Chapter Text
Anya Forger, has been adopted four times and then returned back to the orphanage, which is rather tragic, she is only a 5 year old living in a world that's on the brink of a war initiating, the sole purpose of her being created. Being experimented on and being called a test subject rather than being acknowledged as a human being, a mere child.
When she ran away, something Anya has no absolute recollection of, she was bound to starve, or at least wound up in the streets as a lonely child while her pink hair and big green doe eyes stood out. It is because of these eye catching features, Anya was taken in and welcomed as an orphan who had a roof over her head. She was not found and re-captured, or taken by some vile and corrupt people, and for this she was grateful. Even thought she has a past that no one would ever want to experience, it never showed on Anya's face, she'd always wear a genuine, giddy, smile on her face, but that didn't mean she had many friends.
She had the words, 'outcast' , spelt on her forehead, the kids, supervisor, and most certainly the parents, found her the least of their interest. The funny thing is, this small girl, has nerves of steel, a heart of gold, and telepathy. Yes, telepathy.
Apart of the experiments on Anya was to give her super human capabilities that could help the Ostonians with war and as such.
Anya's heart never appeared shattered after every supposed heartbreak, like being returned, and excluded among her peers, but only because her so-called unbreakable heart, was bound to break sooner or later, but the poor girl didn't even know this herself, because the time where all the stress, pressure, trauma, secrecy, expectations, everything, would come out, was going to be 10 years later.
The core of this journey, to Anya's poor heart being broken into pieces that couldn't find their way back together, was when Loid Forger entered the orphanage looking for a child.
Loid entered the orphanage with a suit on and a cream hat, topping his blonde, silky hair. He somehow looked as if he was of prestigious upbringing, which he was not, Anya determined this after, of course, reading his mind. While doing so, she also found out the reason he was looking for a child, a mission. The idea thrilled Anya and she immediately started looking for ways to gain his attention. if I get his attention, maybe I could be like a spy-
A spy...that's exactly what Loid was. All of a sudden Anya was stoked, and started prying into his thoughts to see his expectations for his child.
Each event led from another, from Anya reading his mind to answer all questions correctly on something in the newspaper, to having her adoption papers finalised and calling Loid her dad, she was overjoyed, she had a gut feeling that she wasn't being returned this time.
As a few days passed, she was now living with an assassin (her Mum Yor), and a spy at the same time. Anya was delighted she knew her papa and mama's deepest secrets, kind of like in spy wars. She had her big test for some school called Eden academy, she had never been to a school before, just the thought made her even more enthusiastic. Anya wondered what it's be like there, was it any fun, was she going to have loads of friends, she honestly couldn't wait. Now all she needs is a dog!
Anya absolutely hated school, with classical language being her best and favourite subject, there's no doubt she still needed help with her other subjects. Grade 10 was something totally different, everyone was preparing for year 11 and 12, or because they were inheriting their parents company, Anya envied those people, having their futures already determined. It definitely didn't help that she barely survived the final exams a few days ago, almost getting 3 tonitrus bolts. All she knew, was in the end, she still loved school anyways, no matter what.
She also knew, that those 'rich people she envied', some of them may not even want that future, and because of this, she knew she couldn't judge someone solely of their status and family name. Take her best friend Becky Blackbell, who is definitely going to inherit her father's company, once she's prepared enough for the position. Anya has known Becky since their first year, Becky was spoiled but never failed to show kindness to everyone who deserved it.
Another thing, Becky didn't and did want the future her dad had arranged for her, she just could not accept the arranged marriage part, saying she wants to fall in love naturally, probably because of Berlint in love.
Anya giggles while rolling her eyes, just thinking of it is funny. falling in love naturally. The closest thing she has to love is her love for her dog, Bond, who can communicate with Anya and see future events.
If she had to admit, her whole family was one mess, 2 telepathatics, 1 assassin, and a singular spy, that was the life. Well, except for operation strix.
When she entered a more mature mindset once she was 12, Anya knew love was a distraction, her priority was operation strix, a.k.a, stopping a war for happening. Her part in this mission has 2 options, 1. Become an imperial scholar, which she was 1 stellar away from becoming, and then option 2. Really Anya has given up on this option sometimes because, option 2 was getting close to sy-on boy, mainly known as the second son in the Desmond family, Damian.
Anya can't tell if he hates her guts or wants to be her friend, she's leaning more to the 'wants to be friends'. There are signs, that he actually didn't dislike her that much, for example when they danced together at the ball in first year, when he piggy backed her out of the haunted house because Anya was scared, but then denied it afterwards, and being won over easily when ever she cried.
No matter how Anya looked at it, she knew Damian didn't dislike her, he was just a total jerk sometimes, because he is stubborn. His attitude and 'humble' talk sometimes makes Anya want to rip her hair out, but after reading his mind for years, she knows she's just as annoying, and also that Damian's mind was a disaster. Once in grade 6 he called her cute when they were doing a project and then said 'stop lying to yourself'.
Over the years they've reached a mutual agreement that they were 'friends' somehow, and somehow forming an unusual friend group in the process, including Ewen, Emile, and Becky. That's how Anya and Damian found out those 3 were already friends before. The 5 of them eat lunch together, study together, even hangout if they have free time. Apparently there was an unspoken rule that no one was allowed to date anyone, (Anya and Damian over heard this when they were walking to their usual study table with them).
Just as Anya's thought process was on overdrive and she was basically a walking corpse, a voice cuts in. "-ANYA, are you even aware of where you are right now?..." the voice goes soft an Anya snaps back to reality. She had just had a biology class about a frogs anatomy. "Sorry, sorry..." she turns her head slightly over her right shoulder to be met with Damian's face right in front of hers.
They both stay still in the crowded, bustling, hallway, obviously too embarrassed to move. Damian's the first one, his face flushess and he's as red as those really bad sunburns, he coughed it off and pulled back trying to avoid the possibility of that happening again. Anya dug her hands into her face while looking at her feet, making sure he couldn't see she was obviously blushing.
"...I'm fine....ahem..." the awkward duo slowly started to walk in sync again to their next class, classical language. Anya breaks the silence, "So what did you need sy-on boy?" Damian wipe his head towards her to let her know he's listening, he scratches the back of his neck. "well, uh..." In that short hesitant pause, they walked past a window where the sun hit just the right spots to make Damian look like a God, a very etheral one.
The sun shone on his imperial cloak, showcasing the gold patterns and black fabric as they moved in sync to the way he walked, Anya knew how proud Damian was of his cloak, he was the first person to get it, nearly as soon as he reached middle school.
That's when something else caught Anya's eye, the way the sun set and made his hazel eyes even more breath taking, and his ever smooth skin that Damian claims, 'he doesn't take care of'. The way Anya saw Damian in that moment, heavenly?...no...ravishing, exquisite, nothing described it...that one moment felt, ephemeral. She learnt that word before, she didn't' know the meaning but somehow looking at him made him seem like he is the meaning.
Anya snapped back to reality, shaking her head ever so sightly. "So, wait Anya, are you okay, you're all red!" Damian leaned in for a closer look, does she have a fever?, Anya pushes Damian back trying her best not to come off as too harsh. "I'm amazing! just fine! yep! HAH, hah...", what in the heck was I thinking just then, he probably did something, that has to be it!
He shoots her a questioning look but decides not to take it any further. Maybe I went too far, did I make it too obvious, Emile and Ewen said not to over think it too much but maybe I am, oh gosh what do I do...yeah I went over board, so she thinks I'm a weirdo
Anya frowns and stands in front of Damian, she puts on her best pouting face on and burrows her eyebrows, (she's learnt acting 'cute' around Damian turns him back to normal). "Damian, relax" Anya watches as he looks up at her and she smiles sweetly towards him, giving him an 'it's okay' look. "uh...uh..." it worked, he was all flustered and had a irritated look on his face. "JEEZ WHY ARE YOU SO CLOSE TO ME" he huffs and then calms down. Anya lets out a snicker, then a short giggle, and then started full on laughing while clutching her stomach.
Damian pretends to be annoyed, rolling his eyes, and starts arguing with her about how it wasn't funny, but a rather tiny grin tugged at his lips.
"let's get to class before we're late...dummy..." she noticed how Damian was hesitant to call her a dummy and a grin showed up on her face, "You really have changed sy-on boy!" Anya runs off to class with a huge smile on her face while giggling, Damian is left hanging startled by, well who else, Anya.
Just as he was about to run after Anya (fast paced walking) a hand lands on his left shoulder, "Mr Henderson, I shall get to class now". A smile appears on the teachers lips, "Love is truly a wonderful thing, is it not Damian boy?", Damian stares at Mr Henderson, and a hint of blush appears on his cheeks.
"And that, you are right Mr Henderson" he looks away to hide his beet red face, "Go on to class, and remember Damian, don't wait too long, or someone might snatch her before you" Damian looks at his teacher once again, then smiles. He waves goodbye and can see Anya's luscious pink hair swaying from side to side in the distance. She gestures a 'c'mon' gesture and Damian can't help but roll his eyes.
As Damian walks towards Anya, just under his breath, as Mr Henderson watches Anya and Damian walk into their classroom together, he mutters quietly, "Though I doubt she'd be with anyone but you Damian, even if she has not realised yet". A smile finds its way to his lips as he turns around and walks away.
I would choose her in every life, even if we weren't together, just seeing her at least once, is enough to make my life flourish with colour and joy.
Damian Desmond, that's the one reason he's seen as an individual an not lumped in with the nobodies and B tier and below families. His family name is who he is, and what his reputation has to be aswell. He has to uphold a dignified look, good grades, proper attitude, and do not include himself in things that can distract him, but he never put her on this list.
His whole life is a blank canvas, just pencils and erasers to fix or get rid of mistakes. The colour disappeared as soon as Damian was born, the world was only seen in pale colours, almost looking like just grey and black.
His friends and those who meant at least something to him had only just a bit more colour, like his best friends, Ewen and Emile. Other than that all he could see was pale colours the sound of pencils writing down answers, erasers erasing mistakes. There wasn't anything more important than getting good grades, earning stellar stars, respect from the student body and staff, and then, just maybe, recognition from his own father.
Not like anything other than impressing his father mattered, everyone saw him only for his last name, not his first name, Damian, which made him his own person.
It was the same, except for the pink haired girl he locked eyes with on his first day. He thought she was glowing, no radiating with beauty, everything was in slow motion, get out of your head, she's probably staring at you because she knows you're a Desmond...and cute. He smirks and looks at her again to see her face plastered with the word disgust all over it. what the hell is her problem huh?!...
The 2 met once again in front of their classroom, he spots her and for some reason he instantly gets pissed. "Hey, you pink hair!" she turns around, with a face saying, 'wait me right...'. "What's your problem, you were looking at me during the class assembly" She looked confused as he continued talking. "What are you a peasant, just leave already jeez-" wham.
His vision went black for a second, as a powerful impact landed on his cheek, shaped like, a fist. Wait did he just get punched?!
The girl in front of him felt no shame at all, even when tears started forming at the edge of his eyes, he tried to blink and stop himself from crying but the pain was a bit too much, weren't they only the same age?! Why the hell was she so powerful?! Do peasants eat metal or something?!
A teacher spotted the situation and that's when the girl that punched him, named Anya apparently, got the first tonitrus bolt of the year, in your face. She glared at him as if she was reading his mind. That was the end of their first encounter.
Afterwards they somehow kept getting in the same messes or fights and arguments, the macarons that help you become an imperial scholar, that was when she totally cheated during cards, getting jealous over little things for some stupid reason, and...the bus hijacking. After that incident, the drive home that night he rubbed his calluses and palm, Anya held...my hand...
He blushed at the thought of it, clearly remembering what it felt like, but also just how brave Anya was, braver than Billy who's 2x her size, braver than the whole bus combined. Just for a single, fragile moment, the most innocent thought passed his mind. Anya, isn't that bad at all.
Damian frowns and crosses his arms as if he didn't just think that. 'as if I'd associate myself with someone like her..." he grumbles softly. Damian's mum catches a glimpse of her sons dire state and can't read how he feels.
"Damian, are you..okay?" pause, "you're rather calm. and some what composed for someone who just experienced a highjacking" she shoots him a mild worried glance and Damian takes notice. "I'm not scared at all..." but the truth was, that he was. But he was even more scared of the fact that he cried in front of Anya of all people.
he pinches his nose and lets out a sigh. The rest of the ride home was quiet.
GRADE 6 || FIRST SCHOOL TRIP SINCE HIJACKING
Students an Eden college had minor school trips since the hijacking but never anything major, like driving for more than 30 minutes. The Eden students in grade 6 were permitted to go to the cologne cathedral, Damian wasn't particularly interested and complained to Ewen and Emile how he didn't care much for events like these, that they're a a waste of time.
Anya and Becky were chattering in front of him, excited about what cool stuff they might see. "I wish we didn't have to wear these; the uniforms are nice but..." Becky lets out an exasperated sigh as Anya consoles her while rubbing her back.
Damian noticed Anya's pink hair had gotten longer and had to stop his hand from touching it, again as if she was reading his mind, Anya stands in front of him with a wild grin, "do you like my hair sy-on boy?" while Anya impatiently waits for an answer, Damian is half dead by then and Ewen, Emile, and Becky share a glance, maybe even a smirk. "Well, what is the answer...Damian."
silence, crickets.
The whole class went quiet as if they heard bombs in the distance, Anya looked around in confusion as million of thoughts flooded her head.
Did she just call Damian anything other than sy-on boy?...
we must be hallucinating.
I totes have to tell Miya at lunch
DAMIAN JS GOT CALLED DAMIAN BY ANYA, THE ANYA?!
Anya was slightly confused about why everyone was making such a racket until she looked back at the boy in front of her, mentally she pictured him laying on the floor because that's what his fave was showing, there was confusion, embarrassment, shocked, distraught, all packed in one face. Damian was on the verge of malfunctioning, literally.
Did Anya really just call him Damian?...he could feel the confusion all over the room but his face was heating up fast. The whole classroom's attention was on him and Anya now, it was quiet and he did not like that. "SH-SH-SHUSH YOU LOOK F-F-F-FINE!..." he could've died from humiliation right there on the spot. Did he, Damian Desmond, just stutter 5 times, and because of, well, her!
"oh ho Damian, you're beet red" Becky chirps, she loved teasing him and was laughing even harder when she saw Anya looking at Damian confused. "AM NOT." he barks back, "Ohhh don't worry. I already know you're all bark no bite" she smirks and pulls Anya back to her seat and she pouts. "I didn't get a proper answer..." she weeps as she sits back in her seat next to Becky.
Becky giggles even more while Ewen asks Damian if he's alright. Emile on the other hand stares at him, not in shock, as if after analysing he concluded an answer. Damian reached for his water and as he was drinking Emile whispers quietly enough for only Ewen and Damian to hear.
Damian raises his brow and Ewen looks at Emile confused.
"You like Anya don't you bossman" silence. "WHAT" he nearly chokes on his water and glares at Emile who looks worried, "Damian, yelling is inelegant and you know that!" Mr Henderson shakes his head as if disappointed and Damian sighs a breathe of relief then stares back at Emile.
"Where the hell did you acquire that information." A bead of sweat rolls down Ewen's forehead as he see's the tension between Emile and Damian. "Bossman, the whole grade is buzzing about you two..." Emile answers honestly, and Damian can tell he's not lying. He lays his head on the desk while ruffling his hair then looks up at the 2 boys, "Since when" Ewen and Emile look at each other, "first year" they say in sync.
Before Damian could asks more Mr Henderson started talking, "-And please note you will be getting into groups of 5 for this upcoming trip, choose wisely children" Damian catches a quick glance at Anya, who is smiling like crazy while planning who she'll go with, Becky turns towards Damian and scares him for a second. "what exactly do you want.." he looks her up and down in disgust and she rolls her eyes, Becky turn her head towards Emile and Ewen. "Hey, don't just ignore me-"
"Ewen, Emile, do you guys wanna come with me and Anya? Plus Damian of course!" the boys look at Damian with some hope in their eyes, "bossman?" Ewen asks. Damian looks at Anya and she was looking at him with puppy eyes, she had already won him over from the start. He sighs, "fine"
The 2 boys high five each other and start planning with Becky excitedly, Anya moves to Damian's desk and rest on the front of it, she looks at him and smiles sweetly, he blushed hard. she's so cute, jeez. Damian spots Anya's ears turn red at the tips as she looks at Damian with admiring eyes. "What is it, is there something on my face?" she smiles again, with a hint of cheekiness, "just thinking...about how your cute when you're embarrassed"
Anya had whispered that loud enough for him to hear but quiet enough for no one else too, she giggles and skips back to her desk while grabbing Becky with a mischievous grin on her face. "Bye you guys!' Becky looks at Anya weirdly as Anya drags her out, "Anya, what happened..." she giggles, "secret"
While all of that was happening Damian went on system overload and was unconscious on the desk, face burning from what Anya had just said. DAMN BECKY, she must've teached Anya this...torture! she just had too, but why? for another boy, oh it better not be. Damian's head was going to explode because of Anya one day, was he complaining? no. How could he, I mean she's the first person to have ever seen me for someone other than my Desmond name, she adds the colour too my dull, grey, life. I may even...
Sy-on boy may think I'm lying but one day I'll find a word to describe how cute he is, then I'll be able to know lots of words, not to describe him of course...