Post by lizity on Jun 6, 2012 13:44:45 GMT -5
Damien and Cecilia had an interesting relationship. He cared for her greatly, and she cared for him greatly. But, Damien wanted to make sure there were no … others in his closet waiting to come out at the wrong moment. No, he wanted to make sure that he was going to be with her. But, tonight he had asked her up to his penthouse to go out and have dinner. To dress up and have a nice night on the town. He loved spending time with her, she was just so easy to be around. Also, the things she worked on in the R&D Department were fantastic. Most of the items he was going to start deploying in his Batman arsenal shortly.
Right now Damien was currently fighting with a tie he found back in the manor. It belonged to his father, but looks like it was never used. It was black with it widening a little at the bottom. Most of his ties were already pre-tied so all he had to do was put them on and slide it up to his neck. When she came in (as she had free reign to come and go from his place as she pleased) there'd be sounds of something that almost sounded like a struggle. But, there was nobody up here. Not even the butler. "I swear, I can fight a gang of thieves. But a tie eludes me!" he cursed in the mirror as he once again… knotted it.
Sigh.
~~
She wasn’t even sure what to call Damien anymore. He was a friend, sure, but was he more than that? She wanted him to be, she’d already had a taste of that before in Paris even if back then they’d both knew it was temporary. No, this was different, much different than Paris, even now. It was torture every time she wanted to kiss him and made herself hold back. She’d promised not to push him, not to invade on his life here but oh how she wanted too so badly. It was so different from who she’d been. Before if there had been a guy she wanted she went at it full throttle. Now she didn’t even look twice at other men. She was either going insane… or… well she wasn’t ready to think about the or yet.
Letting herself into his apartment she walked through the find him. Pausing in the door way she gave him a bemused smile and shook her head. “You know you should learn to tie them at some point. You do kind of wear them to work all the time.”
She’d found a cute red dress for the ‘date not a date’ evening out with him. It was tight around her body with a thing strap over her shoulders. The skirt fell lose from her hips down, falling short at just above her knees. Matching red healed shoes and red lipstick with her hair twisted up off her shoulders made her look almost like a young Marilyn Monroe.
Walking over to him she set her little purse down on his dresser and stepped in front of him. Reaching up to untie the mess that he’d already made before tying it correctly then smoothed it down the front of his shirt. “There. Perfect.”
~~
She… wow, she looked incredible. Damien was left speechless for a few moments as she came into his room. Coming up to him, she'd fix his mess of a tie. Taking a deep breath as he looked down at her. There were so many things…the way her eyes gazed up into his. The scent she wore, it was light. But not intensive. She was… perfect. Down to the red heels. "…Yes, Perfect." he whispered to her, losing himself in her eyes. Cecilia was a little shorter than him. Coming up to just under his chin, in her heels… she came up to his nose.
There was definetly something between them. It was on fire, blazing away. Damien couldn't deny it. The more he looked at her, the more he thought of Paris and how perfect she was. In so many ways. A smile slipped across his lips. "Shall we then, Cecilia?" he would ask, offering his arm to her. Right now, he didn't care if this was not a date, or a date. Right now, he was going to have lunch with a very attractive woman, who easily kept up with him and understood him like no other. She was out of this world in every way. "I have reservations at La Rissa. I hope you don't mind." It was hard for him also, he hoped she didn't feel like she shared the temptation alone…
~~
She blushed faintly at him before clearing her throat and stepping back from him to give them both some room. He was like a magnet, always pulling her toward him and she knew if she’d stayed standing that close for much longer her hands would have been back on his chest trying to draw him into another one of those toe curling kisses they tended to have.
“I hope it’s not too much. You said dress up and I didn’t have many dresses so I went shopping. I had to have it.” She did a little twirl for him before taking his offered hand.
“I don’t mind, I haven’t been there yet.” Not that she’d been to many places in the city even in the little while she’d been staying there. She was perfectly content to cook at home… or eat fast food like she usually did on her way home from Wayne Corp.
~~
"No." saying about her dress as he nodded. "It looks good. Great infact." she could pull off a potato sack, he was convinced. "You will be the talk of the town tomorrow, I'm sure." giving her a grin as they walked out of his apartment. She was a great cook, he remembered some of the things she made for him when they were in Paris and he would stay the night, or day if he was hurt from training. That was some brutal training. There were times he could feel his shoulder still wasn't quite right… but he worked through it.
Once they got down to the lobby, a car would be waiting for them to go to the restaurant. The door opened for her and Damien would let her in first, before moving to sit next to her. Maybe over dinner, they could discuss… this thing between them. This undeniable fire. Damien though couldn't stop looking her over. Lips curling into a smile, he'd have to ask her to wear it more often. It looked so good on her. "You're doing great work, by the way. The prototypes you've made so far are beyond my ideas. So, thank you. How are you liking working for the company so far? I hope I'm not to mean of a boss." giving her a grin.
She was the head of her department. Every department reported to him or Delilah directly. Every week they went over what was going on with their teams and what was next. It was the best way for Damien to let them talk to him, and voice their opinions.
~~
“I doubt it but a girl can dream right?” She teased as she slipped into the car, smoothing her skirt down around her legs. She was perfectly at ease in a dress or the jeans and a t-shirt he’d been used to seeing her in in Paris. Sure she’d dressed up for a few little dates they’d gone on but nothing like what she was wearing now. That was part of her charm, she always seemed comfortable in whatever she was wearing, or not wearing.
She saw him watching her out of the corner of her eye and she couldn’t help but grin before looking over at him. “Thank you. It’s hardly a job working there. Who wouldn’t want their own department with unlimited resources and budget. You’ve pretty much given me an computer engineer’s dream.”
She wanted to reach over and take his hand, just to be touching some part of him but instead she folded her hands in her lap over her purse. “How are things going with Delilah? She seems a little rough around the edges from what little I’ve seen of her. I think I remember you saying you knew her from somewhere?”
~~
Cecilia exuded confidence, and that was such a big part of her charm. That she was confident in everything she did and or wore. She was … amazing. In all sense of the word. Smiling as he nodded, listening to her. There was nothing more he wanted to do was put his arm around her shoulder and have her lean her body against it. Pressing his lips together, he'd smile some more.
"Delilah are child hood friends. She's doing great. I think you two would get along, she's from Paris too, but without the cute accent." a smile at her, he wasn't going to go indepth about her history. Damien knew all of it, he studied it before hiring her. But that didn't matter to him. "She… went through a great tragedy in Paris. If she seems edgy… just roll with it. She's a great person once you get to know her.." a nod.
What could he say about her? She was perfect for the role. "I'm glad you're enjoying your work. It’s the best thing I can hear." grinning.
~~
“Oh? It would at least be nice to have someone to talk to in French… that doesn’t butcher the language that is.” She gave him a smirking grin. His French was passible but she was always making faces at his accent, either that or laughing at him for getting some part of it wrong completely.
“You don’t talk about your old friends much. I think I’ve learned more about your past from the computers at the manor that I have from you.” Reaching over she finally gave in, resting her hand on one of his. Her fingers curled around his before she tugged it into her lap, her other hand resting under his so she had his larger hand completely wrapped between hers.
“It’s been a real eye opener though, finding out where you came from but I wish you’d talk about it more with me.” She said softly.
~~
Looking down as she mentions his past, he would nod. "I have a tragic family history, a lot of my … friends, are spread throughout the world. Some, I only see time to time." saying quietly as he squeezes her hand when she takes it. Licking his lips. "Even I don't know everything that happened. I know most of it is on the computer… but…" trailing off.
"What did you want to know? I'm not going to keep any secrets from you, Cecilia.." saying with a nod, and it was the truth. Damien didn't have anything to hide from her. "As for the reason I don't talk about my friends much… is that well, like I said. Most moved when I was young. I knew Delilah up until I was 12 or 13. Then she moved to France with her mother. You probably heard of her fashion line… House of Zorell. At least, that’s what I think it's called."
~~
“It feels like I’m intruding on things I shouldn’t when I read about it even though you’ve told me to do my research on things so I can get caught up to what all of you know. And yes there is tragedy in that history but there are also a lot of good things in it too. You focus on the bad things to much, Damien. You are such an old soul.” She squeezed his hand, giving him a gentle smile.
“I’ve heard of the clothing line. It is very popular in Paris especially.” Though she refrained from saying that she’d never been able to afford anything like that till she’d moved here. Getting paid exorbitant amounts of money for a salary was something new to her.
“What would you like to tell me? What would you like to talk about?” He never spoke much about his past and she’d known him long enough, watched his eyes long enough to know that parts of that past haunted him. And in true Cecilia fashion she didn’t push him to talk about things he didn’t want to, even when she had the opportunity now to do just that.
~~
Damien would press his lips together, then look up when they came to a stop at the restaurant. Taking her hand, he'd bring it up to his lips and give it a kiss softly. "I don't know where to start. That's why I was asking you to ask me.." giving her a smile, taking his hand he'd then touch her cheek gently. Cupping it as he then turned to open the door and got out. Offering his hand out to her to help her out of the car.
He would keep in mind what she asked. When she was out, he'd take her hand and give it a squeeze. The restaurant was beautiful, and like usual. She stopped the show, everybody wore dark and muted colors. Except for Cecilia, coming in with a swath of red. Not muted, not at all. When she walked by, people would look, men would get dirty looks from their own dates. (Even if they were looking also) Once they arrived at the booth, Damien would allow her to sit first before sitting across from her.
Reaching out across the table, he'd put his hands out for her to grab. "I'm serious, Cecilia. You have to ask me, you're not pushing me… it's… just I don't know where to start, or what you want to know."
~~
He touched her cheek and she let out a shaky breath but her smile was soft and gentle, always that way for him. She nodded and slid out of the car with him, taking his offered hand and squeezing it gently as the cameras flashed around them. It was a popular restaurant for the rich, wealth and well known in Gotham. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said she’d be the hit of the town in the morning but she ignored it off and stuck close to him.
She settled into her seat, tucking her skirt under her and smoothing it down to make sure everything was still in place before lifting her hands to rest in his waiting ones.
“Does it sound corny if I say everything?” She smiled a little, trying to suppress the blush that kissed the apples of her cheeks. “It’s true though. I want to know the good and the bad. The things that make you smile, the things that make you cry. Why you stare off into nothing when you think I’m not paying attention. You did that a lot in Paris.”
She took a deep breath and squeezed his hands. “Tell me about your mother? Not who she was before she had you, I can read about all that. I want to know about her from you.”
~~
Smiling as he looked down. There were mixed feelings about his mother. She could see that, but at the same time. There was nothing that Damien wouldn't do for her. "Start off big, huh?" saying with a smile as he thought about it for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to talk about his mother. "My mother.. she was very strict and stern. Kept me close to her. But, she was a great woman. Someone whom I look up to every day. But, on the day she passed, we argued about what I was about to do. To become what my father had become." he couldn't say in public, but he was sure she knew what he was talking about.
"I never got to say good bye…or show her what I am planning…" giving a shrug, it was obvious he felt great guilt over her. He'd run his thumbs over her knuckles as he looked past her in thought. Getting lost in the memories. "I remember this one time… I was maybe 8, or 9. I was doing what boys that age do, and climbed a tree. Well, the tree couldn't really support my weight. I stepped on a branch and fell about.. 30 feet or so. Broke my arm in three places." taking one of his hands from hers, he'd turn his other over and point out where. "When I came home from the hospital. She had prepared my room with all my favorite things. She and I had a long conversation… about not to climb trees. And that I had to be careful. I was the man of the house now, and … I couldn't go doing stuff like that. She then read a book to me, Moby Dick, I think it was…" trailing off "She was an amazing woman. Stubborn, but amazing."
~~
She smiled at him but didn’t say anything as he started, her fingers brushing lightly back and fourth against his palms, reminding him she was there. She knew how easy it was to get lost in memories even if she couldn’t claim a long list of tragic ones like she had a feeling he had.
“She wasn’t happy about it?” She guessed and when he nodded she went on. “I bet she was scared. Parents always want the best for their children. Usually better than what they had. I guess it’s kind of like the wife of a cop who dies in the line of duty who ends up with a child that wants to be a cop, you know. You don’t want your child to suffer the same fate. Or like the first time you get burned by something, you don’t want to touch it again.”
She squeezed his hands again. “I wish I could remember who told me this but maybe it’ll help you. When you lose someone, the whole saying goodbye, it’s not for them, it’s for us. It’s so we can move on with our lives. Saying good bye doesn’t make their passing any easier for them, you know? They don’t have to be here for you to say goodbye either. You just say it when you’re ready, when you’re ready to let go.” She leaned forward so she could lift one of his hands to her lips and kiss it softly.
“I like to think that some part of us is like our parents. That being said, knowing you, I can’t imagine she was anything less than spectacular.”
~~
"Exactly what you said. I know that, and I realize that. But… she wanted a better life for me. She wanted so many things… " shrugging lightly as he smiled when she kissed his knuckles, his eyes watching her. "How did I find such a intellectually beautiful woman?" asking her as he watched her as he lowered his eyes for a moment. "I have a confession to make.." trailing off as he looked up at her with a smile. "I am in love with you, Cecilia de Lioncourt. Madly, passionately, in love with you. There's not a minute that I don't think about you. Or what you're doing… I miss you at my side, I miss your cooking, your voice. Every minute that I'm apart from you. I want to be with you even more…" licking his lips.
"I fell for you in Paris… but here, I can't stop it. I love you, Cecilia." he said, feeling his lips dry from the confession. "From the moment I laid eyes on you… I don't want anybody else in my life but you. You… make me complete." taking her hand, he'd lean forward putting it over where his heart is. "Everybody has someone that completes them. To make them feel whole. And that's who you are to me. You are my heart. Through and Through."
~~
“I’m one of those rare nerds. We’re once in a life time kinda thing.” She teased, watching as he lowered his eyes to the table. She tilted her head so she could catch his eyes when he looked up, wondering what was going on in his head.
A confession? She arched a brow, expecting something about his mother or what they’d been talking about not the words that came tumbling past his lips. She was held wholly and completely captivated by his words as he spoke. When he finished she stared at him, one hand lifting to cover her mouth but when it dropped away she had the biggest smile on her face.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been speechless before in my life.” She whispered after a moment, squeezing his hand, suddenly hating the table between them. <i>Screw the table.</i> She thought to herself as she pushed out of her seat and moved over next to him. Leaning up she pressed her mouth against his, a chaste kiss compared to the one she really wanted to give him but they were in public.
“I love you. These last weeks have been torture. I wanted to say something so badly. It was just that I’d told you when I moved here that there was no pressure to go back to where we’d been in Paris but I’d wanted to. When you left Paris, nothing was the same. I was heartbroken, I just didn’t let you know. You had to live your own life. I never thought I’d see you again. I thought you’d always be my what if.”
She touched his cheek, tilting his face down so she could kiss him again gently. “My beautiful old soul.”
~~
Damien watched her as she came over to his side of the booth and kissed him. Sliding his arms around her waist, he'd just gaze into those beautiful perfect eyes of hers. Just admiring her for so long. "I… you have to understand, Cecilia. Sometimes I need a kick in order to see where the light is.." trailing off with a smile "I spoke about you endlessly when I left Paris. At one point, I believe Jennifer threatened to harm me if I spoke more about you. Not that she was jealous, just tired of hearing me talk about you." grinning as he kissed her again.
He's told her about his past with Lily, how she was his first, in many ways. But, Cecilia… this woman, she captivated him. They weren't very much alike, she was spontaneous and lived a care free life. While there was nothing wrong with Lily… but they were two very different women. Reaching up, he'd touch her cheek with a big grin. "I've been wanting to tell you for weeks. I .. wanted to be sure. I'm sorry…" watching her some more, he would take her hand placing it over his heart. "I care about you so much, Cecilia… that for the first time, I'm scared. That I'm going to learn what I'm capable of, and… it’s a little frightful. But in a good way."
Damien hoped she knew what he meant. A smile was stuck on his lips as he watched her. "You opened my eyes to all the possibilites, Cecilia. You make me want to see what the future holds for me, for you… for us." Leaning in, he'd kiss her again. "And if there's ever a decision that you think is not the correct one, feel free to kick me." grinning slightly as he stole her lips again for a pressing kiss.
~~
She laughed softly and shook her head. “Alright, I feel marginally better then knowing I wasn’t the only one driving my friends nuts. My girl friends back in Paris would roll their eyes at me. “
Her smile was brilliant as she sat next to him, the line of her body leaned against the line of his. Really she would have been just as happy going back home and skipping dinner at the moment but she didn’t want to ruin his plans for the evening either. She leaned her cheek into his touch, her fingers rubbing against the soft fabric of his jacket over his chest.
“I doubt its fear. Nerves, excitement, they can make us get that edge similar but love shouldn’t make you fear. I’m not afraid, not one bit. I can’t wait to see what happens. I can’t wait to see were we go. I was pretty open with my life before I met you, you know I’d dated a lot but it’s just different with you. This is real and all that stuff before was just left me empty.”
She returned his kiss again before smirking. “You’re giving me permission to kick you in the but? I could get used to this. “
~~
Smiling as he watched her, she was something else. That much was for sure. Damien didn't really have any plans for dinner other than having dinner with her. This was all unexpected. She was something else. "I also want you to talk to me, ask me about my past…because I know you want to hear it from me. I will not keep anything from you, I will never lie to you…" looking up when the waiter came by. "There are .. more things we should discuss in a more private manner." telling her as he glanced down at her for a moment before returning to the waiter.
"1 Ginger Salad with the steak and lamb mix with the extra breadsticks, and … a 20oz lobster with a house salad. To go." giving him a nod as he looked down at Cecilia "I hope you don't mind. But I know what you wanted." he said with a grin as he kissed her. The waiter simply rolling his eyes waiting for him to finish his order. Damien would smile handing his card over to the waiter. The waiter thanked him, and walked off.
Trailing fingers now over her cheek, over her chin. "I love you, Cecilia de Lioncourt. And I have since I first laid eyes on you." smiling "It only took your mere presence here to make me realize this." grinning.
~~
“I doubt there’s anything you could say that would send me running, Damien. I’m a big girl, I know how to handle things, I promise.” She smiled softly at him, sliding her hand into one of his as they sat together. “You know that’s a dangerous thing, telling me to ask questions.” But she believed him that he wouldn’t lie to her, besides the fact that lying wasn’t in his nature. “In private? About the family?” Meaning the Bat family, and his past.
She couldn’t help but grin to herself as he ordered for both of them. She was all about girl power and women standing up for themselves and what not but hearing him order exactly what she would have made something warm and gitty bubble up inside her.
“I think you’ve known for a while, even if you didn’t understand what it was. But I’m glad you finally pulled your head out of your ass about it. “
~~
Laughing softly as he shook his head. Leaning to kiss her again. "But yes, about the family" and some other things. Someplace where they could be themselves and not in public. Squeezing her hand as he kissed her again, and again. "Dangerous, maybe. But you want to know about me. About my family, from me." smiling
"But, it comes with a price. You are not allowed to ask me if something makes you look fat, or get jealous when I am working with another woman. In both jobs." saying with a grin, the first he picked up from TV. He assumed it had some kind of basis. "You know who I am, Cecilia… more than I do at times. But, whatever this is. I want more of it." saying quietly.
"Though, I am serious. I really do want you to ask the questions." smiling as the food was brought to them in a few containers. Along with a bottle of wine, he'd let her have it. Damien didn't drink. When she scooted out of the booth, he'd stand up next to her, sliding his arm around her waist and give her a big, passionate kiss. Something he couldn't really do sitting down.
~~
She giggled against his mouth as he kissed her over and over again, soft little peppering of kisses that were amusingly cute to her. She knew he’d only had one other girlfriend and from what she knew about Lily they were as different as night and day. It was good though, that they were that different, she never had to wonder if he liked her because she was like his last girlfriend.
“Damien, I don’t think you’d know how to cheat if a girl threw herself at you, I’m not worried about you working with other women.” An amused look played across her face. “And you can’t get jealous if I’m being flirty with people, it’s just my nature, I know you remember that from Paris.” Part of being with someone was accepting them for who they were and she had no doubt that was something they could both handle.
“I will, I promise. Questions are one thing I do very well with. And if I start to bother you with them don’t be afraid to tell me to lay off for a while. I want to know everything but I understand that sometimes they need to come slowly or you can only handle talking about something for so long.”
His deep kiss made her smile against his mouth before she fell into it, one arm around his shoulders, the other hanging onto the front of his jacket. The paparazzi outside clicked their cameras through the windows not that they knew it, lost in their own little world.
~~
Smiling as he finally walked out with her, after the kiss. "Don't worry about them, they're just jealous of you." grinning as he walked with her to the car and let her in first before getting in after her, then closing the door. Turning to face her, he'd just watch her for a long moment. Just watching her, admiring her. There was nothing he could say to her. Nothing else he wanted to say to her, he just wanted to sit here and just soak in this moment with her.
Reaching over, he'd touch her cheek softly. Smiling. Almost as if this wasn't real… it was all so quick, it felt right. But it was quick. Grinning now as he leaned in for a soft kiss. "I can't believe this." he whispered to her. "I feel … wonderful. I'm glad I finally said something. I was afraid that you were going to keep wearing this dress just to torture me." he would laugh softly before pulling her over next to him, his arms wrapping around her.
"I guess this means you'll be helping me tie my ties, hmm?" he said with a grin as the car started going towards where his penthouse was.
~~
“You’re staring.” She glanced over at him after they settled into the car but she was smiling none the less. “You used to watch me sleep in Paris. I remember waking up to those pretty baby blues more than once.”
She couldn’t help but think how strange things had worked out. Him being in the right place at the right time to save her from the muggers. Her being brave enough to take the job offer in another country instead of a safer one closer to home. It was the best risk she’d ever taken in her life, all the more so now.
“Oh is that so?” She grinned at him. “If you’re really lucky I’ll be taking this dress off just to torture you.” She leaned over to kiss him, sliding into his lap so she could wrap her arms around his neck. “Either that or I’ll be teaching you how to tie them yourself.”
~~
Shaking his head as he grinned when she slid onto his lap, arms wrapping around her waist as he looked into her eyes kissing her softly. "Can I chose which option? Because, I perfer option one of you having to tie them." kissing her again as he leaned back so she could have a little space and not be so crampt. The car was more than big enough.
It may have been strange, but it was a good strange. Luckily he met her. Of all the places, France. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to live without you, Cecilia. I'm not even sure how I made it this far." grinning. He offered her big money because he didn't want anybody attempting to steal her away. That and he really wanted her, well, for the company anyway. This was just a happy end result of what was started in Paris. Kissing her softly again.
When the car came to a stop and she slid off his lap, he'd get out of the car and offer his hand to her to help her out. Taking his to go bag, he'd walk with her into the complex. Letting the doors close behind him. The papazai weren't allowed anywhere on the grounds of the complex. After a few moments, they'd be in his private elevator up to his penthouse. "I can have Derek go by your place and pick up some clothes, if you wish." grinning "Assuming you want to stay the night…" trailing off as he moved up to her, lips pressing against her cheek, then behind her ear.
"I mean, I wouldn't want you to make a decision for you…." grinning as he whispered in her ear.
~~
Right now Damien was currently fighting with a tie he found back in the manor. It belonged to his father, but looks like it was never used. It was black with it widening a little at the bottom. Most of his ties were already pre-tied so all he had to do was put them on and slide it up to his neck. When she came in (as she had free reign to come and go from his place as she pleased) there'd be sounds of something that almost sounded like a struggle. But, there was nobody up here. Not even the butler. "I swear, I can fight a gang of thieves. But a tie eludes me!" he cursed in the mirror as he once again… knotted it.
Sigh.
~~
She wasn’t even sure what to call Damien anymore. He was a friend, sure, but was he more than that? She wanted him to be, she’d already had a taste of that before in Paris even if back then they’d both knew it was temporary. No, this was different, much different than Paris, even now. It was torture every time she wanted to kiss him and made herself hold back. She’d promised not to push him, not to invade on his life here but oh how she wanted too so badly. It was so different from who she’d been. Before if there had been a guy she wanted she went at it full throttle. Now she didn’t even look twice at other men. She was either going insane… or… well she wasn’t ready to think about the or yet.
Letting herself into his apartment she walked through the find him. Pausing in the door way she gave him a bemused smile and shook her head. “You know you should learn to tie them at some point. You do kind of wear them to work all the time.”
She’d found a cute red dress for the ‘date not a date’ evening out with him. It was tight around her body with a thing strap over her shoulders. The skirt fell lose from her hips down, falling short at just above her knees. Matching red healed shoes and red lipstick with her hair twisted up off her shoulders made her look almost like a young Marilyn Monroe.
Walking over to him she set her little purse down on his dresser and stepped in front of him. Reaching up to untie the mess that he’d already made before tying it correctly then smoothed it down the front of his shirt. “There. Perfect.”
~~
She… wow, she looked incredible. Damien was left speechless for a few moments as she came into his room. Coming up to him, she'd fix his mess of a tie. Taking a deep breath as he looked down at her. There were so many things…the way her eyes gazed up into his. The scent she wore, it was light. But not intensive. She was… perfect. Down to the red heels. "…Yes, Perfect." he whispered to her, losing himself in her eyes. Cecilia was a little shorter than him. Coming up to just under his chin, in her heels… she came up to his nose.
There was definetly something between them. It was on fire, blazing away. Damien couldn't deny it. The more he looked at her, the more he thought of Paris and how perfect she was. In so many ways. A smile slipped across his lips. "Shall we then, Cecilia?" he would ask, offering his arm to her. Right now, he didn't care if this was not a date, or a date. Right now, he was going to have lunch with a very attractive woman, who easily kept up with him and understood him like no other. She was out of this world in every way. "I have reservations at La Rissa. I hope you don't mind." It was hard for him also, he hoped she didn't feel like she shared the temptation alone…
~~
She blushed faintly at him before clearing her throat and stepping back from him to give them both some room. He was like a magnet, always pulling her toward him and she knew if she’d stayed standing that close for much longer her hands would have been back on his chest trying to draw him into another one of those toe curling kisses they tended to have.
“I hope it’s not too much. You said dress up and I didn’t have many dresses so I went shopping. I had to have it.” She did a little twirl for him before taking his offered hand.
“I don’t mind, I haven’t been there yet.” Not that she’d been to many places in the city even in the little while she’d been staying there. She was perfectly content to cook at home… or eat fast food like she usually did on her way home from Wayne Corp.
~~
"No." saying about her dress as he nodded. "It looks good. Great infact." she could pull off a potato sack, he was convinced. "You will be the talk of the town tomorrow, I'm sure." giving her a grin as they walked out of his apartment. She was a great cook, he remembered some of the things she made for him when they were in Paris and he would stay the night, or day if he was hurt from training. That was some brutal training. There were times he could feel his shoulder still wasn't quite right… but he worked through it.
Once they got down to the lobby, a car would be waiting for them to go to the restaurant. The door opened for her and Damien would let her in first, before moving to sit next to her. Maybe over dinner, they could discuss… this thing between them. This undeniable fire. Damien though couldn't stop looking her over. Lips curling into a smile, he'd have to ask her to wear it more often. It looked so good on her. "You're doing great work, by the way. The prototypes you've made so far are beyond my ideas. So, thank you. How are you liking working for the company so far? I hope I'm not to mean of a boss." giving her a grin.
She was the head of her department. Every department reported to him or Delilah directly. Every week they went over what was going on with their teams and what was next. It was the best way for Damien to let them talk to him, and voice their opinions.
~~
“I doubt it but a girl can dream right?” She teased as she slipped into the car, smoothing her skirt down around her legs. She was perfectly at ease in a dress or the jeans and a t-shirt he’d been used to seeing her in in Paris. Sure she’d dressed up for a few little dates they’d gone on but nothing like what she was wearing now. That was part of her charm, she always seemed comfortable in whatever she was wearing, or not wearing.
She saw him watching her out of the corner of her eye and she couldn’t help but grin before looking over at him. “Thank you. It’s hardly a job working there. Who wouldn’t want their own department with unlimited resources and budget. You’ve pretty much given me an computer engineer’s dream.”
She wanted to reach over and take his hand, just to be touching some part of him but instead she folded her hands in her lap over her purse. “How are things going with Delilah? She seems a little rough around the edges from what little I’ve seen of her. I think I remember you saying you knew her from somewhere?”
~~
Cecilia exuded confidence, and that was such a big part of her charm. That she was confident in everything she did and or wore. She was … amazing. In all sense of the word. Smiling as he nodded, listening to her. There was nothing more he wanted to do was put his arm around her shoulder and have her lean her body against it. Pressing his lips together, he'd smile some more.
"Delilah are child hood friends. She's doing great. I think you two would get along, she's from Paris too, but without the cute accent." a smile at her, he wasn't going to go indepth about her history. Damien knew all of it, he studied it before hiring her. But that didn't matter to him. "She… went through a great tragedy in Paris. If she seems edgy… just roll with it. She's a great person once you get to know her.." a nod.
What could he say about her? She was perfect for the role. "I'm glad you're enjoying your work. It’s the best thing I can hear." grinning.
~~
“Oh? It would at least be nice to have someone to talk to in French… that doesn’t butcher the language that is.” She gave him a smirking grin. His French was passible but she was always making faces at his accent, either that or laughing at him for getting some part of it wrong completely.
“You don’t talk about your old friends much. I think I’ve learned more about your past from the computers at the manor that I have from you.” Reaching over she finally gave in, resting her hand on one of his. Her fingers curled around his before she tugged it into her lap, her other hand resting under his so she had his larger hand completely wrapped between hers.
“It’s been a real eye opener though, finding out where you came from but I wish you’d talk about it more with me.” She said softly.
~~
Looking down as she mentions his past, he would nod. "I have a tragic family history, a lot of my … friends, are spread throughout the world. Some, I only see time to time." saying quietly as he squeezes her hand when she takes it. Licking his lips. "Even I don't know everything that happened. I know most of it is on the computer… but…" trailing off.
"What did you want to know? I'm not going to keep any secrets from you, Cecilia.." saying with a nod, and it was the truth. Damien didn't have anything to hide from her. "As for the reason I don't talk about my friends much… is that well, like I said. Most moved when I was young. I knew Delilah up until I was 12 or 13. Then she moved to France with her mother. You probably heard of her fashion line… House of Zorell. At least, that’s what I think it's called."
~~
“It feels like I’m intruding on things I shouldn’t when I read about it even though you’ve told me to do my research on things so I can get caught up to what all of you know. And yes there is tragedy in that history but there are also a lot of good things in it too. You focus on the bad things to much, Damien. You are such an old soul.” She squeezed his hand, giving him a gentle smile.
“I’ve heard of the clothing line. It is very popular in Paris especially.” Though she refrained from saying that she’d never been able to afford anything like that till she’d moved here. Getting paid exorbitant amounts of money for a salary was something new to her.
“What would you like to tell me? What would you like to talk about?” He never spoke much about his past and she’d known him long enough, watched his eyes long enough to know that parts of that past haunted him. And in true Cecilia fashion she didn’t push him to talk about things he didn’t want to, even when she had the opportunity now to do just that.
~~
Damien would press his lips together, then look up when they came to a stop at the restaurant. Taking her hand, he'd bring it up to his lips and give it a kiss softly. "I don't know where to start. That's why I was asking you to ask me.." giving her a smile, taking his hand he'd then touch her cheek gently. Cupping it as he then turned to open the door and got out. Offering his hand out to her to help her out of the car.
He would keep in mind what she asked. When she was out, he'd take her hand and give it a squeeze. The restaurant was beautiful, and like usual. She stopped the show, everybody wore dark and muted colors. Except for Cecilia, coming in with a swath of red. Not muted, not at all. When she walked by, people would look, men would get dirty looks from their own dates. (Even if they were looking also) Once they arrived at the booth, Damien would allow her to sit first before sitting across from her.
Reaching out across the table, he'd put his hands out for her to grab. "I'm serious, Cecilia. You have to ask me, you're not pushing me… it's… just I don't know where to start, or what you want to know."
~~
He touched her cheek and she let out a shaky breath but her smile was soft and gentle, always that way for him. She nodded and slid out of the car with him, taking his offered hand and squeezing it gently as the cameras flashed around them. It was a popular restaurant for the rich, wealth and well known in Gotham. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said she’d be the hit of the town in the morning but she ignored it off and stuck close to him.
She settled into her seat, tucking her skirt under her and smoothing it down to make sure everything was still in place before lifting her hands to rest in his waiting ones.
“Does it sound corny if I say everything?” She smiled a little, trying to suppress the blush that kissed the apples of her cheeks. “It’s true though. I want to know the good and the bad. The things that make you smile, the things that make you cry. Why you stare off into nothing when you think I’m not paying attention. You did that a lot in Paris.”
She took a deep breath and squeezed his hands. “Tell me about your mother? Not who she was before she had you, I can read about all that. I want to know about her from you.”
~~
Smiling as he looked down. There were mixed feelings about his mother. She could see that, but at the same time. There was nothing that Damien wouldn't do for her. "Start off big, huh?" saying with a smile as he thought about it for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to talk about his mother. "My mother.. she was very strict and stern. Kept me close to her. But, she was a great woman. Someone whom I look up to every day. But, on the day she passed, we argued about what I was about to do. To become what my father had become." he couldn't say in public, but he was sure she knew what he was talking about.
"I never got to say good bye…or show her what I am planning…" giving a shrug, it was obvious he felt great guilt over her. He'd run his thumbs over her knuckles as he looked past her in thought. Getting lost in the memories. "I remember this one time… I was maybe 8, or 9. I was doing what boys that age do, and climbed a tree. Well, the tree couldn't really support my weight. I stepped on a branch and fell about.. 30 feet or so. Broke my arm in three places." taking one of his hands from hers, he'd turn his other over and point out where. "When I came home from the hospital. She had prepared my room with all my favorite things. She and I had a long conversation… about not to climb trees. And that I had to be careful. I was the man of the house now, and … I couldn't go doing stuff like that. She then read a book to me, Moby Dick, I think it was…" trailing off "She was an amazing woman. Stubborn, but amazing."
~~
She smiled at him but didn’t say anything as he started, her fingers brushing lightly back and fourth against his palms, reminding him she was there. She knew how easy it was to get lost in memories even if she couldn’t claim a long list of tragic ones like she had a feeling he had.
“She wasn’t happy about it?” She guessed and when he nodded she went on. “I bet she was scared. Parents always want the best for their children. Usually better than what they had. I guess it’s kind of like the wife of a cop who dies in the line of duty who ends up with a child that wants to be a cop, you know. You don’t want your child to suffer the same fate. Or like the first time you get burned by something, you don’t want to touch it again.”
She squeezed his hands again. “I wish I could remember who told me this but maybe it’ll help you. When you lose someone, the whole saying goodbye, it’s not for them, it’s for us. It’s so we can move on with our lives. Saying good bye doesn’t make their passing any easier for them, you know? They don’t have to be here for you to say goodbye either. You just say it when you’re ready, when you’re ready to let go.” She leaned forward so she could lift one of his hands to her lips and kiss it softly.
“I like to think that some part of us is like our parents. That being said, knowing you, I can’t imagine she was anything less than spectacular.”
~~
"Exactly what you said. I know that, and I realize that. But… she wanted a better life for me. She wanted so many things… " shrugging lightly as he smiled when she kissed his knuckles, his eyes watching her. "How did I find such a intellectually beautiful woman?" asking her as he watched her as he lowered his eyes for a moment. "I have a confession to make.." trailing off as he looked up at her with a smile. "I am in love with you, Cecilia de Lioncourt. Madly, passionately, in love with you. There's not a minute that I don't think about you. Or what you're doing… I miss you at my side, I miss your cooking, your voice. Every minute that I'm apart from you. I want to be with you even more…" licking his lips.
"I fell for you in Paris… but here, I can't stop it. I love you, Cecilia." he said, feeling his lips dry from the confession. "From the moment I laid eyes on you… I don't want anybody else in my life but you. You… make me complete." taking her hand, he'd lean forward putting it over where his heart is. "Everybody has someone that completes them. To make them feel whole. And that's who you are to me. You are my heart. Through and Through."
~~
“I’m one of those rare nerds. We’re once in a life time kinda thing.” She teased, watching as he lowered his eyes to the table. She tilted her head so she could catch his eyes when he looked up, wondering what was going on in his head.
A confession? She arched a brow, expecting something about his mother or what they’d been talking about not the words that came tumbling past his lips. She was held wholly and completely captivated by his words as he spoke. When he finished she stared at him, one hand lifting to cover her mouth but when it dropped away she had the biggest smile on her face.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been speechless before in my life.” She whispered after a moment, squeezing his hand, suddenly hating the table between them. <i>Screw the table.</i> She thought to herself as she pushed out of her seat and moved over next to him. Leaning up she pressed her mouth against his, a chaste kiss compared to the one she really wanted to give him but they were in public.
“I love you. These last weeks have been torture. I wanted to say something so badly. It was just that I’d told you when I moved here that there was no pressure to go back to where we’d been in Paris but I’d wanted to. When you left Paris, nothing was the same. I was heartbroken, I just didn’t let you know. You had to live your own life. I never thought I’d see you again. I thought you’d always be my what if.”
She touched his cheek, tilting his face down so she could kiss him again gently. “My beautiful old soul.”
~~
Damien watched her as she came over to his side of the booth and kissed him. Sliding his arms around her waist, he'd just gaze into those beautiful perfect eyes of hers. Just admiring her for so long. "I… you have to understand, Cecilia. Sometimes I need a kick in order to see where the light is.." trailing off with a smile "I spoke about you endlessly when I left Paris. At one point, I believe Jennifer threatened to harm me if I spoke more about you. Not that she was jealous, just tired of hearing me talk about you." grinning as he kissed her again.
He's told her about his past with Lily, how she was his first, in many ways. But, Cecilia… this woman, she captivated him. They weren't very much alike, she was spontaneous and lived a care free life. While there was nothing wrong with Lily… but they were two very different women. Reaching up, he'd touch her cheek with a big grin. "I've been wanting to tell you for weeks. I .. wanted to be sure. I'm sorry…" watching her some more, he would take her hand placing it over his heart. "I care about you so much, Cecilia… that for the first time, I'm scared. That I'm going to learn what I'm capable of, and… it’s a little frightful. But in a good way."
Damien hoped she knew what he meant. A smile was stuck on his lips as he watched her. "You opened my eyes to all the possibilites, Cecilia. You make me want to see what the future holds for me, for you… for us." Leaning in, he'd kiss her again. "And if there's ever a decision that you think is not the correct one, feel free to kick me." grinning slightly as he stole her lips again for a pressing kiss.
~~
She laughed softly and shook her head. “Alright, I feel marginally better then knowing I wasn’t the only one driving my friends nuts. My girl friends back in Paris would roll their eyes at me. “
Her smile was brilliant as she sat next to him, the line of her body leaned against the line of his. Really she would have been just as happy going back home and skipping dinner at the moment but she didn’t want to ruin his plans for the evening either. She leaned her cheek into his touch, her fingers rubbing against the soft fabric of his jacket over his chest.
“I doubt its fear. Nerves, excitement, they can make us get that edge similar but love shouldn’t make you fear. I’m not afraid, not one bit. I can’t wait to see what happens. I can’t wait to see were we go. I was pretty open with my life before I met you, you know I’d dated a lot but it’s just different with you. This is real and all that stuff before was just left me empty.”
She returned his kiss again before smirking. “You’re giving me permission to kick you in the but? I could get used to this. “
~~
Smiling as he watched her, she was something else. That much was for sure. Damien didn't really have any plans for dinner other than having dinner with her. This was all unexpected. She was something else. "I also want you to talk to me, ask me about my past…because I know you want to hear it from me. I will not keep anything from you, I will never lie to you…" looking up when the waiter came by. "There are .. more things we should discuss in a more private manner." telling her as he glanced down at her for a moment before returning to the waiter.
"1 Ginger Salad with the steak and lamb mix with the extra breadsticks, and … a 20oz lobster with a house salad. To go." giving him a nod as he looked down at Cecilia "I hope you don't mind. But I know what you wanted." he said with a grin as he kissed her. The waiter simply rolling his eyes waiting for him to finish his order. Damien would smile handing his card over to the waiter. The waiter thanked him, and walked off.
Trailing fingers now over her cheek, over her chin. "I love you, Cecilia de Lioncourt. And I have since I first laid eyes on you." smiling "It only took your mere presence here to make me realize this." grinning.
~~
“I doubt there’s anything you could say that would send me running, Damien. I’m a big girl, I know how to handle things, I promise.” She smiled softly at him, sliding her hand into one of his as they sat together. “You know that’s a dangerous thing, telling me to ask questions.” But she believed him that he wouldn’t lie to her, besides the fact that lying wasn’t in his nature. “In private? About the family?” Meaning the Bat family, and his past.
She couldn’t help but grin to herself as he ordered for both of them. She was all about girl power and women standing up for themselves and what not but hearing him order exactly what she would have made something warm and gitty bubble up inside her.
“I think you’ve known for a while, even if you didn’t understand what it was. But I’m glad you finally pulled your head out of your ass about it. “
~~
Laughing softly as he shook his head. Leaning to kiss her again. "But yes, about the family" and some other things. Someplace where they could be themselves and not in public. Squeezing her hand as he kissed her again, and again. "Dangerous, maybe. But you want to know about me. About my family, from me." smiling
"But, it comes with a price. You are not allowed to ask me if something makes you look fat, or get jealous when I am working with another woman. In both jobs." saying with a grin, the first he picked up from TV. He assumed it had some kind of basis. "You know who I am, Cecilia… more than I do at times. But, whatever this is. I want more of it." saying quietly.
"Though, I am serious. I really do want you to ask the questions." smiling as the food was brought to them in a few containers. Along with a bottle of wine, he'd let her have it. Damien didn't drink. When she scooted out of the booth, he'd stand up next to her, sliding his arm around her waist and give her a big, passionate kiss. Something he couldn't really do sitting down.
~~
She giggled against his mouth as he kissed her over and over again, soft little peppering of kisses that were amusingly cute to her. She knew he’d only had one other girlfriend and from what she knew about Lily they were as different as night and day. It was good though, that they were that different, she never had to wonder if he liked her because she was like his last girlfriend.
“Damien, I don’t think you’d know how to cheat if a girl threw herself at you, I’m not worried about you working with other women.” An amused look played across her face. “And you can’t get jealous if I’m being flirty with people, it’s just my nature, I know you remember that from Paris.” Part of being with someone was accepting them for who they were and she had no doubt that was something they could both handle.
“I will, I promise. Questions are one thing I do very well with. And if I start to bother you with them don’t be afraid to tell me to lay off for a while. I want to know everything but I understand that sometimes they need to come slowly or you can only handle talking about something for so long.”
His deep kiss made her smile against his mouth before she fell into it, one arm around his shoulders, the other hanging onto the front of his jacket. The paparazzi outside clicked their cameras through the windows not that they knew it, lost in their own little world.
~~
Smiling as he finally walked out with her, after the kiss. "Don't worry about them, they're just jealous of you." grinning as he walked with her to the car and let her in first before getting in after her, then closing the door. Turning to face her, he'd just watch her for a long moment. Just watching her, admiring her. There was nothing he could say to her. Nothing else he wanted to say to her, he just wanted to sit here and just soak in this moment with her.
Reaching over, he'd touch her cheek softly. Smiling. Almost as if this wasn't real… it was all so quick, it felt right. But it was quick. Grinning now as he leaned in for a soft kiss. "I can't believe this." he whispered to her. "I feel … wonderful. I'm glad I finally said something. I was afraid that you were going to keep wearing this dress just to torture me." he would laugh softly before pulling her over next to him, his arms wrapping around her.
"I guess this means you'll be helping me tie my ties, hmm?" he said with a grin as the car started going towards where his penthouse was.
~~
“You’re staring.” She glanced over at him after they settled into the car but she was smiling none the less. “You used to watch me sleep in Paris. I remember waking up to those pretty baby blues more than once.”
She couldn’t help but think how strange things had worked out. Him being in the right place at the right time to save her from the muggers. Her being brave enough to take the job offer in another country instead of a safer one closer to home. It was the best risk she’d ever taken in her life, all the more so now.
“Oh is that so?” She grinned at him. “If you’re really lucky I’ll be taking this dress off just to torture you.” She leaned over to kiss him, sliding into his lap so she could wrap her arms around his neck. “Either that or I’ll be teaching you how to tie them yourself.”
~~
Shaking his head as he grinned when she slid onto his lap, arms wrapping around her waist as he looked into her eyes kissing her softly. "Can I chose which option? Because, I perfer option one of you having to tie them." kissing her again as he leaned back so she could have a little space and not be so crampt. The car was more than big enough.
It may have been strange, but it was a good strange. Luckily he met her. Of all the places, France. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to live without you, Cecilia. I'm not even sure how I made it this far." grinning. He offered her big money because he didn't want anybody attempting to steal her away. That and he really wanted her, well, for the company anyway. This was just a happy end result of what was started in Paris. Kissing her softly again.
When the car came to a stop and she slid off his lap, he'd get out of the car and offer his hand to her to help her out. Taking his to go bag, he'd walk with her into the complex. Letting the doors close behind him. The papazai weren't allowed anywhere on the grounds of the complex. After a few moments, they'd be in his private elevator up to his penthouse. "I can have Derek go by your place and pick up some clothes, if you wish." grinning "Assuming you want to stay the night…" trailing off as he moved up to her, lips pressing against her cheek, then behind her ear.
"I mean, I wouldn't want you to make a decision for you…." grinning as he whispered in her ear.
~~