The Bird & the Blade

The Border Potral

Damian's point of view:
I woke up more restless than when I fell asleep. I yawned and stretched while on my back. I sat up and pushed down another yawn as I got my body moving to wake myself up. I was never normally this exhausted after patrols. This time was different though. I wasn't physically tired but mentally my brain was fried.

Never had I been so mentally exhausted. I knew I didn't show emotion with others, but with a few I did. Raven was one of the trusted few, Dick developed into another, and John was one of my first best friends. But even while in the Assassins, I had always shown my emotion around Hunter. She was the first person I truly trusted and somehow she always managed to draw my emotions out.

I didn't fully realize until now how neutral I was before. Being neutral was effortless to me. Because of it, I didn't tire easily. It was me constantly smiling and smirking that was causing me to be exhausted. It wasn't just the amusement that I felt though. All my emotions were being thrown for a spin because of my childhood friend.

I knew what was happening but I didn't fully understand why my feelings for Hunter were different now. Not only that but while I knew my feelings were changing, it was causing other things to change. I knew the dangers in this line of work, we both did. But after the events from a few weeks ago, everything was turned on it's head. Now I'm less worried about my opponent and more worried if Hunter was alright.

       I shook my head while I sat up to switch from the current topic of thought before I lost the only feeling of calm I had all day. I switched topics to analyzing the fight with Hunter from patrol a few weeks ago. I marveled at the memory of the grace Hunter still had as she fought, even after all this time. She wasn't rusty at all besides with the new equipment that she hadn't learned yet. I remembered her smiled and her gripping my hand at the end of patrol.

I gritted my teeth to stop the memory and the peculiar feeling welling inside my gut. The feeling was almost warm and fuzzy. It felt odd and I desperately tried to push it down and away from me. I had no idea how to react to it a few nights ago and was simply stunned from the action. What didn't help my confusion was the teasing Dick gave me for my empty and blank face when he picked us both up.

I shook my head to focus myself on the task at hand as I got dressed and decided to go see if breakfast was ready. While I saw on my clock that it was 10:00 I didn't expect it to be that early. Considering the time everyone wouldn't probably wouldn't even be up for another hour or so. Though I hoped we I could scrounge up something if Alfred wasn't awake.

When I walked into the kitchen I was very surprised to see Hunter sitting at the kitchen counter. She was watching the news intently while sipping on something and her curly hair was bundled up into a high ponytail.

When she heard my presence as I walked in she looked up with a small smile and said "good morning." She looked back at the TV when I walked over. I took the seat next to her without speaking before I asked, "Is their a reason why we are watching the news?" Hunter looked over at me and said "nothing really. I heard they were doing an updated story about the girl we saved a few weeks back. She's having surgery on her arm and they were doing an update on her." I looked over at the TV and then at the watch on my wrist before I said while calculating the time, "Probably be on as the next story." I saw her smile and heard her voice brighten as she said, "I disagree. I think they will report the story after the next two. Wanna make a beat?"

I smiled at her challenge before I said "Sure. $20 if I win." I saw a large smiled on her face before she nodded and said "deal." We shook hands before I heard Alfred say as he walked into the kitchen, "Could you two save the betting till after breakfast?"

      I turned to Alfred seeing two plates of eggs and some breakfast meat. Hunter shrugged and said to him, "I doubt that would could hold off on the beating for very long. Your lucky we didn't start until breakfast." She smiled at Alfreds head shaking and I just scoffed at the two of them. I saw Dick walk in yawning with his hair all askew. He seemed only partially awake. He's never been much of a morning person, as made well aware by the unkempt appearance and the pair of baggy sweatpants he had on. I sneared at his appearance and saw out of the corner of my eyes Hunter rolling hers.