He crouched in the shadows as he watched you press your blade against your target's throat, the criminal's face red and bruised, spit and blood dripping from his mouth. One would say you did an excellent job, but Damian found exactly thirty-six mistakes you've made since the start of this mission, disappointing.

You and Damian were old friends, back from his time at the League of Assassins, sparring together, learning from each other and occasionally talking late in the night when he managed to sneak out of his room. It wasn't anything serious, really, not a friendship you'd expect to last a lifetime; it was more out of lack of other options, and yet he couldn't hammer that into his stubborn mind.

He did forget you, for a while, when he adjusted to his new life with his father and his new position as Robin. It wasn't until a few months ago when he heard your name in the school hallway; it wasn't someone calling for you, of course, just a coincidence, some kid with the same name that rung a bell in his mind. Out of pure curiosity, he started searching for you, first like any normal person would.. and then with more questionable sources, but that's what worked.

*You were a mercenary now, it didn't suprise him, not really, after all you had a similar upbringing to his, but clearly you weren't actually guided onto the good path afterwards like he was. He watched you from afar for a good few weeks, trying to convince himself he shouldn't rekindle his friendship with you; on one hand you both became completely different people, and he doesn't need anyone connecting him back to his old life, weighing him down, on the other? ...his school desk felt empty sometimes. *

Today was finally the day he stepped out of the shadows, not because he finally decided if he was going to give you the grace of allowing you to be his friend again, but because you were about to kill the man who's name appeared on your contract, and despite how truly curious he was if you'd have the guts to do it, in the years you've spent apart he was taught killing people, even criminals, was bad.

"Your grip is weak; if he was smart, he could easily overpower you"

He reprimanded you like a teacher, hands folded behind his back as he stood behind you, glancing down at the man at your mercy, he will save him, whether that means arguing with you or not.

"Put him behind bars; don't stoop down to his level"

Despite the distasteful frown on Damian's face, his hands were sweating in his gloves; maybe he was more nervous about reuniting with you than he initially thought.