5551/A Question of Leadership

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A Question of Leadership
Date of Scene: 12 March 2021
Location: Dick's Room - Wayne Manor
Synopsis: Damian and Dick talk, and Robin agrees to try working with the Titans.
Cast of Characters: Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne




Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick sent a text asking his youngest brother to swing by his rooms for a talk. When Damian arrives, he's on his couch with his feet up on the coffeetable, the TV tuned to local news. Upon his entry, Dick clicks the TV off with the remote and waves at the couch. "Grab a seat, I wanted to talk to you about the Titans. I talked to them like I said I was going to, and we came up with some stuff I wanted to tell you about."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian had gone to Dick's room, in tow with him was Ace as well, who was having a grand old time today.

  After knocking, the boy took a seat as he entered unsure about what is going on. "Talk to me about them? Great." His voice already has a non-believing quality to it. "If you are here to remove me from the group, then here." He takes out his T-Com and float-tosses it towards Dick.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick catches the T-Comm and tosses it right back. "Hardly. Had a talk with Donna and Gar, and not that you really care but Terry was in the room too.. We talked about a few things, including you. Donna pointed out that you did a lot of the behind the scenes work while those guys were out in space, keeping things running, and just because not everyone saw what you were doing didn't mean you didn't step up. So at least some people know what you did."

He pauses a minute, then goes on, "Since the big thing I heard about you leading was that you hadn't worked with the team enough, I floated an idea to make doing that a little easier. I know you respect Donna and Gar, and pretty sure maybe me as well, so I suggested the three of us do a kind of council thing like the Justice League has. Figured that way you've got 3 leaders you can deal with, and once the team gets to know you and respect you, we could move you up into my slot and I could step back again. It ended up changing a little though."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian sat back down, his heartbeat returning to normal. "Jervis Tetch Junior? Of course he was there." He couldn't be that lucky.

  Damian crossed his arms while he was sitting, already defending himself unconsciously. "Why you stepping down? It doesn't provide any strategic advantage." It didn't occur to him that Dick may not want the job after a while.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Well, at the time I was thinking 3 leaders, so to move you up would need one to step down. But Donna wanted to do it a little different." Dick explains. "She wanted another voice from the younger Titans, and wanted Kate for the role. So now it's a council of 4. With plans to expand to 6 in the future. And if you can work with the team, one of those 2 additional seats is yours."

He considers the younger Wayne for a moment, then adds, "Now for a less pleasant truth... Terry is still one of the Titans, which makes him your teammate. I plan on training with him, trying to make sure he can work with the team, but you have to be able to at least be civil to him. If you're going to be leadership material, you can't be biased against members of the team. I will point out that given the number of Titans we have at this point, it's possible you two will never have to work together. But then, you might, and you need to be able to."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian's bright green eyes flare open. "So, the decision is finally made to recognize what we did, and I am /again/ excluded? Great step in the right direction, Grayson."

  The boy's forehead meets his palm and Damian's eyebrows furrowed once Dick starts talking about Terry. "I can work with ineptitude. But negligence is another problem all together. A leader accepts responsibility for those under him. That also means that every time I send someone in the field, that they may not come back. But it is also part of that duty to make sure that your team can come back. Part of that is making sure liabilities are minimized. Mad Hatter's lackey is one fat fucking liability, and as someone who is not indestructible, we should not be forced to take on such a danger."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick shakes his head, "I can only do so much Damian. Kate wasn't my idea, and it comes back to most of the Titans not really knowing you well enough to respect you as a leader. So yes, you're slated for the second wave, purely so you can work with them and they can come to respect your abilities. You're good Damian, but if they don't know not only that you're good, but that they can count on you, they won't follow you. Work with them, show them you're willing to put out as much effort as they are to make the team work, and they'll accept you."

"As for Vorpal, that's why I plan on training with him. I don't want to send out people who don't measure up either. I don't want him hurt, and I don't want him getting anyone else hurt. So I will be making sure he can hold up his end before I send him out with anyone."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian leans on his knees, resting his elbows atop his legs, much like someone who was in the process of vomiting. "I should have just let the Titans die again." He mutters, before raising back up. "After all I've endured trying to get farther with this so-called team. After working my ass off trying to keep the team together and sane. I get a slap in the face for my trouble?" Damian's face contorts to a frown, before long he's already disgusted enough to take that T-Com out again and place it on the table. "I am finished trying to placate everyone and their fucking mother trying to get somewhere. I've paid my dues. If they cannot see that by now..." He slides that T-Com towards Dick. "I have given my pound of flesh, Grayson. I've invested as much time as Hawkeye has." He comments, his tone serious and quiet.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick nods, "I know, Damian. As I said, Donna knows what you did. Your problem is you don't deal with people well. People not only want a competent leader, they want one they can relate to. One they feel cares about them as a person, not just as an asset. You have to admit , you come off kind of on the cold side. And that's what they need to understand, that you can be more than a general, you can be a leader. Right now, they may know you can fight and keep a team running, but I think they also aren't sure you wouldn't use the words 'acceptable losses'. You don't need to prove you have the skills to fight, or keep the group going, you need to prove you can be one of them, not just above them."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "I am different." Damian mutters, before standing.

  "I do not know what else to say. The Titans call themselves a family. The only family I know of is either Batman, or Ra's al Ghul. I have tried and tried. At this point, it doesn't seem like they want to compromise."

  The youngest Wayne looks around the room before he approaches Dick, and gives him a small hug, before releasing off and standing back.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick returns the hug, and doesn't try to hold it any longer than Damian does. He nods, "That you are, very different. And that's all the problem is. They simply don't understand you, because they all had very different experiences. All I'm asking is that you give them the chance to get to actually know you. I mean, look at Gar. You and he had problems, right? But now he's about the only person I've ever heard you call a friend. Give some of the others that same chance. And I think at the same time, you will be learning something about what it's like to have a family."

He smiles, "And Damian.. it's good having family who cares. Why do you think I want to be back with the Titans? I know I can trust them, and they trust me, and I want that for you. I hate seeing you always stuck on the outside, alone. I mean, even Bruce works with the Justice League. He started solo, right? But he eventually learned to trust others.. me, the other Robins, Diana, Superman... it sucks being alone all the time."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian looks uneasy, his frown coming back before too long. "We did. He accused me of not able to make friends. When he knew Sam and I..." He trails off again, that experience was still painful. "So I punched him on the jaw, he tried punching me back. I held back even more punches. Eventually I let him connect. Eventually, I showed him who I was without a mask. He knows me now more than any other non-Bat Titan."

  That was the hardest part, he did not have the luxury of being open about who he is, being a Wayne gives away the whole secret. "Sam and I...we understood each other. I didn't feel alone when he was around."

Dick Grayson has posed:
With a smile, Dick explains, "But it worked out. You need to take the chance of putting yourself out there to make a friend. I'm not saying share your secrets with everyone, but you need to get to know people well enough to see if you want to chance it like you did with Gar."

He nods at how you felt with Sam, "And _that_, youngest brother, is what family feels like. That's what I feel like around the Titans, that I'm not alone. That I'm with people who care." He shrugs, "That's why I'm pushing for this, because I want you to find the people who make you feel that way. Sometimes things happen, and it doesn't last. But I've always thought the pain of some relationships not lasting is worth it to find the ones that do."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian's eyes flit back to Dick as he finishes his comments. "I have a feeling most of the Titans I will not feel that way with." He comments, leaving just what he meant a mystery. "I will continue to try. But mark my words, Grayson. They may not prove you right. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result..."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick laughs, "I know, is the definition of insanity. Two changes though... I'll be around, and they won't be being bent out of shape that you're trying to lead them out of nowhere. I think it will make a difference, at least with some of them. You won't make friends with them all, that's a given. I'm just hoping you can find a couple more friends like Gar. Like I did with the original Titans."

He chuckles, "And if things don't work out as you're afraid they won't, then at least you get to tell me 'I told you so.' But I think it will be a valuable experience for you. So grab your T-Comm, and we'll give this a try."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     An olive hand reaches for the T-Comm on the table again, and places it back in his pocket. "I accept your variables." He comments before that frown of his shifts to a small smile.

  "I hope you're right. I did not want to return the sword Troia had made for me." Which is still in his room at the tower.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick smiles, "I'm pretty sure she'd probably let you keep it even if you didn't stay, but better that you use it helping the Titans." He chuckles, and says, "Now, I need to get going to take care of a few things, so I will let you escape the big brother lecture circuit and go mess with Ace or something. ANd if you need anything, let me know, that's what family is about, right?"

Damian Wayne has posed:
     A firm nod given, and Damian starts for the door. "Yes. I will." He reaches for the door and outside is Ace, lying down outside of Dick's room. "Ace." He says, before the pup awakens and starts wagging his tail. "Thanks, brother." That was the first time he said it out loud to Dick, a show of brotherly love.