EUPHORIA

help healing(part 2)

Raven sat in the corner of the room, her knees drawn up to her chest as she looked out the window. The soft glow of the sun filtered in through the curtains, casting warm shadows against the walls. It was quiet here, in Damian's quarters—so much quieter than the cold, clinical silence of the place she had been kept in.

She hadn't spoken much since Damian had brought her back to the League's headquarters. Every time she tried to move, her body protested with aches, bruises, and the weight of the past few weeks. The worst part, though, was the emotional strain—the way her heart would race whenever she saw a shadow pass by too quickly, the tightness in her chest when someone raised their voice too loudly.

But here, with Damian, she felt something she hadn't in so long: safety.

Titus was curled up at her feet, the dog's presence comforting in a way Raven hadn't expected. She smiled faintly as the dog raised his head to look at her, his eyes full of that gentle affection he always showed. The bond they had formed in such a short time was undeniable. Raven found it almost surreal that she could feel this at ease in a place she had never imagined she would be.

Damian had been kind to her—quietly patient. Every time she needed something, he was there. Whether it was bringing her food or just sitting with her, not saying much, but staying close. It was more than she had ever asked for, yet so much less than what she had needed for so long.

She hadn't expected to feel so comfortable, not after everything that had happened. She'd always kept people at arm's length, afraid to let them in. But now, with Damian, something had changed.

A soft knock at the door broke her thoughts. She looked up as Damian stepped inside, his presence filling the room. She hadn't even noticed how much she had grown used to him being here—so often by her side, so quietly, as though he didn't want to disturb the delicate peace she had been trying to rebuild.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying that underlying concern that only he seemed to know how to hide.

Raven nodded, a slight smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "Better. A little."

Damian didn't press her further. He simply moved to the chair next to her, sitting down and looking at her with those piercing eyes that always seemed to see through everything.

"You don't have to do this alone," Damian said, his words gentle but firm. "You can stay here as long as you need. This place... it's yours."

She looked at him for a long moment, her heart thudding in her chest. There was sincerity in his eyes, a depth to his words that she couldn't deny. He wasn't offering her just a place to stay—he was offering her something she hadn't had in years: stability.

"I don't want to be a burden," she replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. It was the truth, something she had always believed. She had lived her whole life believing she was better off alone, that others would only get hurt if they got too close to her.

"You're not a burden," Damian said softly, his tone never wavering. "You never have been."

His words hit her like a wave. She swallowed, trying to keep herself composed, but something inside of her cracked open, like a dam breaking. All the pain, all the fear she had been holding in began to rush forward, and she found herself trembling slightly, her breath coming quicker.

Damian stood up, moved in front of her, and knelt down. His hands were warm as they gently cupped her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice low and calming. "You're safe here. You're not alone."

For the first time in weeks, Raven let herself believe that. The walls she had built around herself, the barriers she had maintained for so long, began to fall away. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the quietness of the room wash over her.

"I don't want to be alone anymore," she murmured.

Damian's heart clenched, a mixture of emotions running through him. He had seen the strength in Raven, had witnessed the way she fought, but in this moment, he saw her vulnerability—something she had rarely allowed anyone to see.

"You don't have to be alone," he said again, this time more firmly, as though sealing a promise between them.

The days passed slowly, but each one felt like a small step forward. Damian remained a constant presence in Raven's life. She began to settle into the routine of his quarters, finding comfort in the little things—like the bookshelves filled with novels, the soft glow of the lanterns in the evening, the scent of his cologne still faintly lingering in the air from when he'd left for a mission.

But more than anything, it was the quiet moments between them that spoke volumes.

One morning, Raven found herself sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the books Damian had collected for her. She had started reading again, something she hadn't done in a long time, but it felt different now—less of an escape and more of a way to reconnect with herself.

She was lost in one of the pages when Damian entered, wearing his usual attire, but with a softened look on his face. He stopped by the door and watched her for a moment before speaking.

"Your tea's ready," he said, his voice breaking the silence. "I thought you might like some."

Raven looked up at him, surprised by the small gesture. She hadn't expected him to care about such things, but here he was—thinking of her, taking care of her in ways she hadn't thought possible. It made her heart ache, but it also gave her a warmth she couldn't describe.

"Thank you," she said quietly, standing up from the bed and walking over to him.

Damian handed her the cup with a soft smile, his eyes lingering on hers. Raven took it, but she didn't pull away from him. Something about this moment, the calm, the quiet, the way he cared for her without hesitation, made her realize that she didn't want to leave. She didn't want to go anywhere.

For the first time in years, she wanted to stay. She wanted to heal here, with him.

Damian watched as Raven took a sip from the tea, her gaze softening as she did. He could see it—the way she was starting to let herself heal, the way she was starting to trust him.

And in that moment, he knew he would never let her go. Not now, not ever.

This chapter focuses on Raven's gradual healing process with Damian's help, as she comes to terms with the trauma she's experienced and finds solace in being with him. It sets the stage for their growing emotional connection and the quiet strength of their bond.