An hour later, the clock in Titans Tower read 7:00 p.m.
The main hall was quiet in a rare, peaceful way. Raven and Damian sat together on one of the long couches, a movie playing on the massive screen in front of them. Beast Boy was sprawled across the opposite couch with Blue Beetle and Cyborg, arguing quietly about the plot. Starfire floated upside down near the ceiling, completely absorbed in the film.
For once, no alarms. No explosions.
Just normal.
The elevator doors slid open, and Nightwing stepped out, tablet in hand. The room's attention slowly shifted toward him.
He cleared his throat. "Alright, team. Meeting."
Everyone groaned, but they gathered around anyway.
Nightwing smiled slightly. "Relax. This isn't a mission briefing."
That got their attention.
"We've been running nonstop," he continued. "Patrols, emergencies, training. We need to remember how to be people—not just heroes. So tonight, we're taking a break. No suits. No code names. Just teammates."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "You're serious."
"Completely," Nightwing replied. "Change into civilian clothes and meet me at the tower entrance in five minutes. We're going to the new fair that opened in Jump City."
Beast Boy's eyes lit up. "Wait—like rides? And food?"
"Yes," Nightwing said dryly. "Actual fun."
That was all it took.
Everyone scattered to their rooms.
Damian and Raven headed into their shared room. Damian changed quickly, pulling on a dark gray hoodie, simple and unmarked, paired with jeans and his usual combat boots. Practical. Comfortable.
Raven closed her eyes and let a pulse of magic wash over her outfit.
Her cloak dissolved into civilian clothing:
A dark crop top
A fitted black jacket
A navy-blue pleated mini-skirt
Black fingerless gloves
High-heeled black boots
When Damian turned back around, he froze.
For a moment, he just stared.
Raven noticed immediately.
She tilted her head, a small, knowing smile forming. "What? Something you'd like to say, Damian?"
His face heated slightly, and he looked away. "Tch. You look… fine."
She stepped closer, clearly amused. "Fine?"
He crossed his arms. "Let's just go before Nightwing starts timing us."
Raven laughed softly and took his hand.
The team regrouped at the entrance of Titans Tower, all in civilian clothes. Beast Boy wore a loud graphic hoodie, Cyborg went casual but clean, Blue Beetle looked awkwardly overdressed, and Starfire wore a bright, colorful outfit that somehow fit her perfectly.
Nightwing—now just Dick Grayson—stood by a van, keys in hand.
"Everyone in," he said.
They piled inside, laughter already starting as the engine turned over.
Dick pulled out onto the road and smiled through the rearview mirror.
"Next stop—Jump City's new fair."
For once, the night ahead promised nothing dangerous.
Just lights, noise, and a few hours of being normal.
Lights, Laughter, and a Song at the Fair
The Jump City fair was already alive with sound and color by the time the Titans' van rolled into the parking lot. Strings of warm yellow lights hung high above the fairgrounds, swaying gently in the evening breeze. Music from multiple stages blended together—pop songs, live bands tuning instruments, the distant thrum of bass—while the air carried the mixed scents of popcorn, fried dough, cotton candy, and grilled food. Laughter echoed everywhere, children ran past with glowing toys, and the massive Ferris wheel loomed in the distance like a shining landmark against the darkening sky.
Dick Grayson parked the van carefully, shutting off the engine as the others began unbuckling their seatbelts. For once, there was no sense of urgency, no alarms, no incoming threats. Just a night meant for rest.
"All right," Dick said, stepping out first and stretching his arms. "Let's do this the normal way."
They gathered near the entrance, blending in easily with the crowds. No masks. No codenames. Just a group of friends dressed like any other teenagers and young adults out for a night of fun.
Dick headed to the ticket counter while the rest waited nearby. The vendor barely glanced up as Dick paid, tearing off seven tickets and handing them over.
"Seven tickets," the man said. "Enjoy the fair."
Dick handed one ticket to each of them—Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, Cyborg, Raven, Damian, and Starfire—and then led them through the gate. As soon as they stepped inside, the noise and energy washed over them fully.
Dick turned to face the group, hands on his hips, a familiar leadership smile on his face—but softer than usual.
"Okay," he said. "Here's the plan. You guys go enjoy yourselves. Play some games—Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, Whack-a-Mole, Basketball Toss, whatever catches your eye. Hit a few rides if you want—bumper cars, funhouses, Ferris wheel."
He gestured toward the large stage at the center of the fairgrounds, where lights were already set up and a band was finishing a sound check.
"Starfire and I will be over at the main stage amphitheater for the live singing performances. We'll meet up there later. No hero stuff tonight. Just… have fun."
Starfire beamed. "I am very excited for the musical performances."
Everyone nodded in agreement, the group naturally splitting as planned.
Games, Laughter, and Small Victories
Damian ended up walking alongside Raven, with Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, and Cyborg close behind. They moved through rows of colorful booths, bells ringing every time someone won a prize.
"Okay, this is it," Beast Boy said, pointing dramatically at a Ring Toss booth. "I can feel it. This time, victory is mine."
He picked up the rings, carefully lining up his throws. One by one, they bounced off the glass bottles and clattered uselessly onto the counter.
The booth attendant tried not to smile.
"Rigged," Beast Boy muttered. "Absolutely rigged."
Blue Beetle stepped forward next. "Let me try something."
He paid for a turn at a strength-testing game nearby—the kind with a lever and a bell at the top. The hammer looked heavy, but Jaime picked it up casually.
"Careful," Beast Boy said. "You don't want to—"
Jaime slammed the hammer down. The indicator shot straight up and rang the bell with a loud clang.
The attendant stared. "Uh… congratulations."
Blue Beetle accepted a large stuffed prize with an awkward grin. "Guess it's… beginner's luck?"
Cyborg stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching everything with an amused expression. "I'll pass on the games," he said. "Someone's gotta keep an eye out."
Raven drifted toward a Balloon Darts booth. She tossed a few darts with surprising accuracy, popping balloons cleanly.
"Winner," the attendant said, handing her a small prize.
She accepted it quietly, then tried another game, winning again. The prizes were small—keychains, trinkets, a little chocolate box—but she didn't seem to mind.
Then it was Damian's turn.
He approached the Basketball Toss booth, eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed distance, angle, and weight. He picked up a ball and threw it in one smooth motion.
Swish.
Another ball. Swish.
Another. Swish.
The attendant blinked. "Uh… you wanna keep going?"
Damian nodded.
Within minutes, Damian had cleared the booth. Teddy bears, plush animals, and colorful prizes piled up on the counter.
Beast Boy stared. "Okay, that's just unfair."
Damian picked up a large teddy bear and handed it to Raven.
She raised an eyebrow. "I don't need all of that."
Damian nodded and instead turned to the children watching nearby. One by one, he handed out the stuffed toys to them. Their faces lit up instantly.
"Thank you!" one child said, hugging the teddy bear tightly.
Raven watched quietly. She accepted only the small chocolate box Damian offered her, holding it in both hands.
"…Thank you," she said softly.
He nodded, as if that was all that needed to be said.
Rides and a Quiet Moment Above the City
They moved on to the rides together, laughter coming easier now. Bumper cars ended in chaos, Beast Boy laughing uncontrollably while Cyborg deliberately rammed him. The funhouse mirrors earned several sarcastic comments from Raven, and Blue Beetle nearly tripped over himself trying to navigate a spinning tunnel.
Eventually, they reached the Ferris wheel.
Cyborg shook his head immediately. "I'm good. I'll stay down here."
Beast Boy and Blue Beetle exchanged a look. "Race you to the line," Beast Boy said.
They rushed forward, joining one cabin, while Raven and Damian stepped into another.
The ride operator closed the doors, and the wheel began to turn, slowly lifting them into the air.
As their cabin rose higher, the noise of the fair softened. Raven leaned into Damian's side, wrapping her arms around him. He responded without hesitation, holding her close.
The city lights spread out beneath them—Jump City glowing like a sea of stars.
Raven rested her head against his shoulder. "It's peaceful up here."
Damian nodded. "It is."
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. They simply existed together, watching the city from above. The Ferris wheel paused at the top, giving them a perfect view.
Raven's breathing slowed, relaxed. Damian allowed himself to just feel the moment—no missions, no responsibilities, no expectations.
Eventually, the wheel started moving again, carrying them gently back down.
The Challenge
They regrouped with Beast Boy and Blue Beetle and headed toward the main stage amphitheater. Music filled the air as a singer finished her performance to loud applause.
Dick and Starfire stood near the front, watching intently. Starfire clapped enthusiastically.
"That was most impressive," she said.
The group joined them just as the singer exited the stage.
Beast Boy's eyes lit up suddenly. "Guys," he said. "I have an idea."
Everyone immediately looked suspicious.
"Oh no," Blue Beetle said. "Whatever it is, no."
Beast Boy ignored him. "What if one of us goes up there and sings?"
Blue Beetle took a step back. "Absolutely not. I would rather fight aliens."
Cyborg shook his head. "I'm not a singer or a dancer."
Starfire frowned thoughtfully. "I do not believe I am skilled in singing the Earth songs."
Dick chuckled. "I can dance, but singing's not really my thing. Not tonight."
Beast Boy turned to Raven with a grin. "What about you?"
Raven crossed her arms. "No."
"At least you know me well enough to ask," she added dryly.
Beast Boy sighed dramatically, then glanced at Damian with a mischievous look.
The group followed his gaze.
Damian raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Beast Boy grinned wider. "How about you?"
Everyone froze.
They fully expected Damian to refuse immediately.
Instead, he paused.
"If I sing," Damian said calmly, "and my song is good… you won't prank anyone for a month."
Beast Boy blinked. "A month?"
"Yes."
Beast Boy thought for a moment, then smirked. "Deal—if the song is actually good."
Damian held out his hand.
Beast Boy shook it.
The others stared in disbelief.
Raven turned to Damian. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked quietly. "And… can you even sing?"
Damian met her eyes. "It will be fine."
He stepped away from her and started toward the stage.
Raven watched him go, a mix of concern and curiosity in her expression.
Whatever happened next… none of them expected it.
If the World Was Ending
Damian walked toward the stage slowly, each step heavier than the last.
The noise of the fair—laughter, music, distant rides—faded into a dull hum as his mind drifted somewhere else. Somewhere far away. Somewhere before this life.
Before Gotham.
Before the League of Assassins.
Before he was Damian Wayne.
When he was Alex.
The memory came without warning.
When he was walking on the road wearing his Headphones on That song playing—that song. The last thing he ever heard before the screech of tires, the flash of headlights, and the violent, final impact.
Death.
Then rebirth.
A different world. A different body. A different destiny.
He had searched for that song in this world once. Quietly. Methodically. It didn't exist here. Different artists. Different histories. Different music. But the melody, the lyrics, the feeling—they were burned into his mind as clearly as any combat form or blade technique.
And now, standing at the edge of the stage, he realized something.
This song wasn't just from his past life.
It was his.
Damian reached the stage and picked up a guitar resting on a stand—clearly meant for performers to use. He adjusted the strap with practiced efficiency, surprising even himself. Muscle memory from another life slid into place effortlessly.
The lights shifted.
The fair dimmed.
One spotlight locked onto him.
The crowd quieted.
Three judges sat at the table near the stage, watching with curiosity. One of them leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of song will you be singing?" she asked.
Damian stepped up to the microphone. His voice was calm, controlled—but beneath it, something raw stirred.
"A song about love," he said. "About hearts. About what you would do… if the world were ending tomorrow."
That earned their attention.
A nod.
"You may begin."
Damian closed his eyes for half a second.
Then he started to play.
The first notes were soft. Gentle. Honest.
When he began to sing, the effect was immediate.
His voice wasn't loud. It wasn't flashy.
It was real.
The song spoke of waking from dreams, of realizing how fragile time was, of loving someone as if tomorrow wasn't guaranteed. Of choosing closeness over fear. Of holding on, even when everything else was falling apart.
The fair went completely silent.
Damian didn't look at the judges.
He didn't look at the crowd.
He looked at Raven.
From the very first verse, his eyes found hers—and never left.
The judges noticed.
So did the Titans.
Beast Boy's grin slowly disappeared, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief. Cyborg stood straighter. Blue Beetle forgot to breathe. Even Dick Grayson, standing beside Starfire, had already pulled out his phone and started recording—his expression unreadable, but intent.
Damian sang as if the world truly were ending.
As if this moment was all that mattered.
As if every battle, every expectation, every shadow hanging over his life didn't exist.
Only her.
Only this.
When the final chord faded and his voice softened into silence, Damian lowered the guitar slowly.
For several seconds—
No one spoke.
Then the fair exploded.
Cheers. Applause. Shouts. Whistles. People standing. People clapping until their hands hurt.
Beast Boy stared at the stage like reality had personally betrayed him.
"Oh come on," he muttered. "That's illegal. There's no way that counts."
Raven didn't hear him.
She couldn't hear anything except the echo of Damian's voice still wrapped around her heart.
Raven POV
Raven had been worried.
Not because she doubted Damian's courage—but because she knew him. She knew how deeply he buried his emotions. How tightly he controlled himself. How much fear he carried of losing control, of being seen, of being known.
She had been afraid he would freeze.
But the moment he started singing…
Everything changed.
She felt it instantly—his emotions brushing against her own like a warm current. Not sharp. Not overwhelming.
Safe.
Loved.
Chosen.
Each word felt like it was meant for her alone. Like he was saying everything he never allowed himself to say out loud.
When he sang about holding someone close if the world was ending, Raven felt her chest tighten—not with fear, but with certainty.
She wasn't running from this feeling anymore.
She wasn't hiding.
When the song ended and the crowd erupted, Raven smiled softly.
For the first time, there was no doubt in her heart.
She loved him.
Not Robin
Not fire shadow
Just Damian.
And as he stepped off the stage, eyes still locked on hers, she knew—no matter how dark the future became, no matter how dangerous the world was—
She would face it next to him.
Always.