Chapter Text
Damain blinked as he was manhandled into a birthday sash and party hat by his siblings.
He had been ambushed the second he had entered the dining room, party poppers going off as his siblings wrestled him into the hat and sash.
It was his birthday today, his 18th birthday, which his siblings had decided to make a massive deal out of.
Alfred walked up to him as he was freed from his sibling’s grasps, with a video camera that he passed off to Tim as he gave him a hug and wished him a happy birthday.
“I made your favorite breakfast today, I also have plans for lunch and dinner so don’t go out to eat anywhere without alerting me first.” The older man said sternly as he released Damian from his embrace.
Damian gave him a small smile, nodding in response.
“I wouldn’t be going anywhere anyway, your cooking is much better than anything any restaurant has to offer.” Damian told him, heading towards the table.
Bruce stood from the table, walking over to Damian and giving him a hug as well.
“Happy birthday son, I have reason to believe we should be expecting some guests today, so don’t go anywhere.” He told him, giving him a firm squeeze before letting him go.
Damian was confused for a moment, wondering who could be coming before realizing that the Kent’s would likely be stopping by as well.
After Bruce let go it was a free for all.
Damian was tugged into crushing hugs, and headlocks, wishes of a happy birthday and questions of what he planned to do today sprang from all of his siblings as he fought to make his way to his breakfast.
“I’m not planning to go anywhere today, maybe the dog park with Titus but I want to spend the day inside today.” He answered, taking his seat at the table and watching everyone settle around him.
Everyone had shown up for his birthday, having arrived at the manor sometime last night so they could all spend the morning together without any issues.
It had become a sort of tradition for the family, the rest of the day was up to whoever’s birthday it was, but they always spent the mornings together on birthdays.
“That’s so boring! You’re 18 now! Go do something you little nerd.” Jason shouted, tossing a strawberry up into the air to catch with his mouth.
“I am perfectly happy staying home today, I want to relax for my birthday.” He answered, rolling his eyes.
Dick leaned over, wrapping an arm around Damian and giving him a squeeze.
“It’s your birthday, Damian. Do whatever you want today.” He encouraged, giving Damian a small shake before letting go.
Cass smiled, raising her glass of juice to a toast.
Steph laughed, joining her and clinking their glasses.
“Hear hear! If Damian wants to be a boring boy on his birthday that is his birth right!” She exclaimed, winking at him as she took a drink.
Damain stared at her unamused, before turning back to his breakfast.
Although breakfast was by no means a quiet affair, it was a peaceful one.
“Alright! Damian, you take the center seat, everyone else gather around.” Bruce commanded, getting ready to give Damian his birthday presents.
Alfred had disappeared from the room for a moment, having gone to answer the door while everyone else got ready.
Damian took his seat as Tim filmed him, excited chatter filling the room as everyone whispered what they had gotten him to each other. Trying to guess what his reactions to his gifts would be.
“I’m gonna win, I already know I am.” Dick whispered to Jason, they were trying to bet on who’s present he would like the most.
Damian was spared the incoming argument by Alfred’s return, the elder man clearing his throat to grab everyone’s attention.
“Damian, you have a guest.” He said, stepping out of the way to reveal Talia.
Damain stood up as his mother walked into the room, going to meet her as she opened her arms for him.
“Hello my dear, happy birthday.” She told his, giving him a gentle hug.
Damian was the first to let go, taking a step back and staring up at her.
“I didn’t know you were coming, what are you doing here?” He asked, glancing around to see if her arrival was as much a surprise to everyone else as it was to him.
It would seem that only his father and Alfred had known of her arrival, given how shocked everyone else seemed to be.
“It’s not everyday your son turns 18, Damian. Of course I would be here.” She said, smiling softly at him.
Talia looked past him, waving to everyone as she took in all of the presents piled on the table.
“It would seem I’m not too late for present’s then, would you like to open my gift first or last? I already know I got the best gift so it is up to you.” She told him, a playful twinkle in her eye that told him just how excited she was.
Damian wrinkled his brow, trying to peer around her to see what she had brought but he couldn’t spot anything.
“What present?” He asked, looking for any sign of a gift.
Talia laughed, gently dragging Damain back in front of her to stop his search.
“First or last, Damian? You don’t get to know until you open it.” She told him, refusing to budge on the matter.
Damian huffed, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“First then, you have me curious now.” He answered.
Talia’s smile only grew as she put her hands on his shoulders, turning him around to face his father.
“No peeking.” She whispered before letting go.
Damian looked to his father, confusion coating his features. His father gave nothing away, a small smile on his face as he looked at Damain encouragingly.
Alfred was recording, a pleased look on his face as he captured every moment of Damian’s 18th birthday.
It wasn’t until his siblings broke out in confused murmurs that Damian had to fight the urge to turn around in earnest.
They kept glancing over his shoulder and then back to him, whispering to each other as though they were trying to compare information.
“Alright, you can turn around.” Talia said, finally breaking Damian free from his curiosity.
Damian spun around in an instant, eager to see what had everyone so curious only to freeze.
His mother was standing next to a young girl. She had blue eyes and hair so dark a black he could have sworn it was blue. She was holding a large box with a nervous smile on her face, glancing between him and the gift repeatedly.
“H-happy birthday, Damian.” She said, holding up the gift helplessly.
Damian didn’t say a word, marching towards her as she proceeded to get more flustered as he grew nearer.
She held up the gift between them like a barrier, holding it out to him as she started stuttering.
“I-I-I’m not s-sure you remm-remember… me, but we used to be friends and my name, my is-” She started, struggling to get the words out.
Damian grabbed the gift, pulling it away from her and passing it over to his mother as he enveloped her in a hug.
“Marinette.” He whispered, burying his face in her neck.
He was taller than her now, much taller than her considering how short she was, so it was a bit of an awkward position but he didn’t care.
It had been 10 years, 3 months, and 19 days since he had last seen her.
He earned this goddamn hug.
Marinette froze when he said her name, tensing up as he grabbed her only to melt against him when she realized what he was doing.
Her arms came up around him, wrapping him up in a crushing hug as he hunched down to wrap his arms around her tightly.
Damian hadn’t been sure he would ever see her again, not sure if she would remember him or if she would even want to see him after all this time.
Having her here today was a miracle.
Damian melted against her, resting almost all of his weight on her as he took a chance to just breathe, for what felt like the first time since they had been separated.
His face was buried in her neck and hair, his arms were wrapped in a vice grip around her waist and he had no plans on letting go anytime soon.
This was the best birthday ever.
“I win.” Talia whispered to a shocked Dick Grayson, proud of how happy her son was with her gift.