Finally publishing it cause it's been on my phone for like 2 months and I had forgotten about it so now I'm publishing it while I still remember. Next chapter has actual scenes between Damian and Nell, so yeah. Reviews are really nice (like it's actually the reason why I published all the chapters I did so leave one?)
If you ask the whole population of Gotham Academy to describe Damian Wayne, the most common answer would probably be "cold". They would go on about how he rarely talks and how rude he sounded when he did talk. Some would answered "arrogant". They would talk about his need to correct everyone around him students or teachers. Other would answer "smart" because no matter how arrogant he was, he was always right. And the boy did speak 30 languages (or so they all heard).They would also say "athletic" cause the guy sure excelled in every sport that existed. He was the fastest runner, the better swimmer and the strongest weight-lifter. Girls-and some boys too- would add "handsome" because let's be honest, he was tall, muscular, had the greatest smile (a kind that let you know that he was better than you in a semi-ok way), had those fascinating blue eyes and had those 'exotic' features. Anyway, they all had similar answers that described the same person. They would finish their explaination, and they would all add- with no exception: "And of course, when you think Damian, you think wealth." Because Damian was indeed a Wayne. And the Waynes had somehow built Gotham and were still building it. They were everywhere and they were so many of them (there was a Richard, a Jason, a Timothy, a Cassandra and of course a Damian). Plus, nobody could forget how Damian had left school the precedent year three months in advance to travel around the world with his father and had not been seen for the whole summer. They knew not anybody could do that, you had to have connection, you had to have wealth. And when asked if he had any friend, they would answer- with a glimpse of envy: "Ah yes, Colin Wilkes. And there's this girl too. Nell?"
Colin Wilkes was a known name around the academy. First, he was one of the twenty kids that had received the Wayne Scholarship (and many people whispered that it was because he knew Damian). Second, he was this clumsy ginger that marked the memory of anyone that met him. He was funny and genuinely interested in everyone. He had this desire to learn that made all the teacher happy. Third, and seriously /the/ reason why people talked about him, he was the best friend of Damian. Nobody knew how the friendship had began but they never could see one without the other. Everyone had tried to befriend the wealthy kid and no one had really succeed. Sure, Damian talked to other people and sat with them at lunch and did project with them and all but they knew that he didn't really consider them as friend (and he didn't, it was his attempt to look like a normal teenager).
What people didn't know was that Damian and Colin had met on duty and were semi-partner when Colin could escape from his orphanage. The latter could transform into a Bane-like figure that he called 'Abuse'. Now, they were no longer a duo but a trio since Nell had become Batgirl. Colin had welcomed the new girl more happily than Damian would have liked. Colin and Nell would plan their mission (and everyone knew that Robin was the planner), share jokes and- to Damian's despair- hang out at school.
While he had accepted Nell in the batfamily far easily (well according to him cause if you asked Steph or Nell or even Colin they'll admit that he gave the girl grief), it had taken more time for him to accept her in his civilian life. He had known Colin since he was eight and had been friends with him since then. He had met Nell only three years ago. But for some reason Colin had took the matter in his hands to make her a part of the now trio.
Honestly Damian didn't mind. Nell was smart, nice and very similar to Colin so he hadn't need that much time to adapt. Plus it helped that she had other friends, it made partnering up in class less awkward. And she was interesting for the most part. She knew a lot about a lot. She'd challenge him and sometimes he found that fun (the other times he found it downright annoying). The vigilante gig obviously helped their friendship.
If you asked anyone to describe the Damian/Nell friendship, it would probably take them time. The pair spent most of their time arguing about everything. Nell would claim that Damian was an arrogant prat and he would answered that she was the personification of sheer ignorance. However, when anyone would even try to mock Nell, they had a very angry Damian to deal with.
Their personality also smashed. Damian was cold, arrogant, somehow really charismatic and super intelligent. Nell, she was something else. Sure she was nice, sparkly, lovely, and even caring. She listened when people talked and was always there to give advice. She also had this innocent aura. However, she was very average. She hadn't been named class president, homecoming queen, or received any kind of titles actually. She was very intelligent too but she wasn't in the top 25 of the school. She was very involved but there were people that did way more volunteering than her. She was /the/ ordinary student.
"So why is Nell ignoring us?"
"She's not?"
"Oh come on Dams, she didn't even come to say hello this morning. And she's eating with her friends when it's like one of our rare common lunch."
"First, Colin stop calling me that. And second, maybe she forgot to come this morning and wanted to eat with her friends." He said not taking his eyes out of his plate.
"Hmm. I don't think so." The redhead said eagerly eating his meal. "I think you did something."
"I did something?" Damian asked amused while taking a doubtful bite of his meal.
"Well I know I didn't do anything. Plus, you're the one who've been hanging out with her."
Damian scowled and took another spoonful of his meal. "I haven't been hanging out with her. We've been training."
"Same difference."
"Except not. We just train nothing else."
"Nothing else huh?" Colin asked doubtful.
"Why are you so obsessed with her?
"Why are you so defensive?"
There was a silence between the two friends until Damian pushed his plate and declared: "I certainly did not miss the food of this school."
Colin laughed. "Give it to me?"
Damian slided the meal in front of his friend. "Don't you receive anything eatable at your orphanage? I mean how can you settle for that?"
"Excuse us all for not being rich teenagers who get to eat what they want everyday."
The rich teen in question sighed. "That's not what I meant."
Colin swallowed a bite of his food. "Go apologize to Nell."
"Again with that. I thought this conversation was over. I'm getting bored of it."
"See you're trying to change the subject again. What did you do?"
"Nothing!"
Silence.
"I kissed her."
The revelation got the kids that were sitting at the table (and not so secretly eavesdropping the conversation) to turn to the Wayne kid.
"Why?" Colin asked processing the information.
"I don't know. I felt like it?"
"Dams, you and I know that it's not an acceptable answer."
"Would you stop with that stupid nickname already." He turned to the people that were sharing the table with them and shot them a glare. "Let's walk."
Colin, who had finish eating both his lunch and his friend's, nodded and followed him outside. After a few minutes of pointless conversations, the topic changed back to Nell.
"I realize now I shouldn't have kissed her. Actually, even then I knew I shouldn't do it."
"But you did."
"She was pretty and she was hurt."
"And kissing her was the only solution?" Colin asked with a taunting smile.
"It was the only thing I felt like doing."
"You told her that?"
"No she left."
"No I mean after the kiss scene."
"She's been ignoring me. And on patrol I try to stay out of the topic."
"I still think you should talk about it."
"Of course you'd think that."
"Damian she likes you and you knew that so I think you owe her an explanation."
The other teen sighed. "-Tt- I guess you're right."