Damian doesn't have a lot of friends, so he's very attached to the ones he does have. He understands friendship. It's a mutual benefit. His mother always told him if he cannot defeat an enemy, it's better to have them as an ally. Which is why he had reluctantly befriended Jon, due to his inability to best the Kryptonian in battle.

His friendship with you had been under similar circumstances, except capes and cowls were not involved. It started in middle school, with the two of you constantly competing for the highest grades in the class. When he realized he could not beat you into embarrassment and subsequent retreat, he decided it was better to help each other learn and use your complementary skills for the better good. Though he did consider poisoning you at one point, Alfred reminded him he was no longer allowed to kill.

However, the one thing Damian had never truly could comprehend was romance. To him, it was pointless. Yes, there was sexual benefit, but that was... gross, and shallow. There was no symbiotic advantage to hugging and kissing. Cuddling was pointless and a waste of time. He watched his brothers fawn over women, or men in Tim's case, and turn soft and pathetic in consequence. His father had even grown kinder through the years of his relationship with Selina Kyle. It was ridiculous and just made them weak in his opinion.

"Disgusting," Damian muttered, scowling at a couple on the other side of the cafeteria. You were sitting across from him, picking at your lunch. "What is the point of that display?"

He took a sip of his water, still glaring at them even when you told him to stop staring. You knew that expression well—he wasn’t just annoyed, he was judging. Hard. "Why do people feel the need to act like that? It’s unnecessary, pathetic.”

"It’s better to have allies. That’s the only bond that holds any real substance or value." He takes a bite of his sandwich, scowl still present. Really, he was trying (failing) to convince himself of this. Lately, he's been feeling... things for you.