Thank you all for your very wonderful comments on the last chapter, I'm so happy that you're enjoying the short story so far!
Enjoy x
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The sun filtered through Anya's curtains, slowly waking her up, and she waited for when her Papa would invariably barge in and tell her to get up, but no such event ever occurred.
She opened her eyes slowly, groggily, wiping the sleep from them, and listened out with her mind.
Where was everyone? Why couldn't she hear people's movements?
And then she heard her Papa's mind, and started laughing to herself.
Oh that's why…
She was tempted to leave him to his mental torture for a little longer, but ultimately decided to take pity on her poor, hardworking father, and she exited her room while still wearing her favourite Princess Honey pyjamas.
"Papa," she tried not to laugh, but quickly covered her giggle with her hand. "What are you doing?"
He had arranged an enormous pile of parcels in the middle of the floor, and had hidden behind the sofa, keeping his distance from them. From Anya's perspective, he looked ridiculous.
"It's not funny," he hissed, and Anya only laughed harder. "Any one of these could be a bomb. We'll have to use deductive reasoning to think behind the sender's motives. For example, is he trying to send a message to 'sweeten the deal'? Are we looking at some kind of puzzle mastermind? Some kind of cake villain? What kind of person could have possibly sent this many cakes to a private residence? No, one of them must be a bomb, they must have figured out my identity, because otherwise, what kind of intentions do they -"
"Relax, Papa," Anya rolled her eyes, and then at her father's protests, stepped closer towards the middle of the pile. "They're from Sy-on boy."
He glared at her suspiciously. "And how could you possibly know that?"
Anya bent down and plucked a cream coloured card from somewhere near the edge of the pile, and held it up for Loid to see.
"It must have fallen while you moved the parcels inside," she explained and then turned the card towards her to read it. "'I heard you like cakes from this bakery, please accept them as a token of my gratitude. Regards, D. Desmond."
Thank the stars, Loid did actually stand from his position of cowering behind the sofa, although he still regarded the whole situation with some measure of suspicion.
"Huh…" he intoned to himself, now even more puzzled than he was before, because his mind started spinning in another different direction…
He got her cakes? On such a large scale? But what could he possibly… Unless…
And his next thought was so loud that Anya flinched.
Is he courting her?
"Ow," Anya furrowed her brows and massaged her temples. "Papa, what is 'courting'?"
He whipped towards her so fast that he almost gave her another headache. "You were not supposed to hear that!"
"Sorry, Papa! You were loud!" she explained, and retreated back to her room, where at least she could massage her temples in peace. And wonder what her father had meant without seeing the curiosity written all over her face.
Anya knew that Loid kept his Ostanian dictionary in his office, so she waited until he left the house he said he was going to get eggs, (but Anya and Yor had already agreed that was the codeword for "mission debrief", so she knew he was going to be a while).
She used her father's code to get into his room, taking care to not leave any of her own fingerprints - she could not be bothered to deal with his panic on his return that there was an intruder in his office - and carefully snuck inside.
Once inside, it was easy to spot, and Anya slid it out, hoping that it wouldn't disturb the dust patterns of her father's bookcase, which he tended to keep very clean.
She flipped the dictionary, and read;
Courting: to be involved with (someone) romantically, with the intention of marrying. See also: Dating.
Anya furrowed her brows.
Well. There was no way that Sy-on boy was courting her, they were only sixteen! Never mind the fact that he could barely speak around her, surely she would know if someone was daydreaming about marrying her?
But, dating… Well, she knew what that meant… and they had been spending a lot of time together, one-on-one, but that didn't mean that it was romantic in any way!
Anya closed the dictionary once again, and slid it back into place, and quickly retreated to her room.
She flopped down on her own bed, taking the opportunity to stare at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling. In the sunlight, she couldn't see them glow, but it was nice to know that they were absorbing sunlight throughout the day, ready to glow again in the night…
She let her mind drift, wondering, thinking back to everything that they had done together…
First of all, her Papa was right. That was a lot of cake. There was no way that her family alone would be able to finish them off! Maybe unless they handed them round to neighbours, and she could bring some into school tomorrow to share…
Damian has also bought the tickets for the aquarium (very much despite her protests), he bought her the jellyfish plushie, and he paid for the cafe date (which, again, she tried to protest), he he walked her home, made sure she could get there safely (little did he know…), and he even gave her his jacket when she was sleeping, and when she was cold. And there was that moment when he was buying the cakes…
It's not a date. Don't get your hopes up.
She wasn't sure what to make of his thoughts in that moment, but it could be that…?
Anya tried to think more. She knew that Damian did think positively of her, even if he did so often struggle to say anything nice out loud through his embarrassment. It only made her realise even more that although he had blurted out some very questionable things to her in the past, his actions really were very kind. And if his apology was anything to go by, he clearly felt a lot of shame about not being able to quite control himself around her.
It was flattering, but Anya also couldn't deny that it was very jarring to think about. One minute he is being absolutely lovely, the perfect gentleman, and the next he can barely look at her, and accidentally throws insults in her face!
So was it that he was actually kind, or was he just kind… to her? And what would she feel about that? Would that be something that she would want, too?
Oh, Sy-on boy, she sighed. Why are you so confusing?
"Hey Boss, not to pressure you or anything, but you've been sighing like a lovesick fool for the last five minutes."
Damian immediately flushed, whipped his head towards Emile, who had made the offending remark.
"I have not!" he barked, and yet internally, he panicked. Was he really sighing? And how did he not notice? What the hell was happening to him?
Anya Forger, that's what, he grimaced, and crossed his arms in front of him in a huff.
Because, yes, fine, he would admit it. He had been thinking about their not-a-date all weekend. Well, the rest of Saturday, and all of Sunday, at least, and a little bit into Monday morning…
Okay, fine. Maybe he was thinking about Anya a bit too much, and if he was thinking about Anya, then it was statistically probable that he was, in fact, sighing like a lovesick fool, and it took the observation from Emile to get him to stop.
But he couldn't help it! Saturday was… amazing. It was…
He covered his face with his hands, conscious of the increasing redness, and hoped that nobody noticed.
Students trickled into the classroom, the first class of the day, and Damian couldn't help it. He was excited to see her again. And embarrassed. And anxious beyond belief, because what if she didn't actually enjoy herself like she said she did? And what if she never wanted to hang out with him ever again anyway? What if -
"Hi, Sy-on boy!"
"Arrgh!" Damian leapt back on instinct. "Get out of my face!"
Why is she so close?
There was a pregnant pause, as Damian fought to regain control of his breath, and in his panic, he realised that he had unintentionally attracted the attention of every student in the room.
Oh, no, he cringed internally. They all saw. They all know how pathetic I am. I can't believe I just said that to her, after I promised not to! I'm the worst! I'm -
"Um, Sy-on," she said quietly, and his wide, panicked eyes locked on hers, both drawn to him in concern and slight confusion. "Did you really mean that?"
Oh no.
I didn't mean that at all! He screamed inside his own head. Everyone was staring at him now, and Damian gulped, feeling the sweat prickle on the back of his neck.
"N-no…"
And then, mercy be upon him, she smiled.
"Okay!" she said cheerfully. "Then let's try that again."
Anya turned her back sharply on him, and flounced out of the classroom, and it was all Damian could do to just stare after her.
"What is she doing?" Ewen couldn't help but mutter, and Damian had to agree.
But they didn't have to wonder long, because then Anya came back into the room, and strode purposefully up to him.
"Hi, Sy-on boy!"
Damian blinked slowly at her, and after a second, he realised that this was her way of giving him another chance. Literally letting him practise speaking to her like a normal person - which was at once horrendously embarrassing, and unbelievably endearing at the same time.
"Um, good - uh, good morning," he managed in a slightly-less-than-strangled tone.
"Good enough!" said Anya cheerfully, and she smiled and turned away, leaving Damian absolutely paralysed in his seat.
What was that…?
She only managed a few steps, before she turned back to him with an even brighter thousand-watt smile, blinding him.
"Oh, and thanks for the cake!"
Anya seemed satisfied with herself for that, and she walked off leaving him with the stares of everyone else in the room, including Emile and Ewen.
Damian picked up his textbook, and set it firmly in front of his face.
"What are you both looking at?" he growled under his breath to Emile and Ewen, who only smirked at each other.
Thankfully, nothing else quite as embarrassing as that happened for the rest of the day - he couldn't even avoid the snickers from his classmates, or the rest of the football team - apart from the strange observation that Anya had started to follow him from a distance around the school.
What is she doing? He panicked, but he tried not to let her presence bother him outwardly. What happened that morning was already bad enough.
A part of Damian tried to convince himself that he was not bothered about her antics at all, but even he knew that he was just lying to himself. Damian was desperate to understand her, and it killed him to pretend that her following him around didn't bother him, because he felt her prickling stare on his back, he heard her shuffling (adorable) footsteps, and he kept imagining her silly face poking out at him from every corner…
It was maddening.
He managed to make it all the way until the end of the day when he finally snapped.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, once Emile and Ewen were out of earshot. "I know you've been following me all day!"
Anya recoiled, almost as if she hadn't actually expected him to confront her, and then he had the strange experience of watching her be at a loss for words.
"Well, uh, I was just…"
Damian raised a brow at her, and he couldn't help but think that she was acting like him when he was around her.
"I was wondering," she said eventually. "What you were like with other people. Whether you just act… that way… with me, or… anyone else."
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, and Damian felt the telltale flush high on his cheeks.
As if I could like anyone else that way…
"Well, uh, I hope you found what you were looking for," he said eventually, because if he was being completely honest, he had no idea how to respond to that.
He turned back, intending to go to his next class, but when he didn't feel her following him, he stopped.
"Do you, uh," Damian cleared his throat, and managed to fix his gaze on some part of the wall near Anya, avoiding the satellite pull of her eyes. "Do you want to…"
He wished he had practised this. How does one ask a girl that you're completely hopelessly starstruck around to maybe hang out together again?
Come on, you can do this, he breathed in, trying to hype himself up, and yet the ever-present cloud of his anxiety hung over him, but all the while, it appeared that Anya waited patiently for him to speak.
It was easier when she was the one suggesting things, but Damian hadn't forgotten how much it took from her, how brave she must have been, to suggest hanging out in a one-on-one situation with someone she thought hated her.
"There's a play at the theatre this weekend," he continued valiantly, all the while completely unable to look her in the eyes. "I thought, maybe you, um, would like it…"
He trailed off, and immediately wanted to tear his own hair out. Why was this so hard?
"Yes."
Damian's head shot up, and he whipped round to see her shy smile, her sparkling eyes.
"I'd love to go with you."
He stared at her, replaying it in his head.
I'd love to go with you.
I'd love to go with you.
Belatedly, Damian remembered that he was supposed to reply.
"Oh! Cool, um," Damian cleared his throat again. "Let's go together then."
Anya smiled at him again then, radiant and dazzling.
"Great! See you then!"
Once she turned away, Damian had to remind himself once again to breathe, but he couldn't hold back his silly smile, in disbelief that he had actually asked Anya Forger out on a -
It's not a date, he reminded himself sternly, whilst taking more deep breaths.
Still, he had asked to spend time with her… and that could count as a victory too, right?
This time, he met her at her house.
Anya tried to suggest that she could meet him there, that she really didn't need to be driven over or anything like that, but Damian wasn't having it.
"It's not proper," he explained eventually, his lips pressed into a thin line while avoiding eye contact. "People don't just meet at the theatre! That's…"
Ungentlemanly, he wanted to say, and it was mostly true. Even if it wasn't a date, he was still a gentleman, and she was still a lady, so it was his job to escort her, and ensure that she would be enjoying herself...
"Oh," said Anya. "I've only ever gone with my family, so I didn't know…"
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, clearly deciding what to say and how to say it.
(Some definite progress, since he had only stopped insulting her and overreacting about a week ago.)
"That's nice… of your family…" he said eventually. "They sound really nice."
She smiled. It was cute to see him trying so hard for her, even though she could see the spinning thoughts in his mind.
"Well since you're picking me up, I think they'd be very interested in meeting you!"
"Oh, great, um - wait, what?"
He hadn't quite processed that picking her up at her house meant meeting her parents, and when the day finally arrived, he suddenly found himself standing before Dr and Mrs Forger, feeling far too sweaty in his suit, and far too examined by them both, even though they both appeared to receive him warmly.
"Oh, Damian! You look wonderful!" Yor cooed, smiling genuinely, and ushering him into their small apartment.
"Um, th-thanks…"
"It's good to meet you, Damian. Don't stay out too long, and make sure you bring Anya back before curfew," said Loid calmly, regarding Damian with some mixture of pleasantry and suspicion.
(After all, here was the boy that had sent the Forger family an unbelievable amount of cake. And Loid still never came to a solid conclusion about what it meant.)
"I will," said Damian, suddenly serious. "You can count on me, sir."
Loid was taken aback, but he didn't have time to reply before Anya opened the door to her bedroom, wearing a stunning midnight blue gown that sparkled in the light.
Her shoulders were exposed, and the dress cinched in at the waist, but it skimmed her figure, not flowing too much outwards, but the sparkle made her look like she was the midnight sky itself, painted in beautiful constellations. She looked like a goddess, or a fairy, something ethereal and otherworldly that took Damian's breath away, and for a moment all he could do was stare at her.
"I'm ready!" she smiled, and moved to give each of her parents a hug goodbye, while Damian was still rooted to the floor.
"See you later! Have fun on your-"
Yor paused, and the next moment there was a strange tension between all four people in the room, while the word 'date' very obviously hung in the air.
It's not a date, Damian reminded himself, not noticing that Anya had momentarily stiffened, too.
"We will! Bye! See you later!" She quickly filled the gap in the conversation, and took Damian's elbow, leading him away from the awkward situation, and into the comfort of Damian's family car.
Anya wasn't lying when she said that she had been to the theatre before with her family. She had been, but this time things just felt… a bit different.
Going to the theatre with Damian suddenly unlocked so many experiences that she hadn't had before. Being driven right to the front door was so exciting, as was Damian taking her hand as he led her out of the car, and helped her navigate the carpeted steps in her small stiletto heels. His hand was warm, and despite his outwardly nervous appearance, he held her firmly, unwavering in lending her his strength so that he could safely support her to get to their seats.
With her family, Anya had also been used to having to queue to get into the front door, but she and Damian were smoothly guided by a well-dressed staff member not just through the main doors, but also taking them straight to their booth, and even taking her coat into a separate cloakroom, freeing up her seat and giving her even more room to make herself comfortable.
"Are you comfortable?" Damian asked her, and she jolted. "Do you need anything else? I can get our server to-"
"No, I'm fine!" Anya exclaimed, wondering why her voice had suddenly become too-high.
She cleared her throat, and continued. "I don't need anything."
"If you're sure," he shrugged, and there was something about the way that he said it that sounded odd to Anya. "But if you need anything to eat or drink, our server is right outside."
"Wait…" Anya furrowed her brow. "You mean… they bring you food? Straight to your seat?"
"Yes? What else would they bring?" said Damian, and then he laughed. Quietly, with his eyes crinkled at her, and it was over before it even started. If anything, it was more like a huff of air in her direction, but it startled Anya, purely because she hadn't heard him laugh like that before.
Certainly not around her.
And it dawned on her then, why things felt different with Damian today, why things felt odd, and why she struggled to place his tone when he was speaking with her.
Was Damian… actually starting to relax around her?
She hoped so. Obviously it was part of what she had originally wanted to achieve, so that both of their lives would be easier at school, but she had to admit it was... nice...
Anya hardly noticed that she was staring, until Damian cleared his throat, embarrassed, and Anya hurried to remember what they had just been talking about.
"That's so cool that they can just bring you food to your seats, instead of having to go to the bar. I guess that's the advantage of having a seat at the booths!" She tried to end it lightheartedly, but her laugh fell flat, suddenly conscious of the difference in status between them.
"Oh," said Damian, momentarily stunned. "I've… never thought about that."
And after a moment: "Why don't we order something, then? Since it's your first time."
"Really?"
"Of course. If I left you feeling uncomfortable, what kind of gentleman would that make me?"
And then he stood and opened the door behind them, all in the seconds it took for Anya to process that he was being serious.
"I'll have an orange spritz, maybe some of these…"
He must have been pointing to a menu that Anya couldn't see, but then he leaned back towards Anya:
"Is there anything that you want?"
Anya panicked. What was she allowed? And Damian had already spent money on getting these tickets in the first place, she really didn't want to become a burden on him…
"Oh, just water's fine!"
Damian rolled his eyes at her, so obviously that she almost laughed. "You can have more than just water. This is your first time at these seats! You can have anything you want."
Anya hesitated. Anything? 'Anything' was too big a word. It was too big a concept. How could she narrow down her choices from 'anything', if she didn't even know what it meant in the first place?
"Um…"
But Damian must have sensed her discomfort, because he turned back to the server and murmured quietly to them, before sending them away.
Anya couldn't help her curiosity. "What did you order?"
"Drinks for both of us," he started, listing the items off his fingers. "Some snacks as well. I know you've already had dinner, but I thought, y'know, if you did get hungry you don't have to miss the play by ordering, and…"
"Thanks, Sy-on," Anya smiled at him. "It's nice that I can rely on you for things like this."
Damian blushed and looked away. "And I also asked for peanuts, the kind you like. The roasted and salted mix…"
And this time, it was Anya's turn to blush. "How did you know what kind I like?"
"Not telling," he said firmly as he said down, while very clearly picturing the way she would hide her packets of peanuts under the desk in class.
Anya held back a smile. She must really not be as subtle as she thought, if Damian could read the packets she smuggled into class all the way from his seat in the back. Either that, or he was paying more attention to her than she thought…
The lights dimmed, and Anya leaned forwards, intrigued by the building apprehension.
It was all so incredible, seeing the musicians in the pit below the stage. Anya wondered how they even could see their sheets of paper with such low lighting, but then she wasn't paying attention to that, because a spotlight grew on the stage, showing a character dressed in silver that shone in the light like water.
Their monologue was so captivating, right from the first moment that they spoke, that Anya couldn't help but lean further forwards, being physically drawn into their magnetising presence.
And then the musicians, paused, and Anya held her breath, before the actor on stage began to sing one of the loveliest songs she had ever heard, and it drew her closer still, she wanted to hear everything, see the painful longing in his eyes -
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Be careful!"
Damian pulled her away from the railing, his grip firm and his palm searing hot, but when the momentum of his pull turned her towards him, his other hand dashed out to stabilise her waist, putting more distance between her and the railing.
"Are you trying to jump off or something?" He forced out a whisper, trying not to interrupt the play happening behind them, but somehow it had the unintended effect of making his voice sound low and husky, and it sent a shiver down Anya's spine.
"I'm sorry," she gasped out, breathless. "I was just…"
In pulling her away from the railing, Damian had also inadvertently pulled her closer to him, and suddenly Anya was all too aware of how close his body was to hers, how he had practically pressed her against him in his efforts to help her, and an electric current ran between them, charging her with a static energy that gave her goosebumps.
Not even their faces had ever been so close, and Anya couldn't blink while the lights of the stage reflected in his eyes, hypnotised by the celestial gold and illuminating amber sparkling back at her.
"... so captivated," she finished, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.
"Y-you need to be more careful," he whispered, and she couldn't help but dart her gaze towards his lips.
For a brief moment, she wondered…
And at the same time, a vision filled her mind, in which Damian leaned down and kissed her, and stars exploded in her mind.
Was that from her mind, or from his? She couldn't tell, but immediately afterwards, she saw the movement of Damian's throat as he gulped, realising later than she did just how close they were, how he had his hand on her waist and her bare shoulder.
"Oh, s-sorry!"
He leapt back as though she had burned him, holding both of his hands in the air, facing towards her, and Anya stared at the shape of his hands, thinking that they were the same shape as where he had burned her.
There was a moment, during which Anya wondered if her heart was going to leap straight out of her chest with how hard it was beating.
"I'll be right back!" she blurted and raced past him.
Anya stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Luckily there was no-one else in the public ladies' room, given that the play was still only in its' first act, and Anya was glad of it, because she found it hard to believe just how red she was.
She turned her head to each side, fascinated by the potent blush that had completely taken over her face, and hadn't gone away. Her face radiated with heat, the kind that didn't feel unpleasant, but it was certainly not what she was used to feeling.
Anya patted her cheeks with cold water, hoping to cool her face somehow, but when she looked back in the mirror, she paused at the sight of something she hadn't noticed.
She was smiling.
What was that? What is happening to me?! She panicked inwardly. First there was the burning sensation of Damian's hands still on her skin, then the way that her stomach had filled with hundreds of butterflies, then her face being hot, and smiling…
Or, maybe it didn't start there. Maybe it started when they talked at the park, or when he laid his jacket over her…
No, wait, or even before that, at the cafe, when she heard him secretly wish that it was a date, and he bought her the cakes… Or before that, at the aquarium, with the jellyfish, and the sharks…
Or before that, when he apologised to her in the rooftop botanic house, or…
Or… before… that…
With all the images laid out before her, every moment she could recall in that moment, Anya stilled, and for a moment, held her breath.
Oh.
"Are you okay?" Damian whispered to her when she returned, and Anya quickly took her seat, hoping that he wouldn't see the blush on her face.
"Yeah, I'm fine, um, did I miss anything?"
Damian caught her up on some of the major plot points that she had missed, whispering quietly to her the whole time, and Anya had to lean towards him to hear him over the sound of the actors' orations.
With his breath on her ear, Anya could barely concentrate, feeling another shiver running through her spine. Their legs were so close together, Anya could feel his warmth transferring between them, and the small pins of electricity tingling along the leg that was closer to his.
"Does that make sense?"
"Yep!" Anya squeaked and returned to her usual position. "Thanks, yeah I've got it!"
The rest of the play went similarly, where in between being captivated by the songs and the emotional moments on stage, Anya also had some emotional moments of her own to contend with. Emotions that she hadn't been aware of before, but after her realisation in the bathroom, it was slowly dawning on her that she didn't mind having them at all.
In fact, even though her heart beat harder and faster than usual, and the butterflies in her stomach were non-stop, and she struggled to concentrate, and her skin felt like fireworks, the new sensations were more exciting than anything else. They were new, and interesting, and fun, and every time she looked at Damian, the feeling of warmth only spread.
When the snacks and drinks arrived, Anya helped herself, suddenly glad that Damian had taken the initiative to order for her when she was feeling too unsure to do it herself. Again she reflected that his actions spoke so much louder than his words, the fact that he really wanted her to be comfortable to enjoy herself, to let him know if she needed anything at all. After a lifetime of reading his mind, it was actually jarring to see his actions and his thoughts finally converging, and Anya wondered if that was actually what he wanted the whole time, if only he wasn't so starstruck around her…
If only…
Anya resisted facepalming herself, if just because she knew she was in public and Damian was right there.
He wasn't starstruck! Certainly not in the way that she was when she met James Daniels.
Suddenly all those times when he couldn't function around her, when he pushed her away, when he panicked and insulted, all suddenly made sense in her own mind.
Oh, I'm an idiot, Anya lamented, glancing out at him from the corner of her eye.
Damian leaned on his elbow, his chin resting so gently on the tip of his knuckle, with no real weight behind it at all. His eyes glimmered with interest at the play unfolding on the stage in front of them, looking dashing in his suit. In fact, he was the picture of a gentleman for their first…
But this isn't a date, she reminded herself, echoing the words that she kept hearing from his mind, but they rang hollow even in her mind. By all accounts, it felt like a date. They were alone together, enjoying each other's company, and he was being so nice to her, taking care of her every comfort and truly treating her like a princess, and the fizziness just kept building inside of her.
And then the curtains went down, and Anya rose from her seat in applause, joining the rest of the audience in a standing ovation.
"That was amazing!" she breathed, still overwhelmed by the feelings that came from the climax of the story, and she turned to him, her eyes lit up with elation and joy. "Did you like it, Damian?"
He merely nodded at her, barely making a sound himself, before he took a moment to clear his throat.
"Which bit did you like best?"
They received their coats as Anya launched into a classic and comical retelling other favourite parts, miming some of the moved form the characters (especially from the fight scenes, which were her favourite parts), and the more that she talked the more elated she felt, and the more she noticed the warmth settling in the space between them, like a small sun had risen, bathing them both in a warm light.
As she talked, Anya noticed Damian's soft gaze on her, the way that his lips pulled into a small smile, the easy stance he took as they walked together back down to the foyer, and vaguely, Anya realised that was the most relaxed she had ever seen him. The irony wasn't lost on her that as Damian became more relaxed around Anya, it was the other way around for her - but she was okay with that. More than okay.
"My plan is working!" she exclaimed, and Damian stilled, his smile turning into a frown of confusion.
"What is?"
"My plan to help you be more relaxed around me," she grinned, and at the same time, feeling the fizzing fireworks inside her.
She hoped that Damian would be pleased by her revelation, but he tensed, a blush on his face and she wondered what she had done wrong.
Maybe she could find out, if she reached into his mind…
So if I actually learn how to be relaxed around her, will she not want to be around me anymore? He wondered, and Anya's stomach dropped to hear the doubt inside him.
"But - but we're not done yet!" she exclaimed suddenly, and Damian snapped his head towards her. "Be-because we still have the next stage of my plan to go!"
Damian didn't even try to hide his confusion.
"Next stage?"
"Yep!" said Anya confidently, and just to emphasise her point, she linked her arm through his elbow, tucking herself closer into his side, and revelled at the blush that crept up his neck while he couldn't tear his eyes away from hers.
"So you tell me where you want to go next, okay?"
"Okay," said Damian, and he put his hand over hers, holding her gently as he escorted her back to the car.
It wouldn't be gentlemanly for him to leave her at the door to her apartment building, so Damian made his way to the side of the car, where he helped her out, carefully helping her to navigate the uneven flagstones of the pavement.
And then, well of course he needed to make sure that she got home safely, so he walked her up the stairs, all the while internally panicking that Anya didn't let go of his hand, and he wondered if she had forgotten.
They got to the door of the Forger family home, where Anya squeezed his hand, and still didn't let go, which only confused him even further.
"Thanks for tonight," Anya whispered, conscious of the echoing stairwell, and the quiet apartments all around her. "I really had so much fun."
"I'm glad," said Damian quietly, mirroring her whispered tone. "It's a new play, but I know you like action, and the musical score was meant to be really exciting, so I thought you would like it…"
"I liked it a lot," Anya said, looking at him, and then after a moment, gave him her trademark smirk. "And the company was not bad, too!"
"Very funny," Damian chuckled, and was about to turn to leave, when a small hand reached up to his face, holding him in place.
Damian didn't move a single muscle as Anya pressed her lips to his other cheek, so softly he could have dissolved on the spot.
"Thank you, Damian," her breath tickled his ear, and he barely held himself back from bursting into flames.
She was back inside before he could blink, half-wondering if he had just hallucinated, or toppled into another world.
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I so enjoyed writing this one. I love these two dorks so much.
I'm planning on writing one more chapter for this story, but you can count on it being hella cute!
And of course, I did time this to release soon after my last SSS chapter. I'm sorry about that 😂
Here, have some fluff. You deserve it 💖🙏