Demonfire Oneshots

Hurting Pt. 1

It had been four years since she had broken up with Damian, and it was the worst mistake she had ever made. Now, as punches were being thrown at her, she wished for nothing more than to be in his warm embrace. Apparently, that wasn't the last bad decision she had made. The worst one had been falling for Lucas Graham.

He had seemed so nice and funny and charming when she first met him, but by the time she had found out what kind of person he really was, it was far too late. "You stupid woman!" He hissed, the smell of alcohol rancid on his breath. He delivered several more blows to her stomach and ribs. She didn't even know what she had done, but it couldn't have been that bad, could it?

He was careful to never hit her face, He was smart enough to know that that would get him caught, and she was too scared to tell anyone about it. Sometimes she wished she could just fly away, but those were faraway dreams would never come true.

He shoved her against the wall and groggily walked away, his anger seemingly dissipating. She felt hot, salty tears run down her cheeks and silently looked at her wrist for the time, when she realised her golden watch had been broken. Shattered.

A sob threatened to rip from her throat as she looked at it. It was the only thing left that she had of Damian, and now it was destroyed, just like her life.

All she wanted was to be sixteen again, sneaking around with Damian, sharing kisses under the moonlight. Living in ignorant bliss, unaware of how hard the real world could be. They lived in the moment, letting feelings guide them, not caring about just how different they were. He was a pessimist, she was an optimist. He was all darkness and she was all light. He had had a bad childhood and she had had a good one. Right now, he was happy and she was... well, she was here. After all, he was literally the richest person under twenty-five in Gotham and she was a waitress at a tiny diner.

Slowly, against the corner of the wall, she cried herself to sleep.

***

She walked around in the small diner that she worked at, rushing to take all the orders in. She was the only waitress that morning so she had to work a double shift. She was taking some dishes to the kitchen when she heard the door open again and she sighed, reaching for the small notebook that she wrote down orders in and searched for the new customer. She saw a dark haired man that wasn't there before, seated at the corner booth, and walked over to him, smiling, "Hello, what can I get for you today?" She asked, putting on a happy voice, despite the pain of fresh bruises that littered her body, peeking out from the sleeves of her jacket. "Uh, just get me some fries or something." He requested, not looking up from his phone. She rolled her eyes and nodded, "Sure thing." She mumbled before shuffling back to the kitchen to give them the order.

She turned back to look at the man. He seemed so eerily familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. If only he would look up from his phone. "Fries." A voice said from behind her as she grabbed the bowl and walked back over to the booth, "Here you go." She placed the bowl in front of him and he said, "Thanks, uh..." He looked up to find her name tag, but stopped speaking and simply stared at her in awe.

She was too shocked to speak. It was Damian. Really him.

"Mar'i." He spluttered as she grabbed the table for support, the sleeves of her jacket riding up, revealing dark, almost black bruises. He glanced at her arms and his jaw fell open as he gingerly touched her wrists, causing her to wince slightly. "Mar'i, what happened to you?" He asked as she shook her head, "Nothing." She tugged her sleeves down and he stood up, clearly not believing her. "Who's doing this to you?" He asked as she looked away, "No one." She muttered as he put his hand over hers, "I think you should come with me." He decided as she shook her head, "No. He'll find me. I— I need to go home." She rushed as he stood up in front of her and took her hand, "Mar'i, don't do this to yourself." He said as she felt tears burn in the back of her eyes. She simply shook her head.

"If you don't want to stay with me that's fine. I can get a hotel for you. One with proper security." He urged, going to touch her arm when she instinctively flinched back.

A look of utter worry and shock inflicted on his features and he frowned, "Mar'i... I would never hurt you." He whispered.

Suddenly the weight of it all hit her.

"Help me." She shakily whispered, her nails digging into her palms. He nodded and silently extended his hand for her to take, which she did, and tugged her out of the diner. "Wait, my job—"
"It's been figured out." He murmured, typing away at his phone before putting it away and looking at her, "You're safe with me." He insisted as she looked up at him and nervously bit her lip.

This is what she had wanted for so long, but, now that they were together again, it was different. She was different.

He opened the door of his car for her and she sat down as he walked around the car and sat beside her, starting it and driving away. She discreetly watched him as they drove, thinking about him. How he would run his hands through her hair, tugging her closer so he could kiss her more firmly, his lips moving against hers.

"We're here." He announced as she looked up to see a massive building, lined with reflective golden embellishments. "Thanks." She squeaked in barely a whisper. "Mar'i," He began in what was an almost pained voice, "I'm so sorry." He roughly muttered. She simply shook her head, "I ended things. I ruined everything. Maybe I should just go back." She sighed as he glared at the rearview mirror, "So someone can beat you senseless? I think not." He scoffed.

They sat in silence for a while before he asked, "Give me a name. Something." He urged as she frowned, "What if he finds me." Fear crept into her voice and he shook his head, "I won't let that happen." He insisted as she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut.

***

She timidly sat on the bed — her jacket thrown next to her so she was only wearing a tank top and jeans — when the door opened. She cowered back before realising it was Damian.

He gaped at her bruise littered body in shock. Almost every inch of her shoulders and collarbone and arms were covered in black and blue. "Oh my god." He gasped, standing in the doorway. "I didn't know it was this bad, why didn't you tell me?" He demanded as she frowned and looked down, "Lucas Graham." She whispered. He clenched his fists at his sides and growled, "That son of a bitch." He hissed, going to leave the room. "Damian! Wait!" She called as he turned around, his expression instantly softer, "Yes?" He asked.

"Please, stay with me?" She asked as he shut the door behind him and nodded, "Whatever you want." He complied. "Please just..." She climbed into bed, "Hold me while I sleep?" She requested as he nodded and lay next to her, gently curling his arms around her, taking all of it in.

A rush of feelings swelled in his chest and he knew; he was in love with her.