[He's shocked, to hear that Damian had actually argued for him. To hear that Bruce had said no.]

We were the best...!

[He turns to finally face Damian properly, bringing his other hand up to pull gently at the material of Damian's suit, a gesture like he might've once made more often, before the inadequacy and angry had taken their roots.

He never understood it. Never understood what could have been so much more complicated about it. Damian used a gun, sometimes he was harsher, meaner, but he never did anything for the wrong reasons. He was his, and Tim's and Cass' and Jason's older brother, and for the life of him he just couldn't understand how the hell that was so complicated.

He couldn't even laugh at the idea of Wally's weird cousin being intimidated by Bruce. Unfair.]

I know how to use a gun, I-- [He didn't want to, dear god he never wanted to,but he could--] I can still lead the Titans even if I wasn't with Bruce! He doesn't even like it when I leave to go hang out with them instead!

[He worried his lip, tightened his grip. Choked his breath because even if he sounded like his head was racing he wasn't gonna frikkin' cry.]

C-- C'mon, don't I get a say in this...?!