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daddysfangirls-dc · 9 days

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Once more the hallucinations hit, and once more I am here writing it out.

My brain is fucking terrifying and I want out, so bad. This came to me in the form of a nightmare.

Also, please don’t take the timeline into consideration, because I have no idea what’s going on. Again, nightmares and dreams tend to not have the best coherency when it comes to plot and timelines. The reincarnation doesn’t have a name, I was too busy feeling terrified. Shit in parentheses was how I experienced the nightmare. Everything else is just me adding sprinkle sprinkle.

——

Ra’s al Ghul.

Talia al Ghul.

Two names that she had been aware of, in the peripherals of her hyper fixation. Two characters meant to enhance the story of the Dark Knight. Side characters, on a good day. Perhaps, a main antagonist on a better day.

On a bad day?

Main characters. Real, living people. Real, living, breathing assassins.

Unfortunately, they’re her new family. One she remembered coming into, bathed in a pool of blood and screams.

She was not a baby.

She is now, a baby. The first of Talia al Ghul’s children. The eldest, once Damian al Ghul was born.

Swaddled in emerald green and gold silks, she was presented to a man with silver streaked hair and a receding hairline. He too, was robed in green and golds.

“A daughter, Talia?” He rumbled, the smooth Arabic flowing out of his mouth failing to hide the acrid disappointment. The child, past the haze of confusion of suddenly being deported from her own adult body into one of a helpless child, felt a stirring of irritation. It’s good she learned the language, because now she knew exactly how Ra’s felt about her. The child grumbled a displeased sound. Not that she would have ignored the fact that her grandfather was Ra’s al Ghul. (He smelled like moth eaten fabric and blood- but I think that was because my cat accidentally scratched me.)

“My apologies, father.”

“Do not tell the young detective of this. Had it been a son, perhaps things would have been different. No, a daughter would only hinder him.”

Talia bowed, hands tightening on her daughter. “May I raise her, father?”

“A resource is still a resource. Go ahead, Talia.”

“Yes, father.” Talia took the dismissal and bowed before leaving.

On her way back to the room with the reincarnation’s crib, Talia al Ghul stroked her daughter’s head.

“I wish you were born a boy, my daughter. I am sorry my beloved will never know of you.”

The reincarnation looked at her new mother. She’s young, the woman-child realized. A teenager.

“You’ll have to be useful, my daughter. Your grandfather is not so kind as to keep the useless. I… do not wish for your death,” her mother muttered.

Great. She got new life and it’s already in danger.

——

She learned to swing a knife. Swords. She learned and devoured the teachings. She learned to be useful.

But then they asked her to take the life of a man who did her no wrong.

Her baby blues clashed with her grandfather’s Lazarus green.

She was still young. A child.

“No.”

“No?”

“He did no wrong.”

“He failed, granddaughter.” Ra’s smiled down at her, patronizing. Cruel. “Perhaps you possess your father’s heart, and you are foolishly sentimental, as women and children tend to be. But in the end, you are an al Ghul and you will obey. Plunge in your blade and I will reward you.”

The reincarnation looked at the man kneeling in front of her, resignation and a hint of pity in what little she could see of his face.

She’s already died before. What did she have to be afraid of?

“No.”

They tried to beat the weakness out of her. It didn’t work.

——

The reincarnation stared at the mirror, left alone in an opulent cage of gold and emeralds and precious stones that meant little to her now.

Her hands traced her back, small fingers finding purchase in soft skin. Her mouth opened fruitlessly, noise refusing to escape. She still felt the burning magic, the brand her own blood had carved into her skin and soul because she refused to kill. The chains her grandfather had shackled around her with magic and cruel amusement.

She had killed him, in the end. Obey, or be punished. Her body had moved without her permission, the reincarnation a prisoner in a body that refused to do as she commanded. The knife swung, a life taken, her hands dipped in red.

She learned a valuable lesson that day.

There were things worse than death.

“This is an order, granddaughter.”

The Magic had flared a searing heat at her neck, forcing her to kneel on broken legs. Ra’s loomed above, authority in his voice. She was bound to obey, regardless.

“You will never speak another word of affection, you will never speak another word to anyone unless I allow it. Perhaps this will teach you of your folly, and your place in this world.”

The loss of her freedom and the fear that came with it was a bitter and devastating lesson.

——

Ra’s al Ghul was so much worse than what little she knew of him.

She was right to be afraid for herself.

Her mother had worried, when she’d withdrawn and refused to speak to her. Even if she could, the reincarnation would not have wanted to. The reincarnation had felt furious, back then, when she thought of Talia. Her mother who refused to protect her. Her mother, who claimed she loved her but refused to see the chains Ra’s wrapped around her neck. She who plied the reincarnation with a supportive hand but forced her into the fighting pits.

But, as the reincarnation stumbled out on bruised and used legs from Ra’s al Ghul’s meeting chambers where he had allowed his business partners to partake in her, she realized that Ra’s was a monster in a human’s body and her mother was a victim of his making.

The lesson Ra’s taught her that day was that if she was not useful, if she did not kill, he would take what was left of her and make use of her.

Hate flared in her heart, and the beginning of Ra’s downfall began the day he let her go from the chambers alive. Injured, but alive. Injured and violated, but alive and furious.

——

She carved her hate and rage and helplessness and fear in the bodies of the people he bid her to kill. Her silenced screams were expressed in the way she splattered blood, the way she covered herself in it. A killing machine first, a stress reliever second, and a child… wasn’t on the list of things she was allowed to be.

His enemies were felled, one after another. He gave her his approval, something she detested.

But still, she continued, bodies racking upwards, tens turning to hundreds, hundreds edging into thousands.

The red in her ledger became ichor and guilt. Her language became violence and obedience.

“You have become a sharp tool, granddaughter.”

She was a genius, after all. And now, she could not disobey. A blade that Ra’s believed will never point towards him. She kneeled. She obeyed.

“Thank you, grandfather.” Her words were only allowed to come out- without searing, terrible pain- when she was thanking him. She tried not to do it as often as he wanted. He thought he broke her when he read the obedience she carved into her body language.

But she never bowed. Never. Not to him. Never.

——

“My weapon could learn much from your granddaughter,” David Cain sat across from Ra’s, wine in their stupid goblets. How she detested the green and blacks he’s seen fit to dress her with. She’s dressed provocatively, not of her own choice. She doesn’t have much of those- doesn’t have much in ways of choices- these days.

She was twelve, and Ra’s al Ghul deserved to die.

“Her combat is a higher form of what my daughter has achieved. How did you do it?”

When Ra’s began to reply, she slipped away.

She found the girl. She found… the cage- the black box- the child was placed in. The child flinched from her when she opened the metal box, fear only easing as the reincarnation kept her body language neutral and kind. (It was pitch black, and about the size of like, a closet. No light. Only from whatever door the box had.) (Cass’ hands hurt from banging on the walls to be let out)

David Cain’s daughter, her mind whispered, the memories of another life once more making itself known.

“Cassandra.” She whispered, regretting it immediately when pain wracked her body. She fell to her knees as the punishment for disobeying an order slammed into her.

The girl looked at her in concern, but did not move closer. The reincarnation stared at this girl and saw a reflection of herself.

David Cain would be here for a month. She will free Cassandra in those days.

——

The weapon stared at the girl in front of her, kneeling in pain.

She did not understand.

The girl came back. Water. Food. Kind.

The weapon felt warm. The girl was quiet. No sounds. Good. The weapon knew the girl understood. The weapon thinks that the girl is a weapon too.

The girl comes back, again. This time, she makes a sound. It hurt her, but she did it again. The weapon understands when the girl points at herself and repeats the sound. The sound means the girl. The girl expects something from the weapon.

The weapon makes the sound, flinching to see if the owner will come to punish it. The girl purposefully sits, relaxed but vigilant… and protective. Of the weapon?

The weapon relaxed. It repeated the sound, pointing at the girl.

The girl smiles, in pain. But approval. The weapon feels- the weapon is warm, like under the blanket. Approval.

The girl teaches her to make sounds but the weapon communicates without it. It does not like the sounds, does not need them, but the girl seems to think it’s important.

The weapon likes the girl, so the weapon learns. They still understand through no sounds, through reading each other.

The girl comes back, silently. Secretly. The weapon does not notify the owner. The weapon feels- does not want to.

The girl- the girl with the sound- she says a different sound. Her body tells the weapon that it’s important, this sound.

And when the girl points at herself and says her own sound, then points at the weapon and says that new sound again, the weapon begins to understand.

The girl had given the weapon her own sound.

“Cass—n- ra.”

“Cass,” the girl said, and Cassandra understood.

“Cass.” Cassandra pointed to herself.

The owner wanted- wanted Cassandra to end a life. Cassandra watched the owner kill and gesture to the dead thing.

Cassandra did not want to.

When Cassandra is placed back into the pitch black box, she waited for the girl.

The girl came.

“Don’t want.” Cassandra clung to her, reading the welcome and the sadness in the girl’s body. Cassandra tucked her face into the girl’s shoulder. She is cold. The girl is warm.

The girl hugged her back. The girl understood. Sadness hardened into lines of determination. Cassandra felt… light. Felt hope.

Cassandra slipped away from the place, water in her pack for the dessert and money to run from the country. The girl stayed behind, seeing her off. The girl tells her to never come back.

Cassandra did not want to leave the girl behind, but the girl could not go.

“Be free, Cass.” The girl had whispered through the pain. “For the both of us.”

——

Her grandfather knew. He allowed David Cain to break her, not kill because she was of use to him still, as a lesson. She found that she hated his lessons. But, she hated his attention more.

And still, she could not regret. How could she, when Cass trusted her with what fragile hope she had?

So, she lets him beat her, and provokes him with smirks and fearless eyes because the longer he’s focused on her, the more time Cass has to run.

Then, he gets too angry, and insults Ra’s, whose eyes grew cold. Her grandfather gestured and while she usually hated the command that followed that gesture, she could not feel that hatred now.

She got back up, legs broken and arms twisted once more, and attacked David Cain.

Ra’s would not follow Cass. Not when she was not his business to deal with, and not when David Carin’s fury amused him so.

David Cain would not follow Cass. Not while she still drew breath. The reincarnation stood, and threw herself at one of the best assassins of the century.

She tore his throat out with nothing but her teeth. She felt, for once, not like a monster. Not even when Ra’s nodded in approval and ordered for David Cain’s broken body to be cleaned up.

——

She’s been granted a mission in New Jersey, once her months of discipline- of torture- ended. She does not get ordered to find Cassandra. She’s fourteen now, and as silent as ever. Her mother had adjusted to her silence by then- long ago, actually, taking it as a quirk her daughter had developed. She hadn’t been a terribly vocal child, after all. Talia praised her for being useful even as a woman- the self degradation something the reincarnation had no doubt Ra’s had insidiously trained into Talia- and for being loyal to Ra’s.

Sometimes, she hates Talia for being- for-

Never mind. She couldn’t afford to hate anyone else.

She killed her targets early, determination and wistfulness urging her movements into sharp . Then, she made her way to Gotham and slipped into the city of darkness- where her father was.

She watched as he hid in the shadows almost as easily as she did. She watched as he flew and glided with the younger Robin. (He was younger than her by a year. She checked.) He was free. They were free.

She wished…

As she turned away, she saw a child tumbling from the edge of a roof. It was an instinct she’d thought Ra’s had managed to bury after the months he’d spent making sure she killed only children.

She hated him.

She caught him, swooping in and tucking him against her side as she plucked him from the air and plopped him back onto the crumbling roof of Gotham’s slums.

“Oh, thank you! So much- are you a vigilante?” The boy asked, looking at her masked face. It’s a good thing she wasn’t exactly dressed like a regular League operative.

She shook her head. Her eyes fell onto his camera, faint memories rising once more. She had an inkling-

“I’m- uh- Tim!” The boy introduced himself nervously, edging away from her silence. “Thank you for saving me…?”

She nodded. She pointed to the camera, tilting her head.

“Oh- you… want to see it?” He clutched his camera closer. Oh, he did have some sense of self preservation. She wondered why a seven year old was allowed to roam these streets… but she did worse at seven.

She held her hand up and back up. The boy hesitated, and then showed her the camera. “Uh- I took pictures of Robin and Batman!”

They sat on that roof for hours, and she let Tim Drake tell her stories about her father and his son. Ward. Son.

She could tell that Tim didn’t have anyone to listen to him.

She didn’t have long until she had to go back or risk severe punishment, but… she could make time for Tim, to listen to him.

She wondered if Cass managed to escape completely. She wondered if her sister all but in name and blood learned how to smile.

——

Tim had never had a friend before!

She listened to him! And gave him hugs the one time he was brave enough to ask! And she seemed to like Batman and Robin as much as he did! No one who didn’t like them would listen to his endless rambling otherwise, right? (Tim was super skinny, like ribs poking out skinny. He looked like a sickly Victorian child and he was kind of cold)

“And then, Robin went like this,” he pantomimed the awesome punch Dick Grayson did on a Joker goon. “And the guys got knocked out just like that!”

His new friend nodded, looking interested.

“Sorry, am I talking too much?” Tim asked anxiously. He didn’t want to make his friend hate him!

She shook her head, and gestured for him to continue.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

His new friend was so cool! She even taught him how to throw a punch and to fight!

——

When she had to leave, she prepared Tim for it.

“Do you have to go?”

She nodded and placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. Her other hand held a duffle bag with an assortment of weapons she carefully kept from him. (One of the blades still had guts on it, which, ew.)

“Try not to fall off anymore roofs, little photographer.” She said, smiling at his shocked look before leaping away.

“Wait, you can talk?!” He shouted at her back. She smiled a little wider.

——

“A son, this time.” Ra’s al Ghul’s voice echoed in his disgustingly flashy throne room. It rings of approval.

The reincarnation stood behind her mother, eyes cast downwards.

“Well done, Talia. I finally have a worthy heir.”

Damian al Ghul cooed.

The reincarnation was scared. But… she could not allow her younger brother to be trapped like she was. She’s fifteen now, a decade of slavery having worn her down and nearly broken her. But with her brother… no, she could not allow it.

She met her mother’s eyes and knew then that they agreed. Protect Damian, at all costs.

She ignored the sting of envy. So what her mother could not find it in herself to protect her daughter? So long as she protected Damian, it didn’t matter.

Maybe she didn’t matter. Maybe she wasn’t worth anything. Maybe- maybe- maybe.

She also ignored the seed of disgust she had for mother’s actions in conceiving Damian. She couldn’t do anything about it. Talia was also a victim.

A louder voice in her asked if she could really excuse that, when Talia had a choice and she chose to hurt and violate Bruce Wayne like that. She wondered if she could truly ever forgive Talia. She wondered if Bruce Wayne got therapy.

——

She stared at the tome in front of her, eyes blank. (Actually, she had no eyes. Like? Empty sockets, but then later she had eyes???)

The brand- the shackles- the chains could only be broken if Ra’s died. She wasn’t opposed to that. But if he died, so did she. She couldn’t even kill herself to get out, because the chains would be there even if she died. If she was revived- a high chance, thanks to the fucking pits- then the chains would still be there.

Perhaps… she could use the pits?

Her mind turned and turned.

——

“This is your ukht.” Her mother pointed at her. Damian stared up at her, and she melted. Her brother was too damn cute.

“Ukhti?”

She nodded as her mother smiled in joy. “Yes, habibi.”

She was better at hiding the pain, now. She was better at enduring it, too, that fucking burning feeling. She spoke more, but only to Damian.

It would not do for her brother to grow up not knowing how to receive verbal expressions of affection. Not like she did, in this life.

Still, it hurt to speak. But then, she had an idea, based on Cassandra.

She could not speak, but speaking wasn’t the only way of communication. She’ll teach Damian sign language- standard, as commanded- but also her own version. Yes, she could do it. It wouldn’t be hard.

She was a genius, after all, and creating languages wasn’t as hard as people seem to think.

——

Damian copied her, small fingers patting his hand four times.

She did it back to him. “I love you.” She tells him, with sounds and with motions.

He does it back, excitedly, because he had a secret with ukhti!

——

Sometimes, she dared not to touch Damian. She wants to ruffle his hair and give him hugs but the ichor on her hands reminds her to not get to greedy. She did not deserve it.

Not when her hands were stained with the lives of so many people.

——

Another mission.

She was twenty now, and not much closer to escaping her bonds. Though, once she hit her majority, Ra’s lost interest in her in that way. A blessing, even if she had to seduce his “business partners” into giving him better deals more often now.

She stops by Bludhaven. The Robin she watched so many years ago- six, by her count- had grown new wings and moved. She wanted to see if he could fly still.

He could. He flew as free- no, freer than his days as Robin.

She dipped away to complete her mission (nuclear weapon trading, really?) and swings back to see a spider trying to break the former Robin’s wings.

“No.” Nightwing whispered, staring upwards at the cloudy sky blankly. “Please, stop.”

She didn’t need to hear any more. She saw red, and dove feet first straight onto the spider’s head, knocking her out.

She picked up a near-catatonic Nightwing, and helped him to his apartment. She left Tarantula in the rain and felt zero guilt about it.

He changed mechanically, some kind of instinct keeping him from removing his domino, but it was a bit pointless considering she escorted him to his personal apartment.

She watched as Nightwing slipped into an exhausted sleep before leaving. She had a spider to squish, and traces to hide.

——

Dick wakes up, drained and exhausted. He… someone saved him.

He sees a scrawled note, handwriting impeccable enough to be a font, written with his pen. He picked it up from his table, and his eyes tiredly read the message.

“Don’t worry about Tarantula. Or your identity.”- A friend.

He remembered- the mask- the mask of the stranger that saved him vividly. He’d remember. And he’d thank them if they ever came back.

——

She was in charge of training assassins, these days. A year and a half later after Bludhaven, she was back in Nanda Parbat, and she’s devoured every magical tome she could get her hands on. They all say the same things.

Her assassins were trained well, and Ra’s praises her with

Then, someone new joins.

Someone with pit rage and empty eyes that goes rigid when she approaches.

Then again, most of the operatives freeze up when she walks towards them.

Her memories roar. A child.

He bowed, and her eyes followed the streak of white hair at the forefront of his skull.

She gestured at him to follow, and ignored the pitiful eyes the rest of the assassins gave to the kid- they act like her training was hard when she went easy on them (it was)- and led the kid towards the training rooms.

She knew who he was, even if her grandfather and mother didn’t think she knew.

Her… Bruce Wayne would probably appreciate his son being returned relatively sane.

But first, she had to beat the Pit out of him. Then, she could assign body guarding duties to him, in an attempt to protect him.

——

“Grandfather, I will take Damian’s punishment.”

“A whipping girl, granddaughter?” But he nodded anyways. He made Damian watch.

She kneeled and allowed the punishment. She couldn’t always protect him from Ra’s, but this she could do anytime. It’s not like she was unfamiliar with the torture. (The whip had barbs. Rusty. And they sprinkled salt.)

——

“I liked poetry….” Jason Todd tells her after a training session. “I think.”

“Sure. I’ll call you Grave, then.” Pain. But she was used to it.

He tilted his head, eyes going blank once more. She sighed. There went his memories again. (His eyes were blank and glazed. Like looking at someone you love and knowing they’re looking through you.)

——

“I would not trust her,” she says to the air, next to a Red Hood emerging from Talia al Ghul’s chambers. She could see it, the beginnings of Gotham’s new crime lord. But still, “Talia al Ghul is known for her lies.”

She pushed away from the wall. It was up to Grave if he listened. It was out of her hands now.

——

She’s twenty-five, and she’s helping Damian pack for his first meeting with Bruce Wayne.

“You must not tell him about me.” Because he’d come rushing here, and she had worked too hard to save Damian for her fool of a father to come and ruin all of that effort.

“I promise.” Her little brother said solemnly. Ukhti said it out loud, which meant it was important and she expected him to keep that promise.

The only other time he’d heard her speak was to tell him she loved him.

The reincarnation smiled and told him through their special sign language, to treat the current Robin with respect and to try his best to get the current Robin to pass down his title.

‘Robin is earned. They have different rules, over there. Try your best to learn those rules.’

Her brother was sheltered. She loved him, but he was spoilt and sheltered. Of course she was worried. Talia barely mothered him.

“I know. You do not have to remind me so often, ukhti.”

She smiled, and patted his head.

“Be safe,” she whispered. “I will miss you.”

Damian darted in for a hug. “Of course. Goodbye, sister. See you soon.”

She hoped not. It was hard enough to convince Ra’s that Damian would learn more under Bruce Wayne.

(She was locked in a small closet- like Cass- for about a week, because she brought up the idea first.)

——

She found it.

The answer to pit rage laid in an old, all but crumbling tome from Atlantis- answers “from a ghost.”

——

Bruce Wayne died. Months after Damian came to live with him. That- irritating- she sighed and worked with her mother to turn Ra’s al Ghul’s attention away from Gotham, lest he called Damian back in Bruce Wayne’s absence.

The little photographer caught grandfather’s attention. She stood vigil as he played chess with Ra’s. His interest in Damian wavered. Anticipation blurred in her veins.

She saved his friends. Her assassins. She let them go, telling them to wait for the little photographer’s plan. (Y’all miss girl had fucking bloody handprints on her pants like someone tried to grab it.)

The first few people who had an inking she might not be loyal to Ra’s… and it was them.

When her other assassins attacked Red Robin, she cut them down before they could touch him, helping him with a furious League of Spiders or whatever operative. She hated spiders.

“What…?”

“You’re a lot of trouble, little photographer.” She sighed. His jaw dropped.

“It’s you!”

“Go,” she cut him off. “Blow this place up. I left a surprise for you outside.”

——

“Owens?! Z?!” Tim trembled, exhaustion and shock and wonder hitting him at once.

“Heya, boss!” Z chirped. Owens helped Tim up while Z helped Tam. Pry walked around them, looking out for further threats. “The nightmare trainer let us go. She knew you, I think.”

Tim smiles, all shark teeth and zero hero. (In the background, the song zero to hero from Hercules 2, played in reverse.) “Tell me more.”

——

Damian grunted, bracing himself for the magical creature’s attack.

“Robin!” His father barked out, panicked. Damian hoped he’d survive-

Shhhlk!

He looked up and there stood his ukht. She bounded forwards, using the odd fauna of the magical plane to bolster her movements as she sliced the creatures apart with her swords, magic humming brightly as she cut through them… and the magicians attacking them.

“What- what are you doing here?” He asked. She greeted him, three fingers curled over her shoulder.

‘My question is,’ she signed. ‘Why were you here without a magical weapon.’

Damian sighed as father stepped in between them.

“Who are you.”

“Batman. Cease your excessive worry. I trust her with my life,” Damian snapped. He stepped around a shocked Batman, looked him in the eyes, and unsheathed his katana. He handed it over to his ukht, who took it with amusement.

‘See?’ His eyes seemed to say. Father tensed when his sister unsheathed her own blade and handed it to him.

‘Are you here for a specific reason?’ His sister signed to him.

“Uh, you gonna introduce us, little man?”

Damian sent the Flash a derisive look and ignored him.

“We’re looking for a magician. He set a squadron of demons loose into D.C. last night. He has a tower.” Damian added.

“Robin,” Father growled. “Who is this.” Damian shot him a look and turned back to his sister.

The reincarnation tilted her head. ‘Tower… it’ll have to be that way.’

“Could you take us there?” Damian asked. Truthfully, he could find the way himself. But he wanted more time around his ukht. She nodded and Damian straightened.

“I feel like we should be concerned that Robin’s friend just murdered a bunch of people.”

His sister glanced back and ignored them.

“Silence, incompetents. Speak another word against her, and Batman’s no killing rule will be applied creatively.” He hissed. (The fucking surroundings hissed with him y’all what the fuck)

He turned when his sister ruffled his hair (Superman muttered a super shocked “what the fuck.”) and Damian allowed it. He had missed his sister.

——

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daddysfangirls-dc · 11 days

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UnTamed Ch.14

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He found nothing. With facial recognition, fingerprints, and blood, Tim still found nothing on this girl. She didn't exist. Literally, there was nothing on her. It was stressing him the fuck out. Who was in their house? Who was with their brother?

THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS HAPPENING !?!

Tim wasn't sneaky. They knew that he was looking into her. They were upset at first, Jason furious, but Damian waved off the ambush, telling them he wouldn't find anything because there was nothing to find. They simply didn't relay the information to him. Watching him spiral was very amusing, and it was needed in such severe and sad times. It had been several days since her arrival, and Damian hadn't left her side since they brought her upstairs.

Jason had been shielding him from everyone, especially Bruce. It surprised everyone that Jason was Damian's advocate and protector at the moment. He stood firm in keeping everyone away and protecting Damian and his lover. They both need time to heal. He'd ensure they'd be left in peace.

"You need rest," Alfred said as he came in, changing her IV bag.

"I'm fine"

"You need rest in a proper bed," he said, this time more firmly.

"The others-"

"Have gone. It is just you and I."

"I don't want to leave her. What if-"

"I'll come get you if she wakes. I promise," he says, laying his hand on Damian's shoulder. " She wouldn't want to see you like this." This is greasy and unkempt. Clothes ruffled and untucked. Hair uneven and greased. She had never seen him like this, and he realized he didn't want her to.

"I'll shower, then I'll come back."

"Okay, dear boy," that was enough for now.

The room Asta woke up in was familiar yet not. She knew she was in Wayne Manor by the smell. Opening her eyes, she recognized the room she was in, the sheets that covered her. The room looked similar to Damian's, void of all those personal touches of his. A guest room in the Wayne Manor.

Looking about, she found an IV pole standing next to her, pumping a line of fluids and a heart monitor. She tried to lift her arm but found that she had no strength. She tried to sit up and found herself too weak. Suddenly, she found herself exhausted even though she had just woken up.

"Good Morning." Asta looked up to find Alferd by the door. Coming into the room and opening the blinds. " Alfred Pennyworth, although you already know that," she smiles at the amusement clearly in his voice. " Is it wrong for me to assume you are Astraea?"

Her face became flushed. Someone else knew her name. She bit back a smile. "My friends- friend calls me Asta."

"Well," he stands at the end of the bed," It is nice to meet you properly, Miss Asta." he comes around to check her IV and monitor. She points to the clear bags. " These are fluids, antibiotics, and morphine. You were in rough shape when you arrived. Our doctor did wonders, but you still need time to heal."

That would explain the drowsiness and weakness. She wondered where Damian was.

"The others have either gone to work or other things have called their attend. Damian is cleaning up in his room. He'll be back soon-" The door swung open, revealing Damian baggy clothes, fresh skin, and wet hair. Damian say nothing as he quickly crosses the room to her side.

"Hi"

Alfred slipped out unseen and left the couple to themselves.

"Hi," she said again, smiling weakly. " I'm sorry. I didn't know where else to go."

"you have nothing to be sorry."

"I'm supposed to be a secret," she cries breathlessly. " I came here, and now I'm not. I'm so sorry."

Damian kisses her hand and wipes her tears. " There is no need for apologies. I don't care for our secrets. I want you safe," Even though she was lying in bed, he could see her boy sag with exhaustion with each cry. " Rest. All I need from you now is rest. Please rest." she nodded weakly as her eyes started to droop. " I'll be here when you wake. I promise"

Asta woke again, this time with more energy and strength, being able to lift her arms now. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she opened them. She looked at the sounds of birds coming from the window. There were two noticeable things by the window, one being the orange glow that came through the window, showing it was sunset, and Two Damian sitting by the window with a book.

"Good evening"

"Hey"

"You're healing well."

"Yes," She sat up, looking around. She found the IV and morphine drip gone. " How was school?" he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"It's winter break. No School"

"Oh, sorry." he leaned forward, kissing her forehead.

You've been through a traumatic event, and it is safe to say your perspective of time might be a bit skewed." He took her hand, rubbing it gently. " Can you tell me what happened? How you got it this way?"

"Stupidity," Asta laughed bitterly as she lay down. "I got too comfortable. I wasn't watching like I should have been like I always do." He wiped the few tears that spilled.

"you don't have-"

"I was walking as a cat. A black cat at that. I was walking to our apartment. I wasn't paying attention, and someone picked me up and stuffed me into a bag. I passed out and woke up caged in a basement. There was slickly preteen shit - He's definitely going to be a school shooter. He had a collection of tasers, pipes, and blades, and he had a lot. I didn't know what he'd do to me If I changed in front of him. I didn't want to know.

So fucking pathetic."

"No, you're not."

"I got caught by a fucking rando on the street. Who did this to me? " She pulled the covers back, revealing her wounds. " I am pathetic, 15 years, and this is how I'm caught. I am. I am. I am."

"No, no, no. You are perfect, and you are brave. None of this is your fault." he says, pulling the blanket back over her and tucking her in.

" I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. heal." He kissed her forehead again, wiping away more tears. " Rest"

Damian closed the curtains, shrowding the room in darkness. When he approached the door, Asta assumed he was leaving and closed her eyes. She let out a small sob as she heard the door close and lock. She lay in the dark, quietly crying. She felt the blankets move. She felt it as he crawled into bed alongside her. She felt his warmth as he lay closer, but he didn't come any closer; he simply took her hand and held it tight. It was the only part of her he could hold without hurting her. He held on tight.

"Who is she?" Bruce asked as he leaned on the Batcomputer; Red Robin already claimed his seat. He had yet to put on his cowl.

"Her name is Astraea. Don't bother." Damian stopped Red before he could begin typing, " She doesn't exist. She was born and raised on the streets. There is no record of her."

"How do you know her?" Red asked suspiciously.

" I met her four years ago, and we became friends. We became romantically involved last year.

"FOUR YEARS!?! You've been in a relationship for four years and didn't tell m-us?" Dick said the hurt and betrayal clear in his voice and face.

The others were shocked that Damian had managed to hide an entire relationship for four years. They all had to take a moment, think, and try to remember any hints of this possible relationship. They hadn't noticed anything strange until a few months ago. It also made them think if he really trusted them.

"Alfred was aware I had a romantic partner but not who they were. So was Superboy."

"You told Superboy?!!"

"No, I went to both of them inquiring for advice on pursuing someone romantically. I never confirmed having a romantic partner with supper boy. He just assumed correctly."

"He confirmed that the advice I gave was a success," Alfred said as he approached him. " He continues to subtly ask for advice now and again."

"All your advice has kept us together this long."

"no, my dear boy," he put a hand on his shoulder." That was all you." Damian pulled a small smile.

"She's a metahuman," Bruce said, interrupting the small moment." Can she turn into just a cat?" Duke asked. He was the only meta in the family, so the possibility of another joining the family was exciting.

"Any animal. She has empathic abilities as well," Damian said, accepting cocoa from Alfred. He passed out refreshments to the others.

"How long have you known?"

"Since the very beginning. she never hid herself from me. And I never hid myself from her. All our truths were laid out at the very beginning."

"Beginning their relationship with honestly I like that"

"Shut up, Jason"

"Asta-"

"Asta?"

"Is good and trustworthy. She has known our secret for years, and not once has it crossed her mind to betray us, me."

"And yet you never told us about her," Red said, eyeing him suspiciously.

"THIS," Damian says as he stands up, his arms motioning wildly. " This is right here. I didn't want you to turn her into a suspect and pull her part. Run her off. She's good; she's trustworthy and loyal. She doesn't... she doesn't deserve to be criminalized. She's good, and she's doing good."

"So you made her stay a secret for four years?"

"I didn't make her do anything. I also didn't oppose her staying a secret, which was mainly her idea. She doesn't like attention. And whether we like it or not, we have the spotlight in both our day life and nightlife."

While Damian never opposed secrets, he and Asta had several conversations and discussions about their hiding, and Asta desired to stay in the shadows for as long as possible. Damian didn't know how to explain it. He did know how to explain her desire for secrecy, her nonexistence, her devoted loyalty. He didn't know how to explain .... Astraea.

She was Astraea, and she was his, and that's all he truly understood from her. The downside of being in a relationship with an empath is that you no longer explain yourself; you feel and share your feelings. Damian didn't know how to share his feelings with his family. And even if he did, most of them were emotionally incompetent. It wouldn't matter. So here he stood flexing his hands, and they'd never understand how much " I love her... I love her. And I won't lose her."

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daddysfangirls-dc · 19 days

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UnTamed Ch.13

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Damian sighed as he cracked the window slightly. Asta hadn't been to the manor or their apartment in several days. He was worried but not enough to go looking yet. He knew she was making plans and preparing to approach Red Hood's Gang. She had to ensure her people were ready before starting any communication with his people. And Robin popping up and wondering about it wouldn't help.

Although he wanted to see her, he needed to give her space to do her business. She gave him space without complaint whenever he needed/wanted for cases, business with the Titans or Justice League, or simply hanging out with Superboy. She never questioned his need for space, and he wouldn't question hers. He hoped her need for space would not last past tomorrow and she'd return to him.

The floor was cold. That's the first thing she noticed as she became conscious. It was hard and cold. Slowly opening her eyes, she finds that she is fortunate or, unfortunately, is still in the form of a black cat. Bad news, though, as she appeared to be in a cage with a blanket over it.

Not Good.

It was dark, but she could hear other animals, cats, and dogs, all whimpering and whining. Definitely not a safe place. She could feel all the distress and pain in the room. It was hard to focus with all the emotions overwhelming her. She didn't hear a door opening or someone approaching. It wasn't until the blanket was pulled away that she realized someone was there.

It was a boy. He looked like your average psycho-alpha radical virgin school shooter. She could smell the musk, sweat, and separation wafting from him. And feel the anger, frustration, and disgust coming from him. So powerful it weighed her down. If this were any other place, Gotham dude would definitely get an episode on deadline.

He picked up the cage and put it on the table. The table was light wood but had dark spots on it. In the middle, there was a short pole with a leash. She crawled to the back of the cage as he reached in, but it was useless. He got her, dragged her out, and leashed her. After leashing her, he stepped away and came back with a box. He dumped the content on the table tasers, knives, torches, wooden paddles, pipes, and etc.

Not good things, not good things at all.

Damian had just returned from his walk with Titus. Coming to the door, Titus began to sniff a nearby bush. "What is it, boy? " he looks into the bush to see a black cat, his black cat. " Asta?" he gently picks her up. Touching her fur, he feels wetness. He finds it to be blood. Without a word, he quickly rushed into the house and into the cave.

Damian came rushing into the cave, calling for medical help. Everyone dropped what they were doing and quickly followed him to the infirmary. Everyone was concerned, especially with the small trail of blood behind him.

"What happened? What's wrong? Let me see" Dick quickly came to his side, looking for wounds.

"I found her like this." The confusion was quickly cleared, and a sense of relief went through the family as he put down a black cat in the bed.

"Where did you find this one?" Tim asked, no longer feeling urgent.

"SHE!" Damian shouted. " It is a sheet, and she is bleeding out. Please, help her," he all but begged.

Alfred and Tim started pulling out the supplies quickly, an act of forgiveness on Tim's part. As they rushed about, Damian leaned over the cat. No one knew what he was doing until the cat started morphing into an actual person, specifically a nude girl. The concern turned in tenfolds. Alfred and Tim gathered more supplies and called Thompkins.

She was crying. Damina pushed on her largest wound, a large gash on her side. " Asta, Asta, I need you to tell me where else you're wounded. What else hurts?" he asked

" Can't breathe, can't walk, can't-can't... help," she cried, not fully able to express herself but giving enough to let them know that her leg was broken and something was wrong with her chest or lungs.

"Damian, let them work. Let them help her," Dick said as he helped move him away, letting Alfred and Tim work. Dr. Thomkpins would join when she got there. Asta reached for him as he was pulled away. Tim pulled the curtains. No one needs to see.

Duke handed Damian cold water as Dick put a blanket on him as he sat. " Who is she?" Bruce asked an irreverent question as everyone had a clue as to who she was. And insensitive as she was still in surgery, Dr. Thompkins had just arrived.

"I shall discourse with you all after her surgical procedure. I just ... After, please." Those big, fancy, intelligent words. Damian really wasn't down for any talking at the moment.

"I'm sorry we shouldn't have asked -"

"Damian -"

"We're sorry, and we won't ask any more questions" This time, Dick was facing Bruce. He was talking to Damian but being direct with Bruce. Everyone else also took a step back, giving Damian the space he needed at the moment. But Jason and Cass stayed close just in case.

"That's the girl," Steph said as she and Duke followed Dick upstairs. Duke was texting Barbara about the situation. She was spending the day with her dad and, therefore, was not present. " She's a meta"

" It appears so. It explains a lot, actually." Duke said, " He's always talking about a stray. Maybe she was the stray." Duke quickly connected all the dots.

"Enough," Dick says as they emerge upstairs " Right now, the three of us are going to set up a guest room for her when she's ready, and we will move her upstairs."

"You think B will let her-"

"Prepare a room for WHEN she comes upstairs." Duke and Steph looked at him.

"Yes, sir".

His eyes were on the curtains. He could hear them whispering but couldn't make out what they were saying. Despite that, he was relieved they no longer sounded urgent, meaning her condition was no longer dier. Still, she was not healed, and -Someone was touching him.

It's Jason.

He has a wet towel in his hand. He takes his hand slowly, whipping the blood away. He didn't realize. " She'll be fine. They know what they're doing," Jason says as he handles him gently. It was like he was slowly whipping away the pain. There was a dull ache, but the burning was gone. All that was left was ash and smoldering.

"She'll be okay."

He was a child again.

They were in an abandoned courtyard. It was in the deepest corner of the compound the brush had over grown and nature had reclaimed it. A baby bird in between them was green. He doesn't remember feeling this way. His Akhi picks up the baby bird, cradling it in his hands. There's a slight shake to them he doesn't comment on. Akhi doesn't say a word; he never spoke, but he knows if he did, he'd say

" She'll be okay".

Tim walks out. He stops, gives them a node, and keeps walking. Soon, Dr. Thompkins and Alfred follow, discarding their medical scrubs as they went. Bruce manifest from whatever shadow he hid in.

"What's the situation?"

"The inside was worse than the outside." Thompkins says as she discards her scrubs, " Besides the lacerations, punctures, cuts, and electric burns, she also had a couple of Hermatomas. A small tear in the spleen. Several punctures in the intestines and a collapsed lung... this girl has been through. Should I even ask what happened to her?"

"We aren't entirely sure ourselves," Bruce says, eyeing Damian, who is looking intensely at the other curtain.

Thompkins sighed. She knew better than to ask, " Right now, if nothing else happens, recovery time is 6 to 12 weeks. And that's just physically."

"Thank you," Damian says as he stands. " Thank you," he repeats as he walks past her to the open curtain where she lies. Behind his back, Dr.Thompkins pulled a vial of blood out of her pocket and moved to hand it in his hand. The look Bruce gave him would scare anyone else but Jason.

"you'll wait for them," he says. " This isn't the case. An enemy or suspect. This is his friend. You'll wait."

With that, he walked past Damian. Unbeknownst to him, Tim had taken his own sample.

#dc comics #dc universe #fanfiction #robin #batman #fanfic #damian al ghul #damian wayne #damian wayne fanfic #damian wayne fanfiction #untamed #damian wayne al ghul #damian wayne x oc #damian al ghul x oc

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daddysfangirls-dc · 21 days

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A reminder:

Robins: Dick, Jason, Tim, Steph, Damian

Batboys: Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Duke

Batkids: Dick, Barbara, Jason, Tim, Cass, Steph, Damian, Duke

Batsiblings: Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Cass, Duke

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daddysfangirls-dc · 21 days

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Complete based on this

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daddysfangirls-dc · 25 days

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Incorrect Batfam Quotes

Tim: *develops a plan

Steph: Not gonna lie, that sounds like a war crime.

Tim: It’s never a war crime the first time. Now whether it gets designated a war crime after…

Tim: That’s not my problem.

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daddysfangirls-dc · 28 days

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UnTamed Ch.12

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The Kids were up to something. Bruce was sure of it. It wasn't unusual for the family to be together during holidays. The amount of time they were spending together as a group was suspicious, and to top it off, they appeared to be excluding Damian. All very suspicious. He was doing his best to keep an eye on everything, but he had a lot of kids. Plus, Alfred wasn't helpful.

"Is it anything had?" Bruce asked as Alfred set a cup of tea down. He moved his papers to the side. " You'd tell me, wouldn't you?"

"Of course, Master Wayne." Alfred gives a small smirk and leaves the office. While he was relieved to know it wasn't anything harmful and that Alfred was obviously aware, he was also tense and nervous because his kids were up to something, and Alfred knew and wasn't telling him. He was definitely in for it.

There was a soft knock on his door, and Asta quickly shifted to a cat Damian had called to enter. It was Alfred who came baring cookies and milk. " The others have already raided the kitchen," he said as he placed a plate of cookies and two cups of milk on the bedside table. " I'd thought you'd want some."

Damina hid his shock at the cups. "...thank you".

Alfred gave a small smile and nodded before departing, closing the door and locking the door behind him.

"He knows," They both said once he's gone.

"He... he feels good. Proud?" Asta wasn't entirely sure what he felt, but it wasn't bad. His feelings weren't entirely legible, but they weren't bad. He felt good.

"I trust Alfred; he won't tell anyone." Damian immediately goes to reassure her.

"I know" she doesn't need it. Asta smiles as she takes the cup of milk and a cookie. " He's a good person."

Alferd knows everything or just about. Alfred was aware of Damian's female companion even before he became romantic with her. As sneaky as the two had been, they had slipped up a few times over the years. Take extra food and blankets, constantly closing his door. At first, Alfred assumed it was a hidden pet, then Damian started to ask for romantic advice, which confirmed it to be a person, and then the purchasing of clothing confirmed them to be female.

Followed by a few slipped giggles and unlocked doors, it was easy to find out and put the pieces together. He did what he could to help hide the couple, but there was only so much he could do. Especially with Tim on the case, the poor lad was obsessive.

Right now, he was simply doing his best to keep them distant from his siblings. He, of all people, was well aware of how overwhelming his family could be. They had very few boundaries and little respect for others. Privacy did not exist. Still, Alfred managed to work through it. The love he had for his child and grandchild.

He sighed as he heard the children fighting in the kitchen. They were down to the last cookie.

"Gentlemen and ladies," he said as he stepped into the kitchen to find the kids over the last cookie, as usual. A simple clearing of his throat and all fighting ceased. Walking up to the counter, he takes the last cookie.

"Where's Damian?" Dick asked

"He preferred to stay in his room. He'll be down for dinner, which I must start. Everyone out."

There was a chorus of awws and a crowd of pouts as Alfred shuffled them out. Jason was the last "Can I help?"

"Potatoes need peeling." Jason nodded and went to work.

Alfred smiled and watched as Jason pulled out the potatoes and got to work. He was tall now and bulkier even though he still wore the same face he did when he was 11, and he first taught him how to peel and chop potatoes. He had been a child at some point. Alfred still thought of them as children, but they all had been smaller at the same point. Some were years ago, and others were yesterday. They had grown and would continue to do so, and he hoped to see it all.

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daddysfangirls-dc · 1 month

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UnTamed Ch.11

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He has found nothing. Tim has been searching for the strange girl for three days now. With facial recognition and DNA testing (pulled from Robin's uniform), I found nothing. The relief he felt early on was quickly swept away.

The others were quite overjoyed and amused with the new knowledge of his new female 'friend.' While they wanted to meet, talk, and ask about her, they knew they couldn't because they weren't even supposed to know about her. Now, it amused them to watch Damian disappear because they knew/assumed where he was going.

Tim had yet to share his information on the girl, or lack thereof.

"Pretty," Duke said as he was shown a clearer picture of the girl.

"And they kissed," Stephanie cooed

"Oh, Damian had his first kiss," Dick owed like an adoring mother

"That was most definitely not his first kiss," Tim said as he continued to type aggressively on his computer."Our bro was handling that like a pro."

Tim ignored Steph's nudging. "Like father, like son," Jason laughed, tossing his head back.

"I hope not," Dick whispered, no longer feeling such joy, especially at the thought of another Bruce.

Dick remembered his youth and all the women that followed Bruce, the late-night giggling, and the many scandals. Of course, the women and scandals slowed down with each child. Six official children later, Bruce's scandal no longer involved women, at least not in a sexual manner. Now, all his scandals dealt with his kids and parenting, if not business. Dick very much did not want to see Playboy Damian in the tabloids.

"If that's the case, is she Selina or Talia?"

"Neither, I hope." Tim held Stephanie.

Damian watched as Asta lay across his bed, reading a book and putting colored tape on a few words as she went. " You're getting better," he said as he looked over her shoulder. She was doing much better but still struggling to pronounce some words or missing them altogether.

"I'm trying. Big words still get me," she says as she closes the book and rolls over to lie on her back. " I'm not a genius -"

"Obviously"

"But-but I'm smart now. Smart enough to survive, at least. Thanks to you." she says as she beckons him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as he leans over her on his forearms.

"You're welcome." she giggled.

They hadn't spoken about the kiss from a few days back. They hadn't forgotten about it. They elected to simply ignore or not acknowledge it. It happened, and that was that. Or "What happened the other night?"

"what do you mean?" she asked. He lays down with his head on her chest.

"The kiss it was... very intimate and intense. we've never done anything like that before"

"I'm sorry-"

"I liked it. I really liked it ... And I'd like to do it again... please?" he looked up from where his head lay on her chest. She could feel his emotion. He was anxious, feeling worried, but also a bit excited and eager. She recognized it as an emotion he felt when he wanted a kiss. Rolling them over, Asta was on top of him, straddling him, and leaning down, she gave him a soft peck.

"Another," he whispers. She smiles against his lips.

He chases, having his tongue trace her lips before slipping past. She could taste that morning's orange juice on his tongue. He could probably taste the apple she stole this morning. His hands moved from her waist to her back, pulling her closer. She pulled away slightly to catch her breath. Asta giggles as she feels his joy.

He did not enjoy her giggles. Grabbing the back of her neck, he rolls over, putting himself on top. He laces his fingers in her hair, pulling her into another kiss, a bit more forceful and aggressive. She held on to his shoulders, holding him closer. Feeling his warmth as it seeps into her skin, asking for the beat of his heart as it beats between their chest. His clothes were their only barrier. It was all so overwhelming. As he pulled away slightly, she whimpered. He stopped.

"I'm- I'm sorry"

"It's okay. I liked it."

#fanfiction #damian al ghul #batman #dc universe #damian wayne al ghul #damian wayne x oc #dc comics #robin #fanfic #damian wayne fanfiction #damian wayne fanfic #damian wayne #robin fanfic

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daddysfangirls-dc · 1 month

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REblog if you are Asexual, support Asexuals, or spend most of your time actually thinking about Superheroes.

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daddysfangirls-dc · 1 month

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UnTamed Ch.10

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Damian isn't talking. Dick had put more energy into spending more time and communicating with Damian, but he still hadn't said anything to connect with his strange behavior. The others tried following Damian, but it was hard to continue trailing him between work, patrol, and their own cases. So weeks had gone by, and no one had answers. While he is at home, his behavior has returned to normal. His actions during patrol were still erratic. He did his route and cases as usual, but he was also disappearing and turning off his comms. It wasn't enough to involve Bruce yet, but it was still something Barbara flogged and watched. They could do nothing else but watch.

The snow had settled. It was no longer the stunning pure white. Then again, Gotham's snow was never pure white; it was a slush of brown and grey on the ground, and on the roof, it was off-white until his family trampled on them. It reminded him of the time he meant her.

Perched on a rooftop, the streets are below. Tonight, Robin was going solo despite how many people gravitated home to family as the weather grew cold. Everyone was given a solos patrol to cover more ground—everyone except Redhood, who was partnered with Nightwing in Crime Alley. During seasons like these, people got desperate, and rouges got scheming, so no one went in Crime Alley alone.

But Damian, aka Robin, wasn't in Crime Alley. He was in the heights perched high by himself. In the dark, company finally came in the form of a tweeting bird, a robin to be specific, how fitting. Muting his comm he turned to his little friend " Hello" as he held out his finger for her to land. " You shouldn't be here. I'm working. You're distracting me." Hopping off his finger, she shifts to her proper form.

She leans with her arms across the ledge, ignoring the snow. " I'm distracting you?" he doesn't dare look. " will you come visit me once you're done working?"

He sighed deeply. " I don't think that will be possible. I have more family in town, which means more eyes. They'll notice my absence."

Then she sighed. " Okay, I'll visit you then. Is that okay?"

"I'd like that," and with that, she took off in the night sky once again in the form of a robin.

"Is everything okay?" Oracle asked once he turned his coms back on.

"I found a stray in the snow."

"Is it okay?"

"She's fine."

"Good morning," Asta said as Damian slowly woke up. He opened his eyes to find her sitting against his headboard in the nude, petting Titus, whose head was in her lap. Damian slipped out of bed and began his morning routine with an audience of Asta and Titus. " Anything special happening today?"

"Nothing premeditated"

She chuckled as she kissed Titus. " He makes it sound like he's going to commit murder."

"simply expanding your vocabulary."

She and Titus watched him as he did his stretches and breathing exercises. She gave Titus a few more kisses before joining him. The two stretched in silence, Titus watching them. This was their morning routine. It wasn't every morning, but when she was here, and he woke, she'd give whatever pets in his room some affection and then join him in stretches and exercise. After all was said and done she left to patrol and do her day's work or stay and laze the day with Damian. Today was a lazy day.

"So what are we doing today?"

"Nothing specific. My siblings are here, so it would be bothersome to plan something, knowing one of them would inevitably interrupt." Asta nodded along as she watched Damian rant about his sibling through the rest of his morning routine.

After their last conversation, Damian knew he couldn't just approach his family and tell them to be less emotional. He instead presented the idea of exposure therapy, exposing her to his emotional family little by little in hopes of not making her comfortable with their negative emotions but being able to put her in a room without her physically reacting or needing to flee from them. As of right now, she could be in the manor with a full house but could not be in a room with everyone at once. She was doing better.

"you've got nothing either," Tim said. Everyone came together to discuss Damian's case. They all had nothing. Talking to him resulted in nothing, and stalking resulted in less. They were getting nowhere. A group of the world's greatest detectives duped by a teenage boy.

"we're too spread out. We all need to make a choice and stick with it," Barbara said, trying to get everyone on the same page. She was more aware of Damian new behaviors than the others.

"Dick is so desperate to 'talk' it out, knowing how he knows you'll get nowhere. He's not dependent on you as much as you think he is," Tim said, clearly frustrated. " Talk. Go talk. And when you get nothing again, we'll start the real work. And find what the fuck he's hiding. He is not as innocent as you think."

Dick didn't say anything and left the room. He wasn't going to participate in this argument. Tim huffed and sat down dramatically.

Jason chuckled. " You're both so dramatic. He's a teenager, vigilante aside, a teenage boy going through puberty. I don't believe this situation is that serious. I'm actually with Steph on this one."

"Wait, what?"

"Maybe a girl or boy is involved. Can't say it's not possible. Damian CAN talk to people, and this wouldn't be the first time Robin got involved with a civilian." He said, eyeing the whole table, except Duke, a few notable people got uncomfortable.

Although it was extremely rare and frowned upon in some cases, vigilantes did get involved with civilians while in masks. Some relationships were short, only a night, and others were long term and might have resulted in new maks. If this is what is truly happening, they couldn't condemn him for it.

"You seem so sure," Duke said

"It's obvious someone else is involved-"

"You read too many romance novels," Steph said

"Proof me wrong."

"Hey," Dick entered the library to find Damian sitting in a little window nook. Damian acknowledged him with a single nod but didn't look up from his book. Dick didn't really know where to begin, though. "whatcha reading" he tilted the book showing the cover. A book on felines.

Dick also took a moment to observe his younger brother. In the corner of the window nook, legs crossed the book, a bit on the large side, sitting on his knees and one hand behind the book at the small movement of his arm and the small purrs he presumed to pet Alfred. He assumed. But his assumption was obviously wrong as said Felione strolled past them without a care.

"Damian?"

"Yes?"

"What's in your lap?"

"A cat" Dicked looked to where Alferd just passed, then back to Damian, who dropped the book to reveal a black cat in his lap.

Dick sighed and pinched his nose"Damian."

"she's a stray, doesn't like to stay put. She'll be gone by nightfall." Not true. She'd either be in his bed or at their safe house.

"Damian," he hummed in acknowledgment, " We're worried about you." he looked at him confused. " You've been acting strange lately, and no one knows why. Want to tell me what's going on? " Dick says as he sits down across from Damian and his stray friend.

"Strange behaviors?" he questioned as he stroked her fur and petted her.

"mainly on patrol. You turn off your coms, stay in a location for too long, or stray from your route a few times. A few times too many. What's going on, Damian ?"

For a moment, he said nothing, content with just petting her fur. " I didn't know my behavior was alarming. I'm sorry."

"Thank you. But that doesn't explain your behavior." Damian just looked at him with furrowed brows as she purred at his touch. Picking up the kitty, he stands up.

"I have," he says as he returns his book." She has come far, but it makes sense she's very loyal."

So, he was blaming the cat for his concerning behavior. And ... well, Dick believed him. Not entirely; he knew there was more than this cat involved. Now, he didn't doubt the cat's involvement with his much Damian loves animals, but there had to be more. But he knew he wasn't going to get any more from him. While Damian didn't lie, at least he didn't feel like it; he knew he didn't tell the whole truth. And if he still wasn't talking to him, he wasn't going to.

"She sure is," he says, reaching to pet the cat. Damian skillfully moved and dodged his hand. Dick watched as he coddled her to his chest, Disappeared out of the library. It appeared they would be going with Tim's stalking plan.

"They're on to us," Asta giggled as she flopped on the bed after shifting back. Damian takes a seat at his desk.

"We're going to have to be more careful."

She noticed that he was serious." What does that mean? Do you want me to go?"

"No," Damian jumped up. " I just mean that we need to be more careful. More aware of our surroundings and those around us."

"That's a lot of people, considering all your siblings are here. Here, as in the manor. I can stay at the apartment. Plus, there has been drama in the narrows. I should be closer to help."

Damian 'TT' as he sat down in defeat. Standing up, she approaches him, running her fingers through his hair. He leans into her touch, it was gentle and warm. " I want you... here. I want you here."

"I'm sorry," she said as she kissed his forehead. He leaned into her lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap. He hummed as she pressed her lips against his. She sighed as she pulled away. "You'll know where to find me."

Asta left first, going to handle business in the narrow. Someone treated the prostitutes not so nicely; the culprit was found and delivered to the police missing an important appendage, but the girls were safe, and that's all that mattered. Those who were hurt were at the clinic, and those who weren't were warned and told to be safe.

Asta and her organization were now working to create a specific and safe area for the workers. They were even looking into collaborating with Red Hood's gang. She was working on a proposal. When she heard knocking on the window, looking up, she saw Robin in all his glory outside the window, and she rushed to open the window.

"Are you alright? Did something happen?"

"I'm fine. Nothing happened. What are you doing?" He looked past her to see a map, papers, a bunch of highlighters, and pens.

"Helping sex workers. Making plans," She says as she climbs out the window, joining him on the fire escape. "Some douchebag that likes beating on women. He's at the hospital and with the police now. But I realized that the girls need more protection. And kids can't provide the protection they need. The protection Red Hood provided his girls 24/7 security."

Robin listens as Asta explains her plans to collaborate with Hood. As he listened his eyes raked over her body. Despite it being winter, she wore a mini white sundress and a collar he had gifted her. She stopped talking, she seemly leaned back and let his gaze from his seat on the steps.

"You're a distraction," Robin whispers

"Well, that's not fair you bought me this dress." she picked at the hem with a small smile

"that I did."

"And I didn't ask for you to be here. You're here of your own free will. And you can leave at any time."

Robin 'TT'. She was right about everything. He chooses to buy that dress and that collar. He chose to come see her tonight. And he chose to stay. It was a choice, and he made them all. She was a choice.

The night was slow. His brothers could handle it.

"you're still here," she whispered as she tugged on the collar tags; he just smirked. Asta smirked, and she crawled towards him until they were inches apart. He reaches forward, brushing some hair out of her face.

" Hi," she whispered. She giggled as he brushed her bottom lip with his thumb.

Suddenly, he grabbed the back of her head, and their lips connected. They could never get over how soft their lips were. Asta pulled away slightly to breathe; he chased her lips again, this time with tongue, and she let him freely explore her mouth. Let him have control. His tongue is delicate as he takes his time invading her. It was a new experience, a new sensation for her, having someone else's tongue in her mouth. But it felt good. Her inexperience rounding its head, he catches her by surprise again, his lips wrapping around the tip of her tongue and lightly sucking. She lets out a small moan.

Robin quickly pulled away.

"Sorry," Asta says breathlessly. "No, no, I got carried away. Forgot about our surroundings for a moment."

Robin was also catching his breath, wiping his palms on his pants. " I should return to patrol."

"Yes, yes, of course," Asta said as she stood up. Robin closed his eyes as she stood up. Robin closed his eyes as she stood directly in front of him in her mini-dress. She quickly apologized and backed away. He quickly stood up after her. "Bye," she quickly said, then dove into the apartment. Once she was gone, Robin sat for another minute or two before he, too, finally got up and left.

"He's going to see us, and then he's going to kill us."

"He's a bit preoccupied, Red Robin, as he, Spoiler, and the Orphan crouched on a roof hidden as they watched Robin with a girl on a fire escape.

The girl was sitting on the floor across from Robin, who was seated on the steps. He was holding onto part of the railing above him. They were talking. The way they were positioned, Red Robin couldn't see Robin's mouth, but he could see part of the girl's mouth and could read/understand only a few words, with his lip reading skill, not enough to fully understand the contents they were speaking in. Red Hood and prostitutes were mentioned, but he didn't understand the contents of their conversation.

Orphan observed their body language but said nothing besides "friendly." Whatever she saw satisfied her enough for her to step back. "What are they doing?"

"I don't-oh"

They watched as the girl crawled across the floor and kissed Robin. " Alright, that's enough." they watched as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"And you said Damian couldn't get a girl," Spoiler said. They watched them for a long time, uncomfortable. When Robin and the girl finally pulled apart, their farewell was quick. The girl dipped back inside, closing the window. Robin sat on the steps with his head down for a few minutes before he got up and returned to patrol.

"Looks like Jason was right," Spoiler teased as Red Robin purposely ignored her. While Red looked unpleased and dissatisfied, he was actually relieved knowing that the league wasn't involved and amused that he was actually doing something his age but also a bit uncertain as he didn't know who this girl was. Was she a civilian or someone more? He was going to find out. He'd know all her by tomorrow sunrise.

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daddysfangirls-dc · 1 month

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Reblog if you’re over 20 and still read/write fan fiction.

I’m curious!

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daddysfangirls-dc · 1 month

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UnTamed Ch. 9

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Damian gently brushed her hair as she laid her head in his lap. When Asta came through the window, she didn't say anything; she just handed him a brush and laid her head in his lap without a word. He allowed her silence for a good 15 minutes before he asked, "Are you okay?" he stopped brushing as she turned in his lap, nuzzling his hip and stomach.

"I'm alright, just tired."

"Fall is approaching."

Asta didn't just have animal abilities but animal characteristics and behaviors, such as the need to hibernate. While Asta wasn't an actual animal (at least not all the time), she didn't need to hibernate, but she became incredibly tired and inactive in the colder months. She'd sleep at least 10 hours when it snowed, and when she wasn't sleeping, she'd seek warmth.

"No, I was up all night."

"Why?"

"Helping people.... lost my place."

Damian hated that. While Asta identified herself as a stray, he knew it was an excellent term for the homeless. Despite offering to house and assistance, she rarely takes. Fear of being a burden. She hopped from one abandoned building to the next. He really didn't like it. " You can stay here... or at one of the safe houses," he said, offering some solution. She hummed as she nuzzled further into his stomach "You'd be warm and safe."

"Don't your siblings come over more during the winter? Won't they see me?" she asked.

Asta was aware of Damian's desire to keep her a secret, to keep her to himself. She wanted to remain hidden, knowing that having connections with Damian's family of any kind in the dark or the light would be bad news. To be connected to the Batfamily meant being targeted by rogues and losing the trust of her people. And to be connected to the Wayne family meant being targeted by rogues, losing the trust of her people, and being harassed/pulled apart by the media and the rest of the world. She just wasn't ready for all that. She didn't have the mental or physical armor for any of that. She didn't mind being his little secret.

"Stay in my room, pretend to be a stray. They never question my pets anymore as long as they're not too big or dangerous. They won't mind another cat." As if on que, she shifted into a black cat and nuzzled her head into his hand. " I'm assuming this means you'll stay." She nodded.

Something is wrong with Damian. Everyone was in agreement. Damian had been acting differently lately, and his siblings had taken notice and come together to discuss and get to the bottom of these changes in behavior.

"I don't get what the big deal is. He's just going through some weird teenage former assassin phase. As long as he doesn't kill anybody, we're in the clear," Jason said as he took the other half of Tim's sandwich. Tim just glared as he ate the other half. " No, no, we're not waiting for that," Dick sounded panicked on the phone.

Everyone couldn't actually meet together met all together, so they were doing a phone conference with Dick in Bludhaven, Barbara at work, Duke Stephanie and Cass at school, and Tim and Jason at the manor. Dick had pestered them all into a group phone call. He was annoying like that.

"I agree with Jason. Not about the killing but about this being a phase. He's going through something he'll talk about when he wants to or not," Duke said

"Ooo, maybe he's got a girlfriend he's hiding," Stephanie cooed. Tim could practically feel her wiggling her eyebrows suggestively through the phone.

"Considering how Damian cannot hold a proper conversation with any of his peers, let alone a girl, without insulting them one way or another. His classmates are beneath him, or so he says,"

"We're forgetting most of these changes are happening to Robin, not Damian," Barbara piped up. " He's been turning off his coms on patrol and avoiding my cameras. This is something more."

The group fell silent, the amusement in the air gone as the implication of Robin's secrecy began to settle. Ill assumptions began to run through their minds.

"Do you think Talia's back?" Duke asked, then quickly regretted asking as the tension became even heavier. Unlike the rest of his family, Duke had little to no interactions with the Al Ghuls, and everything he knew about them was secondhand, either from stories from his siblings or files on the Batcomputer. He knew enough to know the implications of his questions were dangerous.

"Let's hope not," DIck broke the silence " I'm going to try and get off earlier. Just keep an eye on his until I get there. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"and what will you do exactly?" Jason question

"Talk to him" Dick hung up, and the others quickly followed suit.

Tim and Jason do not believe Talia is involved. Talia was never quiet when she came to Gotham. She always made herself known to Bruce, even if she didn't speak to or see him. Damian's behavior had been different for a while and was too strange to be considered something Talia was involved in. Each believed his behavior to change for different reasons. Tim believed it was just a demon child going through puberty. He'd settle once he completed his journey through acne. Right now, they just needed to ensure he didn't kill anyone.

Jason believed someone was involved. As someone who not only regularly read romantic novels but observed people for his work and hobby, he could tell when people were influenced by something or someone. And Damian was definitely being influenced by someone. Why else would the boy who didn't give a single fuck about anyone but himself and oozed confidence with every arrogant step suddenly gave a shit about how soft his hair was and how he smelt. The obvious signs of a pubescent crush. Now, the only thing Jason was truly worried about was who this person was. Who was strange enough to catch Damian's attention, and who was crazy enough to stick around?

By the weekend, just about everyone had made their way to the manor, much to Alfred's pleasure. Cassandra couldn't make it due to dance practice.

"I still think it's demonic puberty," Jason snickers with Tim, which earns them a glare from Dick.

"This is serious," Dick scowls at them. While everyone else sat, he paced around.

"Alright, Dickhead, what are we going to do?"

"Has anything else happened since our last talk?"

"I've talked to Alfred. Damian has been held up in his room all week. He only comes out for meals and cares for his pets. " Jason said. He spoke to Alfred the most about bi-weekly shopping, monthly tes, and random calls for recipes. However, these meetings would vary if he was off-world. Jason had the best relationship with Alfred next to Damian.

"I've been looking over security. There is no sign of Talia or any one league affiliated." Barbara said, " While I don't think this is demonic puberty," she looked at Tim. " His behavior is strange, and I believe something is going on. The questions are what and why."

"His biggest red flag is during patrol, so why don't we trail him during patrol?" Tim suggested

"Not a bad idea," Barbara said

Dick groaned, looking uneased " Can't we just talk to him?" he really didn't want to go sneaking around before giving Damian a chance to come talk to him himself. He wanted to give Damian the chance to speak for himself. He didn't want to treat him with suspicion just yet.

"You can go talk to him. We're going to follow him." Tim stood up, making their decision. Something was going on with the Demon brat, and he didn't trust that said brat would come clean. Tim would do it his way, and Dick would do it either way. They'd figure out the truth one way or another.

Damian hears his window open, and he grips a dagger under his pillow. He listens as the window classes and feet tiptoe across his floor. He felt his covers pull back and his bed dip. It was then that he felt the familiar presence and realized who it was. He let go of his dagger and relaxed. He listened and felt her get comfortable under the covers. "One of these days," He whispered, sleepiness heavy in his voice, " I'm going to kill you."

She moved closer, cuddling into his side. She whispered, "Please don't." Rolling over, he looked at her, all cozzle snuggled into his blanket with a sleepy smile.

"Then we're getting you a bell or a secret knock." Closing her eyes, she hummed, "Secret knock... cool." he closed his eyes. " Knock it is."

The next morning, he found her gone with the wind.

Despite agreeing to stay at the manor, Asta was scared, popping up when needing rest and leaving when she had it. It was something Damian didn't appreciate, but she never stuck around long enough for him to tell her about it. For now, he had to be content with knowing where she slept.

"When I offered to stay at the manor, this is not what I had in mind." Asta froze by the window as Damian spoke. He leaned against the headboard, " Have I upset you?"

"I-no, no. I'm not upset."

"Then why are you avoiding me? When I offered the manor, I wanted to give you warmth and safety. I also wanted to spend more time with you. But you're not here."

Asta sighed; she sat on the floor under the window, bringing her knees to her chest "Sorry, I'm sorry,"

" I demanded answers."

"I... " Asta groaned and tugged at her hair. " I've never had a home. I've never stayed in one place for more than a few days. This is all new to me. I don't know how to handle this. I just... can you tell me what to do or how this is supposed to be?"

" I, myself, am unsure of how this works. Our circumstances aren't normal... can you tell me what makes you stay away and upset?" Damian didn't know what to do or what was wrong and hoped that maybe we could talk through it and figure it out together. He read that communication was very necessary and key to a good relationship. While he might struggle to speak properly and string words, somehow, they'd always find a way. This time would be no different.

"I enjoy sleeping with you. I'm comfortable here."

"Not comfortable enough to stay" low blow. A way hit Damian, and a new way of expressing emotions came. He felt anxious, sad, guilty, and frustrated. "Oh... you're not comfortable."

"I am, I am, I'm comfortable with you."

"You wouldn't feel this way them."

"I work. When I stay in a place that's not abandoned, I work, and I earn my keep. I feel weird not to. Plus, your family is here, your sibling, you should be spending time with them. I don't want to intrude."

"You are my family. You don't need to earn your place, but even so, you've earned it. You've patrolled with us and protected this city. You've earned your rest. You've earned a soft bed and comfort-"

"I CAN FEEL THEM.... I can feel them. There are so many of you, and I can feel all your emotions, and they're so strong I can't escape them. And I try, I'm trying I really am you have to believe me I really am. I just can't deal with these feelings; they're so bad. I constantly feel guilty or anxious or angry or sad except for the few sparks of happiness," she sobbed now as she hugged her knees. " I'm trying, I really am, but sometimes it's too much, and I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Tell me how to make you comfortable."

"I don't know how."

"Then let's figure it out."

And figure it out. They did. They split time between the manor and an off-the-books safe house. An apartment that she was responsible for maintaining and taking care of. If Asta wouldn't rest at the manor, Damian demanded she great at the apartment. Her Apartment. Their Apartment.

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daddysfangirls-dc · 2 months

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UnTamed Ch.8

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Initially, they didn't know how to behave in a romantic relationship. At first, it was awkward, but then they fell back into the routine which was their friendship. Both were inexperienced in the field of romance and simply did what they were comfortable with. And right now, comfortable meant being outside, sitting on top of Damian's head as a baby duck and watching him paint. There was the sound of a side door opening.

"is that a duck?" Damian turned to find Jason standing in the doorway.

"A duckling," Jason waited for him to elaborate. He didn't. "Alright, I'm going to the market with Alfred. Do you need anything?"

"No"

"we'll be gone for a couple of hours. You'll be home alone, you good?"

"I'm not a toddler. I can be left unsupervised, Todd."

"Whatever you say." With that, Jason left with Alfred for their bi-weekly trip to the market, leaving Damian (And Asta) alone. Damian continued to paint as his duckling crawled down his body and shifted human once her feet hit the floor.

"What do you want to do next?" Asta asked as she leaned on Damian's back. He was almost done painting.

"Is there anything in particular you wish to do?"

"How about a movie?"

"I'll make some snacks. You go up and pick a movie."

It was a second before the weight was lifted off his back, and he heard the familiar fluttering of feathers. She couldn't come in through the door because of security cameras, so she went in through his bedroom window as usual. Finished with his painting, he left it outside to dry and took his brushes inside to clean. Making a mixed bowl of fruit as a snack, he went upstairs to his room.

"Have you picked something?"

"Yes, a rom-com."

"You and Grayson would get along well," he said as he settled in the bed next to her, handing her the bowl of fruit.

"The trailer looked funny," she pressed play.

Damian quickly lost interest in the movie. He took Asta's closed hand and slowly traced patterns all over her hand. "What are you doing?" she whispers

"Touching you," he whispers in return as he brings her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. She loved the feeling of his lips on her skin. She turned away to hide her blush and try to focus on the movie. That was something Asta had noticed since their shift from friendship to relationship. He had always been reserved before, but now he was constantly touching her, leaning on her, holding her hands, and lying in her lap.

It was warm and soft, much better than Dick's. Not that he'd say it out loud. Dick's touch was warm but suffocating and not always optional. Dick's affection was more for his own sake than others. Damian liked that he could say no to her touch and that she'd never force him. Nor would he force her.

Damian still made patterns on her palm when he felt her tense slightly. Looking up he finds the source a very intimate scene between a couple played on the tv. It didn't go beyond heavy petting and kissing, but still. Despite how close and touchy the couple were, Damian and Astreae have yet to have their lips touched. Nor had they discussed it. It was just something that hadn't happened.

Looking at her, Damian saw how Asta did her best to avoid looking at him or the TV. Damian didn't feel tense or uncomfortable. Her bashfulness actually amused him. She felt his emotions and couldn't help but feel amused, even going as far as giggling. Then, she was infected by his nervousness. He was looking at her. He had that soft look on his face. She had seen it in the mask before, usually when in uniform. But he didn't have his mask, and she could see his eyes, and they were beautiful. She couldn't describe that look, that feeling he had, but she loved it.

And Then.

It was quick; she hadn't even closed her eyes before she felt his lips on hers and then gone.

"Oh," she didn't know what else to say, but she shouldn't have said that. She knew that when Damian shrank back. Asta leaned forward, following him. She was much slower than he was. Their eyes closed as their noses brushed against each other as they shared breaths, and then their lips touched softer and lingered longer, too. When she pulled away, she heard, "Oh," she giggled.

"Another," he asked. She was happy to oblige again and again and again. Laughing and whispering affection in between kisses. Nothing more than long-winded pecks between those inexperienced, but it felt good nonetheless. Just being close.

#dc comics #dc universe #fanfiction #robin #batman #fanfic #damian al ghul #damian wayne #damian wayne fanfic #damian wayne fanfiction #untamed #damian wayne x oc #damian wayne al ghul #damian al ghul x oc

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daddysfangirls-dc · 2 months

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UnTamed Ch.7

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Too Pretty.

That's what Astraea thought. As she looked around, the restaurant was very fancy. It was so fancy, in fact, that Damian got her a fancy dress and shoes to go with it and even did her hair. I got her all dolled up and didn't tell her why. He just dragged her until they arrived at the restaurant, then was taken to a private booth with curtains in the back. Money gets you fancy privacy. It was all so fancy and pretty. Even the food was pretty.

"It's too pretty," she whispered as she eyed the plate of food. She felt Damian's nervousness and confusion. " It's too pretty to eat. Looks like those art pieces in those fancy places I'm not allowed in." It was two lamb chops on top of mashed potatoes; it wasn't much, but it was still pretty. More to look at than eat.

"Try it. You'll like it," Damian encourages her to eat.

Not one to turn down a free meal, she forwent the proper eating utensils; she just picked up the bone taking a big bite of the lamb. Damian watches as she devours her plates within minutes, the proper table manners not seen or considered. Once the plate was clean, she whispered," I'm still hungry." He waved the waitress over and ordered some desserts.

"Why are we here?" she finally asked

"I can't take you to a nice place for a nice meal."

"Damian," she spoke his name softly, "what are we doing?"

Honestly, he didn't know. Their relationship had changed, or at least Damian's view of it had. He had grown romantic feelings for her. He didn't know how to go about these feelings, so he sought out help and advice. For Asta to remain a secret, he could not ask his brothers or father for advice. He instead went to two other trustworthy confidants, Jon Kent and Alfred Pennyworth. They provided as much advice as they could with vague and little information.

Jon just told him to ask her to be his girlfriend and give her some flowers. Jon Kent never had a girlfriend.

Alfred advises him to take her out to a nice dinner and talk to her about his feelings and a possible relationship. He advised a slow approach. Damian took his advice and ran with it.

He got a fancy restaurant, food, and clothes, and the atmosphere was here, but now he couldn't speak, put words together, or find them. He should have gotten advice on how to talk to her. It was a conundrum, but he needed to figure it out and do it.

"These past few years, I've enjoyed your companionship, our friendship. " Asta smiled as this was the first time he'd ever acknowledged their friendship. " My feelings for you have changed and grown and can no longer be ignored. Astreae, I like you, like you as more than a friend, and I'd like to enter into a possible romantic relationship. If you'd like that as well." Definitely wasn't the best wording. Despite how vast his vocabulary was he was never good at conveying his feelings through words. Honestly, he wasn't good at conveying his feelings, period.

"what does that mean?" Asta asked. " I ... I'd like for us to be in a roman-"

"No, I mean, what does that mean? What does being romantic mean? For us?"

It was a good concern for Asta to have. The only true exposure she had to 'romantic' relationships was to victims of domestic violence and prostitutes. And she wore less than prostitutes. Love was something people in the alley mostly ran from or used as a tool. How would they change? What would romance look like with them? Would they really be romantic?

" ... I like spending time with you and would like to spend more time outside of our nightly occupation. More dates, perhaps." Admittedly, most of their meetings were at sunset or under the moon. " I'd like to touch you like that. I mean, like holding your hand and a perhaps kiss. I don't want to change what we have; I want more of it."

There was a moment of relief that was quickly followed by a new nervousness as he waited for her response. He didn't know what he'd do if she rejected him. He probably just ruined his first friendship.

"Okay"

"...okay?"

"I'd like to be romantic with you. I want to hold your hand, kiss you, and see you in the light."

Damian didn't fight the smile that spread across his face. He raised his glass " to the light," and she raised her glass as well (she's never done the toast before)" To the light."

As if realizing the serious conversation was over and had ended well, the waitress finally brought over their desserts. Another fancy plated dish is lemon tarts.

"Another pretty dish. After this-"

"We'll go get pizza."

Alfred watched as Damian quickly slid the back seat. He notices how giddy and happy his young master is as he settles in. He was glowing with joy. " I presume it went well."

"Yes" was a single-word response but held many emotions. " Very well," the joy radiated off the boy was just so pure. He had never seen the boy so happy. "And when can I expect to meet this young lady?" Damian didn't say anything, but his face was answered enough, a look he had seen on Bruce many times before when asked about his lovers.

Bruce rarely, if ever, talked about his lovers, not including the little flings he brought home occasionally. He used to learn about love interests such as Talia Al Ghul and Minhkhoa Khan through reports and ones like Selina Kyle by wounds they left on his body. He hopes Damian love interest won't fall into that second category. Another hope is that he wouldn't have to wait several years to meet the young lady officially.

"Alfred" His voice was small

"Yes?"

"I'd appreciate it if today's activities stayed between us. I don't want the others-"

"Damian, no one will learn of it from me."

"...Thank you."

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