[UM, he absolutely, one hundred percent accepts these sloppy, disgusting licks. He has been blessed. Anointed. But he pretends to be disgruntled at getting messy, even if this is nowhere near what he acts like when he's actually upset.]
Some, but not a high population. [He uses the back of his arm and crook of his elbow to wipe his face. The question gets him to pause at Percy, and then, slowly, he looks back up at Mrs. O'Lear. A frown thins his lips, but his eyes are... apologetic rather than angry.]
I killed them. [Might as well just own up to bad choices.] I killed them to take the treasure they were protecting.
[Dogs are so healing...but also, Percy's watching him carefully and he's not sure what to make of that expression. This is maybe the first time he's seen something less like animosity in Damian's expression when talking about fighting.]
...oh. [He obviously feels bad about it, but Percy has to wonder what the circumstances were.] Why?
It was expected of me. To do what was necessary to retrieve a trophy.
[This is offered rather bitterly to Percy, so the fortunate thing is it sounds as if Damian doesn't approve of what he had done.]
To become the heir to an organization of assassins, I had to participate in a rite called the Year of Blood. It's exactly as it sounds: I traveled the world to best champions and beasts and take from them a trophy to bring back to my mother as proof of my success.
Goliath's family happened to be the guardians protecting an artifact I wanted.
And I thought my family had issues. [He can't exactly judge him because, like, Percy's hands aren't exactly clean either and also Damian's still technically a kid. This doesn't sound like it was something recent so that means he went on this Year of Blood thing when he was younger which is also...a lot. That's a lot? Yikes.
Somehow knowing he was born into a group of assassins makes perfect sense to him. Mrs. O'Leary whines a little at the bitter tone, nudging Damian again. Apparently she doesn't think poorly of the choice, or maybe she just doesn't want him to be upset.]
But you didn't kill Goliath. [That's the important thing here.] What happened after that? Did you "succeed" by their standards?
[He might just be annoyed that this is just another case of a young kid being used as someone else's pawn for bigger plans, but he might be projecting just a little. He's seen too many cases like that not to though.]
[Mrs. O'Leary is a good soul. Damian tries to reassure her by giving her some attention and pets. He's quiet for a minute or so, doesn't look back at Percy yet.
And then, finally, he half turns around.] Goliath... wouldn't fight me. It wasn't worth killing him because it wouldn't be honorable. He wouldn't fight back. [Apparently, Damian's ideal of honor is a fair and consenting battle. To the death. Wow.
And really, Goliath was a form of innocence, purity, and it made Damian cry to see it, but he won't tell Percy that!!! Percy will get a memory later or something about this.] So I took him back as an extra trophy.
I succeeded in my Year of Blood. I had collected a hoard of trophies, proof of my loyalty to the League. But... [He looks back up at Mrs. O'Leary, frowning.] I went to stay with my father.
[That also explains so much about Damian "FIGHT ME ALREADY!!!" Wayne, so. He's not at all surprised, though it's a little admirable that he chose an honorable route.]
You probably don't want to hear this, but maybe that was for the best. [Not fighting back, saving Goliath, going to stay with Bruce...yeah. Smart plan.] You gave Goliath a new purpose at least which is probably more than other people would have done if they were you.
[Seriously who tells a kid to go slaughter a bunch of things to prove thems--oh wait maybe that's kind of like demigod training. Gods.] What did the League say after you left?
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Some, but not a high population. [He uses the back of his arm and crook of his elbow to wipe his face. The question gets him to pause at Percy, and then, slowly, he looks back up at Mrs. O'Lear. A frown thins his lips, but his eyes are... apologetic rather than angry.]
I killed them. [Might as well just own up to bad choices.] I killed them to take the treasure they were protecting.
no subject
...oh. [He obviously feels bad about it, but Percy has to wonder what the circumstances were.] Why?
no subject
[This is offered rather bitterly to Percy, so the fortunate thing is it sounds as if Damian doesn't approve of what he had done.]
To become the heir to an organization of assassins, I had to participate in a rite called the Year of Blood. It's exactly as it sounds: I traveled the world to best champions and beasts and take from them a trophy to bring back to my mother as proof of my success.
Goliath's family happened to be the guardians protecting an artifact I wanted.
no subject
Somehow knowing he was born into a group of assassins makes perfect sense to him. Mrs. O'Leary whines a little at the bitter tone, nudging Damian again. Apparently she doesn't think poorly of the choice, or maybe she just doesn't want him to be upset.]
But you didn't kill Goliath. [That's the important thing here.] What happened after that? Did you "succeed" by their standards?
[He might just be annoyed that this is just another case of a young kid being used as someone else's pawn for bigger plans, but he might be projecting just a little. He's seen too many cases like that not to though.]
no subject
And then, finally, he half turns around.] Goliath... wouldn't fight me. It wasn't worth killing him because it wouldn't be honorable. He wouldn't fight back. [Apparently, Damian's ideal of honor is a fair and consenting battle. To the death. Wow.
And really, Goliath was a form of innocence, purity, and it made Damian cry to see it, but he won't tell Percy that!!! Percy will get a memory later or something about this.] So I took him back as an extra trophy.
I succeeded in my Year of Blood. I had collected a hoard of trophies, proof of my loyalty to the League. But... [He looks back up at Mrs. O'Leary, frowning.] I went to stay with my father.
no subject
You probably don't want to hear this, but maybe that was for the best. [Not fighting back, saving Goliath, going to stay with Bruce...yeah. Smart plan.] You gave Goliath a new purpose at least which is probably more than other people would have done if they were you.
[Seriously who tells a kid to go slaughter a bunch of things to prove thems--oh wait maybe that's kind of like demigod training. Gods.] What did the League say after you left?