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Chapter Text

Robin was munching away at his usual take-out from Batburger, when an incredulous statement rendered him spitting the morsels out which ended up falling a hundred stories down below him. He laid the half-eaten burger beside him as he looked down past his legs dangling over the building ledge. He hoped that no unsuspecting victim was unlucky enough to have masticated bits of faux meat, bread, and veggies rain on them.

He looked back, wide-eyed behind the domino mask, toward his patrol partner. "What?" was all Robin managed to say with a slacked jaw.

The super who caused him to choke sat there, eyes darting around to avoid looking at him. A faint blush started to dust his cheeks.

"Well," -- he scratched the side of his face with his forefinger -- "I kind of have a crush on this person... and I'd like your advice on how to woo them for prom," he said and looked back to see Robin's reaction.

Robin stared at him and scowled. He tapped his fingers on his thigh, thinking of ways to torment the person whom Superboy had his eyes on. He already came up with a list of potential candidates--most of whom are their mutual classmates--to keep on his radar.

"Please," Superboy added with a toothy grin.

Robin sighed and massaged both his temples with one hand. "Why me, of all people?"

"Well, you're my best friend," came the matter-of-fact statement. Superboy scooted over and closed the distance between them.

"Don't touch me, hayseed," Robin hissed. But his words fell in vain because Superboy already had his arm wrapped tight around him. Robin tried to squeeze out of the hold, but to no avail, his partner was using his super strength. He gave up and settled under the arm as Superboy pulled themselves closer together.

A blush threatened to creep up on Robin's face which was caused by the proximity, but like a Wayne and an Al Ghul, he summoned all his might to fight the display of emotion--all that training to keep it at bay was hardly working at this scenario.

"Besides, you know how I feel about juvenile hedonistic functions," Robin continued as he crossed his arms. He looked towards the forgotten Batburger that laid on his side, making sure his face was out of Superboy's sight in case another blush showed itself unbeknownst.

"C'mon Rob, you're like the smartest guy I know."

"I know I am." Robin rolled his eyes. "But flattery will get you nowhere," he growled.

"I do mean it, but you know..." Superboy loosened his hold, his arm still resting on Robin's shoulder.

Robin, waiting for him to continue, looked at Superboy. Superboy had his neck craned as his eyes stared into Gotham's night sky. A light shimmered in those blue eyes, eyes that Robin wished were set on him instead.

"on second thought, maybe he's too out of reach," Superboy whispers.

"He?" Robin cocked an eyebrow up.

Superboy's face turned red, rivaling the S in his uniform.

"I-- No. I mean... I-- Uh..,"

Robin sighed. "Breath, Superboy" He snapped his fingers in front of his malfunctioning friend.

Superboy inhaled clouds of air and breathed out slowly. "I'm sorry, Rob." He covered his face with both his hands.

"Tt. Don't apologize for something you shouldn't feel sorry for." Robin placed a hand on Superboy's shoulder. "It's okay"

There was silence for a few moments until Superboy sighed for the second time.

"I wasn't supposed to come out tonight," he whispered. His hands still covering his cheeks.

"Would you rather I not know?" Robin's shoulders slumped.

"No, No! Of course, I wanted you to know." Superboy flailed his hands around. "It's just that..." Superboy sighed. "This guy, I like him. But..."

"But?"

"But he's too up there." He emphasized up there by racing his hand.

Robin raised an eyebrow "Might I ask who this he is?"

"Yeah." Superboy sighed. "Only if you promise to help though." The corner of his lips perk up

"Tt. Fine," Robin said, not wanting to help the competition, but that smile is all it took for him to give in. He mentally slapped himself for it.

"And you promise not to laugh?"

Robin rolled his eyes. "Of course."

"But then again... what if"

"Just get on with it, Superboy!" Robin balls his fists. The suspense was bound to give him a heart attack sooner or later, and they were nowhere near the Lazarus pit to save him.

Superboy laughed at the childlike tantrum but then his expression turned solemn.

"It's one of my classmates."

Robin's heartbeat raced.

"It's, Damian Wayne."

Chapter Text

Damian Wayne stood in front of his wall mirror examining his face in great detail--not out of vanity but out of curiosity. The last time he did such a thing was a long time ago. He memorized every angle, every curve, every line, and every little dent and dip that made the structure of his face. It was for artistic pursuits --to be able to render a self-portrait from imagination without taking a glimpse of himself as he painted.

But now, he stood there with his domino mask in hand. He wore it, studied his face for a few minutes, took it off, and studied his face once again. Then the cycle repeated itself.

He could not fathom how his best friend, Jonathan Kent, a.k.a Superboy, could not connect the dots. How he wasn't able to conclude that Robin and Damian Wayne were indeed the same person.

Of course, Damian understood how the general public couldn't make their deduction as to who he truly was, but as for his best friend, classmate, and half of the Super Sons, he had no excuse. Surely enough, Jon has memorized Damian's physical appearance (even with the mask on), his height, age, personality, mannerisms, vocabulary, the timbre of his voice, the sound of his heart, and the list goes on and on. Even if they didn't talk much in school, it should have been obvious--not as evident as Jon and his glasses disguise though.

Why did he have to be in love with an idiot?

Damian clicked his tongue and dropped flat on his bed.

Of course, late last night, he didn't tell Jon outright. He didn't have the heart to admit he was Damian Wayne -- Jon's subject of affection. Although Damian was elated at first with the sudden revelation, soon after, he was filled with questions.

Why Damian Wayne and why not Robin? Superboy was closer to Robin, knowing him almost his entire childhood. What did Damian have that Robin didn't have? And soon the questions turned his feelings into dread.

What if... he gasped internally, what if the whole reason for Jon's infatuation was because of how Damian Wayne looked? Sure he was delighted that someone took notice of his effort in being put together, (not that he cared much about physical appearance) but still, it was nice being physically admired.

And what if...

What if that meant Jon was repulsed by Damian's personality.

Surely, personality and soul outweigh the physical.

It made sense, Damian had his fair share of people getting put off by his strong personality, starting with his Father, Dick, Jason, Tim, Cass, Steph, Duke, Barbara, the Titans, every single classmate he ever had, Father's associates, the Kents, and even Jon. Okay, maybe everyone he has ever met with the exception of Colin, but that's only because Colin was a saint.

So doesn't that make the odds of Jon not liking his personality very likely?

If Jon knew Damian Wayne was Robin and Robin was Damian Wayne, the attraction would cease. He could see Jon aghast at the sight of Damian, upturning his nose in disgust, rejecting Damian as if he was made of kryptonite.

Damian's temples throbbed and his head ached. He buried his face in his silk-cased pillows. This was the first time the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul was placed in a state of bewilderment.

"Tt."

He had to think of something. He sat up and folded his hands together. Maybe as Robin, he could talk to Superboy about how he feels for Damian. He could gather intel on why Superboy is infatuated with Damian while, at the same time, giving the perfect advice for Superboy in wooing him. From there, he could decide on the next options that present themselves to him.

Then as Damian, he could just enjoy their dates together, spend time being with him, partake in something he's dreamed of since he was fourteen, and live in the moment... while it lasted. Because for some reason, the idiot sees Damian in a romantic light, all the while his best friend, Robin, only in a platonic way.

Damian sighed and clicked his tongue for the nth time tonight.

He considered living the double life to the grave. Or possibly, making Robin disappear one day, once he was sure their relationship was going steady. He would console and comfort Jon until he moved on from his vigilante best friend. No, he couldn't do that. He couldn't hurt Jon.

But what if, he amps up the intensity of his personality as Robin--perhaps more stern, more irritable, colder? Then that would definitely really put off Jon and in turn, make him have no other choice but to leave Robin behind.

Damian liked his plan but it was still lacking. He rubbed his chin and nodded to no one.

The beeping sound of Damian's watch pulled him back to reality.

He sighed.

He shut the beeping off and grabbed his Domino mask. He wore it and readied himself for the meeting he promised Superboy. He glanced at the calendar, the date encircled in red. 8 more weeks before prom night.

He leaped out of the Wayne manor and grappled a nearby tree.

It's time for Robin to give his best friend advice on how to win his heart.

Chapter Text

Tonight, the Super Sons managed to clean the streets of Gotham from crime an hour earlier than usual.

Robin stretched out his knuckles, satisfied at the cracking sound it made.

Police sirens began to blare in the distance, signaling their job was finished. He reached for his grappling gun fastened in his utility belt and looked over his shoulder.

"Shall we, Superboy?" Robin said with a raised brow. "We do have some important discussions to attend to." He yawned into his free hand despite the erratic thumping in his chest and the feeling of being on edge for the entirety of the night.

Superboy didn't answer. He fidgeted as he kicked a stray pebble that so happened to fly towards one of the criminals lying flat on the ground.

Robin rolled his eyes. "C'mon, hayseed." He didn't have time to worry about what his partner was thinking. He knew that whatever will transpire pre-prom night, Damian Wayne would still reciprocate the feelings of the other boy at the end of the day.

Robin fired the grappling gun into one of the building's rooftop ledges and propelled upwards. Superboy followed right behind, his gaze still cast downwards.

"I don't know, Rob," he said as they landed on the rooftop. "It's just, what if this isn't a good idea after all?"

Robin stood in front of Superboy and slapped his hand on the other boy's shoulder.

"Now's not the time to get cold feet, Superboy," Robin smirked. "Besides, you possess one of the greatest gifts one can have."

Superboy lifted his head and looked Robin in the eyes. The corner of his lips rose and a blush appeared on his cheeks. "And that is?"

"Being best friends with the smartest superhero of our time," Robin said, his thumb pointing to his smirking face.

Superboy's smile fell and he rolled his eyes.

"Even if that's true, what does that have to do with me wooing the guy?"

Robin walked towards the ledge and sat down. He patted the concrete surface right beside him. "As we discussed, I'm going to assist you by providing you with some easy-to-follow pointers."

"Right," Superboy said, now smiling. "Sorry, Rob. I almost forgot." He jogs over towards his best friend and sits right beside him.

"So elucidate me, Superboy." Robin pinched himself from getting too giddy at the question he was about to ask. "What do you like about this um... What's his name?" Robin rubbed his chin, stopping himself from grinning at his brilliant acting skills.

A blush rose from superboy's cheeks. "Damia--"

"Right, the Wayne kid."

"Well, I...," Superboy rubbed his thumbs together with his clasped hands. "I think we had a connection since day one." There were sparkles in Suberboy's eyes. "As cliche as it sounds, the first time I laid my eyes on him, time kind of stopped. He smiled at me and I smiled at him back. I think it was fate."

Robin frowned at the Hollywood-cliche answer.

He remembered that day so vividly -- It was the first day of freshman year, and it was during the first period it transpired.

Upon entering the classroom, his eyes caught black tousled hair, black thick-rimmed glasses over blue eyes that he could have recognized anywhere. It was Superboy and he was seated a few rows back. Robin dropped his things down in one of the first-row seats, his eyes still glued to his partner in civilian disguise. He kept staring until finally, Superboy looked up from his book and met his eyes.

He was sure Superboy recognized him so he gave him a smirk. In return, Superboy tilted his head in question and Robin understood it as Superboy playing dumb.

"Good idea," Robin mouthed, thinking Superboy was on the right track by pretending not to know each other.

It was a good plan, acting like they didn't know each other would provide them a layer of protection to keep their superhero identities a secret.

Robin smiled at Superboy and Superboy gave him a wide grin back. So Robin minded his own business, brought out his sketchbook, and sketched away.

So all this time, Jon thought it was fate that made them look into each other's eyes, and smile at one another for no reason.

"Tt."

"What?"

"You never even bothered to strike a conversation with him after that?" Robin raised a brow.

"Of course, I tried!" Superboy whined. "He just ignored me."

"I see," Robin said. He couldn't hold Superboy liable for that, it was his fault for how he treated him. Even if it meant concealing their alter egos, perhaps he was too cold.

"Anything else you want to add on why you're interested in Damian?" Robin had to gather all willpower to stop himself from grinning.

"Well, the first thing that strikes me is his eyes," Superboy said holding out his fingers to start a count. "They are..."

Robin couldn't process what Superboy was saying. Aside from the compliments, he was now hearing, the whole dilemma just felt wrong. It felt so invasive. But most of all, he wasn't used to the way Superboy was talking so nicely about him.

"Oh, did I mention he could paint?"

His brain was malfunctioning. He needed to stop this. He could feel a blush creeping up and if Superboy saw it, his cover would be blown.

"...so mysterious and--"

"Enough!" Robin said with heavy breathes.

Superboy gawked at him.

Robin coughed. "I get it."

Superboy just nodded and sighed, dreamy-like.

"Let's move on to what we're really here for." Robin was able to gather his emotions before they spilled on his face.

"Right," Superboy says while taking a notepad and a pencil out of his jean pocket.

"Okay, the first tip, ask him out immediately. Monday, lunchtime. For preparedness' sake.

Jon nodded, concentrating on scribbling the words down.

Robin felt pleased, he was taking this more seriously than he thought he would.

"Second tip! Ask him on a date to Gotham's Art Museum. My gatherings show he is passionate about the subject. A man of good taste, if I do say so myself. " He could imagine how enjoyable it would be for the both of them. He would enrich Superboy with the knowledge he's acquired over the years. Maybe even ignite a fiery passion in Jon for both classical and contemporary art.

Jon continued to scribble the words down, still nodding. "Gotham Art Museum. Got it."

"Third, take him to the fanciest restaurant in Gotham. And don't worry about payment. I'm sure he wouldn't mind spending for your first date"

Superboy stopped writing and raised his head from his notes. "But shouldn't the--"

"Even if it is indeed customary for the person who asked for the date to pay." Damian finished, his eyes narrowed at being interrupted.

"But Ro--"

Robin shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash and pushed it toward Superboy's face.

"I can't take this!" Superboy exclaimed.

Robin rolled his eyes. "Do you want this to work or not?"

Superboy pursed his lips and nodded.

"Good."

"But,"

Robin sighed. "Pay me back in twenty years."

"Okay deal!" Superboy said, now grinning wildly. He gathered some of the bills that fell on the ledge and pocketed it.

Yes, Damian wanted to treat the boy to a lavish dinner, maybe even get away with sipping some wines. (He noted to himself he would have to bribe the maître d' and a couple of waiters beforehand to not bat an eye at their age) He could almost taste the dish he was going to order, some fine mushroom risotto with truffle oil. And maybe he would suggest a beef wellington for Superboy. He's going to love it.

He wasn't one to splurge on elegant meals but this was a special occasion for the both of them. He wanted this to be memorable.

"Okay, next..." Robin said, suddenly frozen. He rehearsed this in his head while they were busy beating up criminals earlier. But why was this so difficult to utter?

Superboy waited as he pressed the pencil's eraser at the bottom of his lip.

"Fourth..."

"Are you okay, Rob?" Superboy asks, dropping his hand down. He was watching his friend closely.

"Fourth, take him for a stroll before taking him home safely." Robin swallowed. "And..."

"And?"

"Make sure to hold his hand."

Maybe Robin was asking too much but he had to say it. He's been daydreaming of the moment of touching his partner's hand for a long time now. To have both their fingers intertwined together. To feel those soft milky-white hands of his.

Robin could feel his head heating up, the images that came to his mind's eye were dizzying.

Superboy must have been thinking the same thing because it looked like there was steam escaping his nostrils under the frigid air of Gotham.

"H-h-hold his hand?" Superboy was incredulous.

"And don't forget," Robin said. He was trying to hold down a blush.

Did he dare say it?

"W-what?" Superboy asked, his body was trembling.

"You have to kiss him at the end of the date." Robin couldn't take it anymore, he was screaming and sprinting laps in his head, but he kept his demeanor calm -- perhaps even looking uncaring to a random onlooker's eyes.

"HUH!?" Superboy said, confused. He was now standing and attempting to pull all his hair out. "Isn't that a bit too fast?"

"Trust me with this, Superboy." Robin folded his arms and closed his eyes, nose in the air. "I've done countless research on the topic, and they all suggest showing affection on the first date. It's also to let both parties know if they are interested in one another."

Robin knew it was all hogwash, the research being American rom-com movies he was forced to sit through during quality time with his big brother, Grayson. He thought Grayson was an imbecile to cry when the lead actors finally kissed at the end of the films. But now he imagined Superboy kissing him this Friday, he couldn't help but feel the intense fabled feelings of fluttering in the pit of his stomach. Maybe he would even cry his own tears of joy at the end of the kiss too.

Robin opened one eye to check on his partner. Superboy just stood there with his mouth hinged open wide. Robin stood up and snapped his fingers in front of the short-circuiting boy.

There was no sign of a response.

"Don't worry Superboy, my instruction is foolproof," Robin said to the still frozen Superboy. "Follow every single point, don't skip one, and you'll be fine." He said slapping his hand on Superboy's shoulder.

His alarm beeped.

"Oh, would you look at the time, well, I'll see you Friday night. Don't forget, I require a full report on the date after the patrol. Good talk." Robin said rushing. He sprinted towards the edge and dived from the building, not daring to look back at his still frozen partner.

The blush finally made itself known on his cheeks for the world to see. He swung and grappled as fast as he could, almost bumping into walls and street lamps by mere inches.

His heart kept racing, he couldn't believe he went through with it. All he could do now was do his part as Damian Wayne.

He gulped and pushed the creeping fear and nagging guilt at the back of his mind.

He was sure he wouldn't be getting a wink of sleep tonight.

Chapter Text

Damian sat slouching in front of a glaring empty canvas. He stared at the ceiling, listening to the wall clock tick by as cadmium yellow dripped on the art room's wooden floor from the brush he was holding.

He's been in this exact same state for every lunch period of the entire week. He wondered what went wrong, why hasn't Jon asked him out on a date yet? Did Jon finally realize he didn't like Damian all this time? Did Robin's suggestion of Jon kissing Damian make him question his physical attraction towards him?

He clicked his tongue and looked over at the forgotten sandwich that Pennyworth prepared him for lunch -- a Falafel sandwich on pita bread slathered with hummus and tzatziki sauce. It was his favorite, but apparently, this was his fifth lunch where he found himself in no mood to consume the meal.

Damian sighed. He didn't mind the appetite loss, but he was furious that Jon had done this to Alfred. Alfred wasted all his precious time, toiling away in the Wayne Manor, all alone in that empty and cold kitchen, using all his skills and talents in making this sandwich -- only for it to be left uneaten, just because Jon made him lose his appetite. No, sliding down the slippery slope of sleepless nights, countless art blocks, and hourly restlessness did not affect Damian at all. But this? This was uncalled for.

Damian huffed and stood up.

Damian looked at the clock and saw its hands were pointing at 12:50 pm. Ten minutes from now and the school bell would ring. Damian sighed and wiped the remaining paint off his brush. Since Monday, for every lunch period, he'd usually check in ten-minute intervals on what Jon would be doing, to see if Jon was looking for him. Maybe Jon forgot Damian spent his lunches in the art room, painting away, but that wasn't the case when he found Jon chatting away with his friends every time he checked.

Anyway, it was too late now. Jon was supposed to follow Robin's advice and ask him out first thing on Monday but since nothing happened, Damian guessed Jon wasn't into him anymore. He packed his art materials and re-wrapped the sandwich in case he gets hungry later. Maybe he'd call in sick for tonight's patrol schedule.

The doors to the art room suddenly opened, causing Damian to juggle his belongings from dropping.

Damian stared at blue eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses. It was Jon, his skin was flushed and coated with a sheen of sweat. Damian raised his brow waiting for Jon to speak but he guessed Jon took a while because he was catching his breath.

"Oh, um" Jon fixed his posture to stand tall and confident. "Hi."

Damian raised his brow and folded his arms despite getting giddy on the inside. "What do you want?" He stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes. "Kent, was it?"

Jon rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, we've met a couple of times but um." He shrugged. "I guess you forgot?"

Damian opened his mouth to speak but Jon interrupted him.

"I don't blame you though." Jon tittered. "I'm not really a popular guy."

Damian disagreed but he ignored the comment. "Well, what brings you here, Kent?" Damian looked at his watch while Jon looked at the clock that was on the wall from where Damian was standing.

Two minutes before the bell rings.

"Well, I uhh." Jon scratched his face. "Erm."

Damian tapped his finger on his arm while his foot tapped on the wooden floor.

Both boys knew time was running out and this may be the only chance they'd get to schedule their first date.

"Well, you see." Jon gulped. More lines of sweat dripped on the poor boy's forehead.

Damian bit his lip, he was feeling a tad bit warm and sweaty himself. "Yes?" Damian hissed knowing that the bell could ring any moment now.

Jon was startled by Damian's hiss and Damian noticed. He mentally slapped himself for distracting the boy even further.

"Oh, please do continue," Damian said a little gentler this time, like how a mother would encourage their child. Not that Talia ever talked to Damian so calmly.

One minute was left before the bell rang.

"I mean... do you have homework or something?" Jon blushed while staring at the wooden floor.

"Homework?" Damian mumbled in confusion. Why in the world was Jon asking if he had homework. He was supposed to be asking him on a... oh.

"No, why do you ask?"

"No particular reason."

Thirty seconds.

Both boys stared at each other in silence before shifting their eyes to random places in the room.

Just ask me already, Damian thought while mentally pulling all his hair out.

Jon dug his nails into his palms, garnering all the strength he could muster.

"Well, I-i mean..."

Ten seconds.

Both boys stood there staring at each other, waiting for the other to speak. They were both shaking.

Five seconds. The sounds of the clock ticking echoed in their ears.

"I,"

Four. Tick.

"Tt."

Three. Tock.

Two. Tick.

One. Tock.

Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The bell blared and rang in both boys' ears, jolting both of them.

"SoI'veBeenMeaningToAskYouSinceMonday ButWeHadABigGroupProjectAndWeWereWorkingOnItEverSince ButAnywaysAreYouFreeThisEvening? IWantToTakeYouOnADateTonight EvenThoughWeDon'tKnowEachOtherThatWell IThoughtWeCouldLikeHangOutAndStuff." Jon yelled so his voice could be heard above the ringing of the bell.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

"YouAndMeOnADateTogether? IDon'tKnowKent I'dHaveToDeliberateOnTheIdeaForAWhile IMeanIDon'tEvenKnowWhoYouAre." Damian shouted back then paused for half a second. "OkayThat'sEnoughDeliberating, IGuessItWouldBeAGreatOpportunityForUsToGetToKnowOneAnother SoWhyNot?"

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

"I'llPickYouUpAtSix?"

"Yes, WayneManor."

"OkayCool."

"Don'tBeTardy,Kent."

"IWon't."

"Bye."

"Bye."

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing

The bell stopped ringing and both boys headed to their respective classes.

Damian could feel his face burning as he followed the sea of students. He finally regained his appetite and cursed himself for forgetting to get his sandwich in the art room.

He turned the corner and he swore he heard someone shout "Thank Rao! I did better than expected."

Chapter Text

Here they were, in front of Gotham City's number one outdoor cash grab--filled with cheap rickety rides, games designed to get your dopamine rolling and your pockets empty, and food that gave you a sugary high that got your insulin pumping for even more hunger spikes. Yes, they were in front of Gotham City's amusement park, Amusement Mile.

The place used to be a hideout for notorious Gotham criminals like the Joker, Harley Quinn, Bane, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy. It was then bought out and renovated by random capitalists when Gotham PD finally pinned the location to their radars, forcing the criminals to move somewhere more discreet.

What once used to be a paradise for murderers, thieves, and criminal masterminds is now a place of mirth for kids and young-at-hearts alike.

Damian narrowed his eyes at the scene in front of him, he could still smell the past crime-plotting still lingering in the air. And maybe something buttery and some sickly sweet cotton candy.

"Perhaps you got your directions wrong, Kent? What are we doing in such a place like this?" Damian raised a brow. He thought they'd be going to the museum just like what Robin proposed to Superboy last week. So what were they doing in a child and teenage-infested place?

"I'm taking you on a date, silly. Did you forget or something?" Jon flashed him that Superman-like smile.

Damian narrowed his eyes, even more, making him look like he has his eyes closed due to the rays of the sun.

Jon ignored him and gawked. Damian could have sworn he saw constellations swimming in those baby blues magnified by his thick-rimmed glasses.

"Look over there!" Jon pointed, and Damian followed to where Jon was pointing at.

It was a shabby-looking stall, where they hosted what seems to be a baseball toss game.

Before Damian could react, he was yanked by his date with an iron grip clamped to his wrist.

"One round, please." Jon held up a dollar as he reached the front of the stall.

The drained-looking middle-aged man sighed and pointed toward a sign.

Jon gave him a nervous laugh. "Oh, sorry." He reached into his pocket and handed him five dollars.

"Five dollars for three balls? That's absurd for the cheap-looking toys hanging on display." Damian thought. He looked around and grunted with distaste. He bit his lip as he noticed he started sounding like his father more and more.

The stall displayed different superheroes in plushie form. He saw his Father--with the iconic bat glare--hanging next to an innocent-looking Supes, and of course, the other Justice League members were there too. Other than the adult heroes, there was a mini version of Superboy and a tremendous number of his plushie alter-ego on display. Damian smirked at that. Of course, they'd supply more of him. He was a fan favorite after all.

He also saw his brothers, Red hood and Tim drake but no sign of Nightwing. Damian frowned that Nightwing plushies were nowhere to be found. He was tempted to demand the stall employee for some Nightwing plushies to be put on display. Damian could imagine the hurt in Nightwing's eyes when he found out he wasn't a popular-enough hero to have a plushie version of himself in this wretched amusement park.

"Want to hear how to play the game kid." The middle-aged man said with a thousand-yard stare.

Jon nodded, and the employee sighed.

"Hit three stacks of the milk jugs with the three baseballs and you win a big prize, two and you get a medium prize, one and you get a small prize. None and you get nothing." The employee said with half-mast eyes that never blinked in the duration of the explanation. "Plain and simple. Here you go kid, and enjoy." He hands the three dirt-stained baseballs to Jon.

"I'm getting you a prize, Dami," Jon says and winked at Damian with determination.

Damian rolled his eyes at the cliche corniness of it all. Winning a prize for your date always happened in movies. Especially with Dick's choice set of romcoms.

Jon took a step back and prepared for the throw.

Damian raised a brow as he watched Jon use the proper form just like a professional baseball pitcher. Damian bet to himself that Jon wouldn't be able to knock off the metal milk jugs with his average strength. He wasn't oblivious, he knew how these kinds of games worked. The metal jugs were weighted and the distance from the throw to the bottles was far enough that it would prove to be difficult for the average human being to accomplish. But then again, Jon could always add some super strength into his throw.

Jon pitched the first ball and misses.

"Ooh, bad luck, kid." The employee said dryly.

Jon looked over at Damian like a child about to get scolded by his parents. Damian paid him no attention, he just glared at the metal bottles, calculating the trajectory and strength of the throw he would use when it was his turn.

The second throw hits the metal bottles but the strength was not enough to knock them down.

"That's a shame." The employee said, still staring into the distance like he was staring into the abyss.

This time, Damian glared at Jon as if to tell him, this throw better be the one to topple those bottles down.

Jon laughed a sheepish laugh and then gulped. He stared back at the bottles with furrowed brows, one eye opened, and his tongue sticking out at the corner of his lips. Damian could see it in Jon's eyes that he was concentrating, probably using his supervision for accuracy.

Jon attempted his third throw and finally, he did it!

He cheered as the baseball he threw not only toppled the tower of metal bottles, but it also went straight through the back wall making a huge gaping hole.

The employee gawked in disbelief, scratching his head. A sign of life sparked in the man's eyes before it died down again. "Wow, kid." He picked up one of the metal bottles and it had a dent in it.

Damian smirked and folded his arms. "Wow, you must possess some super strength, huh?" Damian jested.

Jon just took his arm out of his jacket sleeve and flexed his arm, showing off an average teenage arm. His smile shone brightly.

Of course, Damian could have been fooled if it were not for him knowing about Jon's secret Identity.

"Ehem," The employee coughed, garnering Jon and Damian's full attention. "So go on, pick your prize, kid."

Damian looked over at Jon who had a glimmer in his eyes. And as common sense would dictate, Damian figured Jon would be getting him the superboy stuffed toy as a prize.

"I want that one!" Jon shouted, like a child.

Damian raises both eyebrows in shock.

The owner raised a brow. "This one?"

Jon nodded.

"You sure kid?" The employee showed disbelief in the way he was looking at Jon.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Damian thought as he raised a brow at the employee.

Jon continued to nod at the employee with a smile.

"Suit yourself, Kid." The owner shrugged then took the chosen prize and handed it to Jon who then handed it to Damian.

Jon smiled while he scratched the back of his neck. "I hope you like it."

Damian looked at the stuffed toy from head to toe, the craftsmanship was above average and it indeed captured his own likeness. Yes, the plushie he received was a copy of himself in full Robin gear, only with a huge head and a tiny body.

"To tell you the truth," Jon started nervously with a sheepish grin. "I would have liked to give you my favorite superhero instead but I guess they ran out."

Damian narrowed his eyes and cocked an eyebrow. "Favorite superhero?"

"Yeah!" Jon cheered.

"And who would that be?" Damian crossed his arms, squeezing his mini self.

"Well, it's Nightwing of course!"

"Oh, Nightwing," The employee interjected their conversation. "Let me tell you, those things sell like hotcakes. That plushie you're holding on to though, no one wants those. The supplier keeps supplying us with those damned things even if we keep telling them no one wants them." The man huffs.

Damian gritted his teeth and balled his fist so tightly. With all the willpower he's built up in the League and as the son of Batman, he plasters a smile on his face and stops himself from reacting.

"Oh, of course. Nightwing," he said to Jon and ignored the employee. He would love to wrap his hands around the man's neck and not only that, he wants to do it to his brother too. How dare he be the favorite superhero of Jon. Damian now contemplated if he'd commit murder at the Wayne Manor later this evening... But then again how could Damian live without the hugs of his older brother? Not that he would admit that to anyone though. Or then again, maybe he'd replace the Nightwing hugs for Jason hugs. They aren't as good, but still great nonetheless.

"But hey, could you keep this a secret?" Jon elbows Damian.

"That would depend on what information you want to tell me, Kent." Damian continued to grit his teeth as he expected more treacherous revelations.

"Everyone may think that the Robin you're holding," he pointed at the plushie. "is a... please excuse my language... an A-hole." Jon made quotations with his fingers in the air.

Yes, Damian was sure he'd break the rule of not killing people by the end of tonight.

"But!" Jon raised both hands in the air dramatically. He then got close to Damian's ear and cupped a hand on it. "Robin holds a very large part of my heart."

Damian froze. He could feel a shiver starting at the base of his spine, climbing up to his neck. "A-and what would the reason be, Kent?"

"I dunno. I think he's kind of cool." Jon took a step back from Damian and shrugged.

"Right," Damian sighed.

"Hold on," Jon grabbed the plushie and held it to the side of Damian's face.

Damian noticed that Jon was looking from the plushie to him. Jon's eyes shifted from left to right with narrowed eyes.

Damian gulped. He could sense the impending doom of Jon finding out that he was Robin. That would mean they would break up, and on their first date too. (Not that they were together yet anyway)

Jon's eyes beamed and Damian bit his lip.

"You know, Damian, you've almost got the same hairdo as Robin does."

Damian's jaw hung open. He couldn't fathom missing such an obvious and crucial detail-- that they were both the same person. It wasn't quantum physics for crying out loud. You could use mere observation and anyone could have arrived at the correct point by now.

"What a profound observation you've made there, Kent," Damian said dryly.

"Oh, thanks." Jon smiles.

"Anyway, it's my turn." Damian declared stepping in front of the counter.

Jon stepped further to the side to give Damian some space.

Damian smacked a five-dollar bill on the table and the employee handed him three balls.

"Good luck kid. Enjoy."

With all the pent-up frustration, Damian balanced the three balls in one hand, rotated his upper body, and gave a single powerful throw. The three balls split in the air and knocked over the three sets of stacked bottles simultaneously.

Damian then straightened his back and placed one hand in his pocket. He looked over to the employee and then towards Jon like it was no big deal. They both had their mouths hung wide open.

"T-that... THAT WAS AMAZING, DAMI!" Jon jumped at Damian and hugged him.

Damian clicked his tongue and pretended like Jon's warm body being this close to his wasn't affecting him in the slightest. Maybe Dick's hugs were not the best after all.

"Damn, kid." The employee said breaking their moment. "Well, what do you want?" The man scratched his sweaty temple.

"Since there are no Nightwings available," Damian announced. "I want the large Robin plushie."

"Good choice, kid." The employee said, grabbing the giant plushie of his brother Tim Drake.

"No no no. The BEST Robin." Damian sighed.

The employee blinked stupidly at him.

Damian sighed again. "The giant Robin with the hood."

"Are you su--"

"YES!" Damian said with exasperation.

The employee grabbed the giant Robin and handed it to Damian. The employee shook his head in pity.

Damian grabbed the giant version plushie of him and gave it to Jon. Again, Damian saw those constellations swirl in Jon's eyes.

"Thank you, Dami." Jon hugs the plushie so tight.

Damian wore a stony face but he was definitely smiling inside. So this is what it felt like when you gave the prizes you've won to your special someone.

"Hey, kid." The man whispers.

Damian looked over back at the employee with a glare.

The employee scratched the back of his head. "We don't take returns on the prizes, and you might regret it later on so here. This one's on me."

Damian was ready to stab the man who was unknowingly insulting him. But Damian did a complete 180 when he saw what the employee was holding up.

Damian grabbed the small Superboy stuffed toy and held it in his arm next to the little Robin. Jon was staring at him with a blush on his cheeks.

"What are you looking at Kent? this one's mine." Damian huffed.

"Nothing," Jon smiled and led them out of the booth to find the next thing that caught their eye.

Damian followed Jon while holding the Super Son duo plushies close to him. Maybe not going to the museum on their first date was not that disappointing after all.

Chapter Text

Robin sent a death glare to the soulless unblinking superboy who was sitting on his bed. It's quite unfortunate that Robin wasn't gifted with heat vision because if he was, the whiteout lenses he was wearing would already have melted holes a few seconds ago.

He was standing all rigid and tense. His fists were balled and shaking from the rage he was bottling up ever since their "date", rather, "Damian" and Jon's date, but now his emotions were spilling over.

No, it wasn't because Damian didn't enjoy the time with Jon. In fact, Damian was sure it was going to be one of the most memorable and fun nights of his life that he'd be cherishing and looking back on once he was older.

but...

BUT how dare Superboy lie to him - nodding and taking down notes on Robin's advice as if he'd follow them to a T? How dare he pay no heed to his advice, not even a single detail followed on the dot? How dare he render Damian defenseless and unprepared for such a special occasion? Did he take him for a fool?

Not only did Jon deceive him by taking him to an amusement park, but he took him into this home-based restaurant that specialized in vegetarian entrees. Vegetarian! A detail Robin had forgotten to mention about Damian Wayne. And yet... Jon knew.

Jon did his research!

How dare he?

And to top it off, it was one of the best things Damian had tasted in his entire life--nearing the bar that Alfred has set with his own cooking and not to mention way better than those 5-star Gotham exclusive restaurants.

After that paradisiacal dinner and having one of the deepest and longest conversations he has ever had with Jon, Damian had hoped Jon would at least end the night by following that last point he had given Superboy.

The kiss.

Damian stood there in the frigid air in front of the towering Wayne manor gates, gazing into the Nanda Parbat icicle blues of Jon's eyes. It reminded him of the stunning mystical glow the snowy land had during his league of assassins days.

Damian shivered at the sight. His eyes were even more breathtaking to look at.

Both boys stared deeply into one another, under the cool glow of the moonlit street.

"I--... I uh. I had a great time." Jon said looking away, with red shades painting his cheeks.

Damian didn't know if the color on Jon's cheeks was due to the cold night or if Jon was abashed with what they both knew was to happen at the end of the date.

"Likewise," Damian said with calmness. He too could feel the heat rising from his cheeks.

"So um... would you like to go out again next week?" This time, Jon had the courage to look Damian in the eyes.

The forced gesture and the nervous embarrassed smile displayed on Jon's face made Damian smile, but the question made Damian's heart leap.

"I'd like that."

Both boys were now smiling brightly at one another.

Gazes were fixed onto each other.

Smiles disappeared as both boys were pulled closer to one another.

Inch by inch, slowly.

Damian gulped and his breath hitched.

Is this it?

His first kiss?

He closed his eyes and puckered his lips like what was shown in Grayson's movies.

He could feel Jon's warm breath caress his face, tickling him.

Then.

Jon had his arms wrapped tight around Damian.

Damian stood there frozen with his smile disappearing because what he expected was not attained because Jon just hugged him.

He inwardly sighed, disappointed.

But nonetheless, after giving in, Damian smiled and returned the hug--the biggest and longest hug he had ever given to anyone.

He felt warm and secure in Jon's hold. Thoughts of him wanting to stay like this forever invaded his mind. It gave him a sort of peace that rested his beating and longing heart.

He was okay with this.

His first kiss could wait.

Both boys broke off the hug, neither of them wanting it to end, but they only had less than an hour to prepare to meet each other again, but this time as Robin and Superboy.

"So, I'll see you at school?"

Damian gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, see you there Jon."

Jon waved and started jogging into the streets.

Damian watched until Jon disappeared. He couldn't help but feel even more for his best friend at the end of the night. He never could have imagined that there were even deeper feelings to be given to the boy. He assumed he already reached the bottom, but here he was, falling even more for Jon.

It was unfair.

Now he was stuck too deep on this roller coaster ride of a situation.

He was left with more questions and more dread than ever.

And that's why here he was, in his room, trying to restrain himself from strangling Superboy.

Robin walked over to Jon, who was still sitting quietly on his bed. He towered over the super with a menacing glare.

He picked him up by the collar, lifting him up above the ground and he started shaking him.

"Answer me Superboy..." Robin gritted. "Why didn't you follow a thing I said." He shook him once more. No answer.

"Do you know the consequences of what your actions have resulted in?" Robin walked across the room still carrying Superboy by the collar with ease. "Well, do you!?"

After a long pause, Robin continued. "Well, let me tell you..."

Superboy stared at Damian's whiteout lenses, unwavering, unrelenting.

"Damian is now madly in love with you! And where does that put me?"

"Why Damian?"

"Why not me?"

"Why don't you feel the same way for me, Superboy?"

"I'VE KNOWN YOU LONGER AND YOU'VE KNOWN ME LONGER THAN DAMIAN FUCKING WAYNE!"

"WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME, SUPERBOY?"

Damian now raised Superboy even higher with both hands like he was carrying a pair of the lightest barbells in his hands.

"RUAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGHGHGHGHHH!!!!!!!!"

Damian threw Superboy to the nearest wall making Superboy hit the wall hard and fall flat on the floor with a squeak.

"Little bird, are you okay?"

Nightwing was now peeking through Robin's ajar door staring at him and the Superboy stuffed toy that was--for some reason--lying on the ground.

Robin huffed. "Not now, Grayson."

"Well... Okay?" Nightwing lifted a brow indicated by the slight slant of his domino mask. "Just let me know if you want to talk D." He said looking back to the stuffed toy on the ground and back to the now flustered Robin. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."

With that, Nightwing closed Robin's door leaving Robin alone with the stuffed toy he won back at the amusement park.

Robin plopped down on his bed, with a heavy sigh.

This predicament he was in left him frustrated. The skilled detective that he was couldn't even find a way out of it. He couldn't see a possibility wherein Jon wouldn't be mad at him for deceiving him. He also didn't know if Jon would stay with Damian when he found out that he was Robin all this time.

But one thing was for sure--Damian didn't want to let Jon go. Even if it meant Robin would stay brooding in the shadows, pretending to be ignorant of everything in Jon's life.

Maybe that was the only way?

In time, Robin would probably see some possibilities of escape. Until then, he just needed to pretend, pretend everything was okay, pretend he didn't know about the details of Jon's date with Damian. Yes, he would just pretend Robin had no feelings for Superboy.

It will all just play out in the end.

Chapter Text

Erratic beats were thumping against Damian's chest as he watched his older brother, Dick Grayson, rub his chin in thought. If there was ever one moment that he could consider as the most turmoil he's ever felt during his entire existence, now would be the number one contender for that moment.

Damian could see himself racing around the room while pulling all his hair out, and screaming out profanities the world has never heard of before, but instead, as expected of a Wayne and an Al-Ghul, his outer expression and demeanor were as expressive as that of a rock.

He knew this was a bad idea. He knew none of his brothers would figure this out. He knew he was the most intelligent out of the former robins, so why didn't he trust himself?

Right now, he felt utterly foolish. How could he have stooped so low as to ask his brothers for assistance? What chance did they have in solving the biggest enigma of a problem, so confusing you needed the brain capacity equivalent to that of the world's greatest detective? Harnessing a great degree of brain processing power able to--

"I don't mean to dismiss your situation here li'l D, but isn't the answer already in front of you?" Dick asked.

Damian looked at Grayson and blinked.

Impossible!

Damian didn't expect an answer so quickly. He stood frozen with his mouth hinged open, perplexed. Surely, Dick must be mistaken.

Dick shrugged and gave an encouraging smile as he waited for Damian to at least mutter a single word but the room just stayed silent. All he got was a confused stare.

Once Damian escaped the trance he gave his older brother a glare full of daggers instead. What in the world was Grayson talking about? He raised a brow and glanced one more time at the little personal project of his. A conspiracy board like in those detective thriller movies he and his brothers watched from time to time when Grayson wasn't in the mood for his usual romcoms. But this board in front of them was no ordinary conspiracy board, it was a gigantic 10 by 15-foot visual representation packed with all the information and photos that centered around Jonathan Kent's supposed romantic feelings for Damian Wayne.

The contents of the board included: comprehensive information on their first date and following dates, typed-written verbatim transcripts of Jon's confession of feelings toward Damian along with recorded compliments Jon gave Damian, facts Damian knew about Jonathan Kent and Superboy, and other information that Damian deemed important for the case--all linked together with a web of red string.

Damian was embarrassed to show all these sets of personal information to his brothers, to say the least, but what other option did he have? He was downright desperate with only seven days left before the prom. Could anyone blame him? He was suffering from all this emotional agony and mental tribulation for these past few weeks. He needed to know the answers to the agonizing questions.

Did Jon harbor romantic feelings for Damian Wayne? If so, WHY NOT ROBIN?

If Jon truly liked Damian Wayne like he said he did, WHY HASN'T HE INVITED DAMIAN TO THE PROM YET!?

And the biggest one of them all,

WHY WAS JON SO OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT DAMIAN WAYNE IS ACTUALLY SUPERBOY'S BEST FRIEND, ROBIN?

These were the heavy questions Damian carried with nothing but the bare skin on his back.

But perhaps Damian was wrong about Grayson. He could be useful for this whole thing after all.

"So what is seemingly so obvious that I'm unable to see it?" Damian said.

Dick walked toward the conspiracy and pointed to some of the information presented on the board. "See here, Jon took you to a restaurant that specialized in vegetarian dishes, he knew you were vegetarian even without you telling him."

"I could hardly call the place he took me a restaurant, but besides that, it's a known fact that I'm a vegetarian. A simple google search will tell you that."

Dick's smile fell by a nudge. "Well of course but look over here," he pointed to another part of the conspiracy board. "Despite your given instructions as Robin, he completely ignored your date advice and took you to a carnival instead."

"That doesn't even mean anything, Grayson," Damian folded his arms and tapped his foot. "Perhaps, Jon found my advice too high of a standard to execute successfully that's why he chose an easier alternative."

This time, Dick's smile fell into a straight line. "Okay okay, what about this?" He points to a list of Superboy's list of abilities. "Superhearing, supervision, X-ray vision-- you know,pew pew." Dick mimed the set of powers like he was playing charades on a Saturday night with the bat family.

Damian cocked an eyebrow. "X-ray vision doesn't go pew-pew, Grayson."

Dick rolled his eyes and proceeded to unpin two photos out from the conspiracy board. "And now look at these similarities." Dick presented a photo of Damian in civilian clothes and another of Robin. "Anyone can spot the similarities. You don't need x-ray vision to look under the mask. You don't need supervision to see the same hair, the same height, the same skin complexion. You don't need super-hearing to hear the same voice. And you don't need anything super to spot the same personality."

"Stop dancing around and cut to the chase, Grayson," Damian spat, mildly pissed off at the fact he still couldn't arrive at an answer himself.

Dick sighed. "My point is, you're overlooking the simplest of things, D. It would be impossible not to put two and two together, no one's that oblivious. Jon clearly knows who you are!"

It was not too far-fetched of a theory. Yes, it was obvious, in fact, Damian had the same speculations prior to their first date, but knowing Jon, Damian questioned why would he even do such a thing. Was Jon--with his standard of morals and goodness--even capable of an act such as this? What was his purpose?

As if Dick could read Damian's mind, he answers Damian's inner monologue. "Of course, this is only my speculation but maybe he was just afraid of saying that he liked you outright. Maybe he had to pretend to like the unmasked you to know what the masked you thought about him. Maybe he's just waiting for you to stop playing the lying charade and to just come out clean. He's probably just waiting for you to have the heart and trust to be honest with him, Dames. He wants you to tell him who you are."

Damian's eyes grew as if he discovered all the answers to all of life's questions but before he could internalize and soak up everything Dick had just said, a bellow of laughter grabs Damian's attention away from his thoughts.

Jason was clutching his stomach as his voice echoed around the four corners of Damian's room, reminding Damian of his presence. Regret started looming over Damian's shoulders. Why did he tag Jason along again? Well, whatever. Damian was at least thankful he got answers from Dick and it was quite fortunate Drake wasn't here to Join Todd's mockery.

"And what's so funny, Todd?" Damian glared.

"I agree with Dick... well for the most part, but believing someone is actually interested in a demon-brat like you? Hah!" Jason sets a heavy arm on Damian's shoulders, pulling him with ease.

Damian gritted his teeth at the other man. He was clutching his fists, ready to attack at any moment now.

"Listen, kid, this Jon guy, going through all that trouble for someone the likes of you? He's messing with you. I bet he probably doesn't even like you. Why do you think he hasn't invited you to prom yet?" Jason looks at Damian before letting him go and walking out the door without another word.

Damian clutched his hands even tighter. He could feel his blood boiling. Jon would never do something like that... even if it was just a joke gone too far. He wasn't capable of something like that, could he?

"Don't listen to him, D." Dick put an arm around Damian who just stood still with a scowl plastered on his face. "With all that info that you've presented on the board, Jon seems like a good kid. I mean, he's the son of superman right? You've got nothing to worry about, I'm sure he wouldn't go that far if it was all one big joke."

Damian didn't answer. He stared at his brother's eyes. He knew what his older brother looked like when he had answers to a case, or at least confident with his own speculations, this time, he didn't look anything like that.

"Anyway, good luck Li'l D," Dick winks. "Don't let Jay's words get to ya. Speaking of which, I'll go ahead and have a little word with him."

Dick gave two slaps on Damian's shoulder before leaving.

When Dick was gone, Damian looked once again at the conspiracy board he had been obsessing on for over a week. He eyed it up and down once more, going over what Dick had told him earlier.

As soon as Damian finished reviewing everything for the nth time, he stood now determined more than ever.

If that's how Jon wanted to play this little game, then Damian could play into it--going along and pretending he didn't know anything--until he found an opening for some revenge.

Damian smirked to himself, ignoring the heart-clenching pain he felt from the seed of doubt Todd's words planted.

"Bring it on."

Chapter Text

There was no way in hell Damian would be the one asking Jon to be his date to the prom, and there is definitely no way Damian would be giving what Jon wanted.

It may have been Jon who started this whole charade, but no matter what, Damian was going to come up on top at the end of these mind games--his pride was on the line.

In the end, it will be Jon confessing first, and Damian would be the one berating him for pretending he didn't know Damian and Robin were one and the same person.

And how was he going to do all this?

With what he does best of course--psychological warfare.

Damian smirked at his reflection as he dropped a heavy bag right beside him. He then proceeded to check himself in the mirror making sure there were no stray hairs in his carefully styled head of hair, no speck of dirt or lint on his attire, and nothing blemishing his immaculate skin.

"Master, Damian. You've got a visitor waiting for you by the front gate." Pennyworth called.

Speaking of the devil.

"I'll be right there, Pennyworth," Damian answered, eyes still fixated on his reflection. He took a deep breath and released it slowly.

After taking a few more seconds to check that he looked nothing less than perfect, he gave a devilish smile at his reflection before grabbing the bulky bag and proceeding to meet Jon for their date. After all, there were six days left before the big day and Damian would make sure, by the end of the night, Jon would be on his knees begging him to be his date to the upcoming prom.

...

Damian greeted Jon at the manor gates and Jon greeted him back with a weak "hey". Damian blinked at Jon and stood there perplexed at the unusually short and meek reply.

"Uh, Damian, are you getting in?"

Damian snapped out of the trance and without another moment's hesitation, stepped into their booked ride for the night. As soon as Jon sat right beside him, Damian took a moment to study Jon and he noticed that there was something peculiar about him this evening.

Jon looked uncharacteristically prim for tonight's occasion.

It looked like Jon put more thought into what he wore this evening--from the usual wardrobe which consisted of hoodies, flannels, baseball hats, and ripped jeans to a nice button-up shirt paired with a freshly ironed pair of dark chinos--the palette of his attire made his blue eyes even brighter. Not only was his wardrobe in check, but his hair was tamed--less styled-by-the-wind than usual.

Damian thought the look suited him and it made his handsome features stand out even more. He could only imagine what he would look like on prom night wearing a tux... A perfectly tailored suit that fit Jon quite nicely--accentuating the different parts of his body that Damian didn't dare lay his hands on because of who knows what might happen... Damian traced his eyes to the curves and bumps of Jon's lean but muscular build--from the muscular thighs to the slim waist, up to the broad shoulders, then to the pouting lips, and finally to those big blue cerulean eyes that were staring back at him...

Wait, what? 

A squeak escaped Damian's lips at the realization that Jon was watching him this whole time. Damian rapidly turned his head to look away from the other boy whose face was as red as the S of the superhero uniform he wore during their patrol nights.

A few more seconds pass and neither of them said a single word which makes Damian uncomfortable. Jon should have said something by now. Damian looked back at the other boy and thankfully he was facing the other way.

And that's when it hit him.

The peculiarity that Damian observed with Jon wasn't how he was dressed for tonight's occasion but it was how Jon looked less vibrant than usual. The cheery smile he wore every time Damian saw him has been somehow wiped off his face and is nowhere to be seen. Instead of the usual confidence exuberated by the boy, it looked to be replaced by something akin to insecurity. Not only that, but the glow of joy Damian felt in the mere presence of Jon has also vanished.

He's never seen Jon or Superboy in that state before.

Damian narrowed his eyes at the sudden behavior change. Dressing nicely, feigning sadness, perhaps this was another one of Jon's sad attempts at getting the better of him. This was probably another ruse to get Damian talking. Dressing nicely to seduce. Sulking and staying silent, like how a child behaves to get whatever he or she wants.

No, this wasn't going to work on Damian.

This was child's play.

He was the king of psychological warfare! And this was now his game.

Damian folded his arms and looked straight ahead with nothing but a scowl on his face.

During the entirety of the ride, neither of them said a word. The only thing that filled Damian's ears was the low rumble of the car's tires rolling on asphalt. Damian looked toward the other boy from time to time but Jon's eyes were fixed on the scenery out the window.

The car suddenly came to a halt. The ride had been too short. Weren't their usual dates held in Metropolis lately?

Jon got out, waiting for Damian to follow.

As soon as Damian stepped out and set his eyes on the venue for their date this evening, his scowl grew deeper and he could see a vision of Jon smirking from behind him.

"Touché" he whispered.

Damian gripped the bag tightly as he was set more than ever on accomplishing tonight's objective because where they now stood was a place Damian least expected Jon to take him.

Gotham's art museum.

Perhaps, Jon's a worthy adversary after all.

Chapter Text

The full hour spent at the museum was that of a long slow walk of pretending to look around under a thick blanket of silence.

Jon may have tried starting conversations with Damian at the beginning of their date by bombarding him with questions and comments like:

"Hey D, isn't this painting cool?"

"Dami, do you know the story behind this piece?"

"Hey, Damian, who's your favorite artist? "

"I bet you could paint as well as them"

"I don't know what it is but this painting is... nice."

But Damian only gave grunts, shrugs, and eye-rolls as responses to Jon's pestering.

To Damian's guess, Jon could have already chalked this all up as a failed date--probably blaming Robin in his mind at the suggestion to spend their date in the museum. Perhaps, to Jon, it may have looked like a miserable attempt to impress Damian that fell flat on a note of pretentiousness and boredom. But of course, that would be farthest from the truth.

In fact, Damian was delighted they were here. After all, this was Damian's personal place of magic and wonder as to Jon and his amusement park.

Oh, how Damian desired to gush or geek-out as people liked to do with things they were passionate about. He even had the impulse of dragging Jon by the arm to each painting as soon as they entered the museum's large and heavy wooden doors.

He wanted to drown him with knowledge. To make him see what he sees with each art piece. To pour his heart out.

Damian, now, could only imagine what it would have been like if he didn't have to pretend that Jon didn't know he was Robin. The date would play out exactly as it had during their first date--just like how Jon had dragged him to each and every ride, booth, and stall at the amusement park, only this time, for the roles to be reversed.

Just like how Damian felt before the commencement of their first date, Jon must be feeling the same way about the museum right now.

Bored and skeptical.

At first, Damian grumbled. He didn't understand why Jon took him to the amusement park. He didn't understand why people were so enchanted with all the rides, enamored with the cheap games, and excited about the selection of food and beverages the amusement park had to offer. To Damian, the park and its entirety had one purpose: to give people a short-lived emotional high in exchange of their hard-earned money.

Though, after riding a couple of rides and playing a few amusement park games with Jon, by the end of their date, Damian found himself smiling.

Sure he could say he enjoyed the roller coaster rides, the array of arcade games, and the booth games he had to outplay since they were almost always rigged, but not so much with the appalling vegetarian food selections. But what truly made him feel happy was because he did all these things that had made Jon happy.

And yet... here they were, in the museum. A scowl on Damian's face and a bored expression on Jon's.

A place where Damian could so easily share his passion for art with Jon just like how Jon had shared his excitement with him back in the amusement park. But instead, their time was now wasting away. Precious seconds of their date ticking away signaled by the sounds of the echoing taps of their shoes on the hardwood floor.

Damian huffed and looked from the silent sulking boy beside him to the bag he was carrying in his right hand.

Perhaps he should just let go of this situation he was trying his best to control and hold Jon's hand instead.

Damian looked one more time from Jon to the bag and thought of reconsidering his plans for tonight. To get over this charade and to just tell Jon what he wanted to hear.

He tried to remember why he was trying so hard to pretend he didn't know that Jon already knew.

Perhaps, a part of him was afraid of Jon not liking him just as Todd had suggested. But at the same time, he knew Jon wouldn't go this far to ridicule him... or could he?

And on the other hand, if Richard was right, why were they both lying to each other in the first place? Was Superboy that scared of confessing his feelings directly to Robin? Was Jon just waiting on Damian's confession of his feelings and true identity?

Damian's breath hitched under the cold air-conditioned museum air. He lifted his hand to pat Jon on the shoulder.

"Jon... I--"

Before he could say what he was about to say, Jon turned around to look back at him. "Look, D!" And just like that, Jon's face lit up. He seemed to regain the usual vigor he usually carried.

Damian felt the tug on his arm and realized he was being dragged by Jon into a small exhibit room that he's never seen before.

They halted right at the center of the room and Damian felt his eyebrows scrunch together at the art pieces on display.

"Whoa," Jon's voice echoed around the room as he stared up close at a sculpture encased in glass that was in front of them.

"Jon, step back. I don't want to pay for damages if you end up breaking something." Damian tutted.

"Sorry, D." Jon chuckled, his eyes still glued to the sculpture in front of him.

Damian looked from Jon to the large banner hanging at the center of the wall at the far end of the room.

A dedication to our Gothamite heroes by our very own Gothamite artists.

Damian raised a brow. Was this another part of Jon's plan? Because if it was, Damian was now reconsidering conceding in the game they were playing.

Damian walked around the room with his hands behind his back, inspecting the exhibit with curiosity.

What was John up to? Damian wondered.

Looking around, he saw depictions of the bat family in an array of different visual art disciplines along with a collection of non-functional metal sculptures of a few of their gadgets. A ten-foot sculpture of his father in the batman costume stood at the center of the exhibit, while the other heroes had their own dedicated spaces on the sides and corners--complete with lifelike replica statues of themselves carved in different materials.

Having gotten to look around, Damian decided to walk where Jon was standing, and of course, he found Jon gawking at the Nightwing statue in the corner of the exhibit.

Damian looked at the visually accurate facial structure of his brother wearing the Nightwing costume.

Of course. John was trying to get on his nerves.

"Tt, Nightwing, your favorite superhero, correct?"

Jon nodded while he stared up at Nightwing's smirking face.

"You know D, I realized I've never asked you, who's your favorite superhero?" Jon said. He took a moment before he looked into Damian's eyes.

Damian concealed a mischievous smile that wanted to pop up.

Without missing a beat, Damian answered. "Superboy. Superboy is my favorite."

Jon blinked and didn't say a word right away.

Damian could see a flush of pink that managed to slowly creep up on his cheeks making him feel satisfied with his answer.

Jon opened his mouth and stuttered. "I-i, uhh. I... W-why is Superboy your favorite?"

Damian couldn't withhold the smirk that was forming on his lips.

He may have had an agenda with the answer--wanting to catch Jon off guard into telling him of his secret identity first--but the answer was truly a genuine one nonetheless.

Damian could have easily chosen the superhero personas that have personally trained him and stood as role models before him. Just like his father, his brothers, or any of his father's colleagues. (Not that Damian would admit it to any of them).

But to Damian, Superboy stood out.

He wasn't just someone that could stand toe to toe with his own skill level at combat or someone who happens to possess incredible abilities that sometimes left Damian imagining the what-ifs if he had the same superpowers.

No. To Damian, Superboy was not just a superhero but he stood as his hero.

A hero that saved him countless times not just in a literal sense but also rescued him from his own personal darkness. As cheesy as it may sound, Jon was a beacon of hope and light that made Damian optimistic about his tomorrow. It was Jon who made him feel like he was a kid again. He made him feel like he was himself. Jon didn't see him for his past but he saw him for what he was now, and what he could be in the future.

That's why Superboy was his favorite.

"Well, aside from his evergrowing potential to become one of the greatest superheroes of all time, deep down inside, I think I can relate to him. You know... deep down inside, I think he's just like you and me," Damian said with narrowed eyes, his smirk never falling from his lips.

"H-h-h I uh, oh wow." Jon laughed and looked from left to right. "I wouldn't say that, but thanks-- I mean th-thank you for telling me."

Jon looked away and laughed nervously.

Both boys continued to move from hero to hero until they reached the last hero on the exhibit--the youngest Robin.

Damian looked closely at his doppelganger molded in bronze. Kudos to the artist since it was almost looking into a mirror.

With the statue right there, now was his chance to let Jon spill the pretending.

Damian took a step beside the doppelganger and turned around, facing Jon. He huffed and folded his arms, miming the exact same pose the statue counterpart was doing.

Damian felt kind to give Jon a hint that he knew what Jon knew. Though, this would be the last straw. If Jon wasn't going to confess now, then Damian had no choice. He was going to push through with the most diabolical plan he has ever concocted. A plan so big and so evil it might end up hurting them both.

"Jon,"

Jon stopped in his tracks and stared back at Damian.

"Both of our lives and what's going to happen in both of our futures is in your hands. So I suggest you come clean. If you don't tell me..."

Jon gulped.

Damian could see a slight sheen on Jon's forehead starting to build up. And just like earlier, in the car ride, Jon started to fidget. "Tell you what, D?"

"Oh, you know..." Damian tutted.

"K-know what?"

"You exactly know what I'm talking about."

Jon bit his lip and bounced his eyes between the Robin sculpture and Damian.

"I-i don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yes, you do."

"N-n"

"Confess already!"

"Confess what!?"

"Just tell me!"

"I really don't know what you're talking about D," Jon screamed.

Damian huffed and slung the bag over his shoulder. This wasn't going to work now, huh?

"Nevermind."

Damian started to march out of the museum while Jon jogged behind him to catch up.

"Uh, okay?"

Damian was now set on the commencement of his plan. All he had to do was follow through, then Jon would finally reveal he knew who Damian was and by the end of the night, he'd be begging Damian to prom.

Chapter Text

The sound of soft jazz played by the pianist intermingled with the muffled white noise of people conversing along with the clinking of glassware and silverware. A sound bound to put anyone in a daze of calmness. But instead, for Damian, it was a tune of no other than mockery. A reminder that Jon's been toying with him and his feelings since the day of his confession. Because, why were they here? Why this exact place?

Damian gritted his teeth, glaring at the other boy who sat across from him, with the majority of his face being concealed by the leather-bound menu in his hands.

"I'm not sure what to get, I've never really tasted any of these before. I've never even heard of these weird names..." Jon lays the menu down and adjusts his glasses. He points at it and squints his eyes. "Horse devour?"

"It's pronounced, hors d'oeuvre," Damian said, flatly.

Jon blinks.

"An appetizer, basically."

Jon smiled at him and nodded before burying his face back into the menu.

For someone coming up with such a diabolical plan, Damian was surprised Jon didn't even know what an hors d'oeuvre is, let alone say it. It was utterly cute, Damian admitted, but he pushed the thought away, as soon as he reminded himself of everything that has transpired since the beginning of the night.

Damian looked around, to see if their waiter was ready to take their order--this, sometimes, was the problem of sitting in this restaurant's private dining area on a busy night. To think that the management would be more attentive to their VIP tables...

"Jon, maybe I can handle the orders for the both of us tonight."

Jon's face lit up. "Sounds good to me."

Damian smiled back.

Perfect.

This was his way to set the pieces into motion to get things rolling in his favor so he could get the upper hand. He'd order the most complex meals on their menu. It would take even the most skilled chefs extra time to prepare, and thus, would buy him extra time for the completion of his agenda.

"Um, hey D, I've been meaning to ask but... are you okay?" The sound of Jon's voice made Damian pull away from his plotting.

Of course, he wasn't okay. Jon's mind games were getting more elaborate and Damian couldn't have that.

He still wanted to come up on top at the end--especially now that Jon was in the lead. Damian knew exactly what Jon was doing and that's why he was so upset they were here.

Jon was still playing the game! He slyly and manipulatively followed another key detail of Robin's instructions--Take him to the fanciest restaurant in Gotham. And this wasn't just one of the fanciest restaurants in Gotham, it was Damian's favorite French restaurant.

This detail got under Damian's skin.

It may have been easily overlooked by anyone as chance, but to Damian, it was a way of Jon telling him 'Hey, I know you're Robin. So go ahead and tell me already'. And it was all due to the fact that Damian pieced the puzzle together by simply recalling how he mindlessly shared his favorite places to eat with a bored Superboy. They were on patrol duty that evening and Robin just rambled on, thinking Jon wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.

Perhaps the mere fact that Jon knew he was Robin all along wasn't what unnerved him the most. No, it was the fact that the supposed best detective, next to Batman, was caught wrong with his initial deduction. Being shamelessly brought to light by his brothers to the fact that Jon was playing him like a flute all this time.

He was humiliated! His feelings were toyed with! And this is exactly why his plan must commence!

Before Damian could respond to Jon's inquiry, their waiter appeared by their table and poured ice-cold water into their glasses before continuing to take their order.

Once the waiter jotted down the complex menu items with even more complex instructions given by Damian, and as soon as he left to relay the preparation of their food, Damian was ready.

He patted the bag right next to him. "Well," Damian heaves it onto the table. The silverware jumps and clinks at the impact. "I hope you don't mind, Jonathan, but I've been pushing this task at hand dangerously too close to its deadline."

Jon raised a brow and smiled awkwardly. "Oh, uhh, here? Well, if you say so."

Damian lifted the bag spilling the contents onto the table, creating piles and piles of mountains of envelopes in-between them.

"Uhm, homework?"

"Not quite, but something holding the same degree of importance."

Damian chooses a random envelope and takes a butter with the other hand. He then proceeds to, oh so slowly, and meticulously cut open the envelope.

"Well, you see, it's less than a week to prom..."

Jon squints. "And?"

"I'd have to go over these. It would be ill-mannered of me to not be able to at least read what my inquirers have sent me."

"Inquirers?"

"What are you, deaf, Jonathan? Yes, inquirers! Potential dates to take my hand to the prom."

"Potential dates who wrote you letters?"

Damian slapped his forehead. "Yes, Jonathan. What else could these be? How many times do I have to repeat myself."

"Don't people just usually ask people on dates? It seems kind of... old-fashioned? Especially knowing our classmates and all..."

Damian scoffed. "Well-- I-- They... It doesn't matter! I have no idea why they'd rather have chosen to write to me instead of using some sort of verbal invitation. Unless... Well, I am a Wayne after all, and people would have to impress me. And what better way than an eloquently hand-written letter?"

Jon rubbed his chin, looking at the mess that lay on their table. "Well, that kind of makes sense..."

That was a good save, Damian thought. He didn't want Jon to know he spent countless hours during sleepless nights writing a majority of these letters (the rest being junk mail, bills, and old love confessions that Damian collected during the entirety of his life).

Sure Damian did receive a letter or two to prom, but how was he supposed to know written invitations to prom were old-fashioned? How was he supposed to know asking someone to prom was as simple as stating the question verbally?

Jon fell silent for the time being as Damian opened more of the letters. That was proof enough for Damian to know that Jon was buying into the lie.

Damian picked another one of the letters, looking at it with much interest as possible. He rubbed his chin to make it seem he was deciding if he would be taking the supposed writer to prom.

"Hmm, a letter from Kathy."

"What!? Kathy? Kathy Branden?"

Damian nodded.

"I thought she hated you."

The comment caught Damian off-guard making his eyebrows scrunch together.

"A-and besides, Isn't she taking someone as a date to the prom already?"

"Well, I don't know about that. Perhaps she's interested in taking me to the prom. Maybe I could phone her just to make sure." Damian waved the letter. Its contents are written in cursive with purple ink. Damian smells the scent of it, remembering he sprayed sweet-smelling perfume to seal its authenticity.

"Give me that." Jon grabs the letter from Damian's hand.

In normal circumstances, Damian would have scolded Jon for rudely grabbing the letter, but this time, his behavior amused Damian highly.

"It... it is her writing..." Jon's eyes darted at the lines written on the letter. "An-and..." Jon sniffed. "It smells like her perfume. That... That traitor." Jon said to himself through barred teeth while crumpling the letter.

Damian smiled a sly devilish smile behind his folded hands. It's a matter of time...

"Who else handed you a letter to prom?"

Jon picked one more letter off the table and ripped it open.

"C-Colin Wilkes!?"

Jon was now gripping the letter with fury. Damian could almost see the activation of his heat vision in his eyes.

"Isn't... Isn't Colin straight or something?"

Damian shrugged but Jon paid no attention as his eyes were darting rapidly with super speed across the long letter.

"Your eyes are greener than the deepest of forests. I find myself longing to get lost in them..." Jon read aloud in confusion.

Okay... maybe Damian got carried away writing that letter under Colin's signature and spent too much time mimicking his scratchy handwriting. Damian blushed at his indulgence in writing this specific one.

Jon huffed and laid the letter face down on the table, seemingly, gathering himself and his emotions under control.

"Well, what's on your mind?" Damian raised a brow at Jonathan. "Who do you think I should take to prom?"

"Well... I uh, I guess that would be far too difficult seeing almost everyone has chosen their dates to prom night already." Jon laughed. "You wouldn't want to cause fights now would you?"

Damian yawned into his hand. "Well, I could pull a few strings. I'm sure anyone I choose would want to push through with the opportunity, wouldn't they?" Damian smirked.

Jonathan fell silent once again.

"Oh, it looks like our order's he--" Before Damian could finish, Jon pulled Damian off of his seat, dragging him toward the exit.

Damian tried to conceal it, but it was too much--He could feel himself smile from ear to ear. His plan was working and Jon was pissed.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" The maître d' shouted.

Jon tossed what looked like to be the thick roll of cash Robin gave him a few weeks prior.

And just like that, they were free to leave without any other commotion.

...

"Jon... Jon! JON! I demand to know where you're taking me!" Damian pretended to protest. He was now being dragged into a secluded but beautiful park situated in the wealthier suburban areas of Gotham.

They were marching in the open, under the countless stars that shone brighter than they did from the view of the city.

Gone were the sounds of bustling people and the honking horns of cars. The only sound Damian heard was the chirping of crickets and the swaying of trees against the murmurs of the wind.

Jon finally let Damian go and they both stopped at the center of the park.

Damian looked around once more since it was hard to not notice that they set foot in a breathtaking place Damian didn't know existed within the city limits. They were surrounded by trees to one side, and the towers of city lights on the other, while all around them were the dancing glow of fireflies.

Damian looked at Jon who was still facing away.

"Jon, where in th--" Damian pretended to berate the other boy but he immediately stopped when Jon turned to face him.

He had a serious and dangerously angry expression that he's never seen him wear before. And there was a flicker of light in his blue eyes which looked something like that of courageous determination.

As much as Damian didn't want to admit it, the look made his knees weak.

Jon huffed. "Look, D... I... I have a confession to make."

Damian folded his arms and raised a brow. "And? What is it, Jon?" He scowled, but inwardly he was smiling. His plan was working! Jon was finally going to confess he knew Damian was Robin.

"I didn't want to lie to you. I kept pushing the day to confess this to you because I was scared. I was scared you'd end up not liking me."

Damian understood where Jon was coming from. He too was scared of letting Jon know who he really was because he was scared Jon would end up not liking him either.

"I just want you to know that..."

Damian nodded as he waited for Jon to continue. This was finally it.

"I..."

"Yes?"

"I know..."

Damian tapped his foot, as he found himself growing impatient at Jon's stalling.

"I know it'll be hard to take in, but..."

Damian was biting his lip too hard from the anticipation.

"This is me..."

Jon slowly lifted himself off the ground and floated with arms wide open. He eclipsed the moon from where Damian was standing as the fireflies danced all around them.

He looked into Damian's eyes and smiled.

"I'm Superboy."

Damian was speechless.

Was Jon seriously still playing this charade? This... this act of deceit? This chicanery?

Damian was beginning to feel his anger rise. He wanted to punch something. He wanted to strangle Jon. If ever he decided to turn evil, this would be his origin story.

Jon descended ever so slowly and waited for Damian's response with anticipation in his eyes. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Damian spat out.

"Don't you have anything you want to tell me?"

And there it was... Jon was smiling at him. That was the supposed cue for Damian to reveal himself as Robin, but he was having none of that. He wasn't going to confess first!

But before opening his mouth and giving into his rage, Damian paused.

If he was going to blow up now, that meant Jon would have won.

"Oh, I... I never could have imagined I was dating the one and only Superboy." Damian clasped his hands together in mock excitement. He made sure his eyes grew twice their size, he made sure he sounded surprised, and he made sure he was gawking at Jon. "That's amazing! I... I can't believe it. You're a superhero all this time. Damian Wayne... an ordinary son of a billionaire, dating a metahuman!"

Jon smiled, relief seemed to fade from his face, but Damian knew better. He could almost see the pout hidden within the smile.

"Well, I'm happy that you think that, but is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Damian pretended to be confused. "What about, Jon?"

Jon looked off to the side while scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I mean, are you okay with dating a superhero and all that?"

"Well, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jon's smile grew even wider.

"Well now that you know of my secret Identity," Jon was now blushing and looking off to the side. He held his hand out toward, Damian which caught him off guard.

"Will you take me as your date to the prom?"

And with those simple words and the simple gesture, Damian's anger dissipated and his breath hitched.

"I can see it no other way. Yes, I would love to, Superboy."

Chapter Text

Robin tapped his index finger on his arm, mimicking the sound of a metronome.

He stood atop one of the tallest buildings in Gotham. The same one where Superboy had confessed his feelings for Damian Wayne.

The late-night wind blew across Robin's face, attempting to numb it with its icy cold but the smoldering embers of Robin's anger triumphantly radiated across his face instead.

Where the hell was Superboy?

Yet again, just like always, Superboy was running late. To think that superspeed and the ability to fly could prevent one from being late...

And of all the days of the week, why did he have to choose this exact day to call an emergency meeting? The day before the prom!

They were less than twenty-four hours away from what teenagers (besides Damian of course) viewed as an upcoming core memory. A sort of memory that your mind wandered to when you found yourself longing for your younger years during that eight to five on a Monday afternoon, or for some people who were unfortunate, a memory that you'd want to repress by repeatedly banging your head on a concrete wall just so you could hush the embarrassing whispers of your brain during those sleepless 3 am mornings.

Damian didn't actually know if these things rang true for everyone, but it's the conclusion he arrived at when the entire bat family gave unsolicited advice and shared their personal experiences about it for the past week which all started ever since they found out Damian had a date to prom and was therefore attending.

And if it was as important as they declared it to be, then by hell Damian would gather all his power and ability to make it the most memorable night for both him and Jon.

So why was he here on a school night instead of attending to his preparations for the big day?

Of course, he could have easily declined Superboy's call, especially since he was getting his Italian suit altered by Pennyworth. A suit that already came in a good fit for him. A shade of charcoal gray, slick and modern that complemented his features, and damn did it make him look good.

But if Damian aimed for perfection, then he had to get the details to nothing less than perfect so he had to be home in under ten minutes if he wished for Pennyworth to continue his magic.

"Robin, Robin, Robin!" a voice came speeding into his ears. The words were as fast as him getting tackled into a hug by the owner of the said exhilarated voice.

And just like that, Robin's temper dissipated but the heat on his face now burned like a thousand suns.

"Get off me, Superboy!" Robin fake-tried to escape from Superboy's hug of steel.

Superboy took a few more seconds before floating back down to plant their feet on the building's concrete.

To Robin's dismay, Superboy let go of the hug too soon but at least he kept his hands planted on Robin's shoulders.

"Great news, Robin! Damian and I are going to prom."

Robin blinked behind whiteout lenses. He didn't know how to react. Why was Superboy still so persistent in this chicanery?

"Well, what did I say?" Robin may have rolled his concealed eyes but he decided to keep playing along anyway. "My plan was foolproof, and now thanks to me, you've garnered the greatest achievement anyone could ever have in such an occasion--Damian Wayne's hand to prom." Robin patted Superboy's shoulder. "Congratulations."

Superboy nodded with a grin rising from ear to ear with tears threatening to spill out from the corner of his eyes. He could barely keep it together to mouth a thank you.

"If you're just here to announce the greatest achievement of your life, then I guess we're done here."

Robin turned and reached for his grappling gun holstered on his utility belt.

"No no no, wait. I actually called for a big emergency."

Robin turned to face him. "An emergency before your school's promenade?"

"Well, yeah... You see, I just remembered. I... I don't know how to dance."

Damian spun back to face him. He clamped his mouth shut to stop it from unhinging.

"Dance?"

"Yeah, dance." Superboy scratched the back of his neck.

Damian couldn't think straight. How could he himself, be so foolish as to forget that promenades are all about dancing? And why was Superboy asking him this? Asking your prom date to teach you how to dance a night before prom night seemed ridiculous to Damian.

"And what left you under the impression that I was the one to go to for such a concern? Truly you could have just asked your parents to teach you."

"Well... I-- Dad's no good at dancing, and Mom's just too busy, so who better to ask for dance lessons than my best friend?"

Yes, Damian could quite picture Superman to be bad at dancing.

But... but right now... the thought of him dancing with Superboy made his heart feel light. It made him sweat and it turned his knees into jello.

And besides, it's been years since he last danced!

Sure, the league trained him in different dances as a means to get to know his own body and use the grace and agility garnered for combat. Not to mention dancing could've been a good cover-up in espionage. And not to forget the hours he spent doing formal dances under the Wayne Manor with Grayson in preparation for the galas hosted by the Waynes.

He was rusty, to say the least.

He didn't want to present himself as unprepared.

A great warrior never shows his weakness. So why would he be willing to show Superboy his lack of practice?

Well, first things first--he'd grapple back to the Wayne Manor and find Grayson to dance with asap.

"So... will you teach me to dance? Will... will you dance with me, Robin?" Superboy's voice cleared the cloud of thought and pierced Robin's heart.

"Most certainly," Robin replied without missing a beat.

WHY DID HE SAY YES? WHAT WAS HE DOING? Did Superboy have a special power that Robin didn't know about? No. Impossible. Perhaps it was the way Superboy looked and sounded as he pleaded that made him relent and quiver in delight.

Robin's answer made Superboy grin from ear to ear. "Thank you, Rob! You're the greatest."

And just like that, Robin's panic was placated.

Robin coughed. "So before we start, the first thing we require for tonight is... music,"

"Well," Superboy scratched his cheek with his index finger.

"Well, what? You did bring a phone with you now, didn't you?"

Superboy didn't answer but gulped instead while handing over the phone he kept in his jean pocket.

Robin raised a brow as he scrolled down Superboy's playlist. It was filled with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry songs with seemingly unending covered versions and renditions.

Robin just stared at Jon who was sweating and fidgeting under his gaze.

And just like that, Robin tossed the phone behind his back, over the building's rooftop barrier.

With a flash of red and blue, Superboy retrieved his falling phone in a blink of an eye.

"Hey! You could've just told me to download new songs if you didn't like my playlist, you know?"

Robin ignored him and continued. " Show me,"

Superboy raised a brow. "Show you what?"

"Dance. Now."

"Without any music?"

"Without any music."

Superboy's face contorted into an expression of disbelief. "But, I just told you, Rob. I don't know how to dance."

"Well, if you don't show me, how would I even know where to start?" Robin mock yawned into the palm of his glove. "Well it's your call, you could always dance with Damian unprepared tomorrow."

With a few moments of what seemed to be hesitation and deep thinking on Superboy's part, he finally huffed and relented. "Okay, fine."

Superboy closed his eyes and bounced with the balls of his feet--mimicking someone at a rave party only with the energy level of someone who hadn't slept for three days straight--all the while moving his closed fist in the air in circles.

Once Superboy was done, Robin scolded, "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"I- I told you I don't know how to dance!" Superboy said as he was close to tearing up.

Without another word, Robin huffed and took his own phone out of the compartments of his utility belt.

"It seems you need all the help I can offer. Now, let's begin shall we?"

...

Two hours have passed with both boys close to passing out from exhaustion.

Who knew dancing for two hours straight was more tiring than their monthly saving the world escapades?

"You've done adequate, Superboy," Robin announces in between deep breaths.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without you," replied an equally out of breath Superboy.

They both rested and basked in silence at the progress they attained at the seemingly impossible feat.

A few more moments pass by until Robin sees Superboy check his phone. It didn't take a genius to know that Superboy had his eyes widen due to the realization that they both passed his Mom's set curfew time.

"I guess we can call it, a night?"

"Oh no no no no, Superboy," Robin said while taking off one of his gloves. "We have yet to master the most important dance of high school prom."

Robin pauses for dramatic effect.

"The slow dance."

Robin noticed Superboy's eyes grow even wider, his already flushed cheeks turn even redder.

"Slow... dance?"

Robin nods.

"You and me?"

"Certainly. There's no other way of going about it. You do want to impress, Damian tomorrow right?"

Robin smirks. There was no turning back now. Surely, Superboy would say yes. He continues to take off his other glove and tosses them to the side. And of course he wasn't going to waste the opportunity of feeling Superboy's hands on his.

"Y-yeah. Of course."

Bingo

With that, Robin thumbs his phone to play a slow tune. A warm and raspy baritone voice starts reverberating from the speakers followed by the soft melody of the piano accompanied by strings driven by the soft strikes of a hi-hat.

"Here, take my hand."

Superboy took a step closer without a word.

Robin could see the panic in the eyes, and when he took his hand in his, he could feel the rigidness in his stance.

"Relax," Robin commands.

It takes a few seconds but as soon as he felt Superboy lessen the tenseness of his hold, Robin places a firm hand on Superboy's lower back and pulls him closer.

An audible sqeak escaped Superboy's lips and Robin could see his face was comparable to the redness of his cape.

"Your shoulders are too tense, and your muscles are all flexed. Take a deep breath and just relax."

Superboy closed his eyes for a second or two and did as he was told.

"Sorry, I'm just... nervous."

"Understandable."

They both stared at each other for a while, unblinking and unmoving, like they were a permanent fixture of the rooftop.

...Until the honking of a car horn slapped Robin out of the trance.

"Here, it's easy. Let me lead for now."

Superboy gulped and nodded at him.

Both boys started swaying an uncoordinated dance.

There were a lot of multiple stepping on each others' feet , stumbling, and almost-falling, but finally they managed to move in coordination.

They continued their little slow dance until it felt natural.

Everything woul'dve been perfect except for one minor detail: the tension. Neither of them spoke a word and neither of them looked into the other's eyes.

It made Robin think.

In truth, he didn't know why he took this chance. Perhaps, he wanted to get ready for tomorrow's events, but another part of him knew he wanted this day to come earlier than expected.

He got what he wanted but he didn't know what to make of it.

He felt something lacking.

They just continued to sway in the awkwardness of it all.

As the song was about to end and the next song was about to start, Robin heard Superboy huff followed by what he thought was a whisper that said: "for Damian."

Right then and there, Robin felt Superboy tighten his hold and his stance more relaxed. Robin then realized it was Superboy now leading the both of them.

Robin's eyes landed on Superboy's and he felt a jolt of electricity shoot up from the back of his spine. Superboy looked serious, and his eyes buried deep into Robin's.

They both still stayed silent but the slow dance picked up and they were both now making use of more space.

They both drew closer as they moved as one.

Robin didn't think he'd get this close to him. So close that their chests were touching. So close that he could feel Superboy's breath on his. Their faces were mere centimeters apart.

This was what was lacking, Robin thought. The proximity. The gaze and interest of the other. This was what he wanted. To be this close to him not just physically but emotionally. To feel the other's heartbeat on his as if their hearts were one.

The last chorus started and Damian could feel himself slipping.

Deeper.

And deeper.

Until he finally realized this wasn't just infatuation. This wasn't just longing. This was more than a feeling.

Dare he say it?

He knew, he wanted to be in his arms forever.

He wanted to be this close to him every single moment of his life.

He was...

He was in love with his best friend.

He finally admitted it.

And he was fortunate enough that Superboy possibly felt the same way.

Robin stared at Superboy's half mast-eyes getting closer.

And naturally, Robin closed his.

He felt Superboy's breath now even warmer on his lips.

He could feel their faces getting closer to each other.

All Robin wanted to do was to finally express this emotion he's been feeling...

Was this it?

Robin moved in closer until he finally realized that all that warmth he was feeling was now gone.

Robin opened his eyes and he could see the bewildered look on the other boy's face. His eyes were wide and his neck was craned back unnaturally as if kissing Robin was the vilest thing he could think of.

"Superboy?"

"I... I gotta go."

Superboy fumbled and pushed Robin away. He turned and almost tripped as he started running.

"I'm sorry Rob, I'll catch you next time. I..."

Robin watched as Superboy left flying almost hitting one of Gotham's buildings in the clumsiness of his rush.

Robin stood there until the red and blue of Superboy's uniform disappeared into the distance.

He was left cold and numb with thoughts that filled his head.

A flood of questions ran through his mind.

But one statement echoed in the chambers of his mind--Words implied by what Todd said.

"Jon doesn't love you."

Chapter Text

The scenery before him was beyond his expectations.

Damian imagined prom as being surrounded by a sea of inconspicuously-drunken seniors dancing arrhythmically in a cramped space decorated with neon-colored party streamers, under lights so bright it could fool most promgoers into forgetting where they were standing--a place of past traumas--the middle of the gym court.

But who could blame him for having the specific mental imagery, when it was usually the exact picture portrayed in Grayson's movies? Not to mention, the impression Damian received from all the unwanted reminiscences from each of his siblings.

Thankfully, this wasn't just like the movies Damian was forcefully subjected to nor was it any of his siblings' boomer flashbacks.

The venue. The decor. The surroundings. Its entirety exhibited elegance! A fantastical rustic charm. Dare he say, an ambiance that screamed wedding bells and exchanging of vows? Perhaps it was due to the venue being situated miles away from Metropolis in a more nature-dense and woodsy area. Or maybe it was because of all the timbre, stones, and gigantic glass windows that made the structure of the pavilion that they were to dine and dance under. Or even perhaps it was all the floral arrangements and decor illuminated by the endless strings of warm lights zigzagging across the gardens. Whatever it was, the atmosphere gave Damian a sudden vision of marriage and replaced Damian's emotionally constipated heart with one that had messy pools of giddiness mixed in with nervousness.

Well, that was until reality slapped him as he looked right back at his prom date. Jon's face shone with the expression of child-like wonder as he too looked around in awe but the corners of his small smile were being weighed by what Damian guessed was the lingering feelings of what happened between them last night.

Damian couldn't blame him for feeling the way he did. He was plagued by thoughts of what had occurred that night. In fact, he tried ridding his mind of the thoughts that prevented him from sleeping, trying to replace them with optimism and hope.

No matter how small it was, there was still a probability that perhaps he misread the situation that followed the almost-kiss they shared last night.

Who knows? Maybe Superboy was just nervous? Maybe he was just unprepared for taking their relationship a step further. Or maybe Superboy was just one of those types who wanted to wait for their first kiss to be on their wedding day... no, that can't be right, no one could ever resist kissing Robin (a.k.a the most sought-after Wayne heir) given the chance.

But whatever reason Jon had for his reaction, Damian still clung to the idea that he still liked him even though Damian's mind was being clouded by paranoia. A nagging doubt in Damian's mind from Jon's recurring somber smiles. The same smiles that Damian couldn't help but notice ever since a while ago.

It all began at the Manor--Damian was all dressed up and ready, hours before the prom. He was splayed on the couch staring at the ceiling, unmoving. His mind was plagued with an inkling that Jon wasn't going to show up so he spent an hour or two in a catatonic state until he heard Alfred's call, that someone was at the door to see him.

Damian was quick to his feet and dashed to the doors, hoping to see that it was Jon all dressed up for prom, still willing to be prom dates and all. But also, Damian was zooming down the stairs with a swiftness that could match any of the speedsters because he wanted to get to Jon in time before his most dreaded nightmare (apart from Jon lying to him) came to li--

"Hey, you must be Jon."

"Oh, uhm, hi... You must be..."

"Richard, Damian's older brother. It's finally nice to meet you"

Damian cursed under his breath. A second too late.

All he could do now was watch as the commencement of his horrors came to life--Jon meeting his siblings on prom night. Damian was sure he would never hear the end of his brothers' and sisters' teasing and taunting. Now he has to live with the torment starting today.

"Oh! Damian never told me he had an older brother before."

"Why am I not surprised? Well, on the other hand, Dami over here has been non-stop talking about you. In fact, I heard your favorite hero's Nightwing?"

Damian shoved himself in between Jon and Richard before anything more could be said, all the while pushing his older brother back into the Manor.

"Grayson, an urgent circumstance just came up! Father's waiting upstairs. Hurry."

"Oh?, it must be that thing he wanted me to do. I'll be right back." Richard says in a playful but sarcastic tone and heads back inside.

As soon as his older brother stepped back into the Manor, Damian turned back toward Jon and just gawked at the sight of him. Just like their last date, Damian's eyes wandered from the kempt curls of Jon's head to the sleek black leather of Jon's shoes.

After what seemed like an eternity, Damian snapped out of it and saw the smile on Jon's lips. The huge grin on Jon's face, from when he was talking to his brother, was wiped off, and it looked anything but happy.

Damian felt his heart sink.

He wanted to say something but Jon was just looking off to the side into the distance. Before Damian regained the urge to start talking, Richard coughed from behind them.

"So, Bat-- I mean, Bruce, just wanted to let me know that Jon here should come on in and meet the entire family before you guys leave."

Damian glared at Grayson for the obvious lie--that Father said such nonsense-- but soon realized his Father was indeed waiting behind Grayson with an expensive-looking polaroid camera in hand and the rest of Damian's whispering siblings by his side.

And just like that, Jon plastered back on his toothy grin before nervously entering the Manor leaving a brooding Damian by the door.

...

The night played out in an uneventful fashion just like his Father's galas, to say the least.

Just like all those charity balls, Damian spent his time as an observer. Present but non-participating.

Everyone else must have been undergoing the most memorable night of the entirety of their dull teenage years, partaking in dancing and celebrating what's left of their fleeting time into adulthood. Both Damian and Jon on the other hand, spent the whole night glued to their seats, in front of their forgotten half-eaten food, watching their classmates.

Damian felt like time was ticking too fast, yet the anxiety made him feel like time was going on forever. All he could think about was how the night came in an odd slow blur.

All he could remember was their photos being taken upon entering the pavilion. Then the next thing he knew was listening to Colin's opening speech for their class prom. They then proceeded to share a table with both their friends and continued the night by eating a fancy meal. And now they were both alone, watching people dance forty minutes into the set of songs the DJ was playing.

Only a few words were exchanged between the two. Small talk at best.

Hey, are you doing okay?

How do you like the food?

It's getting cold, isn't it?

Sometimes Damian caught Jon looking at him from the side of his eyes only for them to bounce back to the dance floor.

If Damian felt like his regular self, he'd be grinding his teeth by now with impatience. Ready to curse at Jon for ruining what was supposed to be a night that would prove Damian wrong about high school proms.

Damian glanced back down at his phone with the photos Grayson took and sent earlier. The image was him looking into the camera, irritated but embarrassed, and right beside him was Jon with that sad little smile.

Damian sighed. Not bearing to scroll through the other photos Grayson sent. He opted to look at the object that sat in the palm of his other hand instead. It was the peace offering Todd gave him earlier, glinting under the shine of the strobe lights.

"Listen, kid, about what I said a few weeks ago, I can see you're bothered by it.

The words made Damian blink in surprise. Did Todd have the audacity to mock him again? This time in front of Jon? Did he have a death wish?

Damian gritted his teeth and scowled at his older brother followed by denying his claims, pretending his words didn't affect him at all.

But Todd continued anyway. "I was just getting back at you. It was just a joke. But in case he ever hurts you, here." Todd opened his palm to reveal a shard of kryptonite.

Damian didn't want to accept the gift. He had too much pride to even say a word, so all he did was grab it and walked away.

Damian didn't want to admit it, but the gesture tempted him to smile. Todd may bark a lot, but deep down inside, Damian knew he was the most emotional and caring out of all his siblings.

He clutched the small green shard and shoved it into his pocket.

Damian knew he wouldn't be using it any time soon. And besides, he's already equipped with a collection of kryptonite in case of emergencies--he has his Father to thank for emphasizing contingency plans. And in no way Damian would ever hurt Jon. Even if tonight ended up with Jon hurting him.

Damian sighed. If tonight was going to end up horribly, then he'd at least get something out of it.

The song started fading and one of the student faculties tapped on the mic.

Damian looked at Jon one more time, and Jon was still staring elsewhere.

"Before we proceed with the crowning of the prom king and prom queen, here are the last few songs for all the couples to enjoy."

The bright warm lights started to dim and change into hues of deep blues, pinks, and purples. A synth started playing followed by the strums of an electric guitar. A smooth and high-pitched voice started singing harmoniously along with the instruments.

This was perfect timing.

Damian stood up in a rush, almost knocking his chair back. His heart was pounding and his breath hitched. He had his hand stretched outward toward Jon and gave the best smile he could muster.

It was now or never. It was do or die.

"Care to dance, Jonathan?"

Jonathan blinked once. Then twice. Then a tide of panic started to rise in Jonathan's eyes.

A sea of murmurs picked up as people started noticing and Damian couldn't do anything but wait for eternity for his hand to be taken.

"Dami... I--I..."

Before Damian could say anything else, Jonathan gets up.

"I'm sorry,"

Damian was paralyzed. He could only watch as Jon rushed out of the pavilion and out of his sight, leaving him at the center of tonight's spotlight.

The whispers got louder and now everyone was staring at him and gawking at him.

There was nothing else to do but chase after Jon.

Chapter Text

Damian's lats, shoulders, and forearms were screaming in pure agony!

People always had the metaphorical idea that crossing oceans for someone is the grandest gesture of love, but to Damian, it isn't comparable to an hour of non-stop swinging on a grappling hook for miles on end. All that build-up of lactic acid in his muscles proves it.

But don't get him wrong, he isn't weak. This would have been a fairly rigorous workout at best if it wasn't for getting used to all those piggyback rides and being carried around by a certain Kryptonian. He could say, he did take advantage of that special treatment and the quick-and-easy logistics thanks to being partners with a metahuman. But consequently, it's gotten him too soft, as his mother would point out without fail every time they met.

However, he was certain that a month from now, he would be looking at his mother with pride because, after today, he would make up for the lack of that rigorous training, and he swore by it. Because by the end of the night, with much certainty, Superboy wasn't going to be by his side any longer. (And it wasn't to fit the cliche narrative of wanting to improve yourself after a breakup just so you could show your ex you're doing amazing without them. No, not one bit!)

Yes, everything was going back to the way it used to be. Independent. Self-sufficient. Secure.

In no way was this the end of Damian Wayne's world. In fact, it was the start of it.

Everything was going to be okay...

Eventually.

After asking Jon what had gone wrong, Damian would tell him off and say not liking him back was the biggest mistake of his life. Then he'd proceed to leave him without looking back. After that, Damian would go through a metamorphosis while waiting out this rollercoaster of emotions he's been feeling: the boiling anger from the embarrassment of being stood up to the dance, the confusion of it all, and mostly the deep despondency and sorrow that he's been trying to shrug off from the realization that Jon's probability of having romantic feelings for him is null. And it was all right. He knew it was too good to be true anyway.

But on top of it all, Damian was bothered by the questions in his head.

Why?

Despite being the second-greatest detective, this whole situation didn't make any sense. Jon confesses to Robin for having these secret feelings for Damian. Then Damian finds out that Jon knew who he was all this time. Then comes both rejections he received in yesterday's dance practice and during tonight's prom dance.

And that was why he was chasing after Jon, for the answers to the perplexing questions, and most certainly not because he had feelings for him.

Thankfully, the tracking device finally points to Jon's location--a few blocks away, on top of the same building where Jon had confessed his feelings.

Besides the answers and the cramping muscles, Damian needed to rush because he hadn't even had the time to change into his Robin uniform. His Father would ban him from patrol duties for a year if some random Gothamite spotted him and shouted Oh, my God! Is that the one and only, Damian Wayne, son of Billionaire Bruce Wayne, swinging all graceful atop the tall buildings looking all handsome in that perfectly tailored suit? I wonder who's the lucky damsel in distress he's off swinging to.

...

With one final climb, Damian finally stood atop where Jon was hiding, and of course, it had to be one of the tallest buildings in Gotham. He spotted his runaway prom date sitting on the opposite side of the building still in his prom attire.

It seemed Jon was too enamored with the sight that surrounded them for him to notice he wasn't alone anymore. He was probably looking off into the horizon of the city of Gotham thinking of tonight's events. Probably laughing at this one big joke of a goose chase he formulated.

Damian walked forward until he was close enough for Jon to notice. Oh, how ready he was to look at him coldly and give him the finger. But a glimpse of Jon's glossy blues that were now surrounded by puffy pinks and reds was enough to make Damian stop in his tracks.

Has he been crying?

"Damian? What are you doing here? How'd you--"

Damian was frozen. He had imagined throwing all these obscene profane words at the other boy but now he was left speechless. Why was Jon crying?. He continued to walk but with more caution until he finally sat beside Jon. It was his turn to stare at the scattered colored dots of lights littered under the dark sky.

He felt something twist and turn in his chest like he was being pinched from the inside. Had he done something to hurt his best friend? Of course he had. Deep down inside he knew--Jon had been too caught up in this prank of his that he didn't know when to stop, and now their friendship was at stake because of it.

He didn't know what to say. All he could spout out of his mouth was, "It's okay Jon, I get it. I know you don't have feelings for me," in a defeated tone.

Damian expected Jon to stand up and interject and proclaim his love, to tell him he was wrong, but he was only met with the whispers of the night's breeze.

They both stayed silent, sitting over the building, legs dangling and swinging in the thick awkward air.

It took another few minutes before Jon replied.

"I... I do like you D."

Damian's heart skipped a beat but he knew it was false hope. How he wanted Jon to like him in a romantic way, but he knew it was only in a hey-I'm-not-actually-gay-and-I-was-just-pranking-you-bro-we're-nothing-more-than-friends kind of way... just like in some of Grayson's movies...

Before Damian could interject, Jon continued. "Don't get me wrong. I like you a lot. More than a friend even."

Jon's words got Damian to look up toward him with scrunched eyebrows.

"Then why?" Damian whispered.

"I-- I think I've fallen for somebody else. No, I've really liked them for a while now I just thought things between us couldn't go beyond something more than friendship."

Yet again, the possibility of being with Jon was too good to be true...

Wait, did he just say someone stole his heart while dating THE Damian Wayne?

All the sadness and melancholy left Damian's system. He could feel the tips of his teeth get sharper as he ground them together from the pure hot wrath coursing in his veins. But hey, he could now make good use of them by biting off the arms of whoever stole his future husband's heart.

He towered over Jon who was sitting. Imminent panic was all over the other boy's face.

"Is it Georgia?"

"What, no--"

"Kathy Brendan!?"

"Of course not! And besides, you told me she liked you."

"Is it Colin!?"

"I--"

"FUCK, I knew it had to be Colin! I knew he was too handsome, charming, and absolutely dashing for his own good!" Damian was gripping his hair with all his strength.

"For frick's sake, D! Stop swearing! And It's not Colin, okay? What is it with you and that guy anyway?"

"Then who might it be, Jon!? Who has stolen your heart when I already had it in my grasp?"

They were now both standing on the edge of the building. Damian was staring into Jon who was avoiding his gaze.

"I... I can't tell you."

"Oh please!? I could easily find out who stole your heart and plan thirty-five different ways to make whoever that person's life into a living--"

"I-it's confidential..."

"And why on earth would it be confidential? Have you two been seeing each other behind my back? Have you two been dating all this time?" Damian gasps. "Are you cheating on me, Jonathan?"

"No. It's not like that..."

"Then what?"

Jon shuts his eyes and huffs out a big breath.

"It's confidential because I need to protect his identity. Because he's a superhero as well. You have no idea, D. If Batman finds out, I'm dead!"

Why would his Father be included in this mess... unless... UNLESS..."

"Don't tell me. N--N-N-Nightwing?"

To Damian's relief, the assumption made Jon's face turn and twist in disgust.

"WHAT!? Why would you think that? He's like... He's like ancient!"

"Then why in the world would Batman be involved?"

"Fine! I'll tell you, D. It's my partner, Robin! I... I've liked him this whole time."

Damian suddenly froze with his eyebrows pinched even closer together with his jaw slacked wide open.

"I thought it would be impossible for him to like me back... I eventually moved on and found myself falling for you. Then, last night, I asked him to teach me how to dance. Those feelings started resurfacing and I just tried to ignore them."

Damian didn't say a word. He was speechless.

"Then something happened... I thought... I thought I was imagining things, he was just staring at me, all silent. The next thing I knew, he was leaning forward like he was about to kiss me, then he leaned in even closer. I didn't kiss him back of course! I would never do that. Because... because I want to be with you, D."

Jon shook the rattled Damian by the shoulders.

"But I still felt I betrayed you. That's why I was acting all strange earlier. I was scared and confused that I would either lose one of you. You're both very important to me. Then when you asked me to dance, all I felt was guilt and more confusion. I felt like I was going to betray Robin too. So I ran. But believe me D, I like you, and I still do. But I just... I don't know what to do."

It took a few more sparks in Damian's head to get the engines working from all the words Jon just spouted. Damian connected all the dots and that's when all the realization came crashing down. Jon was acting! He was still playing the game. He was trying to let him finally relent and just admit who he truly was. And now Jon had won, because he's led Damian into a checkmate because Damian had no more moves left in his arsenal to win this..

Damian's anger was boiling over at the bitter defeat. But there was something else beneath all that rage--Relief.

Damian felt Relief.

Jon still had feelings for him and him alone!

Damian didn't know whether to scream or praise the heavens in jubilation. He smiled. He sighed. He scowled. He scrunched his eyebrows together. He smiled again. He turned toward Jon. He turned his back toward him. The cycle repeated itself until Damian finally got his thoughts and emotions back in order.

All he needed to do was admit defeat--then Jon was his!

With much exasperation, he shouted. "Fine!"

"Fine?"

"You win, Jonathan. I apologize! Are you happy?"

"Apologize?"

Jon was still playing dumb and it irritated Damian to no end, but if Jon wanted to gloat and rub salt into the wounds more by still pretending, then so be it. He may have lost the game but at least he hadn't lost Jon's feelings for him. And that's all that mattered. So he let down the minuscule size of pride that was in his heart during all this time and finally relented (because he was humble like that).

"Yes, okay? I'm sorry. You win. Can we stop playing this game already?"

"Game? I... I'm sorry D, but I'm kinda lost."

Damian swore he was going to pull all his hair out if this continued any further.

"Fine! I'm Robin. I'm Damian. Robin is Damian. And Damian is Robin. There! Are you happy now? It was me the whole time. And I'm sorry for lying to you. I was in a difficult and confusing circumstance and I--"

"Wait, wait wait wait wait. Hold on a second, you're telling me you were Robin this whole time?"

Damian huffed. "Of course, I'm Robin. Who else could I be aside from Robin and THE one and only Damian Wayne?"

"The same Robin I fight crime with?" Jon said in between deep breaths.

"Yes!" Damian hissed.

"The youngest Robin?"

"We've already established that Jo--"

Wait, why was he asking all these questions? Why did Jon look genuinely confused? Could it be?

"You... you never did have a clue did you?"

Jon didn't know it was him this whole time? But he was so sure... And Grayson said...

Jon didn't answer him and Damian noticed a sudden shift of air. He could see Jonathan straighten his back and ball his fists. The air turned thick and deadly. He also noticed Jonathan's breathing was getting quick and shallow.

"Jonathan, is... is everything okay?"

Not that Damian would admit it, but he gulped at the sudden change in Jonathan's demeanor. For the first time in his life, he felt... scared. He had no clue what to do.

At first, he double-guessed himself. In no way Jon would've been this mad at him. But it wasn't until Jonathan's eyes started glowing red that he confirmed it.

"Hold on Jon, as team leader of the Super Sons, I demand you take a step back! Relax and take a deep breath."

Jon seemed to pay no heed to Damian's command and took a step forward instead.

Why was Jonathan mad at him? This was all Grayson and Todd's doing! What was Jon mad at him for? Damn Grayson, and Todd. He knew he shouldn't have asked for help, he knew he was right! He knew Jon didn't know his secret identity! What a couple of idiots his brothers were. If Jon would spare him from his wrath he'd make sure that Grayson and Todd get a beating of their li-- "oomph"

Before Damian knew it, the air in his lungs was being squeezed out because Jon tackled him into a death grip. Damian couldn't escape Jon's coiled steel arms. He was left kicking and flailing like a cat that didn't want to be carried.

This was the end. And it was all due to the fact he didn't trust his own instincts.

He wanted to apologize once more but all the breath was knocked out of him. Now Jonathan was going to kill him. Because of his lies. Because of not telling him straight from the beginning. He hurt Jon and now he was being punished for it.

Damian felt the earth spinning around beneath his feet. He was certain Jon was spinning like a corkscrew up into the air to disorient him. Then he'd finally drop him to his death. What a way to go! Death by his beloved's hands.

But unknown to Jon, Damian did have an escape option, and that was to use the shard of kryptonite that Todd gave him as a peace offering earlier. It wasn't enough to kill Jon but it was enough to buy Damian some time to flee from him.

Damian shoved his hand into his breast pocket and gripped the kryptonite in his hand. All that was left was to use it as a weapon...

He held it so tight he could feel the pain in his palm from the object's irregular jagged edges.

It was life or death!

But no... he couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't want to do it. This whole thing was his fault. He should have been honest from the beginning. He should have given up his pride and confessed to Jon but he was scared. He feared Jon liked Damian and not Robin but most of all he was afraid of losing Jon when he confessed he was Robin.

But now... Had he known Jon liked Robin too...

It was all too late. He had no more options left and he didn't want to hurt Jon any more than he had. He just had to accept the outcome of his mistake.

Damian let go of the kryptonite.

All he could do now was hope for the best.

The spinning slowed down and all Damian could see were the tiny dots that made the city lights below them. Gotham never looked so beautiful.

He could hear Jon's laser eyes going off behind the protective eyeglasses he always wore.

Was Jon so angry that he was going to use his powers against him as well?

Damian gulped, bracing himself for what was to come, but he never could have guessed the next thing he'd hear.

It was laughter.

The sweet sound of Jon's laughter--not in mockery but one that held a pitch of pure joy and elation.

Damian shifted his eyes to Jon's beaming face. It was then he realized Jon wasn't giving him a death grip and neither was he planning on dropping Damian to his death. Instead, he was wrapped in a warm embrace. In something Damian didn't want to admit he craved more than anything at this very moment-- Jon's warm and secure embrace.

He couldn't believe what was happening. The whole situation was so surreal--something that could only happen in dreams.

It took a few more moments before Jon calmed down from what seemed to be an outburst of a happy celebration. The red in his eyes too shifted in hue and was now staring at Damian with those familiar blues. Damian looked deep into them and into what they carried--endearment.

"What the hell are you doing, Jonathan!? Put me down this instant!"

Jon squeezed him once more before slowly descending them both until their feet were planted back on the rooftop.

"You were Robin this whole time... It was you this whole time," Jon whispered into the night air. The corner of his lips rose to heights Damian has never seen on the boy's face before.

Whack!

"Ow!" Jonathan cried in pain.

"Of course, it was me, idiot! How could you have not known!?"

Damian continued to rain his balled-up fists on Jon who was now holding up his arms to defend himself.

"D, stop! I didn't know okay. I couldn't have known!"

"How could you have not? It was so obvious!"

"You never gave me any clues!"

"You didn't need any clues! You could have easily known just by my personality alone."

"No way! Damian's way nicer than Robin. And Damian's way more intellectually smug than Robin! and and and--"

BONK

"Ow!"

"Shut up! What about my hair? Height? Skin complexion?"

"I wouldn't have guessed. You look so different in your Robin uniform compared to your usual expensive taste in fashion!"

"And what about my voice?"

"You're way more squeaky sounding as Damian!"

"WHAT!? THAT'S ABSURD. MY VOICE IS IN NO WAY SQUEAKY."

"Ow ow ow." Jon cried out as Damian began to hit him even harder.

"You can see through things Jonathan!? You could have easily seen through my domino mask!"

"Dad said never to use my powers to strip one's rights to privacy. Especially on teammates. And besides, Batman made those things x-ray vision proof... not that I've used my x-ray vision on you or anything..."

Damian yelled some more until he found himself gasping for air from the exhaustion of pounding his fists on Jonathan's skull of steel.

After a few moments of Damian's pause, Jon stopped shielding his face to reveal that he was smiling.

"And what are you smiling on about?"

Jon shook his head before a blush crept up. "Did I-- umm. Did I worry you, D?"

Damian folded his arms together and turned to face away. "That's preposterous. Of course not, everything was falling into place. As always, my plan was working fine."

This made Jon chuckle.

"What!?"

"It's nothing D. I'm just glad."

Damian unfolded his arms and dropped them to his side.

"Glad?"

"Yeah," Jon whispered. "I'm glad. I really thought I'd lose you. Well, either Damian or Robin... I didn't want to lose any of them... I mean, you get the idea."

The words caught Damian off-guard. Jonathan liked him either way and it made his heart all giddy. But there was also a lingering pain from the guilt of whatever he made Jonathan go through.

"Listen, Jon, I... I'd just like to apologize for not informing you sooner. I should have told you who I was from the beginning. I was just... anxious. Anxious that your feelings for me would go away once you knew who I really was. I--"

"Yeah you're right, D. You should have told me from the start..."

Damian looked into Jonathan's face. If Jon wanted space to think things through with how this all panned out, he would understand.

"But you know what, I think you're also right. I should have known better. I should've known it was you this whole time. I mean, things could have been way more interesting if I knew." Jon smirked.

Damian raised his eyebrows in surprise. He expected Jon to take this way more seriously but he was glad that he didn't.

"Well, on the brighter side, at least we know you have great taste." Damian winked. "I mean, it's comprehensible you couldn't choose between both Robin and Damian Wayne."

Jon rolled his eyes at the comment.

And without skipping a beat, both boys started laughing. Laughing at each other. Laughing at the absurd predicament they've been through. And laughing at both their stupidity.

Oh, how it finally felt like a sip of cool and fresh water right after a long arduous night of patrolling Gotham to be laughing with Jon without any of the guilt and anxiety. He was glad everything turned out all right. He was happy that there was no anger or resentment between the both of them.

Damian promised there would be no more lies and no more deceit.

He would never forgive himself if he lost Jon for something so trivial.

"So, what now?" Jonathan asked with a big grin on his face.

"Well, the night's still too young for patrol... maybe you'd want to..." Damian took his phone out of his breast pocket and pressed a few buttons. "...continue where we left off."

Damian showed his phone screen to Jonathan to reveal a playlist of songs.

"May I have this dance, Jonathan?"

Damian smiled as Jon's face lit up even more. He placed the phone on the ledge as the music started playing while Jon adjusted his glasses and dusted the sleeves of his tailored jacket.

The music began to mingle with the soft sounds of Gotham traffic while the evening wind started to encircle them as if telling them this dance was meant to be.

Both of them hesitated before holding onto each other. Jon's posture felt stiffer than last night and Damian could understand why. He was finally dancing with Jon with the knowledge of certainty--that Jon was a hundred percent his and he was a hundred percent Jon's, and that Jon must have been feeling the same way.

"Don't worry. Think of it like last night. Like we're just practicing." Damian smiled, and Jon smiled back.

He felt Jon relax, and in no time they fell into the beat and got lost with each other.

They held each other close as the music drifted them into their own private little prom.

Gotham lights were all around them and a few of the stars dangled and blinked for them as they swayed in the chilly air.

They continued to dance, talk, and laugh, and before they knew it the final song was playing. The same slow song they danced to last night.

Damian looked into the eyes of Jon who was staring back at him with much more confidence and clarity compared to last night and a while ago's prom.

Damian couldn't have imagined a better night. It was better than any amusement ride, any fancy dinner, any visit to the museum, or any walk in the park. This was perfect.

Jonathan giggled which brought Damian out of the dream-like state.

"Did I happen to miss a beat?"

Jonathan shook his head. "No, I'm just really happy."

Damian smiled. "For me as well."

"All this time it was you... I've fallen for you twice, and I'm sure these feelings I have... is for nobody else but you."

Damian's heart melted at the words but he was distracted because he knew what was coming next. This time he didn't need a detailed plan for it to happen, nor did he have to lie to Jon, or worry about how Jon would react. He stood on his tiptoes and received what he'd been dreaming of ever since he knew what he was feeling for Jon. He pushed his lips onto his and ended their dance with a kiss. It was not too short and not too long yet it could've lasted for an eternity, it was gentle yet secure, it was soft yet passionate--It was everything Damian imagined it to be.

The kiss finally ended and they both just stayed grinning and staring into each other like a couple of idiots until the final notes of the last song played.

Soon, their smiles faded as they heard Jon's phone alarm beep.

"Oh, I guess it's time for Patrol." Jon shrugged and gave Damian a small smile.

Damian watched as Jon struggled to unbutton his shirt revealing the top blue red and yellows of his uniform.

Damian grabbed his Domino mask in one of his Jacket's hidden compartments and stopped Jon midway.

"You know what? Perhaps, we can let the other heroes take care of tonight's duties." Damian wore the Domino mask and then proceeded to hold his hand out. "Care to dance?"

At first, Jon looked confused. Then he finally shrugged and laughed. "Again? Well, I'd love to."

As Jon was about to take his hand, Robin swatted it away.

"No, not with you."

Jon gave him a look of confusion until Robin had both of his hands out by the sides of his head.

Robin gently took the glasses off Jon's head and secured them in his breast pocket.

"This time, I'm asking Superboy to dance with me."

"Oh! Well, don't mind if I do Robin."

Robin smirked.

As Robin was about to hold Superboy's hand, Superboy interjects. "But on one condition."

It was Robin's turn to be confused.

"What?"

"This time, we're using my playlist."

Before Robin could have complained his way out of this, the guitar riff to Superboy's song began playing while he started hopping on the balls of his feet while pumping a fist up into the air as he had done before last night's practice.

Robin shook his head and laughed as he followed and mimicked Superboy's dumb little dance.

The music blared and they danced to the beat.

Yes, this was as perfect as Damian could have ever pictured it.

...

People stared at Damian as he walked to the entrance steps of the school building but he didn't care. He tapped his index finger in his pocket while listening to the song Superboy had them dance to, using his earpods.

You make me... na na na na na na.

...Teenage dream...

...I can't sleep.

Na na na na and don't ever look back. Don't ever look back."

He sang and hummed quietly to himself.

He trudged through the school corridors with only one thing in mind--to find his boyfriend before they began classes together.

Damian wondered what classes would be like now that Jonathan knew who he was.

And speaking of which, he spotted Jonathan by the lockers with a pair of eyeglasses that didn't quite fit him right. To Damian's guess, Jon borrowed his Father's eyeglasses since Damian forgot to return them from last night's dance.

Damian rummaged through his bag to fish out the black-framed pair of eyeglasses.

As he had the accessory in hand he looked at them and it made him smile. Their whole dilemma revolved around Damian's disguise that concealed the eyes and yet it was funny how Superman and Superboy relied on these little see-through accessories to disguise their civilian selves.

Damian put the glasses on and slid by his boyfriend.

"Hey there, Kent, or should I say Superboy?" Damian adjusted the pair of eyeglasses while giving Jon a wink. "Looking for something?"

Damian had to take a small pause since his boyfriend was looking at him with what seemed to be suspicion and fear in his eyes.

"W-w-who are you? And how do you know I'm Superboy?"

"Really, Jonathan?"