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It was maybe their 8th year at Eden when Damian could finally proudly admit Anya was one of his bestest friends, and that he held her and her wellbeing in high regard.
And it’s been 2 whole years since then, and Damian can positively say Anya is one of the if not the closest person he’s ever been with, he feels comfortable and safe in her embrace, he enjoys having her as close as possible despite how much it makes his heart race and his mind go fuzzy; he’s grown to like the fuzzy feeling, maybe just because it’s Anya, but he figures he’d start eating ceiling tile if Anya said it tasted good, so this was nothing in comparison.
Damian harboured feelings for the girl yes, but it was so much more than that. She was kind and funny and oh so warm, like the last ray of sunshine in Damian’s admittedly cold and dark life. She was an extrovert with a nack for making friends and probably knew over half the school on a first name basis. Whenever someone was in trouble she was always there, and she somehow always fixed it, getting straight to the problem at hand with a comforting shoulder to lean on and a smile full of encouragement.
She was so many people’s ray of sunshine as well, so it was only natural that Damian got a bit jealous when she went to go help other male students, and it was only natural that some of those said male students started feeling things for Anya Forger, not friendly platonic feelings, real romantic and intimate feelings for the esper.
Damian didn’t like it sure, but he was in no place to say they couldn’t like her, he wasn’t her boyfriend after all and even if he was Damian could very much relate to the other Eden students who have fallen head over heels for Anya, as he himself was the first to ever do so.
Damian was just some snarky 16 year old who was born into a family that could provide him with anything he could ever ask for, well except for familial love, but he supposes that’s not a material item, so money could do no favours for him in that department. He didn’t deserve someone like Anya Forger to stand beside him the rest of his life, he didn’t deserve her words of encouragement or to have the privilege of holding her in his arms, he didn’t deserve to touch her or kiss her or love her like he did but he couldn’t help it, she was addicting, like a drug to the scion, one he never truly wanted to quit despite how many times he said he would.
He figured he’d be okay just watching her from the sidelines, as a best friend and nothing more, nothing less, and he wouldn’t admit how much it hurt, how much it hurt to not spill everything and in the process ruin everything they had spent 9 years building up. Damian wasn’t about to demolish it over some stupid feelings for her he knew he’d never really get over.
He had accepted a long time ago she probably would never like him back in the way he likes her, and he had told himself that was okay even if it really wasn't okay, even if he spent way to many hours of the night fantasising about their wedding which in the real world would never realistically happen, and then spent way to many hours of the night crying over it, hours he should have been studying like a good Desmond should.
So on one restless night Damian pulled out an empty notebook and pen, he stared at it a bit, blushing like an idiot about what he was about to do.
Flipping to the first page, it was lined but otherwise empty, devoid of the words he was holding in.
Hesitantly he took the pen to the paper and began writing, his hands shakily sketching out everything he had been wanting to say for so long.
“What I like love about Anya Forger, By Damian Desmond.” He stare at the page in disbelief at what he had done for a second, mouth suddenly very dry.
Swallowing his pride he continued writing, “1. When her eyes get all glassy when she cries.. It makes them look so much more vibrant and beautiful..” He gulped down and put the pen to paper again, “2. When she calls me ‘Damian’ instead of ‘Sy-on’ It gives me butterflies, this feeling only happens when she says it though..” Damian thought a bit more, although it didn’t take long before his next note was jotted down, “3. I like how she doesn’t call me ‘Desmond’ or talk about my family often, It’s weird but it makes me feel like she sees me as me, not the second son of the Desmond clan, just me.” Damian continues, his hand now less shaky as this becomes all to natural, new reasons to love her coming every second, “4. I like how she still watches that kids spy show, it’s so immature and silly but in her own endearing way that makes it uniquely Anya.” Damian smiled at the paper as he kept writing down reasons, knowing that if he were to truly list every single reason he’d be here for a long time, “5. She can make anyone fall in love with her immediately, she’s just that loveable.” He breathlessly chuckled to himself at that reason, a secret part of him wishing she’d stop unknowingly romancing half the male Eden population, “6. How she still uses that strawberry blast shampoo made for kids, and that stupid peanut brittle chapstick I wish I could just kiss straight off her lips and figure out why she’s so addicted to it.” He read over that reason again and blushed a flaming scarlet, did he really just admit to wanting to kiss her? He then ultimately decides that fact is very much true, as Damian Desmond wanted nothing more than to kiss her stupid soft looking lips.
Damian read the list again and again, deciding not to add anything more to it at the moment before he spontaneously combusts and writes down something he’s sure he’ll regret later, no matter how much truth is laced within the words.
Instead he shoves the notebook back into his drawers, slamming it shut in a flustered rage, he then decides to sleep, his body still unnaturally hot after bushing at his own stupid actions, like an idiot.
When he wakes up at exactly 6:30 in the morning as he does every day, he has a new perspective on life, having the sudden realisation that if he doesn’t spend as much time with Anya as possible he’ll lose her to some other guy, or she’ll end up not wanting to be his friend at all anymore and that’ll hurt so much worse than watching her be with some other guy.
So Damian’s new plan, is to spend as much time with Anya Forger as physically possible, at any and all costs.
He was such a genius, wasn’t he?
It was homeroom, Damian, Ewen and Emile are situated at their regular spot at the top left side of the desks, Anya and Becky would walk in about 7 minutes before the first bell rang, and then they’d sit in front of the boys, strike up a conversation and then class would begin, this was all routine at this point.
“Psst, Damian, earth to cadet, are you home?” He heard Ewen whisper to him, his hands cupped around the scions ear as to make sure nobody could hear him.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sorry, did I space out?” Damian asked, dumbfounded.
“Yeah, you did.” Becky deadpanned, giving him an almost annoyed face.
“Oh sorry, were you saying something pigtails?” Damian smirked at the brunette, who in turn stuck her tongue out at him defensively before taking her seat beside Anya and in front of Emile.
“Bossman never spaces out like that, something on your mind?” Emile asks, a playful smile on his lips at the use of the old nickname.
“Yeah it is strange..” Becky begins, and then her eyes go wide with realisation and Damian could swear they sparkled just a little brighter, as if she had just figured out a massive detective case, “OOH! IS IT A GIRL? YOU WERE DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT A GIRL!” Becky calls out in a whisper-shout, and suddenly Damian had 4 sets of curious eyes on him.
“I-I WAS NOT!” The scion protests, but his crimson face immediately gives away his pathetic attempt of lying, he puffs his cheeks out and crosses his arms across his chest like an angry child.
Becky gasps excitedly, “NO YOU SO WERE! WHO IS SHE? DO I KNOW HER!?” She’s now standing up, leaning her palms on the desks above her, seemingly peering into Damian’s very soul.
“THERE’S NO GIRL!” he yells back, yet still keeping his voice in a hushed tone as to not gather the attention of everyone else in class.
“AWHH! DAMIAN HAS A CRUSH!” Becky swooned, clasping her hands together and spinning on her left heel, like she sees the girls in her romance drama’s do.
“Who is Sy-on boy crushing!?” Anya seemingly chimes into the conversation, not understanding romantic terms even at 15 years and 7 months of age.
“No Anya, he’s not crushing anyone, he like someone romantically!” Becky pats Anya’s shoulder reassuringly as Anya put’s the pieces together in her mind.
“Ohhh~ wait.. Oh?..” She says hesitantly, not knowing how she should process this information, although the thought that Damian likes a girl, some other girl she’s probably never even seen or maybe even one that’s she’s friends with, makes her stomach flip, but not in that fun romantic way, in some sad disappointed way.
“I don’t have a crush on anyone!” Damian blurts out, somehow redder than before.
“If he says he doesn’t have a crush then he doesn’t have a crush Becky, so it’s fine!” Anya smiled a little too brightly at the insinuation Damian didn’t like anyone, while it kinda' stung he didn’t like her, it was better than him liking some other girl.
“Anya, darling, boys will never admit to having a crush on a girl! Their cowards like that.” She stopped her sentence to shoot a glaring look at the 3 boys before turning back to Anya, “Damian’s lying, he so does have a crush!”
“DO NOT!”
“Anyways, since we mature women aren’t cowards, we can admit we have crushes. Take me for example, I, Becky Blackbell, have a crush on Liam Gillins from the other class!” Becky dramatically fell onto Anya’s shoulder, proving to everyone just how she became the drama clubs president in only grade 9.
Everyone stared at her theatrics in silence, nobody knowing what was supposed to happen now.
“AHEM! Anya, now, since you’re a mature lady, it’s your turn to admit your crush!” Becky opened one eye to look at Anya, seemingly giving her scripted lines.
“Uhm? Do I have a crush?” Anya asks Becky as if Becky was supposed to decide that for her.
Becky sits back up in her seat, looking devastatingly disappointed in her utterly hopeless best friend.
“I don’t know? That’s for you to decide.” Becky shrugs, chewing on the inside of her cheek.
Anya sat there dumbfounded for a moment, pondering whether her feelings for Damian were considered a “crush” and at the realisation that they were her face flushed a nice red, rivalling the pink tones of her hair.
“AHAH! YOU DO HAVE A CRUSH!” Becky called out, which stunned Anya out of her thoughts.
“WHAT? NO! AHAHAH..” Anya tried to play it cool, but she had started petting her hair, which was a nervous habit she does every time she’s lying, everyone present was very aware of that fact.
“Y-YOU HAVE A CRUSH!?” Damian blurted out, unintentionally, of course.
“NO! UHM, MAYBE? I- UHM…” She looked as if she was short circuiting, before mumbling a small, “Y-yeah..” and then turning way from all the gawking eyes, especially a certain pair of amber irises.
“OOH~! ANYA SPILL! WHO IS IT!?” Becky shook her already overheating best friend, who was looking like she was trying to rival a tomato in redness. Damian could only sit back and stare in disbelief, Anya had a crush?? Anya Forger?? His best friend?? His crush?? Who is it?? Who dared to steal her innocent heart??
“I-I’M NOT TELLING!” The esper blurted out, eyes seemingly spinning in confusion.
Becky was about to pester her for more before she was cut off by the bell, and Anya has never been so thankful for school to begin then she was now.
Over the course of the day Becky continued to pester and ask Anya about her very secret crush, yet somehow Anya was always able to find a distraction or run away from the brunette completely, courtesy of her mind reading powers, of course.
That was until Becky had cornered Anya in the library after school, she pinned her between bookshelves to minimise her escape options, as the brunette began her scrutinising.
“Anya, as your very bestest friend, it is your obligation to tell me who you’re crushing on!” The Blackbell declared, as loud and proud as ever.
“Beckyy! I’ll tell you when I’m ready to accept that I like him, but not now!” Anya protested, pouting pathetically.
“No Anya! If you tell me I’ll be able to help you!”
Anya looked Becky dead in the eyes while she brought her hands to her lips, her fingers in a pinching stance.
“Anya, NO!”
The esper only kept the eye contact going as she brought her pinched fingers across her lips in a zipper motion, silently saying “My lips are sealed.”
“Anyaaa! You can’t use the silent treatment right now!” Becky whined.
“Ahem!” Came a deeper voice from behind Becky.
“What Desmond? Can’t you see we’re busy here!?” Becky shouts, unimpressed.
“Me and Forger have a study session in my dorm right now, so if you don’t mind.” Damian grabs Anya’s hand proudly, and starts dragging her away from a screaming Becky.
Anya doesn’t remember ever agreeing to a study session in Sy-on boy’s dorm, but it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve done that unplanned, she also found it a nice excuse to get away from Becky, even if it was only temporary.
Damian never let go of Anya’s hand on their way to the dorms, although Anya didn’t really mind, flourishing in the small warmth it gave her that pooled in her stomach.
“Thanks for the excuse Sy-on!” Anya smiled brightly, which turns Damian several variations of reds and pinks.
“Yeah.. Whatever, besides we still haven’t revised for that Physics exam coming up..” He mutters.
“Augh, don’t remind me of school work right now..” Anya groaned, slumping her back down in defeat yet ever so carefully as to not unhook their hands.
“We’re Imperial scholars at Eden Academy, our entire lives are schoolwork.” Damian snorts teasingly.
“Yeah maybe for Mr.Never-gotten-lower-than-85%-on-a-test!” Anya groans again, dumping her weight onto Damian’s left shoulder.
“Hey don’t fall asleep on me here!”
“It’s fine, even if I do, you’d carry me there.” Anya says sleepily, covering her yawn with her admittedly small hand.
Damian sighs embarrassingly, knowing damn well that he would carry her if she fell asleep right then and there, “Yeah, doesn’t mean you can fall asleep anywhere!”
“Eh, as long as Sy-on’s there I think I’ll be fine.” Anya deadpans, yet Damian’s face sets ablaze at the fact that she trusts him so much.
Suddenly Anya stops walking along side Damian, yet still holding his hand, causing him to stop as well, she looks down a bit before looking back at him with her signature smug smirk, “Hey Sy-on, that gives me an idea!” She says excitedly, before unlocking her hand from his, and he accidentally gasps at the loss of contact, missing it already.
“Put out your arms like this!” Anya demonstrates with her own arms, pushing them flat out in front of her chest, bending them slightly at the elbows.
Damian mimics her actions, confusion evident on his face, and he barely has time to register Anya running forward and then back at him, practically pouncing at him in the highest jump she could manage to land perfectly into Damian’s extended arms.
She comfortably wraps her arms around his neck and rests her head on his right shoulder, humming contently at her makeshift princess carry.
“Augh-! What are you doing!?” Shouts a very flustered Damian, who nevertheless, wraps his right arm around her back to support her weight better, as his other arm rests comfortably in the nook of her knees.
“I’m tired Mr. Sy-on! As a gentleman, it’s your duty to help a lady in distress!” Anya says tiredly, already ready to fall asleep in his arms.
“You don’t seem like you’re in distress..” He sighs, but still carries her as she wishes, secretly (or not so secretly) enjoying how her slender frame felt in his arms, and he would never admit how he liked how her fluffy pink hair occasionally brushed his face.
“Mhmm, wake me up when we get there..” Anya nodded off after that, and it was about a 10 minute walk from this side of the school to the Imperial Scholar dormitories, meaning he’d have to walk across the entire campus while carrying Anya bridal style.
Amazing.
He tried ignoring the stares coming from his peers and the occasional teachers he past by, hoping they wouldn’t bust them for PDA, luckily it was the calmer teachers on duty today, so he was in the clear.. For now at least.
Damian was about half way to the dorms, probably in the middle of the courtyard when Anya started mumbling something in her sleep, distracting Damian completely.
“Mmm, Sy-on is all cozy and warm..” She mumbled stupidly, a little grin spreading across her face.
And Damian nearly combusted on the spot.
Deciding to speedwalk the rest of the way, cautious as to not wake up Anya in his heart racing antics, he ultimately came to the reluctant conclusion it was his Scholars cape and his uniform making him so hot and flustered, despite it being late November.
As soon as he closed the door to his dorm he looked around the room, making sure Ewen and Emile hadn’t left anything incriminating the last time they were over, and only after thoroughly making sure it was clear he started nudging Anya awake.
“Hey shortie, wake up we’re here.” He said, a bit exhausted but still ever so smitten nonetheless.
“Mmh, yeah, thanks Sy-on..” Anya rubbed her eyes awake, still comfortably nestled in Damian’s arms.
Sighing half heartedly Damian sets her on his bed, then steps towards his closet to take off his Imperial scholars cloak and uniform.
“I’m gonna change into more comfortable clothes, just take whatever clothes you want like you usually do.” Damian said, hoping Anya was as familiarised with their little routine as he was.
“Yeah, okay, toss me you’re forest green hoodie and the black sleep shorts!” Anya says from across the room, taking off her own shoes and cape.
Damian does as she asks and throws the items towards her, next in their routine was Anya would go change in his bathroom while he changed out here, since it wouldn’t be as bad if Anya walked in on Damian changing then vice-versa, not that she hasn’t ever seen his chest before.
“Alright thanks Sy-on!” She says happily as she skips care-free into his bathroom, Anya likes Damian’s clothes for the sole purpose their rich people clothes, meaning their absolutely the softest and fuzziest clothes on the earth, and that they were always so big on her, which felt secure, it was an added bonus they smelt like Damian.
When Anya came out of the bathroom when she was done, expecting to be greeted by an either fully or half clothed Damian, she was stumped, as there was no Damian there at all.
“Sy-on?” She asks out loud, sounding dumb.
She shrugs and figured he finished changing before she did, and went to go get snacks for them, so she does her part and tries to find Damian’s Physics books so she could lay them out to save time for the both of them.
So she started searching through the drawers she’s seen Damian get his books out of before, when she finds a black notebook, she takes it out of the drawer, planning to just look at the first page to see what subject Damian had labelled this one as.
And you can imagine the esper’s surprise when in big bold pen is written, “What I like love about Anya Forger, By Damian Desmond.” She felt like she shouldn’t be reading this, as it’s probably personal to Damian, but the curiosity is eating away at her very frail mental prowess, in the end she gives in to her whims and reads more down the page, finding 6 bulleted points, all of them saying sweet things about her, like how she was loveable and beautiful and funny, What caught her off guard the most though, was the last point, in where Damian admits he wants to kiss her, he wants to taste her peanut bridle chapstick, he wants to hold her close and.. Be intimate with her??
Anya has a new found courage for her romantic life, hearing the dorm door creak open once more she immediately throws the book aside, pushing herself to her feet and running towards the figure at full force.
“Damian!” She calls, sickly enjoying the way his eyes grew wide and cheeks flushed at the use of his real name, coming from her.
But before Damian can begin to process what is happening, soft peanut flavoured lips are on his own, the force of it all pushing his back against the door successfully trapping him in between her arms, the bag of peanuts he had gotten her long abandoned to the floor.
Damian blinks a few times before melting into it, enjoying this all to much, he finds his hands travel to her waist as the other cradles the back of her head, leaning her into him more.
Anya’s the first to break the kiss, breath a little rougher than usual as her cheeks are flushed a rosy pink, her lips puffed out now, and he prided himself in knowing that was his doing.
“D-Damian..” She starts, “I-I read the notebook!” She blurts out, never losing his gaze.
He went wide-eyed and speechless after that, his face turning impossibly redder with every silent second passing by, he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to say in this situation, he wrote that thinking nobody but himself would ever find it.
“A-and.. I feel the same!” She says proudly, holding onto his eye contact as if she’d die if she lost it.
“Y-you what!?” He sputters out, still looking at her in a confused amazement.
“I like you too, no, I love you too!” She smiled brightly, her dimples showing just how wide it truly was.
“Jeez, you’re gonna be the death of me..” He mutters, burying his head into her hair, refusing to let her go, relishing in the fact he was allowed to hold her as close as possible now, with no repercussions.
She only giggles lovingly, petting the hairs on his neck in soothing strokes.
They never did study for that Physics test though.