SON OF BATMAN

"When I wake up," she asked, her voice cracking with uncertainty, "Will I find you next to me?"

He hesitated for a split second before shaking his head. "No," he said, his voice firm and clear. The simple word hit her like a blow, and she froze, her wide eyes filling with a silent plea. "There are still some loose ends I need to take care of," he explained gently. "But don't worry. It'll only be a week or two, and I will be back."

Raven's face fell, her expression clouded with uncertainty. Her pale fingers trembled as they reached for his hand, clutching it tightly with both of hers, her grip desperate and unyielding. She bit her lip, her eyes betraying the storm of emotions churning inside. She was clearly struggling with his words.

For some, a week or two might seem like a fleeting moment, a blink of an eye. But for Raven, who had spent years separated from him, years living under the constant shadow of fear and isolation, the thought of even a brief separation felt unbearable, like an eternity stretched thin.

The threat that had kept them apart was finally neutralized, yet the prospect of waiting any longer felt like a lifetime. The doubt lingered in her eyes, and the way she clung to him spoke of a fear that hadn't faded, as if he was the only real, unshakable thing left in her fragile world.

He laughed softly, shaking his head at her anxious expression. "You know," he said, a playful glint entering his dark eyes, "Back then before I left, I did ask you to come. You refused."

At his words, Raven broke eye contact, lowering her head as if guilty. The mention of the past brought a heaviness to the air, a reminder of the choices she had made.

Damian's voice lost its teasing edge, turning sincere as he began, "Back then, I didn't ask you to come with me because I wanted your powers." He paused, his gaze dropping slightly as if gathering the courage to continue.

A brief silence hung in the air before he lifted his eyes to hers again. "I asked because I had feelings for you." His tone was quiet, almost contemplative, as if he were speaking a truth that had been buried for a long time, a truth he had finally allowed himself to share.

For a moment, he simply looked at her, the weight of his words lingering between them. Then, his eyes softened with a hint of sadness as he added, "But it seems like you didn't." There was no accusation in his voice, only a deep sense of resignation, as if he had long since come to terms with that painful possibility.

Raven's breath caught, and her eyes widened. Panic flickered across her features, and she shook her head frantically. "No, it wasn't like that!" she burst out, her voice pleading. "It was because… because he—" She stopped, swallowing hard as she struggled to explain. "He threatened to kill you. My father said he would kill you if I didn't release him. I had to stay away... I couldn't... After everything, I couldn't risk that."

The fear and desperation in her voice revealed a truth she had kept hidden for years, the weight of that decision pressing down on her even now.

Damian's expression softened even more as he watched her panic and desperation unfold, a faint smile curving his lips. He let out a quiet snicker, his voice turning light and playful again, all his earlier hesitation and uncertainty gone. "Relax, Raven," he said with a mischievous smirk, "I'm just messing with you."

Her frantic expression melted into one of pure embarrassment, a crimson flush spreading across her cheeks and down to her neck. She looked away, unable to meet his eyes, her face burning with a mix of relief and humiliation.

"Had?" she whispered, almost inaudibly, the word slipping out before she could stop it. His earlier words echoed in her mind, the realization hitting her with a quiet but undeniable force. He said 'he had feelings for her' — past tense.

She replayed his words in her mind, dissecting them. He had feelings for her, meaning that whatever he once felt was gone. A chill settled in her chest as the meaning behind his choice of words became clearer. The idea that his feelings had faded over time, that she might have lost something she didn't even realize she had, made her feel as though the ground had been pulled out from under her.

The question hung in the air between them, her voice full of uncertainty and a deep, unspoken fear, the fear that she was too late, and that he might no longer feel the same way.

Damian's smirk only widened, but he didn't answer. Instead, he leaned down and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her forehead. "Get some rest, Raven," he said quietly, his voice tender and soothing. "When I come back, we'll talk about anything you want."

She blinked up at him, her blush deepening, and nodded slowly. Then, without a word, she buried her face in his chest, the tension in her body easing as his warmth surrounded her. His gentle kiss seemed to calm the storm inside her, and for the first time in years, a flicker of peace settled in her heart.

Damian held her close, his arms tightening around her as she began to relax against him. Instead of moving away, he remained seated, cradling her in his embrace. Exhaustion finally began to win out; she was too tired to fight it any longer. Her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing deepening, and her grip on his shirt loosened as sleep overtook her.

She stayed nestled in his arms, her head resting against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. With his arms wrapped securely around her, she drifted into a deep, untroubled sleep, safe in the shelter of his presence. Damian remained where he was, holding her gently, knowing that for the first time in years, she was at peace, and he would make sure it stayed that way.