Damian and Jason are talking in the League
Damian: Why do you think Father left my mother?
Jason, taken off guard because he was just talking about Pokémon: Uh…
Damian: Mother is a very powerful and respectable woman. I don’t understand why Father would have left her.
Jason, trying to decide whether or not to be serious or say the funny answer: Well, you see, Bruce hates women.
Damian, eyes widening: What do you mean?
Jason: He’s just kinda disgusted by the idea of pregnancy and women’s bodies in general. He probably got pregnancy vibes from Talia and thought, shit, I gotta get out of here.
Damian, slightly sad: But Mother and Grandfather said Father doesn’t know I exist. Does this mean he does, and he hasn’t tried to visit?
Jason, realizing he might’ve fucked up: No! No, Bruce was so distraught over the idea of a woman being pregnant that he blocked the whole thing out of his mind. He has no clue you exist, buddy.
Damian: Oh, okay. What were you saying about Charizard?
A few years later when Damian joins the Batfamily and is meeting Stephanie for the first time
Damian: How often do you work with Father?
Steph: Oh, you know, as much as anyone else. For a few months, I was Robin, so I got to know him pretty well.
Damian, shocked: You were Robin?
Steph: Yeah? Why’s that so surprising?
Damian: I didn’t think Father would let people like you be Robin.
Steph, sharing a look with Dick and Tim: What’s that supposed to mean?
Steph, narrowing her eyes: Excuse me?
Tim: Women are capable of just as much as men are, Damian.
Damian: Of course I know that. I specifically said I didn’t think Father would want a woman as Robin.
Damian: Because of his disgust with women. I was going to discuss it with him soon.
Tim, choking slightly: His what?
Steph, laughing: Sorry, Bruce is disgusted with who?
Dick, trying to stay serious: What did Bruce do that makes you think he hates women?
Dick: He had his duties as Batman to get back to, and he and Talia were just different. Their values didn’t align. He didn’t leave because she was a woman or anything like that.
Tim, also laughing now: Wait, wait, wait, you think B left Talia because he hates women? You’re saying he’s gay?
Damian, thoughtfully: I didn’t consider that angle before. Perhaps. But he could simply be misogynistic as well.
Dick: His sexuality is besides the point! He didn’t leave Talia because she’s a woman.
Damian: No, I suppose not. It was because he hates women’s bodies and especially pregnancy. He felt Talia was pregnant, and was so disgusted that he left and blocked it all from his mind.
Dick, Tim, and Steph: WHAT?
Damian, nodding: Yes, I was very concerned when I learned that, too. Now you see my confusion as to why he would let Stephanie become Robin.
Dick: No, Damian, Bruce isn’t misogynistic.
Tim, still laughing: Well, we don’t actually know—
Dick: Shut up, Tim. Damian, who told you those things about Bruce?
Steph: Yeah, that checks out.
Dick: JASON, GET IN HERE.
Jason, entering the room: Yo, you needed me?
Dick: Why did you tell Damian that Bruce hates women and pregnancy?
Jason, squinting: I did wha—OH.
Jason, looking at Damian: Shit, you remember that?
Damian: Of course. Almost everything I learned about Father was from you during my time at the League. I remember all of it.
Jason: Let’s maybe keep the rest of what I said to ourselves, okay, bud?
Steph, raising an eyebrow: What else did you tell Damian about Bruce?
Jason: Nothing important.
Dick: I feel like this could be very important.
Damian: Does this mean Father doesn’t hate women?
Tim: No, B respects all genders.
Steph: And especially women.
Jason, ruffling Damian’s hair: Sorry, Dami, what I said about B was a lie.
Damian: Oh, what a relief.
Steph: Maybe you should still talk to Bruce about how he treats women, though. You know, just in case Jason was right.
Jason, high-fiving Steph: She’s right. You definitely should. Record it so that we can see his reaction. It’ll help us know how bad of a problem this is.
Dick, shaking his head: What is wrong with you guys?
Damian, seriously: I’ll do that. We can’t be too careful in making sure Father is respectful. Especially to you, Stephanie.
Steph: Aw, the kid likes me.
Damian: You are an acceptable ally.
Part two where Damian talks to Bruce can be found here
