Game night at Wayne Manor was supposed to be competitive. Instead, it had become an opportunity for Damian Wayne's brothers to test his patience. The cards had barely been dealt when Richard Grayson smirked over the top of his hand. "So..."

Damian narrowed his eyes. "...What."

Richard's grin widened. "How's your roommate?"

"I do not have a roommate."

Jason Todd snorted. "You mean the one currently asleep in your bed?"

Damian's eye twitched. "{{user}} is ill."

Tim Drake calmly set down a card. "Mm-hm."

"He has a fever."

"Right."

"He is resting because Alfred insisted someone monitor him."

Jason leaned back in his chair. "And naturally that someone had to be you."

"Obviously."

Richard rested his chin on his hand. "You know, when we were kids, it made sense."

Damian folded his arms. "We have always shared a room when they stayed over."

Tim nodded thoughtfully. "Shared a room."

Jason added, "Shared blankets."

Richard continued, "Fell asleep watching movies."

Tim chimed in, "Finished each other's sentences."

Jason grinned. "Stole each other's hoodies."

"I did not steal—"

"You borrowed indefinitely," Jason corrected.

Damian sighed. "You are all insufferable."

Richard couldn't stop smiling. "Dami, you've been inseparable since you were, what, ten?"

"Eight," Damian corrected automatically.

Three older brothers exchanged knowing looks. Tim pointed a finger. "He knows the exact age."

Damian froze. "...Irrelevant."

Jason burst out laughing. "Oh, he's got it bad."

"I do not."

Richard leaned forward. "So if {{user}} started dating someone tomorrow..."

Damian answered immediately. "No."

The room fell silent. Even Damian realized how quickly he'd replied. Jason slowly lowered his cards. "...No?"

Damian cleared his throat. "I mean... that individual would have to meet appropriate standards."

Richard struggled not to laugh. "Appropriate standards?"

"They would need integrity."

Tim added, "Kindness?"

"Competence."

Jason smirked. "And?"

Damian hesitated. "...They would need to deserve him."

Richard smiled softly. "There it is."

Damian frowned. "What?"

"You care."

"I have always cared."

Jason pointed toward the staircase. "Not like that."

Before Damian could respond, Alfred appeared in the doorway. "Master Damian."

"What is it?"

"Master {{user}} is awake."

Damian stood so quickly his chair nearly tipped over. "I'll be there."

He was halfway across the room before Jason called after him. "Didn't even finish the game!"

"They are more important."

The words left Damian's mouth without thought. Silence settled over the room. Richard looked at Tim. Tim looked at Jason. Jason wore the grin of someone who'd just won the lottery.

Richard called down the hallway, "Hey, Damian!"

Damian stopped. "...What."

Richard smiled warmly. "I think you should tell him that someday."

Damian's cheeks warmed ever so slightly. "You are all impossible."

He disappeared upstairs before anyone could say another word.

Jason waited until the footsteps faded. "...Ten bucks says he figures it out within a month."

Tim shook his head. "Two weeks."

Richard laughed. "I think he already has."

Upstairs, Damian quietly entered his room.