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

Chapter Fifteen

Raven steadied herself on Damians shoulders. "You're going down Grayson!" Damian called with a devilish grin. Kori climbed onto Dicks shoulders giggling. "We'll see about that short stack." Laughed Dick. Alfred walked out through a set of glass doors connected to the kitchen of the manor, carrying a tray of refreshments for the four pool users. As Alfred placed the tray on the table he silently watched as Damian charged forward holding Ravens knees to help keep her stable on his shoulders. Dick raced forward holding Kori steady at the top of her thighs. As the two boys got closer, Raven and Kori locked hands and began to push and pull one another. Alfred continued to silently observe the two couples enjoy their free time. "You're not doing so well Dami wami." Teased Dick as he held Kori tighter and took a step back. The sudden motion caught Damian and Raven off guard and the pair jolted forward as Kori pulled Raven at the same moment. Damian thought quickly and braised himself by sliding one foot forward, lowering his centre of gravity. He held Raven tightly as he felt her begin to topple over, inadvertently his hand slips off of Ravens knee and slides high up her thigh. A wave of shock and surprise flooded over Raven at the unexpected sensation of Damians hand so high up her leg. Her hands instinctively tense, tightening their hold on Kori's hands. Damian shifts his body to the side in a twisting motion. The change in stance is unexpected and Dick tries to side step to be opposite Damian once more but Raven thinks fast and pulls back with her whole body. The quick movements of Damian and Raven, with their new stance come too quickly for Dick and Kori to react in time and Kori comes tumbling forward bringing Dick with her and the pair end up face first in the water. When she and Dick surface side by side, they see Damian standing triumphant with a Gleeful Raven upon his shoulders still. "Well fooie. We lost." Said Kori with feigned disappointment. Raven slides her legs off of Damians shoulders and slips back into the water behind him leaving her arms over his shoulders and loosely around his neck. Damian brings both his hands up and gently holds her arms. Alfred loudly clears his throat. "Your refreshments, young sirs and ma'ams. And a very good victory master Damian and miss Raven. Well done." He smiled. "Thank you, Alfred. I thought we did very well too." Replied Damian to the amazement of Alfred. The four climbed out of the pool and each grabbed a glass. It was just simple coca cola but Raven enjoyed it all the same. "Not one for yourself Alfred?" She asked with a smile. "No, too much sugar for my liking. I am more partial to a green tea." He replied as he picked the now empty tray up from the table. "May I ask how you came to work here, for the Wayne's? I don't mean to be rude or.." Raven started to ask before Alfred cut her off. "My dear it is no trouble at all. My father was the original butler and caretaker for the Wayne family. They took great care of him, welcomed him to the family and treated him more like a friend than staff. During that time, I served in the British army, Special Air Service to be exact. Most in the service refer to it as Super Army Soldier nowadays but back then it was just SAS. We ran covert, secret and a lot of the time suicidal missions to extract VIPs, infiltration or more to the point dog fights. But as time went on and my service ended, my father grew elderly and ill. At that time, Master Thomas' father was head of the family and Thomas was around his late teens, eighteen or nineteen years old. When my father worsened, the Wayne's sent Thomas on a private plane to collect me from England. He was very polite, more so than I imagined, told me the situation. I started calling around to get a flight there but he hung the phone up before I could talk to anyone. Said he was going to fly me back, which is what he did. He told me of how fond everyone was of my father. Told me about all he had done for them and that his father was getting everyone he could get a hold of to help look after him. When we got to Gotham, there were at least three doctors with my father taking great care of him. The Wayne's had paid the equivalent of two years salary for each doctor to stay at the manor and continue to care for him, bring him back to good health if possible. Unfortunately within seven months he was too far gone and passed away here at the manor. I sat with the Wayne's and they told me of what my father had done for them not once boasting about a single thing they had done for him. I knew they had done plenty for him, from the letters he'd sent me telling me so but they never mentioned it. The moment I knew I wanted to continue my fathers position was when they asked me if I'd allow him to be buried in the family plot here on the grounds. To me it was unheard of, a servant being buried in the cemetery of the family he'd worked for, good friends or not. I agreed but had one stipulation, that they'd allow me to take his place. I began to explain my background and that I had no experience but Master Thomas just stood up and told me that they knew that and that I was welcome to join the household. That was, gosh, over forty years ago now." Alfred recanted to everyone listening intently. "Fifty years? Alfred, if you don't mind my asking, how old are you?" Dick put out with genuine care and curiosity. Before Alfred could respond Bruce walked up and placed a hand on Alfred's shoulder. "Our dear friend here will be eighty-five in two weeks. Damian's Birthday is next Wednesday and Alfred's is the Thursday of the following week. When my father was nineteen and met him, Alfred was forty-one. I was born ten years later, fifty-one. My parents died ten years after that, Sixty-one. That was twenty-four years ago meaning Alfred will be turning eighty-five this year." Bruce said with a smile. "Sir, I cannot believe even you remember all that." Alfred said, touched by the sentiment. "After everything you do for us, I'm sorry we all don't remember all that." Jason said as he and Helena walked up to the pool. "Right, well. Enough of all that. I must get the dinner prepared. Tonight, is chicken, unless anyone has any other suggestions." Said Alfred as he composed himself. "Chicken pizza?" Jason asked sarcastically. "That is not an adequate meal Master Jason." Alfred glared unamused, Jason just shrugged with a smile and everyone had a little laugh. "Well I think I've soaked up enough water for today, want to dry off and head into town, take the tour?" Dick asked Kori and she nodded with a smile and the two climbed out. "What About you guys, want to come along?" Dick asked Damian and Raven. The pair looked at each other for a moment. "What do you think? I'm happy to stay in the pool a bit longer if you are." Damian asked through thought. "I'd like to stay here for a bit, I don't think I'm ready to venture out just yet." Raven replied. When Damian turned to look back were Dick had been he was startled. Jason had walked forward to the edge of the pool and was crouched, leaning in close to Damians face. "What was that?" Jason asked. "Dicky bow asked a question and then you two looked at one another and just stared, for ages, not saying anything. I get a relationship is new to you but come on, answer the man before you stare longingly into each other's eyes." He continued cause Damian to get a little embarrassed and a little annoyed at the same time. "Easy Jay, they were talking. D and Raven have a telepathic link to one another and can have whole conversations without saying a word." Dick laughed. "Oh, that's actually pretty cool. My bad." Jason said as he stood up straight. "We'll stay here and use the pool some more, thank you Greyson." Damian said and Dick gave a nod and headed off with Kori back into the house to dry and change. "We're going to head off and meet up with Cassy so we'll see you guys later." Said Helena as she linked arms with Jason "Ok, I'm going to be doing some work in the cave so I'll be down there if anyone needs me." Said Bruce and he went on his way, Jason and Helena following close behind. "Would you two like any more refreshments?" Asked Alfred. "No thank you Alfred." Raven replied with a smile and Damian shook his head. "Very well, I shall prepare dinner for later. Enjoy your pool time." Alfred said and he went back into the kitchen. "That was fun." Smiled Raven "I must admit, I am enjoying the down time. Would like to do some work though." Damian said as he placed his cola on the side of the pool. Raven gentle swam over to him. "Well maybe later this evening you can show me around in uniform." She said as she arrived at Damians side. Damian felt a small flush of heat fill his face as he turned to find Raven far closer to him than expected. Ravens cheeks grew warm as she felt her cheeks turning red. The pair stood looking into each other's eyes. Raven found herself thinking of how wonderful Damians deep green eyes were, like meadows of lush green grass, peaceful and calming. Damian felt the same of Ravens purple irises, Twinkling amethyst gemstones, precious and rare. Damian buried his nerves and leaned forward as Raven did the same. She closed her eyes as pursed her lips and Damian pressed his lips against hers. With held breathe the two pressed deeper into their kiss and Damian placed a hand at the bottom of Ravens spine. Raven wrapped her arms around Damians neck. The moment felt perfect to the pair and then the sound of a shutter went. The two broke their embrace and looked to the loungers where a woman sat, one leg either side of the lounger she was on. "Well, well. Isn't this just the cutest moment I've ever seen." She said with a wide smile. "Kyle." Damian growled.