[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?

[worthyheir]

I'm not other kids. I only read things that are useful to me. Strategy is useful, Hop on Pop is not.

Who? Never heard of them.

[werepanther]

[He's never read the Hardy Boys? Tom immediately gives Damian a look of complete disbelief.] They're only classics that nearly every kid read. ["Or so I thought."]

After class tomorrow, I'm totally taking you to the library. I don't know they have books from our world, but it's worth a shot.

[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.]

[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]

Your first mistake was comparing me to other children. I may be young, but I am nothing like those other runny nosed half breeds. I'm the son of Bruce Wayne, and I have more important things to occupy my time with.

And unless reading Hardy Blume somehow relates to boxing, which I highly doubt, I will not be reading them.

[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.]

[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.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

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

[werepanther]

... I'd make a witty comment about them being "the Hardy Boys," which aren't related to Judy Blume at all, but hang on.

Bruce Wayne let his kid run around with the League of Assassins? I knew he was dim-witted, but even he's not... is he? [Yeahhh, this one doesn't know Bruce's secret identity.]

[worthyheir]

[Freezes for a moment. He was beginning to think that running his mouth off about his training with the League wasn't such a good idea.

Then again, there would be valid reasons for Bruce Wayne to run into his mother, without Bat business...]

I was raised by my mother--Talia Al Ghul.

[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?

[worthyheir]

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

[werepanther]

[The name means absolutely nothing to Tom and it shows. Cue the super-confused look.]

And she was... one of them, right?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

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

[worthyheir]

[Shoots him a look. Seriously? Seriously?]

She is in charge of them.

[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?

[werepanther]

That explains a lot. [Wry grin. Hey, it's not Tommy's fault he deals with lesser-known threats on a regular basis.] They never did deal with the League in the JSA.