Note: mild lime ahead... AGAIN HAHA

*inserts content warning for suggestive themes again*

"Tell me why I get this feeling that you really wanna turn me on

Tell me why I get this feeling that you really wanna make me yours

'Cause I see you tryin', subliminally tryin'

To see if I'm gonna be the one to sing along

I admit it's exciting, parts of me kinda like it

But before I lead you on, tell me what's your motive?"

~ Ariana Grande, "motive"

Chapter 41: Honesty is (Sometimes) the Best Policy

There's a certain strength or power that comes with honesty, and it's not the kind that gives a pat on the back and makes one feel like they are a good person for being honest. That kind of internal reward or ego boost pales in comparison to what can really be done with the truth — so with the right amount of selfishness and just enough manipulation, the pieces will fall exactly where one desires.

And, in this case, when one man is losing control and another is desperate for it, the only choice either of them has is to fight for it.

Except no one said it would guarantee a winner.

"Damian… Calm down."

If there was anything that anyone in this entire family should have known above all else, it was that attempts to tell Damian Wayne to "calm down" or "relax" were often futile.

The only sound in the cave was the soft humming of the computer, one of the monitors displaying the very article that had driven a sharp wedge into the sliver of peace and contentment he'd been enjoying earlier in the night. He sat on the bench nearby, elbows on his knees and folded hands up to his face. Silent but obvious apprehension emanated from him as if the former assassin himself wasn't enough to contain it, spreading to the other two men in the vicinity.

Damian's heated gaze fell upon Tim, who stood with his arms crossed and his own eyes on nothing in particular across the cave.

"Does the PR firm not share every story written about our family with you? Do they not allow you to review them before they're published?"

"They sent a handful my way," Tim answered, exhaustion weighing down his shoulders and voice. He'd been woken up about ten minutes ago for this. "But not all of them are always willing to let us see the drafts."

"And this one in particular?"

Damian stood up and jabbed a finger at the screen. Jason's name might as well have been printed in bold and enlarged in the text.

"That one didn't make it to my inbox. I'm sure the team saw it, but we can't expect them to foresee something like Jess coming across it—"

The resounding bang of his fist against the desk might have caused other people to jump, yet his two brothers didn't even flinch. Tim glanced over at Jason, who was slouched in the computer chair, seemingly not paying attention… or not caring. He hadn't said a word since arriving at Damian's urgent beck and call, his blue-green eyes on the young man who was struggling to contain the irritation burning through him.

With a sigh, Tim offered, "Damian. These kinds of things are out of our control even if we do have one of the best PR teams in the nation. The only thing to do now is figure out what you're going to tell Jess. We can wait for Bruce to get back—"

"Fuck that."

Jason shook his head, and Damian couldn't help silently agreeing. He did not want to get his father involved for too many reasons to name.

Painting Jason's death as a lie or gossip would be difficult. Perhaps he could say it had been faked. It was an internet search away and archived in every piece of text published by too many news organizations and magazines to count, which could play to either version of the story. At best, if some crumb of truth needed to be preserved, he could confirm to Jess that his brother had died, and the rest could be fabricated. The story was already there: fifteen-year-old Jason Todd had traveled to the Middle East for his mother and been caught in an unfortunate warehouse explosion.

Yet explaining his resurrection would be an entire problem in itself. Damian's immediate feeling was that any mentions about the Lazarus Pits, the League, or any detail remotely related to his mother and his past were absolutely, irrevocably off-limits. There had to be another story he could tell, one that was believable.

What is "believable" about dying and being brought back to life? a voice asked in the back of his head.

"I'll just tell her the truth," Jason spoke up.

It was lightning quick, the way fiery green eyes snapped onto him with utter disbelief.

"Are you daft? Why the hell would you tell her the truth?"

"Are you daft?" Jason challenged, standing from the chair. "Have you even been keeping track of everything you've said, all the lies you've told her?"

Damian didn't answer right away, so the older man went on, "I'll tell her everything so that maybe, when she eventually finds out about your past and your secrets," he stuck a finger in Damian's chest for emphasis, "she'll find comfort in knowing at least one of us wasn't lying through our teeth."

"You have no right to decide that, Todd," the former assassin seethed.

"And you do? Why's that, Damian? Because you're her boyfriend or is it because you're Robin? Does that give you twice the authority or something? She doesn't even realize there's no fucking difference."

Emerald eyes blazed with resentment. Jason took advantage of Damian's enraged silence because that was what he always did. He was the kind of person who got in every word at every opportunity until he ran out of the energy to do so.

He leveled him with his own, cold glare. The two of them, equal in height and inches apart, and the opposing passion in their eyes were fire and ice, brewing a hazardous but unavoidable disaster they had created too many times before.

"Guys…"

Neither of them spared Tim a glance.

Jason continued through gritted teeth, "You need to get over yourself, demon spawn. For once, this isn't even about you. It's not even about Timmy, and that entire fuckin' story they wrote revolves around him. It's about me, and I say Jess knows the truth."

"You can't do that Jason," Tim urged from nearby.

The older man whipped around to glare at him. "And why the fuck not? Because you said so?"

Tim's glacier eyes flashed.

"Because we all know that when one of us is outed, that threatens everyone else. It was already risky with her finding out you're Red Hood in the first place; it's a risk that she even knows you exist at all."

As his brothers exchanged loaded words and frustrated glares, Damian remained where he stood. The last time he'd felt this way had been the day Jason had walked through the manor's front doors unannounced — his entire body was riddled with agitation, and something like panic or desperation had dried out his mouth.

Somehow, he needed to regain control.

"You can't tell her, Damian," Tim said quietly.

"Coming from the guy who's two seconds away from telling her about that little bracelet she wears."

Both Tim and Damian stared at Jason, whose mouth quirked up in a brash grin.

"What are you—?"

"I'm not that fuckin' stupid. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you're the brains who put that thing together because the only other person who could is the old man, and I'd be damned if he actually did something like that for the brat."

Damian stepped towards him, uncrossing his arms. "How do you know anything about my gift to her?"

Blue-green eyes stared him down. "I know enough."

Before he could muster a response, the other man was throwing his hands up and saying, "You know what? Okay then. Don't tell her the truth. What're you gonna say, O wise one?"

He didn't have the strength to snap at his brother because exhaustion was suddenly dragging in his bones. Several moments passed of them holding each other's gaze as the gears worked tirelessly away in his brain.

And that was when Damian suddenly wondered: Where were the talking points for a situation such as this?

About an hour ago

"Damian."

His name was a trembling whisper at her lips, barely making it through the panic beginning to settle in his shocked, cold nerves. He read the last sentence one more time, twice, three times, but it didn't matter because each pass still did not give him the answers he needed.

"Damian… What does—what does this mean?"

The phone slipped from his hand, and then he slowly stood from the bed. Something dark but familiar crept into his limbs, making Jess's voice sound too far away and amplifying his own uneven breaths in his ears.

Perhaps she'd said more, and if she had, it didn't make it past the high-pitched noise flooding his body. As calmly as possible, Damian walked over to his desk and gripped the edge with both hands, leaning his weight against it. He shut his eyes, taking a few moments before opening his mouth to speak.

"What did I tell you about my scars?"

There was a long pause, then: "N-nothing. You didn't tell me anything."

His absence of an answer forced her to rethink his question.

"You said you would tell me about them one day."

"Yes," he responded stiffly, opening his eyes but training his gaze on the wall before him. "And the same applies to what you read just now."

"Wait, what? But… but it's not even the same thing." The impatience was thick in her voice. She almost sounded on the verge of tears. "Did we even read the same article? It says Jason—"

"I know what it says."

It had taken too much control to keep from raising his voice. The waves of dismay and anger rolled off his body with strength he wouldn't be able to fight against for long.

"I don't understand—"

He finally straightened up to face her. "There are many things in this world that you do not understand, and there are many more you will never understand. This is one of them."

She stared at him before swallowing and telling him, "Try me."

"No. I can't."

"You can't or won't?"

"Jessica—"

"Come on, Damian. I just read that Jason… that he died when he was fifteen. Do you really expect me to just turn a blind eye to that?"

This was one of those moments in Damian's life during which anything he said could make or break the structure and control he tried so desperately to maintain. He turned his back on her again, unable to meet her gaze.

"Dami."

He bit his tongue, waiting and hoping she would say no more. Despite the leftover ringing in his ears, the sound of her retreating footsteps and then the guest room door closing awoke something in him. Fists tightening at his side, Damian made his way into the hall and knocked at her door. Part of him was unsure he wanted her to answer.

Moments later, she stood before him. Her eyes were shiny and slightly reddened; the way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and crossed her arms told him all he needed to know about what she was feeling.

In a low voice, Damian told her, "Come to bed with me."

Jess's brows knitted together, bewildered or even offended at his request.

"Come to bed with me," he tried again, taking her face between his hands (and hoping they didn't tremble), "and you will know everything tomorrow."

Hesitation lingered in hazel eyes that flickered between his and at the mouth that struggled to voice a decision.

His next words sealed the deal:

"I promise."

The next day

She couldn't have explained how she'd managed to fall asleep so quickly after last night. Thoughts about Jason and those blood-chilling words in the online article had swam around in her head for a little while as she laid next to Damian, but somehow sleep had taken her sooner than expected. And in the following morning, Jess had watched him act normally but not without an edge of stress in everything he said and did. After kissing the top of her cheek in goodbye, he hadn't looked at her, driving away from the arena when all she wanted to do was skip practice and tell him to talk to her.

His eyes found more interesting things to look at as the day dragged on until Jason finally showed up, right when Jess's patience had begun wearing thin — and it had already been fragile since the previous night. Sick of busying herself for hours with social media, texting Misty and friends, and more Arabic translation books, the teen had to fight the growing curiosity as the three of them sat down in the library.

The door was closed, and she found herself staring a little at the older man sitting across from her. Her gaze roamed over the disheveled hair, the mysterious glint in the blue-green eyes, the ruggedness of his jacket and jeans.

What was someone who'd died once supposed to look like?

"Take a picture. It'll last longer."

Heat flushed her cheeks at his remark, and she turned away to see Damian settling himself on the couch beside her. His obvious unease was marked by the stiffness in his shoulders and the wrinkles between his brows. She had to ignore the desire to run her fingers over them.

Jason sighed and sat back in the recliner. He seemed visibly less tense than his brother did, but Jess spotted the way his fingers fiddled with the zipper of his jacket.

"I'm sure you can guess what you're doing here, but I'm gonna keep it short. Little D and I decided we would give you an explanation, and…" The edge of his mouth quirked. "Then we can go back to normal."

She stayed quiet, eyes darting between the two brothers. 'Normal'...

"Anything you need to get off your chest before I start?" he asked, directing an intrigued gaze towards Damian.

She knew what he was like when he was upset. He made his thoughts and feelings clear, known to everyone who needed to hear them. Oftentimes, he said things without thinking and without restraint, maybe regretting them later. Yet at this point in time, as he sat with his elbows on his knees and staring blankly at the thick rug beneath their feet, Damian did not move or speak.

So Jason went ahead and told his story.

His death had been a lie. As Bruce's son — "ward," Jason was quick to correct himself — he'd been targeted by people with Bruce in their crosshairs for reasons Jason didn't name. The trip to the Middle East had been a ruse and so was the supposed explosion that killed him. All along, it had been meant to throw off those dangerous people, making them think they'd done their job.

"They had to think they'd constructed a tragedy for Bruce Wayne to suffer through," Jason explained with a little too much acidity in his voice, "and I'd say he played the part of a guilt-ridden, grieving father pretty well."

But Jess missed it, far too engrossed in what he was telling her to notice.

Faking Jason's death was done by a means that only a Wayne's money could buy, and it had been the "only option" they had, apparently. As someone who was as rich and well-known as he was, Bruce was bound to run into people grasping at him for a plethora of reasons, including but not limited to trying to bribe him by kidnapping his ward. Since then, Jason had been living through various aliases with only his family knowing this secret. To the outside world, Jason Todd was six feet under though he walked above ground among ordinary people without any of them having a single clue.

Jess hadn't moved from her cross-legged position and neither had Damian. In fact, she didn't think his gaze had budged from the rug.

In a world like theirs, she knew she didn't have much choice but to believe what she'd just been told. It should have come as no surprise that out there, someone would want to go after Bruce Wayne, even the ones close to him, and that someone like Bruce had the means, the money, the connections to go as far as faking a death.

"You were okay with that? Just pretending to die at fifteen and then actually live the rest of your life… in the shadows?"

Jason shrugged. "Honestly, it seemed like a really cool idea to teenage Jason at the time. It was like I could just become a whole other person after that."

But why would Bruce go along with pretending he'd died? It didn't make sense to Jess, yet when she asked, Jason only said that the circumstances had called for it.

"So… I'm the only person outside of your family who knows?"

"No."

Damian glanced up at his brother then, the first motion he'd made in several minutes.

Jason only shrugged and added, "I'd say you're part of the family, so technically, no. But yeah, you're probably the first person we've told in years."

Her chest felt oddly tight, and suddenly Jess was flustered again. Maybe Damian felt her gaze on him, but if he did, he didn't react or look towards her.

After a steady breath, she asked, "Why did you decide to tell me?"

"Well, we didn't exactly foresee the part where you'd read about my death online."

"I guess I didn't think this would require a… meeting," she suddenly admitted, spinning one of the rings on her fingers.

"Don't look at me. It was little bro's idea," Jason answered, nodding towards the younger man. "Because you should know the truth. Don't you agree, Damian?"

Damian didn't answer. His jaw worked in obvious frustration, also made clear in the clasped hands turning into fists. Before Jess could reach out to touch him, he stood abruptly from the couch and left the library.

Glancing over at Jason, she asked, "What did you say?"

"What do you mean? You heard what I just said."

"Well, obviously you meant something by it," she urged and gestured towards the doorway.

"Relax. I just told him something he already knows." Jason stood and readjusted his jacket. "I've got somewhere to be. Now that you're in the loop and all, don't be giving me weird looks, alright?"

She didn't say anything, watching as he gave her a once-over and walked off. How was it that the man seemed so casual about this? He'd practically been eager to tell her about how he'd "died" and been given a second life. As jarring as it was, his behavior somehow made things a bit less strenuous, Jess had to admit. If he didn't seem too worried about it, neither should she. But on the other hand…

As expected, Damian was at his window, arms crossed with his back to her. Slowly, she approached him, searching for the right words to say.

"Hey... I could tell this was really hard on you," she began softly, "and even though I might not understand exactly why… I, um, I want you to know I do appreciate you telling me."

Damian turned his head to the side though he wasn't quite looking at her, prompting her to kiss the back of his shoulder through the thin sweater. She couldn't exactly read how he was feeling, so the teen could only hope that her words brought a little bit of comfort.

"And nothing about any of that changes what I think of you and your family, you know. If anything… maybe I understand you guys a little more."

Especially you and Jason.

Her guess was that his older brother's unconventional past might have something to do with his journey as Red Hood and as a metaphorical ghost in their family. Maybe it played into Damian's relationship with him beyond what had happened years ago with Irene.

The reigning silence filled her ears and chest. Moments later, Damian turned to face her. Emerald greens stared at her so intensely, they made Jess look away and down to his chest. She was considering something else to say when warm fingers slipped behind her neck. His mouth was against hers in an instant, startling her from the anxiety that had begun to settle in her stomach.

In the one and only pause between never-ending kisses, he pushed back the strands of hair framing her face, analyzing her as if he was searching for something. A question, or maybe something else entirely, formed at the back of her throat, but he hardly gave it a chance. She didn't know how many moments passed, not when everything became swept up in the blur of warm cologne and relentless lips. Somewhere in there, her hoodie got lost, replaced by rough hands and jeweled, wandering eyes that ignited her skin.

It felt like he was telling her something without the burden of shaky words, and Jess was convinced she was hearing him loud and clear.

But between the two, only one of them knew there was a reason he wasn't saying anything at all.

After almost a month of staying at the Wayne Manor, she'd pretty much forgotten what it was like to sleep in her own bed. If it weren't for the fact that she had made a few trips back to the dorm to swap out clothes or grab other things, Jess probably would have forgotten what it looked like, too. She could be inattentive at some times, not remembering where she'd left her phone or what day it was, but she always could recall the important stuff. Even at the worst (or best) moments, her memory would kick in like it was part of her survival instinct.

And it had felt quite similar to that when Damian had moved to open the desk drawer. She'd asked him to help her find a stash of extra hair ties after bringing all her stuff back to the dorm, not having had any luck in her bedside table or in the bathroom. Maybe if her back had been turned, he would have ended up opening the drawer, but the teen had seen his hand reaching for it in the corner of her eye. Realization had hit her upside the head with frightening alarm, and so she reacted without thinking.

Green eyes filled with perplexity stared at Jess as she stood in front of the drawer, hands behind her as if to protect it. (Part of her knew she probably looked a little crazy suddenly telling him "No, don't look in there," and putting herself between him and the desk.)

Stepping back and crossing his arms, Damian asked bluntly, "Why not?"

She didn't answer right away, scrambling for an excuse. There was no way she was prepared to explain the little bag that had been sitting there for over a month now. Her heart thumped wildly against her rib cage like a timer counting down each second that made her look more and more suspicious.

"Jessica."

Damian's narrowed gaze bore into her, but she couldn't help avoiding it. Taking a deep breath, Jess opened the drawer behind her, staring at the floor, and stuck her hand in it to find something, anything that could save her from this unfortunate situation.

Her nervous fingers came across what felt like a small box… Huh. Funnily enough, the teen definitely hadn't remembered this had been there.

Her pumping blood was loud in her ears as she held up the opened box of condoms between her and Damian, whose leery gaze faltered upon seeing them. He might have been very good at concealing his reactions and emotions, but Jess caught the brief incredulity on his face and how it quickly morphed into confusion. Green irises flickered from the box to her, twice, like he was trying to understand why she had the contraceptives and why she had hidden them… or why she was showing them to him.

"I… do not understand."

His voice was calm though the remaining wrinkles between his brows suggested otherwise.

Jess cleared her throat, shifting on her feet. "I actually forgot I had these until now, and… I don't know. Guess I didn't want you to find them."

The questioning was still there in his eyes, but truth be told, she didn't know the answer herself. Even if the stardust hadn't been in this drawer and she had remembered this box had been thrown in with the other miscellaneous crap, would she still have stopped him? Would it be true that she didn't want him to come across it?

And then she found herself talking, thoughts coming unburied despite the fact that this entire thing had been improvised.

"Honestly, I should've thrown these away," she began quietly, gesturing with the box. "They're Kade's, after all… and seeing them, just the thought of these belonging to him kind of makes me sick.

"I considered giving them back, you know. When I was still so angry and upset… there was a part of me that wanted to be petty, to hurt him one last time, to hand him the box, look him in the eye and say, 'Sorry, there's a few missing, Damian and I hope you don't mind.' I wanted to see what kind of look he'd give me, if it would sting the way I needed it to. And maybe if I felt gutsy enough, I would add 'See if you and Olivia could put them to use… as friends.'

"On the other hand, another part of me knew I wouldn't be able to face him, so I should just write all of that on a note and give it along with the box."

Just when she thought she'd finally finished her lengthy thought, Jess concluded, "But I've decided to keep them because I'd rather just be over it, and it'd be a waste to throw them away."

Damian didn't speak for a long, long moment. His gaze was on the box, and suddenly, she wanted to shove it right back into the drawer. Did he think everything she'd said was stupid? Was he just processing this new information about her ex-boyfriend that she'd never told him before?

Using the condoms as a reason to keep him away from the drawer might have simply been quick thinking, but everything following was true. Yes, she'd experienced moments when she wanted revenge. Yes, at one point, all she'd wanted was to get the last word in and make it as petty and trivial as possible. But those days mostly felt ages ago, and thinking about them only made her heart pang with discomfort.

"That was your desire?" Damian then asked, looking up at her with unreadable eyes. "To use the protection belonging to him… with me?"

Her gut twisted.

Jess shook her head before answering softly, "It might have been back then because it seemed like the perfect kind of payback. But now..."

He didn't say anything, so she took the brief pause to toss the box onto the desk and take one of his hands in both of hers.

"But now, that's not what I want. The last thing we should ever do together, whatever it is…"

She had to stop and take a steady breath, fully aware that his scrutinizing gaze was contributing to her pounding heart. The encouraging squeeze his hand gave eased the nerves a little bit.

"I don't want anything we do to be about anyone but us, Damian. No matter what. Nothing can ever be about someone else let alone him."

His free hand reached to ghost the back of his fingers across her cheek. "I understand, beloved, and I completely agree," he murmured.

"You and me," she then said, causing the corner of his mouth to lift in a sort of knowing grin.

"You and me," he echoed.

When he kissed her, she tugged at him until the edge of the desk hit the back of her legs. Jess hoisted herself up without hesitation, shifting her knees apart so he could stand between them. The second his fingers brushed bare skin under her sweater, a small fire flared in her gut. Soon the piece of clothing was over her head and somewhere on the floor, just like the other day after Jason had come to the manor. Impatience fed the desire coursing through her veins; Jess pushed up the hem of his shirt, and soon it joined her sweater a few feet away.

The desk didn't feel right anymore. Scooting off, she planted her hands against his bare chest and forced him back onto her bed. Darkened, emerald eyes watched as Jess swung her legs over him, hair falling in a brunette curtain over one shoulder while she bent down to kiss him.

Their bodies moved in hopes that the clothing between their hips would eventually be grinded away. Despite how invested her entire mind and body were in this heated moment, a familiar ringtone suddenly pierced through.

"I swear everyone has the worst timing," she muttered.

"Ignore it," Damian suggested before placing a firm kiss in the slope of her neck.

"It's probably Misty, wondering where I am."

"We will leave shortly. We won't be late."

She only grumbled something incoherent, and then he was turning her face towards his for another kiss. The fiery yearning was still alive between her legs, and it was far too easy to get sucked back into their irresistible play. It wasn't until her phone started ringing again that Jess realized ignoring her friend was no longer an option. If she knew Misty at all, spammed text messages would follow unanswered calls.

"Hullo?" she said, phone pressed to her ear after having laid down next to Damian.

"Hey, I wanted to ask if you've seen that new lipstick I bought. I freaking lost it already."

Damian was rolling off his back and maneuvering himself on top of her. Immediately, she shot him a "Don't you dare" kind of look, but the only response he gave was a glint in his eye that sent tingles through her abdomen.

"Uh, which one is that again?"

His mouth planted careful kisses from the bottom of her throat and down her chest. Strands of his black hair tickled her chin as her free hand went to stop him — his fingers closed around her wrist and held it captive while he continued on. Jess was practically helpless as his lips navigated down the middle of her bra, over her bellybutton...

"It's the mauve one I got when we went shopping before break. I was planning on wearing it tonight—"

Her friend's voice faded from existence the lower Damian's mouth went. With one hand pinned and both legs locked under his arms, Jess had no choice but to watch him and the attractive curve of his bare shoulders and back. Steadying himself on the bed with his other hand, he kissed the skin above her jeans.

And then his teeth latched onto the waistband, undoing the button with ease. Damian glanced up at her, something like smugness glimmering in his wicked, green eyes.

Oh, fuck.

"Y-yeah, sure, I'll look for it," Jess stuttered breathlessly. "Listen, we'll be there soon, but I gotta go—"

His teeth closed tenderly on the skin at her waist this time, eliciting a noiseless gasp from her. She really had to hang up now. Sparks were running all through her insides, and her heart was thumping in her chest. There was no chance she could keep quiet if she stayed on the call. Maybe Misty had said something, maybe she didn't, but Jess did not care. Her phone fell to the bed as she turned her full attention back onto Damian and reached for him.

He wasn't resisting now; his faint smirk hovered above her face while her hands encircled his neck.

"It is absolutely unfair for you to do that when we have somewhere to be," she tried to scold him. "That was payback for what happened on New Year's Eve, huh?"

"That is one reason," Damian confessed. "The other is that I simply enjoy having this effect on you."

Jess's brows rose. "You mean torturing me?"

"Is that what you call it?"

"Oh, definitely."

His eyes traveled down to her lips. "We have to leave now if we're to make it to the theater on time."

"You'd have to stop looking at me like that first."

She almost regretted saying that when he obeyed and moved to sit at the edge of the bed. Her eyes strayed over the scars lining his back, and briefly, the teen wondered when he would ever open up to her about them. His arms were halfway through his shirt sleeves when Jess sat up and hugged him from behind, kissing his warm cheek.

"You're so punctual, but is there anything at all that would make you late?" she wondered aloud. "Nothing like a car accident, of course, but… something… in your control."

"Jessica…"

Arms still around his bare torso, she rested her chin on his shoulder and continued, "I paid for our tickets and wouldn't care if we were late or didn't go at all..."

He glanced sideways at her and said nothing, the emerald glower a threat alone.

"Fine, fine. Put your shirt on and stop glaring at me before I change my mind."

"Why must you continue wearing these kinds of outfits if all you do is fuss about the cold weather once you step outside?"

"Because they're nice and appropriate for the occasion. Besides, I'm wearing this indoors and I'm out in the cold for only a few minutes."

"So you are complaining just to complain."

"Are you complaining about something?"

Jess did her best to ignore the nervous tingles as his gaze roamed over her body, taking in the sparkly black, two-piece outfit that hugged her skin and exposed inches of her midriff. Her shoulders and legs were bare, and the emerald greens seemed to linger at her hips beneath the mini skirt. It was such a simple, three-second gesture, but she doubted she'd ever get used to the way his stares made her feel.

"Quite the contrary," Damian answered coolly before turning to the mirror and adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of his button-up.

The strappy heels boosted her up a few inches closer to his height, but she was still able to face the mirror as well and lay her head on his shoulder. Something about seeing herself next to him was odd, like one of them didn't quite belong. Maybe she was just biased or insecure (or both) — she looked like an ordinary young adult, dressing up to attend a back-to-school party, while Damian was straight out of a high-fashion photoshoot. Soon, he was looking at her reflection and asking if she was ready.

Jess straightened up and turned to face him while reaching for one of his hands. She traced her fingers along the veins beneath the black bracelet and watch decorating his wrists; perhaps touching him would calm the faint anxiety beginning to stir.

He must have read her mind because he was calling her name to say, "Are you certain you still want to do this?"

Was she certain she wanted to go to this club and most likely have her peers discover that she and Damian were no longer just best friends?

The answer was yes… because what she had said before was still true. There would be no shame in being with him, not on her part, even if it came at the expense of her so-called reputation at the academy, maybe even beyond high school. Besides, she'd faced those rumors with Kade once before — she'd be able to handle it again, right?

Misty greeted them at the club entrance with a lively "Well, hello, lovebirds," decked out in a bold purple ensemble. (Jess hadn't found the lipstick she'd asked for; it turned out her friend had lost it in her own backpack). She handed Jess a drink and led the two of them to the large, circular booth that their friends had claimed in the back. The establishment was as busy as ever, the bass vibrating their bones and young adults laughing and dancing beneath colorful lights. It didn't take long to settle into the jovial setting as she caught up with the people she hadn't seen since last semester, Damian always hovering nearby.

"In random and unexpected news, Quinn and Zach's cousins are at the academy for the semester," Misty told her before sipping her virgin cocktail. "They're both seniors."

"They have to finish their last semester at a new school? That sucks," Jess lamented.

"Yeah, they're both from NYC, but I guess their dad got a fancy new job here. Quinn said they're like drugs — you have to handle them one at a time."

"Is that any way to introduce me to your friends, Misty?"

As if on cue, someone appeared at Misty's shoulder, earning an eye-roll from the younger teen. The girl in question stood out from the club guests in a neon green dress, and her black braids that were partially dyed a dark red fell to her waist. The gold of her dangling earrings matched the septum piercing, but neither piece of jewelry was as charming as the smile she gave while sweeping a glance over the group of young adults.

"I would've thought that was Quinn or Zach's job," Misty answered before glancing at Jess.

At the other end of the booth, Quinn shrugged, clearly too bothered to care. "Yeah, well, Kira, that's Jess and—"

Kira's lined eyes narrowed in thoughtfulness as they landed on Jess, who had been preparing to greet her and potentially shake her hand. Straightening where she stood, she pointed a finger at her with a suspicious glimmer in her gaze.

"Wait. You're the girl that dated the cute blond until you had a pretty bad break-up," she said, "because supposedly you were two-timing him… or so they say."

Jess felt the smile fall from her face, and briefly, she contemplated what she could say in return. Misty was coughing into her cocktail, and Quinn might have been sighing in the corner of her eye. But then the newcomer was looking at Damian, something changing in her dark eyes that swept over his tall figure from head to toe. He hadn't said much since their arrival, and this situation was proving no different.

"And you… You're the one they say she cheated with and broke the blond's nose."

If she knew him at all, Damian was trying to remain civil and polite as his gaze narrowed by a millimeter.

"My name is Damian—"

"Damian Wayne." She raised a brow and gave a chuckle. "I know you who you are," she scoffed, splitting an intrigued glance between him and Jess. "The new girl from Central City and the hot son of an equally hot billionaire."

Kira shrugged at the look on Jess's face and added casually, "I do my homework. You two seem like an unlikely pair, but… I like it. Yin and yang, sun and moon type of shit, hm?"

"I fail to see how our relationship requires your approval."

"Oh, so you are dating."

Jess watched as Damian appeared to pause, scrambling for a response, but then the teen was laughing and waving a hand dismissively.

"Relax, billionaire boy. I'm not here to pass judgment — just my classes so I can finally fucking graduate. And I get the feeling you couldn't give a damn anyway. I think we could all learn from you."

Kira made her exit, raising her drink in the air and leaving Jess to exchange glances with the others and then Damian, whose face was unreadable. Misty muttered something beside her, but she didn't catch it.

Turning to Quinn, Jess asked, "Should we be worried about her?"

The other girl shook her head. "Kira is the type to collect gossip, not spread it. I mean, she's super nosy but… if it's your relationship you're worried about, I'm sure other people will hear about you guys one way or another."

Jess wasn't sure she could disagree. She and Damian had already gotten a few speculative and curious stares from people she recognized in the club, particularly when they were close or touching one another. Not even paparazzi had intercepted them yet in public, but here they were, among a horde of high schoolers that ate up these things as if they thrived off it all. At her side, Damian was gazing at her with an unreadable expression. While she reached to squeeze his hand, she felt Misty's hand on her elbow.

"Sorry, Wayne, I'm stealing your girlfriend for a little bit."

Damian simply shook his head in mock disappointment as Jess shot him a cheesy grin and allowed her friend to pull her through the crowd.

As the night went on, he didn't seem to be running short on lingering stares. Maybe at another time, when she wasn't fueled by a bit of alcohol, good music, and a desperate need to have fun, she wouldn't have been so daring. It wasn't to say his attention wasn't making a small part of her want to shy away and turn as red as the colored lights; her skin was definitely just a little bit tingly under the gaze that she could feel from where he stood. But Jess hung on to the adrenaline as she danced with her friends, too caught up in the boisterous climate to consider being modest.

With Quinn behind her, arms over her shoulders, Jess made every effort to avoid looking in his direction. There was nothing new about the way they danced on each other, comfortably and without restraint, but this was the first time she'd ever dared to do everything intentionally, letting her body against her friends' do the talking.

"Jesus, girl, he's never gonna blink!"

At Misty's comment, Jess couldn't help it and glanced up, seeing that Damian's gaze was indeed on her. Despite getting caught, he didn't even look away.

Jess laughed in guilt (and some embarrassment), "I didn't think you would notice!"

Misty rolled her eyes. "Well, I saw you glance at him once, and… Jess, I may be a virgin, but I see what's happening here, and you should probably rest for a second or his eyes will go dry."

Her friend wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and added, "It's hot though."

"What are you talking about?" Quinn asked, practically shouting in Jess's ear.

"Nothing—"

"Damian is totally getting turned on watching her with us."

"Misty! He is not." Jess felt heat rising in her face as she laughed and insisted, "He could be just wondering why we dance so suggestively with each other. You know he isn't used to this… scene."

Misty shook her finger while sipping from her drink then answered, "No, no, he's definitely watching because he's jealous and/or he likes how you move."

Quinn only grinned and maneuvered around Jess to get a better look at her. "Are you trying to get laid tonight?"

"No, what the hell?" Jess protested between her friends' teases and laughter, though she wasn't the slightest bit offended. But then she found herself saying, "Not tonight specifically, but in general, yes."

Misty's eyes widened in shock, pausing in her dancing. "You haven't done it yet?"

"I'm just as surprised as you are," Jess admitted with a sheepish grin.

"Honestly, when you told us you guys had gotten all cozy, I assumed you did already," Quinn said from behind her.

"It'll happen when it happens."

"Have you at least seen him shirtless?"

"Why yes, I have."

It was almost reflexive how she looked in Damian's direction again. He was listening to something Zach was saying, so his gaze was off in the distance on nothing in particular. (She'd found a while ago that she was glad Quinn's twin brother was someone he didn't mind conversing with, especially when she was occupied with her own friends.)

"And before you ask: yes, he's very nice to look at," Jess quipped with an eye roll.

She decided to give them a quick rundown of the events from the afternoon, not diving into too many details about what had transpired on her bed. But there was no point in leaving out the part about his undoing of her pants with his teeth while pinning her down — or the fact that he'd done it while she was preoccupied.

Misty shoved her playfully as she exclaimed, "Holy shit, that's why you hung up so fast on me, isn't it?!"

The three of them cracked up, and then Quinn was jumping up and down in excitement and saying, "Wait, wait, wait! I bet we could make him wish he was me or Misty while we dance."

"Whoa, okay, we don't have to make this a thing, you know." The giggle that escaped from Jess betrayed her weak attempt to seem serious. "I was just messing around and having a little fun. Whatever you guys are trying to do is a dangerous game."

"Dude, you're the one playing it, and as your wing-women, we're just trying to help you win."

She saw the mischief in both girls' eyes then groaned dramatically, looking up at the ceiling. "I'm gonna need another drink for this."

"Good, 'cause I could go for one, too!" Misty proclaimed, prompting Quinn to tug the two through the bodies jumping up and down around them.

Her chances of changing their minds were slim, that much Jess knew… But she didn't really want to anyway because she was just a little bit curious and almost eager to comply with their suggestion. Being deliberate with their good time did seem like a dangerous idea — in the most intriguing and thrilling way.

The purpose of their night was to let loose and have fun, wasn't it?

"I fully expect you to grind on me when a good song comes on."

"Ha! Tough luck," Jess snorted as they weaved through dancing bodies. "I would need to be drunk to even think about doing that in front of him."

Not that she hadn't done it before while partying with them. The difference was that Damian had never been around to see it, and the mere thought of changing that fact here tonight was nothing short of embarrassing.

"I'm only sort of kidding," Misty responded nonchalantly. "Still buying you a shot though."

"Really? Color me surprised."

According to Jess, it took more than a few drinks to reach her limit, though perhaps the few mixed beverages she'd consumed more or less contributed to her candid behavior for the rest of their night. From where he sat at the end of the circular booth, Damian watched as she and her friends shouted the words to a hip-hop song, slinging their arms around each other and caught in a wave of club patrons that jumped up and down to the heartbeat of the music. If he looked closely enough, her skin appeared dewy beneath the flashing lights and brown locks were tangled over her bare shoulders. Although she wasn't quite drunk yet, there was a particular freedom and ease with which she carried herself, and it was captivating. Damian couldn't have torn his eyes away if he actually wanted to.

He'd seen her like this with her friends before, yet certainly there had been a layer of inhibition peeled back this time. Something about her hips being sandwiched between theirs made his limbs itch. One glance away and he would have missed the short second Jess met his eyes, beaming at him before laughing at something Misty said. Every movement to the rap lyrics was carved from provocativeness — How was he supposed to feel about them dancing in what could only be described as an intimate, three-person-layered hug? — a complete contrast to the chaste, slow dancing he'd witnessed during his father's engagement party.

If he didn't know any better, he'd believe she was simply having a good time and nothing more.

Eventually, Jess was collapsing into his lap and reaching for the pitcher of water on the table. A whiff of lavender greeted his senses. "Pretty sure my feet will be killing me tomorrow," she huffed.

He waited until she'd put the glass down to lean towards her ear and say, "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"I am. Are you?"

The innocence in her gaze was thinner than the few inches of warm space separating them. Yet his statement hadn't been all that harmless either.

Instead of answering her question, Damian casually asked his own: "Am I no longer the only one who is allowed to touch you the way your friends have been?"

A knowing grin broke through her veil of chastity as Jess leaned forward until their noses touched.

"Hal 'ant ghaywr?"

His heart stuttered within his chest.

The fact that her pronunciation still needed some work was meaningless when she'd had the audacity, as attractive as it was, to ask if he was jealous in Arabic.

An image of Quinn hugging her around the waist with their bodies in unison flashed in his mind's eye.

"Na'am," he confirmed, attempting to ignore the pressing heat in his leg where she sat.

Jess leaned back to examine him, the cheeky smile on her face unwavering. It was almost as if she knew something he didn't.

He was considering a witty remark when the hairs on the back of his neck rose, prompting Damian to look up and right into a pair of familiar eyes that instantly sent his blood boiling:

Kade Noor had hardly taken a few steps into the building, his gaze falling on the sight that was Jess and Damian. The former assassin knew, with her still in his lap, that they appeared much too close to be the mere best friends the blond had once thought they were (though he'd certainly accused Jess of otherwise)… and in that moment, Damian saw the opportunity before him, spurred by an overwhelming, protective urge.

"There was a part of me that wanted to be petty, to hurt him one last time, to hand him the box, look him in the eye…"

Just as Jess got to her feet, saying something about going to the bathroom, Damian swiftly grabbed her hips and pulled her back down onto his leg. She had no time to react in the split second that he turned her face towards his and kissed her. Despite their lively surroundings and the sensations chasing through him, he could feel the icy, gray-blue stare from across the club. Jess pulled back to stare at him, wide and slightly intoxicated eyes sparkling in the lights.

"Um, wow. What was that for?"

"Consider it a reminder of what I can do that no one else can," he lied smoothly, though the statement rang true to a certain degree — one she didn't know about.

"Aw, you're cute when you're jealous," she teased before kissing his cheek and taking off.

That was when he looked up and met Kade's gaze again, which was, as he had expected, still on him. Upon eye contact, the blond appeared to clench his jaw in discomfort, and Damian held the stare.

Kade was the first to look away, moving quickly to disappear into the crowd.

Jason was used to calculated risks as much as he was used to reckless ones, but he couldn't say he preferred one over the other. The fact that he'd made plenty of both over the last decade or so didn't make this any easier though. No, this situation in particular was very much calculated while it felt reckless — kinda like a night of too much deliberate alcohol consumption.

And funnily enough, the former Robin really wanted to go for a drink right now.

Despite his jacket and gloves, the night chill cut through the material and made him briefly wish he'd chosen a better spot for this late… "discussion." His breaths were visible as he met the hazel eyes watching him from beneath the knitted beanie, wondering when he was going to speak and about what. The tip of her nose was already reddened from the cold.

It hadn't taken much to get her to leave the dorm. A cryptic text message from a blocked number, and she'd met him within minutes.

You still don't know the whole truth. Rooftop in 5. - J

And then the first thing out of his mouth had been: "I was killed by the Joker."

He hadn't known what to expect, how she would react, but all Jess had done was stand there, staring at him as he went on to recount the most tumultuous experience he had ever endured on this damned planet.

Jason had once been Robin; he'd been the second one, two before the one that ran around Gotham's streets today. Joker had captured and beaten him with a crowbar, then left him behind to die — in an explosion, sure, but not the one that people had read about in newspapers.

How was he alive… again? Well, Jess knew about something called the Lazarus Pit now. She knew about its incredible, restorative properties, that it was the kind of thing mankind would, ironically, kill for, that it was the beginning of a journey he was still treading under the red helmet she'd seen him wear a handful of times. She knew that it was true Jason Todd had once died, his death certificate was real, and he walked this Earth as a once-dead man with many identities, depending on which passport or ID he used.

Jess now heard more than what he had ever told her in that living room with his brother nearby... because Jason needed her to.

"W-why would you tell me all of this?"

Because it's the only way.

Huffing a sigh and watching it in the air between them, Jason examined the way she was looking at him. From what he could tell, the teenager wasn't afraid. She was simply confused, her brows wrinkled together as she trembled in the cold beneath her jacket.

"Look, Jess. Everyone's got skeletons in their closet. You've got them, I've got them," he began. "Damian didn't want to tell you any of this, so don't blame him, but I made that decision for myself 'cause it's my secret."

"He's going to be upset with you."

"When isn't he?"

She glanced out into the darkness, Gotham's downtown sparkling a few miles south from the academy's grounds.

"If all of this was going to create such a problem with your family, between you and Damian… I was probably better off not knowing any of what you just told me," Jess said carefully. "It was obviously a pretty sensitive subject."

He scoffed. "So you would have been fine reading that I died when I was fifteen and never being told why? You're telling me you would have just accepted that with no explanation or clues whatsoever as to how I'm standing here talking to you?"

Her silence proved his point.

Jason was contemplating his next words when she spoke again while walking towards the edge of the roof, her boots crunching on the snow.

"I already know this world is full of crazy things that seem impossible. A superhero who can bend steel and shoot laser beams from his eyes, another one who runs faster than you can blink… Alien invasions, mad scientists…"

The teen chuckled, glancing at him. Her eyes shone with the city's distant lights. "Hell, I can manipulate living things, give them life or—or damage them… I could make you go blind right now if I wanted to.

"But a pool of green stuff that can give you immortality? That is absolutely insane."

The two of them shared a laugh, and Jason shook his head. "I really thought you were going somewhere philosophical with that."

And then the familiar voice of a woman was echoing in the back of his head, reminding him why he was standing there with his brother's beloved girlfriend and best friend. It was immediate, how the grin fell from his face as he prepared himself for the real calculated risk he was there for.

Because telling her the truth had only been a small piece of it.

If speaking about his death hadn't garnered any reaction from the teen, this next news certainly did. There was nothing shocking about the way the anxiety and hysteria took visible shape on her face and in her restless stance. He hadn't even completely explained it all by the time she was interrupting him, but the man couldn't blame her. How else would a mere kid like her react to hearing that Gotham's criminal underworld was on the hunt for her?

"I knew this was going to happen," Jess urged, stepping towards him with alarm written plainly across her face. "I knew that shit was going to catch up to me eventually."

Jason reached for her arm as she began pacing, but she shoved his grip away in annoyance. "They don't know anything yet," he reassured her. "The rumors are just about a teenage girl who has 'magic hands.' That's it."

"Okay? And how long until they find my name? My face? How long until they discover where I go to school and… the people I care about?"

Now, she'd stopped in her pacing, closing her eyes and seemingly muttering something under breath that he couldn't hear. She was saying it over and over like some sort of calming mantra. When she opened her eyes after several moments, they were reddened and shiny with unspilled tears. Something in Jason's chest twisted as he watched her take a long, deep breath, not looking at him.

"She must learn to trust you."

Fighting past the invisible plug in his throat, he told her quietly, "I have contacts that are working to delay that. They can spread false details to disrupt the information flow and keep people off your trail."

Then he added, "No one will touch you."

Jess finally met his eyes, puzzlement tainting her worried gaze, and he already knew what she was thinking.

"I failed to keep someone and her dad safe for Damian once. I'm not gonna let that happen again."

"... Irene."

He only nodded, which prompted her to sniffle and say, "Jason, you can't promise to keep me safe because if you do fail again…"

She didn't have to finish her sentence, but it was enough for the former Robin to understand.

If something did happen to Jess on his watch, then Damian would never speak to him again. Even if his brother hadn't asked him to do it, even if he was completely unaware… If the little demon brat found out that Jason had made some sort of undisclosed promise to protect her and couldn't keep it, he would have one less brother. The mere fact that Jason had been involved was already writing his death sentence.

Second time could be the charm?

"Whoever is looking for me… what do you think they want? My powers?"

"That's my best guess."

Jason gave an exasperated sigh, suddenly in desperate need of a warm bed. Tiny snowflakes were falling from the dark sky now, melting immediately on impact upon their surroundings and clothes.

He told her, "I'll tell you what I find out, alright? I have eyes and ears everywhere around this place, so whatever bastard is tracking you down, he won't make two steps without me being right there."

"No."

The single word put him off. His brows rose in disbelief; had he heard her correctly?

Jess faced him, an endearing and admirable sort of determination hardening her eyes and jaw. "You have to let me help you." She ignored him opening his mouth to speak and continued, "If you have to go out and rough up some guys or sneak into some place for info, I want in."

"And why the hell would I—?"

"Because they're looking for me," she cut in sharply. "I can't just sit on my hands, and don't take this the wrong way, but you can't protect me on your own… I have to be able to protect myself, too."

Before tonight, he'd thought up a thousand things she might say in response to what he would tell her, and admittedly, this had been one of them. He'd always had a feeling she wouldn't just shrug her shoulders at his vow to keep her safe, that she would go as far as putting herself at the front of the line. Granted, the girl hardly had any training and only possessed enough knowledge with breaking and entering that Selina could do in her sleep… but Jess's willingness was exactly what a particular someone had been hoping for. In fact, it had been expected, and now Jason just had to welcome it with open arms.

After showing a little resistance first, of course.

"No. You should just lay low."

"I have been laying low. I go to hockey practice, I go to school and get good grades like a regular, good school kid. I hang out with the few friends I have. How is any of that protecting me from criminals wanting to use me?"

She might've been onto something there.

"I don't even use stardust anymore—"

"I can't let you, Jess. This isn't some live action comic book where you get to run off and fight bad guys."

Her eyes narrowed. "You'll have to literally lock me up. I could tail you one night if you don't."

He had to laugh at that. "Jesus," was all he said.

Despite the panic she'd been in minutes ago, Jess didn't let up in her persistent stare. "Pretty sure Damian wouldn't be a fan of his brother doing that to me, hmm?"

I have to give her props for being so fucking determined, I guess.

"Pretty sure he wouldn't appreciate you running around Gotham like you're a vigilante either."

The slight, joking grin that had been tugging at her features dissipated.

He made a show of contemplation, crossing his arms and scanning the city beyond them. Her eyes were on him, wondering and waiting — someone had to tell her that she had quite a stare if she didn't know already — as he chewed on the decision that had already been made long before she'd learned anything tonight. It was like it had been made for her.

"As we both know, the truth can be your greatest weapon."

Clearing his throat, Jason faced her. "You realize you're asking to follow me into the lion's den?"

She nodded but not after what he caught was hesitation… He pretended not to see it.

"I'll think about it."

If she'd been trying to hide the relief that relaxed her figure and the brightening of her eyes, she didn't do a good job of it. He stuck his gloved hand into his jacket to retrieve a burner phone.

Extending it towards her, he explained, "If I do contact you and let you tag along, you obviously never bring any devices except this — not your phone or that little bracelet or watch thing of yours."

Her brows shot up as she pocketed it and then pulled back her jacket sleeve to reveal Damian's Christmas gift. "Are you talking about this?"

"Yup."

"Uh… why?"

The first reason came to mind like instinct, a pair of emeralds set on fire with disdain that they'd held for him for too fucking long. The reflexive defensiveness aroused in him morphed too soon into outrage, bitter on his tongue and in his heart.

"And for this to work, you will tell her the truth."

She probably had no idea why the Cheshire smirk graced his lips then because she hadn't known him long enough to consider there was an array of possible intentions behind it. And unfortunately, it was that same innocent ignorance that put her right where he needed her — in the palm of his hand.

"One secret at a time, doll."

"Do you understand, Jason? She must learn to trust you… She must learn to trust you more than she trusts my son."

Note: i know some of you said you hoped Jess would finally hear the truth, but you probably expected Damian to be the one to tell her… yet here we are — surprise! Things went differently hehe.

thanks to everyone for your reviews and love! had a feeling that cliffhanger would get some excitement going. BecomingFearless1F: if you're referring to the lovely people in the story cover, they're actually all generated from a website o.O i spent some hours or so on ArtBreeder to create what i envisioned they would look like! But as for real life people, i'm not quite sure who i'd cast as Dami and everyone else lol I'd have to think about that.

Also thanks to CurlyBookWriter94 for bringing something up i've been thinking about for a little bit, which is potentially bumping up this fic's rating to M (and for your review in general! i always love hearing that readers like my take on dami :') ) i don't mind keeping this T-rated for the sake of staying consistent and reaching a wider audience, and it's probably weird to raise the rating (does that happen often on here? lol)… but at the same time i have no quarrels with being a little more explicit when it comes to suggestive/sexual content xD

you guys are the readers though, so feel free to let me know your thoughts. I actually briefly considered making a separate fic of one-shots that are the M-rated versions of scenes I publish here to satisfy both audiences, but that could be complicated? I'm pretty 50/50 honestly, so share your opinions and i'll make up my mind before we see more DamiJess progress!

Love you all! Until next time, xx