Chapter Text
As the scion of one of the most influential families in Berlint, Damian Desmond has a lot of things. Unfortunately, patience is not one of them. He is known for his little patience, that used to be even more inexistant than it is now. The thing is, his patience is always tested whenever she is around. Her stubby legs and her grinning face always get the best of him. She always manages to read through him and to irritate him but he secretly likes it. Getting red of anger and screaming of frustration because of her endless shenanigans ironically never failed to make him feel alive.
Losing his composure of the perfect child, losing himself and the only way of living life he knew. Falling down to her level, knowing she would lend him a hand so he would not feel alone in the depth of silliness.
— What’s the result then ?
— 33.
— No ! Ugh, are you doing this on purpose ? You know I can’t scream because the old man is going to scold me again !
— Heh. She grins a bit before sipping her apple juice, pushing away her notebook so she can have some space for her snacks.
Crac. Crac.
She munches her peanuts without breathing and dramatic rolls her eyes because she enjoys her favorite snack. She shows him the bag, offering to share with because she is such a generous person but the boy, annoyed, pushed the bag away and sucked his teeth, causing the girl to laugh at loud. Also causing them to get scolded by the librarian because they are too loud.
Damian sighs and grabs his hair out of frustration. Giving private math lessons to Anya Forger is indeed the best punishment Henderson could have given him. Out of all the subjects, math was the only one where Anya was not interested in making progress. Her dislike for mathematics was well known around the school, she was more into languages, arts and physical education where she knew she could get some action.
Damian was used to tutor her, in secret of course. He helped her to understand the Industrial revolution, they both learned every country capitals, he helped her to remember the names of every Ostanian presidents including his father’s and she was mesmerized by the fact that he used to be a « First Lady Son ». Typical Anya Forger.
Damian knows Anya’s potential and he also knows her stubbornness. That’s why he is so frustrated, his patience won’t last. This is such a genius way of being punished, he’d rather help the kitchen’s staff or the dorm mom.
Fortunately, Anya stands up and showed her digital watch, indicating their time is over and that she needs to run before she misses her bus.
— Thank you Sy-on boy. Don’t worry, I’ll do great for the exam. You should focus on yourself and study hard. Master Henderson always checks if we have a study session but he never stays long so you could teach me something else instead of math.
— The teacher said you better get over 50. If you don’t, we will both get into trouble Forger.
— I will. Don’t worry. Otherwise I would had, have study, mmmh, studied, er, more seriously, you got me right ?
Damian snorts after hearing her struggling with her tenses, she rolls her eyes and he quickly erases his smile, fixing his uniform. Then he also get up to face her properly.
— Maybe we need to work on verb tenses because I can’t spend my life as your appointed translator.
— See ? I knew it. It’s a pleasure to do business with you.
She tries to shake hands with him but he doesn’t move, knowing wholeheartedly how greasy, smelly and salty her hands are after emptying two boxes of bacon-flavored peanuts. She awkwardly puts her hair behind her ear, to show her embarrassment but Damian just painfully closes his eyes because she puts oil and bacon in her hair. What the hell is she ? Why is she like that ? He thinks but once again, it’s like she can read his mind.
— I need to go ! Anya will wash her hair tonight because she is a very clean person !
She storms out of the library, running even faster after getting scolded by the librarian lady who is just exhausted by her day. Damian shakes his head and decides to pack his belongings so he can leave as well. Usually, he would stay and study until bath time but maybe he could take a break today, it’s Friday, he has an entire weekend to study and eventually to plan how he would fool Henderson and give intense grammar lessons to Anya.
He walks through the school, even if lessons are over, there are still many students as the extracurricular activities are going on. Almost everyone in Eden College was a club member. Emile joined the cooking club and Ewen was doing soccer, Damian was just studying as he though clubs were childish things that would distract from becoming an Imperial School. Even George was doing his things the Occult Research Club.
Funny enough, he was relieved to learn that Anya Forger and Becky Blackbell were not members of any clubs. Becky wanted to create her own music club but only high school students could create their own club as long as they had 5 active members. And Anya just wanted to go home after school so she could watch her cartoons, spend time with her parents and play with her dog, Bond.
Basic commoner behavior. He thinks then he remembers how he is in the same situation as her. At least Anya can go home and enjoy her time there. Unlike him who was basically staying away from his home as much as possible.
He walks through Eden’s gardens, enjoying a little detour before going back to the dorm. The sky is still blue at this time of year, it’s only early October.
Yes, only October and they are already under Henderson’s watch for misbehaving during the first days of this new school year. Actually, it was just the continuation of the Orientation Day fight tradition. Last year, she punched him in the face because he was bullying her. This year, he stepped on some small flowers even if she told him to be careful with « baby daisy » flowers and she got upset because he was a jerk so she simply tackled him down as if she was some rugby player.
Henderson did not even try to run to them when he heard the screams. He just knew. Damian remembers how the teacher predicted that for next year, Anya would probably bite him because she was getting more and more creative with her violent ways. Fortunately, they avoided Tonitrus Bolts because their classmates were trying to defend them on the first day so Henderson settled for study sessions when Damian mentioned how Anya was always testing his patience.
Now Damian is lying under an oak tree, laughing as he remembers how quickly Anya tackled him down and how heavy she was. No matter how short the girl is, he felt like a truck had hit him to the ground. He is not upset anymore, actually he is grateful because he can spend more time with her. The bus hijacking episode of last year had indeed bought them closer, from classmates to collaborators. Not friends. He found out she was more than a shrimp, maybe a friend. That’s why he helped her with her studies last year, so she could stay with Becky and most of Cecil Hall kids. And him, as well.
— Why am I even thinking about her again ? I need to become an Imperial Scholar first !
He sits down, red ears and panicking about the long internal monologue he just had about Anya Forger. She is just constantly on his mind, she lives rent-free in his head. Frustrated again, he kicks the air and grabs his curls, chasing Stubby Legs out of his mind.
— Hey, are you done ? A voice suddenly invades his private space, causing him to scream with a high pitched voice.
— Who the hell are you ? The young boy screams with a deeper voice because he is surprised but tries hard to make his high pitched scream a forgotten memory. In front of him, a young boy with mid long dark brown hair is squatting while holding his own face with a curious expression. The stranger just tilts his head, inspecting the scion, Damian notices how his eyes look like two emeralds stones. No matter how joyful the color is, his gaze is cold as his eyes are just narrowed and slightly drooping with visibly long lower eyelashes, making him ridiculously pretty.
— I’m Dimitri and you’re stealing my favorite spot for nap time.
The stranger also smiles politely, showing off the beauty mark under his bottom lip. Fake smile because Damian knows a good condescending expression when he sees one, especially when he invented them. He slowly backs away from the stranger to get some space, the other boy stands up and stretches loudly. He actually looks androgynous with bob cut hair and his slender body, he looks a little bit older, middle school older.
Damian can’t help but to notice the velours cape the other boy wears and gasps.
— You’re an Imperial Scholar ? But you look so young !
— Oui.
This specific answer annoys the scion as it reminds him of a certain classmate. Actually the mention of nap time and the whole body stretches is so accurate. If a guy like him is an Imperial Scholar, it means SHE could beat him at it. She already has 3 Stellas and- wait why does he think about her ?
— And you’re taking naps here.
Damian Desmond is just trying to distract himself from the fact that he is still thinking about her. Dimitri just laughs at loud and sits down on the fallen leaves, crushing them.
— Naps are important for brain development.
Okay, Damian takes notes because this is the first time an Imperial Scholar is not too busy and haughty.
— But you are not in high school right ? How did you become an Imperial Scholar so quickly ?
The boy doesn’t answer the question and smiles at the younger boy.
— I’m 13.
— But the youngest Imperial Scholar of Eden’s history was 14 ! It’s impossible because we would have heard about it !
— Well, I beat his buttocks I guess. Mission complete.
— You are lying, you actually 14.
— Whether I’m 14 or 13, you won’t be an Imperial Scholar this year or next year because you’re too young and the board won’t reward you as many Stellas because you aren’t mature enough to carry our duties. You can whine all you want, I’m a heavy sleeper, I grow up in a house that never sleeps.
Damian clenches his fists as Dimitri looks at him, wearing another condescending expression. He’s right, no matter how hard I work, getting Stellas is just hard. Even Demetrius become an Imperial Scholar when he was 14 and I’m only 8, I won’t be able to get Father’s true attention for…5 or 6 years ?
— But I can maybe help you and give you some of my secrets to quickly gain Stellas in ways that the board can’t refuse ?
Damian lifts his head up and gets dazzled by the bright rays of Dimitri’s beauty as he is smiling softly. The scion blushes and gets closer, captivated.
— Really ? You would do this ?
— Hm. I got free time in my hands since the music club got dissolved.
Dimitri stands up and walks away with his hands in his pocket, he looks back once, assuming the younger boy is following him. He sees Damian, hesitant and behind.
— I might get another scolding if I’m late…the dorm…
— You will survive a scolding and live life again. You won’t get another opportunity like this one, especially when your brother doesn’t even bother to give you advice…Damian Desmond.
— Who are you ?
Damian freezes when he hears his name, realizing this stranger knows his identity and once again, this cold gaze is back, sending shivers down his spine. The autumn wind shows itself, blowing the red and brown leaves across the gardens, the dark brown hair is magnificently floating like light curtains. The cape is floating as well while the older boy is putting on his Eden beret, with a soft smile on lips as if he can tell what is exactly going on in the younger boy’s mind.
— I’m Dimitri and I’m here to re-write history again. Follow me if you want answers to every single question you’ve been asking yourself. You can take my hand and make your dreams come true or you can go back to the dorm and spend the rest of your live wondering what would have happened if you had said yes.
Captivated by this heavy presence and confidence, but still suspicious of him, Damian walks towards Dimitri and hesitantly takes his hand, only to get pulled back into the school, walking far away from the dorm.
Dimitri walks quickly without turning back and Damian tries to keep up with him. They finally arrive in front of a wooden door that looks like every single door in Eden College and when Dimitri opens it, Damian feels like waves crushing hard against his head.
— You okay ? Dimitri asks as if he knows exactly. Damian doesn’t try to lie and holds his head in pain.
— My head hurts…
— It will go away in an instant. Don’t let go of my hand.
Dimitri holds Damian’s hand tighter, causing the younger boy to blush a bit. So it is how it feels to have a protective older brother ?
They walk through a hallway of the school and Damian’s feet drag the duo down as the scion gets distracted by the hundreds of portraits. Dimitri notices how fascinated the boy is and smirks as he is pointing a finger towards a specific portrait.
— You called me a liar right ?
There is it : a portrait of himself smirking at the camera. Dimitri Briar, 13, the younger Imperial Scholar of Eden College’s History, setting a new record after 7 decades. The caption was clear and official, causing Damian to become pale.
— B-but…
— Don’t question it. Let’s go.
He pulls Damian again and the younger boy just watches the défilé of portraits as he has to walk fast. But in his hurry he notices a pink dot and instantly stops. Dimitri sighs and is about to lose his patience when he looks in the same direction of Damian. A slightly bigger picture that steals anybody’s attention, fluffy pink hair, big green eyes and freckles. A breathtaking young woman wearing her Imperial Scholar uniform sitting next to a classmate. Seeing how confused Damian is, Dimitri just rolls his eyes and distracts him a classic approach.
— Wow, you’re not even 10 and you’re already drooling over young ladies.
— I’m not !
Damian blushes and feels his ears burning causing Dimitri to laugh at loud.
— I’m a boy, it’s okay you can be honest, I’d call her beautiful as well but the picture looks old so she must be old enough to be my mother, I prefer high school girls-
— Shut up ! Stop talking ! Let’s go !
Damian ends up pulling Dimitri by the hand he never let go, Dimitri switches back when the younger boy realizes he doesn’t know where they are going. They finally reach the car park and Dimitri pulls out car keys from his pockets, letting go of Damian’s hand.
— Where are we going ?
— Home of course. I’m not a commuter because we live by the coast, it’s a hour drive.
— Okay…
Dimitri snorts as he is opening the passenger’s door for Damian.
— So you’re just getting in a stranger’s car ? You silly boy.
— If anything happens to me, my father will-
— Hm, sure.
Dimitri just closes the door and ignores Damian’s speech about his father. Okay. This is going to be a long drive.