king’s roar

“Grim, stop eating all the snacks,” Ace grumbled, snatching the bag away from the little beast lying next to him on the picnic blanket.

Grim grabbed onto what he could, glaring at the redhead, “Aren’t picnics supposed to be about eating under the sun! I’m just following the rules.”

“Yeah, but the rest of us want to eat too. Besides, the Prefect made those sandwiches for all of us,” Deuce replied. 

You watched the argument ensue from your spot. Your head was on Deuce’s lap, while he leaned back against the tree. Ace was leaning his head back on your tummy, while Grim sat facing the three of you, closest to the tote bag, filled with the goods you all accumulated for cheap to go on this little picnic at the outskirts of the campus. It was your idea, so you brought the blanket and sandwiches, while Grim focused on whatever snacks he had collected over the week, and the card soldiers brought pastries from their dorm.

A grin came to your face, “You are all so childish. We can’t even have a normal picnic without some petty fight.”

Ace and Grim mumbled things under their breaths, while Deuce went silent. His hand rested against the top of your head. “What made you come up with this picnic plan anyway?” he asked.

You shifted your head a bit to face him. “I just thought it would be nice to spend some time with you guys outside of school,” you confessed earnestly. 

Grim had held his bag of chips and scooted to lean on your chest. 

You smiled and scratched his head for a moment. “I guess… I just wanted to show how much I appreciate you all. I figured what better way than to spend a peaceful afternoon together. I don’t think I could have adapted to this place so well without you guys. I… I am grateful to you all.”

Ace looked up at Deuce from where he lay, before looking away, off into the trees. Deep down, he hated it when you got like this. The way you talked acknowledged that one day, these moments would cease to exist. He hated thinking about it. He hated to think that one day your head would not rest in Deuce's lap, and that he would never lean against the warmth of your belly, and that Grim could possibly become silent with the grief of missing you.

So, instead of saying anything sweet in response, or staying silent the way Deuce and Grim did, he scoffed, “You’re so corny.”

You laughed, completely oblivious to what he and his roommate were dwelling on. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

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