Xander re-entered the classroom, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves before moving his belongings to sit next to Damian's things. He leaned back in his seat, trying to project a relaxed demeanor, but his hands fidgeted slightly, betraying his nervousness. He waited for Damian to return from the bathroom, his heart pounding in his chest.
When Damian walked back into the room, Xander's breath hitched as he saw the dark look on Damian's face upon seeing "Noah" in his spot. Damian's expression was intense, his eyes narrowing as he approached his seat. Xander felt a wave of nervousness wash over him, and he found it increasingly difficult to maintain eye contact.
Damian sat down without a word, his gaze fixed on Xander, a clear sign that he was sizing him up and trying to figure out his intentions. The intensity of Damian's stare made Xander squirm slightly in his seat.
Xander, trying to hide his nervousness, offered a small, tentative smile. "Hey, um, I wanted to thank you for catching me earlier in the bathroom. I'm really sorry about that; I wasn't paying attention." His voice was soft and quiet, his words tumbling out in a rush.
Damian simply nodded, his expression unreadable. "Hmm." He kept his responses short, his eyes never leaving Xander's face. The longer Damian gazed at him, the more uneasy Xander felt, his shyness and timidity becoming more apparent.
Xander fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve, trying to find the right words. "So, um, how's your day been so far? Anything interesting happen?" His voice trailed off as Damian continued to stare at him, making him feel more and more flustered.
Damian shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he noticed Xander's discomfort. "Same as always." His tone was noncommittal, and he showed no sign of warming up to the conversation.
Xander took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "Well, I think it's pretty cool that we're in the same class. Maybe we can, um, study together sometime or something?" He kept his tone hopeful, but his voice wavered slightly, giving away his growing unease.
Damian raised an eyebrow, his dark expression remaining, but there was a spark of amusement in his eyes. "Or something," he echoed, his voice laced with skepticism. "We'll see, Noah. I'm not really the type to rush into things."
Xander nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly as he felt Damian's gaze intensify. "Yeah, I get that. No pressure. I'm just saying, if you ever need a study buddy or whatever, I'm here." His voice grew quieter, his shyness taking over as he struggled to maintain his friendly demeanor under Damian's scrutiny.
Damian simply nodded, his expression softening just a fraction, but the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. He leaned back in his seat, his gaze still fixed on Xander, a clear indication that he was far from convinced but also not entirely closed off to the idea. "We'll see," he repeated, his voice a low rumble.
As the classroom settled into a hum of activity, Xander couldn't help but feel a mix of triumph and trepidation. He had made a start, but Damian's intense gaze and dark expression had left him feeling flustered and unsure. He would need to find his courage and be patient if he wanted to gain Damian's trust.
Xander took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he mustered the courage to invite Damian to lunch. "How about lunch? I'll pay as a thank you for earlier," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He kept his eyes downcast, feeling the weight of Damian's gaze and the tension that came with it. Xander was acutely aware of his own nervousness, his hands fidgeting in his lap as he waited for a response.
Damian's silence stretched on, and Xander's heart pounded in his chest. He glanced up at Damian, only to find himself even more flustered by the suspicious yet amused expression on Damian's face. There was a dominance in Damian's gaze that threw Xander off, a darkness that he hadn't anticipated. Xander quickly averted his eyes, feeling a rush of heat to his cheeks.
Damian leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms out and placing them behind his head, a clear display of dominance and casual confidence. He kept his eyes fixed on Xander, a smirk playing on his lips as he took in the younger man's flustered state. "You're really trying hard to make up for it, aren't you?" he said, his voice a low, teasing rumble. "I must say, it's entertaining."
Xander took a deep breath, trying to regroup his thoughts. Maybe I can use his suspicion to my advantage, he thought. If I can get him to keep an eye on me and show him that I'm genuine, maybe it will help us become friends faster. With newfound determination, he continued, "I promise I'm not trying to be weird or anything. I just want to say thank you properly. You didn't have to help me earlier, and I appreciate it."
Damian chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Xander's spine. He leaned in closer, his voice a low whisper as he spoke directly into Xander's ear. "You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?" he said, his breath warm against Xander's skin. "I think I'll enjoy having lunch with you, Noah. It's not often I get to see someone so...eager."
Xander felt a surge of relief and a spark of hope, still not realizing he was being teased. "Great," he replied, his voice a little stronger this time. "How about we meet after class? There's a nice café not far from here."
Damian nodded slowly, his dark eyes never leaving Xander's face. "I'll be there," he said, his voice a low, dominant rumble. He reached out, his fingers gently tilting Xander's chin up so their eyes met. "But don't think I'm letting my guard down, Noah. I'm still watching you."
Xander smiled softly, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he said, his voice sincere, still not realizing the extent of Damian's teasing.
As the classroom buzzed with activity around them, Xander felt a sense of accomplishment. He had taken a risk, and Damian seemed to be enjoying their interaction, even if he was still suspicious. There was a glimmer of something more in his eyes—a spark of interest, a hint of potential for a deeper connection. Xander knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was determined to see it through, hoping that his genuine efforts would eventually win Damian over.
After class ended, Xander and Damian made their way to the café Xander had mentioned near the campus. Xander walked beside Damian, his mind racing with a new plan. He had noticed that Damian seemed more receptive when he acted more meek and flustered, so he decided to keep up the act, hoping it would help him gain Damian's trust. Besides, it wasn't entirely an act; Damian's dominant personality truly made him feel shy and flustered, especially when Damian looked at him with that dark, intense expression. Just thinking about it made him shiver.
Damian walked beside him, his eyes occasionally flicking to Xander, taking in his lost-in-thought expression and the soft shiver that ran through him. Damian's brow raised slightly, a spark of interest in his eyes, but he remained silent, letting Xander lead the way.
As they entered the café, the warm, inviting atmosphere enveloped them. They found a quiet booth in the corner, and Xander slid into the seat, his nerves making his hands fidget slightly. Damian sat across from him, his dark eyes never leaving Xander's face, a dominant and intense gaze that made Xander's heart race.
"You can order anything you want; it's on me today. So don't hold back," Xander said with a smile, trying to hide his nervousness. He knew Damian didn't have much, and he wanted to do something nice for him. "I insist."
Damian leaned back in his seat, his arms crossing over his chest as he regarded Xander with a mix of suspicion and amusement. "Oh, you insist, do you?" he said, a low rumble in his voice. "And what makes you think I need your charity, Noah?"
Xander blushed slightly, looking down at the menu to avoid Damian's intense gaze. "I just thought it would be nice, that's all. You don't have to eat if you don't want to," he mumbled, his voice soft and shy.
Damian's expression darkened slightly, but his voice remained dominant and teasing. "Relax, Noah. I'm just giving you a hard time," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll have the burger, rare, with a side of fries. And a soda." He handed the menu back to Xander, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Xander nodded, taking the menus and standing up to order their food. As he walked to the counter, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had managed to get Damian to open up a little, and he was determined to make the most of this opportunity.
When he returned to the table, Damian was watching him with that same intense, dominant gaze. Xander felt a shiver run down his spine, and he looked away, trying to hide his confusion and the new, unfamiliar feelings stirring within him. He could almost hear the click of a lock opening in his mind, a new fetish unlocked, and he let out a soft, embarrassed chuckle at the realization. Well, this is new, he thought, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"So, Noah," Damian said, his voice a low purr. "Tell me more about yourself. What's your story?"
Xander took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts and avoid the subject of his wealthy background. "Well, um, there's not much to tell, really. I'm just a regular guy, trying to make it through school and figure out what I want to do with my life," he said, his voice soft and shy, still avoiding eye contact.
Damian's expression darkened as he noticed Xander avoiding his gaze. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned in, his voice a low, dominant rumble. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, Noah," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Xander felt a rush of heat to his cheeks, his heart pounding in his chest as he met Damian's intense gaze. The look in Damian's eyes was almost predatory, and Xander felt a mix of fear and excitement. He was confused by the sensations coursing through him, a mix of nervousness and something else—something he hadn't felt before. He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts, and heard Gin's mischievous giggle in his mind, teasing him for his reaction.
"Sorry," Xander mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. "I just... I'm not used to people being so interested in me, that's all."
Damian's expression softened just a fraction, but his voice remained firm. "Well, get used to it, Noah. I'm very interested in you," he said, his tone leaving no doubt about his sincerity. "Now, tell me about your family. Where are they from? What do they do?"
Xander hesitated, unsure of how to answer without revealing too much. He decided to change the subject slightly, hoping to redirect the conversation back to Damian. "My family's just your average, ordinary family," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really like to talk about them. Tell me about yours instead. Do you have any siblings? What are they like?"
Damian raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned back in his seat. "I don't have any siblings, Noah. It's just my father and me. He's a tough man, worked hard all his life. What about you? Any siblings?"
Xander blinked, taken aback by the question. "Oh, um, I have an older brother named Mathew," he said, his voice soft. "But we don't talk much. He's always been busy with his own life."
Damian's intrigued expression deepened as he noticed Xander's discomfort and the way he unconsciously avoided eye contact. "Busy with what?" Damian pressed, his voice a low, probing rumble.
Xander fidgeted in his seat, looking down at his hands. "I'm not sure, really. He's just always had his own path, you know? We're not close like that." He tried to keep his voice steady, but he could feel the lie trembling on his lips. He didn't want to admit that Mathew was a high-powered lawyer, living a life of luxury that Xander had tried to escape from.
Damian leaned in, his voice a low whisper as he spoke directly into Xander's ear. "You're hiding something, Noah. I can tell. But I'll let you keep your secrets for now." He pulled back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips as he added, "For now."
Xander felt a shiver run down his spine, a mix of excitement and trepidation. He was relieved that Damian had dropped the subject, but he knew it was only temporary. Damian was like a predator, circling his prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As they ate, Xander tried to steer the conversation back to safer topics, hoping to avoid any more questions about his family or his past. Damian, however, seemed content to let Xander squirm, a dark, amused glint in his eyes as he watched Noah struggle to keep the conversation light. "You know, Noah," Damian said, his voice a low, teasing rumble. "I think I'm starting to enjoy our little games. You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Xander blushed, looking down at his food. "I guess you could say that," he mumbled, a small, embarrassed smile playing on his lips. He was starting to realize that his interactions with Damian were unlike anything he had ever experienced before, and he found himself looking forward to seeing where this new dynamic would take them.