(Author's note: Named after my favourite love song, "Happy Together" by The Turtles. AnyaxDamian's theme song in my mind.)
You and me, me and you….
It didn't take long for Damian to resume to his natural, old self once we were back together. I quickly came to realize that this was his "normal" around me- the way he only acted around me, or so I've seen. He was a lot more talkative and expressive; not detached or reserved at all anymore. He wasn't the scared, crumbling little boy who saw me outside with the police, or reached for my arm as I passed by…. He felt safe and secure once again- and clearly happy to have me back by his side. That made my heart race a little- or a lot.
I knew he was back to normal since he was now half-scolding, half-yelling at me by the time we made it to his bedroom. I had to repress a charmed smile the whole way. Damian liked to imagine himself dominant and imposing, but there wasn't a bad bone in his body; anyone could tell that. He spoke to me the only way he knew how, but I knew he didn't pose any real threat to me. Not like his father or those officers tonight….. Damian was just too kind, too gentle-hearted to ever do anything to actually hurt me, something I was well aware of. No, I wasn't afraid or intimidated by him in the slightest. Course I did my best to not let him know that; his ego has already been bruised enough tonight. So I said nothing and tried to hide my amused expression as he prattled on and on.
"And don't you ever let me catch you taking the train after dark again! Do you hear me?! In fact, I forbid you from taking the train from here on out! It's just plain not safe." Oh my god, Damian…. He doesn't realize the gravity behind his words and what the actual implications mean for me. Typical adorable sheltered rich boy. I sighed, finally letting a grin crack. "How am I supposed to go to the academy on Sundays in that case, sir?" Damian stopped lecturing me for a minute to think- this clearly hadn't crossed his mind before. Insert eyeroll here. His finger raised up to his chin in a considerate fashion as he hummed to himself. "You'll take our car. I'll escort you there and back myself, just so you're never stranded with a broken-down vehicle alone again." My grin widened in the corners of my mouth; my eyes shut for a second. "Isn't that a lot of hassle for you, Master Desmond?" "It's not…..!" He began to shout before catching himself. He cleared his throat and spun his head back around forward. "I'll be the one to decide that," his voice was lower now, though he didn't look me in the eye when he said it. I glanced at him, forgetting to not let myself smile around him too much.
We arrived at his bedroom door, already parted ways with Raul down the hall. Damian opened the door and stepped out of the way, letting me enter first. Honestly, does he forget that I'm supposed to be the servant here? While he shut the door and went to get changed, I readied his bed for sleeping. The room was all set up for him when he exited the bathroom in his pyjamas in his nightgown. I was standing at his bedside, meaning that our eyes met from across the room. Our gazes lingered silently on each other until Damian peered away, the skin just below his eyes colouring the tiniest bit.
I stepped aside as he approached the bed. He didn't get on it or remove his nightgown; he just sorta stood there, as did I. As per usual, my hands clasped out in front of me, waiting patiently to be directed. When Damian said nothing, I broke the pregnant pause between us.
"Thank you again for everything, sir. I really am sorry about tonight." His hand reached up to grab the edge of his nightgown, squeezing it with his fingers. He still refused to look me in the eye…. "Stop it. Don't apologize…." He started but didn't finish whatever he was about to say. The mood between us was starting to feel…. weird. Weird, but good, which frightened me. Sensing I should probably leave, I began to step towards the door; my hands still folded in front of my skirt. "Will there be anything else, sir?" Damian didn't reply at all this time, just keeping his stare on the wall out in front of him. I really got the sense that he wanted to say more but couldn't bring himself to for some reason. Curtsying politely, I then turned for the door, only stopping once I was right in front of it. Damian was staring at the wall, and I had my eyes glued to the dark wood of the door. My hand raised up to press lightly against it, as if to steady myself.
"Sir…..?" Silence. I gulped, letting my fingers quiver gently now. What am I doing? What am I asking? Do I really want to ask him that? Is what Mr. Henderson actually true? Could Damian really be…..? "Sir, are you…..? Have you…. developed some regard for me?" These words felt like fire in my mouth.
Damian's reaction wasn't what I expected. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he kept on staring forward. I don't think he was surprised by this question… Which in turn shocked me. I heard him breathe from over here. "Don't…. Don't ask me that," his tone was raw and genuine, almost painfully so. My eyes crept over his way to find the most sincere look I'd ever seen on anyone's face before. His eyes lowered and his lips stayed parted, as if he had to remind himself to inhale. A still moment snuck in-between us before he finally continued moments later. "Don't ask me that, Anya. I know why you're asking; I've… known for a while now." "You have?" I gasped in astonishment. He's known that he's had some feelings for me for a while now? So Mr. Henderson was right! Damian has fallen in love with me….. My hand moved from the wood of the door to my pounding heart as I gawked at him dumbfounded. Damian took a deep breath, straightening his posture up a tad. His hands curled into fists, though not frustrated ones.
"Yes. You needn't be embarrassed; i-it's only natural…. this sort of thing," he began to stumble over his words a little. My eyes enlarged, still in a state of shock. This sort of thing? You mean masters falling for their maids? Does that happen often?! I've never about it before; maybe Damian's more familiar with these going-ons than me. It would explain why he was so eager for me to talk to him when I first started here…..
When I failed to verbally reply, my master spun around slowly to meet my stare. While my face was one of bewilderment and confusion, his was calm and empathetic. "I know, and I understand, Anya. But trust me, nothing will change. It doesn't affect anything…. badly, of course! You can't help these….. situations, but I don't blame you. I would never blame you; it's clearly not your fault… But," he paused here briefly, letting his gaze drift a tad. "But, don't ask me such things. You must understand my position…" He said this, and my eyes lowered disappointed. "Yes…. I do, sir," he is going to get married to someone else, after all. Damian watched me as my head fell downwards and I got this despondent look on my face. He frowned, obviously displeased by this sullen reaction. "But like I said, that doesn't change a thing. You're still my maid….. and you'll remain here, beside me," he concluded. This earned a soft, sad grin as I peered back up in his direction. "For as long as I'm able, sir." "Anya…" He then whispered to himself.
I curtsied again, turning to leave once more. My hand set on the doorknob as I closed my eyes. "Good night, Master Desmond," and I was about to go until his voice sounded again all of a sudden. "U-Uh, hold on! I haven't dismissed you yet!" This was more like a plea to get me to stay. It worked, as I blinked back his way curiously. "Yes? Is there something more I can do for you?" His posture stiffened up a tad, trying to gain an air of authority. He cleared his throat. "T-This has been a tough night for us both. I'm in no mood to spend the night here alone."
"Master Desmond!" My cheeks immediately sizzled a bright red. Seriously?! He can't say things like that! First of all, it's deeply improper, and second, it makes me feel all sorts of ways, which is probably not a good thing! But of course, my clueless master didn't have any idea why I reacted so passionately and embarrassed. He merely blinked at me, startled by my VERY appropriate response.
"There's enough room in the bed for two people; you can take that side. Or you can sit in the chair if you think that would be more comfortable." Oh my god, this idiot! Granted, an adorable idiot, but still! Has he ever even heard the word "intercourse" before?! Still blushing like a fool myself, I looked every which way but at him now, rolling my fingers in and out from my palms repeatedly. "Master Desmond, please! This is criminal conversation!" "Huh? What are you talking about? We're not discussing any "crimes" right now," his eyebrow arched up, and I wanted the ground to open and swallow me up. Is his family so sexless that he literally has no idea about it? I've heard of that being the case with high society girls before, but the boys too?! Heh, at least I know he won't cheat on his future wife- the lucky lady.
Damian suddenly frowned again like I was being the UNREASONABLE one! He crossed his arms out in front of his chest defiantly, slanting his posture a little. "Well, what do you suggest, then? Cause you're not leaving this room until sunrise, Anya. I'm not….. I'm not ready," he squeaked out and I literally did a facepalm. Ok, this is insane. Me being his personal maid is one thing; the two of us spending a night in a room alone together is another. He may have no idea of the optics, but I sure as hell did, and I'd be the one to suffer the consequences if we got caught.
Too tired to start an argument, however, my hand rolled over my exasperated face. He looked at me, and I him. Then, with a very heavy sigh, my shoulders slouched forward. "Fine, I'll stay in here tonight, but I'm NOT getting on the bed with you." He rolled his eyes, like I was being dramatic or something. "Where will you sleep, then?"
Damian's eyes immediately widened as I sat down on the floor, crossing my legs; I was close enough to the wall that I could lean my back against it. This alarmed my master at first, who blinked at me baffled. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to stay here, if you insist that I stay." "But I didn't mean that you have to sit on the floor!" "It's the most prudent place for me to sit, sir," I countered, making him roll his eyes again. For a moment neither of us did anything, but it was my turn to blink surprised when he suddenly came over to sit down on the floor beside me. There was enough distance between us that our shoulders weren't touching, but he was still very close. I gawked at his face as he sent me an annoyed look. "Have it your way."
"I-I didn't mean for you to sit down here, sir! You can go lay in your bed; I don't mind staying here by myself." "There's no point of you staying in my room…. if you're not near me," he replied, making my eyes grow. "Master Desmond…."
He sighed, shutting his eyes and resting his head against the back wall. "We should get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a busy day." I ogled his face with my large, amazed eyes. "You really….. don't have to do this, sir. This can't be comfortable for you." "For the last time, I don't mind. If you can sleep down here, then so can I." My mouth hung open slightly as he sighed yet again, gazing forward tenderly. The atmosphere was hot and heavy….. very heavy.
His lips parted a sliver. "How can I be sure you won't leave though? I suppose….. I couldn't hold your hand…..? To make sure that you're still here in the room!" He was quick to add on. He isn't afraid that I'll leave. He just wants to… My eyes softened on him ever so gently, remorsefully… He knew the position we were in, after all. "You know we can't, sir….." I breathed, and his head lowered. Watching him through the corner of my eye, I reached over to grab my dress's draw ribbon- the same one he held onto earlier. Damian's eyes enlarged as I presented it to him, ready to take. He looked from it to me, and I smiled…. Oh how I smiled.
"Take this. You'll feel if I move," gotta stick with his made-up excuse. He blinked incredulously before cautiously reaching out to take the end of the ribbon. Cradling it sweetly in his hand, he then grabbed his nightgown's string and held it out for me. Startled, but not in a bad way, I flinched perplexed, then immediately smiled. My hand raised to take it; him holding my ribbon and my his string. Giving it a squeeze, we glanced into each other's eyes before leaning our heads against the wall once more.
Damian let out a contented sigh, and I nodded in agreement. "I feel…. strange," he eventually broke the comfortable quiet. "Yes, I know," I exhaled peacefully. "I've never felt this way before. Is this…. what happiness feels like?" His head spun in my direction "Are you happy, sir?" I responded, making his eyes widened a tiny bit. His mouth opened, though it took another moment for any words to come out. "Y-Yes….. I suppose I am. Huh, it's just… Well, I've never really thought about it, but everything's changed since you've become my maid. If this is "happiness", then that's when I started experiencing it….. Something I've never known….. Happiness…..
Happy together."