Chapter Text
Anya was scared.
She had kept her secret her entire life because that’s what they taught her to do. Keep her mouth shut, don’t tell anyone, and if anyone did manage to find out, she’d have to leave - because no one could love a monster. No one, no one, no one. Maybe Bond, Anya considered, after all the poor dog had been experimented on just like her, and so he had magical powers too. That’s why she loved Bond so much because unlike the others, he understood. Also for some reason, Bond’s life expectancy had been increased, as well as the other dogs who were experimented on, but Anya knew the time was coming where she’d have to live without Bond. Anya continued walking with Damian, their hands gently brushing the other as they walked to the Classical Literature class, his eyes were pointed straight forward like he was inwardly fighting something- and if Anya was a normal girl, she’d be wondering.
Gods above, I wonder what I did to annoy Anya this time? I wish Becky was here, she always knows what to do. If I were better at speaking to Anya, this could be avoided. Why was she so upset? I swear to god I will kill whoever made her feel like that. I’m the only one allowed to be… “mean” to her and I’m really just teasing-
And like usual, Sy-on boy’s thoughts were a mess, this time there were a lot more threats though, which she thought was sweet. Only her Sy-on boy would threaten the world for her, in his eyes, she must be a really good friend. Although, she wished it was more. That was not for her to decide, though. Her lies were catching up to her, they were running after her. She remembered what the “doctors” or rather scientists looked like, it was like a burnt memory, so she knew they’d be after her if she made even a single wrong move. Perhaps they’d forgotten what she looked like, after all, she was so much different that before. What a silly thought, Anya, I’ve always stood out. Pink hair, green eyes, and my little hair clips? Just cause I’m older doesn’t mean those bastards don’t know what I look like! They’re here to preach about what they did to stop the war, all they did was kill my parents and experiement on me to see how far my powers could go-
“Anya, we’re here,” Damian interrupted her thoughts, and she couldn't help but glance at him. He was gorgeous, of course, but especially like this: at ease, looking at her like she was the only one in the room, and a small smile on his lips, “Everyone else is coming in a few minutes, the first bell just went off.”
“Oh! Okay, thanks Sy-on boy,” Anya smiled, there were a few times where Anya had referred to Sy-on boy by Damian, but those were few and far inbetween, to keep him on his toes, as one does. He always looked so flustered when she did, so she liked to tease her friend (even if she wished it was more).
“Yeah, yeah whatever,” he grumbled, and she knew it would be funny to call him Damian because he was just so grumpy, “Ewen and Emile can sit next to each other today, where do you wanna sit?”
Anya smiled, “We can sit in the back if you want,” her smile, she realized, was a weakness of Damian, well her real smile, not that sly smirk she made to irk the boy. She loved that smirk, especially when he made it back, it was funny, but it was also funny seeing the second son of the great Desmond family flustered over a “mere commoner”, but whatever. She also thought it was incredibly sweet he wanted to sit with her, and she definitely didn't mind.
“Sure,” he replied, heading up to the top where he usually sat with Ewen and Emile, who walked in a few minutes later surprised to see Anya in their usual seat, but other than that, didn’t say anything.
The two of them sat together in silence, Damian reading over his notes for the supposed pop quiz they were having today (some girl in another class leaked the information - being an imperial scholar had it’s benefits), and Anya was snacking on a bag of peanuts she brought from home, reading a romance manga Becky finally convinced her to read. The other students piled in, surprised to see Anya sitting by Damian, and she heard sporadic thoughts like:
Are they finally dating?
Finally! Poor Damian has been suffering for too long!
I wonder where that shrimp was before and why is she sitting next to Damian-sama?!
She looks cute today, no wonder Damian is head over heels for her.
Too bad I can’t make a move on Forger, Desmond has made it apparent he’ll kill anyone who so much as looks at her. Even without his father, the Desmonds are still highly respected. Thanks to Demetrius of course.
I wonder if Forger would accept a date from anyone. Does she even like that Desmond idiot?
Anya had been trying to keep others thoughts out of her own mind due to her respect of their privacy and also her own sanity; listening to that many people at once, all the time, well, she was going to go insane.
Classical Lit was her favorite class because she always excelled at it- especially after her handwriting improved. Mr. Henderson was on her ass about it for years, but she finally managed to get a Stella for her excellent grades in this class. Damian swore the only way she hadn’t been kicked out of Eden Academy was due to all her good deeds, even if she was slightly a troublemaker growing up. Damian swore he didn’t mind, she was fun to hang out with, even if she was a shrimp.
Silently though, he’d add that she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Anya thought that was cute. She supposed maybe her crush wasn’t that unrequited. She wasn’t even really sure why or when she got a crush on Sy-on boy, but Becky, while confused, said it was obvious the two of them were lovesick since the first grade. Anya thought she was crazy, but maybe Damian always had been a little lovesick. It took Anya a few years to realize she was too- perhaps it all started during that dodgeball game.
She kept reminiscing over all the memories she had with Damian, they were mostly good, even if a few of them were… iffy, but she was glad she had proceeded with Plan B since it lead her to be good friends with Damian, even if she had originally wanted to be his friend for Papa’s sake. She stopped asking to go to his house after his father was arrested, which she was sure he was a bit suspicious about, but she blew it off as saying, “Sy-on Boy, I’ve been asking for years and you’ve never said yes! I give up!”
“Forger, look alive, the professor came in,” Sy-on boy hissed into her ear, shoving her a bit from the side and she perked up, looking forward, and she heard a sigh from her left and was amused to see Damian looked more stressed out than usual. Was he still worried about the people who “made her cry”? Unfortunately for him, Damian had no way of being able to “kill” or “have a stern talking to” with the scientists that made her life a… bit more “interesting”. They were here, yes, but they’d be seen as heroes. Anya wondered how many other kids were there, and how many others died.
Anya knew her biological parents were killed in those labs, that’s why she started crying in the Eden intereveiw. She loved her adopted parents to the moon and back, they were her parents, but seeing her biological parents die for a cause they were captured for… was terrifying. She never wanted to see that happen to her new mama and papa. She’d make sure of it. The professor lectured about all the classical literature that would be on the mid-term, as it was nearly half-way over with their 11th year, Damian would be turning 18 at the end of the month and she would be 16 for another 5 months. She didn’t mind being a bit younger than Damian, and he was always very respectful. Really, she wondered, why he was so respectful. Was it just because he was a Desmond and he was a gentleman? Or some other reason? Did he have a mission as well?
I wonder what Anya is thinking about, she loves this class so much it’s a surprise for her to be dozing off.
Sy-on boy was right; Anya did love this class, but the thoughts of that dumb pep-rally, seeing those men, everything was too much. She wished her mama and papa were here. They were always able to protect her, they always made sure she was safe-
Well, no matter, I’ll catch her up later.
Well, she guess, glancing over at the boy she was quickly falling for, Damian's here, I guess I’ll be alright.
-
“Alright, Imperial Scholars have to stand on the stage while the speakers speak. Since I’m the president, I have to make the opening speech. Will you be okay for a few minuets while I do that?” Damian asked on the way to the main hall, concern written all over his face. Anya blushed at the concern coming off of him.
“Of course! Don’t worry about me,” Anya smiled, “These dumb scientests don’t got nothing on me.”
Pft, I wonder what her beef is with these scientists, she has actually been getting better in science so I wonder… does she still have a hatred for science…? “Alright, shrimp. I’ll trust you on this one,” he sighed, nerves in his body language and all of a sudden he was staring at something- perhaps her face? Did she have something on it? Oh gods. He reached up his hand, brushing a peice of hair to the side, “You really outta brush your hair before these things.”
The loud inner voices overcame her for a moment:
Do these two really not care about the rules?
I wish Damian touched me like that.
Why has Forger always been Desmond’s favorite?
Really, he complains about favoritism, then literally has a favorite.
Can’t even blame girlfriend privilege because they aren’t officially together. Have they even been on a first date, I wonder?
Anya sighed, leaning into the touch for a second before jolting at the doors opening, he turned around, ears pink as he walked confidently through the door, ready to welcome the bastards to speak.
Anya felt nervous.
Damian, confidently and distinguished as always, walked up to the microphone, thanking Henderson for giving him free reign to speak, “Hello fellow Eden Students. My name is Desmond Damian. I am an Imperial Scholar and the Student President here at Eden Academy, as it is my duty, I am here to introduce the scientists who helped to achieve world peace, as they continue to work towards that goal. They have helped to give abilities to many children and those children sacrifice much to be able to help save the world. My utmost respect to them, thank you for coming to speak to us today.”
The speech had obviously not been written by Damian, Anya considered, as it was far too… elegant, she giggled inwardly, keeping a straight face as she felt her nervous overcoming her. She really wished this would pass and she could go back to her everyday life already. They were here, and they would know. She should be able to read their thoughts because there is no way they’d bring those anti-anya objects they made to combat the skill they forced on her. Her being the offspring of two people who were experimented on, tested on, she was the actual thing they “made” and they, before her escape, were working on perfecting the ability.
“Now welcome in the scientists!” Damian’s voice carried over the area as he walked back to stand with Anya, a quiet understanding as they stood close together, as there were a few Imperial Scholars up there. They came out and oh gods, those were them. The people who made her who she was today.
I do wonder if 007 is still alive.
Did she manage to escape somewhere people could help?
Is she here? Did she find a rich family to send her here?
007 is perhaps our failed experiment, although, she, if alive, is one of the few to live.
Too many of those children died, and perhaps it was a good thing 007 escaped. I wonder how the boss will shape this to make us look like the good guys… even if we hurt children.
Ah yes, the only one who ever felt remorse. The only one who gave her peanuts. The only one who ever cared. Anya felt sick seeing them. Felt sick referring to 007. Such a foreign number, something that she forgot she was called.
“Hello students, it is good to see Eden is still running smoothly,” the “boss” replied, stupid glasses man , “When the children were brought there, they were often raised there. Most, unfortunately, did not survive, but their powers were used for the sake of world peace. They understood this and were glad to give for their country, their nation. Except one: 007. A mindreader, someone who could have helped to shape the nation, the war. Perhaps it does not matter now,” he mused, “As Agent Twilight has stopped the war, stopped Mr. Desmond, and given us peace. His daughter attends here, does she not? Goes by the name of Anya Forger?”
Anya saw red, panic in her chest as the doctor turned around, “Glasses-man.”
“Oh! And here she is, an Imperial Scholar no less. I do wonder, did anyone know of her involvement with the war effort as Twilight’s daughter? Did anyone know she could read minds?”
Everything was frozen. Anya felt her whole world come crashing down. No, no no no. this was not how they were supposed to know. She would tell Damian on their first date. Tell Becky when they were watching a movie together. She’d tell everyone of her past, eventually, everyone who mattered. But here they were, ever trying to ruin her life. Why why why why. She could feel Damian’s eyes on her.
“Well that just isn’t all true, now is it doc?” she asked, trying to keep her calm, “Especially with how you treated my biological parents.”
Her confidence was fake, she felt like she was going to have a panic attack, but if they were praised for the killing and torture of the children they harrassed, if they killed more in another war, if they were allowed to continue, she doesn’t know how she’d survive. If they were going to out her, so be it. She’d make their lives terrible too.
“Just because I escaped, makes me the villain?” she pondered, “Like you didn’t kill my parents in front of me and tell me that I didn’t get to be a kid because of the experiments you performed on my parents and I was born with the power to read minds? Then when I escaped, I got to learn how to be a kid. I got to teach myself how to control it,” she said, “You killed all those kids with no remorese. But, I was just a kid. I could never go back. I will never go back. And if all these people think of me as a monster, so be it. Now, kindly, get out of my school.”
Perhaps it was dramatic, perhaps it was uncalled for, but she simply turned and walked off, her walk turning into a speed walk, then a run as she ran to the garden, a place where only the Imperial Scholars could enter. She had embarrassed herself, her friends, her family. And now Damian knew everything. But not by her own accord, because those bastards finally found her. They found her after 13 years, and ruined how she was living her life. She didn’t know how she could continue this. She was simply-
“Anya, where the hell did you go?” called that annoying familiar voice, it was strained, like he’d been yelling- did he come after her? After everything? Even though she was a freak and a monster? Was he gonna tell her all those things to her face? Was he just- “Oh thank the gods, there you are. Anya, it’s freezing cold, what are you doing out here without a scarf or something!?”
He wrapped his scarf around her, pressing his hand to her forehead to make sure she hadn’t gotten a fever, she felt at peace, but did not make eye contact. He was only being a gentleman. He was angry, so angry. She just knew it. She could hear everyone’s shouts, inner and outer, the damn scientests were coming and before she could process anything else… she fainted there on the spot.