Damian and Mar'i Demonfire

Mar'i Grayson

Two weeks ago, Grayson informed us that Mar'i would be moving to Gotham from Bludhaven in order to attend college at Gotham University. He and his wife, Kory (a. k. a. Starfire), would be staying in Bludhaven, although Grayson was going to help his daughter move in first. I didn't care too much about this information. It was rather irrelevant to my life. I wouldn't be seeing Mar'i at the university, as I have already completed college early at the age of 19 last year (I have a brilliant mind, of course). Instead of college, I would be be helping father run Wayne Enterprises.

I doubted that Mar'i and I would be seeing each other nearby our homes, as Grayson said that her new apartment isn't nearby mine. She would be living close to the university. And, I didn't even know Mar'i that well.  I mostly interacted with her father, as even though he lives in Bludhaven, he often comes to Gotham. Mar'i and I only saw each other occasionally whenever Grayson's family would come visit Gotham. Whenever Mar'i and I did interact, we didn't really talk to each other much. Our interactions would be summed up as polite courtesy. I would mostly talk to Grayson, while Mar'i would talk to Gordon, Brown, and sometimes Cain.

Today, I would be receiving Grayson and Mar'i at the manor when they arrived, as Pennyworth is sick with a bad throat today, father told me to fill in for him. A menial servant's task. I thought that it would be more appropriate for Drake to do the task.

Knock knock knock! Someone is at the front door of the Manor. I go to answer it, and am greeted with the faces of Grayson and Mar'i. I allow them inside. Grayson cracks a friendly smile, and shakes my hand a bit too firmly.

"Damian," Grayson greets me warmly. "You remember Mar'i."

I must admit that since the last time I saw her, which was about a year ago, Mar'i had certainly grown more beautiful. Her figure was more filled out, and she was about three inches taller (although I am still taller than her by about four inches). Her hair was longer and more lustrous, and her umblemished, tan skin seemed to glow a bit. The only part of her appearance that didn't show was her usual, pupil-less green Tamaranean eyes, which were disguised to look like normal green eyes with her hologram pendant. But overall, she looks more like a woman than a girl. There was no point in denying her beauty.  In fact, she seemed a spitting image of her mother, only with her father's dark hair.

Mar'i just nods at me and says hello. I simply nod back.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat Damian, but we have to get to Mar'i's apartment soon, before the landlady gets impatient. Give these to Alfred for me, alright? They should help his bad throat," Grayson says, while handing me a tin of tea leaves. I can only assume they are Tamaranean, as they do not look like any Earth plant.

"Of course," I say to Grayson. He cracks a smile again. "Come on Mar'i, let's go," he says. They both exit out of the door, and head back to their car in the driveway. I watch them walk while standing in the doorway. While they are walking to their car, Mar'i turns her head towards me, and gives me a warm, friendly smile.

No one could ever pull of the same stunning quality smile as she does.  Suddenly, a rush of heat starts to fill my chest.  I think my neck has turned red.

What is the matter with you, you asinine idiot? You ignorant fool. You barely know her.  Just because someone's pretty, doesn't mean you should go falling at their feet!

I simply return her smile with a displeased scowl. Before I can see her face again, I turn away back into the Manor and close the door.

- I know there's not much Demonfire in here, but I thought it was crucial to write this to show the first moment when Damian starts to realize and like Mar'i