The Batmobile’s engine purred low beneath the soft crash of ocean waves. Titans Tower stood ahead like a shining T-shaped beacon of glass and steel, casting long shadows over the private island. Inside the cockpit, Damian sat with arms crossed, scowling out the window. Dick Grayson, in his Nightwing suit, sat beside him, hands casually resting on the controls.

“You’re going to like it here,” Dick said, trying to keep things light. “Well, you’re going to be here, whether you like it or not.”

Damian didn’t respond. His brows remained drawn, his eyes cold. “Father thinks I need friends,” he muttered bitterly.

“No, Bruce thinks you need to stop trying to decapitate your teammates during training exercises,” Dick corrected with a grin. “This isn’t punishment, Damian. It’s a chance.”

The hangar doors slid open as they landed. As they stepped out, Damian took in the tower with narrowed eyes, unimpressed. He had trained in the League of Assassins. He had survived Lazarus Pit madness. What could a group of teen metahumans possibly offer him?

They entered the lobby, where the team was already gathered, waiting.

“Welcome to the Tower!” Starfire greeted brightly, floating just off the ground with a wide, genuine smile. “You must be Damian! Dick has told us many things—some good, some… intense.”

Beast Boy shifted into a monkey and waved enthusiastically. “Yo, new guy! You like tofu pizza? No? That’s cool, more for me!”

Blue Beetle leaned against a wall, arms folded, studying Damian curiously through his scarab’s glow. “So this is the Bat’s kid, huh? Didn’t expect someone so… tiny.”

Damian’s eyes flashed. “Say that again.”

“Ahem,” Dick interjected quickly, clapping a hand on Damian’s shoulder. “This is Blue Beetle. Beast Boy. Starfire—she leads the team. And Raven.”

At the edge of the room stood Raven, arms tucked into the sleeves of her cloak, her amethyst eyes unreadable as she looked Damian over.

“Hi,” she said simply, her voice quiet, yet sharp. “You’ve got a lot of darkness in you. Let’s hope it doesn’t swallow the rest of us.”

Damian’s jaw clenched. This was going to be a challenge.

Dick just smiled, stepping back toward the elevator. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t stab anyone in the first week, okay?”