Never Return

When nightfall came, Damian was in his room, looking into Harry Evans. Titus was sitting next to him and Alfred the cat was laying on his lap. From looking at the documents, it was fake. However, whoever made these documents, no one would even think that these documents were fake. Harry Aster Evans was Harry James Potter. From Potter's background, he was the son of James and Lily Potter, who were murdered in a robbery gone wrong at the night of Halloween at a place called Godric's Hallow. Potter was raised by Petunia Dursley, Lily Potter's sister and her husband, Vernon Dursley. Damian looked into the Dursleys. He noticed how the Dursley's son, Dudley was well taken care of, while Potter was skinny and malnourished. From old primary school photos, Damian saw how Potter was wearing old worn out clothes and too big for him, while Dudley Dursley wore clothes that were in trend.

However, what got Damian was that the teachers did called the British child services and nothing was done about it. It was like as if the authorities forgotten about it. Damian did suspected that Evans was abused and he hated to be right. From further research, the Dursleys sent Potter to a boot camp of some sort, but there was no record. However, from his old primary school reports, there were reports of Potter being at random places around the school. He appeared on rooftops and other odd places that he couldn't get to. Damian did found that odd, but there was nothing there to tell him how he did it. Besides, from the interaction, Damian didn't find Evans odd. Just normal.

From the interaction he had with Evans, he did had an education. He had to go to school somewhere. Damian knew these people didn't homeschooled him. From the Dursleys treatment, he knew that homeschooling was never an option. Then Damian remembered Evans telling him how he lives with his godfather who got him out of the situation. Whoever put Evans with the Dursleys, had to be insane, since he had a godfather who was willingly to take care of him.

Damian leaned back on his seat and crossed his arms. As much as he would like to call Evans by his real name, but Damian knew he couldn't do that. Evans was going by his mother's maiden name for a reason. Damian wouldn't be surprised if Evans and his godfather escaped the Dursleys and went to Gotham because of the abuse. The abuse was probably very bad if that was the case. If there was a custody issue, then hopefully that would be solved. Of course he wouldn't understand why the Dursleys would want Evans back since they obviously don't like him. Unless Petunia Dursley had a twisted sense that she thinks she's taking good care of her sister's son very well. The thought of that made Damian wanted to punch these people.

"Are you excited to see Hedwig soon, Titus?" Damian asked.

Titus barked and licked his cheek.

Damian patted Titus's head. "I'll make sure you'll see her."

Then Damian went back into looking to see if Harry Potter had any other relatives than his mother's side. After a few minutes, he found nothing. Damian knew it was because Evans' DNA wasn't in the database. It would be helpful if he did. Damian was sure that if Evans did had other relatives, his relatives wouldn't even know what happened to him...unless they were told that Evans was in a safe and loving home. Damian narrowed his eyes on that last part. From all of the cases he had seen, that will happened. Relatives would think their loved one is in safe hands when in reality they weren't.

Damian sighed. "Harry Potter." He had to admit, it had a nice ring to it than Harry Evans. 

"Dami, it's time for patrol!" Richard called.

Damian grumbled. "I'll be right there."

As Damian closed his laptop, he headed out of his room and into the Batcave. When he got there, he put on his suit. While Damian was putting on his mask, he glanced at his siblings. They were all chatting among each other like no tomorrow. They were talking about things that Damian never bothered to discovered if he likes to do these activities or not. Then his eyes landed on Timothy. Damian clenched his fists. Even after the four years he had stayed at Gotham, his whole family still talked about how Timothy was a great Robin. Even Jason! Though, he'll never admit it.

Damian hated it.

He hate it how he had to be under someone's shadow and how he will never live up to everyone's expectation. However, he couldn't blame Timothy for it. At first he did blamed him, but a couple of years ago, he realized it wasn't Timothy's fault. He had no idea about it anyway. For a detective, this does passed over his head. He wished he could talk to Timothy about these things, but he never did. He never told Richard or anyone either. Damian was afraid that they might see him as unworthy if he said about his insecurities. They'll probably laugh at him.

"Hey, Damian, are you okay?" Timothy put a hand on his shoulder. "You're awfully quiet."

Damian was taken aback by that question. Of all people who wanted to ask him if he was none other than Timothy Drake. He couldn't help and feel that intense jealousy he had ever since he came to the Manor. He tried to ignored it, but he could hear the voices in his head of how Timothy was a better Robin than him. He could tell through everyone's eyes that they wished Timothy was Robin again and not him. Calm down, calm down, Damian thought to himself. Damian didn't want to put his anger on Timothy. He had been trying to years not to do that. He wasn't even sure if he was making any progress. Damian was sure he wasn't.

Damian shoved his hand away. "I'm fine."

Maybe I should try to ask for a break again, Damian thought. He had been trying to get a break for years after he came back from the dead. Father refused because he and everyone thought he wasn't being serious. Damian couldn't blame them on that part. After all ever since he came to the Manor, he always called himself the blood son. Even when he became Robin, Damian had always bragged how he deserved the role. Now looking back, Damian cringed on that. Being in his suit...he felt like he was suffocating.

"Is everyone ready?" Father asked.

"Yeah!" everyone answered.

"Alright," Father said. "Today we're just doing the same routes as the night before, but this time, I want Dick, Jason, and Tim near Crime Alley."

"Aw, Baby Bat, you're by yourself!" Richard hugged him.

Damian shoved him away. "Get off of me!" he crossed his arms. "It doesn't matter. What Father assigns, I'll do it."

Besides, there was a good chance he might see Hedwig at night, considering the fact that she's a nocturnal owl. That meant Evans was already up. If Evans was up, then maybe Damian could give him a nice welcome from one of the famous Gotham vigilantes. The thought of that lightened his mood a bit.

"I'm sorry, but what the fuck?!" Jason exclaimed. "You usually get mad and demand to go with us!"

Damian sighed and rolled his eyes. "Does it matter? Can we go now?"

Of course Damian just wanted to pet Hedwig again. He couldn't help it. Even before he got Titus and realized how he had a fond for animals of all kinds and wanted to pet every single animal he encounter. Usually for the wild ones, he kept his distance, unless they're the ones who go to him.

Then everyone took off to their destination. Damian looked down at Gotham Park and all of it's residents there. He had his communicator on silent in case if his family needed him. Damian didn't want to accidently leave it on where people could hear him. As he stared down at the nearby stores and markets, he saw some of them were still open. Some of them he went to, like the twenty-four hour pet store. While Damian was going down to the smaller buildings to get a better look down, he noticed a familiar figure walking out of the pet store and holding a bird perch.

"Evans?" Damian muttered.

There was no way Evans was this idiotic enough to go out at Gotham at night just to buy a perch for his owl. As Damian got closer, his eyes widened. It was Evans. He was minding his own business like no tomorrow. Damian groaned and facepalmed. He's an idiot! he thought. Damian was glad he got the same route again. If he didn't, who knows what would happen to Evans. It was like he was asking for trouble! Damian jumped down from a building and walked up behind Evans. Just as he was to reach out...

SMACK!

A satchel hit him across the face and it was still contact to him. Damian tried to processed what just happened. He just got smacked by a satchel and he should've been able to dodged that easily. If his siblings heard about this, they wouldn't let him forget that. Damian's eyes glanced at Evans who had his eyes closed. Slowly, Evans opened his eyes and looked up. His eyes widened and gaped.

"I-I," He stammered. "Y-Y-You're Robin?!" he pulled his satchel away and took a few steps back. "I'm so sorry!"

Damian sighed. "There is nothing wrong. I shouldn't snuck up on you."

"I'm not going to Arkham right?"

Damian huffed. "Tt, you're an idiot to think we'll arrest someone who was just trying to defend themselves. Why are you out here by yourself? Didn't anyone told you it's dangerous to walk out at Gotham at night?"

"I'm sorry," Evans apologized. "I forgot to buy my owl a perch."

Damian raised a brow. "So you decide it was a good idea to go out at night, while everyone is asleep to get a perch? Did your parents knew you're out."

Damian knew Evans was staying with his godfather, but alas he couldn't blow his cover. It wouldn't make sense if Robin knew facts about Evans that only Damian could know. It wouldn't be right and he would rather not mess something this simple up. Besides, as much as Damian would give credit that Evans really cared about his owl than his own safety, but Evans was stupid. He could've gotten hurt or kidnapped!

Evans rubbed his neck. "My godfather is asleep...and doesn't know..."

If Damian had a chance to whack Evans on the upside of his head, he would. Did Evans even thought of this through? He could've just go to the pet store in the morning. They are open for twenty-four hours for a reason.

Damian crossed his arms. "Well, considering the fact that you're obviously not from here, I will escort you home."

Evans blinked. "You don't have to. I can defend myself."

As he raised a brow, Damian looked at Evans from head to toe. He couldn't be that serious. There was no way he could be. Evans looked like he couldn't even win a fight. Let alone punch someone. In fact, had he ever been in a fight before?

Damian snorted. "Really?"

Evans nodded. "Yeah!"

"Then try to punch me."

Evans looked taken aback and raised a brow. Of course Damian knew why. Evans was face to face with Robin. Damian could just easily deflect his attacks without any problem. Licking his lips, Evans shut his eyes and threw a punch at his shoulder. Then there was silence and there were only the sounds of crickets. Damian felt nothing. He literally felt nothing. Slowly, Damian's lips stretched into a smile. Quickly, he covered it with his hand and chuckled.

"That was utterly lousy," Damian laughed.

It wasn't like he was making fun of him. It was extremely far from that. Damian couldn't find the words he was looking for. He wasn't sure what to describe this feeling he was having. Endearing? Amusing? Whatever it was, Damian just like this feeling. It was different how he's around with his family and friends.

Evans pouted. "Shut up."

Damian placed a hand on Evans' head and ruffled it a bit as he smirked. "Let's get you home."

Evans nodded. "Okay. I don't live that far."

Then the two walked in silent. Damian never thought he'll be walking Evans home, but he did. Even though they weren't talking, the silence wasn't awkward. In fact, it was comforting. Now Damian thought about it, he did felt comfortable to talk to Evans when he first met him. Yes, it the first time he met him, but he hate it admit it, it was a nice talk. It didn't took long for them to get to Evans' house. Damian blinked a few times. The house he was standing in front of was a simple, but old fashion two story house. It looked like it was well kept, but the lawn needed some trimming. There was a balcony too.

"Where's your room?" Damian asked.

"It's where the balcony is," Evans answered.

Suddenly, Damian grabbed Evans' waist and use his grappling hook. As the hook attached itself to the roof, the two flew up. Evans yelped and held onto him, but he had a smile across his face. It looked like he likes the thrill of moving very fast. When they landed on the balcony floor, Damian set Evans down. Evans set the perch at the side and Damian sat on the balcony railings. Just as Evans turned around, Damian saw another figure in the shadows. Gasping, Damian grabbed Evans by his wrist and pulled behind him as he pulled out his katana.

"Who's there?!" Damian snarled.

The shadow got closer, revealing a Scottish Deerhound. Damian blinked a few times as he remembered what Evans told him how his godfather had a dog named Snuffles. Damian lowered his sword as Evans ran passed him.

"Snuffles!" he exclaimed. "Sorry to wake up, boy."

Snuffles whack Evans' head and huffed.

Evans chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I deserved that. It won't happen again. I promise!"

The dog rolled his eyes. Damian frowned. He couldn't help it, but this dog...acts more human than a dog. Even Titus wouldn't even act like that. Maybe the dog Evans and his godfather found was raised by other humans and tried to raised the dog to be more human-like? That can happen.

Then Snuffles walked up to him, sniffing his feet. Damian crouched down and held out his hand. The Scottish Deerhound sniffed his hand and just stared at him. It was like as if Snuffles was analyzing him. Snuffles took a few steps back, standing next to Evans. He was glaring at him as if to say, Don't go near us! Damian couldn't blame the dog. After all, he is a stranger and Snuffles seemed very protective of Evans.

"Thanks for taking me home, Robin," Evans made a small smile.

"I'm only doing my job," Damian said. "I advice you try not to go out at night unless you have an adult with you."

"Yeah, I get it," Evans mumbled a bit.

Damian gave Evans a single nod as he leaned back and jumped off of the balcony, landing on his feet. After Damian got out of the neighborhood, he finished his patrol, double checking to see if he had missed anything. After a couple of robberies, a attempted kidnapping, and a few attempted assaults, Damian finished his patrol and went back home. So far, nothing exciting happened, unless he counted seeing Evans again. As he got to cave, he noticed no one was home yet. That meant something happened and they probably got everyone there. Usually Damian would be disappointed that they left him out and would go after them to see what he missed, but this time...he didn't. The thought of Evans' terrible punch made him smiled. He didn't know why that memory kept popping up, but it just did. For some reason it was memorable to him.