Damien couldnt meet Juno's eyes. Embarrassment? Or something else?
"Spill it, Azure." Juno said with her arms crossed.
Damien mumbled something and she moved to take his face in her hands. Making him look at her. Ruffling his hair in the process.
"Hey! Hey! Not the hair!"
"Then speak up!" Juno snapped back.
He hesitated.
"…. Ngh… FINE! I LIKE YOU! Okay?!" He blurted out.
Juno was so surprised she released his hair and stepped back in shock.
"You… what?…"
"I said 'I like you' okay!!… more than like…" his voice softened. He watched her reaction. It went from stunned to hesitant and then to slightly relieved? Or embarrassed? He couldn't tell.
"You?… the once great student and athlete. The rising star of our grade… you? Like… me." She spoke slowly. As if comprehending it.
He nodded slowly. Surely.
"I do. I, Damien Hugo. Have liked. You, Juno Kanlian for a long time…"
Her eyes widened. Without even realizing, she dropped into the floor, how level with him.
"… how long?…" she asked softly.
"Since sixth grade…" he replied.
Juno looked at him with wide eyes. Her hand twitched like she was about to reach out to him. But chose against it. She spoke in a soft and shaky voice.
"… S-since… sixth grade?…" she sounded hesitant, like she couldn't believe it.
"Yeah… since sixth grade." He confirmed with a small nod.
He paused before adding,
"I was foolish to wait so long to tell you." Damien said with remorse in his voice.
Juno was still trying to process.
1. her enemy, Azure, was none other than Damien Hugo.
2. Damien had liked her since sixth grade, and never told her until now.
3. Did she secretly like him back without realizing it herself?
Sure, she would glance at him back in school. But literally everygirl did that! He was the typical popular and rich boy who could do no wrong.
But now she knew; he could do wrong. He did a lot of wrongings. He was a villain, after all.
After a long moment of silence, Juno spoke up again. Quiet. Uncertain.
"…Why?"
He met her eyes.
"Why do you think?" He countered.
"Why did you become a villain?" She clarified.
He smirked. He knew where this was going.
"Again, I think you can figure it out, Red-Eyes. You are smart, aren't you?" He teased.
She thought for a second. Then she looked mortified.
"No… no you didn't. Nononono!" She was spiraling.
"Oh yes, it's true… I became a villain for you, Juno." He said calmly.
She looked like she was about to spiral into a panic attack. To which, Damien noticed and spoke in a softer tone.
"You are a good person, Juno. But others never really saw that. Did they?… So, I decided to help make you shine. Stand out more."
"By being a villain?… causing mass destruction?!" She said weakly.
"By becoming a villian who could rival your brilliance." He corrected.
Damien noticed her getting worse. She wasn't even speaking anymore. He leaned closer, as much as he could manage while still being tied up. He whispered to her.
"Say something, Red-eyes… don't suffer quietly. You don't have to do that anymore."
He sounded so sure of himself. Juno didnt know how to act, what to say, what to even think in this moment. Her mind was a jumbled mess. Should she turn him in? Allow him to walk free? Tell him how she felt about him?
"Red-eyes? Can you hear me?… JUNO!!"
She snapped out of it and looked at him. Eyes wide
"Huh?"
He sighed with relief. Sitting back.
"Good… you're back… you really scared me there."
She almost scoffed at the absurdity.
"Tch. I scared you? Really?" She said sarcastically.
Damien frowns.
"Yes. You did. You were starting to go down a mental rabbit hole or something!" He paused and added quickly, "and for the record: it's not your fault I became a villian. It was purely my own decision. So stop beating yourself up about it. It worries me."
He spoke quieter after a moment.
"Tell me something, Red-eyes… Do you like me?"
He asked it so sincerely she didn't know how to respond at first. Was it a trick? A joke? And then she looked into his eyes and he was serious.
A hint of pink dusted her cheeks.
"I do… the normal amount…"
He gasped, smiling wildly like a little kid.
"You do like me!!"
She blushed more. Embarrassed.
"Sh-shut up!"
He giggled lightly.
"Okay, wait. What do you like in me the most? Is it my charm? My lovely hair? Or all of me~" Damien said with a small wink.
"I prefer it when your quiet." She said quickly.
"Ouch! Too cold, Juno." He paused another moment. And then added, "but seriously, do you like me… currently?" Then he gasped. "Oh! We can go on those cute dates! Like to the movies!"
Juno crossed her arms.
"Never happening. Your still a villain… but yes, I did like you… somewhat recently."
"How recent?" He asked, hopeful.
"You're insufferable." She said with a deadpanned expression.