[Action; Quad]

[worthyheir]

[He had hardly been at the school for no more than two weeks, and it was already far, far too long. He hated the garden, hated practically every person in the garden, hated the classes and most of all hated being away from any sort of action. He was the son of Batman and the heir to the empire of Ra's Al Ghul, the concept of being trapped had never entered his mind prior to arriving here. Granted, he had been trapped physically before, but this was an entirely different beast. Should he choose not to attend this giant waste of time, he would lose whatever little resources he now had available to him and be thrust into an entirely unfamiliar world.

This wasn't Gotham, with it's tall skyscrapers, costumed psychos, and citizens insane enough to still live in the city after all those years of dealing with Gotham's particular brand of costumed psychos. It wasn't like any of the places he had visited in his well-traveled young life, and though Damian had once considered himself a traveler, he doubted that if when he got home, it would be quite some time before he traveled again. Most importantly, this wasn't where Grayson was.

And so, with nothing better to do, he found himself reading The Art of War on the far side of the quad, trying to get some peace and quiet. Though he had read the book countless times before, there was something comforting in something so familiar...]

Comments

[werepanther]

[With Tommy around, that peace and quiet wasn't going to come anytime soon. He flops down beside Damian and pulls a knee close to his chest as he inspects the book.]

Getting some "light" reading in?

[worthyheir]

[Sighs and doesn't even bother looking up.]

We don't have class until tomorrow, Bronson. Am I not even allowed to have free time now?

[werepanther]

Hey now, I never said you weren't. [mischievous smile] I'm just here 'cause I wanted to see how you were holding up.

[worthyheir]

[That does get him to look up. His instructors in the League certainly never asked questions like that.]

What does it matter to you? Our relationship doesn't extend beyond you setting up the gym and me to arrive and hit something.

[werepanther]

Says who? The Fun Police? [He laughs, tilting his head to the side] It matters to me because I like you. Plus, someone's gotta make sure that your idea of "fun" involves something a little less weighty.

No offense, man, but I never could get through that book.

[worthyheir]

It's the nature of teacher-pupil relationships. I'd say I go to learn something, but I stopped learning anything from my tutors years ago. If anything, I taught them.

And there is nothing wrong with my choice of reading material. Just because you are incapable of reading it does not make it "weighty." I've read it in English, Arabic, and Cantonese.

[werepanther]

Impressive. [The thought of reading Cantonese makes him look visibly ill. Pictorial languages were never ever his thing.] On every single count... but you're also the only kid I know who likes thick books.

You never did read Judy Blume or the Hardy Boys or that kind of thing, huh?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Camera around his neck, Miharu is wandering through the quad, looking for something interesting. When he spots a little boy reading The Art of War all alone, he decides that's more interesting than some flowers and approaches him.]

Is that fun? [For once, he's honestly curious. He's pretty good with kids, and this...doesn't seem very typical.]

[worthyheir]

[Looks up to glimpse at the kid with the camera coming towards him. Why must everyone ask him if his activities count as "fun"?] It's useful. Strategy is a side of combat most people don't' bother to brush up on, and I'm not most people. [Turns the page.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Well, that was unexpected. Miharu stares at him for a moment before responding.] So it's fun.

[worthyheir]

[Seriously, what is up with people and "fun?" What was so great about fun?] It's relevant to my interests. What does it matter if it's "fun" or not?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[And back to deadpan.] How old are you?

[worthyheir]

10. [Turns the page.]

[biladi.livejournal.com]

[Falsely assuming this is the Damian he's known since his arrival, Egypt is approaching the boy reading alone in the quad. This wasn't where the (much, much) older cadet expected to find him, but hey, no harm in dropping by and saying hello, right?

Once close enough, Egypt starts speaking to him in Arabic, everything from his voice to his posture much more relaxed compared to the first clusterfuck time they met.] No comics today?

[worthyheir]

[Looks up when he hears a voice, but promptly looks back down when he notices it's the other Damian's help.

He slips into Arabic, but it's clear it's been a while since he's last spoken it.] Why would I waste my time with comic books?

[biladi.livejournal.com]

You like... them.

[It's delayed, but once everything clicks, it sure does click. Egypt's eyes widen somewhat with the realization, and that laid-back stance becomes something a little more uncomfortable.]

[Oh. This is... Robin. That other Robin. Wonderful.]

[worthyheir]

[Fights a smirk.] Is there anything else you need, help?

[biladi.livejournal.com]

[Fighting back a frown, only partially successful. Since moving up from surrogate brother to surrogate father, Egypt hates being called "help" even more.]

[In a brief moment of silent glaring, he feels a strong urge to leave and forget this mix-up, but... doesn't. As much as he may hate this child's behavior (not the child himself — they look the same), Egypt needs to know more about him.]

[He's sitting himself down in front of D— Robin, keeping a further distance than he would if there were his lookalike.]

...Name's Damian, too?

[worthyheir]

[Puts down the book so he can stare back.] Damian Wayne.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

[Seeing someone who looked exactly like himself would never, ever get old. Especially when said "other self" was reading something he'd personally never be caught dead.

Day makes his way over, tilting his head slightly to try to read the title.] That's not homework, is it?

[worthyheir]

[Looks up at the other Damian.] Of course not.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

[Oh thank god. Day sighs with relief as he sits down beside his other self.]

The Art of War? That's... an interesting choice. ["It makes my comic books look really dumb in comparison."]

[worthyheir]

I haven't read it recently and I found it in the library.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

You've read it before? [Ugh, seriously? He can't help making a face.] That sounds super un-schway.

[worthyheir]

In three different languages. [Turns the page.] It's always useful to study strategy.