The Vow (9)
The Moment Before
Damian Wayne x OC! Female
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Syn sat very still, eyes closed, and head tilted slightly back. She could feel the wind blowing in her hair, smell the flowers, and hear laughter.
"You can move."
Syn opened her eyes. She saw two small children hiding behind a bush. She waved, and they ran off. She looked to Damian to see if he was already watching her. " Was I a good subject?"
"Perfect."
"May I see?"
"Nope," he snapped his notebook closed. Standing up, he held out his hand for her. She takes it standing up. They slowly walked through the garden.
" I wish we had this in Gotham."
"We do"
"Poison Ivy's garden doesn't count," they side-stepped another couple; they were far too invested in each other to notice them.
"The Gotham Museum has a butterfly garden. Although it is struggling and closed frequently due to rogue attacks." They stopped in front of a statue. "Perhaps we could visit one day."
"I'd like that, thank you."
That was one thing about Syn: despite living in Gotham for many years now, she had yet to truly explore the city. She knew her way around the city due to patrols, but she didn't know what was in the city. Her traveling consisted of school, her work, his work, Wayne Manor, and home. She never ventured far from those areas unless someone else led the way.
They had simply been too busy with school and work to explore; Damian would have to work on correcting that. There was no reason for her to have lived in the city for so many years and to know so little about it. He'd do better.
"I hope our Garden can be as beautiful as this." SYn leaned forward toueching a flower.
"Your Garden is still growing. Beauty will come in time," she smiled and corrected him.
"Our garden will take a lot of work."
"Since when have we ever feared work?"
-
Syn kept her eyes closed as Damian's hands moved from her hair to her face. She remained quiet, allowing him to work in silence. She let him lift her head back, move her head, and open her lips. She felt like a puppet and a canvas all at once.
"Earrings," he said, turning her head, she felt the pressure of the dangle. He put something on her bicept on her left arm and something on her wrist on her right arm. She felt him step back and opened her eyes.
Damian was partially dressed. Dress pants and half buttoned dress shirt. "I left your dress in the bathroom."
"Thank you."
In the bathroom, her dress was hanging on the back of the door. It was red, just as she suspected. She dropped her robe.
Damian had just finished putting on his shirt and vest properly when the bathroom door opened. Syn stepped out. It was a deep red floor-length dress with spaghetti straps. It revealed her back with a backless crisscross design and her thigh with a slilt that went all the way up to her mid-thigh. " Could you help me, please?" She turns around,d revealing the loose ties. He carefully ties it.
"Thank you," she said, opening the closet door using the long mirror on the back of it to finally get a full view of her outfit.
"I...I look beautiful."
"You've always been beautiful," he said. She looked back at him through the mirror.
"You made me more. I am gorgeous."
He shakes his head. " I just added some fabric and color. You have always been gorgeous."
"Thank you." She whispered, before clearing her throat, " Would you like some help?"
"If you please." He passed his tie to her. Damian watched Syn as she carefully knotted his tie before stuffing the end into his vest and straightening it out. "My cufflinks?" "Of course," she found them, a gold pair with green stones. She helped him put on his cufflinks, then his jacket. She stepped back.
"Very handsome."
"Very beautiful."
-
The charity had many artistic pieces for auction, including paintings, statues, and jewelry. Damian dismissed the artwork outright, leaving only the jewelry. A few pieces got his attention. Like the one they currently stood in front of a green set, with earrings and a necklace.
In Syn's opinion, it is beautiful but too thick. " Do we need to buy anything? Can't we just donate outright?" she asked
"I suppose."
"If they don't have historical pieces, I just donate outright." The couple turns around to see Tim behind them. "My parents were archaeologists; I guess a part of me is too." Despite his afforts he pulled the short straw and had to join Bruce. Couldn't complain too much; this trip provided many business opportunities. CEO's were supposed to care about these.
"Hi Tim"
"Hi, Syn. Damian"
"Tim."
Syn just sighed and stopped a passing waiter from taking three glasses for them. " So Tim, have you found anything of interest?"
"From the auction? No. However, I have read the program and seen some of Davenport's display pieces. I'm really interested in prosthetics." The trio made their way out of the auction hall and to the dining hall. " I'm also interested in how he went from real estate to technology and medical science."
"His brother," Syn said in Mandarin
"Brother?" Tim repeated in kind.
"Cousins. Their mothers were sisters; however, they shared the same father. I don't believe he's aware." Damian said.
" You scare me," Tim said, looking at Syn. He had already done his own workout on Davenport and his new business venture. He was just making fake small talk. However, leave it to Syn to pull out something upscure detail with little to no detail to shock the room. He knew she wasn't lying, but he wondered how she got it.
"He's married with a stepson now." She added.
The trio found their assigned table. Before they could sit, the man of the hour appeared alongside Bruce.
"TIM!! Look at you all grown up. Mister CEO." he come in pulling Tim into a side hug. " I remember when you were this high" he said hitting his knee.
"Hello Mr. Davenport, It's nice to see you again sir."
"Damian," he turned to him but noticably didn't approach or touch " You've grown too. Much tallker and look less angry too."
"Nah, his temper is still there." Tim teased.
"I believe it. And who might you be?" He turned to Syn. Putting a hand on the small of her back and stepping closer, Damian introduced her.
"This is Syn Minamoto."
"J. Devlin Davenport." She moved her clutch under her arm to shake his hand.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you."
"Minamoto? Why is that name familiar?"
"I am the one who bought your previous home in Gotham," he finally recognized her.
"Yes, I remember. He never met in person, but I remember our email exchange. You appreciated my family home when most, including myself, could not."
"It's a beautiful home. I'm grateful for it. And to call it ours."
"Our?" Davenport looked to Damian.
"Yes, we do live together."
"Oh," Davenport smirked and side-eyed Bruce. " Young man indeed. I must attend to other guests. Please enjoy."
They watched him walk away.
"He's definitely changed. Much less Brucie." Tim said, turning to the example.
"That's what having kids does," Bruce said talking a seat at the table. The others followed suit.
"You didn't stop being Brucie when you got us. There are videos of you stripping at the Iceberg lounge still trending from last year." Tim scoffed.
"Yes, well, you all are older now. So naturally, I've fallen back into an old habit. But before then, you kids were a good excuse-"
"To behave like an imbecile?"
"To be ...a normal, tired, single dad of too many, if not a bit over exaggerated."
"A bit? I believe he's forgotten about the bake sale." Damian said, and Tim laughed.
"Bake sale?! You forgot your high school graduation."
"I try to."
"At least your college graduation was a kinder affair," Syn said, although Tim's side eye said that was a lie. But Damian didn't need to know.
Bruce groaned but smiled and said, " I love you." Suddenly, the table fell silent. Bruce waited for them to respond. The silence dragged on, and Syn and Damian looked at him with confusion and concern. And Tim looked at them with amusement.
Damian looked to Tim. "What happened?"
While it wasn't rare for Bruce to express affection, it had slowly become far and in between for Damian to receive since introducing Dyn, they were more likely to fight. That and Bruce never said ' I love you' unless something serious happened or there was a serious conversation. This was very strange.
"Harley Quinn, she gave a prompt to the therapy session. She said she could sense his unraveling." Tim explained. Bruce refused to look at anyone.
"Dr. Harleen QUinnzel is a good psychologist despite her life path. I've read her work."
"I don't think it'll be a regular thing." Tim waved her off.
"Tim, I hear you have new board members." Damian quickly changed the topic. Away from therapy.
"Yeah, they're... assholes. I miss the old guys."
"You know those men were a part of my father's board as well. They were good men."
"Well, their predecessors are assholes and need to clean up their acts."
-
Dinner conversation continued revolving around the safe topic of business and business gossip. Damian managed a conversation about medical business. For the auction, Tim bought a painting, Bruce a vase, and Damian a red jewelry set for Syn.
"Thank you for the jewelry set. You didn't have to."
"I want to. It will look beautiful on you." Damian said as they stood together on the dance floor. The night was a success in Syn. No fighting, new business deals, and everyone was taking something home.
"This has been a wonderful trip. We should come back one day." She smiled as he pulled her close,r wrapping his arms around her waist fully while she wrapped hers around his neck.
"I will ensure we do."
"Thank you."
"It's not needed. I've enjoyed my time here with you. I'd like to do this again."
Syn smiled " You're-"
"Hey," Tim inerrupted the couple. " Mind if I steal him?"
"Bring him back."
"Of course."
Syn walked back to their table.
Tim and Damina walked to the auction hall. They could see Bruce at the pick-up window signing papers. "We're heading back to the hotel. We're going to have our stuff mailed to us; you should do the same." Davenport invited us for lunch tomorrow; the invitation extends to you and Syn as well."
"Is that all you have to share, Drake?"
"Drake? I thought I was Tim." He chuckled as Damian rolled his eyes. " You two look happy, especially her."
"She enjoys traveling. This trip has been most delightful for her. We went to the observatory and the Getty Center. I hope to take her to dinner tomorrow night."
Tim watched as Damian talked about Syn and his plans, and a small smile graced his lips. A smile, Tim doubts he noticed. He likes this version of Damian. If only it could stay.
"You should stay a few days, enjoy the city. Spend time with each other." Tim stepped to the counter as Bruce stepped away, talking to some businessman.
"Yes, a few days' stay would be good." Tim took Damian's paperwork and filled it out for him. Only pushing it to him to sign.
"Alright, enjoy the rest of your night." Tim gave him a quick, disgusted sibling hug. Bruce came and gave him a hug and farewell as well.
Damian returned to find Syn seated at their table, talking with a dark-skinned woman in a Navy blue dress. She took her leave as Damian approached. "Who was that?"
"Tasha Davenport. His wife is a reporter." Damian watched as she went to another table where a young dark-skinned boy was seated. She kissed his forehead before walking off again. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, they're leaving, but we're invited to lunch with Davenport tomorrow. Perhaps you'll see his wife again."
"I'd like that very much." Damian leaned down kissinf her gently. Just a peck.
"Want to get out of here?"
"Yeah," he took her hand, and together they walked out.
-
Handing the Valet his keys, he opened the door for Syn and offered her his hand. They quickly walked through the lobby, stopping in front of the elevator. Once it arrives, they step on and let go of each other's hands, each leaning against opposite walls. They are watching each other as they slowly go up. When the doors open, Syn steps out first with Damian following very closely behind. There was a moment where his hand brushed her lower back before he pulled away.
As they reach the door, he steps forward, opening the door for her. She steps in, leaning against the wall, as he steps in, closing the door behind him.
The tension is thick. He steps closer, leaving very little space between them.
Their noses touch.
They could taste each other's breath.
He leaned forward, kissing her hesitantly. As their lips moved together, the hesitance melted away. As he started walking backwards, she followed, lips still connected, as he shrugged off his jacket and she pulled off his tie.
As the back of his legs hit the arm of the couhc he wraps his arms around her waist. He pushed off the couch and moved them towards the bedroom. As she now walked backwards, lips still connected, she untied the back of her dress. She giggled as she fell back onto the bed, taking Damian with her.
He fell between her legs. Pulling away from her lips, he moved to kiss along her neck. He held on to her hips as she ran her fingers through his hair. He felt her fingers scratch and pull at his scalp, the way her leg raised onto her hip, the heat beneath her skin.
She whimpers as he moves from her neck to her collarbone and upperchest. He grabs onto her thigh, hiking it up further, pressing into her further.
She feels his - "NO."
Suddenly, she feels nothing. Sitting up on her elbows, she sees Damian with his back towards her, leaning over the dresser. " Damian?"
"No, just...Not right now." Syn looked down at herself, her dress hiked up to her hip, and straps off her shoulders.
"I ...okay."
Holding her dress to her chest, she got up and made her way to the bathroom, gently closing the door behind her.
