Chapter Text
Setting: late afternoon at Eden Academy, during a free period. The group is hanging out near the greenhouse courtyard, a common place for students to chill during a break.
The sun slanted low through the courtyard's tall glass walls, casting golden light over the group sprawled across benches and stone steps. Winter had just started backing off, and the warmth was just enough to sit outside without freezing. Birds chirped, someone nearby was playing a violin too dramatically, and Emile was once again losing a bet.
''I'm telling you,'' Emile groaned, pointing at George across the circle, ''you did not eat thirteen pancakes at breakfast. That's biologically impossible.''
''I have a witness who's willing to testify!'' George declared proudly, ''Bill, tell him.''
''I may have closed my eyes and not seen your heroic accomplishment,'' Bill replied from his spot on the grass.
''What? The whole time? Are you really that sleep-deprived?'' George moaned.
''Deepfake,'' muttered Ewen, sipping from a juice box.
''You guys are so dumb,'' Becky sighed, tossing a small grape into her mouth without missing. ''Why do we hang out with you again?''
''To bask in our unmatched masculine energy,'' Bill chimed in without batting an eye.
''Debatable,'' Damian muttered, arms crossed, but he was smiling slightly.
Anya sat beside Becky, hugging her knees and watching the scene displayed in front of her with bright eyes. She was wearing her father's green cardigan over her school uniform—it was way too big for her, and the sleeves swallowed her hands.
''Don't you wear that thing like, every day?'' Damian teased, flicking the end of her sleeve.
''It's comfy, and it hides my hands when I wanna steal snacks, Sy-on boy,'' Anya said matter-of-factly. She wiggled her hidden fingers ominously.
''Note to self,'' Becky said, ''never leave food unattended around you again.''
''I make no promises,'' Anya grinned.
Damian leaned back on his hands, watching her for a second longer than he meant to. She was laughing at Becky's reply, her pink hair glowing in the sunlight, eyes crinkled at the corners.
She looks so happy today.
Is it because we're all together?
Or maybe just because she's—
''You're staring again,'' George whispered, suddenly right next to him.
''And smiling like a lovesick idiot,'' Ewen added.
Damian nearly choked. ''I was not! Shut up, both of you!''
''I literally saw your soul leave your body when she smiled,'' Emile snickered.
''I will fight you all,'' Damian hissed, face flaming. Across the circle, Anya glanced over at the commotion.
Huh? What are they whispering about? Is it about me? Wait... is he blushing?
Weird...
... but kinda cute though.
She abruptly halted, cheeks warming.
Where did that come from?
But she regained her composure. ''Stop being weird over there,'' she called casually.
''You're one to talk,'' Damian shot back, but his voice was light.
Bill stood up suddenly, stretching. ''You guys wanna go grab some stuff from the cafeteria? I'm starving.''
''I'm in,'' George said. ''I need a soda to wash down my pancake-related trauma.''
''Race you there!'' Emile yelled, already sprinting.
The group started peeling off one by one. Becky nudged Anya, ''You coming?''
''In a sec,'' Anya said.
Soon, only she and Damian were left in the courtyard. It got quiet for a moment, just the sound of leaves rustling and some bird singing way too enthusiastically.
Damian looked at her. ''You really like hanging out with us all, huh?''
Anya blinked at him. ''Yeah. We're like... I dunno. A bunch of weird puzzle pieces that somehow fit?''
''That's one way to describe it,'' he said, chuckling. ''But yeah. I think so too.''
A silence settled again. It wasn't uncomfortable. Just... something that felt like waiting.
''You have changed,'' Anya said suddenly.
Damian raised a brow. ''Huh?''
''You're not mean anymore.''
''I was never mean.''
''You called me a goblin like three times back in second year.''
''You were acting like a goblin,'' was his excuse.
Anya laughed. ''Okay, maybe I was. But still. You're nicer now.''
Damian looked down at the stone path beneath his feet. ''I guess... I just started trying to be honest with people.''
''Even with me?'' she asked, tilting her head.
He looked up, eyes meeting hers. For a second, he looked like he might actually say something serious.
''Especially with you.''
Anya's breath caught in her throat.
And then Becky yelled from the distance, ''ANYA! HURRY UP OR I'M DRINKING YOUR STRAWBERRY MILK!''
''NO WAY!'' Anya jumped up like she'd been electrocuted. ''That's my emotional support milk!''
She darted off, then turned back for a second. ''You coming, Lord Honesty?''
She offered her hand to help him up. He gladly took it.
''Yeah,'' Damian stood, rolling his eyes fondly. ''Let's go.''