Robin one shot part 3!

If I can't do that, then what am I for?

"Father, I," Damian began. He needed to say something but was he prepared for the potential answers? Where would he go if this didn't work out in his favour? Titans Tower or Dick's place, maybe live with Jon if the worst comes to worst. He didn't know if he'd survive five minutes with Jason without becoming annoyed and he'd murder Tim in a heartbeat if they lived together. So he had that option. How would he keep going to school? There were things online or he could drop out altogether. He was smart enough not to need it. Could he still be Robin? Plenty of Robins had run away and continued their work in other cities and he couldn't see how he couldn't follow suit. He didn't want anything to happen that would force him to go with these backup plans but he needed to get it off his chest if he wanted to keep control of himself. He gulped, feeling nervous and despising every minute of it. His eyes eventually found Bruce's and he confessed, "I can't give you an heir."

There was a long silence as they just stared at one another. Bruce processed what he'd been told and looked very obviously clueless at what to do with that information. Damian watched him carefully so he could get out of there as soon as possible if he saw things go south. Seconds ticked by but felt like they were hours each before the older finally said something. "A what now?" he asked.

"An heir. It's my duty as your biological son that I continue the lineage through marriage and a child yet I can't do it, Father. I'll never be able to do it," Damian explained. That didn't appear to help with Bruce's confusion. Eventually, his brain seemed to work through what he'd been told and he looked...sad? Sad wasn't good but it wasn't the emotion expected. The younger supposed he was mourning the loss of a future grandson that would never be. 

"Who on Earth told you that you needed to give me an heir?" he inquired. Now it was Damian's turn to be confused. 

"It's expected, is it not?" The older let out a sigh and got up, sitting on Damian's bed and then patting the place beside him. Cautiously, the teen joined him but couldn't relax. Why wasn't he yelling? Why weren't they arguing? Had he caused so much disappointment that the other didn't even have the energy to curse him out? "Are you mad?"

"God no! No, I'd never be mad about this," Bruce insisted. Oh. "I think we really need to talk about this. I can't have you thinking I'd be angry at you for that." Talking. That wasn't something the pair did. They had a mutual agreement that they left the emotional stuff on the sidelines and they'd concentrate on work together. Yet now they were going to talk about that and Damian wasn't quite sure where to start. He chewed his bottom lip as he thought about how he wanted to present his feelings before settling on something. 

"I don't...I don't feel what you're supposed to feel about people. It's like, I do feel emotion for people but not the emotions that you feel toward lovers." There's a pause before he continues. "I care about people but I don't want things to go past platonic I think."

"Alright so, just to make sure I understand, you don't feel sexual or romantic attraction?" Bruce asked. The younger nodded slowly. "I understand. Is this why you've been so distant recently?" He nodded again. "Oh, Damian." Empathy? Damian was surprised to find this situation had gone so well in the first place and he was even more surprised that he was empathetic. "I know I don't show it enough and I know we've not had the...easiest go at things but I won't ever stop loving you over something you can't change."

"Really?" It had slipped out and was so quiet that it almost didn't get caught but it had. Bruce softened and hesitated for just a moment before hugging his son. Damian took a moment to relax into the hug, but it was everything he needed when he did. He let himself lean into the hug and take all the comfort he'd desperately needed for so long. 

"I love you, Damian, no matter what. You don't need to get married, you don't need to give me a grandkid, you don't need to do anything like that. I just want you to be happy." 

"Thank you, Father."

A few days later, Bruce knocked on Damian's door and when let in, he presented his son with two small flags. "What are these?" Damian asked as he took the flags.

"They're the asexual and aromantic flags. I thought you'd appreciate a little representation in your room. Maybe bring them out for pride?" Bruce explained. He looked a little awkward. It looked like he was trying to do his best and Damian could appreciate that. The older wanted him to feel loved and like he could be open about a part of his life. 

"They're rather tacky," he began as he went to put them in his pencil holder. "But the sentiment is appreciated."

"Glad to hear it. Just so you know, no one else will mind. Come out when you're ready though."

"I will Father."