EUPHORIA

Final part PTSD

The day had been gentle—a rare respite after the turmoil they’d both endured. Damian and Raven spent the afternoon at the Tower, enjoying the simplicity of normal life. They took Titus for a walk, shared an easy dinner, and finished the night on the couch, watching old movies. It was an escape from worry, from shadows, and they both felt the weight lifting. When they finally made their way to bed, exhaustion wrapped around them, and they quickly fell asleep, Raven nestled into Damian’s side.

But deep in the early hours of the morning, Raven’s body began to tremble. Her breaths grew ragged, and her face contorted with a look of distress. Damian stirred, his senses on alert as he felt her shifting, small gasps escaping her lips. He blinked awake just as her tremors became sobs, her hands clutching at the sheets as if trying to escape something he couldn’t see.

“Raven?” he murmured, leaning closer, brushing his hand along her back in gentle circles. But she was caught in a dream, her face damp with tears as she gasped, her whole body tensing as if in defense.

Her eyes fluttered open, but the terror still lingered, her breaths ragged as her gaze darted around, struggling to break free from the nightmare’s grip. Without a word, she flung her arms around his neck, her face buried against his shoulder, her grip fierce as she clung to him like a lifeline.

Damian wrapped his arms around her, his embrace firm and steady, anchoring her to the present. “Raven, it’s me,” he whispered, his voice soft yet resolute. “You’re safe. You’re here with me. The monastery’s far behind us. It’s over.”

She choked back a sob, her fingers shaking as they tightened around him, desperate for the comfort of his presence. “It felt so real,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I was… I was back there. Alone, trapped…” Her voice broke, and she buried her face deeper into his shoulder, letting out a shuddering breath.

Damian’s jaw clenched as he held her tighter, his hand gently stroking her back. “You’re not alone,” he assured her, his voice steady. “I’m here, Raven. And I’m not going anywhere.”

For a while, they sat in silence, Damian’s presence a grounding force as she slowly calmed. Her breathing steadied, and she leaned more fully into him, allowing the warmth of his body to drive away the remnants of her nightmare. His familiar scent, the steady rise and fall of his chest—all of it pulled her back, grounding her.

After a few long moments, she lifted her head, her gaze meeting his. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through that alone.”

Damian’s eyes softened as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “You don’t have to,” he replied. “Not anymore.”

She managed a faint, exhausted smile, relief flooding her features as she finally allowed herself to believe his words. Tentatively, she leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder once more, feeling his arms tighten protectively around her. She let herself relax fully, savoring the comfort his presence offered.

As she began to drift off again, her hands remained loosely wrapped around his neck, her breaths becoming slow and even. Damian stayed awake, watching over her, his heart heavy with both the need to protect her and the desire to take away all the shadows that haunted her.

When she finally drifted into a more peaceful sleep, he pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, his voice a barely audible whisper. “You’re safe with me, Raven. Always.”

He lay back, holding her close, feeling the weight of the night ease with each breath she took. As her fingers lightly relaxed, still resting around his neck, Damian closed his eyes, making a silent vow to keep her safe from anything that would ever bring her harm.

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The next morning
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Dick knocked lightly on the door but received no answer. Curious, he pushed it open, stepping into the dimly lit room. The sight of Damian asleep with Raven nestled against him brought a smile to his face. Unable to resist, he took a quick photo, capturing the rare moment of peace on his brother's usually serious face.

As the sun began to peek through the curtains, Damian stirred and quickly blinked awake. He squinted at the brightening room and shot out of bed, moving to close the curtains before the sunlight could reach Raven's face.

“Hey, let her sleep,” Dick said with a grin as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

Damian's eyes narrowed when he saw Dick. Without a word, he pushed his brother out of the room and closed the door behind him, the sound of the latch clicking echoing in the quiet. “I swear, Grayson, I’ll kill you if you wake her up,” he joked, though the tension in his voice was unmistakable.

Dick laughed softly, leaning against the door. “I get it, bro. Just checking in on her.”

Damian took a deep breath, feeling protective. “She had a rough night. I just want her to rest.”

“Understood. I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Dick replied, his voice teasing but warm. “Just keep the singing to a minimum.”

“Noted,” Damian said with a smirk, opening the door slightly to peek at Raven, who remained peacefully asleep. Satisfied that she was okay, he let the door close again, focusing back on the moment.

“Thanks, Dick,” he added softly, appreciating his brother's understanding.

“No problem. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything,” Dick said, turning to leave.

As he walked away, Damian settled back into bed beside Raven, feeling the warmth of her presence. He couldn’t shake the sense of contentment that filled him, knowing she was safe.