OTAKU LIFE

Idia 💀

But you still didn't wanted to bother anyone so, instead, you just hold Grim close to you, smiling widely, even laughing as he squirmed and demanded an explanation even when he didn't minded enough to actually try to get out of your hold, he let you hold him as tight as you wanted while getting in bed, he let you just cuddle him as you tried to fall sleep because it was probably just as comforting for you as it is for him

Soon you broke the silence by asking if he was awake, silly question but still he answered yes, and you took the oportunity and started talking about how much fun you been having ever since you came to Twisted Wonderland, how even if there has been a lot of problems there has been a lot of good things too, how you are so greatful that you got to met such amazing people, including him to

But then, you hug him tighter, your voice lowered as you took a shaky breath, the tears that didn't found a reason to fall until now were finally forming in your eyes and you finally allowed yourself to talk about what has been bothering your heart, the sorrow that has kept you absent for so long, the fact that you two are just strangers of this world, that he has no were to be out of NCR and that you come from another world, there is people awaiting for you in your world but reaching out for them would mean leave everyone in Twisted Wonderland behind, to leave him alone

There is also the chance that you never get to go back to your world but that is just as terrifing as going back, you don't exist in this world, there is not even a birth certificate with your name in this world, there is not a home or family, even your friends are slowly growing and will eventually continue with their lifes, they will leave NCR one day and you two will left behind

You are terrified, you don't know what to think or even what to hope for anymore, you don't know if it would be best for you to go back to your world or not anymore and that is killing you from the inside, you are too scared but you don't want to bother anyone, you just can't. But Grim doesn't knows what to do neither, so he stares at you hoplessly as the tears fall from your eyes, wetting your cheeks and the pillow under you, and after a moment of hoplessness he simply snuggle closer, staying as close as he could to you, trying so hard to be able to bring even the smallest bit of comfort while telling you that it is too late for been thinking about those things, that you two should get some rest and tomorrow you two will think more clearly, but, above all that, you are his henchman! His family! No matter what happens you two will go throught it together

And the next day you felt a bit more lighter, your heart didn't hurt as much as before, being able to take all of that out of your chest helped, still you tried to apologize to Grim for making him deal with you last night but he quickly declined your apology, assuring you that you two are a team, that you two will be stuck together and will find a solution together!

But at the end, it was harder for Grim to keep his feelings to himself, specially when he was now so worried about you. He didn't mean to tell what you told him to the rest of your friends, he really didn't meant it! But he was more obvious with how distracted and sorrowful he was, he wasn't able to hold himself back when the rest asked him what was going on

And even if they wanted to do everything they could to help they had to wait and go in a slower pace, after all you didn't wanted anyone to know about this yet

Since Ace and Deuce where the ones passing more time with you during classes they were the more obvious in their change, even if they didn't wanted the way Deuce was trying to help you with everything, from carrying your bag to remind you that all of your friends are here for you if you need it, and, in the other side, Ace acted somewhat clingier and affectionate, making more and more jokes about how much you help and what they would do without you, jokes that at some point started to sound less like jokes

The rest of the group where spending even more time with you too, almost as if they were afraid of leaving you alone, you were invited more often to their club activities or just to "help them out" during their practices, whenever there was anything happening in their dorm, any special activity you were invited over. It wouldn't be strange if it wasn't because of their eagerness they had when inviting you, it sounded almost as if you needed to go

But it wasn't like you could blame them, for each one of them you were family, you have done so much for everyone, you have been there when they had troubles and sometimes where even part of the troubles, you have shared laughs and sadness, you have shared their anxiety and have helped out of it! And they wanted, no, needed to help you with this, even if they can't actually do something like giving you a legal identity or even asure your future in Twisted Wonderland (something they have actually being trying to achive, perhaps asking help with Ortho's family or even Malleus and Lilia)

But it was one day when they started talking about their home what finally gave them away, all of them tried to brush it off with how they have already talk to their families about all the friends they made and all, and since you have become a really special friend for each one of them, you are more than welcome to stick around during the break and go with them to their hometown, Deuce's mother wouldn't mind having you around, Ace's brother can be a bit of a hastle but having you around would make it more fair for him, Jack's siblings are already excited to meet you, Epel's family have insisted that you must need to go after how much he talks about you it feels like you are already part of the family, you have already meet Sebek's loved ones, and since Lord Malleus seems to "don't be bothered by your presence" then he could arranged things for you to come and visit Briar Valley and Ortho's parents (and probably Idia too) would be delighted to have you around, after all you are such a great friend of him and his brother!

It was endearing, comforting, overwhelmingly welcoming and after spending so much time feeling lost and all alone, feeling like you were nothing but a stranger walking on a tightrope it was too much all of the sudden, you couldn't stop the tears from falling for your eyes nor stop then from panicing and imediatly trying to reasure you (althoght, they didn't exactly knew what to do). At the end they admited that Grim have told them about your chat and they wanted to help, you need to know that you are not only their friend but also the family, no matter what happen, no matter what you choose or even if you run out of options they will be there for you, you may not have been born in this world but, for them, you belong to this world and if at the end you decide to stay then every single one of them will do everything in their power to help you feel at home, to make this world your home

Even if you feel alone, you are not alone anymore and no matter what happen at the end you will have their complete support, and after all of them surrounded you and hold you in a group hug, letting all those tears and fears you are been trying so hard for so long, for the first time since you came to Twisted Wonderland come out you felt like you were at home, were you belong

And it isn't like Grim despises you, its just that you are too responsible and weird for his liking, almost everyone knows your rutine by now because of his complainings but he justifies himself by saying that he just can't stay silent when you keep going on trips to the montain with Jade, always coming back with all kind of weird things you collected that you will cook and make him eat, or how you wake up early in the morning on free days because you want to clean the dorm, at least is not the worst like how it was at the start, when you made him work hard with you to make Ramshackle at least habitable, cleaning everything and repairing all you could. And when it wasn't your weird responsible rutine it was your way to speak and present yourself, always so formal and treating everyone with too much politeness

Everyone just took it as you just being your normal self, they knew you were responsible, still the more time it passed the more impressive it became, you not were only responsible but you were always training (sometimes even training with Jack or Sebek, surprisingly being able to keep up with them at least a bit), claming that you needed to become stronger, and despite that you never neglect the academics, always doing your best and having rather good grades despite never studying anything about magic before

Ace and Epel grow used to tease you by saying that you were some kind of old man and yet they were always there when everyone reunited for a study session at Ramshackle. More than once everyone had been surprised by your weird knowledge that only the seven knows why do you even know it (like how some tissues can taste sweet or wild plants that are actually edible), most of the time is Ortho the one asking out of curiousity and without much filtrer when talking but making everyone more curious about you

Something no one really dared to ask for the longest time was about your friends and family from your home, asuming that you may miss them already enough for them to bring up the topic, still as time passed by and you grew more comfortable with them you were the one slowly opening up more, they were the first ones who were able to see you step out of your usual polite and formal self, letting yourself relax and just enjoy the time, even spending more and more time smiling and laughing with them than, and one day when everyone was reunited at Ramshackle once again, taking a break from the studies and just talk about anything else, they finally got to ask about you

It started by Ace teasing Deuce because he insisted that he needed to become and honor student, he wanted to make up for how much he made his mother suffer in the past and despite the teasing Ace end up talking about his brother and what he told him when he was still studying at NCR, it didn't took much time for everyone started sharing stories about their own family, about their loved ones and how much they were looking up for the future, wishing to make them proud

But you were the only one who didn't have something to say, you don't even liked talking much about the topic of your family anyways, but they didn't knew, it wasn't their fault when they asked you about your family that you end up uncomfortable and hesitant to say anything, they even apologized for asking but it was alright, maybe telling someone about it won't be bad, after all, while you grew up your situation were more like an open secret

You admited that you really hoped that in the future you would be able to see your family again, that you would be able to be with your parents at least one more time, and before they could say anything you clarified that it didn't had anything to do with you arriving at Twisted Wonderland, in fact you have not seen your parents since you were a little kid

It is because of the good memories of them that you still have that you wanted to see them again, but the truth is that you spend quite a long time neglected, you are so responsible and capable because ever since you were little you had to learn to take care of yourself and at some point you were just separated from your parents, you were left all alone and even if there were kind people who were willing to help you just couldn't ask others to replace your parents, so you have taken responsability of your own self for the longest time, and in the face of that no one was able to say anything else

Maybe their relasionship with their family wasn't the best or they have troubles, but they were never alone, they always had someone to count on, non of them can really tell what you must have gone throught but by the way you talked about it, so calmly no one knew if they should say something, were you already at peace with it or just resigned? If they say something, would you think they are pitying you? How are they supuse to show their support when you seem so capable now!?

Ortho was the first one to speak again, taking your hand and saying that you have nothing to worry, that while you are here he will be your family! And after him everyone followed in a second, Jack reasured you that you have them while Epel said that his mewmaw would be happy to welcome you if you ever need them, Ace and Deuce has been with you from the first day, you three were together in your first trouble so it was just fair to considerate you like family, Sebek was a bit embarrased but still he said that you were quite honorable for a human and because of that he considerate you a dear friend (he does see you as family but admiting it will make him too flustered), even Grim reclulantly admited that since you were his henchman you should considere yourself honored, because you two would be stuck together until he becomes the greatest mage of all times (and even after that, you won't get away from him that easily)

Your story wasn't easy to forget and the more time it passed the more it hit all of them, it twisted their stomach just to thing what it was to grow up all alone, and thats why they started to show their love and support more directly, not for pity but because of love

You were invited even more often to spend time with them for their dorm activites (specially to Heartslabyul) and even to their club activites, specially if there was any competitions, after all you were family and they would be more than happy to have you there to cheer on them. Reciving gifts also became more frecuent, constantly reciving products for Epel's family farm or left overs from Heartslabyul endless tea parties, Jack and Ortho worked in their own gifts too, leading Ramshackle to have a lot of updates and become even more comfortable and with a few cactus to decorate while Sebek was more focused on helping you train, if you really wanted to become stronger then there was no one else better than him to help you! after all, he was instructed by Master Lilia himself

Grim never really stoped complaining about your weird way to be but he grew more apreciative, you were taking care of him with everything you learned by being all alone so it was only fair if he also took care of you, he grew to make you relax a little more and to never forget that you are not alone anymore, after all you are his hechman! What kind of master would leave behind his hechman?

Still, after some time they initial concern started to calm down, ultimately growing closer but stop being overprotective, it took time but everyone were a big family now, one that wasn't going to be torn apart nor leave anyone behind anytime soon

You learned that for Crowley finding a way to send you back home was the least of his priorities, so you take that for your plan! Everytime he came to ask you to do more work when you already had your hands full you smiled at him before bringing the topic of your home, asking how his investigation was going, any progress? Crowley was quickly taken off guard, he needed to find an excuse as quick as posible and you just kept pressuring him until he was too awkward that he needed to run away, leaving before even saying anything about the work he wanted you to do

At first you just did it for when he was putting too much work on your hands to do, you didn't wanted to keep overworking yourself and you needed to caught up with the classes you were taking! After all you were a student too! But, at the end, it started to work so well and having free time to just rest was feeling a bit too good, so you keep pressing as much as you wanted. With new confidence you started to talk to Crowley, rubbing his ego about him being so kind just before strike the argument of your home, slowly scalating things from asking about his investigation to even start telling him how much you missed your home!

Ranting about how much you missed your old life, the things and people you missed so much and even started to use the excuse of festivities and important dates back in your world! There was something so important in your world that you just couldn't celebrate here, you can't help but wonder if your friends and family won't miss you so much that they couldn't enjoy this joyful times neither! You were just feeling so sad and homesick that this way you wouldn't be able to get the work done! You didn't knew if it was true concern or just awkwardness but it was working, Crowley was trying to make it up and giving you more free time ever since you started to use your home as excuse

The real problem came when your friends started to heard you talking about your home. It started with Grim, since he was constantly dragged to do the job with you he was there when Crowley came to give you more work, and was the one hearing you talk about how much you missed your home with Crowley, at first he didn't thought much about it since the headmage promised you to find a way to send you back, but the more time passed the more you talked about you home to Crowley, and Grim started to actually grow worried, does his henchman really misses their home that bad? He didn't noticed! But, of course, Grim was a too prideful to ask so you didn't explained that most part of it was just an exageration to mess up with Crowley

Once Grim had enough of being worried over it he ended up telling about it to Ace and Deuce (being the ones who are always stuck at your side), soon tagging along Jack, Eppel, and Ortho, after all this was serious and they wanted to do something, after all you were the prefect and their best friend! You were always there getting involved in problems that had nothing to do with you, even when you were magicless you always did your best to help them because they were your friends, and never even asked for something in return! You have done so much for them and they couldn't even help you feel at home! They felt terrible, guilty even

It was hard to hide how bad they were feeling but even if they tried to don't talk about it when the others asked it was after a moment of hesitation they started to talk about what was bothering them so much to the rest of your friends, and between misundertandings and gossips the fact that the prefect was suffering in silence for missing their home so much quickly became an open secret, somehow still being able to hide from you that they knew (even when they were acting way too suspicious when you were around)

Your friends weren't too discreet when trying to do things for you or paying more attention, you could catch their nervous smiles as they attempt to discreetly provide comfort, wich just lead them to be awkward, it was truly weird but you decided to leave them be (or tease them, whatever you were up to), suddenly the free time you managed to get thanks to the excuses you were giving Crowley were fully occupied by your friends

You were constantly invited to Unbirthday parties and simple tea parties in Heartslabyul (wich wasn't too weird by now) but suddently the tables had a lot of pastries of your favorite flavors and even the table you were in was filled with your favorite pastries, personally baked by Trey, and there was enough tea of your favorite flavor to get drown in it. Suddently Riddle was calmer when you accidently broke a rule, simply making you a almost scary kind reminder, and even if it wasn't werid for Carter to constantly take photos with you at his side, suddenly the number of post about you two and what you were doing increase a bit too much, tagging you as his bestie

Also, you found yourself hanging out in Savanaclaw more often than before thanks to the incredibly subtle invitations from Ruggie and even Leona himself to just hang out in the louge and relax, after all the place was perfect to just lay down and take a nap. And if that wasn't enough they were also more willing to talk to you in the hallways (or between Leona's naps) not that they were mean to you before but getting out of their way just to say hi was quite weird, also it may sounds like you were going crazy but you were left with the impression that they were being slighly more clingy, Leona was now the one making you do errands for him (just a few times) along with Ruggie, who always seem to know how to start the conversation that would lead about your really funny time in school, or sometimes Leona simply finds some not so good excuses to keep you at his side while napping

No matter how much Azul wanted to play it off as simple an oportunity of bussiness it was still quite suspicious that he was suddently inviting you over to Octaville out of nowhere, he was asking a bit more about what your world it was like and what you were used to eat, saying that special plates from literally another world would be great for Monstro Lounge it was still quite suspicious, specially when he allowed you to be the first one to try the new plates, he and Jade insistes that it was because you were the only one who could tell if it was perfect (wich it was surprisingly right, it was quite the pleseant surprised to eat something at least a bit similar to what you used to eat back in your world), but for their insistance it felt like they had a hidden motive, and it didn't help the fact that Azul and Jade had to constantly interrupt Floyd before he told you that they were doing it because they wanted to make you feel less homesick

As if Unbirthday parties weren't enough Scarabia suddently started to have more parties! And parties in your honor! Kamil was far from being good at being discreet so he ended up confessing right away that Scarabia was holding parties specially to thank you for all you have done, not just for him and Jamil but for everyone! It, honeslty, took all his willpower (and Jamil's help) to don't just end up apologizing in tears for not making you feel at home and how sorry he was that you were missing your home so much. And while Jamil was quite annoyed for suddenly have so much extra work he allowed himself, for once, to relax just enough to be a little more sincere at your side in an attempt to make you feel at home, to show that he was being sincere with what he was saying (taking you out of guard when he smiled sincerely in the process, and not with his usual smirk)

You know Rook is quite inpredictale and sneaky but you can swear he has being even more weird than normal, after all lately he has appeared out of nowhere just to say hello, inside and outside of Pomefiore, giving you a few compliments in his usual extravagant way to speak before leaving. In the other hand, Vil didn't went out of his way (or at least pretended that he didn't do it) but he did gifted you some of his personal skin care products out of nowhere, after all Ramshackle was far from the ideal living conditions and you should take extra care of yourself, taking a moment to remind you with that strict side of him about how important it is to take care of yourself before reminding you that being the prefect it isn't just a meaningless title, everyone apreciate you and what you have done (you swear in your life Vil was being sincere, that smile didn't looked like the perfectly calculated smile he gives to the cameras)

Being dragged to Ignihyde wasn't really rare for you by now, Ortho wasn't only excited to have an amazing friend like you but also wanted his brother to befriend you too, but right now there was something off, you were dragged more often just to hang out, you were suddently invited a lot more to just have some movie nights and gaming sesions with Idia, it wouldn't have been that suspicious if it wasn't because Ortho was more insisting than usual and even Idia was doing efforts to get out of his room to meet you, hopefuly you don't notice how much data Ortho is collecting of your preferences to make sure you feel comfortable or how he is constantly checking on you to make sure you are truly happy and don't continue suffering in silence (like how everyone now think you have been)

One of the only ones who doubted slighly the situation was Lilia, thinking that maybe between the gossips the situation could have been exaggerated, still he reminded you that you were always welcome to pass by Diasomnia if you wanted, no matter what they may said everyone in the dorm appreciate your presence, still his doubts doesn't stoped him to give some advices when Malleus asked about how to help the child of man with their homesickness, using the oportunity to help him get closer to his little friend, for what Malleus was actively trying to get closer and even inviting you for night walks whenever he passed around Ramshackle (sometimes passing around was just the excuse), and while Silver took things more calmly, just like his father, he still left clear that since you two were friends you could just vent with him, he promise to try his best to stay awake and even if you wanted to talk about the world you come from he would be happy to heard you

Not just that but suddenly your friends from the first year, the ones who you were closer to and even share classes were paying you visits at Ramshackle more often, somehow having the permision from their housewarden to return a bit more late than usual or directly spend the night with you for a sleep over, as well to have more study sesions with you and constantly asking how were you doing and making sure you were fine

It was good gestures but it was incredibly suspicious since it was almost all the students now paying you attention (you started to wonder if this was a bad omen or something) and when you managed to gain the courage to ask what have gotten into everyone lately they were reclulant to talk, but at end (just like how it started) it was Grim who explained that he saw you crying to Crowley because you missed your home and he couldn't let his henchman suffer like that (he was already too convinced that you were suffering a lot after telling how he saw you talking with Crowley about your world over and over one, being the main reason why this situation was already out of control), quickly followed by the rest of your friends who, after having to hold back and being worried sick for you, couldn't help but tear up a little while expressing his worry and how sorry they were that you were feeling that way

At the end you didn't knew if you should just laugh or start crying of embarrasement, sure, you missed your world but all those times you talked to Crowley were just exaggerations and excuses, you didn't meant for you friends to even know about this, let alone to worry so much that you would have your friends suffocating you in a tearful hug now, but you couldn't say you don't appreciate the gesture and how much they truly worry for you