DamiRae Entries

by karencow

COLLECTION: My DamiRae Entry for Tumblr. JLDAW AU. Other AUs. Damian x Raven.

18. The Cruel Joke ( M )

A/N:

WARNING: Mature Content, Smut/ Lemon, Death, Murder, Major Character Death, Torture, and Blood.

I'm actually not really happy with this fic (particularly mid to end), but at 16k words, I ain't about to scrap everything.

But somehow, while on vacation, I was able to finish this. I wanted to kill someone off, which was how this was made, then I realized it is similar to what happened to Barbara Gordon during the Killing Joke thing, thus I name it like this, to pay homage.

I think the fact that this has been in the works for months on and off, I find that the writing keeps shifting which adds to why I'm dissatisfied with this fic.

I also refuse to cut this into parts because this is supposed to be a one-shot and one-chapter fic. So, I really do hope this was enjoyable.

But anyways, again, enjoy!

If you guys don't cry, I didn't do a good job.

I might have to write another fic that is gut-wrenching. This became heart-warming, which was not the aim.

It's a happy ending.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Located in the most luxurious and the highest building in Gotham, is Damian Wayne's private apartment.

The living room was well-lit, the glass wall that stretched the entire length of his living room made the night view of the city look like a long painting. The cream-colored room looked brighter than it was due to all the lights that were turned on.

Or maybe it was due to the certain warmth between the two bodies in the room.

He was sitting on his white couch facing the cityscape wearing a nice, crisp black suit. However, the black necktie had already been discarded on the floor. His collar popped open and the first button was undone.

His crisp suit wasn't going to remain crisp anymore due to the figure of a woman in a black backless and strappy dress over his lap, their lips locking and never parting.

One hand was wrapped across her butt and the other traced her spine as it traveled up and then rested on the back of her neck. His companion's black hair was still quite intact in her low bun.

The two moaned, her small pale frame rocking against him. Their kisses were gentle but clearly needy.

The two had just arrived from a family function hosted by the Waynes, and how could he not be tempted to hold her with how his long-term girlfriend looked in that dress.?

So, it was very natural to be on his couch making out with her. The black long skirt she wore, which had a high slit, was already pooled around her waist and the hand behind her neck pulled away to caress and then gripped her soft, gentle, and pale leg. He pulled away from her lips as he leaned into her, making her lean back a little as he nibbled on the skin of her neck.

"Damian," She moaned, one hand on his shoulder and the other gripping his black hair.

"Raven." He answered back, his tongue grazing her collarbone which made her sigh. She pulled his head back with a gentle tug of her wrist. He chuckled and she captured his lips eliciting a moan from him.

"Getting rough, are we?" He mumbled between her kisses and a muffled giggle came from her lips. His hand on her thigh eventually ventured inside her dress.

He inhaled deeply as he pulled back a little and stared at her violet eyes. A teasing glimmer in his own green eyes. "Oh? What do we have here?" He leaned closer so that his lips brushed hers as he spoke. His other hand slid into her dress.

Raven's expression was calm but her heart was beating loudly, their eyes locked, a secret promise.

She sighed and he pulled her black laced underwear from underneath with one hand, holding it by one of the undone strings. He dropped the scanty little cloth, their eyes still locked onto one another. The corner of his partner's lips twitched up.

Raven leaned into him again, whispering against his lips, "Wasn't that convenient for you?"

Their lips met again and his hand that was in mid-air slipped right back under her skirt. She pulled away gasping and he smiled at her. She gripped his shoulder as her back arched forward. She hissed then kissed him again softly rocking her hips.

"Damian…" She mumbled but it was more of a weak plea. He was working her folds with his fingers making her chest rise and fall tightly. He quietly observed the expression of the beauty on his lap as his fingers probed between her legs with great expertise.

He became aggressive with how he played with her clit that the raven-haired woman finally climaxed. Her lower half was quivering gently as her hands rested on her partner's shoulders to keep herself upright. She was gently panting from the stimulation.

Damian withdrew his hand and looked at her keenly, "Look at this, you made half my hand so wet, beloved." He licked his index finger. Her hazy eyes carefully watched him.

A dainty pale hand, pulled his hand away from his lips by his wrist, and it was her turn to give him a little show. Her lips parted and her tongue licked the tips of his fingers, the couple was quietly studying one another. She smiled as she took his middle and ring finger in her mouth slowly. Her free hand tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears and kept it there as she continued.

Raven slowly sucked on his fingers in small increments. Eventually, she had his two fingers in her mouth in full and she played with them with her tongue, separating the fingers inside her mouth with her own tongue.

She withdrew herself from his fingers, "I have to admit, there is something I like sucking on more." She leaned towards him, the hand that was tucking her hair was now resting on the big bulge between his legs.

The green-eyed man bit his lower lip and to his lover, it was quite the seductive move. She leaned towards him again and captured his lips as her hand fiddled with his belt, freeing the goliath that was awakened by her.

In one second, he hooked her leg with his arm and flipped her, making her fall on the couch and he was over her. She cupped his face and moaned as he kissed her passionately.

He removed himself from her embrace and put his hands on his trousers. His eyes were studying her with great care as if memorizing every little curve of her body. As he pulled his pants down, his partner adjusted her legs, and the corner of his lips turned upwards.

"Eager, aren't we?" He teased as he pulled his trousers down to his knees but couldn't wait any longer and just dove back into the arms of his beloved. She chuckled and guided his thick and hardened self into her wet cunt.

And the two bodies enjoyed themselves in the living room, on the couch, in his brightly lit apartment. With a desire that could not be contained, and a matching possessiveness from both bodies that was nothing less than intoxicating.

~.~.~.~.~.~.

The couple was now on his bed, laying completely naked under thick white sheets. The woman was sleeping on his shoulder and Damian couldn't help but admire her beauty. His fingertips brushed the curves of her waist which stirred her awake.

Raven glanced up from his shoulder and gave him a gentle smile, "Hey…" Her violet eyes appeared to sparkle under the gleam of the moonlight.

He smiled back and leaned in for a kiss. And with closed eyes, she went in for a kiss too. After a couple of kisses, Raven adjusted herself, propped her head up to deepen their kiss, and eventually saddled onto him.

"Can the boy wonder, do one more?" She asked and he cocked a brow.

"Boy wonder?" He placed his hands firmly on her hips, "You of all people know that I am not a boy."

Raven playfully rolled her captivating violet eyes and he smiled at her. And then the smaller and paler frame woman leaned down and kissed the tanned man. Her small hands lay flat as they glided up to his shoulders.

And the night continued with the same heated movements. But this time it was more tender, softer, and gentle.

As she rocked herself against him with eyes closed and moaning, he cupped her face, wiping sweat from her cheek and she glanced at him with hazy eyes.

"I love you." He mumbled and she swallowed and moaned as her hips rocked against him harder and quicker. Her body froze as she leaned forward, placing both hands on his firm pecs.

Raven panted and squeezed her eyes and he grunted in response.

Eventually, she properly dismounted from him and made herself comfortable on his chest. Raven's forehead touched his chin as she placed her fingers against his jawline. The couple's eyes were closed as they breathed in and out quietly, till their breathing and heartbeats became one as well as their minds.

"I love you." She finally responded to his profession once her body finally calmed. Damian softly pressed his lips on her forehead and she felt the small smile on his lips against her skin.

And the two fell asleep quietly in each other's embrace.

When the couple woke the sun was out for a few hours already and the first one to stir awake was Raven. She moaned and propped herself up a little to gaze at her lover.

Green eyes fluttered open and instantly met her gaze and she giggled. "Why don't you sleep a little bit longer? Didn't I tire you last night?" She teased him.

Damian closed his eyes in response, squeezing her waist gently with his arm that was wrapped around her. And he couldn't help but smile as it was something he normally told her every time after they had sex. She always described him as a passionate lover, and that was how he was in bed– intense. Leaving her moaning and sore the next day.

Raven attempted to leave the bed and his grip on her actually loosened, letting her slip out of the bed. But his eyes were already open as he kept them on the naked figure of his beautiful lover. Damian felt the small joy she had since he listened to her suggestion.

Today the roles were reversed. Of course, she was still just as sore as always after their lovemaking. But today, she was the one asking him to rest a little longer and was the first to leave his side.

This time, she wanted to prepare their first meal after such intense exercise.

She found his discarded white button-up shirt on the floor and picked it up. She wore it and buttoned it as she stepped out of their bedroom. And just when her bare foot took the first step out of their bedroom floor, the door to Damian's apartment rang.

Raven turned her head to look at her boyfriend, "I'll get it." She said only to find her boyfriend already sitting up on their bed ready to follow her out. She shook her head as she chuckled and went to the main door.

She knew that Damian was not the type to lay around and do nothing. When he does, it would only be because she was still sleeping in his arms and he didn't want to disturb her. So, it didn't come as a major surprise to see him already sitting up on the bed.

Damian had already put on his boxers and found a plain white V-neck shirt and put it on as he walked towards his bedroom door.

The moment his foot stepped out the bedroom door his shirt also draped down his firm torso and at the same time Raven had opened the main door. He had a small smile as he turned his head a little to look at his black-haired lover.

Raven couldn't even comprehend what she was staring at, the smile on her face barely drooped down when, in the next second, an impossibly loud bang echoed through Damian's apartment and his girlfriend's body tilted backward.

A scream came out of Damian's mouth, but it was something he did not understand to be his.

The grown man ran towards his girlfriend but he was not able to catch her as she completely fell on the floor with eyes wide open. And a hole where her heart was. Blood pooled around her.

"Raven! No!" He screamed as he picked her up and cradled her body, he happened to glance up at the hall and no one was there.

The man screamed and wept, not comprehending what was happening and why was it him– why her.

He was a hero and so was she. His normal instinct would have been to chase after the perpetrator, but all he could do was weep while screaming as he held his lover's bleeding body.

This situation was different.

How could he run off and leave her here?

His head rested against her neck as he recalled, moments before, the warmth they shared that very morning. And her touches from the night before and their activities.

Due to the shock, Damian didn't even notice how people were pooling outside his door and around him. How he refused to have anyone hold her or even touch him.

He just simply rocked his body against her as he mumbled, "No." Over and over to the point his voice was hoarse without him being aware of it.

He didn't even notice when his brothers came, then his sisters and even Bruce himself.

His family shooed everyone away and took care of the passersby and the police and Bruce tried his hardest to convince Damian to let the corpse of his girlfriend go.

Somehow and at some point, someone was able to convince Damian to let her go. And no one was around his apartment and asking questions.

Somehow Damian Wayne found himself in the hall of the Watch Tower. And Raven laid on the metal slab in preparation to be cleaned. Then she would be checked as required by the League when their heroes fall.

He was watching her from behind the glass window.

Damian was still very much out of it. He didn't understand what was happening and why.

"Son," Bruce came and placed a hand on his son's shoulder but this time the man was in his Batman uniform and Damian did not even spare a glance at his father. "I know you wanted to clean her yourself, but this is for the best."

There was no response and Batman merely sighed. He likely didn't expect a response anyways, after all, this was a very difficult day.

The people that came and went were not few, but Damian just merely stood there, as they waited for the hero that was supposed to come and assist in the cleaning and postmortem examination of Raven.

It was Damian who remained unmoving on his spot as they came and went, as the time for the hero to arrive took longer than expected.

Finally, Batman came back with a blonde girl behind him.

"Damian…I am sorry…" She frowned but could see how absent-minded the man was. "I will take good care of her."

"I'll be here." His hoarse whisper was barely audible. His eyes locked on his girlfriend's body. He wanted to be there beside her, inside the room with her. But Batman wouldn't allow it. His mind understood why his father did not allow him to be there– not allowing him to clean her body up. And it was undeniable that it was also the protocol of the Justice League.

But right now, it was a protocol he hated. Because he simply wanted to be there with her. Even if his shaking fingers didn't want to touch her cold corpse. Even when his mind told him not to believe what his eyes were seeing.

He wanted to be there.

He didn't want to accept this.

Seeing that the black-haired, green-eyed man did not seem to be in the right mind, the girl frowned and glanced at Batman. She gave him a short nod and the two went inside the room. Damian was still there in the corridor on his spot, it truly seemed like he did not even have a soul in him anymore.

They had waited for the blonde-haired woman because it was preferred for a woman to be inspecting Raven, and one important detail– she had x-ray vision. She was someone who wasn't as close to Raven as others were– meaning she could maintain some sense of sanity and calmness while handling Raven's body– a strong professionalism that was required for this task.

The blonde hero approached the embalming table, her eyes scanning Raven. With a gasp she stopped by Raven's foot, her body visibly shaking.

"Oh Gods…" Her eyes were shaking as they stayed around Raven's stomach area.

This is what made Damian move from the middle of the corridor to the right in front of the glass. His hand was automatically against the glass as Batman turned his head and glanced at Raven.

"What's wrong?" Damian banged on the glass window with so much emotion that people thought he was no longer capable of expressing himself.

"Oh- Gods– I- I am so sorry." Her hands were shaking as she covered her lips and her head turned to where Damian was, light green eyes that were almost brown barely met the dark green eyes of Damian Wayne's. "She– Raven– was pregnant."

If Damian thought his day– his life– couldn't get any worse– at that moment, it truly just did.

He didn't even notice that he was holding his breath. And that his golden skin looked like ash.

Batman could only look at his son from across the glass window.

In Damian's green eyes, he saw the life he could have had with Raven.

He tilted forward and placed his other hand on the glass as if wanting to hold his dead lover.

Just last night, he had held her body preciously. He could still feel her warmth at the tip of his fingers. He could still feel the fire that her touch left him.

And then he recalled everything they had gone through. How they had started and how their relationship blossomed. And to what it could be.

It would have bloomed even more if this didn't happen. He would have had a child with her.

Initially, everyone thought that Damian had grown a specific darkness the moment Raven died, but it was at this moment that the darkness was truly born.

"Let…us proceed with the procedures." Batman closed his eyes as he prompted the young blonde hero to do her purpose.

Damian knew what he must do at this moment. The gears in his mind are already making the perfect plan for the coming months. But no one knew this, no one could know what was truly in his mind as of that moment.

All he could do now was watch them strip his lover and have her body washed.

But before they could, Damian spoke using the intercom, "Batman, I don't particularly like the thought of you watching Raven's naked body." His tone was cold and his voice was still hoarse.

Batman flinched for a moment, and then nodded, "I understand." He turned to the blonde hero and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Take good care of Raven."

The blonde hero nodded, "Yes, of course."

Batman turned his back on the two women and made his way to the door and when he was outside, he stood beside his son, watching his side profile, "I will try and call a senior female hero to oversee everything."

Damian merely nodded; eyes glued on his beloved. His arms now crossed over his chest.

Batman left as he understood that his son would not say another word. He understood why his son was acting like this.

Raven was such a big part of his son's life.

Damian placed a hand on the glass, his thumb seemingly stroking her. In his mind, he still saw the events of last night and in the morning when she got up. And then– black.

"The wound is from a shotgun." The blonde hero said, and it brought Damian back to the now.

A now– he wished– could be undone.

The next scenes in his mind weren't of the before everything changed– it was the direct after.

When Damian was holding Raven, he remembered, so clearly now, the hole in her chest—wasn't on her heart alone.

Damian swayed and he had to lean forward against the glass to collect himself. His legs couldn't hold him.

The image was so clear in his mind now.

It was probably why he didn't move when his lover was shot, aside from her heart just cleanly missing from her body, unconsciously he already knew. Saving her was impossible even if he had called 911.

Most of Raven's chest was a hole.

Damian was going to burst into tears at the recollection, and he would have, but he had no more liquid in his body to physically show his despair over his loss. He could feel the exhaustion from this ordeal down to his bones.

But the thing was– he also knew that this exhaustion would permanently stay as the one he loved and his unborn child was just robbed from him.

If there was a God, was this karma?

Damian almost laughed at the thought.

Yeah. Maybe it was. It was a really good way to punish him, he at least could tell that much.

The bliss and the sheer happiness blinded his eyes and then– the tragedy choked him just as he closed his eyes to blink.

That was all he could really say about the situation.

His palm slammed the glass, which made the blonde hero turn at him, clearly startled.

Damian might not have seen who killed her, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be able to sniff them out. Everyone always left a trail.

If his eyes could turn black, at this moment, it would have.

He stared at Raven whose legs were being pried apart by the hero. And in his eyes, he could still see the sight of last night, her glazed eyes staring at him. His body before her spread legs pulling out from inside her, as he observed the white fluid drip down her body. And then that image overlapped with the current situation.

The bedroom became the League's morgue and she laid on the cold metal slab while the warm body of last night turned cold. But their fluids are still there–

The blonde hero glanced at Damian and pressed her lips as she looked back at Raven.

He knew she saw the remnants of his last evening with Raven between Raven's legs.

And something clicked in his mind.

Damian pulled his phone out and was absorbed in tapping the screen for a couple of minutes. His green eyes looked back up at his girlfriend as he let his phone slip off his hands and he stomped on his phone, rendering it unusable.

It was in pieces before he crossed his arms across his chest, his expression blank and empty.

There was no purpose in his life now.

How could someone come to his doorstep and do what they did?

Villains?

Heroes?

Do such words even matter?

These villains could do things like this to unsuspecting victims– so why did he follow his father's teachings and not end this kind of scum?

Villains will do what they want.

Like what the person who killed Raven did.

Damian's heart was gouged out from his chest, the moment her heart was taken from her body.

And so, he will show them what a child created to be a machine is like when it no longer has a heart.

And the minutes passed with Damian just standing there, swaying a little, and yet not at all.

Suddenly, the alarms were blaring and a piercing sound assaulted everyone's ears.

And yet, Damian still stood there in the hall like a pole. Unmoving.

The hero inside looked out confusedly but was petrified when she saw Damian standing in the hall. A shiver ran up her spine. She couldn't point it out, but something was not right with him.

Damian stood there in the hall with empty eyes and a blank expression, his arms crossed. The white hallway was painted red by the alarm lights and there were flickers of darkness from some other light in the hall.

The blonde hero couldn't help but think that he was some demon from hell.

A few more minutes passed, and she was clearly shaking as she stared at Damian. And the chaos outside seemed to intensify as there were some people running down the hall.

Damian pressed the intercom. "Go." His voice was still hoarse. "They might need you."

He seemed out of it still, and yet she didn't know why she listened to him. She found herself leaving and before she ran through the halls, she said her condolences again.

He did not respond. Damian was counting the time all along.

After ten whole minutes, he moved. And entered the morgue. He honestly felt like he was sleepwalking as he approached Raven's corpse.

"I'm sorry." His lips said but his mind did not register his words or actions. He brushed the hair on her forehead and kissed her there.

His hand found a long beige coat, he didn't even wonder who owned it, but that is what he used to wrap his beloved's cold body.

"Don't worry, I won't let this happen." He whispered, nudging her head to move closer to his lips and he kissed her forehead again.

Damian walked out of the morgue with Raven.

At Nanda Parbat, Talia al Ghul received quite an unexpected guest. She was informed of her son's arrival and went to meet him.

"I did not expect to see you son–" Her tone had the faintest hint of teasing but she stopped when she saw her son's state and then her green eyes landed on the pale, pale woman in his arms.

As her eyes focused, she realized it wasn't that Raven's body was very pale, it actually held a bluish tinge.

"Mother, can you save her?" He asked and the emptiness and hoarseness in his words made Talia exhale a shaky breath. "I will do whatever you want in return. Be the heir you wish. Just bring her back to me."

"I– I will see what I can do." She quietly replied and with empty eyes, he nodded quietly at his mother. His gaze then fell to his beloved and squeezed her one more time.

"Where shall I take her?" He would finally ask his mother who was unmoving from the spot where she realized why her son was like this. Because he was holding the corpse of his most treasured love.

Raven.

Talia assisted her son to the best of her abilities. In all honesty, she felt so much pity for him.

"I will prove to you mother that I am worthy of the title: the next Demon's Head by hunting every single person who is involved in this incident." Talia could only gulp down her saliva in response to her son's words.

"This is my oath to you. A sign of good faith for what you are willing to do for me. My personal exam to show to you that I am worthy of your help and to be your heir." He bowed to her deeply.

Talia's heart ached.

Three months later, Damian Wayne became Damian al Ghul.

It was night, it was raining and cold, in some underground and abandoned building Damian was clad in black and was chasing after a man.

It took him three months to find a lead on who had attacked them in his Gotham apartment. If he was to say he wasn't disappointed in himself– it would be a lie.

He failed her. He failed Raven.

Because it took him 3 months to hunt down this man.

The man Damian was chasing was already decently beaten up, and it brought the slightest joy to the young man. He also noted how his subordinates were following him. And the young Demon's Head signaled his men to stand down.

The former Robin wanted to enjoy hunting this man down.

Everything became black for the man that Damian al Ghul was chasing.

Damian for a moment was lost in thought as he let his men tie this brown-haired man who wore a brown trench coat on the wooden chair. While he allowed himself to be lost in thought.

When Bruce realized that the attack on the tower's software was Damian's doing, his son was already long gone.

Damian even organized some other distractions at other cities to really keep the Justice League preoccupied while he took Raven away from their clutches.

But by the time Bruce figured everything out, it was too late.

It wasn't only Batman who knew how to make contingency plans.

That was Damian's first step into villainhood.

The man stirred while moaning and it broke Damian's thoughts. He smiled, and he knew he was going to enjoy this.

The man's light blue eyes were slowly revealed when his eyelids fluttered open. He was clearly confused and groggy. He could hear the consistent dripping of water. It was moist too, and there were puddles of water around. And it smelled of mold and some other thing that couldn't be quite described.

His blue eyes met Damian's and fear was clearly there. And Damian just slowly approached the man with a smile on his lips and his hands playing with a dagger, a finger on the tip.

"Great. You're awake." Damian said, before the man who was bound could even respond Damian placed the blade of the dagger against the side of the man's throat. "Look, I won't even ask you who you are. I just want answers."

"I don't know anything." The man weakly answered.

Damian pressed the blade against the man's throat, drawing blood. "That isn't the answer I want. Either you answer me now, or you won't even remember what your name is by the time I am done with you."

There was plenty of screaming and begging from the man on the chair and a lot of demanding and inflicting pain from Damian to the man.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Whenever Damian returned from his little hunts he would go to where Raven was first.

Raven was submerged in a cylinder glass with water that was light green and she had a mask over her face. It was slanted up which made her taller. She wore a white fitted sports bra paired with fitted high-waisted white shorts.

The glass tube was connected with several big black rubber coils that faded into the dark.

He raised his hand a little over his shoulder and placed his hand on the glass, resting it just above Raven's lower abdomen.

"I finally found a lead." He whispered, resting the side of his head on the glass by his hand. "I'm sorry it took so long." He closed his eyes.

At the very least, the hole in her chest was now gone.

He would stay like this often. His face against the glass. He was at peace here with her. Even when it hurt him to see her like this.

He would soon hear faint footsteps coming closer and louder, and his eyes opened.

"Damian," His mother greeted him, her green eyes studying her son.

"Mother." He replied blankly, pulling his head away from the glass as he stared at his unconscious lover.

"We are still studying how to best resurrect her without any unwanted aftereffects, so far, it doesn't seem that she is reacting badly to the pit. Based on the information you gave me we have to proceed extremely cautiously." Talia spoke as she bridged the distance between her and her son.

Damian just nodded while studying Raven who was inside the pale green liquid. It kind of looked like she was submerged in soda with the little bubbles that surrounded her. The thought almost brought a smile to his face. Almost.

"I think it worked in our favor that she is Trigon's blood." Talia stopped when she was a few feet from her son.

Damian turned his head and looked coldly at Talia, "Mother."

She stared at him and if she wasn't raised by Ra's al Ghul, maybe she would be afraid of her own son's cold and empty gaze, he then continued, "You didn't have anything to do with this do you?"

Talia blinked and realized that her son was suspecting her, she stared at the woman in the cylinder, "I know you think I hated her, but that's not true." She returned her gaze to Damian. "I wouldn't have picked her and I surely would not prefer her." Her face then became gentle as she continued. "But I saw how happy you are with her– I am still your mother. I also wanted you happy and far away from all this." Her hands were raised generally gesturing to their surroundings.

She sighed exasperatedly, "I wanted you far from this, believe it or not. So, how could I hate her? She gave you everything I wished for as your mother."

Damian simply leaned his head back to Raven, "I see…"

Talia sighed; her son had been so disconnected since Raven's passing.

"I kind of wished…" He paused, then glanced at his mother briefly, "That you were perhaps behind this– then maybe I could understand why I can't find any leads."

Talia's eyes were slightly wide, "I would not do this to you, son." She spoke firmly and Damian merely nodded in silence.

In the three months after Raven's death, Damian was on a rampage. Everyone he knew when he was a hero had also tried to reach out and bring him back from the darkness. Nothing worked. They had settled on having lost the young man to evil at this point.

Talia al Ghul studied her son for a minute longer and then sighed aloud. She wished that this was not what had happened for him to turn to her. She turned around quietly and left Damian to be alone with his beloved.

In six months, Damian al Ghul had become even more cruel. He even tracked down the mere cab driver that brought Raven's killer to his literal doorstep. He tracked every little connection he could and placed an end to them. But he could never find the mastermind.

And it brought him nothing but despair.

He was again in the room where Raven was… recuperating, inside the same faded green liquid. "I don't know what to do." His voice held so much sadness that he was certain that Raven would have been in tears for him if she was conscious.

But she was not. She hadn't been for nine months.

"How can I face you when I haven't found who is behind this." He asked quietly face against the cold glass with eyes closed as if listening to her heartbeat.

But he couldn't hear it from all the water and the glass.

If she didn't die that morning, their unborn child would probably be borne by now or they would be anxiously waiting for the day her water would burst.

But it wasn't happening. That wasn't the case. Because someone robbed that from him.

A future with Raven and their child.

He would have still been Damian Wayne.

The name and thought left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth.

He would have still been following his father's foolish belief of not killing villains because it wasn't right and because they could still be reformed.

Anger was now ignited in him.

Damian was often plagued by the thought that whoever was behind what happened might have been a villain he had let go. And it was just another thing that tormented him.

Day in and day out.

If anything, the thought also fueled him to hunt everyone involved with Raven's accident like a bull who was seeing red. To him, red became the only color he sees and feels. The red from his anger. The red liquid from his victims and enemies.

The red that kept spilling from his lover's body that one morning. An image that constantly haunted him.

He often would think of what could have been done to prevent it. Like killing every villain from the very beginning.

When he would be tasked to do something for the League of Assassins, the thought of taking out scum brought him more reason to stay with the League.

It meant he would take out another potential threat to his happiness. His life.

It meant making a safer place for her when she is fully resurrected.

Though, he was now a villain too.

A few weeks later, it was clear that Damian was nothing but irritable. Talia frowned at her son.

"Damian, maybe it is time to move on from your impossible task." Her words made her receive a sharp glare from her son.

"Then you cannot call me the heir to the Demon's Head, I have not proved anything to you." His tone is so bitterly cold.

Talia shook her head, "You have long proven that you are more than capable." But she was met with his silence. "I think it is time to wake Raven."

His eyes were swimming, trying to find something in his mother, like a flaw in that perfectly cold face. He studied his mother as if she was lying.

"I can't keep watching you like this." Talia looked gentle for a moment then he coldly laughed.

Damian raised his hands before him and observed his calloused hands, "I have so much blood in my hands now, and yet I have nothing to show for it– I still haven't found out who the mastermind behind that attack. How can I be worthy as the Demon's head?"

"Your dedication is more than enough to prove your potential." Damian shook his head and sneered at his mother's words.

"How can I even face her?" He looked at Raven, placing a hand against the glass once more.

"And we can't keep her there forever." She responded and he squeezed his eyes in defeat.

"Son, you will have to enter the pit as part of the ritual where you are accepting your new role, it is ceremonial, and it should be done alone. But we can make an exception and have you enter with Raven."

Damian pulled away from Raven and looked at his mother in surprise, "You would allow that?"

She nodded, "Raven would need to enter the pit to fully recover anyways, so why not go in together?"

For the first time in months, Talia finally spotted an emotion other than emptiness, bitterness, and coldness in her son.

The emotions were surprise and happiness. She figured he missed Raven's touch so much that the thought brought him joy. She also figured he thought he wouldn't be able to hold her so soon.

He nodded, "Thank you." Then he looked back at Raven caressing the glass longingly.

Talia's red lips pressed together.

After a few minutes had passed, she opened her lips again, "You should also know that if you take her into the pit, it will be seen as you taking her as your official partner."

Damian stroked the glass with his thumb, "There is no other woman I would want to be my partner, mother."

~.~.~.~.~.~

In the underground caves of Nanda Parbat with lights from the torches flicking across every surface, was Damian in black pants and a long green robe that had some golden designs on the sleeves and the collars.

There were more scars on his bare chest now compared to his last night with Raven.

He would often wonder what she would think of the scars now, and of course, the blood in his hands.

For a moment he focused on the coolness that his bare feet were feeling from the cold ground. A way to distract his mind from the fear that she'd reject him.

And yet, there was a part of him that couldn't help but agree to the decision of her rejecting her.

They have finished most of the rituals needed for him to be officially seen as the heir and now all that is needed is the final step. He heard wheels approaching and he saw Raven being wheeled inside on a stretcher.

The oxygen mask was still on her face as it was laced with sedatives and other things to minimize the chances of her becoming insane as is the aftereffects of the pit.

It's why her environment was controlled while still utilizing the Lazarus Pit. Damian did not want to risk Raven becoming insane.

She was placed in induced suspended animation inside that glass tube to control the outcome.

Raven finally reached his side and for a moment he studied the rising of her chest. Damian's rough fingers then gently removed the mask. He caressed her face, his thumb brushing her lips, it had been so long since he had touched her.

He prompted her up and leaned his head against hers, "This time, I promise you, I will take good care of you Raven." He kissed her cold lips.

Just a little more and they will be reunited.

He laid her down again as he had his robe removed by Lady Shiva who was serving as a witness to the ritual, along with ten other people. His mother was in attendance too. He then carefully lifted Raven from the stretcher and looked at the Lazarus Pit and glanced at the people present.

"This final act represents my rebirth as I fully follow the League of Assassin's ways and will become the heir to The Demon." He dictated what he was told to say for the ceremony. "This final act represents me shedding my past to join– hand-in-hand an ageless belief that I will adhere to which is The Way of the League. I will not turn my back on The Way that is the breath of our Glorious League of Assassins."

Talia approached her son with a gold and silver-hilted dagger. The silver blade of the dagger had a sticky green goo on it and it was honestly it was closer to black than green. The tip of the dagger was resting on the tip of her finger.

"I, Talia al Ghul as the Demon's Head, accept your oath as my heir." She said stopping in front of her son. Admittedly, she kind of hoped that her son would put a stop to the ritual but he had not. He was certain of his path. He had chosen The Way of the League of Assassins.

She raised the dagger to be at the same level as his eyes as he closed his lids. The mother and son had softly sighed and then Talia al Ghul drove the dagger through her son's heart. He didn't even wince. She took a step back and he opened his eyes.

The dagger was firmly on his chest.

Green eyes met the same shade of green eyes.

Damian's gaze could freeze water despite having the color associated with life. He raised a hand, and yet he still was careful not to move Raven who was in his arms.

He did feel the pain of the dagger through his heart, but nothing compared to the moment he lost her.

His palm clenched the hilt of the dagger. He could feel the poison burning him.

And yet nothing compared to losing Raven.

He pulled the dagger without so much of a grunt in pain. And dropped the dagger, it's sharp clunking from the blade echoed through the quiet cavern.

He approached the pool and stood a step away, "This I swear as Damian al Ghul."

Damian entered the pool with Raven in his arms and he quietly submerged themselves in the green liquid.

His body burned even more but to him, this pain was still nothing compared to the grief he had been living through. If this was some other life, a version of him who had not lost her– then maybe he would cry from the pain.

But this was his reality. He hugged Raven and as the pain continued to intensify, he would hug her tighter and pray that she would return to him sane.

Anything less was not to be preferred.

Because he knew. If she came back to him insane. He didn't have any means to help her. It might take a longer time to have her fully recovered. And if so, it was another failure on his part. Another thing to add to that list.

The pain eventually faded but it took him a while to realize that it had long passed.

It was just how he lived now. Any pain that wasn't the moment he lost her paled in comparison. He can endure anything else just not that again.

It wasn't clear because he was submerged in the liquid of the pit. But he was crying at the thought of losing her again. He can't do that a second time.

Raven was still not conscious. He would have to go out first. He didn't want to, but he also can't risk staying in the Lazarus Pit for too long than he should.

Damian stepped out of the pit and two of his witnesses helped him wear his robe.

"It is accomplished. You have passed the final step." Talia announced and the witnesses bowed to the heir.

The man himself waved his hand, "Give me a cigar." He coldly glared.

Talia frowned but nodded to the men nearest Damian to do what was asked.

He was given the cigar and he placed it in his mouth as he grabbed a lit candle on the stone altar that was used much earlier in the ritual. His green eyes glared at the pit.

The people remained bowing.

Talia understood that he would make everyone wait till Raven stepped out of the pit.

Damian inhaled and exhaled the smoke from the cigar. And they all quietly waited like that.

It was taking longer than he wanted and for a moment he looked away studying the things on the altar. It was looking nothing short of cultish.

A big book that was probably as old as the stone altar was propped up by a bookstand. Over a dozen candles in various sizes, mostly white but there were some black and green ones too. A couple of chalices with questionable liquids. Some daggers. Body parts that were probably better off not being mentioned were littered on the stone slab.

But it kind of brought a smile to his lips. He remembered who he got each one from. He collected them for this day.

Then a sharp gasp and his head flicked back to the pit with wide eyes.

"Damian!" A horrible scream.

The violet eyes he had longed to see were finally staring at him. But they were filled with fear, it was so painfully clear.

In the pit was Raven who was utterly disoriented, "Damian, don't go to the door!" She cried, she was shaking and her eyes were still adjusting. "Just stay there!" Streams of tears were falling from her eyes.

Then it dawned on her that her surroundings didn't match what was the last place she recalled in her memories. Her breathing became even more ragged with wide eyes. Her eyes darted at every corner that she could visibly see.

Where was she?

"Raven, it's me. I'm here." Damian calmly said, then handed the cigar to someone. He then turned toward her as she studied him.

She focused on him and tried to calm herself with the fact that he was there. But her eyes landed on his bare chest that was peeking out from green robes. There was a scar over his heart.

Her breathing became ragged again as she raised a shaky hand, "Did- Did they get to you?" Her eyes were so wide and filled with fear, it actually hurt Damian.

He hadn't felt this kind of pain for so long.

Her hand rested on her stomach and she froze. Something wasn't right.

Raven glanced down; her hand was touching the center of her torso. She recalled her very last memory before waking up to this unfamiliar face.

She was shot close range.

She couldn't breathe.

She recalled her last thoughts before everything became blank. She worried so much about Damian.

Her eyes noticed the green liquid and she held her breath and slowly lifted her head Damian was there before her, only a few steps away outside the pool.

"What did you do?" She quietly asked him.

He extended his hand, "Don't worry about it." His eyes merely stared at her.

Raven looked at him from right then left as if trying to piece everything together.

Damian's hand was still extended towards her, patiently waiting. His lover raised the hand on her stomach and it went past his outstretched hand. Her fingers brushed the scar on his chest.

"Did they attack you?" She asked again, tears falling again at the thought. Believing she was at fault.

"Let's get you out of there first." He gently urged her and somehow those words calmed her as she nodded.

"Alright." She answered back as he helped her out of the water. Once out she turned her head to look at the pool but noticed the people bowing down on the ground with their heads against their hands that were resting over the ground. They were on the other side of the pool.

When Raven turned her head back to Damian, he had already taken his robe off. "Here." He said placing it over her shoulders and she looked at his face first then his chest.

Every scar that she would trace with her fingertips was gone, except for that one scar over his heart.

"What's going on?" Her voice cracked. Her mind was trying to understand the situation but she couldn't. Then she took a step forward and she found that her body was also lagging behind.

Her boyfriend's hands were already supporting her before she could fully connect the disconnection she was feeling. Before her body would meet the ground.

"Everything will be alright." He said calmly and wrapped his robe around her body again. He then picked her up bridal style. "Mother, if you'd please excuse me." He glanced at her who nodded in response.

"You all may rise." He commanded as he turned from them all. And Raven was left trying to understand her own thoughts and feelings.

"Calm down beloved and relax, I will tell you everything when you get better, but for now, you must not think of anything or your mind will be your worst enemy." Damian calmly coaxed her.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Raven coped really well, and he admired her for it. However, he couldn't say the same thing during his months without her.

She was so much stronger than he was.

It's been two weeks since she was resurrected and since he became the official heir of The Demon's Head. She seemed perfectly fine, and yet, he knew that she did not completely approve of his choice.

But still, she stayed.

Raven was on a big circular bed with white cotton bed sheets and a green silk blanket atop the sheets. She was propped up on the headboard, her eyes closed, legs propped up too. She wore a white silk tightly fitted crop top and matching silk shorts.

And entering his bedroom to see her there was the only thing he looked forward to after a long day.

Damian slowly approached her. He had already bathed before coming to see her and was only wearing his loosely fitted black pants. His chest was bare and so were his feet.

His calloused hands brushed on Raven's legs from mid-calf to her knee and her eyes opened from the contact.

"Damian," She sat up properly placing her legs to one side as he sat down beside her and leaned down to kiss her.

Raven did not push him away. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her as he deepened his kiss and she reciprocated his affections.

He was taking her breath away with his advances. But this was something he always did to her.

Sweep her off her feet. Take her breath away. Spin her around to only see him by the end of the turn.

She loved him so much.

"Damian." She called again trying to catch his attention, but his hands were roaming. One between the skin on her back that was revealed between her crop top and shorts and the other on her leg.

He was aroused and she was too.

"Yes?" He mumbled, lips grazing on the side of her neck.

"Aren't you tired?" She closed her eyes but leaned back a little more so that her boyfriend could have more access to her neck.

His hands were on her waist, "For you? Never."

He pulled away and in that simple time and gaze they exchanged, Damian knew that she could read his feelings and understand his thoughts.

Before he would see her guilt, he kissed her again, gently urging her to lay on the bed.

And Raven reciprocated his affections.

This wasn't the first time they slept together after her resurrection. And he knew that she noticed his new habits in regards to after sex– well, truthfully, it was generally when they were in bed together.

A few of his new habits was that he'd wrap his arms around her tightly so that if she moved just an inch, he'd be awake. He wouldn't allow her to leave the bed and he would freak out badly when she slipped away and he woke up to an empty bed.

He wondered if the reason why she stayed was because she felt guilty for how he has become. If his meltdowns when he woke up without her made her stay by his side.

If that was truly the case, he wouldn't mind it honestly. He couldn't lose her again.

~.~.~.~.~.~

The couple were having their dinner, and they were having steak. But Damian had noticed that Raven's preference for food had changed. Her steak was rawer than it was cooked at the moment. It wasn't her particular preference to have a medium-rare steak.

She poked the food with her fork, "My eating habit has been really odd recently, hasn't it?"

Damian's green eyes flickered at her and he wanted to deny it, but her firm gaze on him would not allow him to. "It might just be some minor side effects from the pit."

She continued to poke her steak and he added, "If it bothers you so much, beloved, I will discuss this with mother."

She smiled and nodded. She had preferred meat since she was resurrected. But even she noticed that her meal was becoming quite… fresher, so to speak.

That very evening, Damian went to look for his mother upon noticing Raven's preference when eating.

"Mother, Raven's eating habit has…changed." He told her, carefully picking the word. "And she is quite concerned, I hope that it is nothing and just a minor inconvenience from the pit, but I would love it if you take a look yourself. She would be more at ease to hear from your expertise."

Talia turned to her son, a frown on her lips as she looked thoughtfully at him and then nodded, "Alright, she is due for a check-up anyway."

Damian sighed and nodded, thanking his mother.

The next day Raven had her check-up and Talia told her that it would take a couple of days to thoroughly check everything.

When the results were ready, Talia called for her son.

Talia was looking at something through a microscope while sitting on a steel stool.

"Mother, I hope there is good news," Damian said as he continued his way to his mother. He was calm and his hands were behind him. He wore his League of Assassin's uniform.

Talia pulled away from what she was looking at and turned to her son with a frown and a little shake of her head.

"You were really in a hurry, huh?" Talia sighed but Damian could tell that her mother was merely being playful with him. But he did not understand her words.

"You two are still young, what was the rush? I suppose you want to secure your position; I would have done the same." She dragged a sigh.

Damian was more confused with her words, as if realizing her son's genuine confusion, she stood up from her stool and walked to him smiling.

"Congratulations son, you are about to be a father." The words took some time for Damian to process fully. His mother stood before him with arms wide.

"Mother, sorry?" He mumbled and she frowned, putting her hands down.

"I can tell from your reaction that this wasn't done on purpose, but I'd thought you'd be ecstatic. Raven is pregnant." Talia explained slowly.

Damian blinked and his voice cracked, "She is?"

His mother nodded slowly and watched tears fall from her son's cheeks. She lifted a hand and gently brushed the tears away.

"I didn't think I could be…" He held his breath and blinked the tears away, "No. The order is wrong. I wanted to get married first."

Talia watched her son look surprised then in dread in a matter of seconds and she burst into laughter.

"Out of order? Yeah, I think that is right." She shook her head, placing her hands on her hips, turned and walked away back to her stool and she sat back down. "Raven died and you reversed that and now you are welcoming a new life after death." She glanced at her son who seemed to be understanding her words.

"If you get married after giving birth or during pregnancy, I don't think it's quite an issue with all you've been through son." She spoke and placed a hand on the table.

Her son nodded, "You are right, Mother," he looked up at her, his eyes sparkling. The sparkle that was lost when Raven died had only returned upon her revival.

She smiled faintly at him.

"Thank you." He added softly.

She nodded and her son turned around, she guessed he was going to tell Raven the news.

~.~.~.~.~.~

As Raven's pregnancy progressed, Damian saw an even darker turn to her diet.

At this point, she preferred eating raw meat.

Damian smiled at her with kindness, "Beloved, how does it taste?"

"I know, it's odd. But I can't stand it when it's cooked." She sniffed trying not to be emotional.

His hand reached out to hold her hand, "I know. If anything, this is my fault, I'm sorry."

Raven stared at him with wide eyes and shook her head, her expression firm. "No." She gripped his hand.

"Don't say that." She quietly added, tears forming in her eyes. "It's like you're telling me you don't want this child." Her other hand rested on her lower abdomen.

She was showing, but it was quite minimal. Almost not quite noticeable really.

Damian's green eyes widened at the thought. He instantly got up, knocking the chair down and Raven flinched at the sound. He went to her side and kneeled before her, gently tugging her to signal her that he wanted her to face him. And she shifted in her seat so that the two were facing each other.

"No. That's not what I mean. This is likely a side effect of the pit. I did that. I choose to revive you. I'm sorry that you have to suffer because of me. But God. I can't live without you. So, I'm sorry too for being so fucking selfish." Tears welled up in his eyes and he hugged her around her waist. His forehead rested against her heart.

He did this. He knew. "I should have been cautious too, should have abstained from sex. I…" He became quiet and corrected himself. "I want this child with you, I'm sorry I'm so selfish." He looked up, tears falling down his cheeks silently. And his lover stared at him gently.

At that moment, all he could think of was the life he lived without her. It wasn't a life. It wasn't a life…

He wondered when her existence became so tightly wrapped with his to make him become this desperate.

"I want this child too…" She rubbed both his cheeks with her thumbs. "I also wanted to feel your warmth… I don't think I could have abstained…" Her cheeks turned red as she quietly added, "I regret nothing."

Damian smiled and nodded. And Raven leaned down to kiss him. The food was forgotten as their lips intertwined and their evening ended with the proof of how much they could not hold off from not touching and feeling one another.

They were now on their bed.

He studied her as he gave long consecutive strokes to her wet cunt with his hardened dick. He listened keenly to their moans and the swishing of their liquids.

How long her eyelashes were even when she was squeezing her eyes tightly below him.

How her hands were clenching their bedsheet.

How thankful he was that her pale skin was slightly flushed with the color red. How it was so far from the pale color of when her life slipped away from this beautiful body.

How his dirty and rough hands gripped her legs and kept them spread and apart before him by the back of her knees.

How– as he trusted her breasts would jiggle up or down.

How the sweat trickled from her pores as they continued their evening.

His heart tightened.

All of this showed just how alive she was.

He didn't know when her life became such an important factor for him to live. But how can he live without her?

Without this beautiful woman moaning beneath him?

"Damian…" She mumbled, breaking his reverie. Her head turned to one side, her breathing erratic.

Her neck was bare for him to claim and so he did. He leaned forward, lips sucking at where her pulse was.

She was breathing and alive. Calling for him.

There was no other woman he could possibly be with in this lifetime.

And in his mind, he let out a silent apology that he couldn't live without her.

He wanted to erase that evening of passion before her fall with more tender moments. He wanted to replace it. Wanted not to fear losing her after sex just because of that one time.

It seemed that desperate had become him now.

Raven screamed his name and he groaned.

It's probably why he got her pregnant. He didn't think about protection. He just wanted to forget and replace those scary memories with newer ones.

It's why he would hold her so tightly when they were asleep and would refuse to let her go out of bed if he wasn't there with her.

But he knew if he dragged his habits longer, she would be worried. So, he has tried his best to control his desire to follow her around. But he couldn't relax unless he was certain that she was fine. Preferably in his line of sight and especially in his arms.

He felt her soft hands caress his face and they shared a tender gaze at each other.

And once again, in his mind. He apologized again because he really can't fucking live without her.

~.~.~.~.~

Damian and Raven couldn't get married yet, well not in the League's ways because of her pregnancy. But they have already signed their marriage contracts with their civilian identities.

Raven was showing already and her diet seemed to have gotten even odder. She has been eating raw meat and asking for dishes cooked with blood.

He never outwardly showed his worry to her but he was having suspicions. After all, when Raven died, she was already pregnant.

He didn't think that it would be likely that the pit resurrected their dead child too. She was in suspended animation for months.

But her revival was new territory, and if she carried the same child, she already was pregnant with when she died… well it wasn't really impossible with their circumstances.

No one knew about Raven's pregnancy, except Batman and the hero that inspected Raven's body. He never mentioned it to his mother. He was even thankful when his mother didn't do a pregnancy test on Raven before putting her in her special concoction made of the Lazarus Pit.

But it seems that it was time to confess.

Damian was on his way to meet his mother in the middle of the night. Right after arriving from a mission for the League. He usually went to see Raven first, a habit he developed since he brought her corpse here.

Tonight, after how many months, he was breaking it.

Talia was at her laboratory, sitting on her desk studying a report.

"Mother, there is something I must tell you." Damian waited for her to have her full attention.

Talia looked up frowning when she wondered why her son didn't continue on.

He sighed and she got up, "What's the matter?"

She goes around the table to approach him.

"There is something I haven't told you." Damian avoided her eyes and she frowned. "Please don't tell Raven, she doesn't know…" He quietly added to the point that Talia herself almost couldn't hear him.

She was getting impatient but waited for him to explain.

"When she died, she was pregnant." He spoke even more softly than previously before.

Talia's gasp was so sharp that Damian flinched. It was so much louder compared to how he spoke. She instantly understood.

Talia's face started to become red and he understood her anger. They didn't know what would happen if this really was Raven's previous pregnancy. What the pit would do to the child.

"What were you thinking hiding this from me!" She roared and again he flinched. He deserved this.

"I just thought her body would have reabsorbed the fetus…" He sounded defeated and Talia looked at him like she had just stepped out of the Lazarus Pit herself and became crazy.

Talia suddenly laughed; her head raised to the ceiling.

Then the laughter seized and she pushed her son a little, anger seething through her, "You better start praying that your son doesn't come out of her with two heads!"

Damian's eyes twitched but understood very much that her anger was reasonable.

"I will put him down myself if he can't be controlled." She whispered very carefully.

And Damian felt his blood run dry, "I understand, Mother."

Talia sighed loudly and took a step back from her son and she studied him, "Lighten up, these are just speculations, you could still be wrong."

He nodded quietly.

"Damian al Ghul!" She yelled and he looked at her with a firm gaze. "That is the right look for my heir. You must remember who you are, even when faced with a problem you are sensitive about."

Damian's eyes no longer reflected his worries and fear; it was all masked with perfect indifference. "Yes, Demon's Head." He placed a fist over his heart and bowed.

Talia nodded and turned, placing her hands behind her back, "But don't think I don't mean my words, son."

"Yes, Mother." His eyes were like steel in determination. His mother was right. He was her heir, the next Demon's Head, he should act like it. And if his mother will kill his heir, then he has to prove to his own mother who he is.

He will protect his family this time. Even against Talia al Ghul.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Damian was tired, he had a long night. But he had to shower before going to bed with Raven. He was covered with blood and sweat. He didn't want her to know how much blood he bathed in whenever he came back.

Thus, he made it a point to shower somewhere else before going to her.

But tonight, he was anxious. He bathed quickly and went to the love of his life. His hair was still dripping wet.

The feeling that something was wrong was eating him.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see her sitting up. Her violet eyes looked sad as she glanced at him.

His anxiety heightened.

"Beloved, what's the matter?" He quickly closed the distance between them.

She frowned, rubbing her quite grown bump, "Your hair is still wet…" she mumbled.

And he stopped for a moment touching his hair, for a second, he forgot that it was still dripping wet. His shoulders were soaked from under his shirt.

"Yes–" He couldn't finish his thought.

"Can't you shower here?" She cut him off and he looked at her confusedly, still midway from her and the door.

She shifted in her seat and he broke away from whatever spell that kept his feet planted on his current spot.

"I want you to shower here." It sounded like she wanted to demand it of him, but she merely only sounded upset. Even close to crying actually.

He sat beside her, brushing her face, "You know why I shower somewhere else; I don't want you to smell that…"

Blood. That's what he meant and they both understood.

"I know, but it's been feeling like you were with someone else and you're washing away the proof." She wrapped her arms around herself, quiet tears falling down her eyes.

"You know, I would never." He placed his hand on her shoulders but she didn't look at him.

"I know. I just… I can't help the thought…" She sniffed, nervous hands rubbing her belly.

He kissed her temple, "Oh my beloved pregnant wife–" he stopped, noticing her frown had deepened which left him confused.

"I don't want that." She pouted and he blinked.

She tugged his shirt sleeve, "Can't you call me yours?" She mumbled; ears red with embarrassment.

He wanted to laugh with joy, but he knew she'd feel even more embarrassed. He smiled, placing a gentle hand on her stomach and then a kiss on her forehead.

"Mine." He whispered. "And I will always be yours only."

She sighed and nodded; he smiled knowing she was reassured.

She moved closer to the inner part of the bed, making space for Damian to lie at the edge. He smiled again and snuggled his face against the side of her neck.

"Where will you take a shower after your missions?" She asked quietly as she played with his wrist on the hand that was resting on her stomach.

He smiled against her neck, "Here."

"No matter how bloody you are?" She inquired again this time in a quick manner.

He sighed and sucked on the skin on her neck, "No matter how bloody." He confirmed.

There was a satisfied sigh that came from Raven, his kisses on her neck continued on. His other hand was starting to roam.

"There is something about my very pregnant partner being jealous that is turning me on…" His voice is deep and hoarse from desire.

Raven stiffened and one of his thumbs found her sensitive nipple and she gasped.

"Be gentle." She whispered back her hand cupping her belly. He pulled away from her neck and stared at her, eyes glittering.

They stared at each other for a moment and then he broke the silence, "They say it is safe to do it now."

Raven's face was reddish but she nodded at his words.

"Can I really?" He asked her again and she nodded.

Damian did not move but instead studied her face.

She frowned, "You changed your mind?" Her voice cracked, the insecurity that there might be another slowly seeping in again.

"Of course not, I just– I'm glad to be able to have all these moments with you." He said and didn't wait for her to reply because he leaned down to kiss her on the lips.

When the two were done he placed a kiss on her belly, "Sorry little one, mommy and daddy can't help it."

Raven played with her husband's hair.

And if she wasn't already pregnant, they might have conceived on this heated evening.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Raven was standing in a half-squat position as she continued to have contractions.

"Lady Raven, Master Damian is on his way." A lady said and Raven screamed, the beads of sweat dripping down her face.

"I don't see the baby, My Lady, you must push." The lady between her legs said and Raven sobbed.

She was so tired; she wasn't sure why her son wasn't coming out. She was starting to become anxious.

"Raven, I'm here!" Came Damian's voice as the door opened.

Raven's head turned to the door and their eyes met. She removed one of her hands from one of the women who was assisting the childbirth.

She reached for him, "Damian."

He came to her and she screamed and he quickly grabbed her outstretched hand and closed the distance between them. Making her lean her back to him.

"Beloved, I'm here," He placed one hand on her bulge, "Son, don't be shy, we want to meet you, let's not make mommy suffer anymore."

Raven smiled faintly with his encouragement and then screamed again.

Talia was the last to arrive and as she entered, she heard the midwife say, "The Lady is losing too much blood."

Talia's green eyes met her son's, there was a warning in her glance.

Damian recalled her threat.

"We can't use the pit," Talia announced and Raven turned to her mother-in-law just realizing her presence now.

Damian looked like he was going to protest.

"We cannot, I- I can do this," Raven mumbled and gripped Damian's hand as she screamed again. She was afraid of what would happen if she or her son used the pit. It was already clear that something wasn't right with her.

She struggled and she heaved and wept so desperately. And it all painted Damian who held her and supported her.

Eventually, the baby came out. But there were no tears or weeping and his skin was blue.

"It's a boy." The lady held the baby and Raven smiled panting. But she looked ashen and she leaned against Damian.

The midwife glanced at Damian and Talia quietly.

"Why can't I hear him cry?" Raven suddenly got up; her weariness gone. The silence that followed scared her even more.

"Where is our son!" She cried and Damian held her tightly.

"Don't worry Lady Raven, we are just washing him up." The midwife's back was facing Raven.

"Why isn't he crying? What's wrong!" She yelled.

"Please, Raven, relax." Talia tried to calm her and the other woman glared at her, making Talia's smile waver.

A second passed and another, there was just the defending silence between everyone in the room. There were over five people in the room and there was nothing but the sickening silence that followed.

How could she not worry?

Raven was exhausted but the worry over her son kept her conscious.

She heard the crying of a baby and someone sighed aloud and Raven fainted.

"Mother, the pit!" Damian instantly begged, so terrified that she had passed away again.

Talia's eyes looked like it was about to pop out of their sockets out of anger, "No. We don't know how any of these will affect her."

She was firm, especially because of what he had done or more like what he didn't do earlier. She glanced at the baby.

"The baby seems normal." She quietly stared at her son.

"Observe both mother and child carefully." She ordered and Damian glared at his mother, but he had to calm himself.

He realized asking to use the pit was quite foolish of him, he hadn't even checked for her breathing yet.

And so he does that, and he sighed, "She's breathing."

He was being drastic for asking to use the pit. His mother must have noticed that she was still breathing.

When Raven came to, the first thing she did was ask about the child.

"He's alright beloved." Damian sat by her side and she smiled weakly.

"What does he look like?" She quietly asked, lips still pale.

He sighed, "I wish I could say he looked like you, but Mother insisted that he looked like me."

"Really?" She faintly smiled.

"Well, his skin is as pale as yours, but other than that, he looks like me– according to Mother," Damian explained slowly.

She nodded, "Can I see him?"

Damian stilled, "I will have that arranged beloved." He placed a hand over hers, "First you must gather more strength so you can hold him. I don't know if you recall, but you kept bleeding out."

She nodded and closed her eyes to rest. She still felt tired. She also recalled how their son didn't cry when he came out.

For a moment there was fear settled in her heart. Like, what if he was lying to her? That their son was not, okay? But she was still so exhausted that she fell right back to sleep instead of letting the doubt fester.

Damian studied her with a frown. His mother was actually testing their son which was why she couldn't see him. He was glad that she didn't pursue the matter any further and that she went back to sleep easily.

Now that she was sleeping, he had to go and check on his mother and his son.

When Damian went to his mother, she smiled at him.

"It seems like nothing is wrong with him." She said and Damian smiled at the comment.

"That's good then." He replied back.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

It was only a month since Raven gave birth, but she was healthier and so was their son. Both mother and child had gained weight which brought joy to Damian.

Damian had prepared their wedding ceremony for the League while Raven was pregnant. They had agreed to do it as soon as they could after their son was born.

And today was the day of the wedding.

Damian wore the traditional wedding garb of the League of Assassins in the color of dark green and gold.

He was waiting for Raven at the hall, in the section where the hall formed a T. He was looking at the portrait of him and Raven that was made during the first few months of her pregnancy. She wasn't showing yet.

In the portrait, he was standing with a hand on the back of the golden chair that she was sitting on that had beautiful black cushions. She wore a dress in the color of violet with golden designs. While he wore something almost similar to what he was wearing now, but in black and gold.

The gold designs on their outfit in the portrait marched one another.

This time for their wedding, the gold patterns on their clothes would be the same too. But different from the one in the portrait.

Damian heard the door open and he turned away from the portrait.

And his breath was taken away by the sight of Raven.

Her dress was made from the same cloth as his suit now. So, the color and pattern were the same. She had a long trail and a long veil over her long black hair. The veil is the same cloth as their clothes, but the edges are adorned with golden lace appliques. She was adorned with gold jewelry and a headpiece. The jewels of the headpiece dangling across her forehead.

Her waist looked small and maybe it was because of her breasts. And God was her breast huge and they even more accentuated due to the square neckline that pressed tightly against her. Her breast looked so round, plump, and that cleavage.

Raven chuckled, raising a hand for Damian to take.

His eyes were clearly gawking at her breasts.

"I worry the top will be wet soon because of my milk seeping through the fabric." She admitted casually as she stood beside him.

He licked his lips at the image she painted for him, "I know that I had asked the dressmaker to make sure that doesn't happen. But I suppose it is best to rush this ceremony to avoid embarrassing you if such a thing were to happen." He said seriously and she smiled. He leaned by her ear and whispered. "And then later, I can help you with your milk problem."

A blush formed on her cheeks and she couldn't reply as he tugged her in one direction, leading her to the ceremony.

The dress was made quite recently, but there were no signs of it being rushed. It fit his beautiful wife so well. It didn't even look like she had just given birth.

He was excited about the wedding, but he was even more excited to help relieve her from the clutches of this dress, even if it was actually quite comfortable on Raven.

Of course, he would think of her comfort when the dress was made. That was the kind of husband he was.

And he knew how comforted she would be once he helped her remove it later after the ceremony.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Raven's diet returned back to normal after giving birth. And that didn't help Damian's suspicions that his son might not be as normal as they thought.

Raven was in their bedroom, laying on the bed, the blanket over her legs. Her back rested against the headboard with some pillows as she was breastfeeding her son.

"Ouch!" Raven suddenly yelled, making Damian who had just opened the door run to her.

"What's wrong? What happened!" He was yelling anxiously as he studied the room.

"Oh, I'm sorry, my love." She faintly smiled through the pain. "Our son just bit my breast really hard."

She winced as she pulled him off of her breast.

Their son was still 6 months old, but he had already had an almost full set of teeth poking out his gums. Raven would laugh and say that he took after his father, that their son was a genius like Damian. But the man himself was worried whenever he hears her say that.

"This isn't the first time, beloved, I think it's best to stop breastfeeding faster than you wanted," Damian suggested quietly as he sat down beside her. Raven's violet eyes stared at him with sorrow.

They had agreed to breastfeed their son for 2 years or less. She really wanted to do this for him.

"Beloved, your breasts will look like they got mauled by a dog at some point." He had pointed out. Their son seemed to enjoy making his mother bleed.

"Then I don't mind!" She stubbornly said. He sighed aloud and for a moment wondered how she started to become so stubborn.

But ultimately smiled and rested his forehead against hers. Her stubbornness was rather endearing for him.

"I already don't like another male sucking your breasts and now I have to deal with his own teeth marks on you?" He whispered and she huffed.

"This is our son!" Her tone clearly showed that she was frustrated.

"And even I don't bite you that hard– that you'd end up bleeding." He replied sternly, "Beloved, he is hurting you."

Raven frowned and brushed their son's black hair, "He doesn't know any better."

And her green-eyed husband sighed aloud. "Alright. You win. But remember, you can always stop breastfeeding anytime, I won't be mad about it." He brushed her breast with the teeth marks.

"Mhmmm…" She reveled against his gentle caress on her breast.

"Do you need help to get rid of some milk?" Damian's eyes twinkled as he stared directly at her eyes.

And she chuckled, "Well, our son didn't drink much before he bit me, and my breasts are sore…"

He smiled, "Perfect. Let's just put him aside and I can help you with that."

He quickly grabbed their son who just stared at him and Damian made faces to the small infant as Raven giggled. But their son didn't react at all even with how Damian cooed and made faces at him.

Once he placed his son on his cot, Damian took his job of helping his wife out with her milk supply very seriously.

Two months later, Raven was staring at their son, who was laying on his cot.

"You are quite the odd one, aren't you?" She cooed, giving him her index finger. "You don't cry, you don't get upset and you just stare. Such a quiet child."

"In that case, I think he took after both of us," Damian said entering the room and Raven turned her head to smile at him.

Suddenly, "Ouch!" Raven hissed as she turned her attention to their son.

Damian came running to her, "What happened?"

"He bit my finger! I swear our son might be a vampire." Raven answered not thinking much about her words.

Her husband stilled.

Raven turned to him, "Hey, it's not your fault, it could possibly be my demon blood manifesting."

The couple studied each other and Damian slowly nodded.

Raven noticeably winced, it was clear that her finger stung.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Their son was 2 years old now and Raven frowned, staring at him and he just stared back.

Damian just arrived because he heard that she was asking for him.

"Our son… he doesn't cry, he doesn't get upset and he only stares at you. And it's like he is seeing through your skin and judging your very soul." That was how Damian was welcomed by his wife.

She looked away and stared at her husband, "I've been thinking about this quite seriously, maybe we should have another child, maybe a sibling will brighten him up." She cooed at her son who just blinked at her. "But then I also worry about how he will be if he does have a sibling. Our son seems to enjoy biting people…"

Damian studied Raven, the guilt was drowning him and she noticed this.

He reached for his son and kissed the child's forehead. His wife studied him quietly. Then placed the boy down on the floor and he picked up his toy blocks quietly.

"I…there is something I haven't told you yet." Damian closed his eyes and sighed aloud.

Damian told her his suspicions of their firstborn. The fact that she was pregnant when she was shot. And that was so many years ago.

Raven was of course so very angry at his treachery. Her pale skin was now red in fury.

And her not saying anything as he explained– and even long after he finished talking, weighed even more heavy on Damian.

Whatever will happen next, he greatly deserved it.

Raven sighed aloud. The first verbal reaction he got.

He looked at her quietly.

"I get why you kept this from me." She took a step forward and cupped his face. "Tell me, you're not hiding anything else from me, are you?"

His eyes were watery as he quietly moved his head from left and then right.

She nodded and tears fell from his eyes.

She smiled at him, "We'll work this out."

And Damian al Ghul sobbed as he hugged her tightly, crying as he apologized. Her hand rubbed his back to soothe him.

Her eyes were watery too.

Even after all these years, she could never comprehend the pain he went through when he lost her. She recalled how he was when she had just woken up.

How the nightmares would drown him and his feelings would wash over to her. She could feel what he went through and yet, still, she couldn't fully comprehend his suffering.

Even now, she was feeling a new layer of pain that came from years ago when he had temporarily lost her.

~.~.~.~.~.~

"I do want to have another child, maybe it will help our son out… but I really worry if he will harm his sibling." Raven sighed, her head resting on Damian's chest. Her hand traced the scar he got when he accepted becoming the Demon Head's heir.

"Did he do something?" Damian quietly asked.

Raven was silent for a moment, "I saw him tearing his dolls apart…"

She felt her husband's head shift and she gazed up to see him staring down at her.

She quietly added, "He decapitated them without even blinking."

Damian's eyes fluttered.

"I asked around and it's normal for kids to do such things." Raven quickly added propping herself up a little.

"And his other toys?" He quietly asked, the guilt settling in.

Raven avoided her husband's gaze, "He'd build cities to tear them down."

Someone gulped audibly in the quiet room.

Damian shifted in the bed, about to get out but she stopped him by cupping his face and firmly holding his face to face her. "Damian. My love. This isn't your fault. You told me yourself that we aren't even certain if he is the child that I was pregnant with when I–" She paused because the topic was still quite sensitive. "We don't know for certain if he was always with me when you were trying to resurrect me. You couldn't have known."

"I should have known better." His jaws were clenched tightly.

"Please, it hurts me seeing you like this," Raven said, eyes welling up.

"But you're worried, beloved." A simple statement from Damian. "He doesn't cry. He doesn't laugh. He doesn't even ask for anything. He rarely even talks."

Raven's frown was deep, she was just concerned for their son.

"Do you think he will show more emotions if he has a sibling?" Damian asked, moving closer to his beautiful wife.

"It's what I'm hoping for." She smiled weakly as she wrapped her fingers around his.

"Well… there is only one way to find out," Damian replied and she nodded, his lips moving closer to her ear.

"We will have to work hard to give him a sibling." He said, and she was certain he was seducing her.

And it worked perfectly. They were already naked, so they just continued where they left off.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Raven screamed. She was contemplating why she wanted another child for a moment.

She hoped she wouldn't bleed out like the first time. And she screamed again.

She had not heard her son laugh, and she hoped that with this child that she was trying to push out, she could finally hear her son laugh.

She didn't know the gender of the baby she was giving birth to. But she hoped whatever the outcome was, it would be the best one.

She recalled her firstborn smiling when he felt the baby kick. And she held onto that image as she screamed again.

This was the right decision. She was sure of it.

Damian was in a deep operation for the League and her son didn't want to leave her when she started contracting. The boy never complained but she recalled how he was quietly twisting his small body off of the guards or nanny's grip when Raven had to go into her bedroom for labor.

Raven had to coax the boy to stop him from making any more fuss and he nodded quietly.

Her son had wanted to be there with her. Whatever worry she had about her son harming their sibling was washed away a long time ago. When moments like those happened. She knew he would be a great brother.

She heard the cry of a small baby, her eyes welled in tears. Breaking away from the memories of the small moments of interest her firstborn showed in her pregnancy.

She recalled how her firstborn didn't cry like this when she gave birth to him.

And she couldn't help but sigh in relief hearing her second child crying as it should be during normal delivery.

She never told Damian, but she worried that she was the problem. The true reason why their son was the way he was.

"He's a healthy boy." The midwife said and Raven burst into tears.

Raven just realized then, just how much she needed to hear that. Especially with her first child. She was still aware that this was her second delivery but it healed something inside her that she didn't know was broken.

He's a healthy boy.

The words echoed in her mind as she sobbed.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Raven noted how their eldest son seemed to be very attentive to his younger brother. She even heard him laugh and coo at the baby.

But he still stared at people like he was deliberating their souls like some God of Death.

They had an almost five-year gap and her eldest son was now ten years old. He had begun his training as part of the League years ago. Raven wasn't happy with this, but she understood that it was protocol.

Raven and Damian noted how their son would precisely slash the dummies without blinking. He also followed orders too well. He didn't even ask questions.

He would choose to kill without a second thought too.

Talia was secretly happy.

And Damian and Raven could tell that she was.

So, it wasn't really a secret, since Talia never verbally said that she was proud and happy with how her first grandson turned out. But it was very clear that she was nothing short of ecstatic with these facts.

Talia handled most of her grandson's training because she didn't trust the couple to give him the proper education required as a member of the League of Assassins.

The couple, after all, had a weak spot for their children.

Raven knew how hard it was for Damian growing up with Talia's training– the League of Assassins requirements.

But the couple silently found some form of comfort in something they disliked.

Like how their eldest son would go wash up quickly after training to find his younger brother and do whatever he can with him.

How he also seemed to talk more to them and make requests.

How there were times he seemed to be filled with warmth and exuded love and happiness.

Just like what Raven and Damian were seeing now.

The two were standing on a balcony watching their two sons below. Raven's head against Damian's chest, one of her hands rested on his chest too while the other was wrapped around his waist.

Damian was hugging her.

"I didn't make a mistake, right?" She asked him softly, eyes twinkling as she watched their eldest son panic when he noticed his younger brother tilting forward a little bit.

Their eldest son is already helping his brother out. He had already caught the premature fall of his younger sibling.

"You mean I didn't?" Damian couldn't help but pull his head away to look down at her and she shifted in his arms to look up at him.

She cupped his face, "It's been so long, I thought you'd put that to rest." She brushed his cheek.

For a moment his eyes showed his sadness over that one moment in his life about eleven years ago.

The day everything changed for him and her.

He shook his head, "I've lived a full and fulfilling life now." He kissed the top of her head.

She smiled and rubbed her face against his heart.

"Thank you." She said pulling away and standing before him properly. And he raised a brow in confusion.

She chuckled at his cuteness. "Thank you for giving me this life."

His eyes welled, and she felt his love and admiration for the woman before him. And she couldn't help it when she too started to feel teary-eyed too.

"No." He spoke firmly but his voice had a hoarseness in it. She furrowed her brows and he added, "Thank you for staying with me."

And she held her breath as she felt his insecurities. His worries that she'd leave him because of his choices.

She closed her eyes, reeling all the emotions in. And she stood on her tippy toes as she kissed him with both her hands on his cheeks.

He kissed her back.

The laughter of both their sons was the music that played as the two shared this beautiful and sweet moment together.

"I love you too much to just walk away." She mumbled against his lips and a mischievous smile was now on those lips.

As he replied back, "I love you so much that I couldn't possibly see a future with anyone else."

Their lips found each other once more. She moaned in response.

Their son's laughter was proof of their life together which then slowly faded into the background as the sound from their kisses became louder.

"I wouldn't trade my life for anything," Raven whispered against his lips.

FIN.