SON OF BATMAN

Chapter 11: Raven(1)



*Vroom*

*VROOOM* *VROOOOM*

The roar of the Lamborghini's engine tore through the stillness of the highway, a powerful, throaty hum that echoed like a predator finally unleashed. The sleek, midnight-black Aventador darted between lanes, weaving in and out of traffic as it was pushed to its limits.

It was as if the car itself was happy, after too long being idle, it was now doing exactly what it had been built for: pure, unrestrained speed. The engine revved louder, growling with satisfaction as Damian urged it faster, the speedometer climbing higher with every passing second.

Grayson sat in the passenger seat, gripping the door handle for dear life. His knuckles were white, his body tensed as the world outside became a blur. Grayson was no stranger to danger, he had faced death countless times in his years as Nightwing. But even for him, this was pushing it.

"Damian," Grayson muttered, his voice laced with a mix of caution and irritation. "I'd like to survive this drive. Slow down."

Damian didn't say a word. He did, however, ease up on the accelerator slightly. The Lamborghini, though still moving at a breakneck pace, dropped a few notches on the speedometer, its engine now purring rather than roaring.

Grayson let out a slow, relieved breath, though his grip on the door handle remained firm.

But his relief was short-lived.

*VROOOOM* *VROOOOM*

Damian slammed his foot back down on the accelerator, the Lamborghini surging forward with even more power than before. Grayson felt his heart sink as the world outside turned into a blur of motion again.

It wasn't the speed that bothered Grayson, he had driven the Batmobile before and had felt the raw power of a fast car beneath him. What really scared him was the fact that the highway was packed. The road was full of cars, and Damian was maneuvering through them at breakneck speed, bypassing vehicles with reckless precision. They had already had several close shaves, narrowly avoiding collisions as Damian weaved through the congested lanes.

The sound of car horns blaring in frustration echoed around them as they zoomed past other drivers, who barely had time to react before the Lamborghini was already ahead.

Damian, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to everything around him, except the road ahead and the destination that awaited him at the end.

The Lamborghini tore down the highway, a black streak weaving between cars at breakneck speed. Damian's hands were steady on the wheel, his eyes locked on the road, oblivious to Grayson's tense grip on the door handle beside him.

"Damian..." Grayson's voice was tighter now, almost a growl, but he didn't finish the sentence. There was no point. Damian was locked into his zone, pushing the car and his own nerves to the limit.

Grayson's heart raced, not from fear of speed, but from the sheer audacity of how Damian handled the car on a busy highway. It felt like a near-death experience with every swerve, every sharp turn as if they were tempting fate with each narrow escape.

The Lamborghini continued to slice through the traffic, Damian's hands steady on the wheel, his focus unwavering. He didn't say a word, didn't acknowledge the chaos around him, he just kept driving.

The cityscape of Gotham had long disappeared behind them, replaced by long stretches of open road. They had left the chaos of the city far behind, speeding toward their destination, one that carried an air of uncertainty and urgency.

The drive continued in much the same way. Damian pushed the Lamborghini to its limits, weaving through cars with ruthless precision. The roar of the engine was constant, a deep growl as the sleek machine tore down the highway. Grayson, still gripping the door handle, could only focus on the road ahead, his heart pounding in his chest.

They were moving fast, too fast for Grayson's comfort. But for Damian, it seemed like nothing. His eyes remained locked on the road, his hands steady on the wheel as he shifted gears with precision.

At last, through the blur of speed and the distant horizon, Grayson spotted the unmistakable shape of the Titans Tower in the distance. The massive T-shaped structure stood tall against the skyline, a beacon of familiarity. Relief washed over him. The sight of the tower meant their journey was nearing its end. He could finally breathe again.

"Thank God," Grayson muttered under his breath, his fingers loosening their death grip on the handle. For all the battles he'd fought, all the times he'd faced death, Damian's driving somehow managed to make him feel mortal.

The Lamborghini didn't slow as they approached the Titans' territory. The sleek supercar entered the driveway with a roar. Its engine was still purring like a beast as it raced toward the front of the headquarters.

In front of the main building, three individuals were coming out. One of them, a young man with striking green skin, strolled ahead of the others, his hands clasped behind his head in a laid-back, almost careless manner. It was Garfield, whose emerald-colored skin and easy-going demeanor made him instantly recognizable.

As he noticed the approaching Lamborghini, his expression shifted from relaxed curiosity to outright surprise. The sleek, black car pulled into the driveway like a beast on the prowl, its engine roaring before softening into a throaty purr as it coasted to a halt.

"Damn…" Garfield muttered, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. "We have visitors," he said, half to himself. "And look at that ride! Whose car is that?"

By then, the Lamborghini had stopped directly in front of the building, the engine turning off with a final, low rumble. The doors opened, and Grayson stepped out first, looking slightly unsteady as he straightened and leaned against the car, letting out a slow breath.

"Gonna need a minute," Grayson muttered, his hand still gripping the doorframe as he tried to regain his composure.

Coming around from the other side, Damian gave Grayson a disdainful look. He shook his head, rolling his eyes slightly as he took in Grayson's appearance.

Meanwhile, the three figures at the entrance had a clear view of the two newcomers now stepping out of the car.

"Hmm… Dick?" The second individual, a young man, spoke up as he recognized the familiar face. The young man was lean, with an athletic build and a shock of red hair that looked almost fiery under the sunlight. A quiver of arrows was slung casually over his shoulder, while a pair of fingerless gloves covered his hands, bearing signs of wear from countless missions.

His eyes narrowed in on the second figure stepping around the car and questioned with a raised eyebrow. "But… who's that?"

Garfield squinted, narrowing his eyes and shading them with his hand as he sized up the other figure. "He kinda looks familiar," he said, then started scratching his chin with a thoughtful look as he continued, "Like I've seen him somewhere before… but I can't quite remember where."

Just behind them, the third figure, a young woman, had a look of realization as soon as she saw Damian. The young woman was slender, with blonde hair and a cautious air about her that set her apart from the other two. Her gaze remained steady, following Damian's every move, but she stayed silent.

This was none other than Tara Markov.

She recognized Damian instantly, despite all the changes he had undergone over the years, the most obvious of which was his white hair, a stark contrast to the dark locks she remembered.

The last time she'd seen Damian, their paths had been less than friendly. They had faced off as adversaries, and while she'd since reconciled with the Titans and found a place among them, the memory of that encounter was still vivid. She wasn't entirely sure how he might react to her presence here.

By then, Damian was already in front of the three Titans, his posture confident and composed. Garfield was still squinting at him, still pondering as he wracked his brain trying to place the familiar figure. The difference in their height was almost comical. Garfield's lean frame and shorter stature made him look almost boyish next to Damian's towering presence.

"You really are very familiar," Garfield muttered, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes even further. "I'm sure I've seen you somewhere…"

Damian cut in indifferently, his tone nonchalant. "I see you're still as dense as ever."

The words struck Garfield like a lightning bolt as if something had finally clicked. His eyes widened in sudden realization. "Wait… Damian?"

At the sound of the name, the red-haired young man beside Garfield stiffened, his casual expression shifting to one of intense focus. 'So this is Damian Wayne,' he thought to himself, feeling a surge of rivalry and caution. He'd heard about Damian Wayne multiple times before. Now that he knew who stood before him, his gaze grew sharper, his stance subtly tensing as he sized up the figure Raven could never forget.


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