Chapter Text
8 years at Eden.
8 years since Anya was adopted by Loid.
8 years since she finally found a home
Anya was happy and incredibly tired. Only a few weeks remained before her final exams of year 8.
But she had a mission; her father was a spy from Westalia and one of the coolest people she knew. Ever since he adopted her, she knew why he did so; his mission was to build a family, and then infiltrate Eden Academy, for her to become an Imperial Scholar and be able to attend a meeting to allow him to get close to Donovan Desmond.
And this was close; she had 7 of the required 8 Stella stars, and had been stuck like that for nearly a whole year.
But he also had a Plan B, and it all relied on her becoming friends with the target's son, Damian Desmond.
This was good; she would be able to do it until she started realising just how much he hid his real feelings.
9 years of trying, and they were not enemies, but also not close friends. But she had subconsciously started trying to become his friend for herself, though she would never admit that.
So she concocted her newest plan: get him to help her with maths. Becky, her best friend, had tried, but she had passed her last exams by 2 points, and her parents were incredibly worried for her.
This new plan (made entirely out of late-night anxiety fueled by her dwindling optimism) would work... now how to even ask Sy-on boy? Would he say no? Would he laugh at her? But she'll just have to ask, it's not like they are still in year 1.
Damian likes Anya a lot. It seemed almost everyone knew his secret sweet spot and love for her... except Anya herself.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Anya sitting next to him (Ewen and Emile were in different Classical Language classes than him, so this was his only chance to get to sit by Anya)
"Hey, Sy-on boy," Anya greeted in her familiar voice. She looked beautiful today. She looked beautiful every day. Her pink hair reached just below her shoulders. It looks so soft. Her striking emerald green eyes stared at him. I could stare at them for hours.
"Hey, Stubby legs," Damian responded as his thoughts settled. Stubby legs had been his nickname for her (alongside many others) since year 1.
Her presence made him feel awkward, like he couldn't even think properly at times.
"Sy-on boy, can you help Anya study Maths?" Anya asked after a bit of a pause.
Of course I will, I would do anything to make you happy
"For a commoner like you? N- Actually, sure, I will." Damian immediately regretted calling her a commoner; it had been something he'd been trying to stop.
If I keep saying stuff like that, she'll never like me. Even in his thoughts, his stubbornness came back. Why do we even want her to like you? Hundreds of girls would be begging at your feet for just a chance, because you are Damian Desmond.
"Thanks, Sy-on boy." Her wide smile had his heart skipping beats. He wanted to make sure this smile was always on her, this happiness was always there, always shining for the world to see.
"So, come in the free period to the eastern library", Damian said as their teacher came in.
Damian often conflicted with his own feelings; he denied them outwardly and sometimes even internally. But everyone knew that he liked her, that he had feelings for her. All except for Anya Forger.
Anya was different; she genuinely wanted to be friends with Damian because he was Damian, not just a Desmond, but why just friends, and he craved her. She denied all rules of society; she was honest, kind, helpful and lit people up in her vicinity. She always made him feel at ease, but he just couldn't even think next to her.
Anya could read minds, but she never acknowledged (or truly understood) what Sy-on boy thought about her.
"For a commoner like you? N- Actually, sure, I will." She didn't like how harsh he was outwardly; he was a jerk. But she knew that was how he protected himself.
Of course I will, I would do anything to make you happy
But why just friends?
His thoughts were nice; they made her feel warm inside.
"So, come in the free period to the eastern library", He agreed to help her study. Maybe he could actually improve her grades, maybe she could actually pass and not get a Tonitrus bolt (She had managed to barely avoid getting her 6th one these past months, she couldn't take the chances)
She also knew she was close, after getting only a single Stella star for academic performance, but 6 for community service had meant that she needed only a single more.
Her mother, A secret assassin, had trained her and given her combat training, which, along with reading her father's mind, had meant she was good in combat and also well physically. This meant that she had a chance to actually get it on physical competitions, if it weren't for Bill Watkins being genetically blessed and trained into becoming a soldier for his whole life.
So this was her last chance for this year, and she was dedicated.
After Classical language was directly Lunch, and she met up with her best friend, Becky Blackbell. Like always, she looked absolutely beautiful; she managed to look amazing even while having to wear a uniform. She was talking to Bill Watkins, her crush. Becky had recently told Anya about how she found that Bill Watkins watched "Berlint in Love" secretly and they had bonded through it. As Becky turned to her, Bill walked away.
As Anya excitedly told Becky about Sy-on boy helping her study. Becky's eyes lit up.
"Oh my God, Anya! Are you finally going on a date with Damian? Did he tell you to come to his house for 'studying'? This is so-"
"No! Anya is just happy that Sy-on boy is helping Anya study Maths! It's not a date, and it's just in school! I don't even..." Anya said as she saw him entering the Cafeteria flanked on both sides by his 2 loyal friends, Ewen and Emile.
After 7 years of listening to people secretly, she had learned how to focus on someone's thoughts.
Ewen was just thinking of candy and... her? Thoughts bounced around, but his major thoughts indicated that he was... teasing Damian?
Emile had similar thoughts, but instead he was also thinking about his timetable...
Damian's thoughts were a bit... too much. Anya started getting a headache from the amount of emotions passing through his mind. Anya gave up on trying to read his mind. But even from this distance, Anya could see he was blushing, hard.
Damian mumbled something to Ewen and Emile as they patted him on the back, and they sat at their own table, ordering lunches from the most expensive menu.
C'mon, boss, you should get her something for your ‘study session" Emile teased him. Now that they were closer, Anya could focus on their thoughts to understand their speech.
Shut up, " Damian said, but inside he was screaming What should I get her? Should I get peanuts? Should I order something for her? Is she looking at me? STOP TEASING ME, WILL YOU? I can't say anything. God, why is this happening?!
I could hear the two laughing at Damian in their minds, flooding my mind with laughter, teasing and some... not so good scenarios (She wondered how someone even thought of those kinds of things)
She felt her cheeks heating up and covered them with her hand.
"Ooooh, thinking about Damian?" Becky teased Anya with sparkles in her eye; she was definitely gonna tease Anya forever.
"Anya is just feeling hot; it's starting to get hotter nowadays." Anya denied. She could NOT tell her about why she was blushing, how many different romantic scenarios were flooding my brain just seconds before.
A need to get closer to him... all for Papa's mission... right?
She should be like Twilight and like him back, even in my complex emotions, just to complete the mission.
But that just seemed too unfair, too heartbreaking, like she would be using him.
She just needed to become an imperial scholar, then she wouldn't have to do anything at all, then her papa would be proud and realise he made the correct choice choosing to adopt her. He'd be able to achieve world peace!
She just needed to push through these feelings. She just needed to study and become an imperial scholar.
She and Becky talked for the whole period; she had missed her best friend throughout the day (They didn't have any classes in common that day), and finally they just talked with each other. Becky was her best friend, and Anya felt safe around her... she sometimes wondered what it would be like if she knew about her powers... but that was too dangerous.
She couldn't lose her best friend as well; she couldn't be called a freak again. She couldn't go back there.
And all the while Damian was sitting just a few tables away, she felt incredibly nervous, both cause she was worried Damian would give up on teaching her, and because they would be nearly alone in the eastern library.
In under 15 minutes, he would be tutoring her... she had a sinking feeling that something was going to go wrong, but maybe this would be alright... maybe they could even be friends!
She finally felt like a whirlwind of thoughts stopped and heard a final thought come in Damian's head.
I'll just get her some peanuts as snacks for later. I know she must always be hungry.
She perked up slightly as Damian left his seat, Becky giggled and nearly dropped her spoon, and she laughed at her antics. Anya knew it wasn't like Damian loved her; he was just liking her as a friend. Nothing more.
She looks so cute perking up... She makes just eating food look so cute and lovely.
Yup, just friends.
He was nervous, too nervous. It felt like he was running too many thoughts at once and felt like he was going to overheat. Emile and Ewen would just. Not. Goddamn. Stop. Their. Teasing.
He took a deep breath in, held it and let it out. Doing multiple cycles of box breathing, he finally calmed down and stopped his disaster of thoughts.
I'll just get her some peanuts as snacks for later. I know she must always be hungry.
He left my seat and noticed Anya perk up just slightly.
She looks so cute perking up... She makes just eating food look so cute and lovely.
She and Becky were giggling together; her laughter was like music.
Her laughter is adorable. I'll never get tired of listening to it.
Damian went to the counter and ordered 3 packs of peanuts. He noticed Ewen and Emile smirking and side-eyed them. They mock-saluted him and turned away as he glared at them harder.
Just calm down, Damian. You're a Desmond, you are supposed to be such a gentleman and smart. You'll be able to help even commoners like Anya. Wait, shit, I called her a commoner again. I seriously need to stop thinking like that.
Damian paid for the bags of peanuts and went towards Anya.
"Hey, Shrimp. Next period is free, so come to the eastern library if you still want that maths tutoring," He said.
"Ok, Sy-on boy... Thank you for helping Anya study Maths," Anya said as she smiled at him.
Damian's face turned red at her smile. She looks so precious. She looks too cute.
Damian muttered "no problem" slightly stuttering before going towards the boys' locker room to get his maths reference books.
He heard Becky say a final thing, "Aww, he really likes you, you know, Anya." He didn't stay long enough to hear Anya's response.
As Damian went off stuttering towards the boys’ locker room, I turned to Becky, still smiling.
She smiled back at me and smirked.
"Aww, he really likes you, you know, Anya." She said as I became the same shade of red he was just seconds ago.
Oh God, I wanna go to a cliff and jump off, what's going on with me?
"N-No, Sy-on boy is just friends with Anya, and even that isn't confirmed," Anya said
Oh, what will we do with you, Anya? How can you be so dense? Becky thought before chuckling and getting up.
"Have fun on your little study session, Anya," Becky said.
"How can you say to have fun when it's studying Maths?" she grumbled before getting up herself. Damian agreed to help her; she would not be late.
She went and got her books before settling in the eastern library, waiting for Damian.
As Ewen, Emile and Damian went to the locker room, Damian went to his locker and opened it. A letter stamped with a heart on it.
Just what I need, another love letter
He opened it and just read the name.
Ellie Becks.
He handed it to Emile.
"What number is this?" Damian asked.
"Boss, this is the third one this week," Ewen told.
Damian sighed and told them to do whatever they wanted with it.
"Finally, go and 'help' Anya, Damian~Sama," Emile said, smirking slightly.
Damian sighed and went off towards the eastern library, finding Anya already settled and... reading.