Chapter 15 The Unseen Sides of Damian Wayne
Raven's POV
Mr Brown had taken us outside, where I saw many dogs running around on a large field.
"Wow", I said in awe. "This place is so big."
"I have Damian to thank for that", Mr Brown revealed.
"Damian", I said in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"A few years ago, Ace went missing, and Mr Brown was the won who brought him back home", Damian revealed.
"Really", I asked in shock.
"That's right", Mr. Brown replied. "Mr Wayne and Damian asked how they could return the favour, but all that mattered to me was that their dog had been brought back to them safety. So I declined their offer and went on my way."
"As Mr Brown left, I noticed that the van he was driving had the logo for the Safe Haven Animal Shelter on it", Damian revealed. "I decided to go to the shelter, and at the time, it was in a very poor state."
"The Safe Haven Animal Shelter is a nonprofit organisation, and mostly relies on donations to get by", Mr Brown revealed. "But we weren't getting that many donations at the time."
"This shelter is one of the only few no-kill shelters in Gotham", Damian revealed. "If it had to shut down due to lack of funds, there was no telling what the fate of those animals would've been. I didn't want that to happen, so I convinced Mr Brown to accept funding from my father to move the shelter to a bigger, and better equipped building."
"But that wasn't the end of Damian helping the shelter", Mr Brown revealed. "After that, he drew artwork to promote the shelter and posted it to his social media. It became quite popular online, and there was a surge in people coming to adopt."
"Really", I asked in shock.
"That's right", Mr Brown replied. "And one more thing. Damian is often finding animals and bringing them here."
"Speaking of which", Damian started, changing the subject. "Mr Brown, how is Hachi doing?"
"Whose Hachi", I asked.
"She's one of the dogs I found", Damian revealed.
"Hachi still hides whenever someone comes near her", Mr Brown revealed. "Come, I'll take you to her."
...
Mr Brown brought us to an animal pen. I looked inside it, and spotted a small, frightened puppy. She had scars all over her body, and one of her eyes had been completely scratched out.
"Poor thing", I said sadly.
"I'm going in", Damian said.
Then, he slowly opened the door to the pen and walked into it.
As soon as he did, Hachi ran to the back of the pen and hid behind something in fear. Slowly, Damian kneeled down and reached out his hand to her.
"Hey", he started in a soft and gentle voice. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
As Damian continued to interact with Hachi, I couldn't help but stare at him in awe.
"You okay, dear", Mr Brown asked in concern.
"I'm okay", I reassured. "I've just…never seen this side of Damian before."
"The way Damian usually acts makes him seem rude and uncaring", Mr Brown started. "However, once you get to know him, you'll realise that he's actually a very kind and gentle soul."
"A kind and gentle soul", I repeated.
Then, I looked back at Damian, who was gently patting Hachi's head. When I saw this…a smile came to my face.
...
Damian and I had finished everything we needed to do at the shelter, and were now waiting outside for Alfred.
"Let me guess", I started. "You named Hachi after Hachiko?"
"The story of Hachiko is one of my favourites", Damian revealed. "When I was thinking about what I should name Hachi, that story came to my mind."
"Speaking of Hachi", I started. "Mr Brown said that you were the one who brought her to the shelter. Where did you find her?"
After I asked this, Damian looked down at the ground.
"I…rescued her from an illegal dog fighting ring."
"A dog fighting ring? That's…that's awful."
After I said this, I realised something else.
"Wait a minute", I started. "Did you…rescue Hachi all by yourself?"
"I did", Damian replied.
Then, before I could say something else, I suddenly heard a soft, beeping sound.
"What's that sound", I asked.
Damian didn't answer me. Instead, he took something out of his pocket and put it in his ear. When I saw it, I remembered that he had used it after we were nearly kidnapped.
"This is Robin, over", he said. "What's the situation, Oracle?"
I couldn't hear what the person on the other side was saying, and just watched as Damian nodded his head as he spoke to them.
"Right", he said. "Thank you for the information, Oracle. Robin out."
With this, Damian ended his conversation, and put the device he was using back into his pocket.
"Robin", I said in confusion. "Is that some kind of code name?"
"You can say that", Damian replied.
"And, Oracle", I started. "That's the person you spoke to after we were nearly kidnapped. Who are they?"
"That is classified information", Damian revealed. "However, I will let you know that they just gave me info on another dog fighting ring."
"Another dog flighting ring", I asked in shock. "What are you going to do?"
"I am going to go to the ring and rescue the dogs", Damian replied.
"All by yourself", I asked.
"I've done it before", Damian pointed out.
Then, he clenched his fist angrily.
"People who intentionally cause harm to innocent animals are the worst. I will not let them get away with it."
Hearing Damian say this took me by surprise.
I've never seen Damian get angry before. This must be something very important to him?
After I thought this, I got an idea.
"Let me help you", I said.
"Help with what", Damian asked.
"Let me help you rescue those dogs", I replied.
"You want to help me rescue the dogs from the fighting ring", Damian asked in shock.
"You saw what I can do when those guys tried to kidnap us", I reminded Damian. "I can help you."
After I said this, Damian thought about my suggestion for a moment. Then…he nodded his head.
"Alright", he said. "If you're up to it, then let's work together."