Demons (Damirae)

Chapter Forty-Two

Skin glistening in light of the morning sun, which entered the dining room through arched windows facing the back garden, Damian and Raven walked through the open doorway. It wasn't the usual family kitchen/dining room where they ordinarily took their breakfast, but the rather ceremonial dining room, with extravagantly carved chairs and a table capable of fitting dozens. A taking the seats around the table was everyone that Bruce had invited to the Manor for Christmas- bar Barry and Bart, who would be there in a second, literally.

Noticing there presence first, Clark returned his fork to the plate in front of him, calling out, "Oh, there you kids are!"

Ignoring the term 'kids' -even though he would have made the speaker eat a knuckle sandwich a few years ago- Damian pulled out one of the free seats: sitting opposite Vic and besides Johnathan with the chair in his left vacant. Raven assume her place in the empty chair, surprisingly comforted by the informality of the setting.

Across the table, assorted heroes and their family were, for want of better term, enjoying themselves: talking about mundane, regular things like the food, weather, presents etc. With surprising ease, Raven found herself in a conversation with Damian, Diana and Tim about the current political state of the US, which was added too ,not long after, by Mr and Mrs Kent (the resident journalists) and Hal Jordan of all people.

"Then again, if you look at the tone right-wingers have taken regarding suggestions such as the implementation of democratic socialism or-", Damian commented, only to have Jaime -after taking a swig of mango juice- moan at them.

"Are you kidding me? It's Christmas! Not CNN tonight with Don Lemon!", the exasperation in his voice gave away to mirth as Jaime shook his head, "Whatever man, I don't understand you guys. I mean you two", he waved him hand in Damian and Raven's direction, "decide to go train on Christmas morning so I don't know what to think."

"Oh, so that's what you two were doing.", John, donning an obnoxiously red jumper, smirked, a little too Damian-like for anyone to feel comfortable.

Raising his fork as though to Jan at the younger boy, Damian's eyes thinned to slits, "What exactly are you insinuating?"

Raven folded her arms, pushing her chair out to be able to see the boy on Damian's other side, "I could ask the same thing."

Observing the affair, Clark snickered, knowing that this was going one way or another, only to get a stinging smack from Lois: Superman could take a building to the chest and still beat the shit out of a super villain, but Lois (like many of the other women in the room) held an unprecedented power that no bad guy could ever match. No man, not even Superman, could complete with that.

Sipping his orange juice as though it were tea with a hint of gossip, Jonathan stared at the two part-demons from the corner of his eye, unblinking. Downing the entire glass, Jon smacked his lips then set the cup down with a clink.

A pause.

.

Then.

"UNHOLY ACTIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN- aaaaaaah!"

"JOHNATHAN!"

Subsequently, and to the astonishment of several breakfast-takers, Damian and Raven proceeded to hunt Johnathan all over the Manor, with many cries of 'JONATHAN SAMUEL KENT GET YOUR RUNT, UNCOUTH SELF HERE THIS INSTANT!'

After trials and tribulations (of which I shan't detail) the boy was dragged back to the spacious dining room, caught between pleading for assistance and almost pissing himself with laughter.

Several incidents later- two of which included Damian and Raven quarrelling over who was Titus' real 'mummy' and Belladonna accidentally chucking milk all over J'onn J'onzz and breakfast was pretty much over: well, it was declared as such by Barry (who'd arrived as soon as the part demons began their first pursuit of Superboy.