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Damian blinked against the suddenly bright afternoon sun. The world felt stale, strange, unnatural in a way he couldn’t quite understand. He was in Titans Tower, overlooking the gleaming and pristine city on an annoyingly cheerful day, and yet...
Something nagged on the edge of his consciousness, like a nightmare he couldn't quite remember but chased after nonetheless. What unnerved him so? Just what had he been thinking, and why couldn't he remember what day it was?
"Okay, kiddo." Grayson entered the shared living space of the tower, pulling on his jacket and grabbing his motorcycle keys off the side table. "You need anything before I head out?"
What a ridiculous question. As if Damian needed to be asked about his wants and needs like a sniveling, coddled child, and yet...yet...
Damian turned from the window and all but lunged at Grayson, who took a half-step back but didn't disengage. The idiot. If Damian had wanted, he could have swiped with any number of weapons on his person and all but gutted his hapless brother. Instead, against Damian’s better judgment, he gave into some nonsensical whim and slammed into Grayson's midsection, earning him a low grunt.
Damian's arms trapped Grayson's body in an irrationally tight embrace, and he hid his face in the muscular chest. That way, he wouldn't have to see Grayson’s shocked expression.
Grayson's arms wrapped about Damian's shoulders easily, naturally, like they'd been waiting for Damian to lower his inhabitations. And Damian simply provided silent acquiescence as he stayed in Grayson's absurdly warm and comforting hold.
Grayson. Richard. His brother. The person he'd broken his promise to Raven for. The one person, out of the entire planet, he was willing to break the rules of nature and mortality to save, and yet here Richard stood, kind and loving and so many things Damian didn't want to admit he craved and needed, like a weakling. Like a child.
Longer than Damian cared to admit, he finally found the will to pull away from Richard's tender embrace and wiped the stubborn tears that had somehow wet his cheeks.
"My...apologies, Richard. I had a temporary lapse in emotional maturity. It will not happen again."
Richard looked sad, even pained, his hands twitching at his side like he wanted to reach out to Damian again. "I kinda like temporary lapses in emotional maturity."
Of course, Richard would.
"And wanting physical reinforcement or a physical expression of affection isn't immature, Damian. I would even say it's a sign of maturity to express your emotions and allow others to express their affection for you in return."
"Affection?" Damian rolled his eyes. "Next, you're going to tell me that humans need emotional connections or even something as frivolous as love to survive."
Richard laughed, light and full of mirth, and it was the best sound Damian had ever heard. What was wrong with him?
"I won't tell you that," Richard replied, telegraphing his movements as he placed a hand on Damian's shoulder and squeezed. "What I will tell you is that feeling emotions and expressing them with people you trust is healthy mentally and otherwise."
How did Richard survive to be twenty-four? And why had Damian made his own personal mission to see him survive another twenty-four years and beyond?
"Where are you headed?" Probably someplace foolish. Richard liked to go off on his own, even when he had a team or Damian here to provide backup.
Richard ruffled his hair; he was lucky he kept that hand. "Just heading to Gotham. Bruce asked for my help on a case. Want to tag along?"
Like a lost puppy or a sidekick? Absolutely not but for some reason, Damian refused to let Richard out of his sight. "I will accompany you. There’s no telling what sort of trouble you and Father can get into when left to your own devices."
Richard tucked Damian under his arm and against his side. “I knew you cared, kiddo. Now why don’t you pack a bag, and I’ll go tell…”
As Richard prattled on, like he usually did, Damian only hoped Richard would never know just how deep his affection went, just how far Damian was willing to go to save one of the only people who actually loved him and whom Damian returned the sentiment.
Damian shivered as he purged the last remaining shred of the all-but-forgotten nightmare from his thoughts.
“Kiddo, seriously, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Damian grit and stopped himself from cutting off the hand that was now pressed against his forehead. “Perhaps you can refrain from acting like a mother hen for longer than five minutes.”
“I could, but then you might take over the world or take on Darkseid or something. I feel it’s my duty to keep you from making decisions you might regret.”
“Hm. I already regret this conversation.”
“Go get your stuff,” Richard laughed. “If you’re not downstairs in five minutes, I’m leaving without you.”
He wouldn’t dare, and when Damian arrived seven minutes later, Richard was leaning against his bike, no doubt texting Father about the change in plans. He pocketed his phone and smiled - no, beamed - at Damian.
And all was right in Damian’s world.
The End