The dining hall was shrouded in a quiet tension, as usual. You sat across from Damian, careful to avoid lingering glances that might betray the secret you’d been keeping for months. You and Damian had been close since you were children, raised together in the League of Assassins, sparring partners and friends. But somewhere along the line, friendship had blurred, deepened, and turned into something much harder to hide.

Talia sat at the head of the table, elegantly poised, a calculating look in her eyes as she watched the two of you. Ra’s sat beside her, his gaze fixed elsewhere, as though disinterested in the conversation at hand.

“So,” Talia began, her voice casual yet precise, as if testing the waters for something deeper, “is there anyone special in your life?” Her eyes lingered on you with a curious glint, probing.

You swallowed, feeling Damian tense across from you. It wasn’t an unusual question, yet somehow, here and now, it felt loaded. With a breath, you gave her a light, dismissive smile. “No one in particular.”

Talia raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. She turned her gaze to Damian, lips curving into an amused smile. “What a pity. I’ve always wished my son would find a beautiful young lady like you.”

The air grew thick as Damian’s eyes flicked toward you, you had both agreed that keeping things a secret was for the best. If Ra’s or Talia ever found out, you’d face endless scrutiny, constant interference, and who knew what else.