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Operation Strix: Mission 14.2 'Valentines Day'
Despite Anya Forgers telepathy abilities, she was infuriatingly oblivious to her own popularity. Her bright pink hair and noisy attitude exceeded the norms of Eden Academy, in a hallway full of uniforms and future headlines Anya stood out. However, her popularity was not missed by Damian Desmond, he was used to prying eyes and whispered gossip, he was content with it even. Damian was not content with the boys in his year, they dared to ogle at the spectacle of a girl despite being bland themselves.
If anyone asked, Damian would tell them Anya didn't deserve her popularity. If anyone read his mind, they'd know Damian thought the popular didn't deserve Anya.
Anyas like-ability was made abundantly clear on valentines day, the one day a year every kid in Eden came in with a present of sort. Wether it was for a teacher, their friend, a future business partner or even the lunch lady, it was all the same. The moment she stepped off the bright yellow bus, she was hounded. Boys from all classes handed her different chocolates, teddies and even some cards with their parents money tucked inside, each gift as shallow and generic as the last. Anyas beady eyes shone with confusion. Every kid had brought something. Every kid but her.
This incident could've been avoided had Anya listened to her papa, her dreary voice hummed mindlessly to every question he asked instead of actually checking. Now, she had no present to give. Fortunately, valentines gifting was a tradition and not a mandatory chore so she wouldn't be 'gifted' a tonitrus bolt. Green eyes frantically searched the front yard of the school, desperate to find someone else who hadn't brought a gift.
A confident boy caught her gaze, Damian held his head high as his friends followed sloppily behind, their hands overflowing with gifts for their boss. Anya sighed in relief, she ran over and accidentally startled the boys, causing Emile and Ewen to drop all the gifts. As they scurried on the floor, trying to pick everything up, Damian smirked at the girl and ignored his friends.
"What? Jealous?" he purred, cockily leaning in before his eyes drifted to the abandoned presents currently guarded by Becky. His teeth grit together, caught up in his own jealousy before Anya snatched his attention back.
"Second-son! Did you forget to bring in a present too?!" Her innocent, hopeful words and even purer eyes made Damian flustered. Quickly, he recovered from his tomato state. Slowly, he was getting used to hiding his blushed state around the girl.
"Forget? Of course not. In ancient tradition only men would give gifts on valentines, women would choose whichever suitor they wanted and reciprocate their gifts the next day. Since it is I who has suitors, I have decided to reverse the tradition." Anya stared at him, dumbfounded for a second before thinking aloud.
"So, if I give second-son a gift now, second-son will give me one tomorrow?" And with those words Damians practiced confidence vanished. With a pounding heart and cheeks as red as the roses on Anyas gift pile, Damian began sputtering.
"Not you dummy! Why would I ever get a girl like you a gift?" Meanwhile, Anya was preoccupied with his thoughts to hear his spoken words. 'This idiot. I had already bought her the new bondman spy kit and the expensive peanuts, I should've known better than to hope she'd get me a gift. Hell, she didn't even buy a gift for anyone.' His eyes diverted hers, half out of disappointment and half out of embarrassment. Her stubby hand flew up before running off, signaling him yo stay there. Anya dug in the pile of gifts, ignoring Beckys questions. She was hoping to find something suitable for Damian so she could earn the spy kid and peanuts. By chance, she stumbled upon a spy novel from Becky and a matching set of teddy bears from a random blond boy.
Panting, she handed Damian the recycled gifts. Damian stared, focusing on the soft white teddy bears first- both of them were holding pink hearts with 'partners' stitched on in white lettering. Due to the cursive writing , Anya hadn't been able to make out what it said until Damian internally read it. Immediately, Anya felt the need to explain her mistake.
"Yo-you see, I think we would be great partner- Like spy partners!" Damian wasn't responding, he looked ill and like he was currently burning up. Emile tapped his shoulder, trying and failing to get his attention. Anyas eyes widened, without thinking she blurted. "Oh no! Did I kill second-son?!" her panicked words worried the two boys further, they both used all their strength to pick Damian up and carry him to the nurse.
"Don't worry boss! We'll save you!" Ewen called,
"No dying on us boss! We need you!" Emile cried.
Behind them, Anya followed still clutching onto the bears and the novel, determined to get her spy gear. The boys gently lay Damian down on the nurses bed, crying as if the young boy was on his death bed and they'd been left out of the will. Unbothered, Anya placed her gifts on the bedside table before leaving the three boys to help Becky.
A new days sun cast a gleam on Anyas hair, she walked into school with her head held high- looking like her 'spy partner' the day before. She already knew what was coming. Girls stood, gossiping about Damian holding a post-valentines gift. According to them, he'd chosen the girl he wanted to pursue. At the end of the hallway, stood underneath the looming doorway was Damian. In his hands a pink wooden basked filled to the brim with spy toys (and the occasional tea cake or peanut bag) lay.
Flustered, he shoved the basked in Anyas direction, "Here." He mumbled stubbornly. Damians plump cheeks were as pink as the basket, after noticing Anyas smug face he grew red. "Don't look so smug!" he yelled, "It's not like I like you or anything! It's just- It's... You're so childish it was easier to get you cheap gifts!" Anya frowned, 'Second-sons a big liar- like spy papa.'