Re: [Lake: Misha/Damian.]
Misha's assessment and comparison of Damian to Pennyworth was not a terrible one. Damian's behaviors were perhaps equally as mystifying to an outsider, but, once his habits were learned and accommodated, he showed affection in his own way, even if he had to be coaxed back into it on occasion. Today, he required no coaxing. Or, perhaps he had, on the phone. Regardless, he was coaxed now, and he was leaning into Misha shamelessly. Which, when thought about it, was also progress from where he had began.
Damian did not think he required 'growing up,' so much as he required the wound of abandonment not to be reopened each and every day. But, perhaps it was a bit of both.
Misha held his head, and Damian nodded stupidly when Misha named Dawson as judgmental. (This behavior, in and of itself, was not personally bothersome to Damian. Some might say he was thus. But, it was true all the same.)—When Misha reeled back and tipped up Damian's chin, he finally gazed up at the boy. His eyes were a little puffy and a little red, along with the tip of his nose, but, if nothing else, his eyes were dry. "I do not depend on them," was his counter, but he did not pull away. "I know they have reasons to do as they do." He shrugged, a little helpless. "I do not know."