Chpt.26
It felt so strange to Livy. She hadn't been to the Manor in years and there she was, standing on the doorstep.
What does Damian want that he needs me to go to his house for? Livy wondered as her mind went to the boy.
He really did age well. He looked similar to his father except his skin was slightly darker, making him, to Livy, look even more attractive.
She remembered when she was stuck in the crate with him, and wished that she didn't have claustrophobia. He was holding her tightly and she couldn't even remember most of it because she was freaking out.
Maybe he might hold me like that when I'm not having a mental breakdown. Livy thought hopefully but sighed.
Who am I kidding? He hates me most of the time and insults me constantly. Why would he like me? He even made remarks about how I'm not attractive. He wouldn't have said that if he liked me. He would have told me I'm beautiful and shit like that. He probably only asked me here because his stupid dad wants to talk to me about changing my ways and crap like that.
Livy tried convincing herself that that was the reason Damian asked her there, but the thought of Damian made her cheeks burn.
Shaking her head, Livy tried getting Damian out of her mind and focused on the snarky remarks she planned on saying to whatever insults she had coming her way.
She gave the door a knock and it quickly opened, revealing an older gentleman that Livy knew as Alfred.
"Miss Todd, it's been some time." He smiled, welcoming Livy in. "How have you been?"
"Great Alfred." Livy grinned, hugging the man tightly. Livy then inquired,
"How are you?"
"I can never complain." Alfred informed with a small smile. "May I ask what brought you here?"
"Damian asked me to come here." Livy informed, and Alfred raised an eyebrow.
"Master Damian did not inform me that you'd be here." Just as the words left Alfred's mouth, Damian came running down the stairs, glaring at Livy.
"When I told you to meet me, I meant on the rooftop you idiot!" Damian exclaimed. Livy rolled her eyes.
"That wasn't what you wrote on your note."
"It was implied." Damian huffed.
"Implied my ass." Livy grumbled crossing her arms, but Alfred gave her a stern look along with an,
"Ahem."
"Sorry Alfred." Livy stated. Damian walked toward her, firmly grasping her wrist, then looked at Alfred.
"Pennyworth…" Damian's face softened a bit. "When my father returns, can you not tell him of Livy's presence?"
"I will do my best." He nodded.
"Thank you." Damian stated, then tugged on Livy's wrist for her to follow. Livy quickly pulled her wrist out of his grasp while glaring at him.
"I can follow you, you don't need to drag me with you." She growled. Damian pursed his lips but walked up the stairs with Livy following behind.
The two reached what appeared to be a large training room.
"Are you comfortable?" Damian inquired, and Livy cocked her head to the side.
"Comfortable?"
"Is this room spacious enough for you?" Damian repeated.
"Oh… yes. Yes, it's fine." Livy nodded.
"Good. I wouldn't want you acting pathetic and breaking down in fear again." Damian informed, and Livy's eyebrow furrowed in anger.
"You don't know what it's like, so don't call me pathetic." She growled. "Now, why did you want me to come here?"
Instead of answering, Damian questioned,
"Do you enjoy the new room I put your friend in?"
"Yes." Livy whispered. "Lancy likes it too."
"Lancy. Lancy. Lancy." Damian rolled his eyes. "When are you going to start putting yourself first besides other people? Be selfish once in a while."
"I am fortunate to live the life I have. Lancy is my best friend, and I'd do anything for her." Livy stated, thinking of her friend in the hospital and wishing she was there so she would know Lancy was safe.
"Including sacrificing your comfort and life sitting by her side in a worthless hospital!?" Damian exclaimed.
"Yes! I don't abandon friends, no matter what the situation is!" she shouted, and Damian ran is hands through his hair.
"Livy, I am concerned about you. When was the last time you let yourself be happy?"
"What do you care? Besides, I'm happy when I talk to Lancy. I'm happy when I spend time with my Dad. I'm happy when I get to see Selina. I'm happy when I see y-" Livy closed her mouth, and looked at the floor.
"When you see what?" Damian inquired, his voice hinting at some curiosity.
"Forget it, Damian."
"No. I want to know." Damian stated firmly as he grasped Livy's arms. He knew what she was going to say, but he wanted to hear her say it.
Livy was silent, trying to keep the blush from creeping up to her cheeks as Damian proceeded to run his hands up his arms to her blond hair.
"Damian…" Livy whispered, unsure how to respond to his actions.
"I like your hair this way." He informed as he ran his fingers through her blond locks. "It makes you look older and not as childish as the braids did."
"I like my braids." Livy stated, trying to keep her voice firm at his close proximity, but it wavered a bit.
"I know you do." Damian nodded. "Still, it is a refreshing change." He watched as Livy reacted, memorizing her small movements, and he couldn't help but smirk.
"You're blushing." He informed.
Livy wanted to push him away and run. Yet at the same time she wanted to pull him closer to her.
"I'm not blushing. It's just warm in here." She said quickly, looking away from him.
"My father keeps this Manor very cold, Livy." Damian said in a practical voice. He brought his hand up to Livy's cheek, making her look at him.
"I know what you were going to say." Damian informed in a soft voice, and he watched as Livy's eyes widened in panic. "I just want to hear you say them. You are happy when you see what?"
"I-I… I am happy…" Damian leaned in as Livy did the same. "I am happy when I see…" their lips were centimeters from touching. "Yo-"
"Damian."
The two pulled away before their lips even met and whirled around. In the doorway stood Bruce Wayne.
"What are you and Livy doing?" he questioned but it sounded more like a demand.
"I just needed to talk to her." Damian answered quickly.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne." Livy stated, praying that her face wasn't as red as she thought. So did Damian only invite me over here for Bruce to see me? And he needed to stall so he did this? Or was that all really genuine? Livy thought with confusion.
Bruce glanced over at her, giving her a small smile. A smile that Livy didn't necessarily trust due to what her father had told her about him.
"Hello Livy. It's been away. How is your father?"
"Jason's fine." Livy nodded in a tight voice. There was something about Bruce that scared her, and she wasn't that comfortable when around him.
"Are you having problems with him? Would you like to stay the night? We have several guest rooms-"
"Jason treats me fine." Livy stated sternly, shooting a glare at Bruce. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back to the hospital." Livy informed as she went to leave, but Bruce was blocking her way out.
"The hospital? What's wrong?"
He doesn't know? Damian hasn't told him? Livy thought, glancing over at Damian, but then turning her attention back to Bruce.
"My friend got hurt. I just promised her that I'd stay by her side. Now, please excuse me." Livy said as she tried to move around the man.
"Alfred could drive you there if you want."
"No thank you. I'm capable of walking." Livy informed.
It was silent, but then Bruce stepped to the side, letting her through.
"Livy, if Jason ever gives you problems-"
"He doesn't and he never will. Good bye." Livy stated firmly, then quickly left the manor.
Bruce looked over at Damian with an unreadable expression.
"What is it, Father?" Damian inquired.
"I have just notice that you have been spending an awful lot of time with Livy."
"What do you-"
"I know that when you go on solo patrols you are often with her." Bruce stated and Damian closed his mouth. "I want to know why you love her."
"Father, I don't love…" Bruce gave him a stern look and Damian stopped himself, taking a deep breath. "I can't explain why, Father." He informed.
"Don't make the same mistakes I have, Damian." Bruce stated. "Don't let love cloud your judgment." With that, Bruce left the room.
Damian watched as his father left, then ran his fingers through his hair.
What am I doing?