Chapter Text
The first time Damian met Anya she was only four and he was six. Damian had been curious to see what noble had moved into the empty estate next-door. Anya’s mother had recently passed and her father, Loid Forger, the Duke of Highgate thought it was best to spend most of their time in Berlint rather than out in the country.
Their first official meeting happened two weeks later. Nanny Applesby had been kind enough to take him to the square to play with other noble children. Damian had been chasing after his kite when he has knocked over Becky Blackbell (a daughter of a wealthy viscount) and who happened to be playing with Anya at the time. Anya wasn’t pleased and she went right up to Damian socked him one in the face.
Ever since then they have been trying to get the better of each other. Even the adults in their life started to act as if it is a normal thing.
Like at her father’s wedding to Yor Briar. When Anya somehow had dumped a whole pitcher of lemonade on him. No one said a word and no one got in trouble. (This is also where Damian had first met Yuri Briar and the man was so helpful to his cause. Yuri does love his niece very much. So Damian never got to do anything too serious to her.)
Or the time when they were at the Briar’s ancestral home Ruddell Hall. The two had been playing croquet with some of the other children invited. Damian purposely knocked Anya’s ball into a patch of mud. Anya in her effort to make a play slipped and fell right into the mud ruining her dress. Damian did get an earful about ruining a lady's dress from Anya’s aunt, Mrs. Yukiko Henderson (née Briar). But it was so worth it to watch Anya storm off after forfeiting the game to change.
As they got older Anya’s family grew. Nanako appeared a year after her parents wedding, then Benedict a year later and Franklin two years after that. Even though her siblings were small they tried to join in the fun.
But things changed between them in his thirteenth year. It happened five days before Damian’s father had shipped him off to Eden. He had found Anya in the duke’s back garden crying. Now Anya was prone to lying about her age just so she could join in with the bigger kids' fun (and purposely ruining Damian’s life in the process). But in that moment, Damian saw the true eleven-year-old she always tried to hide.
He had originally come out to torment her for putting a frog in his boots yesterday. But he feels odd, because she is not crying because of him. Getting close enough he gently puts a hand on her head in an attempt to replicate his favorite comfort from his mother.
“Sic-on boy!” she sobbed out reaching for him. Damian then awkwardly wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to give her a short hug in hopes to sooth her. What she actually did was cling to him like she was drowning.
“Mama!” she said between gasps, “Mama is ill.”
That was new.
“I thought she was to have your newest sibling in a month or two.” Damian asked confused.
“Mama,” Anya says rubbing furiously at her eyes, “Mama had the babies this morning. Mama... the doctor said she might not make it.”
This statement brings a new batch of sobbing. She clings to the front of his shirt. A thousand thoughts go through his head. He’s not sure what to do but wraps his arms around her and lets her cry.
Her governess finds them that way in the garden, not long after.
“Come inside my lady,” She says, “I know her grace would want you to be fed. Even if it is a little.”
Damian lets her go and goes to turn around and head for home. But Anya had caught ahold of his shirt and wouldn’t let go.
“I suppose you are coming as well Mr. Desmond.” the governess says with a knowing grin.
When the two are seated in the tea room (with proper chaperoning of course). Damian thinks that Anya may cling to him for a little while longer, so he pens a letter informing his family that he would be spending sometime at Forger house.
And once Anya has nibbled her way through enough food that her governess is happy. Damian and Anya sit outside the duchess’ sickroom in vigil.
It feels like eternity. There are hushed voices of the doctor. Servants come and go. Nanako and Benedict sit with them before their nanny shoos them off to bed. Even the duke gives them good natured pats on the head as he passes by and into the room. Sometime in the early hours of the morning a nurse emerges from the sick room and announces, “Her graces’ fever has broken.”
Damian and Anya get up from the floor where they were still sitting side by side dozing off.
“Will Mama be, okay?” Anya asks quietly.
“In time, just let her rest,” the nurse smiles at her and gently ruffles her hair, “Come Mr. Desmond I shall fetch someone to bring you home.”
Three days pass and Damian is summoned to Forger House for tea that afternoon. His mother has him dressed in his best clothes. Much to his annoyance.
When he arrives at Forger House, he is immediately taken to the tea room upstairs (“The family tea room!” his mother will later whisper in awe) and is introduced: “Introducing Mr. Damian Desmond.”
“Thank you for the invitation your grace.” He says which is customary. All the Forger children are there. Franklin is clinging on to Benedict much to the older boy's annoyance. Nanako is staring at the newborns as Anya struggles to keep a steady hand to pour cups of tea.
The duchess calls him over, “Please do come see the little ones.”
He pokes his head in the bassinets to the babies all pink and round. The duchess continues, “I would like to introduce Yukiko Maria and Yuri Damian.”
Damian looks up and the duchess looks him in the eyes, “I thank you for taking care of Anya while I was indisposed.”
“It was an honor your grace.” He says and shockingly actually means it. Behind him he can feel the embarrassment radiating off of Anya.
The duke appears in the room and actually smiles at him, “Mr. Desmond.”
“I thank you for inviting me your grace.” The duke waves it off and Anya takes as a sign to take Damian the opposite side of the room.
“I want to thank you for what you did.” her cheeks are almost as pink as her hair, “You didn’t have to help me but you did. Thank you, Mr. Desmond.”
She shoves a small package into his hands. The whole thing seems very surreal. She's being nice and actually properly addressed him. So, he opens the package carefully just in case she placed a snake in there. But really what was inside was a pressed rose and some needle work. The needle work isn’t really good but Damian supposes that she’ll get better in time, she is only eleven after all.
“I shall cherish this.” He says with a nod and decides that he should properly address her as well. “Thank you, Lady Anya.”
Anya turns away to hide her embarrassment but asks, “I heard that you are going to Eden in a tomorrow.”
“That is correct,” he says as he follows her to a seat on a lounge.
“If you need to... complain about anything you may write to me.”
Before he could even process that statement Benedict is trying to grab his attention, “Damian do you want to play marbles?”
“I suppose, but only if Lady Anya is okay with it.” Damian looks towards the girl.
“Let us all play together.” Anya responds and then calls Nanako over to them.
And the rest of his last day Berlint Damain spends quietly playing with the Forger children.