"Wham-bam-thank you ma'am!" Shannon smiled, dusting her palms of their imaginary dust. She put her hands on her hips, looking over the cork pinup she'd just finished decorating. "What'ya think ma?"
"It's stupid."
Shannon laughed, turning around to face her bedridden mother.
"Aw, it's not that bad, surely."
"I look disgusting." Her mom shook her head, gesturing to the pictures of her smiling in the hospital bed, hair gone and machines hooked up just like they were now. "Can't you use pictures from before I became useless?"
"Nope!" Shannon grinned. "Progress is best shown by the quality of failures."
Her mother gave her an unimpressed look.
"It's supposed to mean something, ma." She sighed, auburn hair falling as she tipped her head to the side. Her murky blue eyes dimmed. "This shows that you're fighting. When you get better you can look back at these and remember that you're strong."
"I just don't like seeing myself like that." The woman mumbled, shaking her head. Shannon sighed.
"I know, mama. Don't worry, you'll be back on your feet in no time."
~~~
"Clear my planner for this afternoon."
"Yes sir, Mr. Wayne." Shannon smiled, hair pinned up out of her face. She quickly tapped away on her PDA, rearranging his schedule for him. "Would you like to reschedule the Maxus meeting? Or should I cancel?"
"Reschedule." He nodded, sipping his coffee. Shannon copied his nod as did as told. "And open up a day next week, I'm going to spending more time with my son."
"Do you have a particular day in mind, sir?" Shannon had to hold back the grin at the mention of Damien. "I believe Damien is most available on Thursdays."
"That, then." The office door opened without a knock, and in walked the demon himself. Bruce leaned back in his chair. "Speak of the devil."
"Father." Damien greeted, cold as ever. Shannon risked a glance his way, but found his steely green eyes locked on his dad. "What is it you want from me? I'm quite busy sorting out your contracts."
"I want us to start having lunch together, starting today." Bruce nodded firmly, making Damien frown. "You're going to be taking over soon, I just want us to have communication."
"...fine."
"I'll see to the schedule, sir." Shannon smiled, and Bruce turned to her. Damien also looked her way, just now realizing his fathers assistant was in the room. He looked her over with an unimpressed glower, but said nothing.
"Yes, thank you Ms. Foley."
Shannon exited the office and shit the door behind her. Bruce turned back to his son with a smirk.
"What?" Damien unhappily scowled, disliking smugness on his fathers face.
"Do you know Ms. Foley?" He asked casually, having seen his soon look over. Damien scrunched his face in disgust.
"No?"
"I could give you her number-"
"No, I-" Damien hesitated after cutting him off, wondering why his mind went to Daylight so quickly. Of course, he realized that he would have to get used to it sooner or later. What started out as a deal to keep a broker from causing more trouble had become more than just pretend, he had began to enjoy Shannon more than he cared to admit. "I don't think my girlfriend would appreciate such a thing."
"A girlfriend?" Bruce raised his brows, sincerely shocked. "Since when?"
"We've been together about six months now." Damien nodded, folding his arms over his chest. He didn't like how his heart swelled at the mention of it. How he felt the smallest bit of pride to say such a thing. But- he did like it, despite not wanting to. "And as much as you'd love to talk about it, I would not."
"Okay," Bruce nodded, adhering to his spawns wishes. "But just remember, you can talk to me about those things too. I'm still your dad, you know."
Damien winced.
"I don't like thinking about it." Damien admitted, sighing as he took a chair opposite his father. Bruce folded his hands, giving his son his full attention. "It didn't happen... conventionally."
"Did you get her pregnant-"
"Shut the fuck up, of course not." Damien's snap made Bruce burst in laughter, holding a hand to his chest as he rumbled. The demon boy did not find it so amusing.
"I'm- I'm sorry," Bruce regained his composure with a breathy inhale, calming himself. "Please, continue."
"I don't know what you want me to say." He shrugged, frowning. "I didn't even know if I want to talk about it."
"Does she know about you?" Bruce asked in a quiet tone, referring to his alter ego. Damien slouched in response.
"It's all she knows." He watched as Bruce lit up, eager to hear his son's story. Damien was not so eager, yet rather found himself nervous. Why? Why was he nervous to speak about a woman, he never had been before. The young man sighed. "She's an info broker, goes by Daylight."
"Daylight?" Bruce was even more surprised now, but Damien was stuck in his nerves.
"Yeah. We made a deal. She stops selling information and I would make her dinner." He shook his head, holding himself a little tighter. "Somewhere along the line it turned into more than just dinner."
"I see." Bruce chewed his cheek, thinking. "You don't seem to mind it."
"I do." Damien frowned heavily. "She drives me up the fucking wall."
Bruce let out another hearty laugh that Damien once again, did not find amusing in the slightest.
"You know-" Bruce coughed, trying to stifle his laugh. "You know, those are the worst ones. You want to hate them, but a part of you likes it too much."
"Glad to know I inherited your taste in women." Damien scoffed, to which they both couldn't help but chuckle at. Damien could admit, it was a little funny. "She's... she's not that bad. I do, truly enjoy her company. We only knew each other under our aliases, but she couldn't help herself apparently."
"She managed to find out my name, not that she bothered to try and ask me for it." Damien rolled his eyes. "She gave me her first name in repayment."
"And so, I assume you've already done your standard full and complete background check?"
"How could I?" Damien sucked his teeth, giving a shrug. "All I've got is a first name. I've never even seen her face."
