Anyone who knew Damian would know that being caught by the press doing anything “improper” was simply unheard of for him.
His brothers and father had hundreds of scandals, memes, audios on the internet but surprisingly, even having been brought up in the spotlight, he’d rarely had any.
But of course, Jon had to change that.
There was an awful lot of truth when people say love makes someone stupid, and as much as Damian was loath to admit it, he was as weak to the emotion as anyone, and it had led to many things he’d come to cringe at.
Although, admittedly there hadn’t been any as…spectacular as this one, though.
It was not a special occasion by any means that led to these events, just a meet-up with some friends at a local bar near Met U. They’d parked a few blocks away and were walking down to the entrance, hands swinging between them.
Damian took a deep breath, letting the warm air slide in and out of his lungs before looking at his husband out of the corner of his eye.
“Jonathan, if you have something you’d like to say you are welcome to say it.” Damian said, the corners of his mouth quirking up in amusem*nt.
“Well-I-I just-” Jon stuttered before clearing his throat and gathering himself.
“I wanted to ask if-well I couldn’t help but notice that you're always the one in the group that stays sober on the nights we go out and I wanted to ask if this time, would you want to be the one to, y’know, party.” Jon rubbed his neck with the hand not intertwined with Damian’s, the other man raising an eyebrow. “This isn’t like-a scheme to get you drunk by the way, I know how it sounds. I just…I want you to have fun.”
Damian's expression softened. “Thank you, love. But you don’t need to worry, okay? I have plenty of fun even when I am off to the side.”
Jon snorts and Damian scowls playfully.
“Last time we went out you were so high strung that you nearly drop-kicked a guy ‘cause he bumped into me.” Jon laughs.
“He shouldn't have bumped into you if he didn’t want to face the consequences.” Damian responded dryly.
“Yeah okay,” Jon says, rolling his eyes. “Just-try to let yourself have fun. I'll be the one that plays lookout tonight, alright? You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Damian hums in acknowledgement. “You feel very strongly about this.”
“I do.” Jon gives a crooked smile and Damian can’t help but give a small but genuine smile back.
“Well, we’ll see when we arrive.”
That was neither a yes or a no, but a small victory nonetheless. They weaved through the crowd of college students, staying in a comfortable silence until they reached the inside of the bar.
They were quickly spotted by Kathy, who dragged them over to where Colin and Maya were sitting, already with drinks in hand.
“Damian!” Colin slung an arm around his neck, not quite drunk but enough alcohol in his system to be rendered tipsy.
“Wilkes.” Damian ducked under the grasp, momentarily regretting the evening.
“So, who’s gonna stay sober this evenin’?” Kathy called from where she was hanging off of Jon, much like Colin had Damian a few seconds before. “Y’all can count Colin off the list.”
“Jon is, I believe.” Damian responded, slightly awkward.
Cheers went up, and Maya tipped her glass towards him. “All grown up, aren’t you, little brother? Gonna join the grownups for some fun?”
He scoffed, taking a seat next to her. “Hardly. Just because I did not join the rest of you imbeciles in becoming inebriated doesn’t mean I was less of an adult.”
“Hey!” Jon put a hand to his heart, mock-offended.
“Not you, of course,” He was quick to remedy the statement, both sharing soft smiles that left their friends gagging.
“I’m too sober for your disgusting PDA,” Kathy announced, waving a hand to get the attention of the bartender.
“Amen to that!” Maya sipped from her cup, Damian’s answering unimpressed expression being undermined by the blush that spread over his face at their words. Jon only laughed in response, placing a chaste kiss on Damian’s cheek, before then starting up a conversation to update their friends on recent solo missions, although they were worded to sound like typical civilian jobs to any possibly prying ears.
Kathy brought over a refill for Colin and Maya, as well as Damian’s first drink of the evening.
“Figures.” Colin snorted, looking over at the glass. “You’ll never grow out of rich boy sh*t, will you?”
“This is perfectly acceptable.” Damian sniffed, looking mildly insulted. Jon patted his shoulder, nodding along.
”Whipped.” Kathy muttered into her drink. Jon coughed, the rest of them snickering.
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
They went on like this for a good five minutes, Damian on the brink of losing his mind for all of it. It was better to save his grievances until the night was in full swing, as things would only escalate from there, and there was no use in wasting his breath when it wouldn’t be heard over the loud music.
It wasn’t long before the group needed another round of drinks. Jon volunteered to grab them and motioned for Damian to follow. Damian tilted his head in a silent question but followed anyway. The pair made their way through the crowd, their hands naturally linking back up as a way to stay close.
“Are you alright, Dearest?” Damian asked upon arriving at the main bar area.
“What? Oh yeah, I'm fine. I actually wanted to check on you again.” Jon admitted sheepishly.
Damian huffed a laugh, rolling his eyes fondly. “Of course,”
Jon fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “You know I wasn't trying to pressure you earlier right? You don't have to get balls to the wall wasted-I just-”
Damian squeezed Jon’s hand reassuringly. “Beloved. I know you didn’t mean any harm. I am aware of my autonomy, believe me. And if I do get ‘balls to the wall wasted’ that is my choice. Okay?”
Jon laughs and his shoulders slump in relief. “Yeah. Okay. Sounds good. Is that-like-the plan then?”
“tt-of course not. Who do you take me for? Richard?” Damian scoffed, his face scrunching up at the mention of his older brother.
Jon grins. “I mean-”
Damian glares. “Finish that thought, Kent. I dare you.”
Jon barks out a loud laugh. “Wouldn’t you call me ‘Wayne’? I did take your last name.”
“You’re an imbecile.” Damian said, the effect was lost of course seeing as the pair’s hands were still connected and there was an unmistakable fond note in his tone.
It wasn’t much longer before Damian and Jon were able to get the group's desired drinks. Sliding back into their claimed seats, Damian stayed tense, back straight as he sipped on his drink and surveyed the room. He was quickly offset as he felt a light smack hit his shoulder.
“Relax, Darlin’.” Jon said, looking exasperated.
Damian sighed, rolled his shoulders and focused on the conversation that was being had at the table.
“And then, you’ll never believe this, he tried to hit on me!” Kathy waved her drink around, Maya and Colin cackling.
“I was like, excuse me sir, does this look like the face of someone ready to drop their panties? No! I have a knife to your throat.”
Damian snorted at that, Jon looking over, pleased. As time went on, the music seemed quieter and the lights not as blinding. Damian had already well entered tipsy-zone, onto his fourth drink now, and the world blurring together into a perfect mess.
The rest of their friends were past the safety zone and on their way to an early morning monster hangover.
“Beloved, have I told you how much I love you today?” Damian had draped himself on top of his husband, looking at him with adoring eyes, caramel skin dusted with a pink flush.
“Yes.” Jon chuckled, keeping him close. “But I’d love to hear it again.”
Damian hummed and leaned in close enough that their breaths mingled and Jon could smell the alcohol on his husband's breath.
“I love you.” Damian said quietly in the very little space between them. His husband leaned forwards to close the distance and place a chaste kiss on his nose.
“Love you too.”
Damian laughed in response and leaned back just enough to breathe, his arms comfortably wrapped around Jons shoulders and one hand propped to play with the curls at the nape of his neck.
“You’re pretty.” Damian mumbled.
Jon flushed immediately, ducking his head with a small laugh. “Thank you, darlin’, you’re not half bad yourself.”
Damian tilted his head with an indulgent smile. “I'm absolutely stunning and we both know it.. What’s that one song? The one that’s like-'I'm sexy and I know it’? Yeah, that's me.”
Jon coughed, unsure whether to burst into laughter or blush harder. “Sure is, D. You've always been the more confident of the two of us.”
Damian groaned. “Well yeah, but do remember-you have every reason to be confident in your appearance as well. I mean-I love you for many reasons but one of them would absolutely be how ethereal you look at all times.”
He went with the ‘blush harder’ option, resisting the urge to duck his head again and instead peppering Damian’s face with little kisses. “You’re so sweet when you’re like this.”
Damian laughed in response to the kisses, lightly pushing Jon away and rolling his eyes. Jon gives a crooked smile and Damian takes another drink from his glass.
“I'm not sweet, Jonathan,” he scoffed. “I’m simply an honest man. And the truth I'm living is that you're the love of my life.”
Damian leaned in to steal another kiss from his blushing husband before leaning back again and sipping from his drink.
This time Jon did hide his face a bit, sure he was burning from the words. Their friends who had previously been on the dance floor returned, Kathy leaning on Maya and Colin stumbling over with a grin on his face.
Damian sat up upon seeing their friends. He downed the rest of the drink he had been drinking and waved them over.
“Hello peasants.” Damian smirked. “Glad to know none of you are passed out in the bathroom.”
“If anyones ending this night passed out in the bathroom, it’ll be you. I’ll eat my shoe if I can’t hold my liquor better than you can, assassin training or not.” Colin challenged, leaning over.
“Yeah sure, Wilkes. Whatever you say. I’ll bet you check out before we even get started. What, with how you're leaning off to the side?” Damian scoffed, pointedly ignoring the way he was also leaning a bit too far to the side when he wasn't paying attention.
Colin called for a round of shots, leaning towards the other side at Damian’s observation.
“C’mon, how many do you think you can do? Before passing out, of course.”
“More than you, I'm sure.” Damian challenged.
“Bring it, Wayne.” he picked up a shot glass, the rest of them looking on, Kathy and Maya cheering while Jon looked mildly concerned.
Damian patted Jon’s fidgeting hands reassuringly. “Stop looking like that,” he said, picking up his own glass. “Go back to being embarrassed. That was cute.”
“Hey!” Jon protested, his voice going unheard as the girls counted down.
“1, 2, 3!”
Damian and Colin both swallowed down their shots, both of their faces screwing up for a moment at the strong taste.
“Gonna give up?” Colin grinned, picking up a second one. He tipped it towards the other boy, a challenge clear in the gesture.
Damian scoffed and snatched another shot. “I hope you’re prepared for the hangover you’ll experience tomorrow. I’ve heard blackouts are worse than normal hangovers.”
“You’re gonna eat your words, rich boy.”
By the fifth shot, both were beyond the bridges of completely wasted, Colin more so then Damian. Jon plucked the 6th glass from both of them, giving them both glasses of water instead.
“Okay, no one’s getting alcohol poisoning tonight, thanks.”
“Aw, why not?” Damian pouted, head tilting in amusem*nt. “Go big or go home, right?”
“Mm, yeah but I'm the one taking you home, and I love you too much to let that happen.”
Damian slid off his chair and leaned into Jon, standing between his legs, chest to chest with his husband.
“I love you too, beloved.” Damian tilted his head up and caught Jon’s lips with his own. Jon made a surprise noise before melting into the contact. Damian's hands coming up to tangle in Jon’s hair before Damian was pulled away by the collar of his shirt.
Damian turned and glared at Kathy, while Jon was catching his breath. “Excuse you.”
Kathy grinned in response and shrugged. “Keep it to the bedroom, lovebirds, I don't wanna see it.”
Damian muttered a couple unsavory words under his breath but sat back down in his own seat.
Jon momentarily mourned the loss of his husband, joining Damian in shooting Kathy a less-than-pleased look.
“Like you haven’t done worse,” He scoffed. “At least you haven’t walked in on us, unlike some people who don’t understand the concept of locked doors.”
She seemed to have been silenced with that, only snickering a bit as she snuck a sip from Maya’s half-empty glass, sitting abandoned on the table.
From there time flew by, Jon sat in place for a long while, just observing and having lost Damian at some point. Jon exasperatedly looked around throughout the crowd and it was only when Maya stumbled out of a dance circle that he was able to ask where his husband had wandered off to.
“-eah i don't know, i think he and Colin are dancing somewhere. I know Kathy went to get them some more water.” Maya laughed. “Never thought I'd see the day that Damian Wayne got sh*tfaced in some random bar but here we are.”
Jon snorted and let Maya stride over to Kathy. Jon–now with a direction in mind–headed over to find Damian on the dancefloor.
Jon wasn’t disappointed by what he found. Damian and Colin were each having the time of their lives drunkenly dancing and then proceeding to laugh their asses off at the other at the drop of a hat. Jon’s eyes wandered back to Damian and Jon let out a choked noise upon seeing the man's newest attempt at dancing. This time he moved his hips and let his hands drift up his sides. The lights above them washed over his handsome features nicely, his dark eyes feeling like something Jon could get lost in.
Someone bumped into Jon and the spell was broken by another round of laughter from Colin and Damian. Jon strode forward and wrapped an arm around Damians waist.
“Hey, darlin’. Having fun?” He said fondly.
Damian twisted in Jon’s hold and pressed close, as he had done multiple times that night. Jon was beginning to sense a pattern.
“I am, thank you for asking, dearest. Me and Colin were dancing.” Damian said, only slightly slurring his words.
“I think it might be time to head home, hun. It’s late and I can guarantee that tomorrow you're going to want as much sleep as possible.” Jon stated, rubbing his hand soothingly up and down Damians back.
Colin whined. “Awe c’mon, night’s barely begun. We’ve been here, what? Two hours?”
Jon laughed. “Try again. We’ve been here for about four and a half.”
“Damn, alright.” Colin shrugged. “Just make sure to tell Kathy when you leave. You don’t want her losing her mind when she can't find y’all at the end of the night.”
“Will do. C’mon, D.” He led his husband back to where the girls were, Damian doing as much as possible to stay close to Jon, hanging off of him like a baby koala.
They stopped at the table, Jon being pulled into a seat while Damian unlatched himself and proceeded to sit in his lap instead of the many available seats, arms going around Jon's neck.
“What’re you doing?” He chuckled.
“Is it illegal to take a seat now? Unbelievable.” Damian scoffed.
“I-Okay, we need to get you home.” Jon shook his head fondly, before pulling out his phone and sending a quick message to the group chat.
“There. Now they know that we’re headed home. Are you okay to walk or do I need to carry you?” Jon said, only half joking.
Damian huffed. “I can walk perfectly fine.”
Jon raised an eyebrow.
“You’re lucky I'm madly in love with you or else your disrespect would not go unnoticed.” Damian said, sounding fond.
Jon smiled softly. “I wouldn't have thought that you’d be an affectionate drunk, but here we are.”
“M’not drunk, I'm just…hm. In a good mood.” Damian insisted.
“Of course, of course.” Jon rolled his eyes, before sliding Damian off his lap and steadying the both of them.
“Time to go home, Dames.”
The light was much too bright out, Damian decided as he opened his eyes, despite the protests of the hammer going off inside of his skull. The blackout curtains were drawn shut, but the tiny sliver of light coming through them seemed much more like a flashlight shined directly into his face.
With what he’d admit was mild discomfort, he shifted in bed, drawing a small noise from his husband, who was apparently not asleep.
“Good morning.” The words were whispered but sounded like a megaphone, causing Damian to swat at him.
“Speak quieter.”
“I guess the hangover isn’t treating you as well as you’d hoped.” Jon’s voice was much more amused than he would have liked, but at the moment, he hadn’t the energy to comment on it, only grumbling.
“This is all your fault.”
“It always is, isn’t it?” Jon gently pushed back a few loose pieces of hair around his face. “You didn’t have to get as…compromised as you did, but you Bats can never back down from a challenge.”
“And you kryptonians do?” Damian snorted, wincing as the action jostled his body. “Beloved, if you ran from a challenge, i don’t believe we’d be here.”
Jon hummed in acknowledgement. “So, moral of the story is we’re both stubborn and competitive. Yeah? Me slightly more than you, of course. ‘Cause you’re just a sweet baby angel aren’t ya, honey?”
Damian scoffed and subsequently cringed again, Jon’s previous snark was replaced with soft, exasperated affection.
“I’ll grab you some painkillers and some water. I'll be right back, darlin’.” Jon clambered out of bed and shuffled himself out of the room.
Damian closed his eyes and willed the headache to go away.
“Hey, we’re both off today from day jobs so that’s nice–oh and I was planning on calling Bruce and asking about us sitting out of patrol for tonight-” Jon rounded the bed and quickly handed off the aforementioned items.
“No.” Damian mumbled.
“You really can’t think you’re alright to patrol tonight-” Jon said slowly.
Damian glared tiredly and Jon crossed his arms.
“I’m fine, Jon. Stop coddling.” Damian insisted.
Jon sighed in response but didn’t push. He crawled back into bed and picked up his phone only for his eyebrows to shoot up into his hairline upon seeing the mass amounts of notifications on his homescreen. Tiktok, instagram, snapchat. Any kind of social media and there was someone mentioning him, or trying to get his attention. It wasn’t too unusual. Not really. Jon always had at least a bit of attention due to marrying one of Gotham’s sweethearts. But even then, this was excessive. Curiously Jon randomly opened one of the Tiktok videos that people had been sending him–and Jon couldn’t help the laugh that shook his body upon watching.
“Shut up,” Damian uncurled just enough to glare at his husband.
Jon didn’t even attempt to stifle the chuckles that escaped his mouth.
“You’re famous, Dami.” Jon snorted. “Again.”
Damian huffed and sat up to snatch Jon’s phone. It took all of five seconds for Damian’s face to flush upon recognizing himself from the night before.
It was an edit, Damian vaguely remembers himself and Colin dancing with each other and apparently the people had not only seen but recorded, uploading the clips onto the internet for frivolous purposes like these.
Damian glared at Jon and gestured pointedly with the phone, ignoring the looped music playing from the device. “This is your fault.”
Jon laughed harder.
Their ship name was trending again, along with different variations of Damian's name. The rest of the morning was spent with his horrible husband watching various edits and reading posts aloud to him.
Of course, it was all followed up by being doted on the rest of the day, which may or may not have made up for everything.
When the evening came and he slipped on the suit, Jon tried to talk him out of it again.
“Really, Dami, I think they’d understand, people have called off patrol for less.” He plucked the mask from his husband’s hold, putting out the puppy eyes he knew made the other’s resolve crumble.
“Jonathan.” Damian huffed, reaching up for the mask, eyebrow raising as it was held above his head in a childish gesture. “I will not be brought down by a generally harmless illness and an unfortunately timed headache.”
“A hangover, babe.” Jon kept the mask above his head as if they were bickering preteens and teens all over again. “You never drink enough to get properly wasted, so now that you have, it’s not going to be kind to you.”
“You’re being childish, give it to me.” Damian scolded instead, refusing to lower himself to the grounds where he’d jump. He’d need a running start to reach above Jon’s height, and frankly, he was not in the mood for this, nor willing to waste what little energy he had left.
“Just stay tonight, i’ll stay with you,” He pleaded once more. Damian sighed, looking out of the apartment window at the darkening sky.
“I will end patrol two hours earlier.” He offered, headache thanking him as it thrummed in his skull.
Jon scrunched up his face, analyzing him, before handing him the mask, resigned. “You shouldn’t even be going out. I’m a horrible husband for condoning this.”
“You were a horrible husband when you let me go viral due to my antics while inebriated, no matter how pure the intentions.”
Jon whined. “You’re so mean.”
“So I've been told.” Damian snorted.
Jon sighed and handed over the mask, it was quiet for a moment as Damian checked over his gear.
“You have to admit that the reality of you being a party drunk is pretty damn funny-” Jon said, breaking the silence.
“Jonathan.”
“I know you’re embarrassed, it's okay honey-'' Jon grinned.
“I am not embarrassed-” Damian huffed.
“You totally are!” Jon laughed.
“You are on thin ice, habibi.” Damian turned away from Jon and made his way out into the night.
“You know you love me.” Jonathan chirped, following close behind.
“I suppose that’s why I married you, isn’t it?
Damian was beginning to wonder if he should have listened to his husband.
The sudden jolt of nausea had caused him to nearly miss a swing from his grappling hook, looking downwards not helping whatsoever. He made it finally to the designated rooftop his siblings had told him to go to. On a normal day, he would have seen where it was going, but at this point, he was much too out of it to care too much.
“Hey Demon.” A voice from behind him caused him to jump and he turned, seeing his second oldest brother grinning at him, helmet under his arm.
“Todd.” he crossed his arms.
“He got you, didn’t he, Baby Bat?” Tim appeared next, a smirk on his face. “Must be a bit disorienting for you, huh?”
“I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re on about, Drake.” Damian sniffed, turning around and silently begging every deity known to man that his siblings wouldn’t mention his…late night escapades.
Of course, God is dead and Damian could always count on the others to stir the pot even more. Dick hugged him, and mentioned nothing, thank f*ck, but Stephanie was another thing.
“You’re all over the internet, Dami!” Steph cackled, shoving his phone in his face. The brightness was too high for his liking and he batted it away, grumbling.
“Little brother, not in shape for patrol.” Cass said, sounding serious but the mirth was dancing in her eyes.
“Baby’s first awful hangover!” Jason cheered, ruffling his hair. “Surprised your gorgeous husband whom you love so much and is the best person in the world didn’t make you stay.”
Damian cringed at the use of descriptions, just one of the things from when he was drunk off his ass and waxing poetic about his partner going viral on the internet.
“He attempted it. I am perfectly fine, thank you.”
“You’re too young for this,” Dick wailed. “This is my baby, you guys, this is not right-!”
“Grayson.” Damian grumbled and his oldest brother clung to him. “Stop.”
Jason snorted. “C’mon don’t beat him while he's down. Plus. You’re, what? Ten years old?”
“I am twenty four!” Damian hissed.
“Four?” Tim echoed, sh*t-eating grin splitting his face open. “Holy sh*t you guys, he’s still a baby.”
“Drake.” Damian growled as he was held tighter. “Sleep tonight and you will not wake tomorrow.”
“Dami,” Dick whined. “You got drunk-”
“Yes, we’ve established this.” Damian grumbled.
“You’d think with all the bitching you’re done at us, you’d never even touch alcohol.” Steph said, still scrolling on her phone.
“I am an adult. I am allowed a couple drinks-” said Damian.
“More than a couple.” Cass shook her head while the rest of their siblings stifled their laughter.
“Need to go home.” She declared, poking at him affectionately.
“I’m fine.” Damian would never admit to the whine that laced the words, swatting at Cass’s hand.
“Uh-huh,” Jason snorted.
“I blame Jon.” Damian grumbled.
“How could you say that about the love of your life?!” Steph gasped in mock offense.
“He’s the one who encouraged me to ‘have fun’. I was merely making him happy and…got carried away.” Damian flushed and elbowed Dick at his responding coo.
“God, you guys are so gross. Ew, Look you’re practically grinding on him-” Steph flashed her phone in Damian’s eyes again and Damian hissed.
“He is my husband. Stop being a voyeur, Brown.” Steph’s face screwed up in disgust. “And I swear you turned up the brightness on that vile device just to spite me.” Damian scowled.
“Maybe I did, what’re you gonna do about it? Stab me? When you can’t even walk in a straight line?” Steph grinned.
“You’re all dead to me.” Damian deadpanned. “Also that is a gross dramatization. If I was that compromised I wouldn't have come to patrol at all.”
At the responding looks of skepticism, Damian sighed. At that moment there was a thump and the crunch of gravel as another person joined them. None of the young adults had to look to know it was their dad, or as he was now, Batman.
The immediate silence weighed over them, louder than the previous conversations. Anticipation hung in the air as he cleared his throat, seemingly waiting for a greeting.
“Father.” Damian glanced at him, seemingly unconcerned over the possibilities this exchange might bring.
“Damian.” Bruce responded stiffly, looking rather uncomfortable. Damian raised a brow, seemingly scandalized.
“Names on the field, Batman.”
“Right, well, how has your day been?” Bruce coughed, much to Damian’s confusion.
“Fine..?” Damian narrowed his eyes at him. “What are you getting at?”
“Last night seemed to have been very eventful for you.” There was a choked wheezing noise from behind him, undoubtedly one of his brothers.
Damian flushed, crossing his arms and looking much like a petulant child then the adult he was supposed to be. “I’m far past legal age, father. I’m married, I no longer live under your roof, there’s really no need for-”
“I don’t think we really ever had a talk about safe drinking, son.” Bruce cut him off with a seemingly concerned tone of voice.
“Father, we absolutely do not have to-”
“You should always have a limit, and I know that you do, but please remember to have a designated driver, and stay hydrated.” Bruce’s voice was tuned out by Damian’s own fuming thoughts, his siblings barely concealed laughter echoing in his mind.
This was humiliating. Here he was, surrounded by absolute hypocrites, all clowning on him and giving him talks. He was Damian Al Ghul Wayne (Kent), for f*ck’s sake! He’d been building up his tolerance since he was a child, granted not that it had been exercised recently past a glass of champagne at a gala, but still.
“-amian? Damian, are you listening to me?” He snapped out of his thoughts, Tim seemingly doing a dolphin impression next to him, high pitched shrieks and rumbles of barley held back laughter.
“No.” Damian scowled. “You’re all hypocrites, how dare you have the audacity to treat me this way when each of you have had much worse versions of this than I have! At least I didn’t go around trying to flirt with anyone other than the person I am actually with.”
”Pretty sure he just called y’all hoes.” Steph stage-whispered, Tim now in a fetal position on the rooftop and rocking back and forth while Jason cackled loudly.
“Furthermore, yes, while my tolerance isn’t exactly what it used to be, it certainly looks better that I am actually of the correct age for something like this, and everyone seems to have taken it as positive publicity. This was my choice, no matter how other elements may have influenced it.”
He let out a long breath, looking up with annoyed glance. “And besides, I was kept safe by Jonathan, who didn’t let any of us go past a limit, and cared for me and attempted to get me off of patrol.”
”Whipped.” came from somewhere in the crowd, followed by a gagging noise and something that sounded like a dying vacuum.
“Tt.” Damian turned. “I’ve had enough of you imbeciles. I’m retiring for the night, and you’ll do well to stop gossiping for God’s sake.”
The tips of his ears were dusted pink, betraying his mortification over the events. He moved to shoot his grappling hook, tripping and landing on his face due to the dully pounding headache at the back of his head that was meddling with his senses.
That was the tipping point for his siblings, and the poorly concealed laughter began to scream out near hysterically.
“What, were you all hit with laughing toxin?” Damian brushed himself off, looking moments away from stomping his foot like a toddler. “You’re insufferable, the lot of you!”
He swooped away, entire body burning in shame. God, he should have just listened to Jon. Not that he’d tell him though.
Damian was considerably less flustered by the time he entered his home but the tips of his ears still felt warm when he thought back to the mortifying encounter with his family.
“Of course all of them had to be present to humiliate me. None of them can be bothered to make time for any event of actual importance but oh as soon as there's blood in the water everyone shows up. Sharks, the lot of them.” Damian muttered angrily.
“So how was patrol?” Damian looked up to see Jon leaning against a doorway nearby.
“It went well, nothing interesting.” Damian said, lying through his teeth.
Jon looked amused. “Liar.”
Damian held back a groan. “And why do you say that, Jonathan.”
“Aside from the fact that you look more pissed off than usual, you have your tells.” Jon looked fond.
“What may these tells be, exactly?” Damian raised an eyebrow.
Jon shrugged with a grin and finally made his way over to Damian before wrapping his arms around his waist.
“You inhale a bit through your nose and deliberately make more eye contact when you lie. I’ve always assumed it was to keep your heart rate controlled and to make what you're saying be taken more seriously because usually you hate direct eye contact.” Jon explained.
Damian did groan aloud at this and Jon laughed quietly. Damian scoffed but couldn’t help the way his eyes softened at the sound and the way he leaned into Jon’s touch. Damian and Jon were again chest to chest but this time they just existed in each other's arms and swayed slightly to the soft sound of a song that only the two of them could hear.
“Seriously though, are you alright?” Jon pulled away slightly before he finally spoke again after an indiscernible amount of time had passed. His voice was soft and slightly concerned. Damian sighed and pulled out of his arms completely in order to get out of his suit.
“I’m fine, I promise, habibi. Slightly embarrassed due to my family's idiocy but fine nonetheless.”
Jon hummed. “I’m going to take a wild guess and assume they saw the videos online.”
Damian snorted. “Stephanie made it her mission to scroll through as many as she could.”
“Of course she did.” Jon rolled his eyes.
Damian pulled off the last bits of armor and quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants that had been lying around as well as a shirt he didn’t doubt belonged to Jon seeing as it hung a bit loosely off his frame.
“I would like to go to bed now.” Damian said, coming to lean into his husband’s side once more.
“Sounds good to me. I did put out some water and painkillers for you if you need them, though.” Jon said.
Damian's headache abruptly made itself known now that Damian’s attention was brought back to it.
“Ah, yes. Water and medication, then sleep.” Damian winced.
Soon, Damian and Jon were able to fall back into bed and wrap themselves around each other under their duvet. Damian hid his face in the crook of Jon’s neck and Jon tilted his own to the side in order to rest his chin atop the soft strands of Damian's hair. Before long, both were fast asleep and soft snoring filled the room.
It was quiet, save the soft noises of sleep. And despite the darkness of night, the love that they held for each other was as bright and clear as day. It would continue like that as long as they would stay together, a shining beacon of light through the harder times and lighthearted chaos. For now, though, they were content to stay like that, their bubble of home, warm and soft and full of love.
