Hello friends!
I apologize for not updating for a long time. I was hoping to make a super awesome comeback with this chapter; but not much happens here. Also it's rather short! I'm sorry! Hopefully I'll get rolling again with this story soon enough! Throw bricks of inspiration at me please!
Shout out to all the lovely people who have reviewed this story so far. It really means a lot to me! Warnings for this chapter: Damien's foul language (as usual) and mentions of blood.
Please enjoy and Happy Canada day!
Thankfully, Damien wasn't causing a ruckus upstairs. He had found Pip's bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed, leaning on his knees with the ice pack pressed to his face. He let out the occasional hiss of pain; but was otherwise silent.
Pip came into the room soon after, closing the door and locking it behind them. He had grabbed the basin from the bathroom and a towel, along with a roll of ace bandages and bottle of disinfectant. Damien eyed the supplies suspiciously.
"And what do you intend on doing with that?" Damien scoffed. It was obvious he was angry with Pip for whatever reason. In the Brit's defense, it wasn't like drinking the water had been Pip's fault anyway. Maybe if Damien had been polite about it, like any other house guest, and simply asked Pip for some water; the whole crisis could have been averted.
"I'm going to bandage your feet," Pip stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Well, it kind of was.
Pip knew that Damien could frown if he could. But the burnt skin of the man's face made that far too difficult for him to bother right now. He sighed, sticking his feet out as Pip took a seat on the floor in front of him.
"You look like you're about to give me head," Damien commented.
"Damien!" Pip snapped, giving a light whack to Damien's foot with his hand. The Antichrist snickered noticeably, causing Pip to frown. "Oh, yes—let's just put on our fifth grade caps for a moment, shall we?" His tone dripped with sarcasm as he positioned the basin underneath Damien's feet, then eased the injured limbs into the lukewarm water.
"Learn to take a joke," He replied dryly.
"I don't appreciate jokes at a time like this, Damien," Pip muttered, gently easing Damien's foot to a different angle so he could inspect the soles for broken glass shards. He found a few, which he picked out carefully and set them to the side. He washed Damien's foot then, scrubbing away all the dry blood and cleansing his wounds. Pip shifted over and did the same to the other foot.
"I heard you talkin' to someone," Damien changed the subject, leaning back on the bed by propping himself on his elbows. He stared up at the ceiling which had the flag of Britain hanging over the bed. He rolled his eyes. Typical.
Pip nodded. "My Ma' is home. If she finds out you're here, it'll be the end of me."
"Are you not allowed guests?" The noirette raised a brow. He flinched noticeably as Pip pulled a rather large glass shard out of his heel. Pip muttered a quick apology then continued.
"Nope, none," He sighed, "Especially with the English exam coming up. They expect me to spend every waking moment of my time studying for it."
"Ah, so you grew up to be a nerd?" Damien retorted, laughing as Pip splashed him with the water from the basin at his comment. "Sorry, sorry. I saw your marks on the class scoreboard earlier; considerin' you're above everyone else I don't think you have anything to worry about."
Pip blinked, looking up from the boy's feet. It almost seemed as if Damien was trying to comfort him.
Tch. Of course not.
"I suppose," Pip went on. He dried Damien's feet off and began to wrap them with the ace bandages. "Personally I don't really mind; but if I get anything less than first place, my Father will have my head."
Damien didn't say anything. His lips pursed thoughtfully as he sat up, watching Pip secure the bandages on his left foot before finishing his right.
"How's your face?" Pip asked with moderate concern.
"Painful, but I'll live," Damien smirked, sharp canines poking out from between his lips. Certainly not the most attractive smile in the world; but it was sweet in it's own way. Better than when Damien showed up in South Park for the first time when they were eight. The boy's front baby tooth had just fallen out. That certainly took away from Damien's intimidating demeanor. Not that anyone took him seriously, anyway.
Pip just smiled in response. He knew wouldn't get any better answer from Damien than that.
"Say, Pip."
"Hm?"
"Would you rather have a father who cared too much; or who didn't care at all?" asked Damien suddenly. His tone was sincere, crimson eyes gentle as he met Pip's gaze.
"I suppose that depends," said Pip.
The Antichrist gave a short chuckle, shrugging his shoulders in dismissal. Once Pip was done bandaging his feet, Damien wiggled his toes. His movement was limited but he'd still be able to walk; and that was all that mattered. Pip even helped Damien put his shoes on (after wiping the undersides with the washcloth, of course) before he stood up and brought the basin back to the bathroom.
It wasn't a surprise to find the window open and a missing Damien once he returned.
Pip pursed his lips for a moment. He closed the window fully, letting out a heavy sigh of mixed relief and annoyance. Pip got his books back and Damien left without being discovered. The Brit was sure his mother would walk in and could now only be thankful that such a crisis had been avoided. Pip locked the window and shut the blinds before leaving his room and making his way downstairs.
Again, he wasn't surprised to find his mother and father sitting at the already set table, chattering to themselves as they waited for Pip to come downstairs so they could say grace and begin their meal. His father raised a brow of acknowledgment in Pip's direction; which was more than enough to beckon him over. The Brit sat down soundlessly and placed his napkin on his lap.
"Nice of you to join us, Phillip." said his father.
One sentence into their conversation and Pip knew this wasn't going to end well.
"Oh, heavens. I didn't mean to startle you," he spoke up quickly, obviously noticing how Pip's eyes had widened in fear, "You're not usually late to the dinner table. Perhaps you've eaten already?"
"No, I was studying for my English exam-and got stumped over a question. I didn't mean to hold you up," Pip murmured.
"I see," his father acknowledged, turning his attention to Pip's mother. "Shall we?"
She nodded, resting both of her hands on the table. Pip took one and his father took the other. The three closed their eyes and bowed their heads. The Brit was well aware of the uncomfortable atmosphere of the room and wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. He wanted to eat up in his room, and most certainly would if his parents would allow it. He felt far too tense.
"Let us pause before we eat,"
Pip noticed his father's grip on his hand tighten.
"And think about the ones in need of food and shelter and of love,"
It tightened again.
"And we ask for forgiveness for those who put themselves before you, Lord."
Pip raised his head at that. He glanced at his father; who still had his head dipped as he continued on with the grace.
"Please bless us all dear God above. Amen."
"Amen."
Chapter four fin.
Feedback is always appreciated! Title comes from an old proverb.
