Duke's a hugger, he will take any affection he can get.
Headcannon fucking A C C E P T E D
It was a hard, terrible day. That was Gotham. Sometimes there were days when the sun shone and everybody went home safe. Today was not one of those days.
It was a senseless death, but Duke was familiar with senseless. It was a young death, but Duke was prepared to face it, he was Batman’s partner now, after all. But that was the hardest part, facing it. Facing the grief of Maria Martinez Gonzales as she clutched the lifeless body of her twelve year old daughter was one of the hardest things he’d ever have to do.
Duke’s eyes drifted over to where Damian stood, watching silently, stiff as a board. With each sob Damian’s shoulders got tighter, with each wail, his spine got more rigid. And Duke knew what he was doing. Damian was blaming himself, allowing the responsibility to settle solely on his own young shoulders.
It became too much. Duke silently excused himself, left Bruce to deal with the grief and police. He needed a minute, and he didn’t care if that made him a weaker Robin or a bad partner. He needed a goddamn minute.
Small footsteps and the light rustle of a cape made him look up. Damian was approaching, a little grimace on his face. A look he got whenever he was trying to say something he deemed too “emotional.” That was what finally broke him.
He knew exactly what Damian was going to say. It wasn’t your fault, Thomas. You’re still inexperienced. He’d list all the reasons why Duke wasn’t culpable, all the while shouldering the burden himself.
Damian was just so young.
Duke surged forward and pulled Damian into a startled hug.
“What-Thom-Robin!” he sputtered. “What are you doing? Unhand me!”
“Shhh,” Duke said, voice hoarse. “Just let it happen.”
Slowly, slowly, Damian relaxed in his arms. His shoulders loosened. A small, tentative hand reached around and clasped his own cape, holding him tight. Duke rested his cheek on Damian’s head, and let out a sigh. He told Damian through the tightness of his arms that he was not at fault. Duke told him with the warmth of his embrace that he was not alone. He told this kid with the soft breath on his hair, that it was okay to be sad and he had support.
Finally, Damian stepped back. Duke let him go. He looked away, while the kid wiped his eyes. He knew Damian wouldn’t want him to notice the tears. Damian stood stiffly, like he was embarrassed by his display of emotion, and Duke hated that. Hated that this kid was trained to never show a single thing.
So he did what Dick would do. What any decent big brother would do, really. He slung his arm around Damian’s shoulder and ruffled his hair.
“You best be getting used to that, kid. I’m a hugger.”
Damian groaned, but he could see the smile at the corner of his mouth.
