Post by lizity on Feb 7, 2012 14:56:12 GMT -5
Rose and Lily had arrived in the early hours of the morning. Helena had told both Tim and Damien that the girls were due to arrive though she hadn’t said when they’d be there. Both women had slept through most of the day after the long trip from Europe and while Rose had gone out with Helena, Lily had stayed home.
She’d gotten up after noon and after showering and changing into clean clothes had slipped through the house. Daniel had caught her and sent her to the kitchen, fixing her lunch before letting her look around the house. She’d explored for a while before she’d found the workout room. She smiled to herself, mix matched eyes gleaming as she went through a tai chi pose series in front of the mirrors.
~~
Damien stayed to himself mostly, even when the girls came. So, when he stepped into the workout room to see a woman there, not his mother and definitely not Carmen. Pausing he'd ponder a moment if he should continue in, possibly disrupting her or if he should just leave her be. Thinking about it, well… he could go finish that book..
Or maybe do this new intense swimming routine he read about in a book that belonged to his father. Stepping out quietly, she wouldn't have heard him. Opting to take that swim instead. Not wanting to bother her too much. Going back to his room, he'd get his trunks on and grab one of those huge towels and went to the pool. Hopefully it'd be quiet there.
~~
She hadn’t faltered in her routine even when he’d taken a step inside the door. Her eyes flicked to the mirror watching him curiously though subtlety. She didn’t say anything, even after he left through curiosity did get the better of her. After a moment she followed after him, staying far enough back that he wouldn’t hear or see her till he disappeared into a changing room.
After he came out and went to the pool she slipped inside and sat down in one of the chairs. She remembered her mother talking about Helena’s son, this had to be him. Considering who her father had been she had something in common with him. Really it was the first time she’d been able to see the people that her father had regarded so closely. Damien didn’t look much older than she was or younger for that matter.
She sat curled up on one of the lounge chairs around the pull, ever silent as she watched him swimming.
~~
Damien had saw her from about the middle of the pool as he slowed and then came to a stop as he treaded water. Watching her back, silent for a moment before swimming to the edge and then turning around to continue his routine. No Hi, Hello, or anything. It wasn't that Damien was shy, people often got mad at him for being 'cold'. The first couple years Carmen thought he hated her because he didn't talk to her or really interact with her much.
After about another 30 minutes or so of swimming, he'd finally pull himself out of the pool and walk over to his towel which happened to be next to her. Staying quiet, he'd give her a nod, and hint of a smile before grabbing the towel, then started moving towards the changing room as he started drying himself off.
It was a possibility that he just said Hi to the girl.
~~
She watched him, her head tilted to the side slightly as she rested it on her drawn up knees. Her eyes studied him, looked for strengths and weakness out of habit like her mother had taught her. Some things were just instinct now, things for survival.
When he got out she gave him a soft smile hidden at the corner of her mouth with a silent mouthed hi. She opened her mouth to actually say something but he was turning and walking away. She frowned to herself and remained silent, folding her legs off to the side before setting her feet on the floor.
~~
Pausing in front of his locker he'd pull his towel off and think for a long moment. Finishing drying off, he'd pull on a black button down shirt and some jeans. Not bothering with the shoes though. He didn't know what to do about the girl. But she seemed a little like him. Quiet, withdrawn, studious.
Reemerging from the changing room, he'd glance to her watching for a moment as he waited for her to come to his side, if she wanted that is. If she did, he'd walk with her to a neutral location of the library where they could talk and nobody would bother them. "Damien." he said glancing to her, offering a hand to her for a shake.
"So. Uh." he started unsure what to say. If Helena were around, she'd think that he was losing it.
Unsure what to say? That wasn't Damien. While he didn't speak a lot. There wasn't ever a time he was at a loss for words.
~~
When he came back out she looked up at him. When he paused to look at her again she stood up and walked over to his side, following along silently. His bare feet where just as silent as her shoed feet as they walked through the house. Like him, she’d never met anyone that was just as quiet as she was. It wasn’t that she was withdrawn, she did like being around people she just preferred to observe and learn more than anything.
She smiled softly at him when he said his name. “Lily.” She offered back in the same subdued kind of tone. Taking his hand she shook his, her fingers calloused from years of weapon training with her mother.
“Thank you to you and your mother for letting us stay with you.”
~~
"Of course." saying after he shook her hand. Opening the door, he'd let her in first and gestured to a table where they could sit in comfort. On the table were a few books, one on history, another on Politics and the final was on ancient weapons. Light reading he called it.
So, the girl was Lily. Thinking about it for a moment, he'd lean back in the chair slightly as he picked up a book "I've found a way to avoid calluses for when you train." telling her as he shifted and placed the book down as he extended his hands to reach for hers. "I figured out awhile ago that if you apply lotion, with some mandrake root and oregano, that it'll soften the skin enough so they won't form." saying as he then showed her his hands.
He knew.
~~
Following she took the seat on the other side of the table from him. The book on ancient weapons drew her attention more than the other two, and she reached out, turning it toward her, opening the front cover carefully with her finger tips.
When he held his hand out for her hand a smile tugged up the corner of her mouth. Extending her hand she rested it into his hand as he inspected the calluses. She was still trying to figure him out. Even as much as he seemed like he was like her he wasn’t, he was different, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. Her strange multicolored eyes were so intent on him. When he turned his hand over to her she took it gently in both of hers, her fingers trailing feather light over his palm and up his fingers.
“Don’t you find the calluses useful though?”
~~
"No." saying with a smile "I'd rather use gloves. Leather works best. Keeps your hands healthy, and your body healthy. At least, that's what I think" shrugging as she inspected his palm. "I've learned that I can toughen the skin without making calluses." a bit of a nod as he pulled his hand back slowly placing it down on the table before sliding it under to rest on his thighs. He was studying the way she moved, the tones in her voice, the way her fingers touched. It was all part of how to read a person.
It was kind of nice not to be with a woman who was half basket case and half lunatic. Carmen was nice, but she was loud and brash. Damien wasn't like that. Quite the opposite.
"But, that's just me." shifting a little as he glanced at her with a hint of a smile. She made him nervous, excited, hopeful, and so many other things that it was hard not to explode. Maybe he was sick… he'll talk to mother later about this weird energy he was feeling.
~~
“I wear gloves sometimes.” She drew her hand back, flexing her fingers into a fist a few times. “I like not wearing them though, feeling the weapon in my hands, feeling it hit things. It’s like an extension of myself.” She blushed faintly as she looked down at her hands on the table.
He made her nervous and she couldn’t pen point why. It wasn’t something that she’d ever felt before from another person. Her mother had always taught her how to act, how to blend in when needed. While she wasn’t an assassin anymore it hasn’t stopped her from teaching her daughter everything that she needed to be one. The best lesson that Rose had ever taught her was how not to kill just as much as she’d taught her how to kill.
He smiled at her again and she looked down with a demure smile in return. “Maybe we could spar sometime?”
~~
Helena has also taught him everything he needed to know. But he didn't have a strong male presence in his life. Sure, there was Daniel…but he didn't really count. "I don't mind the gloves, I've learned to work with them." giving a shrug and then another little smile towards her. It was just something he did. Sliding his hands along his pants, he'd put them back on the table to grab a book when she suggested sparring, he'd nod and smile "I'd like that." glancing down at the book. Unsure what to do, or say next. Did she mean now? Later? When? Should he suggest a time?
~~
Everyone was different, everyone had different influences in their life, things that helped mold them into the people that they grew up to be. For Lily, she’d been around an interesting group of people, her mother being the peak of that but still there were others. She’d met her grandfather a few times though the meetings had been less than happy with her mother. She’d spent time with Fate when her mother visited him and she’d been all over the world. Of all the things she’d seen in her life she’d never met anyone that captured her attention to fully as him.
“You’re nervous.” She said softly, watching him fiddle with the book he reached for so quickly. Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth she offered him a smile.
“I think we’re going to be staying here for a while. What kind of things are there to do?”
~~
When she said he was nervous, he'd chew his lip a bit taking a deep breath. "There's a lot of things to do. There's a training room, the pool. An acrobatic gym. Though, I spend most of my time either here or in my room, reading." it was what he did, and where he learned the most. Glancing down, then back up at her he'd smile "There's also a big television in the recreation room. But, I tend to avoid it as that’s where Carmen spends most of her time."
~~
“Oh.” She nodded slightly, a smile still tugging lightly at the corner of her mouth. While she tended to be a rather quiet person much like it seemed he was she was starting to see some very large differences between them. Her quietness was a personality choice of sorts, now she was wondering if his wasn’t for a lack of socialization.
“Do you ever go out?” She asked, crossing her arms on the table as she leaned forward a little, her brown and blue eyes watching him so closely. He didn’t seem like he was much older than her if that. She didn’t exactly have a normal childhood to compare to his but she thought most good looking boys went out with girls often enough. He acted like he hadn’t spent much time around them at all. Still, his shy sweetness and the little smiles made her blush faintly.
“We should go out some evening. It’s Gotham, there has to be something for people our age to do.”
~~
"Not much." shrugging "I go out every once in awhile. But. I just don't really do it much. I tried going with Carmen. I've chosen to exclude myself from her troublemaking ways." saying with a hint of a smile. It wasn't that he spent time with beautiful girls or anything. It was that… he never thought about it that way. Going outside didn't really interest him much.
"I'm sure there is." he stated, there was a lot to do in Gotham. But again, he had just no real interest. "What….did you have in mind?" asking as he tilted his head, curious. They were raised differently, that was for sure. He was quiet, a bit withdrawn. Everything about him was quiet, from his clothes to his personality. "I've been told that I'm not like a lot of people are age. I have no reason for trinkets and baubles." smiling a little
~~
“You make this Carmen sound like a real hell cat.” She laughed softly, the sound quiet and demure at the same time. The more she thought about it the more she found herself enjoying the fact that he wasn’t like other boys around her age that she’d been around.
“I don’t know, something to get out of the house. You know more about the city than I do. My mom and I haven’t spent much time around Gotham. We travel a lot but my mom just hasn’t liked coming back here, she says it reminds her to much of my dad.” She looked down at the table, tucking her arms in closer to her body. “I’m not really much like kids my age either. Trinkets and baubles are over rated anyway, it’s just more things to pack for the next move.”
She glanced back up at him. “I just like go out sometimes and pretend to be normal. I know it’s weird.”
~~
Listening to her, he'd nod.
"I guess I know of a couple places we can go." smiling just a little as he glanced down looking over the books with his eyes, as he listened to her some more. "I can understand. When….did you want to go?" well, it wasn't like he had a lot on his plate to do anyways. "I will need to clear it with Mother to let her know." giving a nod. Especially going into Gotham, it wouldn't have been the first time Damien came back with bumps and bruises when trying to do the good thing.
She was pretty, no doubt about it. It was just … well, he didn't know how to be anything else but himself. Sure it was weird to say that, but it was true. He didn’t know how to flirt, hell, he'd never kissed a girl. School was something he didn't go to. Having learned most of what he needed on his own or through his mother. He didn't need anything else.
In a rare thing like this maybe Carmen would know a thing or two. But, that would mean talking to her. Sure, they all had their issues. She just tended to put hers out on her sleeves for the world to see.
~~
“Oh, whenever, I don’t want you to change any plans you already had made for the evening.” The idea of actually going out and doing something with people her own age excited her, flushing her cheeks pink. Plus it would give her more time to get to know this strange boy. Really, the biggest thing she’d looked forward to in coming to Gotham was being able to spend some time around the other teens that she’d grown up hearing about.
~~
Well, he hadn't made any plans, it was just more or less sitting around and reading more. But this girl intrigued him, he wanted to know more about her. Watching her for a long moment, he'd give her another hint of a small smile "Well, I generally don't plan out my evenings. While mother believes in structure, I believe in keeping my options available." shrugging. Most of the time he was found in his room reading.
"What….did you have in mind? There's a few good places to eat that mother has taken me too." giving a small smile as he bit his lip a little trying to control his eagerness. "One of them is a place where they serve hamburgers." leaning in to whisper to her "She has a healthy appetite." then lifting a hand up to show her two fingers. As if that's what his mother could eat. Was he bluffing? but he'd smile shyly. It was hard for him to lie.
"How…about you…? are…you free this…evening?"
~~
She laughed quietly again. “Fly by the seat of your pants? My kind of friend.” Her eyes seemed brighter the more engaged into the idea that he became. He didn’t seem the type to just go out for fun considering he’d said he spent his time reading.
“Dinner sounds good. How about you pick where we eat and I’ll find something for us to do after? Seems like we’re both kind of in the dark about other things to do. I can check the web for Gotham and see what’s popular.” Maybe a club? Did he dance? Some curious part of her wanted to drag him into a techno style club and see what he’d do. Those kind of things where her guilty pleasure really, she loved the loud music and the bodies on the dance floor.
“Tonight would be fun. I just need… like an hour to change and get ready.”
~~
Giving her a nod, he'd smile "See you in an hour then." saying as he slowly came to a stand. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he'd start towards the door and move out it silently. Is this what they call a date? He had no idea. Maybe he should look this up on the web also. What should he wear? All he really had were button down black shirts and faded jeans. But he was sure he could find something. He didn't seem to protest about the idea too much, they were somewhat alike. They both seemed to like the quiet in things. At least, he thought so.
Part of his training wasn't learning how to dance. So, if she was going to take him to a club. He was going to just stand there pondering what to do.
About an hour later, he was at the bottom of the foyer in another black button down shirt, but this one looking nicer. Maybe silk? over it was a black sports jacket accompanied a pair of dark jeans and black shoes. Daniel standing next to him waiting to take them wherever they wanted to go. He knew the city better than Damien did.
~~
“Okay.” She smiled and laughed softly at herself before slipping out of the library back to her room. How long had it been since she’d actually been out with people her own age. Seemed like ages really. She cleaned up, fixing her hair and putting on a little make up, accenting her oddly colored eyes, most people loved them or at least stared at them. Changing into a short white dress that she’d gotten months ago though hadn’t been able to wear she looked at herself in the mirror. Was it to much? Did she look okay?
Ignoring her worry about what she was wearing she looked up some things to do on the net before checking her time and walking down to the front door of the house. She had a little purse, the long strap over her shoulder. She smiled shyly when she saw him waiting.
“You look really nice. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting to long.”
~~
When she came down the stairs, he heard her. But he couldn't find an answer. Daniel, the butler would jab Damien with his elbow into saying something which only caused Damien to turn and glare at the butler who just grinned as he waited. Shaking his head, Damien turned and gave a shy smile towards the beautiful girl before "No." it's all he could say, his eyes averting from trying not to stare. Unsure what to really do in this instance. Maybe Father had some insight on this. But he doubted it.
"The….car is this way" why was he stuttering on his words? Why was he acting this way? It was driving him crazy. Though, the butler full well knew what he was going through and would smile to Lily "Ms. Wilson. You look great. The car is this way, if you'll follow me and Master Wayne." saying with a smile, jabbing Damien again for him to stick his arm out. Damien would and when she would loop her arm through his he'd flush a little.
He was deathly silent, the woman really got his tongue.
~~
She smiled at him then to Daniel. She’d never made anyone speechless before though she tried not to put too much into it. He didn’t seem like the type that got out to much. Maybe he just hadn’t seen a girl other than this Carmen dressed up before. Still she blushed faintly, flattered by his lack of voice.
“Thank, Mr. Daniel.” She said as she slid her arm through the one that Damien offered to her. Walking with him out to the car she slid in, her hands smoothing her dress down carefully as she settled in. She crossed her long legs, folding her hands in her lap, an air of excitement about her.
“Thank you for taking me out tonight.”
~~
Opening the door for her, he'd slide in after her closing it.
A moment later, the privacy screen would come up to leave the two with a little more privacy as Damien nodded "It was your idea. But, It is good to get out every once in awhile." saying with a smile as he slid his hands across his jeans trying to let his nerves get to him too much. Taking a breath, he'd shift slightly to turn his attention to her. Maybe this … chit chat that he's heard about will make him feel at eased. Of course, Carmen often tried getting him into that, it never really worked.
"So, where do you come from, Lily?" asking, curious. He knew who her father was, mother had told him. But he didn't know much about her, other than that she was from out of town. She was excited, he could feel it. In turn, it made him just a little excited himself. Though, he didn't really express it. His expression was calm, collected. Unlike his inner turmoil.
~~
“You could have said no.” He could have declined the idea and she’d wondered on some level why he had said yes. He didn’t seem like the type that did this often, much less with someone else. Was this a date? Did he think it was? Did she think it was? Good question. They were just getting to know each other, right? Never mind the fact that they were both dressed up.
Her fingers tugged at the bottom hem of her dress, her long tanned legs seeming to go on for miles with how short it was. Still she sat like a lady, never letting anything inappropriate show.
“All over. We’ve never really stayed in one place for very long. Home is where mom is I guess. I’ve been all over the world, either learning from teachers or from my mother different skills. Mother wanted me to be able to defend myself if something happened to her. She wanted to know that I could keep myself safe.” They’d generally kept moving to stay one step ahead of her grandfather but that was another story all together. Thankfully though Helena knew just how much Rose disliked the man after everything had happened.
~~
"Sorry. I…didn't mean it to sound like that. I'm grateful for coming." smiling at her with a nod, he was trying not to stare at her legs, or anything else for that matter. Just wanting to try and be a gentleman. This wasn't a date. It was a social outing between a male and a female of the same age. Once again, this wasn't a date. "I would like to travel through Europe. My father had a lot of old friends there that wanted to meet me." shifting his gaze towards the hem of her dress as she pulled it down then quickly averted his eyes. Claming up again. He would then look towards her face and try to keep his gaze cool and collect.
"We are here." he said as they stopped at a restaurant. It wasn't high class like a lot of people with old money visited. But it was nice enough that people their own age would be their too. Near the heart of downtown. Opening the door, he'd step out and offer his hand to her with a smile. "There are many clubs and other facilities."
~~
“I’m glad you did say yes, either way. It’s nice to go out with people my own age.” Though she could have offered to invite Carmen, the other girl that lived in the house… or not. She was kind of liking having him all to herself.
She didn’t miss the way his eyes trailed over her, following the line of her legs and smiled when he looked away. She was pretty sure he might have been blushing a little but he was at least a gentleman not to stare. She’d dressed up, even picked this dress because she loved the way she looked in it. She loved showing off her legs and the fact that she was lady enough not to flash anyone in a dress this short was just credit to herself.
“You should sometimes. Southern Europe is just beautiful. Sometime when you feel like you want to travel you should just pack a suit case and jump on a plane.” She laughed softly, “I think Helena might have a heart attack though.”
When the car stopped and he got out she slid over next to him, taking his hand as she carefully got out. Looking around she nodded. “I think the place I found online isn’t too far from here, either.”
~~
"Maybe when things aren't the way they are with our other guest, and all." smiling with a nod as he walked with her to inside the restaurant. "And yes. If I just left, My mother would most likely have a heartattack." chuckling as he told the hostess they would need a table for two. After a moment, the hostess would smile and motion for them to follow her to a seculded table. It was dark enough to make it nice and cozy for the two of them, when she sat in the booth, he'd sit across from her.
"Water. Thank you." he would tell the hostess when offered something to drink, once Lily ordered, he'd open the menu. "I am glad I came. I need to get out of the mansion more often." giving her a little bit of a grin as he placed his menu down to study it more carefully. "I…should warn you. I cannot dance. Mother never taught me. And I never bothered to learn." nodding, he'd take a deep breath "So, please be careful with me." saying as he smiled genuinely.
~~
“You should let me know if you ever do decide to go though, maybe we could meet up over there. I think you’d love Italy and France. Things seem to be much slower and easy paced there, especially in Italy. There’s place there that it’s almost like time just passed them by.” She spoke softly, her hand sliding around his arm as they walked through to their table together.
Sliding into her seat she smiled up at the hostess. “Water too please.”
She looked over the menu, her feet bumping against his lightly coughing her to blush lightly though she covered it with a smile. “If you can find the beat to a song you can dance. I promise.” She paused to look him over, her smile pulling wider. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll break if I’m not careful.”
~~
Giving her a nod "We'll see what happens." smiling softly at her. As he then glanced down, not noticing her legs bumping into his. "I don't know about that, though. I can perform a triple double loop, but dancing?" shaking his head with a smile as he shifted in his seat to lean forward a little bit "I don't know, I might break if you aren't." what the hell was that? pausing to think about what he just said he'd bite his lip as he opened the menu quickly to look to see what he was going to order.
"We should spar tomorrow, though. I think we have a gi that'll fit you." saying with a nod
~~
“Dancing isn’t hard. You just have to move with the beat. Somehow I doubt that your mom would teach you how they dance in clubs.” She laughed a little at the thought of that. The Helena they all knew was a little too uptight for that. Her brow arched at his flirt and she smiled wider. “Be careful, I might take that as a challenge.”
He went back to his menu and she was grinning to herself, resting her legs next to his under the table. He was flirting… sort of! But this was a good thing! Maybe he was just relaxing a bit more, maybe he though she was pretty, and maybe she was just spazing out like an idiot.
“I have my own practice clothes but yeah, I’d love to.”
~~
When she flirted back to him, his cheeks would turn slightly red as he tried his best to hide it. Damn these weird feelings! This was not a normal thing! He wasn't normal. But he didn't want to leave. Moving his legs every now and then, he'd feel how close her legs were to his and he was trying to be good and not stare and …! Accepting the fact that her legs were close, he'd leave his legs where they were.
"Tomorrow, Spar it is." now that was more of his style.
When the waitress came around, Damien would order a steak and a salad, once she was done, he would have nothing to hide behind now!
"So…how long has your mother and mine known each other?" asking, curious.
~~
“I might just have to try to wear you out tonight so I have the leg up tomorrow.” She smiled at him, leg brushing against his as she crossed her legs. She wondered if he was feeling as attracted to her as she was to him? She was actually starting to wish that she’d picked a different out fit to wear if only for modesty sake.
She ordered a stuffed chicken and salad, passing the menu back to her as she folded her hands and napkin into her lap.
“As long as I can remember. I guess Helena was really good friends with my dad. Mom doesn’t talk much about him but I’m hoping to get to visit his grave while we’re in the city. He died before I was old enough to remember.” Her face sobered. Sadly she knew who was responsible for killing her father which was made worse because it was the same person that killed his. Did he know that that man was her grandfather?
~~
Smiling at her little comment, he shook his head "We'll see." it was all he would say as she then ordered her food and spoke about her father and mother. He knew who killed his father, and her father. "Your father was my father's first partner." saying quietly. Damien wasn't sure what he was feeling, but he was very attracted to her. Unsure how to release that energy though. As for the dress, well, he didn't mind it all that much. Figured it was something that girls work a lot. And she looked fantastic in it anyway.
"And from what I've overheard from my mother. My father's second partner is here. And not much older than us. Apparently, they didn't like each other or something." giving a hand wave "I haven't met him yet. But if he knew my father and worked for him? I can imagine a lot of people will be wanting to see him." of all the kids, that is.
~~
“Yeah, I know. My mom told me all about him. It’s kind of neat that we’re becoming friends since they worked together a long time ago.” Maybe it was fate? She’d learned a long time ago not to look past the fact that fate did play a large part in life, even for those that didn’t believe in it. Doctor Fate kind of proved that at least.
She frowned at the news that he had. “How is that possible?” Time travel wasn’t exactly the first thing that anyone would jump to when it came to people showing up out of nowhere. “Do you think he’d talk to us? If we asked about our fathers?”
~~
"I don't know." saying as he shrugged "Reading my father's notes on time travel, it seemed to happen. Science and Technology were on the verge of it. There were heroes in a city in the midwest called Keystone City and Central City. The heroes there were fast. So fast that he said it was possible they could break the space time barrier. I don't know if they ever achieved it. But there's rumors that they used a modified treadmill to control their leaps."
Being the son of Batman gave you links to information that was fantastic and incredible to think about. "I think we should give him his space though. He's not older, he's younger than us. Like, before he had Sophia and married Stephanie." before he died, that is. "Maybe when things calm down a little. I heard them fighting again not long before you arrived. I have a feeling something big is coming." smiling
"Maybe when he gets settled, we can talk to him? He's the only link we really have to our fathers…" trailing off as he thought about that. Would mother approve? At this point.
He didn't care.
~~
“Really?” She looked at him curiously. “Does he have more notes? On the way things used to be? I’d love to look at them sometime.”Hopefully her mother and her would be staying around long enough for her to have time. The idea of leaving not put a heavy pit in her stomach though she doubted it had something to do with notes from a hero.
“He has to be reeling from everything.” She shook her head slightly, processing that. Younger than they were? They weren’t that old, twenty, some older and younger than that for the generation of kids that all grew up knowing about each other and their parents.
“I think you’re right about something coming. I think that’s why my mom wanted to come back.”
~~
Giving a nod.
Then a smile as he listened to her. She had such hope, such a grace about her. After a moment, their meals would be served. Damien would thank the waitress and started cutting up his steak with a shrug. "We'll see what happens." saying with another smile before eating his steak, he'd be quiet as he ate, not saying too much. Making little comments here and there and holding general conversation. But it was mostly quiet as he ate.
Once he was done with his meal, he'd wait for her to be done. Paying for the bill when it came. When she finished, he'd slowly slide out of the booth giving a bit of a stretch before offering his hand to her "My life is in your hands now." giving her a hint of a grin
~~
The conversation was light over dinner and at least she wasn’t the type that was afraid to eat around a man. When they finished she folded her legs out and stood up slipping her hand into his. She gave him a shy little smile, her hand squeezing his lightly as they left the restaurant.
“Oh, let me think of all the fun I could have with that statement.” She laughed, leaning against his arm lightly, lacing her fingers through his. They got back in the car and she gave Daniel the directions to the club she’d picked out. It was a short trip from where they had been but when they where let out at the door the heavy sound of music could already be heard coming out.
The people inline gave them looks considering the car they got out of and that they weren’t having to wait in line like the rest of them. That excited energy was back about her again as she tugged him inside into the dark corners and flashing lights of the club.
~~
He didn't really have time to protest, or try to escape as he found himself in the club with her. The music was so loud that it shook his clothes. Lifting a single brow as he glanced around with her. Soon, he was out on the dance floor surrounded by people who wore less clothing than what she was wearing, but he didn't comment. Just… standing there looking around. If he said anything, it would be lost within the beat of the music, and the volume. He was sure that he was coming home with some kind of hearing loss. How did kids his age do it?
So, when she started dancing against him, he'd blink and just kind of freeze, unsure what to do. This really wasn't covered in training.
~~
Really the club was kind of tame compared to some of the ones she’d been to in Germany but then again it was America, they never took things to the extreme that Europe did. They wouldn’t dream of it. Her hips swayed with the beat of the music as she tugged him through the club
“Dance?” She leaned closer to him, almost yelling the word before moving out on the dance floor with him in tow still.
Normally she wouldn’t have danced so close to someone that she was still ‘getting to know’ but the dance floor was packed, people rubbing against each other as they danced, bouncing to the beat that drove her closer to him. She noticed the way he froze, eyes darting around nervously and smiled. Pulling his hand up she rested it on her hip, leaning up on her toes to speak into his ear.
“Don’t think about it, just find the beat and move. Close your eyes, relax and enjoy it!”
~~
"Right. Because relaxing comes to easy to me." he said watching her shaking his head with a smile as he continued watching her for the longest moment trying to figure out what to do, so he'd just sway. But that changed when she placed his hand on her hip. Lifting a brow as she danced against him. Taking cues from people around him. He actually found some solace in his training with his mom. Picking up what people were doing, finding the beat as he'd start dancing back with her. Sparring was like dancing, so this was just another form of … sparring if you will. Moving with her he'd study and watch her move matching and moving with her. Not great, but not bad. At least he wasn't stepping on her toes.
~~
The beat of the music worked through to her bones, getting the adrenaline pumping. He was right, it was a lot like sparing in a way, watching the movements of a partner to either mimic or counter. She knew he’d get into it once he figured it out and thankfully he was a quick learner. As he started to get into it she moved closer to him, her own mixed colored eyes sliding shut as she let the techno take over, moving to what felt right and what felt good.
It felt like no time at all had passed since they’d walked into the club when really it had been hours. She was starting to feel it in her feet, the heels had not been made for dancing. She was warm, skin holding that glow from exercise and her eyes sparkling. She was having a blast, getting out and doing something other than practice or study.
“You want to stay a while longer or you getting tired?” She asked after a while, her mouth whispering against his ear as she spoke to him over the music and crowds.
~~
It was incredible the way this was going. This was going on for a few hours now…and…
wait, did the song even change? He couldn't tell. And he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to hear after this. But when asked him to stay or go, he'd smile leaning into her hear. He could tell by her posture that her feet were starting to hurt. "We can go." giving her a nod "Don't need to stay out too late." grinning just a little bit as he watched her
"Lets go." saying as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the crowd, pulling her out and towards the street with a smirk.
~~
A girl that had been dancing with her at one point during the night grabbed her hand as they started to weave their way off the dance floor, pouting and begging her for another dance. Lily laughed, leaning over to whisper something in her ear before stepping back closer to Damien, leaning against his arm while the girl glared at him. She was laughing as they left though, breaking out of the loud darkness behind them on to the street.
“See, you did have fun.” She poked his side lightly, lacing her fingers into his hand with the other. “I love it. Getting lost on the dance floor for a few hours. Might sound silly but I love the almost primal feel of that techo style music beat that just vibrates up out of the floor into you.”
She slowed down as they walked down the sidewalk slowly. Their ride would be there soon enough. She wasn’t exactly thinking about the car though, more thinking about the way their hands where laced together as they walked…. Until the sound of a woman screaming broke out of an alley.
Inside said alley where eight men, pushing a woman in her early twenties around between them. She looked like she’d maybe come out of the club and a few of the guys did too.
~~
Shaking his head.
"I think I lost some of my hearing." saying as he looked at her lifting a brow, but not serious as he continued walking with her until the scream broke the night. Looking down the alley way and seeing the men, he'd look at her "4 and 4?" asking as he unbuttoned his shirt a few buttons and then charged at them. Picking up a pair of spare bottles along the way. They shouldn't be doing this, and he wasn't going to let them do this. He was at full sprint about half way down the alley as he threw one bottle flat side down at one of the men, connecting easily as he seemed rather surprised over what happened as the bottle slammed into his head.
~~
Whatever she was going to say back to him was lost with the scream. She was moving beside him, quick and agile even on tired feet or despite the fact that she was in heels. “If you think you can keep up.”
She ran alongside him, not bothering to pick up any weapons but she really didn’t need too. The guy beside the one he clocked didn’t even feel it coming until she roundhouse kicked him in the side of the head with the point of her heel. He want down hard and wasn’t getting back up any time soon.
The men looked shocked for a moment but it didn’t last long before they were moving on them. One in the back grabbed the girl around the neck, dragging her further into the alley. “Yeah, get rid of these would be heroes while I get first dibs at our new friend here.”
~~
Spinning around her back as he executed a perfect straight high kick to the mans chin sending him flying back. "I can keep up." ducking, dodging and weaving as he stepped beside a man's punch. Grabbing his arm, he'd break it, then swing him around into the other man knocking him back against the trash can. Grabbing a lid of a can, he'd hurl it quickly and with such precision that it'd miss the girl by just mere inches. The edge of the lid cracking the man in the face, breaking his face and nose in the process.
"Would be heroes, huh?" saying as he stood there in perfect form, his breath heaving in the cool air as he glanced to Lily once she was finished. What happened next was unplanned as he grabbed Lily by the arm, spun her up against him and kissed her. Not off center, not to high, not to low. Right dead center.
~~
The remaining six men were dispatched with an effortless ease between the two of them. They read each other’s body language by pure feeling as they moved and really, it was more of a dance than anything they’d done inside. Lily was just as deadly as he was and she used what she had, both of the pointed heels of her shoes where bloody, several of the men now had bleeding holes in their bodies and it hadn’t phased her in the slightest.
There was the flash of an image in her mind an instant before he grabbed her arm and pulled her around. It wasn’t a surprise to her and she was more than willing and ready for it. Her mouth pressed against his as he crushed her body against his chest, her arms sliding around his neck.
~~
He didn't care at the moment when he felt her arms wrap around his neck as he pulled her closer. A moment later as the heat of the moment and the fight started fleeting, he'd break the kiss gently taking a deep breath, then looking down. "Sorry." he'd whisper pulling out of the embrace, Damien would easily scale the side of the building, really just unsure of what happened. For all he knew, the girl was a stranger. They'd only met this afternoon and he was already kissing her!
Was this normal? Is this normal? The only real 'man' in his life was Daniel. Sure, Lucious and a few of the others came around. But they were more like extended family than real family. Licking his lips he'd stand on the edge of the building just looking down. Thinking, pondering. Trying to figure his way out of this. What scared him the most was that this was all done without even thinking! Now she was down there, thinking he was probably a flake.
ARGH!
What was all this crap that he was feeling?! WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!
This sucks.
~~
Heat of the moment or not she fell into the kiss so easily. They were both worked up from dancing and now from the tussle they’d had. She was excited and giddy even as he started to pull away… until he whispered that one word. She looked up at him, confused as he pulled away and started up the side of the building nimblely.
She stared up at him as he looked down at her, a mix of a frown and hurt crossing her features before she picked her fallen purse up off the ground and pointed the girl that was huddled behind a trash can out of the alley. Once she’d ran she slowly started walking back to the sidewalk.
Daniel pulled up with the car and got out, frowning to himself. “Where’s Master Damien?”
“Up there.” She thumbed toward the roof then turned and kept walking down the sidewalk leaving the old man confused and looking between the two of them till she disappeared around the corner.
She’d gotten up after noon and after showering and changing into clean clothes had slipped through the house. Daniel had caught her and sent her to the kitchen, fixing her lunch before letting her look around the house. She’d explored for a while before she’d found the workout room. She smiled to herself, mix matched eyes gleaming as she went through a tai chi pose series in front of the mirrors.
~~
Damien stayed to himself mostly, even when the girls came. So, when he stepped into the workout room to see a woman there, not his mother and definitely not Carmen. Pausing he'd ponder a moment if he should continue in, possibly disrupting her or if he should just leave her be. Thinking about it, well… he could go finish that book..
Or maybe do this new intense swimming routine he read about in a book that belonged to his father. Stepping out quietly, she wouldn't have heard him. Opting to take that swim instead. Not wanting to bother her too much. Going back to his room, he'd get his trunks on and grab one of those huge towels and went to the pool. Hopefully it'd be quiet there.
~~
She hadn’t faltered in her routine even when he’d taken a step inside the door. Her eyes flicked to the mirror watching him curiously though subtlety. She didn’t say anything, even after he left through curiosity did get the better of her. After a moment she followed after him, staying far enough back that he wouldn’t hear or see her till he disappeared into a changing room.
After he came out and went to the pool she slipped inside and sat down in one of the chairs. She remembered her mother talking about Helena’s son, this had to be him. Considering who her father had been she had something in common with him. Really it was the first time she’d been able to see the people that her father had regarded so closely. Damien didn’t look much older than she was or younger for that matter.
She sat curled up on one of the lounge chairs around the pull, ever silent as she watched him swimming.
~~
Damien had saw her from about the middle of the pool as he slowed and then came to a stop as he treaded water. Watching her back, silent for a moment before swimming to the edge and then turning around to continue his routine. No Hi, Hello, or anything. It wasn't that Damien was shy, people often got mad at him for being 'cold'. The first couple years Carmen thought he hated her because he didn't talk to her or really interact with her much.
After about another 30 minutes or so of swimming, he'd finally pull himself out of the pool and walk over to his towel which happened to be next to her. Staying quiet, he'd give her a nod, and hint of a smile before grabbing the towel, then started moving towards the changing room as he started drying himself off.
It was a possibility that he just said Hi to the girl.
~~
She watched him, her head tilted to the side slightly as she rested it on her drawn up knees. Her eyes studied him, looked for strengths and weakness out of habit like her mother had taught her. Some things were just instinct now, things for survival.
When he got out she gave him a soft smile hidden at the corner of her mouth with a silent mouthed hi. She opened her mouth to actually say something but he was turning and walking away. She frowned to herself and remained silent, folding her legs off to the side before setting her feet on the floor.
~~
Pausing in front of his locker he'd pull his towel off and think for a long moment. Finishing drying off, he'd pull on a black button down shirt and some jeans. Not bothering with the shoes though. He didn't know what to do about the girl. But she seemed a little like him. Quiet, withdrawn, studious.
Reemerging from the changing room, he'd glance to her watching for a moment as he waited for her to come to his side, if she wanted that is. If she did, he'd walk with her to a neutral location of the library where they could talk and nobody would bother them. "Damien." he said glancing to her, offering a hand to her for a shake.
"So. Uh." he started unsure what to say. If Helena were around, she'd think that he was losing it.
Unsure what to say? That wasn't Damien. While he didn't speak a lot. There wasn't ever a time he was at a loss for words.
~~
When he came back out she looked up at him. When he paused to look at her again she stood up and walked over to his side, following along silently. His bare feet where just as silent as her shoed feet as they walked through the house. Like him, she’d never met anyone that was just as quiet as she was. It wasn’t that she was withdrawn, she did like being around people she just preferred to observe and learn more than anything.
She smiled softly at him when he said his name. “Lily.” She offered back in the same subdued kind of tone. Taking his hand she shook his, her fingers calloused from years of weapon training with her mother.
“Thank you to you and your mother for letting us stay with you.”
~~
"Of course." saying after he shook her hand. Opening the door, he'd let her in first and gestured to a table where they could sit in comfort. On the table were a few books, one on history, another on Politics and the final was on ancient weapons. Light reading he called it.
So, the girl was Lily. Thinking about it for a moment, he'd lean back in the chair slightly as he picked up a book "I've found a way to avoid calluses for when you train." telling her as he shifted and placed the book down as he extended his hands to reach for hers. "I figured out awhile ago that if you apply lotion, with some mandrake root and oregano, that it'll soften the skin enough so they won't form." saying as he then showed her his hands.
He knew.
~~
Following she took the seat on the other side of the table from him. The book on ancient weapons drew her attention more than the other two, and she reached out, turning it toward her, opening the front cover carefully with her finger tips.
When he held his hand out for her hand a smile tugged up the corner of her mouth. Extending her hand she rested it into his hand as he inspected the calluses. She was still trying to figure him out. Even as much as he seemed like he was like her he wasn’t, he was different, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. Her strange multicolored eyes were so intent on him. When he turned his hand over to her she took it gently in both of hers, her fingers trailing feather light over his palm and up his fingers.
“Don’t you find the calluses useful though?”
~~
"No." saying with a smile "I'd rather use gloves. Leather works best. Keeps your hands healthy, and your body healthy. At least, that's what I think" shrugging as she inspected his palm. "I've learned that I can toughen the skin without making calluses." a bit of a nod as he pulled his hand back slowly placing it down on the table before sliding it under to rest on his thighs. He was studying the way she moved, the tones in her voice, the way her fingers touched. It was all part of how to read a person.
It was kind of nice not to be with a woman who was half basket case and half lunatic. Carmen was nice, but she was loud and brash. Damien wasn't like that. Quite the opposite.
"But, that's just me." shifting a little as he glanced at her with a hint of a smile. She made him nervous, excited, hopeful, and so many other things that it was hard not to explode. Maybe he was sick… he'll talk to mother later about this weird energy he was feeling.
~~
“I wear gloves sometimes.” She drew her hand back, flexing her fingers into a fist a few times. “I like not wearing them though, feeling the weapon in my hands, feeling it hit things. It’s like an extension of myself.” She blushed faintly as she looked down at her hands on the table.
He made her nervous and she couldn’t pen point why. It wasn’t something that she’d ever felt before from another person. Her mother had always taught her how to act, how to blend in when needed. While she wasn’t an assassin anymore it hasn’t stopped her from teaching her daughter everything that she needed to be one. The best lesson that Rose had ever taught her was how not to kill just as much as she’d taught her how to kill.
He smiled at her again and she looked down with a demure smile in return. “Maybe we could spar sometime?”
~~
Helena has also taught him everything he needed to know. But he didn't have a strong male presence in his life. Sure, there was Daniel…but he didn't really count. "I don't mind the gloves, I've learned to work with them." giving a shrug and then another little smile towards her. It was just something he did. Sliding his hands along his pants, he'd put them back on the table to grab a book when she suggested sparring, he'd nod and smile "I'd like that." glancing down at the book. Unsure what to do, or say next. Did she mean now? Later? When? Should he suggest a time?
~~
Everyone was different, everyone had different influences in their life, things that helped mold them into the people that they grew up to be. For Lily, she’d been around an interesting group of people, her mother being the peak of that but still there were others. She’d met her grandfather a few times though the meetings had been less than happy with her mother. She’d spent time with Fate when her mother visited him and she’d been all over the world. Of all the things she’d seen in her life she’d never met anyone that captured her attention to fully as him.
“You’re nervous.” She said softly, watching him fiddle with the book he reached for so quickly. Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth she offered him a smile.
“I think we’re going to be staying here for a while. What kind of things are there to do?”
~~
When she said he was nervous, he'd chew his lip a bit taking a deep breath. "There's a lot of things to do. There's a training room, the pool. An acrobatic gym. Though, I spend most of my time either here or in my room, reading." it was what he did, and where he learned the most. Glancing down, then back up at her he'd smile "There's also a big television in the recreation room. But, I tend to avoid it as that’s where Carmen spends most of her time."
~~
“Oh.” She nodded slightly, a smile still tugging lightly at the corner of her mouth. While she tended to be a rather quiet person much like it seemed he was she was starting to see some very large differences between them. Her quietness was a personality choice of sorts, now she was wondering if his wasn’t for a lack of socialization.
“Do you ever go out?” She asked, crossing her arms on the table as she leaned forward a little, her brown and blue eyes watching him so closely. He didn’t seem like he was much older than her if that. She didn’t exactly have a normal childhood to compare to his but she thought most good looking boys went out with girls often enough. He acted like he hadn’t spent much time around them at all. Still, his shy sweetness and the little smiles made her blush faintly.
“We should go out some evening. It’s Gotham, there has to be something for people our age to do.”
~~
"Not much." shrugging "I go out every once in awhile. But. I just don't really do it much. I tried going with Carmen. I've chosen to exclude myself from her troublemaking ways." saying with a hint of a smile. It wasn't that he spent time with beautiful girls or anything. It was that… he never thought about it that way. Going outside didn't really interest him much.
"I'm sure there is." he stated, there was a lot to do in Gotham. But again, he had just no real interest. "What….did you have in mind?" asking as he tilted his head, curious. They were raised differently, that was for sure. He was quiet, a bit withdrawn. Everything about him was quiet, from his clothes to his personality. "I've been told that I'm not like a lot of people are age. I have no reason for trinkets and baubles." smiling a little
~~
“You make this Carmen sound like a real hell cat.” She laughed softly, the sound quiet and demure at the same time. The more she thought about it the more she found herself enjoying the fact that he wasn’t like other boys around her age that she’d been around.
“I don’t know, something to get out of the house. You know more about the city than I do. My mom and I haven’t spent much time around Gotham. We travel a lot but my mom just hasn’t liked coming back here, she says it reminds her to much of my dad.” She looked down at the table, tucking her arms in closer to her body. “I’m not really much like kids my age either. Trinkets and baubles are over rated anyway, it’s just more things to pack for the next move.”
She glanced back up at him. “I just like go out sometimes and pretend to be normal. I know it’s weird.”
~~
Listening to her, he'd nod.
"I guess I know of a couple places we can go." smiling just a little as he glanced down looking over the books with his eyes, as he listened to her some more. "I can understand. When….did you want to go?" well, it wasn't like he had a lot on his plate to do anyways. "I will need to clear it with Mother to let her know." giving a nod. Especially going into Gotham, it wouldn't have been the first time Damien came back with bumps and bruises when trying to do the good thing.
She was pretty, no doubt about it. It was just … well, he didn't know how to be anything else but himself. Sure it was weird to say that, but it was true. He didn’t know how to flirt, hell, he'd never kissed a girl. School was something he didn't go to. Having learned most of what he needed on his own or through his mother. He didn't need anything else.
In a rare thing like this maybe Carmen would know a thing or two. But, that would mean talking to her. Sure, they all had their issues. She just tended to put hers out on her sleeves for the world to see.
~~
“Oh, whenever, I don’t want you to change any plans you already had made for the evening.” The idea of actually going out and doing something with people her own age excited her, flushing her cheeks pink. Plus it would give her more time to get to know this strange boy. Really, the biggest thing she’d looked forward to in coming to Gotham was being able to spend some time around the other teens that she’d grown up hearing about.
~~
Well, he hadn't made any plans, it was just more or less sitting around and reading more. But this girl intrigued him, he wanted to know more about her. Watching her for a long moment, he'd give her another hint of a small smile "Well, I generally don't plan out my evenings. While mother believes in structure, I believe in keeping my options available." shrugging. Most of the time he was found in his room reading.
"What….did you have in mind? There's a few good places to eat that mother has taken me too." giving a small smile as he bit his lip a little trying to control his eagerness. "One of them is a place where they serve hamburgers." leaning in to whisper to her "She has a healthy appetite." then lifting a hand up to show her two fingers. As if that's what his mother could eat. Was he bluffing? but he'd smile shyly. It was hard for him to lie.
"How…about you…? are…you free this…evening?"
~~
She laughed quietly again. “Fly by the seat of your pants? My kind of friend.” Her eyes seemed brighter the more engaged into the idea that he became. He didn’t seem the type to just go out for fun considering he’d said he spent his time reading.
“Dinner sounds good. How about you pick where we eat and I’ll find something for us to do after? Seems like we’re both kind of in the dark about other things to do. I can check the web for Gotham and see what’s popular.” Maybe a club? Did he dance? Some curious part of her wanted to drag him into a techno style club and see what he’d do. Those kind of things where her guilty pleasure really, she loved the loud music and the bodies on the dance floor.
“Tonight would be fun. I just need… like an hour to change and get ready.”
~~
Giving her a nod, he'd smile "See you in an hour then." saying as he slowly came to a stand. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he'd start towards the door and move out it silently. Is this what they call a date? He had no idea. Maybe he should look this up on the web also. What should he wear? All he really had were button down black shirts and faded jeans. But he was sure he could find something. He didn't seem to protest about the idea too much, they were somewhat alike. They both seemed to like the quiet in things. At least, he thought so.
Part of his training wasn't learning how to dance. So, if she was going to take him to a club. He was going to just stand there pondering what to do.
About an hour later, he was at the bottom of the foyer in another black button down shirt, but this one looking nicer. Maybe silk? over it was a black sports jacket accompanied a pair of dark jeans and black shoes. Daniel standing next to him waiting to take them wherever they wanted to go. He knew the city better than Damien did.
~~
“Okay.” She smiled and laughed softly at herself before slipping out of the library back to her room. How long had it been since she’d actually been out with people her own age. Seemed like ages really. She cleaned up, fixing her hair and putting on a little make up, accenting her oddly colored eyes, most people loved them or at least stared at them. Changing into a short white dress that she’d gotten months ago though hadn’t been able to wear she looked at herself in the mirror. Was it to much? Did she look okay?
Ignoring her worry about what she was wearing she looked up some things to do on the net before checking her time and walking down to the front door of the house. She had a little purse, the long strap over her shoulder. She smiled shyly when she saw him waiting.
“You look really nice. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting to long.”
~~
When she came down the stairs, he heard her. But he couldn't find an answer. Daniel, the butler would jab Damien with his elbow into saying something which only caused Damien to turn and glare at the butler who just grinned as he waited. Shaking his head, Damien turned and gave a shy smile towards the beautiful girl before "No." it's all he could say, his eyes averting from trying not to stare. Unsure what to really do in this instance. Maybe Father had some insight on this. But he doubted it.
"The….car is this way" why was he stuttering on his words? Why was he acting this way? It was driving him crazy. Though, the butler full well knew what he was going through and would smile to Lily "Ms. Wilson. You look great. The car is this way, if you'll follow me and Master Wayne." saying with a smile, jabbing Damien again for him to stick his arm out. Damien would and when she would loop her arm through his he'd flush a little.
He was deathly silent, the woman really got his tongue.
~~
She smiled at him then to Daniel. She’d never made anyone speechless before though she tried not to put too much into it. He didn’t seem like the type that got out to much. Maybe he just hadn’t seen a girl other than this Carmen dressed up before. Still she blushed faintly, flattered by his lack of voice.
“Thank, Mr. Daniel.” She said as she slid her arm through the one that Damien offered to her. Walking with him out to the car she slid in, her hands smoothing her dress down carefully as she settled in. She crossed her long legs, folding her hands in her lap, an air of excitement about her.
“Thank you for taking me out tonight.”
~~
Opening the door for her, he'd slide in after her closing it.
A moment later, the privacy screen would come up to leave the two with a little more privacy as Damien nodded "It was your idea. But, It is good to get out every once in awhile." saying with a smile as he slid his hands across his jeans trying to let his nerves get to him too much. Taking a breath, he'd shift slightly to turn his attention to her. Maybe this … chit chat that he's heard about will make him feel at eased. Of course, Carmen often tried getting him into that, it never really worked.
"So, where do you come from, Lily?" asking, curious. He knew who her father was, mother had told him. But he didn't know much about her, other than that she was from out of town. She was excited, he could feel it. In turn, it made him just a little excited himself. Though, he didn't really express it. His expression was calm, collected. Unlike his inner turmoil.
~~
“You could have said no.” He could have declined the idea and she’d wondered on some level why he had said yes. He didn’t seem like the type that did this often, much less with someone else. Was this a date? Did he think it was? Did she think it was? Good question. They were just getting to know each other, right? Never mind the fact that they were both dressed up.
Her fingers tugged at the bottom hem of her dress, her long tanned legs seeming to go on for miles with how short it was. Still she sat like a lady, never letting anything inappropriate show.
“All over. We’ve never really stayed in one place for very long. Home is where mom is I guess. I’ve been all over the world, either learning from teachers or from my mother different skills. Mother wanted me to be able to defend myself if something happened to her. She wanted to know that I could keep myself safe.” They’d generally kept moving to stay one step ahead of her grandfather but that was another story all together. Thankfully though Helena knew just how much Rose disliked the man after everything had happened.
~~
"Sorry. I…didn't mean it to sound like that. I'm grateful for coming." smiling at her with a nod, he was trying not to stare at her legs, or anything else for that matter. Just wanting to try and be a gentleman. This wasn't a date. It was a social outing between a male and a female of the same age. Once again, this wasn't a date. "I would like to travel through Europe. My father had a lot of old friends there that wanted to meet me." shifting his gaze towards the hem of her dress as she pulled it down then quickly averted his eyes. Claming up again. He would then look towards her face and try to keep his gaze cool and collect.
"We are here." he said as they stopped at a restaurant. It wasn't high class like a lot of people with old money visited. But it was nice enough that people their own age would be their too. Near the heart of downtown. Opening the door, he'd step out and offer his hand to her with a smile. "There are many clubs and other facilities."
~~
“I’m glad you did say yes, either way. It’s nice to go out with people my own age.” Though she could have offered to invite Carmen, the other girl that lived in the house… or not. She was kind of liking having him all to herself.
She didn’t miss the way his eyes trailed over her, following the line of her legs and smiled when he looked away. She was pretty sure he might have been blushing a little but he was at least a gentleman not to stare. She’d dressed up, even picked this dress because she loved the way she looked in it. She loved showing off her legs and the fact that she was lady enough not to flash anyone in a dress this short was just credit to herself.
“You should sometimes. Southern Europe is just beautiful. Sometime when you feel like you want to travel you should just pack a suit case and jump on a plane.” She laughed softly, “I think Helena might have a heart attack though.”
When the car stopped and he got out she slid over next to him, taking his hand as she carefully got out. Looking around she nodded. “I think the place I found online isn’t too far from here, either.”
~~
"Maybe when things aren't the way they are with our other guest, and all." smiling with a nod as he walked with her to inside the restaurant. "And yes. If I just left, My mother would most likely have a heartattack." chuckling as he told the hostess they would need a table for two. After a moment, the hostess would smile and motion for them to follow her to a seculded table. It was dark enough to make it nice and cozy for the two of them, when she sat in the booth, he'd sit across from her.
"Water. Thank you." he would tell the hostess when offered something to drink, once Lily ordered, he'd open the menu. "I am glad I came. I need to get out of the mansion more often." giving her a little bit of a grin as he placed his menu down to study it more carefully. "I…should warn you. I cannot dance. Mother never taught me. And I never bothered to learn." nodding, he'd take a deep breath "So, please be careful with me." saying as he smiled genuinely.
~~
“You should let me know if you ever do decide to go though, maybe we could meet up over there. I think you’d love Italy and France. Things seem to be much slower and easy paced there, especially in Italy. There’s place there that it’s almost like time just passed them by.” She spoke softly, her hand sliding around his arm as they walked through to their table together.
Sliding into her seat she smiled up at the hostess. “Water too please.”
She looked over the menu, her feet bumping against his lightly coughing her to blush lightly though she covered it with a smile. “If you can find the beat to a song you can dance. I promise.” She paused to look him over, her smile pulling wider. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll break if I’m not careful.”
~~
Giving her a nod "We'll see what happens." smiling softly at her. As he then glanced down, not noticing her legs bumping into his. "I don't know about that, though. I can perform a triple double loop, but dancing?" shaking his head with a smile as he shifted in his seat to lean forward a little bit "I don't know, I might break if you aren't." what the hell was that? pausing to think about what he just said he'd bite his lip as he opened the menu quickly to look to see what he was going to order.
"We should spar tomorrow, though. I think we have a gi that'll fit you." saying with a nod
~~
“Dancing isn’t hard. You just have to move with the beat. Somehow I doubt that your mom would teach you how they dance in clubs.” She laughed a little at the thought of that. The Helena they all knew was a little too uptight for that. Her brow arched at his flirt and she smiled wider. “Be careful, I might take that as a challenge.”
He went back to his menu and she was grinning to herself, resting her legs next to his under the table. He was flirting… sort of! But this was a good thing! Maybe he was just relaxing a bit more, maybe he though she was pretty, and maybe she was just spazing out like an idiot.
“I have my own practice clothes but yeah, I’d love to.”
~~
When she flirted back to him, his cheeks would turn slightly red as he tried his best to hide it. Damn these weird feelings! This was not a normal thing! He wasn't normal. But he didn't want to leave. Moving his legs every now and then, he'd feel how close her legs were to his and he was trying to be good and not stare and …! Accepting the fact that her legs were close, he'd leave his legs where they were.
"Tomorrow, Spar it is." now that was more of his style.
When the waitress came around, Damien would order a steak and a salad, once she was done, he would have nothing to hide behind now!
"So…how long has your mother and mine known each other?" asking, curious.
~~
“I might just have to try to wear you out tonight so I have the leg up tomorrow.” She smiled at him, leg brushing against his as she crossed her legs. She wondered if he was feeling as attracted to her as she was to him? She was actually starting to wish that she’d picked a different out fit to wear if only for modesty sake.
She ordered a stuffed chicken and salad, passing the menu back to her as she folded her hands and napkin into her lap.
“As long as I can remember. I guess Helena was really good friends with my dad. Mom doesn’t talk much about him but I’m hoping to get to visit his grave while we’re in the city. He died before I was old enough to remember.” Her face sobered. Sadly she knew who was responsible for killing her father which was made worse because it was the same person that killed his. Did he know that that man was her grandfather?
~~
Smiling at her little comment, he shook his head "We'll see." it was all he would say as she then ordered her food and spoke about her father and mother. He knew who killed his father, and her father. "Your father was my father's first partner." saying quietly. Damien wasn't sure what he was feeling, but he was very attracted to her. Unsure how to release that energy though. As for the dress, well, he didn't mind it all that much. Figured it was something that girls work a lot. And she looked fantastic in it anyway.
"And from what I've overheard from my mother. My father's second partner is here. And not much older than us. Apparently, they didn't like each other or something." giving a hand wave "I haven't met him yet. But if he knew my father and worked for him? I can imagine a lot of people will be wanting to see him." of all the kids, that is.
~~
“Yeah, I know. My mom told me all about him. It’s kind of neat that we’re becoming friends since they worked together a long time ago.” Maybe it was fate? She’d learned a long time ago not to look past the fact that fate did play a large part in life, even for those that didn’t believe in it. Doctor Fate kind of proved that at least.
She frowned at the news that he had. “How is that possible?” Time travel wasn’t exactly the first thing that anyone would jump to when it came to people showing up out of nowhere. “Do you think he’d talk to us? If we asked about our fathers?”
~~
"I don't know." saying as he shrugged "Reading my father's notes on time travel, it seemed to happen. Science and Technology were on the verge of it. There were heroes in a city in the midwest called Keystone City and Central City. The heroes there were fast. So fast that he said it was possible they could break the space time barrier. I don't know if they ever achieved it. But there's rumors that they used a modified treadmill to control their leaps."
Being the son of Batman gave you links to information that was fantastic and incredible to think about. "I think we should give him his space though. He's not older, he's younger than us. Like, before he had Sophia and married Stephanie." before he died, that is. "Maybe when things calm down a little. I heard them fighting again not long before you arrived. I have a feeling something big is coming." smiling
"Maybe when he gets settled, we can talk to him? He's the only link we really have to our fathers…" trailing off as he thought about that. Would mother approve? At this point.
He didn't care.
~~
“Really?” She looked at him curiously. “Does he have more notes? On the way things used to be? I’d love to look at them sometime.”Hopefully her mother and her would be staying around long enough for her to have time. The idea of leaving not put a heavy pit in her stomach though she doubted it had something to do with notes from a hero.
“He has to be reeling from everything.” She shook her head slightly, processing that. Younger than they were? They weren’t that old, twenty, some older and younger than that for the generation of kids that all grew up knowing about each other and their parents.
“I think you’re right about something coming. I think that’s why my mom wanted to come back.”
~~
Giving a nod.
Then a smile as he listened to her. She had such hope, such a grace about her. After a moment, their meals would be served. Damien would thank the waitress and started cutting up his steak with a shrug. "We'll see what happens." saying with another smile before eating his steak, he'd be quiet as he ate, not saying too much. Making little comments here and there and holding general conversation. But it was mostly quiet as he ate.
Once he was done with his meal, he'd wait for her to be done. Paying for the bill when it came. When she finished, he'd slowly slide out of the booth giving a bit of a stretch before offering his hand to her "My life is in your hands now." giving her a hint of a grin
~~
The conversation was light over dinner and at least she wasn’t the type that was afraid to eat around a man. When they finished she folded her legs out and stood up slipping her hand into his. She gave him a shy little smile, her hand squeezing his lightly as they left the restaurant.
“Oh, let me think of all the fun I could have with that statement.” She laughed, leaning against his arm lightly, lacing her fingers through his. They got back in the car and she gave Daniel the directions to the club she’d picked out. It was a short trip from where they had been but when they where let out at the door the heavy sound of music could already be heard coming out.
The people inline gave them looks considering the car they got out of and that they weren’t having to wait in line like the rest of them. That excited energy was back about her again as she tugged him inside into the dark corners and flashing lights of the club.
~~
He didn't really have time to protest, or try to escape as he found himself in the club with her. The music was so loud that it shook his clothes. Lifting a single brow as he glanced around with her. Soon, he was out on the dance floor surrounded by people who wore less clothing than what she was wearing, but he didn't comment. Just… standing there looking around. If he said anything, it would be lost within the beat of the music, and the volume. He was sure that he was coming home with some kind of hearing loss. How did kids his age do it?
So, when she started dancing against him, he'd blink and just kind of freeze, unsure what to do. This really wasn't covered in training.
~~
Really the club was kind of tame compared to some of the ones she’d been to in Germany but then again it was America, they never took things to the extreme that Europe did. They wouldn’t dream of it. Her hips swayed with the beat of the music as she tugged him through the club
“Dance?” She leaned closer to him, almost yelling the word before moving out on the dance floor with him in tow still.
Normally she wouldn’t have danced so close to someone that she was still ‘getting to know’ but the dance floor was packed, people rubbing against each other as they danced, bouncing to the beat that drove her closer to him. She noticed the way he froze, eyes darting around nervously and smiled. Pulling his hand up she rested it on her hip, leaning up on her toes to speak into his ear.
“Don’t think about it, just find the beat and move. Close your eyes, relax and enjoy it!”
~~
"Right. Because relaxing comes to easy to me." he said watching her shaking his head with a smile as he continued watching her for the longest moment trying to figure out what to do, so he'd just sway. But that changed when she placed his hand on her hip. Lifting a brow as she danced against him. Taking cues from people around him. He actually found some solace in his training with his mom. Picking up what people were doing, finding the beat as he'd start dancing back with her. Sparring was like dancing, so this was just another form of … sparring if you will. Moving with her he'd study and watch her move matching and moving with her. Not great, but not bad. At least he wasn't stepping on her toes.
~~
The beat of the music worked through to her bones, getting the adrenaline pumping. He was right, it was a lot like sparing in a way, watching the movements of a partner to either mimic or counter. She knew he’d get into it once he figured it out and thankfully he was a quick learner. As he started to get into it she moved closer to him, her own mixed colored eyes sliding shut as she let the techno take over, moving to what felt right and what felt good.
It felt like no time at all had passed since they’d walked into the club when really it had been hours. She was starting to feel it in her feet, the heels had not been made for dancing. She was warm, skin holding that glow from exercise and her eyes sparkling. She was having a blast, getting out and doing something other than practice or study.
“You want to stay a while longer or you getting tired?” She asked after a while, her mouth whispering against his ear as she spoke to him over the music and crowds.
~~
It was incredible the way this was going. This was going on for a few hours now…and…
wait, did the song even change? He couldn't tell. And he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to hear after this. But when asked him to stay or go, he'd smile leaning into her hear. He could tell by her posture that her feet were starting to hurt. "We can go." giving her a nod "Don't need to stay out too late." grinning just a little bit as he watched her
"Lets go." saying as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the crowd, pulling her out and towards the street with a smirk.
~~
A girl that had been dancing with her at one point during the night grabbed her hand as they started to weave their way off the dance floor, pouting and begging her for another dance. Lily laughed, leaning over to whisper something in her ear before stepping back closer to Damien, leaning against his arm while the girl glared at him. She was laughing as they left though, breaking out of the loud darkness behind them on to the street.
“See, you did have fun.” She poked his side lightly, lacing her fingers into his hand with the other. “I love it. Getting lost on the dance floor for a few hours. Might sound silly but I love the almost primal feel of that techo style music beat that just vibrates up out of the floor into you.”
She slowed down as they walked down the sidewalk slowly. Their ride would be there soon enough. She wasn’t exactly thinking about the car though, more thinking about the way their hands where laced together as they walked…. Until the sound of a woman screaming broke out of an alley.
Inside said alley where eight men, pushing a woman in her early twenties around between them. She looked like she’d maybe come out of the club and a few of the guys did too.
~~
Shaking his head.
"I think I lost some of my hearing." saying as he looked at her lifting a brow, but not serious as he continued walking with her until the scream broke the night. Looking down the alley way and seeing the men, he'd look at her "4 and 4?" asking as he unbuttoned his shirt a few buttons and then charged at them. Picking up a pair of spare bottles along the way. They shouldn't be doing this, and he wasn't going to let them do this. He was at full sprint about half way down the alley as he threw one bottle flat side down at one of the men, connecting easily as he seemed rather surprised over what happened as the bottle slammed into his head.
~~
Whatever she was going to say back to him was lost with the scream. She was moving beside him, quick and agile even on tired feet or despite the fact that she was in heels. “If you think you can keep up.”
She ran alongside him, not bothering to pick up any weapons but she really didn’t need too. The guy beside the one he clocked didn’t even feel it coming until she roundhouse kicked him in the side of the head with the point of her heel. He want down hard and wasn’t getting back up any time soon.
The men looked shocked for a moment but it didn’t last long before they were moving on them. One in the back grabbed the girl around the neck, dragging her further into the alley. “Yeah, get rid of these would be heroes while I get first dibs at our new friend here.”
~~
Spinning around her back as he executed a perfect straight high kick to the mans chin sending him flying back. "I can keep up." ducking, dodging and weaving as he stepped beside a man's punch. Grabbing his arm, he'd break it, then swing him around into the other man knocking him back against the trash can. Grabbing a lid of a can, he'd hurl it quickly and with such precision that it'd miss the girl by just mere inches. The edge of the lid cracking the man in the face, breaking his face and nose in the process.
"Would be heroes, huh?" saying as he stood there in perfect form, his breath heaving in the cool air as he glanced to Lily once she was finished. What happened next was unplanned as he grabbed Lily by the arm, spun her up against him and kissed her. Not off center, not to high, not to low. Right dead center.
~~
The remaining six men were dispatched with an effortless ease between the two of them. They read each other’s body language by pure feeling as they moved and really, it was more of a dance than anything they’d done inside. Lily was just as deadly as he was and she used what she had, both of the pointed heels of her shoes where bloody, several of the men now had bleeding holes in their bodies and it hadn’t phased her in the slightest.
There was the flash of an image in her mind an instant before he grabbed her arm and pulled her around. It wasn’t a surprise to her and she was more than willing and ready for it. Her mouth pressed against his as he crushed her body against his chest, her arms sliding around his neck.
~~
He didn't care at the moment when he felt her arms wrap around his neck as he pulled her closer. A moment later as the heat of the moment and the fight started fleeting, he'd break the kiss gently taking a deep breath, then looking down. "Sorry." he'd whisper pulling out of the embrace, Damien would easily scale the side of the building, really just unsure of what happened. For all he knew, the girl was a stranger. They'd only met this afternoon and he was already kissing her!
Was this normal? Is this normal? The only real 'man' in his life was Daniel. Sure, Lucious and a few of the others came around. But they were more like extended family than real family. Licking his lips he'd stand on the edge of the building just looking down. Thinking, pondering. Trying to figure his way out of this. What scared him the most was that this was all done without even thinking! Now she was down there, thinking he was probably a flake.
ARGH!
What was all this crap that he was feeling?! WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!
This sucks.
~~
Heat of the moment or not she fell into the kiss so easily. They were both worked up from dancing and now from the tussle they’d had. She was excited and giddy even as he started to pull away… until he whispered that one word. She looked up at him, confused as he pulled away and started up the side of the building nimblely.
She stared up at him as he looked down at her, a mix of a frown and hurt crossing her features before she picked her fallen purse up off the ground and pointed the girl that was huddled behind a trash can out of the alley. Once she’d ran she slowly started walking back to the sidewalk.
Daniel pulled up with the car and got out, frowning to himself. “Where’s Master Damien?”
“Up there.” She thumbed toward the roof then turned and kept walking down the sidewalk leaving the old man confused and looking between the two of them till she disappeared around the corner.