Chapter 3 Damian

"Someone you should for sure stay away from," Ryeanne spoke up, "is Damian Wayne."

"Like Wayne Enterprises? That Wayne?" Lindsey asked.

"Yeah, he's one of Bruce Wayne's sons," Juliet said.

"He has more than one son?" Lindsey asked.

"Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake are the others," Blaine said.

"Dick Grayson is kind of a Legend here," Kelsey said, "He's over in Bludhaven doing undercover stuff for the police over there."

"Jason Todd was like Logan, kind of a bad boy, but really smart, he was top of his class before he was killed in a car accident in some foreign country," Ryeanne said.

"I'll take you comparing me to Jason Todd as a complement," Logan muttered.

"And Tim Drake graduated a few years ago and no one knows where he is now except his girlfriend who is a senior now and on the cheerleading team," Juliet said.

"His girlfriend is still in High School?" Lindsey asked. "Is that kind of illegal?"

"Yeah, especially since they started dating when he was eighteen and she was fifteen," Blaine said.

"That's weird," Lindsey said.

"Damian is his actual son," Giovanni said. "What everyone knows about him is that his mom just dropped him off at Bruce Wayne's house then disappeared. Damian has told teachers that and during discussions spoke about how his mother is dead now, but that's all he's said. He's really secretive and he only tells people what they want to hear."

"Bruce Wayne is really nice," Lindsey said. "At least that's what my grandparents told me. I mean he did adopted all those kids. But in the news he's supposed to be this huge playboy, right?"

"Bruce Wayne does do some things that most people wouldn't approve of, but then he does things like donate to charities to make himself look like a saint," Kelsey said.

"Yeah, but Damian isn't anything like his dad," Giovanni said.

"Damian doesn't like people. People have tried being friends with him to gain social status, to syphon off his money, to make sure he wasn't alone. He wouldn't talk to them and just push them away," Noah said.

"Girls have even tried to ask him out, but he just walks past them," Blaine said. "He will only make you feel worthless. Besides there are much better people to go out with."

"Damn, Blaine, tell us how you really feel," Ryeanne spoke down the table to her. She snapped her head towards Ryeanne and stuck a middle finger at her. "Blaine asked him out, the beginning of Freshman year. And guess what he said."

"No?" Lindsey guessed. If he didn't date anyone he wouldn't say yes to Blaine.

"He said, and I quote, 'No way in hell scholarship girl.' Can you believe that? What kind of person says that? And Blaine isn't even here on a scholarship" Ryeanne continued.

He sounded like a Class A douche bag. Even if he didn't like people, he still shouldn't treat people like that. No one deserved to be treated like that.

"Is he somewhere in here?" Lindsey asked. She wanted to make sure she didn't cross paths with him, and if she did, she would run the other.

Everyone at the table looked around the cafeteria before Abigail said, "Over there."

She was pointing to the kitchen area where there were smaller tables for those with less friends. And there was a boy sitting by himself. Lindsey could only see his profile, but what she saw was very handsome. He had broad shoulders and looked like he worked out for at least two hours a day. His face was sculpted nicely with a sharp jawline and cheekbones. His hair was dark brown, almost black and styled nicely. She couldn't tell his eye color, but imagined it to be a dark color - like brown or maybe dark blue - like the rest of him. The more she looked at him the more she got a feeling that he didn't want to be looked at or messed with.

"Why are you looking so long?" Kelsey asked. Lindsey whipped her head around to her. "He's going to look over here if you don't stop."

"What do you mean?" Lindsey asked.

"He always knows if someone is looking at him," Logan said. "And he makes sure they feel his wrath."

Lindsey looked back at Damian curiously only to have her new friends squeak, yell, and pull her to turn back around.

"Lindsey!" they all whisper-shouted.

"Why are you whispering?" Lindsey whispered.

"Don't mess with Damian Wayne, it'll only hurt you in the long run," Ryeanne said.

"I won't," Lindsey promised.

"You better not, we don't want you to get hurt," Juliet said.

"What kind of friends would we be if we watched you get hurt and not do anything about it," Kelsey smiled.

Lindsey smiled back. She had made friends. And they were really cool and fun.

"Noah, get your own food!" Kelsey said as she slapped the green haired boy's hand away from her lunch.

"I had my own food!" Noah said. "I just ate it all."

"I don't know how you can eat the school's food," Abigail said. "It's disgusting."

"It's just food, it doesn't matter," Noah shrugged.

Lindsey was going to like this new school, especially with these new friends.

From across the cafeteria Damian could feel the eyes on him. He turned to see who was looking at him a group of friends were pulling a girl around to face away from him. It was the new girl he noticed in his first period class. She was sitting at a table with a table of nobodys, some were even scholarship students.

His predictions were already coming true. The girl then began to talk with the others at the table. But Damian kept looking at her. She ate delicately, like her teeth would shatter if she chewed too hard. Her shoulders were hunched in, like she was scared to be noticed. She was a beautiful girl, much more beautiful than most of the girls at this school, why would she hide herself? The girl was so different than the other girls, Damian just didn't know if that 'different' was in a good or bad way. Yet.

The Gotham Elite girls were all overly-confident of themselves and their families. Who was this girl, that she had little confidence in herself. If she was a scholarship girl, that confidence would be found within the week. He had to get to know this girl, and he had to do it soon, the sooner he understood this girl, the sooner he could leave her alone.

Damian continued watching the girl until the bell then rang signaling for the students to return to class. He watched her walk out of the cafeteria and out of his sight before he finally stood up and made his way to class.

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It was the last class period of the day, and for Lindsey it was her Art IV class. She had a hunch it was going to be her favorite class of the year.

She walked in and found desks with large sketch books with names in a dynamic design. She found her name further in the back next to someone named Allison.

The teacher was young, like she just got out of college. She had her name, Miss Blakeman, written on the board surrounded by drawing of a dog, a man, a pencil, an easel, and other little things. It must be some of her favorite things.

Allison had walked in, sat next to Lindsey, and nodded to her. There wasn't a word spoken between the two of them and Lindsey was kind of okay that. The bell rang not long after.

Miss Blakeman stood up and started talking, "Hello, everyone! I am Miss Blakeman. This is my first year teaching here. So bare with me while I learn what I'm doing. I graduated from Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. And since the this is my first time teaching you all my first assignment is, something that will let me know what kind of artist you are. And I want a portfolio for each of you. So this week I'm going to give each of you a different assignment everyday and I want them all turned in by the end of the week. But you aren't going to be doing these assignments of another person. Today you are going to be doing a portrait of a partner. Now before you choose a partner, I have my little paint can with your names on sticks, and I will be picking at random."

She then pulled out a paint can. She began pulling out sticks and calling names.

"Damian Wayne and Lindsey Vinday," she called.

"It's pronounced Vindai," Lindsey said.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Miss Blakeman apologized. "Lindsey Vindai."

Lindsey had been listening for her name that she had only half heard who her partner was. Once she remembered who it was with she froze in her seat. Damian Wayne. Allison leaned over and whispered, "Good luck."

She looked around the classroom for Damian only to find him in the back already looking at her. That's when she found out she was wrong. Damian's eyes were bright green, not the dark color she thought they would be. They were kind of pretty.

Lindsey turned back around as Miss Blakeman continued calling out the partners. Once she was done she called out. "Okay, you can go ahead and sit with your partners."

Lindsey stood up and walked over to Damian.

"Hi, I'm Lindsey," she introduced herself.

"I know," he said coldly. He didn't look even look up at her

"Right," Lindsey said rubbing her arm in embarrassment. She looked at the other partners and saw they were all talking while getting their things ready to start on their drawings.

"Sit down," Damian ordered as he opening the sketchpad in front of him.

Lindsey did as she was told and almost missed the chair. She opened her sketchbook. to start on her outline of the boy.

"Look at me," Damian said. Lindsey looked up from the paper to find Damian turned towards her, his right ankle laying on his left knee with the sketchpad in the crook of his right knee. His pencil was already working on the paper.

She moved to face him and moved her sketchpad to her lap.

"I thought I asked for you to look at me," Damian said not looking up.

"I need to work on my portrait too," Lindsey said agitatedly.

"Just let me get the shape of your face, and the placement of features first," Damian said still not looking at her.

"Then look at me instead of your paper so I can do the same," Lindsey snapped.

Damian stopped, looked at her in the eyes and leaned forward, putting both feet on the ground. For a second Lindsey thought Damian was going to kiss her, with how close he was getting. He looked around her face and stopped at her lips.

"Why come to Gotham Academy?" Damian asked. He leaned back, got back into his position and started drawing again.

"My grandparents wanted me to come here," Lindsey replied easily as she continued to look at him so he could get everything he needed of her face.

"So they're paying for you and not your parents?" Damian asked. "Are you're parents poor and your grandparents want you to come here?"

"My parents died three weeks ago," Lindsey said quietly, looking at her sketchpad.

"I'm sorry," Damian said. It sounded so sincere, Lindsey had to look up at him to see if his face showed the same emotion. It didn't. "I know the feeling."

"You do?" Lindsey asked.

"My grandfather, who was like a father to me died, Mother sent me here to live with Father. Mother died not long after. I was in a new place, had no idea who Father was, nor any of my adopted brothers. I wanted to leave, so I did. But yet, here I am and I still hate it here," Damian explained. "I know how you feel, new place, family dead, not wanting to be here."

Lindsey didn't know what to say, so she went with, "This is really good lighting for you."

She started drawing the outline of his face.

"Where are you and your parents from?" Damian asked.

"Well, my mother is from Gotham. My father is from Salerno City in Italy. And I was born and raised in the great Manhattan in New York," Lindsey replied.

"Why are your grandparents paying for you to come here?"

"They know some of the members of the Board. And they don't want me with the 'rabble' at Gotham Central."

"I'm guessing they are high class?"

"They own Holling Oil," Lindsey said. She looked up at him. She traced the line of his jaw in her mind, then down his neck, and across his chest. Her eyes traveled to his arms where she watched the muscles in his right arm move as he drew her. He was one of the most attractive people she had ever seen and he was sitting in front of him, acting as a model.

"The more you stare at me, the less time you have to draw me," Damian said.

"Just making sure I have the right angles," Lindsey said before returning to drawing the boy in front of her.

"Tt."

A silence then hung over the two. Others in the class were chatting with their partners as pencils scratched against paper. It was about ten minutes later that Lindsey decided to instigate a new conversation.

"What about you?" Lindsey asked.

"What about me?" Damian asked.

"You said your mom dropped you off here, where did you live before?"

"Tibet."

"Like in China?"

"Sure."

"What's your relationship with your brothers?"

Damian stopped and looked at her. "Grayson is annoying but my favorite. Drake I hate with all my life."

"Did you know Jason Todd?"

Damian fell silent. Even more silent that usual. His eyes seemed to look right through her as he thought.

"No." The answer was so quick and quiet, she was afraid that if she wasn't listening for an answer she would have missed it.

"Are you close to your dad?"

"Father and I have our differences, but we work it out in the end. Why are you asking me so many questions?"

"Just trying to give life to my drawing."

"Don't get to know me," Damian said. "After this week is up, don't talk to me. Forget we were partners."

"Okay," Lindsey shrugged. "But if I ask all these questions and I get your answers, will I have to forget them too?"

Damian looked intently at her. She continued her drawing without knowing that Damian wanted to knock her out and erase her memories of the past few minutes. That way the two of them could start off with a blank slate.

Damian had never been attracted to someone of the opposite sex. How is this girl the first one he could find attractive? He actually wants to get to know this girl, in mind, soul, and body.

"I appreciate you letting me get your features down, but you should continue on your drawing," Lindsey said.

"Tt."

He once again started on his drawing, leaving the two in silence once more.

"Everyone, if I can have your attention!" Miss Blakeman called out to the class many minutes later. "Now there's not much time left in class, and I'll bet most of you are not done yet. Get as much done as you can tonight cause tomorrow I'm giving you a new assignment."

Everyone started packing their things into their backpacks. Damian kept his sketchpad out and continued on his portrait of the girl in front of him. He stopped and looked at her.

"Can I take a picture of you so I can finish this?" Damian asked. He pulled out his phone and flipped it in his hand.

"Sure," Lindsey said.

Damian opened the camera and pointed it at her. Lindsey gave a little smile as he took the picture. The bell rang as soon as the picture was taken.

"See you later," Lindsey said as she slipped her backpack on. She gave a small wave and walked out the door.

Damian watched her and everyone else in the class leave the room. Miss Blakeman sat behind the desk and opened her computer. He looked at the picture he just took. It was beautiful - she was beautiful. See looked so innocent - much like Cassandra, but there was no way Cassandra was innocent. Lindsey was different, she was innocent. She wasn't like the others in the school, or even in the city. Damian had to know more about her. He wanted to figure out everything about her.

He then saved the picture as his background, so he could look at this strange girl as much as possible.

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It was late. Lindsey was finishing up her book that she started the last week. There was nothing to do in the house as she waited for school to start. She looked at the clock and realized how late it was. She stood up and walked to her dresser and pulled out a pair of pajamas.

Outside her window was a large oak tree that has stood in the yard of the manor for hundreds of years. But what was inside the tree that was different. Inside was Damian Wayne but he was in his Robin uniform. He has been watching Lindsey for the past two hours. He had looked through all the windows of the house to find Lindsey. He was happy when he saw the tree outside of the balcony. This is the first time she's stood up since Robin had been there.

Robin watched as Lindsey pulled her shirt over her head. She reached around her body to the snaps on her bra. Suddenly a figure dropped in front of Robin blocking his view of the strange girl.

"What do you think you're doing?" the graveling voice of the figure said.

"I was observing her," Robin said as he stood up so he could look his father in the eye. He grabbed a branch next to him to steady himself.

"No. You were being a peeping Tom, Damian," Batman said.

Damian looked over Batman's shoulder to look at Lindsey one last time for the night.

"What did I just say?" Batman asked.

"Okay Father." Robin said. He took out his grappling hook and shot it towards the gate of the estate. Batman turned towards the window and looked at the girl who had finished getting dressed in her pajamas. What was it about this girl that had his cold-hearted son want to watch her for hours?

He had watched Damian put on his uniform and leave the cave. He watched where the tracker in the uniform showed he was. When the tracker hadn't moved for hours, he decided to investigate what his son was doing. He would have never thought he would be stalking a young girl. It wasn't like his son at all.

Lindsey heard a rustling from out side. She went to the balcony and stood on it in her pajamas. Nothing was there of course. It's just because it's a new house. You're just imagining things. It's an old house. There's nothing to be afraid of.

She closed the doors and locked them, before slipping into bed. She turned off her light and said goodnight to her parents' picture before falling asleep, hoping that her dreams weren't of a brown/black haired, green eyed boy.