#NebulaDuo

[xm4g1c-m1r4x]

Nebula Duo - The Realization

Debrief: After confessing her feelings, (Y/N) faces Damian's rejection, but his family helps her hold onto hope. During a family dinner, Damian's passionate rant about (Y/N) leads to a realization of his love, culminating in a heartfelt confession.

The tension in the air was almost palpable as (Y/N) stood in the training room, her heart hammering against her ribcage. Damian, who had just finished his evening sparring session, stood before her, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. His usual stoic demeanor was intact, but his green eyes softened ever so slightly when they met hers.

"Damian," she started, her voice trembling.

"What is it, (Y/N)?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, always impatient but polite—by his standards.

She took a deep breath, gripping the edge of her jacket for courage. "I... I have feelings for you. And I’ve been holding it in for so long, but I can’t anymore." Her eyes searched his, hopeful and vulnerable. "I like you, Damian. More than just a friend."

For a moment, Damian froze. Then, his jaw tightened, and he let out a controlled sigh. "You shouldn’t waste your time on me, (Y/N). I’m not...good at things like this. I have other priorities. You deserve better."

His words hit her like a cold gust of wind. She forced a small smile, masking the sting in her chest. "I see. Thanks for being honest."

Damian turned, his cape swishing as he walked out of the room, leaving her alone with her unspoken heartbreak.

---

Later that night, (Y/N) sat in the library, staring blankly at a book she wasn’t reading. Jason found her first, leaning casually against the doorframe. "You look like someone kicked your puppy."

(Y/N) sighed. "Close enough. I told Damian how I felt, and he rejected me."

Jason raised an eyebrow, sitting beside her on the couch. "Damian, huh? That kid’s denser than a lead brick. Don’t take it personally."

"Doesn’t make it hurt any less," she muttered, tracing the edge of the book with her finger.

Jason smirked. "Trust me, he’s just scared. He doesn’t even know how to process basic emotions half the time, let alone something as complicated as love."

Dick popped his head into the room, clearly having overheard. "Jason’s right. Damian has his walls up higher than anyone I know. But I’ve seen the way he looks at you."

(Y/N) frowned. "He doesn’t look at me like that."

Dick sat on her other side, offering a reassuring smile. "Not yet. But he will. Don’t give up on him."

Jason nodded. "If he’s too dumb to see what’s right in front of him, we’ll knock some sense into him."

(Y/N) couldn’t help but laugh at their ridiculousness. "Thanks, guys."

---

The following evening, the family gathered for dinner at Wayne Manor. Alfred had prepared an elaborate meal, and as always, the room was lively with chatter. (Y/N) sat quietly, still a bit subdued, while Damian sat at the opposite end of the table, unusually irritable.

"Honestly," Damian huffed, stabbing a piece of broccoli with his fork. "She’s reckless, always throwing herself into situations without thinking. She takes unnecessary risks, doesn’t listen to warnings, and constantly—"

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Damian, who are you talking about?"

"Who else?" Damian snapped. "It’s (Y/N). She—"

He froze mid-sentence as (Y/N) laughed softly at something Dick said, her head tilting slightly as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. The world seemed to slow, and for the first time, Damian felt an inexplicable warmth spread through his chest.

Oh. Oh no.

The realization hit him like a freight train. Every moment spent with her, every argument, every shared victory—it all replayed in his mind. The way she never gave up, her unyielding belief in him, and her ability to see through his armor���he loved her.

Panic and clarity battled for dominance in his mind as he abruptly stood from the table. "Excuse me," he said stiffly, walking out.

(Y/N) watched him go, confusion knitting her brows. Jason leaned toward her, whispering, "Bet you five bucks he’s having a crisis."

---

Damian found (Y/N) later in the garden, gazing at the stars. She turned when she heard his footsteps, surprised to see him.

"Damian?" she asked.

He stood there, his hands clenched at his sides, clearly uncomfortable. "I was wrong earlier," he blurted out.

(Y/N) blinked. "About what?"

"About you. About...us." He stepped closer, his voice quieter. "I do feel something for you. I just didn’t know how to admit it. I still don’t."

Her heart swelled, but she stayed cautious. "Damian, are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured—"

He shook his head sharply. "I’m sure. I was a coward for rejecting you, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And it terrifies me because I don’t know how to handle this, but I know I want to try. If you’ll still have me."

A smile broke across her face as she stepped forward, taking his hand. "I never stopped wanting you, Damian."

For the first time, Damian allowed himself to smile back, a small, genuine expression. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with more emotion than she’d ever heard.

And under the stars, the walls Damian had built so carefully finally came tumbling down.

[the-purest]

can we call etoiles and phil nebuladuo or something because phils a fucking space nerd and etoiles literally means stars

[xm4g1c-m1r4x]

Nebula Duo - The Kitten Dilemma

Debrief: Damian reluctantly lets (Y/N) into his sanctuary, his rooftop garden, only to be surprised by how well they connect. As the evening unfolds, he finds himself softening, realizing she brings a kind of peace he didn’t know he needed.

The Wayne Manor garden was unusually quiet for a sunny afternoon, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Damian sat cross-legged beneath a towering oak tree, sketchbook in hand, while (Y/N) lingered nearby, trying not to disturb his focus.

She couldn’t help but steal glances. The way his dark hair fell slightly into his eyes as he worked, the rare calm that softened his sharp features—it was a side of him she treasured but rarely got to see.

“Are you planning to stare at me the entire time?” Damian asked suddenly, not looking up from his sketch.

(Y/N) flinched, caught off guard. “What? No. I was just...enjoying the scenery.”

Damian snorted softly. “Sure. The scenery.”

Before she could come up with a snappy comeback, a faint meowing interrupted them. They both stilled, their gazes darting around the garden.

“Did you hear that?” (Y/N) asked, standing up.

Damian set his sketchbook aside and rose smoothly to his feet. “It’s coming from over there.”

They followed the sound to a cluster of rose bushes near the garden wall. Peering into the dense foliage, (Y/N) gasped. A tiny gray kitten, its fur matted and dirty, was tangled in the thorny branches, mewing pitifully.

“Oh, you poor thing,” she whispered, reaching out.

“Wait.” Damian gently grabbed her wrist. “The thorns will cut you. Let me.”

Carefully, he knelt by the bush and began untangling the kitten with surprising tenderness. (Y/N) crouched beside him, watching in awe as the boy who often wielded swords and scowls handled the fragile creature like it was made of glass.

When he finally freed the kitten, it let out a tiny sneeze before snuggling into his chest.

“Well, looks like you’ve made a friend,” (Y/N) said, her heart melting at the sight.

Damian frowned, though the kitten’s small purrs softened his expression. “It’s injured. We need to take it inside.”

---

Back in the manor, Damian gently placed the kitten on a towel while Alfred fetched supplies. (Y/N) sat beside him, handing him a damp cloth.

“I didn’t know you were such a softie,” she teased as he carefully cleaned the kitten’s fur.

“I’m not,” Damian replied curtly, though his actions betrayed him.

(Y/N) smiled. “Right. That’s why you’re cradling a kitten like it’s your firstborn child.”

Damian shot her a glare, but his cheeks flushed ever so slightly. “It’s called compassion, (Y/N). You should try it sometime.”

She laughed, leaning her chin on her hand as she watched him work. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

He paused, his hand hovering over the kitten. “What are you talking about?”

“You act all tough, but deep down, you care more than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s...one of the things I like about you.”

Damian’s ears turned pink, and he quickly busied himself with wrapping the kitten in a blanket. “You talk too much.”

(Y/N) grinned, letting the subject drop—for now.

---

Later that evening, the kitten—now named "Shadow"—was comfortably settled in a basket near Damian’s bed. (Y/N) leaned against the doorframe, watching as Damian gently stroked Shadow’s head.

“You’re keeping it, aren’t you?” she asked softly.

Damian glanced at her, his lips quirking into a rare smile. “Obviously. Someone needs to make sure it doesn’t grow up as reckless as you.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the warmth spreading in her chest. Moments like these reminded her why she had fallen for him.

“Goodnight, Damian,” she said, turning to leave.

“Goodnight, (Y/N),” he replied, his voice unusually soft.

As she walked down the hall, her heart swelled. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for the two of them after all.