Chapter Text
Damian had always had a slightly obsessive nature, one that only grew as he got older. This isn't an aspect of himself he views in a positive light, nor one he believes he should indulge. Though as he's thumbing through the many drawings and sketches done of his best friend's figure, he still doesn't have the heart to throw them away. The idea of it opens a pit at the bottom of his stomach, as if he'd be ruining a masterpiece in the making.
"In the making."
It was always in the making and always would be.
His hands moved to trace a piece he'd done several days prior, following a training session. The way Jon's muscles moved, and the fabric pulling or bunching at the exertion drove him crazy. His face heated up slightly just at the thought, as he moved his hand away.
Damian mentally shook the thought away; he was being ridiculous. There was a reason he'd never fully attempted to create and paint his "masterpiece": Jon was his best friend.
Oh, if only Jon knew. The drawings were one thing, one that could be easily denied, as none had been made into fully rendered, finished pieces, but the Superman merchandise overflowing in his bedside drawer was damning evidence.
A tap on the window caused him to snap the sketchbook closed. He should have safely secured the book, but now he had no time, silently giving in to the mental kicking. His brows creased as he looked up from his bed, meeting Jon's eyes immediately. Though he feigned annoyance, unlocking the window and seeing the goofy smile on Jon's face made their weekly hangouts worth the planning.
"Tch, you're late."
Jon pouted slightly. It made him look younger. "By 5 minutes!"
"What was it you said about a speeding bullet?" he asked, unimpressed.
He moved away to put the sketchbook on top of his bed. Even if Jon decided to peek, he’d, at worst, be looking at random men. Jon already knew he was gay, and as a bisexual man himself, he highly doubted he'd bat an eye.
Jon sighed, shifting his weight between his feet, "Fine, I was late with feeding the cows." He cracked a sheepish smile, "But I'm here."
Damian hummed in acknowledgement, moving to set up the TV, "Have you put any thought into what movie we should watch this time?"
Jon was already getting comfortable on his bed, relaxing down onto the comforter as though he was exhausted from the flight. He supposes that they have been busy lately. They had to cancel their last weekly session because of an urgent scarecrow-related matter. Damian wasn't particularly peeved, but it didn't mean he liked it. There was something about being in Jon's vicinity that made everything instantly comforting and easy.
"Not really. I got busy today," he grimaced in a way that made his nose wrinkle. It took Damian deliberately pulling his eyes away to look back at his task.
Occasionally, at times like this, he'd catch himself staring for future reference. At least Damian would like to believe that is the case.
After turning and looking through the various options, he again turned at Jon’s voice, “Dami, is this one of your drawing books?” he looked back and saw Jon holding the very same black sketchbook he should have put away.
“Can I take a look?”
He inwardly cringed, silently cursing his distracted past self at the embarrassment, but nodded, “You can. It’s mainly anatomy practice,” he said neutrally while he focused on keeping his heart at a steady pace.
Jon instantly took that as a green light to flip through the pages, seemingly amazed as he inspected the contents. “Your sketches always look like pieces of art, dude,” he continued. “Have you been painting a model or something?”
“No, they’re of no one in particular.” Moving closer, he could see which drawings Jon was looking at. It was one he drew a while ago. It was a rushed sketch; he had started drawing him without thinking. “I haven’t painted anything from there yet.” He said easily. It didn’t matter that he had no intention of it.
Jon hummed absentmindedly, already focused primarily on the contents, unknowingly looking at himself. It was a blessing that this particular book had none of the portraits he had made, with those being carefully tucked away, and it wasn't like Jon had any identifying marks. His face heated slightly at the thought of how he knew that information. Jon was always flippant in nature and had little regard for privacy. Still, every time Jon walked out of the showers without any care for his own nudity, Damian kept his composure. He might be able to take matters into his own hands, throwing a judgmental comment about his lack of care, but it'd only make him look prudish. Plus, he didn't want to. Not really.
Still, Damian is interrupted in this thought. Some part of him can tell when Jon is concocting a plan, and his suspicions are confirmed when Jon looks at him over the book's pages.
"I could model for you." He said, leveling Damian's gaze with a twinkle in his eyes.
He huffed, "You'd never sit still long enough, hayseed."
Jon's eyes narrowed over the top of the book, clearly seeing it as a challenge. In reality, Damian knows he could be easily swayed if Jon really did want to model for him. It could be disastrous, but it could be an opportunity to have a fully realized painting. Still, he can't help but feel that this could make the feelings he's harboring even more insistent.
"I could! I can even control my breathing, Dami."
"Which will be useful eventually, I'm sure."
Jon's deflated expression as he sighed was enough. Essentially, he broke under no pressure at all.
"It'd be easier to plan things next week,” he said with faux indifference, "Then I could finish the painting with the right things set up."
Jon gaped at him slightly, as though he wasn't expecting him to agree so easily. He probably wasn't expecting him to agree at all, in fact. Damian is already regretting this new course of action when Jon gives him an easy smile, "Are you planning to dress me up in those stuffy clothes you guys wear for family portraits?"
"Tch, it's a standard 3-piece suit. But yes, that would be ideal," he paused, considering. Why not do it correctly the first time? "We could add props also."
"We could add flowers! Or your cat," Jon offers.
He hummed. "'I'll have to think about it, but flowers may be doable."
He was already getting warm at the thought of Jon surrounded by flowers. It'd have to be something to complement him. The idea of including one of his pets is also intriguing but would likely be more of a hassle when it came down to it, and he didn't want to stress them.
Damian continues his line of thought, trying to keep his voice neutral, "We’ll try next week. I'll need time to get everything ready, and you'll need to be fitted into a suit."
Jon's smile hasn't left his face since he agreed, "Sounds like a plan, Dami."