The Archivist of Gotham (The Magnus Archive × Batman Fanfic)

Chapter 46

AN:

I decided to rewatch Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood since it's been a long time and I barely remembered what happened to it. Then after rewatching Brotherhood, I was reminded that the FMA has the 2003 version... I don't know about its plot but my online friend told me that the plot was different aside from a few episodes.

I didn't expect that it would be different from Brotherhood. Different Main Villains, some different homunculus, and equivalent exchange is a lie.

And poor Selim. ( not the Brotherhood one) anyway, there were a lot of plot holes and convenient timing, etc.

Anyway, the ending is both hopeful and bittersweet. It was different from the brotherhood.

And that online friend decided to recommend me the Conqueror of Shamballa.

I haven't still watched it.

Anyway, here's the chapter.

He said that it wasn't good. Hopefully, it won't ruin the bittersweet ending of FMA 2003.

Chapter 46: The Impossible Painting

It's been a few days since the incident in the Iceberg Lounge, and unfortunately for Damian, he wasn't there to witness the chaos that happened. Instead, he was assisting Nightwing in stopping Two-Face and his goons from reaching the Iceberg Lounge. Their task was successful. But Damian only felt annoyed and irritated. He has the urge to stab Grayson, Gordon, and Drake when they keep going on calling him 'Little Duck'.

It was Jonas's fault that they started calling him Little Duck as his unofficial vigilante alias. The alias was needed to uphold secrecy but Damian didn't like his 'alias'.

On the other hand, Grayson adored calling him Little Duck. He would call him that alias even when they weren't doing their task as this city's protectors. Grayson loves to use it even inside the Wayne Manor.

If Damian didn't threaten to maim Drake again and was serious about his threat, it was absolute that Drake would follow in Grayson's footsteps of calling him Little Duck outside their vigilantism.

Currently, he is in his room at Wayne Manor spending his time painting three figures on a Canvas.

Eventually, Damian finishes his painting.

One is a child, The second is a woman and the third is a man. The child has black hair, green eyes, and olive skin like the woman. Just like the child, the woman has green eyes. The third figure was a man with black hair and blue eyes.

The man and the woman are wearing an emotionless expression. There aren't any smiles on their faces except a child who has a little genuine smile on his face.

Looking at the painting, Damian scowled. Grabbing his Katana and unsheating it. In the next few moments, he destroyed the painting that he worked on for a few days and sliced it in half with his katana.

The destroyed painting is now on the floor.

While glaring at the painting, there was a knock on the door. Not hearing a response inside the room for a minute, the door opened.

Outside the door is Alred and Dick who were carrying a phone.

" Hey, Dami- "

Dick who looks cheerful stopped when he noticed Damian dressed in his pajamas was holding his Katana. On the ground was the painting that Damian didn't want him to see no matter how hard Dick tried to ask for permission or sneak into Damian's room and take a glimpse to see what was rebutted by Damian in his every attempt.

Now, Dick has got to see what the painting is about. The painting was sliced into two.

It was a family portrait.

A family portrait painting of Bruce, Talia, and Damian.

Dick was a little sad that there was no presence of him, Alfred or Tim. But it was only for a moment. It just means that they need to put more effort into welcoming Damian and give him more time before he views them as a family.

But other than that little pang of ache, he couldn't help but feel pity for Damian.

It was impossible after all.

The scene presented in the painting would only remain as a dream.

Nothing more, nothing less.

A hopeless desire that would he never be granted.

Bruce couldn't compromise his morals and he was already dead.

Talia wouldn't leave the League of Assassins.

Dick couldn't even imagine her acting motherly towards Damian.

Lastly, the child in the painting looks like a genuine normal child- it couldn't be Damian.

Because Damian doesn't have the ignorance or innocence of a child. He may look like a child but he was someone who had stained his hands a lot because of the way he lived in the League of Assassins. Damian's eyes were cold, and calm and held so many experiences.

The only good thing that Talia did was send Damian to Gotham's doorstep.

Damian scowled when he saw the brief pity that flashed Grayson's eyes. He loathed having that kind of gaze directed at him. Stopping his urge to stab Grayson, he turned his gaze to Alfred.

" What do you need Pennyworth? It looks like Grayson wouldn't stop with his unneeded pity. "

" Hey, that was unneeded Damian! "

Dick exclaimed and send an apologetic look. He then brought his phone up and explained why they had come here in the first place.

" Anyway, your friends informed me that they would go to the Cane Manor tomorrow. They wanted to ask if you would like to go with them and visit Jonas. "

There was a frown on Damian's face. The room was silent for a few seconds before Damian replied.

" I would go. "

A smile formed on Dick's face. He wanted to say something along the lines of ' You didn't reject when I called them your friends ' or ' You didn't refuse their invitation this time ' but he chose to remain silent. Instead, Dick says.

" It was a little inconvenient for your friends to message or call my phone. How about you get a cellphone for yourself, Damian? How about we have a cellphone shopping for yourself later? "

A pair of green eyes narrowed at him.

" It's the choice of yours that led to this inconvenience, Grayson. If you didn't ask for their parent's numbers along with Luke and Bethany's numbers, this wouldn't have happened. "

" So do you agree to have a cellphone shopping later? "

" I can do it with myself. "

" What!? Do you not want my company, Damian? "

Dick exclaimed with mixed affronted expression and faux hurt.

" The best selection was Pennyworth for the company. "

On the sidelines, Alfred responded.

" I'm honored that you think highly of me, Master Damian. "

" And the next best choice is Gordon while the second last is Drake. His knowledge of technology is exemplary even though his company isn't preferable. The last option would be you, Grayson. You're annoying and act like a Dramatic Clown. "

Dick let out an offended squawk with those last two words. It was blasphemy for him to be compared to a clown considering who they associated with that word.

But while he was acting dramatically, Richard was glad that Damian was taking steps forward in making friends and their dysfunctional family.

Even he was leery of the fact that one of Damian's friends was an unknown creepy being.

An hour later, while being accompanied in cellphone shopping by Drake and Grayson, Damian ended up encountering Jonas with the Cane family butlers/guards along with being accompanied by a huge black dog. Disturbing them inside the hamburger shop inside a small.