'Finally, at long last I'm here.'
Anya marched into Eden College with a look of determination and confidence in her strides. She snuck out of preschool, leaving a note for the teacher that she was gonna see her big brother. Which wasn't a total lie. Her teacher is really sweet, but world peace must come first.
'I shall set Papa's Plan B into action. Befriend Sy-on Boy for world peace and succeed the mission.' Anya nodded to herself as she walked around the first-year building. She looked up at the windows trying to figure out which room her brother and Damian were in.
Her mouth fell open as her eyes popped out of her head, 'I don't know which room they're in!'
Damian sat in class looking very bitter as he glared at the back of Eric's head. The commoner gained a Stella Star before him by rescuing a boy from drowning. Eden considers that good deed a contribution to society. Seeing the bandages around the blonde's head made Eric look weak, clumsy even. Yet he stood tall despite his injuries and just brushed them off. How can someone so lowborn not let pain get in the way?
Damian sighed through his nose as he glanced out the window and did a double take when he saw a small girl with pink hair and two horns on her head. 'Wait, isn't that Forger's kid sister?' He turned to Eric who was engrossed in writing notes to notice who was outside.
With a hum, he looked outside again to see the little devil plop down under the shade of the tree looking up at one of the buildings. An idea formed as a smirk appeared. Eric loves his little sister very dearly and would do anything to keep her safe. While Eric proved that he could defend himself, Anya is unprotected. Since she doesn't go to this school and is trespassing, it's only right that he shows her what happens when she doesn't stay in her station.
Class ended; they now have free period. He overheard Eric tell Becky that he was going to the library to research bacteria, and like a lost puppy, Becky was coming along. This was the perfect opportunity to hit Eric where it hurts the most. His weakness is way too obvious.
He called Ewen and Emile to tell them his plan. He needed lookouts in case a teacher comes along and ruins his plans.
Anya really didn't think this plan through. From the memories she pulled from Eric, she thought navigating the school grounds would be a snap. Boy was she wrong. 'If I don't find Sy-on Boy and be friends with him, then it's bye-bye to world peace.' Anya moped as she sat against the tree.
A shadow fell over her, making her look up to see Damian standing in front of her. Her eyes widened, 'World peace just walked in!'
Damian frowned upon seeing green eyes identical to his rival look up at him. But while Eric's hardly showed any emotion, excluding that slight mischief and smugness when spouting random medical facts to his face, his little sister's eyes were big and expressive. The complete opposite.
"You're not an Eden student." Damian stated as he glanced at Anya's preschool uniform.
"No. My name is Anya." She got up, dusted the grass off her skirt and stood an inch shorter than Damian.
"You're Eric's kid sister." Damian stated, and was about to mock her height, when Anya's eyes sparkled out of nowhere and she threw her arms up in the air.
"Mmhm, that's my big brother, glad you remember. Your name's Damian." Anya pointed out.
Damian had a smug smile and crossed his arms, "Good to know someone like you remembers me."
"How can I forget you? You tried to kill my brother but hurt the wall instead." Anya innocently roasted as Damian blushed in embarrassment at the fresh memory that caused discomfort in his already healed hand.
"But I'm glad you're feeling better." Anya added as she glanced at his unbandaged hand.
Damian's eye twitched as he tried to maintain his dignity, "Yeah, well, people of my status have access to the best doctors, so it's only natural that we heal right." His smirk returned, "Your brother on the other hand got more injuries than I did since we started school."
"Yeah, I saw what happened to his hands. The head bumps, well..." Anya fidgeted guiltily, "Most of those were my fault. I accidentally made him knock into the sink's corner, caused him to fall off a ladder, and bumped into him again on the hard floor."
Damian's mouth fell open, 'So that's why he looks like hell.'
"But my big brother is still the best. Papa calls him accident prone with a high tolerance for pain. He's super tough and never lets anything get him down. Not even those booboos." Anya praised her brother like he was her idol.
"Accident Prone Eric. Yep, that'll stick." Damian muttered to himself with a slight smirk.
"Pain is weakness leaving your body." Anya sagely said to Damian. "You definitely got stronger after that little mishap."
"Yeah, a little." Damian mumbled to himself then cleared his throat. "Why are you here anyway?"
'First step to being a spy, the best liars tell the truth.' Anya reminded herself as she gave Damian an honest smile. "I came to see Eric."
Damian scoffed, "Tch, good luck with that. He's in the library studying some medical book. The showoff."
Anya's smile fell as her face became downcast, "Oh, guess that means he doesn't have time for me. Again." She sat back down looking depressed.
Damian suddenly felt bad at seeing Anya's sad expression. "I'm sure he'll be done soon though. The guy's smart and reads really fast." Damian hastily said, hoping she won't end up crying.
Anya didn't smile, "I know he's smart. Papa praises him constantly and wants him to be the best. That's why he's in this school...and not with me. The dumb little sister." She clenched her skirt tightly as she struggled not to cry. These feelings weren't fake, they were carefully concealed for the sake of the mission.
Damian felt something twinge inside him when he heard her talk about their father seeming to favor Eric. 'You're a second child too.' He frowned as that shadow of inferiority fell over him. He sat down beside Anya at a respective distance.
"Do you hate him?"
"I don't hate my big brother." Anya had a sad smile on her face, "I'm glad he's smart, and he also has a dream to become a doctor. I want to do everything I can to support him and help him achieve that dream. It's just..." She swallowed hard as her true feelings came to the surface, "...He's been with me since the beginning. Always looking after me and staying by my side since our first Mommy died."
Damian's eyes widened at this information. "What happened to her?" He asked before he could stop himself.
"I happened." Anya stated with sadness, "She died the moment I was born."
Damian's heart clenched at what he just heard. "Did Eric tell you?" How could an older brother tell their younger sibling that their parent is dead because of them?
Anya shook her head, "He didn't have to. I may not be as smart as brother, but even I'm not that dumb. So, it was pretty easy to figure out." She explained, though in truth, she has long since known that their mother died in childbirth. From what little memories Eric has of their first mother, the most she could find was beautiful woman with a swollen belly.
"Big brother doesn't blame me. But he did grow up faster to help Papa raise me when we had no mama around." Anya allowed herself a small grateful smile, "To be honest, he acted like a mom towards me the first few years before our new Mama came to live with us."
"Somehow, that actually suits him." Damain laughed, not in a mocking manner, at the idea of Eric being a parent at such a young age before school.
Anya nodded, feeling better after that bout of sadness. "Mmhm, he's the kindest and smartest big brother in the world. Which is why I must protect him so he can become a doctor."
"You mean like your dad?" Damian asked, remembering his rival's father's profession that deals with lunatics.
"No, Papa's more of a mind and feelings doctor." Anya shook her head then sighed with a frown, "Eric on the other hand sucks when it comes to what people are feeling."
'Yeah, no kidding, he already has a string of girls following him and asking him for 'first aide treatment'.' Damian thought to himself, remembering how exasperated he was when Eric was clueless to see the signs of another girl liking him when she made it obvious.
Anya giggled under her breath upon reading Damian's thoughts. "I really miss having big brother around." Her eyes had a faraway look, "I wonder if it will get easier, if Eric will still remember me as he reaches his goal."
Damian frowned upon hearing her miss her older brother. She really does worship and admire him the way any sibling would.
He sighed and leaned back against the tree beside them. "You are an idiot."
"Huh?" Anya turned to him, feeling insulted.
"Aside from spouting random medical facts to everyone he knows; he talks about you to his friend Becky. Constantly." Damian added to Anya's shocked face, "There's no way's he's forgotten about you. Dummy."
Anya's eyes sparkled before she threw her arms around Damian. "Thank you!"
Damian went red in the face at their proximity. This is the first time he's getting hugged by a girl. A very strong girl. What has she been eating?
"Okay, okay! Can you let go?" Damian demanded as he fought to maintain his composure as the girl released him.
"Sorry, you just made me happy." Anya apologized with her joyful smile that lit up her face. To Damian, she looked like she was glowing with those shiny sparkling green eyes. He rubbed his eyes, but it was still there.
The red-faced Damian turned away, "Yeah, sure." He said as his heart kept thundering against his chest. What the hell did she do to him?
"What about you?" Anya asked suddenly, making Damian turn to her in confusion. "Do you miss your big brother?"
Damian's mood soured at the mention of Demitrius, their father's golden child. "Sometimes."
"Is he mean to you?" Anya asked with a fearful expression.
Damian shook his head, "No, he's not like that." He looked down, "I used to follow him around every day before he came to Eden. It must've annoyed him at times, but," He closed his eyes as Demitrius' indulgent smile flew through his head. How his older brother would crouch to his level and ruffle his hair, making Damian pout cutely. "Mother and Father were always busy, and Demitrius would spend time with me when he's on break from Eden, he'd call me every evening before we both went to bed. I didn't feel alone." His smile turned sad as he opened his eyes, "One day, when he came back on winter break, he gave me a puppy named Max. He believed that Max would help make the separation easier. And he did."
"How's Max doing now?" Anya asked as she read his mind, the lonely memories he suffers due to parental absence.
"He's great. My butler Jeeves takes care of him while I'm here." Damian said with a fond smile as he thought of his canine friend.
"I bet he misses you." Anya stated as she got the image of a scary looking dog being soft and playful for his master. "He's probably worried about you as well. Dogs are protective of their owners who love them."
Damian grinned, "Yeah, he can be very vicious towards strangers. That's probably another reason why Demitrius got him for me."
"That just means your big brother loves you very much." Anya stated, making Damian blush slightly.
Anya placed a finger to her chin with a thoughtful look, "So if I got a dog, then big brother won't worry as much, and I'll have a friend to play with while he's at school."
"I guess that's one way of looking at it." Damian distractedly said as he watched Anya's expression. Why can't he look away from her? For some strange reason, he imagined Anya standing next to a very big dog whose muzzle was large enough to bite her tiny head and shake her around like a rag doll.
"You should get yourself a small dog though. Say a chihuahua. They're small, but they're no less vicious towards anyone who hurts you." Damian quickly suggested as the very image curdled his stomach.
"Yeah, that's really cute. Then I can carry them in my backpack and bring them to school." Anya stated as she imagined herself with an adorable puppy.
"Not what I meant, but sure." Damian said as Anya giggled excitedly.
"You're very smart Damian. I can see why Eric made you his rival."
Damian's eyes widened, "Huh, what do you mean?"
"It's simple, he's sees potential in you. You're both really smart and ambitious and you two want to become Imperial Scholars." Anya stated as Damian stared at her with a shocked expression. "He believes you can become one someday with the right motivation. Those who become Imperial Scholars can change the world for the better. That means you'll do amazing things in the future. You'll be a leader like your father and protect everyone and give them a peaceful world."
Damian's heart skipped a beat at that speech. He's used to getting praises, it's one of the perks of being a Desmond. But this girl, it wasn't just praise, she was telling him what she believes he can do with his skill alone. To hear such kind and humble words made him feel fluttery, like he no longer felt trapped.
"You...really believe that?" Damian asked, feeling at ease with this girl who hardly knew him and is willing to support him.
Anya nodded, "I know it. Especially Eric. Brother would not have made you his rival if he didn't."
Damian raised an eyebrow, "And how do you know that? Did your brother tell you?"
"Sometimes he does, though most days I can just tell what he's thinking." Anya said with a devious smile. "You may act mean towards him at times, but I know you're not a bad guy."
Damian's hand clenched as he remembered how Eric won the dodgeball game and became MVP and how he got that Stella Star before him. "Well, I don't like him."
Anya's eyes widened at Damian's vehement response. "He acts all tough and how he thinks he knows everything. He brushes off everything I say, believes I'm hardly worth a breath. He never reacts to anything, like he's some kind of robot. He even had the nerve to tell me I'm too weak to fight him physically." He stood up and pumped his fist in front of him, "But I'll show that overconfident jerk who the real weakling is! The day I take him down, he will regret ever looking down on me!" He declared, fueled by rage as memories of Eric's physical combative prowess and his calm smugness when he pointblank told Damian how he will never fight a weakling.
A smaller hand touched Damian's arm, making the boy look down to see Anya standing beside him with a critical eye. "Widen your stance." She instructed with a firm look.
"Huh?" Damian asked as Anya went into a battle stance similar to Eric's. "Stance."
"Uh, right." Damian didn't know why, but he can't seem to say no.
"Good, bend your knees slightly." Anya instructed as Damian copied her, his hands curled in fists close to his chest.
"When you punch, you must keep your wrists aligned with your arm. Keep them close to your chest to protect your vital areas. Now, do what I do. Hiyah!" Anya instructed, remembering Yor's words as she executed a perfect punch before it sprang back to her chest. She did this a couple of times then turned to Damian, "Now you try."
Damian nodded as he copied her movements, feeling awkward at first then became more confident as he pulled more punches towards the air.
Anya nodded in approval, "That's it, you got it. Just make sure you keep that stance, so you don't get knocked over when someone attacks you."
Damian's eyes widened when he realized something, "Wait, you also know self-defense?"
"Mmhm, this way I don't get kidnapped. It's another reason why big brother learns how to fight. Being an Eden student means bad guys want you for your family's money. It is important you learn these things in case you are in a jam." Anya said to Damian whose jaw dropped at the cold hard truth she described as though she was talking about the weather.
"Um, but why teach me, you know I wanna fight your brother."
Anya smiled, "I figured it wouldn't hurt to give you a beginners' lesson. I'm still training as well. Our mother is quite terrifying as a fighter, but she's an even better teacher. She says, as long as you are careful in picking your battles, you'll be fine." She encouragingly said to Damian who was amazed at how she was willing to teach him the few basics despite being a beginner herself.
The way she was treating him, it wasn't like the other students when they heard the Desmond name, whether it be fear or admiration. He wasn't being looked down upon the way his father tended to whenever something he did displeased him. Anya did neither of those things, she was treating him like an equal, like the Desmond name didn't matter. Just him.
Anya patted him on the shoulder and gave him a hopeful smile, "I know you may not like my brother all that much, but I hope you don't hate me by relation." She really needed to be his friend to succeed the mission. But more than that, she needed him to know that he can be a better person than his father.
Damian blushed and held his hands up. "Hold on now, it's not that I hate you." He fumbled over his words as Anya tilted her head cutely like a puppy. "I don't have any problems with you personally. So, you're okay."
Anya's eyes brightened at that, "That's good, 'cause I think you're fine the way you are." In Damian's eyes, he swore the girl's face was glowing on its own iridescence with that angel's halo floating above her head. His heartbeat loudly against his chest as he struggled to speak.
Anya looked behind Damian and pointed, "Aren't those your friends."
Damian turned around saw Ewen and Emile frantically running towards him, terror written all over their faces.
"Lord Damian, run away!" Ewen screamed out as he and Emile pushed themselves to run faster and escape with their Lord and their lives.
There was a strange dust cloud coming up from behind Ewen and Emile heading straight for them.
Anya's eyes squinted at the cloud then gasped, "That's Eric. Coming towards us at very high speed." She commented with a marveled expression as Damian's eyes widened at the rapidly approaching speed demon. "Why does he have look of murder in his eyes?"
5 Minutes Ago
Damian's minions had to go to the restroom to relieve themselves.
Emile was the first to speak as he sat in the stall, "We should be on lookout for Lord Damian. If the teachers catch him, it will be a Tonitrus Bolt for sure."
"It will be fine, she's not a student here anyway. Once Damian's through with her, she won't even think about setting foot in this school. The little crybaby." Ewen stated like he was proud of himself as he stood before the urinal.
"Still, this is the best idea the boss ever came up with, it will serve Eric right for being so arrogant just because he got a Stella Star. His kid sister is just collateral damage." Emile chuckled as he finished and reached for the toilet paper but found, much to his dismay, that it was empty.
"I'm out of toilet paper." Emile said before a roll suddenly fell in his lap from above.
Emile looked up and released a frightened fart at who was crouched above him with one hand against the tile wall behind Emile and the other planted between his feet perched on the wall separating the stalls. The creature's normally expressionless eyes were wide with fury and murder with his fringes shadowing them.
The fat boy was frozen with fear, and he literally clinched up at the sight of the monster looking down at him.
"Emile, what's taking so-wahh!" Ewen's question cut off when he looked up at the demon crouched above Emile's stall.
The demon's joints cracked as he craned his neck towards Ewen, glowing green eyes locked onto his soul, threatening to devour it.
"Run." The monster whispered out a menacing growl as he glared down at the two.
"Wha-?"
"Run. Now." He slowly said, daring them to make him repeat a third time.
Emile and Ewen burst out of the restroom with screams of terror and toilet paper sticking out of the fat boy's pants like a tail.
Present
"Why does he have a look of murder in his eyes?" Anya asked curiously as Eric ran past Ewen and Emile, the speed kicked up a violent wind that sent the duo into the air with a cry.
Eric skidded to a halt in front of them, the dirt kick into the air, making Damian and Anya cough until the air cleared and standing directly in front of Damian is what can be described a devil in human form. Damian never encountered death before, but the way Eric was looking at him with wide murderous green eyes that literally glowed with bloodlust is as close as he wants to get. His fringes shadowed his eyes, and his hair seemed to move on their own, giving Eric a haunting and menacing look as he stared nose-to-nose with Damian.
Damian stumbled back from the scary kid who raised his hand and flexed his fingers, the joints cracking unpleasantly. "You dare bully my little sister." Eric's voice dripped with promised vengeance as he stalked towards Damian who backed away with every step the blonde took.
"Wait, hold on-" Damian tripped and fell on his backside. Looking up at Devil-Eric paralyzed him to the core.
"Those who even think about harming my sweet sister," His fingers cracked again, "shall never live to see the light of day." Eric pulled his arm back with the intent to slaughter Damian where he sat.
Damian closed his eyes and prayed to God that it will be swift and painless. When it didn't come, he cracked his eyes open to see Anya standing in front of her brother with one hand against his heart and the other holding his wrist to halt his attack.
"He didn't hurt me big brother." Anya said as she protected Damian from Eric's slaughter.
"You were alone with him." Eric stated calmly with anger tinting his voice.
"I came here looking for you, and he found me. He was watching over me until you were done studying." Anya smoothly said as she gently pushed Eric's hand down while relaxing his stance.
Ewen and Emile were covered in dirt as they hurriedly came to Damian's side and helped him back on his feet.
"Really, then why did I hear your lapdogs laugh when they said you're gonna hurt her?" Eric asked as he turned his green eyes towards the two he scared the crap out of.
Anya turned to Damian, "Were you really gonna bully me?" She asked with a look of sadness and betrayal.
Damian felt his insides turn to liquid at that expression. Seeing no way out of this, he sighed and admitted, "That was my original intent. But you're way too nice and you're not like your brother at all." He sighed regretfully, "I won't do anything so cowardly to hurt you just to spite your brother. I'm sorry." He said, bowing his head, admitting his wrongs when he realized that bullying Anya would not weaken Eric, it would just send them into an early grave.
Anya, sensing Damian's thoughts, smiled and took his hand in hers, making him look at her with surprise. "As long as you know right from wrong, I'll forgive you." She kindly said, no longer feeling angry as she stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek.
Damian resembled a tomato as Anya stepped back and held Eric's arm. "What was that for?" Damian exclaimed as he held his cheek.
"Mama does that for me and Eric when we learned something valuable and did a great job." Anya explained as Eric didn't remove his glare from Damian. If it weren't for Anya's hold on his arm, he'd have brutalized the boy.
"I'll give you ten seconds to run. 10...9..." Eric slowly said as Damian and his goons ran the other way to avoid death.
Eric glared at their backs while Anya waved goodbye to them.
His eyes then turned to his little sister. "Anya, why aren't you at preschool?"
Anya whispered in his ear, "I came here to be Papa's Plan B. Being Damian's friend will bring world peace."
Eric sighed and facepalmed while Anya pulled back. "Did you at least leave a note before you came here?"
"Yep."
Eric groaned, of all the things Anya dared to pull, it had to be interacting with Desmond's brat. While the boy didn't bully his little sister, he did not like how Anya was getting friendly with him. She's too cute to be left alone with the likes of Damian, or any other boy for that matter.
Placing firm hands on his sister's shoulders, he gave her a stern glare, "Don't you ever go near that boy again Anya. I don't care if it's for world peace. The only way he'll ever get close to you is over my rotting carcass. Understood?" No way was he letting the enemy's son near his little sister.
Anya pouted then sighed, "Okay." She was really getting somewhere with Plan B.
Eric pulled back and held her hand tightly as they walked away from where they stood. "We should call Dad and let him know you're okay."
Blue eyes watched from their scope as the Forger siblings went into the building.
Twilight pulled the scope down as he watched his children from the roof. He had gotten a frantic call from Anya's teacher who informed him of his daughter's note, this prompted him to leave the hospital to retrieve his younger child.
When he arrived, he was surprised to see Damian talking to her. While he couldn't hear what the children were saying, their body language confirmed that it was civil and friendly between them. He didn't see animosity at all. The way the boy blushed in his daughter's presence was a development. He chuckled when Anya gave him a beginners' lesson in self-defense. While they weren't on par with his kids, much less his own, he saw a potential fighter in the boy should he take up the art.
Then came Eric's near murderous rampage as the boy confronted Damian. Seeing his son like that was shocking to Twilight, and he's seen some terrifying crap in his life. Still, he can't help but be proud of Anya for pacifying the situation before things turned ugly. It wouldn't do well to let the boy die before the mission completed.
For some reason, seeing Anya kiss the boy on the cheek caused a rush of emotions to slice though his body, that overwhelming need to protect his youngest from the boy. He shook his head to get rid of that feeling. While Anya isn't of the same intellectual level as her brother, she is more social and insightful to what people are feeling. Her interaction with Damian proved that Plan B isn't a total waste. If she can get the boy to be friends with her and Eric, the chances of success for Operation Strix will heighten.
Silently praising his daughter, he leapt from his hiding spot and entered Eden to retrieve his wayward child.
"I see, thank you for telling me." Henderson hung up the phone as he turned to the two Forgers who sat on the couch.
"Your father was already on his way. Apparently, he was informed by your preschool teacher and left the hospital." Henderson informed the two.
Eric sighed and crossed his arms, "That's good. Again, I'm really sorry for the trouble Professor."
Henderson sat down across from the siblings. "Ms. Forger, while I understand your admiration and need to be close to your brother, that does not excuse you from such behavior." He gently scolded the guilt-ridden child, "You truly scared your teachers and your family by disappearing so suddenly."
Anya looked down, feeling guilty for worrying everyone. She wanted so badly to help her father, even if it means earning his ire. "I'm sorry. It's just, I miss spending time with big brother. The kids at school are nice, but none of them understand me like big brother." Anya whispered, feeling bad and just want to stay close to her security blanket.
Eric sighed through his nose at how Anya's powers prevent her from making friends. The ability to read minds can take their toll on one so young, especially when the minds she reads are rude.
"Anya, they're just kids like you. The best way for them to understand you is by understanding them. They're learning, just like you are." Eric wisely said as he accepted tea from Henderson.
"No they're not, because they don't have you as a teacher." Anya then dug through her bag, "I was trying to show them how white blood cells get rid of bacteria using the finger puppets you and Papa made me." She said as she fished out homemade finger puppets that were similar to Spy Wars characters.
"You actually brought those to school?" Eric asked with wide eyes as Anya fastened them to her fingers.
"I tried to teach the other kids how Agent White Blood Cell vanquishes villainous germs and bacteria." Anya said as she moved her finger puppet around. "The kids didn't like that game. I couldn't pronounce the big words like you and Papa."
Eric took the bacteria puppet and placed on his finger. "It wasn't a game, it was a visual simulation to help you understand how the body works to protect you against harmful diseases. Agent White Blood Cell doesn't vanquish, he engulfs and eats it during phagocytosis. Once inside the cell, the microbe can be killed using a combination of degradative enzymes, highly reactive chemicals, and an acidic environment." Eric explained the process to his sister while moving the bacteria puppets around, urging Anya to bat them in the face.
"Wouldn't it be more effective to interrogate them first and find out where the other germs are hiding before killing them?" Anya asked as Eric gave her a deadpanned look.
"White blood cells do not talk to other germs or bacteria. Professor, help me out here." Eric said as he turned to face Henderson who watched their interaction and how Anya was enthused to learn from her brother.
"You're explaining the concept quite elegantly Eric Forger. We haven't even covered this topic in biology yet." Henderson praised the boy for having this kind of knowledge.
"A doctor must acquire the basics to prevent harmful bacteria from invading the human body." Eric stated as he gave Anya one of the bacteria puppets as she made a show of combat between the two puppets. The white blood cell was winning.
"And you teach your sister these topics." Henderson added with a look of intrigue as Anya whispered, "Die filthy germ."
"Sometimes, she likes to make a game out of my lessons. But I like to believe that she's learning in her own way. Allegory characters seem to stick better with her current mindset." Eric explained as Anya turned back to them.
"I just learned how to solve a math problem thanks to Spy Wars."
"Oh?" Henderson asked as he listened to the younger sister.
"If Bondman's pistol has eight bullets, and he fires off six at the bad guys, he's got two eighths' bullets left." Anya explained, pleasantly shocking Henderson at how she solved it with her favorite cartoon character.
"Right you are Ms. Forger." Henderson praised as the little girl gave a victorious smile.
"It's the only math problem she knows how to solve." Eric deadpanned.
"Well I don't even know fractions yet." Anya shrugged, "But I do like it when you read me bedtime stories from your history books. They help me fall asleep better whenever you or Papa read to me." She explained since bedtime reading doubles as studying for both of them.
Henderson hummed to himself at the girl's eagerness to learn from her brother.
A knock on the door alerted the three. "Come in." Henderson granted permission before the door opened to reveal a sheepish looking Loid Forger.
"Good afternoon, Professor Henderson. Is Anya here?"
"Papa!" Anya exclaimed in delight upon seeing her father enter.
"Thank you for coming Mr. Forger." Henderson greeted as Anya leapt off the couch and ran toward her father. Loid patted her head as she hugged his leg.
Eric stood up holding his bag as he greeted his father, "Hi Dad. Um, my next class is about to start so I can't stay right now." stated after looking at the clock.
"Of course, run along now young Forger." Henderson said seeing how he didn't want his education to falter.
"I'll see you at home." 'Anya, don't cause trouble.' Eric bid farewell to them before leaving the room to go to his next class.
"I'm terribly sorry for my daughter." He apologized to the teacher who stood up.
"That's quite alright Mr. Forger. Fortunately, your son caught her during free period and escorted her here." Henderson waved off his apology seeing how he witnessed first-hand how the siblings interacted with each other.
"Papa," Loid looked down to see Anya look up at him with pleading eyes, "Can I be a student here with big brother? I don't wanna be in preschool anymore."
Loid's eyes widened at her request. While he wanted to enroll her to keep better track of his two children and hopefully up his chances with Plan B with his daughter, he knew that would be impossible. A: She's still 4 1/2 years old. She'd be lucky if the school accepted a five-year-old into the program. B: Her grades aren't up to par with her brother's. She's too focused on running around and cartoons.
With a sigh, he knelt to Anya's level. "Anya, you're still too young for Eden. I know you miss your brother, but you can't keep sneaking into this school on a whim."
"But-" Anya sniffled when she heard her father's thoughts, "I wanna learn with big brother and be smart like him. I don't wanna be behind him anymore." She couldn't stop her tears as she began to cry.
Loid felt helpless as his daughter cried her eyes out. Just as he was about to soothe her, Henderson chimed in.
"Actually, I may have a solution that will benefit all of us."
Eric's face remained scowling as he came closer to his next class.
"Eric!" He turned to see Becky catch up to him, panting as she came to a stop.
"Where did you run off to? You said you were going to the bathroom." Becky stated with a worried look.
"Sorry about that. You see..." Eric explained the incident with Damian and Anya to Becky who's eyes were wide in astonishment.
Becky laughed behind her hand, "I wish I could've seen all of that. You literally went all demon on him?"
Eric looked away shamefully, "It's not a side I'm proud to have. It only comes out when I feel my sister is being threatened. Anya called my Devil side." Even now, he can still feel it clawing to the surface at the mention of Damian.
"I wouldn't mind seeing it. Devil-Eric sounds really cool." Becky said with a smirk as Eric blushed at the nickname.
"Please don't call me that, people will get the wrong idea. They're weary of me already." Eric said as they got closer to their next class. They stopped dead in their tracks when they met a familiar trio across from them near the door.
Damian tensed up when he saw Eric. He kept his face passive, but inside, he was terrified beyond all reason. All he could see was the Devil that was itching to murder him with a fingernail.
Eric lowered his head slightly; his fringes shadowed his glowing eyes that widened into a frightening glare.
Becky flinched back a bit at the scary look on her best friend's face. Normally he was stoic and calm, but this was entirely new to her. She turned to Damian who took a step back at his glare. Seeing Damian react like that is also new. Although, after hearing from Eric's side and what his little sister did with Damian, she supposed the kid had plenty of reason to be scared for his life.
"Let me make one thing clear Desi." Eric began in a low chilling voice that brought the temperature down to freezing. "Don't you ever come near my sister again."
Damian and his cohorts were shaking all over at the demonic tone dripping from Eric's mouth. He gulped, "Sure. No problem." He'd rather not die a virgin.
Eric reverted back to his calm self. "Good." He entered the classroom with Becky beside him who giggled at their scared looks.
Damian and his friends released a breath they did not realize they were holding. Emile and Ewen were now terrified to go to the boy's room for fear of Devil-Eric standing over them from atop the toilet stalls.
"We never speak of this incident to anyone. Got it?" Damian ordered them with a scared and stern look.
"Yes Lord Damian." Chorused the henchmen before they entered the classroom and sat as far away from Eric as physically possible.
Eric entered the apartment with his usual announcement, "I'm home."
"Big brother!" Anya exclaimed as she ran toward the front door and pulled him into the living room where Loid and Yor sat. "Papa has something to tell you."
Eric sat stationary on the couch between Anya and Yor. The family waited for Loid to speak.
"I spoke with Henderson after you left, and he's offered an arrangement that can benefit Anya. In light of this incident, and Henderson's revelation on how Anya can learn better when she's with her brother, he's willing to grant Anya a special privilege where she can attend classes with Eric part time." Eric's and Yor's eyes widened at this information while Anya beamed. "After the end of the school day for her, she can spend the remaining hours at Eden with Eric and sit in for his last classes."
"Is Professor Henderson really gonna allow this?" Eric asked in complete and utter surprise at what he was just told.
Loid smiled, "Yes, he was very touched and impressed by your method of teaching your sister that he wants her to have the experience with you there. She won't be an official student. This is merely a trial run for her. To see if she really is okay to attend Eden next year." He said with a hint of pride as he glanced at his daughter.
"I get to spend more time with big brother and keep him safe." Anya excitedly stated while holding Eric's hand.
'While Anya won't be there the whole time, she can easily make friends with Damian better than Eric. Not how I planned it, but we can make this work.' Loid thought to himself, feeling confident in this solution Henderson offered on a silver platter.
Anya smiled up at her father, the joy she felt for being relied on for the mission brought her inexplicable happiness. This is just one step closer to world peace.
Eric, however, didn't feel that same joy. Anya in his class means she'll be close to Damian. No way in freakin' hell! There's gotta be a better way to make sure Anya never wants to spend time with that cretin. But what?
A lightbulb flicked on above his head.
"Hey Dad, can we get a dog?" Eric asked out of the blue.
Anya's eyes sparkled, "A doggie!"
"Dog?" Loid's face fell at the very idea of one in the house. He had nothing against dogs in general, but they're so much work, and he already has his hands full.
"What brought this on?" Yor asked curiously at her son.
"Well, it's just," Eric struggled to find a reason, "most of the kids in my class have either a cat or a dog at their home. They're always bragging about how much fun they have with their pets, and I feel kinda out of place in that regard. I also thought it would be beneficial to have one that can protect me and Anya if she does attend Eden with me."
Anya nodded, "Damian also has a dog named Max who he loves a lot. It would be nice to have something to talk about with him." This way, they can get closer over their love for their dogs.
"More like argue about." Eric mumbled under his breath.
Loid thought it over. It wouldn't be a bad idea. His organization has dogs that are solely trained for guarding and tracking. Having at least one that can protect his children will prove beneficial. This will also teach his children how to care for and be responsible.
"Very well. I suppose this would happen sooner or later." Loid conceded, much to Anya's delight and Eric's relief. Hopefully a dog can keep Anya's attention away from Damian.
"Now children, keeping a dog isn't just for fun. Taking care of an animal is hard work, it is a responsibility." Yor advised them with gentle and stern look as her kids nodded.
They browsed through a book of different dog breeds that would be suitable for their family. Eric and Anya, for all their love for each other, actually quarreled about which dog they should have. The parents thought this was still cute with how the kids debated on what was cuter and more interesting.
"These two really make quite a pair." Yor stated to Loid as they stood in the kitchen and watched the kids try to figure out the kind of dog to keep. "Do you think Anya will be alright at Eden?" She worriedly asked since Anya will stand out beside Eric seeing how she isn't an official student. Eden is also challenging compared to other schools, and Anya is still a baby.
Loid had to smile at that. "Anya is not like her brother, which is alright. I think it's better this way." He stated as he watched his children fondly, "Anya's not academic like Eric, but she's still eager to learn for the sake of being close to him. She's more insightful than Eric when it comes to emotions, something he struggles with despite his intelligence."
Yor couldn't help but smile at his statement. He's right on all fronts when regarding his children's strengths and weaknesses. They can truly help each other.
"They're unstoppable together." Yor added, watching the kids look at an interesting mutt and comparing it to a similar breed.
In a dark foul-smelling basement, a small yet swift black shadow scurried between cages, ignoring the growling and barking dogs that wanted to tear her apart. She had a mission, and she wasn't about to let some mangy mutts get in her way. She hid in the corner when the humans delivered the slop that can hardly be considered as dog food. She waited until they left to find the right cage.
"Hey, White, it's me." The voice of a female spoke to the giant white fluff covered in dirt spots.
She carried a piece of delicious meat in her teeth as she squeezed her tiny flexible body between the bars. She stepped over the large tail and glared at the chain as she got closer to the white dog's muzzle.
"Black. You came." The dog responded in a sad, weary, yet hopeful voice that only animals can understand.
The feline dropped the meat beside the white dog, her golden eyes were stern and determined. "Here, I got you the biggest freshest one I could find."
The white dog sniffed at it then devoured it slowly, savoring the flavor as it soothed his stomach.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." The black cat curled up beside the white dog for comfort and warmth. "Did you see anything good?"
The dog's ears twitched as that vision appeared again. A very special family, a boy with yellow hair and a calm smile as the black cat wrapped her body around his shoulders as he scratched her ears, and an adorable little girl raising her hands in the air with a wide welcoming smile.
"Yes, our family is still out there." The white dog said, holding onto that vision. The only thing that kept them going, holding onto hope that their lives will get better one day. No more cages, no more experiments. Home.
Many of you were disappointed by how sidelined Anya was when Eric became the main focus at Eden and the mission. But I never intended to do that at all. This way, Anya can still be a preschooler and attend Eden part time for a trial run.
As for Damian, his Anya-filter is just too damn precious. I had to include it. In addition to that, I also added the Eric-filter, which, in Damian's eyes, makes Eric a more demonic person compared to Anya. I couldn't resist.
I also want to thank Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig for tossing in this idea. I hope I didn't disappoint you.
The future seeing dog has been introduced, but what ability does the cat hold? Stay tuned for the epic chapter for the Forger family.