Father father please believe me (closed)

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Character(s): Egypt (Hassan), Damian Razem (Robin)
Location: A103 (Egypt's room)
Rating: PG for Damian's language
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: (Damian's bit is backdated to before the Ottoman Empire visit; Egypt's bit sometime after the visit) Figures these two'd learn each other's secrets eventually: Damian admits he's a superhero while Hassan confesses to being a country.

After that afternoon and the supposed acid trip he didn't remember, Robin didn't know how else to talk to Hassan. His ahki deserved more than taking care of him - and seriously, his other self HAD to call them a rainbow couple - and more than being a classmate. But what else could Damian do? Not much of anything, especially if he couldn't fight.

In retrospect, climbing into Hassan's room through the window may not have been the smartest idea, but he hadn't gotten the chance to change out of his costume after patrols. Softly closing the window so that Hassan's roommate wouldn't wake up, Robin carefully adjusted his goggles and glanced around the room.

"Ahki---" Right. The voice distorter was still on. Maybe he should turn it off?

"Err---Hassan? Do you have a moment?"

Comments

HIDEOUS.

[biladi.livejournal.com]

That Particular Afternoon wasn't pleasant in the slightest, at least for Egypt. That Robin child was much more of a bad seed than he initially thought. He caused Damian harm, threatened to injure the both of them, made all those glaring accusations... Suffice to say Egypt's opinion of the child isn't very high. Far from it.

Speaking of Robin, he picked a godawful time and place to try and set things straight. Letting himself into Egypt's room wasn't a good idea. Negative points for this Robin brat once again, once he wakes up and realizes just who is paying a visit. Close to dozing off the second voice in the room causes Egypt to stir, face pressed into the mattress now looking up and—

"Ya ibn el jahsh—!" Egypt's swearing as he fumbles in bed, pushing himself off his stomach and trying to cover his lower torso with the half-strewn sheets at the same time.

Your ahki sleeps in the nude, kid. No one's supposed to know (or see) since Egypt's supposed to have some privacy here. Gakupo never enters without knocking, and this is how he always slept back home due to the heat. This is one old habit that won't go away easily.

At the very least, Robin should be glad he isn't getting thwacked in the head with a large stick currently hidden under the bed right about now. Recognition of the costume under the moonlight is his saving grace. You want to know what happened to the last guy that broke in through Egypt's window? Ask the receiving staff at El Shoruk Hospital.

BEAUTIFUL HIDEOUSNESS

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Ya Allah, maybe this could've waited until morning. Robin jumps back, bumping directly against the wall and closing his eyes. What the hell did he just witness? (There had to be brain bleach somewhere around here. Please let there be brain bleach.) Something... he really didn't want to know. Granted, after living with a huge family and an older brother, not much scarred him for life, but STILL. Decency! Did that not exist anymore?

Covering his eyes with his gloved hands (Allah (swt), why did his goggles have to have night vision), Robin whimpers, "I'm sorry! I didn't think you'd.... you'd..."

Mom and Dad never taught him how to even start a conversation remotely like this. After a moment, he sighs of defeat, "Forget it. I'll come back another time."

DIDN'T YOUR PARENTS TEACH YOU TO RESPECT OTHER PEOPLES' PRIVACY

[biladi.livejournal.com]

This seriously could have waited until morning. Decency with Egypt exists everywhere except while he sleeps. Because no one is supposed to be around him while he sleeps. No one is supposed to be breaking in through his window in the middle of the night and trying to strike up a conversation while he sleeps.

While Robin's frozen to the spot out of severe psychological trauma, eyes closed shut, Egypt has the decency to at least throw on some underwear. It's a speedy job, probably not enough to help Robin unsee whatever he just saw, but the older man could give less of a shit. The brat just broke into his room, uninvited and through a window that was supposed to be locked.

A hand gripping Robin's shoulder jerks him away from the wall, keeping him from escaping too easily. "What're you doing?" Unaware of just who he's really speaking to (and no longer startled enough to throw around curses), Egypt addresses the kid in English, demanding at least an answer before kicking him out (and possibly reporting him to the Disciplinary Committee). His voice is sharp — more adult than older brother — but low, so as to not disturb his roommate next door.

If Egypt has anything to say about this stunt, Robin won't be coming back another time.

NOPE; PRIVACY IS A FOREIGN CONCEPT

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The minute he feels Hassan's hand on his shoulder, Robin immediately feels shivers down his spine. Of all the people that expressed disapproval, of all the times... it had to be now. Slag, this taught him a lesson about when to tell people certain important things.

"I'm trying to tell you something," Robin insists, keeping his gaze on his ahki's hand. Still, his voice's shakier than normal as he shuffles his feet. "It's kind of important too."

His hands wrestle around for the voice distorter; after a moment, he turns it off and speaks normally, almost hesitantly, "Ahki. Please?"

I HOPE YOU'VE LEARNED YOUR LESSON, YOUNG MAN

[biladi.livejournal.com]

The disapproval should be expected with the identity mixup. Egypt has little to nothing good to say about Robin; by now, the respect points are in the negatives. The theatrics might have worked on someone like America, he loves that kind of shit, but not Egypt. He's too old for this. A more... normal approach would have been best.

"Better be apolog—" He's about to get on Robin's case for the break-in and everything else that happened beforehand, but hearing the change in voice causes him to stop. Now it's Egypt's turn to freeze.

"...Damian?" Please excuse the next curse under his breath; he shouldn't be using that kind of language in front of kids, especially the ones that he likes, if this really is him. Mouth slightly agape, Egypt's grip on Damian's shoulder eases up, no longer meant to keep him from getting away. With his other hand he reaches for the goggles, intending to remove them to better see the kid's face. Sorry, if he was absolutely sure, he would be asking first.

LESSON LEARNED! NEVER DOING IT AGAIN (... UNTIL NEXT TIME)

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In Damian's defense, he couldn't think of an easier way to prove his identity. If he admitted to this in the morning, when they were talking amongst themselves, would Hassan have even believed him? (Damian certainly wouldn't have, were he placed in that situation.)

The curses don't faze Damian so much as the look on his ahki's face. Solemnly, he nods, unflinchingly allowing Hassan to remove his goggles. Without them, he felt more vulnerable than ever - they obscured his identity, for crying out loud! - but in this instance, he supposed he'd have to deal with the discomfort. Gazing up at Hassan, Damian tries to meet his friend's gaze and act like the revelation doesn't bother him.

Except it totally does. For the first time since he arrived in Garden, Damian notes that he actually can't see what's going on. Dammit. He promised himself he wouldn't cry!

:( AND NOW EGYPT WILL FEEL BAD FOREVER

[biladi.livejournal.com]

The change in expression is quick once the goggles are off and Egypt squints hard enough in the dark of the room. From anger, to shock, to confusion...

Shock again, then concern. The hard look in Egypt's eyes is gone, as is the sharp tone in his voice when he finds it. This is a lot to take it, and the implications of Damian wearing the Robin costume aren't all that pleasant, but now he's worried, too. Is the kid...?

"D-Damian?" Egypt lowers himself to one knee, a hand cupping the side of the young boy's face. His voice isn't hushed just to make sure Gakupo is asleep anymore.

DAMIAN LOVES HIM, REALLY ;;

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"I'm sorry," Damian blurts before he even knows what he's saying. The whole situation's weird - he doesn't remember seeing Hassan without his keffiyeh or robes - and he feels like he should "man up" and pretend like he isn't angry, but he doesn't know what else to do. Balling his hand into a fist, he avoids Hassan's gaze as he stares down at his feet. "I didn't mean to make you upset."

Still, in-between hiccups, he attempts to rub his eyes with his free hands. "But... I wanted to tell you. The reason why I wanted to keep talking to that zift, even after you got mad and stuff. He... he and I have the same superhero identity."

His voice's shakier now, as he attempts to say the rest in one breath without crying again, "I was the one who helped you in the Training Center, ahki. And I'm actually a lot better at fighting than I say I am... and I'm not majoring in Comp Sci. At all. And I--I---I'm sorry."

Had he been confessing this to anyone else, he would've denied it until the end of time---and if Hassan dares to bring it up later, he probably will.

[biladi.livejournal.com]

Egypt is too stunned to move, eyes fixed on Damian, but he's still able to listen, and he clings to every word shared. Two Robins — the training center? That was Damian? And suddenly the start contrasts between the first and second Robin encounters make a lot more sense.

Not majoring in Comp Sci, eh, not as important as the rest of the confession. Maybe it would have been easier to get upset if Damian weren't crying. Saved by the waterworks.

Egypt is shushing the kid quietly, wiping away tears with his thumb. The hand at Damian's shoulder moves to run through his dark hair, a gentle, repetitive motion. While he works on calming Damian down, Egypt will have time to process the information that's just been spilled. It's too much at once — but perhaps it's better now than later. An out-of-costume confession might have given less-convincing results.

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He doesn't wait to embrace him tightly. Part of Damian feels embarrassed for being so open, especially since it's so late at night, but it's that same close touch that makes him feel better. How badly is ahki gonna judge him? It takes a few minutes for Damian to cease sobbing, though it takes longer for his tears to dry. Latching onto his older brother, he wraps his arms around Hassan's waist - or he tries to, at least, since he can't see in the dark without his goggles.

"Do you hate me?" He asks quietly, though he feels like he knows the answer already. "I... I wouldn't have lied if I'd known it'd make you upset."

Already, the motions're making him relax - not enough to put up his guard again, but enough for him to finally act his age. Honestly, he should've owned up to these feelings months ago... he just never got around to it. Until now.

[biladi.livejournal.com]

He opens his arms without hesitation, holding Damian as his stomach twists in a pained knot. Damn, does Egypt feel awful for making him cry. If he had known right off the bat the kid sneaking into his room was Razem and not Wayne, he wouldn't have gotten mad. Still startled and flailing, but not mad. Had he known back at the training center just who saved his ass, maybe Egypt's words would have been different then, too.

Egypt's trying to remember how his own mother used to console him when he was upset. The memories are fuzzy at best, difficult to grasp at; it's been too long. A hand at Damian's back, quiet words of comfort at his ear.

He's immediately shaking his head, but reconsiders since it's pretty dark, giving a simple, murmured, "No." Hate Damian? Why would the child even think that? Egypt might be shocked at the revelation... and probably upset with the idea of Damian fighting, but he doesn't hate him.

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Just being in his company's enough to make Damian feel better. In a weird way, it's like being in his father's arms after a particularly rough day (except that Hassan's way too young to be his dad, or so he thinks). Oddly enough, he's not mad at Hassan - he can't be, he's only eleven - and the idolization hasn't waned either.

"Good," Damian whispers back, managing to sound slightly happier than before as he cuddles closer. "I'm glad I didn't fail you."

So the truth comes out. By being Robin, part of Damian felt like he'd betrayed Hassan and even failed his expectations, simply because of the lies he'd woven to throw his ahki off-track. Gently, he takes off his gloves and attempts to intertwine his finger's with Hassan's. "... I didn't, right?"

[biladi.livejournal.com]

Trying to maintain eye contact with the boy, Egypt laces their fingers together, squeezing gently. He wouldn't say... fail. He doesn't know what to say. Damian thinks he's a superhero, like the ones in comic books and movies? ...Is a superhero. Egypt hasn't truly seen Robin in action, fighting crime or beating up more than a half-dead grat, and a part of him doesn't want to see that.

"Why this?" He touches a finger to the R emblem on Damian's chest. The Robin costume, the supposed fighting... He has so many questions (that he'll hope for answers for rather than demand), but he'll need to stick to one at a time, whatever comes to mind first.

[biladi.livejournal.com]

It's been a few days since their trip to the Ottoman Empire. Him, Greece, Aang, and Damian. Among the four of them, Egypt spoke about the incident. He said very little, didn't share every bit of doubt or sadness, but his friends (old and new) should be able to take what they can get from him. To other cadets (and for now, even his own roommate), he hasn't said a thing. if no one else experienced the strange time travel memory warp, he doesn't want to draw attention to himself by asking questions.

Egypt is exiting the infirmary, rolling his left shoulder and letting his posture ease up as he heads back to the dorms. The sword slash at his arm has fully healed by now, which is great. It was jarring to have it return with him, unsettling, but he dealt. One less piece of the past to haunt him after dark. Tonight he should be able to sleep better.

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For once, Damian wasn't leaving the dorms to go fight or patrol or even to break curfew. Instead, he wanted to head to the library to browse their selection of comic books - just to make sure something about his home world didn't hit shelves - and maybe get some studying done. Maybe.

The moment he sees Hassan, though, all thoughts of visiting the library are forgotten. "... Ahki? You alright?"

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"Ah—" He slows in pace and turns, spotting Damian over his shoulder. He nods, both in greeting and to let the kid know he's just fine. Can't see the spot of his arm where the wound used to be, though. Just trust your ahki with this one. He's all right.

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Damian couldn't help smiling as he bridges the gap between them. It's rare for Damian to smile, especially like he does to Hassan, but he can't help it. "Glad I caught you. Wanna go to the library with me?"

There might be an ulterior motive, but it's not obvious from the question. "Or well... I have something to ask you, so can we head to your room first?"

[biladi.livejournal.com]

Unaware of said ulterior motive, Egypt nods again. Yeah, sure. He didn't have any other plans for today, so a trip to the library wouldn't hurt. And Damian can always talk to him. Hopefully these more recent talks will hold less tension and conflicting views...

He holds out a hand, palm facing downwards, expecting (perhaps over-assuming) Damian to take it easily.

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Damian stares at the hand for a moment, trying to figure out what Hassan could possibly want with it. It takes him a while, but he eventually grimaces, "Not in public. Too many people'll see."

So, of course, he does the polite thing and starts to head towards Egypt's dorm. "... Later, okay?"

[biladi.livejournal.com]

There's a raised bow in response. Does familial affection bother you, Damian? Egypt has to remind himself the kid (as well as nearly everyone at Garden) didn't grow up in the same environment that he did.

Well. Okay. He shrugs and starts walking again, too.

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It only bothers him at Garden! Had they been in his home world (or Hassan's), Damian wouldn't have cared--but here, he could run into his friends. And he had a reputation to keep.

Once they reach Hassan's door, Damian doesn't wait for Hassan to get the key; instead, he picks the lock himself and opens it eagerly. "I really want the baklava," Damian cheekily grins as a way of apologizing, "Is it still good?"

[biladi.livejournal.com]

If your friends are worth keeping, Damian, then you don't have to worry about your reputaion.

Egypt stops and watches him pick the lock, eyebrow raised again without saying a thing. A... useful skill, that, but he's not used to seeing these Robin-isms. Not yet. It's gonna take a long time to get used to, but at least he isn't chiding Damian for the pseudo break-in. He'll let it slide.

"Almost gone..." Whatever's left, Damian can have it. Egypt starts making some tea right away, leaving the kid to do whatever he wanted in the tiny kitchinette area. Hmm, Gakupo isn't in right now. Probably busy doing GFC things or something.

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At least there was some left! Damian pumps his fist, eagerly heading towards the fridge and pulling the baklava out for them to share. Grabbing some plates, he then spoons two helpings and props himself on the nearest chair.

"Thanks," Damian says, waiting for Hassan before tilting his head to the side. "Hey... about that visit? I've got a couple of questions, if you're okay with 'em."

[biladi.livejournal.com]

"...?" That visit. Egypt has a good idea of what Damian is talking about. It's a good thing after all that his roommate isn't around. Shame that he'll miss out on the rest of the baklava, though.

Pulling up the second chair with his foot, Egypt sets two cups of hot tea on the table before sitting down. No apprehension (yet), no noises of disagreement. Ask away.

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"I know you're not human."

Best to get that one out of the way. Damian's shaking a little - the baklava's helping, admittedly - but he presses on, "So why'd you lie to me, ahki? Do you have people who'd be after you?" The 'too' at the end of his sentence was implied, but it'd been bothering him ever since those three days.