A New Robin at Titans Tower
The ocean wind hit Damian first.
Salt, cold, and sharp—very different from Gotham's polluted air or the sterile stillness of the Batcave. Titans Tower rose from the water like a steel sentinel, lights glowing faintly as evening settled in. Damian stood at the edge of the landing platform, cape fluttering behind him, fingers flexing unconsciously at his sides.
This was it.
The first time he wore his Robin suit outside the Batcave.
Not the bright, almost mocking green shorts of the past. Not a symbol inherited blindly. This suit felt… earned. Dark armored plating hugged his frame, light enough for speed but strong enough to take punishment. The red tunic bore the R insignia, not as a promise of cheer, but as a declaration. The green mask framed his eyes sharply, and the black cape—yellow-lined—rested heavy on his shoulders like responsibility made fabric.
Nightwing stepped beside him, arms crossed, leaning casually like this was just another stop on patrol.
"Still time to turn around," Dick said lightly. "Pretend this was a scenic tour. I'll tell Bruce you panicked."
Damian snorted. "I do not panic."
"No," Nightwing agreed, smirking. "You implode internally and pretend it's strategy."
Damian shot him a glare but said nothing. He took a step forward.
The doors slid open.
Titans Tower – Main Hall
The first person Damian saw was Starfire.
She floated a few inches off the ground, glowing softly, orange skin warm under the lights. Her green eyes widened—not with suspicion, but curiosity.
"Robin!" she said brightly. "But… not the Robin I expected."
Damian stiffened. "There have been several."
Nightwing chuckled. "She means you look like you might stab someone if they touch your cape."
Starfire smiled even wider. "I like it."
That threw Damian off more than he would ever admit.
Behind her, Blue Beetle leaned against a railing, arms crossed, scarab shifting slightly beneath his armor. He raised an eyebrow.
"So this is the kid Batman grounded by sending him to us?"
"I was not grounded," Damian snapped.
Beetle grinned. "Uh-huh. Sure."
From the upper level, Beast Boy leaned over the railing, already halfway transformed into a green monkey for dramatic effect.
"Hey! New Robin! You look like the edgy reboot version. Are you gonna brood in corners or do flips off buildings?"
"I do both," Damian replied flatly.
"Cool," Beast Boy said. "We'll get along great."
Heavy footsteps echoed as Cyborg approached, metal frame humming softly. His red eye scanned Damian briefly—not invasively, just assessing.
"You're smaller than Batman," Cyborg said.
"I am faster," Damian answered without hesitation.
Cyborg nodded once. "Fair."
And then—
The temperature dropped.
Not physically. Emotionally.
Damian felt it before he saw her.
Raven stood near the far wall, hood up, arms crossed, violet eyes glowing faintly. She wasn't floating. She wasn't meditating.
She was staring.
Hard.
The kind of stare that could peel paint, crack confidence, and possibly summon a demon out of pure spite.
Damian swallowed.
Nightwing leaned down slightly. "You're in the doghouse," he whispered.
"I am aware," Damian muttered.
Raven finally spoke. Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"So," she said. "You disappeared. No message. No explanation. No date."
Damian opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Tried again. "Circumstances—"
"—involved life-threatening danger?" Raven interrupted.
"Yes."
"World-ending threats?"
"…Possibly."
"Ancient magic?"
Damian hesitated. "I cannot discuss—"
Raven's eyes glowed brighter. "You couldn't even say that?"
The room went silent.
Beast Boy slowly leaned back. "Wow. This is better than TV."
Starfire blinked. "Is this a mating conflict?"
Damian turned red. "It is not—!"
Raven sighed, rubbing her temples. "Damian, I don't need details. I just needed something."
He looked away.
That, more than anything, told her the truth.
Raven exhaled slowly, emotion pulling back just enough to keep control. "We'll talk later."
She turned and walked away.
Damian stood frozen.
Nightwing clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Congrats. You survived the first five minutes."
"I have faced death squads with more ease," Damian muttered.
Later – Training Deck
Starfire hovered nearby as Damian finished sparring drills with Cyborg. He was fast—blindingly so—but controlled. Precise. No wasted motion.
Cyborg stepped back, impressed. "You fight like someone who expects betrayal."
Damian didn't deny it.
Blue Beetle tossed him a water bottle. Damian caught it without looking.
"So," Beetle said, "rules here are simple. We talk. We plan. We don't do solo suicide charges."
Damian took a sip. "What if the mission requires sacrifice?"
Starfire landed gently beside them. "Then we decide together."
That word again.
Together.
Damian nodded once. Not agreement—but acknowledgment.
Across the room, Raven watched him quietly.
She could feel it. The weight he carried. The secrets he would never speak. The battles already etched into his soul.
And beneath all of it—
A boy trying to be something better.
Nightwing leaned against the wall, smiling faintly.
Bruce was right.
This wasn't punishment.
This was a second chance.
As Damian adjusted his gloves, standing among the Titans for the first time—not as Fire Shadow, not as a lone weapon, but as Robin—he felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.
Not weakness.
Possibility.
And for the first time in a long while…
He didn't face it alone.