Advance chapters on [email protected]/Saintbarbido.Discount on membership for today.
(Damian's P.O.V)
It was just past noon.
The coffee shop sat at the corner of a quiet block not far from Gotham Academy, modest in size and dimly lit by vintage bulbs and dusty windows.
Jason liked the place, calling it neutral ground. I didn't care either way—just needed Helena to show up with the information she'd promised.
Cassandra and I were seated in a booth toward the back. Jason had one leg up on the opposite bench, sipping from a black mug. Cassandra, for some reason, was going through lemon biscuits like they were about to be banned.
"Your friend. She's late," Jason said, checking his phone.
"She'll come," I replied, eyes flicking to the door.
Right on cue, Helena walked in.
She wore a black dress with a lavender coat over it, and ankle boots that clicked softly against the wooden floor. A small purse swung at her side, and she smiled as soon as she spotted me.
Jason tilted his cup up in salute. "Well, someone dressed like this is headed for a date."
Cassandra froze mid-bite.
Then slowly, methodically, she resumed chewing. Louder.
"Annoying," she muttered under her breath, glaring down at her cup.
I lifted a hand and waved Helena over. She was halfway to the booth when I felt it.
That subtle shift in pressure. The change in rhythm in the air.
I looked up—and froze.
Right behind Helena, walking casually into the café with his hands in his pockets and his eyes calm as ever, was Richard fucking Dragon.
Helena stopped at our booth. "Guys, this is my teacher, Richard—"
"We've met," I said flatly, caught off guard by the development. Was it a mere coincidence?
Richard nodded. "Yes. The last time didn't end too warmly."
Cassandra had gone completely still. Her hand was wrapped around her cup so tightly that it cracked.
Shoulders tensed, Jason leaned in. "Uh, Damian... what's the play?"
I didn't answer right away. My eyes were locked on Richard's. He wasn't smiling, exactly—but his calm demeanor made him even harder to read. Most people at least let something slip. Not him.
"Cassandra," I said without breaking eye contact. "Relax."
The cup she was holding had shattered completely, splashing tea across the table. She let it go without a word, her eyes still burning holes into Helena.
Helena blinked at the heightened hostility. "What did I—?"
"Nothing," I said shortly, then gestured to Richard. "He's already here. Let's hear him out."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you're this reasonable. It's shows maturity Damian."
"I'm not," I said. "Don't mistake this for trust. You and I are not allies. If anything, we're just sharing a moment of civility before the next fight."
Richard gave a small chuckle. "Fair enough."
Jason shook his head and muttered something about us being too dramatic.
I ignored him.
Helena stood silently for a moment, clearly confused by the tension she hadn't anticipated.
Then she sat, still unsure whether to smile or brace herself for something else to be shattered.
They made their orders and just like that, the table was set—with trust hanging by a thread.
Richard set his coffee down with all the calm in the world, posture relaxed, but eyes? Sharp. "So, you're looking for a Lazarus Pit."
I didn't answer him immediately. Cassandra was quiet beside me, Jason arched a brow, waiting for me to talk.
"Yeah," I finally said. No point lying.
Richard nodded slightly and leaned forward. "There are two… that I know of."
Jason scoffed. "Let me guess—one's on the Moon and the other inside a volcano?"
"No," Richard replied, still perfectly level. "They're both in Gotham."
Even Jason shut up after that.
I kept my voice calm. "Explain."
"The first one," he said, "is buried deep under Gotham. Sealed centuries ago by people no one remembers. But the energy still lingers. It's dormant. Mostly."
Cassandra frowned. I didn't blame her.
"And the second?" I pressed.
Richard took a slow sip of water before answering. "Arkham Asylum. Right beneath it. The foundation of that place was laid over something far older. A still-active pit."
Jason let out a breath. "Because of course it would be. Why not put a supernatural insanity well under a prison for the criminally insane?"
Cassandra spoke up. "How do you know this?"
Richard looked at her, then at me. "Two sources. The Court of Owls' records—you blew open their archive vaults with that mess at the ball. And a friend. Old maintenance worker in Arkham. Low-level access, but observant. Reported weird heat signatures, hallucinations underground. Then he vanished. Silenced by Talons."
Jason gave him a suspicious look. "So now you're just… volunteering this? What's the catch?"
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you want in return?"
I knew what he was going to ask. But valuable information or not, I was not going to accept his offer to be my Teacher.
Richard paused. Then shrugged.
"Nothing."
Huh. Guess I was wrong.
Jason snorted. "Yeah, right."
But Richard just smiled at me. "Call it repayment. For helping Helena in the past."
I shook my head, unconvinced. "That can't be it."
"Oh but it is, Damian. Soon you'll realize the benefits of becoming my student."
We traded glances.
Cassandra was first to stand. I followed. Jason threw back the rest of his drink and stood too. The meeting was over. I could feel Helena's eyes on me as we exited.
-0-
Back at the safehouse, the lights were low and the windows shuttered. Talia's image was projected on the wall, her voice crisp and clear.
"Arkham Asylum isn't just another facility," she warned after we'd briefed her. "It's under Batman's jurisdiction. Infiltration triggers more than just alarms. Expect contingencies."
I crossed my arms. "And yet people escape all the time. Care to explain that?"
She didn't smile. "Because the inmates aren't weak. Every one of them has challenged the Detective and survived. Some aren't even fully human anymore."
Jason chimed in. "New warden's a headache too. Amanda Waller. Ex-military, ex-black ops. Stone cold."
"She's effective," Talia confirmed. "She'll shoot first, ask never."
Jason flipped through his datapad. "I'll pull up old schematics. Look for a viable entry point through the asylum's tunnels."
"No reinforcements," I said before Talia could even offer. "Too much movement, and the Bat family will notice. We go in and verify Richard's intel ourselves."
My teacher gave me a slow nod. "Wise. But don't get arrogant. Gotham's not our ground. Not yet."
She turned to the others. "Jason. Cassandra. Step out."
Jason groaned. "Make it quick. I have to show you my brilliant asylum infiltration plan. Trademark pending."
Cassandra shot me one last look before stepping out in silence.
When the door clicked shut, Talia's tone shifted.
"You made the right call. Refusing Richard Dragon."
I snorted. "I didn't refuse. I plan to beat him. That's different."
Talia smirked. "As Shiva would say, 'Typical Ashura. Stubborn to the core.'"
"You don't trust him."
"Not even a little," she said. "He's never random. If Richard Dragon's in our orbit, it means something bigger is coming."
I nodded. "Then I'll be ready."
She gave a rare, soft look. "I know."
The projection blinked out.
I turned to leave—and found Cassandra waiting by the door. Arms folded.
She didn't say a word. Just tossed a wooden training sword at me.
I caught it easily.
She pointed to the courtyard outside the warehouse. Didn't even blink.
I sighed. "You're serious."
She nodded, gaze sharp.
I let a grin pull at my mouth. "Alright, Cain. Let's see if all that silent brooding actually means you can fight today."
-0-
The wooden sword cracked against mine hard enough to jolt my arms.
Cassandra didn't give me time to recover—she was already on the next strike. Fast, sharp, and precise. Her stance was unusually aggressive, her aim merciless.
This wasn't a spar. Not for her.
I adjusted, letting the blade slide past my side, twisting my body into a low sweep. She jumped it, came down with a slash meant to split my collarbone if I hadn't stepped back.
She was holding nothing back.
Good.
"Getting serious already?" I said, bracing. "I like it."
Cassandra didn't respond. She just lunged again.
I blocked, deflected, spun. My body moved on instinct, honed by blood and bruises. I let her press harder, kept the edge of my smile. I wasn't just matching her. I was studying her. Watching how she moved, what openings she left.
She'd always been one of the best—but I needed more. Richard-level precision. Richard-level unpredictability. That calm perfection.
I needed pressure. Real pressure to stand a chance against the world's best martial artist.
"More," I said. "If this is your rage, then give it to me."
Her glare darkened. She slashed, kicked, spun—almost wild. We locked blades, our faces close, breath ragged.
"Look at us. Just a couple of-" I was cut off as she suddenly snapped.
"SHUT UP!"
The shout was accompanied by an explosion of Chi, raw and violent. A force like a thunderclap sent me flying across the improvised training yard. I hit the outer wall, went through it. Dust and splinters rained down.
I got up slowly, shirt torn, blood dripping down my lip.
Cassie stood across the wrecked floor, her chest heaving, fists clenched. Hair wild. Eyes blazing.
I looked at her and didn't smile.
"You've never been the timid type," I said. "If you were, I wouldn't call you my rival. I wouldn't see you as the only other Alpha standing beside me."
She said nothing, but her breathing slowed.
"So talk to me," I continued, stepping forward, voice low and sure. "Tell me what the issue is. Or I'll beat it out of you and make you talk."
A sound left her throat. Not a breath. Not a growl.
A laugh.
Short. Sharp. Dangerous.
She looked at me, eyes glinting. "Make me."
And something inside me shifted.
Heat licked through my spine. My skin prickled. The Alpha stirred in me, not out of pride—but instinct.
Because that wasn't a challenge.
That was permission.
A slow grin crawled across my face. My stance lowered.
"I was hoping you'd say that."