Where everything is Hallmark and Homos

Damian wrinkles his nose as he watches the rain poor outside the dinning room window. He hates rain. It’s cold and clammy and makes soaked clothes stick to him; makes him want to crawl right out of his skin.

He hears Dick before he comes into the room, the tell-tale rattling of a board game preceding him. 

“Hey, Dami, what do you say about playing a game?”

“I really don’t think—“

“Yeah, you’re right,” Jason cuts in, and Damian turns to see him leaning against the door frame. “You’d probably lose anyways, so why bother playing at all.”

“I’m in.”

Dick rolls his eyes and shoots Jason a look, who only shrugs. Hey, he got the kid to play, who cares how he did it. 

They settle around the coffee table near the crackling fireplace, Dick setting up the monopoly board and Jason counting out the colorful money, when Tim comes in with a tray of snacks. 

“From Alfred,” he explains. “I don’t know how he knew, so don’t ask me.”

“Dibs on the racecar,” Jason says and snags it before Dick can argue. 

He pouts, but takes the piece that looks like the titanic instead, grumbling, “The ship’s bigger anyways.”

“Compensating much?”

Damian snorts and retrieves the bag of money token from between the plastic houses, and tossed the terrier to Tim. “Because you’re a little bitch.”

Tim shouts, thoroughly insulted, and rises quickly on his knees to lash out across the table, but Jason roars with laughter and places a hand on Tim’s shoulder to keep him down. Tim yanks away from him, but settles for glaring across the board. 

Jason rolls highest and goes first, putting the game officially in motion. 

They’re five rounds in, Dick buying some low level property, when Tim’s gaze meets Damian’s. It doesn’t matter that they’re not on the best terms; business is business, and a CEO always does what’s best for his company. Or rather, does whatever necessary to win. 

Tim cocks an eyebrow, and Damian’s lips twitch. Tim raises his chin a fraction, not even enough to notice if you’re not looking, and passes up buying boardwalk. Damian tilts his head just so and agrees to sell his few utility cards to Tim for a surprisingly reasonable amount, even if it completes the set.  

It’s another three rounds when all of the sudden Dick catches on and groans. “Hey, stop that! That’s not fair. No team ups allowed.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Damian deadpans. “Also, Jason, you owe me $1,250. Don’t think I didn’t notice you’ve landed on my property.”

Jason sneers and tossed the paper money at him, leaning back on his hands.

 Tim rolls the dice and moves his token. “Don’t be ridiculous, Dick. Me team up with Damian? I gag at the thought.”

And then on the very next round Jason goes bankrupt completely and flips the board, effectively ending the game. 

They switch to watching movies, for everyone’s sake.