BatBro fluff after a dark Chapter One.

So typical of Drake to fall sick, Damian thought. Of course the little runt would be shivering in bed on a perfectly good Saturday afternoon, making the whole family feel obliged to stay home with him. Father had even cancelled his business trip to take care of Drake. "But you promised, Grayson," he said, trying his best not to whine. "We're supposed to go to the zoo!"

Dick sighed and ran one hand through his hair. "Dami, I know I promised you. And like I told you a billion times, Timmy is sick. He needs us."

"It's just a flu! Drake can deal with it," Damian snarled, glaring at Tim.

Timothy was lying in bed, covers pulled up all the way to his chin. There was a pale sheen of sweat on his face, and every now and then he would shiver violently. Jason sat at the foot of his bed, murmuring words of comfort.

"And you, Todd! I can't believe even you are kowtowing to Drake's pathetic whims." Damian crossed his arms.

"Get out of the room, Demon-spawn," Jason said. "You're disturbing Timmy's rest."

"Jason-" Dick said, meaning to tell off his younger brother. But Jason was right; Tim needed to sleep in order to recover. And right now, Damian was admittedly being a brat and throwing a temper tantrum."Dami, I'm sorry. We'll go to the zoo tomorrow, okay? Can you just step out for the time being? Please?"

Damian gritted his teeth.

Bruce finally spoke up from his seat in the corner. "C'mon, chum. Be a good sport."

"Whatever you say, Father," Damian said coolly. Before he went out the door, he paused and added, "I don't want to go to the zoo anymore, Grayson. Looks like that frees up your Sunday." Once outside, he was at a loss as to what to do. He stood in the corridor for several seconds, thinking silently.

After a while, Damian made his way to his bedroom. He got out his sketchbook and started to draw the Batfamily, using extra care to sketch and shade the features of Grayson and his Father. He used a marker for the vague outline of Jason, giving it much less attention. When he moved on to Drake, his lip curled and he used his crayon to scribble out a monstrous demon-like child. As for himself, he tentatively doodled a stickman-style child, sandwiched forcefully between Bruce and Dick. He stared at the paper so hard he thought he might burn holes into it.

Someone knocked on the door suddenly.

"I don't want to hear it," Damian said, guessing it was Dick.

It was. Richard opened the door and poked his head in, attempting a grin. "Dami," he said.

"If you do not remove your head from the door frame, Grayson, I will gladly remove it from your body," Damian said snottily. He closed his sketchbook and shoved it under his pillow.

"Nah, you won't," Dick said. He had the nerve to laugh out loud before walking into the room. He sat on the bed beside Damian. "So what's up, Dami? Why are you so pissed?"

"Simple: Drake is weak. You all indulge him for it. That doesn't make sense."

"Really? Because I think someone is...jealous," Dick said, an evil glint entering his eye.

"Shut up, Grayson," Damian sneered. "As if I would be jealous of Drake of all people. Why would I want to be mollycoddled?" He shifted in his bed and rolled his eyes. "All I'm saying is that-"

"You are jealous!" Dick blurted out, laughing. "Oh boy, wait til Jaybird hears 'bout this."

"Am not! Grayson, if you weren't my favorite partner, I'd dash your head against the ground and feed your underdeveloped brains to Drake," Damian spat.

"Ouchie!" Dick mock-pouted. "Look, Dami, I get why you'd feel that way. You don't have to hide it. I mean, every single one of us has gone through that phase at least once in our entire lives. I got it when Jason turned up. And then Jaybird himself was insanely jealous when Timmy appeared as Robin - that's why he still calls Tim 'Replacement' sometimes, he's bitter. And think of Timothy. How he must have felt about you, Dami."

Damian went red. The thing was, Grayson kind of...made sense. "Go on," he made a waving motion with his hand, "I'm listening."

"Right. What I'm telling you is that you have it easy already. You're the 'baby' of the family, and everything pretty much goes your way-"

"Excuse me!" Damian said. "Everything goes my way, Grayson? Have you forgotten Todd calling me 'Demon-spawn' and Drake being the spiteful little monster he is whenever he sees me?"

"To be fair, Dami," Dick said with a smile, "you did try to murder him."

Damian stuck his tongue out childishly.

"Like I said, you're spoiled by us already, kiddo. So when Timmy is sick, give him a break, okay? He isn't feeling well, and the least you could is shower him with brotherly love. That's the way our family works. We give love to whoever needs it most," Dick said quietly.

Damian cocked his head. "That's a stupid policy."

"Maybe it is, but we operate quite well under it."

"Well. I'll try to." Damian swallowed his distaste and stood up. "But only for your sake, Grayson. And another thing-"

"Yes, Dami?"

"I am not jealous."

(line break)

"Oh God, what have you done, Damian? I thought I told you to give Timmy brotherly love!"

"What on earth are you on about, Grayson? I did what you said, now get off my back."

"What? Then why the heck is Tim unconscious?!"

"Fucking Demon-spawn, what did you do to hurt Tim?"

"Language, Jason! Dami, tell me what you did right now!"

"I went to his room and kissed him on the cheek. Drake seemed convinced I was going to assassinate him. He was screaming in horror, that little wussy."

"..."

"..."

"That explains it."