Chapter 2: Cave Training

~Third Person P.O.V~

"TT. You're late, Kent. Again." Damian said, a single bead of sweat dripping down the side of his cheek as he heard the entrance to the batcave open followed by a pair of superfeet rushing down the stone steps, opting to not look away from the 3 sparring bots he was currently training with.

Jon was late again, third time this week so Damian decided he'd start the training early rather than wasting another hour waiting for his partner to show up.

"Y-yeah, sorry sorry!" Jon said, dropping his bag haphazardly onto the floor, unzipping his hoodie and dropping it on his bag.

"Kathy needed help stuff, and things.. and I kinda lost track of time so like, uhm-" Jon said, as he turned to Damian seeing him gracefully flip over robots striking the three of them from behind as they collapsed to the floor.

"TT. This isn't a barn, farmboy. Try not to leave your things lying around" Damian said, looking down at his white handwraps, adjusting them as he stepped over the training bots, walking towards Jon.

"Whoops, my bad. Haha.." Jon said, blushing embarrassed. He bent down to pick his things up but didn't notice the zipper was open, papers, pencils, a water bottle and other belongings spilling out.

"Whoops..?" Jon let out an innocent giggle as Damian rolled his eyes.

"TT. I'll be back in 5, be ready by then, superbaby." Damian said, walking off towards another corridor, disappearing from view thanks to the intricate layout of the batcave.

"Oh.. okay" Jon said, letting out a sigh feeling upset that he disappointed his best friend. He bent down and continued to pick up his things.

"Lighten up kid, don't let let my little brother's words cut you too deep" A voice said, shaking Jon from his thoughts. Searching for the source of the voice, he saw Dick, the first Robin in his black and blue skintight outfit leaning against the metal railings of one the platforms above him.

"He's got a sharp tongue, but he's a good kid. He cares a lot about us, you know?" He said, flipping over the balcony's railing and gently landing in front of Jon, showing off his acrobatic prowess. A cool, brotherly smile on his face.

"Even me?" Jon asked, looking up to Dick

Dick let out a laugh, ruffling Jon's hair causing the younger male to giggle.

"Especially you." He said, with a knowing wink. Jon opened his mouth to speak but Dick cut him off. "Now let's clean this up before demon spawn gets back" he said before Jon could ask hin any questions.

Jon nodded, a bright and warm smile finding its place on his lips as the two began to pick up Jon's things.

Damian made his way back to the training platform, a large water bottle filled with chocolate milk in one hand, and two white towels draped over his shoulder.

"Alright Jon, let's get started with today's traini-" Damian paused, seeing Dick and Jon talking to each other.

Dick flashed him a smile "Hey, Damian" sending him a friendly wave.

Damian barely nodded in acknowledgement "Grayson." He said coldly as he made his way towards Jon "You do know that-"

Dick cut off his younger brother, "Yeah yeah, don't worry, little D. I was just about to head out, I'm not going to interrupt your alone time with Jon." Dick said playfully ruffling superboy's hair.

"TT. Whatever, just go." Damian said, annoyed.

"Alright, just make sure to keep an eye on him alright?" Dick said, heading towards his cycle.

"Of course I will." Damian said

"I wasn't talking to you." Dick said, teasingly winking at Damian before speeding off.

"So, Damian. Uhm, what sort of training are we going to have today?" Jon asked curiously.

"Today-" Damian paused, noticing Jon eyeing the drink. He rolled his eyes and tossed him the bottle.

Jon's smile widened as he hurriedly opened the cap, sniffing its contents and letting out an excited "mmn" before he began to gulp down its contents.

"Hey, leave some for me." Damian said, not looking at Jon as he placed the towels onto the bench, noticing Jon's things placed neatly, his hoodie folded beside his bag. "Hmm, so that's why Grayson was here."

Finished placing the towels, Damian turned to Jon. Initially having a look of irritation, he began to eye the younger male's face. The way he keeps his eyes closed as he drinks to focus on the taste, the way his nose crinkles and his eyes clench ever so slightly with each gulp, the way his eyelids lift up to reveal his calming blue eyes, the adorable blue orbs staring at hi- staring at him? Oh shit.

"Are you done yet?" Damian said in a tone of irritation.

"Mmmmmnn! Why is your chocolate milk so good?!" Jon asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement, a cute smile finding its place on his face, handing damian the bottle.

Damian slowly moved his wrist, slushing what little remains inside it. He rolled his eyes, tossing the water bottle aside which lands perfectly on the bench, right beside the towels.

Damian shrugged. "Alfred uses a mix of Amendi's Prendimé, Knipshilst Madeline truffle and To'ak chocolate. That's probably why." He said in a disinterested tone.

"Kni- knipsh.. knipshi..?" Jon struggled to pronounce the words

"TT. Stop it, you're going to hurt yourself before we even start." Damian said, crossing his arms.

"Oh yeah, uhm sorry" Jon said, closing his eyes, rubbing his nape.

"Anyway" Damian began, walking past Jon onto the center of the platform "Today we'll be training in close-quarters combat." He continued, standing in the middle of the platform.

A questioning look took hold on Jon's face, one brow raising as one cheek puffed. "But wait, I have super strength.. and you can do uhm.. kung fu and stuff" he paused, scratching his head. "Do we really need to practice this? I thought we were going to do team stuff and trainings and things." Jon continued.

"While being trained by the league of assassins since birth has its benefits, as does super strength" Damian turned to Jon before continuing "You and I would be fools to think we don't need constant training and practice. For one, you have kryptonite and are half-human, while I could always encounter a more skilled combatant, as such we should train. No superpowers."

"Oh, uhm ok." Jon said, stepping onto the platform. "So do we just- woahh. Oof." Jon was interrupted by damian knocking him off his feet, slamming him into the hard metal platform.

"See what I mean?" Damian said, pinning him down. "No fair! I wasn't ready!" Jon complained.

"In actual combat your opponent rarely waits till you are ready. They strike when the opportunity presents itself." He said, letting go of Jon, standing up.

"Look, I'll make this easy for you. As of now, your only goal is to knock me down." Damian said, his back turned to Jon, letting him stand up on his own.

"Sounds simple enough" Jon leapt towards Damian with super speed, only to have Damian barely dodge his attempt.

"Without." Damian raised his finger. "Super powers."

Jon puffed his cheeks before sighing "fiiiiine." He said.

"Good." A small, barely visible smile found its place on Damian's lips before vanishing. "Again."

Jon leapt at Damian, trying to push him down only to be thrown off.

*Thump*

"Again."

*Thck*

"Again."

*Thud*

"Again."

"Ouch ouch ouch!" Jon exclaimed, damian had pinned him to the floor and was currently slowly applying pressure to his ankle.

"Mmnh." Damian began, letting go of Jon and standing up, his back to Jon.

"Perhaps I expected too much from you, I should have showed you something basic first so at least you'd have some idea-!!" Damian was caught off guard, Jon had kicked one leg off balance, throwing him over his shoulder, landing ontop of damian and pinning him to the floor.

"How.. how did you-" Damian spoke, surprise in his voice before Jon cut him off.

"I saw it in a movie once!" Jon said proudly, pushing against Damian hard, finally able to beat his best friend.

Damian eyed Jon's arms at the sides of his head, he felt Jon's body pushing against his own as his gaze wandered to superboy's face. His face was mere inches away from his own, he could feel superboy's body heat, he eyed Jon's soft, sweet lips, before his gaze shifted once more to Jon's eyes.. calming sapphires sparkling with joy, his eyes always reminded him of the sky, so full of energy.. of life.. of hope.

Time seemed to slow down, Damian's mind wandered back.. back to that night. His eyes flashed to see Jon once more so close to him, the way Jon's arms wrapped around him in a warm embrace, sending shivers up and down his spine. The contact they had on each other's skin, Jon's soft palm cupping his cheek, the way their eyes met forcing his cheeks to heat up, the way his lips crashed against Jon's, sending sending torrents of electricity throughout his body, the sparks coming off his skin when their lips met.. he loved it.. and now..

He wanted it again, he.. needed it again. He began to close his eyes and lean in, craving to have Jon's lips pressed against his own.

"D-damian..?" Jon asked. Breaking Damian from his trance.

Damian's eyes widened with shock, his reddened face taking an expression of regret as he once more eyed Jon's face... his eyes.. the light.. the warmth.. the hope.. the joy they once reflected.. gone. Replaced by something.. something Damian wasn't sure he knew.. Jon's eyes.. they reflected fear..?

Damian immediately threw Jon over, obviously a move Jon copied from a movie he watched wouldn't prove difficult for someone who actually trained to counter.

"We're done for today." Damian said, hurriedly walking off, trying his hardest to keep his back turned to Jon.

"Damian wait!" Jon said, standing up and flying over to Damian. Placing a hand on Damian's shoulder, only to have Jon swat it away.

"I said." Damian paused, exhaling, trying his best to keep his voice steady, he breathed in again before speaking. "We're done for today, Jon. Go home." He said, not facing Jon, now calmly walking away. No emotion could be read from the way he walked, it almost seemed like he had none.

Jon watched Damian walk away, a few tears in his eyes which threatened to break, one thought repeating over and over in his head, gnawing at him, shouting at him. It shouted "Damian hates me."

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