LINK: Goodbye Was Not Our End
Summary: Jon and Damian had made peace with the fact that they would never reconnect. Every little part of their childhood history, built up since preschool had come crashing down, both leaving hidden feelings unsaid. But now, five years later, they have the opportunity to fix everything that had gone wrong, and maybe, just maybe, they could make it something more.
Sometimes, all you need is a second chance.
set directly after A Robin's Song
The phone was taunting him.
It was dark green, a silver W on the back, and a clear case with a robin on it, and currently it was lying on the floor after being viciously thrown to the carpeted floor of Damian’s apartment.
Said person was pressed up against the bottom of his bed, mimicking a frightened cat, hair raised and all. Tears had dried quickly as the shock quickly overcame every other emotion in his mind.
The phone buzzed and he jumped, crouching down to poke at the tech and flip it over before drawing his hand back.
This could not be happening.
When everything had first occurred , he’d been plunged into the deepest, darkest canyon of his mind and emotions, no way out and no one to help him. He wallowed and oh, how he tried to drown himself in the abyss.
He’d begged no one and everyone for a second chance, a moment back, just one more glimpse of what their lives had once been. His nights had been filled with quiet sobs and fitful sleep, before eventually going numb.
Everyone around him tried to lift him up, help him out, save him from drowning. There was therapy and medication and the thing that was there when he finally, finally, finally had a grasp on the rope to be lifted out, was his family, his friends, and his music.
Slowly, busying his mind with the music, he built his life back up, starting something new for himself.
And now?
Now he felt like he was back where he started, the repressed memories and the joy and the excruciating heartbreak overwhelming him, all topped with a healthy dose of fear.
He shut his eyes, inhaling deeply. It was a conversation. He had wanted this conversation for so long, and had always dreamed of a moment where he could try and get back what he had missed for so long.
When he opened his eyes, he made a grab for the phone, immediately clicking on the message saying he had a new DM.
Written across the screen were the words “Hey, D. Missed you.”
He turned around and promptly screamed into his pillow. Something burst inside of him, something fearful and tentative, but at the same time hopeful.
So, so, hopeful.
He typed in a response, deleting it just as soon as it appeared.
What do you say in a situation like this?
An ‘i missed you too’ should suffice. He scanned the little box and deleted it. Too longing in the way his voice read it back to him
Should he just type back a hi? Maybe a familiar nickname? Was he still allowed to call him that?
Every little thing was put on trial and was thrown out, and before he knew it, fifteen minutes had passed.
He gave up, getting up to pace around his home in an attempt to shake the anxiety filling him.
Their cat, Alfred, jumped on the counter as Damian began to brew some tea, absent-mindedly running his fingers through the cat’s short fluff.
“What am I doing?” He murmured to him, voice softly mournful. “What are we doing?”
Alfred meowed at him, and Damian nodded wearily. “Wise advice, Alfred.”
He inhaled the steam from his tea, wrapping his hands around the mug and absorbing its warmth.
Damian retrieved his phone after a bit, clicking on a few messages he had missed with the friends he’d kept from high school, plus someone from the studio he grew close to as he had first started out in his career.
You Can’t Sit With Us (five people)
gotSkyhighdreams: My 2 gradrs hate me u guys [cleanup.img]
Turninurfuckinbooks: this is why i don’t allow paint around small gremlins.
Colinator: could never be me fr
unmatchdwittyandQUEEN: rip sky
flyROBINfly: hey you guys something happened
Damian took a screenshot of the dm and cropped it, watching their messages pile on top of each other on screen.
You Can’t Sit With Us (five people)
Turninurfuckinbooks: what did you do.
gotSkyhighdreams: did you kill someone
Colinator: if you did i’ll help hide the body if u need
unmatchdwittyandQUEEN: same just say the word an ill bring a shovel
flyROBINfly: do any of you watch my streams
Turninurfuckinbooks: not unless a compilation or an edit of u being stupid shows up
Colinator:same tbh
UunmatchdwittyandQUEEN: if the internet doesnt shut up abt a certain interview
gotSkyhighdreams: when im on my lunch break ye
flyROBINfly: first off akira colin you are both dead to me
Second do you guys remember jon
Damian winced as the phone began to blow up, practically jumping from his hands with the pings that began to blow up his phone. It was a rather stupid question but he asked it anyway.
You Can’t Sit With Us (five people)
Turninurfuckinbooks: do we remember jon he asks
Colinator: jon, who you ask me abt every six months without fail bc i have his instagram
unmatchdwittyandQUEEN: jon who is forever known as that bitch in my heart
gotSkyhighdreams: nono we don’t at all remember the drama of the year that brought us together and kickstarted ur career
Turninurfuckinbooks: who you still pine for but have mostly forgotten about so you say
flyROBINfly: there has been no pining fuck off
Colinator: swear jar
flyROBINfly: anyways [screenshot.img]
gotSkyhighdreams: R U SRS
Turninurfuckinbooks: TF????
Colinator: WHAT
unmatchdwittyandQUEEN: EXCUSE ME?!?!
flyROBINfly: what do i say???
Turninurfuckinbooks: block him
gotSkyhighdreams: say hi back??
Colinator: ask him for his insta so u can check urself
unmatchdwittyandQUEEN: block him
flyROBINfly: so so helpful, all of you
never mind i’ll deal with it
The responses were overwhelming, but he felt petty and ignored them, setting his phone down and picking up the cat, setting Alfred on his stomach as he leaned back on the couch of the apartment.
“I’ve waited for this moment a long time, Alfred.” he informed the cat. “So very long and every planned thing left my mind the moment I saw him again.”
“What do you suppose he’s done now? Heard he got married, maybe he has a kid.”
Alfred meowed at him and he nodded. “I suppose you’re right. What would I ever do without you?”
That was how Duke found him thirty minutes later, lying on the couch having an avid conversation with their cat.
He dropped his keys on the entrance table and his messenger bag hung on the coat rack, Damian sitting up.
“I am having a crisis.”
“When are you not?” Duke responded dryly.
“Sarcasm is unbecoming and quite frankly patronizing at this moment.” Damian sniffed, Alfred wiggling out of his grapes and stalking over to Duke, rubbing his fur all over his ankles.
“I’m assuming it has something to do with today’s stream, right?” Duke pulled out his phone, waving it at him.
The online articles were blowing up, as well as various platforms. “I thought I'd ask you first before clicking on this.”
The feelings returned, an anxious churning sensation swirling around him and creating a lump at the back of his throat, pressing down and making the tearful feeling rear its head.
“I…it's Jon.” He pulled up the message and held it out, watching the impact of the words settle on his brother’s faces, eyes moving across his screen multiple times.
“Kent? Jonathan Kent? Are you sure it’s him?” He squeaked.
Damian nodded, the initial shock and feelings having faded slightly, although the remaining ones were funneled into anxiety, leg bouncing rapidly and fingertips tapping out a familiar rhythm.
“Did you respond?” He shook his head and Duke made a pained noise.
“So, you've been waiting for this for five years and the thing you do is leave him on read?”
Damian looked horrified. “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God, he must think I'm such an asshole.”
Duke winced. “Well, I mean, this is a very telling moment for the both of you, I'm sure he understands, just respond.”
“What do I say??” Damian agonized over the phone, draping himself on the couch, and Duke was about fifty percent certain that their younger siblings spirits had come to possess Damian with their dramatic natures.
“Just say Hi. A simple hello, how have you been?” Duke prompted, nudging him. “If he’s an asshole, you know the rest of us will beat his ass for you.”
“Swear jar.” Damian said half-heartedly.
“I’m an ADULT!”
Duke got up but not before nudging Damian on the shoulder “I’m going to go and do some work, and when I come back, I expect to see a message sent.”
“I am older than you.” Damian scowled.
“And when you act it, I'll acknowledge that.” Duke had a shit eating grin on his face. “Dames, you mothered all of us pretty well til you left the house, so feel free to act your age or whatever.”
Sighing, Damian stared at the familiar logo on his screen. Nothing elaborate, just a diamond S in blue, red and yellow. They’d made them when they were younger, Damain creating the R symbol that came to be well known.
With a deep breath, he typed back, staring at his screen and waiting for the little bubbles to pop up, showing Jon was typing back a response.
It had been three hours since he’d sent the message to Damian, the typing bubbles popping up and dying back down just as quickly. The jumpiness caught up to him, obsessively checking his phone and pacing up and down his hallway.
Kathy Brandon, someone he’d met his freshman year of college and quickly bonded with, had sent him links to people talking about both him and Damian followed by a demand for an explanation. Talking about it had calmed his nerves a bit, but he was still jumpy.
He’d gone out an hour after to pick up something, and had returned slightly more relaxed. He was attempting to edit the article he’d been assigned, procrastinating on his Chem homework, when finally, finally finally, a notification lit up his phone.
Jon_Kent
Hey, D
Missed you.
ROBIN_Offical
Hello, Jon.
You already know I share your sentiment.
How have you been? It’s been…awhile.
Jeez, looks like sometime in these past few years Damian had swallowed a dictionary. Or was he upset? A grudge was understandable, but the way he’d sounded on the video…
Jon knew both of them wanted to reconcile, even if this new way of communication was slightly off-putting.
Jon_Kent
I’ve been alright.
lots of ups and downs from the few years
what about you? How’s ur family?
ROBIN_Official
They are doing well, as am I.
Duke and I have been staying outside of Gotham U
stephanie often stays with us
Are you still in Metropolis?
Jon winced at the way the conversation was read out. It was stilted and awkward, even over text. There was nothing relatively interesting about this, unlike when they were younger, never an awkward moment left between them, never running out of things to talk about.
Jon_Kent
yup, still here
Gotham U, huh? Thats not too far from here
ROBIN_Official
no, not very
I’m glad I was able to talk to you again.
Damian’s heart was pounding as he hit send. The message could be received in a few ways, and he hoped he wasn’t being too forward too early into the stiff conversation.
Jon_Kent
me too damian
I wasnt lying, i have missed you
i feel like this is a conversation better held in person then over phone
ROBIN_Official is typing…
Jon chewed on his bottom lip, having moved from the table to the kitchen counter. He wanted to see him in person, see the change and the things time had eroded from the image in his memory. Surely, in person the conversation would flow more, bring an atmosphere much closer to the way they used to be.
ROBIN_Official
Would you like to meet sometime this week?
I will have to check my schedule but i believe i’m free this friday
Damian was lying. He knew for a fact he was free on Friday, hell, he worked from home most days and could get away with driving to Metropolis tomorrow if he wanted, but rushing headfirst into a situation that required time most of all was something he didn't want to do.
Jon_Kent
that sounds good for me!
theres a nice little cafe around my apartment
we can meet up there if you want?
ROBIN_Official
sounds good. Send me the address and i’ll see you then
It sounded much more like he was organizing an appointment, but that was fine. God, he said yes. Jon let out a breathy laugh, hand over his mouth and he read the words again and again.
Little footsteps pattered into the kitchen, and Jon set down his phone, looking down at a little girl with tanned skin, raven curls, and freckles.
“Daddy, hungry.”
He smiled softly, lifting her up and setting her on his hip. “How does mac ‘n cheese sound, princess?”
Damian sat up, the anxiety resurfacing with a topping of nerves churning in his stomach. He took a screenshot, sending it to his friends, before announcing to Alfred the cat,
“Well, this Friday, I'm going to see my estranged best friend, who I pined for uselessly for somewhere around four years, and who I most certainly no longer have feelings for. We’re going to talk it out like the adults we are, and everything will be fine. How has your day been?”
The cat’s judgemental stare and incredulous meow was the only response he got.
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