Chapter Text
Light burnt through the windows of Duke's room, rudely awakening him. He can tell by the noise downstairs that most of the others are awake probably other than Jason, who hates mornings. He yawns and stretches, the binder he wears to bed clearly taking a toll on his breathing. Nobody had to know, yes he knew that it would be way safer to tell them but sometimes secrecy overpowers logic at least in Duke's terms this applies to both his transition and sexual orientation. Sometimes he envied Tim for being so open about his sexuality, Duke knew he himself was gay. So it was especially awkward when the others talked about girls. He glides of his bed, rubbing his eyes. He was still getting used to waking up in a room of that size, he reached for the handle as he swung it open to get the slight creak over and done with, the same door Dick promised to grab WD-40 for. He finds his feet carrying himself down the long, treacherous stairs that sometimes (most of the time) make his legs hurt after petrol.
"Look who blessed us with his presence." Dick teased with a smirk while sitting on the counter. Damian was on his phone as Tim tried to rage bait him, Bruce reading the newspaper, Alfred cooking in the kitchen and Jason was kicked up on the couch. Wait, he woke up after Jason? Damn.
"Waking up later than Jason is one hell of an achievement," Tim joked, purposefully looking over at Jason who gave him a classic middle finger. "Anyhow, you hungry? Alfred's making food!" He said with more excitement than a kid on Christmas.
"Uhh- I'm fine, if I'm being honest." He said with an awkward laugh, hoping none of them would notice the last time he ate or at least something sustainable, Duke knew it was a stupid, idiotic idea not to eat knowing he had patrol the same day. Heck, it's dumb in general.
Truth is they all noticed, they thought he ate on patrol but that theory soon went out the window when he was partnered with Cass and he refused to eat. His excuse?
'Food makes me slow.' He knew it was an obvious lie but what was he supposed to say?
'I hate how I look so I hate eating.' As if the bells weren't already ringing and the alarms weren't already buzzing.
Bruce finally spoke up, knowing he should probably be the one addressing the issue. "When was the last time you ate, Duke?"
"L-last time I, umm ate? Well, last night of course." Deny, deny, deny. Easy, right? Not when everyone in the room is a vigilante from childhood.
"We all noticed how you, 'had a shower'. After dinner, playing the music loud." Damian said looking up from his phone but not directly at Duke.
"What are you trying to say?" He said with a scoff but deep down (clearly not well enough as everybody could tell) panicking.
"What we're trying to say is, we hope the toilet liked the meal." Jason called out from his place in the massive lounge room.
"...I'm sorry." He said with a sniffle, his eyes already watering. They all watched with concern and worry.
"Hey? Don't apologize, it's fine we just care." Dick gets off the counter and ruffles his hair.