#frostheim

____

Frostheim

During team dinner...

Jin seems to be in a particularly foul mood. Is it your imagination, or is he glaring at you? 

Kaito and Luca have also been acting weird. Even on the way to Frostheim, they’d been exchanging nervous glances. 

Tohma sighs and sets his fork down. 

“No one has touched their food…Is something the matter?”  

Finally, and as usual, Lucas speaks up first. 

“Well, that may be because–”

Kaito covers his friend’s mouth.

“Shhh. This is one of those moments where you keep your mouth shut!” 

But Jin raises a hand.

“Let him speak. Say what everyone’s thinking.” 

Kaito fidgets in his seat.  

“Well...Isn’t that kind of like…her privacy?” 

You look around the table in confusion. 

“Uhh. What’s going on?” 

After a few moments of silence, Jin finally speaks. 

“Which house were you with last?” 

You blink.

“...Hotarubi?” 

Jin stands. 

“Tch. I’ve lost my appetite.”  ____

Vagastrom

5 minutes before the meeting…

The moment Leo sees you, a smirk spreads across his face.

“Well, somebody had fun last night.”

Alan looks around the room. “Who?” 

Leo sighs. “Nevermind. Our himbo captain wouldn’t get it.” 

Leo takes a seat next to you. Leaning in, ready for the tea. 

“So…who is it?” 

You tilt your head. “Who is who?” 

“Playing innocent, now?” 

“Hey,” Alan interrupts. “Quit bothering her.” 

Just then, Sho who had been listening walks in. 

“Senpai,” He points at the side of his own neck with a knowing grin.  “You might want to cover that up. Or we’re gonna have another Clash.” 

You’re confused. Alan’s confused.  ____

Jabberwock

“...Senpai.” 

You look at Ren. He looks at the ground. 

“...Nevermind.” 

He lays his head down on the table and buries his face into his arms. 

You’ve felt Haru’s gaze on you since you’ve sat down. 

“...Where were you last night?” Haru asks suddenly. 

“Huh?” 

“N-N-Nevermind. Let’s just start our meeting.” 

Towa barges in. 

“Dandelion!” 

He does his usual hug, rubbing his cheek all over yours. Then notices the mark. 

“Bug bite?” 

Ren flinches.

“Oooo~” Haru exclaims. “Gahaha! For a second, I thought you–”

Ren sits up immediately.

“Shut up, you clown!” ____

Sinostra

“Do you fools not understand what ASAP means–”

Romeo’s eyes widen. He’s looking at you, just not your eyes, that’s for sure. 

“Tch. How dare you come here looking like that.” 

“Huh? Looking like what?” 

Ritsu cuts in. 

“Although it may be unprofessional, it does not violate any school regulations.” 

You look down at your uniform, wondering if you’ve gotten a button wrong.

The door swings open.

Taiga as usual, saunters in late. 

He drops into his seat, takes one look at you and laughs. 

“Gyahaha!” 

“W-What?” 

He lazily points at his neck. 

“Come to my room later. I’ll give you another one.” 

“ANOTHER WHAT?!”  ____

Hotarubi

Everyone’s been acting weird this whole meeting. 

Zenji keeps fidgeting in his seat. Subaru has been avoiding eye contact with you. Meanwhile, Haku has been looking at you a bit too intently.

Finally, Haku reaches over and touches your neck. 

You flinch. 

“What are you doing, you lout?!” Zenji blurts.  

Haku smiles. 

“Just checking.” 

You take out your phone and look at your neck. 

A red mark. It resembles…something. 

“Ack.” You cover it. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“W-We weren’t thinking anything of it.” Subaru says quickly. But he’s terrible at lying.

You laugh nervously. 

“It’s probably just a bug bite. It doesn’t even look like a hickey.”

“Yeah, those usually have a different color.” 

You squint your eyes. 

“And how would you know that?” 

Haku scratches his neck. “Should we continue our meeting now?”  

“Don’t change the subject!” Zenji protests. ____

Obscuary

You were invited to dinner at Obscuary.

“Welcome cutie! Take a seat. Today’s your favorite!”

“Thanks Rui.” 

You sit next to Lyca. 

Lyca squints at your neck. 

“What’s that red thing?” 

“What red thing?” 

Rui leans over the counter to get a look. 

“...Wait.” His eyes widen. “Wait! Wait! Wait!” 

Lyca covers his ears. “You’re too loud, you blond gigolo." 

“What’s going on?” you ask. 

Ed appears out of nowhere, as he usually does. 

His cold finger touches the spot on your neck. 

“A naughty bug has bit you.” 

“...Oh.” 

“...Oh.” 

“...Oh.” 

A moment of silence passes as everybody feels relief for different reasons. 

The vampire smirks. 

“Though Rui, must’ve thought it was a–”

Rui coughs loudly. 

“Let’s eat now. The soup's gonna get cold. ”  ____

Mortkranken

Yuri pulls on a new pair of gloves. 

“I will be starting your inspection–”

He freezes. Then scurries a few steps back. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“J-J-J-J-Jiro!” 

Jiro enters the room.

“What is it, Yuri?” 

Yuri points at you with a trembling finger. 

“L-Look at that.” 

“What?” You instinctively touch your neck. “Has my lily mark spread?” 

But Yuri doesn’t answer, instead, he whispers into Jiro’s ear. “I-I-Is it what I think it is? Is it a…a.” 

He can’t even finish his sentence. 

Jiro steps toward you, takes a good look and asks, “Have you been sexually active recently?” 

“What?!” 

“If you have, that's important information. It may affect what treatment we give you.” 

“N-No, I’m not…active.”  ____

Dionysia

You enter the meeting room. Immediately, Shion’s up and close in your personal space. 

“We’ve been waiting for–”

His eyes trail to your neck. A blaring red mark. 

“Hmmm. Is that a–” 

Mio clamps his hand over Shions mouth before smiling at you.

“Welcome MC. Take a seat.” 

“T-Thank you?” 

You’re used to Shion being weird but everyone else is also… 

“Is something wrong?” you finally ask a few minutes in.

Elias smiles gently, resting his chin in his palm.

“Perhaps we should clear up the misunderstanding before we begin.” 

“And you don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable,” Jo adds quickly.

You tilt your head. 

Elias chuckles. 

“It seems that everyone is curious about the red mark on your neck.

You take a look at the mirror across the room.

Heat rushes to your face.

“Oh...It’s just a bug bite.”

Everyone lets out a collective sigh.

“A mosquito bite?” Shion pouts. “How boring.” 

“Not that there would’ve been anything wrong otherwise,” Jo tries to backtrack. 

“Yeah, we wouldn’t have judged you.” Mio adds. 

“Yes. No matter what you do, you’re still our inspector.” Elias says.

You bury your face in your hands. 

“...Can we get back to the meeting now?” ____

Unbothered Kings

Tohma: 

You open the door without knocking. Big mistake. “I see,” Tohma says calmly. “I still have much to teach you.”  “I-I’m sorry.” You leave immediately.  For a while there’s only silence.  Then, a quiet laugh escapes from the other side.  “Pfft...What an expression.”   

Alan:

You open the door.  And immediately freeze.  Alan looks up.  For a few seconds, the two of you just stare at each other??? Being half-dressed around Vagastrom is nothing new to him.  But the way you’re looking at him (or more like his abs), is making him feel a little flustered too.  “...You gonna keep staring?”  “No! I wasn’t— or I didn’t mean to—”  You cover your face.  “Sorry!” And escape as quickly as possible. 

Ritsu: 

You open the door. “Oh, MC.” Ritsu glances up at you, then down at himself, evaluating the situation.  “It’s common courtesy to knock.”  You turn quickly.  “Y-you’re right. I’m sorry.”  You grab the handle. “Where are you going? I’m not finished.” HUH??? “I must educate you on the laws regarding trespassing.”  OH. Fabric shuffles as he dresses.  “Entering private spaces without warning can lead to many misunderstandings but there’s also legal implications to consider—”  He pauses. "MC." "Y-Yes?" "Please look at me when I'm talking to you." He waits for you to turn around to continue. "As I was saying..." He doesn’t let you leave till he’s finished. 

Haru:

You open the door. He flinches in surprise. But immediately smiles. “You’re here early.” “S-Sorry.” ... “Gahaha! What’s that look on your face? You gonna watch me change too?”

Visible Blush Damage

Kaito: 

You open the door. “KYAAA!” Before you could process what's happened, Kaito put on his clothes with lightning speed.   “D-Did you see anything? “N-No?”  “Good." He scratches his neck. "J-Just so you know, my bodyisn’t in the best shape right now.”  "...I didn't see anything."

Lucas:

You open the door. “M-MC.”  "Sorry!" You turn around quickly. He also turns away, covering himself.   The tips of his ears are red. “W-What can I help you with?” 

Rui: 

You open the door. He’s genuinely flustered.  “Wait! Wait! Wait! You can’t see me right now! I haven’t worked on my beach body yet!”  "Sorry?" Afterwards... He keeps casually bringing up old surfing photos. "That one was last year." "Don't I look so cool in this one!" "This angle's bad but you get the idea."

Zenji:

You open the door. “Ah— Girl.” He covers himself shyly. Blushing a deep red. “I see you’ve come to see art. But I am not a gallery.”  lol.

Lyca:

You open the door and enter without looking.  “What are you doing here?”  When you see him, you gasp.  “S-Sorry!”  “Whatever. It’s not a big deal." Thankfully, it seems he didn’t take it too seriously.  But afterwards, when he walks out, he’s bright red. His ears tucked back.  “...Let’s go.” 

Mio:

You swing the door open. “Oh.” “Oh.”  Silence.  “I can tell you’re a craftsman.”  Wait. Did you just say that out loud? Mio’s eyes widen. His cheeks blush.  “Thanks?”  You leave immediately.

Reverse Uno

Haku: 

The door opens. You take one step in and you hear a soft awkward laugh. “Haha. Just wait outside. I'll be done soon." Your eyes widen.  “Oh! Sorry!”  You shut the door fast.  Silence. “So...did you enjoy the view?”  “I didn’t see anything.”  You can’t see it, but you know he’s smirking. “Mm. Sure you didn’t”  “Haku…” 

Leo: 

You don’t even have a chance to react.  “Wow.” You freeze.  “I didn’t know the honor roll was such a perv.”  Your soul leaves your body.  “I–I didn’t mean to!”  Leo smirks, completely unbothered.  “You just walked right in. Didn’t even hesitate.” “I thought no one was in here.”  “Mmhm.”  “I swear!”  “Are you dragging this conversation out just to get a few more peeps in?”  You turn and leave with a grunt.  He doesn’t let it go for the rest of the day.  “You knew I was changing in there, didn’t you?” 

Sho:

You swing the door open without thinking. Half-naked Sho blinks at you. Frozen. “Oh– Sorry!”  You flip around and exit immediately.  For a moment there’s only silence.  Then the door opens.  “Senpai.”  You freeze.  Sho leans against the doorframe casually, a few of his buttons left undone. “If you wanted to see me naked, you could’ve just asked.” 

Since You're Here...

Jin: 

You open the door. It’s a mistake you realize immediately. “Don’t you know how to knock?”  “S-Sorry.”  You turn to leave when— “Stop.” You slowly glance back.  Jin takes a seat on his couch, half-dressed, looking amused.  “What are you doing servant? Come here.”  “I—no, I really should–”  “Help me change.”  Your brain stalls.  His lips curl into a smirk.   “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” 

Jiro:

You open the door.  “Hello.”  You gasp.  “S-Sorry. I didn't see you there.” He glances down at himself. "...I don't really mind." He looks at his shirt.  He walks over to you. “Could you help me with these buttons?” 

Ed:

You open the door.  He looks at you like he expected you to be there. “S-Sorry.”  You turn to leave but– “Now, now. Don’t be in such a rush.” He purposefully slips the shirt off his shoulders, showing off his pale skin.  “Help this old man with his clothes, will you?"

Elias: 

You open the door.  You freeze. “Inspector...Are you here for a performance?”  “S-Sorry.” “Oh, I really don’t mind if you stay.”  “N-No thank you.”  He chuckles. “Well…that’s a shame.” 

Jo:

You walk in.  You see what you see.  And immediately cover your eyes.  “I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were changing in here.”  Jo simply chuckles.  “Don’t worry. Come. You can change here too.”  "What? I couldn't possibly..." They transform into the women form.  “Does this help?”  You blush even harder.  “...No. It doesn’t.”

No Escape

Taiga:

You open the door.  “Brave of you,” Taiga says lazily, “to come in without warning.” Your brain blanks.  “I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”  You turn. Open the door.  But he shuts it just as quickly.  You look back to find he's already behind you.  “...Taiga.”  With his hands pressed against the door, he leans in closer.  “You can’t just come in and leave whenever you want. This is my territory.”  Instinctively you step back but there’s nowhere left to go.  “Come on,” his voice drags, “Entertain me, kitty-cat.”  

Towa:

You open the door. His face lights up.  “Towa?!”  “Dandelion~”  “S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to walk in.”  You turn to leave.  “Dandelion!”  You look back to see he’s already lunging at you. You escape out of the room just in time, but you hear rapid footsteps from behind.  He laughs, chasing you with no shirt on and just underwear.  “Why are you running?”  “BECAUSE YOU’RE CHASING ME!” Despite the head-start, he catches up easily.  He hugs you from behind, twirling you around.  “Got you!”  “TOWA!”  

Shion:

You open the door. Shion stands menacingly in the middle of the room.  “S-Sorry.”  You try to leave but– “Vepar.”  You switch places with the cardboard box right next to him.  “Shion–” “You barged in and try to leave? How irresponsible..”  He pulls you closer by the wrist. “I like that look on your face. Show me more of it.” 

Permanent Memory

Subaru: 

The moment the door opens, something moves.  Fast.  You blink.  Was it a mouse? A cockroach? “Subaru? Are you in here?”   You scan the room for the source of the sound.  Finally you look down at the corner. Beneath a desk. Subaru crouching. He covers his chest with the shirt.  "I'm sorry!" he blurts. "I should've put a sign! Or locked the doors! Or-" “Don’t apologize, I’m the one who barged in!" ... And for the rest of the day, Subaru doesn’t stop apologizing. "I'm sorry you had to see that." “I hope your eyes are ok.” 

Yuri:

You open the door. He freezes. Reddens. And nearly collapses.   When you try to help him, he gets even redder.  “You insolent, indecent worm. Leave at once!”  ... Every time your eyes meet after that, he looks away quickly, immediately red. 

Ren: 

“S-S-S-Senpai???”  “S-Sorry. Haru said that–” Before you can utter another word— “GET OUT!”  He pushes you out himself and slams the door.  … He’s in a terrible mood for the rest of the day.

Romeo:

Jin

He’s back out on the patio again.  His back always looks so lonely. You wrap your arms around his waist. “Oi. What are you doing?”  “I’m cold.”  “Then why’d you come out?”  You sigh. “Fine.”  You start to let go, but he grabs your hand and wraps your arms back around him. He takes a long drag before exhaling.  “Whatever. Do what you want.” 

Tohma

Hug.  He keeps brewing his tea. Unfazed.  “Do you not want tea?”  “I want you.”  That makes his hands stop. “It seems that somebody is craving for my attention.”  “Well, are you gonna give it to me, or not?”  He chuckles.  “Now, that’s no way to ask.”  But he turns in your arms and pulls you closer. 

Luca

Hug.  “M-MC? What’s wrong?” “Nothing.”  “Are you hurt?” “No.”  “Are you feeling unwell?” “No.”   “Has something–” “Luca. Do I need a reason to hug you?”  He actually ponders it for a second.  Then carefully wraps his arms around you.  “...No. I guess not.” 

Kaito

Hug. “Kyaaa. Wh–What is happening?” “Just felt like it.” He grips the counter in front of him to keep from passing out.  His thoughts are rampant: OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! She’s soooo cute. She smells so nice. But I can’t say that. She’ll think I’m a creep and she’ll never hug me again!! Act normal! Act normal! So just the words, “Umm. ok,” come out.

____

Alan

Hug.  He becomes as stiff as a board. His hands up in the air like he’s been caught by the police.  “What are you doing?”  “Ever heard of a hug?”  “Yeah but–” “You’re doing it wrong.”  You flip him around and guide his arms to wrap around you.  “There.”  It takes him a few more seconds to relax.  “...Isn’t this nice?”  “...Yeah.”

Leo

Hug.  “Huh? What are you doing?”  “Hugging.”  He tries to push you away but you hold on.  “Did you lose a bet? Is there a camera here?”  “Don’t worry. I’m not you.”  He gives up (not that he was trying his best anyway). “Can we at least do this on the couch? My legs are tired.” (sure Leo) 

Sho

Hug.  “Senpai, I can’t work like this.”  But you don’t let go.  “Or maybe that’s what you want?”  He takes your silence as a yes.  “If you wanted my attention, you could’ve just asked.”  “Just…hug me.”  He laughs a little before turning around and holding you tight. 

____

Haru

In the midst of feeding peekaboo... You hug him from behind.  “What is this?”  “A hug.”  “Gahaha! Let me finish and I’ll give you a proper one.” After a few minutes, he sets the bottle down and gives you a nice bear hug.

Towa

Usually, he's the one to hug you first. But you catch him off guard and... Hug. That gets him excited. “Dandelion!” He immediately turns the back-hug into a piggy-back ride.  He takes you to his favorite tree and snuggles with you there. 

Ren

Hug.  He immediately panics. “S-S-Senpai, what are you doing?!”  “Hugging.”  He tries to rip you off. But you’re just too strong.  “Ever heard of personal space?”  “Your space is my space.”  “Ugh. Gross.”  But slowly, he turns and wraps his arms around you.

____

Taiga

Hug.  He smirks. “You wanna play again, Kitty-cat?”  You sigh.  “No. Just a hug.”  Surprisingly, he becomes obedient.  And just lets you hold him wherever he goes, whatever he's doing.

Romeo

Hug.  “BB, what do you want this time?”  “A hug.”  “Can’t you see I’m working? I don’t have time for this.” “And yet, you’re not pulling away,” you mumble. “HUH? What did you say?”  “Nothing.” “Tch...I should charge you for every second.”

Ritsu

❄️ ————————————————— ❄️

Jin Kamurai:

Dating Jin Kamurai came with many unexpected challenges.

One challenge was surviving Frostheim.

Another challenge was surviving the captain himself.

And perhaps the greatest challenge of all was convincing him that you did not, in fact, require the gross domestic product of a small nation to be spent on you every week.

The problem wasn't that Jin was showing off.

At least not intentionally.

The problem was that Jin genuinely didn't seem to understand that most people considered certain things extravagant.

To him, they were normal. alright rich boy, stfu

Which was how you found yourself standing in front of a jewelry display one afternoon while Jin casually pointed toward a necklace that probably cost more than your entire wardrobe.

"I think that one would suit you."

You stared. Then stared harder. Then looked at the price tag. Then nearly had a heart attack.

"Jin."

"What?"

"That costs more than a private school tuition."

"So?"

"So?!"

Jin looked genuinely confused. As though you had just informed him that water was wet.

You pointed aggressively at the display.

"Jin."

"What?"

"People don't casually buy things like this."

"Says who?"

"EVERYONE."

He rolled his eyes.

"You like it, don't you?"

That wasn't the point.

The fact that you did like it made the situation significantly worse.

"That's not important."

"It is."

"No."

"It literally is."

"No."

"Yes."

You groaned.

Jin looked entirely unconvinced.

Because from his perspective, the situation was simple.

You liked something.

He had the money.

Therefore he should buy it.

Problem solved.

The concept of restraint did not seem to exist in his world.

"You don't need to spoil me."

The words left your mouth for perhaps the hundredth time that month.

Jin immediately frowned.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

You blinked.

"...What?"

"What does that mean?"

You stared.

He stared back.

The confusion was mutual.

"It means you don't have to buy me expensive stuff."

"Why not?"

"...Because?"

"That's not an answer."

"Jin."

"No, seriously."

His arms crossed.

"Why wouldn't I?"

You opened your mouth.

Then closed it.

Then opened it again.

No words came out.

Because annoyingly enough, you couldn't actually explain it.

You just... felt bad. Felt guilty. Felt uncomfortable when he spent ridiculous amounts of money on you.

Jin studied your expression for a moment.

Then sighed.

"You think I'm doing it because I have to."

You blinked.

"...Aren't you?"

Jin immediately looked offended.

"Jesus Christ."

"What?"

"You really don't get it."

Now you were confused.

Which somehow made him even more annoyed.

Jin rubbed a hand over his face, looking as though he was attempting to explain the most basic mathematics to a particularly stubborn child.

"When I buy you something,"

"...Yeah?"

"I buy it because I want to."

You opened your mouth.

He pointed at you immediately.

"No."

"What?"

"No arguing."

"I'm not—"

"You were about to."

He knew you too well.

You shut your mouth.

Jin nodded.

"Exactly. If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't."

The statement was delivered with such confidence that it momentarily stunned you.

Because that was the thing about Jin.

When he cared about something, he committed completely.

There was no hesitation. No uncertainty. No obligation.

Just choice.

And apparently—

He kept choosing you.

Again and again.

The realization made your chest feel strangely warm.

Unfortunately, that warmth disappeared three days later when Jin casually informed you that he had booked a reservation at a restaurant so expensive that you couldn't even pronounce half the menu.

You stared at him.

Horrified.

"Jin."

"What now?"

"You did it again."

"I did."

"You weren't even listening."

"I was."

"No, you weren't."

He looked entirely unapologetic.

Which somehow made things worse.

"I told you not to spoil me."

Jin smirked.

The bastard actually smirked.

Then he reached over and flicked your forehead.

"Too late."

And despite your complaints—

Despite your protests—

Despite insisting the entire dinner that he was impossible—

The smile on his face made it painfully obvious that he had absolutely no intention of stopping.

Not now.

Not ever.

🎰 —————————————————🎰

Romeo Scorpius Lucci:

Romeo didn't spoil you.

According to Romeo, that is.

There was an important distinction.

Because in his mind, spoiling someone implied unnecessary indulgence.

And everything he bought you was completely necessary.

The designer coat?

Necessary.

The luxury skincare products?

Necessary.

The custom-made accessories?

Necessary.

The imported chocolates?

Necessary.

The shopping trips?

Absolutely necessary.

The problem was that Romeo's definition of "necessary" was completely detached from reality.

"BB."

"No."

"I haven't said anything yet."

"No."

Romeo narrowed his eyes.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask."

"I know exactly what you were going to ask."

A pause.

Then—

"...Fine."

Victory.

You smiled triumphantly.

Romeo looked annoyed.

Which meant you were absolutely correct.

The problem was that Romeo never gave up.

Ever.

Not when money was involved. Not when fashion was involved. And certainly not when you were involved.

Which was how you ended up getting dragged into yet another luxury shopping district despite your best efforts to stay home.

"Romeo."

"What?"

"Why are we here?"

"Shopping."

"Why?"

He looked horrified, as though you'd just suggested living in a dumpster for the rest of your life.

"Because your wardrobe needs improvement!"

You stared.

"My wardrobe is fine."

"No."

"It is."

"No."

"Romeo."

"BB."

You pointed at yourself.

"What exactly is wrong with my clothes?"

Romeo took a deep breath.

The kind of breath someone took before delivering devastating news.

Then—

"Everything."

You gasped.

Offended.

Deeply offended.

Romeo didn't even flinch. Instead he grabbed your wrist and started dragging you toward another store.

"Come on."

"No."

"Come on."

"No."

"BB."

"No."

"BB."

"NO."

The argument continued for twenty minutes.

Romeo won anyway.

Unfortunately.

You emerged from the store carrying enough bags to qualify as a pack mule.

While Romeo looked completely satisfied. As though this had somehow solved a major global crisis.

"You're ridiculous."

"You look beautiful, BB."

You froze.

Romeo paused, realizing what he'd said.

A very rare occurrence happened.

He looked embarrassed.

Only slightly.

But enough.

You immediately noticed.

And that was far more entertaining than the shopping trip.

"Oh?"

"Don't."

"Oh?"

"Don't start."

"You think I'm beautiful?"

Romeo's eye twitched.

"Obviously. Why else would I have asked you out?"

Your heart betrayed you immediately.

Because despite all his arrogance.

Despite all his sharp comments.

Despite all his ridiculous spending habits—

Romeo was painfully sincere whenever it came to you.

Which made it difficult to stay annoyed.

Very very difficult.

Still.

You had standards.

And one of those standards involved not allowing your boyfriend to bankrupt himself trying to spoil you.

Even if he was rich enough to survive it.

"Romeo."

"What."

"You really don't need to buy me all this stuff."

For once, he didn't immediately argue.

Instead he looked at you.

Really looked at you.

His expression softening ever so slightly.

"BB."

Uh oh.

That tone was dangerous. The sincere tone. The one that always made your defenses crumble.

"I know."

You blinked.

"...You do?"

"Of course I do."

Now you were definitely confused.

Because that wasn't the response you expected.

Romeo sighed dramatically.

Like he couldn't believe he was having this conversation.

Again.

"I know I don't need to."

"Then why do you keep doing it?"

"As if that's not obvious."

"It isn't."

"It is."

"It isn't."

Romeo groaned.

Then pinched the bridge of his nose.

Clearly questioning all of his life choices. Including dating you.

Eventually he spoke.

Slowly.

Like he was explaining something very simple.

"Because I see things that remind me of you."

A faint blush graced your cheeks, your brian immediately short-circuiting.

Romeo continued, still looking annoyed. Though now it seemed directed at himself.

"I see clothes that would suit you."

Your heart started beating faster.

"I see jewelry you'd like."

Faster.

"I see things that would make you happy."

Faster.

"And then I buy them."

The shopping bags suddenly felt much heavier.

Not because of the weight.

But because of what they represented.

Every item. Every gift. Every extravagant purchase.

None of them had been about showing off. Or money. Or status.

They had all started with the same thought.

This would make them smile.

Romeo noticed your expression immediately.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

You laughed.

Softly.

Warmly.

Because suddenly everything made sense.

"You're actually kind of sweet."

"Take that back."

"No."

"Immediately."

"Never."

His face turned red.

Which was adorable.

You would absolutely be bringing this up later.

Repeatedly.

For the rest of his life.

And judging by the horrified look on Romeo's face—

He knew it too.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @mylovelycinema @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @ox-ren-xo @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @innocent-and-angelic @ajade19 @ziyeriah-png @ghostfox9249 @dailyvahine @shion-genkai @lycasartist @jadesharp2006 @blackmoonlilith15 @violanemo @yellowflowerevythinks

❄️ ————————————————— ❄️

If someone asked you to describe yourself, "quiet" would probably be an understatement.

You weren't just quiet.

You were silent.

Painfully, hopelessly silent.

Not because you didn't want to talk.

Not because you disliked people.

You simply... couldn't.

Words always got stuck somewhere between your brain and your mouth.

You'd think of something to say.

A greeting.

A joke.

A question.

Then suddenly you'd become aware of yourself.

Aware of the people around you. Aware of how your voice sounded. Aware of every possible thing that could go wrong.

And just like that, the words would disappear.

Most conversations ended with you nodding.

Shaking your head.

Pointing.

Or making small sounds that somehow communicated your thoughts better than actual sentences.

"Hm..."

"Mhm."

"Mm~!"

Those became your primary language.

It wasn't uncommon for people to completely misunderstand you.

Some assumed you disliked them.

Others thought you were rude.

A few simply gave up trying to talk to you altogether.

Tohma Ishibashi wasn't one of those people.

Which was unfortunate.

Because it made you like him.

A lot.

The problem with liking Tohma was that he was easy to like.

He was responsible.

Reliable.

Patient.

The kind of person who always seemed willing to help.

Even when he was exhausted. Even when Frostheim was falling apart around him. Even when Jin had undoubtedly dumped another mountain of work onto his desk.

Tohma still smiled. Still listened. Still made time for people.

Including you.

Especially you.

You weren't entirely sure when it started.

Maybe it was when he stopped waiting for verbal responses. Maybe it was when he learned how to interpret your gestures. Maybe it was when he started naturally filling silences instead of forcing you to break them.

Whatever the reason, talking to him became easier than talking to anyone else.

Not easy.

Just easier.

Which was how you found yourself sitting in Frostheim's common room one evening while Tohma worked through paperwork.

The room was quiet.

Comfortable.

The kind of silence that didn't make you nervous.

You sat nearby reading while Tohma reviewed reports.

Occasionally he'd sigh.

Occasionally you'd glance up.

That was enough conversation for you.

At least usually.

Tonight was different.

Because after nearly twenty minutes of silence, you found yourself wanting to say something.

A dangerous thought.

An incredibly dangerous thought.

You immediately ignored it.

Then thought about it again.

Then ignored it again.

Then thought about it a third time.

Tohma looked tired.

Very tired.

The kind of tired he always pretended not to be.

You wanted to tell him to take a break.

Simple.

Easy.

Normal.

Unfortunately, speaking was involved.

You stared at your book.

The words blurred together.

Your heart began beating faster.

Maybe you shouldn't.

Maybe it wasn't important.

Maybe—

"You okay?"

You nearly jumped.

Tohma looked up from his paperwork.

Concern immediately appearing on his face.

You nodded.

Too quickly.

He raised an eyebrow.

"...You sure?"

Another nod.

A pause.

Then—

"...Mm."

The brilliant response of a genius. Good job!

Tohma smiled slightly.

Apparently understanding exactly what that meant.

"Got it."

You relaxed.

Crisis avoided.

No speaking required.

Perfect.

Except...

A few minutes later, you found yourself glancing at him again.

Then again.

Then again.

The dark circles under his eyes seemed more noticeable tonight.

The stack of paperwork wasn't getting any smaller.

You frowned.

Tohma sighed for what felt like the hundredth time.

And suddenly the words escaped before you could stop them.

"...B-break."

The room froze.

Well.

You froze.

Tohma blinked.

Then looked around.

Then looked back at you.

"...Was that you?"

Immediately, regret.

Immediate.

Catastrophic.

Soul-crushing regret.

You buried your face in your book.

Maybe if you ignored reality, reality would disappear.

Unfortunately, Tohma laughed softly.

Not mean.

Not teasing.

Just surprised.

"You talked."

The book rose higher.

You considered dying.

It seemed easier.

Tohma's smile widened slightly.

"You know, I was starting to think I'd imagined your voice."

The sound that escaped you was somewhere between a squeak and a groan.

A truly impressive accomplishment. Well done! Well done!

"I didn't."

You lowered the book slightly.

Tohma looked amused.

"I really didn't."

Your face immediately heated.

Because that was another sentence.

A whole sentence.

An actual sentence.

You wanted the floor to swallow you.

Instead, Tohma leaned back in his chair.

Looking strangely pleased.

"What was that about taking a break?"

Your heart nearly exploded.

Because now you had to repeat yourself.

The worst possible outcome.

You stared at him.

Tohma stared back.

Patiently waiting.

You looked away first.

"Uh...need… break."

The words came out barely above a whisper.

Tiny.

Fragile.

So quiet they almost disappeared.

Yet somehow Tohma heard them.

His expression softened immediately.

"Aww."

You immediately covered your face.

No.

No.

Absolutely not.

Not the soft look.

Not the fond look.

Anything but that.

"You were worried about me?"

You made a distressed noise.

Which was answer enough.

Tohma laughed.

And for some reason, that only made your face hotter.

After that, things changed.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

The way snow melts at the end of winter.

Almost too gradual to notice.

But noticeable nonetheless.

You started talking more when you were alone with him.

Not much.

A word here.

A sentence there.

Tiny little whispers that barely existed.

The kind that required complete silence to hear. The kind that forced Tohma to lean closer whenever you spoke.

Which became a problem.

Because Tohma quickly realized something.

Your voice was incredibly quiet.

Not metaphorically.

Literally.

One evening, the two of you were organizing documents together when Tohma asked where a missing report had gone.

You knew exactly where it was.

The answer should have been easy.

Instead—

"...third drawer."

"What?"

Your face immediately heated.

Tohma leaned slightly closer.

"Sorry?"

"...Third drawer."

Still too quiet.

You wanted to cry.

Tohma blinked.

Then leaned even closer.

Close enough that you could see the individual strands of his hair.

Close enough that your brain stopped functioning.

"One more time?"

Your soul left your body.

"...T-Third drawer."

The words barely escaped.

A whisper.

Nothing more.

Tohma's eyes widened slightly.

"Oh."

You looked away immediately.

Because he had heard it.

He definitely heard it.

And now you wanted to launch yourself into the nearest wall.

But then something unexpected happened.

Tohma smiled.

Not amused.

Not teasing.

Just... happy.

Like hearing your voice was something precious.

Something worth paying attention to.

"Thank you."

Your heart betrayed you immediately.

Because of course it did.

Over time, it became routine.

You only really spoke around him.

Only really tried around him.

And Tohma never rushed you.

Never pressured you.

Never acted frustrated when it took you five minutes to say something that should have taken five seconds.

He simply waited.

Every. Single. Time.

One winter evening, while the two of you sat together in Frostheim after everyone else had gone to bed, you found yourself talking more than usual.

Tiny whispers.

Short sentences.

But still talking.

Tohma listened attentively to every single word.

As though each one mattered. As though they weren't ordinary thoughts. As though they were something special.

The realization made your chest feel warm.

"...Tohma?"

"Hm?"

You hesitated.

Immediately wanting to take it back.

But Tohma waited.

Patient as always.

"...Thank you."

The whisper was so quiet it barely existed.

Yet Tohma heard it.

Of course he did.

He always did.

"For what?"

You looked down at your hands.

Fidgeting nervously.

Searching for the words.

"...Listening."

The silence that followed felt different.

Softer.

Warmer.

When you finally looked up, Tohma was staring at you.

Not with surprise.

Not with amusement.

Just affection.

The kind that made your heart stumble.

The kind that made it impossible to look away.

"You know," he said quietly, "I like hearing your voice."

Your entire body froze.

Tohma laughed softly.

Because apparently your reactions were becoming predictable.

"It's true."

You made a tiny distressed sound.

His smile widened.

"You always look so proud of yourself afterward."

You immediately hid your face.

Mortified.

Completely mortified.

Because the worst part?

He was right.

Every time you managed to get the words out, there was a small part of you that felt accomplished.

Victorious.

Like you'd climbed a mountain.

And somehow, Tohma had noticed.

Of course he had.

Tohma noticed everything.

The silence stretched comfortably between you.

Neither of you felt the need to fill it.

Eventually, you lowered your hands just enough to peek at him.

Only to discover he was still smiling.

Softly.

Warmly.

Patiently.

Waiting.

Just like always.

And for perhaps the first time in your life, speaking didn't feel quite so frightening.

At least not when it was him listening.

Just this once…

And then the next time.

And the time after that.

Until one day, without even realizing it, you'd stopped whispering quite so much whenever the vice-captain was near.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @mylovelycinema @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @ox-ren-xo @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @innocent-and-angelic @ajade19 @ziyeriah-png @ghostfox9249 @dailyvahine @shion-genkai @lycasartist @jadesharp2006 @blackmoonlilith15 @violanemo @yellowflowerevythinks

The academy wants you to believe that everyone here starts on equal footing. It is a lie designed to keep you compliant. True security does not come from teamwork. It comes from absolute positioning. While the other houses argue over scraps, we dictate the standard. If you want to be part of the legacy that actually runs this place, you don't compromise.

𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐁𝚰𝐋𝚰𝐓𝐘. 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝚰𝐌.

⚝ 𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐌 ⚝

Instinct. Courage. Strength. Resolve. Loyalty. Ferocity

They call it "discipline" and "rules" but the reality is they are just terrified of what happens when students realize their own strength. They want to put a leash on you and call it an education. Do not let them tame you. Out there in the dark, an institution's rules mean absolutely nothing. Only your instinct and the people at your back will keep you alive.

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝚰𝐍𝐒. 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝚰𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝚰𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐌.

⚘ 𝐉𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐎𝐂𝐊 ⚘

Curiosity. Wonder. Possibility. Freedom. Adventure. Spontaneity

Darkwick expects you to treat this place like a bleak, miserable sentence. They want you to lock yourself in a study hall, follow the script, and die a quiet death as an administrative statistic. What a waste. The world outside those walls is infinitely strange and dangerous, meaning it is the perfect playground. If you are going to be here anyway, make it an era worth remembering.

𝐋𝚰𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘. 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝚰𝐍𝐆. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐉𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐎𝐂𝐊.

♧ 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀 ♤

Calculation. Risk . Opportunity. Ambition. Fortune. Triumph

Don't let them lecture you about honor or fairness. The people preaching those values are always the ones losing the game. Darkwick is a calculated risk from the moment you step onto campus, and every interaction is a transaction. We don't pray for good fortune or wait for handouts. We read the room, figure out the odds, and make sure we own the board.

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐖𝚰𝐍𝐒. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝚰𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀.

❁ 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐈 ❁

Reflection. Patience. Discipline. Wisdom. Grace. Influence 

Let the other houses burn themselves out scrambling for immediate attention. Loudness is just a symptom of desperation. True authority does not need to shout to be felt. It is quiet, observant, and patient enough to let the opposition destroy themselves first. We watch from behind the curtain, and we strike only when the outcome is already guaranteed.

𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝚰𝐋. 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝚰𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐁𝚰.

☽ 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 ☽

Mortality. Impermanence. Acceptance. Serenity. Renewal. Transcendence 

Most students spend their entire time here running from the inevitable, building higher walls just to pretend they are safe. It is an exhausting illusion. Fear makes you predictable, and predictability makes you weak. When you finally stop fighting the natural cycle of things and accept the end, you gain a level of control that the rest cannot even fathom.

𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝚰𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇. 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝚰𝐍𝐄𝐕𝚰𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘.

✙ 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐍 ✙

Inquiry. Discovery. Knowledge. Precision. Innovation. Truth 

The academy likes to wrap the unknown in myths and terrifying stories to keep you from looking too closely. Ignorance is comfortable for them. But a monster is just a biological puzzle that has not been mapped yet. We take the things that make the other houses scream and we dissect them until we find the objective truth.

𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇. 𝐃𝚰𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐍.

✧ 𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀 ✧

Inspiration. Passion. Creativity. Expression. Charisma. Individuality

They want you to blend into the background, to be another nameless asset to the school’s grand design. They are threatened by anyone who refuses to dull their own edges. If Darkwick is going to be a tragedy, we might as well turn it into a performance. Do not let them stifle your presence. Force the world to look at you, and make sure they do not look away.

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄. 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀.

✦ 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐀 ✦

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Which propaganda are you falling for?