SHE WOKE WITH his arms wrapped around her body, comforting heat radiating off of him. They'd fallen asleep in that position after hours of sweet nothings and stolen kisses under the moonlight.

She still didn't quite believe it was real.

What happens when we leave?

No. Focus on the now. It's all about the now. The current. Even if it just lasts a day, a week, a month, it would be enough for her. She could live off that knowledge for the rest of her life. She'd be happy.

Did that make her pathetic?

Her eyelids fluttered shut.

Besides her, he stirred. Sunlight streamed into the room through the curtains, casting shadows on his side profile. She stared at him for a long time.

Finally, he opened his eyes. And they just laid there, staring into each other's eyes, still half-dazed and not fully awake.

It was a strange sensation. She'd never done that before with anyone. She didn't think she could remember the last time she woke up in anyone's arms. She wasn't used to sleeping with another person, but with Damian, it somehow just felt... right.

His hand darted out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Morning."

She yawned. "Morning."

"You feeling alright?"

"I guess?"

He frowned. "That's not a good answer."

"I'm fine." And suddenly she was a bit shy, turning away to face the wall. "I'll get up in a second."

"You can't be that tired."

"I'm not," she groaned, her voice muffled. "I'm just... lazy."

"I'll go up to the Yu Manor in a bit. Give the others a call. Tell them you're alright."

Odile paused. And the rest of the world came crashing back in. They were not in a bubble, with the rest of reality kept at bay. Time would not stop for them. No one would wait for them.

This is what I've always wanted.

She was less ecstatic than she thought she'd be.

The boy she'd loved for half her life told her he loved her back. Yet something still felt missing.

It was strange. She was embarrassed, almost, as memories of last night came rushing into her mind. Promises exchanged that felt so real in the moment, but now that she thought back to them, seemed... hollow.

You're supposed to be an optimist.

Or maybe that was just what other people thought of her as.

He didn't stir beside her. She thought he'd get up immediately, but he didn't. Instead, almost as if he knew what she was thinking, his hand landed on her waist. Gently stroking. Comforting. "Stop thinking."

"I never thought those words would come out of your mouth."

"Mhm," he sounded like a lazy cat, "things change. Don't they?" And then the heat of his breath was against her ear. "Don't you dare act like nothing happened."

In response, she hid her face deeper into her blanket. Her bed was a little small for both of them. Small enough that she had nowhere to escape to. He had her wholly trapped against the wall. "I'm not."

"You know Caleb Rothman called me the other day? Asked why you weren't picking up your phone."

She frowned, though he couldn't see her expression. "I haven't spoken to him since the night of the ball."

"He seems interested."

"Well, I'm not. Not in him, anyways. I am interested in him and his family's money."

"You planning on embezzling him? I'll help."

"No," she replied curtly. "You know I do not plan on doing that. But I do plan on gently persuading them into donating a small fortune."

"I'll help you with that instead, then. Being the son of Bruce Wayne has to count for something."

"You know, I never asked, who does the rest of the world think your mother is?" she wondered aloud.

"Does it matter?" he asked, sounding amused. "In his youth, my father was a well-known philanderer. Besides, if neither of us ever mention it, neither will the rest of the world. They'll speculate, but only behind closed doors. The name Wayne matters in Gotham City."

"So I've been told."

"Still not going to turn around and face me?"

Grunting, she rotated her body around, snapping, "You are so annoying—"

She was cut off with his lips sealing off her own. And then the room was silent except for the sound of her quiet groan, his hand pushing her head towards his.

When he released her, he grinned. "So that's what it feels like."

She shot him a glare.

"Cute." He smirked. "Now get up."

Her eyes fluttered shut in defiance. "I... I should probably go back to Gotham soon. I have so much to arrange. The charities... if Bruce still wants me to..."

"He will." He sounded certain. "He's not going to change his mind over something as stupid as this. Everything's still in your hands. Don't you worry about it."

She sucked in a breath. "Okay. Okay. Give... give me a day or two more?"

"You can take as much time as you want." He started playing with a lock of her hair. "There's no rush."

"Easy for you to say," she huffed, pushing herself upright. His hand dropped onto the mattress beside her. "Two days. We'll get a flight back on the third day. And then we'll be back by the end of the week." Her eyes shut. "I was very impulsive, wasn't I?"

"It's not always a bad thing. You don't have to be like the rest of us, meticulously planning everything else beforehand. It's one thing I do like about you, you know."

"Not good for the job."

"But your main job isn't heroism, isn't it? Not our type anyways. Leave all that to the rest of us. You can save the world the right way."

"The right way?"

"It's true." Now Damian climbed out of bed so she could get up too. "Come on now. Could I move into yours when we head back?"

She shot him a glare. "What's the point? And I want my own personal space."

He pulled a face. "Fine."

She had a feeling he'd be staying at hers plenty for the next while. Or however long this lasted. This... bliss.

She got herself cleaned up. Shooed him outside and got changed into her clothes for the day. His own clothes must have been in the hut, because when she headed out of the treehouse he was ready too, looking impeccable. Untouchable. Face stony as he regarded the empty fire. But then a smile spread across his face as he spotted her.

"What's the plan for today?"

"I talk to my aunt."

His face turned more sombre. "You are ready? You don't need to do anything you're uncomfortable with, you know."

"It's only right." Odile sighed. "I'll grab breakfast and go. You do what you want. No need to stay around and wait. I'll be fine."

"I'll be at the Yu Manor. I'll come back after that, if you need me." He flashed a smile. "You know I have nothing else to do? I'm here for you. Use me how you want."

She blushed. "You're not an object. Go away, Damian. I'm sure some of the kids want to spar with you. You have plenty to teach them, I think. Don't hurt anyone, though."

"Who do you think I am?"

"Damian Wayne." Odile finished the last braid of her hair, pulling it up around a hairpin into a bun. "I trust you. Whatever. I'll be with Shan Ling."

—

THE ROOM WAS chillingly silent.

Shan Ling sat there, across the table, expression indecipherable and stony. Odile swallowed, choosing to stay still. Deciding to let Shan Ling make her judgement rather than interfere.

She'd known Shan Ling even longer than Remiel or Dick or Damian.

Shan Ling had been there from the first day she'd arrived at the Yuannan Mountain Sect. She'd been here when Grandmother was still alive. She'd taught Odile how to fight, how to survive, and she'd lied to her for years in return.

She wouldn't blame Shan Ling if she was furious. She'd never been a woman who took betrayal lightly. She wouldn't blame Shan Ling if she couldn't forgive her, if she decided that the Yuannan Mountain Sect was not a place Odile should ever return to again. Remiel might be sect leader in name, but they all knew the real power lay in Shan Ling's hands. Even Remiel wouldn't argue with that.

And the peach blossom forests were never her birthright. They were Yu Lan's. Not Dai Junyi's.

The insecurities were creeping up again. The sense of being a fraud, an imposter, which she was. She tried to clamp it down.

Shan Ling sucked in a breath. Let it out slowly.

She didn't seem to know what to say. She looked like she was stunned now, which wasn't an expression Odile had ever seen on the woman's face.

"Would you have ever told me," Shan Ling began in quiet Mandarin, "if not for this?"

So they were doing this in their native tongue. Somehow, it made her feel worse. It became personal. She was no longer Odile for a moment. She was Yu Lan. A fake Yu Lan, but it was the only name the rest of the world knew her as. She was nine years old again, the first time she'd been brought into this room, when it was still Shan Heng in power. Before everything else had happened. She was scared and terrified and frightened of being discovered as a fraud—of this day. Of being sat here like she was now, opposite a disappointed Shan Ling.

"No." Odile decided to be honest with both Shan Ling and herself. "I would not have. If I'd had the choice, I'd have brought this secret with me to my grave."

"You've played us all for fools," Shan Ling remarked. "I am disappointed, but I must admit to being impressed. You were only nine. Unless you lied about your age?"

"No," Odile said with a shake of her head. "I am the same age as Yu Lan. Three months younger."

"How did you think of it?"

She met Shan Ling's eyes. There was nothing judgemental in the question, only pure curiosity. Odile dropped her gaze and replied, "When Yu Lan wanted to sneak out, she sometimes had me pretend to be her. Stay in her room. Sleep in her bed. The adults would open the door, but they'd never be able to see my face. I tried to get her to stay with me that day, but she thought it would be better to make a run for it... and by the time Grandmother came, I'd already made up my mind. I knew I'd be treated better if I was Yu Lan. People always treated her better."

"And you didn't slip up for all these years."

"I wouldn't have," she remarked, "if I hadn't gone digging back in my past. But I had to. It's what I owed all of them. I am deeply sorry for keeping this away from you."

"It does explain why you are here." Shan Ling sighed. "And the boy? He is here to retrieve you?"

"Yes."

"Is he your lover now? When did this occur? And why did you never tell me about that?" Now her tone took a more accusatory turn. "He is a child of the League of Assassins, no matter what." And Odile hadn't kept that away from Shan Ling. The woman knew who was responsible for the massacre of the Eyu Sect.

"He's not his mother," Odile replied quietly. "And Remiel trusts him as well. And it's a very recent development, I assure you."

Shan Ling snorted. "You've been half in love with him since the first time he arrived here all those years ago. I thought it would pass. Puppy love."

"It didn't."

"I suppose he is strong. He will be able to protect you."

"I don't need protecting," she replied with an arch of the brow.

"Oh, accept protection when it is offered. It makes your life far easier, I assure you." Shan Ling let out a huff. "What I would do to have someone protect me. Saves me so much time. But alas, I will carry the weight of everything on my own shoulders. More reliable that way, I suppose."

"I want to shoulder my own responsibilities, Auntie Ling."

"I suppose you're still at that age." She looked a bit indignant. "You will see the wisdom of my words sooner or later."

"Perhaps one day. But right now, I'm young. I want to experience things for myself." She sighed. "I know now isn't going to be forever, but I just want to..."

"Oh, enjoy it." Shan Ling sighed. "You've had a miserable life so far, child."

Odile scowled. "Thanks. I guess."

"It is the truth. Hiding one secret after another. Miserable existence. Now that it is aired in the open, you can restart. Forget about the past. Make good use of this opportunity."

"I will try."

"I hope you're not hiding anything else."

"I don't think I am."

"Am I allowed to tell Remiel where you are now? Or is that boy of yours already doing it?"

Odile grinned. "He's on it. Don't worry about it, Auntie Ling. I'll leave in a few days. Hopefully I'll return again under better circumstances. It has been a chaotic few days."

"I'm glad you're aware of it." Shan Ling scowled. "I have been worried, you know. Most unlike you to be like this."

"I know." Odile sighed. "All will be well, Auntie."

"And so I hope."

—

AND SO: THE flight, two days later. Damian next to her, her hands clasped in his. She stared straight ahead. He alternated between casting worrying glances at her and turning back to face the front.

Both deep in thought. Both unwilling to voice them out.

Things had happened way too fast, way too far. It was overwhelming. It was nice, having him around, knowing she wasn't alone, but god she was petrified now. Terrified of how her friends and family would react. Would they be supportive? Not just of her identity, but of her relationship with Damian?

Would it seem weird in anyone's eyes?

Would people think she didn't deserve him?

She shifted her head to stare out the window. As planes drove by and prepared for takeoff. At the airport workers in their little carts moving around.

Gotham. Again. She had to suppress the urge to run away.

"If you want to sleep, you can lean on my shoulder," he muttered to her. "I don't mind."

"What if people don't like me anymore?" she asked quietly.

He blinked. And then his features softened. "Of course they'll like you."

"What if they think I'm a liar? What if they can never see me the same way again? And what if people think you've made a mistake?"

"No one would dare think that," he assured her, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "And if anyone does, I'll make sure they regret it."

"What if everything changes?"

"Change isn't always for the worse," he pointed out. "It's time for you to start a new chapter in life, Odile. You don't have to live in perpetual fear of your secret being discovered anymore. Everything will be alright. Everything will work out. And if it doesn't, I'll be by your side. Always."

She let out a little sniffle. "I'm just being overemotional now. This isn't like me."

"No, let it out. It's fine. No one will judge. Just stay with me, Odile. Please, stay with me."

"Okay. Okay, Damian."

hihihihi. i think life will get SLIGHTLY easier from now on so maybe more frequent updates???
anyways i was jotting down ideas for the sequel & it just turned into me making a list of callie & jason's traumas. so. oops.