"I feel lost without you."
Damian stood on the docks of Metropolis, staring quietly at the gentle waves as his hood and cape fluttered in the breeze. He was waiting for a boat to Lazarus Island - to his base - after a mission where Jon had needed his help.
It was good to see his best friend again. To work as a duo...just like old times.
His chest ached.
"You're leaving already?"
Damian's head perked up a little at the familiar voice. He didn't need to turn around to know Jon had that usual kicked puppy expression whenever they parted ways.
"Yes, back to my island," he replied. "It has been my new home for quite some time now. I've welcomed and connected with new people...people like me."
"Oh...I see." Jon sounded so incredibly sad that it stabbed into Damian's heart like a sharp, cruel knife.
It hurt worse than Heretic's sword.
He turned around at last, looking at the boy he no longer recognized but missed so dearly. Jon's sky blue eyes were downcast as he stood in front of Damian with his fists clenched. Even with the proximity, it felt like there were distances between them.
Damian took a deep breath and forced the words out. "It was great seeing you again, Jon. I always enjoy our time together."
He wanted to say more, wanted his best friend to know despite their individual paths, he always thought of Jon. That even if they weren't side by side, Damian's heart would always belong to him. It has been since they were kids, not knowing what falling in love was.
Damian couldn't be selfish.
But...if Jon asked him to stay, he didn't think he had enough willpower not to give in.
"Yeah, me too," the half-Kryptonian said with a small smile. "We always work best as partners."
Silence fell as they stared at each other, capes flying in the wind. Jon opened his mouth to say something, then hesitated. The hope inside Damian died when nothing came out and the loud horn of a boatship ruined the moment.
"Yo, Robin!" XXL called out with a grin. "You called for a ride?"
Damian turned and saw the boy standing beside his cousin Mara. "Yes, we will be leaving immediately."
"Hurry up, man! We're having a feast back at the island! Everybody's waiting for our favorite leader!"
The young Bat glanced back at Jon whose expression looked heartbroken. Damian tugged his hood down further over his mask in a poor attempt to mask his own sorrow.
He boarded the ship, feeling a heavy lump in his throat. Not once did Jon spoke up and stopped him from leaving.
"Until next time, Jonathan."
-----
The warm bonfires and the shared laughters during the feast did little to lift Damian's mood.
He spent the evening brooding around, giving short and half-hearted conversations. His mind still hadn't left the docks where Jon stood alone, watching him leave as if he'd just abandoned him.
"You are disheartened," Mara said pensively beside him. "Is it because of the young Superman in Metropolis?"
Damian sighed. "Observant as ever, cousin. Parting ways becomes harder everytime I see him. It's...painful."
He stared into the crackling fire, heart aching with longing and regret. He'd promised himself once he wouldn't suffer because of love. But Talia only loved once and passionately still, and Damian was his mother's son.
It was expected. In this line of work, love wasn't easy. Especially when things - terrible things - had happened to both of them. Damian had already accepted that the world would always need Superman more than he needed Jon. He was used to sacrifice.
His heart ached again.
"Don't despair, cousin. I have a feeling your Superman won't give up that easily." Mara hummed.
"What are you talking about?" Damian frowned. "We have different lives now. We've made our choices."
She gave him a meaningful glance as she sipped on her drink. Suddenly, Connor Hawke's voice called out from a distance.
"Robin! Someone is here to see you."
Damian stilled. He turned to where Connor waved at him and pointed to a lone figure on the beach. He walked forward in a trance when he recognized the familiar blue and red, then broke into a light jog until he came face to face with his best friend.
"Hey." Jon smiled tiredly as he dropped his backpack on the sand. "I heard Lazarus Island is a sanctuary for those who are lost in life."
"It is," Damian breathed out, still in shock that the half-Kryptonian had followed him all the way here.
"Well, I always feel lost without you, so...here I am." He shrugged. "I don't like being away from you. It hurts, and...I'm not myself when you're away."
It sounded suspiciously like a confession. Damian shouldn't get his hopes up. He shouldn't.
Jon's blue eyes held such a deep emotion that made his breath hitch.
"So...can I stay with you?"
The shorter teen was aware of the audience watching them from afar, how they were witnessing a more vulnerable side of Robin they never knew. But the only thing he could focus on right now was the racing heartbeat inside his chest, and from the hope in Jon's gaze Damian knew he could hear it too.
His lips parted slightly, eyes becoming slightly wet. "I miss the people we used to be."
Jon walked closer until they were inches apart and slowly took his hand. At this proximity, he was so much taller and though Damian should feel threatened...he didn't.
"Me too," his best friend whispered. "I miss us. I miss you."
"Then don't leave again," Damian said through the lump in his throat.
"Never again. I promise."
Jon's arms came up around him and Damian couldn't resist returning the embrace, clutching tightly at the bright red cape. He buried his face into that strong, firm chest and finally felt the constant ache in his heart melt away.
They clinged to each other desperately until a loud wolf whistle interrupted the moment. "Now kiss!"
The pair broke apart, faces red and bashful as Connor chastished XXL and Black Swan. Jon cleared his throat, picked up his backpack and smiled sheepishly.
"You gonna introduce me to your new friends?"
"Of course, Hayseed."
Damian's own lips curved upwards as he held Jon's hand, intertwining their fingers.
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I’m gonna get a lot of people laughing at me but I’ve given certain ships in Bluey nicknames inspired by Pokémon, they’re named after certain episodes, see if you can name them
Campshipping - Bluey x Jean Luc
Earlyshipping - Rusty x Indy
Armyshipping - Rusty x Jack
Barkyshipping - Mia x Captain
Boatshipping - Bluey x Mackenzie
Dropoffshipping - Bingo x Lila
Turtleshipping - Bingo x Dougie
Fairyshipping - Bandit x Chilli
Doubleshipping - Radley x Frisky
Faceyshipping - Stripe x Trixie
Circusshipping - Mackenzie x Coco
Cricketshipping - Digger x Tiny
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