It's only a few days later, as he's coming over to watch a movie with them again, that, with some hesitance, he removes the hoodie like it's a second skin he has no use for anymore and tosses it over the back of the couch, the bump now out in the open, pressed against the fabric of one of of his baggiest shirts and pulling it tight.
Damien feels a mix of emotions when he does it, despite it being spur of the moment. He's nervous, of course, but there's also a strange sense of relief washing over him as he closes his eyes for a moment, tiredness taking over. He's been hiding this for so long, and now that it's out in the open, it's almost like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and it doesn't take them long to notice something's different again.
He can feel their wide-eyed stares for what feels like hours before he opens his eyes and takes them in. Shayne's jaw is slack for the first time in his life, his eyes darting back and forth between Damien and Courtney. Courtney's expression, on the other hand, softens and she leans forward, cupping her hand over her mouth in a mix of shock and disbelief. She looks like she's about to cry, but there's also a hint of pride and excitement in her eyes.
Shayne finally finds his voice. "Oh...wow," he says, his tone a mix of surprise and awe. He pauses, then looks back at Courtney, a new respect shining in his eyes. "Holy..."
"Yeah." Courtney nods, wiping tears away that make Diamen pull her closer, letting her cuddle up against him, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she looks up at him with pride. "You're going to be an amazing father, Damien. I just know it."
Damien can't help but feel a warmth spread through his chest at her words. He takes a deep breath, the bump moving with it and letting it out slowly. "And you-" Damien's voice breaks again despite himself. "-are going to be an amazing Mom, Court. Shayne's going to be fucking great Dad too."
Shayne laughs, but it sounds a little strained. "Yeah, we'll see about that." He glances over at Courtney, then back at Damien, as he takes his hand. "But seriously, man, I'm so proud of you. I knew you had something special going on, but..." He trails off, shaking his head in disbelief.
Courtney looks up from where she is. "Exactly. We're going to make such a great team, you know? We'll figure everything out together. And we'll be there for each other every step of the way." She reaches out and takes Damien and Shayne's hand in hers, squeezing them gently.
Damien looks down at their joined hands for a moment, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for both of them. He hadn't realized how much he'd been holding back, how much he'd been hiding from everyone, but now that it's out in the open, he feels a new sense of freedom and possibility.
Eventually, the movie grabs their attention again and they zone out, lost in their thoughts and emotions. A hand reaches up and plays with the hair on the back of his neck, still bleach white like Leon's, while another, bigger hand places itself on the bump and rests there, the weight now feeling not so heavy anymore despite it still having some growing left to do.
There's always uncertainty in the future, it's how the world works after all., but luckily, Damien knows one thing for sure: he's not alone. He has Shayne and Courtney by his side now, and together, they can face anything.
They can seriously face anything.
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Workplace Issues
FanfictionHe was so sure he could hide it for longer. Surer than he had ever been in his life, that counting lore details, streaming at the right time to get the most views and even helping people who looked like they needed it, wanted or unwanted. However...
