#dp clockwork

"You fight well." Damian admitted.

"You're not so bad yourself."

Damian scoffed. He had been trained from birth. He was Robin. Of course he was good.

"Be quiet, Mr. Fenton. I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation."

"It's about 9.8 m/s2. Why am I the only one in trouble. You'll notice I've got a bruise too."

Again, someone scoffed. Damian was Damian Wayne. Of course the boarding student would be put on disciplinary charge while the Wayne was ignored entirely. They'd probably apologize to his father. Cowards.

"We'll discuss this when your guardian gets here, Mr. Fenton."

"Do not tell me that you have wasted my father's time with such a petty reason." Damian straightened, removing the ice pack. "His time is valuable. To waste is on such a paltry thing is absurd."

"Dude, you got into a fight." Daniel pointed out. He poked at his lip in the mirror reflecting in the back of the fish thank. The koi fish ignored him.

"Exactly, Mr. Wayne. A fight. That's something we must call the guardians for, thank you Mr. Fenton." She stopped, stared, and glowered at Danny. "We've called yours as well."

Unlike the fear which it would inspire in most students, Daniel shrugged. "They've got all the time they need."

"Oh? Well." Principal Grace's receptionist slid into the room, clipboard in hand and eyes wide. His father, Damian surmised, had that affect on people. Awed by his beauty and charms and the mask he put on to deal with the world.

"Mr. Wayne is here!" She blurted, ears pink.

"Well, let him in!"

His father had clearly been in some sort of meeting' but not one he'd bothered to dress up for. Slacks, a white pressed shirt, and a jacket. Something simple; and still every straying eye looked him up and down. "Damian! I got over here as fast as I could! Are you alright!" He rushed across the room, immediately dropping to his knee for a better look. Quick hands assessed the injuries.

"Father. I am well."

"You were fighting! you were." He turned, finally catching sight of Daniel. He was making faces at the fish. "...in a fight? Damian?"

"He is a warrior. He shows promise." Dark eyebrows rose sharply.

Principal Grace scoffed again. "And if Mr. Fenton's guardian would be."

"On time." A smooth voice assured the assemblage. Rich, warm, and apparently the reason the security guard had gone red.

"You'll have to come up with a better opener than that." Daniel said plainly.

"Prînkips." The smooth voice sounded amused. "There is nothing better. You were in a fight. Did you win?"

"He did not!" Damian surged to his feet, sidestepping his father and coming to an abrupt halt. Tall and lean, the stranger did not look like a Gotham native. Long white hair was braided loosely and hung over one shoulder. Though a jagged, vicious scar cut down the left side of their face' it only enhanced the beauty. They wore a deep purple pea-coat with pearl buttons. Slacks as well, but tucked into tall boots which should have looked out of fashion. Their earrings were small clock faces which were an odd touch for the figure; but they moved with supreme confidence.

Damian hoped they weren't a new rogue.

"It was a draw." Daniel agreed.

Brilliant green eyes focused on Damian, a heavy silence seized his heart. Pushing thoughts to the outskirts of his mind. He only managed to nod.

"A fearsome warrior indeed." They agreed with a flash of a toothy smile.

"Mr....ma'am? You...are...erm, Zeit." She trailed off.

Bruce stood, twisting around to meet the same jade eyes. It wasn't often Damian met someone as beautiful as either of his parents. Objectively, he knew. He'd also been told, again and again and again. Classmates, rogues who flirted with his father when kidnapped a Bruce Wayne. Invading aliens, world leaders, and everyone in between. It had been a great deal of time since he'd seen his father struck dumb.

The figure, Zeit, blinked a few times before offering a faint, pleased smile. Someone giggled.

"Perhaps we could....my office, please. Gentle...uh, people?"

They obeyed and trooped into the office. Whispers echoed through the closed door, giggles, and gossip. All while a heavy silence fell over the office.

A tempest on the horizon, waiting to break.

Part 2