Damian let out an amused snort when Juniper said his situation was kind of fucked, realizing how strangely similar they were. Mafia connections, fucked-up families, a distinct numbness to violence- it was like they were the same kid from two wildly different timelines. "That sounds wonderful," he said, a touch wistful. It would be nice to have parents- or… parental figures- who cared. "You really love her, don't you?"
"i do. it was nice to find out that she still cared, and… didn't abandon me. it's like every adopted kid's fear resolved." he paused, and brought a hand up to playfully tousle damian's hair.
"she'll love you, too."
Damian flinched slightly- hands coming out of nowhere without warning tended to have that effect- but he relaxed as soon as he could and leaned into the playful gesture. It wasn't Juniper's fault he was a freak. And anyway, it wasn't like Damian didn't like the attention. He was already blushing at the kind words, even as he shrugged uncertainly. "I dunno, I'm not… um… I'm not the best around strangers. She'll probably think I'm an idiot."
"considering you managed to bag an extremely picky bitch like me, i'd say you're pretty good around strangers. she thinks people who're awkward are cute, she knows they care about what they say."
juniper tucked his arm back around damian's torso.
"magik has… a lot less tolerance for humans in general, and he's more of a tough love type, but it's real tough love. not that abusive shit that most people call tough love."
"Yeah, but you're different. You're… special." Damian leaned up hesitantly to peck him on the lips, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth because he was allowed to do this. He was allowed to kiss Juniper and talk about family and melt happily against him when he was tucked so neatly against his chest. "I'm glad Magik's a good guy, though. The last thing I need is more abusive shit in my life."
"you flatter me. and yeah." he paused for a moment, and decided to just go for it.
"you could stay with us, you know. we… don't have a room for you, but we can definitely make something work. just anything for you to never have to get hurt by family again."
Damian stiffened at the offer, hard and immobile in Juniper's arms as he thought about it. Dad would be pissed, but… Damian wouldn't be there. Damian wouldn't have to care about dad being pissed. Except… he wouldn't be there to help mom either. "I… I can't. Momma's… she's too sick to leave." Or… maybe sick wasn't the right word. Her body was just fine, it was her mind that had slowly started to rot away. "And anyways, I… I couldn't do that to you. Not now. Not while I'd be such a burden."
"you could. it's much more of a burden if you go back, always having to worry over you. and of your mom…" he absently brought a hand up to damian's face, tucking some hair behind his ear.
"we have a place for her. getting her there will be hard, but. there is a house with the retired family, too tired to continue. it's not like a old folks home or whatever, just the people who aren't taking hits anymore. they'd be willing to take her in. you could visit her as often as you wanted."
Damian, still tense as he considered everything Juniper was offering him, relaxed slightly at the touch to his face. He melted into Junipers arms completely a few seconds later, all the fear and anger and uncertainty draining out of him. It was too good to pass up. "I'd like that," he said quietly. "I think momma would like it too. Do… um… do you know how soon they can take her in?"
"as soon as you're ready, love. if you have stuff you need to get from your house, i'll go with you, and mag can come with to get your mom."
he brought his other hand up, and cupped damian's face.
"see? it's okay. you're gonna be fine."
Damian blushed as Juniper held his cheek, eyes drifting down to his chest where Damian was tapping out nervous little rhythms in morse code. He could decipher it now that he was paying attention, watching the word sorry play out over and over. He didn't really know if he understood how to be fine anymore, but… it was worth it to try. His eyes flickered up to Juniper's and he leaned forward to kiss him nervously. "Yeah. I… I'm gonna be fine."
juniper gave a soft smile.
"yeah."
after a moment of just admiring damian, he seemingly snapped back into attention. "hey, are you hungry? i nearly forgot that i made food while you were asleep."
Damian flustered slightly under the attention, squirming softly under Juniper's gaze until his face was a delicate shade of pink and he couldn't stand to keep eye contact for more than a few seconds. A soft smile was still playing at his lips though, and he couldn't help but light up when Juniper mentioned food. He nodded enthusiastically, bright and excited. "I'd love that!"
"nice! let me up, love. i'll get it for you."
juniper admired how damian had bloomed under just a small amount of care, getting excited about things. very unlike the outwardly gruff stranger he met at the diner.
Damian had never really been cared for before, but he'd figured out pretty quickly that he liked it and he wanted more. But only from Juniper. Juniper made him feel safe, so it was natural to smile and let loose and feel good in front of him in a way he just couldn't around anyone else.
He sighed mournfully when Juniper asked him to get up, clinging tighter on instinct. "Do you have to go? I'm so comfy right here with you."
"well considering that we're the only two people in the house and i don't possess telekinesis, i have to go. i'll be back in a moment." juniper said, playful exasperation coming through his voice.
It was a dilemma, but eventually Damian's stomach got the best of him and he slid into the crack where the couch cushions met. He winced as they pressed into his back and rolled over onto his tummy. "Come back soon, okay?"
"aye aye." he got up quickly, crossing to the fridge and taking out a bowl covered in saran wrap. he opened a drawer, and after a moment of thought decided to just go with a fork.
"hope you like cultural food, we make everything except american and british here." he sat back down next to damian, handing the bowl of ramen and fork off to him.
Damian looked down at the bowl, feeling vaguely queasy already. If he never looked at another bowl of ramen it'd be too soon. Still, Juniper was kind enough to cook it for him so he tucked into it with enthusiasm, if not eagerness. "It's not like I'm gonna be picky about what you make for me. Thank you."
"never a problem. remember, while the diner may be a front, you learn some things. we could teach you as well if you wanted." he crossed his arms casually, leaning back to take a deep breath.
"today's been wild, huh?"
The idea of self-sufficiency was nice, but the thought of being in a room crowded with strangers all holding knives and pans hot enough to burn left a bad taste in his mouth. Especially if those strangers would be older men, which he already knew they would. "I'm not the biggest fan of learning at the diner, but… I might like some private lessons. Like… just with you and me. And… fuck man, it sure has. I haven't had bandages this nice in forever!"
juniper nodded. "i can do that. and, yeah. when you get hurt as much as we do, you learn what to buy."
Damian smiled, ducking his head to hide the cheery expression and only coming back up once it was muted into a quietly pleased expression. "Yeah, I'd use these more often if I had the money." He fingered the bandages wrapped around his chest thoughtfully. "But… I guess I don't really have to worry about money so much now that I'm living with you instead of pops."
juniper couldn't hold back the smile this time.
"no, no you don't. but hey!" he elbowed damian in the shoulder playfully, careful not to catch him in the chest or back.
"you gotta pull your weight around here, man. after you've healed of course, but. you feel up to working part-time at the diner? real friendly place, 80% of the time only mag and i are in there."
Damian wasn't the biggest fan of the idea, but he'd be a hundred times more uncomfortable freeloading than he would be working the diner. He nodded after a few minutes, finishing his ramen and setting it down on the coffee table with a soft clink. "I'd be fine with that as long as I can scope it out for a bit first."
The following keyboard controls are supported across Notebook.ai. All keyboard controls are disabled when editing a document or notebook page.