Never Return

When Sunday came, Harry was waiting for Damian. He had bought Damian his usual. It wasn't so hard to remember Damian's order. There were days when Damian changed it up a bit, but most of Damian's order consist of a pistachio muffin and a green tea latte with oat milk (sometimes with soy milk or almond milk). Harry just had a donut and a hot chocolate. He wondered what he and Damian would be doing today, he let Hedwig stay home, since she didn't feel like flying today.

As Harry took a sip of his hot chocolate, he saw Damian walked in. Damian was wearing something a bit casual today. A simple blue hooded jacket, a black sweater, and brown trousers. Harry blinked a few times. He had never saw Damian looked casual in his life. Then again Harry only known him for almost two weeks now. Harry knew he had another week before the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, but hanging out with Damian, almost made him forget that he had that going on. He made him feel normal without worrying about Voldemort and being The-Boy-Who-Lived.

"Hi, Damian!" Harry greeted. "I got you your usual."

Damian gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Evans." he sat down. "I see Hedwig isn't with you."

Harry nodded. "I let her stay home. I wasn't sure if you were going to draw her or not."

"Well, lucky for you, I'm not drawing her today," Damian said. "I'm actually going to paint her. I already made my sketch. I suggest we finish our snacks first and go to an art store to buy supplies. I want to find the right paints. After that we can get lunch at Gotham's mall. Had you been there, yet?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Then we'll go."

"Okay."

In fact, Harry didn't mind going to the mall. Besides, they only allowed service animals and Hedwig isn't one. Also Harry hadn't been to a mall for a long time...actually now he thought about it. The last time he went to the mall was when before he found out he was a wizard. Harry didn't do much at the mall, besides carrying every bag that Aunt Petunia wanted and that was it.

Harry and Damian ate their morning snacks and having some small talk. They only talked about how their morning was. Harry didn't gave Damian too much about his day since he only did some homework that Sirius gave him. Luckily, he was able to keep it vague as possible. Damian, on the other hand, mentioned how his siblings annoyed him in the morning. He only told him that Damian wanted a break from the family business for a bit and that was it. It was understandable. Harry knew some of his coworkers had to live up the expectations of their family, and Damian was no different.

When they were done, Harry and Damian went to a taxi and headed to the art store. Harry expected it would be a very wealthy art store, but the store they went to was very local and small. Despite the size, the store had a lot paint - good quality paint as Damian would say. While they were looking at paints, Harry watched Damian picking up a bottle, studying it. His brows were crunched and his lips were pursed. He looked like he had a scowl on his face.

Harry couldn't help and smile. This reminded him during the summer when Hermione was looking for a book to read at the Diagon Alley Library. Ron was annoyed, but Harry didn't mind, since he like to do some light reading. Of course this was before the whole Goblet of Fire. Harry will admit that he did missed the Weasleys, but at the same time thinking about them reminded him about Ron's abandonment.

As Harry walked a bit closer to Damian, Harry noticed Damian was looking at two paint bottles of green paint. Each were a slightly different shade. One bottle said, emerald, while the other said emerald green. Harry speculated that Damian was painting Hedwig with bright colorful green tress in the background, which Harry now thought about it, did sounded lovely.

"Do you need help?" Harry asked.

"I'm fine," Damian answered. "I just need to figure it out myself."

Then Damian looked at Harry and back at the paints. He did that several times. Harry raised a brow. He wasn't sure if he should give his input or not. He wasn't an artist, so Harry was sure he didn't had a say to that, but he did want to help Damian too.

"You know, the emerald green is nice," Harry commented. "It'll be great for the background."

Damian frowned. "Background?"

Harry nodded. "You're painting a background behind Hedwig, right? Some trees and stuff?"

Damian scoffed. "Tt, this green isn't for the background, it's for your eyes."

Harry's eyes widened and Damian just froze. Harry looked to the side as his cheeks heated up. Never in his life he had anyone putting the effort to find which green to paint his eyes. Isn't green just green? In fact, Harry didn't expected to be part of the painting. He didn't mind have a painting of just Hedwig. After all, Hedwig deserved to be looked at. His owl is a beauty after all.

"Th-Thank y-you," Harry stammered. "but you didn't need to put me in the painting."

Damian rolled his eyes. "You are Hedwig's owner. It's respectful for you and your owl."

"Don't you think it might be a bit too much? Painting Hedwig is just fine."

"As I always told you Evans, I don't mind. Don't worry too much."

Harry nodded. Maybe it was just him not being used to get anything for free. It felt weird. Harry was always someone who made sure he had enough and that was it. He wasn't the type to buy very expansive stuff. The closest thing he did bought was something expansive was his dress robe! Sadly, that might go to waste!

When Damian finished paying for the paints, the two went to the mall. The cab took a quick shortcut, thanks for Damian paying the man ahead and giving him a generous tip. As they went inside, Harry's eyes widened. He had heard that malls in America were huge and they were right. Harry wasn't sure where he wanted to go. There were so any things he wanted to go to. Bloody hell, the food court was huge too. So many options.

"Where do you want to start first, Evans?" Damian asked.

Harry thought about it. He tried to think what he always wanted to do. There were so many things he never got to do or explored, unless it was the wizarding world. Aside from deciding what he wanted to do in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, Harry barely choose what he wanted to do.

"Video games," Harry answered.

Harry barely played video games. Aunt Petunia would never let him have a game console and Dudley would never let him join him. The closest thing he ever did in video games was to loose to Dudley, whenever Dudley's friends couldn't come over. Even when he barely goes outside, the Dursleys made him stay away from anything fun.

Damian nodded. "Excellent choice. Luckily, I do know about video games. My friend Jonathan, lend me his games. When was the last time you enjoyed video games?"

Harry frowned. "Um...when I was seven or eight? The relatives wouldn't let me play video games unless my cousin asked. I had to pretend to loose or else he'll throw a fit. The last game I played was Smash Bros. It was an old one, though."

"Are you planning to buy a console and everything?"

"If I want to. I'm just a bit tight on money at the moment."

More like save up in case if something happens, Harry thought. Ever since he got his first paycheck, Harry had to make a bank account, which he was surprisingly able to do because there were half-human and half goblins working in muggle banks. At the time, Harry didn't questioned it and just make the account. Sirius was with him since Harry knew he was underage. After that, Harry was able to put his money in the bank. Of course he and Sirius still had the money that they converted, but it was kept in the safehouse, hidden with magic. Harry and Sirius agreed that they would only use the hidden money in case if Dumbledore and the Ministry found them and use Harry's job money for living in the muggle world. Luckily for Harry, he knew how to use his money carefully and knows how to barging, thanks for watching Aunt Petunia always doing that.

"If you wish, I can buy it for you," Damian suggested. "Money isn't a problem for me."

Harry stammered. "D-Damian, no. I-It's my problem. Not yours. Y-You don't have to."

"Think of it as an early Christmas present."

Then Harry placed a hand on Damian's shoulder. "Damian, please."

Harry stared at Damian with pleading eyes. He really didn't want Damian to buy things for him. Damian had already planned to give him a painting of Hedwig, for free! Harry didn't want Damian to give him anything else for free. Harry knew it was a kind gesture, but he didn't want Damian to get in trouble because of him. Harry knew he was a walking magnet of trouble and he didn't want that happened to Damian.

Damian sighed. "Tt, fine."

"Thank you," Harry smiled.

"I'll get my chance, though," Damian commented.

"Damian!"

Damian smirked and flicked Harry's forehead. "Don't be surprised when I do pay something for you."

"Bloody brat," Harry muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing!"

"I thought so."

Harry grumbled a bit, muttering under his breath how Damian is a brat, but in the corner of his eyes, he noticed Damian was silently chuckling to himself, and barely covering his mouth. Harry could see a small smile. Blinking a few times, Harry turned away. He could feel his cheeks a bit hot. Of course Harry had seen Damian smiled before, but he couldn't help feeling...well whatever he's feeling.

Then the two walked in the mall. Before they got to the video game store, Harry did noticed some stores he never knew was a thing. There was a store dedicated to plushies! Of course they went into the plush store, which surprisingly Damian ended up getting a stuff animal of a cat. One big and one small. Damian claimed that it's for his cat, Alfred, but Harry had a feeling Damian wanted the toy. The next store they went to was a music store. In that store, customers were allowed to play a song in the radio and listen to it in the headphones to see if they liked it. Harry listened some pop songs and some foreign ones. He was told by Hermione that Korean songs was a muggle trend now. Harry did like the beat of the music and made a mental note to buy a CD after he deals with all of the wizarding bullshit. Damian on the other hand was listening some foreign songs and even bought a CD. He told Harry that Jonathan wanted him to listen to the song, but at the time Damian refused. Now he's taking his friend's advice.

"Who's Jonathan?" Harry asked as they walked out of the music store.

"My friend," Damian answered. "He lives in Metropolis, but goes to Gotham Academy. Our parents are friends."

"What's he like?"

"Like my brother Richard, except he's sometimes annoying."

"You should invite him to the cafe," Harry suggested. "He seemed nice."

"Nice is an understatement, he's like a overly excited puppy."

Harry laughed some more. This Jonathan guy must be nice and totally the opposite of Damian. Harry hasn't met anyone who was overly excited, but that'll be a nice change since he's trying to make some friends of his age.

It didn't took long for Harry and Damian to get to the video game store. The store was pretty fancy. Different from the other video game store Harry had been...or from what he saw. There were some sample games and there were room where customers could rent a room and play video games with their friends and if they don't want to play video games at home. The rent was affordable since it only goes by what kind of game the person is playing. There's even a small cafe inside and you could order food in there too.

"Well, well, it looks like I will be paying something for you after all, Evans," Damian smirked.

Harry grumbled. "Brat."

Damian snickered as he paid for the room. One of the employees escorted them to their game room. Damian also ordered some food too. Harry's eyes widened as he stared at everything with awed. The room was dark, but it also had glowing colors of blue, green, red, white, yellow and pink. Harry guessed it was probably from the glowing decorations. There was a large couch and a table in the middle. there was even a restroom too!

"What do you think?" Damian asked.

"I think it's brilliant," Harry awed.

"What game to do you to try out first?"

"Smash Bros."

"Tt, I never played this game. Jonathan did, but from what I know is that it's a tournament game. Get ready to loose Evans."

"You wish."

At once the two turned on the game and sat on the couches. Damian handed Harry the controller, which he quickly thanked him. When the game turned on and they picked their characters - Harry chose Link and Damian chose Red from Pokemon, the two started the game. It had been a while since Harry played this game, but it was a bit nostalgic for him. Yes, Dudley was being a bully, but it was the only time Harry did had fun, even though he had to loose on purposely. However, now he's not with the Dursley's, Harry could play a game without worrying about getting bullied.

Luckily for Harry, he knew what he was doing since he was familiar with an old fashion controller and knew how the game works. Harry was intended to beat Damian in this game. He may be a bit rusty since it had been four or five years since he played Smash Bros, but Harry wasn't going to give up that easily. He and Damian were so focus on trying to beat one another. Then as Harry gave a final blow, Charizard was soaring into the sky and falling in front of the screen. Harry chuckled and smirked at Damian. Harry could've swore he saw Damian's eye twitch.

"You just got lucky, Evans," Damian said.

Harry shook his head. "You sure about that Wayne?"

Then they started the next round. The two were at it, trying to beat each other's character. While they were trying to beat the other, one of the employees came and brought them lunch. The food smell really good and Harry noticed it was something he never tried before. As much as he wanted to eat, but he knew he needed to defeat Damian first. Then as Harry use Link to blast a Venusaur out of the stadium, the game was over.

Harry turned and smirk. "So you were saying?"

Damian growled. "Tt, just eat."

"Haha, yes sir."

Harry happily ate his food, while Damian just muttered to himself. He didn't know what he was eating, but Harry was sure he was eating small fried chicken and fires. Harry was sure that was what he was eating, but it tasted different from the fried food he ate and the food here tasted heavenly. Harry glanced at Damian, who was eating a salad and a veggie burger.

"Do you want to try out those Wii games?" Harry asked. "I never played it before, but it looks fun."

"I haven't try those either," Damian took a sip of his drink. "but we should try it out."

Harry smiled as the two ate in silence. Once they were done, the two tried out some of the Wii games. Thankfully, it was a multi-player game and Harry couldn't helped and be competitive, but he wasn't the only one since Damian was also competitive too. The two played a game version of bowling and tennis. Both Harry and Damian tied on bowling, but Damian beat him in tennis. Soon they played a virtual table tennis and Damian still beat him. Damian couldn't help and smirked throughout the entire time.

When they finally finished their game, Damian gave a tip, and the two left. Harry checked the time and it was already six p.m. He didn't realized he was out for this long. It wasn't the first time Harry was out for a long period of time, but it felt really nice to forget the problems in his life. He felt normal. As the two got outside, Damian was texting someone. After a couple of minutes, Damian put his phone back into his pocket.

"My butler will be picking us up, if you don't mind," Damian said.

Harry nodded. "Not at all. What's your butler like?"

"Alfred Pennyworth is a very respected member of my family," Damian explained. "He's like a grandfather."

Harry's eyes widened. Alfred...Pennyworth? Like the Alfred Pennyworth?! The famous muggleborn wizard who made the most simplest spells advanced and who wrote spell books for the seventh year? Not only that, but he's a talented Quidditch player at Hogwarts and his name was on one of the medals too. Not only that, but Pennyworth's daughter went to wizarding school in France too! Harry did the math, he should be around Voldemort's age. Did any of the Waynes know they have a wizard living with them? Harry brushed that thought away. No, there was the statue of secrecy still around. There was no way Damian would know about the wizarding world.

"Are you okay, Evans?" Damian asked.

Harry chuckled uneasily and nodded. "I am...just thinking about what to cook for dinner."

Now Harry was dreading. He wouldn't be surprised of Alfred Pennyworth knew who he is. Harry knew that no one hasn't heard from Pennyworth for many years and the last people heard was that he was living in America. However, of all places it had to be Gotham! Harry knew the only magical folk living in Gotham was Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, and his relatives. Harry prayed that if he does meet Alfred Pennyworth, he hoped the old wizard wouldn't tell the world where he was. Harry was sure that people were looking for him.

Suddenly a white van drove in front of them. Before Harry could react, Damian pushed him and a group of men in clown mask grabbed Damian. Harry grunted as he hit the ground. Of all of the close calls Harry had when he was living in Gotham, this wasn't it.

"Damian!" Harry called.

"Evans, run!" Damian shouted.

Without thinking, Harry ran over to Damian. He was able to grab his hand before the men pulled him in. Gnashing his teeth, Harry tried to pull Damian away from these men, but the masked clowns were stronger than he was. Then Harry found himself being pulled into the van as well. The van door locked and it drove away. One of the masked men pulled out a gun at them. Damian, right away, put himself between Harry and the gun.

"Hey, you know we need Wayne!" the drive snapped.

"What about the other kid?" he asked.

"We'll see what the boss has to say."

One of the masked men sat near them. Harry silently cursed to himself. He really wanted to use magic right now, but he wasn't sure what's going to happen. He knew some defense spells, but he was sure there wasn't one to stop a bullet.

When they got to their destination, it was an abandoned building. The goons pushed them out and they went inside. As soon as they got to a barren room, standing across the room was a man with white face paint makeup, red lips, and hideous green hair. Harry gulped. He knew who this was right away. Of all the close calls from he had during the week, this wasn't one of them. Harry glanced at Damian who was strangely calm in this situation. Harry thought it was probably Damian getting used to the dangers that happened in Gotham.

"Excellent, you got Wayne," Joker turned to Harry. "Who the hell is this?! I said Wayne! Not every black hair and blue or green eyed is adopted by Bruce Wayne!"

"We tried to find the opportunity to get Wayne without the kid being a witness," one of the goons said. "but the kid tried to fight back."

Joker growled. "Get out. I'll deal with you two later." and muttered. "Henchmen these days. Can't even get good ones."

With that the goons left. Harry stood in front of Damian, which caused his friend being very confused. Harry dealt with Voldemort before and dealing with the Joker was like second nature, just without the magic part. However, at the same time, Harry didn't want Damian to get hurt. Damian his first muggle friend he ever made! There was no way Harry would let anything happen to Damian.

"What are you doing?" Damian hissed. "You get behind me!"

"I'm fine!" Harry said. "Just..."

Just what? Harry thought. The only thing Harry could think was to tell Damian to get his invisibility cloak while he distracts the Joker, but he wasn't sure how that would successfully play in his head. It might cause more questions than answers. Harry knew he wasn't the most smartest person, but he knew he had to try something.

Then Joker raced over to them. The next thing Harry knew, he was pushed onto the ground. His gasses flopped out of his face as it landed a feet away from him. Harry could hear Damian cries of being hurt, but at the same time, he could hear the Joker screaming out in pain. Harry wasn't even sure who was getting hurt more.

Harry crawled over to his glasses and put them on. As he turned he saw Joker taking out a gun, but Damian kicked the gun away. Harry noticed that Damian was trying to reach something in his pocket, but he wasn't sure if he was reaching for a cellphone or pepper spray. Then Joker pulled out a knife. Eyes widened, Harry scrambled onto his feet and pushed Damian out of the way. Harry screamed as the knife stabbed his shoulder. Harry could feel blood dripping from his fingertips.

"Evans!" Damian shouted.

The Joker laughed. "Trying to play hero, boy?"

Harry scoffed. "More like doing a good community service."

Harry swung a fist at the Joker, but the clown just merely dodged and grabbed Harry's hair, smashing him against the wall. The Joker laughed. Harry could feel the clown's painted white hands touching his scar. Harry winced. He knew his scar hadn't hurt since the Wizard World Cup, but he didn't like anyone touching his scar.

"Oooooh!" The Joker said. "I wondered who did that to you? Now that's art!"

Then Damian jumped on Joker's back who had a knife on him. How Harry didn't noticed that, baffled him. Damian stabbed the Joker's shoulder, but with one hand, the Joker grabbed a fistful of Damian's hair, and tossed him over his shoulder. Damian grunted his his back hit against the wall.

"Damian, go!" Harry shouted. "I'll be fine! Go get help!"

"Are you insane?!" Damian exclaimed. "I'm not leaving you!"

"A self-sacrificing person, huh?" The Joker said. "People like you, are nothing."

Harry's eyes widened as he remembered the dementors and hearing the screams of his mother begging Voldemort to take her instead of him. His mother's sacrifice meant something to him. It's in his blood for crying out loud! Harry could feel his anger rising. He hated people who thought like that. He hated people like the Joker who thought they could just get away by hurting people. He hated the fact that Damian was hurt by this insane man and Harry was hated.

The lights flickered. Wind was swarming around them. Behind the Joker, Harry could see Damian being caught off guard from the sudden wind and the lights. However, that didn't phase the Joker. The clown lunged him and raised his knife, but stopped.

He dropped his knife.

The clown looked at his finger as it was expanding. Soon his whole hand puffed up as well as his arm, and the rest of his body. The Joker screamed, trying to flattened his inflated body, but nothing happened. Then the Joker floated up onto the ceiling and bounced off of it as he floated out of the window. The Joker screamed as his voice echoed throughout Gotham. Harry could hear people were shouting in amazement of what was happening. He could've swore he heard cheering. Maybe that was in his imagination.

"Not the blowing up I imagine, but close enough!" a voice shouted in the distance and...there were shots fired...?

"Hood, no!" another voice screamed.

"Hood, yes!" the voice responded.

Harry noticed he saw Damian shook his head at that. It was like as he knew the response was going to happened. Then Damian ran over to him. He slid onto his knees, checking Harry's wounds and see if there were any others.

"Evans, are you okay?" Damian asked.

Harry didn't answer. He couldn't believe it. First Aunt Marge and now the Joker. Harry accidently blew up the Joker. Not only that, but there was a chance that the Ministry might track him here! There was a chance that he could go back and be in that death tournament. Harry tried to keep his breathing under control, but he couldn't. He didn't want to go back. He just wanted a normal life and be just Harry,

"I'm so in trouble," Harry muttered.

Damian frowned. "Evans?...Did you do this?"

Harry pushed Damian away and scrambled up onto his feet. "I'm sorry," Harry apologized. "It's my fault."

Damian got up. "Evans, calm down. Whatever you did, no one isn't going to blame you. We can talk to Batman-"

"NO!" Harry screamed. "I'll get kick out of Gotham! I-I-I'm so sorry, Damian! I'm such a freak!"

"Evans-"

Before Damian could finished, Harry ran. He ran as his life depends on it. He didn't know which part of Gotham he was or how far he was from the safehouse, he just wanted to get away. He thought maybe he could get a good life here without worrying about magic, but instead, he did magic in front of Damian - his only friend.

"Evans, wait!" Damian called.

Harry turned. He saw Damian was running after him. Why was he running after him? Shouldn't he be disgusted with him? Without thinking, Harry took out his invisibility cloak and wrapped it around him as he disappeared in front of Damian's eyes.