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lothirielswandc · 2 years ago

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HANDMADE HEAVEN (LOVE + FEAR)

Read on AO3 here!

— D A Y S L A T E R —

“You still won't tell me where we’re going?” Raven said.

Damian smirked behind the wheel. He refused to disclose the location — or the nature of their trip for the past three days.

“It’s a surprise,” Damian replied.

Raven rolled her eyes. That was the closest to an explanation she’d get. More like a distraction…

The gorgeous Italian countryside blurred outside the Batmobile’s windows. Fields of vineyards were sprawled across the gentle hills, painted bronze by the sunset. When she rolled down the windows, the air was scented with herbs.

Raven didn't know where she was going, but she certainly knew why. No one had spoken about her reaction to the Fear Toxin, but she knew they remembered. Raven could feel other’s alarm as she passed, worse than normal.

Raven’s public image was…walking plague at best. The situation must’ve been bad if Lois Lane herself brushed off Metropolis to help get the story straight in Gotham.

Raven avoided the windows reflecting her face. Her public image was one thing. But her reputation among her peers (for lack of a better term) after sending half the Justice League to the hospital…Raven shuddered to think of it. A moment when Supergirl showered Raven with compliments flickered in the back of her mind. Would she still mean them?

“I’d like to spend more time with you,” Damian said, misinterpreting her silence. His head was completely turned away from the road. One hand just barely nudged the wheel.

Raven took hold of his chin and pointed his gaze back at the countryside. “You know I do, too. And I prefer it if we don't get into a freak accident along the way.”

“Are you questioning my driving skills?”

“I’m questioning your focus when I’m sitting right next to you,” Raven smiled. She felt his emotions splutter at her words. Being an empath used to feel like a curse, but now it was simply an added bonus to being around him.

Damian glanced away. Crimson bloomed in his cheeks. “Fair enough. But you don't seem very excited.”

Damian squeezed Raven’s fingers. Their hands were interlocked between the seats.

Raven smiled briefly at their fingers meshed together on top of the gearshift. She wished it was just an impromptu getaway trip. It was sweet of Damian to pose it that way.

Her reply was soft, “It feels weird to make a mess and run away.”

“You didn't make a mess. We resolved the issue. All of the…inner turmoil has receded,” Damian shrugged.

Raven turned in the passenger’s seat to face him. It amazed her how nonchalant Damian was. After what she…did to Gotham. His home.

Damian glanced at her face and guessed what she was thinking. “I know you’re upset about it. I’m sorry. It’s hard to feel that way when I’m with you. But you shouldn’t worry about Gotham. It gets wrecked by clowns and psychotic killers on a daily basis.”

Wow. There was not an ounce of judgment in his statement. He must really like her.

“But you’re still meeting with Quinn for weekly Zoom sessions,” Damian relented.

“Oh?” Raven’s brow arched. “I’m shocked you’d allow that.”

“She is a licensed psychiatrist that is aware of everything first-hand,” Damian begrudgingly admitted. His eyes remained on the dirt road ahead.

“And…?”

Raven knew how much Damian still despised Harley Quinn. Now that she was so in tune with his feelings, Raven realized why he never approved of Ivy. Damian had never forgiven Harley Quinn for standing by when Joker annihilated Jason Todd. Anyone associated with Harley repulsed Damian…or used to.

Damian glared out the windshield. “Quinn helped us repel Darkseid’s attack and maintain order. She can be trusted.”

“Mmm.”

“Not that that implements the restoration of her sanity in any way. She’s still a fully licensed lunatic.”

“What a compliment. I’m sure she’d love to hear that,” Raven said, smiling.

The Batmobile slowed as they reached the cliffs. The Mediterranean lapped at the edges like a piece of turquoise silk fluttering in the wind. Gold stained the rivulets of the sea from the sunset.

“It’s beautiful here,” Raven murmured.

Damian casted one pointed glance at her. “I’ve seen better.”

Raven squeezed his hand. The jerk of the car nearly separated their fingers as the Batmobile rolled off the road. It stopped before the cliffs bathed in orange. Just barely, Raven could hear the waves sigh as they caressed the sharp ridges.

“Speaking of the Flashpoint, Father has suggested that you should help debug Cyborg,” Damian said.

Raven bit her lip. Wonder Woman revealed in her head why the Flashpoint was kept a secret: Victor Stone. Darkseid had spied on the Justice League through Cyborg’s tech before the Flashpoint.

Batman thought it was only logical to assume he did the same in their new reality. Thus no one had told Vic yet, for fear Darkseid would retaliate and shut down his systems.

Raven hated keeping Vic in the dark, but the thought of him disassembling before her eyes —

“I’m not the best at techno-magic,” Raven said. Vic deserved an expert: a fixer. Not a destroyer.

“I trust your expertise better than Constantine’s,” Damian’s face puckered.

“I don't know. You hardly trust me with a stove, you think it’s wise to unleash me on Vic’s mind?”

“I wouldn't mind a little unleashing.”

“I suppose I should be grateful for that,” they shared a smile.

Silence filled the car. Damian’s fingers fiddled with her hand, tracing the lines on her palm. Raven scooted closer to lean her head on his shoulder. The aroma of pine clung to his gray collared shirt.

They looked out at the magnificent birth of twilight together, the vibrant colors undiluted from the heavy tint of the windshield.

“Why did you stop?” Raven asked.

“I like looking out at the waves. Brings back memories.” Damian raised her hand to his lips.

Raven marveled at the lightness that encompassed her body. It was such a rare feeling before Damian. Now it was almost as if the sensations had always been there.

Raven’s last memory of the Flashpoint rose up in comparison to the scene before them. Holding hands, looking at a slightly altered horizon. Every part of the memory was nearly picture perfect. Damian at her side. Her powers fully under her control. The gem on her forehead silent.

I’m still here!

Oh, I know.

Raven didn’t ignore the fact that Trigon hadn't even attempted to escape while everyone was in her head. It was the perfect opportunity. The worst Trigon had done was one instance of scaring Constantine.

I know you. You chose to stay for a reason. And I will find out why. With that, Raven shut out his voice and nuzzled her face into Damian’s arm. The scent of him was distracting.

“What do you think would’ve happened to us? After Darkseid left the world a mess?” Raven wondered.

“Hmm…” the tip of Damian’s nose brushed against her knuckles. “That would've been a mess to clean. In terms of us, however…”

Raven looked up. Damian’s face was right before hers. Raven held her breath for his reply.

“My life would’ve been you. That might sound vague, but there’s no better description of it.”

Raven smiled. She could picture exactly what Damian meant. Soft words exchanged in bookstores and bringing tissues to John Wick movies. Taking turns holding an umbrella as they stroll through Gotham. More of her cooking mistakes and even more of his cooking miracles. Fates entwined like their interlocked fingers.

“A happy ending,” Raven said. “That sounds perfect.”

Raven closed the gap between them, her lips brushing his. The soft pressure of it never failed to make her heart spasm.

The heat of Damian’s breath scalded her lips. She clutched at his clothes, closing the distance between them. Damian groaned into her mouth.

For once, with extreme delight, Raven threw self-control to the wayside.

She pushed her seatbelt away, not breaking their kiss as Raven sank into his lap. When Damian broke away for breath, Raven’s tongue trailed down his throat. He shuddered beneath her.

Raven fingered the top button of his collared shirt. She glanced through her eyelashes at his face.

“Now?” Damian’s voice was rough. It sent shivers down her spine.

Raven’s thumb traced the outline of the button. She nodded.

“I was waiting until we reached a bed for —”

“I really don't care.” Raven pressed her mouth back to his, tongue tracing the outline of his lips before diving in.

Raven’s fingers gave into temptation. She flew through the buttons to the chiseled lines underneath, hot and rigid like heated iron rods. He shivered from her touch, tracing the mold of muscles always shielded by fabric.

Damian’s hands moved behind her, feeling the edges of her blouse. His fingers sank underneath, stroking fire against her skin.

They paused only as Damian lifted Raven’s shirt over her head. His hands explored newly exposed skin.

Raven ground into his lap, suddenly pleased at the fashion choice of wearing a skirt.

Damian gently gripped the hair at the back of Raven’s skull and pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. He licked his lips.

“You can feel it, can't you?” he said. “Even when I can't put it into words?”

Raven nudged her nose against his. Every inhale was Damian, overtaking her senses. She could taste the pleasure in the air. Fireworks burst across her body where her bare skin touched his. Damian’s emotions were more in tune with hers than they ever were before.

“I have enough words for the both of us,” she assured him. “Starting with ‘take off your pants.’ ”

Damian smirked. “Is that a command?”

Raven’s nails trailed down his back. She nodded.

Damian laughed quietly.

“Yes, my beloved.”

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