..?

Your nerves however, didn't calm, like they knew something you didn't. You felt anxiety creep back into you when he didn't answer, only standing there and staring at you — not speaking, not even moving. You let out a shaky, nervous breath, moving to switch on your lamp.

You weren't sure what you were expecting — definitely not a sight you would later try to tell yourself was just some strange dream, one the two of you would laugh about the next day — or maybe a mere figment of your imagination. Anything, really, was better than accepting the horrible sight of him coated head to toe in warm, thick blood.

Streaks of it splattered over his clothes like a modern canvas, the substance dripping down his face, chin, neck; coated over his hands like gloves of blood. In your shock it took you a moment to realize those were far from hands, they were crooked, sharpened claws.

You stared at him, sputtering over hundreds of possible questions that couldn't come close to explaining the sight in front of you. All the while he just stood there, eyes unblinking and raking over you in some twisted kind of admiration.

Only because the sight of you scared and uncomfortable made him feel physically ill did he finally give some sort of explanation, tone gentle and slow like you were an easily spooked animal. "That bastard," he started, lips turning to a scowl like just the mention of another person in your life made bile rise in his throat. "Got close to you, talked your ear off all class."

He stalked closer to you, tail swishing back and forth like the still hands of a clock counting down to your fate. Back and forth, the room suddenly feeling like it was caving in around you, leaving only you and him left in the aftermath.

"Took up all your time, took you away from me." He was on your bed now, moving closer to you until he was caging you in, lean frame feeling impossibly more predatory when he was in his demon form; when he was like this.

The blood on his face was dripping down onto your bed, staining your sheets, tainting you. He took your trembling hands in his, the dark blood dripping through the space between your fingers when he moved them to cup his face.

"I couldn't let that happen again,” His tail was coiling around you, keeping you trapped in place as if he were a snake restraining its prey to swallow it whole. "can’t let anyone take you from me." His breathing was rushed and uneven, chest heaving like the thought alone made him panic.

His eyes darted over your face, brows furrowing in worry at how petrified you looked. "Don't be scared, I did this for you," he insisted, voice cracking when you leaned away from him, panic shooting up his veins.

"No, no hey, it's okay," he placed his own hands over yours, interlocking his fingers with yours which created a horribly slick sound of blood. His eyes were desperate as he tried to sooth you. "I would never hurt you! come on, you know that right?"

He was a mess, tears dripping down his eyes and mixing with the blood covering his cheeks like blush. He was pleading and desperate, like he was the one who needed comfort in this situation. "Please, tell me you trust me. Tell me you love me."

You were frozen in place, fear filling your nerves like pin-needles and telling you to thrash, run, scream for his brothers, but you couldn't bring yourself to. He was so unstable and pathetic, sobbing at the mere idea of you hating him.

He was a cold-blooded, manic demon, but somewhere deep inside you saw this coming. That's why you caressed his face, thumb swiping the blood off his jaw with a tenderness you shouldn't have granted him.

He was cruel, he was sick.

He’s a demon. What did you expect?

"I.. ." you thought about it, realizing with empty acceptance that you truly meant what you were saying. "I love you, Leviathan."

He gasped, words dying on his tongue as a smile broke out on his face at the admission. He shook with the pure glee he was feeling, collapsing into you and chanting your name like a mantra. "M/c, I love you so much," he beamed, a smile so childlike on his face that you almost forgot the blood, the murder, the monster in front of you. "Nobody will ever take you from me again, okay?"

He lifted his head, staring right into your eyes for the first time without blushing and turning away. His gaze was serious and held a kind of devotion that made you uneasy, one reserved entirely for you. "Understand? For you, I'd do anything."

While you ate a sweet treat that you barely tasted after one or two bites, you noticed how the twins gave specific orders to the other employees, to take care of things in their absence, of course. Azul would never make a deal without his two pet lackeys.

And if the candy you were eating had no flavor, neither did the drink on your tongue. It felt bland, lost in a labyrinth of nothing.

Or perhaps it was just your heart pounding wildly in your chest. Beating and pulsing, and screaming incessantly, stealing your breath and your sanity along with it. The saliva seemed to have vanished from your lips, stolen from you as the nervousness you had been controlling grew stronger, though barely noticeable.

The delay in being called in made you feel like you were walking in the shoes of Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Crime and Punishment. Or perhaps Gregor from Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Small, anxious.

Invisible like a madman wanting to test his theory. Or tiny like a bug. You were all or nothing.

"Please follow us," Jade asked softly, his somber tone pulling you from your reverie as you were met by two pairs of eyes.

You weren't afraid of them.

Far from it, you helped them rebuild the Monster Lounge after Azul's overblowing, you helped patch them up and you helped Azul return the portrait he was so disgusted frim, overall, you were kind to them. Because Azul's pain was something you empathized with quite a bit, although it didn't justify him doing everything he did before. What he continued to do.

And in the months that followed, you got into the habit of visiting the place from time to time, and Azul always tried to offer you a personalized and unique contract, befitting someone of your status and importance - but there was no need for that.

Not until now.

Noticing your long silence, you coughed softly and stood up, leaving behind a half-eaten donut and an empty cup. It wasn't like you'd miss it anyway. The sound of voices and laughter vanished as you stepped through the office door, as if by magic everything had fallen silent. And the chill that gripped your body made you tremble instantly.

"Yuu, I was delightfully surprised when Jade and Floyd barged in telling me that you wanted a deal. Please, sit down." Azul, always courteous, pulled the chair for you, a sacchirine smile on his lips.

His chest was puffed like a male bird trying to make a good impression which made you laugh a little, but the tension was weighing you down quickly so you sat down in your designated place, as the twins took their spot beside your chair, Floyd leaning onto the armchair while Jade remained still.

They were waiting like a bunch of hungry sharks.

Another cup of your favorite beverage was served by Jade, as Azul started sweet-talking you very gently, eyes gleaming like a manic.

"I'm going straight to the point, if that's alright." With a wave of his hand, Azul adjusted his glasses, letting you get your thoughts together as you drank from your cup slowly. This time, the taste was sweeter on your tongue. "There is this guy who is bugging me. He keep messing with me, pushing me around, stealing my things. And it got to a point that..."

A hand fell to your shoulder, the touch intimate. Floyd curled his arm around your frame as he stared a bit ahead, as if looking forward to crushing someone.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded, squishing your cheeks in both of his hands. He smelled like blood and spices, and it was a bit dizzying.

Jade, remained still, too still, like a statue. But the smile on his face was foreign and didn't bode well. It was by far the most expressive you saw Jade being. In any other moment, perhaps you would have cherished more. But now, was not the time.

"Stop that, Floyd!" His brother interceded for you, pushing the other eel away just to take the spot he was occupying before. He stayed just like that, not prying to hear your reasoning. He was satisfied to be like that, to be this close, even if you could see his hands shaking.

"Uh, anyway, I wanted to know if you're capable of sending this guy away? Think of something like a restraining order." You thought you were exaggerating a little, perhaps you could ask Floyd to beat him up or something.

But when you were about to laugh it off and change the subject, Azul cut you off with a cough.

"We can ensure that, no problem." You shivered just by his tone, feeling Jade and Floyd wrapping themselves around you like a heavy blanket.

Despite fearing what would happen to this annoying guy, you realized you were too comfortable there, in their arms, in their presence. Always had been, since you spent almost every week at the Lounge after school. You grew closer to them after everything that happened.

One of the tweels was running his hand through your hair in a soothing manner, while you told Azul your bullying name and dorm. He was serious while he started working on your contract; bullying was something Azul didn't tolerate - well, at least to those closest to him.

The minutes stretched into a comfortable silence as you felt the initial anxiety easing down till it stopped completely. It could be because of the tea, or the physical contact, or because your problem would be solved.

Or all the three alternatives together. You were so filled with uneasy these days, always looking over your shoulders. So it was really great to have a moment of rest from it.

"Ah, I didn't ask, what do you want in return?" Azul smile got wider, for the first time seemingly reassambling his nature. A predator that takes his time, who learns his prey routine before esnaring them in his tentacles.

"You." He coughed out. A bit too dangerous and beautiful, and stealing your breathe away. His cheeks got a little pink and he added quickly. "Well, I meant that having you change your routine and schedule, and being near me or the twins will certainly makes things easier, wouldn't you say, Angelfish?"

Floyd hummed, rubbing his cheek onto yours. His eyes were shining brightly as he stared at your face, watching for your reactions and microexpressions. Founding something that he liked, Floyd continued to act like a puppy, whining and nuzzling into your neck - you were already used to it from how physical he was with you.

And only you, you realized. Floyd was never this touchy with anyone else. Maybe Azul, but that was only when he wanted to annoy the octomer.

"I guess..." you sipped from your cup. Jade had poured you another well just a few moments ago. "I can change my classes so we can share some of them-"

"And work at the Lounge." Jade added, a flirting tilt to his tone to fluster you. But you were used to that too, and instead you laughed at his words. Not that he cared. He wanted to make you laugh in any way he could. "We're short of staff and I'm most certainly that your beauty would attract more customers."

You turned to Azul, as if silently asking if you could take the position, and he nodded.

Everything seemed so easy.

The contract was ready, it seems. His hands finally stopped moving as he reviewed everything with calmness, then he started reading to you in a tender tone.

The Contractor: Azul Ashengrotto, acting in his capacity as Proprietor of Mostro Lounge and Manager of the Ashengrotto Acquisitions & Accommodations Enterprise.

The Contractee: Ramshackle Prefect.

Preamble & Recitals:

WHEREAS the Client has voluntarily sought the assistance and protection of the Patron's associated personnel;

WHEREAS the Client acknowledges the Patron's expertise in matters of strategic resolution and asset safeguarding;

WHEREAS the Patron is willing to extend his resources in consideration for certain mutual agreements, as stipulated herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties covenant and agree as follows:

"You're really fond of your jargons, aren't you?" You laughed along Floyd. He was dragging his fingers through your scalp in a way that made you curl your toes and lean back into him; something you needed desperately.

"Silly Azuru with his silly words." Floyd mumbled with a breathy giggle.

Lost in the comfort of their closeness, it seemed that your mind got blurred and comfortable enough to let everything go. Your eyelids closed for a second, listening carefully to Azul's words that flowed like poetry. Each condition memorized to your mind and heart.

You were incapable of thinking he would betray you. But you were far too naive to think he wouldn't trap you now that he had you right there, where he wanted.

Where he planned you to be.

Your bully? Another student trapped in one of his deals.

Every situation you went through? Neatly organized by him or the tweels, who always ended up stepping in when things got too hard to handle to save the day and whisk you away.

"What do you think, Angelfish?" He asked with a smirk on his pretty lips. "Want to change anything?"

You hummed, just pretending to think so you could bask in their presence for a little longer. Jade's fingers were swimming through your hair and neck in a caress that made shivers go down your spine. As Floyd kept laughing and giggling as he held your cup and tilted it so you could take another sip.

"Everything's fine just how it is." You offered them a smile, leaning forward to sign it.

And with it, you offered your freedom. You offered a part of you that you would never get back, everything with a smile. Comfortable as a lamb lying their head on the wolf's mouth.

"Thank you, Azul."

He laughed as he collected that contract, wrapping a red bow around it.

When floyd first got a tip from you he gave you a pat on the head and a shiver giving whisper to your ears.

He took the tip happily and just left.

After that you visited daily.

Always giving floyd a tip made him attached to you without noticing.

He started greeting you when you came inside the lounge guiding you to your regular seat.

He even started memorizing what you order every time you visited.

He has never done that in his whole life as server.

You on the other hand enjoyed it to the fullest and even started to ask him to give you special treatment.

Floyd didnt mind and found it amusing. Hugging you whenever you asked.

Giving your hand a kiss when you held your hand out.

It was all you could wish for.

Yet floyd thought this was all a just a funny game not getting the hints behind it.

The kisses he gave on your hands were soft and warm. His lips leaving a moist feeling.

When jade talked to his twin and was asking if that is his girlfriend he was real surprised to hear no.

"You know they are totally in love with you right"

Floyd just froze looking empty into the distance for almost ten minutes.

That was the most silent jade has ever seen him.

After that he had a whole new view of you. He felt funny inside when thinking of you and he was making up all possible scenarios in his head while in bed .

Floyd loved the thought of you and thrilling experiences.

When you visited mostro lounge again, he kissed your cheek picked you up and spun you like a princess around.

He just gave you the smuggest grin you have every seen and whispered into your ear.

"I like you shrimpy"

He gave a lick to your ear before handing you your regular drink and leaving you star struck.

This was a rollercoaster to write and I feel I hit it pretty well.

Anyways make sure to interact no matter how old this post gets.

Click here for a guide to comission me

The sound of his voice was like a lullaby, soft, and welcoming. And deceitfully sweet. It was late, so very late, in fact.

But you wanted to hear him talk about the gargoyles that fascinated him so much. Malleus looked so happy that you didn't have the heart to tell him that it was already a little after midnight and that Lilia would worry about you if he went to check your room.

And he always went to check on you. Especially you.

"To make sure my darling daughter is doing ok." He once said when you inquired him about his strange behavior. But you didn't thought too much about this since he did the same with his sons.

Still, you chose to ignore it that thought and looked up. The night sky was dotted with stars, looking like little diamonds reflecting light against the vast black space and the few clouds present that could still be seen. Even the night was tired and preparing to sleep.

Malleus's hug was warm and comfortable, like lying on cotton and silk, so different from the ones your father offered you, which were purposely clumsy but tighter, almost as if he was afraid you were going to disappear from his sight or run away from his affection.

It was funny how Lilia treated you like a fragile flower, a girl who could do no harm in his eyes, one who needed to be protected and kept safe - you didn't exactly tried to undermine that kind of thinking either, preferring to take advantage of the attention and affection received, even if it was all distorted and overbearing, and that you knew you should not encourage it any further.

It was a little sad to admit but this still was better than nothing. Anything was better than allowing yourself to realize that you were alone in a strange world with no one you could trust, with no one who cared about you.

And Lilia cared. In his way, he messed up your hair and make-up just to annoy you before doing it himself and turning you into his little masterpiece. Plus, he included you in everything he did, like cooking, fighting, and playing games. A sweetheart, bless his heart, but he could skip the cooking part.

And Malleus was just like him. Even if he didn't realized.

Silver and Sebek were more laid-back somehow. Though, with Sebek, you had to word things in a very specific way to make him relent and chill around you.

"Aren't you tired yet?" Malleus asked. Despite not noticing the passage of time, he still cared a lot about you, Lilia liked to instill this in him and his other two sons, that they should always take care of you.

That they should be good brothers for you and for each other, in Lilia's absence.

Malleus hummed slowly, his fingertips running circles over your scalp as he glanced at you from the corner of his eye. The fae rarely slept, but he could see that you were almost there. A few more minutes, and he would have you sleeping on his shoulders, and that wouldn't be comfortable at all.

What a foolish, humane mistake. Had he been any other fae, Malleus could do whatever he wanted. He could play pranks on you, steal you to his kingdom. You were too trusting, but he find that funny.

You moved your gaze from the moon to his face and denied, smiling. "I like hearing you talk about the gargoyles, it's interesting so I don't feel sleepy at all. Keep telling me more, Malmal."

He snorted but did as requested, voice above a whisper, eyes bright with barely contained excitement.

Malleus talked about the architecture, about why such fascinating creatures were created and even made plans with you to take you to an exhibition that would take place in a few months in Briar Valley. Your head fell to his chest as he circled your back and pulled you closer, enjoying the quiet moment while you could before you had to go back to the dorm.

It was good that everything was silent now. Your thoughts were silent as you listened to Malleus, your eyelids drooping as the seconds passed, Malleus's fingers were still on your scalp, massaging so slowly.

You swear he did on purpose.

In the morning, you imagined how Sebek would practically sit next to you for every subject again, bragging about this and that as he helped you with your lessons. And then how he'd drag you to his club. Or like Silver who wasn't much different, would hover over your shoulders like a lazy cat and follow you like he was your shadow. It was disconcerting, but you had gotten used to it.

Lilia said it was because that's how they were trying to bond with you - like a bunch of needy cats. But you knew he was just afraid of something happening to you, especially since he had called himself your father.

And he really fulfilled this role perfectly.

Since his red eyes met your dislocated and clumsy figure, Lilia seemed to have decided that he would have you as his daughter. Taking you directly to Diasomnia when he learned of the director's decision to let you live alone at Ramshackle.

Well, you and that fire beast you had taken quite a liking.

With your eyes closed, sleep finally appearing, you remember how in shock you were following Crowley through the halls like a lost sheep. You remember seeing him out of the corner of your eye and then seeing him right in front of you, floating, his small, strong hands holding your shoulders as he calmed you down.

It must have been his fae instincts that forced him to come to your aid, you thought. And sleep came the next second, the silence broken by the lullaby that Malleus hummed softly. Uncertain. As if he had heard it before but wasn't sure how to replicate it exactly. It didn't matter.

You had people you loved looking out for you.

Malleus was still as a board, afraid to wake you up if he moved even a little centimeter. While it was true that he didn't need that much sleep he would found funny how humans sleep a lot, some even for fun or because they were bored. It was interesting.

He let his magic run through your body, to warm you up. It was nice, this was nice, having an attentive listener and a companion who liked to follow him around. You were like his little duckling. His minion, if you will.

Who fought sleep just to hear him talk. It made his heart all warm and fuzzy, as if for the first time someone was cracking down his barriers and seeing him for the first time.

He was close to Silver and Sebek too, but it was different. They were always praising him for his strength, for his power, and wisdom. He needed to live up to that image somehow.

But you? You met Malleus before you met the Prince Malleus.

"Oh, there you are!" A deep voice sounded from above, a little tired and sarcastic.

Malleus raised his eyes to see Lilia floating silently above you two, arms crossed above his chest. The mischievous bat fae was wearing his pajamas with a little hat and socks to match. "Troublesome kids trying to make me have a heart attack. It's so late already. What were you up to this time, brats?"

Malleus hummed though he didn't move an inch, and he gestured to you with his head. "I was explaining to her about the architectonic designs and how gargoyles came to be. She fell asleep just now. I don't think it would be prudent to move just yet. What if she wakes up?"

Lilia crossed his arms. "You should be more worried about what if she gets sick, young man. Or if her neck and back hurts from sleeping like that."

"Oh? I'm rather certain that I used a warming spell on both of us so this scenario won't happen." Malleus smiled serenely, a little too smug for Lilia's taste.

Rolling his eyes, Lilia approached your slumbering form, his expression softening with a gentle, caring tenderness. And the fae prince remembers that look. He saw all the time whenever Lilia was looking at baby Silver.

With delicate precision, he scooped you up into his arms, cradling you protectively against his chest. With you nestled safely in Lilia's arms, Malleus and his father stared at each other for a second.

"The night grows colder, and it's best we return now." The old general declared. And then he started walking as if this were a routine occurrence. Which was very slowly turning out to be the case.

Day in, day out, you would run from your room to spend time with your brothers. If Lilia couldn't find you with napping with Silver or bullying Sebek at their respective rooms, then he knew he had to hunt you and Malleus down. Like he did now.

He didn't mind. But he was really glad you were getting along with his boys. His fingers softly tickle your side slowly, making you giggle and wiggle in your sleep.

"Lilia," Malleus called his father, tone uncertain as he looked at you. "about that pest. What should we do?"

Lilia turned his head to look at Malleus. There was a glint in his eyes that promised danger. A smile found its way up to his lips, so menacing; he was many things, but most of all, he was still a retired general.

"Show him that a hunter can become the hunted when he underestimates his prey."

With a gentle gesture, the door opened influenced by Lilia's magic. The old general looked at the moon so high on the sky, so beautiful while its rays casted a glow on your sleepy face. You deserved someone better, someone who wasn't Rook Hunt, so eccentric and weird.

In his eyes, no one was good enough for you. And if they wanted your hand, they would have to go through him, Silver, Sebek, and Malleus.

"Beat him at his own game, strike him hard enough till there's no strength left."

That said, Lilia smiled a little when you moved around and he used his finger to poke you. He was so annoying. "Oh and do you think I should make some pancakes for breakfast? Or omelette would be better? Silver and Sebek didn't want to eat neither, silly boys. They have to eat right to get stronger."

Malleus felt his heart falter a little but he stood still, unblinking while he prayed for any deity to save him. His prayers though remained just like that, unanswered. He looked at his hands, searched for his Gao Gao dragon in his pockets, tried to come up with an excuse while he was victim to Lilia's stare.

Secretly Malleus always through that Lilia knew how awful his cooking was but was too amused by everyone's reaction to simply stop and try to make something really edible. Finally, he uttered.

"I, um... Must water my phone and sweep the curtains. Have a good night, Lilia." And with that, Malleus was gone, disappearing in a flash of green lights.

Holding a laughter on his throat, Lilia entered the dorm. The door closing behind him with a soft clock. And you drifted deeper into slumber, your dreams undisturbed by the events that were yet to unfold. Unaware of your father's gaze or the presence that lurked out there, prowling and hunting his beautiful damsel, analyzing, studying, preparing to woo you soon.

"Sweet dreams, darling" Those were Lilia's words when he set you on your bed, wrapping you on your blankets while he closed the windows and locked them with his magic.

For a moment, he watched over you. How your lips quivered, how your eyelashes moved. You were cute like a little kitten. And that's why he knew he had to protect you. Because you aren't as strong as Meleanor or Maleficia. You aren't even strong like Silver, another fellow human. He loomed over you, a soft glimmer on his eyes. You got him quite nostalgic.

Letting a last kiss on your forehead, Lilia left you room, sealing the windows and door with ancient magic so a specific someone couldn't wander inside.

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle Trickster," Rook greeted you with a smile, his pompous hat resting over his hands, as his eyes shone with the sight of you. His stare was always intense, as Icarus trying to get as close to the sun as he could before falling to his death.

In Rook's case, he was lying to the sun - he would catch you in his arms before plummeting to death.

"Ça Roule?"

You offered him a polite smile, petting the ground beside you so he could join you. "I'm good, mostly trying to finish these!"

Your notebook rested over your knees as you were sitted against an old oak tree. The sun was shining lazily across the sky as it's ray softly licked at your skin in a way that wasn't all that agressive. And by your side, Rook plooped himself as he stare at your lesson.

"It's quite simple, mon amour," he whispered giddy, any and every reason to spend time with you was greatly appreciated. Even more now, as your little family was starting to separate both of you - even if you weren't in a relationship yet, and you didn't knew of his obvious crush on you. "I can teach you."

If your eyes could shine brighter than that, perhaps Rook could say that he met Sun itself. He resisted the urge to cradle your face between his hands and kiss the entirety of it. He made a herculean effort, but he managed somehow. He'd have so much time to love, baby and care for you when he make you his.

"Please" you clasped your hand with his as you begged for his help. "I didn't want to burden fath- Lilia, so I didn't said that i was struggling with this subject."

A noble reason, he thought to himself. Yet, a smile curved up his lips.

"But I thought you two were close?" He asked, as if he was simply asking about the weather and not just waiting for the perfect opportunity to plant some doubt in your heart and mind. "If I were this close to someone, I wouldn't be annoyed to help them. You make it sound like you're a chicken being chased by a fox."

A whine left your lips, his teasing taking root at your head as you realized how silly that sounded.

"It's just... He can be a bit overwhelming sometimes." You pouted, lower lip captured by your teeth as you turned around to see if any of your brothers were nearby. "And like, I have access to all these books, but nothing makes sense. Magic doesn't make sense and they don't explain nothing to me."

"Maybe they doesn't trust you enough." Rook quipped, his hands traveling from your hand to your shoulder, his touch was enjoyable and you didn't think much of it. He forced you gently to look at him, eyes trained on your lips, on your teeth, on your tongue.

He was breathing heavily too. "But you can always come to me when you need, whatever the issue is, I'II help you."

You nodded, promising him that.

You loved Lilia for helping you, for taking you under his wing and guide you in a strange world, yet, sometimes, he could be a bit too much. Too overbearing, too overprotective. It was tiring sometimes, even more because he had trained Malleus, Silver and Sebek to do the same thing when he wasn't near.

Again. You loved them, but sometimes you needed some alone time, you needed to breathe and clear your head.

"Whatever would I do without you, my very good and wonderful bestie?" You giggled, pushing your head into his arm as you watched him take your pen and scribbling some information that was easy to understand.

Bestie. Rook’s fingers trembled for a second, but he remained close as he helped you with your lessons.

"Count more on me, Prefect!" Rook pinched your cheeks. Then, before you could curse him, he started explaining the subject you were struggling with.

"Now, magic is about intention. The stronger the intention, the stronger is your magic." As if to exemplify that, he took his magic pen and just with a few movements he made a flower bloom from the pen's tip, the entire time watching your face as you were focused on him.

It fell into your lap, and Rook took it to put it behind your ear. "Ah, beauté just like you!"

You rolled your eyes, slapping his arm as a revenge. Though, your false annoyance didn't last long before you were gawking at the things he could do with his magic. First, he created a rabbit, so white and fat, and cuddly that you held it hostage to your chest, second he made a flying pair of stars that made you their sun, arbitating you.

For last, Rook imagined the most full of the bouquets. Full of red roses, white lilies and daisies.

If only you grasped the meanings of those beautiful flowers... But you didn't.

Even still, he was smiling as he watched you being so carefree in his presence, unaware of how much his heart longed for yours in the only way it could.

With hunger and fear of losing you. With the nasty feeling of his teeth tearing into your skin and tasting your blood, as it drips slowly into his neck and soaks his chest. He loves you like a predator, like an owner and a follower.

"Can I keep it?" You asked him.

A laughter erupted from his chest. "Please, do so."

He knew the empty vase beside your bed would be filled with them later that night. And he could now watch you playing his bunny, which would only be alive for a couple more hours before disappearing like a magic trick.

"I think I understand magic a bit more now. Thank you!"

Taking his hat in his hands, Rook bowed slightly. "My pleasure, my lady. Don't hesitant to call for me whenever you need."

Like the mad hunter he was, Rook soon disappeared between the trees and grass, leaving you behind with a kiss upon your cheek. Not a second later, Lilia appeared like if he sensed something was wrong and he was right as he stared right at your hands. The bunny, the bouquet. The lipstick on your cheek. The traces of magic hanging in the air.

A threat. An open invitation for war.

Lilia smiled.

"My my, what do we have here?" He clicked his tongue, but soon made the displeasure less noticeable as he leaned down by your side. His red eyes were staring directly towards the rodent on your lap as you pretend not to notices it.

"Uh, how was your day, dad?"

By how things were going, Lilia was having a good day alright. Because at night he would hunt down Rook Hunt himself with his axe in his hands. And when he got him, he'd mutilate him beyond recognization. But he couldn't tell you that, so, instead, he pet your head with a condescendenting smile.

"Silver made cake. Malleus was searching for you, but he couldn't find you." Lilia didn't sound angry this time. Maybe his age was catching up to him and was nap time. "Sebek too. So I came searching for you, since the younglings couldn't. It's not their fault they couldn't feel the magic barrier around this place."

That got your attention, but you remained silent.

"Were you talking with someone?"

You nodded, because lying wasn't an opption. "With Rook."

If looks could kill, you would be underground now with a funeral cliché song playing. Lilia sighed greatly, despite knowing the truth. He didn't had the heart to tell all sorts of things going on with that boy right now, so he squished your cheeks till you pouted.

"He's a bad influence."

You added. "He's funny, though."

"And a stalker."

In your opinion, Rook was very misunderstood.

"He's not a stalker, dad!" You rolled your eyes. "A stalker would be so gracious as help me when I needed? Would make me laugh and help during classes? Of course, no-"

You were about to conclude your point, but Lilia seemed ready to kill Rook if you dared to finish your thoughts. Coughing, you let him hold your magical bunny. He was very begrudgingly patting it; even if it reeked of Rook’s magic, it was very soft to the touch and was so warm too.

"On another hand, you said Silver made cake, yes?" You started getting up and Lilia mirrored your behavior. "Food is better when shared with family. Let's go."

Lilia was fully aware of your attempt at disarming the situation and just this once he let it slide, as he took your hand and teleported you home. Diasomnia was lively, exactly how you remember.

And as he walked behind you, it would be all you knew.

If keeping Rook away from you wasn't an option, perhaps he should resort to other methods. That pest had already started taking roots over your heart and he wouldn't let that hunter get any closer.

It started with flowers.

Lavender and white roses. Bundled with silk ribbons. Left outside your dorm room every morning at sunrise, always fresh, as if hand picked moments before you awoke.

At first, you thought it was harmless. A secret admirer. Maybe a shy one. Sweet, in a way. A little dramatic. You told yourself it was innocent. Even when the petals began to carry tiny notes, folded with precision and penned in a script too elegant to be accidental.

"Your scent is even more intoxicating in the morning, ma chérie."

You told yourself it was a prank. A misunderstanding. But deep down, your stomach twisted. Because the handwriting was familiar.

Too familiar.

You’d seen it before, on a test when the teacher asked you to collect them, on poems.

Rook.

And now, you were running….

The woods behind NRC were heavy with nightfall. The moon was a sliver above, filtered through bare branches clawing at the sky. Your breath came in gasps. Every step seemed louder than thunder. Branches tore at your clothes and scratched your cheeks, as if the forest itself tried to slow you down.

Behind you, somewhere in the dark, came a hum. A melody…soft and lilting. “Run, my love , run, run for your life~…”

His voice.Honey and silk. Singsong. Too close.

You pushed yourself faster. Your lungs ached. You didn’t care. You couldn’t stop. You couldn’t…

Not after the mirror shard on your desk, with “Say you’ll never leave me” scratched into the glass. Not after the red thread wrapped around your doorknob like a noose. Not after the scent of lavender on your pillow even though you never put it there.

You burst through the brush only for your foot to catch on a root.

You fell, hard.

Dirt filled your mouth. Your hands scraped across rock and root, and your knee throbbed from the impact. You tried to rise but the shadows were already bending toward you.

He was there.

Of course he was.

Golden hair untouched by sweat. His bow slung casually across his back. Not a wrinkle in his uniform. Not a leaf in his hair. His eyes glowing like twin moons, fixed only on you. And his smile…

So gentle.

So delighted.

Like he wasn’t chasing you through a forest in the middle of the night. Like this was a game.

“Oh, ma colombe…” he whispered, kneeling beside you. His gloved fingers brushed your cheek like a lover’s caress. “Look at you. Merveilleuse…”

You flinched from his touch, trembling. “Please,” you whispered. “Don’t do this…”

“Shhh.” Rook pressed a finger to your lips, reverent and trembling. “You mustn’t cry, mon amour. Your tears... ah, they look like moonlight. So soft. So full of truth.”

He tilted his head, eyes raking over you with a kind of holy reverence. “You’re even more beautiful like this my love.”

You shivered as his hands, soft, careful, lifted you from the ground like you weighed nothing. He sat down with you in his lap, cradling you against his chest. Your heart pounded against your ribs.

He smiled wider. “Oui… there it is,” he purred. “That heartbeat. That exquisite little rhythm that plays only for me.”

“Rook…” you breathed. “Why are you doing this?”

He looked genuinely startled at the question. “As if I could do anything else,” he murmured. “You are the art I’ve waited my whole life to find. The only muse I’ve ever craved. When you speak, the stars hush to listen. When you cry, the wind weeps.”

He leaned closer, his lips barely brushing your temple. “I would paint the sky with your blood just to frame you in crimson,” he whispered. “But I won’t. I want you alive. I want to feel your breath on my skin. Your body trembling against mine.”

You wanted to scream. You wanted to hit him, to run again, but his arms were around you. Warm. Strong. Safe, in a terrifying, deluded way.

And the worst part?

The part you hated yourself for?

A part of you didn’t want to leave. Because no one had ever looked at you like that before. Like you were divine. Worshipped. His obsession burned, and in its fire, you felt wanted in a way that shook you.

That terrified you. And yet…

“You’re insane,” you whispered, voice quivering. “This isn’t love.”

Rook’s expression didn’t falter. “Ah, but you feel it too, don’t you?”

He leaned down, forehead resting against yours, eyes half lidded and glassy with adoration. “You wouldn’t run so beautifully if part of you didn’t want to be caught.”

You bite your lips, trying to avoid his pricing gaze. “Say you love me,” he breathed, brushing your hair back. “Say it. Please, ma chérie. Or I will take the words from your lips myself.”

His fingers cupped your jaw, thumb gently pressing your chin upward. “Say it, and I swear… I’ll never leave you… I’ll never abandon you… I’ll always protect you… I’ll never hurt you...”

He paused. “Just say the words and everything will be yours, I’ll give everything you desire. I’ll give you my heart to hold, to squeeze, to shatter.”

A sob escaped your throat, and yet…

You felt heat rise in your chest, shameful and traitorous. You were scared, but your body betrayed you. You were disgusted, but your heart thudded when he touched you. You were trapped, and somewhere deep down…

You didn’t want him to stop.

“I love you…” you whispered, hating yourself.

His breath caught. He looked at you like you’d just given him the moon. “Encore,” he said breathlessly. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

He let out a soft, shaking moan, pulling you close, pressing his forehead to yours. “Mon cœur. Mon âme. Mon trésor…”

Then he kissed you. Softly. Tenderly. Madly.

It was a kiss like a vow. Like he’d waited lifetimes for it. Like he meant to never let go.

And still, when he stood, lifting you effortlessly into his arms you didn’t struggle. Because someone like Rook didn’t stop when you ran. They only chased harder. And part of you… God help you…

wanted to be caught…

..............................................................................................................................

The first time you met him was a complete accident, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like a good one.  And funnily enough, it happened the old fashioned way you seemed to meet new people…

“GRIM, GET BACK HERE!”

…by chasing Grim and trying to stop him from being an unrepentant food thief. 

You loved Grim as much as you could, you truly did. But like you earlier anticipated following him around and stopping him from offending the wrong person turned out to be happening exactly as you predicted. Who cares about your plans and responsibilities today, Grim decided that filling the endless void that was his belly was more important. 

“Mmm~ Something smells good! C’mon, tasty treats, where are you!”

“GRIM, I SWEAR TO-” You dive for your fleeing roommate, who manages to evade in favor of finding whatever food he has in his sights. “Ugh!” Well, at least this can’t get any-

“Ah! It’s the weasel who set my butt on fire!” Oh, damn it. Okay, that was on you. You can admit that.

“You need him to live, __________. You need him to live.” You mutter on your breath, as you follow him wherever he ran off to right in time to watch Grim  literally stealing the snack out of someone’s hand. And then running off with that said someone looking very confused and fleeing with that guy’s snack in his teeth. Damn it. Like usual, your regular anger and days collection of exasperation are just added onto another layer of your pure misery, now Grim has probably offended another person. Lovely.

You quickly apologize before this devolves from bad to worse, your anxiety spiking once more. “I’m so sorry! Grim is just… himself.”

Instead of the usual hostility that you normally receive when Grim screws with someone, all the guy does is laugh it off. “It’s okay!” His responding smile momentarily blinds you, and feels shockingly warm and welcoming as if you hadn’t just massively inconvenienced him, “As long as he didn’t set my butt on fire again, he can have it.” 

Huh. Normally, when Grim unintentionally screws with someone’s food, they either yell at you or get all hostile. This is a welcome change. Regardless, the regular discomfort that you’ve gotten used to feeling doesn’t subside, though you aren’t going to let that ruin the surprisingly comfortable mood. You sigh in a mix of relief and your still present suspicion, “Phew. Normally, people get pissed at me when Grim screws with someone.” 

“No worries!” He smiles so brightly that you could momentarily confuse it for the sun. Seriously, you’re squinting, “I’m Kalim Al-Asim, it’s nice to meet you!”

The first impression you get isn’t the usual bad vibe, which is strangely comforting because you’ve been far too used to your bad feeling. Still like before, your paranoia rears its ugly head once more and your suspicion remains, “Well, I’m glad to be known for something else, rather than orientation. My name’s __________. Again, sorry about Grim and your food. It’s nice to meet you too."

Your unease melts away like a snow cone in the hot sun, this is going way better than you thought it would when you were chasing Grim a few minutes ago. You can’t help but feel a little glad that it was Kalim that Grim decided to bother instead of anyone else. Talking with Kalim makes you feel strangely at ease.

As if completely forgetting the odd way you just met, Kalim’s face brightens, something you’d thought was bordering on  impossible at his point, and exclaims “Hey, you should come to my next get-together! There's no such thing as too many party people, after all.” 

“I’d love-”, Wait a second, Grim is still running away.  

“Oh wait, shit.” You suddenly remember, realizing that Grim could be anywhere offending someone else. “Sorry to cut this short, but I gotta go chase down Grim! It was nice meeting you!” 

“Bye, __________!” Kalim waves you good-bye with so much enthusiasm like you were friends for years rather than having just met in a really bad way, you return not as enthusiastically before setting your focus on catching your ‘weasal’.  

The awkward meeting aside, it was a nice change of pace.

You make a mental note to make Grim apologise to Kalim the next time you see him. One of the few random people you ran into that didn’t verbally tear your head of for Grim’s food related crimes was a rarity. And you’re not exactly against being near him again. 

The next time you meet Kalim, you were following up on a really bad day. The short version was that you went from the originally large number of dread six to seven the day before and your already shaky mental health had taken a massive blow. Your frayed and shredded nerves were nearly pushing you close to tears and by the time you met Kalim again, you’d been forced over the edge.

You’d run off somewhere after the school day was out heading literally anywhere you could when you could be alone, so you could just cry your feelings out, compose yourself and move on with your unfortunately shitty day. Grim, even reluctantly, was basically your shoulder to cry on. And then you somehow crossed paths again. 

“_________ -” Kalim hesitates, his blinding, sunshiny smile that you remembered vanishes once Kalim notices the ugly crying you were doing in the corner of the halls you hoped no one would find you, replaced with well-meaning confusion and concern. “_______?”

You quickly try to wipe the tears from your face and hiccup, “O-Oh.. hey, Kalim.” It basically turns out to be completely useless, as your tears are replaced with more, and you can’t stop the hoarse, throaty tone thanks to your stupid crying and sniveling. Feeling the misery that much more, you sniffle, “Y-You kinda caught me at a bad time.” 

“Is something wrong?

Standing and still trying to stop the waterfall of tears, you quickly try to brush it off . “N-Nah, it’s fine I don’t want to bother you with my…” You hesitate, because there was so much crap you already had to deal with, so much so that you couldn't even think of a word to describe the horrible amalgamation you were suffering through, “...stuff.”

“It’s okay, you can talk to me about anything.” He says, despite the fact you can distinctly remember you barely know each other. Your head hurts too much from crying to voice that concern. Though  that concern does mix terribly with all the bad thoughts in your head.

 “I-I know, but what if I don’t…want to talk about it?” You quickly try to wiggle out of it, bottling up the bad stuff was never a good plan for you, but you didn’t want to. The fear of everything being revealed to everyone was still an underlying fear, one that you were going to try and keep contained. 

“If you don’t want to talk about it, maybe I can hug you or just sit here till you feel better. I’m not gonna leave you crying like this _________, whatever I need to do to make you feel better.”

“Are you sure?” No matter how sweet this was, an acquaintance trying to help someone they found crying their eyes out in the middle of an empty hallway for an unknown reason; but you couldn’t help that still-present paranoia and anxiety especially prevented you from thinking of this to be as sweet and genuine as the act seems. “I don’t want to bother you.”

Kalim is not perturbed, “Try me.”

“Well, you could say I’m…” There are a lot of words that could be used to describe your current condition. Terrified. Helpless. Alone in a world you never considered the possibility of it existing in the first place and then entering it and now you can’t leave and things can and always get worse real fast. “...Homesick?”

Kalim pauses to think for a minute, before his face lights up as he has what you assume is a lightbulb moment, “I know what could cheer you up!”

What could possibly cheer you up? Honestly, you’re pretty much open to whatever at this point. “What?”

“I’ll show you.” Kalim takes you by the arm and pulls you to an unknown destination. “Come on!”

“W-Wait! Where are we going!?”

As it turns out the dorm Kalim was dorm leading, Scarabia.

Mostly empty, because of the fact classes were still in session, something which you think you’ll both be forced to embrace the consequences of later, but Kalim had brought you to the kitchens on a mission:

“I’ll make you Maghrebi tea, it always makes me feel better when I’m upset.”

“Do… Do you know what you're doing?”

“Nope! But I’m sure I can figure it out.”

He did, and with moderate success. Except for the-

“W-Was there supposed to be that fire from making tea?”

“No... That usually doesn’t happen when Jamil makes it?”

“Who’s Jamil?”

“Oh, he’s my best friend. Normally he doesn’t allow me to use knives or fire, so I don't have much cooking experience. Hopefully, he doesn’t get too mad about it when he gets back from classes later.” 

You stare at the scorch marks, covering the kitchen’s countertops from the fire you had to help Kalim put out when he knocked over a bottle of something. Thankfully, he’s a lot better organised than Grim is in the kitchen, which isn’t a high bar since the burning water incident, but it was the thought that counted. 

Though the ‘putting out the fire’ part was funny in hindsight, and no one was injured so it all went well in the end. You take a sip of the slightly over-spiced tea, finding it incredibly soothing. Huh, Kalim was right. “It was nice of you to do this for me. Even if Jamil might be a little peeved when he gets back.” You do fear for his sacrifice on the altar of his friend though, if he reacted anything like you would if Grim did it, Kalim might be in for it. 

“He probably won’t be.” Kalim reassures you, “Everything’s not burnt, and it didn't even explode!”

The unexpected line makes you snort suddenly, the tea nearly coming out of your nose as you can't help your laughter. It’s small, unnecessary, and not something you might remember later on, but after a long hard day and a lot of other hard days you might have to deal with down the road, you can’t help but laugh at it, finally feeling the rush of dopamine that you’d gone without for a while. 

You don’t even notice it until Kalim points it out, “You're laughing like you're having a blast.” Stunned by your own laughter, you stop and place a hand over your own mouth reflexively, only for Kalim to push you to continue, “No, no, that's a good thing! I love seeing you smile!”

You don’t resume your laughter, and instead smile softly. “Thank you, Kalim.” With what you’d gone through it felt like it'd been a while since you were genuinely able to smile and laugh. You should have considered it was inevitable that the ‘most cheerful’ student on campus, got you to smile and laugh again genuinely. “I’m lucky I bumped into you when I did.”

“Me too!” Kalim’s bright, friendly nature really became the perfect bandage over your crumbling mental state, really fixing something in you that really needed cheering up. 

That would have been a fine enough reason on its own but a thought appears in your head, one fueled by your earlier suspicion, “By the way,” You ask, “Why did you put up with me, and try to help me? I mean, I totally burdened you this whole time.”

“You’re not, though.” Kalim once again rejects the idea of you being a burden to him, “I just liked talking to you that first time, and you looked like you were really upset. Why wouldn’t I want to help you?”

That was a plausible excuse, and Kalim wasn’t exactly the most untrustworthy person you ever met. Besides, it was very sweet that he'd risk getting scolded by his friend, Jamil, to make you feel better. You hurriedly stamp down that doubt, “Nevermind, then.”

After that, you pretty much convinced yourself that Kalim wasn’t being suspicious. In fact, you found him very comforting to talk to, not being the only one who had to deal with all the stuff that was bugging you just made you feel way better. That and the fact he seemed completely genuine when he was hanging out with you like he didn’t have a single dishonest bone in his body.

The suspicion of your first and second encounter had long melted away, and you felt for the first time in a long time that you could finally take a deep breath and relax. Kalim was great about it too, either completely fine with you venting your frustrations or just casually chatting with him about random junk. 

Thankfully, Jamil was constantly busy with something Kalim said he wasn’t technically supposed to be doing but Kalim said it was Jamil was more than happy to do it, so it was okay!

And all in all, you were loving the experience. Kalim was a good friend, Grim was more than happy to deal with it because Kalim always had snacks and you were enjoying the normalcy of chatting like a normal person for a while. 

But then, today happened. 

“_________!” 

“Hey, Kalim-” You turn to greet him but are caught off guard by the large bag he has in his arms, “What is all that?”

“Here you go! I hope you like it, _______.” Kalim probably didn’t hear you that time because he only smiles and hands you the bag, the weight of it and a quick glance tells you it’s food. But not cheap stuff you can take for free from Sam's. It's the expensive kind, the expensive stuff that you usually avoid. 

“Woah, you don’t have to give me all this!” The fact you can barely carry this is already a massive sign that there seemed that there may have been a boundary that you did not make clear enough.

“But you said that you could barely afford food.” You remember that conversation, it was earlier that day and yes, you did say that but you didn’t . You complained about it just wanting to vent, but you hadn’t expected for Kalim to take it literally.  “So I got you some, isn’t that better?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t need to get me all this stuff!” 

“Shut up, henchman!” Grim objects, like you were going crazy, turning down all the food that he could have stuffed his face with. “Stop turning down the free food.”

“You shut up, Grim. Seriously. I swear you would sell me out for a can of tuna.” You quickly scold your roommate, “But I can’t accept this, Kalim.”

“You can’t?” Kalim looks genuinely confused by your sudden distress, “Why?”

“Because it’s too much.” This was nice, you could admit it was a kind gesture for him to do when hearing of your plight, but this was the kind of favor a friend did for someone you knew for years not for someone that you’ve known and hung out with for less than a month.

“Wait, so you do this for other people?”

“Yep, all the time.” 

“Oh..?” Well, then that would make sense, why else would he do something like this without asking you first if he hadn’t done it before for other people and them being okay with it. Plus, it didn’t seem like a big deal to Kalim, so maybe your paranoia was rearing its ugly head. And he already did it so there was nothing he or you could really do about that now. Besides, overthinking and making a problem out of nothing has steered you wrong before so, regardless of your worries, you shove it down and accept it, “Well, in that case. I guess that was my bad. Thank you, I really appreciate the help.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“It’s just me overthinking again. No worries.”

“Phew, I was worried you wouldn’t like it.” Well, you’re glad this whole mess has been cleared up and now you can drop these off at Ramshackle and got back to hanging out like you always did- “Hey, maybe I could  send some nice clothes and jewels over to Ramshackle sometime!”

Okay that’s a massive overstep.

“N-no! You don’t have to do anything like that! That seems a little much, I don’t want you spending so much on me.” “Seriously, I can accept this stuff because it isn’t that bad, but I think literal jewels are way too much, even if it’s a gift!”

“Seriously, it’s no big deal.” The amount of nonchalance he has to gifting someone he’s been talking to and hanging out literal treasure tells you that he really is that rich.

Still, even if you appreciate the gesture, it doesn't sit well with you receiving a lot of gifts from a newly formed friendship even with him being as sweet as he is, and you don’t want him to spend that much on you even if it was something you needed. “You don’t have to do that though.” You gesture to the bags of it still in your arms, “I appreciate the gesture. I do, but I don’t need jewels or expensive clothes.”

Kalim doesn’t get the hint initially, “Oh, is there something else you want instead?”

“No, no.” You clarify, “I mean, I don’t want you spending so much on me. All of it makes me think that I have to pay back for all of it somehow.” 

Kalim looks shocked at the fact you would even consider paying him back any at all, “You don’t have to, ________. I like giving people stuff.”

“I know but honestly the best gift you could give me is your company!” Gifts are great, fantastic even. But you still remember that classic of your world ‘gifts are only gifts as long as the giver’s intention remains that way’ and the last thing you need with your track record is to make this kind gesture be turned into something that feels a lot less kind. The reason you loved your friendship with Kalim thus far was because he was so easy-going and genuine, you could appreciate the gifts but you wanted your friendship with him first, “You don’t have to keep giving me stuff for me to be your friend. I mean, I appreciate the stuff but gifts make me feel a little…smothered? Seriously, I just like your company!”

“You do?”

“Mhmm!” You nod, “Hanging out with you has really helped improve my mood these past few days,” Like finding an oasis in the middle of a desert, he had been a welcomed break from your own pessimism. “I like the way I feel when I’m with you. So you just continue being yourself, I like how you are.”

Kalim’s gasp of pure excitement is the only warning you receive before he charges at you for a hug, “WAIT! I’m still holding all this!” 

Much too late that sentence comes out, but at least Kalim is nice enough to help you pick up all the stuff he gave you. It’s lovely, because you end up chatting and laughing about whatever you could talk about the rest of the way back. You’re happier than you’ve felt in a while. 

One normal friend, sure a lot more affluent than you thought of, but hey, he was at least genuine.

Later at Scarabia….

“And she said that she didn't really want me to give her a ton of gifts, but she said that she really likes spending time with me and then we hugged, and then she got a little mad at me but then she laughed the sweetest laugh I’ve ever heard!”

“That’s nice, Kalim.” Jamil responds, not caring at all in the slightest as Kalim keeps chatting about you, ‘his darling’, “Small question, if she doesn’t want any gifts why have I-” Jamil corrects himself, “-We spent the last hour digging through your treasures for a gift?”

“Because it means that the gift that I give her has to be extra special!” Kalim exclaims , clearly not understanding what your no gifts policy actually meant. 

“Of course, why shouldn’t it be.” Jamil agrees unenthusiastically before grumbling under his breath, “Of course he had to meet his darling before you did.”

“What was that, Jamil?”

“I said, how fortunate it is that you met her when you did.” 

“It’s actually all thanks to you that I met her in the first place.”

“It is?”

“If you hadn’t kept encouraging me to take a step back from our’ dorm’s Spelldrive practice, then I never would have bumped into her!” Kalim hugs his ‘best friend’. “So thank you.”

Despite the truth of that actually being an attempt at having a single opportunity at not having every single opportunity at not having every single moment of his life being centered around Kalim and finally having the chance to earn some glory for himself, Jamil willfully ignores that part, “You’re welcome,” returning the hug with an uncaring pat on the back.

“But don’t worry! I’m sure that you’ll meet your darling soon. Now c’mon let’s keep looking!.”

Jamil doesn’t respond, maintaining his silence as Kalim goes back to digging through the ceiling-high piles of riches like an excited puppy. A cloud of disdain still hangs over his shoulder weighing down with years of resentment and envy.

But still, Jamil would remain patient. Soon, none of it would matter nor would the extra jab of Kalim meeting his darling wouldn’t matter.

His own was probably better anyway. 

The Trickster and the Hunter - Re-Meeting Rook Hunt…. Again…

You have a bad feeling about… something.

“What a great way to start the morning…” You mumble, blinking the sleep out of your eyes and cursing this cruel world for the anxious feeling you woke up to. It’s not as severe as the ‘in danger’ feeling, or as mild as a  ‘you overslept and are late’ feeling, you know something is wrong but you can’t place it.

Sitting up you do a quick scan of the room, and it's just the same as it was when you went to sleep last night, minus the morning light seeping through the cracked and boarded windows. The furniture is still where it was, Grim was still fast asleep on his pillow, your door was still locked and blocked with a chair… Why did you think something was wrong? Were you just worrying over nothing or was there actually something you hadn’t yet noticed?

“You’re just being paranoid.” You mutter to yourself to get that paranoia to just shut up and let you get through your morning routine. 

Still, the feeling doesn’t go away. As you remove your pajamas, you feel a chill go up your spine. Like someone was watching you undress.

That was a creepy thought, since you’d met Chenya, you didn’t want to imagine someone being in the room with you as you changed clothes and, unless they revealed themselves to you, you would have no way of knowing. They didn’t have to be in the room to do it either, with all the loose boards in the walls and floors you hadn’t replaced yet, anyone could just peek in if they wanted to. 

The thought makes you dress faster, not wanting to be anymore vulnerable as you already do. Still anxious, you finish and you grab your brush- “What the-?”

The old hair in it is missing. It’s been picked clean of hair you’d shed like it was never there to begin with. And more importantly, you can’t remember cleaning it.

Just because you were tired last night doesn’t make you forgetful, you were pretty sure that there was hair in there when you tossed it onto your dresser last night. You quickly check your wastebasket looking for it, finding no clumps of old hair in there, it’s not on your floor or anywhere else. So why was your hair gone?

“Maybe I did throw it away?”, you ponder, you might just be imagining it. It might have been you, maybe it just slipped your mind. Besides, it was just hair, why would anyone want anything to do with your hair? 

You rapidly shove down the thought of what a stalker in this universe would do with it. You’re just glad they didn’t try to take it from your head directly. Or maybe it’s actually a bad thing. The fact they collected the ones you shed, ones that you could so easily lose without knowing, sends a chill down your spine.

You shake off the shivers of discomfort, “Whatever. It’s probably nothing.”

You finish your routine before coming back to Grim who is snoozing peacefully on his pillow, ready to wake him up before hesitating. Maybe you shouldn’t, Grim’s had to put up with your early morning rises for the past week, and you could afford to let him sleep in today. What’s the worst that could happen?

You stop yourself from thinking about the dreaded six words. In your case, you probably shouldn’t. And you already woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

You shrug it off, and leave your room, only to hear something go crunch under your feet. Bewildered, you look down, and- “What the hell?”

It’s flowers. 

Normally, you’d expect that  it was roses with Heartslabyul keeping those flowers around more than anyone. Or maybe the singing flowers from a garden in the rose maze that Cater showed you that one time last week. But these are wildflowers.

A small but well-loved by the sender to you (ignore the concerned and panicked reaction from you) bouquet of baby’s breath, daffodils and salvias all tied together with a deep purple ribbon. The flowers from what you can tell, thanks to a recent panicked research romp, is altogether a bouquet full of love flowers. 

That got into the dorm you locked as tight as physically possible.

While you were sleeping last night.

After someone maybe managed to slip into your room-

“No. We are not thinking about this right now.” You mutter to yourself as you feel the evil sensation of dread again. “Maybe the ghosts went on a flower picking night, and the hair is just a strange coincidence.”

You toss the flowers onto a chair in your room, before purging the thought of them from your mind and continuing on your way. “It’s just a coincidence. It’s probably nothing….”

It can’t just be nothing, can it?

You’re still thinking about those two abnormalities on your morning run. Maybe if it was just the one weird thing you could ignore it, maybe you did just forget about it in your exhaustion last night or maybe one of the Ramshackle ghosts went wildflower picking and thought you would like some? But both in quick succession? Something about that sets your alarm bells ringing. 

If it had been someone in your dorm, who was it though? You had an inkling it wasn’t anyone from Heartslabyul. Why would they scavenge the hills for wildflowers when they had the rose garden, and that one garden in the Rose Maze full of ones that sang, it’s not like any one of them would try to disguise, who sent them and why would they want to you to not know who sent it?

Your mind remains occupied as your run leads you to the backwoods. Taking up running was good for escape reasons and general health, and it gave you some time to think about the strangers of your predicament, all… alone…

“Hang on.” You slow down into a jog and look quickly over your shoulder. Were you alone? The second you think about it is the second you worry if someone actually was. You didn’t normally take them alone, sometimes you did when you didn’t want to drag Grim out of bed this early, could someone be following you?

You subconsciously hasten your pace, feeling your heartbeat speed up for another reason than the exercise. You already don’t like the idea of someone following you when the closest person that can help you is still fast asleep in your bed, doesn’t soothe you in the slightest. 

You spar one more glance over your shoulder to soothe your own worry, but that ends up being a mistake…

Because you hadn't paid as much attention as you should have on the ground in front of you, having a sharp-ish drop into the backwoods and in the few seconds you weren’t looking that your ankle would roll, sending you careening down that drop.

“OW! SON OF A-”

You squeeze your eyes shut in anticipation to feel the pain of hitting the ground…again… Only to land on what feels like a pair of very strong arms.

Huh? What was - “Quel plaisir de te revoir, mon filou~” Oh no. 

“R-Rook?!” You open your eyes in surprise, hoping it's not him but are unpleasantly surprised to see his handsome face with predatory eyes staring right back at yours. “How are you- How did you-”

“C'est bon, mon filou. Your fall must have given you quite the fright. How lucky I was to catch you again! And how kind is fate to have us keep meeting like this~” All the while he says this, he doesn’t let you down. Seemingly all too content to have you in his arms.

“O-Okay..?” You answer, still a mix of shocked and confused.

Wait a second. 

“Hang on, why are you even here, I didn’t hear you in the woods so how did you even know I was here? How did you even know I needed someone to save me?!” Question after question spills from your mouth from your ever increasing confusion and suspicion something about his sudden appearance just doesn’t sit well with you. 

Rook doesn’t respond your clear panic like he’s been caught instead of only continues smiling and answers, “Simple, mon filou. I am hunting an insaisissable, unique en son genre, chéri creature that appears here every morning.” You can’t deny the plausibility of what he’s saying. The bow and quiver on his back does give him the benefit of the doubt. “It is pure coincidence that I heard your cry of anguish and ran to your aid.”

Benefit of the doubt or not, you still have an off feeling… “Okay…then… Can you put me down now please?”

“Mais pourquoi, but why?” Rook, surprisingly given the nature of his character that you’ve known so far, “Would you not prefer to let me carry you back? Your ankle is still in bad shape.”

How did he know you rolled your ankle, if he only learned that you were here after you cried in pain? A quick glance of it shows that the skin’s reddened but Rook shouldn’t have known that, “I-I’ll be fine,” You hurriedly bluff, “I don’t want to burden you any more. I’m probably heavy too.” You laugh nervously as you squirm in his hold, those alarm bells ringing louder in your head.

Benefit of the doubt be damned, something’s up. 

You expect more push back from Rook, but instead, “Non non, mon filou. You fit so well into my arms  it is almost like you were made for them,” he says that before setting you down, and the mild discomfort in your ankle comes second to your unease, as if everything Rook says sounds just a little too concerning. 

“Okay…I guess.” No matter how sharp the pain in your ankle, you were prepared to run all the way back to Ramshackle, if it meant putting some distance between you and Rook. “I’ll just go…”

But as you’re about to run off, Rook bids you farewell, “Au revoir, mon filou, I hope we meet again soon.” 

You sincerely hope not. In a school this big, the chances of meeting him again, much less soon have to be slim…

Turns out slim means guaranteed.

You’re starting to think that the world  has it out for you more than anyone else. Because a slim chance turned out to be less of a slim chance and more of a guaranteed one. 

“And…no. We are still lost.” You grumble, searching the halls in a mix of anger and confusion. Stupid NRC for being built like one giant maze. 

“See, henchman, we should have gone the other way!”

“We did go the other way twice. We went in a circle and that’s why I said we should go this way.” You argue back, this has been going on for the past five minutes and your ankle still hurts so this little misadventure was starting to piss you off. A part of you still wished you were in animal linguistics class, trying to juggle your irritation at being abysmal at cat language with Lucius alongside your slow, steady exposure therapy of being normal around the Adeuce duo. But you weren’t going to turn down the offer Trein gave you to get a much needed break from the two by doing an errand for him. Now you were lost and upset, yay…

“Seriously, why did they build this place like- Ugh!” You’re cut off mid-sentence as you turn a corner into someone wearing the deep purple of Pomefiore. Your shallow hope is dashed aside so fast and so soon. 

“Mon filou, how magnifique we meet again so soon~” Because something or someone out there hates you, so the person you just so happened to bump into was Rook. Again. “Ah, I see you’re with Monsieur Hirsute. You too are almost always together it seems.”

“Hey, I’m the Great Grim, not Monsieur… whatever ya said.” Remembering Grim was there takes some of the weight of your shoulders, at least you’re not alone this time. “And who’re you again? Book Hunt?”

“His name’s Rook, Grim” You realise your mistake too late.

“Mon filou, comme c'est gentil de ta part, how kind of you! To do me the honor of remembering my name!” Rook looks like he’s one second away from shedding a tear from you doing him the honor of… remembering his name, you can feel your bad feeling return with a vengeance. 

“...Sure.” Yeah, you’re not sticking around. “C’mon Grim, let’s go.” You quickly utter ready to leave as fast as and as soon as possible. Thankfully, the perfect escape is still in your arms and not scattered on the floor. “I’d love to chat but I gotta bring something to Professor Trein’s office for him so I’m gonna go-”

Your attempt at a swift exit is scuppered though. “Is that so? Perhaps I could take you.” Rook’s scary strong hand catches you by the arm, pulling you back and in close enough that your back touches his chest. The polite and gentle smile on his face while he says those words imprints itself into your nightmare tonight.

“Uh, I-I’ll be fine on my own.”

“Absurdité, Nonsense, mon filou. I would be remiss as a vice dorm leader to let you wander all lost.” Damn it, you didn’t think about that. “En plus, besides, you were even upset that you were lost to begin with, allow me to give you my aid.” So he had heard you complaining about being lost. Just how long was he listening to you? You and Grim couldn’t have been that loud. And now you’re sure that he’s going to tag along regardless of what your answer is. 

“Myeh… C’mon, henchman. Just let him.” You’re about to admonish him for the tiny betrayal when Grim continues, “The sooner you let him, the sooner this weirdo leaves us alone.”

“You wound me, Monsieur Hirsute.”

Well he isn’t wrong. You can’t deny that he’s right, a welcome surprise and thus agree. “Fine, let’s go.”

You come to regret your lose-lose decision because Rook’s got his arm around your waist a second after you begrudgingly agree and that innocuous touch got turned into one that sent a shudder of anxiety up your spine so fast all the composure you practiced in the mirror was brutally shaken. You ended up trying to keep yourself as far as physically possible from him in his shockingly strong grip. You were basically a mouse caught in the talons of a hawk and you didn’t like it one bit. 

And to make matters that much worse, when you actually got to your destination he didn’t exactly seem to be in a rush to let you go. 

“Voici!, Here we are~”

“Yeah, yeah, cool. Can you let me go now!?” You’re mid attempt at wiggling out of his grip when Rook laughs in such a way that sends your discomfort right up into the stratosphere. 

“Oh, mon armour, mon filou~” Rook spins you in a way that would have been romantic if you had actually wanted to be wooed, stopping only when your noses are a few inches apart. “Why are you so desperate to get away from me? Am I really that frightening?”

You don’t hesitate for a second, even with pain still present in your ankle, you slam your foot down and slip away as fast as your two legs can take you with Grim thankfully taking the hint and being right on your heels.

You can’t pick up on if Rook says anything and frankly you don’t care, too worried on the beat of your heart in your eardrums to notice or care. Instead you catch your breath against the office door, and say “Grim, we are never going anywhere near him again.”

“Gotcha, _________”

You’re too shaken from the thought of your list expanding by one more, to realise the weight of your jacket pocket has changed. 

You do eventually realise it’s presence eventually though, having noticed the pages of paper folded in your blazer pocket during your last period. 

You didn’t know when or how the note ended up in your jacket pocket, but you decided not to read it till later. Because what you thought it was, you decided not to read it while Ace and Deuce were right next to you.

In truth, you completely wished you hadn’t at all and that it just got destroyed in the wash - 

My dearest, my loveliest, my destined one.

The one I will follow to the end of eternity. 

The moment you arrived in my sights you didn’t even notice me, but the world fell away so that I could see was you. In those precious moments that you asked the Black Mirror to send you home, I prayed that there was no way you could leave so that I could continue to admire you and your beauty. I always hoped when I would meet you I’d fall at first sight, and I did. 

Since I’ve met you, my heart burned for you into a blazing inferno that will never be extinguished as long as I live and even as I pass on to the great beyond. You never noticed me, never once met by my eye but watching you from a distance brought me joy than anything I ever felt before in my life.

It was pure chance that Monsieur Hiresute escaped from you when he did, it was pure chance that you chose to run in my direction, but in that moment it was like the fates themselves set you on the path for you to finally see me. And despite the fact you were the one to fall, catching you in my arms sent my heart into the depths of love, where it will drown forevermore. 

Meeting you again was exhilarating, to hear you ask of me, to want to know me and the shy, fearful gaze in your eyes as you looked at me. Like the first deer I ever hunted, your eyes staring right back at me through the crosshairs, frightened yet entranced. 

Forgive my boldness, but you have released the untameable beast housed inside my chest. Watching you is not enough, I need to interact with you, to touch you, for you to look at me and see me as the predator you fear and yet tolerate. When I hear you speak of the things you dread, the things that are as big a part of me as living and breathing is to me, knowing that they earn your ire and hatred. And yet knowing that, those same things drive me to want you more, to admire you, to adore you…

Everything you touch is precious, every lost hair, every drop of blood, even the dust that forms from your dead skin. 

All of you is perfection, and the more I learn, the more perfect you become. 

What I feel is more than devotion, or  the love many feel for their own darlings. I want more every second I watch you, I want more than to love you, I want more than to hold you.

I want to touch you… I want to see your stunning skin bruise in places you reveal when only you and I are watching-

- And this goes on for four more pages. Front and back. You would continue reading it, you’d just… rather not repeat it. 

“Ok…. that’s enough of that.” You fold the paper shut once more, staring at it like it slapped you across the face. Why is the horniest and most intimate love letter you ever received just so happened to be from a stalker.

“Pup, you’re as white as a sheet, whatever’s the matter?” Crewel take

“Y-You don’t want to read that!”

Instead of listening to your warning, Crewel proceeds to open it up to the third page, which just so happens to be that part where your ‘hunter’ graphically described what it’d be like to watch you come undone in the throes of pleasure, and from the way he described what it’d be like to feel your pulse from between your legs with only his tongue, he probably doesn’t need to read that. 

His face turns a shade of puce from horror and disgust as he opens and closes his mouth like a fish. Crewel then throws the letter in a trash can and sets it ablaze with a spell. A pretty fair reaction in your opinion. 

“Do you know who sent this to you?” Crewel asks you, his voice tight from disgust. 

“No. But-”

“-Who else could it be but Rook!? Ace would never right like that, I’ve seen Deuce stumble over his own trying to compliment me, Trey is so bad at being romantic even with me, Cater writes even on paper stuff in text language, Riddle didn’t get close enough to me today to slip a note on me,” You argue on the way back to Ramshackle, “And it can’t be Chenya because I’m pretty positive that I or you would have noticed a floating piece of paper being slipped into my pocket.”

‘Why’s that guy even hanging ‘round you in the first place?! You said you were sure it was just everyone we know from Heartslabyul.”

“That’s what I thought too! What the hell is going on? We've talked like twice before today, and he’s stalking me!” You continue your tirade, digging through your jacket for your keys simultaneously hoping and praying that those weren’t gone. “For all I know, he’s the one that broke in earlier. By the way, I think that he might have stolen my hair?! Don’t ask me why, I don’t want to know.”

Finally finding your keys, you sigh ready to call it a day and cry about it into your pillow tonight, “Whatever, let’s just hope that-”

You don’t get the chance of finishing that sentence, because in the half second you look back from your door to look back at Grim, a blur whizzes past your eyes mid turn as fast as a bolt of lightning, embedding itself into your front door with a mighty thwack. 

You and Grim freeze in that precious moment before realisation hits. You both look at each other, and then back at the object implanted in your door. 

An arrow.

An arrow with a note, tied to the shaft with an elegant purple ribbon. 

Just like the flowers from that morning. 

Numbly, your shaking hands undo the ribbon and free the note. It’s not signed, but you saw the bow and quiver on the possible sender’s shoulder that morning. The note isn;t even a paragraph long but all it says is enough -

‘Mon amour, mon filou, did you enjoy the words of love you set free from my heart? Know that each and every one of them was true~”

Your eye twitches from anger flooding through you, you crush and crumble that note in the palms of your still-shaking hands as your anxiety boils over into rage. 

Six. 

Six had been more than enough. Overkill really. Seven was too much and you were not having it. Especially after going through all day of him following and harassing you. Thankfully the stupid legalities had a massive loophole and you would be more than happy to trim those numbers back down to six.

With your mind lost in the throes of rage, you throw your front door open and stomp all the damn way to the kitchen, your anger boiling hot all the while. Not at all stopping to think about the implications of this, you grab one of the freshly sharpened knives and are prepared to do whatever it is you planned on doing as-

“Oh mon dieu~ What are you going to do with that?”

“AH?!” Instinctively, you turn and swing the knife down at whoever’s behind you, with your eyes squeezed shut. Your swing hits something and the metallic stench of blood fills your nose as you finally breathe again. 

And sadly, you haven’t maimed him.

Rook stares, completely fascinated at the wound you’d slashed into his forearm. A slow trail of blood slides down the expanse of his arm. And he looks enchanted. 

Your hand shakes, holding the knife, sobering up to the reality that you’d just cut him. Your anger and adrenaline high finally fades enough for to acknowledge maybe you fucked up and voice trembling you speak, “Oh-Oh my- Fuck, I , uh-”

“Ah, mon filou, no need to panic.” Rook’s voice is hoarse with what you hope isn’t lust as he tries to… soothe your fear and panic? It doesn’t work, because you still are unnerved about how transfixed his gaze is on the blood seeping from his wrist. He brings the cut to his mouth, running his tongue over the trail of blood marking his arm, drinking it as if it was the sweetest nectar before licking his lips and continuing, “Such a shame, it is only a slash, I will have to risk destroying your handiwork to preserve the scar.” What the fuck… “But, c'est la vie, I will treasure it as long as I live, mon filou.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you.” You blurt out, as your collected horror, disgust and anger spill from your lips uncontrolled. “First, you’ve been stalking me and harassing me all day or even longer, then shoot a fucking arrow at me and now you’re fucking getting off to me cutting you with a knife!? Why the hell are you doing this!?”

Rook only smiles, “Pourquoi~ It is all a part of our hunt, mon cher.”

“Our… what?”

“Mon amour, mon amour~” Despite the fact that he’s holding a knife that can stab him in the eye, Rook happily and enthusiastically takes your hands into his like you just confessed or something. “I hear you every night as you vent your frustrations to Monsieur Hirsute and I. You despise the romance of this world despite its inane beauty. You attempt to run from it, like a doe would from a hunter’s scope and I wish to be your hunter. To chase after you for all eternity, to follow you as you try to escape or are caught in the net of love. That is our hunt.”

“You are crazy.” You mutter, completely dumbfounded, “You do realise if you do this I will try to avoid you for the rest of my time stuck here?!” Not like you were ever going to voluntarily be around him after this, but the point still stands. 

“That is what I want mon cher filou, all my life I incorrectly thought of you like a shy rabbit, but I will forever bask in my joy of knowing you truly are a cunning fox!” Rook reacts the exact opposite of what you hoped, “S'il te plaît, Please, continue to try to evade and resist me so that I may admire your ethereal, never-ending beauty.”

Something in you just can’t take listening to this anymore as your knife-less hand surges forward and hits him hard in the jaw but you don’t get the satisfying recoil you did when practising with Coach Vargas. Instead, Rook’s face lights up with a mix of love and excitement, “How magnifique, mon filou. You are already performing your role to perfection~”

He finally lets you go, but all your strength seems to leave with it as the knife in your hand clatters to the floor. While you tremble in your own helplessness, Rook caresses the slowly-forming bruise on his cheek like you just kissed him. 

“C'est une honte, It’s a shame that I must go so that I may treat your gift to me,” he says gesturing to the wound on his arm, still oozing with blood as it starts to clot. “But fear not, mon très cher amour, I will return in time to watch you fall asleep tonight.”

“W-Wait a sec-” You try to object to the terrifying notion that he’ll be back later tonight. The scary thing is that as much as you wanted Rook gone earlier, you found that you preferred having him in your line of sight.

“Au revoir, mon filou, don't miss me too much. I will be back before you know it~” Rook disappears down the hall, probably out the door and back to his dorm. Sadly, you can’t bring yourself to be glad he’s gone. All you can think is….

“Oh no.”

Later at Pomefiore…

Rook’s fingers  caress the clotting wound on his arm with reverence as he returns to his dorms’ refined and elegant halls, finding another of his obsessions within its near flawless walls. “Ah~ Roi du Poison, you would not believe it! She is everything that I ever dreamed of and more~”

Roi du Poison, better known as Vil Schoenheit, glances at his chosen vice, taking in the cut and bruise he’d gained while he was gone, “...I assume you had a lovely evening then?”

“Most merveilleux, Roi du Poison, perhaps I may regale you to you as you prefect, Monsieur Crabapple?”

“You may.”

Monsieur Crabapple, better known as Epel Felimer, looks deeply confused at Rook’s clear excitement despite the injuries he’d obtained in his ‘quest for love’. “What in the fresh hell-” whatever he’s about to say is cut off by Vil’s icy glare. “I-I mean, what exactly happened to you, are you alright?”

Rook, as expected, responds accordingly, “Is it not amazing. For her to adorn me with such lovely marks.” Rook delight as he presses his fingers ever so gently onto the bruise like it was a treasured gift.

“Aren’t ya- I mean, you worried she hates you?” Epel asks, still deeply confused.

“It’s alright, Epel. It’s what he wants.” Vil points out, completely unconcerned about the potential repercussions of this. 

“Oui, Roi du Poison. Monsieur Crabapple, I wish to earn all of her, her hatred, her ire, her delight and hopefully, one day her love. It is my sole reason for breathing.”

“...O…kay.”

Rook continues his heartfelt spiel on your excellence and brilliance, as Epel asks Vil, “Shouldn’t we be concerned he’ll drive her mad till she’s nuttier than a five-­pound fruitcake.”

Vil only shrugs, “Possibly, I’ll have to speak with her before he scares her out of her wits. Now hold still, I won’t have you participating in the Interdorm tournament if your skin is still this dry…”

A Lovely Annoyance - Meeting Sebek

Getting ‘kicked out’ of Potionology class because it’s illegal for you to be there  works a lot more in your favour than one might think. You’re allowed to wander Night Raven and basically do whatever you, and Grim too because he also gets kicked out for technicality sake, want to do. 

It’s not too bad actually. You usually just chill in the library and try to research your own way home, head back to Ramshackle and take a nap or you just go hang out at Sam’s till the next bell rings. It’s great to be able to just be chill and not have to put up an ‘act’ for a good while. 

“Finally, now to go get some tuna!” Grim loves your extra break periods more than you, you think. Usually the second he’s guaranteed freedom from class, he’s already ready to head back to Ramshackle and eat his weight in tuna as an mid-school snack before you drag him wherever you’re interested in going. “C’mon, henchman! I can already hear the tuna being opened!”

You almost feel bad about having to just skip his little ritual today. “Hey, uh, Grim?”

Grim freezes, recognising your tone of voice all too well, “Wha? Nooo!” He whines, “Henchman, you can’t skip tuna time! What do you even want to do now, that’s so important that we gotta skip tuna time?!”

“I want to go to sit in on Professor Trein’s class.” 

Once excited at the thought of food and relaxation only to have it smashed to dust by your betrayal and the promise of more class, Grim reacts like you just told him you threw out all his tuna,  “Myeh!? Why woulda want to do that?! Don’t I suffer enough in that stupid class!” 

“That’s because you fall asleep in under fifteen minutes. And don’t you remember? Professor Trein is giving me a book I’m not allowed to have, and he can’t do it later because he has to babysit Crowley later.” Apparently there was a big school event that was coming up, so Trein had to just come  and sit in so that’d you have enough time to get it and bring it back to Ramshackle before you had your Enigmics class. You didn’t know what that event was about but from the little you understood it was a big event. The kind that had a lot of paperwork and barely any time.

“But we don’t hafta go! C’mon, I don’t want to get yelled at if I fall asleep again!”

Well, if he doesn’t want to, it’d be mean to just make him, “If you don’t want to go, I can just go alone-”

“Nah, it’s okay…” Grim does not look, sound or act like he’s okay with this, but it’s nice he’s putting up with this on your behalf. “But ya owe me extra tuna for this, okay?!” You roll your eyes, and agree with a fond laugh. 

You should probably go before all the seats fill up, with your luck you might end up sitting next to another person obsessed with you…

…Not by choice, you end up slipping into class with Trein already staring at his long, usually boring and very monotonous lecture. You sigh in displeasure seeing so many seats full, Professor Trein had told you this freshman class was one of his fullest, as you quickly search the room for spot to seat, finding one nearby a familiar face.

“Hey, is that the guy that yelled at ya, back on club day.”

“I’m surprised you remember that. But yeah, you’re right.” A normal person in  a normal environment would have swerved 

He’s sitting at a large breadth from most of the other students, you do notice that he’s sitting a good ways away from almost all of the other students, like he didn’t want to be anywhere close to his surrounding students. It’s the only place with available seats you don’t have any choice but to sit next to him, not that you mind. 

You sit down and the guy gives you the stink eye for whatever reason, which you completely understand with your own space issues so you don’t pay it any mind. It’s not like you were doing this on purpose. You spy the green ribbon on his blazer, if your memory holds true it’s the Diasomnia one. 

Wasn’t that one the dorm you couldn’t find any information on its kind of yanderes back when you went researching after you learned this world’s awful truth? You’ve only met its students in passing, maybe it’d be good for you to know more about them. With your magnetism making seven different people fall for you, it’d be good to be on the safe side and at least learn a little more. 

“Hello?” He ignores you.

You poke his arm this time, “Hi?” Again, no response.

Huh, it’s weird that you’re not used to being ignored. Thus far normally people are okay with talking with you immediately. 

Then again, you were being a nuisance and bugging in class. Him not wanting to talk to you is completely understandable but there is still nothing stopping you from talking till he’s forced to acknowledge you. 

“Not going to say anything, huh?” Once again, no dice. “That’s alright, you don’t have to talk. Sorry if I’m bugging you, it’s just sometimes Prof Trein gets a little monotonous to listen to after a while. You’re paying better attention than I did yesterday and I was actually trying.”

Despite your possibly annoying babbling, he still doesn’t pay you any mind though his jaw does tense which means you are getting to him at least a little bit. So you keep going, “Y’know, you must really find all of this exciting and interesting if you don’t want to-”

A scoff, not from you or Grim, followed by, “Hardly, I only humor this uncultured slop humans like you call history so that I can improve as a ward for Waka-sama. I would never put myself through this otherwise.” marking your success.

You beam from your victory, “Finally, you’re talking! I’m ________ and this is Grim, could I have your please?” The human comment is a bit out of place but you ignore it.

Instead of giving you his name like you hoped though, he responds with a huff, “Why should I give my name to a lowly human like you?” like that, his voice cold and his volume raising just enough that the other students nearby turn their heads in curiosity.

“...Lowly human?” You repeat, confused. Why would he call you that since… isn’t he also a… “But aren’t you also… human?”

He recoils like you just yelled him a slur to his face, which considering he just called you that maybe it actually is since he just threw that at you a few moments ago. His cheeks flush with anger as he bellows loud enough to echo across the lecture hall’s walls, “I AM NOT A HUMAN!!!”

The silence that follows in unbearables, only broken by Professor Trein’s chastising voice, “Sebek Zigvolt. Is there something about that statement that you wish to add to this lecture?” A few snickers from the other students fill the air as you feel a wave of second-hand embarrassment on Sebek’s behalf and want to sink into the floor. What an unfortunate way to learn his name. 

Sebek’s face is still flushed with anger, which could also be embarrassment in your opinion, he composes himself, muttering a reluctant, “No, sir.”

Well, that was a lovely way to start off a potential friendship. In less than five sentences of conversation with Sebak and you embarrassed him in class. You should probably apologise since he was that offended by you accidentally throwing his words back into his face. You wondered why simply calling him a human offended him to the point of denying it with a yell.

Now that you think about it though…

He doesn’t look completely human, his eyes are slitted like a reptile’s. And while his ears are rounded, you can see them form a very blunt and borderline unnoticeable point. Your eyes meet and he gives you a glare this time, making you shrink a little into your seat. 

Yeah, you gotta apologise. 

It’s the respectable thing to do, it might even convince him that you aren’t a lowly human.

The bell rings and Trein dismisses the class, and you get the chance to stop him from leaving so you can end this conversation on the right foot, hopefully.

“Hey, Sebek?” You quickly grab his sleeve before he can go, holding on despite the look of contempt that he sends you once more. Off to a great start with this apology. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” You say despite the fact you still don’t understand the reason for the offense since he technically did it to you first, but hey, now was the time to learn. “Could you forgive me?” 

You expect that not to work with how far down things got that fast, you were prepared to not be forgiven, apology or not. 

The glare Sebek is giving you hardens for a moment before disappearing into a look of exasperation with a huff, “I should have expected that humans like you don't understand basic decency." Geez, dude. That’s a little… y’know, what? Ignore it. “However, I’ll accept your apology since you have more decorum than others.”

Huh? So your weird warped pretty privilege does still work. That’s both cool and bad, but mostly cool right now. You breathe a sigh of relief, “Phew. That’s a good sign I guess. More decorum is better than none.” All well that ends well, I guess. Wait, before you forget, “Oh, but you don’t exactly get to have a say in my ‘decorum’ when you also called me that without batting an eyelash with the insult and then got angry that I said the same thing back without the insult.”

“Because you are a human.” That doesn’t really answer the question so that means we’re going in this direction. 

“Y-Yeah, I know that. But I thought you were one too?” Again, he recoils in horror that you would even consider him a human so you rush to correct yourself. “I mean, I can tell you’re not one now, so what are you exactly?” You hazard a guess, “A beastman, maybe?”

Sebek resumes his air of superiority, “Silly human, I am more than a simple beastman. I am a fae.” 

You have to bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying ‘those are real here too?’, instead saying, “Oh that’s so cool!” because even then it is really cool. To think mystical beings from your world existed and just casually live among humans since they were known for very much not doing that. Wait. Crap, wasn’t there some very important rule about name giving?  Ah, it’s too late for that, “I never thought I’d actually ever met one!” A little praise to sugar coat the earlier act of insult goes a long way.

“I must admit you have a good eye and some proper respect, even for a human” His pride falters for a moment as he clarifies, “Though technically, I am only a half-fae.”

“Well, it’s still pretty cool! Where I’m from, there are a lot of stories about fae but we mostly treat them like fairy tales nowadays.” You just keep applying to the charm, it can’t be too hard since Sebek seems pretty buttered up. Though, there’s still the fear you could end up with yet another one obsessed with you. But even then,  

“Huh, perhaps the humans where you are from are not as common as the ones here.” “Tell me, do you have any stories about the might of Waka-sama?”

Oh yeah, he mentioned him earlier, but you’re still as confused as you were when he said it the first time. “Who?”

For a second time and even louder that you’re shocked by the force of it, Sebek yells so loud you worry that the ceiling is going to come down, “ YOU DO NOT KNOW MY WAKA-SAMA, THE MIGHTY MALLEUS DRACONIA!!”

Oh, you technically don’t know that guy, but have heard of him. Though considering how shocked he is that someone doesn’t know who Malleus is, maybe now would be a good time to ask before you end up back where you started. “M-Maybe you could tell me more about him and that might jog my memory?” You quickly squeak out, hoping it’ll salvage the situation. 

“It seems I must! Listen well, human!”

Bad idea on your part.

Maybe you really should have just let this one go and hope that the offense wouldn’t bite you in the ass. Because you end up strapping yourself into a very long speech with a lot of Malleus Draconia praise. If you didn’t know anything of the Crown Prince of the Briar Valley, and the Sole Heir of the beloved Draconia Royal Family before he started talking, you certainly did now. 

Turns out the Crown Prince is a third-year here, the Founder of the Gargoyle Appreciation Club you found empty, and the Diasomnia dorm leader. He also really likes gargoyles, ice-cream, plays the violin and a lot of other things that you don’t want to repeat because a lot of it was barely contained in the fifteen minutes that Sebek spoke for. 

And you end up nodding, humming and smiling for a lot of it while you try to comprehend how it was possible for someone to know that much about one person. 

Though, there is probably a good thing that came out of Sebek’s wild Malleus obsessed ranting. And that’s him being so obsessed with Malleus.

In your limited experience, the lines of obsession and love are very, very blurred. And Sebek’s obsession plays into your favor because that means it’s not you! A break you’ll welcome and embrace because for fuck’s sake that is a massive rarity. You’ve never been more happy to learn about someone’s obsession for the sole reason that it isn’t you and ,sure that’s bad for someone else from what you learned, Malleus can probably handle it.

Could it be that you’ve finally met someone that you can actually be friends with without the fear that things won’t go south?! Sure, he’s a little arrogant and occasionally crude but honestly you need a regular, non-dangerous slash futurely obsessed person to be your friend. 

Thankfully so that you don’t need to come up with a segway, as the inter-period bell rings, interrupting Sebek mid-All hail Malleus speech. “Perhaps we will have to continue this another time.”

Well, you can’t just let him leave like that. Your mental health requires a normal friend. “Hey, if you wanna, I'm free after the school day is out. Do you want to hang out at the library later? So you can keep telling me about your Waka-sama?”

Again, much to your surprise he accepts. “Well I suppose I should, just to finish correcting the ways of an ignorant human. Very well.” You guess yanderes have yanderes outside of stalking. And now you can have a friend, positive yay!

“Awesome, I’ll see you later!” All this is working out really well for you, and you’re about to get an illegal book to help you out. Everything is really coming up you, isn’t it!

First meet up starts off great…

“So Malleus and the Draconia family are considered the protectors of the Briar Valley, and that’s the reason you and pretty much all the other fae in the Briar Valley follow them, if I got that right?” You ask, looking up from the book you found, that Sebek considered ‘lacking the truth of the honourable Briar Valley’.  You feel like you’ve been cramming for a Malleus Draconia focused test, and you’d probably pass it with passing colours at this rate. 

Thankfully, because you were in luck today because Ace and Deuce, your regular clingy shadows, were in detention for them screwing up in Potionlogy and having detention with Crewel for the afternoon. So you were free to let Grim go eat double his weight in tuna, and you could be used to a normal-ish friend. 

Hopefully, that would start after learning Malleus Draconia’s complete biography. 

“Hm. Correct. Rather impressive, for a human.” Sebek’s usually stiff and borderline angry face gives way to a smile, the first one you’ve seen since you met him. 

“You smiled!” You point out with a small but still incredibly visible smile on his face with excitement. Maybe befriending him won’t be so hard, the route to his heart seems to be Malleus oddly enough.

Sebek stares at whatever stupid grin is on your face like it actually is stupid for a long time, before looking away suddenly bashful, “W-Well, who wouldn’t. It is my job to ensure that Waka-sama is receiving the respect he deserves!”

You laugh a little, “I can’t help but celebrate it, since we got off on a rough start and all, I’m happy you’re warming up to me.” That and this feels a little therapeutic being able to cram your mind with worthless junk instead of the stress you’re all too used to feeling and just hanging out with someone without any added stress. 

But… it probably wouldn’t be outrageous to steer this hang out into another topic…“Though, can we talk about something else? If I learn anything more about Malleus, I might end up dreaming about him, and I’d hate to do him that disservice since I don’t even know what he looks like yet. Could we maybe, oh I don’t know, talk about the Valley itself?” There, not too far off from the original topic, but still a little different.

“What?”

Okay, now to convince him, “I mean, what about the Valley itself, you must care about it if you care about Malleus, it’s the kingdom he’s going to rule over. And well, it’s where you grew up. C’mon, you probably have a lot of stories to tell me?”

With how much push back you got from Sebek thus far, you expect to get yelled at for that one. But instead, Sebek sighs and says, “....Fine. But I have to leave to perform my duties to Waka-sama.”

You smile a little brighter, “I’ve seen you squeeze a very long-winded speech in fifteen minutes, I know you can do it and go.”

And then it became a common thing, and since you found a way to transition the conversation into not just the story on the greatness of Malleus Draconia, it’s actually pretty enjoyable and your conversations just flow naturally.

The hang out spot was always the library and the books you were reading had been thankfully swapped for someone the literature that Sebek had ‘suggested’, i.e. shoved the book into your arms while complaining about having to ‘properly educate a human’. And your time together seemed to stretch. 

It’s lovely, great even.

You laugh in response, before reinvesting yourself back in your book

What used to be an hour or two stretches until you both end up staying late till the librarian kicks you out, which was fine for you, being able to kill time and have fun without your anxiety building.  As for Sebek…

…Not so much.

“Sebek, it’s alright.” 

“NO! I’ve committed a grave act against my liege!” 

As for him, one such hang out session caused him to miss the time he’d normally follow Malleus and act as his bodyguard with Silver. Sebek had completely lost track of time and while you kindly bid him farewell as he left both aghast at the time and angry, with you truly not understanding the magnitude of the grave sin he had committed that evening. Now back at Diasomnia, Sebek was now prostrating himself before Malleus and crying his eyes out from sheer guilt. 

The recipient of Sebek’s apologetic groveling, Malleus doesn’t seem irked, more bothered by Sebek’s pathetic display rather than his failure to complete his self-imposed duties. “I am not upset, I quite enjoyed the peace and quiet this evening.”

Sebek on the other hand doesn’t seem to notice, “To think I’d let my time spent with that lowly human make me neglect my duties to my liege!!” 

“Now, now, it’s alright. You needed some fun with your little secret human friend you don’t want to tell us about.” Lilia’s voice choked with suppressed laughter as he pats the Sebek’s back in an attempt to calm him, “There’s nothing wrong with missing your duties for once- ”

“Forgive me for my insolence, Lilia. But I can’t allow that human to use her sneaky ways to influence me to abandon my duties to my liege, nor allowing Silver to show me up!”

The trivial, semi-unnecessary basis of this entire ordeal doesn’t change in the slightest as Silver points out, “If you wanted me to, I would have come and got you, Sebek.”

“What does he mean by her? I was under the impression that this school did not allow women to enroll.”

“ They technically do now, she’s the human that appeared during the orientation ceremony.”

“ The same ceremony you forgot to invite me to?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Sebek remains unconvinced, “NO! I must stop her from distracting me from my responsibilities any further!”

“And by that you mean?”

“I WILL END THIS HUMAN’S PITIFUL DECEPTION!”

“Oh, you shouldn’t break up with her if you enjoy her company~” Lilia his words topped with a dollop of parental teasing.

Sebek splutters for a few minutes as he momentarily swallows his own tongue from the thought. “I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THAT WAY TOWARDS HER!” He finally yells, as his blushing face betrays him as he promptly turns and flees to prepare his ‘not-a-breakup’ speech.

“Righttttt…” Lilia says, completely unconvinced at Sebek’s retreating form, before musing, “Oh, young love~”

“You don’t think that he’ll be able to do it?”

“Silver, if he’s anything like his grandfather was back when he tried the same thing with his grandmother… I doubt it.”

“HUMAN!”

“Oh, hey Sebek!” Normally, if someone yelled at you like that you would leap out of your skin but you’ve gotten used to Sebek’s odd way of greeting you. “I have something I really wanted to tell you!”

“I AS WELL, HUMAN! NOW LISTEN HERE-”

“Can it wait a second? I wanted to thank you for picking out that book for me!”

The anger on his face vanishes instantaneously, like it wasn’t even there in the first place, replaced with “...What?”

You gesture to the book, held tightly in your arms. “I, uh, just wanted to tell you that I liked the book that you recommended.” you gesture the one, “I couldn’t sleep last night, don’t ask about that, but I managed to finish it last night and I really liked it. You have surprisingly great taste even when it's not Malleus related. I’m pretty sure Grim liked it, at least I think he did. He fell asleep while I was reading it to him… Hey, if you aren’t too mad, do you want to talk about it and maybe recommend me another?”

Silence. 

Sebek’s anger is gone. Now, he looks more stunned. “You ok-”

“...Stupid Human.” He finally mutters under his breath. “I suppose that I can stomach being around you a little longer.”

Something about his earlier temper and the sudden brush aside of whatever he wanted to talk to you about makes you a little concerned,  “But weren’t you going to tell me something?”

“NOTHING. NOW ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?!”

You shrug it off, “Okay, okay.”

He didn’t tell you what got him so angry.

“HUMAN!”

“Oh, hey Sebek!” Normally, if someone yelled at you like that you would leap out of your skin but you’ve gotten used to Sebek’s odd way of greeting you. “I have something I really wanted to tell you!”

“I AS WELL, HUMAN! NOW LISTEN HERE-”

“Can it wait a second? I wanted to thank you for picking out that book for me!”

The anger on his face vanishes instantaneously, like it wasn’t even there in the first place, replaced with “...What?”

You gesture to the book, held tightly in your arms. “I, uh, just wanted to tell you that I liked the book that you recommended.” you gesture the one, “I couldn’t sleep last night, don’t ask about that, but I managed to finish it last night and I really liked it. You have surprisingly great taste even when it's not Malleus related. I’m pretty sure Grim liked it, at least I think he did. He fell asleep while I was reading it to him… Hey, if you aren’t too mad, do you want to talk about it and maybe recommend me another?”

Silence. 

Sebek’s anger is gone. Now, he looks more stunned. “You ok-”

“...Stupid Human.” He finally mutters under his breath. “I suppose that I can stomach being around you a little longer.”

Something about his earlier temper and the sudden brush aside of whatever he wanted to talk to you about makes you a little concerned,  “But weren’t you going to tell me something?”

“NOTHING. NOW ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?!”

You shrug it off, “Okay, okay.”

Human

I have TRIED to tell you this MULTIPLE times, yet for some reason you keep stopping me from telling you this with whatever strange human power it is you have. 

So I resolved to write you a letter so you can’t stop me this time.

I don’t know why it keeps happening every time I try to set you straight but for some reason every idiotic word out of your beautiful face makes me forget everything that I want to say! Or the fact that your stupid smile is brighter than the sun in the sky and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Whatever it is you’re plotting to distract me from fulfilling my role to my liege IT WON’T WORK!!!

I don’t want to

It’s not like I don’t want to spend time with you. You’re MARGINALLY better than the other humans, even more than Silver. But you WILL NOT distract me from my duties but I and I don’t want to be near

I don’t want to you to distract

I don’t I have to stop meeting you- but I don’t want to stop meeting you-

Sebek scowls at the paper in front of him, prepared to toss it onto the mountain of previously attempted letters. Why was it so hard to simply tell you something as simple as this! You weren’t even there to confound him with your simple human presence so why could he not simply just tell you that he wasn’t going to meet you again?!

“Why am I being affected this much by a human, let alone _________,” He mutters angrily, before cursing himself for calling you by your stupid human name. Why were you affecting him so much?! Only meeting his darling should affect him as much as he-

…Was there a possibility that you were his darling?

But that had to be preposterous!? Why would his darling, meant to be the literal embodiment of perfection like he’d been told his whole life, be a human. The very notion was ridiculous-

But then again, his mother still chose and fell for his father despite his humanity. And he could barely tell you that he didn’t want to be anywhere near you. He even outright ignored the idea of just avoiding you!

Could it be that-

“How did your little ‘break-up’ go, Sebek- Ooo~ Whatcha writing?”

The familiar voice fills his ear as the vice dorm leader appears behind him, scaring him like he was a child doing something he wasn’t allowed, “Lilia! What are you doing here!”

Lilia’s face fills with mischievous intent as he grabs the letter, “That’s not important, what are you writing?” 

Sebek quickly snatches the paper from Lilia’s grasp and shoves the letter into his desk drawer, slamming it shut. His face flush and his voice shaky with stammers as rapidly spits out, “N-NOTHING IMPORTANT!”

“Hmm….” Lilia muses, still clearly playfully skeptical. “Well, if you say so~”