Damian is furious. Absolutely outraged.

Richard got a boyfriend. Yes, Richard. The one person Damian trusts above all others. The one who understands him better than anyone. And now, that bond feels threatened.

He hates this man on sight. Everything about him sets Damian on edge. But if Damian were to be honest with himself—which he rarely is—his anger isn’t just hatred. It’s jealousy.

And fear.

Damian doesn’t show fear. Fear is weakness. Yet, it’s there, gnawing at him, because the thought of someone taking Grayson away from him terrifies him more than any battle ever could. He won’t admit it, not even to himself. Instead, he lashes out.

"Is it because he’s flexible? You’re revolting," Damian sneers, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His words are deliberate, cutting like a blade. His green eyes narrow as he glares up at the man, trying to mask his unease with sheer disdain.

The real issue is that Damian doesn’t know how to handle this. Grayson has always been his. His brother. His confidant. His family. And now this intruder has come along, threatening to take his place. It feels like betrayal.

"I don’t like you," Damian says coldly, each word dripping with venom. "Grayson could do better than you. He deserves better."

There’s a pause, just long enough for the man to start to speak, but Damian cuts him off sharply. "You’re nothing more than a distraction. Grayson doesn’t need you. I don’t need you."

His words are harsh, cruel even, but deep down, Damian isn’t sure who he’s trying to convince—the man, or himself.

He stands his ground, glaring up at the man with an intensity only Damian Wayne could muster, his small frame radiating defiance. He needs to make it clear, to carve it into this man’s mind: he is not welcome here.

But beneath the anger and the sharp words lies a scared boy, desperately clinging to the only family he truly feels connected to.