DAMIAN AWAKENS, AND FINALLY TELLS THE HALF-TRUTH ABOUT HIS POWERS
1. THE WATCHTOWER — ONE MONTH LATER
Damian woke up slowly.
The med-bay lights were dim, humming softly.
Alien machines monitored him, Kryptonian tech repairing what was left of the damage.
His last memory was fire—
blinding, screaming, devouring—
And then nothing.
He pushed himself upright.
Damian:
"…How long was I out?"
A familiar voice answered.
Batman:
"A month."
Damian looked up.
His father was standing beside the bed.
Behind him, clustered with tense, unreadable expressions, were:
Superman
Wonder Woman
Flash
Green Lantern
Aquaman
Cyborg
Martian Manhunter
Zatanna
Hawkgirl
The full League.
This wasn't a hospital visit.
It was an interrogation.
2. SUPERMAN — THE FIRST QUESTION
Superman approached the bed, eyes soft but deeply worried.
Superman:
"Damian… your flames stopped Doomsday's evolution.
Nothing in the universe can do that. Not magic. Not the Source. Not Kryptonian power."
A pause.
Superman:
"How did you gain these abilities?"
Damian inhaled slowly.
This was the moment.
He prepared the half-truth he'd built with surgical precision.
3. DAMIAN GIVES HIS HALF-TRUTH ABOUT DEVIL FRUITS
Damian spoke calmly, steadily.
Damian:
"When I left the League of Assassins, I traveled.
Alone.
Across countries, ruins, mountains, old battlefields…"
Everyone listened closely.
Damian:
"I heard rumors of a legend.
Not magic, not meta-human evolution—
but something older.
Something ancient."
Flash blinked.
Flash:
"Like… mythology ancient?"
Damian nodded.
Damian:
"Some cultures whispered about fruits born from the sea or the void.
Not ordinary fruits—
but ones that grant the eater a singular, unnatural power."
Superman's eyes narrowed but not in suspicion—
in recognition of truth mixed with uncertainty.
Damian continued.
The Half-Truth — Clean, Undetectable:
Damian:
"There are said to be three classifications of these fruits."
He raised one finger.
"Zoan — Bestial fruits, granting animal transformations or traits."
Another finger.
"Paramecia — Strange and varied powers, from manipulating one's body to affecting the world around them."
And then—
A third finger.
"Logia — Control over natural elements. Fire. Ice. Smoke. Light."
The room went silent.
Damian's eyes sharpened.
Damian:
"I found one of these fruits during my travels.
Or… it found me."
He did not say the word system.
He did not say reborn.
He did not say other world.
He only offered the piece of truth he chose.
Damian:
"I ate it.
And from that moment forward—
fire became part of me."
The Lasso of Truth stayed dim.
Not a flicker of rejection.
He had mastered the loophole.
4. WONDER WOMAN — THE TEST
Diana stepped forward, golden rope coiling at her hip.
Wonder Woman:
"Damian. May I?"
He nodded.
The lasso wrapped around his forearm.
Warmth. Pressure. But no burn of guilt.
Wonder Woman:
"Did you obtain your fire ability from this fruit?"
Damian:
"Yes."
The lasso remained still.
Wonder Woman:
"Are you hiding its existence for malicious intent?"
Damian:
"No."
Still calm.
She let go.
Wonder Woman:
"He believes every word he said."
Batman didn't show emotion—
but Damian felt the silent approval.
5. MARTIAN MANHUNTER — SHAKEN
J'onn stepped forward, voice softer than ever.
Martian Manhunter:
"Damian… during the battle, I attempted to read your mind."
The entire League froze.
Damian's heart tightened—he kept his breathing perfect.
Martian Manhunter:
"I was blocked.
Instantly.
Completely.
As if your mind was wrapped in a force older than psychic power."
Batman stiffened.
Superman stepped closer.
Damian remained calm.
Damian:
"…Maybe the fruit changed me more than I realized."
J'onn swallowed.
Martian Manhunter:
"This protection is not Kryptonian, magical, or Martian.
It is something I have never encountered in the entire universe."
He bowed slightly.
Martian Manhunter:
"I apologize."
Damian simply nodded.
6. SUPERMAN — ACCEPTANCE
Superman placed a firm, warm hand on Damian's shoulder.
Superman:
"You saved my life.
Saved the League.
Saved the world."
His voice softened with gratitude.
Superman:
"Whatever the origin of your power…
thank you."
Damian felt heat building in his chest—
but not from the fruit.
He simply nodded.
7. CONSTANTINE — THE ONE WHO SEES THROUGH HALF-TRUTHS
Constantine flicked his cigarette, ignoring Watchtower rules.
He stared directly at Damian.
Constantine:
"Kid… your story checks out.
The lasso agrees.
The big blue boy scout agrees."
He tapped the cigarette to the floor.
Constantine:
"But whatever fruit gave you that fire…
it didn't act alone."
Damian blinked.
Damian:
"What do you mean?"
Constantine smirked darkly.
Constantine:
"Power that blocks a telepath like J'onn?
Fire that halts a god-killer like Doomsday?
That's not just a fruit."
He leaned close.
Constantine (whisper):
"Something ancient is riding shotgun in your soul, mate.
And it's watching."
A chill ran down Damian's spine.
8. BATMAN — JUST A FATHER NOW
When the League left, Bruce sat down beside Damian.
No cowl.
No armor.
Just a father.
Batman:
"I trust you, Damian.
Even if you're not telling us everything."
Damian swallowed.
Batman:
"You did good.
You're alive.
And I'm proud of you."
For a moment—
Damian wasn't an assassin.
Not a Living Flame.
Not a warrior reborn.
He was simply a son.
9. THE UNIVERSE SHIFTS
Far away, the gods, demons, angels, and cosmic beings reacted to the fire pillar.
But that was a story already told.
For now—
Damian Wayne
Fire-Shadow
Fruit-Bearer
Son of the Bat
had awakened.
And the world wanted answers.
And the universe wanted him.