Jon walked back to where Damian had gone and could hear his heartbeat pick up as he reached the hall of statues. He looked up, feeling small with those oh-so-great grandiose statues of the seven founding members of The Justice League. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and The Flash. He watched them, wondering if he could ever be as great as them, but the only thing the little boy could see was Robin, sitting at the feet of the statue of Batman. Jon knew that Damian was going through a lot of changes and that should bother him, and even with his father asking him to give his friend a break, he knew his new brother needed him.
βDami?β Jon murmured, seeing his friend noticing his presence, not giving him much attention. He walked to the statue, sitting next to him βCan I sit here?β
βYou're already seated, Kent.β
βOhβ¦β He laughed, looking around the room around him βSo, it's pretty cool that we're a duo, isn't it? Weβre gonna be like our dads!β
βWe will never be like our fatherd, Jonathanβ Damian took off his hood, hugging his knees βPennyworth always says that we are different people, despite everything we have in common with others.β
βI just wanted to cheer you up...β Jon shrugged βWhy are you like this, Dami? You didn't like us to being a duo?β
βThat's not the problem, Kentβ Damian turned and looked into his friend's blue eyes. He didn't talk about what he felt to others, but Jon was his friend, and unfortunately, a very good friend βI feel that things will be changed between usβ¦β
βOh, Dami, things will not change between us!β Jon laughed naively βIt will be the same as always, but better! We will act without our dads around and-β
βThat's not what I'm talking about, Jonathan!β Damian exclaimed, making his voice echo throughout the hall. He grunted, frustrated that he was calling out so much emotion.
βNo? So, what is it?β
βWe... We're going to be brothers...β Damian sank lower onto his knees, not wanting to show himself vulnerable βWhen our fathers get married, w-we're going to be brothers and I-I don't want the things change between us... Me and my brothers are always fighting and I don't want to fight with you every day because if I fight with you, I-I won't have any friends, and I-I don't want that.β
βOh...β Jonathan touched his friendβs shoulder, and that made him get up, uncomfortable. He backed away from the touch, but stayed by his Damian's side, slightly surprised to see him open up to him for perhaps the first time βLook, Dami, I can't promise we're not going to fight because we always fight, but nothing will change between us! Even if our dads are married to each other, I'll still living with my mom so you won't have to put up with me for long time... And, for me, we're already like brothers.β
βYeah! You're like the cool big brother I want to be when I grow up! And my mom keeps saying that it's better for me to grow up and be like you than to be like Connerβ He deduced, noticing his friend seem calmer, and surer of all those changes βNothing will change between us, Damian.β
βYou promise me that, Kent?β
βI Pinky Promise!β Jon raised his finger to his friend, who gave in to that childish ritual and crossed his finger with his friend's, fully validating his promise. Jon smiled thinking of having helped his friend, but he felt the cold and thin touch of his katana cross his neck, giving him a fright.
βIf you tell anyone about this, Kent, I'll cut your head off the first night you sleep in my house.β
βOkay, Damian, fine...β He chuckled nervously, sighing in relief when Damian put his sword away βDo you want to race to the end of the hall!?β
βOnly if you want to eat dust, Kent!β Damian was excited by the chance to increase his self-pride again, and jumped from the statue, running through the hall and drawing an indignant scream from Jonathan.
βHey! That's not fair!β Jon whimpered, feeling betrayed by his friend and jumping to run after him, wanting to at least win the race that he himself had proposed. From a distance, Clark and Bruce watched with a smile their children laughing as they ran through the corridors. They had no doubt that the two would be great brothers for each other.