As the golden rays of the morning sun penetrated through the windows, the sound of eggs being cooked was the only thing you could hear in the kitchen. Damian was getting ready for his first day of school in what felt like years to him. Probably because it was, in a way.
He made himself a portion of eggs, toast and juice. Making an omelet, a side of lean meat and strong coffee for his aunt, as Natasha had came back pretty beat up from an 'impromptu consultation gig'. An excuse that would've been believable if he hadn't seen the bandages below her long sleeve shirt.
Diverse thoughts preoccupied his mind, as he didn't want to overthink–any more–about the plans for the day, as this will probably be quite the special day.
Not because he will have to deal with life as a high schooler starting today, as he couldn't care less about that.
But rather because today he planned to visit a place he has been eager to go to since he arrived, a possibly dangerous place, depending on the iteration of reality he found himself in. And he wanted to affront that place with all the possible tools in the shortest amount of time.
That's why he has waited. Learning to teleport fluidly, to switch his sync with Eva on and off seamlessly. Learning all his current limits. Even waiting to absorb all of Nightwing's acquired 'data'.
Because as you've correctly read before, he has finished assimilating with Nightwing's 'essence'. Maybe it was as Eva theorized, or it was because they are both normal humans, but once he assimilated the physique of Richard Grayson, the process only got smoother and faster.
All the way from his intelligence–both general and emotional–to all his useful knowledge: his leadership, his deductive and investigative skills, martial arts, acrobatics, etc. Damian was amazed at the broad level of expertises the youngest version of Nightwing held, and stacked on top of his own abilities, he was sure no human that didn't wield the tag of genius could compare to him moving forward.
It has been nothing short of exhilarating to share all the capabilities of a peak human being, to the point Damian couldn't wait to absorb the next character after finishing with Grayson yesterday.
However, he has stopped himself from doing so for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, he wanted to measure his real talent for Marvel's version of magic–because as you might've guessed already, Damian was planning to visit the Sanctum Sanctorum of New York today.
The practical reason being that this was one of the most accessible ways of dimensional travel methods. The other reason being that Damian was a bookworm, so much so that he was ready to test the waters of the fabled Kamar-Taj.
Also, seeing as he was merely as strong as a street level hero, Damian wanted another layer of security before he decided to hop in between dimensions, as he wasn't quite sure how the process would work, nor about what dangers the journey itself might pose, let alone what was waiting on the other side.
Another reason for his rashness to test the sorcerers is that dimensional travel would accelerate the speed of his absorption powers immensely, should his theory prove feasible. Yet that was all mere speculation until-
Before he was able to continue rambling, Damian was brought back from his own thoughts by the smell of slightly overcooked eggs and the sound of light tapping on the stairs.
Quickly salvaging his breakfast, he turned the stove off, leaving his eggs in a plate next to Natasha's. He hoped she would enjoy her favorites, seeing as she made the effort of coming back on time for his first day of school.
Turning around to look at his aunt, he froze for half a second.
Leaning against the kitchen doorway, she said in her quieter, morning voice. "Mm~ Smells like you're trying to bribe me."
That's when he noticed that Natasha was wearing one of his new oversized tee's. Only his oversized tee. There were no signs of pants, or anything else for that matter. Only the shirt reaching to about half of her thighs.
A view that even with his own self control–boosted by Grayson's–was hard to not react to, especially with his new body that practically overflowed with energy.
This woman had gotten awfully comfortable around him after last time. About last week.
She had arrived in really bad shape, and seeing her flinch while taking her blazer off really irked him. So in Damian fashion, he stubbornly helped her clean her wounds. His new knowledge coming in clutch as he masterfully disinfected and changed her bandages.
And that he did, asking no questions. As he was sure she wouldn't offer anything more than a bad excuse as to why she came back so beat up.
So after a brief, stern but concerned: "You should be more careful out there," he put back the first aid kit in the bathroom and went straight to bed. Damian hadn't thought much of that moment then, he just thought it natural to take care of someone you care about–but it seemed she begged to differ.
He gazed at his stolen shirt and then at her face, a smirk already marring her pretty face, stretching her arms overhead, deliberately provocating.
Without missing a beat. Damian–with a face that gave nothing away–brought her empty coffee mug in front of her and said in an even tone. "Would it kill you to wear pants? shorts? Anything more than my shirts?"
Padding to the coffee machine, her hips swaying just enough to make the shirt ride up, she looked at Damian over her shoulder, speaking with mock innocence. "Mm. Maybe?" Before pouring herself a mug.
Taking a slow sip, she enjoyed the strong taste, adding. "You really like complaining."
Putting the overcooked scrambled eggs for himself, he added extra pepper to Natasha's omelet on top of a light layer of cheese, just how she likes it.
Turning around to put both plates on the kitchen table, he said: "I really like to walk around my house without fearing getting flashed."
Reaching for the plate with the omelet, purposefully brushing her warm but calloused hand with his, she intentionally kept her hand grazing his own, speaking in an amused voice. "Fear? One would think any man in your position would be eager for it to happen."
Taking his gaze to her hand, then to her face, he stared straight at her eyes. Damian lowered his pitch, using his raspier, lower pitch he almost growled "Yes. Fear. Because I respect you, but I'm only a man. I worry that if you keep pushing my buttons…" Using his free hand he raised it to the height of Widow's face, making her usual smirk falter for a second. Different emotions swirling through her eyes. Was it panic? Fear?... Something else?
Whatever it was, she froze seeing Damian's hand go past her, opening the fridge door behind her as he got close to her ear and with the same voice he muttered. "I might just lose control. Be careful, Nat. Actions have consequences."
Hiding the tingles going through her spine like a lightning bolt, Natasha snorted and shouldered him as she went to take her place at the table. "Ha. It is you who should be careful, Malysh. Don't bite more than what your kid's mouth can chew," she said, resting her chin on her hands. "You'd better off worrying about today being your big day."
With a wide grin and a feeling of victory, Damian closed the fridge after taking a water bottle and went to sit down too, leaving it next to his juice. Doing one last joke as his little 'victory lap'. "Oh, don't worry. I don't usually chew–unless you're into that."
Seeing Natasha refusing to fall for his provocations again, merely arching her eyebrow with that unreadable half smile, he continued while taking a bite. "Not really a big deal in my books. Last first day of high school. Last couple months of idling around and doing the bare minimum to get an A..."
'Last stretch before shit starts going down non-stop.' He added in his mind.
He shrugged, giving his honest opinion. "...If anything, shit only gets more exciting from here on out."
As soon as he finished, she kicked his ankle under the table, the kick originally meant to convey 'language,' but rapidly becoming a silent game of cat and mouse, as Damian was the type that always kicks back.
While doing so, a voice interrupted the moment, if only for Damian, with an exasperated tone. [Ugh, just get a room already. Matter of fact, you have several here, just use one.]
Holding the laugh in, Damian defended himself. 'What could you ever mean by that, dear? I'm just playing around with my auntie, ain't nothing wrong with that.'
Rolling her invisible eyes, she could not believe this man's audacity. Still, she was not having any of his bullshit. [Oh fuck off, I've seen rooms with newlyweds with less sexual tension than this one.]
Again, trying not to show an out of place reaction, Damian kept the same expression. 'Hey, if one of the hottest women in the universe blatantly tries to seduce me, there's only so much I can do to resist. Imagine having a body better than that of an Olympic athlete paired up with the hormones of a teenager. As they say. I'm only human, after all~'
Laughing at his very convenient logic, she shot back. [You really can reason your way into any woman's pants, can't you? But don't worry, if you move 5 states to the south nobody will see your relationship as weird, darling.]
Joking back at her, Damian doubled down. 'Ah hell no. I'd rather 1v1 a sentinel than move to the south. It'd be about the same level of discrimination, but with better views.'
And he successfully got a laugh out of her, but he didn't forget to throw a jab back too. 'Also, if what I'm doing with Natasha is immoral. They'll have to arrest me for what we'll do once you have a body of your own.'
Through their link, Damian could vividly feel the embarrassment at being caught unprepared for his comeback. [Damian!]
'Hehe, see? It's not nice when the laugh comes at your expense, isn't it…'
Having become adept at multitasking, Damian used his abilities in the most sensible manner he could find, meaning he multitasked eating, 'playing footsies' with Natasha and maintaining a conversation with Eva, truly a good use of Grayson's training.
Suddenly, Widow's eyes were drawn from her almost finished omelet to Damian's vascular forearms. "You've been working out," she commented off-handedly.
Not looking up from his food, he answered automatically. "Very observant. Has anybody told you you'd make a terrific detective?"
Grinning at his comment, her toes traced his calf as she answered. "Someone's gotten cocky, huh?"
Damian catches her foot between his ankles, trapping it. Natasha raises an eyebrow. He meets her gaze, unblinking, and takes a slow sip of water. The air between them crackles. Half challenge, half something neither will name.
Finally releasing her, he says "Finish your plate, Nat. We're leaving in thirty."
Raising her hand in a mocking salute, she answers in a firm tone "Sir, yes, sir." Yet in spite of the mocking, she does just that.
Watching him stand up and taking his plate to wash it himself. She observes his now broad shoulders and back. His strong arms as they move about. Unable to understand how he had changed so much in a single month, though she had some guesses.
Exhaling through her nose, she mutters under her breath as she stands up to go get ready. Unknowing of Damian's newly enhanced senses. "...Damn 'growth spurt'."
He smirks, closing the faucet and heading for his own room to get ready. Not before taking a last peek at the way the morning sunlight gets caught in the curves of her long legs.
…
As per her request, Damian dropped Natasha at Star Tower. It seemed Tony had yet to fail his assessment. And now he was parking his car on the same block as Delmar's Deli, as it seemed to be the most convenient spot; close, safe, easily accessible.
Getting out of the car, Damian adjusted the collar of his shirt. He was in a casual outfit meant to be simple and low key without being ugly, as he still conserved his fondness for outfitting himself.
His outfit consisted of a form fitting plain white tee under a loose fitting dark brown baggy sweater. Black baggy jeans, white socks and sneakers of a comparatively lighter brown tone. With a black school bag.
Damian groaned in a low voice as he started walking towards Midton High, which was a bit more than a block away from the street of Peter's favorite Deli.
Purposely complaining to make conversation. 'Ha, remind me why didn't I just park in a secluded spot without so much traffic again?'
In a dry tone, Eva responded [Because you wanted to make Flash jealous for your own childish amusement? And 'cause you don't want your dad's car being stolen?]
Chuckling to himself, Damian answered 'Mm. Good enough I guess.' Almost as if on cue, while Damian was passing by the door of Delmar's, Peter stumbled out of said door, sandwich in mouth and with a half opened back pack. "Mmf-Oh crap!" A carton of chocolate milk flying from Parker's opened backpack.
Thankfully for him, Damian caught it mid-air without even looking, tossing it back to him. Raising an eyebrow he said. "Sorry, but you're no cute anime girl. This shit won't work on me, Parker."
Catching the carton sheepishly, Peter ignored the unknown reference and simply said. "Thanks, saved my breakfast right there."
Seeing Damian tilt his head in amusement before he resumed walking, Peter caught up to him as he added. "Forgot to eat. Haa… May's gonna scold me again. Also, how about you let me drive around in your car for a bit?"
Giving Peter a side eye, he muttered. "Sure, if you promise to pay for any possible damages. With your luck, the Hulk might just pick my car mid-ride to throw it at a helicopter."
Wanting to defend himself, Peter opened his mouth to say he wasn't that unlucky, but he was interrupted by a familiar yet not so friendly voice.
Leaning out of a jeep across the street, Flash 'greeted' Peter, without knowing his new idol Spiderman was right in front of him. "Yo, if it isn't Penis Parker, got yourself a bodyguard or som–Holy shit, Rossi?!"
Opening his mouth exaggeratedly, Flash could hardly connect the softer face and short friendly guy, who somehow always managed to stop him from bullying Parker too much without lifting a finger, to the broad shouldered, stylish dude who he saw getting out of a Lexus. "What the fuck happened to you? Did you shove a whole damn pharmacy down your throat?"
Covering one of his ears in a mock annoyed tone, Damian looked at him and said "Did you shove a megaphone down your throat? Stop with the goddamn yelling and maybe I'll sign your shirt or some, since you look so interested in me."
Hearing his answer, Flash flips him off, but still smirks at his remarks, while Peter chokes a bit while laughing mid chew. "Mm? What's so funny? Punny Parker, got any jokes to tell?" Rapidly changing directions, he resumes his routine verbal assault.
Sighing with exasperation at the never ending childish antics of Thompson, Damian finally decides to put a stop to it, as now he had the ability to do so. "Hey, don't you get fucking bored of picking on Peter? We're seniors already. How about growing up a bit out of the high school bully persona? Or are you just venting because Sha Shan dumped your xenophobic ass?"
Registering his words for a second, Flash blinks and starts to laugh in a loud and obnoxious manner, as if Damian had just told him the funniest joke in the world.
Then he walked over, suddenly pulling an arm over Damian's shoulder and grabbing him in a loose chokehold as they walked–Damian letting him do it–and said with an annoyed smirk. "Or what, Rossi? You gonna go cry to Coulson?"
Before Flash had time to mess up Damian's hair, Damian threw a light punch to Flash's guts, not enough to truly hurt him but enough to make him wince and let go.
With a raised eyebrow he said. "Or we settle it like adults. A little spar. After class. The gymnasium. If I win, you retire the annoying 'Flash the Bully Thompson' persona and become 'Flash, the less-bitchy-and-annoying Thompson'," putting on a smile as fake as a three dollar bill, he added. "Promise I'll be gentle with you."
And to finish his little bait, Damian gave Flash his biggest shit eating grin, openly taunting him.
Eating the hook, line and sinker. Flash's grin widens. Fully confident in his athleticism as a football star and wrestling champ. Straightening himself he barked. "You're on, pretty boy. You better pray your face looks good swollen."
Damian gives back an equally wide grin while Peter looks at both of them, fully alarmed.
Getting closer to Damian he whispers to him. "Dude, you don't have to-" But Damian cuts him off, eyes still on Flash. "Don't worry, it's about time someone beats some sense into this dumbass."
Before Flash can retort, another voice cuts in. Smooth, amused, and dripping with false sweetness. Striding up in a pristine white blouse and designer jeans, Prada bag swinging, Liz says. "Well, this is new. Since when do the three of you walk together? Did you all become besties over summer break?"
Flash scoffs, flexing his shoulders. Damian just smirks. Peter looks like he wants to vanish into the pavement. 'Mm? What's with that reaction, does he still like Liz or did I misjudge his interest in Betty? Or maybe he likes them both? Peter, you dog!'
Quickly, a feminine voice in a dry tone interrupts his thoughts. [Look who's talking,] and wisely deciding to not engage in a losing battle, he merely gave Eva a mental shrug, refusing to respond.
Flash smiles at Liz. "Nah. Rossi's just finally man enough to ask for some fighting tips."
Adjusting his sleeves, tone light but eyes sharp, Damian rebukes him "You're gonna cringe hard when you wake up in the infirmary. Don't be late."
Liz raises an eyebrow, glancing between them. Before she can say anything else, Damian goes past her without as much as glancing her way even once.
Peter silently observed as the smirk in her face faded while she tightened the grip in her coffee cup. Muttering under her breath. "Unbelievable."
There it was, that something that always irked her about him.
He acted friendly with everybody, even with the dickhead of Flash, but he always seemed to keep her at arm's length. Don't even mention sucking up to her like everybody else did, he almost refused to acknowledge her presence at school most of the time. And now that he looked like a well dressed hunk, it irked her even more.
Peter tried his best to alleviate the tension, doing his best to act nonchalant, attempting to strike a conversation. "H-Hey, Liz! Uh, cool, uh… shoes?"
But seeing the contrast in reaction between these two got her even more annoyed for some reason.
"What?" She responded curtly.
Flinching at her response, Petter stuttered out a response "I-I just… they're nice! The-the shoes."
Glaring daggers at Peter, more due to the juxtaposition between his attitude and Damian's, she thought 'Tsk, that's how it should be, you damn nerd. He gets a little hot and he thinks he can treat me like air.' Her thoughts conveniently ignoring that Damian has always treated her the same.
Being completely dismissive of Peter, she said: "Whatever, Parker. Don't you have a lab tube to go cry into?"
Deflating at her words, Peter shuffles to his feet in order to catch up with Damian, before leaving a last optimist "See you around, Liz!"
Turning around to the still flexing Flash, she threw her bag at him and said. "Carry it. Now."
Equal parts annoyed and confused, Flash reacted "Uh. What? Since when am I your-" but he was quickly shot down. "Shut it. Should I tell Harry you tried texting me at 2 in the morning. Again?"
Hearing no more bitching, she storms off, hills clicking. Her pride bruised more than Flash's ego will be after Damian's done with him.
…
Now in the school hallway, Peter was making conversation with Damian for once. "Haha. Look at you go, Mr. Popular. One summer glow-up and you already got everybody talkin'. You gonna ditch us for the popular kids table too now that you made it?"
Peter's comment came from the fact that everyone seemed to be looking their way, looking at Damian to be specific. [Seems baggy clothes can't cover your face and height.] Eva commented sarcastically.
However, she was right. Maybe it was because his face was still recognizable or because he was walking with Parker, a lot of people started whispering, associating the tall dude with his previous self.
Especially so because he was well acquainted with practically half of the school, plus the fact that teenagers loved gossiping.
That and maybe the fact that Miles, who Damian often treated like a younger brother, giving him advice and whatnot, had made quite the fuss after seeing him. Him and a goth girl named Lana, who became a stuttering mess after Damian simply said "Hi," to her, like he usually does with school acquaintances.
Laughing at his comment, he said. "He, afraid I might spread my wings and fly far away? Don't worry, unlike a certain someone, I treasure all the connections I've made."
Right on cue, as Peter started to laugh at his comment, a familiar warm, playful and mischievous voice butted in. "Ouch. I've already said I'm sorry, you know. How can I prove myself and make it up to you?"
Deepening his smirk, he turns to face her.
Relaxed pose but sharp gaze. MJ's emerald eyes shone with a glint of challenge, the fluorescent lights bouncing on her hair, giving it a type of luster.
Then, it felt like the noise suddenly quieted around them.
Tilting his head, dropping his voice just so she could hear, he says. "Depends. Do you offer personalized apologies, Watson?"
Laughing, she steps closer to him. "Mabe. Only if you promise not to hold a grudge after, like some brooding Batman wannabe."
Peter watches from the side, amused at their nostalgic back and forth. The familiarity of the scene bringing a smile to his face, making him feel just like in the old days. Yet, before they could continue toeing the line between playful, flirty banter and something else, they were abruptly interrupted.
As MJ was practically hugging Damian's right, to the left of Damian, Gwen squeezed herself between him and Peter. Clutching her books a bit too tightly. Not wanting to lose this imaginary war with her new friend, whom she had gotten much more familiar with over the last weeks of summer break after their first group dinner.
"Ahem. Sorry to interrupt, but–Damian, you promised you'd help me with the chem lab write up. Remember?" Her tone is sweet, yet her eyes dart between him and MJ, a range of emotion flickering behind her blue shining beads.
Momentarily thrown off, not at her sudden appearance since he could feel her sneak up on them, but at the boldness of her move. He glanced at her, slowly. "...Mm. Did I?"
Furiously nodding with her cheeks turning bright pink, she insisted "Yes! Last week! You…you totally did!"
MJ looks at their interaction, her smirk turning knowing. Leaning back, she gives Gwen a once-over before locking eyes with Damian again. In a mock sympathetic tone she says "Oof. Better not keep her waiting, Rossi. Wouldn't want to break any hearts~"
Gwen's grip on her book tightens.
Damian exhales, amused but caught in the crossfire.
Peter, sensing the tension, claps his hands together while laughing nervously. "Welp! I'm just gonna go, before this turns into a romcom I didn't audition for-"
Then he bolts, leaving Damian standing between a smirking MJ and a flustered Gwen. The hallway buzzes around them, whispers spreading like wildfire. Damian shakes his head, chuckling to himself.
Joining the fun, Eva comments with mirth in her voice [So much for trying to remain low key, right?]
Taking a mental deep breath, he merely shrugs his shoulders and decides to roll with the punches. 'Well, not much I can do about it. I'm just trying to exist, it's these guys' fault.'
Though he said such, he couldn't help but feel content inside, some situations like Gwen's crush might not be ideal, but it did feel fun to have a normal teenage life.
Even if for a little bit.
Holding his hands up in the air, Damian said in a tone of mock defeat "Ladies, ladies. One at a time. There's enough for everybody."
And before any of the two could get mad at his narcissistic joke, he turned to Gwen and said with his charismatic smile. "Lead the way, Gwen."
While Gwen fumbled with herself as she started to walk away, he turned around and winked at MJ. "We'll continue this later."
To which MJ grins, blowing him a kiss as she saunters off. Gwen huffs, tugging Damian's sleeve to walk faster towards the chem lab.
The bell rings. Somewhere, Flash Thompson is very confused about why he isn't the center of attention anymore.
…
As the final bell rings, Damian was walking towards the gymnasium alongside his friends as they heard, by way of Peter, of his little spar with Flash after classes.
His expression was calm and his steps light, like the 'fight' that was about to happen had nothing to do with him.
A chorus of voices overlapping in a mix of concern, encouragement and even playful teasing as Peter, Ned, Miles, MJ and Gwen accompanied him.
With a voice filled with worry and a little guilt at being the trigger of this spar, Peter talked at his side "Damian, c'mon dude. Think about this for a second. Flash is a dumbass, yes. But you don't actually have to fight him. What if you get suspended? Or-Or worse… What if you lose?"
Not breaking his stride, Damian responded with hands behind his head in a relaxed voice "Peter, if I lose to Flash, I'll give you my Lexus. Just relax, it won't be much of a fight anyways."
Crossing her arms, frowning. Gwen looked at Damian with worry in her eyes and said "Violence is never the answer, Damian. There are better ways to handle this. Just report him, talk to Mr. Harrington, anything."
Commenting on the opposite side, Ned said while grinning. "Nah, don't listen to her, bro. This is wayyy better. That jerk has had it coming since freshman year. Punch him hard enough to make him forget his own name for me, my brother!"
Raising an eyebrow, Miles said with curiosity in his tone "You sure you can run it though? Flash is built like a linebacker, and you're- *Gesticulates vaguely at Damian's leaner frame*"
Laughing at his implication, Damian looked at him with a grin from ear to ear. "Boy. Do I look worried to you? You better watch closely, Gonza. You might even learn a move or two."
Frowning at the nickname Damian always used to annoy him after he found out his full name, he said exasperatedly: "C'mon, bro. Stop calling me like that, you the only dude who calls me like that."
Purposely flattening Miles fro, he laughed at him and said with a smile "Sure thing, Gonza. The day you actually pull somebody I'll graduate you from Gonza(lo) to Miles. 'Till then, be content with it, Gonza."
Adding her two cents, completely carefree as she was the only one fully on the know of Damian's capabilities, Eva chirped in. [Weird to see you act so friendly with someone that is not a hot woman.]
'Pfft, I'm kind to all who deserve it, thank you very much. And what can I say? I've always wanted to have a little brother. And with how unlucky the spider folk is, it makes you wanna help 'em out, you know?'
Briefly gazing at Miles and then to Peter before looking forward again, he continued. 'Maybe that's also why I get along with Peter so well too. It also doesn't hurt to be on good terms with him even if he doesn't get his powers, he's a pretty chill guy… There's also not many supers like Miles around, so the more the merrier, if you get what I mean.'
Chuckling in response, she answered. [Yeah, for better or for worse, I always know what you mean.]
Swatting his hand away, Miles just sighed in defeat, yet there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.
He wouldn't say it, but he has always been grateful for Damian's kindness, as he was the first to help him get used to his new school.
There wasn't any pretense to it, nor was there ulterior motives. After the sophomore Damian found him on the first day, anxiously looking around for his classroom, he offered to show him around. Making conversation, somehow Miles found himself swoop on his rhythm, becoming friends on the spot.
So for now he could tolerate the lame nickname he was given.
Then, turning to Gwen with the same confident smile, he answered to her. "No worries, I'll promise it won't be 'violent' at all. What's more, I promise to end it with minimum damages. So just enjoy the show, Stacy."
Closing up her school bag, MJ watched him calm everybody down with a lazy smirk, saying. "Y'know, Damian, if you wanted to show off, you could've just taken your shirt off in the cafeteria and save us all the drama."
Turning to her, his grin softened for a bit, just the slightest bit. Tilting his head, voice lowering just for her to a murmur. "If you wanted to see me shirtless, all you needed to do was ask."
To which her smirk deepened, her green eyes shining as if to match his. Stepping dangerously close into his space. So close others look away, acting oblivious–Except for Gwen, who scowls at the sight.
In a soft, teasing voice she whispers to him. "Is that a promise? I might hold you to it some other time. But right now, you got a meathead to humble."
Raising a brow at her words, he asks with both curiosity and mirth. "You sound awfully confident in me beating your little friend. Any reason why?
Looking straight at him, she continues with the same mischievous teasing tone. "Let me be clear, he's no friend of mine. He merely is loosely in the same friend group."
A second later, she continued. "As for why? Because I know you. Your body might have changed, for the better by the way," she said, winking at him. "But you are still you. The Damian I know doesn't take any losing fights."
She pats his chest, fingers lingering just a second too long. "But don't keep me waiting on your promise for too long."
[You sure Nightwing doesn't have any pheromone-related abilities? 'Cus this hoes are feinin'.] Eva said.
Damian exhales a laugh, shaking his head without offering any comeback to Eva. Finally they reach the gym doors and Damian immediately goes in, no hesitation.
The group follows, tension thick in the air.
Peter groans, running a hand through his hair. Muttering from behind "Sometimes I really cringe when you two do that." With a sharp breath, Gwen adds on the same low tone. "Tell me about it."
Entering the gymnasium they can see Flash is already inside, bouncing on his toes like a dog with the zoomies, ready to go.
Damian looks around the stands, noticing that some people came to watch his little bout with Thompson, mainly those who have somewhat of a closer relationship with him than average or those who come for Flash, either to see him get beat up or beat me up.
Namely: Lana (Baumgartner), Sha Shan (Nguyen), Liz, Harry (Osborn), Randy (Robertson), Sally (Avril), Jason (Ionello) and some other random people Damian didn't have much of an impression of.
(I included the full names in case you felt like googling them.)
Grinning as he cracked his neck, Flash looked straight at Damian and said with a voice full of confidence, borderline arrogance. "Took you long enough, Rossi. Ready to eat floor?"
Stepping onto the mat, with the same carefree attitude Damian yawned while looking at Flash. "Calm down, princess. Let my friends sit down first. I gotta make the most of this and give those two some useful tips," he said, pointing behind him at where Miles and Peter had taken a seat.
Damian lightly stretched his arms as though they were about to give a P.E. lesson instead of having a fight.
Seeing his carefree attitude, Flash took it as an insult to him and decided to not hold back, as he previously had some minimal reservations due to Damian being quite the likable guy, compared to the other nerds at least.
While this was happening, as MJ sat next to Gwen, Liz and Harry made their way to the nearest seats to MJ's right.
Arching one eyebrow at MJ's new friend group, Liz said to her. "I couldn't see you all day. Where were you?"
As they briefly converse with each other, they got interrupted by Flash's annoyingly loud voice. "Hey, let's fight already, I don't got all day for this shit."
Hearing Flash, the gym fell silent.
Having all eyes on them now, Damian chuckles at him and says while slightly widening his stance. "Yeah, I'd imagine you probably have some chick to harass or some squirrel to chase, you drooler."
Hearing some laughs from the stands, Thompson was successfully ragebaited as a popping vein could be seen in his forehead while he charged at Damian screaming. "YOU'RE DEAD, ROSSI!"
But to Damian's eyes, Flash might as well be a toddler taking his first steps, he looked sluggish, uncoordinated–for his new standards–and full of openings. With his current body's agility and hand-to-eye coordination he wouldn't even need any of Nightwing's martial arts to take him down.
Alas, he had to make the most of the fight and teach the untrained Peter a thing or two and hope he'll take the bait. There was also Miles but since he hadn't gotten his powers yet so the main target of the lesson remained the OG Spidey.
Sidestepping with minimal movements, he grabbed Flash's extended right hand and yanked it in the direction it was moving at while tripping him with his foot, letting inertia do the rest.
Then, killing the part of him that cringes, he spoke in a lecturing tone, raising his voice to 'no one in particular'. "Fighting 101, lesson 1: Never lose your calm, the moment your emotions get in the way of your decision making, you're dead."
While the people in the stand looked at Damian with different reactions, some laughing at his antics like MJ, others with curiosity like Sha Shan and a small part of the group, mostly the men, with varied degrees of interest in his words; like Peter, Miles and Ned, etc. As what man wouldn't like to know what to do in case you have to fight somebody.
However, the one who took it as mocking words was the one who needed to heed the advice the most. Getting up while feeling embarrassed at what just happened, Flash tried again to go for a right hook, if you could call it that. This time, Damian dodged the right hook within an inch of his face, then a left, a two piece, and another right.
All while walking around just outside of Flash's range, he continued his lecture to the void. "Lesson #2: Footwork is king. Doesn't matter how much weaker or stronger, shorter or taller you are than your opponent, if you can't reach him or vice versa, it is useless. Control the distance, control the fight."
As Flash saw Damian dodging all his attacks by what seemed like a hair's breadth, he only became angrier while hearing his words. In an aggressive tone, he said. "Stop dodging and fight like a man! You pussy!"
With the same even tone, Damian continued. "Remember lesson 1, we don't fall for petty provocation… Unless we can afford to." Suddenly, as Flash just threw a punch and was in the process of cocking his hand back, Damian changed pace and closed in on Flash on the side where his balance was off and threw a body shot, straight to the kidney.
Feeling the hit, Flash groaned in pain and got down on one knee. Thankfully for him, Damian held back as he didn't want the fight to be over just yet.
As Flash clutched his side, he heard that same hateful lecturing tone: "Lesson #3: If footwork is king, timing is queen. Once you control your emotions and the space, you have to control the timing. It is you who must decide when to hit or to evade. Especially so if your opponent is stronger or taller than you."
Making distance again and letting Flash recover his bearings, Damian was merciless with his words. "This is enough to win you most fights. But I'll throw in a little bonus. Lesson #4 #5 and #6."
"Lesson 4: Be merciless, showing kindness to those who want to hurt you is the same as hurting those who care about your wellbeing, but since this is a friendly spar, there's no need for me to 'finish him off', we wouldn't want lil ol' Flashy missing tomorrow's practice now would we?"
Getting a chuckle from the audience, Damian went back to dodging the even more enraged Thompson–this time while hitting with precise control the areas that would hurt the most without leaving any bruises.
All while hammering the last points of his little improvised lecture. "Lesson 5: Cardio is your lifeline, all previous lessons don't matter if you can't outlast your opponent. So choose, you either knock them out before you run out of energy or you tire them out enough to win by default."
As he explained himself, everybody could see his words reflected on the fight.
As Damain looked to be in pristine condition, with not a hair out of place. Flash was the mirror opposite. Breathing as though hyperventilating. Sweating, and with a face that would make you believe he just ate a bowl of shit.
Yet, he kept going for Damian, his ego not letting him admit defeat. Unfortunately, no matter if it was a takedown or a strike, he never seemed to be able to reach him, no matter how hard he tried.
Sounding almost bored, he decided to end the 'spar' here as Peter looked interested enough in his words. "Last but not least, lesson 6: Normally I'd talk about defence here, but there wasn't any need for it this time. Instead, let's go to the next step. Offense: All I've said is useless if you don't hit back–and when your opponent is around your own level, it is more important to know how and where to hit than to be physically strong. Like this-"
Changing his rhythm once again, Damian took the struggling Flash off guard, not that he could react in time in his exhausted state anyways. Closing in on him as he had a clumsy half guard while his dominant hand was lowered, Damian positioned himself perfectly for a mean left hook that connected cleanly on Flash's chin, shutting his lights off as he fell facefirst, butt raised–in a "/\" shape.
The gym momentarily fell silent to the abrupt end of the fight.
Everybody had a hard time accepting what just happened. Most believed Flash would win, rooting–or not–for Damian, only Mary Jane seemed to be the only exception.
None of them expected the 'fight' to be so one-sided, nor to last less than 5 minutes from beginning to end ('Cus obviously teenagers have no clue how fast real fights are). Some looked incredulous at Damian, as though seeing him for the first time.
Others having their curiosity turned into interest. Some looked at him with admiration, like Ned and Miles. And others had indescribable expressions, charged with feelings behind their eyes at finding this new side of Damian, yet none were bad feelings.
Still, the protagonist of it all didn't take any of their reactions to heart as it would be weirder to not have any reaction to what happened here.
Clapping his hands once and with his charismatic smile back in his face, Damian talked with a tone that would make you doubt if this fight even happened. "Okay, show's over, time to go home people."
Turning to look at Osborn who seemed to be trying to hit on Liz orMJ even at this moment, to no avail, he added. "Hey, Osborn. Mind taking your friend home? Don't worry, he'll wake up in no time. Probably."
While waiting for Osborn's response, Damian smirked inwardly as he heard Eva's even tone. [Why do you dislike him again? He doesn't even look that bad, for a spoiled brat at least.]
Laughing at her comment, he explained himself. 'Yeah fucking right, he acts all friendly with Peter and me on the surface, yet he has never really tried to stop Flash from bullying Peter, and coincidentally he had or maybe still has a crush on Liz."
Not understanding the correlation, she asked. [And?].
Looking at Osborn, he continued. 'Remember my memories? When at one point Liz had a brief crush on Peter?'
Now being able to follow his thread of logic, Eva said with more curiosity than anything else. [You saying he made Flash bully Peter?]
'Nah, I don't think he thought that far. I'd rather say he saw Flash bullying Peter and decided to stay quiet, even when Flash is practically his lackey, as seeing him get picked on probably diminish his attractiveness in Elizabeth's shallow gaze. He's the worst type of brat, the type that grew up spoiled and thinks they are smarter than the rest, entitled to all the world has to offer by birth right. He is friendly until you get in his way. Pay attention to his face until we leave and you'll see what I mean.'
Harry Osborn took a few steps forward, half-heartedly crouching near Flash's unconscious form. His mouth curled into a plastic smile, a flicker of irritation passing through his eyes as he looked up at Damian.
"Well, that was... something," Harry said, voice smooth but laced with a subtle undertone. "Didn't think you'd actually knock him out. Kind of overkill for a school spar, don't you think?"
His smirk faltered slightly as he stood up, brushing nonexistent dust from his designer jacket. "But hey, you've got a flair for theatrics–I'll give you that. Maybe next time tone it down a bit? We're still in high school, not an underground cage fight."
Damian tilted his head with that same pleasant smile but this time his smile never quite reached his eyes. The same smile that, if you looked close enough, always had teeth behind it.
"Oh, my bad," Damian replied lightly, crossing his arms. "I thought this was a high school, not a place to transfer the problems back home to our classmates by picking on them. Must've got it mixed up, my bad. But hey, appreciate the concern, Osborn."
Harry's jaw twitched, eyes narrowing just a fraction as Damian turned away, clearly dismissing him. Damian hadn't even waited for a response, he was already walking toward his friends by the stands to have them carry Flash to his car, but the sting of being so casually brushed aside left Harry fuming in silence.
Just then, Liz Allan walked up, tucking a golden strand of hair behind her ear as she cast Damian a sidelong glance. "That was actually kinda... impressive." She said, in that off-handed way of a popular girl trying to flirt without looking like they cared. "I didn't think you had it in you."
However, much like usual, Damian didn't even look her way. He kept walking, not out of cruelty. But because she wasn't the audience he was putting on a show for.
If she truly wanted to get closer to him, she will have to first mature out of her miniature socialite queen bee persona, or at least become a more genuine person.
The silence that followed his dismissal made Liz blink, her smile faltering, lips parting like she wanted to say more. Yet nothing came. She stood there, rooted in her place, as smart as she was, she was unable to understand why such indifference towards her.
Up in the stands, MJ was the first to react, clapping in a slow and loud motion as she leaned forward with a wide grin, red hair bouncing slightly as she did. "My God, Rossi, remind me to never piss you off. That was a whole TED Talk with fists–think I've never been more into a lecture before."
She shot him a wink as Damian looked up toward them, her tone playful, sultry in the way only MJ could manage without trying too hard. Her fingers idly twirled a strand of her hair as her eyes scanned him head-to-toe with very little subtlety.
Gwen, seated beside her, uncharacteristically ignoring MJ's flirting, stood still for a second too long, her face tinted pink as she watched Damian walk off the mat like he hadn't just floored the school's bully quarterback with surgical precision. Letting out a breadth she didn't know she was holding.
Putting on one of her signature sweet smiles she said: "That was… wow, I guess you did promise to put on a show." Then quietly, almost to herself, she added. "I… uh… that was really impressive, Damian."
MJ's head whipped around like she'd heard the rarest sound in the world. "Hold up. Was that shy praise from Gwendolyn Stacy?"
Gwen's blush deepened instantly as she rolled her eyes and looked away, trying to play it off. "Oh, shut up…"
MJ smirked, leaning in to nudge her playfully. "Nah, don't be shy now. Say it louder for the people in the back. Come on, one more time. 'Really impressive.' You were practically swooning."
Gwen denied again. "I was not swooning." Yet MJ didn't let it go. "You were this close to swooning."
"MJ–"
Laughing, Mary Jane pushed further. "I should've filmed you, not the fight."
As Gwen groaned and tried to hide her embarrassed smile behind her hand, MJ turned her grin back toward Damian, clearly enjoying the show from the side.
Trying to change the topic, Gwen offered her analysis of the 'spar-turned-lecture'. "That was a masterclass."
Her arms were crossed, but her eyes showed Damian the multitude of emotions behind her simple words. Relief, surprise, calculativeness, even a bit of admiration.
After which she muttered, tilting her head. "Precise, clean, controlled… and with a message. That wasn't just showing off. It was strategic."
MJ nodded in agreement, her grin shifting into something softer, more thoughtful. "Yeah. But what gets me isn't the fighting." *She gestured vaguely toward Flash, who was still out cold on the mat* "It's how you didn't even break a sweat while doing it. You turned that meathead into a PowerPoint slide."
Down below, Miles blinked like someone just rebooted his brain. "Bro… he didn't even try. That was, like… Batman-level calm."
"Nightwing, actually," Ned corrected, rewatching the fight on his phone. "And yeah, it was sick. Rossi just dropped six lessons like it was a seminar on violence."
Peter remained quiet, eyes locked on Damian as if trying to solve an equation. A silent calculation played across his features. Something between fascination and realization. He didn't look threatened, exactly, but more like a part of him had been quietly shaken awake.
"That wasn't just muscle memory," Peter muttered. "He was teaching. Like… he knew exactly how to control every second of the fight."
"Exactly!" Ned exclaimed, pushing up his glasses. "He even narrated the whole thing. It was like watching anime but in real life."
Peter gave him a sideways look. "Still weird."
"What? It's accurate." Ned defended himself.
Miles chimed in again, "I swear, if I had powers, I'd be training with him like, tomorrow."
Just then, Damian climbed the bleachers toward them, hands behind his head, with the same relaxed expression. Though the gleam in his eyes showed he hadn't missed a single reaction.
He stopped in front of the group, glancing at Gwen and MJ with a raised eyebrow. "You two good, or do I need to call the nurse?"
"Oh, we're great," MJ said sweetly, then leaned in with a smile that danced on the edge of playful and provocative. "Although if you ever wanna give me a private lesson, I promise I take direction very well."
Gwen groaned again, hiding behind her palm. "Can you not for one second?"
Damian chuckled. "I'll keep it in mind, Watson."
Sharing Gwen's tone, Eva added [For one I'm on blondie's side, can you not? Or is whoring around a compulsive behavioral trait of yours?]
'Hahaha, that's a new one. But you know I'm just playing around. Neither of us mean it.'
Mimicking MJ's tone, Eva said. [Yeah, when she drops the 'Accept it, Tiger.' spiel on you, don't you fucking dare act surprised, you hornball.]
Momentarily losing his seemingly perpetually relaxed expression, both inwardly and outwardly, he quickly recovered before responding to Eva, this time without the playfulness that was there before. 'That's… Maybe you're right–I've indulged her attitude thinking it's all fun and games–but that could quickly get out of hand… However-' Taking an awfully long pause in his head, he continued with a conflicted tone. 'Is it bad if I don't necessarily dislike that idea?'
Giving a long pause of her own, Eva asked with complete seriousness this time. [Are you sure about that? Don't go around playing with the feelings of a young woman, especially one that's your friend.]
Sighing to himself, Damian responded. 'Aghh, I know. I know. I would never play around with someone I care about, you know that. It's just… we get along really well. And we've had good chemistry since day one… I just–I don't fucking know, man. Whatever. let the annoying goddamn problems to future Damian.'
While Damian was having a little episode inside his mind with Eva, Peter spoke up, voice calm but curious. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
Damian met his eyes with tranquility. Lying without even batting an eye. "My dad taught me, he was a really good fighter."
Peter gave the faintest nod, feeling sorry for accidentally stepping on a delicate topic. Yet the gears were still turning in his head.
Just then, Harry Osborn finally descended from the bleachers, his tone amicably fake and restrained, masking the irritation from his and Damian's previous interaction. "Well, Rossi," he said with that practiced rich snob smile, "you've definitely made your point. That was quite the performance. Almost made me feel bad for Flash… almost."
Damian didn't even break stride as he turned to face him. "Thank's. I personally wouldn't talk like that when seeing a supposed 'friend' get knocked out cold, but I guess not everyone's the same."
The words landed with more sting than the actual punch had earlier. Harry's smile faltered, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. But before he could say anything back, Damian turned to his friends instead.
"C'mon" he said, voice light but firm. "Let's go eat something, I'm hungry. And I think I've met my high school drama quota for the day."
Gwen stood with him, brushing her hair behind her ear as she avoided eye contact. Though the faint smile on her lips betrayed her flustered admiration.
MJ wrapped an arm around her shoulder immediately, whispering something teasing in her ear that made Gwen shove her playfully.
The rest followed closely.
Miles practically bounced with excitement. "Yo, bro. You think I could learn that stance you used for the body shot? Like that whole turn-into-the-kidney thing?"
Ned chimed in, "And the lecture! Dude, I'm writing it down later. Lesson #1: Don't be Flash Thompson."
Damian laughed at his friend's words, saying. "Sure, I can teach you in my free time, it's really easy to do, you just need practice and experience. Also, Ned. Don't go around spreading the video of the fight."
Ned looked at Damian as though he was a kid who discovered Santa wasn't real. "Dude, c'mon! I've waited for Flash to get embarrassed in public for so long. The people must know, Rossi! You can't dude do this to me." He said with fake outrage.
Giving him a sideglance, Damian said with finality in his tone. "I'm serious, Ned. That sparring wasn't meant to humiliate Flash, it was meant to beat some sense into him and put him on the right track."
Miles chimed in from the side. "I dunno 'bout that, bro. I don't think he will become a good guy just because you knocked him out once."
Without waiting a second, Damian responded. "If one beating ain't enough, I'll give him plenty. That fucker will become a better person by the time he finishes high school, that's non-negotiable."
As Ned and Miles shivered at the thought of getting relentlessly beaten in such an overwhelming manner, they almost felt bad for Flash… Almost.
Meanwhile, Peter trailed behind a little slower, thoughtful but not distant. His gaze lingered on Damian just a moment longer.
Harry remained behind, watching them walk away. Watching Damian walk away. His expression was unreadable, but his knuckles were white.
Eva's voice returned to Damian's thoughts, smooth and observant. [It seems someone got mad.]
'Told you, there's a lot of pettiness and snobbery behind his 'charming' smile.' Damian replied inwardly, smiling to himself as MJ leaned close and whispered some new quip, making Gwen roll her eyes and laugh behind her hand again.
As they stepped out of the gymnasium together. Flash unconscious, Liz dumbfounded, and the few onlookers who had come to watch.
Damian felt satisfied with today's result, as this was more than a simple fight.
This was the first move of many to come in order to change the course of history, for himself and for those he cared about.
A/N: Hello everybody, it's me, the author. Just wanted to say that I decided to mass release the first 5 chapters of my story altogether(at least here in webnovel, as I've uploaded every day in RR). However, as you may have noticed, my chapters are long, and I like it that way (pause). So, to keep a healthy schedule I decided to publish new chapter moving forward every 5 to 7 days. Anyways, that's all. See you next week!