They're cuddled together on her couch when she finally tells him he's meeting her parents.
Damian was silent for a second, having previously been far too occupied in the crook of her neck to take in her words, but he soon blinked and let out a hushed, "What?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. 6 o' clock." She chirped, ignoring the widening of his eyes. "It's family night, and this time I want them to meet you." She nuzzled deeper into his chest, hoping to numb his shock.
"No." He said it quick and flat. "Absolutely not."
She pushed herself up on his chest, a tired frown staring him down. "Damian, you're going to meet them."
"Oh I will," They both know he's lying. "Just not this soon."
Kayla rolled her eyes, "What? Four months is too soon for you?"
Damian nods far too normally for Kayla's liking. She groaned, sliding over to the other edge of the couch, looking away from him with crossed arms. Damian sighed, and set himself up. "Well, there goes the moment." She didn't respond. Damian grinned and slowly edged himself closer. "Aw, is my angel angwy at me?" He pouted mockingly.
Kayla turned back with scoff, "Not angry, you're coming whether you like it or not?" She allowed him to gently clasp her shoulder blades and wrap his arms round her frame. She really wasn't angry, just frustrated.
He chuckled and rested his chin on her neck. "And why's that?"
She rested her cold nose against the base of his snout, one eye meeting his. "Because I already told them you would." She smirked, already anticipating his dumbstruck gape.
Instead he just blinked at her, two half-lidded unimpressed eyes staring back. "And…?"
Kayla's frown broadened, "Do you want to let them down?" She barked, playfully pushing his face away, "Not showing up when they're so excited to meet you!"
Damian sighed, slinking into the couch with tired apprehension, "I think my presence would be a bigger let down," He mumbled. Kayla softened when his eyes met hers, a dismal wilt darkening his ember irises. So, that's why he wanted to avoid them?
"Damian, come on." Kayla cooed, edging next to him. "It will be fine. They're nice people, I promise." She gently ran a hand across his shoulder, letting it linger below and tickle the base of his chin.
Damian chuckled, "I'm sure they are." He rested a hand on hers, "With someone like you how could they not be?" Kayla giggled and leaned against his shoulder, letting her face rise to return a soft peck on her lips. He grinned at her, before looking back down with disdain, "But still, they're Christians Kay, and I'm-well-a Demon. There's no way they'd be okay with me."
"Damian, I'm a Christian too, remember." Kayla beamed, snuggling into his shoulder. "And I think we both know I'm okay with it." She peered up at him with a sly grin and two predatory eyes. "At least that's what the bed sheets argue."
Damian began to splutter uncontrollably, a dark blush burning his face. Kayla held her stomach as she convulsed with laughter, it was these moments that always caught Damian off guard. And yet, always brought a smile to his face in the end. He couldn't help but laugh along as he wrapped his arms around her frame and, with a wild smirk, fell backwards onto the couch seats, taking Kayla to collapse on his chest. He quickly pressed his lips against hers again, before she pulled away with a chuckle and a gentle hand on his cheek.
They smiled at each other lovingly, but Damian still maintained a downcast glance. "It's not the same, Kay." He said gently. "It's obviously not gonna work. The second I go in there I'll get a bottle of Holy Water smashed over my face." He laughed but his smile faltered. Kayla's ears lowered sadly, it was awful when Damian got like this. He constantly kept up such a playful appearance that it always seemed like a shock to her when he demonstrated how insecure and wounded he was deep down. She sighed softly, it wasn't unwarranted worries after all, seeing how the last time, she saw Damian meet a Christian, had ended with him receiving a bullet through his shoulder and a barrage of volts pulsing through his muscles. But Kayla's parents weren't like that!
At least…well…They hadn't gotten violent when Kayla had told them the species of her boyfriend. But still, the shock on their faces said it all. How? How could their baby girl, who had never missed a Sunday service, possibly be dating one of Satan's minions?! It had taken two hours of arguing, crying, explaining, and the reminder that Kayla had never once done something against the greater good to finally persuade them to allow a Demon to enter their house, never mind have dinner with them. Kayla had thanked them, and hugged their shaking bodies, and promised them there was no need to worry about her incredibly sweet demonic boyfriend, but still…
She'd heard the desperate prayers for her salvation as she was leaving. Her! As if falling in love was a sin!
Kayla frowned at the memory and sunk closer against Damian, affectionately rubbing a cheek against his chest. Damian blushed lightly with a smile, softly stroking his girlfriends fur as she placed a soft kiss on his neck. Damian felt a flush of warmth in his chest, even after all these months there was still a part of him that couldn't believe she was there. It was like a dream that Damian was still afraid he was going to wake up from.
But, of course, he never did.
"They will not do anything to you." Kayla said, her mouth a whisper away from his ear. "And if they do," Damian felt a shiver go up his spine as her hands tightened on his shoulder. Kayla looked back up with him, playfully smirking but eyes sparking with thunder. "They're gonna have more than a handsome Demon to worry about."
Damian chuckled, one hand loosely slipping behind his neck as he smirked at Kayla. The intensity in her eyes was remarkable, and Damian knew all too well what she could do when her rage had peaked, but he still wasn't going to indulge her wishes.
"Babe, I really do appreciate your concern. But I'm not going."
"Damey please?" Damian looked away with a whine. Goddamn, he hated when she used that nickname. It was too damn cute! She knew for a fact those little loving pecks sent him over the moon. "Just an hour, maybe even a half, just do this for me." Kayla pleaded, kissing his cheek again for good measure.
Damian looked at her considerably, opened his mouth, then changed his mind and said nothing. He just couldn't. It was just too risky, he couldn't bear the high chance of her parents expelling him from her life. There was no way he'd be able to bear that.
It was times like these Damian cursed that damned Religion. Cursed its followers for generalising his kind as monsters. Cursed his own kind for allowing that impression to be justified. Cursed himself for being born into the fire.
Kayla noticed the haze of mortification in Damian's eyes and wilted sadly. "Please?" She said softly. She placed both hands on his cheeks gently and tilted his face down. Damian felt his cheeks burn as Kayla gingerly pressed her forehead against his, his gaze connected with hers as they shared expressions of their own personal sadness. Damian sighed and kept his face down, then after a painful minute of silence brushed his hand over hers and forced his mouth to form words.
"You…You told them I was a Demon right?"
Kayla perked up with a nod. "Yeah, they're fully aware but they'll still allow it." And they would, be it extremely reluctantly.
Damian nodded faintly but his grim gaze maintained. "What about my… bloodline?"
"Yes, they also know you're the Anti-Christ." Again, extremely reluctantly.
Damian felt her hand camp over his, he mused over the situation. If he didn't go he'd be breaking Kayla's heart, and how could he maintain a good relationship with her if he didn't meet them. Plus if he went and everything turned out okay, his biggest worries would literally be shot out of his care for good.
But…if it didn't turn out okay.
He whimpered softly. Kayla almost seemed to sense what he was thinking and sank her hands to rest in the crook of his elbows. Then, with a familiar wash of intimacy, affectionately nuzzled her nose against his. Damian felt his breath catch with a wave of emotion and he allowed a warm smile to grace across his muzzle. He gladly returned the affection before parting to sweetly greet her nose with a light peck. He edged away, her eyes meeting hers with reluctant defeat.
"Alright."
Kayla sprang up in delight, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight, but gentle, hug. Damian's blush peaked as Kayla smothered his face with kisses. "Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, pausing after every word to place another kiss to his cheek. "It'll be great, I promise!" Her face buried into his neck with a grin.
Damian laughed softly and rested his cheek against her head. "Yeah, sure it will." He said weakly.
Kayla was to happy to break away from the embrace, but she whispered delicate words into his ear. "I promise you sweetie, nothing bad is going to happen." Then with a spark of nostalgic joy, Kayla allowed her voice to dance in a melody.
"Come out of hiding, I'm right here beside you."
Damian beamed at Kayla with a joyful shake of his head. "Really Kay? You're gonna do that?" Kayla just repeated the line with a smile. Damian exhaled with playful exasperation, before smiling and joining her with the next line.
"And I'll stay there as long as you let me."
The couple's embrace deepened and they joined together in harmony, content in the arms of each other. They looked to each other with the familiar loving expression and allowed the tune to intertwine their voices.
"Because you matter to me."
They both shared a soft laugh as they nestled closer together; Kayla grinned warmly at Damian, her eyes glowing with proud affection. "Thank you, Damian. I know this is a worry for you, but I swear," Her head snuggles into his neck, "Everything will be fine."
Damian gently stroked down one of her ears, "It's alright Kay, you're right." A confident smile creeped across his muzzle at her words. "It's gonna be fine. It's just an hour," He's speaking more to himself than he is to her. "I'll be just fine."
…
He was not fine. At all.
Kayla rubbed her temple while Damian continued to hyperventilate as he drove the vehicle down to her parents house. Well, if by drive you meant edge down the road at a speed that even a sloth would call excruciatingly slow. She cringed as yet another driver hurled abuse and furious car horns at the idiots who were ridiculously holding up the traffic.
She looked over to Damian with a tight frown, he held a weak grin and a panicked gaze as the car trailed on. He seemed unknown to the vast annoyance he was causing as he looked absorbed in thoughts that were igniting a wave of stress.
Kayla didn't need to think twice to know what was causing it.
"Damian, honey," She said gently, "Look I know you're worried but we really need to go a bit quicker if we're going to get there on time." She jolted as another horn spat at them. She sighed, "Plus if we don't hurry up I guarantee someone's going to start throwing stuff at us."
Damian glanced at her quickly, "Oh come on, we've got plenty of time." He said enthusiastically, "It's only, like, five minutes away from her!" His face dropped slightly as he said that.
"It looks like it will be twenty minutes at this rate, Damian."
"Hey, I'm the one who suggested teleporting there." Damian said, "I mean, why drive when we could just be there with a snap of my fingers?" The car accelerates slightly as he's pulled from his internal conflicts.
Kayla shook her head with a smile. "Because we both know you'd take us to, i don't know, the E District or Barbados, and then lie about how 'your powers won't work' just to avoid meeting them." She stated plainly. Damian cursed under his breath, perhaps she knew him too well.
"Hey, you said it not me."
"And you're the one worrying over nothing." She snapped, "I already said everything is going to be alright. Why can't you just believe that?" Her voice is tinged with disappointment more than anger.
Damian scoffed, "Gee, I just wonder why?"
"Damian, just trust me here!" Kayla exclaimed, her voice raised but her eyes remained gentle. "I understand why you're scared but I can't help you if you don't believe me!"
Damian said nothing, continuing to look out to the slowly winding road. Kayla stared at him, before sinking into her seat morosely. Damian felt a pang of guilt ache his chest but he couldn't help it. His thoughts were dark with every negative outcome and so many of them seemed extremely likely to occur. With every passing second the threat expanded until it seems to choke Damian's words and blur his vision.
He quickly wiped his eyes before turning his gaze to Kayla. She looked out the window, away from him, her mouth sat in a tight line. Damian cringed as he recognised the disappointment in her face, but still… It didn't stop her beauty from glowing into mind.
It was a sunny day, so golden rays traversed through the window screen to paint her with a beautiful golden shimmer. They sparkled on the wet tip of her nose and glimmered in the blue pools of her eyes. Damian smiled, he loved this girl so much. He always had. Even when she was repulsed of his very sight, he couldn't stop himself from loving her. And now, she was his. She had chosen to love him back even when a strong part of her life should have destroyed the very thought. If her own parents hated him, what then? He couldn't lose her now. He couldn't just-
"WOULD YOU FRIGGIN' GET MOVING ALREADY?!" A voice behind them screeched. A chant of furious voices followed to share the same opinion.
Damian whined, nervously looking to Kayla who stared him down with a knotted brow. He sighed, grudgingly accelerating the car to an average, acceptable, speed. Kayla smiled, satisfied, and a plethora of relieved, but still seething, voices whooped as Damian's car took a left, leaving the highway peaceful at last.
The two sat in silence as they passed a row of houses, all well furnished and dripping with the sense of moderate wealth. Kayla stared out the window closely for a second before lighting up with a beam. "There it is!"
"I know Kay," Damian murmured, "I've been there before."
"Hm?" Kayla raised a brow, when had he ever been to her house. She thought for a moment and mentally slapped herself when she realised her mistake. "Of course, you walked me home that one time."
Damian smiled, "The day we became friends." Kayla giggled sweetly at the memory; it was one both parties held dearly.
The car pulled into the driveway of a large white house with a design that reeked of money. Pristine windows lay etched in the beautiful white brickwork, a light grey roof shielded the house like a halo underneath a neat patch of leaves from the oak trees that seemed to guard the back of the house like an army of angels.
Damian silently exhaled, "I'm sorry."
Kayla looked to her boyfriend but he carried on before she could say anything else.
"You don't need this bullcrap from me." He muttered, "You've got it bad enough as it is, being with your parents worst enemy."
"Damian, don't be silly." Kayla said, placing a hand on his. "They haven't even met you yet."
Damian sniggered sorrowfully, "Kayla. I'm. The. Antichrist." He said blankly.
Kayla smiled and tightened her grip on him. "Yes, and I'm the Christian who's in love with the Antichrist." Damian's eyes widened and his breath shivered, he looked up to meet Kayla's loving gaze with his own. Kayla raised her hand to stroke Damian's cheek, "If my parents don't like you, I won't care. Because I'll know that would only be because they didn't want to even get to know you. If they don't look past your species, that's their fault, because I know that Demon is one of the most loving, kind creatures they will ever meet."
Damian gulped back a sob and blinked the tears out of his eyes. Kayla opened her mouth to say something else but it was swiftly blocked as Damian's lips crashed against hers. Kayla initially drew back in surprise, but soon found herself returning the kiss as both their hands interlocked. Both mouths flowed with mirrored softness and control, both gently motioning over the other. They both felt the urge to deepen the kiss, but Kayla broke away with a soft laugh and predatory eyes, "We'll continue this discussion later." She whispered. "Once the main issue is over and done with."
Damian laughed as his forehead met hers, "God, I love you so much."
"You better," Kayla grinned. "For the sake of this meeting."
…
The silence was complete.
It had been that way since her parents had 'greeted' them at the doorway, now they were all sat around the kitchen table, all staring at each other, daring one another to say the first word. Kayla held a bright smile but she stared down her parents, urging them to be respectable and not make a scene. Damian thought that looking around the room with, perceived, interest would take his attention away from the individuals staring at him, but he soon found that looking at photo's of church congregations and the hanging cross on the wall was not the best idea. He nervously returned to eating his meal with silent discomfort.
A voice cleared and Damian turned his attention to a tall buck wearing a neat white dress shirt. His fur was noticeably darker than Kayla's and his face was more broad. A thin set of black glasses perched on his snout, slightly hiding the glare burning his gaze. "So," A deep Australian voice seethed, "You're the famous Antichrist, eh?" He took a gulp of water, but his eyes remained on Damian.
Damian attempted a weak grin, but the discomfort watered his confidence. "I-I guess I am. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." He looked to a doe sat beside the buck, she reflected the same uncomfortable smile. "And Ma'am."
The doe's smile grew thin and attempted a soft laugh, her fur was lighter than Kayla's and she wore a silver necklace with a cross dangling from the wire. "Y-Yes, quite a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr…Damian, was it?"
"Just Damian will do, Mrs C." Kayla smiled at him and nodded tastefully at her mother, and with more force at her father. The buck held his own smile, dark and calculative, he kept searching his eyes over Damian's form, tracing every bit of his body.
"Won't it just?" The buck said contemptuously, "Well since we're all being so formal, I'm Andrew and you may call me, Mr Christling or Sir." He said smugly. Kayla only just held herself back from throwing the table over. Her mother seemed to wither from her husbands bluntness and nervously offered a hand to shake.
"Helen." She said weakly, "And that will do just fine." She casted the hint of a frown to her husband but she hid it well. Damian gladly took the gesture but his ears dropped when he saw how Helen flinched when he touched her, almost like his hand would burn her. Luckily Damian took the better side of things when he saw a hint of softness and confidence when she found his hand was 'normal'.
Damian beamed gratefully, "Thank you. So, do you know how me and Kayla met?"
"That was one of the first things she told us." Andrew growled, "Just before she let us know she was…" He inhaled with a disbelieved glare to the sky. "Dating a demon!" He finished through grit teeth.
Damian's ears wilted and the grinding of Kayla's teeth now became audible. "Oh, g-great." Damian said softly.
Helen sighed, offering a generous smile to the Demon. "It was quite cute how you'd kept those gifts all those years."
Damian chuckled, "Yeah well, they meant a lot." He forced himself to ignore the cruel sneer that passed on Andrew's brow. Helen's smile began to seem genuine.
"So what is it your profession, Damian?" Helen asked, her voice noticeably less nervous.
"Oh, I work in a…book store." He was only lying slightly, comic books were still books in the end. Kayla immediately chimed in with a wide grin.
"He also helps me out with my music, Mom," She gripped on to his arm trustfully, "He's such a talented songwriter! Thanks to him, my next record will be out much faster." That would work, Kayla knew how proud her parents were of her musical career! Knowing Damian was a great asset to that would surely soften the mood.
It seemed to work as Helen looked to Damian with an impressed gaze, "Oh, really? What do you play?"
Damian grinned, "The strings mostly, a bit of piano." He rubbed the hand lying on his arm with a toothy smile, "But Kay knows the banjo is my speciality."
Andrew scoffed, "The banjo? Does that really fit with my daughters music?" Kayla felt a vein throb and pulse, behind her smile she desperately held back poisonous words."
Damian gulped as the grip on his arm became almost painful. He quickly glanced up at Andrew. "We find a way to make it work." He said sweetly.
Andrew leant back in his seat with folded arms, his eyes didn't falter off the Demon for a second. "What else can you do, Mr Demon?" Damian cringed. "Any significant skills come to mind?"
"Andrew!" Helen said with abject horror.
"He can cook!" Kayla hissed, now glaring daggers at her father. "Can you do that dad? And burnt toast does not count, thank you." Damian coughed into his hand to cut off a snigger, he really did love this girl! Andrew rolled his eyes with a chuckle, shrugging off her comment like dust.
Helen let out an audible giggle, making her husbands eyes darken. "Now that is a good quality in a man." Kayla grinned, her mother was slowly becoming more comfortable. Andrew scowled and said into the laughter.
"Yes well, I'm sure the fires of Hell can singe up a soul quite nicely."
A deadly silence compelled the group.
Before Helen's mouth could drop, Kayla's fist already had. The table clattered under her fury, the glass jug of water would have spilt if Damian hadn't swiftly settled it. "How dare you?!" She screamed, her eyes blazing as she leaned dangerously close across the table. "How dare you say that to him?! He is not some kind of monster!" Damian drew back as his girlfriend fumed with rage in front of him. Her face was twisted with enmity, teeth scraped like knives at the power in her jaws grit.
Andrew looked taken aback for a second, but a smooth scowl soon narrowed upon his brow. "If I'm looking at him right, Kayla, then I think it's safe to say he's a demon." He said obviously.
"That doesn't mean anything!" Kayla yelled. "He's still a great guy! What does it matter what species he is? You didn't care about that when I was with Zill?" Damian felt himself flinch at that name.
Andrew gave a tired sigh, "Zill wasn't the Antichrist." He said, looking back up at his daughter with a frown. "How did you expect me to react to this, Kayla? A demon is bad enough, but," He glared at Damian with disgust. "The damned son of the devil! Why?"
"Andrew, stop this!" Helen exclaimed, gripping her husbands shoulder. Damian would have taken this as a sign of acceptance from her, if he hadn't seen the understanding and the closeted confused despair that filtered her gaze. He looked down, a blank frown hiding his anguish.
"Helen, don't act like you approve of this." Andrew scoffed.
Kayla took a breath but an air of threat still surrounded her, "Why do you think, Dad?" She spat.
Andrew winced slightly. He knew the answer to that but…he would not believe it! He would not believe one of Hells creatures could ever have emotions as pure as love. "Do you know?" He paused, "Do you know how much I've prayed for your healing?"
"Andrew!" Helen screeched.
Damian's stomach went cold, a trembling shiver ached his spine.
"I don't need healing!" Kayla hissed.
"We all do, Kayla, but fine." Andrew crossed his arms and sat back, "Then how much I've prayed for the Lord to absolve this demonic-"
Helen's eyes grew stony, "Don't you dare."
"-Curse from you!" Andrew said sharply. Kayla felt like she'd been shot. She stared at her father with a horrified gape. Damian felt a dark pit begin to boil in his stomach
"I-I beg your pardon."
Andrew almost looked sorrowful for his daughter, eyes that seemed to beg her to see the error of her ways. That was what Kayla was finding hard to look at. She didn't need his pity, she didn't need any redemption or healing. All she wanted was the simple unconditional respect of her father. How was that to much to ask?
"It's not your fault of course," Andrew said, "A Demon showing up at midnight, while you were tired, and taking advantage of your pure nature."
"What?!"
Andrew ignored her. "It was an honest moment of weakness," Andrew said gently, like he was trying to soothe her. "That isn't a sin. You shouldn't be punished for-"
"Moment of weakness?"
The party turned to Damian. He sat up straight, staring right at Andrew. To her parents the gaze looked blank and unknown, but Kayla noticed the furious red irises flickering in his eyes. She stiffened warily as Damian chuckled roughly.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Andrew seethed, "Do not use that filthy language in my house!"
Damian didn't even blink, "Then don't imply such disgusting shit!"
Helen sensed the malice and rage building in the air, "Everyone, please just calm down!" She begged.
"Damian." Kayla said, clutching his hand, "It's okay, just leave it be."
"No." Damian said, his glare not retreating off the buck. "Come on Andrew, lets be honest here! You think I've put some kind of spell on Kay, right?"
The buck welcomed the challenge, "My daughter is a good Christian." He hissed, "There is no reason whatsoever why she would ever feel anything for your kind!"
Damian clicked his tongue hatefully, "So I'm, what, brainwashing her or something?"
"You tell me, Demon."
"Oh I will," Damian spat, the anger in his eyes was astonishing, but he remained seated, he remained relaxed, he would not lose his temper over this bigot. "First of all, she ain't under any friggin' attraction spell, I don't even know if that's a thing demons can do." He quickly stated, "Secondly, if it was a thing, I wouldn't use it on Kayla, do you know why?"
Andrew stood up slightly, his teeth bared, "Don't you even-" He drew back in astonishment when Damian stood up as well, facing up to the buck, his stare not breaking.
"Because I love her, Mr Christling." Damian said, his eyes softening slightly. Andrew looked away with a silent growl. "I love her so much, I have since high school, and all I've ever wanted was for her to love me back."
Damian noticed that Helen was about to say something before Andrew cut in with an accusing finger, "Even if it meant making her! You've just said-"
"No!" Damian exclaimed, the raise of his voice making everyone flinch. Damian sighed and cast his gaze downwards, before feeling a gentle touch on his hand. Kayla gripped his hand tighter and offered a warm smile to her boyfriend, he smiled back then looked back up to the buck with a gentler frown. "No. What the heck would be the point of that? I wanted her to really love me back, no conditions, no spells, no nothing! If that was fake love, then it wouldn't mean anything."
Kayla felt tears threaten to spill behind her smile. It was such a rare occasion she heard Damian speak his true feelings to other people part from her, and they broke her heart every time. She quickly blinked the tears away and gently tugged Damian back into his seat; he awkwardly settled down before sheepishly grinning at Kayla, she smiled and patted his hand. "And I do."
Damian could've cried right there, but he stood strong. For her sake.
Andrew scoffed, opening his mouth to retort before he felt his wife pull him back down. "That's enough!" She asserted with a harsh scowl, she looked to Damian as well. "That's enough drama for today! Everyone pipe down and eat their food before it gets cold, or I swear you people will find out how high a voice can really raise when angry! Understand!"
Damian gulped, "Yes ma'am." Andrew sighed irritably and forced a knife back into his meal with a grudging murmur of defeat. Kayla nodded cheerfully and gave a sweet giggle.
Helen immediately perked up with a grin, "Excellent."
'Unpredictable.' Damian thought with a chuckle, he turned to Kayla with a smile. 'Just like her daughter.'
…
It was in everyone's best interest that Damian and Andrew wouldn't converse for the rest of the evening. So, as he was the guest, he remained at the cleared table with Helen while Kayla and her father cleared everything away. Damian had volunteered to help, of course, but he couldn't help it when Kayla began to insist upon it.
"Give me a few minutes with my dad, okay." She'd said with a kiss on his cheek. "I'll meet you in my bedroom later." Damian had blushed and agreed, so he now sat opposite Helen, who sat silent with her fingers intertwined.
Damian exhaled softly, "Listen, Helen." She looked up with a tight smile. "I'm really sorry about raising my voice at dinner, and the cursing." He said, with a downcast gaze.
"Oh, don't worry about that." She perked, "You weren't the one who started it."
"Still though, I'm sorry for reacting that way."
Helen nodded with a grin, but her face demonstrated tier confusion and disbelief. She lightly laughed with a gentle shake of the head. "You really are different."
Damian craned his head, "I'm sorry?"
Helen rested her chin on a hand, "I-I've always been a devout Christian, Damian." The doe said,her eyes transfixed on the clear table. "Ever since I was little."
Damian's ears dropped, he didn't like where this was going. "Yeah, Kayla told me."
Helen made a sound of acknowledgement then continued, "There have been so many times my faith has helped me throughout my life. I wanted my children to feel that same kind of protection and joy." She smiled a little, "And Kayla did fit the bill. It's amazing how dedicated she's been to the church: choir, sermons, charity work, she did them all happily."
Damian nodded, "I can imagine that." He smiled, "She's always been a hard worker."
Helen beamed, "Exactly." Her face faded a little, "Then she told me…about you two."
That was it, the blow after all. Damian turned his face from her without a word, honestly, what was there to say?
"A demon." Helen said with disbelief, "My little girl was dating something I'd always known to be a monster that went against everything I stood for. Something that was there to destroy love, not cause it." She paused slightly, "I won't lie to you Damian, I cried and I prayed that night."
He nodded again, hiding his face from her. His hopes had been shattered, even with her he couldn't make her believe anything different to what she'd been taught. He couldn't feel any tears form. Why? Did he expect that much?
Or did he believe her words himself?
"I did pray," Helen admitted, her mouth in a stiff line, "To the moment I met you, even when we were sat here I still begged the Lord to guide my daughter to a better path?" She paused a moment to examine the Demon in front of her, he was trembling slightly and his eyes glimmered with the threat of tears.
She smiled. Then she finished, "But he already had."
Damian jolted, took a moment to rethink her words, then looked back to her in amazement. Had she really said..?
"Damian, let me ask you something?" Helen leant forward and looked him straight in the eye, her gaze stony and serious. "Do you love my daughter?"
"Yes." Damian had said it before he could realise he had. It was just instinct at this point.
Helen immediately gave a warm smile, "Yep, that look is still there."
"Excuse me?"
"That look in your eye." She winked at him with a genuine grin. "It's exactly the same as when Andrew told me he loved me."
Damian was silent for a second, then a dark blush erupted on his cheeks. He looked down in embarrassment while Helen laughed cheerfully to herself. "I know genuine heart when I see it." Helen smirked, her eyes glossed over. "I guess…there may be a few things the Bible was wrong about. Looks like Demons can feel love after all."
She kept silent after this, and Damian slowly began to compose himself. He gulped. "S-So, does that mean you..?" His heart stopped beating for a second. Helen perked up with a jolt but her warm smile soon took over again.
"Yes, I'm fine with you Damian."
That was when the tears began to drip. Damian buried his face in his hands and wept joyfully. It was finally over, he actually had the support of one of Kay's parents. He sniffed as his greatest fear slowly faded from his mind. Helen looked away in quiet embarrassment.
'What's with this guy?' She thought, 'He's in his twenties for crying out loud! He doesn't need someone to tell him if he can date or not?' Good lord, they were wrong about these demons! They were way too emotional.
"Thank you, Ms Christling." Damian sobbed, "This means a lot."
"It's fine." Helen said, offering a napkin. "But please, clean yourself up."
She wasn't used to the black tears yet.
…
They stood silent for what felt like hours.
Kayla washed another dish thoroughly before handing it to her father to dry and put away. He didn't meet her gaze, awkwardly looking away as she raised a hopeful gaze to him. Kayla looked away sadly, she didn't want the night to end like this. She desperately wanted her father to accept her choice, but at this rate it looked like they wouldn't even share another word.
"Here." She gave him a handful of utensils to dry.
"Hmm" He gently took them from her, glancing at her briefly before absently wiping away at them with a cloth.
"Dad, please." Kayla couldn't bare this. "Just talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about." Her father said in a low voice, still looking away from her. "You've made your mind up, I've made mine. End of story."
"Oh, come on. Can't you just listen to me."
"I did, and I still don't like it."
Kayla sighed and set a soaking plate down. "I'm not asking you to like it. I just want you to accept it."
Andrew's eyes shifted coldly. "You're asking me to set aside everything I've believed for years." Kayla almost whimpered at the malice in her father's voice, she looked him with a sharp intake of breath.
"What you've believed," Kayla muttered, "Is wrong."
Andrew exhaled through his nostrils and forcefully began to dry a steel pot. "That's your opinion, I suppose."
"Dad! This isn't the middle ages!" Kayla exclaimed, "Times have moved on. People know different things now!"
"This isn't some argument about homosexuality or abortion, Kayla!" Andrew stated, sternly looking her straight in the eye. "That…boy is the antichrist! This isn't an issue people are split on Kayla, that thing is a monster!"
A wet cloth slapped against his face.
Andrew slowly pulled the fabric from his eyes, he ignored the girl furiously shaking in front of him and calmly pulled off his glasses to dry the lenses.
Kayla tensed, "He is not a monster!" She hissed. That word. That was the one word that would make her fury peak. It was the one word she would never allow anyone to call Damian.
He'd heard it enough from her at ZPA. He didn't need to hear it again.
Andrew glowered, "'And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies-'"
"Oh, shut up!"
"Revelation 13:5." He set the glasses back on his face, his brow knotted into a scowl.
Kayla dangerously stepped closer to her father. "That. Doesn't. Mean. Anything." She seethed, "He has been nothing but a gentleman while we've been here. He even ignored your poking and prodding until you got your little reaction!"
Andrew stood his ground and stared down his daughter. "He is a demon!"
"He loves me!" Kayla exclaimed, a stray tear railing down her cheek.
Andrew recoiled like he'd been stabbed. His glare faded into disbelief, almost hurt. "And you think I don't?"
Kayla looked away for a moment, then back up at him. "Do you?"
"More than anything." He said immediately. "Why do you think I'm acting like this?"
Kayla scoffed softly. She knew her dad loved her, and she loved him deeply as well. But still…
"Damian loves me as well."
Andrew groaned, "I am your father-"
"Exactly, you're supposed to love me unconditionally, like God intended." Kayla murmured, her voice breaking in mid speech. "That's how Damian loves me, that's how I love him, and how I love you." She sniffed and another tear flowed down, "But that's not you. I have to be a certain way to earn your love."
Andrew looked wounded. "Kayla, I do love you, I'm just want what's best for you." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Kayla shrugged it off like dirt. "I'm not going to stop loving Damian, Dad." She said, tearfully staring at him, "Nothing is going to change that."
"Through prayer, anything is possible."
"I prayed for you to change your mind about Damian." Kayla said blankly, "Nothing's happened so far."
Andrew drew back, his face dropped in horror. A deathly silence constricted the pair. Kayla wiped her eyes, before looking back up at her father tenderly. Andrew looked down at his little girl, one of the few people he would kill for, and saw the love in her eyes.
It wasn't for him though, he knew that much.
He inhaled sharply, looking away as he raised the cloth to wipe his own eyes. "I love you." He said, almost croaking, "I will always love you." Kayla hated seeing anyone cry, nevertheless her own father, but it needed to be said.
"And I love you." Kayla said, softly placing a hand on her fathers back. "But I love him as well, Dad."
Andrew grimaced as his eyes filled with tears. "I-I can't comprehend it, Kayla. I just can't."
"Fine, you don't need to." Kayla said, she could handle that. "Just tolerate it. Please."
Andrew placed a hand over his eyes as he leant over the sink, his back arched with internal grief and for the first time Kayla saw his hands tremble; she delicately grasped them, letting him hold on to her fingers as his mind waged war with his heart.
After a minute of comfort and weeping, Andrew finally rose with a swift inhale of breath. He gently looked to his daughter, his eyes reflecting both pain and love. "I don't like him." He muttered, "I can't like him. But…" Kayla's ears perked hopefully. Andrew finally let his face rise with a smile, "I'll allow him, only to make you happy."
Kayla laughed tearfully, pulling her father in for a hug. She breathed sharply into his ear, "Thank you, Daddy." She smiled into her fathers fur. "Thank you so much."
Andrew patted her back lovingly, gently embracing his daughter. "You're welcome." His voice became rough again, "But if he ever hurts you, God forgive me, I will kill him!"
Kayla chuckled at the idea, "That's never going to happen. So…fine!"
For the first time that day Andrew genuinely laughed with his family.
…
Kayla pressed her face against Damian's chest, and snuggled into his pillow. Damian wrapped is arm around her and pulled her closer to him, allowing him to give a sweet kiss to her forehead.
"So, " Kayla whispered against his chin, "My mom's okay with you?"
Damian grinned, "Naturally! I told you there was nothing to worry about!" He said, stroking her cheek. Kayla laughed and gently pushed his face away.
"Of course." She said playfully, "That's why you were snotting like a toddler on the way here." She didn't need to see his face to know he was blushing. "Must have been the excitement."
"Must have been." Damian agreed, pulling her close again. Kayla chuckled as her cheek met his and they jokingly tossed and turned under covers. Damian began to pepper her face with kisses, making her laugh out loud at times from his ticklish love.
"S-Stop." Kayla giggled, "You'll wake my parents."
Damian gave her a half lidded smirk, "Aww, will I make Daddy lose his nap time."
"No, you'll make him waste half an hour beating your ass, you little twerp!" A furious voice cut through the walls, making Damian jolt in fright. "Now keep it down or I'll tie you to the couch!"
"Y-Yes, Sir." Damian gasped out.
Kayla silently chortled to herself, burying her face into her boyfriends fur. "Oh well, at least he's giving you another chance."
Damian frowned in embarrassment, but he soon formed another grin, "Must be a sign he likes me." Damian said, slightly quieter now.
Kayla inhaled against his chest and nuzzled his chin, she kissed it tenderly. "Feel better now." Kayla beamed, bringing his face down to meet her eyes. Damian felt his chest flush with warmth and he gently kissed her lips, they both flowed over one another passionately, only breaking for a second for Damian to whisper, "Significantly."
Kayla smiled at him warmly, her fingers traversing through his fur. "Damian, don't ever let go." She breathed, her hand sliding across his cheek.
Damian brought her closer, letting her face rest on the crook of his neck. He smiled down at her, is eyes loving and misty. "I never intended to." He grinned, then his lips welcomed hers again. Her body slid over his as they held each other, and then they began to explore each other with a new singular feeling of completion.
Later in the night, Damian was still awake. Kayla slept next to him, genre breaths escaping her as she dreamt. Damian stared at her, marvelling her beautiful form. He couldn't believe it, he actually had the acceptance of her parents. There was nothing to fear anymore.
Well, except that terrifying father of hers, but he could work with that.
Damian softly stroked her cheek, watching as she smiled in her sleep, a tear almost fell from his eye. He thought back to ZPA, where even his mere presence was enough to make her run away, at that time all he had longed for was her acceptance. But now… He gently kissed her forehead and placed his head next to hers, peacefully. His nose rubbed against hers slightly, making her snicker sleepily and nuzzle closer to him, burying herself in his neck.
"I love you, Damian." She breathed hazily, before returning to the pleasantries of rest.
Damian smiled and settled himself next to her. The warmth of comfort and acceptance drifting him to sleep. "I love you too."
…
I honestly have no smart ass comment here. This took way to friggin' long. Thank you to everyone who's supported this story during the hiatus. Every word means so much.
Zoophobia and Characters belong to Vivziepop.
You Matter To Me belongs to Sara Bareilles.
Until next time. So long!