Chapter Text
Ibn
It wasn’t always a big flame of passion, filled with constant caressing and emotional proclamations of their loyalty. Sometimes it was just about sitting in silence, while gazing at the Earth, space and everything in between from Mari’s treehouse. Ib'n pulled the half Tamaranian closer, allowing her voluptuous hair to fall all over his chest. She was wearing his cloak, even after all that had happened with time inter-dimensional travel, they were still together.
He was even trying to be cordial with her father, which was quite a remarkable considering Grayson’s disapproval of his lineage made him temperamental, especially when it involved his daughter. It took a lot of work to at least allow Ib’n to converse with the Red Robin, even if he still tried to convince Mar'i to find love elsewhere. Grayson obviously did not understand Tamaranians then, even if he was briefly married to one. If he did then he would surely understand that their love is not unlike themselves, full of energy and life, a flame of passion and prowess, Damian mused.
Mar'i started to stir, probably numb from the idle sitting. She slowly started to move, stretching her arms as she did so. The emerald cloak folded around her, engulfing her figure in a sea of green, she did make the cape look much better, Ibn had to give her that.
“Tell me what is on your mind beloved” Looking up at the glowing figure as he remarked. She could have refused to answer, and Ibn wouldn’t have minded, but they both knew better. They were hopelessly under each others spell.
She only looked down at the crouching figure with a small smile, and started to saunter away. Startled by the change of pace, Ibn quickly pulled himself up from his position, and fumbled towards his lover.
He grasped Mari’s arm, in an almost urgent matter. He didn’t want her to be alone, even if he knew she could take care of herself. After all the time travel and the other recent events did make him weary of leaving her alone, he didn’t want to take that chance.
“I thought we might be able to move elsewhere” Mar'i smirked as she continued to slowly move her hand lower “Where we can continue our embrace in a more private area.” She softly spoke, her vibrant green eyes trying to reassure Ibn, and possibly guide him to her true intentions. Ibn only raised his eyebrows, eventually realising what she craved, and thus grabbed her waist as they walked towards seclusion.
Damian
With most of the rogues back in Arkham, and the organised crime syndicated currently preoccupied with Jason’s new posse, Gotham was left in a serene state for the moment. The patrol was quiet, and with Batman on justice league business, Damian did not have to worry about his father’s paranoia. It did however, leave Damian patrolling the streets with Nightwing. Usually he would be okay with his brother over watching him during a patrol, but he wasn’t dealing with the usual Dick Grayson right now.
The Nightwing patrolling Gotham right now with the boy wonder wasn’t calm at all. He seemed more fidgety than usual, if that was even possible for the acrobat. Also he was more than eager to use force over the common thieves that littered about crime alley. Strangely, he was being quick to anger in responses, instead of his quipped humour, which Damian noted earlier when he told Dick “Tt, you’re flips are abysmal today”.
Usually when Grayson was upset he would be silent, and brood for a day at most before he returned to his chipper and snarky self.
It might be because of the outlaws Damian pondered. With Jason bringing his friends here, it would cause a lot trouble with other entities trying to catch the trio. Not that they couldn’t handle themselves, just the fact that this would occur on Batman’s turf.
It could also be because of the alien Damian mused. It was impossible to deny that Dick still adored and cared for Kory, even if they weren’t on the best of terms. Even if he was in a happy, stable and capable relationship with Barbara, he would still hold an attachment to that flame.
With the next set of thugs, Grayson did not hold back. It seemed like he was trying to rip the vocal folds of the older thug out of the two, due to his high pitched squeal. Whilst Damian did enjoy the violent show, he understood that this wasn’t a typical thing Nightwing would do.
Damian put a hand on his brother’s upper arm, loose enough to give Grayson the choice to move, but firm enough to nudge him back into reality. It took a minute as Dick looked at Damian, and back at the criminals, and to Damian again. Slowly realising his current actions, Grayson pulled back, sighing as he shrugged off Damian’s hold.
“You must be really bored if you feel the need to repeatedly punch that unconscious man” Damian rolled his shoulders, while Dick just stood there looking at the sky, almost dreaming of something exciting to happen to happen, or maybe just dreaming for the alien to pop up.
“It isn’t your style” Damian amended. He hoped to get through to Nightwing just long enough, until they can go to the Batcave, where Damian could ignore Dick’s outbursts and leave him to his own devices. Dick managed a small smile as he spoke “Sorry little D, I got carried away.”
“Tt” was the only response Damian could muster as Grayson tried to further explain himself.
“a lot has been on my mind” Damian rolled his eyes, understanding what he needed to do to console Grayson.
“Todd getting to you?” It seemed like a reasonable question to ask, just maybe not at this exact moment.
“Yes, no, wait, it shouldn’t matter!” It seemed that the conversation would end there.
Damian seemed to be sighing a lot as of late. Dick knew that comfort was not Damian’s strong suit, and that now he felt obliged to give Grayson just that.
"Tt, don’t be so pathetic" Damian moved after that. He wasn’t going to waste time on a love sick puppy during a patrol. Once the 18 year old Robin was away, Dick started to walk, with the guilt and regret laying on his heart.