"Dick, what is it you would like me to do? Jason has told me about what is going on. I have spoken to Clark, I have spoken to this Mar'i. It was short, I will admit. She did not have much to say. She seemed more surprised to see me if anything." The golden skinned woman speaks, taking a step further closer to the man who she was once closest too. The cave is usually a quiet place, but when Kori showed up to speak with Dick about the recent events? Everyone who was in the cave before Kori came, fled. Damian used his friend as an excuse, saying he had somewhere to be. Alfred used that as his excuse to leave as well, saying he would give Damian a ride to his friends house. That being you, leaving Dick alone with the woman he was once so close with.

"What do I want you to do? Kori I don't want you to do anything. I need you to help step in, believe me on this. I don't like asking you to come around anymore when you've made it obvious that you don't wa-" Kori scoffs loudly, narrowing her bright green eyes on the masked face before her. He didn't even feel the need to take off the mask and speak to her like a rational person this time around?

"This is exactly why I prefer to work with Jason and Roy. I am going to be apart of what Damian is planning, but my reason for doing so isn't going to just be because you asked me." She started, taking a step closer to him. More closer inch by inch, until she was right before him. Hands slowly make their way to his face. And he could just feel it, feeling the heat from her body that came so naturally from her just inch closer to him. Radiating off of her like the actual ray of sunlight that she is.

"Can you not even look at me with your own eyes anymore?" She asked, making her fingers let wander to the edges of his mask. He visually tensed at the feeling that had ever since become so foreign, and let his hands snap up to her wrists.

"For so long, your name was not something I could remember. Just the actions the two of us shared." She said softly, letting her hands peel away at the black domino mask that hid his bright clear blue eyes. Ones that showed just how tired he'd been. Bloodshot whites, where the red veins became such a difference of a contrast. His bright blues looking more like grey shades of cobalt. The dark circles under and around his eyes, it did worry her to see him like this.

There was a long pause, and her given two inches taller than him has since long made the silences awkward. At the beginning, Dick will fully admit that her height over him did come as an unfortunate difference. But now? He doesn't seem to care. It's just become a normal thing. But it's been so long for him to even relish in the fact there is in fact a major difference between the two. They've been apart for so long, and it's making him realize that he can't just live and let himself think that he can just ignore his old feelings for her.

Especially when something so drastic as a little girl from another alternate reality shows up out of nowhere, claiming that her name is Mari' Grayson. With the powers of a Tamaranean, and the obvious connection between herself and him? It's the entire reason he's refrained from seeing her yet. It's the entire reasons why she isn't staying in the manor with Bruce, and is instead in the fortress of Solitude with Clark and Jon. It's temporary. Especially with what Damian has in mind.

"In Tamaranean, Mar'i is the equivalent of the earth name Mary." Kori said quietly, bright green eyes that reminded Dick so much of bright shining stars just locking onto his sleep deprived ones. Mar'i Grayson, as if she was named after the late Mary Grayson. His mother.

"Damian plans on moving everyone to the tower tonight." Dick changed the subject, slowly removing her hands from his face before sliding the black domino mask on.

"Tell Roy that Oliver wants to see him for a little bit, Oliver's in Gotham for the meantime. He's coming to the manor tomorrow to see John." Dick spoke, turning his back to the redhead and making his way to the large supercomputer to pull up the location Damian has chosen for the new Titans Tower.

"The Constantine man? I have not met him, though I've heard very intriguing things. Does he knows Green Arrow?" Kori asked, not walking, but levitating herself over to where Dick has seated himself down in the large chair. Her hair making a long red streak behind her as she moved with grace.

"Intriguing isn't the word I'd use, but sure. He knows everybody somehow I figure, but Bruce mentioned that he did a favor for Oliver that really helped him." Dick replied, thinking that not much of it should be said. Considering that favor included one of Oliver's friends dying, and when they showed up back in Star city? Turns out they were missing fragments on their soul, leaving them deranged. So he called the only person he knew could help. John Constantine. Oliver should have known better than wherever John Constantine goes, something bad always follows. John left before it caught up with him, whatever it was that time around. But it turned out he left Oliver to slow down and stall his mess. Oliver didn't exactly appreciate that, so Dicks and Tim placed a bet on how soon Oliver would throw the first punch. Popcorn included.

The conversations went on and on, rabbit trailing to new thing such as who Damian intends to have on this team he's forming, to the new things about the tower. Originally, the first generation of teen titans? It was Dick Grayson as Robin, Koriand'r as Starfire, Victor Stone as Cyborg, Donna Troy as Wondergirl, Wally West as Kid Flash, and Roy Harper as Red Arrow. That was the first generation of Teen Titans. The next Generation was the same, but there was no Robin. There may have been another couple people added to the team, but Jason wasn't Robin long enough to...

"Dick?" Kori nudges him in the shoulder slightly, he only shakes his shoulders as if getting the memories out wasn't enough.

The next generation after that was Tim. He didn't start leading the team until he was Red Robin, but he still lead the team. It was Red Robin, Cassie as Wondergirl, Bart Allen as Impulse, Celine as Skitter, Kon as Superboy, Miguel as Bunker, and Kiran as Solstice. Tim disbanded the team a couple of months ago, but now Damian thinks it's practically his birthright as Robin to bring it back up.

He's also convinced that it's going to help with whatever Darkness John's been talking about.

John speaks to Damian often. John asks Damian about (Y/n) as often as he can. Sometimes it's simple things, such as what's her favorite color? Damian honestly can't stand John, and tries to avoid him and refuses to answer half the time. One time Bruce had to break up an argument after Damian had enough of John asking him questions. Saying, 'why do you care so much now? If what I've heard is true, then you shouldn't have even shown your face in the same state as her'. Because Damian sees it on your face every single day he sees you. Sees the smile that you have suddenly drop as if just something so little has reminded you of your father. He can see it in your actions, how you like to keep to yourself. You don't like being touched, you constantly leave the doors open and leave the lights on. You start to stop talking and giving your opinion when he notices that you think someone doesn't want to hear it. You try so hard to make people stay and when they leave? He can see it on your face, he can hear it in your voice.

Because he understands it. Your father walked out on your family when you weren't even old enough to understand what was going on or why. Damian's mother may have been worse, deciding that her son was of no use to her. Deciding that her son had value other than sentimental, as in he was just a pawn. And then deciding that his life meant nothing so much as to kill him with a clone that shared his own blood? His mother only saw him as an object to be controlled. His mother only saw him as herself when she was younger, being under the thumb of her father. Not sheltered, not privileged in all the mundane ways of your average higher class civilian.

But he understood the feeling of betrayal and the feeling of rejection just as well as you did. You try to hide it so well and he can see it on your face. He can see it in your eyes. He can feel it in your actions. Ever since the two of you have been getting closer, it's become so obvious to him. He knows you don't like being touched, but there's been an off chance where you come over to him and embrace him in a hug. Your grip doesn't even tighten until you're convinced that he's actually okay with being so close to you, and even then you're reluctant. The moments when the two of you are just walking side by side and your hands accidentally brush against each other? He'll look over at you while you just nervously laugh it off while you're shoving your hands pretty forcefully in your pockets. At first, he didn't think much of it. It happens, the two of you have had tendencies to walk close to each other. But when he really put it to thought?

You and Colton don't walk that close, you and Maps don't walk that close. You and Olive don't walk that close, you and Pom don't even walk that close.

He's seen you rush out of the classroom with tears in your eyes because of something that brought up sour memories. It only happened once, but he overheard a conversation you were having right before it happened. To put it lightly, Maps was talking about her family and then started asking you questions about yours. Maps is a sweet girl, everybody knows this. But she can tend to push down on subjects that are sore to begin with.

Everybody in Wayne Manor is aware of what your father did. None of them can keep a polite conversation going whenever the topic comes up to why John left the way he did.

It's understood why, though.

**At your house with Damian**

"And that's why we're starting with the prequels and then making our way through to the original trilogy. Because the first time I ever watched Star Wars, I was super confused." You stated loudly, sitting up with the pillow on your lap and the bowl of popcorn on the small coffee table before you. Smirking, seeing Damian's slight amusement in the movies.

"Attack of the clones was ridiculous. There were so many things I don't understand logic wise, Anakin just makes me cringe." Damian stated, leaning back into the corner of the couch where he was sitting and let his arm drape over the back of it. Lulling his head back onto the edge of the back, closing his eyes and groaning.

"Why are these prequels so bad? Padme is a queen, is she not? Why is she treated as a side character, and why are all these Jedi so easy to kill? I watched them tear through droids and tanks as if they were cardboard boxes. The dialog is awkward, Anakin sounds like a robot whenever he doesn't seem to be so tediously whining. Jar Jar Binks is cancer." He finished, making you burst out into a small fit of laughter. covering your mouth with your hand and your other hand resting on your stomach.

Damian only let his eyes slowly open and turn to you in a side glance, frowning when he noticed you were covering your mouth when you laughed. Shutting his eyes again when he saw you open yours, picking up the remote and getting ready to watch the last of the prequels.

"Well, your suffering is almost over. Revenge of the Sith is actually kinda okay, but we only get to see awesome Darth Vader in the original trilogy, but- Okay listen." You paused, smirking and holding up your index finger and leaning forwards to the table for a little bit.

"I am listening." He said, opening his eyes and leaning forwards once again, letting his hips move forwards and off of the back of the couch, moving both arms to let his elbows rest on his knees and his chin in his palms. Side glancing at you while locking eye contact.

"Sorry sorry, I just love these movies. Anakin's a crybaby, we can agree on that. But Darth Vader is cooler, awesomer-"
"Awesomer isn't a word."
"Shush, let me ramble! I've never had a friend who hasn't seen Star Wars before." You said excitedly, playfully punching him on the shoulder, smirking. He copied your facial expression and raised an eyebrow when he watched your face falter from excitement to shock when your fist made contact with his muscular arm.

"Wow, I-"
"Wait, is Anakin Darth Vader?"
"Jesus, Damian."

*

"I am disturbed. Why did Padme have to die? Why did Obi-Wan not take Anakin with him before leaving Mustafar. Exactly all of the problems that happen in the original trilogy will be avoided if Obi-Wan had taken Anakin from there, thus refusing to give him the option of becoming Darth Vader. There are so many better ways this could have come about, I'm unsure if I even want to watch the original trilogy after this monstrosity of prequels. There was no logical reason for Padme to die."

You're watching as he rolls up his already short sleeves to his grey T-shirt, running his hands through his hair like he's a stressed teenager about to take a final. Glaring at the T.V, and then slumping his arm back onto the back of the couch. Sighing in defeat, but keeping the expression of the anger teenager that he knows he is. It's amusing to you to watch him get so worked up over the logic of everything, and to you? It's more interesting than the prequels combined. Just sitting there in your white skirt and light blue T-shirt with your elbow on your knee and your chin in your hand, smirking and just watching it all unfold. The redness to his face to the tone in his voice. It's like he's offended by the quality of the movies content. It's literally the most amusing thing to you.

"The original trilogy is so much better, trust me-"
"You say 'trust me' a lot, for someone who doesn't have anything to prove." He cut you off, turning to look at you with a blank and drone like look on his face. The color red seeping back down as the movie starts up, the fanfare of the trumpets blasting the Star Wars theme is only a sound in the distance that feels miles away as you slowly turn your head to look at him.

You don't know why exactly, but apart of you feels offended by his statement. In a way, you don't understand it. Your feelings fighting against each other in confusing manners. Don't have anything to prove? With the image Lea's given herself, it was always proving that you had a high enough aesthetic visual appeal to even be seen with her. she's told you countless times that is NOT true. In no way is that true, and it never should have ever gotten into your head. With Mason it was always proving that you aren't always a stick in the mud. Mason's told you that sometimes he's thankful that you've stepped in when you did and stopped him from doing something. With your mom, it's always trying to prove that you're going to stay with her no matter what happens. That you're always going to be here to help out, that you're never going to leave in any way uncalled for.

You're always trying to prove something, that's why being told that you have nothing to prove bothers you so much.

But your mind completely glosses over the fact that Damian's just stated that you don't have to prove anything to him as you feel to prove yourself around others.

"(Y/n), I'm leaving tonight." He stated. Moving a blanket off of the couch and setting it on the ground besides the tan colored couch. You know you're suppose to take this as an indication that he wants you to come sit next to him, but you wait for him to vocally state it.

"Come here." There it is, and you slowly get up to move besides him. Going from your corner of the couch closest to the door, to the center cushion of the couch right next to Damian and his corner.

"You're leaving?" You ask quietly, placing your back against the couch, feeling Damian's arm right behind your head. Your throat feels tight, and you suppress it by bringing your arm up to your mouth and coughing into the curve behind your elbow. Closing your eyes before clearing your throat again.

"It's temporary, I'll be in Gotham for shorter periods of time. But I'm going to study abroad for a while." He hates lying to you, it shouldn't pain him to do this but when he knows that you aren't looking? He closes his eyes and sighs in a defeated tone.

"Oh, okay. Tonight?" You asked, looking at him while he lets his arm drop back a little bit, but it stops short when his fingers brush through the strands of your hair and he catches you flinch at the contact.

"I plan on leaving after this. Maps doesn't know, neither does Olive. I just wanted to tell you personally." He says, as if he's gaining back confidence and he's talking about it like it doesn't matter that much. He'll be back, and to him? It's creating a team that helps save people, choosing that over staying still and not doing anything but keeping things the way they are? Especially when there have been promises about bad things going to happen? He knows he can do something about it, the issue is how he's going to go about doing it. If creating a team is how, then he'll do it.

"How long?" You replied, and by now? The movie has just become white noise. All you can feel is Damian's fingers weaving into your hair as if to comfort you, and yourself slowly moving closer to him.

"For a couple of months. I'll talk to you as often as I can, and I'll come to Gotham to visit." He says, looking back at you and his face drops into a surprised expression as he's noticed how close his face has come to yours.

Eyes widening, lips parting to let out a small audible gasp. His nose just barely touching yours when he went to turn so suddenly. Feeling your breath on his lips, and being so close to you that he can actually smell the lip gloss you put on earlier before he came here.

That's when he notices things. The light pink that covers your cheeks and spreads to your ears whenever you blush, the natural toned lipgloss that he can just barely see any color of unless he's this close. But this close, he can definitely smell the light candy like scent coming off of you from this close. Are you wearing perfume? He can't exactly tell, but he knows that he's taking in more details of you this close.

Your heart races in a wild manor, you can basically hear each beat pounding off of your ear drums.

Damians hand on the back of your head is accompanied by his free hand raising to your opposing cheek, brushing his thumb against your cheekbone.

Your right hand raises to his chest, and the space between the two of you is closed when he gently presses his lips to your own. Closing his eyes and just letting it happen. It's just that, his lips gently pressing on your own. There's nothing different about it, it's his first time kissing someone and he can tell just by how it feels and how your body reacts that this is new for you too.

You pull away quickly, cover your mouth and sit there in silence.

It's like this for a while, until the two of you just watch the movie, hearts still racing and thoughts still lingering on that kiss that just took place.

You don't know when the next time you'll see Damian is after tonight, but you take this all in knowing you'll see him again.

Pressing your head against his chest and leaning into the open space his arm dangling over the side of the couch has left, you pull up the blanket from the ground. Covering your body and his as you restart the movie, pulling the blanket over your mouth while you lean into Damian.

You know you end up passing out there, his arm wrapping around you protectively. When you wake up, he's gone and you've been moved and repositioned so the arm of the couch has been made a pillow for you. A note in his place where he once was, for you to read when you wake up.

'I watched all the movies as you would have wanted me too, you fell asleep during A New Hope. I didn't move you until after I finished Return of the Jedi. I assume you'll want to watch The Force Awakens when I come back? We'll talk about that more when we can. I enjoyed your company, thank you for having me.'

--Damian