"Liam!" Her surprise was clear, "What are you doing here?" She studied his outfit and realized that he was a waiter.
"I'm working, remember I said I am doing some odd jobs to save up for my business?" Liam sheepishly replied.
"And this is one of them?" Raven nodded, understanding the picture.
"But wow, I didn't think your boyfriend would be Damian Wayne. Somehow it all makes sense now!" Liam didn't hide how impressed he was and she couldn't help but laugh.
"He is impressive isn't he? His work for Wayne Enterprises and all." Raven nodded again recalling how Damian had helped his father's business. Trying to recall his civil life and keeping to his achievements there if they were to further discuss the matter.
"Gosh, this is embarrassing to say, but I look up to him." There was a small blush on Liam's face and Raven couldn't help but laugh. And her new friend studied her carefully. "You look so different."
Raven was startled at the words and Liam mirrored the same thing.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything bad about that," He quickly said, "It's just– I can tell that he really makes you happy…"
Raven blinked and she faintly smiled, "He does…" Her eyes noticed the tray he was holding. "I know you are working, but is it alright if I disturb you a little bit more? It's nice to see a familiar face here."
Liam nodded, "Well, as long as my employers don't complain, I can assist you the best I can. And since you are part of the family– I doubt I'd be scolded."
Raven giggled and nodded, "Well, to make it look like I am not taking your time for nonsense that is unrelated to your work–" She turned her head and looked at the table. "Can you explain to me what is what and what's best– because, if you hadn't heard of Damian's speech, I am new to this kind of party."
Liam chuckled, "Oh, in that case I am the right man for the job."
Liam explained to Raven the little treats that were available and the kind of drinks that would best suit each dish. Raven would even joke about how she didn't understand how these small little things were fulfilling for anyone's stomach and Liam had to agree while also defending the beauty of the presentation.
Raven and Liam were surrounded with a happy aura as they continued to discuss. Raven didn't notice Damian walking her way.
A familiar hand slipped on Raven's lower back and she turned her head a little, "Damian." She smiled as she greeted him. "Do you remember the friend I talked to you about?" She stepped closer to him and fixed his blazer collar as he looked down at her hand and he nodded.
"This is him, Liam." Raven turned to Liam and Damian followed her hand that was raised to gesture at him.
"Nice to meet you, Raven was really glad to make a friend in Gotham." Damian's hand was extended and Liam shook it.
"This is one of his jobs– he is saving to start up his own business." Raven continued to explain. Her boyfriend glanced at her for a moment and then stared at Liam.
"I think we should discuss this business venture when you are not occupied. I like investing in new startups." Damian flashed his bright white teeth to the brown haired man.
Raven looked surprised at Damian's suggestion.
Liam's green eyes were wide, glancing at Raven and then Damian as he nodded. "Yes, sir, thank you so much! I should get back to work."
Damian chuckled, "I will find you and arrange a date, I am a little busy so it might take some time. But you have my word, Liam."
Liam nodded, "Just the offer is more than enough for me!"
Eventually, Liam left and Raven couldn't help but admire her boyfriend, "You're willing to help a complete stranger?"
Her boyfriend's eyebrows were drawn close together, "Stranger?" He pulled her into his arms. "Did you forget? I did a background check on him, calling him a stranger is a little–"
Raven playfully pinched his side and they laughed and she shushed him.
The two continued to stare at each other's eyes, until someone cleared their throat. "Damian."
The young couple recognized that voice and turned to Bruce Wayne. "Raven, you look lovely." He smiled and gave her a little nod.
"Thank you." Raven gave a little nod too.
"I need to borrow the birthday boy for a bit." Bruce weakly smiled and Damian clearly looked displeased. And Raven knew what they would talk about once they were alone. The mission.
The young couple looked at one another, "It's alright, go Damian." She gave him a peck on the cheek to comfort him.
His lips were pressed against one another as he glanced at his father, he sighed and agreed to Bruce's request. Violet eyes observed the father and son leave.
Raven turned her head and those same eyes widened in surprise.
Catherine and Arthur were walking their way to her. Catherine looked a little awkward and Arthur looked a little grouchy.
"Raven…we didn't expect to see you here." Catherine said as Raven blinked.
"I didn't either…" Raven replied, glancing behind the kid's and noticed their parents who nodded a small greeting her way and Raven lifted her hand to give a short wave. But then again, it made sense, Damian and the kid's family revolve around the same kind of people.
"So…I guess we finally know who your boyfriend is…" Arthur mumbled and Catherine elbowed her brother.
The blonde woman smiled brightly at Raven and sounded more cheerful, "I didn't think the mysterious boyfriend would be the Damian Wayne– in fact, the party I wanted to invite you to is this very one! Of course, you wouldn't need our invitation." Catherine laughed.
A blush crept over Raven's face, "Yeah… I wasn't expecting to see someone I know here." She absently added, recalling meeting Liam too.
"Well, with the way you were looking at him, I would totally understand." Catherine smiled at Raven's confused glance, "It's so clear you two love one another to the point that everyone else is just background noise." She realized her brother was quiet and she nudged him with her elbow, "Right, Arthur?"
The boy glanced at his sister then their sitter, "Yeah…" He mumbled his agreement.
"You guys…think so too?" Raven was the one to mutter this time around. That was likely why Liam told her she looked different.
Catherine looked at her brother and she looked conflicted, before she could say anything Raven smiled.
"Are you two enjoying the party? I'm not really sure what to do during these kinds of things." Raven sheepishly smiled.
The siblings stared at one another, Arthur sighed and supplied, "These are really just beneficial to strengthen business relations. It's like an unspoken rule." He shrugged.
"Not really a filling event then." Raven teased and the two smiled.
"The conversations are a bore too." Catherine added, emphasizing the word bore as she linked arms with Raven.
"Since you are already here, you can keep us company, right?" Catherine asked, there was clear nervousness in her eyes.
Raven smiled at her, hoping it would comfort her, "How have you two been?" And placed a hand gently on the younger girl's hand. Slipping a little of her magic with the contact to soothe the younger girl's nerves.
Catherine blinked weakly and smiled back, "I…sometimes," She glanced at her brother, "Think of how bad things could have gotten."
Raven gently rubbed Catherine's hand. Catherine's worries were also something young heroes worried about after a dangerous mission, near-death experiences or when someone actually died. So, Raven was more than familiar with what Catherine was feeling.
"I am thankful that Batman and his team came." Arthur added softly and Catherine nodded.
Raven nodded and agreed, recalling how Damian came to save her. Then guilt settled in because they probably wouldn't have arrived that quickly if Raven wasn't there.
She talked to the kids as if she was a therapist to try and soothe them. Using her knowledge when she had to do the same for the younger heroes, especially the newer ones. Those young heroes reacted the same way as these kids. But aside from talking about the incident with the kids she also brought them a smile and made the party enjoyable. And time flew by quickly.
It was almost an hour since Damian left with Bruce, she also noticed that Bruce's other kids were not in the vicinity too, and in fact even Jon. She didn't notice their absence until now, the children were a good distraction.
Another sign of the Earth's impending doom being of the highest grade in terms of danger.
Raven found that she was playing with the pendant around her neck.
"It's pretty." Arthur meekly said and Raven stared at him in confusion.
"Everyone saw him give it to you. I think everyone here would agree that he treasures you just based on how he looks at you." Arthur explained slowly, almost like he didn't want to say it.
"I have to agree, the way you two look at one another is so dreamy." Catherine couldn't help but swoon.
Raven blushed, "Oh, don't tease me."
"We aren't…" Arthur sighed, "Catherine and I have joined these parties since young, and most often, we'd see Damian– today he was the most approachable."
Raven chuckled, "Damian is like a turtle, he has a tough shell and tends to avoid people but behind that shell and that stiff face, he is a really gentle man."
Arthur just nodded and looked away. Raven missed the displeasure on his face at her words while Catherine swooned even more at the analogy Raven gave them.
"But he seemed to have disappeared." Arthur coughed containing the emotion that came every time they talked about Damian Wayne.
Raven was surprised at the comment, "Oh, you know billionaire's and their children– they have things to deal with 24/7." She nervously laughed.
Arthur looked unconvinced but didn't say anything.
"Oh, but look, speak of the devil." Catherine pointed behind Raven and she turned to see Damian stalking towards her clearly bothered by something.
"And that is the Damian we all know." Arthur mumbled.
Raven stole a glance at Arthur and couldn't help but notice that Catherine seemed to have her eyes stuck at her boyfriend with an oddly similar sparkle in her blue eyes.
"Raven, beloved." A hand rested at her lower back. He had a gentle smile on his face but she quietly observed him as he smiled at the children. "Damian Wayne." He extended his free hand out and Catherine's eyes brightly lit as she shook the hand.
"Catherine McCoy," She smiled brightly and she turned her head to her brother and pointed with her free thumb, "Arthur McCoy, my brother."
Damian nodded at the young boy who looked rather grouchy. He kind of reminded him of his younger self.
"Damian?" Raven called out and her boyfriend blinked as he brought his gaze back on her. Letting Catherine's hand go.
He smiled at her, "Sorry, Catherine and Arthur," He gave them a little nod. "But I must take Raven away from you guys."
Catherine was flustered and raised her hands as she waved them, "Oh! That is totally alright, we both understand." Then elbowed Arthur who begrudgingly agreed.
Damian takes Raven away and she lets him, it was oddly comforting to have his firm hand on her as he takes her somewhere. The irritation she saw when he approached her was gone but she did not try and find out why he felt that way.
Instead she focused on enjoying the evening with Damian, after all, it was his birthday celebration.
~.~.~.~.~
The party finally ended and Raven was back in Damian's bedroom waiting for him. She stared out the window watching the caterers clean up. Liam being one of them.
Big arms wrapped around her body from behind and Raven giggled a little as he inhaled her scent. His head on the nook of her neck and shoulder.
"I'm so happy to see you here and being able to introduce you as Damian Wayne's girlfriend." He whispered and Raven turned to gaze at her handsome lover.
"It was a very interesting party, the world seems rather small, especially when I met Liam here too." Raven couldn't help but furrow her brows together. She cupped his face with one hand and he held her face with both his hands as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"You look so beautiful." He whispered, observing the colors in her eyes.
She withdrew her hand from his face and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, "Well, I was hoping I would, I had so many people to impress, and I had one person I wanted to look especially good for."
Damian's lips curled a little. The couple's lips close to one another, finally they closed the distance and locked lips. Their tongues danced against one another as their breaths became one.
Damian moaned and Raven pulled away breathless. "Your gift." She barely recalled, her mind still abuzz from their passionate kiss.
Raven walked to the vanity and opened a drawer, pulling out two small boxes.
"Happy Birthday, my love." She smiled at him offering her gifts. His green eyes seemed to twinkle in the dimly lit room.
He breathed in deeply, for a second just staring at her gifts and his hands slowly reached out to grab them. One hand holding the gifts and the other encapsulating her hand that was holding the two small velvet boxes.
"Thank you, beloved." His voice seemed airy, "I will treasure this." His eyes flicked at her violet eyes and she was startled by his sincerity.
She smiled, "I know…" She couldn't help but whisper. "Well, aren't you going to check what's inside?"
He chuckled, "Anything you give, I know I will love–" He opened the smallest box and his eyes widened. "They're beautiful." His fingertips brushing the emerald cufflinks.
"They are the same shade as your eyes." Raven's voice sounded dreamy and there was a smile on Damian's lips.
He then opened the bigger box and he inhaled sharply. It was a silver watch with the backdrop of the watch being black behind the lens.
"Thank you." He looked at her with eyes that exuded his love for her. He hugged her, "Thank you." He inhaled, his face in her black tresses. He tried his best to hug her with the two gifts on both hands. "God, thank you." He added again and kissed the side of her head.
His last thanks was for whatever God he believed in that gave Raven to him.
"Damian…" Raven called out, frowning, she knew him and his worries, she could guess accurately what the last thank you was for. "If you're thinking that I don't deserve you–"
He pulled away and shook his head, "You'd be angry." He couldn't help but chuckle and she observed him. That wasn't wrong of him to say.
"Can you help me put them on?" He asked and it sounded like he was a shy little child.
Raven contained her laughter, he was only like this between the two of them, "Of course."
She took the watch first and inserted it into his wrist and snapped it in place as it was a metal watch. She then grabbed both boxes and placed it on the windowsill that was close to them and took the cufflinks out of their box.
Damian raised the wrist that didn't have the watch on as she fastened the accessory. She did the same thing for his other cuff. And the green eyed man admired her small gifts.
"I will wear them often." He told her, glancing up for a moment and then continued to admire her gifts.
"I know they aren't much–" She stopped because he looked at her sternly and she shook her head. "Alright, alright." She raised her hands in defeat.
"I love them, Raven." He sincerely told her and she nodded, admiring his adoration for her and her gifts.
She smiled at him and then looked perplexed, recalling something, "What happened to Jon? I didn't see him."
But as the question left her mouth, she realized why Jon was missing just by looking at the expression on her boyfriend's face.
Jon likely had to slip out because of the missions they have been undergoing. In fact, he could possibly be covering for Damian while her boyfriend was still needed at his party.
They quietly stared at one another, his gentle gaze then turned strained. "I really hate to do this."
Raven couldn't help but hold her breath with her boyfriend's words, but waited for him to continue.
His eyes were squeezed close and his brows were deeply furrowed, he sighed again, "I…" He sighed again, tilting his head to the floor.
"They're looking for you, aren't they?" Raven supplied the words that he was having a hard time to say
His eyes were still closed and she took note of his shaking body and clenched fists. "They need me to report…yeah…" He opened his eyes and looked at her sadly. "I don't want to go." He shook his head.
She observed him for a moment, then both her hands grabbed his clenched fists and with her thumbs she rubbed small circles at the back of his hand. "But you have to."
The conflict within those green eyes was clear. And neither of them moved or said a thing.
He shook his head again, "I don't want to go."
This time it was Raven who shook her head, "But you have to."
Damian's lips were pursed together. "It's my birthday, I told them they should at least give me this day off." She let go of one of his hands and cupped his face, she calmed the anger that she knew was growing from within him.
"I don't want to leave you again." He looked at her, eyes watery.
"You were never the emotional one." Raven couldn't help but say, her thumb brushing the skin below his eye. She hugged him, "I know you don't want to, but you have to."
There was silence and she felt him slowly hug her in return.
This was a rather familiar scene, it seemed that the two would always return to this situation. She couldn't help but ponder.
Where Damain didn't want to leave, and she would push him to go. The same pattern. Over and over.
"As heroes, we do things we don't want to because we have to." Raven pulled away, "You have to."
Damian's lips were still in a line and he cupped her face, "You're all that I want."
She inhaled, his eyes locked onto her lips, "And you will always have me." A soft smile was on her lips.
He nodded and she nodded.
To ease her boyfriend, Raven brought her lips by his ear and whispered seductively, "A pity too, I had a different gift for you–"
Damian raised a brow and she continued, "I should have greeted you naked with a red bow across my chest laying on the bed– had I known you'd leave so soon."
Damian cleared his throat, choking at the thought and Raven pulled away laughing.
"I guess you just have to come home safely so you can receive that gift." A coy smile on her lips.
His face was red, "Always."
She smiled and held her laughter as she watched her boyfriend calm himself.
With closed eyes, he took a step back. "I should go." His eyes opened, the conflict vaguely still there.
"I hope you won't keep thinking about what I just said." She teased and his cheeks turned pink again.
He cleared his throat, "If anything, it's good inspiration."
Raven laughed, her eyes closed and Damian watched her tenderly. "Yep." She had to agree, both hands holding one of his hands.
"Be safe, my love." She studied his face and he nodded.
"I'll see you." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of both of her hands.
She set his hand free. He turned around and he walked slowly away from her and it seemed that Raven recalled what she promised she'd do at that moment.
She said after his birthday. And she should tell him now before she chickened out. But he was also going on a mission yet again.
"Damian!" She grabbed his wrist and he turned to look at her, she could not pretend that she didn't see the hopefulness in his expression. But she couldn't allow herself to be pulled by it. Because Raven knew, if she asked him to stay, he would.
Instead she focused on her words and her tone, "When you return, I think we need to sit down and talk, we haven't done that in so long."
Disappointment passed over Damian's face for a moment then it was gone, he nodded and gave her a small smile, "I'd love that."
"It's nothing to worry about." She added, she had to say this now or else she might chicken out, "So please, focus on the mission and not what I might say."
This was exactly why she didn't want to have any serious talks with him, she worried too much about the effects of her words.
He nodded, "I always listen to you, so don't worry beloved."
Raven took a step back, letting her hand slide from his wrist to his hand, their eyes locked. "I'll see you then."
He nodded again and turned his back on her and walked away.
When the door closed and he was gone, Raven heaved a sigh of relief. She was glad that she impulsively told him that they had to talk when he returned because honestly, she was scared she'd chicken out and drag this much needed conversation yet again.
This was long overdue.
With closed eyes she raised her head toward the ceiling.
She prayed that she wasn't making a mistake.
Raven turned to look out the window but her eyes fell on the boxes that held her gifts for him. Her fingers found the velvety texture as she gazed outside.
~.~.~.~.~.~
BONUS SCENE (Alternative conversation of the Bat Siblings, though it might have actually happened)
Dick, Tim, Jason and Cassandra were watching how close Raven and Jon were as they danced. And how Damian came to cut in on them.
And the siblings discussion starts with Tim's statement: Do you think they invite Jon as their third?
Jason: Do you think Raven can use her magic to change genders and while at it make Damian a woman?
Dick: Fuck! I didn't need that image Jason!
Cassandra: …
Jason: I can see him enjoying getting pegged in whatever gender–
Tim: Please, shut up, I don't want this image in my head.
Jason: But you have to wonder if Damian can satisfy her– half demon you know. Jon on the other hand– might logically have a better stamina– Ouch! Cass that hurts!
Dick: Jason, do you want to be killed by Damian?
Tim: Let's agree, this conversation never happened.
Jason: I mean what's wrong if they have a threesome– Cass! That hurts! What the fuck!
~.~.~.~.~.~
A/N:
I am working really hard on the summary, I have about 11k words and counting (doesn't seem like a summary at this point. It is like a commentary with scenes and general timeline). It will be posted in another 'story', a compilation of plots or summaries, or even random ideas that won't have a full-ish story. I am planning to call it 'How It Should've Been', I think it's rather befitting. And I want the first chapter to be the summary of this fic so I am working real hard on that.
Also, you guys must have noticed the shift in writing, I am rushing, and with the many characters popping up, I think this way is better. And also, I needed a break from writing Raven's emotions, I think we get the gist.
well, I hope you guys enjoyed this.
Next should be the batsibs interactions with Raven then we go all the way down. Don't say I didn't warn you...
Oh, and any thoughts for the alternate conversation? I think it holds some water.
