Raven Roth and Damian Wayne: The Walk of Life (Book 1 Of 2)

Chapter sixteen

"What are you doing here?" Damian asked with an edge of aggression. "As charming as ever Damian. I am here because this is my home too, as much as you clearly hate the idea, your father and I are in a relationship with one another." Said Selina in a calm but confident tone. She knew full well that Damian still saw her a criminal and building a bridge between them would be difficult but she had been at this for a while and it was starting to get old. "well then, if that is the case then I guess introductions are in order. Raven this is Selina Kyle aka Catwoman, my father's current flame. Kyle this is Rav." Damian began but Raven cut him off with an elbow to his side. "I'm sorry for him. I'm Raven Roth, Damians, um team mate and, well, girlfriend I guess." Raven said shyly looking away from Selina at the end of her stumbling sentence. Selina smiled to herself as she got to her feet and walked over to the edge of the pool. She squatted down and put out a hand to Raven. Raven took her hand and the two shook. "Pleased to meet you Raven. Just call me Selina, and don't worry about Damian, he and I clash but I think we're getting better. Don't you?" Selina replied turning to Damian. Damian crossed arms and scowled while letting out a humph. "See, much better." Laughed Selina as she stood. "I'll leave you two darling love birds to it and see if I can help your dad with this Croc business." She said and went on her way. "She seems genuine enough. Why don't you trust her?" Raven asked as she took hold of one of Damians hands in the water. "She's a thief and a crook, was been long before and since the day I arrived in Gotham. People like her don't change, they just bide their time waiting and then take you for all you've got." Damian said with distain. Raven frowned and turned Damian to look at her. "Damian, I looked in to her mind. Your clear distrust of her made me curious." Raven said to him and Damian raised an eyebrow. "What did you see?" He asked. "She feels sad that she can't find a way to connect with you. She feels that it will mean her relationship with your father will fall apart because of it. She feels hurt that you don't trust her but can understand why, she's done a lot of bad things, been caught and fought your father a lot but feels that she has helped him just as many times. She has hope that sometime soon you'll see her as an ally and accept her as part of the family, never as a replacement for your mother but still as part of the family. She felt happy and excited for you when she saw us together, she didn't take a photo to make fun or make us feel awkward but because she saw it as a moment of genuine happiness in you and between us and wanted to capture that for us." Raven explained. Damian stood still for a moment thinking on what he was told. He stood so still there wasn't a single ripple of motion on the pool water around him. "I should speak with her I guess. I do know she has been trying and I have been, difficult, about it. I have seen that she's trying but she has friends, friends that make up most of the population in Arkham. Lived with two in particular that really concern me. The three of them are considered best friends. A real 'mess with one and the other two will end you' kind of friendship. It's been a while though so I'll just go change and then talk to her." He said as he gave Raven a look that she hadn't expected, apologetic. Raven gave him a reassuring smile and a kiss on the cheek before climbing out of the pool ahead of him. She grabbed her towel and book from the table as Damian followed out the pool and waited for her. Raven walked up to him and Damian confidently extended his hand out to her. Raven linked her fingers between his. Their being in a relationship was becoming instinctive, the small gestures that had been awkward at the start, were now common and comfortable. Damian walked Raven back to her room. "I'm going to shower, change and read my book for a bit. Do you know what time I should come down for dinner?" Raven asked turning back to Damian as she opened the door to her room. "I'm not too sure. I'll call your room when Alfred says he's going to serve it." Damian replied. Raven nodded, gave him a kiss and went into her room. Damian walked into his room and changed out of his swim wear. He didn't bother with a shower he'd grab one later. He threw on a pair of jeans and a black turtle neck then made his way out and down the stairs. As he reached the bottom of the staircase he saw Selina walking out the kitchen and on her way to the Bat cave assumedly. "Kyle." Damian called as he caught sight of her. At first Selina subtly rolled her eyes but she stopped and turned to him none the less. "Hey Damian, have a good swim?" She asked cheerfully. Damian stopped in front of her. "Yes, I did, thank you, I found myself quite relaxed actually." He replied trying to be as least hostile as possible. "Look, Kyle. Selina. You and I have been butting heads from day one. I've always held my ground because I've only ever known you to be a criminal and due to that I didn't give you a chance." He continued before Selina raise a hand. "Damian, where's this coming from? Maybe ten, twenty minutes ago everything was the way it had always been and now there's this big turnaround?" Selina said with a very quizzical expression. Damian let out a quiet sigh. "Raven is an empath. She felt your feelings and heard the thoughts of your mind when you met today. It's not something she did intentionally, it just happens but she did explain it to me because well I guess I was ruder than I should have been." Damian explained. Selina thought for a second then audibly sighed. "Then you know that I don't want to replace anyone. I'd just like us to get along and be happy with your dad. I know I've been trouble for a long time and come to blows with him in the past but it's just that, in the past. So, what do you say, get along, maybe be friends even?" She asked extending a hand to him. Damian took hold of her hand firmly. "We'll get along at least, friends we'll have to work towards." He responded. With a smile for each of them Damian continued past her and went into the kitchen. Selina carried on in the direction she had been going and walked down a spiralling staircase that exited into a large open cave. On a platform a little way ahead of her sat the Batmobile, ready to rocket down the track, out the waterfall that concealed the cave and off to Gotham at a moment's notice. Selina walked along the suspended walkway around the edge of the cave that lead to a second platform. This platform held display cases housing the uniforms of the Bat Family. There was the computer that had every case note and every tool the family could ever need, even had minesweeper to Selina's amusement. Sat there in the tall chair sat Bruce, going over the notes he'd collected from the Croc encounter. "Coffee for you." She said softly. "Hmm oh, thank you, I could really use it." He replied turning to take the cup Selina held out to him. She set the tray down to one side and picked up her coffee. "So, want we got so far?" She asked leaning over his shoulder. "We have the pattern, he's hitting pharmacies but taking all kinds of drugs and pills so pinning down what he's after has been difficult." He said resting back into his chair. "Honestly I could do with a break." He continued. Selina put her coffee down and leaned against the computer in front of Bruce. "Well I can think of a good distraction." She said sporting a devilish grin. "That does sound interesting." Bruce said returning the devilish banter. "Excellent." Smiled Selina. "Let's start with how I had a great chat with Damian just now." She said leaning back, crossing her arms and tilting her head to the side with a smile. She enjoys teasing and toying with Bruce almost as much as she enjoyed being part of his life. "Oh. What did he have to say this time?" Bruce asked a little disappointed at the lead on but also a little annoyed at having another conversation about Damians remarks. "Well, he was his usual self out by the pool, I have a beautiful moment I caught on camera to show you later, but then before I came down here he was actually a little sweet. Explained a few things. I didn't know Raven could read minds." Selina said. Bruce sat surprised slightly. "Yes, she has empathic powers. She not so much reads your mind but feels it. Didn't shake her hand by any chance, did you?" He asked with a smile. "Yes, I did. I'm guessing she was able to feel how I felt and then explained my side of the story to Damian in a way she knew he'd understand. Well I know that cause Damian said as much but he said how he saw the situation and I understand where he's coming from and now we both know the others story we were able to reach an understanding. We shook hands and said we'd get along, he even agreed to work towards being friends." Selina explained. Bruce sat silently for a moment taking in what he'd been told. "Well I did say he'd come around but honestly, I didn't expect it would take him falling in love to do so. She's really done a number on him, it's good to see." He said. Selina stepped towards him and sat on his lap. "Well as long as it means less fights I'm happy. Now you needed a break so let's go back up top, Alfred has nearly finished dinner anyway so we wouldn't get much more work done." She said resting her head on Bruce's shoulder. "Alright, that sounds like a good idea to me." He said as he rested his head against hers. The pair sat there silently for a moment just enjoying their company. Not long after they got to their feet and Bruce closed down the computer and they walked back upstairs hand in hand.