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The restaurant had that soft, golden glow that made everyone look good under its lights. Crystal glasses gleamed on linen-covered tables, and the quiet hum of conversation floated through the room.
Anya, sitting next to Damian, was perfectly at ease. Her hair was tied back loosely, her grin wide, and her elbows planted squarely on the table in a way that would’ve made her etiquette professors faint. She wasn’t worried about impressing anyone—why would she? This was fun. Dinner with her parents, Damian, and some of Loid and Yor’s closest friends. People who clearly adored her parents and were endlessly curious about her.
Loid and Yor sat at the center of the long table, flanked by their friends—an older couple named Hana and Koji, who had known Yor since before she and Loid had gotten together, and a younger pair, Sayaka and Rei, who were fellow doctors Loid had worked with. They were warm and curious, leaning forward with the kind of eager smiles that meant questions were incoming.
Damian, of course, looked effortlessly composed in his button-up shirt, sipping his water like he was born in this restaurant. Typical Sy-on boy.
''So,'' Hana leaned in cheerfully, ''we’ve heard a little about you two from Loid and Yor, but not the full story. You’ve been dating for a while now?''
Damian nodded smoothly. ''A few years. We’ve actually known each other since we were six. Started dating at sixteen.'' He smirked, glancing at Anya. ''The rest is history.''
Hana and Sayaka both let out an 'aww', while Koji chuckled. ''Childhood sweethearts, huh? That’s rare these days.''
''Mm,'' Damian said, his grin turning sharper. ''Although, the actual first day we met, Anya punched me in the face so hard I flew to the other side of the hallway.''
The table went silent for a beat, eyes wide.
Anya gave him her signature smirk and laughed. ''Pfft—you're making it sound like I committed a crime! You earned that punch.''
Damian chuckled, eyes glinting. ''I was just saying hello.''
''You called me a weirdo before you even learned my name!'' Anya shot back, pointing at him like a lawyer in court. ''And then ‘peasant.’ Don’t forget ‘peasant.’''
''That was—'' Damian pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting a grin, ''—once.''
''Once?'' Anya’s eyes sparkled with mischief now. ''Try, like, every day for a year!''
''Okay, maybe twice.''
''Every day,'' Anya insisted, grinning.
''Wow,'' Hana said through her laughter. ''You two sound like an old married couple.''
Damian’s ears went pink immediately. ''We’re not—''
''Yet,'' Anya cut in, smirking. She propped her chin on her hands and batted her lashes innocently at him. ''Right, Damian?''
The table howled. Even Yor gasped softly and clasped her hands together, while Loid gave a subtle approving smile.
Damian choked. ''Anya—!''
''What?'' She tilted her head, eyes sparkling with mischief. ''You said it yourself, remember? You fell for me that day I punched you. Direct quote.''
The table exploded with laughter again. Damian pinched the bridge of his nose, but the corner of his mouth was twitching. He couldn’t stop it.
''You’re insufferable,'' he muttered.
''And you love me,'' Anya sang back without missing a beat.
He shot her a look, but her grin was so dazzling, so Anya, that his fake scowl melted almost instantly. ''...Yeah,'' he admitted quietly, though everyone heard it.
Anya beamed and leaned over to kiss his cheek. ''Good boy.''
That earned them a chorus of 'awws'. Damian groaned.
Loid rested his chin on his hand, watching them with soft eyes. ''Not every childhood rivalry turns into something this... strong.'' He smiled faintly. ''But I’m glad it did.''
Yor nodded, looking at Anya like her heart might burst. ''Me too.''
Anya glanced at her parents, warmth blooming in her chest, before snapping back to Damian with a mischievous grin. ''Anyway, don’t let him fool you. He’s always been the dramatic one.''
''Me?!'' Damian sat up straight, scandalized. ''You’re the one telling this story like you’re a superhero!''
''I mean, I kind of am.'' She shrugged. ''Saved the world by punching you.''
The table roared. Koji nearly spilled his wine laughing. Rei was wiping tears from his eyes.
''And yet,'' Anya went on with mock drama, waving her hand like she was narrating a fairy tale, ''our love story blossomed from violence and insults. Classic romance arc, really.''
''More like you were a menace I couldn’t get rid of,'' Damian muttered, though his lips twitched.
Anya gasped, hand flying to her chest. ''Excuse you?! I was the sunshine in your dark, grumpy little life. Admit it.''
Damian snorted. ''Sunshine? More like a pink-haired gremlin who made my blood pressure skyrocket.''
''But,'' Anya leaned forward, smirking wickedly and repeating it again, ''you fell in love with me. After the punch.''
Damian groaned, covering his face with one hand. ''Why do I even try...''
Anya leaned back smugly, sipping her drink. ''Because you love me, Sy-on boy.''
''...Sy-on boy?'' Rei repeated curiously.
Loid chuckled into his wine, while Yor giggled behind her hand. The two exchanged a warm glance, perfectly used to this.
Damian sighed, turning back to Anya. ''I regret ever telling this story.''
''Too late!'' Anya leaned toward Hana and stage-whispered, ''He secretly loves when I tell it. It’s like his villain origin story.''
''I do not—'' Damian began, but she cut him off.
''And now look at him. From ‘pompous heir who got punched by a small girl’ to ‘pompous heir who willingly dates the small girl.’ Character development!''
The table was dying.
Damian dropped his head into his hand, shoulders shaking—half mortification, half laughter. ''You’re unbelievable.''
''And you love me,'' Anya sang for the third time, grinning so wide her cheeks hurt.
He lifted his head, golden eyes meeting hers, softened just a fraction. ''You're too full of yourself, but yeah.''
That quiet honesty slipped under her skin, warm and sweet. Anya blinked, then smirked again. ''Good. Then I don’t have to feel bad about telling everyone we meet about the punch.''
''What?!'' Damian sat up straighter, scandalized.
''Oh, definitely.'' She nodded firmly, curls bouncing. ''I’ll make it our trademark. First question at our wedding? ‘How did you two meet?’ Boom. Punch story.''
The table exploded again. Yor gasped happily, hands clasped. Loid gave a faint but amused smile.
Damian stared at her, ears turning red. ''You wouldn’t.''
''Oh, I absolutely would. I actually planned it with your mom,'' Anya leaned closer, eyes glittering. ''Consider it revenge for calling me a peasant.''
Damian groaned, but he was laughing now too, helpless. ''You’re impossible.''
''And irresistible,'' Anya corrected smugly.
The second chorus of 'aww' from the table made Damian mutter something about moving to another country, but he didn’t let go when Anya slid her hand into his under the table.
Loid, watching the whole exchange, rested his chin on his hand, his smile small but full of pride. Yor looked like her heart might burst, watching her daughter so full of joy.
Damian and Anya glanced at each other, the usual fire between them softening into something gentler for just a moment. Then Anya smirked again.
''Hey, Damian,'' she said suddenly, leaning forward with mock innocence.
He narrowed his eyes. ''What now?''
''Want me to demonstrate the punch?''
The uproar that followed nearly got them kicked out of the restaurant.
''My God,'' Koji wiped his eyes. ''What a wonderful pair you two are.''
Damian lifted his head slowly, meeting her gaze with narrowed eyes. ''...I’m going to get you back for this.''
''Promise?'' she teased, winking.
His smirk finally returned, slow and dangerous. ''Promise.''
The tension sparked between them, half rivalry, half affection, and completely familiar. Anya leaned in, grin wide. Damian leaned too, his voice a low rumble meant just for her.
''You make me crazy.''
''Good,'' Anya whispered back, smirking.
And then, right there in front of everyone, she kissed him full on the lips. The table gasped and then cheered, Yor clapping happily, Loid shaking his head with quiet amusement.
When they finally pulled back, Damian was flushed but smiling like an idiot. Anya just looked smug.
''See?'' she said, lacing her fingers with his under the table. ''Told you. Superhero.''
He rolled his eyes, still grinning. ''More like super menace.''
She leaned her head on his shoulder, her laughter bright and free. ''Your menace, though.''
Damian sighed, defeated and utterly content. ''...Yeah. My menace.''
The rest of the night passed in waves of laughter and stories, but the legend of Anya Forger’s First Punch dominated the table. Damian grumbled every time it was brought up, but Anya only leaned into it more, embellishing with wild gestures and dramatic flair that left everyone in stitches.
And through it all, Loid and Yor sat together, smiling at their daughter and the boy who adored her, hearts full of pride.
The night air was cool as they stepped out of the restaurant, the city lights glimmering around them. Loid and Yor had gone off with their friends, leaving Anya and Damian to walk back toward campus together.
Damian shoved his hands in his pockets, looking every bit the dignified young man—except for the faint flush on his cheeks. ''You really enjoyed yourself in there, didn’t you?''
Anya stretched her arms over her head, grinning like she’d just won the lottery. ''Mhm! Best dinner ever. I think I added at least three new punch-related jokes to my collection.''
Damian groaned. ''You turned me into a public spectacle.''
''You started it,'' she sing-songed. ''Who brought up the punch in the first place? Oh right—Syon boy. I thought you knew better than that at this point.''
''That doesn’t mean you had to milk it for an entire hour!'' he argued, though his voice cracked with laughter at the end.
Anya skipped a few steps ahead of him, spinning around so she could walk backward, hands clasped behind her. ''Admit it—you like it when I roast you.''
Damian narrowed his eyes, walking toward her with a dangerous smirk. ''Oh, do I now?''
''Yep. You’re obsessed.'' She tapped her temple knowingly. ''I can read your mind, you know.''
He snorted. ''God, not this again—''
''‘Oh, Anya, please embarrass me in front of more people,’'' she teased in a dramatic imitation of his voice. ''‘I love when you make me blush, it’s my favorite—’''
That was it. Damian lunged, catching her around the waist and hauling her off her feet.
''Damian!'' Anya squealed, laughing so hard she could barely breathe as he spun her around. ''Put me down!''
''Not until you take it back!'' he said, grinning ear to ear.
''Never!'' she yelled between giggles, kicking her legs playfully.
''Then suffer the consequences,'' he murmured, lowering her just enough to bury his face in her neck and blow a noisy raspberry.
Anya shrieked with laughter, smacking his shoulder. ''You child! Stop—!''
Damian finally set her down, both of them breathless and red-faced from laughing. She leaned against him, still catching her breath, while he kept an arm around her waist, smirking.
''See?'' he said smugly. ''I told you I’d get you back.''
Anya tilted her head up at him, eyes sparkling mischievously. ''Oh no, Sy-on boy. This just means round two starts tomorrow.''
He groaned dramatically, but couldn’t stop smiling. ''What have I gotten myself into?''
''True love,'' she answered cheekily, leaning up to kiss him before he could protest.
Damian froze, then melted, tightening his arm around her. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, voice low. ''...You’re ridiculous.''
''And you love me,'' she whispered, grinning.
He sighed, defeated and happy. ''...Yeah. I really do.''
Hand in hand, still bickering playfully, they continued their walk under the city lights—rivals, partners, and hopelessly in love.