Shadows and Cards (a Batboys x OC)

Chapter 12

   Jason

When Jason entered the cave at dawn to go back to his place in the city, he didn't expect to see Damian and Athena sparring and laughing. And he really didn't expect to see Athena shift into a sort of nature-nymph-Poison Ivy-thing. 

She laughed at something that Damian said, but she looked lost in thought. He moved a little closer and was surprised that Damian didn't notice him. He heard Athena say,

"Alright, since most of my forms are a little messier, I think we should take this experiment of yours someplace else."

Then he knew: Athena was revealing her powers to Damian. He couldn't miss out on this.

"Mind if I join?" he asked.

Athena whirled to face Jason. Damian drew his sword on instinct, and when they saw that it was Jason, they relaxed, and Damian sheathed his sword. Jason noticed that Athena was holding a magnificent staff, and it held a black diamond on its top. He snickered.

"Didn't mean to interrupt. I'm sure you were having a bonding moment."

Athena flushed with color, and Damian scowled at him.

"We weren't doing anything!" Athena stammered.

"Yeah, sure," Jason smirked. "But I would like to come with you. Things are far more interesting with me around. Dami over here is a total bore."

"You are not coming with us!" Athena barked. She stopped herself. "I-I mean, we're not going anywhere!"

"Yeah well, you two are obviously going somewhere. Why else would Damian be wearing his suit?" said Jason.

Now Damian was the one to interject. "Hey, I can wear my suit when I want, where I want! Now, don't you have to go mope around your bunker?"

"Ouch. That one stung. But, you can't stop me. I'll just end up following you no matter what." Jason said.

Athena groaned, "Fine, you can come."

"Alright! I'll go get the others."

Damian snapped, "No one else is coming."

"Oh dear brother, if they can't come, won't they become suspicious of our whereabouts? Then they'll go report to Bruce and then he'll start questioning your..."

"Alright, they can come!" Athena yelled, "Jeez, you guys bicker a lot."

Jason made a mock bow to Athena, and she made a vulgar gesture in return.

"Ok, since apparently everyone is coming, I guess we'll all rendezvous at my coordinates. I need to find a safe place away from civilization." Athena sighed.

Damian looked at Athena's clothes. "Not in that you're not. I think Tim finished the suit. How about we give it a test run?"

Athena put her hands on her hips and started whining in a babyish voice. "But Dami, I had picked this outfit just for today! I don't want it to go to waste!"

Damian pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled deeply, "Oh. My. God. Just do it."

"Fine. But don't take too long to find me, I don't like to wait." Athena said. She then made her way to Tim's workshop.

Jason turned to Damian after Athena had left. He was looking at the door to the workshop where Athena had just left through. A small smile was traced on his lips.

 Jason chuckled. Damian turned to him, glaring.

"What?" he demanded.

Jason smiled, "You like her, don't you?"

"I do not! We met her yesterday!" he protested.

Jason waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say loverboy."

As Jason turned away, he saw Damian turn to the door again, and that small smile returned. Maybe Damian would find someone after all, he thought.