Ever think Damian feels insecure BECAUSE heâs Bruceâs son?
So Damian talks a LOT about how heâs Batmanâs true blood, right? About how heâll become Batman because itâs a matter of birthright? But why? Nobody else seems to even want the job, so why does he still go on and on about it?Â
I think itâs because Damian doesnât get how family works.
See, familyâs supposed to be about safety, a place you always belong. But Damianâs previous family of Raâs and Talia didnât give him belonging; they made Damian work for it. He not only had to earn his place, but re-earn it constantly through years of training, abuse, and murder-based testing. And for years, he did. But moment he failed, the al Ghuls disowned him. They cut him off and did their best to erase him from existence.
For Damian, being family isnât a guarantee, but a never-ending trial that you can fail at any time.
Obviously, Bruce is different. He loves his boy, and has literally gone to hell and back for the smol. But does Damian get it? The al Ghuls gave Damian the world, and still cut him off. Even worse, Bruce has replacements, and with three older, more experienced Robins plus Cass, cutting Damian out is actually easier for Batman than Raâs. If Damian lost one family so easily, whatâs to stop him from losing this one?
Because in Damianâs experience, at least family gets to try.Â
Raâs pushed Damian, and Talia tested him, but Damian always had a chance. No matter what rivals or competition they brought in, if Damian won, he got to stay. As long as he succeeded, he remained in the family, and as long as was family, he could continue to succeed.
When I think about it like this, constant claims to blood are less arrogance and more of reminders. Itâs like, âHey, I know you can disown me. I get it. But by blood, I can fight to keep my place. As long as I win, I get to stay in the family.â  And for Damian, it really is about winning. After all, thereâs only one Robin, one person who gets to stay by Batmanâs side. But with so many excellent Robins to compare to - not the least of which is golden boy Dicky - how confident is Damian actually? How much of his overly aggressive, obsessively competitive attitude is simply him trying to prove that Bruce shouldnât abandon him too? *Sigh* Oh baby birb, you need hugs. Just... just so many hugs.
