Chapter 3
December 24th, 11:46 PM.
God, why is everyone obsessed with Christmas?
Damian sat on the couch in the Titans' living room, legs crossed and his head back as he stared up at the ceiling. Everyone had been going on and on about Christmas since October. Even the media almost completely glossed over Thanksgiving. He much preferred Thanksgiving, truly; autumn at Wayne Manor was something not to be missed. The chill in the air mixed with the orange and brown of the trees, colors that simply didn't exist in Gotham outside of Sheldon Park, against the clear blue sky and bold golden sunlight made everything look just a little less dreary, but not so relentlessly cheery that it would make him nauseous. All his father's adopted children would come home; Grayson would always bring Gordon's daughter, and Drake would come with Stephanie, and even Todd showed up this year. They all did their best to keep in touch with one another over the year, but it was just special to see each other exclusively outside of business. Swapping stories was never his favorite part of the occasion, but it was different this year. This year, Damian had something to actually talk about. And talk he did. Helping the new Superboy develop his powers, protecting Jump City, dealing with Gar… He's been busy. But something Drake said got to him, something that's been bothering him since he got back to the Tower…
"Hey, Robin!"
Damian rolled his eyes as he turned and glanced at the source of the chipper voice: Jon Kent, the big blue ball of positivity he's been working with for the past four months, sat down next to him on the couch, a mug of warm cocoa in his hands. Why did he have to sit right next to him? It's not that he was a pain, he's actually a great teammate and enjoyable to be around, but he was practically on top of him.
"Jonathan, please. We're not even on assignment, call me by my first name."
Jonathan just smiled wide and rested his head on Damian's shoulder. Oh god, he was so cheery. He was like Damian's polar opposite. "Why're you over here all by yourself? It's Christmas, Dame!"
"I never cared much for the winter holidays growing up," Damian sighed. "My grandfather… Ra's didn't celebrate any holidays. To him, they were just another day of leading his people."
"Well, you're not with your grandpa anymore, buddy!" Jonathan straightened up and took a sip of his hot chocolate. "You're with the Titans now. More importantly, you're with the Kents. Hey dad, can we get another cocoa over here for Damian?"
Superman walked over right on cue, big smile and a cocoa in hand. Like Jonathan grown up, no wonder Father didn't invite him over for Thanksgiving. "Sure thing, pal! Here," he placed a warm mug in Damian's hands. "Ma Kent's secret recipe!"
Damian shrugged and took a sip. "Mm…" He took a moment to really analyze the flavor. It was simple, something you could make at home for cheap, but there was something charming about that. Made it feel more like home. "Thank you, Mr. Kent." The man smiled back at him, then went back into the kitchen.
Jon leaned back, slinging his arm over the couch. He rolled his head around to look sarcastically at Damian, his electric blue eyes shining through strands of black hair. "Look, I know ya don't care for parties, or hanging out, or fun in general…" Damian furrowed his brow and Jon cracked a smirk. "But how about you at least come down to the theater with me? Rae and me were gonna watch 'It's a Wonderful Life', and she wanted me to ask you to come watch it with us. She says it's one of her favorites."
Damian perked up for a second, quickly returning to his typical scowl to hide his underlying interest. "Hmm… Well, I suppose I could. After all, the theater is practically the only room in the entire Tower not covered with garland." He sat for a moment before nodding and standing up from the couch. "Alright Jonathan. I'm in."
"Sweet! Come on, she's gettin' everything set up," Jon leapt to his feet, and stopped just for a moment and leaned in to whisper in Damian's ear. "By the way, I can see your heart get faster when she's around. You should totally just tell 'er." He pulled away from Damian and winked, grinning that goofy childlike grin, before vaulting over the couch and heading for the elevator.
Damian blinked for a moment. Of course he figured out something was wrong. He's the son of Superman. It's not like it was a big deal, he was going to tell him anyway, but… No. Jon thought wrong. Just like Drake. Oh, for… Why does everything keep coming back to Drake?
He shook his head, and joined Jon in the elevator, just as it was closing. As the elevator descended, he could see Jon watching him out of the corner of his eye.
"It's not like that, Jonathan… I don't know what it is. But it's not…"
"C'mon, dude!" Jon waved him off and laughed. "I know what I saw. Your heart literally skips a beat when she says your name. It's nothin' to be embarrassed about!"
"What you're implying is a weakness," Damian stared daggers into his friend's eyes. "I don't have any weaknesses. I don't allow myself any."
"Alright. Keep tellin' yourself that, Scrooge." Jon winked at him as the elevator doors opened.
"Yeah, well bah…" Damian trailed as he looked into the theater. "… humbug…"
Raven was floating up at the projector, loading the movie onto it. She looked… well, not how Damian expected. She wore a green velvet dress with white stockings, dark red sneakers and gloves, and a red cape with a white fur trim. A Santa hat hung from her head, and she wore a snowflake pendant around her neck. She looked down and smiled as she saw Damian and Jon come in, and floated down to greet them.
"Hey guys," she said, taking off her hat and handing it to Jonathan, who promptly put it on and sauntered off to the front row. "Hey, Damian… Merry Christmas." She handed him a small box, wrapped in candy cane gift wrap. Damian took the box, shaking his head as he opened it. He told her, he just didn't care for…
Oh.
Inside the box was a framed photograph. A little girl with ebony hair, and a young woman with the same. They both wore white robes, and smiled in the sunlight… They looked happy.
"You said you wanted to know more about my mom, so…" Raven shrugged, turning slightly red. "… this is what she looked like."
Damian looked down at the photo, then up at Raven, then back down at the photo. "I… I don't–"
"I know we agreed not to exchange presents, I'm sorry," Raven put her hand on Damian's shoulder. His heart fluttered in his chest. "I just… I wanted to make your first Christmas here special."
Damian looked into her eyes. Those deep, swirling, purple eyes… and he just smiled. He couldn't find the words to say what he was feeling, so he just smiled. "Thank you, Raven. It's a good gift."
Raven smiled back, a strand of hair falling into her face. Damian's arm twitched, stopping himself short before reaching up to fix it, Raven pushed it back herself. No, he thought. He's not right. He can't be…
Raven turned back and pressed the play button on the remote. She looked back and extended her hand. "Wanna sit with me for the movie?"
Damian nodded, a look of genuine joy in his eyes. "Yeah," he said. "I'd like that."
He and Raven sat down in the back row, and soon the movie started. As the voices of angels conversed over the shot of stars in the night sky, Damian's mind trailed once more back to his conservation with Drake…
"Drake, could I have a word with you?"
Damian stood up straight in the front door of Wayne Manor, hands folded behind his back. Drake smiled, shaking his head as he walked back up the walkway to him. "Come on, Damian," he chuckled, putting a hand on the younger Robin's shoulder. "I've told you a hundred times. Just call me Tim. But yeah, of course, what's up?"
Damian's eyes drifted to the ground as he prepared to explain his problem. "… I think something is wrong with my heart."
"Lots of things are wrong with your heart, dude," Drake joked. "You're gonna have to be more specific."
Damian closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "… Whatever it is, it has something to do with one of my teammates… Raven is her name. Raven Roth."
…
"And this happens every time she's around you?"
"Yes."
Drake stared at Damian for a moment. Totally silent. Oh god, what does he know? Is it serious? What's he going to say?
"Pfft–" Drake just bent over and started laughing. What was so funny about this? Something was seriously wrong! With his heart! This was serious!
"Oh, man…" Drake straightened himself back up, leaning on the doorframe. "Relax, there's nothing wrong with your heart."
"What do you mean? How do you explain what's happening to me?" Damian glared. He couldn't believe this; Drake was mocking him! Mocking his illness!
"Damian… you're in love."
He froze. What did he just say?
"… Come again?"
"Trust me…" Tim looked past Damian, his eyes locking on Stephanie, who stood inside talking to Barbara in the foyer. He smiled and looked back to Damian. "I know from experience."
Damian jolted back to reality to a tug on his arm. He looked over to see Raven looking back at him.
"You okay?" She asked. He nodded, and a half-smile spread across her face. "Well quit your daydreaming, this is a great part!" Damian looked back up at the film. They leading man was going on to his counterpart about lassoing the moon or some nonsense. He just smiled and looked back at Raven, who was totally focused on the movie.
Okay, Damian thought to himself. Maybe Christmas isn't so bad after all.