Blood and Angels

Getting To Know Damian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnFy1luxL0A (Song for the part) What's Up- 4 Non Blondes

Over the next weeks, Alex got to know her new roommate. Damian was fun, caring, and busy. He went to work early every day, trying to put food on the table for the both of them. Alex had begun looking for a job for herself so that she could help out, but Damian was doing a pretty good job of doing so himself, though Alex had no idea how he could do that, seeing as he worked at McDonald's. But he managed.

Alex spent most of her days searching the newspaper for jobs that a high school dropout could do, or watching television or cleaning the apartment, or something that was at least a little productive. But every time she called a place that had a job offering, the spot seemed to already be taken.

She had been wearing Damian's clothes for a while, and though they were a little big, they made Alex feel guilty. It was like she was totally useless. She was taking up his couch, food, clothes, and money, but yet he continued to house her, no problems at all. For that, she felt grateful. No one had been this nice to her in a long, long time.

"Hey, Al," Damian greeted her one day as he came into the front door after work. Alex just smiled in response. "Did you find a job yet?"

"No. But I promise I'll be working soon." Alex reassured him.

Damian smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm doing fine by myself."

"No, no, I feel so useless without a job." Alex pleaded. She didn't exactly know what she was pleading about, but she plead regardless. "I don't even have my own clothes, other than the ones you found me in."

"Well if it's clothes you want, we'll go shopping."

Alex considered this. "No, I'll just go get the ones I have."

Damian looked confused. "The ones that are currently in the laundry?"

"No, the ones at my parents' place." She said.

Damian looked horrified. "No, you can't-"

"Of course I can. I'll go tomorrow morning while David and my mom are at work, so I won't have to get caught." Alex pointed out.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Damian offered.

"No, I'll be fine. It'll only take a few minutes. I'll be gone the minute you leave for work." Alex reassured him.

"Do you want to take the motorcycle?" He asked.

"No, thanks. Don't worry about it, Day, nothing could possibly happen." She said. Little did she know she was wrong about that.
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The gory details  are not something you want to hear about, but the broad picture is this: When Alex got to her house, her mother was gone- at work, as it seemed, but her father had apparently been fired from his job, was home, drunk, and angry. After receiving a good beating, she was left running away as fast as she could back to Damian's apartment with a bloody face and many bruised ribs. She hadn't even gotten a chance to get what she'd come for. 

She was left crying on the sofa, clutching her pillow. When she'd begun to consider it her pillow she didn't know, but there was no doubt that this place was home to her. Now she just wanted Damian to come home. 

The tears wouldn't stop coming. The pillow was soaked by the time Damian did come through the door with his same perky mannerism.