Chapter 30: Homecoming

It wasn't very often that his family would go on public outings, but when they did, dinner was usually a go-to choice. Bruce had suggested the other day that he, Damian, Selina, and Alfred spend an evening at the high-end restaurant they'd visited a handful of times (the same one Jess had worked at during the summer), something they had not done in a few months.

Five minutes before their reservation, the four of them stepped through the restaurant's double doors. Damian, dressed crisply in all black with an open blazer thrown over a turtleneck, trailed after his father to the young woman greeting them. He was vaguely aware of her exchanging words with Bruce as he took in the familiar golden albeit dim lighting and soft elevator music, but more obvious were the stares of recognition following them as they were led to the circular table in the far corner of the establishment. Some guests were much more inconspicuous when it came to watching the two Waynes pass through, and although it was something that happened frequently, Damian somehow found it particularly bothersome this time around. There were a few faces he recognized from past galas or other events that had required the presence of Gotham's elite and socialites — one was a businessman that Bruce had nodded towards and another woman was from the mayor's office. The servers that bustled to and fro were distinguishable by their white button-ups and black aprons, and one of them approached their table as soon as they were seated.

That was when Damian noticed that Alfred had sat on his left yet there was another chair, an empty, fifth one, to his right. Raising a brow, he glanced at his father, who was speaking with the middle-aged waiter that was listening intently to what he was saying.

As soon as he left to fetch the wine bottle Bruce had requested, the younger Wayne tilted his head toward the empty seat. "Are we expecting someone else?"

Blue eyes landed on him innocently as his father reached to adjust his tie. "Oh, yes. We have Weston Hess joining us tonight. It seems he's running a bit late though."

"I wasn't aware."

"It was last minute," Bruce explained with a small smile. "I changed the reservation this morning."

Hmph. Why on earth would Weston Hess, a mere member of the private sector, be joining them for dinner? Damian's gaze darted to Alfred and then Selina, but they were both occupied with the thick menus before them. Bruce seemed to have quickly forgotten about Damian's curiosity, leaning over to ask his fiancée what she was considering. It wasn't that the young man had any particular issue with having another guest join them — though there had certainly been times when he'd preferred that only family was involved — rather, it was the intriguing fact that his father had failed to mention it.

That and Damian was not a fan of Weston. He was, unfortunately, annoying with an unlikeable personality.

Deciding to overlook this new discovery, he picked up his menu though he had a fairly good idea what he'd order. He'd always been a fan of the mushroom risotto, though part of him was craving something lighter… Several minutes of consideration and light conversation with Alfred later, Damian checked his watch and saw that it was nearly fifteen past six. As if Weston wasn't already irritating — he was clearly not punctual either.

Before he could bring it up to his father, Bruce reached into his pocket and retrieved his vibrating phone. "This is Bruce," he answered. After a moment, he continued with a light smile, "That's alright. I'll send Damian out to get you…"

At that, Damian was giving him a look that said "Really, Father?" but the older Wayne only seemed to be amused by his son's expression.

"No, that's fine. He'll be out in a minute… Okay. See you soon."

Bruce ended the call as annoyed, green eyes glared at him from across the table. "You're sending me to fetch a grown man for what exactly?"

From where she sat, Selina seemed to be biting back a smile, her distracted gaze trained on the glass of wine she was reaching for. It only confused Damian more, in turn fueling his irritation.

He continued briskly, "So not only is Hess clearly inconsiderate of our time, but he is also too incompetent to use his own legs to walk through the doors and his own eyes to look for—"

"Damian," Bruce interrupted, eyes glinting with something unreadable in the restaurant's soft lighting. "Please. Just meet him outside."

Jaw set tightly, Damian held his father's gaze until he let out a huff and stood from the table. Part of him had wanted to pursue the argument, but he'd quickly come to the conclusion that it was one not worth having. Besides, he had a feeling that, although his feelings towards his father's colleague were justified in every sense, he was sure that his growing hunger had something to do with his irritability.

Pulling at the lapels of his blazer and once again ignoring the eyes following him, Damian headed towards the front of the restaurant. He briefly took notice of the young woman who'd taken them to their table; she was organizing menus at the podium, but as soon as he'd approached, her inquisitive eyes ran over him and she straightened up a little, tossing him a smile. Though she was certainly pretty and most likely his age, he had no room in his current capacity to even consider being interested.

Chilly air greeted his face and hands, reminding him that Gotham's windy and cold autumn was fast approaching. In another month or so, the leaves would be turning brown and falling from the trees… then snow. (He was not prepared for snow.) Stopping at the sidewalk, he crossed his arms and remained there, eyes scanning the street and the parking lot nearby for a familiar man who was a handful of years older than him. If he recalled correctly, Weston had gotten his foot in the door for his career at the young age of nineteen (though it would take much more than that to impress Damian), and now he was in his mid-twenties, mingling with businesspeople as high-profile as his father.

Though he was a bit caught up in his thoughts, Damian felt the sudden presence behind him.

"Excuse me," a female voice spoke up.

Realizing it wasn't Weston, he gave a sigh and stayed where he was. It must've been the young woman from inside the restaurant, and he had no desire to entertain her at the moment. He was just about to look back and politely decline her if she made any sort of approach when he heard:

"I'm looking for Damian Wayne."

His heart leapt into his throat then. That voice… the way she'd said his name.

Turning around, Damian found himself looking right into a pair of hazel eyes he hadn't seen in what had felt like years. They were bright and familiar in the outdoor lighting. She was trying not to smile but was failing miserably as she continued on, "He's got dark hair, green eyes…" She held her hand up above her head, palm facing down. "About this tall. Looks older than he really is."

He could barely think through the shock flooding him, in almost complete disbelief at what he was seeing. Jess was still attempting to control the knowing grin she wore while she took in his speechless state; it was as if she was finding it so amusing that he hadn't yet said a word. Stepping closer, his friend tilted her head thoughtfully as her gaze ran over his face.

"He kinda looks just like you, except…" Her fingers reached up to draw an imaginary circle at the skin between her own brows. "He's usually got these wrinkles here, you know, from glaring or thinking too much."

Jess was continuing to stand there, smiling at him with her shining, hazel irises. Acting on a sudden urge in him — and still at a loss for words — Damian closed the distance between them and took her in his arms.

The initial surprise was already being washed away by everything he remembered about her... from the calming scent of musky lavender to the warm, comforting way it felt to embrace her. Though it had only been weeks since they'd last been together, her sudden appearance was oddly overwhelming as if it'd been much longer. There was something about the way her arms were wrapped around his body, containing the swelling in his heart and chest, and for a split second, he hoped she wouldn't let go. He wasn't sure how long they stood there, but when they finally broke apart, Damian stepped back to appraise her.

Jess was wearing a slim, sweater dress in a forest green color — it also happened to have a turtleneck, Damian noticed with amusement — and her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Knee-high, heeled boots gave her a few inches in height; it was odd seeing her eyes nearly up to his own. This was the most dressed-up he'd ever seen her, and it only added to the astonishment he was still, admittedly, reeling from.

"Surprise," she said with a grin, giving him cringey jazz hands.

"What… What are you doing here?" he managed to ask.

Millions of questions spun in his mind as he struggled to come to a conclusion that made any bit of sense. How was Jessica Fairchild suddenly standing before him when he'd just been on a video call with her the night before and seen her bedroom back in Central City?

His friend shrugged and adjusted the small purse she wore across her body. "It's kind of a long story," she responded, still smiling. "I'll tell you all about it inside?"

Realization dawned on him then, making Damian almost roll his eyes at his own obliviousness. Weston Hess was not their guest for the night, that much as clear now. But he surely wasn't complaining… He much preferred it this way.

Hazel eyes waited excitedly for a response. He let out a deep breath, feeling the corner of his mouth quirking up as a result of the warmth and high spirits filling him. "You certainly have explaining to do," he told her in his signature sharp tone with a raised brow.

"Oh, I know."

The young woman was still at the front as they entered, and Damian hardly caught the attentive look she gave him and Jess. All he was doing even while he watched her greet Bruce and Alfred with a hug and introduce herself to Selina was attempting to put clues together in his head and determine how this entire situation was happening.

Yet he made an attempt at patience as his father asked Jess, who'd taken up the fifth seat beside Damian, about her flight and the waiter asked her what she wanted to drink. Damian could feel eyes on him — he glanced up to see calm, blue irises watching from across the table, and that was when a suspicion rose in him. Unable to refrain from voicing his curiosity, he spoke up.

"You had something to do with this, didn't you?" he asked Bruce, who smiled and nodded towards Jess.

"I'll let Jess explain everything."

Jess's cheeks were turning pink as she laughed sheepishly and turned to Damian with a shrug. "Uh, well, for starters… I'm not visiting."

She paused as if to let her words sink in, and they did. The wrinkles between Damian's brows softened with understanding — for the briefest of moments, he was nearly as stunned as he'd been outside again.

"I'm here to stay."

Her statement lodged into a place somewhere deep in his chest, releasing an onslaught of warmth and joy he wasn't sure he had experienced in a long time. You're here to stay. At first, Damian wasn't quite sure how to process this news, but then he felt the smallest of grins growing on his face, and even though he could feel the other three watching him, he couldn't care less about the expression.

The astonishment slowly wore off as his friend proceeded to explain herself, telling him how Lora had received the letter regarding the scholarship. (He couldn't recall having sent that… so perhaps that had been Bruce's doing?) Her aunt had approached her, initiated an unexpected heart-to-heart that resulted in the woman telling Jess she wanted to "make things right" and help her start anew — and most importantly, in the way she wanted. That had meant allowing her to return to Gotham and accept the scholarship, yet Jess had wanted to include surprising Damian and Misty, so she had reached out to Bruce and asked for his assistance. He'd arranged the dinner to happen her first night back in the city after dropping her things off in her new dorm on the academy's campus.

"We initially planned for tomorrow, but I told him I didn't want to wait that long," she laughed, exchanging grins with Bruce. "So I really appreciate you working with my impatience."

"This was quite an exciting surprise to plan with you, Jess," Bruce responded kindly. "Damian hasn't always been keen on surprises, but I'd say we did fairly well."

Jess's gaze flickered to the younger Wayne, lit with amusement. "I think so, too. We got you pretty good, didn't we?"

Despite the knowing, playful grin she tossed him, Damian found himself reaching up to casually tug at his blazer lapels again as if he was unbothered. "Of course I wasn't expecting you to be our dinner guest tonight," he replied dismissively while he reached to take a sip from his glass of water. "So naturally, I was… taken aback."

"Pretty sure that's his way of saying you did get him good." Selina winked at Jess, making the girl laugh and turn back to look at him.

"It's okay to admit you were — and still are — surprised, Dami. I myself am still processing the fact that I'm back… I mean, it hasn't been twenty-four hours yet anyway. But I'm here thanks to you and your dad."

Apparently, her aunt was one to thank as well. Jess hadn't told him about this discussion she'd supposedly had with her, yet then again, she clearly hadn't mentioned several important things that had happened recently. Even in her explanation, Damian could tell she had left out certain details, ones he presumed she didn't want to speak about in front of his family. She still wasn't aware that they already knew much about her — he guessed Bruce had filled Selina in on a few things — and he was sure there were parts of her exchange with Lora that she would rather disclose to him in private.

And she did. Jess accompanied them back to the manor after dinner, where she eagerly greeted Neo and sought to bond with him in the theater room where they'd put on one of the latest action movies. It was then that she dove into greater detail as she sat beneath a blanket, boots on the floor and their furry companion in her lap.

"It was really weird, honestly, feeling like she was actually listening to me and wanting to know what I had to say," she'd explained. "So imagine my complete shock when she said she was willing to let me come back here for my senior year."

Yet her return was not without conditions. Lora had expressed that it would perhaps be a good idea for Jess to seek therapy again like she had before, a concept the teen was not opposed to. Jess was also going to work and pay back the fine that had saved her from an extended probation. (She didn't want to argue against that either, but she certainly did gripe about it being her fault it had to be done at all). Overall, she merely needed to do well, be on good behavior, and not make her aunt regret her decision, something Jess expressed she believed she could do.

"Just hearing her agree to do all this was a huge weight off my shoulders," Jess had explained as she scratched behind Neo's ears and barely paid attention to the car chase scene happening before them. "It felt like a huge chunk of my anxiety and all this bad stuff I was feeling started disappearing… but I-I know I still have some of that that I need to work on. And I'm hoping therapy will help, you know?"

But was it simply her emotional troubles taking a toll on her?

He hadn't noticed it until sometime after his shock had worn off, but Damian had taken a few moments to examine her face and seen that the few weeks in Central City had affected her. Beneath the mascara, lip gloss and other bits of makeup she'd worn for the night, he could see how exhausted she looked with dark circles and tired eyes. He'd already known she hadn't been sleeping well upon returning to her hometown, especially after the several video calls they'd had, but seeing the physical signs up close was entirely different.

Though she had never explicitly said it, Damian had always suspected she'd been experiencing withdrawals from stardust. Many of her issues were common symptoms of drug withdrawals in general, and he was sure her anxiety and unhappiness only made them worse. Besides her tendency to get herself into trouble and make poor choices, he'd worried most about her physical and mental health. If she and Lora hadn't managed to see eye-to-eye and start a clean slate, how long would Jess have been able to go about her life until it became too much? And would he have been able to do anything about it?

"You know what's the best part about being back?"

Damian glanced at her, seeing that her gaze was still trained on the large screen as she continued speaking.

"Compared to this summer, I actually get to be here because I want to," she mused aloud. "I'm not here on probation, I don't have community service… I actually get to have a real, second chance after all that. I get to experience… a new and different life, you know?"

Her hazel eyes met his, widened with excitement that also had her lips growing into a faint smile. Before Damian could even try and respond, something suddenly occurred to his friend, further igniting the enthusiasm written across her face as she let out a small gasp.

"Ooh, we should go on a late night drive sometime. I've always wanted to do that, especially here. Gotham is... just really pretty at night — aside from the bad stuff that happens, obviously," she waved a hand dismissively, "but it's not like there's a curfew to hold me back. And other than school and working and therapy, we'll get to hang out more.

"Out of everything, I think that's what I'm most excited about: getting to be with you guys. Does that make sense?"

The entire time she'd been rambling, Damian had watched the way her entire demeanor lit up, excitement and something else making her eyes sparkle in a way he'd never really seen in such magnitude before. That glistening gaze held him as Jess awaited his response, silence weighing down after her chipper voice stopped filling the air between them.

A moment longer and he knew she would have wondered if he'd been listening.

"It makes sense," he managed to reply smoothly.

The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile. "I mean, I've only been here for barely a day, but I already feel so much more freedom, and—"

She cut off as if realizing something, appearing to zone out while the smile faded from her face. But then Jess was shrugging and finishing nonchalantly, "Like I can actually be happy here, I think."

Happiness. That was what he'd seen a hint of just moments ago while talking about the things she was free to do without all the responsibilities she'd once had. It had brightened her eyes and even seemed to lift weight from her shoulders as she'd straightened up in enthusiasm, capturing Damian's attention and — dare he say it — catching him off-guard.

This still lingered in his mind some time later when the movie was nearing its end, though the young man found he wasn't paying nearly as much attention as he had been before. Once he realized Jess hadn't said anything in a while, he looked over to find her head had fallen to the side and onto the back of the chair. Her eyes were closed, lips parted slightly while her shoulders rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Neo seemed to have fallen asleep as well, his large eyes shut as he lay curled up beneath her still fingers. While Damian briefly considered waking her, he decided he couldn't bring himself to disturb her. Besides, as she'd said, she didn't have somewhere else to be because of a curfew; they'd also already planned on spending the next day together before the semester began the following day, so it would be alright if she spent the night.

And he'd rather have her across the hall than across the city.

So Damian shut off the movie and went to carefully slip his arms underneath her figure — he'd learned by now that she was a relatively heavy sleeper, so he wasn't concerned about waking her — to take her to the guest room that was essentially hers at this point. Unlike the few other times he'd seen her asleep, simply knocked out by alcohol and stardust, Jess appeared peaceful then as she slept unmoving in the bed… more peaceful than he must have ever seen her. After years of poor choices and suffering, perhaps she truly did feel more freedom and like she had another chance, and it was already showing in something as ordinary as sleep.

Closing the bedroom door behind him and heading back to his own room, Damian knew he felt different now that she'd returned albeit so unexpectedly. Though he had been doing okay as he'd always been, knowing his friend was just down the hall and in Gotham again was making him feel in ways he had not expected to. He was, in the simplest way to describe it, glad to have Jess back.

I hope you will be happy here, too.


"She's gone back to her dorm already?"

Bruce had glanced up from the computer in the cave upon hearing footsteps. Damian was still dressed in his dinner attire but without the blazer, a distracted sort of look in his eyes as he strayed towards the display cases where his suit hung. The older Wayne watched as the young man stared at the gear, his shoulders rising and falling with a steady, deep breath. His dark locks, usually kept neatly cropped, had grown out a little over the last several weeks, gracing his forehead and nearly reaching his arched brows. As always, Bruce felt like he was watching his son grow up right before his eyes despite still seeing that same haughty ten-year-old in the way he carried himself.

Yet at the same time, he'd noticed the changes as well, the shifts in Damian's demeanor and the way he cared for those he loved dearly. He'd watched the teen's growth — He's not a teenager anymore, he had to remind himself — and how that maturity he'd always walked around with as a child now suited him at this age. His youngest was opening back up, something Bruce had noticed over the last several months, and exhibiting signs of… happiness… that he hadn't known in a long time.

"She's asleep in the guest room," was all Damian said, continuing to stand there and stare unseeingly at the Robin suit. The look on his face was almost thoughtful, prompting Bruce's curiosity.

"How do you feel about her being back?"

Emerald greens glanced briefly at him before returning to the display case. "You already know the answer to that."

"Not really," Bruce responded, spinning in his chair to face him. "In fact, I was concerned that doing this behind your back and without your knowledge would upset you."

"But that's what I did with her scholarship, isn't it?"

"This wasn't me returning the favor, if that's what you're implying." He paused with hesitation, then added, "I did it for her… but to me, that meant doing it for you, too."

Only the faint sounds of the computer whirring filled the air as neither of them spoke for several long moments. Bruce wasn't sure what else to say and he could only guess the same could be said about his son, whose gaze was still trained on his suit. But then Damian was turning towards him and crossing his arms, gaze shifting as he met his father's eyes.

"You knew I was tracking her phone and diverted the system," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "That's why I didn't know she was on a plane this morning. And you sent that second copy of the letter to Lora Fairchild, didn't you?"

Bruce said nothing, knowing his silence would serve as his answer. Yes, he had done all of things, and it made complete sense that his son had figured it out by mere guesses, not having to actually sit down and find the hard evidence. The twenty-year-old knew him well.

Brows furrowing in thought, Damian continued, "Why didn't you inform me that Weston Hess was joining us the first time you suggested dinner the other day? You had to have assumed I'd be suspicious of you mentioning it last minute."

"I did… but I also assumed you would refuse to attend dinner if you were told he was coming ahead of time."

And that was certainly something Damian would have done since Bruce was not totally oblivious to his noticeable dislike towards the young businessman.

"You couldn't have chosen one of your more… likeable... contacts as cover?"

"Name one of my business partners or colleagues you would have been happier to see tonight instead of Weston Hess," the older Wayne replied smoothly with a quirked brow.

Damian seemed to nod his head once as if saying "Touché." Understanding filled his son's eyes, similar to the way he came to conclusions while working on a case or thinking critically about something. Bruce could practically see the gears grinding away in the young man's brain — it had always been intriguing to watch how he treated even the most everyday moments in life with such a logical, analytical approach.

Again, like father, like son.

Damian tore his gaze away to look at nothing in particular across the cave. "I must say it's rather amusing having my friend and my father plotting behind my back to surprise me… not once but twice in a row."

Unable to refrain from a small chuckle, the older man replied, "She was excited both times, though I would say she was especially looking forward to coming here and seeing the look on your face."

Another thought crossed his mind then. "She wants to make you proud, Damian." He watched as something flickered across his son's features, though his face remained unreadable across the cave.

"I won't make you regret doing all of this for me," Jess had told him over the phone days ago. "I, um, don't want to let you and Damian down…"

And then he'd reassured her that he believed she wouldn't. It hadn't been a lie; Bruce was confident she would make the best of her second chance as he had been all along (as early as before Damian had decided she was nothing like he'd assumed in the beginning). He had "faith," something Alfred had, more than once, told him he needed to consider more often.

"I just want her to be happy."

The way Damian had spoken those words sounded like he was disagreeing with Bruce's earlier sentiment, as if Jess's happiness superseded making him proud.

Raising a brow, Bruce offered, "I don't think those two are mutually exclusive."

If anything, he was sure that Damian's admiration and commendation for her successes would make her happy in turn.

"Perhaps," was all the younger Wayne said, and then he was moving back towards the entrance into the manor, indicating a close to the conversation.

"Good night, Damian," Bruce told him, eyes trained on his retreating back.

Damian paused, turning his head to the side though he did not look back at him. "Good night, Father," he returned before closing the door behind him.


She couldn't recall the last time she had felt like this.

It was amazing how drastically her feelings had changed in a matter of weeks. From finding a potential home in Gotham to being miserable back in Central City… and back to Gotham again where she was overwhelmed with relief and an odd sense of homecoming. Had anyone told her she'd ride this rollercoaster at the beginning of the summer, Jess would've been nothing but skeptical. Wanting to remain in the very city she'd committed crimes and actively let out the worst parts of herself? Juvenile Jess definitely would've wondered what possibly could've happened to make her feel that way.

But Present Jess had a pretty good idea what it was that had changed — or rather, who had helped her see things differently than she had before.

Her first few days back in Gotham had been nothing short of exciting. Surprising Damian had been an adventure in itself, and she'd wished she would remember the expression on his face forever. (Part of her hadn't been sure the entire thing would be successful, but it was a good thing Bruce had been able to help her out and do what he'd said he could to make sure his son was completely oblivious to the plan.) Showing up unannounced to Misty's had been fun, too, especially when her friend had just stood there, eyes bugged, and said "No way" several times before resuming normal function and giving her a bear hug. The three of them had spent the entire weekend together, checking out Jess's small but cozy dorm room on Gotham Academy's campus, going out into the city to grab food, and simply celebrating what felt like an unforeseen blessing.

Jess also hadn't been able to help looking forward to seeing another familiar face. Admittedly, she'd wondered if her return would change anything between her and Kade, especially considering the way they'd left things; the fling had been a casual, temporary thing, and they'd both clearly known that. So now that she was back, an outcome neither of them had seen coming, what did that mean?

It wasn't like her feelings had come and gone. When she'd seen him on the first day of the semester, Misty having helped by pulling him from his group of friends to the end of the hallway Jess had been waiting in, the familiar flutters in her chest had risen upon seeing his cool, gray-blue eyes. And then realization had crossed his face, followed by that lopsided grin, and he'd swept her up in a hug that took her feet off the ground. The next thing he'd done was bombard her with questions in the same way Misty had, asking Jess how and why she was back.

She'd explained things as simply as saying her aunt had let her apply to the academy, leaving out any of the more complicated details that only Misty and Damian knew. It wasn't until the next weekend when Kade held a back-to-school party, his parents out of town like they always were, that Jess stumbled upon the desire to reconnect with him… and open up to him about things she'd kept to herself over the summer.

Maybe it was the excitement from being back, the yearning to pursue something different with him, newfound confidence in having another chance at a better life — maybe it was all of it, but Jess couldn't shake the feeling that she wanted more. She wanted to live the way she was supposed to, to experience things when all she'd done the past two years was miss out on them.

She and Misty sat on one of the couches, her friend engaged in a deep conversation with another girl about some new tv show that had recently been released. The house vibrated with the music's bass, and its interior was flashing with colorful lights, packed with teenagers from the kitchen to the living room. It was probably close to eleven in the evening — and Jess had been constantly reminding herself that she didn't need to return to the facility, that there wasn't some curfew she was breaking (something she was going to have to get used to). That and she'd been scanning surfaces littered with plastic cups to make sure there wasn't a familiar, sparkly dust that would catch her attention.

Because if there was even a single thing that she'd dreaded when it came to returning to Gotham, it was stardust.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, shifting her attention away from the cup she'd been drinking from (soda this time).

Come to my room :)

Heart jumping into her throat, Jess looked up, and her gaze immediately latched onto Kade, who was saying something to his friend before crossing the living room. He weaved through a group of bodies — his cool eyes met hers briefly, flashing with something that had her gut stirring — before making it to the hallway leading to his bedroom. She glanced at Misty, who was still chattering away, and leaned over to shout over the music that she'd be back. Her friend nodded, so Jess got up and headed down the hall, eyes bouncing around to make sure no one was paying attention to her.

The door was closed when she approached it. Steeling her nerves, the brunette knocked — though it was pretty much pointless considering the party's ruckus — and then turned the knob. She barely caught his face appearing as the door opened when a hand wrapped around her forearm, pulling her in. He closed it as soon as she was in the room, and the next thing Jess knew, he was kissing her. Her back found the wall just as his arm snuck around her waist, his other hand at her neck.

The initial surprise surging through her was quickly washed away by sparks of excitement. She was vaguely aware of the distant music thumping and shouts of laughter, but they seemed miles away when all she could focus on was the familiar tingles he'd given her and how it felt to have his lips on hers again. Like last time they'd seen each other, the two of them were shirtless not even minutes later, and Jess soon found herself laying back on his bed with Kade hovering above her.

He broke their kiss momentarily, eyes meeting hers, and giving her the moment she needed to really consider what was happening. Though she wasn't sure if this was heading down the same road they'd traveled before, what Jess did know was that, if that was the case, it would be different. Back then, her mind and body had been fueled by stardust, which had undoubtedly influenced her experience. But in this moment, she realized she wasn't averse to doing it all over again… even if the drug wasn't in her system this time around. Because, drug or not, there was just something about feeling like she was the only thing, the only person, in existence with him: it was like she was all he saw under that cool gaze, all he felt in his hands, all he wanted even after all this time.

And it felt good to be wanted.

"Hope you don't find this offensive, but I actually missed you," he told her, a smug grin on his face that was inches from hers.

"The feeling is mutual," she returned with a nonchalant shrug. Her cheeks were warming at all the physical contact and the way he was looking at her.

Jess was then silent for a long moment, the two of them simply staring at one another. Suddenly, without thinking, she told him, "I was just thinking that we could be something more than what we were this summer."

He raised his brows, making her stomach churn uncomfortably. Why'd she have to say that?

Way to go, Jess. He's probably going to say he doesn't even want the same thing.

But then Kade's gray-blue irises were running over her face as he reached up to gently pinch her cheek in his fingers. The corner of his mouth lifted in a grin as he responded, "I like the sound of that."

Though his response had her heart thumping hard in her chest, Jess found herself adding, "And I… I want to know you. More than I already do."

And for you to know me.

If things worked out the way she was hoping in that moment, maybe he'd see her the way Misty and Damian did. If she allowed herself to be vulnerable with one more person, maybe he'd look past her mistakes. She could wish for that, couldn't she?

Kade was quiet, his eyes, normally icy and easygoing, seemed to soften as he mulled over her words. "Honestly, I'm really glad to hear that," he then said, "because I want to know everything about you."

She felt her own face break into a smile. "You pull that from a rom-com or something?" Jess managed to joke though her nerves were surging with a sudden thrill.

"Maybe. Did it work?"

To answer him, Jess took his face in both of her hands and kissed him. And just like that, it felt as though something else was falling into place upon her return to Gotham, making her wonder if the universe was actually being good to her for once.

Maybe, just maybe, she'd know what it was like to be happy again.


She couldn't sleep. Her mind was going a hundred miles per hour, replaying the last several days, every moment that had her doubting that all of this was happening. Lora trying to mend things with her and help her get back on the right track? Coming back here to Gotham, to be with her friends, to start anew like she'd always wanted? Finding comfort and joy in people who she'd actually grown to trust?

Her heart was swimming in what had to be happiness and excitement. Despite the last several weeks' worth of withdrawals, anxiety, and misery, things had started to feel different once Lora had told her she was willing to let Jess attend the academy. And being able to plan everything without her friends' knowledge, to surprise them (especially Damian) had just made everything that much better. All she'd looked forward to had been finishing her senior year in Gotham and being with people who made her feel… better. Of course she was laying there in bed, unable to fall asleep. She felt, for once, like she could breathe.

Signing, Jess reached for her phone and checked the time. It was past ten — something prompted her to text Damian and ask if he was awake.

Damian: Yes. Why?

Jess: just curious. i can't sleep

Damian: Why not?

Jess: i don't know. thinking about how things have worked out so well lately. it's kind of crazy. doesn't feel real in a way

Several minutes passed without another response, so Jess assumed he'd fallen asleep. She found herself scrolling through social media, hoping it would help her do the same. Her eyelids were growing heavy after a while, but as soon as she closed them for a moment, her phone vibrated.

Damian: Still awake?

Jess: kind of. i thought you fell asleep already

Damian: Not yet.

Damian: Come outside to the parking lot behind your dorm.

Jess: what? why? are you here?

Damian: Instead of asking all those questions, you can do as I say and you'll get your answers.

Jess: i don't need that attitude at this time of night

Damian: Bring a coat. It's raining.

Muttering under her breath, the brunette tossed away her covers and turned on the bedside lamp. She squinted at the sudden light and threw on a pair of sweats, a hoodie, and a light rain jacket before quietly exiting the dorm room. After locking it and heading downstairs, Jess pushed open the doors to a heavy downpour that would've instantly soaked her if it weren't for her coat. Good call, Dami. Her eyes strained to see through the darkness and sheet of rain before her — a pair of headlights approached until a familiar Aston Martin pulled up at the sidewalk. As quickly as possible, she headed towards the door and got in, her shoes already half-soaked.

Darkened green eyes were on Jess as she pulled back her hood, wet strands of hair clinging to her forehead, and glanced at him. Damian, compared to her, was completely dry (perks of having a garage, she supposed) and dressed in a gray sweater underneath a long raincoat.

"What are we doing?" she asked curiously while reaching for her seatbelt.

"What you said you've always wanted to do."

At first, she didn't quite understand, staring at him in confusion as he proceeded to drive, his gaze on the road ahead of them. But then she recalled what she'd told him earlier in the week, and once she grasped the situation, she found herself biting back a smile while sitting back in the seat.

Jess turned towards the window, taking in the nighttime view. Her eyes first took in the rain splattering against the glass but once they were further into Gotham, they were then gazing at the city lights rising hundreds of feet around them. The sky was a pitch black background, allowing the night life to remain vibrant and colorful. Neither of them spoke for a while; the radio was turned off, and the only sounds were the windshield wipers and splashes of water as Damian drove on through the rain.

To where, Jess didn't know, and in those moments, she didn't care either.

Their drive weaved through the city's winding streets and on its outskirts, allowing her to see parts of her new home she hadn't quite gotten to during the summer. There was the sporting dome complex, the concert center… She'd stared at Wayne Tower for a while when it'd risen into view, and part of her had wanted to ask Damian about it. But then, looking over, she'd seen that his eyes were still trained on the road — and the space between his brows was uninterrupted, the characteristic wrinkles gone. It was as if he found the drive to be peaceful, too, in the same way that she did.

"An entire city to look at on this drive, yet you choose to stare at me."

Jess nearly jumped at the way he briefly glanced at her, a knowing glint in his gaze, before looking ahead again.

Heat rising in her face, she scoffed and waved a hand. "Pfft. Don't flatter yourself," she retorted. "I wasn't staring at you. I just… I can't tell if you're bored out of your mind or actually enjoying this like I am."

To think she would've been better about being able to look at him without accusations of staring. Sheesh, he really was full of self-confidence, wasn't he?

"It's… much more tranquil than I'd expected."

A pause, then: "Is it what you expected?"

Damian was glancing at her, his face unreadable and occasionally illuminated by the street lights they passed. She couldn't immediately tell if he was being facetious and poking fun at her saying she'd always wanted to go on a night drive, but something told her he was being genuine.

"No."

She caught the slight, raised brow he gave her, but then she tossed him an impish smile, adding, "It's better."

That night, Jess dreamed of bright lights, thousands of them twinkling against an endless night that was trying to swallow them up. Despite the pressing blackness, the lights endured, pulsing and glowing with determination. As small as they were, scattered across the infinite, dark canvas, they were many… they still mattered, and that seemed to mean something. She could feel it as she watched them, enamored.

Curiously enough, she also dreamed of colors that danced between all those lights — well, no, they were shades, hues of the same color instead. It carried the brightness, offering safety from the darkness underneath, and she found she didn't want it to ever leave.

It was the prettiest green, glittering like emerald, hardened like diamond, but warm…

Like the way he made her feel.


Note: well, Jess definitely didn't last very long in Central City lol. but she's back in Gotham and maybe things will start looking up for her... we'll see o.O

thanks as always for the reviews, favorites, follows! i have a lot of things planned for the next few updates and have been trying to sort it all out in my brain, but i've also been insanely busy with work lately and just life in general. can you believe October is almost over? i could've sworn it just started a few days ago. (also, it snowed for the first time this past weekend but it didn't stick. idk about you guys, but I love winter... just not the cold lol. i grew up here in Alaska so i definitely associate it with the holiday season, and i love the holidays too but obviously everything is very different this year)

hope you're all doing well! until next time, xx