Not Part of the Job [ORIGINAL]

7. Welcome Gift

"I still don't see why you didn't just let me heal you."

Damian sent a glare in Raven's direction as she placed a tray of food on his nightstand. "And I fail to see why you retrieved my food for me instead of letting me get it myself. I just have a broken arm, I'm not handicapped," he retorted. This broken arm really made him annoyed, it disabled him from doing a lot of things, like his job. It really put a postpone on his plans.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Kory requested that I bring it to you instead of you having to go get it. She wants you to get more rest. No need to be so ungrateful."

That made Damian begin to rethink how he's been acting lately. He let his arrogant attitude slip back out without realizing it. The people here treat him much different than where he grew up, even without knowing much about him. That was still a wonder to him. Maybe if he had received more kindness from others back home he wouldn't be so stubborn now.

He's been with the Titans for a little over a month now, so he really needed to make better progress with them. That meant changing his attitude.

"Sorry," he decided to say, "I'm just not used to receiving genuinely kind gestures. Thank you."

Raven looked at him. For the first time since he came here she could sense the faintest bit of an emotion from him; sadness.

"What?" he questioned when he noticed her stare, growing paranoid that she was reading his mind.

"Nothing," Raven replied, averting her gaze from him.

They sat there in silence for a few moments while Damian ate his breakfast with one hand. Raven just waited patiently for him to clean his plate.

When he was finished, Raven let out an exaggerated yawn. "Finally, I thought I was beginning to fall asleep." When Damian went her another one of his famous glares she quickly added, "Relax bird boy, it was a joke. I wasn't trying to be mean."

"Oh," Damian simply replied as he softened his expression.

Raven picked up his empty plate and let out a sigh. "Yell if you need us," she said before closing the door behind her and taking the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Once she put away the dishes she let out a sigh and decided to go out for a walk to calm her mind.

—

Startled, Damian woke up when he heard his room door creak as it opened. He let out a brief sigh of relief when he realized it was just Raven.

"Sorry, I knocked but you didn't answer," Raven quickly informed him.

"It's fine," Damian assured, eyeing her with heavy eyes. He didn't even realize that he had fell asleep. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after three o' clock," Raven answered as she made her way over towards his bed. "I brought you something."

"If it's more of Kory's cooking, then no offense but-" Damian started but was cut off by Raven as she laughed at his joke.

"No, it's a gift."

Damian raised an eyebrow at this. He was genuinely confused. "For what?"

Raven thought for a minute, "Consider it... a welcoming gift."

"But I've been here for over a month." Damian replied.

Raven let out an agitated sigh, "Just take it!"

"Okay, okay," Damian decided to reply after seeing her annoyance. "What is it?"

Raven opened her cloak to reveal a small black puppy, eagerly wagging its tail.

"You got me a dog...?" Damian questioned, raising both of his eyebrows.

"No, it's a giraffe," Raven sarcastically responded.

Damian rolled his eyes. "You know, you could lose the sarcasm."

"And you could lose the stupidity," Raven retorted as she placed the puppy in his lap.

Damian just narrowed his eyes at her. "I cannot have him."

"Why not?" Raven crossed her hands over her chest.

"I don't know how to take care of him," Damian simply responded and tried to hand the puppy back to her with his good hand but she wouldn't take him.

"It's simple, just feed and bathe him." Raven informed him.

Suddenly. the room filled with red as the crime alarm went off.

"Well, looks like I have to go again," Raven quickly muttered out before rushing out the door and closing it behind her.

Damian just let out a groan of annoyance. He did not have time to tend to an animal.

—

"Good work Titans!" Kory praised the team. Once the Titans got back to the tower, Raven's first action was to go check on Damian.

After knocking once, Raven stood there and waited for a que to come in. That didn't come. Nothing could be heard from the other side of the door.

Raven began to worry and decided to walk in. Carefully she opened the door and scanned the dimly lit room for the boy and dog.

Damian laid there sound asleep with the puppy who had curled himself into the shape of Damian's side. Damian's hand was gently resting on top of the puppy's head.

The sight brought a smile to Raven's lips as she carefully exited the room, leaving the two to sleep.