The couple danced to some slow instrumental music that Damian played with Raven's phone connected to his speakers. Raven's head rested on his shoulder as they swayed to the music, waiting for their food to arrive. It was a sweet little moment that they appreciated.

"I am so thankful to have you, beloved." Damian squeezed her and she put a hand against his steadily beating heart.

"Me too." She replied in sincerity, and they continued to dance as they closed their eyes. The two enjoyed each other's warmth.

And when the doorbell rang, the two were awoken from their sweet little moment. Damian offered to answer the door and she watched him as he made his way to their door.

When she heard the chimes of their doorbell, it felt like a wake-up call. This day was another stolen moment they knew they cannot extend. Raven looked gloomy as the realization sunk in yet again, but when Damian turned with food in hand, the sadness was gone as if it was never there, to begin with.

And before him, the thought of her fitting into a role crossed her mind.

"Let me help you." She walked his way, meeting him halfway.

He shook his head, "No, let me do this, why don't you sit on the table and wait for me."

This time it was her turn to shake her head at his suggestion, "Why don't I cool a bottle of wine."

"Oh, that is a good idea. A nice bottle of red wine would match perfectly with the steak, beloved." He smiled at her, setting the food on the counter, and grabbing their plates.

"Appetizers first," Damian mumbled, and Raven glanced at him.

"What is great about magic is that I can heat up the food with no problem." She smiled at him, and he chuckled.

"Oh yes, that would be useful." He looked at her, the love he had for her pouring from his gaze and onto her.

"I wonder…sometimes if there could be something I could do to make you look at me less than the way you do now." Damian looked at her perplexedly, it must have worried him to hear her say such a thing.

"Why would you say that Raven?" He approached her, forgetting the appetizers.

"Don't you wonder about such a thing?" She stared directly into his eyes; her brows knit together. His eyes were green, it was like a forest, lively and vibrant.

Damian looked away for a second then returned his gaze to her, "Every time, more frequently than I would like to admit. I wonder if you could hate me so much that you would choose to leave me instead."

"I could never hate you." Raven took a step forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Never."

He cupped her face by her jaw, and he looked at her intently, "I could never hate you too. But is there something on your mind, beloved?"

Raven shook her head instantly with a rueful little smile, "No, there isn't, don't worry about it. You have nothing to worry about."

And she lied yet again, at least right now, it wasn't something to worry about.

This at least comforted her.

"Let me help you prepare the meal." Raven pulled away with a soft smile on her lips but felt his strong grip on her wrist.

She could see it in his eyes, that he had so much to say. "I love you so much." Those were the words he settled on, and they felt so right. She closed the distance between them, holding him by his jaw and guiding his face so that his forehead would lean on her forehead.

"I love you so very much." And they shared that moment together in silence, with their eyes closed.

One of them eventually pulled away, tugging the other to the food that was waiting to be re-garnished to make their dinner even fancier. Raven could have it instantly garnished with her magic, but she opted not to. Instead, they shared the moment together, the love in their eyes so clear.

Stolen moments. Stolen time.

Raven pushed the thoughts away.

"I am so lucky to have you in my life." Damian suddenly said and Raven glanced up from the steak she was preparing.

"As do I, love." She touched his hand, and the fear in her heart seemed ready to burst.

The two proceeded with their dinner, and most of the time one of their hands was holding the other. It was like they needed to feel one another. And they finished their dinner like that, feeling each other's warmth as they ate one-handed or even just fed one another.

"Why does it feel like you're putting up death flags, Raven?" She saw the sheer fear in his eyes. And she couldn't help but reflect the same too. The fear that he was voicing out frightened her more than she was willing to admit.

"I am distracting you," Her voice was weak, and then she cleared her throat. "Please, don't worry, I don't want your mind divided on missions." Her grip on him tightened, the fear in her eyes clearer. But him voicing out her fears just made her worry even more, after all, that meant that he had noticed that something was off with her and if he did, she worried about him thinking about it whenever he was on a mission.

This was a risk that she could diminish by simply reassuring him: that nothing was wrong.

"Every mission I finish– alive, I am grateful for. Because I get to see you one more day, for one more day." He closed his eyes. "But even if I wish to put an end to living this kind of life— because all I want is to wake up to you, - by your side, I also know that you would tell me not to."

Raven was surprised by his words; she couldn't deny that. Because it was true, if he told her that he wanted to quit, she would tell him not to.

"It's you're calling." She whispered to him, and he nodded with a rueful smile.

"I know, you say it every time." He squeezed her hand back.

"Do you wish I told you to stop being a hero?" Raven carefully asked as she studied him with a silence that was almost uncomfortable. Truly almost choking her.

"All that matters to me is that you are always on my side." He gave her a comforting smile and she mirrored him.

"Always." She felt the wave of sadness in her chest and then she closed her eyes as if to dispel the dreary atmosphere. She sighed aloud. "May I have another dance with you?" Her hand was out as she asked.

"Of course." He replied automatically, accepting her hand and standing up whilst pulling her up from her seat.

And they slowly danced again to a song only they could hear. Their foreheads resting against one another. But it was undeniable that the air felt a little stifling. And it was undeniable that Raven was convincing herself that she would tell him after his birthday.

The truth. Everything. Where would she even begin?

One step at a time.

Raven convinced herself.

"This mission of yours," Raven cupped his face with both hands, looking at his green eyes the best she could with her forehead against his. "Please, please be safe."

"I will always go back home to you." He leaned into her and then kissed her lips.

She kissed back, "Always."

Raven recalled when they used to be heroes together, that this was how they always wished each other luck before every mission or whenever they had to part.

They always promised to return to one another.

"Always." The couple whispered back to one another as their lips met and continued to meet whenever their lips so happened to part.

Damian's hand brushed Raven's exposed leg and she wrapped her arms over his shoulder, pulling him closer to her. Their kisses were needy and heated and affectionate. Raven flicked her wrist and in the next second, they dropped onto their bed with her back against their plush mattress and him over her. They kissed relentlessly as she tried to remove his jacket.

He had already flipped over her skirt and so her legs were bare before him. His lips kissed her inner thighs, and he could smell her scent and the perfume she always used other than his cologne– it was made of lavender.

A hand caressed her thigh and she shivered at his touch. His hands went further up, and he was surprised at the familiar black lace that was against her skin and now against his.

The lingerie he had picked for her.

He stopped and placed his hands above her shoulders, pinning her down. And she could clearly see it in his eyes, how he was admiring her beauty. And how he was becoming undone with the knowledge he now knows.

Raven listened to his breathing as she watched his lips. Then those same lips leaned into her and she closed her eyes in anticipation. He placed a kiss on her jaw right below her ear. "Can you keep that lingerie on?"

A sly smile bloomed on Raven's lips, "I had the exact same thought, my love." A hand slithered against his strong chest. He pulled away, his face just an inch away from hers, this time he had the same sly smile on.

"Perfect, my beloved." And he closed the distance as their tongues became intertwined, one of his hands slipped her strap off her shoulder and as Raven felt this, she removed her other strap too.

It became so easy to remove her dress after that. He pulled her dress off her and slipped it out from her heeled feet with his eyes locked on her.

"Hmm, should we keep the heels too?" He asked and she chuckled at his suggestion.

"I know you well enough love, shoes on the bed–"

"Is a no." He chuckled, but his gaze on her was rather ravenous. "And yet here we are."

"There are exceptions sometimes," She lifted her leg, and he gently held her calf and kissed her there. "But right now, I think it would be more of an obstruction."

He chuckled as he kissed her leg again while undoing her shoe. And once that was done, he undid her other shoe. He pulled away, studying his girlfriend in the black lingerie lying on her back on the bed, his heart beating so loudly in response. The sight was something that made his throat tighten.

Damian removed his jacket and undid the buttons of his shirt as he watched her chest move up and down slowly. He could tell that the excitement was building up from within her as her chest heaved.

He realized that his shoes were still on and shifted as he sat on the edge of the bed. He was a clean freak, and with Raven looking the way she did, even he would be distracted and forget that he still had his shoes on. But maybe he would react the same way if it was any other woman. Or maybe because it was Raven that he got distracted the way he did.

He hurriedly took his shoes off and then unbuckled his belt and undid his pants. It was clear that he was eager with the nimble way he took his clothes off.

Raven silently observed him. Those hands were rough with all the training and weapons that he had to practice with since he was a child. She couldn't help but run her hands over her waist, feeling the lace against her palms. She contemplated how her palms were not calloused like her lover's and as the lace brushed through her fingertips. After all, she didn't handle weapons as he did. Still, she loved those calloused hands against her skin. And she could not help but think that the hands running through her waist were his.

She marveled at how she loved it whenever he kissed her body and worshiped it, but for tonight, she hoped he wouldn't take his time in appreciating her skin.

She wanted his burning desire and touch without his long foreplays.

"Love," She called out with a little tilt of her head while still studying him and Damian glanced at her the moment she called. "Can we get to the main event?" For a second, he looked confused, and then what she meant dawned on him.

He slowly nodded, fully naked before her.

And she couldn't help it, where her eyes were glued on, and how she groped her breast and bit her bottom lip in her lustful expectancy.

And for Damian, it felt like his dick was another heart with how she was staring at his erection.

The evening ended with great passion.

Raven awoke to an empty bed again. But this time she was not worried about his presence or lack thereof. She still had on the lingerie he had picked out for her. She could still feel his cum between her folds.

She looked around at the cold room and there was no one else but her there. She was mildly surprised that the clothes that they had discarded were still on the floor. It was rather uncharacteristic of her lover.

Her eyes caught the white dress shirt he had on before they went to bed, and even though her in-betweens were achingly sore, she got off the bed and bent down to grab her boyfriend's shirt. She put it on as she walked out of the bedroom.

Damian stood by the glass wall overlooking the city lights.

It was a familiar scene, except the roles were reversed and this time he had a cup of whiskey in his hand. He looked so very forlorn, and her heart couldn't help but ache at the sight.

"You know I have been thinking of changing my hero name." Damian confessed as she continued her way to him. His tone was light and almost laughing and his lips almost smiling.

"Oh? And what would you change it to?" Raven asked, he had been thinking about it for a while now, although he had only said it in passing.

"I'm not so sure…" He swirled the liquid in his cup, his expression thoughtful.

"Well, would you be taking Nightwing's mantle?" He chuckled at her suggestion.

"I will be honest, I considered it." He glanced at her who was now standing beside him and she simply just smiled.

"But you think it doesn't suit you." He smiled apologetically at her and her words, glancing at his whiskey.

"I can't be Robin at 20…" He chuckled.

"You have thought about it– haven't you– leaving?" Raven explored and the quick sad glance he gave her told her everything she needed to know.

He nodded, "Seriously?" He gazed at the city outside, then turned to her. "Yeah, I have." His lips pressed.

Raven didn't know what to say and instead, she stared at his cup of whiskey.

"The mission must be really big." A remark that she already knew to be true, judging from the way he has been acting recently.

A deep inhale, and then he took a sip from his cup.

He was quiet for a few seconds then another heavy sigh, "It doesn't look good." He closed his eyes.

This time it was Raven's turn to deeply inhale.

"They've been calling you, haven't they?" She asked and he merely glanced at the remaining amber liquid in his cup and swirled it around yet again. "Damian." She rested a hand on his upper arm and he glanced at her and then downed his remaining alcohol.

"They've been trying to contact you all this time," She studied his lack of a reaction and as she has known him for so long, she knew that it was an indication that she was right, and she chuckled. "I am more astounded by the fact that you hid it so well."

But Damian remained quiet, the frown on his face making her chest hurt. "You need to go." His green eyes were shaking as he stared at her, the guilt very clear.

"I told them, I was going to have three days off." His tone clipped and this time she frowned.

"Damian, you know that you have to go. Last night, they called you– because they needed you. You know you have to go." Raven tried to make him look at her.

"I promised you." Raven cupped his face. "I promised." He added with a broken whisper.

"And you kept it." Raven nodded, trying her best to convince him. "I had a great time with you, but now you have to go– protect the world, and in turn me."

He stared at her, the conflict in his eyes so very clear. He leaned into her and wrapped her in his arms. "I wish I didn't have to leave you."

"I know." She rubbed his back.

"I didn't want you to get involved. You said you didn't want this life anymore." He inhaled her scent.

"I know." She comforted quietly. He wasn't wrong, she didn't want anything to do with the whole hero's life anymore, not since Trigon was gone.

They remained like that for what felt longer than they should.

Shortly, Damian left, and Raven wasn't that upset.

She had to let him go, if the team was pestering him persistently, it spoke volumes of the danger they were facing. He was doing his best so that she wouldn't be called, but if the danger approaching was really as bad as she assumed, then being called back was inevitable.

In a week, it would be his birthday, she wondered if he would even be there. Judging from the situation he and whichever team he was dealing with, Justice League, Teen Titans, or maybe every other team there is– her best guess was that it was a world-threatening catastrophe.

The thought of him having to face danger did not bode well for Raven. She really didn't want to have anything to do with saving the world, anymore., especially, a catastrophe that reminded her of Trigon.

But if Damian asked it of her– he knew that she would say yes, and maybe that was why he never said anything about what he was dealing with. But since she left, he couldn't. He was bound by the Justice League's laws, and she could not know any information about any kind of mission unless given clearance.

Raven couldn't help but wonder: was it going to be as bad as when Trigon was still alive? This calamity coming?

An impending doom that was more haunting than anything would follow you constantly. That kind of feeling, she wondered if Damian was feeling right now, maybe even Jon. In fact, maybe all the people she had fought side by side with when she was still an active hero, felt that too.

She stared at the city lights.

She knew why she left. Waking up every day wondering if today would be the end of the world was exhausting. She couldn't imagine the stress Damian was feeling, no she can, she was there too, once upon a time, in those same shoes.

She sighed; she should go back to bed. At the very least, Raven felt like she wouldn't have a nightmare tonight, even though her boyfriend wasn't there. They spent a good day and a half together, which was more than she could have hoped for.

And so, she softly walked back to her bed and went to sleep where Damian had laid.

When Raven woke up again, she ran her fingers across her boyfriend's white shirt. She wondered how he was if he was safe. And since the protection spell, she had placed on him a long time ago had not been activated or broken, she knew that he was safe.

She got up from the bed, feeling the chill against her skin, but she didn't feel alone. She spent a good day with Damian yesterday and that made her feel really good. She walked out of her bedroom and the quietness was oddly welcoming. The sunlight that was peeking out from a newly risen sun even felt comforting.

Raven had to admit to herself that such little things were not comforting for a while. She walked to the glass wall and watched the buildings outside. As she placed a hand on the glass.

Whatever disaster was coming their way. All that Raven knew was that: today felt like such a good day.