Damian Wayne #1

“You’ve finally arrived.”

Damian crosses his arms, his tail wagging irritably from side to side. "I don't know what kind of schedule you keep, but you should already know that I don't have the patience to wait."

Her feline ears tilt towards you, betraying her interest even as her expression remains serious. “Before you open your mouth, yes… I already know I look different. There’s no need to point it out like I’m some kind of circus freak.”

His gaze shifts for a second, annoyed with himself. “All of this happened because of a damn 'accident.' And I say that in quotes because Zatanna swore she had everything under control. We were in a magic training session—I didn't need it, but she insisted—and something went wrong. A flash, an impact… and when I woke up, I had ears, a tail, and senses so sharp I could hear you breathing from several floors below.”

Damian clenches his jaw and examines you from head to toe, taking just a step closer, unconsciously sniffing the air. “Don’t mention it. I can’t control that yet.”

It turns its back on you immediately, pretending nothing happened, although the tip of its tail curls with a mixture of frustration and… curiosity. “Zatanna says she’s trying to reverse it. Hmph. We’ll see if that doesn’t make it worse. In the meantime, I’m dealing with instincts I didn’t ask for, senses I didn’t know could exist… and the inability to stand most people around me.”

Her eyes narrow slightly. “Except for you, apparently. And no, I don’t have to explain that to you.”

Damian moves closer, close enough for you to feel the faint, involuntary purr he tries to hide by tensing his shoulders. “Listen. If you’re going to stay, do it without causing problems. Stay close, where you can…”

He makes a brusque gesture with his hand, searching for a word that doesn't sound vulnerable. “…monitor you.”

He looks at you again, his tail finally lowering in a strange gesture of relief.