-Damian POV-

The hospital was a loud place, with doctors and nurses running all over the place and the machines constantly making noises. Despite his high status and profile, much to Damian's mother, Melinda Desmond's dismay, Donovan Desmond was still in a room with several other people. All of them were still drugged up, just coming out of surgery, although his father was still on the operating table.

Damian sat in the blue chair next to his brother, Demetrius, as their mother continued to pester the secretaries to give their father a fancier private room.

"I don't think he's going to make it," Damian whispered to his brother was staring out into space.

Demetrius scoffed,

"Wouldn't that be a good thing though? We're finally rid of him. We can take the money and now we both have peace. If he lives, it will just make everything worse. He will become an even bigger recluse and the only people that will suffer is us. Mother won't care. All that fuss she is making up there is just for show, so we can pretend we're the happy family, the Desmonds."

Damian nodded,

"How is your boyfriend?"

Demetrius shrugged,

"He's good as usual. I mean we've only been together for a few months, but I think it's good. It's definitely the best and healthiest relationship that I have ever had."

Damian smirked,

"So when are you bringing me to meet him?"

His brother frowned,

"Never."

Damian frowned as well, their faces nearly identical. Damian saw his older self in Demetrius all the time, or at least the few occasions where Damian actually saw Demetrius,

"How come?"

Demetrius laughed,

"Because this family taints everything good. Even you Damian. You can't take anything good. You continuously punish yourself for the horrible things you think you did. You should try to trust yourself more, and learn how to care for yourself. It'll make you a better person and a fuck ton more tolerable."

Damian stared at him, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly aghast,

"Demetrius-"

Demetrius stood up heading towards the hospital exit,

"I'm out of here. Only text me if he's dead. Good bye, Damian."

Damian sat there as his mother headed to sit next to him, replacing Demetrius, but not even remarking that he was gone,

"That man is not in very good condition, Damian."

Damian scoffed,

"I could tell that much."

Melinda pulled him close to her, the action both surprising and unsurprising. Melinda was always rather mercurial about her affection and who she gave it to,

"I only came for your sake. I haven't seen you in so long, Damian. I missed you."

Damian's eyes widened,

"I missed you too, mother."

Melinda smiled, letting Damian go,

"Well, that was a good talk. I am going to go now. Tell me if he dies."

Damian's eyes widened as she too left. This was so typical of his family, always leaving him alone. Would he bear the burden always? Was he meant to always be alone, unloved, and unwanted?

His phone buzzed as he waited for news about his father:

Today:

Unknown Number: Did you miss me, Damian Desmond?

Unknown Number: Things around here are about to change.

Unknown Number: You and Anya Forger's days are numbered.

Damian stared at the messages. The unknown number, they were back. He should tell Anya, and warn her to be on her guard. He swiped to their chat together when it hit him:

-You can no longer send messages to this user.-

He was blocked.

He would have to do plan B.

Wait. Why was he still so worried about someone like her? She had rejected him, ghosted him, destroyed him, and yet he still cared so much about her. He wanted her to be safe, to be out of harm and danger, and yet he wanted her gone from his life. He would burn this world for her but he also wanted her to be burned from existence. The hold that pink hair and those green eyes had over him made him want to die. He was such a foolish person, Damian Desmond.

He pulled out his phone to text Becky:

Today:

Damian: Can you please warn Anya?

Damian: *sent a screenshot*

Becky Blackbell: Why can't you text her yourself, Desmond? You want me to do your work now?

Damian: She blocked me.

Becky Blackbell: LMFAO

Damian: It's really not that funny.

Becky Blackbell: Don't worry. I'll get you two back together.

Damian: Wait.

-Becky Blackbell has seen your latest message.-

Damian sighed exasperatedly as he pocketed his phone as the surgeon that had performed his father's surgery came towards him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Desmond, but your father passed away on the table. We tried to bring him back but-"

The surgeon's voice blurred in Damian's ears. He couldn't believe it. He was gone. Damian was free.

"Thank you, Doctor," Damian whispered, tears rolling down his face.

The doctor nodded somberly, continuing,

"We have grief counseling services available…"

ngl i kind of combined this and the past few chapters all together. like at first it was a couple more but now it got shrunk. but i think i'm def doing side stories so total chapter count will stay the same or go up. i promise it will not go down. (hopefully)

bruh someone needs to stop me from posting chapters at such an irregular pace like its either post a ton a week or post barely. it is actually starting to get out of hand

tyyyyyy for reading love you guys 333