Chapter Text
If there was one thing Jonathan Kent knew about the Bats, it's how protective they are with each other. They were knit together like a tapestry. Even the sweetest of the bunch like Stephanie and Duke were always guarding each other, even if it meant crossing some boundaries. Tim was especially bad at hooking security cameras all over the Young Justice and Teen Titans headquarters and keeping track of each member. Thankfully, Tim was polite enough to warn them ahead of time, but this still weirded out a majority of the members.
One would think, out of all the Bats, Nightwing/Dick Grayson was the least paranoid when it came to being protective. The truth was he was better at hiding it. As a police officer of Bludhaven, he had eyes all over the city, Gotham and places no one would think he'd have. Damian was the only one that knew this from his times working with Dick Grayson back when he wore the cowl. Dick was just as protective as the Batman himself, only with the power to arrest anyone he deemed a threat as Officer Grayson.
Jason was much more honest about how protective he was over his team and family. When it comes to being protective, he will let it be known and speak it to the class. He didn't need to set up spy cameras or oversee anything, because his build and being the only member to use guns already made him a bigger threat than everyone else. The Bats followed a code while Jason didn't.
Batman, of course, was considered the most paranoid of them all. At least that's what many would think. He had eyes and cameras all over the globe on his Bat Computer. He could read anyone with just a glance. If he deemed anyone a threat, he'd just give them a look to remind them of who it was they were speaking to. He's the Batman! If that isn't a threat then Jon would be George Clooney. However, even THE Batman wasn't the most paranoid or threatening member of them all. Not even Jason.
Jon had been around the Bats long enough to know that Damian Wayne was the most paranoid, terrifying and threatening one of them all. Even at age thirteen, when he kidnapped Jon and strapped him to a table, there was no doubt that Damian would not follow any rules or codes if he deemed anyone even just a mere threat. It only took Jon accidentally killing a cat with his heat vision before Damian deemed him a threat. To his credit, he was not wrong.
It was since that day that Jon began learning just how paranoid and overprotective Damian can get when he least expects it. Damian set up cameras everywhere, in Jon's room, house – not including the restrooms, on the farm, watching from the satellites owned by Batman and they have only increased over the years. Jon still remembers finding Damian at his school imposing as his teacher before changing his mask as his bus driver because Jon was dealing with bullies at school. Damian only agreed to go to the same private school as Jon to keep a close eye on him.
That paranoia began making sense once Jon came face to face with Damian's mother, Talia Al Ghul. Just his mere existence was enough to make Jon and his family a target to the League of Shadows. Damian hardly considered anyone his friends, but when he did, he'd be close to the hip. Damian would always pose Jon as the world's greatest threat, but equally his closest friend he would never stop giving his life for.
Perhaps, that was when Jon began understanding him a little better. Just knowing Damian would be the first to protect him from the Teen Titans and his own family showed his dedication to Jon. However, he would find out very quickly that when it came to shovel talks , Damian was much more terrifying and subtle than anyone in the Bat Family. It was during those times that Jon was constantly reminded how terrifyingly paranoid Damian could get. It all started with Salina Kyle.
Batman and Catwoman had been going back and forth for many years, even before Damian stepped foot into the Wayne Manor. Even so, he knew how his father operated when it came to love . They say love is blind and Batman was not up to par on his detective skills when it came to the women he genuinely fell in love with. Talia Al Ghul was proof of this. It was for this reason that Jon found Damian in their Fortress of Attitude making plans to set a warning for Salina.
“Dami, is this really necessary? I'm pretty sure your father has cameras around this place anyway and is likely watching you doing this right now ,” Jon sighed, leaning against the wall.
“Incorrect. I made sure to put the cameras on loop. Father thinks I'm working out in the training room,” Damian stated, drawing some blueprints of the Wayne Manor on paper. “This is just to make sure Ms. Kyle doesn't try anything funny or steal my father's fortune while she's eloping with him.”
“Damian, living with your lover isn't eloping ,” Jon stated, not holding back a laugh. “And I'm pretty sure Batman knows Selina is a professional cat burglar. They've known each other since before either of us were even born.”
“Yet, his heart was swoon so easily by Mother, who is the daughter of the Demon Head. Jonathan, love makes people stupid. It releases three chemicals into your body that work like an addicting drug. Father is smart in a lot of things, but not when he's in love. That's why I must step in and make sure his beloved knows her place. Unlike Mother, she is NOT my mother. She is my father's beloved and a notorious burglar in Gotham.”
“What are you going to do, kidnap her, strap her to a table, scare her with half her life still intact?” Jon asked disapprovingly as Damian sent a glare his way. “I'm just saying. I think you're being a little paranoid about this.”
In just a few seconds, Jon found himself pinned against the wall by Damian's strong arm, despite his short size. Damian glared darkly, “Let me tell you something, Kent. The moment you call me paranoid is the moment when your worst fears come to life. Let me remind you who it was that saved your life when an evil version of Tim put a target on you.”
Jon sighed, gazing his eyes away. Despite his paranoia, Damian was right about him being a threat, yet still protected him with his life. Damian continued, “Salina may not be a threat to Father's life, but she is a threat to his heart . Never underestimate that. The moment your knees weaken at those doe eyes and pretty face, you've already given your soul to the devil.”
Jon sighed, knowing there was no changing Damian's mind. Damian released Jon, continuing with his plans, but not before Jon asked, “Just promise me that, if you're going to give Salina the shovel talk, to not scare her too much? She might not be considered a mother to you, but she is someone that makes your father happy. Isn't that what you want?”
“Of course, I do. That's why I'm doing this,” Damian promised, then turned to Jon. “What is shovel talk ?”
“Shovel talk? You've never heard of it?” Jon asked as Damian turned his face away with a click of his tongue. “That's when you threaten your friend's or family's lover with violence that is intended or not. Like, 'if you hurt my friend, I will break you' sort of thing.”
“Ah. Yes, I suppose this would be called a shovel talk . However, talking will not be necessary. She just needs to be reminded of who I am,” Damian smirked slightly as Jon groaned, hoping this didn't turn out badly.
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Damian made good with his plans. That morning, he waited until Salina got out of bed, knowing she'd awaken first before his father. No one at Wayne Manor was a morning person, not even Damian, but he had learned to adapt to waking up earlier than usual when necessary under the League or during his sleepovers with Jon. Salina was getting herself some tea, only to find a cup already made with the amount of milk and sugar she usually puts in her cup. Her eyes darted toward Damian, who was sitting at the table drinking his cup without her knowledge.
“Good morning. I didn't see you there,” Salina greeted with a smile.
“Tt,” Damian responded, drinking his tea. “You always wake up at this hour getting the same cup of tea with a spoonful of sugar and a splash of milk.”
“Hm, quite the detective just like your father.”
“Father has security cameras all over the manor. Everything that goes on here is recorded in the Bat Computer and connected to my phone.”
“I... see,” Selina said, sensing the uneasiness.
“I normally don't wake up this early. I was in the mood today,” Damian said, drinking the last of his tea before leaving on his way to his father's study. “Pennyworth will be awake soon to make breakfast. In the meantime, I'll be watching .”
“Hm... I'll keep that in mind, Boy Wonder,” Selina replied with her signature smile.
“I mean it. I'm just as much the grandson of the Demon Head as I am the son of the Bat,” Damian stated as Selina, knowing about Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter.
“Yes, I believe your father has told me about your mother.”
“Mother lied to my father. Said that she miscarried me when she had placed me in a tube to relieve herself of having to carry me. Father is one of the smartest people I know, but not when it comes to the heart. He became ignorant when it came to my mother,” Damian said.
“... I'm very sorry. Bruce considers his days with her a touchy subject,” Salina replied sympathetically. “Are you afraid I will do that to your father?”
“Tt,” Damian clicked his tongue. “Mother's made bad decisions in life. She was in no better state than I was when I first came to live here. There is one difference between you and Mother.” Selina raised her eyebrows. “You're NOT my mother.” Damian turned and smiled. “Enjoy your tea.” From there he turned and left.
Selina watched the boy leave, feeling the uneasy aura before looking down at her tea with raised eyebrows. Damian went out of his way to use the foam to create a picture of a black cat pressing its paw on a bat while a robin was flying down to peck the cat by the neck. The warning was very clear. It made the cat smile before drinking her tea. It seems Damian was just as paranoid as his father and Selina couldn't help but find it charming. No doubt the boy would make good on his threat if Selina ever did hurt Bruce.
At the very least, Damian was much easier on Selina. The only threat Damian posed her to be was a cat burglar that went after jewels and fortune. No doubt she enjoyed the idea of marrying into money and living with it. If his father wanted to spend whatever fortune on a cat burglar, that was his business. The only threat the cat had was loving his money and taking it from under his nose. Starfire, on the other hand.
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Jon was naive to think Damian's paranoia over Catwoman was overkill. Just only about a year later, once the moment News came that Kori had got back together with Dick Grayson, Damian began setting his plans into motion. This time, he didn't bother making them in the Fortress of Attitude. He wanted to be sure no one , not his father or Tim Drake, could turn off the loops or suspect he was up to something. This is what led to Jon finding Damian making plans inside his closet. If only he wasn't making this up.
“Damian, get out of my closet,” Jon groaned impatiently.
“Not until I'm done with these blueprints for my super secret mission,” Damian said from the other side of Jon's closet door.
“You mean your plans for your shovel ta- mph?” Jon asked annoyedly before Damian opened the closet door and covered his mouth.
“Shhhh you big mouth. I still have cameras in this room that Drake could hack into if he wanted.”
Jon snatched Damian's hand from his mouth, asking, “I wonder whose fault that is, Creep?”
“Tt come here then if you want to talk about this,” Damian whispered, pulling Jon into his closet, closing the door, then turning on his mini light. There were pictures, maps of the Titans Tower, coordinates to Koriand'r's house, marks of every place Kori went to and videos on a laptop of every place Kori had gone to. This was starting to dive into stalker territory.
“Dami, you're my best friend and I get you're just worried about Dick, but don't you think this is a little extreme?” Jon asked in a quiet tone. However, calling it a little extreme would be a huge understatement.
“Of course it isn't! Do you have any idea about Tamaran or how powerful their people are, let alone their so-called princess ?” Damian asked with his face so close to Jon's face, he could swear he could see the freckles on Damian's face.
“Kryptonians are powerful too. Your point?”
“Of course your type wouldn't understand,” Damian seethed, bringing out Starfire's profile. “This alien princess was a former slave before joining Grayson's Titans, even causing collateral damage along the way.”
“I'm sure she must've been scared at the time. I doubt she meant to hurt anyone,” Jon said, speaking as someone who's still trying to figure out his powers.
“Yet, she led a war alongside her people after leaving the Titans before rejoining back as the Teen Titans where I reside. You could say she has some blood on her hands .”
“So do you.”
“I'm not done, Kent. It could do you some good for you to listen,” Damian rebuked, making Jon roll his eyes. “As I was saying, none of this can compare to the rift she placed in Grayson's heart.”
“What do you mean by that ?” Jon asked, now confused.
“... Grayson was going to marry her years before I met Father. They had a wedding even. Then... after that was destroyed, they never spoke of it again. Furthermore, she had every intention of marrying some alien boy from her home planet and had the gull to declare her love for Grayson. He was quite upset, to say the least. Should she even be surprised that he would eventually come crawling back to Gordon? What does she do? Tt she sleeps with Todd and Harper.”
“I mean...” Jon said, now his voice seemingly doubtful. Maybe Damian did have a reason to worry. Even so... “There's always two sides to the story.”
“Of course there is! Did you not think I questioned her side before allowing her to join the Teen Titans I run? Tt Grayson wasn't any better and, frankly, I think he needs to stop chasing red-heads and playing this love triangle game. At least Gordon knows where she stands. Just because this alien is a free spirit, that doesn't mean she should be playing with anyone's heart. If she truly is in love with Grayson, she needs to prove it and make it clear. No more of this sweet talk . That is what gets your heart broken,” Damian stated.
It was then that Jon began understanding a bit more why Damian would be this overprotective. Just hearing him say this made him think of Talia Al Ghul. Damian's mother was a sweet-talker who had swooned Batman into marrying and having a child with her, only to groom him to become an assassin. Damian was preventing that from happening to Dick... to his family.
“Maybe you should talk to her. Just... I don't know... get her perspective on things. I know you're worried about Dick, but I think he knows what kind of person Starfire is. My grandpa from my mom gets worried about her being around Superman and it's caused rifts between us. He means well, but I think some things are not worth creating rifts between families. Besides, she's a member of your Teen Titans. I'm sure she'd be willing to talk with you if you gave her the chance.”
There was a pause as Damian looked over his laptop, and then his notes. He then clicked his tongue, “I know what I'm doing... thanks for the advice though.”
Jon smiled a little. He didn't want this paranoia to cause a rift between Damian and his family or a fellow team member. He could see how Batman's paranoia had caused several rifts, but that didn't mean Damian had to follow suit. Even so, he was still making plans for Starfire. The only thing Jon could do was hope and pray his beloved friend didn't go too far or cross any lines.
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Damian made his way to the Teen Titans tower in San Francisco. Him making plans in the secrecy of Jon's closet was to prevent any suspicion from any word going to Nightwing or Dick Grayson about his plans for Starfire. Thankfully, as Jon said, she was a member of his team. She was under Damian's leadership. Jon's words did make Damian pause a little. No matter her history, no amount of planning was worth causing a rift within his team.
It isn't to say it changed any of Damian's plans, but it did cool the Boy Wonder down a little. He sent the other members of the Teen Titans out on patrol with partners. He partnered himself with Starfire. No doubt she was enthralled by the idea. She flew Robin on one of the skyscrapers to make it easier for them to keep watch over the district of the city. It seemed to be slow that day.
“I've noticed you are allowing the team to patrol in different locations on their own,” Starfire said with a calm smile.
“Tt I can't rely on my team if they're not able to protect a single city on their own,” Robin stated factually, getting out his binoculars.
“It sounds like you trust us,” Starfire said brightly as Robin clicked his tongue.
“I save my trust to those that earn them. You might expect to trust me as your leader by opening up about my past, but I expect action in anything.”
Starfire nodded in understanding, replying, “I think you've earned my trust. Anyone who spends his life protecting my friends is worthy of my trust.”
“Tt I suppose you mean Grayson, Todd and Drake? As a team player, I trust you work well with my team and always have,” Robin stated, though his tone seemed to change to that Starfire was familiar with - the tone of interrogation. However, it didn't make sense, and felt a sense of uneasiness.
“Is there something about me you do not trust?” Starfire asked worriedly.
“Just one, but that's irrelevant to the mission,” Robin replied, looking through his binoculars. He smirked slightly. “As I was saying. Being Robin requires trust from Batman. It's my job to protect him.”
“Oh, yes. It was the same with Dick when he was Robin,” Starfire exclaimed brightly with her smile.
“Then, I'm sure you know that even when we leave our Bats, we still have it in us to protect them. Even now, Grayson instinctively looks after my Father as do I, but I tend to look after my Bat's heart . I've learned from Mother that anyone who can break a Bat's heart can break their wings.”
Starfire paused, seemingly understanding the undertone of Robin's words. It was then that she understood what Robin meant by not trusting her in one thing . It wasn't as if she earned that trust or felt as if she deserved it. She nodded heavily, making Robin smile inside his mind as she seemed to get the point. She had known Dick long enough to know Bruce Wayne wasn't Damian's first or only Batman.
Once the patrol was over, Starfire returned to the tower where her room was. Thankfully, the window was always open for her to enter inside easily. Shutting the window, she turned and saw a bulletin board filled with pictures of her and Roy walking hand in hand, her first kiss with Dick, the wedding her and Dick had before it was crashed by Raven and a satellite photo of her and a picture of Kaaras. Starfire knew whom this was from, being why she never bothered answering the knock or asking who it was when the door opened. She kept staring at the bulletin board until a batarange was thrown and hooked right in the middle of it, making the Tamaranean turn her gaze at Robin.
“Unlike me, you don't need to tell me your history for me to know,” Robin said, closing the door behind him to Starfire's room. “I've seen how easy the heart can be played with. Even Grayson is equally guilty of this. Has he ever told you the number of times he flees back to Gordon if he isn't with you?” Robin asked as Starfire gazed her eyes away. “Tt you're still a valuable member of my team. But, unlike Grayson, I have to make it clear to you. He's just as much my Batman as Father is.”
“I understand,” Starfire nodded as Robin clicked his tongue, leaving the room and closing the door behind him. She took down the bulletin board, smiling to herself. “You really have such a loving little brother, Dick.” Having worked as a member of the Teen Titans, she knew how deadly Damian could be. He was the only Robin she'd ever met who had drawn blood before or as Robin. Even so, Starfire could see behind these threats was the most loving heart willing to protect her Beloved's heart from being hurt again. As she began removing each picture from the bulletin board, she began seeing a file name: Starefire.pdf. That was the file name with Starfire's Contingency.
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Thankfully, Starfire was the last person that Jon had heard of being involved in a romantic relationship with one of the Bats for now. Not to say neither of the Bats ever got into a relationship with anyone else, but they were mostly just normal citizens or else within the family. However, one thing that stood out to Jon was the number of spy cameras he began noticing in his room and the number of times Damian began fighting against Super Bots Batman used in the Bat Cave for training. This became noticeable as the years passed and Jon grew closer to Damian.
Puberty was certainly not fun and Jon was becoming annoyed with Damian's paranoia and antics when it came to who he deemed dangerous. Sure, Jon was growing more powerful, but they were super friends. Didn't their bond and trust that built over the years mean anything? That was something Jon could never understand in Damian. At least he didn't need to worry about finding his friend coming up with another shovel talk plan , or so he thought.
Jon had thought Damian's plans with Catwoman and Starfire were extreme, Starfire's especially, but he was about to discover that Damian could most definitely be worse. This time, it wasn't either in their Fortress or the inside of his closet. This time, he heard Damian's heartbeat go on and off around a secluded location out in the middle of the ocean. Worried, Jon flew to that location, deciding to get to the bottom of why Damian's heartbeat was turning on and off so randomly.
There was a deserted island in the Atlantic filled with forest green. Damian's heart seemed to be here somewhere, so Jon waited until he heard that sound again. The moment he heard a small thump, he headed straight for it. That was when Jon found what looked to be a camp in the middle of the island. Damian was nowhere to be found outside of a small thumping heart that was located below a small trapdoor.
Opening the trap door, Jon floated right inside, finding a small room with tables, papers and weapons of all kinds. The walls were filled to the brim with lead, except for the trap door. No wonder Jon couldn't hear Damian's heartbeat. The lights were on at least and he could hear Damian's heart well as the young man made his way to one table filled with maps and papers. He looked up at Jon, groaning.
“Of course you would find me,” Damian mumbled.
“Dami, what the hell? Is it really necessary to build a base where I can't hear you? Are you really that paranoid?” Jon complained in annoyance.
“Not you , Hayseed! I'd make sure you wouldn't hear it at all. The other Superboy – Super Clone – is dating Drake now.”
“Oh my god, really!? I thought you were done with this shit!” Jon cried out, throwing his hands up in the air. His seventeen-year-old hormones were kicking in. “This is Kon we're talking! He's been Tim's friend before we ever met, Dami. Now, you're going to shovel talk my cousin. I can't even with you!” Jon complained, facepalming.
“Just because you're friends with a Super for years, that doesn't make them less of a threat. Father keeps contingencies for your father for a reason.”
“Yes, because your dad is paranoid as hell! Even Mom thinks he's psychotic! Out of everything you're copying from him, this is not one!”
Damian rolled his eyes, replying, “If not me, Father is going to give him a talk, unlike with Grayson's fiancee.”
“That's not the- wait, fiancee?” Jon asked, cocking his head.
“Yes, they're finally getting married. It seems that Kori is keeping her oath and Grayson is getting his act together,” Damian replied, smiling as if he accomplished something.
“That's great- wait, we're losing track. Damian, Kon isn't going to hurt Tim. They're like the best of all besties. They wouldn't hurt each other. Even if your dad is giving him the shovel talk, his have never been lethal.”
“And mine are? Tt please, I just painted a work of art in Kyle's tea and gave Kori a collage,” Damian said, smiling at the work he was so proud of.
“You threatened to hurt them, Dami! You're lucky Ms. Kyle is used to that kind of paranoia and Starfire is a kind soul!”
“Tt even the kindest of souls can be a threat. May I remind you of the time you gave Goliath frost bite and before when you turned your pet cat into fried mea-”
“That was an accident and you know it! For god sakes, I was only a kid!” Jon practically shouted, squeezing the hair from his head. “Why are you always like this!? We've known each other since I was ten and you still talk as if I'm some sort of threat! Is this how you make friends, by treating them like threats!?”
“If you really think I'm going too far, you can forewarn Super Clone. That will make my job much easier,” Damian said, showing a glare of annoyance.
“You're impossible! Sometimes you make me wonder why we're even still friends!” Jon snapped before leaving out of the trap door. “See you later.”
Having left Damian to plan whatever shovel talk he had in store for Conner, Jon began feeling conflicted. Why was he friends with Damian? On one hand, he's always treated anyone more powerful than him as a threat, especially if they're romantically involved with any of the Bats. It was insane! On the other hand, it's always been Damian who has saved his life and protected him from real threats. He just couldn't understand Damian at all.
The worst part of this was that Jon had grown to really like Damian. It always felt as if his attachment to Damian was only growing closer. They were the Super Sons, the best of friends and... someone Jon trusted with his whole heart. He didn't know how else to describe it. It's why it hurt to know Damian still saw him as a threat just like when he was ten. Just when Jon thought they had grown close from a kid looking up to this strong, smarter preteen to equals and perhaps much more.
Jon approached Conner's apartment, who was alone thankfully. He changed into his normal outfit before knocking on the door. His cousin entered before giving Jon a welcome pat on the shoulder.
“Hey there, Kiddo! I've got some great News!” Conner exclaimed, shutting the door behind Jon.
“You're dating Tim? Yeah, I know,” Jon grumbled, crossing his arms.
“Oh? Um...” Conner replied, misinterpreting Jon's reaction before Jon gave the context.
“Dami is plotting a shovel talk with you.”
“Oh,” Conner snorted, seemingly not surprised. “Is that why you're acting so glum?”
“I don't get Dami at all! First, it was Ms. Kyle, then it was Kori, now it's you! I just can't,” Jon grumbled.
“He gave Selena Kyle and Kori the Shovel Talk too? It must be a Bat thing,” Conner laughed, seemingly unsurprised as Jon's eyes became saucers.
“ Too? What do you mean?” Jon asked, flabbergasted.
“Tim did the same. It wasn't lethal. Just warning Ms. Kyle that he will know if she steals anything, then Kori and Dick to be clear on their feelings without rushing things,” Conner explained.
“Ugh, Dami did worse. He used the foam in Ms. Kyle's tea to warn her that he'd stab her if she tried anything and reminded Starfire that he still has her contingency,” Jon said as Conner jumped in response.
“He has a contingency on Starfire!?” Conner exclaimed, then began thinking. “I mean, I guess she is a part of the Teen Titans. I remember asking Tim after finding out what Batman did to the Justice League behind their backs. Thankfully, he's usually forward about these things.”
“Ugh, that's beside the point! Dami is absolutely insane sometimes and I don't understand any of it! Why can't he just give a shovel talk like a normal person!?” Jon complained, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
Conner sighed, joining next to Jon, then replying, “I can't say I understand it either. I hardly understand Tim half the time. Even so, I know Tim has always meant well. He's always looking out for me, the team and his family.”
“I guess. I just wish Dami would stop increasing the spy cameras in my room,” Jon muttered as Conner blinked.
“He has spy cameras in your room?”
“In my house. He's been doing this since before we even met. It's only been increasing these past few years. He always talks as if I'm his biggest threat, even though he's always protecting me,” Jon explained, his eyes conflicted.
“Maybe he's just looking out for you in his own way,” Conner shrugged.
“ Excuse me! Looking out for me!?” Jon exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
“I mean, all the Bats do it, even Tim. Do you know how many cameras he has in our Young Justice headquarters alone? Speaking of which,” Conner smirked, turning toward a small corner between the wall and ceiling where a crack was. He waved at it. “Hey there, Babe!”
Jon sighed, “Dami's probably hacked it. He did tell me I was allowed to forewarn you. He wouldn't say that with Tim watching, unless he put it on loop or something.”
“Yikes, but I am serious, it sounds to me like Damian cares a lot about you.”
“Then, why does he keep increasing the number of spy cameras and making subtle comments that I'm a threat somehow?” Jon asked with glaring eyes gazing from his cousin.
“Well, think of it this way, what do you think humanity's top heads like Lex Luther will do to people like us the moment he sees what we can do and catches us hurting someone by accident?” Conner asked as Jon began thinking, his eyes wondering. “Well?”
“They'd imprison and do test on us, I guess,” Jon replied defeatedly.
“And, do you remember that time you told me when an alternate version of Tim hunted you down because you were a threat ?”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“When Tim found out what happened, he totally freaked out. He told me that if something like that could happen to you, he's scared the same will happen to me. He can't imagine himself ever hurting you. In his mind, if you were a great enough threat for an alternate version of himself to hunt down and kill, he may do the same to me. It's why he was afraid of confessing his feelings to me for the longest time,” Conner explained as Jon's face softened. “I know it's hard for us Supers to read the minds of the Bats, but no matter how many shovel talks they give, they're always full of love. He wants you to know that our powers can be as much a threat to us as it is to the ones we protect.”
“I suppose,” Jon sighed. It was a little flattering that Damian could care this much about him. “I guess sometimes I wish Dami was as clear with his words as he is with his actions. Even if he prefers to show how he feels through action more than words, it's nice to hear how he feels about me from time to time.”
“Maybe you should tell him,” Conner advised.
Jon rolled his eyes, stating, “he's likely hacked the cameras,” as his eyes glanced over toward the camera Conner showed him. He made his way to the window. “Good luck and congratulations.” He showed a small smile.
“Thanks,” Conner grinned, ruffling Jon's hair before the kid flew out of the window to the apartment.
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That night, Jon heard a knock at his window. Opening it, Damian jumped right in – normally he wasn't the kind to knock before coming through the window. Not that Jon was surprised by Damian's appearance or that he was the one knocking on the window, but it did feel strange.
“You need something?” Jon asked.
“I thought I could check on you before bedtime,” Damian said as Jon stared at him deadpanned.
“Why not check your dozens of security footage?” Jon asked, arms crossed, not buying this reasoning.
“There are some things that can't be confirmed with just security footage,” Damian stated, strangely calm this time. Jon raised his eyebrows this time. “I apologize if what I said was hurtful. I didn't mean...”
“... I know. You're just hard to read sometimes. On one hand, you see me as a threat and the next you're saving me from a giant sea monster. I admire you so much, Dami. You're my hero,” Jon said, holding his arms while gazing his eyes away as Damian took off his mask, showing those glimmering green eyes that Jon noticed were almost like kryptonite.
“I'm hardly one. Just a sidekick of the Batman, expected to take the mantle. You always see the good in others when no one else does... including me. I wish I could be that optimistic, but I've seen too much to not grow suspicious of the smallest threats against my family, my loved ones.”
“Are you talking about your shovel talks?” Jon asked, his eyes drawn to Damian's.
“... I don't want to chase you away because of them. My father was taken advantage of by my mother. Not to say she was less of a victim from her side, but I've seen Father hurt by so many he's fallen for, even those that never meant to hurt him. More than anything, I'm terrified of finding Father... my brothers... even myself being used and hurt by the ones we've fallen for. I want to make sure they don't get hurt,” Damian confessed, his eyes watering as Jon held him in his arms.
“You're an idiot sometimes. You know that?” Jon replied, patting Damian's back as he felt the wetness on his shirt. “But I get it. You can't protect everyone from being hurt, especially by their romantic partner. My mom told me that she knew Dad was Superman while they were dating, even confronted him about it for months, then never heard a confession from him until the day before they married. Do you think she wasn't hurt, even a little bit, over that? I know I would be.”
Damian sniffed, nodding. Jon held him tightly against him, calmly saying, “I'm not going to stop you from giving Kon a shovel talk, but he is still my cousin. If you hurt him, I'm going to be very angry with you.”
Damian chuckled, “is that your shovel talk, Superboy?”
“It is for me. Honestly,” Jon sighed as Damian continued chuckling, wiping his tears.
“You're not a threat under normal circumstances, but your heart is so tender that, at the sight of accidentally killing your own pet, you tend to bottle everything up. That was the threat I saw. You didn't start a solar flare until you saw your father in captivity. That's why I've increased security cameras,” Damian confessed almost robotically.
“... oh. Wait, are you saying all of this because of what I said to Kon?” Jon asked, now feeling guilty for complaining so emotionally earlier today. Damian didn't answer as Jon smiled softly, then hugged him. “I'm sorry for what I said. I know you're just trying to protect us in your own way.”
“Tt you're so emotional,” Damian scoffed, hugging Jon back.
“So... what shovel talk did you give Kon?” Jon asked as Damian smirked slightly.
“Just something fitting for a Kryptonian clone. I promise it won't hurt him,” Damian promised as Jon sighed.
“I don't know why I like you so much,” Jon muttered as Damian separated from the hug.
“And, what is that supposed to mean?” Damian teased as Jon's cheeks turned pink.
“You know what I mean,” Jon muttered as Damian smirked lightly, chuckling as a bit of pink dusted his cheeks.
It was from noticing this that Jon's pink cheeks turned to a dark red. Throughout the years, Damian always came to Jon for any of his secret shovel talk missions. First, it was at their Fortress, then the inside of his closet, then on an island in the Atlantic whose heartbeat only Jon could hear. It was almost as if their trust was building up to this. However, Jon didn't know if he could place it as something more or if it was too soon. For the first time, he wanted to kiss Damian.
“What?” Damian asked as Jon turned his gaze away.
What was he going to do now? Would Damian give Jon a shovel talk for his own relationship? How many others would he face? Then again, maybe it isn't Jon who would get the shovel talk. Either way, he knew he couldn't keep it bottled up for long. Damian would eventually find out, so it was better to come clean.
“I think... I really like you,” Jon confessed as Damian's face turned just as red as his.
“O-Oh,” Damian responded, not knowing how to respond.
“And if you break my heart, I won't forgive you,” Jon glared as Damian's shock turned to a grin, glomping Jon onto the bed. The both of them laughed, sharing smiles.
“I've had feelings for you for a while,” Damian confessed, smiling lovingly.
“No shovel talks?” Jon smirked.
Damian shook his head, replying, “yours is more than enough for the both of us.”
---------------
“Your new boyfriend is a psychopath!” Conner practically screamed the next day as soon as Jon came flying in to check on his cousin, who seemed both annoyed and freaking out.
“Whatever happened to 'it must be a Bat thing' or 'he means well'?” Jon asked, now curious what Damian's shovel talk was this time.
“Oh sure, Tim and the Bats might threaten with kryptonite or whatnot, say they're always watching , but this son of a bitch put a blade to my neck while I was asleep and kept whispering that he could kill me right then. Freaked the hell outta me!” Conner glared as Jon blinked.
“That was it? No magic, kryptonite or... radiation? You do realize any blade isn't going to do shit, right?” Jon asked in the most deadpan tone and expression possible. Now, that he thought about it, it wasn't as bad as he feared it would be.
“I was asleep! He could've turned on a red sunlamp for all I knew!”
Jon laughed at himself for being so worried about Damian's shovel talks. Maybe it was because of their talk last night that led to them recognizing their feelings for one another. Jon then said, “he means well. Believe me, if he was going to hurt you, he'd have done so and I'd be very angry.”
“I heard. You both were cute,” Conner grinned as Jon blushed red.
“You heard !? Kon!” Jon whined, covering his face.
“No worries, I won't say anything until you announce it publicly,” Conner promised as Jon whined. “But that also means it's my chance to get some good payback for keeping me up at night. See how he likes it.”
Jon smiled sheepishly. With all these talks of shovel talks, he began wondering who would be giving him and Damian the shovel talks. Then, the first person to pop into his brain who would have the worst shovel made him groan. Conner darted his eyes at his cousin in confusion.
“It just came to me I'm likely going to be the only one that's going to get a shovel talk from Talia Al Ghul,” Jon groaned, covering his face, which was a deep cherry red.
“Oh crap. You're probably right. At least I got the little demon's shovel talk out of my hair I suppose. Good luck, little cos,” Conner grinned with two thumbs up as Jon groaned again.