Toxic Merman (JonDami Fic)

The Result

Gotham City, Park Row
3:07p.m.

{Damian}

             The area got loud since Selina started doing the necklace in the room. There's hammer noises, drilling, sawing, hitting, and many more. There are even burning sounds.
             Raven and I have been chatting about my experience as a siren a little too much that we didn't realize the time has passed or how the background was loud and annoying. More than two hours have passed and the last update from Selina was she's about done, shining the ruby as a finishing touch.
              "You ate a fish that was still alive???" She sounded surprised.
             "I was hungry, what do you expect?" I said.
             She started laughing with her hand covering her mouth. It got louder every second. "A rich kid ate live sea creature... that's going to be in the history books." She said. "I salute you, good sir."
             "Knock it off, Raven," I said, petting a gray cat who causally came on my lap and rested there.
             Her laugh faded away slowly and she petted the cat next to her. "I'm sorry about Iruka and the whale." She said. "The way you described them seemed like you had a wonderful relationship with them."
             "I did." I smiled. Iruka especially... we are-- were... close."
              "Very close."
              "I hope wherever she is now, she'll know the true words you wished you could've told her." She said.
              "I hope so," I said.
              Come to think about it, I've never told Iruka what I wanted to tell because I couldn't form my words when we were at the Burial Tranquility. But now, my mind is clear and I know exactly what I want to tell her. I turn to my side to see Raven petting the cats near her. She had a smile on her face which was surprising because she's never been a cat person but after today, I think she'll reconsider it. "Raven, can I--
              "Alright!" Selina said loudly from behind which shocked the sleeping cat on my lap. "It's done!"
              When the cat got down from my lap, I got up to see Selina walking out the room with the finished necklace in her hands.
              She looked messy but her active energy remains. Gold crumbs all over her leather gloves, her pixie hair is a mess, tiny pieces of ruby on her shirt and she was covered in sweat.
              But her makeup remains intact... how?? "How is your makeup still intact from all that sweating?" I ask.
              "Waterproof makeup...is a busy girl's best friend." She said as she wipes the sweat off her forehead with her arm before taking off her gloves. "Anyways, here. Interestingly, while cutting the gem, I found out this is a pigeon blood ruby which means the red stands out more than a regular ruby."
              She hands me the complete necklace. "What do you think?" She asks.

              The moment my eyes landed on the necklace, I lost my words because I'm blown away by how amazing it looked. The redness of the ruby shines and reflects the light that hits on it, the circular shape of the stone is perfectly cut, not a single scratch was on the surface and the white gold chain shines just as well as the ruby.
              "Robin?" Selina called out to me because I kept staring at the necklace without saying anything.
              "This looks great, Selina," I said, almost sounding very excited. "Everything about it is just perfect."
              I look up to see her smiling an accomplished smile. "I'm glad you liked it." She said.
              "Yes, it's really pretty," Raven commented. "Good job, Selina."
              "Now, what's the price?" I ask. "Tell me exactly."
              Suddenly her smile changed into a different smile. She glance to the necklace for a good long minute and then gazed to my eyes. "You know what?" She starts off. "No charges."
              Wait for what?!
              "What?!" I spoke out what's in my mind. "Selina, you've done a lot to this piece of jewelry... there's no way I'm taking it without paying."
              "Damian, compared to the first time I've met you, the Damian who is a brat that cares for no one but himself and lack manners -- well, you still lack manners -- but the point is, you've changed." She said. "You found love."
              "Heck, I thought you're just gonna die alone someday."
              "Thanks for the honesty, Selina," I said sarcastically.
              "You're welcome." She laughs. "When I found my first love, I couldn't even afford to buy him dinner. Anyways, don't think of this as a free gift... think of it as a favor."
              "Which means, you owe me a favor if I shall need one someday. For now, cash isn't something I want because I have tons of those hiding around in the house."
              "A favor?" I ask.
              "A favor." She confirmed it.
              "How about you keep the balance ruby?" I suggested. "I'm sure it's worth a lot more compared to this pendant."     
              "Oh yes... the balance gem is worth millions." She said. "But no, I'm giving that back to you."
              "I would suggest giving it to him as well... he and his parents could use the money if they were to sell it."
              She does have a point. Jon isn't poor but he's not rich either. Both Lois and Superman works as a reporter or news writer in the Daily Planet. Their salary is just enough to support a family but I'm sure they would like to get more.
              "Good idea," I said. My eyes automatically gaze down to the pouch in my pocket and immediately realized that there are two more stones in it. I reach for it and pour the rock on my palms. "Ok, would you at least accept one of these stones?"
              "The favor remains."
              Her eyes widened by the rocks on my hand. She reached for one of the stones which was the blueish one.