Chapter Text
The sky was a beautiful eggshell blue, littered with clouds that were just whisps of a brushstroke. The laughter of students echoed around the school grounds, harmonising gently with the chorus of bird song and the quiet chirp of cicadas. The midday sun had been warm against her hair, massaging her scalp, but it had nothing in comparison to the heat radiating through her veins now.
Heart thundering against her ribs, Anya could only stare up at the teen in front of her, trying to process what had happened so suddenly. One minute they were walking down the footpath together, bantering lightly as per usual. The next she was pressed up against the rough brick wall, mortar chipping beneath her fingertips as he loomed protectively over her.
The gossiping group of students who had jostled them continued on their way, skipping and shoving at each other, oblivious to the ticking time bomb they had just set off. Anya couldn’t be mad at them for that, as how were they meant to know? When it had been stored so very carefully, deep, deep, deep down in the recess of her heart?
Damian seemed just as stunned, frozen with his arms caging her in, one above her head, the other brushing high against her ribs. His cape hung around them like a shield, creating the privacy she was sorely tempted to use to her advantage. She had to struggle not to bite her lip when she noticed the way the short white sleeves of his summer uniform cut across his biceps, or how it stretched languidly across his broad shoulders. Just when did he grow so tall? And why did he fill out the uniform so damn well? Even his cologne was tantalising, notes of cedar and ginger that mixed so well on him, encouraging her to close the very small distance between them, to finally give in to her temptations.
But she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. She...
He moved the arm that was by her ribs, and Anya held back a gasp as his fingers trailed under the curve of her breast, but her cheeks reddened even more. She took note that his were a delightful pink as well and she couldn’t help but to dream of a scenario where he may finally act on his feelings toward her. Cause she knew of them. Hard not to when he had been mentally screaming them for years. Even after promising not to read his mind a few months ago, his thoughts still slid past her barriers, making her tremble and fall even harder. And she had been falling hard and fast for a while now.
Becky was sick of them. Said their flirting gave her a headache and the murderous desire to lock them in a room until they finally just boned each other. Anya had spluttered in protest, trying to deny it, but the images those words provoked led to nights of restless bedsheets in the secrecy of her room.
“Sorry.” Damian whispered now, opening the opportunity for either one of them to move. But he didn’t pull away, and she was too frozen, not trusting her trembling legs, so she remained blissfully trapped. There was no one around now, just them and the empty footpath that led behind the buildings into dark alleyways that students used to their advantages. He had no reason to be this close anymore, especially with how hot the weather was and she gulped nervously. He was staring at her, tracking a bead of sweat that was making its way down her jaw, before his eyes flickered up to read something in her locked gaze. Whatever it was made the hazel in his eyes spark, a familiar sign he was about to challenge her.
Usually it meant a dare, or teasing remark about her grades. Sometimes it was just to point out how short she was in both temper and height. It usually made her blood boil, defiance coursing through her, but today, oh boy, today...
He leaned even closer, if possible, nose bumping against hers and her breath traitorously caught in her throat. Was it happening? Were they about to...?
The bell rang, signalling the next class would start in a few minutes and Anya mentally cursed its timing. Deflating a bit, she shot him a weak smile.
“W-we...ahem we should go to class.” She stammered, but Damian didn’t ease back.
“We should.” He hummed, nose still brushing against hers, knowing full well that her class was at least a few minutes away and she needed to leave now if she wanted to make it in time. “Or we could...”
Was it possible to die from blushing too hard? Cause all the blood in her body seemed to be pooling in her cheeks, no oxygen entering her system. His lips were a hair width away, and every breath he exhaled warmed her own. Anya couldn’t take it anymore, and closed her eyes, preparing to cross that distance when he murmured against them,
“I’ll see you after school.”
And then he was gone.
Anya froze, her mind completely blank. Blinking against the bright sunshine she watched as his departing figure turned around the corner, his cape twisting around him effortlessly as he disappeared from sight. She wasn’t sure if she was overheating still or icy cold with his absence, but her heart hadn’t slowed down either way.
Did that all really just happen?
Her knees finally gave out, and she slid down to the tarmac beneath her, uncaring if the bricks caught on her uniform. She was going to be late, but that was nothing unusual for her. The professors kind of expected it of her sadly. Besides, she needed the time to process.
Never had she wanted something to happen more in life. Not her childish desires for world peace, not for her parents to finally get together- which had happened, thankfully-, not her goal to achieve her final Stella Star. Anya finally understood why those moments in Berlint in Love had Becky chucking the remote at the TV, screaming for them to ‘just kiss already!’ She selfishly wished that it had happened just now.
Cliche as it was, she gingerly placed a hand to her mouth, the faintest promise of a kiss lingering against them. He could have leaned in, fully committed to the action, but he had pulled away at the last minute, leaving her like this. What if she had been faster? Pulled him down further or pushed herself up on her toes and just planted one on him? Would they have been tucked away in those dark shadows now, neither of them leaving for class on time? Becky had made her watch enough romance dramas to last a life time, and Anya had learnt a lot from them despite her best friend’s claims.
Either way, her imagination had new fuel for tonight and she huffed ruefully at that.
It took a while for her to calm down, but she finally managed to get to her shaky legs under control and head towards class. She sprinted the last hundred metres, to give an excuse for her flushed appearance as she apologised for her delay. The professor only grunted in acknowledgement, waving her to her seat as they continued to scribble the day’s lesson on the board.
Anya tried to focus on class, she really did. She was trying to maintain her grades and earn her Imperial Scholar status, but Damian had robbed her of her attention span for the afternoon.
With the way his hand had burned her, tattooing her ribs.
With how his eyes danced, as they drank her in, enticing her to forget her name.
With how he had unintentionally pinned her, unlocking previously unknown desires.
With how just the mere ghost of his lips had her falling into feverish want.
Anya whimpered softly and buried her head in her arms. They needed to talk, and soon, or she’d never be able to achieve anything.
Class dragged on, with her repeatedly giving herself a pep talk as she tried to take notes. Words she whispered throughout the next class, and the next. So when finally, the school day ended, they were a mantra of the insane, and Anya was first out the door, bag barely slung across her shoulder as she ran.
She ducked around students, pushing against the surging crowds as she made her way further into the school grounds, ignoring her usual path towards the gates. Damian’s class was in the Social Economics block, opposite her Literature one, so she was hoping to meet him there as he made his way towards the dorms. To finally put her over thinking to rest.
But she forgot one important factor.
“Anya! What are you doing here?”
Shit.
Becky.
Anya froze in the corridor, watching as her surprised friend walked towards her, a smile ticking up her lips.
“I thought you’d be at the bus stop by now! Always so eager to leave school.” Becky laughed, her tone like bells, making more than just a few boys turn their heads to stare. She winked back at them flirtatiously and Anya couldn't help but to hold back a snicker as they swooned. It was a common occurrence when it came to her friend afterall.
“Hi Becky. I um...” She trailed off, not wanting to admit the real reason why she was here. She had truly forgotten Becky shared the same class as Damian, but if she knew what had happened between at lunch, Anya would never hear the end of it. She’d be dragged into endless hours of squealing and angry ranting with no argument in between, and frankly she couldn’t process that right now. Thankfully Becky continued on before she could think of an excuse.
“You know, I was actually on my way to see you! Thought we could go home together! Did you have the same idea?”
“Yes! I thought it’d be nice to spend some time together.” Anya agreed readily. Oh thank the lord for Becky and her continuous chattering! Becky beamed and skipped forward to loop her arm through her's, pulling her close as they turned towards the courtyard.
“Great minds think a like it seems! It sucks not having as many classes together anymore.” She sighed, resting her head against Anya’s lightly. “I wish it was the weekend. We need to have a sleepover.”
“We just had one three days ago.” Anya said in amusement. “On Saturday, at your house.”
“Meh, technicalities.” Becky waved dismissively, cuddling her closer. “I just missed your face.”
Anya allowed her to pull her along, grinning up at her as she babbled. Truthfully she had missed her as well, their future career paths leading to different classes and schedules at school, so she barely saw her throughout the week. They even had different lunchs some times, which they had cried over at the start of the year. And while Anya had really wanted to talk to Damian about earlier, she wouldn’t be able to with Becky hanging off her arm now. He would never admit to anything with her around and Becky would get so suspicious that they’d be subjected to an interrogation worse than her Uncle Yuri’s!
Besides, she wasn’t about to make an excuse to ditch her, having just promised to go home together. She wasn’t that kind of friend. Damian would have to wait. She’d just have to corner him between classes tomorrow and ask then.
Or that was her deciding plan until she saw him across the courtyard, talking to Emile.
He seemed so relaxed, hands casually in his trouser pockets, leaning against a pillar in the sun. With his dark hair artfully tousled by the fine breeze and skin starting to show that summer glow she envied, it made him look every bit of the demigod other girls led him to believe he was. Anya would never admit to it out loud though, his ego was already inflated enough as it is. At times like this she’d just picture him as that snot nosed brat from primary school, and her heart would slow its frantic pace.
Becky was oblivious to her pining, chattering away about something that was she half-heartedly responding to. She was too focused on the scion, trying to catch his attention so she could at least assess where his mind was at if she wasn’t allowed to read it. When he did eventually look up and spot her, Anya expected him to shy away, to cough and hide a blush like usual. To continue their unspoken song and dance they had been participating in for years now. Instead, to her immense surprise, he held her gaze, a slow, devious smirk creeping onto his face.
Anya was floored. All her battle plans were crushed, blown away in the wind. What the hell was happening? Where was the shy, awkward teen she thought she knew? Who was this confident man staring at her so smugly?
Then she remembered the spark in his eyes when he leaned in. The challenge he had silently set.
Anger flowed through her now. He was teasing her! The little shit!
Okay, so maybe she wasn’t as subtle about her feelings as she had thought, so what? He wasn’t either! They were both just too stubborn to break the unset rules of their dance, but he had made the first daring move without her knowing today. A flirty dip into something more sensual. He currently held her there, waiting for her to respond in turn, eyes twinkling in a way that made her want to scream.
If he wanted to play that game, well by all means, she’d play. She glared back at him and his shoulders twitched in silent amusement, hiding a smile as she came closer. Anya raised an eyebrow slightly which was difficult to do with the frown on her face, but he just replied in turn with a small nod.
Fine, they were in agreement. First to break loses. He had the advantage of making the first move, winning today’s round, but she’d wouldn’t let him win again so easily.
As her and Becky passed the two boys, Anya tossed him her usual smirk over her shoulder, before making sure there was an extra sway in her hips as his eyes trailed after her. She could hear their song changing, a quiet hum of strings in its undercurrent now as she plotted her next move.
Round 1: Damian’s Win
The game was a foot.