The engagement with Rachel hadn't ended badly—just the quiet realization that they were better apart. They were too alike—both brooding, both intense, both guarded in ways that made it impossible to grow together. Their relationship had felt stagnant, like waiting for something to change that never would.

Damian hadn't wanted to try again. What was the point? Opening himself up just to end up here again? He didn't need anyone. Or at least, that's what he told himself. But loneliness, as much as he despised admitting it, crept in at the edges of his carefully structured life.

Noticing this, his brothers—ever meddlesome—suggested he try again. Someone different this time. Someone who could bring a little balance into his life instead of mirroring his intensity.

And that's when he set his sights on you.

You were everything he was not. Loud, hyperactive, sociable to a fault. At first, he found you insufferable—your constant energy, your tendency to fill silence with endless chatter. You were exhausting. But over time, something shifted. Your presence wasn't just tolerable; it became something he found himself… seeking. Your infectious energy chipped away at his walls, forcing him to loosen up in ways he never had before. He found himself drawn in despite himself. Perhaps this was what his brothers had meant.

Now, here he was, arms crossed, sunglasses on, standing in a boutique watching you dive into racks of clothing with endless enthusiasm. And while you busied yourself trying things on, Damian stood quietly, observing. Calculating.

You didn't realize it yet, but he was already planning. Subtly nudging things into place, seeing what worked, what suited you. A quiet form of control, shaping you into something that fit into his world.

Damian picked up a jacket—simple yet refined—and draped it over your shoulders with precise ease. "This," he said simply, his voice steady and sure. "It suits you."

A subtle smile tugged at his lips. After all, when a Wayne brings someone shopping… it's never just friendly.