It was late, around 11, when Damian flung his katana through the shared wall between him and Garfield. He heard a muffled scream and then a pounding against the wall. He must have transformed into a large animal if he was able to make it shake with that amount of force. 

"Didn't your mother tell you not to play with knives?" Beast Boy yelled through the wall. Damian rolled his eyes and removed the weapon, leaving a slit where it once was.

The opposite, in fact. 

He went to return to his training but a familiar purple light grew outside. The boy walked to the window and peered down, watching as the witch girl moved deeper into the private woods outside. Returning the sword to its rightful place, Damian slid his door open and left the tower. 

Damian followed closely behind and hid behind a tree to observe. Raven was levitating off the ground, the purple glow emanating from her pale skin. As usual, her hood covered her face, but Damian could tell her eyes were closed. She sat with great posture and her hands rested on her bent knees. There was a golden plate with a pile of ash, stuck with three incenses. She seemed to be praying for the wellbeing of her family. Damian could feel himself glow as he continued to watch.

The fourteen year old moved forward and stopped in front of her. He scratched his black hair, "I suppose I should thank you for healing me." He remembered the accident from earlier that day. 

Raven opened her eyes. "Um, you're welcome."

"It was strange having you in my head," Damian sat down as he continued. "I felt you prying into my entire life. It was not appreciated."

"I'm an empath," the girl explained. "And if it makes you feel any better, I didn't see it as much as felt it. And I've been trying to shake it off ever since."

"Then you know I'm not meant to be here at this stupid school. I was groomed for a higher calling. My grandfather's-"

"I know all about your grandfather," Raven stopped him. "I felt him. He was a demon. And believe me, I know my demons."

Damian explained how great Ra's was. "He was a great man. We were going to make the world stronger, better. We were going to rule it together."

"With Y/n beside you," Raven added. Damian looked at her with questioning eyes. "Empath remember? She is clearly significant in your emotional history." Damian looked at the damp grass around them. "And I know all about that game, too. Now, I don't mean to be rude, but would you mind getting the hell away from me?" She closed her eyes. 

Damian stood up, "You know, when you were in my head, I could see things about you, too." Raven questioned him about what he saw. "It looked like a man. But something more. Who...What was that thing?"

Raven was quick to shut the conversation down. She stood up, the glowing effect worn away as the peace in her mind was disturbed. She extended her palm and a large light purple circle grew. It was brighter than the ring around her body. "You have other things to fix here," she said as she walked through the portal. "Just stay away from me, okay?"

It was early the next morning when Y/n woke up. At her usual time, the time when she woke from her nightmare. The bedheaded girl calmed herself before beginning her day. She glanced at the little digital clock on her nightstand. It was about an hour before she needed to get up. Today was the first day of therapy, and due to her father's money, and secret identity, a trusted doctor would visit the Titan Tower. 

Stretching, Y/n pulled out of her drawer a wrap of linen cloth to wrap around her scarred wrist. She tightened it enough to wear it would stay and not bother her and began preparing for the day, Y/n made her way to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. The others wouldn't be up for a while. Garfield liked to sleep in late, he preferred to catnap until noon, Kori slept in until a solid 9 in the morning, Jaime was usually awake but skipped breakfast to go on social media without being bothered by Gar, and Raven was doing whatever Raven did at this time. 

Y/n yawned as she entered the kitchen. Her normal schedule was this, waking up at an hour where she could have her peace. It was out of habit, the League of Assassins never slept in, and the dreams kept getting worse. Y/n tried not to think about them and blamed her being an early worm on the first reason. After a bowl or two of her favorite cereal, (favorite. cereal), she would train alone for three hours. Then Starfire woke up and forced everyone out of their rooms. Y/n liked the schedule, she had gotten used to it after being here for six months. 

"What are you doing up?"

Y/n focused on who asked and saw her childhood companion, Damian, sitting upright in the metal bar chairs that went with the clean granite island, black coffee (Y/n knew that's how he preferred his) in hand. He was dressed in a classy black turtleneck with some slacks. He was already beginning his day, not to Y/n's surprise. He was always eager to start the day - to train - so he could work on any missions. 

"I always get up this early," Y/n went on her toes to get the cereal from its place in the cabinet. She got a glass bowl and spoon and set them down next to each other then she went for the milk in the large silver fridge. "I didn't see you in here yesterday," she poured the cereal and then the milk, returning the items to their spots. 

"Training room," was all he said as he drank from...

"That's my mug," Y/n commented and looked between him and the glass held to his lips. "We have a shit ton of mugs and you take mine." She shook her head and sat down across from him. 

"Would you like it back?" Damian asked smugly. Y/n shook her head and lifted the spoon to her mouth. Damian didn't try to converse any more, just taking sips of the black caffeinator, and enjoying the quiet.

"By the way," Y/n started again. She picked something out of her pocket and slid it over. "I found your little tracker. Damian looked at her. "Didn't think I'd notice?"

"No," he sipped his coffee. "But I expected you to find it sooner."

"I found it as soon as I walked into the building, just forgot to give it to you." 

Damian hummed in response, either not believing her or not caring. He noticed Y/n was glancing at him one too many times for it to go unnoticed. "What?"

Y/n rested her spoon against the rim of the semi deep bowl. "Nothing, it's just," Y/n looked at the left over milk. "Oliver is sending a therapist over, and it just reminded me that I never apologized for hitting you." Y/n looked back at him. "I'm sorry. It was childish of me."

Damian was silent for a beat, "It's okay. I would have hit me too," he told her. Y/n had to stop and think to double check that the Damian Wayne, made a joke. Once finding no source of anger on his face, something that rarely happened, she laughed. 

Damian peaked over at her, and noticed how much she had changed in the past two years they were away from each other. Her hair was an obvious update, and he liked the new look. But now puberty was actually taking its toll on the young girl he once knew. Her facial features were beginning to look sharper, her smile was that of a woman, and something Damian had noticed when she ran to Grayson was her mature body. She had definitely changed, the mixture of training as a hero and time gave her quite a new look. If Damian was being honest, although he would never like to admit it, she was beautiful. It reminded him of when they were first introduced back at the League. Y/n was a scrawny, bony, dirty, and pathetic girl. Terms he had called her to her face, and it made him think how better she looks now.

Of course he did not mean it was solely based on her body, although he's glad she is no longer skin and bones, but rather the fact in the past two years, Y/n had time to discover herself. Away from Damian. While he wasn't aware of how long the "Cardinal" had been around, Damian was secretly glad she was better. After all he had put her through, she deserves everything.

Damian grit his teeth for even thinking of such things. Two years should have been more than enough time to get over her. To put whatever future relationships they may have had in the trash 
bin. Or better yet, a chest with a giant lock on the front and thrown into the ocean. 

"I should get ready, I don't want the doctor to walk in on Garfield walking around naked again." Y/n stood up and put her bowl in the sink. She moved her neck in a circle and Damian could hear the loud popping noises. "Damian," once again she cut him out of his thoughts. "I really am sorry for hitting you. She extended her hand, as almost an olive branch. He grabbed it without hesitation and shook. Damn emotions. Damn everything. Y/n went to leave but turned around real quick. She grabbed the door frame and smiled, "I owe you a free hit during training."

Now it was Damian's turn to laugh.