Never Return

Of all things Damian expected in a normal day at Gotham Park was something he never expected. First he saw a beautiful snowy owl that flew over him and he watched it landed to a teen, who was probably it's owner. Second, for some odd reason Titus thought it was a good idea to meet the owl and tumbled the owner over. Titus had never tumbled over people before. This was the first time he actually did this. Damian was concerned since he knew Titus was welled trained and knew not to do that. However, he knew big dogs like Titus act like puppies, despite their age.

Damian raced over to Titus and got him off of the owner. He pulled the owl owner by the arm. The owl owner groaned. The first thing Damian noticed was the owl owner had bright green eyes. They look like emeralds that were unearthed by their prison. The owner was about his age, a few inches shorter than him, had round glasses, and extremely messy jet black hair. From the fall, the owl owner's bangs was over his head, which Damian noticed a scar. The scar was very odd. It looked like an actual lightning bolt, not like those children's lightning drawing by doing a zigzag. It looked like actual lightning. The owl owner brushed the snow off of himself and his hair, flattening it over his scar.

"I apologized about my dog," Damian said. "He never had ran anyone over. I believed he noticed your pet, owl."

Never in his life Titus would cause trouble. Usually it would be Damian and his siblings that would do the most trouble. Some intentionally and others unintentionally. Father would apologized and had to pay the person not to say anything. Damian wasn't sure if he could do the same thing that Father did, but from what Richard had told him, not everything can be fix with money.

The owl owner rubbed his neck. "It's alright, really. No harm done."

Damian noticed right away that this person wasn't from Gotham. Of course it was his accent, but Damian had just met this person. He didn't know how long this teen had been living in Gotham. He could've been staying here for a year for all he knew. Damian had met people from other countries and they knew who he was because of his father. Him and his older siblings were everywhere in the news. Whenever people saw him, they just gawk and stared. It was very annoying when people recognized him. Even when he wanted to go to a simple dog park, he had paparazzies following him.

"I'm Damian Wayne and this is my dog, Titus," Damian held out his hand. "And you?"

The owl owner shook his hand. "Harry Evans and that's Hedwig. I guessed you get mistaken being related to Bruce Wayne, huh?"

Damian stared at Evans. He really didn't know who he is. For the first time in Damian's life, he wasn't sure if he should answer that question or not. However at the same time he didn't want someone that would treat him differently just because he is Bruce Wayne's son. At first Damian didn't mind being acknowledged like that he took pride of being his father's son, but reality hit him when he got older and it got really annoying. Richard had fun with it, Jason just shrugged it off as if it was a hassle, Timothy was professional, Duke didn't mind, and Cassandra just didn't care.

As Damian pushed that thought away, he glanced at the snowy owl. Hedwig, huh? A lovely name for an owl. Damian stared at Evans from head to toe. He noticed how Evans looked a bit malnourished. Not the first time him and his family had wanted to help people outside the suit and it wouldn't be the last. Richard had told him that even though we're out of suit, it's still best to help people outside of the suit when they need it. Damian wondered if Evans was being abused by his family or they neglected him. Despite the robe-like trench coat, his jeans and hoodie looked very oversize.

"Do you mind if I pet your owl?" Damian asked.

Evans smiled. "Y-Yeah! You can! Let's sit!"

The two first brushed the snow away from the bench and sat down. Hedwig, perched on Evans' wrist. Damian was a bit concerned since he knew that an owl's talons were very sharp and could cause a lot of damage, but judging from Evans' reaction, it looked like he trained her not to accidently cut him. Damian tried not to show how happy he was to pet an owl. As Damian pet Hedwig, the snow looked proud of herself as if someone noticed how beautiful she looked. Damian could tell that Hedwig was very intelligent. While Damian was petting Hedwig, Titus rested his head on the bench seat, sniffing Hedwig. The snowy sighed, letting the dog sniff her.

Evans smiled. "She likes you."

Damian smirked. "I do have a way with animals."

"You have other pets?"

"Indeed. I have a cat, a cow, and a turkey. You?"

Evan's eyes widened. "That's a lot of pets. I only have Hedwig. My godfather is-has-has a dog. We recently found him before we moved here. His name is Snuffles and he's a Scottish Deerhound. When we found him he's huge!"

Damian nodded. He knew Scottish Deerhounds were big. However, Damian couldn't help and noticed how Evan's didn't mentioned his parents, but instead his godfather. By looking at Evans, he knew he was his father's "M.O." Black hair and blue or green eyes with a tragic backstory. How Evans didn't ran into his father yet was a mystery. However, Evans did say that he has a godfather, so his godfather has custody over him, which was a good thing. Although, Damian did saw his father trying to reason an aunt and her orphaned nephew with shared custody after just meeting the nephew. It didn't go well. Besides, there was only a fifty-fifty chance of Evans being an orphan.

"I couldn't help and noticed you're not from here," Damian said.

"It's my accent, isn't it?" Evans guessed.

Damian huffed. "Tt, obviously, Evans. It's very noticeable, if you couldn't tell. Anyway, why moved to Gotham of all places?"

Evans blinked a few times as if he wasn't expected to be asked. Damian was sure of himself that this wasn't too personal to ask. Not only he just met someone who was clearly not from here, but also recently moved to the most dangerous city in all of New Jersey. Also if Evans does live with his godfather, then why would a single parent want to move to Gotham for? It's hard for people of the middle and poor class to live here, but a single parent? It's tough for them too, even when they are an upper middle class.

Evans chuckled uneasily. "We thought it was for the best to move here. My godfather just got me out of a situation and we're only staying here for the time being. I'm not sure how long, though."

As much as Damian wanted to press some more, but he knew it wasn't his place to say anything. After all, he just met Evans and knew nothing of him. Damian could only suspect it was an abuse case and a fight for custody. If that was the case, then he will be silently hoping that this godfather was a proper guardian.

Damian watched as Evans held out his hand and let Titus. The Great Dane sniffed Evans' hand and right away, Titus stood on his back legs and licked Evans' face. Evans let a laugh and scratched Titus behind his ears. Damian knew Titus liked people, but it was the first time Damian had seen Titus willingly going over to people and being very affectionate. Usually Titus lets them pet him and that's it. Never he had seen Titus giving out kisses. Damian had always trust his pets' instincts. even though Titus was fine giving out affection to Evans, but that still didn't stop Damian from going to look into Evans. Perks of being a vigilante.

"So Damian, is there anything fun to do in this crime ridden city?" Evans asked, while he pets Titus.

Damian rolled his eyes. "Tt, of course there is, Evans. I for one, like to see the art museums."

"Do you do art?"

Damian huffed. "What kind of question is that, Evans? Of course I do!"

Damian took out his phone and turned to his photos. He handed his phone over to Evans, who right away took the phone, looking through Damian's art pieces. Titus whined a bit and rested his chin on Evans' leg. Damian watched as Evans' eyes brightened every time he scrolled through the art. Damian couldn't helped, but felt a sense of pride in his work. He worked hard to make sure he got all of the details correctly.

While Evans was looking at his art, Damian gently stroke Hedwig. The snowy seemed happy that she was being paid attention by another person, which was different from the pets he had. They all usually don't mind, but Hedwig liked being noticed by her beauty. Damian wouldn't be surprised if Evans worship his owl. Then again, Damian understood what it was like owning a pet and having them being your first priority than your own.

"It is okay I can see your wings?" Damian asked the snowy.

Hedwig hooted and did as she was told. Damian examined her wings and he couldn't help and feel giddy of how soft her feathers were. He really wanted to draw Hedwig. She was the perfect owl to draw. She had a sophisticated and elegant appearance, which Damian admired. He wondered if it was alright for Evans if he could draw Hedwig.

"Here's your phone," Evans handed his phone back. "Anyway, I have to go. I didn't realized it was almost six." Evans turned to his owl. "Hedwig, meet me at home. Padfoot will let you in."

Damian frowned as Hedwig hooted and flew off into the sunset. Padfoot? Was that a nickname for his godfather? Odd nickname, but at least it sounded better than what Richard had came up with. All of the nicknames were awful and it sounded more like codenames than nicknames. He was surprised that no one found the connection when Richard called him "Baby Bat" in public. Then the two sat up and started walking out of the park.

"Well then Evans, I guess we'll leave off from here," Damian said. "If it is alright with you, we can meet you here on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays? I would like to draw Hedwig. She is a beauty and I want to make sure I get the details correctly."

Evans nodded. "Yeah! I like that! You can bring Titus too, if you want."

Damian handed him his cellphone number. "Here is my number. Text me and we shall look for a time to meet."

Evans glanced to the side. "I don't have a cellphone. Just a house phone, but Hedwig does know how to sent letters."

Now that part was interesting. Damian knew Hedwig was smart, but he didn't know she was this smart. He was learning more new things about the owl every second. Only a location then she'll know where to go. Very fascinating. Damian would have to give credit where credit was due, that Evans trained his owl well.

"Then contact me how you wish," Damian said. "Leave a voicemail in case if I don't answer. You can tell Hedwig to drop a letter at the front door. I do have a mail slot."

Evans smiled. "Brilliant! I'll call you soon!"

As Damian walked with Titus by his side, he looked back and saw Evans going into a nearby neighborhood. Damian looked in his phone and put in his schedule to meet Evans. As much as he wanted to meet in a library or at a cafe, but he knew his siblings were everywhere. Even when they're living in different cities, they'll find a way to embarrassed him. It was best if he just go to the park and draw Hedwig there. Maybe he could do a painting too. Of course Damian knew he had to owe Evans somehow, but he'll think about that later. For now, he just wanted to meet up with Evans and draw his owl. Besides, Harry Evans didn't seemed too bad. He was tolerable.