cthingsa

[thisisaname-whatahappyname]

im printing a fic to read while in school and this is ,,,,,,,,,, THE CHAPTERS WONT LINE UP

[starryvioletnight]

Mending a Broken Heart pt. 2/3

Summary: Part two. @nammies @xdamienplier @raejinx Enjoy~

Damien decided that it wasn’t worth it. Love really wasn’t worth the risk of trying to find someone capitable, putting your heart out there just to be shunned away. And worse yet, he was scared to tell someone that his preferences, not sure if someone would keep such a thing secret. It would compromise any election he could potentionally run in. He wanted so desperately to Mayor, then perhaps a Representative in the House, or a Senator. He had big dreams. He couldn’t let a little thing like ‘love’ get in the way of that.

That didn’t mean he was bitter or that he locked his compassion away with the ideal of love. He volunteered at animal shelters, soup kitchens; anywhere they needed a hand, Damien was surely there. Often, a young woman would try and coax him into joining her for dinner.

“You’re such a good man, Damien,” One particularly persistent young lady remarked. “It’s such a shame you don’t have someome to go home to. Does it get lonely, in that house?”

“Not really,” He lied smoothly, adding a smile for good measure. “It was a hard adjust when my sister, Celine, moved in with her husband, but otherwise I’ve found that I actually enjoy the silence. Gives me room to think.”

She got the hint and nodded, going to the back to get more spoons. She always got the hint, but everytime he volunteered at this particular kitchen, she would try to flirt with him once again.

It was exhausting.

When he returned home, there was an envelope sticking out of the door. His name was written in Celine’s slanted, curly handwriting. He took the envelope and walked inside.

It was an invitation to Mark’s Manor. A celebration of her marriage to Mark. Damien tossed the letter aside. Of course he’d go. It wasn’t a question.

When he arrived, it was nothing like what he expected, or maybe it was. Celine and Damien, all over each other, alienating a lot of guests. Damien was standing off to the side, pondering how long was polite to stay until he could go.

“Damien?” A familiar, gruff voice asked.

Damien looked up, confused and immediately, as well as delightfully surprised. “William!” He grinned. “You’re back!”

“Yes I am.” The moustached man grinned. “And you can call me Colonel, if you would prefer. After all, that’s my title.” He boasted.

Damien couldn’t be more proud. His heart skipped a beat, looking the Colonel over in his uniform. He looked… nice. Much nicer than when he left. It had been so long since Damien had seen him, it took him a moment to reign in his emotions.

“Come, sit with me, Colonel.” Damien beamed. “It’s been so long!”

And so the Colonel sat beside Damien. He recounted all of his journeys into far off places, with a flair that made it almost magical. Damien was transfixed, leaning in ever so slightly, getting lost in his eyes.

The party ended all too soon for Damien’s tastes. As he walked out the door, he asked the Colonel when they could talk again. A date… an appointment, was made, and Damien returned home, falling asleep with a newfound hope in his heart.

Months passed. Damien saw the Colonel as often as he could, scheduling events around their time together. He tried not to seem obsessed or desperate. He tried not to make it something it wasn’t.

But it felt so nice.

Damien couldn’t take it. A rush of courage and infatuation took him. He wrote a note to the Colonel, asking to meet him by the lake at midnight. He had something to say.

In the living room, he stood in front of an antique mirror, adjusting his tie. Beside him, he had a bouqet of flowers to give. He was nervous, enough so for his hand to tremble.

Celine walked into the living room, and smiled at her brother. “Who’s the lucky lady?” She grinned, and Damien jumped.

“Celine! What are you doing here?” He asked, hiding his panic.

“Mark and I had another fight.” She shrugged. “I came in the backdoor.”

“That’s the third this week…” Damien remarked.

Celine shrugged again. “So, you have a date?” She grinned, changing the subject.

Damien smiled sheepishly. “Kinda…” He said, doing his best to avoid pronouns.

“Do I know her?” Celine asked, turning him so she could fix his collar and tie. Damien nodded.

“Yeah.” He admitted.

“Ooh. Is this your first date?” She asked, grinning.

“In a sense. We’ve hung out a lot, but we didn’t define the relationship.” Damien explained. “I’m going to confess my love.”

“Wow, bold move.” Celine nodded. “I never took you for the type.”

Damien smiled a little wider. “Neither did I. I should go, or I’ll be late.”

“Better go on, then!” Celine shooed with a grin. “I want to hear all about it when you get home. Good luck!”

Damien laughed, grabbing his flowers as he was shoved out the door.

He meandered down to the lake, sitting on the bench and waiting. Carefully, he hid the flowers under the bench. It would be a surprise. Damien wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, trembling slightly. Even if the Colonel rejected him, at least he tried. And nothing could top the rejection he got from Mark.

The Colonel came into view, grumbling. “Damien?”

Damien got to his feet, heart racing. “Ye-yes, I’m here.” He called.

“Why are we meeting here in the middle of nowhere?” The Colonel huffed.

Damien was slightly deflated, but tried to keep it upbeat. “Oh, just because I thought it was nice.” He said. “Want to sit?”

The Colonel shrugged and sat on the bench. Damien sat beside him, letting his knee touch the Colonel’s, who didn’t seem to notice.

It was quiet as Damien tried to find his words. He sighed, took a deep breath, about to confess his love under the pale moonlight-

“Can I talk to you about something?” The Colonel asked.

Damien swallowed back his words and cleared his throat. “Of course. You can tell me anything.” He smiled.

The Colonel paused before burying his face in his hands. “I’m having an affair.”

Damien’s smile slipped and he looked stunned. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s with Celine.” The Colonel continued.

Then Damien felt it. He felt his heart tear itself apart all over again and tears sting his eyes. How was this happening again? How?

“William, how could you do this? To Mark?” He asked, keeping his tone level.

“Mark’s an ass.” The Colonel scoffed. “He wants to contain her in that God awful house. No, she’s freedom personified. He can’t control her. She’s an adventure and hell, she’ll probably leave us both to find her own way in the world.” He crossed his arms. “I… I love her, Damien.”

Damien wasn’t sure how much pain he could handle. He was dizzy, and his chest was tight. Nothing could be worse than this.

“You are adults, I suppose I can’t stop you.” He got up, much to the Colonel’s surprise.

“What are those?” The Colonel asked, pointing out the flowers. Damien glanced at them, picked them up and handed them over.

“Celine sent this along. I hadn’t known why, guess now I do.” He said quietly.

William beamed. “Oh!” And he took them. “They’re my favorites, too!”

Damien gave him a soft smile and nodded. “I’ll be going now.” He said, leaving before William could stop him.

When he got home, Celine was waiting up for him. He closed the door, leaned back on it, and slid to the floor. He let a few tears fall. His sister ran to his side and sat beside him.

“Damien? Dames? Are you okay? I’m sorry it didn’t go well.” She told him, trying to comfort him.

Damien took a deep breath before stating, “William sends his regards, and thanks you for the flowers.”

It clicked in Celine’s head immediately, and Damien watched her eyes fill with remorse as her mouth opened slightly. “Damien… I’m so sorry… I-I didn’t-”

“As long as you’re happy Celine,” Damien said, closing his eyes as more tears broke free. “It doesn’t matter. If past experiences have taught me anything, it’s that a heart can mend with time.”

They sat together in silence for the rest of the night.