Clearly something was wrong to have Damian looking to him for affection, but something was wrong with him to, as he warmly returned it. In his own mind he blamed pushing his friends away time and time away. He was human after all, humans needed affection. So he didn't move to let him down, he just shifted one of his arms to make it easier in holding Damian up.

He grinned a it at the word of challenge. "Maybe it is." Listening to the younger as he spoke, the way he looked, god, just hearing Dick didn't know the kid, they always seemed closer in that rough and tumble way the youngest was, so like himself. Dick and Tim were always the most stable of the lot of them. A look of sympathy crossed his face a moment.

"Fucking Multiverse." He just hugged him a little tighter. "Want me to punch him in the face for you?" He spoke trying to lighten the mood, but a quiet hope rose in him, maybe Grayson wouldn't know him... it was terrible but maybe he'd have a better chance if he didn't.