Lost in the Void, Found in the Stars | Damian Wayne Oneshots

Enough For Now | Tai Pham

Summary: Tai loves the way Damian's eyes light up at the prospect of danger. For now, he is content with just being by his side.

.・。.・゜✭・»»——⍟——««.・✫・゜・。.

The room was barely lit, the kind of lighting that gave everything a soft glow, turning shadows into something almost inviting. Damian Wayne stood in the center, surveying the large, ornate box in front of him with his usual stoic expression. His arms were crossed, and his sharp green eyes glinted with curiosity, though he tried not to show it. Tai Pham, standing a few feet behind him, could see it. He could always tell when Damian was interested in something, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

"You're not seriously thinking of opening that, are you?" Tai asked, though he already knew the answer.

Damian didn’t even glance back. "Why wouldn’t I?"

Tai’s lips quirked up into a small smile as he walked closer, trying to sound more casual than he felt. “Because you don’t know what’s in there. It could be dangerous.”

Damian finally turned around, and Tai’s breath caught for a second, like it always did when Damian looked directly at him. There was something about the intensity of Damian’s gaze, something that made Tai’s heart race just a little bit faster than it should. Damian’s lips curled into a small, almost mischievous grin, it wasn't rare but it was always striking when it appeared.

"Isn’t that exciting?" He whispered.

Tai couldn’t help it, he loved that look on Damian’s face. The way his eyes lit up at the prospect of danger and uncertainty—a thrill that most people would run from. There was something about Damian that was magnetic, something that drew Tai in closer even though Damian could never know what he felt. And maybe that was okay.

Damian turned back to the box, his fingers lightly brushing over the edges, searching for the mechanism to open it. Tai watched him for a moment longer before stepping forward to stand beside him. Their shoulders nearly touched, and for just a second, Tai let himself enjoy the closeness between them. Damian might be oblivious, but Tai was comfortable with that.

“Even if it is exciting,” Tai said softly, his tone more affectionate than teasing, “you’re not invincible, you know.”

Damian huffed, amused. “I’ve survived worse.”

Tai rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

Without another word, Damian pressed something on the side of the box, and with a soft click, the lid began to open. Both of them tensed, ready for whatever might come out. Tai, despite being a Green Lantern and well-acquainted with danger, felt a small rush of adrenaline. But what surprised him more was the way his heart seemed to beat faster not because of the box, but because of Damian standing so close, and the way he handled things with that fearless confidence.

Nothing happened.

Damian raised an eyebrow, peering into the box. Tai leaned in as well, shoulders brushing this time. Inside, there was a small, intricately designed sphere—some kind of ancient tech, though neither of them could immediately identify it. Damian reached for it without hesitation, but Tai grabbed his wrist before he could touch it.

“Hold on,” Tai said, looking up at Damian with concern. “What if it triggers something?”

Damian looked at him, their faces only inches apart now. For a second, Tai’s breath hitched. Damian seemed entirely unaffected, but Tai couldn’t help the flutter in his chest. He wondered what it would be like if Damian ever realized how much Tai cared about him—not just as a friend or partner in crime-fighting, but something more. But then again, maybe it was better this way. Damian had enough to worry about without adding complicated feelings to the mix.

“It won’t,” Damian said, his voice steady as always. “I’ve already analyzed it.”

Tai let out a small, almost defeated laugh and released Damian’s wrist. “Of course you have.”

With that, Damian reached into the box and gently lifted the sphere out. Nothing happened, just like Damian had predicted. He examined it closely, turning it over in his hands while Tai watched him with quiet admiration.

“You really don’t fear anything, do you?” Tai asked, his voice softer now.

Damian glanced up, catching Tai’s eyes for a brief moment before looking back at the sphere. “There’s no point in fear. It clouds your judgment.”

Tai nodded, though he couldn’t quite suppress the fondness in his gaze. He knew Damian was oblivious to the way he felt, and he’d accepted that a long time ago. He wasn’t looking for a grand confession or some dramatic moment of realization. He just liked being here, being close to Damian, even if it was one-sided.

“I guess that’s what I like about you,” Tai said, more to himself than anything.

Damian didn’t respond, but Tai hadn’t expected him to. Instead, he just smiled to himself and watched as Damian worked, content in the silence, in the knowledge that, even if Damian didn’t know how Tai felt, they would still face whatever came next together.

And maybe that was enough. For now.

End