caught me twice."
"He will catch you a third time," Talia said,
voice trembling with unspoken fear.
Damian turned, cloak shifting like burning ash.
"Let him try."
But then—in a voice so soft Talia almost missed it—
"…I won't let him get hurt doing it."
The Confession
The rooftop fell silent.
Then Damian said the words
he had never spoken to anyone.
"I'm tired."
Batman's eyes softened instantly.
"Tired?"
"Yes," Damian whispered.
"All my life it's been killing, training,
fighting monsters, demons, assassins…
fighting the world."
His shoulders sagged.
tired of being a weapon.
I'm tired of blood.
I'm tired of expectations."
He looked up at Bruce—
and Bruce saw the boy beneath the power.
"I need a break," Damian said.
"I need to breathe.
To see sunlight without thinking of battle.
To exist without killing something."
Talia stepped closer, touching his shoulder gently.
"Then rest, beloved."
Batman approached too,
slowly, cautiously—
as if approaching a wounded bird
You don't have to fight alone," Bruce said softly.
"You never did."
Damian looked away.
Bruce added:
"You can come to me.
To Wayne Manor.
Anytime.
No questions. No pressure.
Just… be my son if you want."
Damian bit the inside of his cheek.
The offer hit him harder than any sword.
"…Thank you," Damian whispered
Leaving Gotham
The three stood quietly under the settling night.
Damian put his mask back on,
his cloak fluttering behind him.
"I'm leaving Gotham for a while," he said.
"No missions. No League.
Just time to myself."
Talia nodded, proud.
Batman stepped closer.
"Will you return?"
Then—
with an ember swirling around his feet—
he added:
"And next time,
call me Damian."
Bruce's breath hitched.
"…Damian."
For the first time,
the name sounded like it belonged.
Damian gave one small nod,
a ghost of a smile,
then ignited into flames
and vanished into the night sky.
A Long-Overdue Vacation Begins
No missions.
No bloodshed.
No assassins
A freedom he had never tasted.
And he intended to savor it