Damian and Mar'i Demonfire

Light My Candle

I'm here bitches! (sorry, reference to the Joker from Batman: Attack on Arkham, you guys are not bitches in any way) Anyways, I finally had enough time and inspiration to write a frickin story!  I've recently just seen the musical (well, film) Rent.  SO GOOD!!!  And to make things even better, I even got to see the opera La Boheme with my friend Marissa.  La Boheme was the 1896 opera which Rent was based off of.  But that's not relevant now.  This chapter is based off of some lyrics from the song Light my Candle from Rent.  Hope you guys like it!

If I must read another damn document related to Wayne Enterprises's new project on preserving Amazon wildlife, I will throw my desk out of the apartment window.  Work from Wayne Enterprises has been increasing greatly recently with this new environmental project Wayne Enterprises has decided to endorse in.  I have not been able to get much rest.

For the past two days, I have been working on these papers day and night without any breaks, except for bathroom and coffee breaks.  But despite this, there are still plenty of documents left to complete.  This doubled paperwork especially does not help the fact that I am a vigilante at night.

Suddenly, the lights in the room turn off.  The room is completely dark, with only the moonlight streaming through the window illuminating the room.  I frown, and walk towards the light-switch. The room spins a little, but I recover quickly.  I flick the switch off and on again.  The completely dark lights are not affected at all.  The power is out.  How inconvenient.

"Damian?"  I hear Mar'i walking towards the room.  Her body stands in the doorway.  A lit candle held in her hand gives her face a warm glow.  "The whole apartment's power is out.  I'm guessing the neighborhood has a blackout too."

She is right.  Looking out the glass window which fills the entire wall, I do not see any light coming from any building windows or streetlights whatsoever.

I sigh, and rub my eyes a bit.  "Well, this nuisance delays my work by at least 6 hours," I say annoyedly.

Mar'i sighs, and sets the candle down on my desk.  She walks over to me, and wraps her arounds me, burying her head into the crook of my neck.  I reciprocate the warm affection, pulling her closer to me. Her cherry blossom scent is rather intoxicating.

"X'hal Damian, relax. It's unhealthy to keep working like this.  Have you even eaten anything today?"

I have not eaten.  And she is right.  There is no point in denying the dark circles under my eyes. And with the small candle being the only light source in the apartment, as I had left my flashlight in the bat-cave, I would not be able to finish my work. Besides, simply holding Mar'i like this is soothing, blissful. She looks beautiful in the moonlight, giving her dark hair an illuminating shine.  It is mesmerizing.

"X'hal," Mar'i murmurs into my flesh. "Your skin is really cold."

I frown a bit, and then I realize that the AC was on the entire time I was working.  I was simply too busy to notice the cold.

"Sorry," I apologize to her.  Tamaraneans are usually accustomed to warmer environments, including Mar'i.  She may only have half Tamaranean blood, but she still prefers warmth over coolness.  Being in this embrace must be uncomfortable for her.  I attempt to pull away from the embrace, but Mar'i's arms tighten around me.

"No, I didn't mean that in a bad way.  Just a fact, that's all."  She gives me a soft smile and buries her head back into my neck. I lift her chin, and swiftly catch her lips in a kiss.

Mar'i returns the kiss enthusiastically.  We start to hold each other in a tighter embrace, pulling ourselves closer together.  I am run my hand through Mar'i's hair, until she abruptly pulls away, breaking the kiss.  She is frowning.

"Beloved, what is the matter?" I ask.  She doesn't respond, and cups my face with one hand.

"Damian, you're shivering," Mar'i says in a concerned tone.  "And sweating."

"Tt, you are mistaken," I respond.

But she is correct.  I have not realized until now that there are beads of sweat clinging to my flesh, and that I have indeed been shivering.  I suppose my stress and exhaustion has been keeping my mind too preoccupied to notice these details.

"Damian, get some sleep.  Please.  You can't keep going on like this.  Just a few hours, for me?" Mar'i gently pleads.

I sigh.  A few hours of rest would not hurt.  The power would probably be out for a while as well.

I kiss Mar'i's forehead.  "Of course beloved."

I travel to the bed, and collapse onto the welcoming mattress, too exhausted to bother changing my clothes or bother with my oral hygiene. Mar'i blows the candle out, extinguishing the flame.  I feel Mar'i lie down beside me, and wrapping her arms around me.  Her warm presence is soothing, relaxing.

I turn over to the other side to face Mar'i.  "Promise me you will awaken me once the power returns."  Mar'i simply smiles sleepily.

"I can make no such promises."  She gives me a quick kiss, and buries her head into my chest.  I do not argue with her, as I am succumbing to sleep already.