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With Christmas only two days away, Bludhaven was decorated with flashy lights and other costly decorations that were coated by the soft snow as the sound of classic Christmas songs were played loudly inside the buildings, blending together into a cacophony onto the people on the streets. The city looked just like Gotham City.
In fact, the two cities were very similar in many aspects. The list of similarities included burgeoning corruption, vigilantes flaunting around in tight costumes, and worst of all, the frigid weather.
The temperature dropped so drastically in Bludhaven that most sane people preferred to remain in the comfort of their own home whilst blasting their overpriced heating machines to the max. But it wouldn’t be Bludhaven without villains committing crimes—despite the weather conditions—which inconvenienced vigilante Nightwing who had grown comfortable in the quote-unquote “warmth” of his own apartment complex.
After another day of adrenaline-filled crimefighting, Nightwing—well, Dick when the mask was off—changed out of his skintight bodysuit and flopped his entire body onto the brown, L-shaped couch, conveniently landing on his girlfriend of many years.
“Richard.” Raven—who went under the alias as “Rachel” amongst civilians—groaned when he landed on her, but sighed when she saw no sign of his moving. He was clingy. Nothing she wasn’t used to. “You know you’re heavy, right?” She questioned, using her free hand to ruffle his hair.
“You’ll survive.” He hummed back, throwing his communicator onto the table as his other arm was lazily wrapped around her mid-section as he used it as a pillow. “Also, I’m not that heavy.”
Raven rolled her eyes as she pulled her boyfriend closer and placed the book she was reading over his head, the unoccupied hand still ruffling his hair. “Uh huh, I beg to differ.” The empath remarked, smiling as Dick leaned forward to kiss her, which ended up landing on her jaw. “How was the patrol?”
A small yawn slipped out of the Boy Wonder’s lips as he spoke. “Eh, just another bank robbery with this guy and his gang—apparently. It was… what was the word you said again? Erm-”
“Jejune?” Raven asked, eyes back onto her book as her hand stopped massaging his head.
“That’s the word. Anyways, how about you-Could you keep massaging my head?” Dick questioned, diverting the topic.
The empath started rubbing his head again. “Better?”
“Way better.” He answered, staying silent for a few moments as he let his body relax at her touch. “As I was saying before, how was work? Is that annoying intern guy still bothering you?”
“Nothing noteworthy really happened at the clinic, but that ‘annoying intern guy’ did ask to go to dinner tomorrow.” Raven responded, darting her aversion away from the book to look down at Dick whose head perked up.
Dick stared back at her, expression blank. “And?”
“And I was wondering what dress you think I should wear.” A slight grin formed her lips as the vigilante had a small pout. “Jealous? I would say yes, but he’s twenty. A four year difference is quite big, no?” She joked.
“Now you’re really picking guys from a whole different generation, huh?” Dick joked back, earning a flick to his forehead. “And what about that old lady? Did she retire yet?”
“That ‘old lady’ is my boss,” Raven said flatly, rolling her eyes. “And no, she hasn’t retired. She also decided I get a late shift tomorrow and the day after.”
“But, it’s Christmas then.”
“Precisely why she gave me that shift.” Raven responded.
Missing the holiday wasn’t that big of a deal to the empath; Raven never even believed in Christmas. The Boy Wonder was impartial about the holiday, but found it a nice time when they both are off work. Though those thoughts are impossible when one partner is a crimefighter and the other is a doctor. However, they managed to work their way around their busy schedules.
“Wow. She’s more sadistic than you. Impressive.” Dick commented, pressing his lips in a smile which made Raven smile as well. “Guess we can do the gift exchange later then
As Dick and Raven continue to talk with a side of playful bickering and snarking on everybody who aggravated them today, they slowly started feeling tired and ended up falling asleep on the couch as they snuggled against each other.
Meanwhile, the circular communicator buzzed softly, its light glowing faintly as an important message had just come through:
Going on a mission for the next few weeks. Don’t contact me. Alfred is sending Robin early in the morning. Take care of him. -Batman, 23/Dec, 01:24
_______________________________________________________
The soft rays of the sunlight seeped through the windows the next morning, shining onto the two bodies on the couch. Raven, the one who usually woke up earlier, frowned, attempting to cover her face with her book before dropping it to her side. Despite the wintery state of the city, the sultriness of the morning sun never failed to stir the doctor up—begrudgingly.
With a mere thought, she ordered the curtains to close. Black waves of energy surged forth. Swept the curtain across the window with forceful precision.
Now that the empath shifted up so she was sitting half up again as Dick shifted onto her stomach, reminded of the familiar position yesterday. Raven’s hands went back onto his hair as the other hand pulled out the book from her side and started reading again.
Raven was able to read a couple chapters of her book until she found Dick shuffling around again until his blue eyes finally opened, staring back at her.
“Morning,” The doctor greeted, eyes flickering to her boyfriend before returning back onto her book. When Dick didn’t respond and instead started pulling her closer and eyes closing again, Raven started speaking again, fingers instantly threading back onto his hair. “You know you can’t keep pretending you’re tired every time, right?”
“Mmm… Disagree.” He muttered, voice still groggy.
There was a moment of comfortable silence between the two. Both feeling at ease in each other’s arms without having to worry about any external problems.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The birds glanced at each other, wordlessly debating who should get the door before the Boy Wonder stood up from the couch, tiredly dragging his legs over to the door. As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted by a familiar British butler and an even more familiar spoiled ten-year-old.
“Master Damian, you mustn’t knock so loud. You might as well wake up the whole neighbourhood.” The British butler—better known as Alfred—lectured the little boy before drawing himself upright as his lips curled up at the Boy Wonder. “Master Dick. It is a pleasure to see you again. I trust Master Wayne’s message reached you last night?”
Dick blinked. Oh—did he? I just woke up. Everything okay?” He asked, looking down at the young boy for the first time.
“What-”
Before Damian could let out a snarky and arrogant comment, Alfred intervened, giving a stern look to the young boy that said “behave”.
“No need to fret. Master Bruce had to go out for a ‘business meeting’,” Dick nodded, knowing what the business meeting was. “And he wanted Master Damian here to spend some time with his brothers and-”
“Is Tim coming over too?”
Alfred shook his head. Though it would’ve been nice to see Tim again… And Jason… Wherever he is. “No, no, Master Tim is quite busy with college at the moment.
That’s good. Dick didn’t feel like having a family reunion in his apartment. “Ah, and how long is Damian staying for?”
“Don’t get too excited, Grayson. I’m not staying long—three days at most.” Damian stated, crossing his arms over his chest in an attempt to look intimidating. Though without the mask, uniform, and weapons that no one his age should have, Damian looked less menacing and more like a child told no more pizza.
Dick snorted to himself, mirroring the newest Robin’s pose as he leaned against the door frame, basically looming over the ten-year-old’s small body. “Three days, huh? I’ll try to brace myself.”
“Try not to eat each other’s heads off.” Alfred stated before picking up the young boy’s suitcases and glancing back at Dick. “Now, where do I put these luggages?” He inquired, both hands occupied by a suitcase.
“Thought he was only staying three days?”
“I needed to put my swords somewhere.” Damian responded, acting as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
The butler shook his head at the young boy, letting out a sigh. “Yes, young Damian over here insisted on an entire suitcase for his costume and weapons.” He stated, in a quieter tone in case anybody overheard.
“Typical.” Dick dryly remarked before moving aside to allow Alfred in, not even bothered to suggest carrying the luggages instead. No matter how old the butler got, he always insisted on doing all the chores and assisting. Damian remained by the door, unwilling to step inside the apartment. “Get in.” The Boy Wonder ordered.
As Damian stepped inside the apartment, his eyes widened at the sight of the small apartment room. No, it was not in awe—quite the complete opposite. The cheap carpet floor had light stains on it, lighting was dull and an ugly yellow shade, there was a weird stench—this was not the sleek and lavish lifestyle Damian was used to and he didn’t like it.
“What a charming and… quaint home you have, Master Dick.” Alfred acknowledged, neatly placing the suitcases against a wall His gaze flickered when Raven emerged out of her and Dick’s shared bedroom with a long, white coat. “Hello, Miss Roth… Or should I address you as Dr. Roth now?”
Raven’s emotionless expression shifted to a half smile when she saw the butler. “Alfred, good to see you too. What are you doing here?” She greeted. Out of all the members of her boyfriend’s family, the empath got along with Alfred, often engaged with intricate conversations about literature over tea. “Miss is just fine.”
“Very well, Miss Roth. I just came over to drop off Master Damian here. Hopefully you take care of him. He will be staying for only a few days.” Alfred explained, hands going behind his back.
“And don’t try to manipulate me with your demonic powers, witch. I have a very high tolerance to magic.” Damian insisted arrogantly, narrowing his eyes at the empath before earning a wack on his head.
“Language.” Alfred stated sternly, arms returning to their original position. “Now, I better not hear complaints about you while I’m going, Master Damian.” The butler said before turning to the birds with a warm smile. “Now, I have to go now, but please do send me a call if he is acting a little… Agitating. I will see you two—Master Dick and Miss Roth—soon and I hope you have a merry Christmas tomorrow.” Alfred said, turning to the door in which the other three followed.
“All good, Alfred. You too.” Dick responded, holding the door for his butler. “Bye, Al.”
“Bye, Alfred.” Raven said, a hand clutching the straps of her messenger bag.
Alfred gave a little wave before walking off.
Dick gently shut the door, glancing down at Raven as their eyes met. A second later, the young, impossibly arrogant voice of Damian cut through the quiet.
“Now which one of you wants to sword fight first?”
The birds turned their heads at the small boy with a dead expression. “No.” They both said at the same time.
Damian’s small stature straightened, making his levelled with Raven’s shoulder—at most. “We should be efficient with our time.” The ten-year-old stated, eyes narrowing to slits. “I demand a duel.”
“I’ve got work now. I’ll be back later tonight and we’ll see then.” Raven stated, knowing she wasn’t going to duel a child in a fight.
“Cowardice.” Damian scoffed.
Raven pretended to ignore the remark, but gave one of her infamous glares before quickly pecking her boyfriend’s cheek and walking away. “And I don’t fight toddlers.” Dick claimed, smirking at how offended his younger brother got at the statement.
“I am not a toddler.” The young boy snapped, drawing out a sword half his height and pointing threateningly at his older brother. “I am Robin—trained by the League of Assassins. Unlike you, acrobat.” He sneered.
Dick froze, pondering how Damian kept a weapon like that in his pants. But then he remembered he used to do the same with his bo-staff that was taller than himself.
He stared at the blade that was meant to be pointing to his neck, though it fell a few centimeters short thanks to Damian’s lack of height. Then his glance alternated from the sword onto Damian, unimpressed. “You’re gonna want to put that away. Now.”
“Or what?”
“This.”
In one motion, Dick reached to grab the sword that Damian swatted away, wrist undefended. Dick seized the opening, caught Damian’s wrist, twisted just enough, and cleanly pulled the weapon from the indignant Robin’s possession.
Damian stiffened, eyes widened. “Give. It. Back.”
The Boy Wonder staring down at Damian with a smirk, holding the sword just out of reach. “Not happening.”
The young boy stared up at the sword for a moment, fists clenched as he jumped, tackling his older brother onto the ground.
_______________________________________________________
An hour into her shift, Raven was surprised by how peaceful work felt—peaceful enough that she didn’t have to intervene. Of course, the calm was only temporary, considering Dick and Damian were living in the same household.
As the doctor was signing her signature on yet another prescription document for a client, she heard a knock on her door which was accompanied by the bickering of two people.
“Put. Me. Down.” A young voice demanded. The wall echoed from the thuds of… Shoes? “I demand you to release me immediately!”
“And I demand you not to kick the walls down.” The other voice, much older, responded before groaning a sigh when he heard another thud this time aimed at him instead. “You’re really testing me here.”
Raven knew exactly who it was.
The door opened and the empath restrained a snicker and decided to cross her arms. In front of her revealed Damian being carried like a football by Dick, still bickering. Damian’s arms restrained by Dick’s, body squirming to go free as he was tucked against the side of Dick’s body.
“What are you two doing here?”
One hour and twenty-seven minutes of peace.
Dick’s head shot up, noticing his girlfriend finally opened up the door as he smiled. “Rae, so we sorta need your—quit moving, Damian!” The vigilante hissed in Damian’s direction before turning back to the doctor. “He crashed into the coffee table.”
“Because of you, moron.” The ten-year-old sneered as he was plopped on the treatment chair.
“Yeah, yeah,” The vigilante rolled his eyes, turning to look at his girlfriend who stared at him with a raised eyebrow, waiting for an elaboration. “He whipped out a sword from his pants and I just tried to keep him from skewering himself.”
The empath sighed, glancing over to the younger boy to hear what he had to say—which he did.
Damian seethed, sending a razor-sharp glare to his older brother. “Incorrect.” He flatly said, eyes shifting onto Raven. “I was not ‘skewering around’. I was perfectly responsible until Grayson over here decided to intervene like the idiot he is.”
“Hmm.” Raven said. “Alright, show me where it hurts and I’ll fix it up.” She added.
“I don’t need your help, Roth.”
“Damian.” Dick drawled out, tone firm and warning.
The boy huffed, crossing his arms, contemplating on whether he should pull out the small spear he hid in the sleeves of his shirt. Damian slowly rolled up his sleeve before-
“Before you pull out your weapon, just know you’re in a public space.” Raven stated, rolling her chair closer to the young boy, propping his leg up to inspect the bruise.
He thought of still pulling out the spear before he realised he was in civilian attire. That would draw attention and risk his identity, causing more problems in the future.
Before he could question how she knew, Dick intervened. “She can sense it.”
So then he thought of doing his second favourite thing: arguing.
“Witch.” Damian huffed, hoping to rile the empath up.
“Sit still.” She said simply, her gloved hands carefully circling the bloody bruise that started from his mid shin to his ankles, creating a mental note to write down in Damian’s document. She noticed the bone from the lower half on Damian’s shin was slightly out of alignment. “Fractured bone.” Raven noted, gently touching the area to understand the severity and how out of place the bone was.
Damian sucked in air, pausing as he winced at the touch before forcing himself to revert back to his unbothered state, letting out a “TT” noise and scoffed, “I’ve had worse. ”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Dick responded.
There was a silence as Damian firmly gripped onto the sides of the chair when he felt Raven touch the bruised spot a little less gently when he caught a glimpse of her emitting small, blue zaps onto the spot. She was trying to discreetly use her spell to ease the pain without making it obvious.
“Hey… Are you-”
“Richard, get me the antiseptic, wipes, and elastic bandages. Bottom row of the shelf near my desk.” Raven interjected, before looking at the young boy. “It’ll take a couple weeks to heal, but I know you can’t wait that long so I’ll fix the rest at home.” She instructed, referring to her magic.
Once Dick returned with the three items, he placed the items on a table near the empath and stood back in his original position, crossing his arms and smirking at Damian.
“Hurts, huh?”
Damian snapped his eyes back onto his older brother, anger simmering inside of him. He didn’t like how he was in this state while Dick is smugly grinning. The newest Robin was so desperate to win.
He scoffed, shifting a little. “I wonder why.”
This time it was Dick’s turn to scoff back. “Maybe if you didn’t try biting my arm off I wouldn’t have flung you onto the table.”
“Biting?” Raven questioned, raising an eyebrow at the young boy before wiping the leftover blood away.
“... He called me short.” Damian admitted, furrowing his eyebrows.
“And I’m not wrong.” Dick claimed.
As the two boys continued bickering, Raven worked on Damian’s bruise, taking the chance to subtly use her powers to alleviate the injury before the ten-year-old caught on.
Dick groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Right, right, it’s my fault for telling you not to fight.”
“Of course it is!” Damian shot back instantly, pointing an accusatory finger at Dick. “Had you not stolen my weapon, I would’ve been able to protect myself. Now, I have a broken-”
“Fractured.” Raven corrected.
“-Leg.” Damian added.
“Really? So, you could’ve impaled me?”
Damian nodded. “Precisely.”
After Raven finished bandaging, both boys stopped arguing, waiting for her final verdict as she sat up straight as she stared at Damian. “I’ve patched you up for now. Just for the time being, don’t put pressure on it and once I fix it entirely you can go back to your duel.” She stated with a small smile.
Damian found himself smiling a little too, unsure why, about to—what feels like the first time—thank her.
Then, without warning, Dick walked over to his younger brother and slung his body under his arms again. “Alright, we’ll head out then.” He stated as Raven stood up as well.
“Don’t just pick me up you insolent brat!”
Ignoring Damian’s protest, Raven looked up at her boyfriend with a stern look. “No duels.”
Dick smiled back, leaning down to give her a peck before leaving.