"Damon, that's your second pizza of the night," Svetlana said softly as she watched him quickly eat another slices. Her eyes grew wide.
Damon paused mid-chew, swallowed the last bite, and then chased it down with a big gulp of water. He leaned back, taking a deep breath, satisfied.
"Have you seen the stuff they've been feeding us on the show?" Damon said, shaking his head. "This is my first time having New York pizza, and I gotta say, it's worth it." He wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking content.
Svetlana sighed and shook her head playfully. "Oh, alright. I guess you deserve it after that fight."
Damon chuckled, leaning forward. "Okay, okay. How about this, I'll make it up to you. Deal?"
Her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Oh? And how exactly are you planning to make it up to me?"
Damon grinned, leaning in just a little closer. "How about a walk?"
Svetlana gave him a skeptical look, glancing out the window.
Nighttime in New York City was full of sounds and lights, and the streets were still very busy.
"A walk? Have you seen outside? It's New York, crowded, loud. I don't think we're getting much peace out there."
Damon shrugged, unfazed. "We'll head over to that park we passed earlier. It's quieter there. We'll get some fresh air, maybe enjoy the night away from all the noise."
She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile. "Hmm, a quiet walk in the park, huh? Alright, but just so you know, this is your idea of making it up to me."
"Absolutely," Damon replied, standing up and stretching. "And hey, I promise it'll be better than pizza."
Svetlana stood up too, still smiling. "Alright then, let's see if you can live up to that."
The two of them smiled as they cleared the table.
Svetlana offered to pay the bill, and Damon felt a little bad about it, especially since he had ordered two big pizzas.
They arrived at the park, the city lights barely touching the quiet, tree-lined paths.
Despite all the talk about how crowded New York was, this spot felt like a hidden pocket of peace, a world away from the bustling streets.
They sat down on an empty seat and let out a deep sigh, as if they were letting go of the day's stress.
Damon leaned back and looked up at the sky, the faint glimmer of stars peeking through the city haze. For a moment, everything felt calm, almost surreal.
"Not bad for New York," he muttered, smiling to himself.
"Yeah, I expected crowded spots everywhere," Svetlana replied, her voice light as she looked around, taking in the peaceful atmosphere.
Damon went quiet for a bit, his gaze still on the sky, lost in thought.
The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but there was a weight to it, as if they were both thinking about things they hadn't spoken of yet.
Svetlana glanced at him from the corner of her eye, biting her lip as she hesitated.
She had known Damon for two years now, but there were still so many things she didn't know about him, especially his past.
She wasn't sure if it was her place to ask, but she wanted to understand him more.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Damon..." she started, her voice a little softer than usual, "I know you don't talk much about it, but... I've always wondered..."
Damon turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze. "Wondered about what?" he asked, his tone gentle, though he could sense where this was going.
She fidgeted a little, looking down at her hands before continuing. "About your past. I mean, you've mentioned things here and there... Stockton, your mom... but you've never really... opened up.
And I get it, if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. But I just... I'd like to know more about you. The real you, you know?"
Her heart beat faster after the words left her mouth, unsure of how he would respond.