Damian sat on the school courtyard steps, casually stretched out with his arms behind his head, soaking in the last rays of the late afternoon sun. The moment was calm, peaceful even, but that all changed when Gabriel walked into view.
Damian didn't need to look up to know it was him. The sudden tension in the air made it clear. Gabriel's presence was impossible to ignore, like a storm cloud suddenly blocking the sun.
"Been avoiding me, huh?" Gabriel's voice sliced through the quiet, and it was laced with an unmistakable challenge.
Damian finally lifted his head, glancing up with an almost lazy smirk. "Avoiding you?" he asked, rising to his feet slowly, stretching his arms above his head. "Nah, I've just been... busy. Doing anything else, you know?" His tone was light, but there was something about his eyes—sharp, calculating—that suggested he wasn't as carefree as he seemed.
Gabriel stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. There's something about you, Damian. Something that doesn't sit right with me."
Damian tilted his head slightly, acting confused but already thinking ahead. "Oh? Something about me? What, like... I have that look?" He chuckled softly, the sound almost sarcastic. "It's high school, Gabriel. We're all just here to survive it. Nothing weird about me."
But Gabriel didn't buy it. He folded his arms, his face hardening. "There's something off about you," he repeated, his voice darker now. "You've got this... killer instinct. This look like you're hiding something. Like you could destroy someone without a second thought."
Damian raised an eyebrow, his smirk only widening. "Killer instinct?" He laughed lightly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Wow, that's a bit much, don't you think? Sure, I have that 'I could ruin your day' look, but come on... I'm just here trying to pass high school like everyone else. Not exactly plotting world domination." He took a small step forward, leaning in with a sly smile. "But if you keep poking around, you might find something... you're not ready to deal with."
Gabriel seemed to hesitate, clearly trying to figure out if Damian was just messing with him or if there was something more to it. "You think I'm dumb?" he shot back. "I know there's something you're hiding. Something you don't want anyone to find out."
Damian shrugged nonchalantly, his expression never faltering. "Do I? I mean, maybe you're just overthinking it." He tilted his head, his smirk never leaving his face. "You know, maybe you just don't like me, and that's your problem, not mine."
Gabriel clenched his jaw, his body tense with frustration. "You can keep pretending like you're not hiding something, but I know the truth. You're not just some average guy. You're dangerous."
Damian's eyes glinted, his smile turning more playful. "Dangerous?" He let the word hang in the air for a second before shrugging again, his voice teasing. "Well, if that's what you're seeing, maybe you should stop staring at me so much. You might get really uncomfortable."
Gabriel took a step forward, almost daring Damian to say more. "I don't buy it. You're hiding something, and I'm going to find out what it is."
Damian laughed softly, like he'd just heard the funniest thing all day. "Seriously? You want to find out?" His voice dropped to a mock serious tone, but it still had a playful edge. "Alright, Gabriel, you keep looking. Maybe you'll find something that's not there. But, just so you know, you might not like what happens next."
Gabriel stared him down for a few seconds, clearly debating whether to push further or drop it. But before anything else could happen, Damian gave a small, dismissive wave, as though the conversation had already grown tiresome.
"Look, Gabriel," he said, voice dripping with faux sweetness, "I really don't have time for this. I'm just here to get through high school and avoid the same old drama. If you're smart, you'll take a hint and get out of my way. People who poke around too much tend to lose things... like their noses."
Gabriel's eyes flickered with anger, but Damian could tell he was holding himself back. The tension between them was thick, but Damian wasn't interested in letting it escalate further. He'd made his point.
"You're wasting your time," Damian said over his shoulder, already starting to turn away. "You're not going to find anything on me. But hey, if you want to dig into my life, go ahead. You just might regret it. It's not like I'm going to make it easy for you."
Gabriel stood frozen for a moment, a mix of frustration and doubt evident on his face. But Damian wasn't waiting around to see if Gabriel would act on it. He was already walking off, his pace casual but confident.
Just as Damian started to leave, Nadia appeared around the corner, her eyes quickly darting between Damian and Gabriel. She seemed to sense the tension in the air and hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Everything okay?" she asked, her voice a little cautious but still laced with concern.
Damian turned toward her, flashing a smile that was effortless and comforting. "Of course," he said smoothly. "Everything's fine. Gabriel and I were just having a little chat, nothing important."
Nadia didn't seem entirely convinced, but she raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. Damian, ever the charmer, winked at her, and she couldn't help but shake her head with a soft smile.
"You're a terrible liar," she said, but there was a warmth in her tone that suggested she wasn't too worried.
Damian chuckled softly, pleased with the way things were going. "Hey, I'm not lying. It's just... we're good. Trust me." He shot one last look at Gabriel, who was still standing there, looking frustrated, but also clearly unsure of what to do next.
As Damian and Nadia walked off together, Damian couldn't suppress the small, satisfied smile on his face. Gabriel might be persistent, but Damian knew how to keep him at arm's length—at least for now.