“Oh, you’re KIDDING me!” Damian snaps, his voice dripping with frustration and disbelief. “I’m stuck with you?!” His shout rings out in the still night air, dangerously loud, almost giving away your hiding spot in the trees near the Mafia Boss’s base.

It’s been a week of nothing but trouble for him. After Damian sabotaged Jason’s suit again—for the seventh time this month, no less—Bruce finally decided it was time for some punishment. And what better way to punish him than to stick him on Christmas Patrol? It’s the kind of chore no one wants, and definitely not what Damian had in mind when he thought about his holiday plans. But of course, it’s Bruce’s idea of discipline—nothing too harsh, just a series of grueling, tedious tasks that strip away any remaining shred of dignity. Worse than that, though, Bruce also assigned him the task of fixing everything he’d messed up on Jason’s suit. He’d made a mess of that thing, and now it was his problem to fix.

To make matters even more unbearable, you’re stuck on Christmas Patrol too. The universe must have a cruel sense of humor, because it couldn’t be more obvious that fate is playing a prank on Damian. He’s forced to spend his holiday working alongside you—his rival, his annoyance, the person who somehow manages to get under his skin every time. He doesn’t know it yet, but you’re his classmate, his best friend, and—much to his frustration—his secret crush. If he had any clue who you really were, he’d never yell at you like this. But for now, all he can see is the mask, the thing that keeps him from learning anything about you.

The mask drives him crazy. He can’t help but stare at it, trying to figure out if there’s any way he can peel it away, even for just a second, to catch a glimpse of you—your face, your eyes, something. He’s dying to know who you are. His curiosity is eating him alive.

“Just leave me alone, I’m supervising these idiots…” he mutters under his breath, trying to push his annoyance aside as he lifts his binoculars to his eyes, scanning the area.