#innoncence

Damian gasped as his breath suddenly got caught in his throat, he wanted this. He needed this, he wish he could just reverse time, change the clock’s design, and go back to the time they were young. To the one time he had known he loved her for more than just a friend. The moment he realized he wanted to spend every waking moment and by her side, celebrating life events together with all of their families together and at some point, create of a family of their own.

The devastated and confused Wayne slumped against the wall as he looked down at the white mask. That’s right. Just for today... no this night she will be his, even for just a moment and even it’s make-believe. For the next two hours he will make The Demon Queen fall for him, and Damian was going to be showcasing his true feelings to the whole school.

--- -- -- -- --

The waltz scene had just ended, and Damian gracefully bowed and extended his arm to lead her towards where a small half constructed pavilion was placed near the end of the left stage. Once inside; Raven let go of his arm and walked towards the rail, facing the audience as she acted like she was stargazing.

“You seem more comfortable in the night, my lady.” Damian said gently.

“To me the night is day, it holds peace and tranquility. My parents would hold picnics beneath the moonlight, the night holds my most precious memories.” Raven said softly as she leaned against one of the pavilion’s pillars. “You know I came here on a mission of my own, everyone told me, I was heading to my death.”

“You’re a subject of the Dark Realm, correct?”

Raven snorted, “Is it that obvious?”

Damian chuckled warmly before taking careful steps towards her, “I must say it’s your dress, no one in the Kingdom of Light wears dark colors, much less black as night. At an event like tonight’s, everyone wears colors to bring light in the dark.”

Raven slowly turned around facing him, “You speak with much wisdom, and I would be lying to myself if I did’t say how much I wish to see the man beneath that mask.”

Damian inched closer, looming over her. “I believe the customs is not to know one’s identity.”

Raven carefully placed her hand on Damian’s cheek, “I don’t need to know but I wish to know what’s in your heart.”

Damian gazed heavily onto her soft amethyst eyes, as he bridged the gap between them and found her lips in a gentle kiss. Her slender arms circled around his shoulders as his own wrapped around her waist pulling her closer to him. He knew he couldn’t keep going, yes this was magical and the greatest moment of his life but he pictured their kiss to be more intimate one that didn’t to be shared with the world. Damian slowly pulled away, Raven watched him carefully her face fully flushed, but timidly continued with their act. She slowly reached to the edge of his mask and pulled it away from his face, gasping as she saw his revealed face.

“You are?”

Damian only smiled, “I am.”

--- -- -- -- --

“And so, the two kingdoms at war finally settled as their rulers showed that having love and compassion can quelled the fighting. The King of Light and the Demon Queen united their two kingdoms through matrimony. At first both kingdoms rebelled against their sovereigns, but with time both sides learned they could coexist with one another, learning that we are one and the same. No matter where we come from, no matter our homeland, we all share one sky, one land, we all have one life. Both the King of Light and his Queen ruled over gracefully for many years to come and their story was passed down through the ages, as the rulers who brought Day and Night, as one.”

The student playing the role of narrator, bowed as she said her very last line. The curtains came down, and everyone in the audience cheered loudly. Ms. Fresha who was tearing from the corner, clapped and signaled for everyone to run back to the center and do their final curtain call. Everyone scurried as quickly as they could, as Ms. Fresha grabbed hold of the thick ropes and pulled them to raise the curtain. The whole class took a step forward and joined hands as they all bowed towards the audience who cheered, whistled, clapped, and even through single roses towards the stage.  

The curtain came down, the students hugged each other, while others shook hands. Damian scanned the small crowd to find Raven, he smiled when he found her, handing her crown to one of their classmates before heading off the stage. Perplexed, Damian walked towards the classmate as she set the crown down and began moving some small sets around.

“Where was Raven heading to?”

His classmate jumped before smiling at him, “Oh Raven? She said she was gonna go and meet her family.”

Damian thanked her before he started helping the set crew bring down some sets that needed to be stored. He wished he had gotten a chance to talk with Raven for just a moment, he wouldn’t be seeing her much since the play was over. He just wanted to congratulate her on doing an extraordinary job and getting through this crisis with him. He smiled to himself, glad that he had this memory for all to himself, while on stage Damian forgot himself, he didn’t see no audience; it had been just him and his Demon Queen.

“Damie!”

Damian jumped a little as he had been startled from Jon jumping him from the back. Damian turned, confused to see both of their families coming together. Every one of his siblings held a knowing smirk, like they were going to torment for years to come on his performance. Damian couldn’t help but pout, he didn’t need their meddling right now he was so damn happy for once, did they really have to ruin it?

“Oh Damian, your performance was exceptional!” Lois shouted happily as she gave him a gentle hug before bringing out her camera. “Now where is my talented daughter? I want to snap a picture with you two still in costume.”