sheridan | [closed] tale as old as time

[After their near disaster of a gala, Damian knew he had to make it up to Midii. Christmas was the best possible way to make it up, he figured. Gifts were a normal part of the holiday season, and he'd gone out of his way to shower his friends with material goods, whether they wanted it or not.

Some of his friends had resigned themselves to the inevitable and asked for reasonable gifts - Jai, for example, got season tickets for the local basketball team, and Iris got one of those fancy Fitbits that could (reasonably) calculate a speedster's rate.

Midii, though, needed something better. After much deliberation and arguing with a local calligrapher + screen printer, Damian ordered two things: one, for Midii to come meet him on the second floor of a coffee shop that his family owned, and two, a set of custom-printed Arabic calligraphy t-shirts. Nothing religious, for the Muslims who might cry cultural appropriation, but cultural sayings & shapes.

He's not expecting her super early, but he's looking a little nervous as he stares down at the gift bag he'd wrapped the latter in. Just once, he wishes the coffee shop could sell boosts of confidence with their lattes. He'd buy their entire stock out.]

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[Dumb as he was, the lackey didn't seem entirely convinced. A...valuable hostage? Clearly, that hadn't crossed his mind as he'd been relying on flight instincts. Glancing back and forth between the pair, however, he seemed to be weighing the options.]

[On the one hand, valuable. One the other hand...he already had a hostage. One who was smaller and much easier to manipulate into getting his hide out of here in one piece.]

[Midii, meanwhile, had managed to still her rapidly beating heart long enough to catch onto Damian's reasoning, as well as her captor's hesitation.]

No, Damian, don't do it! [She wasn't the best actor, but her performance should have been 'pathetic' enough to be convincing. The helpless cries of a girlfriend scared for her idiot boyfriend, to any casual eavesdropper.] He's stronger than he looks! You're no match for him! I'll be okay. Just...run. Please.

[ He shakes his head, puffing his chest up in a show of false bravado. Damian really does have the skills to back up his confidence - but he's supposed to be a rich, spoiled brat who took his girlfriend out for a good time. ]

I won't run without you. [ That's the truth. He could make it out alive, but leaving without Midii? Unfathomable. ] So, what'll be, buddy? The girl... or someone you could actually take for ransom?

[ Surely he could recognize a Wayne just by looking at him - or else, Damian would have to make a mental note to get back into the society papers and build up a reputation. ]

[The 'performance' seemed enough for the lackey to make up his mind. He eyed Midii one last time before roughly pushing her forward. Taking several steps towards Damian. All the while muttering something about Midii better not try anything funny...etcetera, etcetera. She was only half paying attention anyway, nodding 'frantically' as best as she could.]

[Once he was close enough to reach out and grab Damian's arm, he let go. Midii proceeded to spin around and duck out from under the guy's arm, where she ran all of ten steps...before turning around, her expression suddenly completely calm.]

I can't believe that worked.

Heh.

[ Damian takes his cue to break the lackey's arm clean in half. Overkill? Probably. But nothing is overkill when it comes to a guy who tried to hurt his Midii.

He then slams his shoulder into the lackey's, forcing him onto the ground and pinning him with his entire might.

Unlike the other Robins, he doesn't come fully prepared. He doesn't have a utility belt. But he does have shoelaces, so that becomes his makeshift handcuffs. Until Spoiler and Nightwing can take over, anyway. ]

It's Gotham. [ He grins, like he's completely unsurprised - ] This is the most normal thing we've had in a week.

Sad. But true.

[She glanced down at Damian's current captive as she approached them. In the background, she could hear the sounds of footsteps slowly approaching them. The speed and lack of frantic movement suggested it was either Nightwing or Spoiler--probably the former, if heaviness was any indication.]

[Stoping maybe two feet back (just in case the guy decided to lash out in pain), she tilted her head lightly to one side, brows furrowing slightly.]

Was that really necessary?

[Breaking his arm. Though she didn't seem that upset at the thought.]

Uh-huh. [ He doesn't flinch as he hears Nightwing's boots; in fact, he steps aside so the hero can do his work. Nightwing is probably giving him a Look. Damian also doesn't care enough to check. ] He was gonna hurt you.

They should know what happens if they're stupid enough to try.

[ Though now eyes are on him, and he takes a moment to compose himself in front of a real live Superhero. Spoiler is stifling a laugh behind her mask (ugh) and at that, Damian rolls his eyes.

He Should play the part of a good Gotham boy, so he loudly says - ] Thank you for saving us!

[She knew the approaching figures were watching, and she knew that they would most likely be teased for it later, but...]

[Just before they reached them, Midii leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek.]

Thank you.

[With that, she stepped back and noticed Spoiler first. The woman was absolutely holding back her amusement, and Midii was 200% positive her little display of affection had not helped the situation. Nor did Damian's sudden outburst, and even though Midii knew it was part of the act he put on in public...she still turned to give him an odd look for a moment before turning back and nodding her agreement.]

Do you think the police will let us leave? Or do we have to stay and talk to them?

[Because she hated being interviewed.]

[ He blinks back genuine surprise at the kiss. An actual, honest-to-goodness public display of affection. Grayson and Brown are gonna heckle him forever for it, but honestly - Damon's grinning too much to care.

He'd pump his fist if, you know, he weren't in the middle of this whole crime scene being wrapped up. ]

Let me talk to them. [ If there was one thing Damian could rely on, it was the corrupt nature of Gotham cops - and his ability to schmooze the ones he couldn't. ] Knowing them, they'll probably be fine if I give them a formal statement.

[ There's a pause, since even though he knows she hates being interviewed, he also knows she's capable. But he worries, especially after their movie theater being held hostage. ]

You wanna see if Spoiler or Nightwing can escort you back?

[Her first instinct was to refuse. To insist that she stay with him. She didn't like being interviewed, but she had gotten through it before. Several times before. Especially when she was younger...]

[On second thought, if the offer to avoid yet another Gotham inquisition was being made, she just might take it.]

If...it's not too much trouble. [She looked to either of the two heroes hesitantly. Expecting nothing and well aware of the fact that they almost certainly had more pressing matters than ~~catching their little bro's girlfriend alone~~ escorting an unharmed hostage.] Are you sure you'll be alright?

[With her leaving. She knew he would be fine dealing with police. And they could meet up again later.]

Yeah, of course. [ He nods, for once forgoing his instinct to protect and shield Midii. Damian's seen first-hand what she can do, and he trusts Nightwing and Spoiler with his life.

Also, honestly... he tries not to ask his family for help unless he absolutely, positively needs it. So he swallows his pride, or what remains of it, and tries to meet Spoiler's eyes. ]

You'll be in good hands. I've got nothing to worry about.

[ Spoiler gives him two giant thumbs-up, already abandoning whatever duties she had been doing. Her very important, superhero duties.

And in that moment, Damian realizes as he freezes in place like a deer in headlights, just what emotional torture would be waiting for him at home whenever he finished giving his statements. ]

Edited 2018-01-26 02:46 (UTC)

[She nodded, clearly trusting his judgement on the matter. If Damian wasn't worried, then she wouldn't worry about it, either.]

I'll call you later. When I'm home.

[To reassure him she'd gotten home safe...but also so she could check in on how the interview went. Much as she hated being a direct part of the process, she was still curious about several aspects. What kind of questions were asked. If any further information on what actually happened would be released. Whether or not their names would be involved later on.]

[One last faint smile his way--he'd already gotten his kiss--and she turned back to Spoiler. Who looked a little too pleased for her liking, but what could she do?]

I'm ready.

[...probably.]

[Though she felt a little less sure as the woman began guiding her out through one of the back doors, and Damian would be able to hear the distant echo of a long "soooo..." make it back just as they vanished from sight.]

[In time to match with the eyebrow raise Nightwing was now sending his way.]

[closed] tale as old as time

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