Raven Roth and Damian Wayne: The Walk of Life (Book 1 Of 2)

Chapter Six

Damian sat in an arm chair in the living room of Titan Tower as Jaime and Gar played a game on one of the consoles they had there. He was waiting for Raven to finish packing for their trip to Gotham and Dick and Kori to come pick them up. It hadn't taken him long to get his stuff together as they were going to his home at Wayne manor where the majority of his belongings already were. Raven however, was going back and forth between her wardrobe and draws trying to think of everything and anything she might need. "It rains a lot in Gotham according to Damian so I should take a jacket. We're going to a mansion outside the city, so should I not bother? What if we go out? Do I need formal wear? Is there a pool? Would we even use it? Should I pack a swimsuit in case? Should I take just casual clothes or smarter wear?" she thought to herself pacing around her room. "you know I can hear you right?" She heard Damian say within her mind causing her to feel embarrassment fill her mind. "It's not my fault. I've never done anything like this before and I know it's important to your father. I don't want to look like it was a mistake inviting me or anything." She thought back. She didn't even need to see him to know he had a stupid smirk on his face. "And you can lose the grin, I'm serious, I want this to go well." She protested. "It'll be fine Raven. Yes, Wayne manor has a pool and we probably will end up using it. The rains still reach home so a jacket would be prudent. Casual wear is fine for every day, I'd suggest two or three tops and trousers (pants if you're American, I'm English so trousers) to wear while Pennyworth washes the others. One formal outfit would also be advisable as father will undoubtedly have some charity event or presentation to attend and will drag everyone to it as usual." Damian instructed in an effort to aid the unusually nervous girl. As Raven began grabbing clothes and stuffing them into her bags with haste, the elevator in the living room pinged and the doors parted to reveal Dick and Kori standing there hand in hand. "Hey D, you all set?" Dick asked as they strode out toward him. "I am. Most of what I own is still at home. Raven could use a hand if you don't mind Kori." Damian replied getting up from his seat. Kori looked at him for a moment, taken aback slightly. "What?" Damian asked. "Nothing Damian, I shall go and help Raven with her packing." She said kissing Dick on the cheek and making her way down the hall. Dick smiled at her and then down at Damian keeping the grin on his face. "What?!" Damian repeated more commanding the second time. "We're in the Tower. And you. Called her. Kori!" Dick said as he grabbed Damian into a hug picking him up off the floor. "Let go of me you big buffoon." Damian demanded, trying to wriggle his way out of Dicks embrace. "No way little man, after all the talks we've had about using her name and suddenly you just spit it out from nowhere? Where's this come from? Where's the real Damian devil child hell bent on being prim and proper twenty-four seven?" Dick laughed as he began to swing Damian back and forth. "You are an idiot! Shut up and put me down already damn it." Damian continued, becoming more and more frustrated that he couldn't get out of his brothers unwelcomed show of affection. Gar and Jaime sat leaning over the back of the couch watching the two brothers. "Ha, ain't that sweet?" Gar said under his breathe. Jaime looked across to him "oh yea. It'll also be sweet when Dick finally lets him go and Damian stabs him, then you cause he toootaly heard you." He said to his green friend. Gar looked back to Damian and Dick and saw Damian scowling at him over his shoulder. Gar quickly spun back round to the TV and lowered himself down into a slouch trying to hide and Jaime just laughed. Then from nowhere a huge gust of wind blistered passed everything, nearly knocking Dick and Damian over. Sparks flew through the air, trailing behind a red, blue and brown streak that came to a stop in front of the TV. "Hi folks, sorry about that, used the stairs, much faster." Said a blonde-haired man in blue jeans, red top with a tan brown leather jacket on. Dick put Damian down and walked over to him. "Good to see you again Barry, how are things going?" The pair shock hands and put their other hand on each other's shoulder. "Quiet, Dick. Things are quiet, which is good honestly but boring. So ol' Brucey boy called and asked for a favour and here I am. You guys are off to Gotham right? Kori got invited this time. Big step." Barry said as they separated from their greeting. Dick smiled back at his friend. "Yea, she's excited as you might imagine. But. She's not the only one that's got the first visit a head of her. Damian is bringing a friend. Raven." He said cocking an eyebrow and grinning as he took a step to the side, bringing Damian into Barry's view. "Well now that's some news. Wait, what am I here for then?" he quizzed. "Hey, Gar and that's Jaime. But honestly I don't think we need babysitting." Gar said as he pointed to himself and his friend. Dick laughed "It's sentences like that that get you a babysitter. But I wouldn't look at it like that. Just think of it as an opportunity to hang out with someone new that in on the whole heroes and powers thing." Gar and Jaime looked at each other and then up to Barry. "You remember he tried to kill us once, right?" Jaime said. "Yes, he also put his hand around my heart and threatened to stop it." Damian chimed in. "But he was also possessed at the time and went hand to hand against Trigon afterward. He also took part in the fight against Darkseid when he came here to conquer the planet. He's changed history to save his mother from dying, only to go stop himself and change it back, sacrificing his happiness and her life, when he saw how dark that world had become because of that difference. He's one of my fathers most trusted allies, not that he'd admit that to you so don't mention it, and I also hear he's a huge 'gamer' and food junkie, so you'll get on great." He finished, leaving everyone surprised at both the knowledge Damian appeared to have on the man and how compassionately he had put it across. While everyone was staring at Damian, Kori and Raven walked in carrying Ravens bags. They stopped in the doorway and looked around the room. "What did he do?" Raven asked somewhat playfully. "I defused a situation." Damian defended. "Well we're all packed. Shall we take our leave?" Kori asked not wanting to know what had gone on, Dick would tell her later no doubt. "If Gar and Jaime are cool with having me around, yea you're free to go have your fun." Barry said turning to the boys on the couch. "Of course, we weren't serious, you're The Flash for Christ sake." Said Gar with a smile. "Swear jar!" Dick shot, pointing to the young Changling who hung his head in defeat. "Also reminds me, you too Damian, you said 'damn' earlier." He said turning to his brother. "Well, you just said it then so you too." Damian snapped back. Raven stood next to Kori blank faced and unimpressed with the situation. "Can we go now?" She remarked and Kori looked down at her and then back to the boys. "I agree we should load up the car, talk about the plan and then make our way." She said. Dick signed and dropped a Quarter into a large jar labelled 'Swearing is not permitted' as Damian and Gar did the same. "Yea lets head out. Barry, obviously, that's the swear jar, no swearing allowed, at all. Jaime is 16, Garfield 13. Well 13 and 8 months, he's 4 months behind D. Pizza is the meal of choice but not every day, and they'll ask but stay strong Barry, stay strong." Dick said as he raised a clenched fist to emphasis his last words. Damian rolled his eyes. "I'm going to the car." He said as he walked over and stretched out a hand toward one of Ravens bags, offering to carry it for her. She smiled and passed the bag his way and joined him in the elevator followed by Kori and Dick. "Don't give in Barry" he yelled as the doors closed and the elevator headed down. "yea, yea." Barry said as he gave a single wave goodbye. "really, pizza every night?" he asked Gar and Jaime who were looking back at him with matching blank faces and a single eyebrow raised. Barry looked at the pair for a second and then smiled. "I can dig it. What you playing?" He said as he hopped the sofa and took a seat between them. "Injustice, Superman goes rogue, tricked by Joker, heroes verse heroes, open war, to the victor goes the world." Gar said excitedly, exaggerating 'world', and Barry just looked at him, he'd seen total open war between heroes but the enthusiasm of Gar made him smile. "I'm in, bring it on." He said shifting forward to the edge of the seat to concentrate on the video game. Down at the car Dick put Damian and Ravens bags in the boot (trunk for USA) as Kori explained their plan. "We're going to go back to Dick and Damians home, cross country, taking nice scenic routes and stopping off at campsites and motels here and there." She said as Dick came the car. "If we stick close to the main roads it would take two days. But we're going to go out of the way in some areas so it could take up to a week. Either way we'll be back in Gotham with time to spear before the festivities." Dick said putting his arm around Kori's waist, pulling her closer to him. "Alright, let's get going then." Damian said as he opened the car door. "No." Dick laughed pushing the door shut again. "What? I know how." Damian protested. "I know you know. Still no. in the back." Dick retorted with a smile. Damian frowned and side stepped to the rear driver's side door and hopped in, sliding across so Raven could jump in after him. Dick got into the driver's seat as Kori got in the passengers. Starting up the car he put it in reverse and pulled out of the garage, then away down the bridge and off on their trip.