Post by Damon Cross on Apr 30, 2021 16:25:29 GMT -8
Ascension II: Later That Night
Every inch of his body still ached. Adrenaline had kept Damon going long enough to reach the hotel before he crumbled onto the bed, thankful that he had decided to shower at the arena before departure. Thankful for Danielle’s understanding, he let her tend to him after ordering dinner for the three of them, Leina included. At present, the princess was assumed to be asleep in the other room as Cross, laying face-down across the bed, groaned quietly while Danielle put her hands to use, trying to massage some relief into him. When he lifted his head, Damon could see her via the mirror across the way.
And he could also see the two World Heavyweight Championships resting there. The ECWF and now the NFW titles were in his possession. A dual world champion. He could not have dreamed such an event happening once upon a time. Not anymore, though. It was real. And it made him smile despite the suffering.
Damon Cross: It’s incredible...
Danni Anderson: What is?
She was swift to look around, the hyperactivity of her mind surging for the briefest of moments. After a pause, she mentally connected where her fiancé was looking -- at the ECWF and NFW World Heavyweight Championship belts -- and giggled.
Danni Anderson: Right! I should’ve known that. It really is incredible, isn’t it? I’m so proud of you, I can’t even...
It was adorable. She’s cried tears of joy at least twice since the moment of the final bell’s resonation. Despite the rude interruption from Katelin Descarrilado, the celebration would not remain spoiled. Danielle and Leina made sure of that! They’ve made a plan -- one the newly-crowned double champion was aware of yet. To avoid another downpour of jovial tears, the red-haired beauty took a deep breath and gathered a little more herbal therapy massage oil. She gently massaged him with it, careful not to apply too much pressure.
And, after a time, he did not feel it as pain anymore. Either that or his mind had just had enough of hurting and was ignoring it. He’d felt stranger things.
Damon Cross: All those months of fighting back and forth, of the jawing on Twitter, the sneak attacks and all else. Finally… the title is mine again. And the person who hurt you suffered as a result. Not that I should take pride in that, but… do bad things and bad things happen.
Perhaps he could be forgiven for such a trespass. He closed his eyes, not to sleep but to soak in the attention. On the edge of his senses he thought he could hear something elsewhere, like light footsteps, the turning of a doorknob… and thus he turned in that direction. A direction his fiancée curiously followed.
The door opened and a little lady in comfy pajamas stood at the doorway of the suite. She was of light brown hair and big eyes that lacked sleepiness. Even though she was quiet, Leina was surprised to find her mother and Damon looking toward her. She lightly toe-kicked the carpet floor and folded her hands behind the small of her back.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Oh, uh… I forgot to knock. I can come back later?
Danni Anderson: It’s okiedokie, sweetie. We thought you were asleep. Come in!
The third-grader looked at her mother, then to Damon, reading their facial features. She decided to softly close the door behind her and walk over to join them. Her eyes surveyed the bandages, the freshly-knit stitches, and the ouchies of the new NFW World Heavyweight Champion’s body, a little puff of her cheeks.
Leina Rael-Anderson: You kicked serious a-
Pause. Mother’s looking, child.
Leina Rael-Anderson: -butt tonight! How are you feeling?
Damon Cross: Everything hurts, princess.
Somehow, he says it with a smile.
Damon Cross: But it’s better now that you’re here. We left in a bit of a hurry so I didn’t get a victory hug yet.
He still felt well enough to tease, so there’s that. Leina blinked, both surprised and amused at his antics, and she moved her hands in front of her. Although… she lightly held her left wrist in her right hand. It was one of her familiar gestures that expressed nervousness. Naturally, Danielle was quick to notice this.
Danni Anderson: What’s wrong, sweetie? You’re nervous.
If an exclamation mark could magically appear over her little head…
Leina Rael-Anderson: O-oh! Um… the rushy feeling from the show’s gone, but I’m still awake because there’s a lot on my mind...
With some effort, Damon sits up on the bed, pulling a t-shirt on. He pats the empty spot on the bed by him, indicating that Leina should join him and her mother.
Damon Cross: Tell us what’s on your mind, then. Perhaps we can help.
Once the space was offered, Leina moved to take a seat beside him. Her mother remained where she was, in the wheeled desk chair, her hands folded on her lap. The little lady glanced down at her bare feet and noticed how they dangled above the floor. She was still a child, still so small, despite her best efforts to act like a grownup.
Nine… the last age before double digits this December.
Leina Rael-Anderson: ...it was March last year, right? Mr. and Mrs. Page’s wedding. That was when I saw you two dance together for the very first time.
A little over six months after the tragedy that broke her seven-year-old heart.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Mom healed… a lot faster than I did. I wasn’t ready. I saw her with you and...
Her grip on her left wrist tightened to the point of leaving red marks. She bit down on her lower lip and slowly breathed in.
Leina Rael-Anderson: ...I was mad. Sad. Hurt. Confused. But I watched you help her… and you helped me too, even though I was… so stubborn. She wanted to marry you. I… said “okay”, but I was still… holding on to him.
And they knew exactly who she was talking about: Markus. Damon considered quietly for a few moments, then responded. His voice was calm and quiet, and it seemed to take some effort for him to get the words out. That… or he was just worried of the reaction they’d get.
Damon Cross: By all accounts, Markus was an amazing man. I could never replace him, nor am I foolish enough to try. I wish our interaction could have been… more pleasant.
That memory brought on a powerful bolt of shame in Damon. He had all but forgotten it. But now, looking into the eyes of the man’s daughter… it was enough to bring him to tears, even if only one managed to fall.
Damon Cross: But that does not mean that I cannot try to give you and your mother happiness in whatever way I might. You have been incredibly patient with me, Leina, and I love you for it. Your mother means the world to me… and so do you.
He extends his hand to the young lady, a gesture of peace and affection. She looked at his hand, how rough and battle-worn it was after the Three Stages of Hell. To think if he had tattoos on his hands...
They would be just like her father’s.
“It’s alright, sweet pea.”
The tears in Damon’s eyes were real. Undeniably so. Leina’s heart ached, and soon, she found her own eyes were welling up. Rather than take his hand, she threw her arms around him -- careful not to agitate his injuries. She hugged him as gently as she could, her tears spilling down her flustered little cheeks.
Leina Rael-Anderson: ...thank you… dad.
A soft gasp escaped Danielle’s parted lips. The entire time, she’d been listening, giving them the opportunity to converse with one another.
Did… they hear that right? Did she call him...
“Dad”?
To try and detail all that went through Damon’s mind at that moment would be impossible. He recalled his first interactions with Leina, his meeting with his own father, of the ensuing months and even memories reaching all the way back to childhood. That single title filled him with equal amounts of warmth and fear. Heat spread through his chest, yet his muscles tensed as one. His heart? Certainly no words for that. And all in the space of a moment. Then he put his arms around Leina as well, his lips touching the top of her head as his eyes began to water.
Damon Cross: ...are you sure about this, princess?
A strange thing to say, perhaps, but… well, emotions had an effect. He would not want her regretting to accept him before she was ready. There’s a brief moment where she tightens their embrace, but she quickly converts to a gentler approach. Her tears stain his shirt and she hopes he doesn’t mind… A small yet vigorous nod, she sniffles.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Yeah… I’ve never been so sure about anything until now. So please...
Rising from her seat, Danielle offers her own warmth as she joins the embrace. After all of this time… Her daughter has fully accepted her fiancé. She was beyond proud of both of them. Damon slips an arm around her as well, drawing the two women in close.
The Day After Ascension II
His own meal ended up being breakfast to the surprise of none. Damon was the first one up, despite the considerable pain, and he roused both young women so they could make their early flight home. And though sleep was somewhat fitful given the damage done, the moments that passed prior to his rest left him feeling a warmth he had not known in some time.
Now, back in Asheville, Damon sits in his black sedan, awaiting the arrival of his ladies for this surprise sojourn that he sprung upon them. Though his body threatened rebellion with every other breath, the new World Heavyweight Champion would not be denied… even if it meant promising that he would take the rest of the week to rest in order to assuage their concerns. Eventually, he saw the door opening out of his peripheral vision, flipping the switch to unlock the doors for Danielle and Leina, each bearing the object he requested of them.
Leina Rael-Anderson: ...so, uh… where are we going…?
From the driveway, Leina and Danielle’s voices can be heard. Their conversation isn’t so quiet, though the subject seems to be one they’ve reviewed before. The young mother giggles.
Danni Anderson: I still don’t really know, Li. All I know is once we’re in the sedan, we need to blindfold ourselves.
Right on cue, the doors are unlocked. As Danni opens the right side passenger door, Leina climbs in and takes her seat behind the front passenger. She’s old enough and tall enough to no longer need a child’s booster seat, though she’s still on the shorter side. Danni honestly believes that she’ll grow to be taller than her; it’s just going to take a few more years. Once Leina’s in, the door is closed, and Danni joins Damon in the front. They almost simultaneously begin to put their blindfolds on after fastening their seat belts.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Did you take a couple of extra strength Tylenol, pops?
Damon smirks at that… both the age joke and being called ‘pops’. But it was so Leina for her to call him that that he could not rightly dismiss it. It was actually rather endearing.
Damon Cross: Took my pills, had my nap, watched my stories… I’m ready to go.
Smirking, he checked the rearview; perfect. Both were blindfolded and ready. Even without being able to see their eyes he could pick up on the nervous excitement.
Damon Cross: And as it seems that you both are as well… let’s get moving.
Damon drove them down the street, onto the main road and soon onto the path out of town. Not that long of a drive, really, with music and conversation to keep them going. Thirty minutes normally, forty with traffic. Soon, the sounds of the city and, indeed, of other cars and such, were a memory. When the radio went off and the car was turned off, all that was left was nature. The air was a bit cleaner here, too. They pulled down a long, wooded drive, trees bordering it, and as the two looked around blindly, Damon’s own excitement soon overtook even his pain.
Damon Cross: Almost there, my loves. Keep those blindfolds on a bit longer.
Danni Anderson: Okiedokie, but remember your promise. You’re taking it easy for the rest of the week.
Her left hand moves low towards him, feeling around before settling on his thigh. She’s not expecting him to take her hand in his, of course. He’s driving. It’s a natural comfort. All the while in the back, Leina’s hands are playing with her cute checkered skirt. She had lowered her window after a time and she took in the fresh air.
Leina Rael-Anderson: This is definitely not Asheville. The air is so… clean!
Damon Cross: The sad part is that people can tell with just a few inhales. Anyhow… we’re here. I’ll help you two out of the car.
And so he does, Leina first, then Danni. Damon takes each one by the hand and walks them toward… something. First they’re on gravel. Then soft grass for a few steps. Then a walkway of some kind. They take several steps up this, curving a bit, before coming to a stop. Some of the sun’s warmth is stolen away thanks to natural shade, but not by much. They can hear Damon take a deep breath before speaking again.
Damon Cross: You can take them off now.
And now, perhaps the most nervous wait of his life. It’s clear Leina is far more eager, removing her blindfold almost immediately. The light in her eyes brightens and her mouth opens to express shock and excitement tied into one.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Holy shit, this is…!
Oops. Language! Though once Danielle removes her own blindfold, she excuses it. The shock and awe overtakes her. Her sparkly blue eyes shimmer and her hyperness is trying to break through to the surface.
Danni Anderson: Oh my God! Damon, is this… is this ours?
Damon Cross: It is. The first World Title paved the way. The second one sealed it. This lovely home is for our family. And quite a bit of land with it.
He draws them in, an arm around each of them.
Damon Cross: Welcome home, my loves.
This precious moment… Danielle isn’t sure what she wants to do more: hyperventilate or cry tears of joy. Maybe both. She clings to her beloved, though not too tightly, careful with his still-healing injuries. Leina is far more expressive in a different way, pulling away for the time being to start and stop towards the new house. THEIR new house! She bounces around as a child should, the stubborn shielding of her age down.
Leina Rael-Anderson: This is totally fucking wicked!
Okay, that strong language immediately draws a stern look from her mother. Leina sheepishly grins and lightly toe-kicks the ground.
Leina Rael-Anderson: Eheh… sorry.
Yet still she squeals with excitement and runs back towards them. Danni and Damon are receptive to the group hug, smiles on their faces. Damon nods in the direction of the steps after they part, addressing Leina.
Damon Cross: I think the bedroom at the end of the hall, on the right, would be perfect for you, Leina. Why not go have a look?
While she darts up the steps, Damon leads Danni through what would become the living room, with its large windows, through the dining room and into the kitchen. Naturally they would need to get their appliances and furniture moved in, but already ideas were forming for how to make use of all the space. The red-haired beauty was still in awe, traversing between confusion and excitement.
Danni Anderson: I don’t know where to begin. How did you… I mean I KNOW how you bought this house. I’m just… wow!
Damon Cross: Honestly, I might have overdone it with the size of the house. But who knows? Maybe we’ll extend the family.
An idea he wouldn’t have trouble with. But part of him wanted to see what her reaction would be. A red hue color burns on her cheeks as she quickly realizes what he’s implying. The first floor also had room for a den, among other things. But Damon next showed her to the steps leading into the basement, turning a light on at the top of the path. While the blush continues to burn on her cheeks, she surveys the basement floor and folds her hands in front of her.
Danni Anderson: We have a lot to do… We’re definitely hiring movers!
Damon Cross: I’ve taken care of that.
He takes her hand and leads her down the steps. Here there was a lot of storage space and also a laundry room. The other room… well, he had not figured out anything for that yet. But as he stared into it while Danni looked over the rest, some ideas were coming to mind. They… weren’t exactly PG ideas.
Damon Cross: It would take some doing, but maybe...
Danni Anderson: Maybeee…?
Her hand squeezes his and she looks up to her fiancé, her eyes shimmering…
Leina Rael-Anderson: THERE ARE TWO BEDROOMS WITH BATHROOMS! I WANT ONE!
...of course, their daughter’s excitement resonates all the way down here. Danielle giggles and leans against Damon, her cheeks still burning red. His, though, are actually pretty red, too! But both burst out laughing at Leina’s enthusiasm and they head up the steps to meet her as she’s running down. She leaps at Damon, who sweeps her easily into his arms, then sets her on his shoulder. Danni looks up to them and smiles sweetly.
Markus doesn’t have to worry about them anymore.
