damijon thing

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The first one who noticed was Batman himself.

Bruce hadn't realised that his son hadn't been in an argument with his teachers since he opens his emails to check them.

He's never surprised when he sees them, Damian had argued with his literature teacher once more, Damian had complained about his calculus teacher to his face.. It seemed the only superior he'd actually listen to was his art teacher.

That's why when he opened his emails, he expected the worst.

But the email turned out to be an automated reminder sent to the parents about the career fair for the seniors in a few weeks.

Not even a single mention of Damian in the slightest.

When he was talking to Superman, he mentions it. Clark looked shocked, but told him he probably shouldn't think much of it.

-

Things had been quiet in the Wayne Manor lately. It's impossible for Bruce not to take notice.

Damian hadn't fought with anyone. Not even a sly remark to one of Tim or Jason's teasings.

Bruce wondered if he was sensing improvement or the calmness before the storm.

Dick had begun to notice too. Damian had come home from school one day and had laughed at one of Jason's jokes. It was just a little gag— Bruce couldn't even remember what Jason had said. Dick had questioned, "Wow. What's got you so happy, Dames?"

Bruce had noticed the tips of his ears go red, but his son had managed to keep his cool, "What? I can't laugh at one of Todd's jokes?"

He'd even let Jason ruffle his hair for at least 2 seconds before threatening him! That's got to mean something.

He'd even been having friends over, according to Tim. Maya and Colin, who seemed nice, Tim had reported back to him. And, oh, Jon? He practically lives here, Bruce, Tim had said, I'm serious.

Bruce had smiled, glad his son was making more friends.

-

Jason had entered his room at an ungodly hour, "I have a theory."

Bruce, who woke up due to his carelessness when opening his door, had indulged him, assuming he was talking about some case, "Alright, let's hear it."

"The demon's gotten himself a girlfriend."

Well, if Jason's noise hadn't woken him up, this sure did.

"What makes you think that?" Bruce further questioned.

"Oh– come on, B! He's constantly smiling, yet trying to hide it, he's actually nice to us for once! He's been spending so much time fixing his hair, you'd think he's Dick! He's clearly been trying to look good for someone! Hence— girlfriend."

"I'll believe it when I meet her." Bruce had said, despite already believing the evidence.

"If he lets us even look at her." Jason had muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

-
Batman had been up late working on a case, and Bruce was going to be so tired at the office in the morning.

It's 2 in the morning. It's a school night. Damian should not be awake.

But it's certain, there's a light peaking out from under his door, and he can hear muffled voices.

He first thinks about telling Damian to go to bed.

Damian must be on the phone, there's no other voice other than his.

His second thought is whether if Jason's conspiracy is real or not.

"You're an idiot." Damian's voice had said. But there was no malice in it, it was soft and in complete admiration. The boy was smitten.

His "girlfriend" talks for a while. It's too muffled to be comprehensive.

"You're using the term wrong, imbecile."

Bruce wondered if this was really how his son flirted, because if so, what the fuck, Damian.

"Okay."

Bruce is almost shocked after hearing his son laugh. Jason's right. He's infatuated.

It's then quiet, but his girlfriend doesn't speak. So it must be Damian's turn to say something.

".. Love you too, Jon." Damian's voice tries to seem reluctant, but Bruce can hear his smile despite not being able to see him.

Wait. Jon?

Bruce heads to bed. Jon is a boy's name. A certain Kent boy's name. Bruce is trying to look back at what Damian had said. Was it a platonic "love you" or a romantic "love you"— because Damian doesn't say "I love you", Damian doesn't even shorten phrases, so why would he remove the "I" from "I love you." Had Damian said "I love you" so much to Jon that he feels the need to shorten the phrase, because Jon already knows he loves him, and the statement is nothing more than a reminder, a matter of principle? Does Clark know about this?

Bruce doesn't get a wink of sleep that night.
-
He'd resolved to asking Damian directly, about Jon. If he denied it, he'd ask Clark. If Clark denied it, he'd go and bother Jon.

He finds Damian in front of the bathroom mirror. He's fixing his hair. His tie is neatly tied. So what? Damian always made sure he looked more than acceptable, Bruce!

"Hello, father."

"Hey, Damian."

Their, short, conversation is interrupted by Damian's ringtone. "Jon" it reads. Damian looks terrified, and his cheeks darken. He tells Bruce, "It's Jon." And immediately takes it.

Bruce has deja vu from last night.

"Hi, Jon."

It's so quiet.

"Yes, I'm about to leave right now."

Jon is just a friend, nothing more.

"..We just talked yesterday."

Wonder what Jon's saying.

"..Whatever, I miss you too."

Bruce sees how Damian turns bright red as he says that.

".."

Oh. They're saying goodbye. Bruce wonders why he's so reluctant to say "love you" even though he said it yesterday. Then it dawns on him, that he's here.

"Me too."

Damian lets out a little breath from his nose. An embarrassed laugh.

"Yes. I love you, too."

Damian hangs up, looking extremely embarrassed when he feels Bruce's eyes on him.
He takes a few, uneven breaths.

Bruce just stands there as it sinks in. Jon, the boy Damian would tease and make fun of to his face at the beginning of their superhero duo, had him absolutely smitten– had him saying "I love you", a word that Damian would probably claim was beneath him.

"So, Jon, huh?"

Damian almost chokes.

"Uh.. yes."

Bruce smiled, "You should have him over for dinner. I'm sure your brothers would be interested to meet the boy who's got you head over heels."

Damian turns bright red. "Father!" His voice cracks, making him turn brighter.

Bruce chuckles. At least Jason's theory was only half true.

-