#aether's drabbles

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Rain drips steadily against your windows, the sound calming despite the slight worry about the water pressing against the small cracks in the glass of the Ramshackle dorm.

Still, the thought of water getting in is brushed aside quite easily as you level your companion with a look.

"You look at me as if I've done something wrong, dear child of man." Malleus sniffs, purposefully glancing away, over-dramatizing his actions. "How wounding."

"It's raining." You say, slowly, with emphasis.

"Whatever does that have to do with me?"

If this was any other person, you would say nothing at all. But it is not anyone else - it is Malleus Draconia. The fae prince that has continued to resort to stranger and stranger methods to monopolize your time, no matter to the fact that you would welcome him to stay the night at Ramshackle if he only just asked.

And as it stands, this is the third time this month that he's manipulated the weather to force the need for a sleepover.

"Malleus-"

"It is such a shame, but I suppose I'll have to impose for a while longer. Unless you'd throw me out in this weather?"

As he asks, there's a distant rumble of thunder, just far enough that it could be moving this way. You sigh, exasperated.

"No, you know I wouldn't throw you out in this. But, really Malleus, you can just ask to sleep over..."

-

-

"You don't need to fret, rose. I assure you, I’m only making this right."

You stare at him, expression eerily blank, and Riddle shudders.

He caresses your cheek, ever so gentle in his ministrations, even with the flecks of blood marring his white gloves. Even when that crimson spreads with his touch, staining your skin like a mark of ownership. A mark of twisted, senseless claim.

Not that he would see it that way.

You belong to Riddle.

As simple as the Queen of Heart’s rules. There needs not be a reason behind it.

It simply is.

The rules simply are.

You’re simply his.

He smiles, a fragile dark thing, at the sight of the blood. Still, he brings out a handkerchief to dab it away.

“You need not worry. You need not think about a single thing, pet.” Riddle sighs, tucking the slip of fabric away after he’s inspected you for any more stains. “Everything I’ve done… it’s only to put things back as they should be.”

“It’s only to ensure that you are wholly mine, my sweet rose. As you should be.”

-

-

"You know you can't hide forever." Jack sighs, left outside your door, waiting patiently for you.

“I can,” You answer confidently, only a bit petulant in your tone. “And I will.”

Really, it was silly to be locking yourself away. Replying to Jack’s ‘I love you’, his confession, with an absentminded ‘thanks’ had been an instinctual response, but it was a mortifying moment that had you avoiding him for the past few days. You had just been so astounded by the idea of him even liking you, your head went blank, and then…

“It wasn’t that bad.” He assures, leaving you to roll your eyes. The silence stretches for a moment, and then he exhales an awkward sounding laugh. “Okay, it was pretty bad. But, you know, you never answered me…”

You can only stand still as you process that, the rush of embarrassment overtaking you once more.

At least Jack wasn’t the type to give up easily. You’re not sure anyone else would’ve come after you after that… and after being avoided, too.

Slowly, you inch towards the door. Cracking it open, you make eye contact with him, your anxiety clear in your body language and expression. Jack mirrors it - ears slightly pinned back as he waits for you to answer.

Properly, this time.

“I love you too… I’m sorry it took me this long to say it.”

His expression stays mostly stern, but he can’t hide his wagging tail, and you carefully open the door to allow him in.

-

Whatever the reason was, you and Ace had fought. Perhaps he had been too pushy, perhaps he had gotten jealous over another one of the students - it could be any number of things.

But it led to this now either way, with Ace staring at you with a strange seriousness in his eyes.

You were both stood just outside Ramshackle, you positioned nearer to the door, having just opened it to find Ace there.

There's no grand gesture, no real apology even, but he's got this look on his face that has you innately understanding that he's desperate for forgiveness.

"Uh, hey..." He murmurs, awkward in a way unlike him, gaze darting around nervously before he regains the courage to look at you. "Hey. I wasn't sure if you'd... open the door."

"I'm not sure I should have."

Ace winces at the blunt reply, but he nods, hands twitching anxiously at his sides before he stuffs them in his pockets.

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. I shouldn't have... it doesn't matter now. I won't do it again, alright?"

You glare, even if only slightly, and Ace wilts into himself.

"I know. I'm sorry, okay? Honest. It won't happen again." His eyes sheen when he looks at you, eyebrows knit together. "Just... just tell me to stay, yeah? Don't push me away. I don't think I could handle it if you did."

Ugh. You wanted to be mad. You really did.

He knows fully well what those puppy dog eyes do to you, though.

You sigh, but you reach out to grab the collar of his shirt, pulling him along with you into Ramshackle.

"Come on then." You huff. You can just feel Ace grinning behind you, but you ignore it, rolling your eyes. "I guess you can stay."

"For real though. Don't do it again."

"You got it, boss." He hums, his tone quickly relaxing now that he knows he hasn't fucked up too badly. "Anything you want. 'Long as I'm by your side."

-

-

Cornered in like you were, it was all you could do to look to Jade, trying not to give away your anxieties as your eyes darted from him, to behind him, to the lack of potential escape routes in the room.

You didn't know why he had trapped you like this in the first place - though you couldn't say it was out of character for him.

As far as you knew, you didn't have any outstanding debts with the Mostro Lounge. Both the Tweels and Azul should have no issues with you, but maybe you had overlooked something.

God, you hoped you hadn't accidentally offended one of them. Whether or not you could take any of them in a fight, it didn't matter. If they couldn't get physical, you knew they had other ways to pressure you. You weren't oblivious to the horror stories that the employees of Mostro Lounge let slip. Or the past clients of the mers.

"No need for that look on your face, my dear." Jade hummed, smiling at you serenely, rather out of place in this situation. "I just have some questions for you. You don't need to look so worried."

"Questions?"

He gets a particular look in his eyes as he gazes at you, a visible affection that you wouldn't expect to be aimed at you.

"Yes, darling. Just some questions. No need to fret."

You settle, even if only slightly, unable to see a way out of the situation. He had cornered you in an empty classroom, after all, free of distractions and interlopers. He wanted your full attention on him.

"Now," His gaze turned expectant, that affection darkening. "Make sure you answer honestly. Where were you the night after last, my dear? Because I know that you were not in your dorm."

"What? How do you know that?"

He only smiles, cocking his head at you curiously.

"Does that matter? I'm waiting for your answer, darling. For your sake... I do hope it's a good one."

-

-

"My love?" Sebek called into the emptiness, a frown twisting at his features as he stared into the forests surrounding Ramshackle.

It was just... hide and seek.

Yes. Hide and seek.

A silly game for a fragile human to want to play, especially at this time of day, but Sebek was nothing if not generous. To you, specifically.

Why else would he tolerate you running from him?

It had to be a game. That's all it was. That's all it was allowed to be.

If it wasn't... well, then Sebek would have to be less than a gentleman when he hunted you down. And he couldn't do that to his sweet, fragile darling. And so a game it remained, a click of Sebek's tongue sounding harshly in the quiet air.

"Really, this has gone on quite long enough." He hmphed, shaking his head as he rolled up the sleeves of his uniform, walking carefully around the brambles. "They should know better. What would they do without me?"

Whether unfortunate or not is up to you, but it doesn't take long for Sebek to catch up to you - finding your tracks in the dirt and following them to your hiding spot in a densely forested spot off the beaten path. With the sun going down, the shadows help to hide you, but Sebek is much too devoted to simply let his eyes skip over you.

You're his, after all.

What kind of protector would he be if he could not even find his darling?

"There you are. Finally! It's getting much too dark for these silly games. Come along now, my love."

Whether or not he needs to drag you back is up to you. Really, it's much better to just give in.

You two are meant to be, don't you know?

-

-

This doesn't mean anything.

How his heart beats and twists in his chest when he looks at you, the bitter sting that consumes him when you interact with others. None of it means anything.

It can't mean anything!

It's not... this just... he can't like you! You're... you would never end up with someone like him.

But, Sevens help him, he wanted you.

An aching, visceral want. It churned in him, stabbing at his soul and warping how he acts. Little things at first - actually attending his classes, leaving his room to try and catch rare glimpses of you.

Those rare encounters turned more frequent as he found himself unwittingly memorizing your schedule... It wasn't on purpose! It was just, well, easy to memorize. He paid attention to everything you did. Even more so when it meant he actually got to see you.

It wasn't common he could work up the courage to actually speak to you, though, as much as he tried.

...Which led to him setting up the cameras.

Really, it wasn't creepy. It doesn't mean anything, so how could it be creepy? He was just... watching out for you.

Without you knowing.

...

Okay, maybe it meant something. Maybe it was... a tad obsessive of him.

It wasn't Idia's fault, though! If anything, it was yours.

You and your eyes... and your face... and, well, your everything! You were too good for this school. Too good for all those slimy... eugh, extroverts, around campus.

Too good for him, too, but at least he was aware of it!

Maybe he should steal you away... He's seen the male leads in those popular dark romance mangas.

...He'd be protecting you, wouldn't he?

-

-

"It wasn't about revenge. It really wasn't."

You can only stare at Deuce, expression blank - shock or disbelief wouldn't be enough to explain your reaction to... this.

It had started with you turning down Deuce's confession, maybe a week ago.

You hadn't thought much of it.

He was sweet, and maybe a little cute, but he just isn't your type. The confession was earnest, and you probably should've seen it coming with how Deuce acted around you. But you had your eyes on someone else, and maybe that had shown through a little too much when you turned him down.

After all, it's ended with you here. With Deuce sporting bloody knuckles and a wobbly smile on his face as he tries to justify himself to you.

"They didn't deserve you, that's all. You can... you can do better than that." He continues, moving to step closer but turning still when you instinctively back away. His lips twist into a sour expression for a moment, his eyes gaining a slight sheen. "I'm sorry... you shouldn't have to see me like this. But, really..."

"Even if it's not with me... you should find someone that'll treat you better. They don't deserve you. No one at NRC deserves you... So, don't... don't make me watch that, okay?"

It wasn't like you were dating them. It's not like you had even confessed, yet. So why was he making such a big deal out of this? Why had he... done whatever it was he did to them?

You voice that, and Deuce's wobbly smile falls properly in turn for a deep frown.

"Seeing you prefer them... Seeing you go out of your way to spend time with them, or help them out, any of it. It makes my heart hurt."

"Why... why couldn't I be good enough for you?"

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