Damian Begins Evaluating Heroes (Without Telling Anyone Why)
And Everyone Notices.
Watchtower — Observation Deck
Damian stood before the giant glass windows overlooking Earth, a datapad in his hand.
Not his usual datapad.
A new one.
A locked one.
A System-generated one.
On the screen were names and files — private files.
Power Potential
Temperament
Battle Control
Emotional Stability
Leadership
World-Ending Risk Level
He wasn't supposed to have some of this information.
But he needed it.
He needed to decide who could handle the Gura Gura no Mi someday…
without anyone knowing the fruit existed.
Damian Begins Collecting Data — Quietly
STEP ONE: Observe
He watched Wonder Woman spar with Supergirl.
He tracked Aqualad meditating.
He secretly reviewed Black Canary's leadership logs.
He analyzed Superboy's emotional patterns during stress.
He viewed Hawkgirl's combat archives and moral dilemmas.
To everyone else it looked like Damian was "training."
But he was measuring them.
Weighing them.
Testing their potential.
STEP TWO: Ask Questions
Damian approached each potential candidate personally — but casually.
To AQUALAD
Damian:
"How do you handle power you fear might destroy what you hope to protect?"
Aqualad blinked in surprise.
Aqualad:
"…with discipline and humility.
And with people I trust beside me."
Damian wrote something down.
To BLACK CANARY
Damian:
"How do you keep control when you're angry?
Or when you feel helpless?"
Black Canary raised a brow.
Black Canary:
"Experience.
And the knowledge that the moment I lose control, someone gets hurt."
Another note.
To WONDER WOMAN
Damian:
"If you held a weapon capable of leveling continents…
would you use it?"
Diana gave a slow, steady breath.
Wonder Woman:
"Only when there is absolutely no other way.
Power is a responsibility, not a privilege."
Damian stared at her for a long moment.
Then typed again.
To SUPERBOY
Damian:
"How do you feel when people fear your strength?"
Superboy froze.
Then sighed.
Superboy:
"I hate it.
I try my hardest to be gentle.
But sometimes… I don't know if that's enough."
Damian typed something silently.
To HAWKGIRL
Damian:
"Could you resist power that tempts you to be more… destructive?"
Hawkgirl smirked.
Hawkgirl:
"Kid, I punch things hard because it's fun.
But I know the difference between 'battle' and 'annihilation.'"
Damian actually nodded.
Another note.
And That's When People Began Noticing.
He didn't smile.
Didn't joke.
He stared too long.
He analyzed too much.
He wrote notes constantly.
People started whispering.
Flash:
"Is he building dossiers… on us?"
Supergirl:
"Did he just… evaluate me?"
Martian Manhunter:
"He is thinking loudly."
Nightwing:
"He's studying us.
That's never good."
Starfire:
"Is this a human ritual?
He stares at me like he is measuring my soul."
Batman Notices First
Of course he does.
Bruce approached him quietly in the Cave later that night.
Batman:
"You're collecting behavioral data.
Personality metrics.
Response profiles.
Battle tendencies.
Moral alignment."
Damian kept his face blank.
Damian:
"…yes."
Batman:
"Why?"
Damian:
"I'm preparing."
Batman:
"For what?"
Damian looked away.
He couldn't tell him about the fruit.
But he could speak truth without revealing everything.
Damian:
"For the future.
For threats that require… decisions.
Hard ones."
Batman's eyes narrowed.
Batman:
"You're not planning something reckless, are you?"
Damian shook his head.
Damian:
"No, Father.
I'm planning something responsible."
Batman hated that answer.
Because it was honest.
The Other Heroes Confront Him
The Titans cornered him first.
Nightwing:
"Dami.
You're freaking everyone out.
Why are you interviewing half the League?"
Raven (arms crossed):
"You're hiding something.
Your soul is noisy."
Beast Boy:
"I think he's plotting something world-ending."
Starfire:
"Or world-saving!"
Superboy:
"Or world-breaking?"
Damian simply said:
Damian:
"I am choosing who can be trusted with something dangerous…
in a future crisis."
Every Titan froze.
Every. Single. One.
Raven's eyes widened.
Robin's voice cracked.
Robin (Tim):
"…What kind of 'dangerous'?"
Damian turned away.
Damian:
"The less you know, the safer everyone is."
Justice League Meeting — Damian Becomes a Topic
Superman stood with arms folded.
Diana looked concerned.
J'onn was thoughtful.
Flash was pacing.
Superman:
"Is it possible Damian found… something?"
Batman:
"…yes."
J'onn:
"He is hiding a heavy secret.
But he believes what he is doing is necessary."
Wonder Woman:
"This could be preparation for a responsibility he doesn't wish to carry."
Flash:
"OR he found a doomsday device.
Or a magical trial.
Or a cursed sword.
Or a—"
Everyone glared.
Flash:
"…right. I'll stop."
Batman stared at the table.
Batman:
"I trust him.
But I'm watching.
He will tell me when he is ready."
Damian's Final Decision (For Now)
Back in his room, Damian opened his dimensional space.
Inside, wrapped in reinforced cloth and placed inside a system-sealed case—
The Gura Gura no Mi pulsed softly.
Dangerous.
World-breaking.
Untouched.
Damian stared at it.
Damian (thinking):
"I will choose carefully.
And only when I must."
The System pinged softly:
[ POWER LEAK SUPPRESSED COMPLETELY ]
[ NO CELESTIAL, COSMIC, OR OCCULT ENTITY can DETECTED THE FRUIT now ]
Good.
No one could know.
Not yet.