The New Teen Titans Part II: The Curse of al Ghul

Chapter 8: Vertigo

Overall, the second day back to school went pretty smoothly. For the first time in days, Mara seemed genuinely happy, and that was all Damian needed to know. He didn't want her to feel miserable like he did when he first started private school for the first time. He was also proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone and doing so well, despite all odds.

On their way home, Damian saw his cousin excitedly talk to Pennyworth about her day at school for the very first time. Pennyworth was undoubtedly pleased to see how joyful she was, and Damian shared the same sentiment. He wondered if that was how his butler— who was more of a grandfather to him— had felt when Damian finally began to mellow and share more things about his life.

It was just so great to see that new side of Mara - light, cheerful. But despite the good day she was having so far, Damian figured she might be better off with some space. She was probably getting tired of being around him all day long. Fortunately for her, Damian had already planned to meet his girlfriend at the Glades after school, and Pennyworth was fine with it as long as he came home on time.

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It was past 7pm when Damian left the Manor in his vigilante attire. Once he arrived at the Glades, his eyes were drawn to a striking archer in a tight red leather outfit, casually leaning against a matching red motorcycle. Her hood was up, concealing her long, dark hair, and her mask covered her sharp brown eyes, but she looked as gorgeous as ever. She was distracted, her gaze fixed on her phone, and was unaware of his presence.

"Hey, Red," Robin greeted, making his girlfriend jump.

Despite the surprise, the brightest smile spread across Emiko's face once she laid eyes on him.

"Hey, you're early!"

Robin walked closer and soon felt his girlfriend's arms wrap around his neck. He was taller than her now, so she had to stand on her tiptoes to look up at him.

"Of course. Besides, it's nice being early. We've had our fair share of interruptions, don't you think?" Damian's lip hooked at the side into a crooked half-smile.

"I completely agree!" Emiko replied with a playful smile tugging at her lips.

She leaned forward to press a soft, warm kiss that sent a wave of goosebumps across Damian's skin. The moment lingered as the couple savored each other's presence through their kiss. Time always seemed to slow down when they were together. It was nice —calming, even. And exciting. Emiko was the first to pull away after a little while, leaving behind a thrilling and exciting warmth that seemed to echo between them.

If only they could stay there longer.

"Alright, Boy Wonder. It's time. Are you ready to interrogate our new friend?"

"Always," Robin replied with a crooked smile.

The couple headed to an old, rundown apartment complex, nestled in a grimy part of the city where flickering streetlights barely cut through the gloom. The street was filthy, and the faint hum of traffic was drowned out by the occasional wail of distant sirens.

The apartment complex was clearly old, its walls lined with cracks that ran like veins through the brickwork. Rusted metal fire escapes clung to the side of the building, and orange bricks turned into a mottled black due to years of neglect. Damian felt a pang of sympathy for the impoverished area. He had to remind Father to open a new charity foundation for the people in the Glades since Oliver Queen was so useless in fixing the issue.

With a nod to Emiko, they shot together their grappling hooks, swiftly breaking into the apartment's third floor through an open window. Inside, a teenage boy slouched on a worn-out loveseat in the living room. The TV was on, but the kid's gaze was glued to his phone as he mindlessly scrolled, completely oblivious to how he was no longer alone in his own home. The apartment as a whole mirrored the kid's disinterest. The coffee table was discolored and scratched, cluttered with crumpled snack wrappers, empty soda cans, sandwich crumbs, and miscellaneous trash. The walls bore chipped paint and peeling wallpaper, marred by cracks and holes, and the carpet was filled with stains.