Castle Of Glass | B. Wayne

[33]

Aman Hardin wasn't very fond of Gotham City.

The second the cold air hit him as he stepped out of the air-conditioned lounge of the airport, he felt the city's gloomy atmosphere start to settle around him.

He felt out of place each time he was there but he couldn't compromise on that visit as he had a very important task to take care of.

Pushing the trolley of his heavy-laden bags, he spotted a stark difference in the otherwise monotonous surroundings. 

The familiar features of Jade Westley and her eagerly waving arm caught his attention. Seeing her, a very slight wave of relief washed over him as he pushed his trolley to where she was standing.

"Aman, darling, so good to see you," Jade gushed happily, ignoring the glare he sent her way. 

"No darling, no love, nothing. Just Aman isn't that hard to say," he reminded her and though it may seem he was being a bit harsh, he knew it was Jade's habit to be that intimate with almost everyone. He just didn't feel comfortable with how casually she used those terms.

"And a very lovely good morning to you too, Mister Grumpypants," she teased leading him to the parking lot where her car was parked.

Aman had wanted to surprise Calmia so he didn't tell her that he was coming to Gotham. He had taken a leave from his work and only Jade knew about his arrival plans and had offered to pick him up from the airport.

Jade was always on board whenever there was any idea to surprise Calmia involved. And Aman knew leaving her out would end up in a frustrating hours-long lecture for him later that he certainly didn't want to face.

"How was Egypt?"

"Much more pleasant than this ever pouring sewer," he mumbled, carefully avoiding the puddles as he came to the other side of the car and got into the passenger seat.

"Oh come on, the weather may be horrible but you're the one who's possibly more glum than Gotham itself," she remarked, "one would assume coming from such a sunny atmosphere, you must be a ball of sunshine yourself but good lord, you're such a disappointment in that aspect."

"Appreciate the compliment."

"Wasn't one but okay."

The silence between them didn't stay that way for long as Jade spoke up, "what did Amma send in all those bags? I doubt that's all your stuff."

"You're right. Amma had been preparing for years it seems," Aman replied, his tone softening as he thought about his mother and how diligently she had packed each gift for her daughter and grandchild by herself. "One of these bags is just food. It was hard to get it past the airport security."

She laughed at that, "oh no wonder. Calmia will be so delighted to see everything."

He didn't reply but got startled when she stopped the car before they had reached Wayne Manor. "What happened?"

"Read the board," she pointed to the board of the flower shop in front of which they were parked, "go and get a bouquet."

"A bouquet?"

"Yes. Surprises without flowers are not worth it," she urged him to get out of the car, "go Aman, or I will not take you to see Calmia."

"But a bouquet is too much, Jade," he tried to protest but saw soon enough that there was no convincing the strong-willed brunette.

"No, it's not. You better get out and bring flowers or I will stick to calling you darling for the rest of your stay without any hesitation."

That threat seemed to do the trick as after a little grumbling, Aman got out of the car, his bright red ears betraying the cold expression he had given her just seconds earlier.

Jade chuckled softly to herself as she saw him selecting flowers through the glass windows of the shop.

"You can be such a softie, you know that?" She remarked as he got back in the car with a large bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums.

"I am starting to think an Uber would have been so much more convenient," he replied but it only made her smile widen.

"Yeah, whatever. Call an Uber next time and I will ruin all your surprise plans myself."

***

Calmia had taken that day off from work. So she was at home, lounging on the comfortable couch in her room, reading a book she had long intended to.

The projects at her firm were under control and her team could manage for one day without her so she had taken that time to rest. Also with the baby on the way, her doctor had advised her to take care of herself.

She was unaware of the surprise she was about to receive in the form of her brother and best friend. Down in the living room, Tim was greeting Jade and Aman but up in her room, Calmia didn't know about it.

She had just turned the page to the last chapter of her book when a knock on her bedroom door shook her out of her reading trance.

"Come in," she called and the door opened, revealing Tim.

"Miss Jade came to visit you," he told her, "shall I send her up or will you come downstairs?"

Calmia thought about it but then stood up, "I'm coming, just give me a minute."

"Sure. Take your time," Tim vanished after and she placed the book back on the shelf, getting ready to go down and meet her best friend.

When Calmia came downstairs to the living room, a smile spread on her face to see Jade. She almost didn't notice the bags carefully hidden behind the sofa set and her brother waiting for the right moment to step out from behind the feature wall. 

As she pulled out from the tight hug Jade had engulfed her in, she paused to see the yellow flowers peeking out from behind the feature wall.

"Jade, what's...?"

But she couldn't complete the sentence as Aman stepped out from behind the wall, the bouquet of chrysanthemums in hand. 

"Aman! I can't believe this, when did you come here?" Shock turned into delight and that expression caused a warm expression to break out on Aman's usually stoic features as well.

"Just about now," he crossed the room in a few strides, enveloping her in a hug that spoke volumes of brotherly love. He also gave her the bouquet of bright yellow flowers, "surprise."

"I am so happy to see you," she exclaimed, the happiness showing on her face. 

It was then she noticed the bags in the corner and the fact that Jade had been in on the surprise all along. 

"Looks like you've come to stay for months," she remarked, judging by the number of bags.

He shook his head, "you know I don't get that many off days. These are all gifts for you that Amma sent. She couldn't make the journey, but she sent her love for you and the little one on the way."

Aman watched her face light up with delight and nostalgia, "thank you. I will call her, this is so sweet of both of you."

"Anything for you, little sister," he replied with a rare smile gracing his face.

A camera flash interrupted their moment and Aman turned to see Jade with her phone as she had just clicked a snap of the Hardin siblings.

"What?" Jade shrugged, "I can't let such a masterpiece slip away. We don't get to see your smile at all, you know. This way at least we will have proof your smiling muscles work just fine, you simply don't want to use them."

Calmia laughed softly, "Aman, let her be. You know how she is."

"Of course I do," he replied, retrieving the glare he had sent Jade's way, "she wouldn't be your friend if she wasn't a little unhinged."

"Hey, what is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

***