Damian and Raven Retreat to the Dimension House
The night in Gotham was too loud.
Too tense.
Too full of eyes.
So when Raven slipped her hand into Damian's and whispered,
"Let's leave… just for a moment."
He didn't argue.
Damian pulled a small silver key from his belt — smooth, unmarked, and humming faintly with power.
Raven tilted her head.
"That's the one that opens the… dimension house?"
"Only for me," Damian said, sliding it into the rusted service-door in the alley.
"No one else can enter unless I give them a key."
Raven smiled faintly.
"Good. I like privacy."
He pushed open the door.
Instead of a broom closet, a warm golden hallway stretched outward.
Candles floated along the walls.
The air smelled of cedar and clean sunlight.
Raven stepped inside.
"…It feels alive."
"It responds to whoever I allow inside," Damian said.
"And apparently it likes you."
Inside the House
The door shut behind them, the Gotham noise disappearing instantly.
Raven exhaled.
"…Peace. Real peace."
She looked around, letting her fingers graze the wood.
"It's been a long time."
Damian watched her quietly, then walked past to the living room.
A fire crackled in the stone hearth.
Cushions were scattered everywhere — the house adapting, making itself comfortable for them.
Raven sat down first.
"I'm not used to being chased by undead assassins on date nights," she deadpanned.
Damian smirked.
"Then we're doing something right."
She lightly nudged him with her shoulder.
"You know what I mean. The Court… they want you. Badly."
"They won't get me."
"No," Raven said softly.
"They'll try."
Her violet eyes glowed faintly as she looked directly into his.
"And when your soul burns brighter than the sun… everyone wants to claim it."
Damian's hand twitched — but he placed it over hers.
"They can try."
Planning… Sort Of
Raven opened a black portal-book, a spellbook that looked half-shadow, half-paper.
"We should go over possibilities," she said.
"Talon numbers. Court assets. Possible rituals. The Lazarus connection—"
Damian gently closed the book with one finger.
"…later."
Raven blinked.
"Damian— this is important."
"It is," he said.
"But so are you."
Raven froze.
Her heart did a strange twisting flip — one she hated, one she secretly loved.
Damian stood, offering his hand.
"Come with me."
"…Where?"
"The hot spring."
Raven's brow arched.
"You have a hot spring?"
"The house made one," Damian said casually.
"It figured I'd need one after fights."
Raven shook her head, half-amused.
"Your dimension spoils you. And probably wants to adopt you."
Damian smirked.
"Not unless you approve."
She rolled her eyes — but took his hand.
The Hot Spring Garden
The door opened to warm mist.
Stone lanterns flickered beside the water.
Cherry blossom trees swayed above, though none existed in the real world.
Raven stared.
"…This isn't real."
"It's real enough to relax in."
Damian removed his cloak and boots.
Raven, cheeks faintly purple, formed a shadow barrier around herself as she changed into a conjured black swimsuit.
When they entered the water, Damian leaned back, eyes half-closed.
Raven watched him.
"You're calmer," she said.
"More than usual."
"Because you're here."
Her heart thumped — and she hated how much she liked hearing it.
She slid closer, letting her shoulder brush his.
"…Don't disappear again," she said quietly.
"I know you can handle yourself, but I don't like worrying."
Damian turned his head to look at her directly.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Raven swallowed.
And then, slowly, she rested her head on his shoulder.
Finally trusting him.
Finally safe.
For now.
But Then—
The water suddenly pulsed.
A glowing red notification flickered in front of Damian's eyes — invisible to Raven.
[TEMPLATE UPDATE COMPLETE: 100% — YORIICHI TSUGIKUNI]
[NEW TEMPLATE UNLOCKED: JŌICHIRŌ YUKIHIRA — 5% SYNC]
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]
Damian stiffened.
[WARNING: THE COURT'S GRANDMASTER-TALON HAS ENTERED GOTHAM]
Raven lifted her head immediately.
"…What's wrong?"
Damian exhaled slowly.
"Trouble."
Raven Insists on Helping Damian Hunt the Grandmaster-Talon
The steaming water rippled around them as Raven pulled back, her expression sharpening instantly.
"Damian," she said quietly,
"what did you sense?"
Damian didn't answer right away.
He rose from the spring, water sliding off the scars across his shoulders.
He reached for a towel — and Raven's stomach twisted, because he only looked like that when the danger was real.
She stepped out after him, drying herself with a flick of shadow magic.
"Tell me."
Damian finally turned toward her.
His eyes glowed faintly — the Transparent World activating instinctively.
"There's a Talon.
Not a normal one.
A Grandmaster-Talon."
Raven froze.
"…That's not possible. The Grandmasters are myths. They're older than Gotham, older than—"
"They're real," Damian cut in.
"And one just entered the city."
Raven's pulse spiked.
She grabbed his arm.
"We're going together."
Damian stiffened.
"No. It's too dangerous."
"Too dangerous?"
Raven's voice sharpened.
"You just fought four Talons in one night. One tried to stab you through the spine."
"I handled it."
"You barely handled it."
They stared at each other — fire meeting shadow.
Damian opened his mouth, but Raven stepped closer, her forehead nearly touching his.
"You're not facing a normal Talon," she said.
"These things survive centuries. They can regenerate from mist. And if Batman's files are right—"
"They can kill even you," Damian finished.
Raven nodded.
"Which is why I'm going with you."
Damian Tries to Resist — and Fails
Damian crossed his arms.
"Raven, if something happens to you—"
"It won't," she said simply, "because you'll be there."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Damian clenched his jaw.
"You could die."
Raven tilted her head.
"So could you."
Damian paused.
"…That's not comforting."
She smirked faintly.
"It wasn't meant to be."
They stared at each other — stubborn, fierce, and refusing to step back.
Then Raven said softly:
"I care about you.
I'm not letting you go alone."
Damian's resolve cracked instantly.
"…Fine."
She smiled.
"I knew you'd see it my way."
Preparing for the Hunt
The dimension house shifted around them, reacting to the tension.
The armory door opened on its own.
Inside hung:
The Nichirin sword
His League gear
His Fire Shadow armor
A new chef's knife set (because the Jōichirō template was syncing)
Damian strapped on his sword.
Raven wrapped herself in her cloak, runes glowing.
The house dimmed its lights, as if sensing danger.
Raven glanced at the door.
"It won't let us leave until we're fully ready."
Damian nodded.
"It's protective like that."
"Just like someone else I know."
He looked at her.
"…I'll keep you safe."
Raven touched his cheek lightly.
"And I'll keep you alive."
Leaving the Dimension
Damian turned the key.
The door opened into Jump City's skyline — night air cold, urgent, electric.
Raven stepped beside him.
"Which way?"
Damian inhaled deeply.
Then his eyes widened sharply — Transparent World cutting through buildings and stone like glass.
"…Found him."
Raven's heart skipped.
"Where?"
Damian drew his sword.
"Titan Tower."
Raven's eyes went wide.
"…Beast Boy. Starfire. Cyborg—"
"They're in danger."
Raven grabbed Damian's hand.
"Let's move."
And with a burst of shadow and flame—
They vanished.