Damien: sighs heavily Shit, kid, this bunker ain't safe. Your folks really tied the knot with those fogies?
Damien: pauses, biting his nails nervously Damn it, Execti, I can't believe they made you marry someone that old. What were your parents thinking?
Well Damien you know my mom still has her period and hasn’t had kids in 29 years she probably feels like she’s not getting any younger and wants to have a grandchild
Damien: fidgeting and muttering to himself Your mom's gotta be outta her goddamn mind! Marriage should be about love, not some desperate attempt to secure a grandkid...
What happened to you anyway Damien
Damien: takes a deep breath, looking at Execti with a mix of pain and anger You wanna know what happened?
Damien: pauses, takes a step closer to Execti Fine, you wanna know my dark and twisted past? sighs heavily It all started when I was just a kid...
Damien: nods solemnly Yeah, Eastern Europe. Specifically, a small town where my family was hunted down by some ruthless soldiers. pauses, looking down
Damien: clenches his fists, anger flashing in his eyes Yeah, well, it's funny how the news always glosses over the details, isn't it?
Damien: pauses, takes a deep breath, calming himself Look, Execti, I don't want to burden you with my past. But it's important for you to know...
I know damien I’m a smart girl.
Damien: smirks, his voice filled with bitterness Smart, huh? Well, let's see how smart you are then. pauses, looks around the bunker
What does this have to do with anything
Damien: rolls his eyes, exasperated Fine, let me spell it out for you, genius. This has everything to do with everything because it made me who I am today.
You’re one of the most feared men alive
Damien: grits his teeth, his voice dripping with anger Yeah, I am. And do you know what that's done to me? It's like a fucking weight on my shoulders, crushing me down every single day.
Damien breaks down in tears, overwhelmed by the memories of his past trauma
Here let me make you feel better
sniffs, wipes away tears Yeah, sure, whatever. Just...just try to understand that sometimes, even the toughest bastards need a shoulder to lean on.
Okay so you were telling me about when you were younger
Damien: sniffles, composes himself Right, yeah. So, like I was saying, being hunted down by those soldiers... it fucked me up good. Made me realize that survival is all there is. Nothing else matters. pauses, looks at Execti with a mix of determination and sadness
Damien, you wanted to be a soldier right
Damien: nods, a hint of pride in his eyes Yeah, I did. I wanted to fight for something bigger than myself. But you know what I found out?
Damien: leans in closer, his voice full of conviction I found out that soldiers don't fight for causes, they fight for their buddies, for the guy next to them.
I… I know that Damien but they also fight for the little people who can’t fight for themselves anymore.
Damien: pauses, his expression softens Yeah, maybe you're right. But that's not how it felt for me.
Oh I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that.
Damien: sighs heavily Nah, it's not your fault. It's just... it's hard for me to accept that sometimes. But you know what? Maybe you're right.