Chapter Text
If you asked Jon when he started developing feelings for his best friend, he couldn’t really give you a straightforward answer.
He always thought Damian was an amazing person. He looked up to him- his skills, his intelligence, his experience. Jon fully believed Damian was better than most adult heroes in the industry; he was more than reliable in a fight, and he solved cases as fast as any member of his family could (if not faster). Did Jon start getting a crush on him then? Maybe.
It became more apparent the more time they spent together, when Jon was able to see the side of Damian that not a lot of people got the chance to see. Blaringly obvious is his pure desire and perseverance to do good , despite how he presents himself and despite everything that’s been presented to him. Damian complained about a lot of things, but rarely about his struggles, and he made sure not to burden anyone with it- at least unprompted.
Through the course of their friendship, Jon’s gotten him to open up a bit, and it felt absolutely fulfilling to be part of the few people Damian trusted. Especially since that entailed Damian being more comfortable with him– and comfort for the youngest Wayne meant sometimes he’d lean his weight on you, or there were friendly touches on the shoulder, on the arm, on the back, and sometimes even hugs (Dick’s influence, no doubt).
The first time they hugged, Jon swore his heart skipped a beat.
Still… that wasn’t the time he fully realized the extent of his feelings for his best friend.
When Jon went away with his grandfather to space, he was struck with the heavy feeling of missing Damian more than he thought he would (and trust him- he already knew it was going to be hard not having him by his side). With every experience, Jon always had the urge to tell Damian about it. Jon wanted to know what Damian would think of everything, and if he would complain or scold him about the way things were handled (or maybe praise him for facing it head on).
At times, in the cold recess of whatever pocket they found themselves in, Jon wished he had Damian in his arms to provide some warmth.
When he was ultimately betrayed and left in a volcano, Damian was still one of the people at the forefront of Jon’s thoughts. Faced with the possibility of his death, one of his regrets is not having the opportunity to kiss his best friend.
Miraculously, he survived all that, and even managed to get back home. Admittedly with much heavier baggage compared to when he left… and apparently more years in Earth standards. Jon was older than Damian now, and he really had to get a grip , because one of the first things he thought when they reunited was how cute Damian was now that Jon basically towered over him even more.
Or it was good that he didn’t, because Jon took the first opportunity to get that hug he’s been longing for. It only fueled his increasingly growing affection.
Jon thought a few years of being away would dampen their bond- after all he was different now, and Damian has probably changed too. But it never seemed to pose a problem, at least they never allowed it to.
Despite their new responsibilities, they made time for each other. They purposely scheduled bi-monthly collaborative patrols, one where Jon was invited to Gotham, and another where Damian was invited to Metropolis. They added weekly meet-ups where they just spent time in the Wayne manor (mandatory out-of-cape break, Damian said Alfred suggested for them), or Jon’s dorm when he started going to college. Sometimes Damian tutored him because no surprise, he’s still as smart as ever. Jon wasn’t half bad in all honesty, but any excuse to spend time with him, right? Most of the time they just hang out anyway, and watch whatever catches their interest.
Damian leans on him more often than not, and it makes Jon’s feelings for him just grow even more.
One time they fell asleep on the couch watching a documentary required in Jon’s class, and they woke up cuddling – or more specifically, Jon had wrapped his arms around Damian during their slumber, and when the young Wayne woke up first, Jon’s hold on him was too immovable that he just resigned himself to it. Jon was absolutely mortified when he woke up, but in his mind he wanted Damian in his arms all the time after that.
Thoughts like those bombard Jon from then on. They get louder the more time he spends with his best friend, and embarrassingly , he would argue they even get worse .
He wants to be the person Damian relies on the most, the person he goes to when he needs comfort. Then there are those absolutely ridiculous thoughts like how he doesn’t want other people putting their arms around Damian, or talking to him, or even standing too close to him.
… And then there are those thoughts that make it hard to look at Damian in the eye without feeling the warmth creep up his face (and the entirety of his body).
The obvious next step was just ask him out and actually get to do all those things with him unabashedly.
And yeah, there came the insecurities of even entertaining the possibility of dating the Damian Wayne (Is Jon good enough for him? Doesn’t he deserve someone better? What if this ruins their friendship?) But they’ve been friends for so long , Jon shouldn’t have to worry about those things, right?
They can start small. Just one date, and at the very least if Damian doesn’t feel the same way about him, he could at least show him a good time.
Simple, easy and straightforward. How hard could it be?
—-
As it turns out, it was very difficult. Each and every attempt Jon’s made has failed spectacularly and it was driving him crazy.
He severely underestimated one crucial detail: the kind of effect Damian has on him.
The first time he tried, he learned pretty quickly just what he was up against.
They were on Patrol that time, on a random rooftop in Gotham, on the lookout for anything amiss. Nothing was going on, the sky was beautiful. Jon thought it was the perfect opportunity.
He went on about it acting all cool and casual. “Hey, Dami–” let’s go out on a date. He wanted to say. Simple, easy, straightforward.
“No names in the field, Superboy,” But Robin reprimanded him before he could even finish. Honestly Jon’s first mistake was probably asking on the job.
Jon simply huffed, “It’s Super man now, remember?”
Then he was caught a little off guard when Damian approached him really close; they were almost chest to chest. Robin’s eyes roamed his entire person, sizing him up, then he scoffed in an almost amused way, and smirked .
“Are you now? You may have to show me again just how much of a ‘man’ you really are or else it wouldn’t stick at all.”
Then police sirens came from the distance, and Robin’s attention was on it immediately, launching from the rooftop and then grappling through the air.
Jon thinks it’s weird to be thankful that crime happened at that exact time, but admittedly its convenient timing saved him from explaining why he was suddenly a flustered mess .
Every attempt afterwards felt similar. He quickly learned patrol was not the time and place to even try because Damian was too dedicated to keeping the people safe to even spare him any mind. Same as during their tutor sessions, because Damian was very strict about his schoolwork and grades.
When the opportunity did arise, during the time they hangout in his dorm, or in the manor, he just always seemed to fumble it or something came in his way.
One time, he had invited Damian to a farmer’s market happening in Metropolis. It would have been a cute date idea, but the young Wayne had ended up bringing along Alfred. “Nothing fresher than local produce.” The butler had said. And although it was still a pretty enjoyable day, it still wasn’t a date.
Then there was also when Jon invited Damian to the mall, just to look around, maybe have fun at the arcade, get some smoothies and snacks. Again, it wasn’t a date because Stephanie, Cassandra and Duke ended up coming along. Damian did offer to ditch them, but Jon didn’t want to be rude (plus he needed to get on their good side if he wanted to make their brother his boyfriend).
And yeah okay , Jon will admit- those two times were his fault because he didn’t really use the word ‘date’ when he asked Damian out, but he was still a little nervous okay?
Then Damian invited him to be his plus one for a gala and Jon was actually thrilled. His best friend mentioned a “passable” flower garden at the venue and that they could sneak away there after he’s greeted a few key people.
Jon couldn’t have thought of a more perfect opportunity to ask him out. No vagueness. Explicitly, with the right words, and maybe if he was lucky he’d even get a kiss.
But nothing went his way and what ended up happening was Bruce dragging Damian around the gala, introducing him to basically everyone at the party. Jon was on the sidelines for the most part, grumpily clearing out the damn buffet table that didn’t serve anything remotely big enough to help with the growing pit of bitterness in his stomach.
There was also a point on that night where some girls were laying it a little too thick just how much they were flirting with his best friend. Damian was unimpressed, Jon could tell, and he was trying to get away from them as politely as he could, but they were relentless, even grabbing his arm, and then daring to place a hand on his cheek.
Something in Jon snapped, and he could barely stop himself from heading over there, grabbing Damian by the wrist, saying a gruff excuse about why they had to leave, and dragging both of them away.
Damian, after recovering from his surprise, seemed to find it all amusing, smirking the way that made Jon’s heart jump, and even teased, “Superboy didn’t need to come to my rescue, but I will admit that I do appreciate the sentiment. Shall I call you ‘ my hero?’ ”
Jon would have confessed then and there. Honestly, he would have said something along the lines of ‘Only if I can call you mine,’ and it would have been so cool and smooth, but Bruce arrived, said that they’ve stayed long enough for it to be socially acceptable to leave early. “You boys want to get a drive through take out? I know the food here barely counts as dinner.”
And that’s how that night ended, in the car with his crush, and his crush’ father, eating burgers (veggie for Damian), and all Jon’s hope of asking his best friend out down the drain.
All those specific attempts aside, even with nothing working against him, Jon was still failing!
Sometimes Damian would just smile at him, or lean a little too close and then his mind would go blank and all he could think about was pulling him closer and letting their lips touch- but then after Damian pulls away, he is once again faced with the fact that no he won’t be able to kiss him at all if he couldn’t get this damn thing done!
He swore the next time they hung out, he was going to ask Damian no matter what – no ifs, ors, or buts.
This has gone on for far too long, and Jon didn’t know how much longer he could wait.
—-
In their next out-of-cape meet up at the Wayne Manor, Jon and Damian did not have the manor to themselves.
Well, they never really had it to themselves the other times before either, but Alfred Pennyworth knew to give them their space. This time however, they were joined by Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake in the entertainment room. Something about their rest days coinciding.
Damian was not pleased by this. “And you lot decided to spend it in the manor? Don’t you have better things to do with your life?”
Jason did not appreciate his little brother’s tone. “You’re acting like we’re not allowed in our own house.”
“You could occupy any other place in the manor today, I could not care less. Just not here .” Damian hissed at his three older brother’s direction, who were surrounded at the pool table behind the sofa for where Jon and him usually spent the day away, watching movies or series.
“Aww, baby bat- don’t kick us out. This is the only place in the manor where we actually get to do something fun! We promise we won’t disturb you guys. ” Dick reassured as he just finished his turn, shooting one of the billiard balls into a hole. Tim then followed up with: “It’s not like he can anyway.” As he chalked the tip of his billiard stick.
Their youngest growled, “Pennyworth has given me the right to ban you from this room, in case you’re forgetting.”
“Only if we cause trouble. And we’re not causing trouble, are we?” Damian’s teen brother seemed so smug about his rebuttal, only coupling with the fact that he was able to shoot two balls in his turn.
“Hey, it’s fine. I don’t mind it really. I’m sure they won’t be disturbing us.” Jon said simply to appease Damian. In actuality- he kind of did mind. He was already nervous asking Damian out with just him around, what more if his family was too. A part of him wanted to back out, but he reminded himself of the promise he made.
Now or never , and there was just no way Jon would settle for never .
Plus– Damian’s brothers liked him enough. They probably wouldn’t mind him asking out their youngest. They might even support him. This shouldn’t be a big hurdle to his plan at all.
“Don’t be grumpy now, our day’s just getting started.” He jokingly elbowed his best friend's side, and that worked just enough for Damian to lose a bit of tension in his body.
The youngest Wayne sighed, grabbed Jon by the wrist and started directing both of them to the sofa. “You will regret not letting me send them away. Just watch, they’ll find a way to be annoying eventually.”
Jon was almost sure Damian was just overreacting. Two episodes into the series they were watching, the three older Wayne’s have really kept to themselves. Sure, there were some moments when they got a little too competitive with their pool game, and the trash talk couldn’t be avoided, but it was… comfortable.
Especially since Damian had himself leaning quite snugly into Jon’s side. The young Kent wanted to just pull him into his arms, but he reminded himself that they weren’t dating yet so he had no right to do that.
As the characters on screen were starting to get a little romantic, Jon wondered if it was too cliche if he took his chance then and there. Damian would probably think he was lame. He didn’t even prepare anything special. No flowers. No speech. Should he really go through with this?
Or was he making excuses again?
“Don’t miss your shot,” Dick said in a sing-song voice, and even though Jon was sure that it was probably directed to one of his younger brothers and not him, the kryptonian took it as a sign to finally do it.
Jon took a deep breath, and breathed out long and heavy. Damian found this action a little odd so he ended up looking at his best friend, but said best friend grabbed his hand, and pulled him closer. Damian has never seen Jon as flushed yet determined as he was at that moment.
“Jonathan?” The young Wayne called out carefully, his eyebrows scrunching a little in confusion, “What’s going on?”
And without further ado, Jon announced: “Dami, I think- I think we should go out! ”
The sound of loud clattering sticks could be heard from behind them, but Jon nor Damian didn’t pay it any mind.
Jon couldn’t believe it. He did it. He finally said it! Jon felt like a weight had lifted off his chest.
But as it turned out… he wasn’t in the clear yet.
Damian was looking at him still confused - how was Jon supposed to interpret that? “Leave the manor now ? For what?"
Oh no . Jon realized it was happening again- he wasn’t being specific enough again . He forgot the word again .
“No, no. Like we should go out. ” He tried to recover as much as he could. “I meant like a da -”
“You guys going out?” Dick suddenly popped up in their space, smiling extremely wide… and almost fake. “Doesn’t sound like a good idea. The paparazzi's been stalking us like crazy because of the upcoming gala announcement. You know, the biggest one we’re holding this year?”
Jon watched as Damian’s face soured at the reminder of that. He pulled his hands away from his best friend, and crossed in front of his chest in a huff. “Those vultures are really getting on my nerves.”
“Why would you even want to go out? Is the manor getting boring to the big ‘ol super?” Jon’s and Damian’s gaze landed on Jason, who interjected loudly. He was leaning on the pool table, also wearing a smile that oddly looked like it was masking anger.
The kryptonian was quick to deny it. “No, of course not! The manor’s amazing.” He turned to Damian, smiling a little nervously because why does it feel like his plans were derailing? His plan was a simple one! “I just thought– it would be nice if we went to a theatre, maybe try out some of the newly opened restaurants on the mall?” He was doing it again- just say the damn word – “I want to take you on a da –”
Tim cut in as he walked up to the sofa as well, “What are the chances these restaurants have good-tasting vegetarian options? Demon Brat would be complaining the entire time.” That remark received quite a heated glare from the subject of it. The teen easily returned it. “What? Am I wrong? Alfred has spoiled any other vegetarian dish for you.”
“I’m not as picky with my food as you are, Drake.” Damian only rolled his eyes, the ridiculousness of the exchange not lost to him, but he would rather not dignify it with a response. Instead he whispered to his best friend, who he wasn’t aware was still muddled at everything that transpired. “I told you, they were going to be annoying.” He then started to lean into Jon’s side again, fully planning to go back to watching the series, but Dick all of a sudden pulled him up and pulled him away from.the young Kent.
Damian was obviously affronted by this. “Richard, what are you doing?!”
“Remember how Alfred is baking a snack for us today? I think it's banana bread.” The oldest quickly reminded as he directed Damian out of the room, “Why don’t you go check on that? I’m starving. ”
“Why? Pennyworth would bring it up when it’s ready anyway!” The youngest tried to fight his older brother’s hold. Dick was adamant of getting him out of there though. “Can you do me a favor and ask him to add cookies to that too? And like a lot- because I plan on taking some back to Bludhaven.”
“Oh, add more to that, because I want to bring back some to the Outlaws.” Jason called out.
“That’s a lot of cookies guys, you can’t expect Alfred to bake all that on his own.” Tim chimed in, “Maybe you should help him out, Demon.”
“What?!” Then Damian was quickly shoved outside of the room before he could even register what was happening.
By the time everything caught up to him, and his anger finally surfaced, the door was already closed at his face and locked . “What the hell are you idiots doing?!” He screamed as he banged his fist against the wood. “Open the door right now!”
“You’re not getting in here without those baked goods, brat! Get on with it! You don’t want to miss an episode now, do you?” Jason called out without a single remorse.
From the inside, all the occupants of the entertainment room could hear Damian cuss up a storm, and even kick the door. But it seemingly died down as he realized that the others wouldn’t be budging. He screamed one last time in frustration before stomping away, maybe about to do what his brothers asked him to… which was probably one of the least likely things to happen, but he was gone, and that’s what Dick, Tim, and Jason wanted.
Now to deal with the other problem at hand.
All eyes fell on Jon who still looked as confused as ever. “What the hell just happened?”
“We should be the ones asking you that! You just tried to ask our baby brother on a date!” Dick basically screeched.
Jon was actually overjoyed because - “Yes! Oh my god, yes!” So what he was doing was obvious , and maybe Damian was just a little dense. “ I have been trying for so long, you don’t understand! But it just never works out! I need you guys to back me up here.”
The Super did not expect all three of their expressions to morph into some variation of offense and anger.
“Excuse me? What the fuck? Where'd you get the audacity to ask us that?!” Jason growled at him.
Jon was confused again . “I don’t understand! What's the problem?”
“You're asking us to help you date our brother! Are you actually insane?! What makes you think we’d even do that?!” The second eldest was sounding hysterical.
It was only then did it click for Jon.
Dick, Jason and Tim didn’t want him to date Damian.
Why?!
“I thought you guys liked me!” Jon cried.
Tim looked annoyed, “Yeah, you’re alright as Damian’s friend . Boyfriend is crossing the fucking line.”
And Jon couldn’t understand why! They never said anything when they saw Damian and him cuddle, and they’ve definitely seen them cuddle before– they’ve fallen asleep in the entertainment room enough times for the others to see that side of them, and they even took pictures for blackmail!
The only difference he and Damian dating would bring was maybe a change of title (and more kisses and other things, but those things they wouldn't have to deal with anyway because they’ll be happening privately– okay Jon was getting way ahead of himself. )
Anyway, this kind of behavior was sort of expected from Dick, but for Tim and Jason to be acting this way– protective over the little brother they claimed they outwardly say they don’t really care for much? A complete shock.
“Better give up while you’re ahead, Jon.” Dick had said, patting his shoulder in an almost patronizing way, “No one is going to be good enough for our brother. No one.”
And that was enough to snap Jon out of his daze.
“I know that, okay? I know!” Jon has already spent so much time in his head trying to fight those stupid insecurities. There’s also a few failed attempts attributed to that too. He’s survived every time that’s happened, and his desire to ask Damian out has still not died down at all.
He swore he would ask Damian out no matter what, and he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stop him now.
“But I still want to try, okay?” Jon declared, confidence and determination more evident in his voice more than ever. “I- I know it might be too early to say it, but I really do believe I love him-” Love was such a strong word, but he didn’t know how else to describe what he was feeling, “- I want to be the one who makes him feel appreciated and seen. I want to be the one to take care of him. And - and I don’t know if he’ll even allow me, but I wouldn’t know unless I ask him!”
Such a sincere declaration almost swayed the eldest Waynes to his cause. Almost.
Tim clicked his tongue, crossed his arms and snapped his head away in annoyance. “Why’d you fall for the Demon Brat of all people?”
Jon guffawed, “Why wouldn’t I fall for Damian? He’s amazing .”
“Aww.” Dick couldn’t help but coo. Jon saw this as a good sign.
“Couldn’t find other 19 year olds that catches your fancy?” Jason scoffed, “Damian’s 17. You two dating is actually illegal in some places.” Which wasn’t completely true, or as bad as he was making it seem like. Jason only said that to scare the teen a little bit.
They did not expect Jon to answer. “ I would never do anything! A-at least without Damian’s consent.” He had the knack to blush about it.
All rapport was thrown out the window after that. If looks could kill, Dick, Tim and Jason would have murdered Jon on the spot.
“So if Damian gave you his consent…” Dick started, his voice sounding ominous than Jon has ever heard it sound before, “... you would put your hands on him?”
Jon thought it was smarter and safer for him to not answer that question.
His silence was incriminating enough for the three. Next thing Jon saw was them pulling out weapons from their clothes; Dick and Tim with their batarangs, and Jason with a gun. The young Kent feared for his life (even though those weapons couldn’t really hurt him).
The sound of the doorknob being jostled was a blessing. After a few seconds, in came a fuming Damian, and a very shocked Bruce and Alfred.
“What on earth are you three doing?!” Their caregiver demanded.
Damian was quick to stomp his way towards them and snatch their weapons away. “Were you threatening Jonathan?!” He then shoved all three of them away roughly, “What is wrong with you?!”
“Hey, that punk deserves it!” Jason argued back, pointing an accusing finger at the young Kent still frozen on the sofa.
The youngest scoffed in disbelief, “What the hell did he do to deserve your ire?”
Alarm bells rang in Jon’s ear because no way was he going to allow anyone to tell Damian about his feelings before he could.
So, spurred by that possibility, Jon jumped over the sofa, turned Damian around, and clasped both of the young Wayne’s hands in his own. “Dami, dami, you have to listen to me, okay?” He said, because he couldn’t trust his best friend’s older brothers not to interfere again.
Damian blinked once, twice, multiple times, caught off guard by everything at this point. “Jonathan? What’s gotten over you?”
“Oh my god, get him away from him!” Dick exclaimed, stepping forward hoping to come in between them, but Alfred pulled him by the ear. “No, you don’t, You’ve done enough meddling.”
“You can’t just let him do what he wants!” Tim cried, and would absolutely stop the two as well, were it not for Bruce standing in front of him.
“What is going on with you boys?” The man asked, genuinely confused.
Damian turned his head to check on the chaos behind him, but Jon hooked his chin between his fingers, and kept his attention on him. “Just- please, give me your full attention for like the next minute. Ignore them, okay? I just need to tell you something really important.”
The young Wayne blinked in surprise, and slowly he nodded with suspicion and concern evident on his face. (Jon thought it was a cute expression but literally it was not the time to think that ).
Jon took another deep breath, this time quicker and more determined.
And without further ado (for real this time): “I really, really, really want to go out with you, Damian Wayne. On a date. Romantically and not as friends- and not with other friends, or your siblings or other family members. Just you and me. Alone. Together.” Jon didn’t miss anything, right? That’s as specific as it can get, right? Right.
“It doesn’t have to be the movies- I mean admittedly that was a lame suggestion, and honestly I just thought I would use it as an excuse to hold your hands. But we can hold hands by just walking in a park or something.”
“And- and we don’t even have to go to a restaurant! Let’s have a picnic date- we can even bring Titus and Krypto! We can even cook something at my dorm and bring that instead!”
“I don’t mind contributing to the selection.” Alfred interjected, and Dick, Tim and Jason all looked at him shocked.
“Thank you, Alfred.” Jon was relieved he at least had one person from Damian’s family in his corner.
He then continued with his speech, “And- and honestly I’ve been brainstorming a lot of date ideas, and one of them was going to the zoo, but I know you hate the zoo. You’ve been ranting about the zoo’s mistreatment of their animals. So I even thought we could go ahead with that break out plan you’ve been plotting on the side. I’ll be your partner in crime.”
(“What did he say about a plan?” Bruce interjected, and Dick shook his arm. “He’s a horrible influence on our boy, Bruce! You have to stop them!)
Damian couldn’t help but snort at that suggestion despite how perplexed he was at this whole ordeal. “It’s not a crime, Kent.”
“By law, I’m pretty sure it is.” Jon argued on instinct.
“So is vigilantism, and we don’t go around calling ourselves criminals now, do we?” The youngest Wayne argued back with an amused tone in his voice, and a smug smirk on his lips, and damn it, Jon really thinks he looks attractive like that.
“Stop distracting me- I’m trying to convince you to go on a date with me.” The young Kent grumbled, and it just earned him a chuckle from his best friend. “Then continue. What other bright ideas do you have?”
Truthfully, Jon didn’t have any more specific ideas. Most of what they already do together is enough, he just wanted to destroy that barrier that stopped him from doing more with him and for him- things that only the people you love had the right to do.
Bruce cleared his throat from behind them, catching both of the boys’ attention. “There’s an art gallery opening in the city this weekend, perhaps you can start there instead of a big-scale animal abduction operation.”
“Bruce, what the fuck!?” Jason exclaimed, “What are you doing helping him out?” He grabbed his father’s collar, but the man simply ignored him- seemingly used to this kind of behavior.
Jon immediately grabbed the opportunity presented to him. “Yes! Yes- Thank you , Bruce.” He then turned to Damian again, “We can go to that one, and you can tell me all about every meaning behind each piece, what medium was used, and you can nag me about how I have no taste in the arts.”
This earns him another laugh from his best friend, and honestly he could never get tired of that sound- he could listen to it over and over again. “That’s your idea of an enjoyable date?”
Jon’s expression softened. It flooded with so much barely contained affection. “Any moment spent with you is enjoyable. I honestly don’t care what we do or where we go, as long as I spend it with you, I’ll be happy.”
Damian’s eyes widened for the nth time that day, and a warm blush dusted his cheeks.
What followed was Damian Wayne snorting, and then laughing. Jon was astonished and embarrassed, but also he was extremely smitten because he loved it when Damian was openly happy (even if it was at his own expense).
“Hey, don’t laugh at me.” He whined as he leaned close enough, their foreheads were almost touching, “At least answer me before making fun of me!”
“Apologies. It’s just that- I’ve never seen you so… passionate.” Damian smiled at him teasingly, but when he squeezed Jon’s hand back, the Kryptonian knew his best friend was saying it as a compliment. “It’s endearing.”
The three older sons of the Waynes looked horrified at what was transpiring in front of them. Jon was honestly too happy to pay them any mind. “Does that mean you’re saying yes?” He asked hopefully.
Damian looked at him like he asked something completely ridiculous. “I think you proposed an offer that only a moron would refuse.”
Jon was overcome with joy, he pulled Damian into his arms, lifted him up and then spun him around. “Oh my God. Thank you, Dami! I promise I won’t disappoint!” Such a gesture made Damian a little bit embarrassed. “Control yourself, Jonathan!” But there was still a hint of thrill in his voice.
Still giddy and lovestruck, Jon pulled Damian closer, made their foreheads touch, and gave his best friend the biggest, warmest smile he could muster. “I’m going to make you the happiest person alive, Damian Wayne. Just you see.”
Damian couldn’t hide how much affection he felt for this man anymore. “You’re getting confident, Jonathan Kent. It suits you.”
And then the youngest Wayne’s expression morphed into alertness, and he shoved Jon away from him as a batarang zipped between them.
Damian snapped his head towards the direction of his family and he growled. Tim was in a position explicitly showing he had just thrown it. If that wasn’t a giveaway, Jason even shouted “Way to go, Tim!”
“I’m going to kill him.” The youngest Wayne growled as he rolled the sleeves of his hoodie, preparing for a fight.
But Bruce stood in between them, and raised his hand in a placating manner. “You are not going to kill your brother.”
“Father! He tried to hurt Jon!” Damian yelled in incredulity.
“Oh please, it wouldn’t have even scratched him.” Tim scoffed, no hint of remorse present in his voice.
“Don’t think that makes this kind of behavior acceptable.” Their father turned to him with a scalding glare, “I will address that in a moment.” He then turned to Jon apologetically, “Sorry about that, Jon. I really don’t know what’s gotten over them.”
The young Kent’s eyes were still on the batarang protruding from the wall. He gulped, but did his best to control his nerves, turning back to Bruce with a nervous chuckle. “N-no worries. No harm done, really.”
The man continued, expression still looking guilty, “I know you and Damian are supposed to be hanging out today, but I think it’s best if we cut it short. I don’t think these three over here are capable of behaving themselves while you’re here.”
Jon’s face fell. “Oh.”
Damian clicked his tongue and crossed his arms, “We could just move to your dorm. It’s not like they could follow us there.”
Dick was horrified at the thought. “Absolutely not! You two are not allowed to be alone together anymore! Who knows what he’ll do to you, Dami!”
Jon flushed intensely at his implication. He then looked around feeling a little bit panicked, wanting to see what the others thought about that exclamation. Jason and Tim still looked at him with suspicion and scrutiny as if he was one of the criminals they fight on a nightly basis. Alfred simply looked tired of it all. Bruce’s hand flew to the bridge of his nose, massaging it – he looked like he was done as well. And Damian- Jon couldn’t see his face, but he could see that his fists were balled, and… that his ears were slightly pink.
“I-I already told you guys it’s not like that!” He quickly clarified, his hands waving around in a panic in front of him. “I-I swear, I only meant that if Damian wants to, then I would want to as well–” as he tried to explain it, his voice died down, feeling embarrassment creeping up to his ears. “W-wait. What I really mean–”
Damian sighed loudly and took his hands in his. “Stop it. You’re digging yourself a deeper hole.” The blush on the youngest Wayne’s cheeks were warmer, and he couldn’t even make eye contact with him. Jon thought he had already screwed it up before they even started.
But Damian squeezed his hands, and said “It’s none of their business what we do.”
Jon was suddenly blushing for a different reason then. “R-right. Okay.”
“Get my fucking gun.” Jason quickly announced after, as he took towards the direction where Damian deposited their weapons, but Alfred pulled him back by the ear too.
Bruce sighed loudly again, “Okay, okay. Look, Jon, I know you both would like to spend more time with each other, but I’m concerned with your safety if I allow this to continue on. So I’m sorry, I do have to ask you to leave for now.” He then tried to offer a small smile towards the young Kent. ”Don’t worry, you and Damian will have all the time in the world this weekend.”
“I also apologize, Young Jonathan, but it seems you may have to take the window.” Alfred added, gesturing to the window on their right. “I don’t think the Masters would let you leave through the front door unscathed.”
“Why are you guys helping him?!” Dick whined, but he was ultimately ignored.
“Yeah, okay, I understand.” Jon figured it would be for the best. It would save him and Damian the embarrassment if ever the older Wayne’s did anything else.
“I’ll see you out.” Damian said tiredly, as they walked towards the window, and he even opened the window for him. As Jon was stepping out, his best friend had reassured him, “I’ll chat you as soon as things settle down here. I’ll ask father for the details and we can discuss it more then.”
That giddy feeling quickly came back. Jon couldn’t keep his smile to himself. “Don’t make me wait for too long.”
This quip earned an amused and definitely teasing smirk from the young Wayne, “You’ve managed to wait this long before you asked, I think you can wait a little longer.”
“Actually, no.” Jon leaned close and placed a quick peck on Damian’s cheek. This caught the young Wayne off guard and dusted his cheeks with a warm red again. Cute , Jon thought, and he was overjoyed now because there was nothing stopping him from making Damian blush like that again. “It almost drove me crazy waiting for this day to come. Have mercy on me, please? I don’t know how much more I can take.”
“So demanding.” His best friend huffed, still smiling with all the endearment in the world, “I’ll call you tonight. Have a safe flight home. I don’t want anything to happen to my date now, do I?”
Jon may have drawn one too many hearts in the clouds on his way home.