Barbara Walks Again, Damian's Half-Truth, and the Bat-Family's Protection Plan"
(Corrected: Senzu Beans heal Barbara and Bruce — Damian was never injured.)
BARBARA GORDON WAKES TO A MIRACLE
Morning sunlight filled Barbara's room like a warm blessing.
She blinked awake as usual, expecting the familiar weight of paralysis… the ache in her back… the numbness in her legs that had haunted her since Joker shot her.
But today—
Her toes twitched.
She froze.
Then her ankles flexed.
Then—
She stood up.
Slow. Shaky. Weak.
But standing on her own.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"D-Damian… you wonderful little miracle," she whispered, laughing and crying at the same time.
She took one step.
Then two.
Then three—
Before her legs gave out and she collapsed onto the bed.
Exactly as Damian had warned:
Senzu Beans healed everything — but drained stamina completely.
Barbara grinned through tears.
"I can walk again. I just… need time. And training."
BRUCE SEES BARBARA STAND
Bruce knocked on her door moments later.
"Barbara, how are yo—"
She opened the door standing upright.
Bruce froze mid-sentence.
Barbara lifted her arms slightly.
"Surprise."
Bruce stared, his usual stoic mask cracking.
"You're… walking."
Barbara nodded, smiling with pride and disbelief.
"Damian's gift… actually healed me. My spine, my nerves—everything. I'm taking it slow, though. Training back up. No rushing into Batgirl mode."
Bruce nodded once.
"I support that. Fully."
"And Bruce…" she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Your son saved my life."
Bruce closed his eyes for a second.
He didn't reply — because he didn't trust himself to speak.
THE BAT-FAMILY GATHERS IN THE CAVE
Bruce had Damian come down to the Batcave.
But this time, the entire Bat-Family arrived openly:
Nightwing leaned against the railing
Tim stood by the Bat-Computer
Steph waved awkwardly
Cassandra silently appeared behind Bruce
Barbara walked slowly, carefully, every step precious
All eyes went to Damian.
Tim whispered to Nightwing,
"Why does he look like he already knows we're grilling him?"
Nightwing whispered back,
"Because he grew up with assassins."
Damian crossed his arms, unimpressed.
"If we're doing this, let's get to the point."
Bruce nodded, stepping forward.
BRUCE QUESTIONS DAMIAN — AND THE HALF-TRUTH BEGINS
Bruce spoke calmly.
"Damian. I've run every test. You have no meta-gene. No mutation. No alien or magical markers."
He paused.
"But you control fire. You fight like a ghost. And you burned through the Court of Owls."
Damian sighed quietly.
"I knew you would start asking."
Bruce continued.
"Where did your powers come from?"
Nightwing whispered,
"This is gonna be good…"
Tim elbowed him.
DAMIAN BUTTERFULLY WEAVES THE HALF-TRUTH
Damian began, steady and collected.
"When I left the League of Assassins, I traveled the world. I heard stories — legends — about rare fruits with supernatural properties. Devil Fruits."
The family leaned in.
"There are three types:
1. Zoan — Transform into animals
2. Logia — Control a natural element
3. Paramecia — Unique supernatural abilities
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"So yours was Logia?"
Damian nodded.
"It granted me control over fire. But the strain was immense. My breathing technique keeps the flames from tearing my body apart."
Barbara blinked.
"So that breathing style is real?"
"Completely."
Tim muttered,
"That is horrifying and impressive."
DAMIAN MAKES SURE THEY BELIEVE THE MYTH
Bruce folded his arms.
"Where did you find the fruit?"
Damian delivered the half-truth perfectly:
"In the ruins of a forgotten temple. Protected. Hidden. Dangerous. I thought it was just a legend… until I ate it."
Nightwing, Tim, Steph — they all looked stunned.
Even Cassandra's eyes widened slightly.
Bruce processed every detail.
"And there could be more?"
Damian nodded once.
"Possibly. But extremely rare."
Exactly what Bruce needed to hear.
Exactly what Damian needed him to believe.
THE BAT-FAMILY REALIZES THE DANGER
Bruce pulled up a giant display of Gotham's worst:
Ra's al Ghul
Lex Luthor
Cults
Warlords
Black Mask
Meta-human traffickers
The Court of Owls
Darkseid forces
He spoke the words no one wanted to hear:
"If they learn the truth — they'll hunt you, Damian."
Steph swallowed hard.
Tim looked pale.
Cassandra took a protective step closer.
Barbara clenched her fists.
Nightwing said what they were all thinking:
"So how do we protect him?"
THE BAT-FAMILY PROTECTION PLAN
1. No One Outside This Cave Learns About the Fruit
Bruce stared at them all.
"Not the Justice League. Not the Titans. Not ARGUS. No one."
Damian nodded.
"Good. That's how it should be."
2. Damian Gets a Public Alias
Tim typed rapidly.
"We build a false civilian identity. One the world sees, so no one connects your abilities to you."
Stephanie added,
"And an online alias too. Something totally boring."
Damian groaned.
3. Combat Backup Plans
Nightwing clapped Damian's shoulder.
"If anyone comes after you, you call us. We don't care if it's a god, a demon, or a cult."
Cassandra smiled faintly.
"We fight together."
4. Hidden Safe Locations
Bruce spoke last.
"We'll set up safe houses. Backup shelters. Emergency extraction routes."
Damian hid a smirk.
(He already had a pocket dimension house — but they didn't need to know that.)
DAMIAN'S FINAL WORD
Bruce placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"You're not alone. Not anymore."
Damian turned away slightly, pretending to adjust his cape.
"…I understand. Thank you."
Nightwing grinned.
"Look at him getting all emotional."
"I am not—!"
Everyone laughed, including Barbara — who, for the first time in years, felt whole.
And Damian…
Damian felt something he had never known:
A family worth protecting.