Damian and Mar'i Demonfire

Rain (Damian)

Just as I had sat down on my sofa, and started to read my novel Crime and Punishment, was when the storm broke out.

There was quite a lot of rain and lightning. The storm was of no concern to me, as I was quite safe from it in my apartment, currently off of patrol tonight. Who was on patrol tonight? Cain would be patrolling the west, while Mar'i would be patrolling the east.

Suddenly, the thought dawned on me that Mar'i being out on patrol tonight during a storm, would not be a very intelligent idea.  She was half-Tamaranean, and Tamaraneans need sunlight to use their powers.  Even moonlight would help. Usually on patrol, Mar'i would have enough energy and light absorbed to engage in combat and use her powers well, despite the patrols being at night.  But tonight, all that was in the sky was the thunderstorm. If Mar'i was on patrol, she wouldn't even be able to stop the weakest criminal in such a sick state.  It would be a much better option for Robin to go on patrol, instead of Nightstar.

Twenty minutes later, I was out in the rain in my Robin uniform, following a tracer on Mar'i.  It seems rather creepy, the idea of putting a tracker on someone, but better safe than sorry.  I have tracers on all of the bat family members (yes, including father, Drake, and Grayson).  Her tracer showed that she wasn't so far from me, but it was rather difficult to see anything in the heavy rain.  But then, I saw a girl with pupiless, green eyes and dark hair, standing bellow a roof.  As I approached closer, I saw that Mar'i seemed to be shivering and wet.

"Tt," I say once I reach her side. "You are wet."  I then take off my Robin paracape, and drape it around her shoulders.  If she continues to stay in such cold weather while soaked wet, she could get hypothermia.

"What are you doing here?" she asks.

"Tanaraneans do not do so well without sunlight, so I am here to take over patrol for you."

"Um, thanks, that's nice I guess." I cannot tell if she seems more confused or relieved.

"I am not trying to be nice, I am being practical.  If you had continued your patrol for the next few hours, you would be too weak to even stop a simple robber." I am right about this, but secretly, I am rather concerned for her wellbeing as well. I do not want her to be shivering wet and sick in such terrible weather. And, if a criminal saw her now, she would be easily defeated into being raped or killed.

"Well, thank you Damian. I seriously owe you." She gives me a weak smile.

"Tt, I know," is all I say back. Of course she owes me for saving her.

Mar'i starts to fly, but then immediately collapses to the ground. She tries to stand up, but her legs only collapse. It seems that she does not feel well enough to do so.  I actually feel pity for her, as she is too affected from the rain to do simple tasks, such as standing up.

I lift Mar'i off of the ground, and then toss her onto my right shoulder, holding her waist with my right arm. I then start walking into the rain. She needs to get to her apartment and rest, as well as recharge.

I actually feel a bit uncomfortable carrying Mar'i.  Not because she was a heavy burden to carry, but I am just usually not so close to her.  I even feel a bit guilty with my right arm wrapped around her waist, but if I took my arm away, Mar'i would simply fall off of my shoulder.

About twenty minutes later of walking through the heavy rain, I arrive at the building by Mar'i's apartment.   I stop walking once we're under the building's dry shade. I do not recall any security cameras being put in this area, nor do I see any.  I then lift Mar'i off of my shoulder, and help
her stand on her feet. She starts to fall, but I hold her arms steady to help her balance.

"I am sure that you can manage walking ten meters to get to your apartment. Although, you will have to change into your civilian clothes. Seeing Nightstar entering Mar'i Grayson's apartment would attract a lot of suspicion, even if the security cameras could not see through the rain."  I assume that she is carrying her civilian clothes on her.

"Alright, but turn around! I don't want you seeing."

I give an inaudible sigh.  I am rather uninterested in pervertedly looking at Mar'i's body while she changes, as it is rather inappropriate and disrespectful. I turn around to face the other direction to allow her to change privately.  Despite myself, heat rushed to my face as she undresses and I shut my eyes. By the time Mar'i finishes changing, she has not collapsed.  Mar'i then offers me back my Robin cape, but I refuse it.

"You need it more than I do. You are still rather wet, and you will be walking in the rain again to your apartment. Just keep the cape hidden from others and security cameras."

"Thanks." Mar'i smiles warmly at me, like when we first met.  Although I wish to smile back, I merely remain expressionless.

"Tt, do not thank me Grayson, just avoid going on patrol during storms, you idiot."

"Gee, thanks," she says to me sarcastically, although I am sure she is grateful that I have helped her tonight.

Suddenly, Mar'i kisses me on the cheek.  The kiss takes me aback, and I am not quite sure how to react to it for a moment.  She then smiles at me, and turns away, walking back into the rain to her apartment. My cheek feels rather hot from the place where Mar'i kissed it, despite the fact that I am soaked cold with rain.

When I assume Mar'i cannot see me through the rain, I give myself a small smile.  I turn away, and start walking back into the rain to continue my patrol, still feeling rather dizzy from the kiss and smile she gave me.