Chap 24
Damian POV
Opening my eyes the room was still dark, little light was shown through the curtains. I can feel her stir beside me, and it makes my heart lurch. I forgot I was here, and now I'm realizing I have my morning wood pressed against her.
I bite my lip slowly peeling myself away from her trying not to wake her. Pulling my arm out from under her was the most nerve wracking, although she seemed to be in a deep sleep with some drool on her face. She started mumbling about a family betrayal, but I couldn't fully understand. She stirred slightly but resumed her silent snores.
I exhale sharply and gather my shoes and stuff, shooting Demetrius a text to pick me up and bring my uniform. I walk over to her door and glance back at her sleeping body. Thinking back to her words last night, 'Because you're a good person, you do the right thing', as I make my way out the door.
I head to the bathroom to wash up before walking to the main area, where Loid is seated at the kitchen table. Exhaustion clear on his face with his dark circles, he's holding a tight grip on the steaming cup of black coffee in his hand.
The kettle is seated at the center of the table, with an empty cup on the side. I take the hint when he motions at the seat across from him. I nod and sit taking the cup he offered gladly, needing a bit of a pick me up myself.
"How did you sleep?" Loid asked me softly, not sure if he thinks something happened, but I figure it's best to reassure him.
"I slept well… just so you know nothing inappropriate happened." feeling my neck warm a bit. But I refocus on my coffee and the bitterness it leaves on my tongue.
"That's good." He responds, but I'm not sure which part he's responded to but decides it's not worth inquiring further. "Did you speak to her about what you needed?" he asks, remembering our conversation from yesterday.
Placing the cup down I trace the top rim with my finger thinking back to our conversation yesterday, "We did." I say not really offering more. Don't get me wrong, talking with Loid feels so easy, but talking to him for long is dangerous. The logical part of me knows I'm mentally craving a father figure. Since I don't really care for my father the way a son really should. I spent my entire life trying to imagine my older brother and him. To show them that I was worthy of being considered, and now that I am. I don't want it…
The man before me runs his fingers through his hair that is down and not in his usual style. He's in a fitted white shirt and it's the most relaxed I've ever seen him. Yet looking at him he seems more worn out as if he got little to no sleep last night. Yet he's always considerate and shows that he cares about me and my feelings.
He smiles warmly at me "I'm hoping your presence here means it went as you hoped?" I smile down at my cup, "It did, thankfully."
"I knew you'd do it, Anya has always been a good judge of character." He says proudly, finishing his cup of coffee. Even though his words are positive, my mind drifts to my father and all of the things he's done and said as of late. The screams in the woods, the beatings, secret meetings even the sudden looping me in, it all seems too strategic. I just can't see what the bigger picture is as of yet.
"Are you alright son? Is something else troubling you?" He asks me concerned, as I stare into my coffee cup solemnly lost in thought. I shake my head as if I can physically shake them out of my head, "I was just thinking about my father." I say truthfully.
Loid leans forward with his forearms on the table showing me I have his attention, if I need to talk. I know we've briefly talked about my father, but never to this extent. But I can't help but just go to him for advice. He's the only one who shows no judgment even when he doesn't have to, nor does he bat an eye because of who I am. He just treats me like a regular person, that deserves to be heard.
"Is it wrong to disobey your father, if you know what he's doing is wrong? Or is it wrong to blindly follow him because he's my father?" I ask unsure if it even makes sense when I'm thinking back on the question before he can take it back he responds.
"I don't know if you know this but when Anya was young she did not like to study." I smirk thinking back to all her quizzes and tests that should get horrible marks on. "I would try to force her to study hard and tried to do so with strict parenting, because I thought that's what she needed, what I thought was best for her." he pauses for a moment, almost as if he got lost in the memory for a moment, then smiles.
"But my wife taught me that she has to want it for herself, for me to take into consideration what makes her happy. Since that's all that should matter to me in the long run, I don't want her to be a clone of me. I want her to be herself, however she decides to define it." I ponder on the story for a bit, thinking of a young Anya.
When Loid finishes saying "I wouldn't consider it disobeying your father, it's more so, you finding your way. Define who you want to be." Before I can say anything my phone vibrates in my pocket and sees that it's my brother telling me he's outside.
"I'll walk you out" Loid says, knowing, I grab my bag tossing it over my shoulder, looking back toward Anya's room adjusting the strap comfortably.
"She won't be in school today?" I asked hopefully as we headed into the hallway, but knowing how she looked yesterday and even when I was talking to her she wasn't 100% yet. "She'll take the day to rest some more, but feel free to come over for dinner. I'm sure she'll enjoy the company." he opens the door motioning me to exit while I see the limousine pulled up front. "I will, Loid, thank you…for everything." Loid places a hand on his shoulder squeezing it gently before releasing him.
I turn and jog over to the limo, the driver already has the door open while Demetrius is seated, eyes glued to his phone even at this early hour. He lowers it slightly looking over at me, "How's Anya fairing?" he asks, running a hand through his hair looking me over, "she's in and out, but better still resting." I answer slightly dejected since I'll be at school without her.
When an idea strikes me, I look over at Demetrius, he's not in his suit. I did wake him up to pick me up so I had time to get ready for school. But knowing Anya's not going to be there makes the day feel pointless. But if I can talk Demetrius into letting me shadow him for the day I can try and use the time to find Becky.
I chatted up Demetrius a bit on the accident with Anya yesterday to create some sympathy before I jumped in and asked him to spend the day working alongside him.
He's hesitant as he should be, "I don't know Damian…" but I give him a long winded explanation on how it's my last year one day won't matter, and it's better for him to be prepared once he's done.
Demetrius sighs "Fine", begging me to stop with my explanations and lists or reasons why I'm ready for the next step. Before returning back to his phone, now I just need to find Becky.
Anya POV
Faintly I hear a door close and my eyes open and I'm slowly becoming aware of my surroundings, I rub my head the ache from yesterday much milder.
I turned over in a split second of panic, when I realized that Damian was gone. He must've left while I was asleep. I admit that I do feel disappointed by this, glancing over at the time he definitely left to make it to school in time. I look at my phone and there's a text from him
Damian - Sorry I left without saying bye, but I didn't want to wake you. I'm going to be spending the day with my brother. I'll talk to you later.
I look over the text, is this because of what we talked about last night. It has to, he must be trying to get closer to get more information on Becky's location. Smart but dangerous…
I grab some clothes that I usually do my yoga with mama on occasion, when I'm trying to center myself, but usually end up falling asleep since I get so relaxed. I go to the door and open it a bit when I hear voices echo a bit from the hallway.
"I'm worried about her Loid. These episodes are getting worse are they not?" Mama's concern feels like it's slowly physically breaking my heart, Papa tries to soothe her "Trust this is the best way to handle these types of conditions." I hear her sniffle, "I just worry not taking her to a hospital does more damage."
I hear the burner of the stove turn off, and know that it was Papa "Yor I know you love Anya, but I need you to trust that this is what's best for her." I open my door slowly getting closer, but they're both so into their conversation that neither hear or see me. They go back and forth continuing to express their worries, as I near the entrance to the hallway dodging all the planks that make noise.
After years of living with both this spy and assassin, it makes my stealth skills just that much more reliable, when I can get this close without being spotted. I learned so much from both of them, it's almost like if I were to sharpen my skills, I'd be a whole different breed or so I'd like to think.
"I wish there was more that I could do for her." She says warmly, "I know you do." Papa says in a tone I don't recognize "That's why I love you."
I sneak around the corner just as he captures her lips into his, she wraps her arms around his shoulders. His hands snaked around her back, sliding into the back opening of her red sweater. I turn as soon as I hear them moan into each other's mouth, my face feels like it's burning red.
I did the only thing I could think of, I carefully retraced my steps back to my room door. Then closed the door with a bit of force and walked back down the hallway to the kitchen like normal. When I enter, Papa is finishing off cooking the egg on the stove while mama is grabbing the plates as if there weren't just making out.
"Good Morning Ms. Anya, breakfast is almost ready." Mama says with a cheery smile, her poker face is good, but the tips of her ears are still flushed from the moment they shared. At that moment I thought of Damian, and shook my head realizing it's not the time for these types of thoughts. Papa slides the food onto the plates and he decorates them with care just like he does every dish he makes.
We all sit at the table and for some reason there's a bit of tension. Mama digs into the food, although her bites are smaller than normal. Papa mostly sipped his coffee rather than eating the food. Which knowing him shows he's stressed out.
I'm starting to think the kiss was to avoid talking about the subject of me, before Mama started pressing too deep into the matter. But I think I'm starting to realize that if I'm going to get Becky back, I can't do it alone. Even with Papa we're outnumbered, but if we tell Mama and point her in the right direction. I'm sure we could even the odds a bit.
"Mama may I ask you something." I put my fork down and look at mama with a serious face. Papa looks over at me, as if he's trying to feed me his thoughts that are currently muted. Which he doesn't know still isn't back, but I ignore that for now since I've already made up my mind. He may try to talk me out of it, but he doesn't know what I know about her, and I need to use all the players I have available.
"Of course Ms. Anya." She places her utensils down, wiping the side of her mouth with a napkin, as she brings her attention to me. "I need support with the mission of recovering Becky." she blinks her eyes, not fully understanding what I'm asking. Since it's likely not a topic she was thinking about at the moment.
"Becky was kidnapped, the police and her family aren't doing anything." between papa and back to mama "And we're going to get her back." She looked over at him, clearly a lot of shock on her face, when I say all of us are going to get her back.
Papa adds "We know who took her and the general location of where she is. But we need support in order for the mission to be successful." I hear the slight curtness when he said support since it's clear he didn't want to involve her.
"Ms. Becky was always kind to me when she was around. Always asking me for hair tips and was like a sister to you growing up. I'll do whatever it takes, she's our family too." She smiles but I can see the determination on her face, "Thank you mama, we won't be doing anything while I'm resting. But I just wanted you to know so you're not worried about me. I'd rather have you all at my side when we do this."
I scoop into my eggs even though I can feel the daggers coming from papa in my direction, but I don't mind them. I decide that I'm happy that we're going to be doing this all together, almost like a family mission.