The Heir

“Father!” I burst into his office. He was sitting at his desk and doing some paperwork while also talking to Selina Kyle, my future step mother. I stormed up to him, barely holding back my anger.

He sighed heavily and looked up at me. Selina grinned her cat-like grin next to him, probably already knowing the reason for my irritation. “Yes Dami?”

“What is the meaning of this?” I slammed a paper down on his desk.

He picked it up and skimmed it with his eyes. “It’s your mission.” He said bored.

“I’m babysitting?!” I roared. “You’re making me babysit Dick’s little girlfriend’s cousin? For what reason?!”

Last year I helped to put away Slade Wilson, one of the Justice League’s biggest villains. Granted, my brothers were there, but I thought that I had finally proven myself to get a real solo mission. This is an insult to my capabilities. Alfred handing me my mission report this morning made me feel like I accomplished something. But no, the whole time Father was laughing in my face. I clenched my fists. Babysitting duty. Me, the heir to both the Wayne legacy and the League of Assassins, relegated to babysitting some spoiled rich brat. It was infuriating.

“Damian. Calm down. You wanted your own solo assignment and this is it. Do a good job on this and I might just let you do something more in the future.” Father crossed his arms and leaned back in his leather chair. Selina slithered off his desk and walked next to me.

“You know Damian, this isn’t just some random mission.” She spoke up.

I faltered, “It’s not?”

“No, of course not. Do you really think your father would just make you watch some random girl? This young lady is being targeted by some pretty nasty people. They want to get a piece of her mother’s fortune, and they would like to use her to get it.”

Oh, this is getting interesting. “Continue, woman.”

“Don’t call Selina woman Dami.” Father spoke up.

“Whatever.” I grumbled.

“So,” She continued. “Her father is a friend of your Dad’s. He knows that your Father runs a weapons company and figured he knew somebody who can watch his daughter while she’s going to your school.”

I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at my Step-Mother. “How come I’ve never seen her before at school. I have my entire grade memorized and alphabetized by heart.”

“She’s transferring.” Father said. “She got kicked out of her last three boarding schools. Her father wants her closer to home to keep an eye out for her. That’s where you come in.”

He stands up from his desk and walks over to me. He places a hand on my shoulder and gets on eye level with me. I perk up. “Listen Dami, this is a very important mission. I could’ve hired some bodyguard for her, but she is known to run. It’s better to tackle this from the inside. You don’t have to be friends with her, you don’t even have to talk to her. But I need you to watch out for her, okay?”

I huff, “Okay Father.”

“Good.” He removes his hand from my shoulder and stands up straight. “Now, if you’ll excuse us. We have work to do.”

I don’t need to be told twice to leave. I give him and Selina a curt nod then exit the office. I’ll have to ask Pennyworth to give me everything we know about the girl. I can’t go into this job blind, even if it is below me.

As I walked through the halls of Wayne Manor, I made my way to the kitchen where Alfred was already preparing dinner. The aroma of his cooking usually puts me at ease, but not today.

“Pennyworth,” I called as I entered the kitchen.

“Yes, Master Damian?” he replied without turning from his work.

“I need everything we have on Samaira Wilson.”

Alfred turned, raising an eyebrow. “Ah, yes. Master Bruce mentioned you might require some additional information. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a dossier for you.”

He handed me a thick folder. I took it and immediately began flipping through the pages. Photos, school reports, behavioral notes—it was all there. As I skimmed through the details, a clearer picture of Samaira began to form in my mind. She was a brat, a trouble maker, someone who I didn’t need in my life. I’ll just watch her from afar. Father took the liberty of arranging us to have all the same classes.

“Thank you, Alfred,” I said, still engrossed in the file.

“Of course, Master Damian. Might I suggest a more subtle approach? Miss Wilson might respond better to a friend rather than a guard.”

I grunted in acknowledgment, though the idea of befriending her still seemed far-fetched. With the folder in hand, I headed to my room to study it further. If I was going to do this, I needed to be prepared for anything.

+++

The next day at school I kept my eyes peeled for her. She was supposed to start today, so she had to come at least twenty minutes early to get her schedule. Tim was pissed when I woke him to drive us to school this early, but since I’m not legallyallowed to drive yet, he had to do it.

Tim stood next me, also scanning the parking lot for her. I told him not to bother but he said he wanted to help me on my first solo mission, like Dick did with him. My brothers always seem to forget that for the first ten years of my life I was trained by the League of Assassins, I never needed help.

A familiar beat up shit box of a car pulls into the parking lot. It was Farah’s hooptie. The girl had rich parents, and now thanks to Dick, a rich boyfriend. But she still insisted on driving that ugly ass car. “They’re here. I guess Farah is dropping her off and not her guards.”

Tim looked in the same direction I was staring. “God, Farah’s car is hideous,” he said, shuddering. I ignored him, focusing on the car door. Farah stepped out first. I can’t say I truly like any of my older brother’s girlfriends, but I can admit they’re not unattractive. It seems college has helped Farah blossom more than high school ever did.

She rounded to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door, blocking my view. God, so this girl needed her cousin to open her doors for her? This mission is going to be hell if I had to put up with some spoiled bratty princess type. Farah talks to Samaira for a bit, then steps aside to let her.

My first view of her outside of the pictures I was provided made my breath hitch. She was gorgeous. Those pictures father provided me must have been over a year old. The braces she had were gone, and her giant mane of curly hair was braided down into rows of cornrows with a heart at the side. She opted for the school uniform with the skirt. Her legs were in full view and they looked like they went on for miles.

I stared at her for a while, all the noise and sounds of the school were gone. All I saw was her. Then we made eye contact and my world halted. Her eyes were green, a stunning contrast to her caramel skin tone. She cocked her head to the side, and furrowed her eyebrows. What was she so confused about?

I was broken out of my trance by Tim smacking me in the back of the head.

“Ow! What the fuck Tim?” I turned towards my brother glaring.

“Farah has yelled your name about 50 times. Go talk to her.” He ushered me towards the two cousins. “And try not to stare too hard at your target this time. It was really obvious.”

“Die, Tim.” Was all I mumbled as I made my way towards them. His stupid laughter followed me towards their car. I can’t believe I was momentarily distracted just because she was kind of pretty. I have been surrounded by hordes of my grandfather’s concubines while training at the League, this will be nothing.

“What,” I said to Farah. I was trying very hard not to look at Samaira. Her green eyes were piercing the side of my head as I faced her cousin.

“Well hello to you too Dami.” she rolled her eyes. “I wanted to introduce you to my cousin. She’s in your grade and will be attending Gotham Academy with you. I thought it would be nice if she knew at least one person on her first day.”

I grunted in response.

“Samaira, meet Damian. Damian, meet Samaira.” Farah said while grinning. I finally turned to look at her, ignoring my heart beating erratically in my chest.

Samaira was prettier up close, she had freckles that ran across her face and above her nose. Her eyes had hints of Gold that were intertwined with the green. Her eyelashes were long and curved upwards towards the sky.

This was nothing. I was fine. She wasn’t even that pretty.

“Hi.” I grumbled.

“Hey Damian, nice to meet you.” Her voice was like silk. The way she said my name burrowed into my mind and replayed over and over and over again. She held out her hand for me to shake. I stared at it.

This might be dangerous. I was obviously very attracted to this girl. Physical contact could make it worse, and I needed to be as level-headed as possible while on this mission. But if I didn’t shake her hand, I would look strange, as it is a normal thing people do when they meet someone new.

I opted to shake it. I lifted my hand and clasped it in hers. Electric currents shot up my arms. I held back a shudder and dropped her hand as if it was made of hot coals.

I cleared my throat and turned back to Farah. I couldn’t look at her cousin for too much longer; I think I’d go crazy. “Is that all?”

“Well, no.” Farah looked at me bashfully, and I knew I was about to be dragged into something I didn’t want to do. “Could you show her the office and also show her to her classes? I’d do it, but I have class soon, and I can’t be late for a third time.”

I’m a goner.