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"Damian, you're really reliable."
The light illuminating the night city seemed to increase the radiance of the boy who had uttered those words.
Even though the light from the streetlights is only so bright, why did it feel so dazzling?
For someone who had spent so much time in Gotham, a city of endless crime, this light was a little too bright.
Damian adjusted his black cape. A bat symbol was embroidered on his chest. Damian cherished the title of Batman, inherited from his father, above all else.
Patience, steadfastness, strategy, indomitable spirit.
With these lessons always in mind, he intended to patrol the streets of Gotham today.
The reason it's in the past tense is because Superboy suddenly appeared without warning.
Why did you come here? Why did you come alone? What would you do if someone attacked you along the way? You're still a child.
As Damian tried to calm the flood of words and emotions, Jon, his blue eyes shining, said:
"I want to see Damian on patrol! It's okay, I won't get in the way!"
"Don't come here like a kid. This is a crime city, not a theme park. Go back to Metropolis immediately."
He thought he had immediately rejected the request. He had muttered it in the tone of a parent scolding their child.
But Jon still wouldn't back down. He stubbornly insisted that he wanted to see him in action.
After several exchanges, Damian sighed.
"Why? You were on patrol last week, weren't you? I don't understand why you're so fixated on this city."
"That patrol was tailored to me! The enemies and the route were the same as always. Damian, I want to see you in action. I want to see you protecting Gotham with my own eyes!"
"As I said earlier, the level of crime is completely different between Gotham and Metropolis. Besides, how did you even get here? Couldn't Clark or Lois stop you?"
"They both had jobs they couldn't leave today, so I thought this was my chance! Please, Damian! I...I've always admired you!"
Jon looked up at Damian with eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears.
Don't make that face. I absolutely refuse to make you cry.
From the moment they met, he'd been attached to him, respected him, and before he knew it, he'd been won over and even allowed him into his territory.
A long, deep sigh escaped Damian's lips.
I instantly calculated the city's crime routes. I planned to stay around the main streets for about an hour, never venturing into back alleys.
It might seem like a short time, but crime happens the moment you take your eyes off the road—that's the nature of this city.
If danger approaches, I'll prioritize this boy above all else.
The plan and my resolve were complete.
I made eye contact with Jon, his red cape billowing. He smiled gently.
My desire to protect him grew even stronger.
Robbery, snatching, traffic violations, extortion…
I tried to step forward to avoid showing him the gruesome scenes as much as possible, but John seemed to want to handle both combat and negotiation simultaneously, making it difficult to work together. He was still so inexperienced.
In Metropolis, there might be many people who will listen, but here, negotiation itself is pointless.
I stepped in front of Jon, who was using heat vision and superbreath on the criminals, and quickly apprehended the bank robbers. I muttered to the screaming robbers to give up and handed them over to the police.
The clock on the main street sign indicated an hour had passed. It was time to call it quits.
"Jon, you're satisfied now, aren't you? That's it for today. Let's head back."
"What, already?! I'm fine! I can keep going!"
"No. It's best to stop here."
I told the sulking John to come back when he was older. That only made the boy angrier.
How could I possibly let Jon stay in this city, where crimes committed by beasts rage as the night approached?
Behind the silently bowed Jon, I thought I saw a faint metallic gleam.
Instinctively, I pulled Jon closer and delivered a kick and a punch to the assailant. I heard the sound of a knife falling in the distance. The culprit was crouching on the ground.
"Jon! Are you hurt? Are you in any pain?"
"I'm perfectly fine! You're exaggerating, Damian. I wasn't hurt."
"Are you an idiot? That doesn't change the fact that the weapon grazed you! You need to take better care of yourself!"
Shouts echoed down the main street. Both the police and the assailant stared at Damian and the others with wide eyes.
With silence falling behind them, they made the assailant stand up and pushed him towards the police.
"Let's go. Today's patrol is over."
"Damian, I..."
"Jon."
Jon fell silent. He didn't know where to direct his overwhelming emotions. Those words were unforgivable.
"Exaggerating," he said?
He had no idea how much effort they put into protecting them, and yet he said that.
Before he knew it, Damian was on the roof of the building. The wind, flapping his cloak, gradually cooled his head.
Perhaps he had gone too far.
Just as he was about to speak, his cape was tugged. Surprised, he looked up to see John smiling.
"...Jon."
"Thank you, Damian. For protecting me, taking me on patrol, and indulging my whims."
His voice sounded so light it could float into the sky, and Damian instinctively grabbed Jon's shoulders.
"Damian? What's wrong?"
"Just keep going."
Jon tilted his head, then quietly continued.
"You looked much cooler than usual watching over the city, Damian. Your movements when you caught the culprit were so efficient, I want to be like that."
He paused here and took a deep breath.
"You really are so reliable, Damian."
The light of Gotham's streetlights illuminated the boy.
He was a light in the darkness. For someone who had lived in Gotham for so long, it was a dazzling light.
"And also, I'm sorry. I should have taken better care of myself. I think somewhere in my heart, I might have thought I was invincible."
"...I'm glad you've become aware of that."
"So, Damian, you should take care of yourself too."
Damian's breath caught in his throat at the unexpected words. The warm touch of the palm on his cheek sent his entire being into overdrive.
"You haven't been sleeping much lately, have you? I can see right through you. So, go to bed early tonight! Promise me."
As the boy smiled, Damian couldn't contain himself and embraced him.
The cheek that lightly touched his was as warm and soft as the palm. Their hearts were beating vigorously. They were alive. More than anything, it was reassuring.
Despite being closer than ever before, despite feeling an unparalleled sense of satisfaction, Damian felt a sense of incompleteness.
Maybe I should just have him sleep beside me.
I touch his hair. It's fluffy and soft.
I touch his cheek. It's plump and elastic.
His lips. They look healthy and glossy, a sign of good health.
Why does he seem so red all over? Is it the exhilaration after the battle?
"...Dami...an?"
At the faint voice, Damian looked at Jon as if startled. His cheeks were red like apples, and the distance between them was unbearably close. Without thinking, he released Jon in an instant.
"I'm sorry. I misjudged the distance by suddenly hugging you. I apologize."
He desperately tried to shut down the thoughts he had about the boy in front of him.
Even so, his gaze seemed to follow him, and he didn't miss the sight of Jon shaking his head, his face still red.
"That's not true. I admire Damian, I love him. That's why I was so happy when you hugged me earlier."
"I see, I understand. I get it. Let's go to bed early tonight. It's getting late, so you should go home soon. I'll be there to pick you up..."
A soft kissing sound, unsuitable for someone who's lived in Gotham for so long, rang out.
First on my cheek, then on my lips, I felt something soft touch.
I never imagined that my ability to sense presences, which I'd developed over the years, would be useless.
"...Jon?"
"It's a bedtime charm. I do this often at home. It really works, so don't worry."
Ah, why do you always shatter me like this?
I gently parted the boy's hair as he smiled, returning the gesture to the exact same spot as before. I watched as his blue eyes slowly filled with surprise.
"...See, I've cast a spell on you too. Now you should be able to sleep soundly."
Damian tried to turn his back and make contact again, but Jon grabbed his cloak once more and stopped him.
"What is it this time?"
"What should I do, Damian? I might not be able to sleep because I'm so happy."
"That's what I should be saying."