NOTE: This is PART 3. (kinda stand-alone)
Part 1: DamiRae Week: BOUND TOGETHER
Part 2: DamiRae Week: SOULMATES
DamiRae Week 2020: MARRIAGE
Damian led me to where Dick was confined in and when I saw the state that Dick was in, it felt as though someone had clutched my heart from within my chest. It felt awful seeing him like that, and the emotion I was feeling off of him was intense and then hollow, and the cycle would continue. He did not understand what he was feeling when there were emotions to feel and did not know what to do with it when it's there, and when it's gone, he is left confused but sometimes empty. And I felt that confusion he was going through in its fast pace.
This might make me an awful person but I wanted to end his suffering through death. The thought made me forget what he was emitting and it felt like it was the right thing to do. But, how could I?
Damian had used the Lazarus pit because Dick was his brother. He longed for family in the state that we were in. And I had told him that I would have done the same if I were in his place and had his resources. So how could I find the heart to kill Dick?
"I can help…" Hearing my father say that made me think that I could heal him.
I approach Dick slowly. My perception of time and space altered. It seemed that my footsteps were too loud. My breathing uneven and my vision blurry. When I dropped to my knees beside him, the thump felt a little too loud. He looked like he was about to scream but he had a gag on his mouth, so he couldn't. I was informed, as we were making our way here, that it was to prevent him from hurting himself or anyone else.
"Hey…"I say as gentle as I could as not to freak him out but it sounded too loud to me. I wrap my arms around Dick. His eyes were reflecting his insanity, I propped a leg up and leaned his back against it. He squirms in my arms but I try to hold him down as much as I could, as I start healing him to at least ease his mind.
And Azar, did it feel so awful.
It feels like I couldn't breathe. I was starting to lose myself with Dick. I wrap my arms tighter around him and bury my face on his shoulder as I began to rock our bodies.
"Shh…Shh…" I kept repeating. I wonder who was I comforting, him or me? And the shushing suddenly stopped as I started seeing flashes of Dick's life and his emotions tangling up with him. I gasp and I sobbed and was on the verge of screaming- but maybe I already was.
"Raven!" I hear Damian call out; his voice filled with worry and urgency. I could feel someone embrace me, and I assume it's Damian. I held Dick closer to me maintaining focus as I fight with the surging emotions I was feeling and the visions I was seeing. I wanted to puke and yell and destroy.
And oh- how I wanted to destroy.
Dick had become quiet—no everything around me had become awfully quiet. I could smell Damian's scent, and was aware of his firm hold on me and his hard chest. My eyes closed and I felt water on my cheeks-tears were streaming down my face, I had realized. I must be weeping so loudly, but I couldn't hear myself. And everything just stopped- everything went black. I felt oddly relieved.
At first, I did not understand where I was, but it slowly sunk in that I was looking at my bedroom ceiling. The bedroom that I was assigned in when I arrived at the compound. It was rather dark and I was confused—wasn't I with Dick? I heard shuffling against the wood and I try to get up as I turn my head to the direction of the noise. Damian is by my window which is covered by thick curtains, I notice that it was day because of the small cracks from the curtains that allowed sunlight in.
He notices me, my head is aching badly, I took notice of the disheveled state that he was in. He looked as though he has not slept well for a while.
I attempted to ask him what was wrong and how I got here, but I found that my throat was dry which adds to my confusion. I had closed my eyes and looked down, the throbbing in my head worsening in my confused state.
"God. Raven!" Damian was suddenly beside me, his arms wrapped around me. And I felt every ounce of worry and relief he felt and it felt like a slap on my cheeks. I was already confused and being suddenly overwhelmed with his emotions was a little too much. But he was shaking against me and I found that I could not afford to be overwhelmed right now. So, I lift my arms weakly to hug and comfort him. However, I found that my body felt rather weak too.
"You've been asleep for three days!" Damian's face is buried against my shoulder. The way he was acting made me recognize the fear he felt. I felt something wet on the shoulder that Damian was leaning on. I realized that he was crying and the despair in his voice solidified his emotions into me.
Hearing him sound so broken made me decide to heal myself, I had to be strong for Damian. But something had changed. I felt it. Something was different.
"I'm alright, Damian." I comforted him, but his hold does not weaken nor his emotions. My voice sounded weird to me.
"You were asleep for three days—you weren't healing yourself." He sobbed, and I felt it, the full extent of his fear. He had thought that I was going to die, the only semblance of love he had. The person he adored so much. The only one he can walk this path with him and yet still care for another individual in this way.
"Healing…" I mumbled breathlessly. I was overwhelmed already with the situation and I realized—healing. My eye twitched and a tear falls and somehow, I found the strength to hug Damian tighter. That was what has changed.
"Your healing has changed." My father confirms what I already know. "If you let me—" No.
I started wearing a full body suit that is purple close to black with purple accents. I couldn't heal the same anymore and healing Dick became a long and tedious process.
Damian insisted that I did not have to treat Dick, not at the expense of my health., not after what happened the first time, I attempted to heal Dick. But I love Damian and I want to give him this. I want to give him more.
Love from me was different from love from a family member, and maybe that was why I wanted Dick to be healed for Damian. The family love I could never experience now, cannot be changed. But to Damian who had a taste of it before this shit-show- can still have a portion of it. And I want to safeguard and give that to him.
I am now part of the league of assassins. I am now Damian's partner. And despite my father becoming significantly nosier, I am happy with Damian and the league. This happiness is what I am willing to protect. That very moment my father had threatened Damian, I had long decided—I will protect this. Him.
.~.~.~.
I have been with Damian for almost over a year now. The world is left in rubbles after the parademons attacked. Thankfully, nowadays the parademons don't come in big hordes as they did the first time of the attack. But I suppose it makes sense, there isn't much to destroy or kill now. Damian has been training me to fit the league's standards, and he is a rather strict instructor. Sometimes I wonder if he got it from Batman or his grandfather.
Whenever we were training, he would not hold back because of his relationship with me. Something I appreciate because I won't learn anything if he holds back. But I also feel his conflict when we train and even more so when he lands a hit on me.
And because he was the leader of the League of Assassins, he felt that he couldn't even show favoritism towards me. Despite that, he obviously had a soft spot for me. I just can't help but be charmed by it. His duality was adorable, and yet I knew it was a burden to him, and I try my best to ease him.
Damian could get a little uptight and protective but it stemmed from the fear of losing the only person he had left- me. And in all honesty, I felt the same exact way. It just so happens that I am willing to do what is necessary to ensure his safety from the one who possesses the most danger—my father, Trigon.
But Damian wasn't alone, he had Dick. I had reminded Damian that once, and the feelings he felt at that moment made me never mention Dick again in correlation to Damian's fear of losing me. This past year, I had felt so many awful emotions and situations, but that moment, when I told him he still has Dick and if he lost me-Dick would still be there. That moment—that moment had a nuance that cannot be compared to other awful feelings. Recalling it made me feel like I was falling for a moment. It made me feel guilty.
I look at Damian, whose head was on my lap. We were under the shade of a tree. You could say we were on a date; but these moments were frequent. And as Damian have confided in me, not as special as being able to bring me to dinner to meet his entire family. Or being able to flaunt me to the world, or simply book an entire five-star restaurant just for us two. And I see his point—but I also see that he just missed his family and friends. And that small guilt that he wouldn't be with me had the situation not turn sour for the entire world. I felt the anger he had for himself for not understanding his feelings sooner and not having the courage to say them.
I stroke his hair; his eyes were closed because this was the few moments he could truly relax. And I understood clearly his desire to show the entire world of the amazing girl he—Damian Wayne—fell hopelessly in-love with. And I froze from stroking his head and I close my eyes.
"You see me too highly, my love." I couldn't help but whisper as a gust of wind muffle my words and as I put him on a slightly deeper sleep.
A few days later, Damian and I were alone together doing some reconnaissance. I was ahead of him but we were still at the forest outside the league's outpost. We have kept parademons at bay with a relatively big radius away from the outpost and right now we were in the safe zone. We also had to distract the parademons from coming closer to the outpost every now and then.
"Raven." He had called out to me. I turn to look at Damian he was about five meters away from me. I look at him confused.
"I have something to tell you." He approached me cautiously. I couldn't help but furrow my brows. A moment ago, I was focus on the recon task and had reinforced my empathetic shield heavily because of it. Despite it almost being two years since the attack, the animosity, grief and hopelessness that plague the world remained, and it can become rather overwhelming for me. The change of tone from Damian baffles me.
"Okay. What is it?" I ask him as I walk towards him. He was making me worried. My father snickers.
"I love you." He says as he stopped a meter away from me, I took one last step in front of him. I was so confused and worried that I decided I have to put down my empathetic shield. It was the only thing that would bring me peace of mind because his putting me on edge.
"Will you marry me?" He says at the exact time my shield went down. I gasped overwhelmed. I felt his love for me as he said those four words, and I was blind sided by it. It wasn't what I expected to feel- or hear. But I felt his overflowing love for me.
"Don't you dare say yes!" It sounded like a screech and I closed my eyes and tilt my head a bit because of my father.
"I know we are still just teens. I'm still eighteen and your nineteen, but I don't want anymore regrets." The love he had for me had turned into fear. And I knew why he was afraid; he had told me about them before.
"I know I said we would keep it slow, and go through us step-by-step to be able to appreciate each other's company. But we also both feel like were always standing on an edge of a cliff, just waiting to be pushed by strong winds. And I—" His rumbling is stopped as he took in a sharp breath, I could tell he was struggling but I couldn't help by smile at him with love in my heart that felt like it would burst. "I don't want to regret not being able to call you my wife." Hearing those words made me gasp.
Those words, I exhale softly, changed the fear to that same overwhelming intensity of the love he had for me. And I bit my lips trying to contain the tears wanting to fall.
"Don't you dare!" A scream from my father as I nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't even seem to form the words. Yes. I couldn't help but put my face into my palms, wanting to hide my pathetic self from Damian.
Overwhelmed. I have used that word so many times and it meant so many different things. But this time, this overwhelming moment—this was more than all the other overwhelming moments I have ever had. This moment—is what I never ever want to forget. The love I feel for this man—I never ever want to forget.
"Raven?" Damian said his breath just above my head, his hands gently pulling my hands away from my face. I look at him and looking into his eyes made me hold my breath. His emotions dancing around me like fireworks. He wipes away my tears and I decided to stop crying.
"Yes." I whisper and he smiles. I could tell he knew from my reaction that it was a yes as our eyes continue to be locked with one another, more so I could feel he knew my answer. I give him a sudden hug. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!" I repeat, finding that I need to say those words. Yes.
"Yes." He whispers into my ear as he embraces me back and does a little spin. I felt his joy and his love—and somehow it became ours. I pulled away from him and collected myself, I wiped away my tears and cleared my throat.
"The-the ring!" He rumbles around his body and I felt his nervousness. "This-this wasn't how I wanted to propose." He admits and I can't help but giggle at his current dorkiness. My heart felt so full.
"But-but as I was looking at your back—I knew I had to ask now. I had everything planned and all." That was why I could not seem to find him often these last few days. I wondered when he decided that he had to propose marriage to me.
He pulls out a blue velvet box from his pocket and he opens it and there laid a ring. The metal was mostly gold but in the center of the band, there was a thinner line of silver. And there laid an emerald the exact shade as his eyes in seemed to be embedded in the relatively thick band. I glance at him—specifically his eyes to confirm. Yes, exactly his eyes, I look back down at the ring as he pulled it out of the box with his right hand.
The emerald was maybe just less than three centimeters in all sides of its square-like shape, the edges of the square rounded. And I had lifted my left hand as I take the box from him with my right hand. He uses his freed left hand to hold my right hand.
"I was going to kneel down and all." He says as he slips the ring into my finger. And I chuckled, envisioning Damian pacing as he recites his every move for his proposal. "But I knew that I need to ask now." And I felt his serenity at the decision, and it took my breath away.
"So, I suppose the recon mission is a ruse?" I look at him and he places a hand behind his neck as he looks away.
"Well, actually we still have to do that." And I couldn't help but laugh, it sounded so melodious. I was rather embarrassed by it and so I turned around from Damian and took a few steps and stopped. I was so happy that my laughter could not hide it.
"I suppose you have thought about this right?" I turn around to face Damian and he looks at me questioningly and I pointed to the gem on my forehead. His face twisted and crunched up and I laughed whole-heartedly. He had completely forgotten.
"We-well. I—" He looks away. "I did not get to think of that part yet." He blushes and I smiled, and I raised my hand still holding the box.
"We can totally make use of this." I grin as my father yells.
"Well, let's go, my love." I turn again. I realized that my father must have been yelling as Damian proposed but I could not recall if he was. I must have been too happy with the turn of events that his voice was completely blocked out.
"I will kill him. Raven."
"No, Father. I won't allow it." I say under my breath.
.~.~.~.
Damian and I were at the underground caves facing each other. On my left was an altar with a huge old book that was opened and facing us. There were two equally old looking candles on either side of the book providing light aside from the candles, there were torches around the cavern.
A silver chalice with some liquid I could not identify in front of the book. And in front of that is the ring Damian used to propose to me on top of a small green cushion. Beside my ring is another ring with a similar style as mine, but bigger and catered for a man with an amethyst instead of an emerald on it. The exact same color as my eyes, I couldn't help but marvel at the shade.
He wore his league of assassin's uniform but with a red cape. I was told a little after I arrived, that normally the cape should be green. But Damian opted for the red to pay homage to his robin identity. And I wore the same armor but with a purple cape to pay homage to my hero identity. Starting today this is my new uniform, we were a couple in matching clothes.
Damian sighs and looks at his surroundings. I could feel his disappointment, he glance at Lady Shiva and I could feel the knot on his chest. He continues to gaze at his guests, Titus and Dick being one of them as I observe him. The select were here as witnesses. He looks at me with remorse.
"I know this isn't much, and not what you deserve but-" I look at him and gave him an encouraging smile. "Writing our names on this book is just as binding as having a marriage certificate. Which in the state of the world we cannot have. Well, I mean we can- we just can't have the necessary signatures for legalization, not that there is anyone to process the papers." He sighs ending his rambling. Probably thinking how foolish he sounded.
"I get to marry you, that is what matters to me." I say as I reach out for his left hand with my right, fighting the laughter bubbling in me because of how adorable he was and because this was a serious moment. He smiles at me and he leans his forehead on mine, he closes his eyes and I close mine.
"If there is another life, I will get married to you in the grandest way to compensate for this." I really wanted to laugh at how adorable he is.
"Yes, if there is." I whispered back and he probably did not think much about it and I place a peck on his lips. He opens his eyes, startled as I pulled my head away from his.
"Damian Al-Ghul," I say firmly "Wayne." I whispered so softly. "Marry me." And his eyes sparkle and he chuckles. He places his name on the book and signs it, and I do the same.
"Our names have been written in the sacred book. This marriage is binding and our witnesses can testify to this union. Our names have been placed with our ancestors and will be seen by our descendants. They will remember our names for they are written within this book. You and I will be remembered for all generations to come. You are an Al-Ghul and you are part of thy legacy." He recites.
This was one of those moments I get to glimpse the Damian who follows the leagues tradition strictly.
"I have shed my former name and have forgotten who I was. All I am and all I know is—when I had awoken, I am part of thy legacy. I am an Al-Ghul. My ancestors are written within this book and my descendants will know who I am. I have always been and always will be an Al-Ghul." My father must be screaming but I could not hear him because I warded the gem on my forehead. He was not going to ruin this moment for me.
He takes my ring and places it on my finger and I put his ring on his finger.
"And now, the chalice." He says as we both reach for the chalice, his hand overlapping mine.
"As you give me blood," He continues as we brought the chalice to my lips and I took two gulps of the liquid. Azar, I hope this isn't actually blood. Damian had reassured me this is all formalities, but this does not exactly taste like juice.
"And as I give you blood." I say as we guide the chalice to his lips and he takes two gulps too, and we both place it down on the altar.
He had said that it was laced with a special aphrodisiac and explained to me the details. It did not have an automatic effect though. The giving of blood was to represent a child born from both parties—but Azar the liquid really did not taste like wine or juice.
"We are now officially married." He announces to the handful of witnesses. "Now the witnesses will sign on the book."
After they finished signing the witnesses left to wait with the other members of the league. Damian and I stayed a little bit longer by the altar.
"That was not how I wanted to say my vows." He sighs and leans his forehead against mine.
"Hmm… I think it was interesting." I reply. "Slightly cult-ish" He chuckles.
"Raven." He looks at me intently and pulls his head away by a few inches. He puts his callused hands on either side of my face.
"I love you, and I trust you. I am honored to be called your husband. I am honored to be able to walk this path with you. Words can never express how much I love you." And I felt his love, I take his hands off of my face and brought them to my chest.
"Damian Wayne." Silence and I can feel his expectancy. "I can tell you for a fact: that exact feeling you are feeling- is what I feel for you." I hear him gasp his lower lip twitching. "I love and trust you as you do—exactly as you do."
And I could feel that he believes me. Maybe it was because I am an empath and he knew that well. He will always be assured that I feel the same way he does for me—because I actually feel his love for me.
I put my right hand on his cheek and bring him close for a kiss. He kisses be back as he put his right hand on my left cheek. Our left hands still holding one another, the back of his left hand against my beating heart. And I'm sure he can tell how much it was racing. I wonder if he can feel how full it is too.
.~.~.~.
Two years after the attack, Superman with Constantine and Etrigan comes looking for Damian. And I had allowed them to be here, just to tell us that Damian might be the key to turning the tides against Darkseid.
Shit. What am I going to do!
I had said we will think about it instantly after their revelation of their intentions. But—I have to tell him. I arrived at our bedroom and closed the door. My eyes adjusting to the darkness but I walk to the chair I know was facing the door. I have been sleeping in this room long enough to know where everything was with my eyes closed.
In the dark I allow my thoughts to run wild. I was nervous, yes.
"I have something to tell you." I whisper as I put my forehead against Damian's.
This was the second time I had repeated the same line, he must be confused.
"Whenever I disappeared whenever we do missions, or when I do solo missions. It's because I was looking for spells." And Damian stays quiet allowing me to give my explanation.
"These spells Damain…" I look at him wanting to just cry and scream. "The first ones I learned are ones to block my father, to make sure he does not know what I am doing. And it works, but the main spells I was really looking for, they are for you." I gaze at him to observe his reaction but he doesn't look and feel upset. "I had slowly used them on you, when we got married that gave me an opportunity to lay everything down. I could do longer spells. But this spell…" I look away feeling so guilty of what I have done. I feel his callused hands touch mine, and I look at him, and he gave me a smile—he was still not upset. He was just patient.
"The spell." I continue our eyes locked with one another "It is a very convoluted spell. It covers and overlaps so many factors. It is a spell made of other spells. It is risky and dangerous—" The word made me gasp knowing very well what I had done, but Damian just hugs me. His love for me was still the same despite what I have already said.
"I risked our lives to bind ourselves to each other. I did it to protect you from my father." He pulls away, and for a moment I was afraid that he was finally upset. I look up at him with wide eyes. But he just looks down on me with a soft smile.
"If I could, beloved. I would lock you up if that will ensure your safety." He confesses as he leans his forehead against mine again, his eyes closed. "I told you long ago and repeated it when we got married and after—and despite this revelation—still remains true. I trust you. And will always love you. No matter what."
"You've always been so patient with me." I tell him as he pulls away again.
"Nonsense, it is you, who have been patient with me." Again, his adoration for me radiated from him, it was still the same. But the moment Superman told us his plan, I knew that everything has changed. The happy life we have been living has finally come to an end.
"I can never be upset or hate you for what you did. You made a good choice, beloved." And that was that, on the revelation, Damian had already put his foot down on the matter. He could never be upset over what I had done. I was worried for nothing. I couldn't help but smile.
"We have to go." I say.
"Yes." He replies instantly and a moment of silence is shared between us. We both know what we have to do the moment Superman asked. It was just I had not been completely honest with my precious husband.
"I am glad I proposed to you when I did. I have no regrets, Raven. These past two years felt like we were already married. And being able to make it official, in the only way we could—that makes me the luckiest man in this apocalyptic world." His gaze on me was gentle.
"I am glad that we got married, my love." I stroke his jawline with my right thumb. "I was wrong, I thought I could never feel family love after I lost my mother. And I sought out love from my demon of a father as replacement. I had the team- but it was just ever so slightly different. But now—" I return his gentle gaze.
"Now, I can say: that this was the family love I have been yearning for." I bring his head closer to mine, and he brings our lips closer. And we shared a passionate kiss.
~~~~ . . . ~~~~
"Raven, hurry up we have a new member coming!" I heard Garfield yell from outside my door. I give him a hurried reply and I prepared myself to meet the new member.
"Meet at the yard!" Garfield yells outside my room.
When I got to the yard the Batmobile was coming to view from a far. I felt a tug on my heart, I couldn't help but frown.
"Is Dick the surprise, Kori?" I couldn't help but ask. And she looks at me with a smile.
"Of course, not silly! Don't you remember? Today we are going to take in a new member—I told you all about this a few days ago." The car had stopped in front of us and the doors opened. I saw black hair and my heart skipped a beat. "The new Robin, Damian."
A boy with black hair stood before us in his Robin uniform. And my heart couldn't help but skip a beat. And my eyes couldn't help but follow a certain person's black hair.
Author's NOTE:
Been trying to work on this for weeks, have even redid it twice, hope you like it.
There will be a final one after this (A teaser); which is not a prompt, thus not tagged as DamiRae Week. And I will make a story revolving this timeline after the 4th part.
Thanks for Reading!