Chapter Text
Damian’s POV - After the Dance:
Damian walked home with his mind swirling. The dance. The ridiculous, humiliating dance. But it wasn’t just the dance that lingered in his thoughts—it was Anya. She’d said it, right to his face: "I can read minds."
At first, he had thought it was just her usual weirdness. Anya was… well, Anya. Full of strange remarks and awkward moments, and that was the extent of it. But as the hours passed, and the words kept echoing in his head, something about it kept nagging at him.
I can read minds.
Damian clenched his fists, trying to push away the thought, but it kept coming back.
It wasn’t just a random declaration. Her eyes—those weird, glittering eyes—had looked so serious, almost like she knew something he didn’t. And when she had said it, there was no trace of a joke in her voice. Not a hint of the usual mischievous grin that often accompanied her offhand comments. No, she had been... almost too calm about it.
As much as he wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, Damian couldn’t help but replay everything that had happened since he first met her. Her strange reactions, the way she sometimes seemed to know what was going on in his head before he even said anything out loud. It didn’t add up. She’d acted like a fool, sure, but not in a way that would explain some of those moments.
That time in gym class when they were playing dodgeball she was a pro at doughing the ball, almost like she anticipated each and every move Bill made.
The way she always seemed to be one step ahead in their little verbal sparring matches, saying things that hit too close to what he was really feeling.
And then there was the incident during the dance. When she told him to “calm down” and “don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anyone your secret.” What secret? How could she have known?
He froze for a moment, staring out into the darkening sky. It was like a puzzle piece suddenly snapping into place.
It makes sense.
Damian’s mind started to race as the pieces fell together. The things she’d said, the way she acted, the way she sometimes knew exactly what he was thinking… Maybe she had been telling the truth after all. Maybe she really could hear his thoughts.
But if that was true… What did that mean for him? The idea of someone hearing all his unfiltered, unguarded thoughts was terrifying. Every insult, every thought he had about his father’s expectations, the pressure he felt… all of it. What if Anya had heard everything? What would she think of him now? Would she laugh? Would she feel sorry for him? There's only one thing he can think to do. Prove that she can read minds is obviously first.
The next day in class he kept his mind as empty as possible. If she could read his mind then just the thought of the test would ruin his chance to figure it out. The classroom had emptied out after the bell rang, leaving only a few lingering students packing their bags. Damian stood near the door, glancing over at Anya, who was still sitting at her desk, staring blankly at her homework.
This was it. He was going to test her once and for all.
He walked over to her desk, his steps slow and deliberate. “Hey, Anya,” he said, keeping his tone casual. “I was looking over the homework for tonight. Are you caught up on it?”
Anya looked up at him, blinking a few times, and then smiled. “Oh, the math one? Yeah, Anya thinks she finished it, but... I’m not sure I did it right.”
Damian chuckled softly, leaning against the edge of her desk. “It’s not that hard, really. You just have to pay attention.”
Anya frowned, puffing out her cheeks. “I was paying attention! But... I guess I just don’t get it sometimes.”
He smirked, leaning in just a little. “You always say that, but you’re probably just overthinking it. You’ll figure it out.”
Anya stared at her paper for a moment, looking a bit discouraged. “Yeah... I guess I will. Thanks, Sy-on boy!”
He nodded and straightened up, pretending to prepare to leave. “Alright, well, I’m out of here. I’m sure you’ll get it done.”
As he turned to walk away, he paused for a split second, then casually spoke in his mind, making sure his words were quiet like he was whispering. You should study with me after school, Anya. That way you won’t mess it up.
He turned his back to her completely, making sure his body language gave nothing away. He couldn’t let her know he was testing her. He kept walking, but his heart was pounding in his chest. Would she answer? Would she even hear him?
He had to know.
A few seconds passed, and then he heard it.
“Okay! I’ll study with you!” Anya called out to him, her voice light and eager.
Damian’s feet froze mid-step. His mind went blank, and his pulse quickened as he slowly turned back around to face her. She was grinning, as usual, completely unaware that she had just answered a thought he never spoke aloud.
“You—” Damian’s voice faltered for a moment. “You really heard that?”
Anya blinked, tilting her head like she didn’t understand why he was so surprised. “Of course! You asked me to study with you after school, right? It was quiet but I heard you!”
Damian’s mind reeled. He had not spoken those words. Not a single sound had left his lips. Yet, Anya had responded as if he had.
The truth settled on him like a heavy weight. She wasn’t lying. She could really hear his thoughts.
Damian stood there in stunned silence, trying to process what had just happened. His skepticism had been shattered in an instant. Anya could hear everything— everything he thought.
Anya smiled at him again, clearly pleased with herself. “See? I told you I can read minds!”
Damian let out a small breath, finally able to speak again. “I… I guess you really can.”
His mind was still racing, but there was something else creeping in beneath his initial shock. Something he wasn’t ready to admit.
This is... crazy.
But now, there was no denying it. He’d gotten his proof. Yea let's meet at the garden area after school. I’ll help you with whatever you need. He told her in his mind. He smiled as her eyes sparkled and Anya smiled so big his heart skipped a beat.
“I’ll see you then Sy-on boy.”
—
The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Damian made his way to the garden where they’d agreed to meet. His heart was pounding in his chest for reasons he couldn’t fully explain. What the hell is wrong with me? he thought, trying to convince himself that it was just a study session. Nothing more.
He approached the spot they’d agreed on and spotted Anya sitting at a picnic table, her bag beside her, flipping through a notebook. For a second, his nerves kicked in again. He hadn’t really been expecting to be this... nervous about studying with her. But seeing her there, just sitting casually as if everything was perfectly normal, made that nervous feeling start to fade.
When she saw him, she grinned widely, waving enthusiastically. “Sy-on boy! Over here!”
Damian couldn’t help but feel that familiar flutter in his chest. It was funny—he’d been so on edge all day, but as soon as he saw Anya, all that anxiety disappeared like it was nothing. “Hey, Anya,” he said, trying to sound composed, but his tone was warmer than he intended.
She patted the spot beside her. “Sit down! Let’s get this over with!”
He chuckled and dropped his bag on the ground next to her. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get this done quickly.”
As they spread their books and papers out on the Table, Anya immediately leaned over to look at Damian’s answers. “Is this right? I don’t get this part...” she said, pointing to a problem.
Damian glanced over, his brow furrowing slightly. “It’s simple, Anya. You just need to pay attention to the signs. You can’t keep guessing like that.”
Anya puffed her cheeks out, clearly annoyed. “I was paying attention! You’re just too smart, that’s all!”
Damian smirked, but there was a hint of affection in his voice. “It’s not about being smart. It’s about being careful. Something you clearly don’t understand.”
Anya’s face twisted into an exaggerated pout. “You’re just mean! I am careful! You just think you know everything!”
“Well, that’s because I do know everything,” he teased, giving her a teasing look. “You’re just... behind.”
“Oh, shut up!” Anya huffed, crossing her arms and looking away dramatically. “I don’t need you to remind me that I’m not as smart as you!”
Damian’s smirk softened as he leaned back a little, looking at her with a small, teasing smile. “Alright, fine. You’re just as smart as me.”
Anya’s face lit up at his words, but her smile faltered just a bit as she glanced at him. “You really think so?”
Damian paused. Something about her expression made him stop, his teasing tone shifting. “Yeah. Of course, I do. You’re... not as dumb as you act.”
Anya’s eyes softened, and for a moment, there was a rare quiet between them. Then, she nudged him with her elbow, trying to break the moment. “Thanks, I guess.”
But then, out of nowhere, her face became a little more serious, and she looked away for a moment, her fingers fiddling with the corner of her notebook. Damian’s curiosity piqued, and he felt a strange pull in his chest as he watched her.
“Hey, Anya,” he began, his voice quieter, a little unsure. “I’ve been thinking… About what you said earlier. About how you can read minds. I still don’t get it. Why’d you tell me? You could’ve just kept it a secret, right?”
Anya hesitated, her eyes flicking back to him. She bit her lip, looking like she was debating something in her mind. “I... I trust you, Damian.”
Damian blinked, caught off guard by her simple response. “What do you mean?”
Anya let out a small sigh and shifted her gaze downward. “I told you because I trust you. I never told anyone else. Nobody else knows. Not even Mama and Papa.”
Damian’s chest tightened as the weight of her words settled in. He had expected her to give some half-hearted explanation, or maybe even brush it off as if it was no big deal. But her honesty hit him harder than he anticipated. She wasn’t just talking about something trivial; she was talking about something important. Something personal.
“I trust you,” Anya repeated, her voice soft but steady. “I just... I don’t want to keep hiding things from you.”
Damian’s heart skipped a beat. His mind raced, and for a split second, he didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t expected her to be so open, so vulnerable. He didn’t think he would feel... moved by her words.
He let out a breath, trying to keep his composure, but there was no denying the way his feelings were shifting. There was something in the way she looked at him, in the way she trusted him so completely, that was... different. His thoughts weren’t as sharp as usual, his usual sarcasm and defenses slipping away in the face of her sincerity.
“You... trust me?” he asked quietly, his voice almost a whisper.
Anya nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving his. “Yeah. And I don’t want to be alone with this secret. Not anymore. It’s been a lot to carry by myself. And when I looked into your eyes, I knew I wanted you by my side.”
Damian’s heart thudded in his chest. Without even thinking, he reached out and gently placed a hand on hers, his fingers brushing against hers. “I don’t know why you trust me so much,” he said, his voice barely audible. “But I’ll... I’ll make sure you’re not alone with it. I promise.”
Anya’s face softened, a small smile playing on her lips. “Thanks, Damian.”
Damian? She never calls me that. He stared at her for a moment longer, something stirring inside him. He’d never imagined that a simple, offhand comment could make him feel like this. But now, with her honesty laid bare before him, Damian felt something shift deep inside him. Something he didn’t fully understand yet, but he couldn’t ignore it.
In that moment, everything between them felt different. It wasn’t just about homework, or teasing her about her grades. It wasn’t even about her mind-reading ability anymore.
It was about trust. And in a way he couldn’t yet explain, that made his feelings for her grow stronger, deeper, more real.