Damian Requests a Trip to Metropolis
The system mission weighed heavily on Damian's mind.
A Kryptonian-disabling weapon — powerful enough to neutralize a Kryptonian temporarily, but not kill them — was not something he could design from his pocket dimension alone.
He needed data.
He needed energy signatures.
He needed Kryptonian tech.
And there was only one place to find it:
Metropolis.
DAMIAN GOES TO THE STUDY — AGAIN
Bruce Wayne was at the giant computer screen in the manor study, analyzing satellite movement patterns when Damian entered.
Batman didn't turn around.
"You're awake earlier than usual," he said. "What do you need?"
Damian cleared his throat.
"I need to travel to Metropolis."
That made Bruce turn.
Completely.
"Why?"
Damian had prepared for this question — rehearsed it, refined it, tested it against every detective trick Bruce used.
But when those blue eyes locked on him, detecting every shift in breath, Damian still felt a flicker of nerves.
"I'm doing research," he said.
"Scientific research. I've been studying metahuman energy signatures… and I need access to certain Kryptonian readings."
Bruce's eyes narrowed almost instantly.
So Damian added:
"Non-invasive. I'm not stalking Superman."
Bruce stared at him.
"…You're interested in Kryptonian biology now?"
Damian didn't blink.
"Yes."
BATMAN'S SUSPICION GROWS
Bruce walked toward him slowly, hands behind his back.
"Damian. Kryptonian physics is advanced even for me. Why are you studying it?"
"Because the world is changing," Damian replied.
"And Kryptonians are going to be at the center of many coming events."
This was true — the system pretty much guaranteed it.
Bruce frowned.
"Your mother didn't send you on a mission, did she?"
"No."
"You're not following League instructions behind my back?"
"No."
Bruce studied him again.
"And this 'research'… is it dangerous?"
Damian paused.
"…Not to me."
And technically, it wasn't a lie.
Bruce didn't look fully convinced — but something in Damian's tone softened him.
Maybe the honesty.
Maybe the fact that Damian asked permission instead of disappearing.
Batman placed a hand on his shoulder.
"When do you need to leave?"
"Tonight."
Bruce inhaled slowly through his nose.
"…You'll take a tracker."
"Obviously."
"You'll stay in contact."
"Yes."
"And you will tell me if anything becomes dangerous."
Damian hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…I will."
Bruce tightened his hand slightly, a father's silent warning.
"Metropolis is different from Gotham. If Superman or Supergirl see you doing anything suspicious, it won't end with a conversation."
Damian smirked faintly.
"Then I won't get caught."
That did not comfort Bruce.
NIGHTWING ENTERS — AND ADDS TO THE PROBLEM
Nightwing leaned against the doorway, sipping coffee.
"Metropolis, huh? Going to try the food? The city's got decent pizza."
Damian shot him a dry look.
"Not going for tourism."
Nightwing grinned.
"Uh-huh. Sure."
Bruce faced Damian again.
"When will you return?"
Damian answered truthfully:
"I don't know."
Bruce's jaw tightened.
But eventually…
He nodded.
"Go.
But Damian…"
His voice softened in a rare, protective way.
"…please be careful. I just got you back."
Damian blinked.
That… he hadn't expected.
He looked away quickly before the moment could overwhelm him.
"I'll be fine, Father."
EPILOGUE — DAMIAN PREPARES TO DEPART
In his pocket dimension house, Damian packed:
specialized scanning lenses
a collapsible energy detector
his Nichirin sword
emergency senzu beans
and the new Nightwing-designed tracker Bruce insisted on
His heartbeat quickened.
Metropolis was bright, open, and full of heroes who could see a lie from a mile away.
But the mission required it.
As he stepped through the dimensional door onto a quiet Gotham rooftop, the system chimed:
Mission Progress Requirement:
Travel to Metropolis.
Begin Kryptonian Energy Research.
Damian whispered:
"…Time to begin."
And then he vanished into the night.
Damian Arrives in Metropolis (And Superman Immediately Notices)
ARRIVAL — METROPOLIS, MIDNIGHT
Damian Wayne stood on the roof of a luxury hotel overlooking the glowing skyline. Metropolis was nothing like Gotham:
Bright.
Clean.
Hopeful.
And filled with Kryptonians who could shatter a building by sneezing.
"Perfect place to gather data," Damian muttered.
He adjusted the special contact lenses he built using WayneTech scraps — lenses that could read ambient energy signatures.
The moment he activated them, the scan overwhelmed his vision.
Kryptonian energy detected.
Kryptonian energy detected.
Kryptonian energy dete—
Damian hissed and shut the lens down.
Tch.
Superman's basically leaking power everywhere.
He crouched on the ledge and whispered:
"Alright… stay low, gather data, avoid Kryptonians, avoid trouble—"
A sonic boom cracked the air.
Damian froze.
SUPERMAN APPEARS — IMMEDIATELY
A red-and-blue blur stopped twenty feet in front of him, floating in the air, cape fluttering.
Damian's internal reaction:
Oh COME ON—
Superman hovered closer, arms crossed, expression stern but confused.
He wasn't angry.
He was curious.
And that was worse.
"Hello," Superman said calmly.
"You're a long way from Gotham, Damian."
Damian's eyelid twitched.
HOW?
How did he identify me THAT fast?
He didn't even show his face!
He wore a hood!
A mask!
A voice modulator!
Yet Superman floated there, smiling politely.
Damian muttered:
"…Your stupid alien eyes saw through everything, didn't they?"
Superman chuckled softly.
"I heard your heartbeat and gait from six blocks away. You walk exactly like your father."
Damian glared.
"Fantastic."
THE INTERROGATION BEGINS
Superman landed gently on the roof.
"May I ask why you're here?"
Damian kept his tone steady.
"Research."
"What kind of research?"
"Scientific."
Superman's look said: Really? That's all you've got?
Damian exhaled.
"…Metahuman physics."
Superman raised a brow.
"Metahuman physics brought you to Metropolis at midnight with a disguised face, multiple gadgets, and a sword?"
Damian clenched his jaw.
He really hated Kryptonians sometimes.
Superman took a step closer, voice gentle.
"Damian… are you in danger?"
"No."
"Are you hunting someone?"
"No."
"Are you hiding from Batman?"
Damian hesitated—
"…Also no."
Superman folded his arms.
"Then please explain. Because you're confusing even me."
Damian stayed silent for a long moment.
Then he said:
"I'm researching contingency protocols."
Superman blinked.
"…For me?"
Damian didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Superman sighed, rubbed his eyes, and sat on the rooftop edge like a tired teacher dealing with a very sharp student.
"Damian. I don't mind Bruce having contingencies. We've accepted that for years. But you're a child—"
"I'm stronger than most adults."
"Still a child."
Damian scowled.
Superman leaned forward slightly.
"Whatever you're planning… let me help you stay safe."
Damian shook his head.
"I can't involve you."
"Why not?"
"Because then it wouldn't be a contingency."
Superman actually laughed — shocked, impressed, and a little concerned.
"You are DEFINITELY Bruce's son."
A MOMENT OF RESPECT
Superman softened.
"If your research risks exposing you to dangerous Kryptonian power sources, tell me. I can—"
Damian cut him off.
"I won't fight you, Clark. Not now. Not ever. I'm not building a weapon for violence."
Superman nodded slowly.
"…Then what are you building it for?"
Damian looked up at the sky.
"For the future."
Superman understood exactly what he meant.
And he respected it.
After a long pause, he stepped back.
"I'll let you work… but I'll be watching."
Damian growled quietly.
Superman smiled.
"Just keeping you safe."
In a flash of red and blue, he was gone — leaving a gust of wind behind.
Damian sighed deeply.
"Fantastic.
Now I have the strongest man on Earth stalking my research."
He adjusted his hood.
"Alright… let's get to work."