A/N) Here we go, the climax chapter, let's see what Irey does about Damian and his scary mom.
Enjoy.
"I'm really sorry, Irey." Lian looks at her friend sadly as the red head just sits on her bed, wrapped up in a comforter like a sad squishy burrito.
Irey nods numbly.
She didn't win the contest.
Some boy from Metropolis did.
Irey feels like crap. But everyone thought she was feeling down because she got second place. She wasn't, in truth; she hadn't heard anything from Damian since that competition. Not even after school and she wasn't sure if she should go to his house uninvited.
She's too scared that he would turn her away.
Lian sighs and goes silent as she pats Irey on her head.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Irey shakes her head, how could she tell her friend the real reason she was so down. That her not winning wasn't the reason... a boy was. Not only a boy, but a moody sad perfectionist snob of a boy.
But really... he was sweet, and awkward, and maybe a little reserved but he wasn't a robot. She still remembers that soft smile as he applauded for her performance.
She wished she could ask him what he was thinking, what he thought, why he didn't stay? Why he left like that?
She doesn't know if she's brave enough to go get those answers. But she wants to... how many times she woke up excited to go see him after school only to feel crushing sadness when she remembers that maybe he didn't want to see her ever again.
Her eyes water and she feels shattered, "Lian?" Her voice cracks.
"Yeah honey? I'm right here." Lian says soothingly, ready to listen.
"I - I think I like him." She whispers horrified at the idea that maybe... if Damian stayed in her life... she would love him.
"Wha - who? Irey?" Lian was so confused and Irey looks at her with tears in her eyes.
"I really, really like him." And she hiccups, "and I want to see him really badly."
Lian takes in her forlorn face and then it dawns on her, "ooooooh!" Then she sinks down in the mattress, "oh." She grimaces, "well... then, go."
"But I don't know if-"
"Screw that girly, go tell the jackass how you feel even though I have to see more proof for me to accept that he's good enough for you but - if you really like him that much..." Lian nods and yanks Irey out of her blanket burrito, "get off your butt and suck it up and if he's that much of an idiot and rejects you well, we can beat him up later after eating ice cream and making fun of his accent."
Irey sniffles and smiles weakly, "okay."
"Okay." Lian nods and gives her friend a nod.
Irey nods back and blusters up her chest and heads for her door before she pauses and looks at her best friend, "Lian?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Lian grins, "I know."
Irey realizes she's very lucky to have a best friend like Lian, "oh and could you not - um - tell my dad right now?"
Lian smirks and nods, "of course not, I am not an idiot."
Irey laughs softly and disappears out of her room, she is at the nearest bus stop before her father notices she was missing.
She's a nervous mess when she arrives at the imposing manor but she sucks in her courage and rings the bell.
After a few breathless seconds, Alfred opens the door and he looks... not happy.
"Ah, Ms. West," as if he's expecting her.
"I need to see Damian, I - is he home?"
"No." The baritone voice comes from behind Alfred and Irey's heart drops when she sees Mr. Wayne's drawn face.
"S-sir?"
Alfred sighs, "I am sorry Ms. West, Master Damian won't be home for... some time."
Her heart flips. "Why?"
Mr. Wayne comes up to her and sighs tiredly, "his mother came and decided it was best," he grits his teeth, "for Damian's future, if he continues studying music in Prague."
Irey feel sick, "but - but he didn't even say goodbye." She whispers sadly.
Mr. Wayne nods, "his flight leaves in two hours."
An insane spark flickers in her chest, "can you take me there?"
Alfred raises a surprised brow at her and Mr. Wayne looks at her sternly.
"You know what. Yes. I have a few things to say to him myself." Mr. Wayne nods and grabs his keys from Alfred's open palm, "come."
Irey's heart flips and she hops down the stairs after him.
"Godspeed master Bruce."
The drive to the airport was tense and fast.
"I shouldn't have just let him go." Mr. Wayne was muttering as they turn into the airport, "I know he didn't want to go but he can't say no to her. Sick woman."
Irey feels embarrassed, like she's watching a private break down and she shouldn't be doing that. But the embarrassment is forgotten when they pull up into a parking lot.
"Gate b16-" Mr. Wayne says flatly.
Irey and Bruce run though the airport and must have looked insane, until Irey spots Damian with a grim look on his face, and a tall woman beside him basically dragging him to the gate.
"There he is." She gasps and Mr. Wayne nods and helps her get on the nearest escalator.
"Damian!" She shouts to get him to stop walking already.
He does and he turns, shocked to see her and his father close behind, his mother looks like she's throwing daggers with her eyes and yanks at his shoulder, it hurts Irey's heart, but he yanks out of her grasp which obviously shocks her because she stops moving and Damian walks away from her.
Irey feels the thumping of her heart swell and that causes her feet to launches her towards him before she can think better of it and the next thing she knows she's hugging Damian Wayne like she'll drown if she lets go.
"Don't leave you jerk face! How dare you try to leave without even bothering to say goodbye!" She sobs into his collar and for a breathless moment of suspension and shock, Damian's arms wrap around her too and she's never felt so warm and whole in her entire life and it freaks her out.
"I - I'm sorry." He whispers into her hair and Irey resists the shiver as she pulls away and looks into his face. He looks exhausted, "I heard you didn't win first place."
She doesn't care but she sees he did, she lets out a watery laugh, "hah, yeah, it was fair but whatever, I'll go to Dewberry hall eventually, but you..."
"I guess I'm not that great a teacher after all?"
She laughs weakly and gives him a soft punch against his chest, "shut up... I don't care about that, why are you leaving?"
Damian's eyes flash over her face and she knows the answer, this wasn't his choice...
Irey glances timidly over his shoulder at the terrifying woman tapping her heels behind her son. Mr. Wayne walks up and crosses his arms in front of her.
"Bruce."
"Talia."
It's like watching a dragon against a tiger.
Irey feels a little sick, no wonder Damian is so closed off... his parents hated each other and his mother is... horrible.
Damian clears his throat and backs out of her embrace.
Irey flushes as he bends to lift his fallen suitcase, "I'll be back, I promise."
She looks at him with sadness, "okay."
He looks her in her eyes like the way he always does and it makes her knees weak, "you don't stop playing. Or else."
She lets out a watery laugh, "or else?"
He looks over her face, "when I come back, you better be at Dewberry Hall."
"I - I promise." She sniffles and he nods firmly.
Damian evidently believes her, "good, here," he takes her hand and her entire body warms as he slips a shiny card in her palm, "I already paid for your tutelage just call this number and Herr Han is the best teacher I know. He'll help you better than I can."
She nods and sniffs harder, "you didn't have to."
He hasn't let go of her hand and Irey's heart skitters against her ribs and her cheeks are on fire when he suddenly gives her a small elegant bow and lifts her fingers to his lips, her throat tightens and her knees shake as her stomach flips in shock and butterflies.
He looks at her from under his lashes and he looks deadly serious. "Until we meet again Iris West." And he hands her his violin case and walks away before she can protest to his parting gift.
And Irey knows he means it. "I promise." She whispers and tries to push down the surge of warmth that fills her chest.
She resists the urge to cry as she watches him walk away towards his mother and gives his father a hug that shocks both parents before he walks past his mother and onto the plane.
Irey already misses him.
Thoughts are appreciated.