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Damian couldn’t take it anymore, how was he supposed to throw a surprise birthday party when she was a mind reader!? It was hard enough to get her birthday date as it is because apparently she’s not some widower’s daughter but straight out adopted out of the orphanage! And now with the date her father adopted her everyone was trying to throw her a birthday party, and thus dodge her like the plague so she doesn’t eavesdrop on anyone’s preparation. Damian’s plan was to internally yell at himself “don’t think about it” which was getting less and less effective every time he saw her in the corridors of Eden. Here he was standing before his brother’s apartment needing to ask him about how to protect one’s minds from mind readers. Ever since their Father got arrested Demetrius had explained everything to him, but more importantly, he had said that he taught himself to not have any thoughts to protect his privacy. He needed to do the same and throw a wonderful birthday party for Anya.
He was pacing around before the door, waiting for his brother to answer. After 10 to 15 minutes he decided to walk out of the building. Finally, he arrived walking up the stairs the moment he decided to leave. Demetrius was always busy with school, of course the overachiever of the family decided he would become a neuro-surgeon. Damian stared at his brother in the stairwell. He was disheveled, paler than usual, and definitely needed more than 10 hours of sleep. And yet, the glinter of life’s appreciation seemed to come back in his eyes. “Damian ? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at school ?”
“It’s Sunday, Deme… I uh… I had a question to ask you…”
“Go on” He shrugged and opened the door inviting his brother inside, the apartment was easily the size of his closet at home, and obviously hasn’t met a broom in weeks.
“Never thought a clean freak like you would allow this place to go so… messy” he noted and his brother simply let his books and papers fall down on his table.
“Cut me some slacks, I’ve been sleeping in the library all week” he grumbled, grabbing a broom “So, what did you want to ask me ?”
“Why were you sleeping in the library?”
“I was writing application letters for the different medical schools, I just received my diploma for the science bachelor degree” he said ever so calmly as if he had just claimed to have eaten strawberries.
“Why didn’t you tell me !?”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it”
“But it’s a big deal!”
“Well it will be a big deal on next Sunday when we’ll be celebrating, it has been months I haven’t eaten dinner at home”
“Yeah 24 months to be exact”
“Surely you didn’t come here just to ask me about school did you ? I told you: I am not a teacher”
“Uh yeah no I need your advice, you see I am organizing a surprise birthday party for a girl I like a lot…” Given the look on Demetrius’ face, Damian needed to get to the mind reading point. “I uh ok I should go down the point, remember when father was arrested ?”
“How are the two events related ? And that was ten years ago, you were six, how do you remember that?”
“I promise there’s a point, so, remember when father was arrested, you explained to me a few months later what he was doing and all those shady operations going on, and especially, how he could read minds”
“And what’s the point with the birthday party ?”
“Anya can read minds! And I can’t throw a surprise birthday party if she’s always reading my mind! That’s why I need to know how you do to have it blank!”
“Help me clean the apartment first, I can’t show you if it’s dirty.” the young adult requested and Damian rolled his eyes before helping his brother. Helping Demetrius cleaning was a freaking hell, he was too much of a perfectionist and cleaned without even music or humming! What kind of psychopaths do that!? Once the floor was finally shining and not a single particle of dust could be seen or felt Demetrius invited Damian in his room so they could be at ease, once the window and blinders were shut Demetrius instructed Damian to sit on the bed. “You’ll hate what I’m about to tell you.”
“C’mon! It can’t be that bad!” The younger brother scoffed.
“Meditation.”
“What ?”
“You’ll have to meditate to empty your mind and then get able to do it on the spot.” he shrugged as he simply sat on his knee.
“But that’s so boring!” Damian whined “Aren't there any options!?”
“Think the opposite of whatever you’re thinking I guess or just have too many thoughts the second” Demetrius shrugged
“Wouldn’t that give me and her a headache ?”
“Probably”
“Do I really have to meditate…?”
“Yes, it isn’t boring I assure you, it is quite relaxing” he assured, positioning himself better on the bed. “We’ll do it together.” Damian rolled his eyes and sat cross legged in front of his brother. “Alright, take a deep breath in think about a place that calms you down and then breath out” Damian listened to his brother’s instruction, the stella lake behind Eden immediately came up to his mind, the encampment he had with Ewen and Emile under the open sky, the times he went hiking there in the silence to clear his mind from the stressful exams, the time he had tried to take Anya on a date there but she was too excited to notice the romantic table he had displayed. The nights of moonless sky when he just went out to admire the sky. He suddenly felt all the pressure from asking for help leaving his body, the stress from the preparations felt like evaporating, he almost felt weightless, it felt, nice, but he wasn’t sure if it would be enough to face Anya, she made his heart buzz with excitement whenever their eyes met, he felt like turning red every time she speaks with him, and getting green with envy when she was talking with others.
The simple drift to wonder if it was enough sent Damian spiraling down in the tangent, how her emerald eyes stared at him with the pure innocence of the world and yet she could act like a little devil on his shoulder teasing him about the slightest thing. And yet she never used his thoughts or buried insecurities to hurt him, never had she shared his thoughts nor seemed to judge him much, just looking like a cute confused squirrel. He was worried about presenting her to his family. How would his mother react when another mind reader enters the family ? Especially after all his own father had done, but Anya was different, she was kind, yeah sure sometimes she would think about ruling the world but she was already the queen of his’ so it might be enough. He couldn’t recall her using these strange powers for purely evil, she always had good intentions and was pretty much straight forward about what she eavesdropped. She always was able to lift his mood up, he didn’t even need to put words where he couldn’t even understand his feelings!
And both their mothers are friends… maybe it wouldn’t go so bad as he thought ? But what if she thinks his family is full of psychos ? After all, even his own family creeped him out sometimes, Demetrius’ emotionless face, Mother’s mood swings, and did he really need to think about his father’s crimes ?
“You haven’t calmed at all.” His brother’s voice cut through his tempest of thoughts like an assassin’s dagger cutting flesh.
“How could you tell ?” he demanded, frowning slightly.
“It said on your face” he shrugged “Try again. Try not to get distracted.”
“But I can’t! She’s everything! Everywhere! She’s all at once! It feels like my mind is trapped in her eyes! And I love it! I’m smitten Deme…” he exclaimed before slumping onto the bed and for once in his life Demetrius had an expression of bewilderment and awkwardness on his face.
“Are you sure she is a mind reader and not just smart ?” he tried out and to be fair, it was a totally normal question for someone who didn’t know Anya.
“She’s a bit stupid, she got good grades just because she can read minds”
“Not something nice to say about someone you claim to love. Maybe she’s just naive”
Damian paused, Anya wasn’t the smartest in education subjects, but how many times did she know what words to say exactly to get his heart to burst through his ribcage ? How many times had she been kind to him without anyone knowing ? How many times had she kept his secrets hidden to not shame him when people would have jumped on the opportunity for blackmail ?
“You’re right, she is the smartest girl I know”
“You’ve got to find an in between Damian. Try again now.”
“I can’t! Everything is linked up to her! How am I supposed to think about anything but her!?”
“Practice making it perfect, try again.” Demetrius demanded and Damian obliged, he took a big breath in and held it for a few seconds before exhaling, the stars reflecting on the lake getting back in his memory and it finally took all the place in his head. Everything felt clear and calm until a loud thud snapped him out of it. His brother had fallen asleep and balanced backway falling from the bed.
“Deme are you ok!?” Damian asked, rushing to his side, and according to how deep his brother was asleep, he might be fine. “You’re the worst.” He grumbled and effortlessly held his brother up, back in his bed.
Demetrius’ help didn’t help at all. Here he was in the corridor, staring into her beautiful emerald’s eyes unable to form any coherent word. He kept trying to form the shape of the lake in his mind but every time he tried to think about it he only could think about the most beautiful girl standing in front of him. The stars in the sky reflecting on the lake ? Exactly the same as the sparkles surrounding her, the lines of the pinetrees ? As green as the eyes staring up at him with confusion. The sunrise in the sky turning a strange shade of pink ? HER BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!! HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO STAY CALM!?
“Seriously ? A lake ? You’ve driven me crazy by curiosity just because I look like a lake ?” She demanded stepping toward him, amused by seeing him so flustered.
“Yup! Exactly! You look like a really nice place! Y’know… the lake behind Eden… I could show it to you again if you want…” he mumbled trying to seem aloof but how could he in front of Anya ?
“I’d love to!” she hummed smiling brightly at him and he felt like he might just melt on his feet.
“Let’s do that… What about on Friday ? In three weeks?”
“It’s far.”
“Not so much”
“It's the last day of school.”
“Yup”
“So after the end of the year’s dance ?”
“Exactly”
“It’s a date ?”
“I uh I'm not exactly… just uh wanted you to see the place I uh… I know you like nature and adventure” He started to stammer anxiously. He would love it to be an actual date but it didn't go with the plans.
“Pfff- you’re cute when you’re blushing like that” She giggled.
“Yeah, you’ve get bugging me about that..” Damian scoffed awkwardly and tried to slide an arm over her shoulder when his name got called out.
“Oh my god Damian Desmond!” a girl called out and when the boy turned around he immediately recognized she was one of his classmates from his history class. “What are you doing here ?” She hummed, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger. She might have thought about something inappropriate for Anya to grab his arm and slide it over her shoulder. As much as Damian was flustered and probably smiling like an idiot he played along holding Anya close to him.
“I am simply going to class” he shrugged “Y’know, language class, with Anya” he explained, pulling her closer to him to make his point.
“You landed in her class ? Oh my, I’m so sorry for you” She giggled, unable to read the room, more like the corridor.
“I am not, now if you’ll let me, I do not wish to end up late because I entertained an empty conversation.” He stated and pulled Anya to their class.
The moment class was over Damian joined the friend group, Anya was frowning slightly and Damian pulled her closer. “What is it ? Are the corridor’s thoughts overwhelming you ?” He asked holding her closer to him ready to get her into an emptied corridor or to carry her to their friends so she could actually rest.
“You really don’t have to do all of this” she sighed “It’s just… everyone’s staring and gossiping about us, about why would Damian Desmond date a peasant” she scoffed bitterly. “We’re not even dating, it’s ridiculous”
“I mean we are pretty close” He shrugged trying to slide his arm around her waist.
She glared up at him. “Actually land that hand there and I’ll punch you across the corridor again.”
Damian smiled, getting his hand away “You wouldn’t try it, you’re already at 7 tonnitrus, you wouldn’t risk getting expelled” he hummed teasingly as she pouted adorably. “Anyway, I still can’t believe they’re still on and on about that, I mean after all the scandals with the Desmond name, why would they still be gossiping about who I date or not ?”
“Your family still holds power, especially due to still being a nobility descendant” she shrugged. “Y’know, the griffin and all” she chuckled and Damian felt his cheeks turning slightly red.
“Oh please, quit it”
“Oh really ? You don’t want to show the wonderful griffin that got you first place in the art competition ?” She hummed, leaning toward his face to pinch his cheek.
“I am not proud of that crap-”
“Not even the last one ? The painting you’ve done of the emotional turmoil of being overwhelmed was quite nice” She kept teasing with that squirrelish smirk, he’ll be the one to pinch her cheeks.
“It was a forest in autumn you maniac” He grumbled his hands aiming for her cheeks before she could grab his.
They were pinching each other's cheeks when Emile and Ewen arrived “Damian! Football training! You’re late! Everyone is waiting for you, captain!” They yelled rushing to them and suddenly Becky also schemed in and honestly, as much as it was annoying, he preferred that than people gossiping on Anya.
“Oh my God! Anya! It was so romantic! You two are so good together!” she knew what she was doing, she knew they would back off in horror and blushing so red.
“We’re not dating!” Damian yelled and stomped away from the giggling girl trying to ignore how his two best friends were teasing him in his back.
Okay, maybe Demetrius’ tips worked a bit. Being able to clear his mind even for a second helped him to enter what he calls ‘the Zone’. The way his body reacted by a reflex, he didn’t have to even think how to keep the ball at his feet, to whom he had to pass the ball, where he had to place himself. He obviously got all the spotlight and as soon as the training was over he dragged Ewen and Emile into the locker room. “How is the scene ? Have you guys started to work something out ? Have you even thought about it ?”
“You should calm down” Ewen deadpanned tiredly
“The scenery is perfect man, the end of the year ball falls on a moonless night, which means it will be at best for stargazing.” Emile explained and Damian felt like it was the worst of things.
“W-Wha… that makes things even more complicated! Her powers are linked to the moon or something! If she can’t use her powers on the full moon it means they are at its apogee on a moonless night!” Damian explained, still sweating and pacing around.
“We’ll be extra silent Dam’s And even if she gets it when she arrives, the most important is that she still get the surprise of how far you went” Ewen tried to rationalize “And no one thought about it in front of Anya, even Becky isn’t aware of the plan, I just told her to bring a gift”
“Yeah and I got the approval of Mr. Green, he’s even helping us out to make a great scenery without ruining the site” Ewen explained and Damian felt like he would actually collapse from stress. Exams were easy in comparison to throwing the most perfect surprise party.
“Okay… so all we’re missing are the gifts and what we’ll wear… Make sure you can do great movements in your outfit because we’ll have to hike.” Damian warned. “Do you guys think it’s a great idea we bring Becky and Anya for the creation of the outfits?”
“Oh ? Are you guys preparing something for Miss Forger and Miss Blackbell ?” Narcisse Hubrisse hummed, leaning toward them. “Where will it be ?”
“Get out Hubrisse, go mind your Daffodil, Becky is still not interested into you” Ewen shot back bitterly.
“Oh my, no need to be so violent, it would be a shame if Miss Forger would end up knowing that she’s getting a surprise birthday party” He tried to threaten and Damian had enough of him already.
“The Berlint observatory right after the end of the year’s ceremony. Now don’t tell anyone.” Damian shot back and it seemed like the blonde was content with this information and left. “Ok so this problem is dealt with now we have to find a good way to get the girls to go shopping with us and give enough hints for them to wear something practical”
“Or you start training out your arms and pecs and carry Anya up the hill like a princess” Emile teased chuckling with Ewen.
“I am not carrying her bridal style, I’ll surprise her by suddenly lifting her up in my arms at our wedding!”
“You two aren’t even dating yet” Ewen scoffed
“And what if she decides to wear heels ?” Emile scoffed and Damian had to admit he would have no other plan but to carry her.
“Okay, fine, I’ll work out a bit more” he grumbled and sat down on the benches with his friends, exhausted from training and preparations.
Taking Becky shopping wasn’t too hard but they needed her to convince Anya for a shopping session, because apparently doing it with boys was boring, Damian’s theory was that she said that just to get under his skin. Sadly for him, they were going to get under his skin, and starting by the dresses was a bad idea. Here he was, sitting on some sofa watching as they were babbling about the feeling of the cloth or things like that, even Anya seemed bored, Becky was the one really feeling passionate about it. She tried to match the cloth with her skintone, and tried something comfortable for Anya not to get the itch. The problem was, he couldn’t give his opinion on anything. Telling her to get a high cut so she doesn’t die of heat and because she has nice legs ? Suddenly she does have stubby legs and wants to make sure she’s warm. Damian was sure Anya was just reading his mind and making sure he didn’t have it his way, by the moment to choose the shoes he had given up. She wanted to wear heels, she'll wear heels, he’ll just carry up the hill!
“Ther’s too many eels in that sentence. I don’t even like fish that much”
“You should, fish help with intelligence, and carrots make people nice”
“Are you implying that I am not nice ?”
“More like unbearable”
“Can you two quit it? Ewen come here, and help us with the colors” Becky demanded and his friend obliged. They discussed colors as if Anya couldn’t choose for herself, which was stupid because she could pick for herself.
“Thank you Damian! Finally someone think it! I can pick for myself!” She exclaimed.
Becky and Ewen exchanged a knowing look and Becky bit the hook. “And how would you dress for the event Anya ?”
“As Bondman obviously” She scoffed
“Anya, dear, you can not go as Bondman for such an event” Ewen tried to rationalize.
“Well it sure would be more practical” Emile scoffed
“Okay, girls, listen”
“Girls?” Damian demanded
“These two are girls” she scoffed patting Becky’s and Ewen’s shoulders “You’re a baby girl and Emile’s a boy, there are more girls than boys here, so, girls, hear me out, it is my only chance to have a sur mesure Bondman cosplay. I am taking it”
“You know I can buy you a cosplay on top of the dress right ?”
“Okay I want to be a princess for the ball” She had quite the fast change of heart. She ended up with a nice long gown in a starry night color. The hardest was picked, just needed to grab the suits and they’ll be fine.
The two next weeks were the worst of his life, he had to find an actual gift, making sure she doesn’t guess it, get some more exercises to make sure he can carry her without any incidents and now he had to bullshit everyone about the surprise party at the Berlint observatory because Hubrisse couldn’t have kept it for himself! but he managed, because he is a Desmond. And mostly because it was either that or crashing out, if Becky could read mind he would deny being the king of crashouts but hopefully, Becky is no esper.
It was Saturday when Demetrius went home, a week too late but we appreciate the effort of him actually showing up. The dinner was going on smoothly, Demetrius tried to explain the different classes that he had but seeing how both his brother and mother seemed lost he quickly stopped. “I uh… I got accepted into Alexandria Surgery University… They have a neuro surgery speciality I’ll be able to take in a few years” he said between two bites as if it was nothing.
Their mother stopped, almost frozen by such news. “Oh my! I’m so proud of you!” she exclaimed and immediately went to hug her first son who didn’t seem to enjoy the contact. “Damian, come here, congratulate your brother”
“He already told me” Damian shrugged
“And neither of you two told me!?” she exclaimed, seemingly outraged by the news. “How come none of my sons trust me enough with such information!”
“Hey! It’s up to Demetrius to spread the news! Not me!” Damian argued and as eyes were drifting to his brother the older sibling decided to throw the younger one under the bus to change the subject.
“Damian got a girlfriend.” he said quickly, not wanting to be under the spotlight, so much that he didn’t even flinch when Damian kicked him under the table.
Their mother gasped and turned to her second son. “What wonderful news Damian! And who that girl might be?” she hummed delightedly, holding the teen by his shoulder.
“It’s… remember the girl who punched me in first grade… Anya Forger.. we… we’re not really dating yet…” he mumbled, blushing bright red and glaring at his brother.
“I am so happy to hear that! You’ve always seemed to have a tiny crush on her!”
“I did not- we’re not even dating anyway… I uh… plan to ask her out on her birthday…”
“Do you have a gift for her ?”
“I uh… Not yet…” He mumbled ashamed.
“Great! We’ll be going shopping today then! To find her a gift, Demetrius you’re coming”
The student glanced up from his plate “What ?”
“Your contribution for keeping quiet for so long and not telling me you graduate” She stated clearing a problem with a wave of her hand.
“My graduation was only a step for accessing my next school, and it was only a few months” He tried to argue, staying ever so calm.
“Deme, we haven’t heard of you for 24 months, thought you were failing class” Damian schemed in, at no point has he thought that his older brother could ever fail a class, but teasing him a bit was always fun, especially when it was about class, he still made an honor point in being first, even when their father had no direct influence anymore.
“First, I was NOT failing any classes, and second, it is fair enough, I’ll join you and mother on your idle shopping trip.” he stated and kept eating calmly, the rage baiting not working.
Damian had enough of shopping, last week for clothes now a gift. He was walking around the different shops, his mother was highlighting any cute things behind the display cases. Sure things she would love a jewel or a plushie but it felt too generic. Earrings ? She once got her ears pierced by Becky, it’s more of a them thing. A necklace ? Meh she would try to show it off and he was scared the lace might break. He looked around when he found it, a tiara, she liked looking extravagant and he was sure she would look like a princess with it. He pointed it to his mother with a beaming smile.
“Uh Dami I am not sure if it is adequate…”
“But she’ll love it!”
“Get her a sword with it then, do you realize how crazy it sounds ?”
“The sword is actually a good idea”
“Demi can you come here and explain to your little brother that a sword and a tiara aren’t actual birthday gifts”
Demetrius didn’t seem to understand why he particularly was called for that but he wouldn’t decline it to his mother. “What is the actual problem ?”
“Your brother wants to offer a tiara to his future girlfriend, don’t you think it’s a bit extravagant ?”
Damian met his brother’s ever so wide eyes. “How long have you known her ?”
“It would be ten years by now”
“Are you sure she’ll like it?”
“Absolutely”
“I don’t see the problem then.” He shrugged and turned to their mother, Damian just stood there grinning.
“Please say something about the sword…”
“Oh yeah no, that is just historically inaccurate, you’ll get her a dagger. Swords might have been given as a wedding heirlooms during weddings, firstly seen in Ostania during the 13th century, but it was from the bride’s father to the groom, and I do not think the Forger family posses such thing, you still could gift her the Desmond’s heirloom sword on your wedding day I suppose, until then a dagger would be a better fit.”
“I think it’s the longest I’ve heard you talk. Well, you’re right mother, a sword is no feat yet, she’ll need a dagger” Damian hummed.
“Are you sure she’ll love it Dami ?” The older woman demanded one last time to make sure of it and by the end of the week they had a sword and an engraved dagger.
On the day of the end of the year ball he had given a call to the Forgers if he could pick Anya up for the event, surely she would love being in a limo. They pulled up in front of the Forger’s building. Damian was still very much stressed, his palm sweaty, he was scared something might go wrong and snowball down to ruin the evening. “Are you alright Master Damian ?”
“I uh… Yeah… I’ll open the door for her though… it might be more romantic”
“It sure is”
“Thanks Jeeves…” the teen mumbled and opened the car’s door before ringing the Forger’s apartment.
“Yes?”
“Uhm… Good evening… It’s Anya’s ride, sir…”
“Oh? Damian Desmond ? She’ll be there in a minute” The minute felt like hours. When her father finally escorted her outside, opening the main door for her. She looked amazing, her green eyes were shining like emeralds, her pink hair looked like the sky when the sun was setting down, nicely falling down her shoulders, her night blue gown suited her perfectly and maybe her heels weren’t such a bad idea.
“Good evening Anya…” Damian said softly, unable to hide his blush or stupid smile.
“Good evening Damian,” She said softly, kissing his cheeks. That’s it, he was as red as a tomato. She waved her father off as she walked up to the car, Damian quickly rushed to it to open the car door. “What a gentleman” She hummed as she sat down in the car, Damian closed the car door and opened the truck to retrieve a bag containing the Bondman cosplay and went to give it to her father.
“One of her birthday gifts, sir, uh, I’ll bring her by midnight and…. thanks you very much” Damian thanked the man.
“I better not find her in the holding cell, have a good evening you two” The man said curtly and allowed Damian to go with his daughter.
Anya was kicking her legs even though they were still dragging on the ground. “You really surprised me there you know, picking me up like that, so suddenly…” she hummed, glancing up at him smirking. “Thanks for the Bondman cosplay though, thought you lied to me, again”
“When have I lied to you?”
“Your debt, about the tissue and how you lied to me telling me you would redeem yourself” she whined fakely.
“You know I tried to give you those cakes, you’re just trying to play with my nerves”
“Maybe” She scoffed, winking at him.
“You’ll be the death of me” he scoffed as she leaned her head over his shoulder, stretching her back so she could reach it.
“Thanks you for the birthday party at the Berlint observatory though, congratulations to you for keeping it hidden for so long, don’t worry, I’ll play surprised in front of everyone.”
Damian should have killed Hubrisse on the spot and hid the body in a locker. “Well, I’m sure you won’t have to act” He scoffed and kissed the top of her head.
“What are you talking about ?” She demanded raising up as Damian simply stared lovingly at her. “Stop thinking about my damn eyes! Think about what you meant! I thought we were going on a date to your lake after the ceremony, not the observatory with all the boring people of Eden who don’t like me!” She started to argue and Damian couldn’t help but keep up smiling.
“What about you close your eyes for a little while?”
“Wait, we're not going to the ball ?”
“Nuh uh”
“Stop thinking about those damn sparkles!”
“Nuh uh”
She was mad at him, which was normal, being able to read one’s mind meant always being ready for their next move, and here, she wasn’t ready for anything- nope not now, he could blow it. “Blow what ?”
“The observatory” He scoffed as they parked in Eden. Damian rushed to open the car door for Anya and did a thumbs up to Jeeves who gave him a warm smile. “I’ll actually need you to close your eyes Anya…”
“Fine” She grumbled with a roll of her eyes and closed them. Damian quickly grabbed the bag that contained the dagger and tiara before lifting up Anya in his arms like he would to a bride. “Heeek!- Damian!” She exclaimed, opening her eyes to stare at him.
“I’ll need you to trust me on this one, please close your eyes” He demanded softly and her pout was the cutest ever. Carrying her up the hill and forest was a fist of stamina but it was so worth it, by the moment they arrived the sun was setting down. He softly put her down making sure was standing properly. “You can open your eyes now”
When she did her face lit up “So we skipped the dance for the party!?” She demanded excitedly and Damian simply nodded wishing he could memorize this sight forever. “By the way you three I know you’re here!” She exclaimed pointing at their friends.
“It’s not fair!” Becky exclaimed happily getting out of the bushes as she helped Ewen and Emile out. “Happy birthday Anya!” Becky exclaimed jumping in her friend’s arms. “Open my gift first! Because I said so!” she hummed and held up to her a box, bigger than a ring box. When anya opened it here she found a pair of earrings, the jewel made of Onyx surrounded by a golden artisanat. “They match your orns ornament!”
“Oh my Becky! They’re wonderful! Put them on me!” She exclaimed jumping on the ground excitedly. Damian had to hold her shoulders as Becky was setting the jewels.
Ewen got her a fancy makeup palette that she loved, obviously. “Thanks girl! You girls read my mind or something to get me such great gifts!” She exclaimed jokingly. As she opened Emile’s gift, which was a giant teddybear, Damian leaned toward his friend.
“Why does Anya calls you girl ?”
“Why does she call you baby girl ?”
“Let’s not talk about it for a little while ok ?”
Anya then turned to Damian with an expecting face. “Your turn” She hummed.
“I don’t have anything for you” He shrugged trying to gain some time to match his timing with the solar powered lamps.
“What ? And what’s in the bag ?”
“It’s npt for you, beside I already got you something, the Bondman cosplay”
“But there isn’t any surprise” She whined “You’re evil!”
“Am I?” He hummed as Emile was holding a timer behind Anya’s shoulder, Damian clapped his hands and all the different lights held up in the trees lit up. “I might have something then” He hummed, retrieving from the bag the box containing the tiara. “Happy birthday” He said softly, when she saw the golden jewel that showed emeralds and diamonds, her eyes lit up.
“Oh my god! I am a princess now! A tiara! It’s amazing! I love it! I love it so much!” She exclaimed, jumping in Damian’s arms. “Put it on me!”
“Close your eyes and hold up your hand” He demanded and she did so, it was almost impossible to put the tiara on her head, she kept beaming completely thrilled. When, with help, he had managed to slide it in her hair he deposed the dagger in her hands. “You can open them”
Her eyes focused on the silver and ruby dagger in her hands, the inscription on the blade “Thy shall be loved” she glanced up at Damian completely stunned. “What-”
He took a deep breath in. “Anya, will you be my girlfriend?” he demanded, his heart threatening to burst out of his ribcage, especially at the smirk she gave him.
“I dunno, maybe you should try to read my mind for once” she hummed teasingly and Damian was mortified, what if she liked him back and he didn’t guess it ? he would look like an idiot without any self confidence, what if he claimed she liked him back and she didn’t ? He would look like an overconfident idiot. Her chuckles pulled him out of his torment. “Pfff- you’re such an idiot” She hummed, grabbing his tie to pull him down into a soft kiss on the lips.