Damien's POV
I walked through the pristine white walls of the hospital, expertly navigating my way to Erin's room. Dr Marlowe said that she may have other visitors, so I should just knock before I enter.
I hear a slight murmur inside the room, but it's mostly soundproof so I don't catch much. I hit my knuckles on the door and hear a slightly better sounding 'come in', so I do and I realise that Erin and I are not alone.
In the room are the three people I had learned about yesterday - Tony Stark, Pepper Potts and their daughter Morgan.
And I'm holding a bouquet of flowers for their other daughter/sister.
I wonder how one of the smartest people in the world and his family will interpret this?
"Damien, hey." Erin smiles, and everyone turns to me.
"Uhm, hi." I start, unsure of how to continue.
"Should I come back later?" I ask, and Erin shook her head quickly.
"No, no it's fi--"
"So, who's this?" Mr Stark asks, and I immediately turn to him. Mrs Potts immediately shushes him, but he just shrugs.
"Dad--"
"What's your name, kid?" He asks.
"I'm Damien Volkov," I say, and despite how absolutely intimidating this man is, my voice doesn't crack.
"Well, you already know who I am. Let me guess...you're the boyfriend?"
"Tony!" Mrs Potts says in a scolding tone.
"Dad, please." Erin sighs, and Mr Stark just looks at me for an answer to his question.
"Yeah...something like that," I say, giving Erin a small smile.
"Okay, you've met him, can I please speak to him alone, father dearest?" Erin asks with an eye roll.
"Alright, I know when I'm not welcome." Mr Stark says.
"I don't think you do." Mrs Potts mumbles, and Mr Stark gives her a 'why would you say that' sort of look before he raises his hands in defeat and walks past me, towards the door.
"We'll check in on your later, Erin. Come on, munchkin, we gotta go." Mr Stark says to the little girl at Erin's bedside.
"Can I come back and talk to you?" Morgan asks, turning to her half-sister.
"'Course you can, M. Just gimme a sec, yeah?" Erin asks with a kind smile. She ruffles Morgan's hair and she nods before hopping off the chair and walking towards her parents. As she passes me, she waves and smiles at me shyly, so I try my best to not look mean and wave back, making her skip off happily.
The door closes behind me and that's when I walk over to Erin's side as she presses a button to sit up in the hospital bed.
"Happy birthday. I know it's a day late but I didn't get to stay for that long yesterday so I promise I'll do better today. These are you for you." I smile, handing her the big bouquet of calla lilies, white roses, blue delphiniums and forget-me-nots in my arms.
"Thank you, they're beautiful...but you shouldn't have. I don't need all this." Erin says.
"Do you like them?" I ask.
"Absolutely, I love them." She smiles.
"Then it's good that I did," I say, and she chuckles before placing the flowers on the side table.
"A little unrelated but I wanted to ask about that little exchange with my dad just now...when he asked...and you responded--"
"The boyfriend thing?" I ask, involuntarily blushing slightly.
"Yeah." Erin smiles, and I look away from her nervously, determined not to show it.
"We'll figure it out." I shrug, and she sighs in relief at my laid back attitude. I don't think either of us wants to label our relationship for now - it'll put too much pressure on us to do or say things and it'll just put a strain on our...connection.
"So what's the plan for your birthday, then? I already gave you my gift so I'm kind of at a loss for what to do." I say.
"Take me on a walk?" Erin asks, and I look at her quizzically.
"I can't go outside but if I drag the IV with me then I'm allowed to walk around the hospital. Sorry, you don't have to, I know it's a lot to ask--"
"Do you need any help getting up? Or would it be easier if I just carried you?" I ask with a smirk.
"I think my weight would crush you." She laughs, but I sense the underlying insecurity - it's clear as day.
"Absolutely not. And if you deny it I will pick you up without hesitation." I smirk, and she chuckles before pushing herself out of the bed and standing. I know that she's still quite weak so I grab her by her forearms first, before adjusting my position so that I'm next to her with my arm around her waist and her arm over the back of my shoulders. She wavers slightly and I can tell that she's reluctant to fully support herself on me, for whatever reason. I sigh and she looks at me as if she's doubting herself.
"Sorry, am I too hea--"
"No, you need to rely on me more or you will fall over," I say firmly.
"I don't wanna make you uncomfortable." She says.
"I'm fine. Besides, you're a smart girl, haven't you figured out that although you do need some support since you're still recovering, this is also a ploy to get the girl I like to lean on me and maybe have a little more faith in the both of us?" I say confidently, although maybe I came off too strong.
I'm reassured though, by the cute laugh that escapes Erin, starting off small and light and ending in a big grin and painful sides. I chuckle along with her, mostly out of embarrassment before she wraps both arms around me and hugs me, while also leaning her weight on me. She really isn't that heavy and when I overcome the initial shock and nervousness of her affection, I hesitantly hug back and feel her smile, head buried between the base of my neck and my shoulder.
"Come on. You wanted to take a walk, right?"
"Can we stay for a little bit longer?" I sigh at her cute request, and she convinces me when she peers up at me with those innocent brown eyes (not like I wasn't gonna let her stay already).
"Just a little."