Morning at Titans Tower rarely stayed quiet for long, but today had a different edge to it.
Damian Wayne—Robin—sat at the long table in the common dining area with a plate of half-finished breakfast in front of him. Raven sat beside him, legs crossed, sipping tea in her usual calm silence. Across the table, Beast Boy was already on his third helping of waffles, Blue Beetle was arguing with Cyborg about whether syrup counted as a "conductive hazard," and Starfire listened with genuine interest.
Nightwing stood at the head of the table, arms folded, posture relaxed but focused. Leader mode.
"Alright," he said, clearing his throat. "Eat fast. We've got our first operation of the day."
Damian straightened almost instinctively. Mission briefing meant discipline. He welcomed it—structure made things simpler.
"There's a new criminal organization trying to establish a foothold in Jump City," Nightwing continued, tapping a control on his wrist. A holographic display flared to life above the table, showing shipping routes, dock schematics, and blurry surveillance images. "Shipment arrives in four hours at Dock Seventeen."
Beast Boy swallowed mid-bite. "What kind of shipment?"
"Drugs. Weapons. Alien tech. Explosives," Nightwing said evenly. "Basically a 'worst-of' collection. If it gets distributed, Jump City turns into a war zone."
Blue Beetle frowned. "So… we stop it."
"Yes," Nightwing said. "Clean and quiet if possible. Police will handle arrests once we secure the cargo."
Cyborg nodded. "I'll jam external communications and scan for tech signatures."
Starfire smiled brightly. "I will provide the overwhelming force!"
Nightwing glanced toward Damian. "Robin?"
Damian met his gaze without hesitation. "Point me where I'm needed."
Nightwing gave a small approving nod. "Good. Wheels up in twenty."
Separate Arrivals
The Titans Jet roared off the launch platform, slicing through the morning sky.
Damian stood on the tower roof beside Raven, wind tugging at his cape. She glanced at him, one eyebrow raised.
"You're not taking the jet," she said.
"No," Damian replied calmly.
He raised two fingers to his mouth and whistled—a sharp, precise sound that cut through the air.
A shadow passed over the tower.
Moments later, Toothless descended from the clouds with a low, pleased rumble, wings folding as he landed. His scales gleamed black in the sunlight, eyes bright with recognition.
Beast Boy leaned out of the jet's open hatch. "Okay, I'll admit it—having a dragon is cheating."
Starfire clapped her hands. "He is adorable!"
Toothless puffed proudly.
Damian mounted smoothly, helping Raven up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist without comment, her grip steady and familiar.
With a powerful beat of his wings, Toothless launched into the sky, racing alongside the Titans Jet before veering toward the docks.
Dock Seventeen
The shipment arrived precisely on schedule.
A rust-streaked cargo vessel slid into the fog-covered harbor, engines humming low. Armed men poured onto the docks, unloading crates marked with false corporate insignias. Some carried alien rifles. Others wore exoskeletal braces—cheap, unstable models.
Nightwing's voice came through the comms. "Titans, go."
The fight was over in minutes.
Starfire hit first, streaking down in a blaze of green energy, scattering smugglers like bowling pins. Beast Boy transformed into a rhino and charged through a line of guards. Blue Beetle's cannons disabled weapon caches with precise blasts.
Cyborg locked down the ship's systems, cutting power and sealing hatches.
Damian moved differently.
He didn't rush. He calculated.
He flowed between opponents, movements efficient and economical. One strike to disable. One sweep to disarm. His black combat pants and armored suit absorbed blows that would have staggered others. When an exo-braced smuggler charged him, Damian sidestepped, hooked the brace, and used the man's momentum to slam him into the dock.
Raven stayed close, shadows binding enemies before they could regroup.
Toothless circled above, occasionally dropping down to snort smoke and fire harmless warning blasts that sent remaining criminals fleeing.
Within ten minutes, Dock Seventeen was secure.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
Nightwing surveyed the scene and smiled. "Clean work."
Back at the Tower
By the time they returned to Titans Tower, it was nearly one in the afternoon.
Everyone was exhausted.
Beast Boy collapsed onto the couch. "I vote for takeout."
"Seconded," Blue Beetle said.
Damian shook his head. "Unnecessary."
He walked straight into the kitchen.
Raven watched him with mild curiosity.
Ten minutes later, the entire tower smelled incredible.
Burgers sizzling on the grill. Fresh bread. Mac and cheese bubbling in a pan. A Cobb salad laid out with precision. Fries crisping to golden perfection.
Cyborg stared. "Since when can you cook like this?"
Damian didn't look up. "Since always."
They ate in near silence—except for Beast Boy, who nearly cried halfway through his second burger.
Nightwing leaned back, arms crossed, impressed despite himself. "Alright. New rule. Robin cooks."
Damian shrugged. "Acceptable."
Raven hid a small smile.
Second Call
The calm didn't last.
An alarm blared from the tower's main screen.
Nightwing was on his feet instantly. "Bank robbery. H.I.V.E."
Footage showed chaos inside a downtown bank—Jinx blasting vault doors open, Mammoth tearing through walls, Gizmo directing drones, and Billy Numerous multiplying uncontrollably.
"No rest today," Beast Boy groaned.
They were airborne within seconds.
The fight was louder, messier—but just as decisive.
Damian coordinated with Nightwing seamlessly, covering exits, disabling Gizmo's drones with pinpoint throws, and countering Mammoth's raw strength with speed and precision. Raven neutralized Jinx before she could escalate the damage.
Police arrived three hours later, statements were given, footage reviewed.
It was part of the job. The unglamorous part.
By the time they returned, the sun was setting.
Damian leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
Inside his mind, he counted.
Two missions completed.
Not enough.
Not yet.
Quiet Resolve
That night, as the tower settled into uneasy calm, Damian sat beside Raven on the couch. She rested her head lightly against his shoulder, eyes half-closed.
"You did well today," she said softly.
"So did the team," he replied.
She tilted her head, studying him. "You're learning."
Damian didn't answer immediately.
He thought about the path ahead—demons stirring in the shadows, governments chasing power they didn't understand, enemies that couldn't be punched into submission.
He thought about the weight he carried alone.
And about the strange, quiet relief of not carrying it alone here.
"I'll finish what I started," he said at last.
Raven smiled faintly. "I know."
Outside, Jump City slept—unaware of how close it had come to disaster.
And above it all, Titans Tower stood watch.
The first step had been taken.