Not Part of the Job [ORIGINAL]

19. The Message

Raven accidentally let out a snort of laughter when Titus shook all the water droplets from his fur onto Damian.

"Not funny," Damian scolded as he made a disgusted face. "Now sit still you filthy mutt," he complained as he ran his hands over Titus' muddy fur with soap.

"Maybe we should watch him more carefully next time we take him to the park," Raven suggested after she got her laugh out.

"You think?" Damian retorted, glaring at her.

Raven smirked at his annoyance and sat down next to him before she started helping him bathe Titus.

Once they finished rinsing him off, Raven fetched a towel. Damian took it and began drying Titus off.

"Now-" Raven started but was cut off as the room was flooded with red and the distress alarm went off. They both shared a quick glance before getting up and rushing to the living room.

"It's Deathstroke," Dick said once everyone was present. "I think we all know his motive. Raven, why don't you sit this one out?"

Raven looked at Dick, shame in her eyes. "If you think that's for the best," she replied.

"I'll stay too," Damian offered.

"Actually, that may be a good idea," Dick said, looking at him, then to the rest of the team. "Since we have his location, we will go and strike him down, meanwhile you two stay low."

With that, everyone suited up.

Before Beast Boy went out the door, he looked back at Damian. "Don't let that bastard lay a finger on her," he ordered.

"I won't," Damian simply stated and watched as the green boy walked out the door, letting it close behind him.

Once everyone was gone, Raven turned to look at Damian. "You didn't have to stay," she spoke.

"No," Damian answered, meeting her gaze, "But I would feel better if I did."

Raven made her way over to the couch and took a seat. Once she was settled, she leaned back and closed her eyes. All she could think about was all of the bad possibilities that could happen tonight.

"You seem stressed," he noted and hesitantly sat down on the couch beside her, providing space between them so that he wasn't hovering.

Raven slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. "I just need to ease my mind. Meditation hasn't been helping me as much as it usually does," she responded and sighed.

Damian thought for a moment before he made a suggestion. "Want to watch a film?" 

Raven met his gaze, a small smile making its way on her lips. "That sounds like a good idea," she answered. "What movie?"

"I don't know what you all have, so I guess we would have to look," Damian replied and got up to walk over towards the cabinets close to the television. He kept opening doors until he found a stash of movies. "Found them."

He laid the stack of movies on the table and let Raven look through them. "Most of these are Garfield's," she noted as she looked at the movies that had childish covers. "Hey, what about this?"

Damian studied the movie she held up. "A... comedy?"

Raven's face flushed when she noticed his confusion. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she replied, "First time for everything, right?"

Damian just shrugged and watched as she put the DVD in the large television. "Want popcorn?" she offered as she stood up.

"Sure," Damian decided and watched her walk to the kitchen. Once she was gone he pulled out his communicator and checked up on the Titans. They were making their way across town.