#khunwriting

[Call of Your Name]

Synopsis: You noticed that Floyd doesn't call you Shrimpy anymore.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Floyd Leech x Reader

The first time Floyd called you by your name, it had given you whiplash. Part of it was because you had never heard the tall eel-mer say your name before, much less scream it from across the courtyard. It felt oddly natural, the way it escaped his lips in that cheery way he always spoke.

But the other part was because he had practically bulldozed through you and your group of friends to scoop you in his arms, eliciting panicked yelps and bewildered expressions from everyone—including Ace, who had recovered the fastest and carried a sort of subdued smile, almost as if this was the last time he’ll ever see you again. You couldn’t hold back cursing at him when Floyd carried you away with a maniacal cackle. 

The fact that Floyd didn’t call you by his sea life-themed nickname had quickly disappeared from your mind. No, you were too busy laughing as the eel had nearly face-planted rounding a corner too fast.

The second time Floyd called you by your name, you were still taken aback. When Floyd had said it this time around, you were on your way to your first period alone as Grim was forced to take an early morning remedial lesson with Professor Trein. The mer had scared you by suddenly draping his much bigger form over your body, nearly making you crumple under his weight with a strangled yelp all while Jade stood by his side with an amused smile. You barely had a chance to shoot the vice-housewarden a glare when the taller twin unceremoniously dumped a lunchbox bundled in a cute eel cloth in your shaky arms. 

“Here, Jade made a bunch of mushroom dishes, but I don’t wanna eat it,” He explained with a disgusted grimace upon seeing your confused appearance. Jade let out a chuckle, raising a curved finger to his lips to hide his sharpened teeth.

“This past excursion was rather bountiful,” The eel visibly preened. He must’ve noticed the wariness in your stare cause Jade simply placed a hand on his chest with a grin that was a little too wide for your liking. “Do not worry. There isn’t anything too harmful, but do let me know if you experience any side effects,” 

“You’ll eat it all up, won’t you?” The way Floyd spoke made it sound like it was less of a question and more of a demand, but you were too focused on how he said your name once more. It easily slipped in at the end, where his usual “Shrimpy” would’ve been in that sunny tone that stirred something inside of you. 

And judging by Jade’s countenance, he noticed the change too. Despite him still carrying a perfectly polite expression on his face, there was a noticeable widening of his eyes and sudden stillness that told you he was just as stunned as you were. However, it disappeared shortly afterwards and his lips stretched wider into something much sharper that sent chills down your spine. But before you could comment on it, Floyd had dragged Jade away with a dazzling smile and an enthusiastic wave over his shoulder.

The third time Floyd called you by your name, you were determined to ask about it. It was unfortunately one of the times where the eel had swooped in and deemed that if he was going to be stuck at Mostro Lounge, then you were going to be there too. 

Floyd was oddly compliant working that day, perhaps in one of his favorable good moods. He had sat you in a booth and walked away into the kitchen for several minutes. When you had started to question if you had been abandoned or not, Floyd had returned with a rather scrumptious looking dish. He set it before you with a flourish of his hands and expectant glimmer in his gaze that practically insisted you to take a bite. So when you did, Floyd’s already happy demeanor grew brighter. He had practically crooned your name as he leaned down to nuzzle the crown of your head.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” You began after swallowing your bite, your eyes shooting upwards. Floyd hummed in response, the vibrations rumbled nicely against you, but you ignored it in favor of finally getting an answer to your burning question. “Why did you start using my name instead of Shrimpy?” “Huh?” Floyd had pulled back with a curious blink. The moray eel stared at you for a moment, and there was something flickering in his dual-colored hues before a wide grin broke out across his face. With a barking laugh, Floyd reached out to pat your head, akin to petting a dog for doing something cute. “‘Cause that’s your name, duh! You’re so silly!”

And then he walked away, effectively ending the conversation without a second thought. Unfortunately for you, Floyd’s response had very much not answered your question—Though it was a pretty standard Floyd reply if you had ever heard of one.

So with a long sigh, you had returned to your meal, shoving another spoonful into your mouth. As you chewed, you noticed Jade approaching your table with a colorful fizzy drink in hand. The eel nodded politely at you as he set down the glass within your reach.

“Here you go, prefect,” Jade said smoothly with a smile that had an ominous tinge to it. The sight had you scooting further away from the brother, but Jade took a step forward in tandem with your movement. “You know, Floyd has always given people his endearing nicknames, ever since we were young elvers. When we first met Azul, he had dubbed him ‘Octy’,”

“But he doesn’t call him that anymore,” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion while you peered up at the tall eel-mer. His predatory leer had long honed in on you, his golden eye seemingly gleamed underneath the lounge’s violet and blue lights.

“No, he doesn’t,” 

“Why?”

“In Floyd’s words, “Azul is Azul”. Thus, there is no need for a nickname for him,” He responded, an amused air radiating around him. “Perhaps to him, you’re just you,” 

“What does that mean?” You groaned, falling back into your seat with a huff. As always, Jade was acting both cryptic and smug—a wicked combination that could only belong to the cunning Leech. And it seemed to be at your expense, judging by the chuckle that he released; one that he wanted you to know he was laughing at you. 

“Though you do end up doing incredibly idiotic things at times—” Jade started, ignoring your indignant sputtering. “I would like to think you, yourself, aren’t so stupid,” 

“That’s not exactly a compliment, Jade,” You said, dryly. Jade’s smile spanned across his face. 

“I never said it was,” Jade said, pleasantly. Your frown deepened at his words, but perhaps he finally took pity on your poor, unfortunate soul because his gloved hand came to rest on your shoulder. “My dear brother tends to wear his heart on his sleeve. I suggest you take the time to observe it,”

There was a particular knowing look in his eyes that had you nodding, taking his advice to heart. 

The fourth time Floyd called you by name, it was during one of his bad moods. Azul was the one that called you. Apparently, it was a particularly bad day for Floyd, though the housewarden didn’t go into too much detail. 

Why did he call you? That you couldn’t say, but you still stood up from your ramshackle couch, told Grim you’d be back, and made your way to Octavinelle. You breezed past the Mostro Lounge and headed straight to the dorm’s pool. After knocking and not receiving a response, you entered the room.

The lights were dimmed, but it was just enough for you to make your way to the pool’s edge. You slipped off your shoes and socks and dipped your feet into the cool waters, watching the ripples disturbed the surface. The pool was dark and inky, almost mirroring the bottom of the Coral Sea. You couldn’t make out anything in the murky depths, but you knew you weren’t alone. 

“Hello…?” You called out, yet nothing happened for a handful of seconds. Your voice echoed off the tiled walls and there was a solemn silence that hung instead. 

Then there was a little ripple that broke the calm waters. It was a little away from you, but you noticed strands of teal hair and Floyd’s golden and olive gray hues emerging from the depths. Even with his face scrunched in a nasty scowl, he was still breathtakingly beautiful in his merform.

“Go away,” Floyd growled, the sound very unlike how it usually was. Instead of it being high and lilting, it was low and full of barely restrained anger. “Not in the mood, and I don’t wanna take it out on ya,” 

In spite of his foul mood, the way he spoke your name was surprisingly kind, almost as if he didn’t want to taint your name. And that was enough to have your heart stuttering in your chest and Jade’s words echoing in your head. 

Floyd truly did wear his heart on his sleeve.

“Well, I don’t want to leave,” You spoke softly, never once looking away from him. “We don’t have to do anything, but I’d like to sit here with you,”

For a few moments, Floyd was eerily still, just staring straight into your eyes. Whatever he found in your gaze had his scowl softening, and he sank back into the pool. Not a beat later did Floyd’s long arms emerge from the water and coiled around your waist. The eel slithered his upper body out of the pool shortly afterwards, his fins fluttering as he rested his head on your lap. He was dripping water onto your clothes, but you didn’t mind. 

Instead, you raised your hand to rake your fingernails against his scalp, displacing his damp strands. There was a low hum that came from him and the tight tension built into Floyd’s body slowly ebbed away. You don’t know how long you sat there in silence, giving Floyd head rubs. With how even his breath was and how slack his form became, you would’ve assumed he had fallen asleep if it weren’t for his unblinking eyes staring up at you. 

“You’re too nice,” Floyd had broken the silence with a steady tone and a squeeze of your waist. His golden eye glowed rather enchantingly, capturing your attention like prey to an anglerfish’s lure. “Someone’s gonna take advantage of ya,” 

“Maybe,” You hummed in response while your hand drifted down to cup his face. Your thumb ghosted the facial markings on his cheek that smoothed over his shimmering scales, earning another charming hum from him. “But you wouldn’t let them, right?” 

Finally, Floyd blinked. Then he laughed. It wasn’t sharp or biting—No, it was high-pitched and breathy, the same, familiar way that told you he found something incredibly amusing. And it was the same one that made everything else disappear and cause your face to break out into a smile. 

Slowly, his laughter softened into tiny chuckles. Floyd pulled himself further out of the water to nuzzle against your stomach. His arms tightened more around your waist, staying perfectly firm and not overly tight.

“Nah, I’d bite them if they tried,” He replied and tilted his head upwards. The mer gnashed his pointy teeth together, making an exaggerated biting motion that had you giggling at the sight with a flurry of butterflies in your stomach. 

And you whole-heartedly believed him. After all, how could you not when he said it with such a sweet and honest gaze? 

So, the fifth time Floyd called you by your name, it had all clicked. Classes had just released for the day, and you were walking down the hall by yourself. Deuce had plans to meet up with Cater to help fix an amp for the Pop Music Club, Ace left to participate in a croquet tournament at Riddle’s behest, and Grim had bolted to the cafeteria for an afternoon snack. 

As you had no real plans, aside from some homework sheets that were due in a few days, you were in no rush to get back to the Ramshackle dorm. So you were okay with clinging to the side of the hallway, standing next to one of the many open windows as other students left their classes and made their way to club rooms or the Hall of Mirrors. The hallway was rather crowded, and you were more than happy to not get squished in between the numerous bodies. 

Among the sea of students, you spotted a flash of teal that stood much taller than most of the student body. A smile tugged at the corner of your lips as you noticed the laid-back expression on Floyd’s face. His eyes drifted across the hall lazily before landing on you off to the side. There was a noticeable shift in his demeanor, and he physically perked up once your eyes connected.

He yelled your name so loudly, startling the nearby students around him. To many, it would’ve been terrifying watching the tall moray eel make a bee-line towards them, but you rather enjoyed it. In spite of the fearful students scampering to get out of his way, you would say Floyd looked downright endearing.

And in that moment, watching Floyd with his giddy grin and outstretched arms, everything had suddenly fallen into place. It was by all means a usual sight, yet something just clicked for you. The reason why he called you by your name suddenly made sense, and you could feel your adoration towards him nearly bursting at the seams. 

So, as he was a few feet from you, you extended your arms to the sides, fully ready for the incoming hug. 

“Floyd!” His name left your lips in the manner yours did from his: Natural, sunny, and kind. And you can see that something tender shifted heterochromatic hues before he scooped you into his arms. His hold was unyielding yet wholly him as he practically swung you around, making the hallway and nearby students turn into streaks of colors. But you didn’t mind at all.

Because to you, Floyd was Floyd, and that was all you needed.

[Blanketed in Tender Warmth]

Synopsis: Ace wakes up trapped between you, Deuce, and Grim.

Genre: Fluff

Notes: Okay, this isn't a request (don't worry, I am working on them!) but I needed to write a little fic for my birthday twin! I have a soft spot for Ace, and I just had to make something for him. :) Side note, the characters are in their second year.

Pairing: Ace Trappola x Reader x Deuce Spade; Platonic! Grim x Reader/Ace Trappola/Deuce Spade

The first thing Ace noticed when he woke up was how unbelievably dry his mouth was. The uncomfortable cottonmouth caused the card soldier to internally groan, and no matter how desperately he tried to wet his mouth, the sensation never got better. So without much choice, the second-year sat up. 

Or at least he attempted to.

Ace noted with a drowsy blink that there was a distinct warm heaviness scattered across his body, forcing him to remain laying down. A quick survey of his surroundings showed that he was completely covered—Though not by the blanket, seeing as that had somehow been kicked off to the foot of the bed.

Instead, he was shielded by several body parts and an entire direbeast. You were burrowed into his right side with one of your legs swung over his to intertwine with Deuce’s, who laid on Ace’s left side, and slung an arm across his waist. Deuce laid on his back but had his right arm awkwardly slanted over the redhead’s left shoulder to his right hip, almost like a seatbelt. And sprawled across his torso, Grim practically laid deadweight across Ace’s chest and Deuce’s right arm, snoring loudly into the night. 

In other words, Ace was completely stuck. 

“Guys, I’m thirsty,” He groaned quietly, both wanting to get rid of the dryness in his mouth but also trying not to disturb anyone else entirely. Naturally, Ace didn’t receive a response, only furthering his sleepy frustration. Without much choice, the heart card soldier shifted his left arm to nudge his dormmate awake. “Juice, scoot over,” 

“I’ll take an omelet,” The spade card soldier grumbled in response. Ace watched his face twitch into a mildly displeased frown before Deuce turned his head away from him. “No bell peppers please,”

“Grab that muffin too…” Grim suddenly slurred from Ace’s chest. A deadpanned expression contorted the second-year’s expression as he immediately tilted his head to stare incredulously between the two. 

“Are you guys in the same dream or something?” He huffed, both in exasperation and amusement. As a last resort, Ace craned his head to whisper your name. When you didn’t react, he kept trying with each attempt getting slightly louder. It took a few tries until he earned a wispy whine from you. “Hey, I need to get water,” 

For a few moments, the redhead believed you wouldn’t move. Yet by some miracle and perhaps the Queen of Heart’s blessing, you retracted your limbs from his body and turned the other way. Giddy, Ace used his now free side to carefully scoop Grim onto Deuce’s torso. Luckily, the direbeast didn’t stir awake, only repositioning to curl up into a little ball while the spade soldier wrapped his right arm around Grim, almost as if unconsciously securing the little beast against his body. 

Ace, now free, carefully sat up. He scooted towards the foot of the bed and hissed upon planting his feet on the cool wooden floor. From his many nights of sleeping over in the rickety dorm, Ace knew which spots didn’t creak and was careful maneuvering as he made his way out of the bedroom. 

Upon stepping out into the hallway, the once cozy warmth that encompassed Ace’s body began to fade away. A chilly draft—probably seeping in from one of the many cracks in the windows—settled in its place, only forcing the student to burrow into his hoodie with a minor shiver. Already wanting to retreat back to the bed, Ace wasted no time walking down the steps towards the kitchen.

The dorm was encased in a rare and gentle hush. There were no eerie creaks or ghoulish whistling that echoed throughout the haunted building. It wasn’t often that the ghosts were quiet, not that they weren’t doing it out of rudeness or spite, but they lived in the dorm alone for so long that old habits were hard to break. Yet on this particular night, the ghosts were being mindful of their hauntings that night.

And the reason for that took the shape of the chaotic mess in the lounge area. Standing in the entrance, Ace eyed the room, a sleepy smile gracing his face at the mayhem splayed everywhere. Confetti from already popped poppers sprinkled across the furniture and ground, and there were tufts of colorful tissue paper from opened bags and wrapping paper gathered in a haphazard pile off to the side. On the uneven coffee table were all of the birthday gifts and a finished board game that they didn’t bother putting away. 

All the remnants of the surprise party that was thrown for Ace. 

And what a surprise it was cause when Ace woke up that morning, he had assumed it would’ve been the typical birthday tradition as it was the year prior. Nothing was different as the day went on; he got dressed up in his birthday outfit, had his birthday interview, then went to a party back in Heartslabyul once it was all done. So, safe to say he was caught off-guard once the celebration ended, and you, Deuce, and Grim dragged him to Ramshackle with Riddle bidding the four of you farewell with a pleasant yet knowing smile. 

Imagine the delighted shock the redhead felt when he stepped into Ramshackle to see it dolled up with streamers, balloons, and a banner that read “Happy Birthday Ace!”. Covering the coffee table were several snacks, wrapped gifts and bags, and a two-tiered cake just waiting for him. Something about seeing the decorations, gifts, and birthday cake—that he later found out all three of you had baked with Trey’s careful guidance over the phone, and Ace’d be lying if he didn’t feel the slightest bit touched that his upperclassman took time out of his important internship to help with his birthday cake—left him feeling completely warm.

Though reflecting back, maybe the cozy feelings stemmed from the three of you. It must’ve been when Grim nudged over a large party bag that was full of canned tuna with an earnest smile so wide it could’ve split his furry face in half. Maybe it’s from the way you spoonfed him the homemade birthday cake as some of the frosting smeared on his lips, causing you to wipe it away with a doting giggle. Or perhaps it was when Deuce leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek, wishing Ace a happy birthday with rosy cheeks and a bashful smile. 

And to think that you’d only known each other for a year. Around this time last year, your little group barely made acquaintances and were still navigating your friendship. Now, with all of you being in your second-year, Ace couldn’t imagine life without any of you in it. 

Grim was his best bud. Despite how careless and quick into trouble the direbeast can get, he still wormed his way into a special spot in Ace’s life. Watching him grow into a better mage and maturing into someone not as chaotic under your guidance made the card soldier’s heart swell in something similar to pride. He was still good ole Grim with his bottomless stomach and selfish tendencies, but he was Ace go-to companion for the little reprieves and laughter when life was beginning to weigh down. 

Deuce, his dorky punk of a dormmate, became someone Ace never thought he’d be so attached to. He was brash and ditsy to a fault, but he was still that loveable idiot that pushed himself into being an honors student. No matter how chaotic school life got, Deuce was the consistent presence in Ace’s day to day life. Whether it was dorm meetings, classes, or getting ready for bed, Ace knew he could just glance across the room and Deuce would be within reach. And being able to wake up, look across the room to see Deuce in his messy-haired and bleary eyed glory brought a daily comfort that Ace didn’t know he needed. 

And you? In spite of all the trouble he caused you or the mean-spirited comments he made at the beginning of your relationship, you still stuck to his side. You held his hand in his weak moments, comforted him in low times, and smiled with him during the highs. Ace could only silently admit that he was happy you hadn’t found a way home yet. As awful as it was to think, you had become such an integral part of his everyday life that if you were to return home without a way back to Twisted Wonderland...Well, Ace tries not to think about that.

There was just something more sentimental when it came to your little group. Maybe it’s because you all had been stuck with the broken chandelier situation that very first day of school, but it wasn’t the same relationship Ace had with his upperclassman or even the other first years. Granted, he is still friendly with them, but something ran deeper when it came to the four of you; something irreplaceable that only you four could truly call yours. 

Just thinking of you all had Ace yearning for the comfort of the bedroom. 

With a lingering glance, Ace made his way to the kitchen. He passed the leftover snacks that laid covered on the counter and went straight to the cupboard to grab a glass. Then he opened the fridge to fill his cup with the filtered water you kept in there. (The filtered pitcher was courtesy from Vil, who nearly flipped out once he realized you drank straight from the tap during their stay when practicing for the VDC. With how poor Ramshackle was before the much needed repairs, it was valid for the actor to react as such, but it never fails to make the second-year laugh when he remembers the horrified expression from back then). 

Once the last drop of the water slipped into Ace’s lips, the card soldier let out a relieved sigh as the previous cottonmouth had finally disappeared. Now that the irritating problem was solved, drowsiness began to creep in again. Unable to stifle an exaggerated yawn, Ace shuts the fridge door and sets the empty glass in the sink.

From there, it’s a silent journey back to the bedroom. There’s still a persistent chill in the air, and another harsh shiver racks through Ace’s body as he quickly bypasses the lounge and heads up the stairs. With the beckoning lure of the bed calling to him like a siren, Ace sneaks back into the bedroom. Just as he clicks the door behind him, the second-year hears a gentle stirring from the middle of the room. 

“Ace…?” A soft, drowsy voice whispered into the dim room. Ace glanced over his shoulder to see you propping yourself up, nearly wobbling from how tired you were. Even in the dark, you sent him an adorable pout and furrowed brows. Your expression had him internally melting at the sight of and it showed in how quickly his lips curved upwards. “Come back to bed…”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” He answered back with a little chuckle. Ace shuffled across the room and carefully settled back into his spot without nudging the other two awake. As soon as he laid back down, you immediately clung onto him. You swung your leg over Ace's body to hook it around Deuce's once more and curled your arm around the redhead's waist, earning a fond huff from him. “Comfy?”

You let out a dwindling hum and buried your face into his side. It wasn’t long till you were snoring softly once again, causing Ace to roll his eyes affectionately. Silently, the card soldier just shimmied more comfortably, being careful not to jostle anyone too much. Once he did, the second-year squeezed his arm underneath Deuce’s, reaching to rest his hand on Grim’s paw—the fur was silky under his hand, all thanks to your diligent grooming. The direbeast subconsciously curled his paw around one of Ace’s fingers, nuzzling his face against the appendage. At the same time, Deuce turned his head and smooshed his face into the red head’s hair, releasing heavy breaths into his head. 

There, Ace laid, squished between all three of you. If he closed his eyes, he could feel his beating heart thump with a tender feeling. It was utterly cozy and filling; something akin to eating a homemade bowl of soup on a cold winter night. It spread throughout his chest, running down his limbs to the tips of his fingers and toes. The chill he felt before no longer existed. Not when affection poured into him from all sides. Not when home was just within arm’s reach. 

Basking in the warmth, Ace closed his eyes, allowing sleep to take him back into its gentle embrace once more.

[Visions of You]

Synopsis: Jade knew that he was going to have a land wedding when he first met you.

Genre: Angst

Pairing: Jade Leech x Reader

Weddings on land were vastly different compared to those of the sea. They were more extravagant and costly, but Jade knew he would eventually have a land wedding when he met you back at NRC. 

You, the little human from a world completely different to that of Twisted Wonderland. 

You, the magicless student that stayed in that dinky Ramshackle dorm during your school years.

You, the prefect who approached him after Azul’s overblot with a beaming smile and curious gaze. 

You, the one that took his shielded, beating heart and carried it gently in your loving hands.

Jade knew you were the one for him since that day. It was just a matter of how he should play his cards to make you fall in love with him, and the eel-mer would gleefully boast about how quick it was for you to fall for his charms. Though, you often joked that you would’ve fallen for him sooner if he didn’t kick you out of your dorm or harass your friends within your first few meetings—To which Jade sniffles with crocodile tears and begs you to forget about his barbaric actions. You always rolled your eyes at his jests, but he could still see the cute smile you poorly hid.

When the two of you started dating, it just felt right. It was as if two puzzle pieces slotted perfectly together, like a match made in heaven. You both complemented and balanced each other out, and even your skeptical friends warmed up to the relationship just as easily as his side did. You got along swimmingly with Azul, his parents absolutely adored you, and, more importantly (if Jade was being honest), Floyd had long accepted you as his new sibling-in-law; his family beyond elated upon hearing the news that Jade wanted a future with you. 

So, it took little time for Jade, a sudden romantic in his blooming relationship, to question the details of your wedding day. What color suit would he wear? Should he use that glittery eye makeup and have his hair done the same way as that one wedding you both attended in Sunshine Lands? What kind of makeup would you put on? What sort of hairstyle would you don? 

Oh, what would you wear? 

Just the thought of you dolled up on their wedding day was enough for Jade to collapse onto his bed with a dreamy sigh. Floyd was always sure to throw a pillow with expert precision at his head paired with a playfully disgusted groan.

His twin’s actions never stopped the daydreams that flitted about in his mind throughout his day. Even in class, he’d imagine himself standing across from you. His usual close-lipped smile would be replaced with a toothy grin as he celebrated their nuptials with friends and family, basking in the day in blissful euphoria.

Even when he's struggling on his broom during PE, Jade imagines how your cheeks would turn red as he dipped you low to grace his lips with yours before the officiant even finished the pronouncement that the husband (him!) could kiss you.

Even when he's carrying a tray full of dishes to a table during his shift, he imagines what the reception would be like. Jade was certain that you’d be swept up in a dance with his beloved twin before Floyd inevitably decided it was the groom’s turn to be spun around.

Needless to say, Jade was overly eager for his wedding day to come. 

Yet, as he stood at the altar, staring into the same colored eyes as yours were, Jade couldn’t find himself sharing the same love that reflected back at himself so brightly. Even as he stood across from his soon to be spouse, he envisioned it was you standing there instead.

The person in front of him had some similar features to you, same color hair and eyes though not as appealing. The skin tone was close, but blemishes you had were not in the same spots. Their eye shape and nose were comparable, but your lips were completely different. Unfortunately, he’ll take what he could get, even if it was barely enough to pretend that it was you. 

You both had broken up. Though, was it really a break up if neither of you ever said those words? Regardless, you were no longer with him, despite the tender love you both cultivated and nurtured throughout the years at NRC. Now that love, though still persisting in his heart, has wilted from your missing presence.

Unable to handle the aching void where you had once filled, Jade was forced to find something else to get rid of that gnawing emptiness. And the best stands across from him, a human that looked slightly like you with vaguely parallel mannerisms. They should’ve eased the pain, but it just feels like two puzzle pieces forced together, scraping at the edges and disfiguring the original shapes in the process.

It feels wrong. 

In fact, everything feels revoltingly wrong. Jade’s stomach churns and the disgusting feeling of his own suit and human flesh makes him want to scream. He wants to peel everything off, clawing deep streaks into his body. He wants to destroy the hideous altar beside him, break every expensive chair and table in sight, shred those ugly, stupid flowers till they crumple into the sand beneath his shoes. He wants to disappear back into the comfort of the Coral Sea and hide away in a dark cove with his brother at his side. 

But he can’t, so Jade forces the rising bile and deep rage back to the little caged box where his fractured heart sits next to the love and memories of you.

Instead, he’ll stand there, neat and gentlemanly as he always was. He’ll repeat the vows he doesn’t mean. He’ll slip the ring that was supposed to be yours onto somebody else's finger. He’ll lean in and kiss lips that make stomach acid crawl up his throat. Then he’ll walk down the aisle with his newly married partner, ignoring the grieving frowns his parents and Azul carry and opting to stare at his brother, who sat between his father and Azul, instead.

Floyd still doesn’t look at him, and that hurts more than Jade would like to admit. 

He knew his family wasn’t happy, but what could he do? It wasn’t like you were going to suddenly appear before them and demand the ceremony be stopped. You weren’t going to steal him away from this offensive wedding, grabbing his hand and running away like those silly dramas he used to watch with you. As much as he would’ve loved to see that happen, it wouldn’t. 

After all, nobody has seen you in years, not since his final year of NRC. You had up and disappeared with no goodbyes. Not to your friends. Not to Grim. Not to him. He was forced to hear that you returned back to your world by Crowley of all people. 

The headmage had been suspiciously tight-lipped about how he had returned you back home, and Jade was convinced that you were pushed into the mirror by Crowley—He was sure of it! You loved him as much as he loved you. You wouldn’t just leave him behind…Right?—Alas, there was no proof and no amount of tears shed will let you return. Not to mention, the decade-long research stint has continuously turned up empty and there’s only so many failures Jade could withstand. The day he gave up looking for you had led to the biggest fight Jade and Floyd had in their lifetime.

But again, Jade couldn’t take the pain anymore. He couldn’t stand waking up to a cold bed and wet tears every morning. He couldn’t go through his daily life by himself when everything reminded him of you. Since that day, you had left him alone. That day, his heart shattered into millions of pieces in front of that damn mirror with only recollections and once-vivid visions of your shared future as keepsakes from his time with you. 

Because he had given you his shielded, beating heart, Jade was forced to pick up each cracked piece with bleeding fingers and hoarse sobs. He was forced to reassemble as a broken man. He was forced to find comfort in another’s embrace with your name still filling his lungs and soul. Because you won’t come back, no matter how much he cries or begs. 

No, he’ll remain stuck in this loveless marriage on land because it reminded Jade of what could’ve been if you stayed home with him.

[Silent Musings]

Synopsis: Floyd thinks about his day and you as you sleep beside him.

Genre: Fluff

Notes: Lots of predatory/prey wording, written from Floyd's perspective, tried to write GN! Reader, Yuu!Reader

Pairing: Floyd Leech x Reader

When Floyd opened his eyes, the dorm room was still unlit and engulfed in a silent black shroud. Despite that, he had no problem seeing everything. Being from the Coral Sea, his eyesight was used to the inky depths, ready to fight anything that dared lurk in the deep or catch any unsuspecting prey.

Maybe that was why his gaze immediately shot to your face—a foolish little shrimp that dropped their guard in the midst of a blood-hungry predator. 

Floyd’s singular golden eye gleamed in the dark as he laid completely still. His body was covered underneath the tousled sheets that offered no warmth, just a vague feeling of something on his body. No, the only warmth that he greedily accepted was radiating off your sleeping body.

A silly little shrimp that fell asleep in his presence. 

Deep in his blood, the sight of such easy prey brought out his primitive urges. His long limbs longed to reach out, wrapping around their body with a suffocatingly tight grip. His lips longed to stretch wide, showing off razor teeth, dripping with saliva. His jaw longed to unhinge, ready to pounce and pierce into soft flesh and shred. 

Yet it was you, the magicless prefect. And because of that, the moray eel continued to lie beside you without a single twitch in his muscles. Just watching and drinking in every little detail he could commit to memory. 

Like how your chest heaved slowly with every breath, a soft snore escaping your parted lips every few seconds. Or how your arms wrapped around the decently sized shrimp plush you bought for him on a trip into town one weekend (it was admittedly goofy-looking with the uneven eyes and flimsy felt legs and antennas, but you gave it to him. So he sleeps with it every night since receiving it, ignoring Jade’s teasing remarks). Or how your eyes fluttered rapidly underneath your eyelids.

What were you dreaming of? Maybe you were dreaming of going through another chaotic day at NRC, running into some trouble because of someone in your shoal. Maybe you were dreaming of being back in your world, reliving some memories before you arrived at Twisted Wonderland.

Was it a good dream? He could only assume based on the soft expression on your face.

Were you dreaming of him maybe? Sevens, Floyd hoped you were dreaming of him.

It was pitiful how a tiny creature like you could make his ravenous heart thump quickly in his chest.

But it happened. Gradual, unassuming, and unexpected.

The first time Floyd saw you at the orientation ceremony, he thought that the whole experience was hilarious—the way you floundered about, incredibly lost and frazzled at the chaos surrounding you had him nearly doubled over in laughter. He brushed it off like it was the end of it, but, to his surprise, you stuck around. Rumors of the magicless human and the trouble that followed in your path spread like wildfire in NRC, yet he could never quite get a glimpse of you, aside from that one time you were spying on him and Jade with the rest of Heartslabyul guys. 

But then the final exams came around and you were suddenly among all the sea anemones, begging to help your reckless shoal. And everything fell into place from there. Your presence became more steady, and he suddenly noticed you around more and more (or was it that he subconsciously seeked you out instead?). While you were most definitely afraid of him at the beginning, at some point the frightful jolts eased away into excited hops and something in him shifted during that time.

His ever-swaying mood swings became more manageable when you were around. Floyd could be in the worst of moods from whatever got him down, but just the sight of you from across the hall or courtyard had his heart all aflutter and he wasted no time scooping you in his arms right then and there. Jade and Azul noticed this change right away—and maybe that’s why you were here in his bed today.

For whatever reason, the world was out to get him that day. At first, some guy from Savanaclaw scuffed his shoes right after he had cleaned and polished them the night prior. It was fine till Floyd got caught shortly afterwards with bloody knuckles and a battered beastman, so came the long lecture and write-up for detention. Then, Floyd was getting hounded on by professors left and right about missing assignments and failed tests. What tipped it all off was when he got paired up with some squeamish frosh in potionology, and the Scarabian student was so fidgety that he dumped the wrong amount of dawn-weed and subsequently made the potion blow up in their faces.

Once the bell rang and he knocked some teeth out of the freshman, Floyd retreated back into his dorm room with a glare that had everyone scattering. Already deciding to skip the rest of the day, the eel fell onto his bed and bundled underneath the covers. 

He didn’t know how long he laid there in the dark, just seething and wringing his shrimp plush between his fingers, but the door creaked open and shut within a few moments. The person crept closer to his bed and Floyd already knew who it was by gait and footfalls.

“Floyd?” And there was your pretty voice. “Can I lay next to you?”

Wordlessly, he shimmied towards one side of the bed and you seemed to get the hint. You simply took off your shoes and gently lifted the blanket to lay at his side. You didn’t look frightened by his scowl nor did you tense at his unblinking, glowing eyes. Instead, you, the little shrimpy, just smiled softly and gently ran your fingers through his hair. It was like the tension in his shoulders ebbed away and he let his eyes shut to bask in the affection.

So that’s where he was now: Laying in the dark and watching you sleep with his heart beating sweetly for you. The once roaring and angry tsunami that crashed inside of him had quieted into tender lull waves, lapping at his heart. 

Again, it was pitiful how such prey could reduce his heart to mush. But, Sevens, were you the sweetest thing in his eyes. A little feeble shrimp with the prettiest eyes and kissable smile.

Oh, how Floyd wants to dress you up with chains of pearls, sea glass, and coral and give you all the scales and teeth you’d want, if it meant you’d be in a symbiotic relationship with him. You’ll ease his frazzled heart and clutch his face in your gentle hands and he’ll smother you in kisses and protect you from all the other beasts out vying for a taste of you.

He’d do it all for you, and he wishes he wasn't such a coward. Like all moray eels, he has to be 100% sure you feel the same way or else he can’t will himself to make a move. 

So he’ll do what predators do best. He’ll wait. 

He’ll sit and wait. Until he gets a whiff of your reciprocated love and knows your heart beats for only the name Floyd Leech, then will he strike and cradle your bleeding heart into his own hands.

Till then, he’ll be content watching in the dark and waiting for the time to go for the kill.

[Request: Lingering Touches]

Pairing: Jade Leech x Reader

Notes: Sorry for the long wait! I had to think about how I wanted to structure this while trying to keep it Jade-like, but I'm always down to write for the twins so thank you for the request. I'm not sure if it'll evoke the same feelings as my Floyd fic did, but I still hope you enjoy it nonetheless! :)

The first time Jade leaned into your space, you honestly didn’t think much of it. It occurred during one of your weekly visits to the botanical garden since it was a place you often liked visiting due to its vast flora and beautiful scenery. It was halfway through your walk that you had stumbled upon Jade hunched over a log. While many would turn heel and flee at the mere sight of him, you just settled beside the mer to inquire about his interest in said piece of wood—to which he let out a charming chuckle and explained that it was his current project as the sole member of the Mountain Lover Club.

From there, conversation flowed easily between the two of you, and Jade seemed thrilled by your growing interest in hearing him rattle on about how he could grow his own mushrooms on a log. It was rather endearing to see the eel-mer talk with a delighted smile that had the faintest hint of teeth peeking out from under his lips. 

And because of it, you didn’t really care nor think too much when Jade tilted closer to show you the holes he drilled into the log to place the fungi spores in. In fact, you welcomed it since it was rare to see the eel speak so animatedly, and you chalked it up to him being passionate to truly mind the space between the two of you. So as you felt his shoulder graze against yours, you leaned in to look at the tiny mushrooms sprouting with a wide grin that matched his own. 

The second time Jade leaned into your space, you still brushed it off. Classes had just let out for the day, and you and Grim were all too ready to bundle inside for the rainy afternoon. However, you two nearly wilted at the school doors as you both realized that you hadn’t brought your umbrella—seeing as the rain didn’t truly start till late in the morning. Without much choice, Grim crawled inside your blazer while you wrapped an arm around his smaller body to secure him against your chest. You were mentally bracing yourself for the sprint back when Jade’s voice stopped you in your tracks.

“Good afternoon, prefect,” The moray eel approached you with a polite nod before curiously eyeing the moving lump underneath your blazer. Jade bent down in time to witness Grim peek out from the neckline, and there was no missing the amusement lacing his words as he greeted your direbeast companion. “And hello to you too, Grim. Shouldn’t you two be heading back to Ramshackle by now?” 

“We forgot our umbrella,” Grim grumbled with a disgruntled frown, causing Jade to let out a huff that he quickly masked as a cough behind a fist. 

“Well, I suppose it’s quite fortunate that I was about to head to Sam’s. Why don’t I escort the two of you back to your dorm?” The vice-housewarden stood to his full height, gesturing to the umbrella tucked under his arm. He must’ve seen the hesitation on your face because he placed a hand on his chest with a friendly expression. “I assure you it’s no problem at all. Think of it as a small detour for me,” 

“As long as it’s no trouble,” You responded sheepishly while Grim let out a happy cheer from inside your blazer. Maybe you should’ve been more wary about being in Jade’s debt, but you still found yourself stepping underneath an umbrella beside the vice-housewarden with Grim still tucked in your blazer. You were practically pressed up against Jade’s side, but it was a small price to pay in order to stay dry in the pouring rain. 

While the three of you stepped out of the school, Grim was more than happy to fill the silence by groaning about how noisy Lucius was during class. Jade appeared so tickled pink by the conversation to the point that he goaded the direbeast to enact some sort of vengeance that you couldn’t help but laugh at. 

And despite his extremely long legs and towering form, the charming moray seemed mindful of his strides and slanted towards you to ensure that you stayed underneath the umbrella. Every step his arm brushed lightly against yours, and the warmth was pleasant in comparison to the misty air. 

Soon enough, you arrived at your dorm’s porch. Immediately, Grim had scampered inside with a yell of gratitude over his shoulder while you lingered in the doorway. When you turned to say your goodbyes, you instantly noticed the decently-sized wet patches on Jade’s other shoulder and side. At your wide-eyed stare, the eel gave a satisfied smirk and a wave farewell before turning to head back down the cobblestone path. 

It was only till Jade disappeared from your sight did you realize that there wasn’t a single drop on your body. You’d be embarrassed to admit that the butterflies in your stomach didn’t leave for a long time after that. 

The third time Jade leaned into your space, you had started to take note of the close proximity. It was during the weekend, which was essentially prime time for Crowley to give you tasks to complete as his personal errand runner. Did you ask for the job? No, but he’d always bemoaned about his “grueling attempts to find a way home for you” that you end up taking the role; partially out of guilt, but mostly to stop the man’s lamenting. 

This time around the headmage graced you with a sleek folder of paperwork and a small command to bring it straight to Azul Ashengrotto and back. So, off you went to Octavinelle to get the task completed so you can properly enjoy the rest of your day. When you stepped into the underwater establishment, Jade was right at the entrance, standing behind the host stand with a welcoming smile. 

“What a pleasant surprise. Are you here to dine in our establishment this afternoon, prefect?” Jade asked, inclining his head curiously while you approached him.

“Not exactly, Jade. I’m actually here to drop off something to Azul,” You replied and raised the folder for emphasis. “Something about the money owed to the school?” 

“Ah, I’m afraid that Azul is currently with another student right now,” The vice-housewarden said, causing you to sigh in mild disappointment. Hearing this, Jade lifted an arm to gesture inside the restaurant. “I can seat you at the bar top in the meantime. As you know, we do have a one-drink minimum, but I’ll be happy to serve you once you make your decision,”

“Aren’t you hosting though?” You blinked up at Jade, whose lips stretched wider in return. Noticing that he’s clearly choosing not to respond to your inquiry, you continued on. “I can just come back later, you know,”

“Nonsense—I’m sure Azul will be done soon enough. Mostro Lounge prides itself on excellent services, so you’ll hardly notice the wait,” The way he spoke hardly left room for you to decline, especially when he already waved over another student. Just as the student took the mer’s place, Jade stepped closer to you and placed a hand on the small of your back. “Now, if you could follow me,”

His touch was gentle and unassuming, yet you couldn’t help but hyperfocus on the feeling of his fingers resting on your lower back. By no means did Jade’s hand stray into inappropriate or uncomfortable territory, but you briefly wondered if the other students got guided to their tables in the same fashion.

Once you settled in your seat, you anticipated the mer to easily slide a drink menu in front of you, but you were taken aback when he leaned in close to tell you about the specials for the day. His chin hovered over your shoulder and his hair tickled your cheek. But seeing as the lounge was fairly busy, you assumed that the servers often had to lean in to hear the customer’s orders. When Jade’s voice came out alluring and low with the occasional warm puff of air right next to your ear, you did your best to calm your flustered nerves and told him your order. 

The moment Jade turned to make your drink, you attempted to distract yourself by giving the café a once over, only for you to notice that none of the other servers had gotten remotely close to their patrons (or at least as close as Jade was). You barely had a chance to dwell on it as the moray eel called your name and slid your order in front of you. There was a peculiar anticipation that surrounded Jade as he looked at you, almost as if he was waiting for you to taste his creation. 

Thus, you pushed aside your musings and took a sip. You audibly let out a happy hum at the taste and something shifted in Jade’s hues. You couldn’t quite pinpoint what he was feeling because he turned to clean up his station, but you knew it was rather pretty under the gentle lights of the lounge. 

The fourth time Jade had leaned into your space, you were admittedly at a loss. He did it early in the morning on your way to your first period with Grim. You barely suppressed an undignified yell as you were suddenly jumpscared by a beaming Floyd leaping from around the corner. 

“Baby seal, let’s play!” Floyd sang, practically plucking Grim off of your shoulder and tossing him high into the air. Grim let out a horrified squawk as he left Floyd’s grasp and there was no missing the wide-eyed terror scrunching up his furry features. Before you could even attempt to save your little buddy, Jade suddenly took a step right in front of you and completely blocked your vision of the two.

“Good morning, prefect. I hope your morning has been going well,” Jade greeted, sending you a handsome smile. He quickly scanned your body before letting out an amused exhale behind a hooked finger. “But it appears to have been rough, considering your tie is rather crooked,”

“Huh?” Your eyes darted down to your chest, but the sight caused you to furrow your brows in confusion. Disregarding your obvious bewilderment, Jade simply bent down to your height and reached out to you. “Ah, you don’t have—!”

“Now, now, you wouldn’t want the esteemed prefect to appear unsightly to the masses, do you?” The vice-housewarden lilted. His gaze briefly flickered up to meet your eyes, and you watched a teasing smirk slither across his face. “Though, your disheveled appearance would be fitting for someone of your ‘ramshackle’ caliber,”  

“Hey!” Jade only chuckled upon hearing your offended yell as he began shifting the fabric into place. Despite Grim’s cries for help and Floyd’s insistent cackling steadily growing louder, you could only focus on the shorter twin in front of you. While he still adorned his polite smile and carried a pleasant air around him, there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. Satisfaction curled his lips slightly wider while the same twinkle from that day at the Mostro Lounge shone in his dual-colored eyes.  

And just like that, you found the unspoken words that you previously held had slowly died on your tongue. You silently allowed the vice-housewarden tug at your tie as he saw fit—For you didn’t quite know how to tell Jade that you met Riddle, who had thoroughly straightened out your uniform, mere minutes before running into the Leech brothers. 

Even as the questions continued welling up inside of you, you didn’t dare utter a word. You were too afraid of what would happen if you did.

The fifth time Jade entered your space, you finally understood everything. It was after a couple of weeks where you hadn’t been around Jade much. Part of it was because of your hectic schedule, but it was mostly because you were still mulling over the prior interaction with him. Nevertheless, you kept your distance till you sorted your jumbled thoughts out.

Perhaps you overdid it because you now have his twin brother sprawled across your couch. You were in the process of cleaning the accumulating dust and cobwebs in your dorm when Floyd, still dressed in his dorm uniform, busted down your front door with a terrifying leer sent your way.  

“Why’re ya avoiding Jade?” Floyd had eerily asked once he propped his feet up on your shaky coffee table. His glare never once wavered from you, even as you flitted around in feeble attempts of avoiding eye-contact. 

“What are you talking about?” You quickly found that was the wrong thing to say upon seeing the uncanny way the eel-mer cocked his head to the side at your words. Harsh shivers climbed up your spine at the sight, and you were instantly reminded that Floyd was a very scary, very wild sea predator that could very easily lunge across the room and destroy you where you stood. “W-Wait! I’ll tell you!” 

It was a humbling experience having to stammer through an explanation to Floyd, but it seemed to quell his anger because his fierce expression ebbed into a deadpanned stare. Once you finished speaking, the taller brother let out a drawn out groan and tilted his head back in disbelief. 

“You’re stupid,” That had you choking on your spit, yet Floyd ignored it in favor of raising his head to meet your eyes once more. “You know Jade hates when people get in his personal bubble. Me and Jade used to fight all the time cause I got too close for his likin’. He’s only okay with it if he’s messing with people,” 

“But he doesn’t...?” 

“Mess with Shrimpy at all? Yeah, why’dya think Jade doesn’t care if you get all cozy with him?” The taller twin questioned, giving you time to think. Then a single thought flitted across your mind, and it dawned on you. All those little moments with Jade now had meaning, and those brewing questions finally had answers. And based on Floyd’s growing sharp grin, you hit the nail on the head. “Get it now? So could ya go and talk to Jade again? He’s been real mopey since you started avoiding him,” 

Before you could say anything, there was an abrupt knock that echoed throughout the dorm. You and Floyd exchanged glances—yours nervous and his pleased. So with a deep breath you walked towards the entrance while Floyd wordlessly spread out on the couch. When you opened the front door, there stood Jade, looking courteous and amiable as he usually does. 

“H-Hi, Jade. What are you doing here?” You greeted, and you noticed the slight twitch of his mouth when you spoke.

“My apologies for stopping by without notice, but I believe that something of mine is here. Do you mind if I come in?” There was a certain glint in Jade’s eyes that had you stepping aside easily. You followed the tall eel into the lounge, where Floyd now laid with his hat covering his face, and Jade stepped closer to tower over his twin’s form. With an incredibly sharp and sinister grin, the shorter brother smacked Floyd’s hat onto the ground, revealing his scrunched expression. “Floyd, Azul requires your presence back in the lounge,” 

“Call sharksucker to cover for me. Bet he’d be real happy to get some money,” Floyd playfully huffed, trying to sink further into your dilapidated couch. 

“Well right after you stormed out of the lounge, we received a new shipment of rare ingredients, and Azul was hoping you were willing to trial run some recipes with them,” Jade explained, his gaze sharpening in a pleased manner once he noticed the interest flickering to life in his brother’s dual-colored hues. “But if you’re not in the mood, I did find some rather interesting things on my last hike that—,”

“See ya later, Shrimpy!” Floyd interrupted, jumping to his feet. As he swiped his fallen hat and walked past Jade, the taller eel flashed you a toothy grin and wink before stalking out of Ramshackle. 

“I do apologize on my brother’s behalf if he overstepped any boundaries,” Jade let out a withering sigh, turning to you. He barely skimmed over your form before he spoke once more. “Ah, you have some dust in your hair,”

At first, it looked like Jade was about to reach out to you, but he ultimately forced his arms to remain at his side. So in his stead, you took a step closer and leaned into Jade’s space, silently asking him for assistance. For a moment, Jade was completely still, almost as if he was unsure. But when you nodded at him, the slight tension in his shoulders eased away and he raised a hand to your head.

His fingers were gentle as he combed through your hair. Honestly, you weren’t even sure if there was anything in it to begin with, but you simply let Jade be. As always, his touch was light and kind, matching the growing serene smile that graced his face. You don't know how long you stood there, but eventually he retracted his hands, leaving lingering tingles throughout your head.

"There..." Jade breathed out, staying in his place. Peering up, your eyes immediately locked onto his and there was something about the way he looking at you that had your heart swelling. "Perfect,"

From where you stood, you could clearly identify the pretty shimmer that danced in his hues, and seeing it so closely left your chest filling with an affectionate warmth and a certain tenderness seeping into your soul. It truly made you realize how much you missed his presence.

“Jade, would I be able to tag along with you on your next hike?” Your words were soft, but you knew he latched onto your voice by the way his golden eye glowed. “But if you don’t want to, I under—,”

“I would be delighted to have you with me,” Jade answered quickly, cutting you off midsentence. Noticing his little outburst, the eel-mer raised a hand to his mouth to clear his throat—though he couldn't mask the keen tone lacing his next words. “I would not mind some company on my next venture. Perhaps we can discuss the details together over some tea. I’d be happy to brew you a blend I’ve been experimenting with,” 

“What about Azul and Floyd?” You asked, practically beaming now. Jade only let out a small chuckle, showcasing his grinning teeth without feeling the need to hide them for once.

“Oh, I’m sure they can manage without me,” He said charmingly, taking a step back to extend one hand to you, his palm facing upwards in an inviting and kind way. “Shall we?” 

And when he looked at you with such a fond, reverent gaze, you’d be a fool not to take his hand.

[Request: At Your Fingertips]

Pairing: Ace Trappola x Reader; Deuce Spade x Reader; Sebek Zigvolt x Reader; Floyd Leech x Reader (separate)

Notes: Hello! I'm sorry for the wait! I haven't written for most of these characters, but hopefully I did them justice. I'm also not hard of hearing nor deaf, so please forgive me for any inaccuracies. I did my best to research sign language (specifically ASL in this case), but please let me know if there's any mistakes or if something is considered offensive. Still, I hope you enjoy!

Ace Trappola

When Ace first met you, he thought you were an easy target to pick on since you were a magicless janitor stuck at a magic academy with no idea who the Great Seven were. It was absolutely hilarious to him, and he couldn’t help but make fun of you for it. However, you never reacted to his teasing remarks or smarmy grin. Instead, you looked at him with a consistent frown and furrowed brows, and that made him more irritated than anything else. 

It wasn’t until much later, after destroying the chandelier, it is known that you are deaf and aren’t from Twisted Wonderland. There’s a shock of realization that splashes over him and creeping guilt that leaves him feeling rather shameful, though he won't voice it (or at least not until much, much later).

After becoming your friend, he does his best to adapt in order to communicate with you. Immediately, Ace and Deuce get you a notebook so you can communicate with them. If you can read lips, he makes sure to face you clearly and is more mindful to talk slower. 

Once he notices you use sign language, you can bet that he bugs you to teach him some, especially if it’s mean spirited. He tends to use them against other people—more often than not, it’s the other first years or Riddle—when they piss him off.

Ace really enjoys learning sign language from you as it feels like he has a special connection with you that not a lot of other people will get to have. He’s particularly fond of moments when he can look across the room and still be able to communicate with you, regardless of where you are.

The shrill squeaks of shoes skidding across the laminated floor and the constant thuds of the basketball echoed throughout the gym. The smell of sweat filled the air and the blaring red timer kept counting down, increasing the growing tension between the basketball players. 

Despite it being an exhibition match against RSA, the grudge NRC held between the two schools left little space to leave it just a ‘friendly’ match—especially when their rival was up by several points—and it really showed in the aggravated scowls and aggressive plays the basketball club carried out. Quite a few players on their side had already been given yellow cards, but that didn’t deter the NRC students. 

Truly, anything was clear to get a leg up over those stuffy, pampered RSA students.

And there was a sliver of hope that shined down as one of the third-years swiped the ball from one of the RSA forwards. The game had shifted back into their favor as the NRC team switched gears and started to run towards RSA’s basket. As a fast beastman defender crept up on the third-year, he gritted his teeth while he scanned his teammates, ultimately landing on Ace, who was wide open for a shot.

“Ace!” The first-year felt his heart skip a beat as the basketball flew his way. Catching it, Ace took in a sharp intake of breath before bouncing the ball and leaping into the air. With a flick of his wrist, the ball left his grasp. The basketball smoothly soared through the air and hit the rim, earning a staggering gasp from multiple students. Yet Ace didn’t falter. His expression stayed steady as the ball fell back into the net, allowing the NRC team to score.

His teammates let out a resounding yell that intermingled with the rest of the NRC students in the bleachers. A broad grin weaseled its way across the Heartslabyul student’s face as he watched the scoreboard go up by three points on their side. 

Immediately, Ace spun to face the bleachers. His eyes darted around the gym till they landed on his group of friends, sitting a few rows from the front. He instantly honed in on you, who sat in-between Jack and Deuce, and, immediately, his hands began moving. He curled his fingers into his palms with his thumbs still sticking up and pressed them together, rocking his right hand forward and back a few times. Then his hands shifted quickly, going from one sign to another with furrowed brows and a slightly open mouth. 

‘How’d I look?’ Once he ended signing by pointing at himself, Ace waited with a quickened heart as he noticed the bright gleam in your hues. Your lips began to curl upwards as you raised your own hands, pointing at him first before adjusting them into different signs.

‘You looked so cool!’ You had signed back with an earnest smile so wide it matched his. Heat instantly flared up in his cheeks, causing the red head to chuckle under his breath. Did your comment inflate his ego? Oh, absolutely, and judging by deadpanned stares from the other first-years at your side, they could feel the intensely smug aura from several feet away. 

So it came to no one’s surprise when Ace’s hands formed a loosely ‘O’ shape in front of his body before springing his hands open with the palms facing outwards, all while wearing the most shit-eating grin he could muster. 

‘Obviously!’

Deuce Spade

When Deuce first met you, he was admittedly at a loss. First, he nearly gets bulldozed by his own classmate. Then, the direbeast on your shoulder was yelling at him to stop said classmate, but then the direbeast ended up running away so now he has to go catch him? And he does…Which ultimately ends up breaking a really valuable chandelier and leaving him with the most anxiety riddled first day of school. But somehow, throughout all of the chaos, you never once made a sound. No yelling, no questions, not a single peep. Just a frown and a lost look in your eyes. 

Then it all comes out that you’re deaf and not from Twisted Wonderland. Instantly, Deuce feels protective of you. You’re a magicless student thrusted into a world without magic and cannot hear, and with how rowdy NRC can be, you might get caught in some harrowing situations. 

Thus, Deuce tries to act as a buffer between you and other students that don’t understand or know your situation. Knowing how the majority of the student body act, he doesn’t want you to accidentally get sucked into a fight—Though he sometimes gets into brawls on your behalf when some students still try to mess with you.

Unlike Ace, he politely asks that you teach him sign language, but it’s very obvious that he hopes you say yes. To Deuce, it’s a way to understand you better. Sure you could always write out what you want to say, but he wants to be a good friend and communicate in a way that’s more personal to you. 

He doesn’t pick up sign language that fast, and he can get rather clumsy or forget some signs entirely. However, he’s earnest and does his best to communicate with you. More often than not, he’s going to vocally voice what he signs to both help him walk through what he wants to say and to help you see what he’s trying to sign.

Deuce let out a withering sigh as he left class, Professor Crewel’s scoldings still ringing in his ears. Having to stand there for several minutes while the older man digged at him for messing up his work took a lot out of the first-year. While he knew that he wasn’t the smartest student at NRC, something inside Deuce felt like a failure. No matter how much effort he put in, the title of honor student seemed to slip further away from his grasp, and that thought stung much harsher than Deuce would like to admit.

Wanting nothing more than to collapse in his bed, Deuce made his way to the Hall of Mirrors. However, the first-year didn’t anticipate seeing you standing with a Pomefiore third-year on the way there. You appeared to be by yourself and completely empty-handed, which was unlike you. Yet the Heartslabyul student didn’t dwell on it once he noticed the utterly lost look on your face as the third-year student spoke animatedly to you, his lips moving too fast for you to pick up what he was saying. Immediately, Deuce springs into action, practically sprinting to your side. 

“Excuse me!” Deuce yells out, stepping in your field of vision while startling the Pomefiore student. “They’re deaf, so they might not understand what you’re asking!” 

“O-Oh! I was just wondering if they joined a club yet,” The third-year stammers out as he glanced between the two of you. The card soldier peered over his shoulder at you, who looked up at him with a more hopeful expression, and the sight caused his heart to thud against his chest. 

“Um, I can translate for you,” Deuce offered to the other student, causing him to nod his head. With that, Deuce turned to face you fully, but he hesitated—Clearly trying to figure out what he was trying to sign before he went through with it. It was only when you shot him an encouraging smile did Deuce begin moving his hands.

Deuce pointed at the Pomefiore student with his index finger before hooking his finger and gesturing it towards you. With his right hand, he folded his pinky, ring, and thumb together while keeping his pointer and middle finger extended and together. His left hand curved into a ‘C’ shape, and he brought his right hand into his left hand. Then slowly, his right hand cycled through different motions, steadily signing different letters.

“He’s asking if you joined a club,” Deuce spoke both slowly and softly, watching you with bated breath. Relief washes over the freshman as he watches realization settle over you. Your gaze darted to the other student and nodded before returning to face Deuce. Your dominant hand raised and you began mimicking his previous motions by individually spelling out a word. It took a minute, but he brightened significantly once he figured out what you were spelling

“They said they’re in the gastronomy club!” Deuce exclaimed, his voice coming out a touch loud but downright excited. After many thanks and multiple apologies sent your way, the Pomefiore student quickly took his leave. 

‘You okay?’ Deuce signed to you once it was just the two of you. Immediately, you nodded and raised a flat hand to your mouth. You then tilted it forward to him, mouthing the corresponding words as you did it.

‘Thank you,’ The moment your signing registered in the card soldier’s mind, Deuce’s face instantly erupted in a bright red. It didn’t help when you giggled so sweetly afterwards, most likely finding his expression amusing. 

But in spite of his flustered state, Deuce found his previous worries had faded into the background now that he stood across from you. They didn’t go away completely, but his insecurities didn’t feel as heavy as they did before. Cause when you looked at him with such a sincere smile, it felt like this was the one thing he could do right.

Floyd Leech

When Floyd met you—not including the brief meeting before the Spelldrive tournament—and walked up to your little shoal in the lunchroom, he was incredibly amused. You were just so jumpy! It was like you didn’t hear his loud footsteps or noticed his presence until he was practically on top of you. It was so funny, watching your expression turn into shock as he hovered above you with a wide, toothy grin.

Then Mackerel stepped in and yelled at him for approaching you from behind, followed by Crabby elbowing him hard in the side. That really got Floyd’s attention because why can’t he? Then he learns you can’t hear, and there’s so many questions bursting from inside him. Please tell him everything. 

Whether you tell him or he digs it out of Ace, Floyd finds himself incredibly intrigued by the whole situation. In the sea, you wouldn’t make it very long without hearing, so it’s interesting to see how you go about your day to day life without one of your five senses.

After Azul’s overblot and you two are on much better terms, Floyd “asks” (though it’s more like a demand) you to teach him sign language once he catches you signing with your friends. He catches on rather quickly, and you find that Floyd signs perfectly despite learning it in such a short amount of time.

From then on, the way Floyd interacts with you depends on his mood. On occasion, he still enjoys scaring you, but he is more mindful about approaching you from behind if you put your foot down on setting that boundary. Floyd also tends to switch how he communicates with you; one day, it’s sign language and the next day, he might just speak to you verbally. The only thing consistent is that your friends will often find his drawings scattered across your pages.

It was one of those rare days where Floyd didn’t have a shift at the Mostro Lounge nor did he have a club meeting, but, instead of enjoying his time off, the eel-mer was forced to do schoolwork—All because Professor Red Squid has been hounding him for the past week or so about an overdue project. While Floyd would’ve brushed it off, there was the looming threat of being held back a grade and a call from his mama that had him begrudgingly heading to the library.

Instead of the absolute despair that should’ve washed over him once he stepped foot into the library, Floyd found himself perking up upon seeing you sitting at one of the tables. He wasn’t necessarily quiet when he bee-lined towards you, if the looks he got said anything about it, but you continued to hunch over your textbook with an adorably focused stare.

“Shrimpy!” Floyd sang, draping himself over your shoulder. He could feel you jolt in your seat, but you quickly relaxed upon realizing it was him. There was a small but fond grin as you peered up at him with a signed ‘Hello’ to him. 

And just like that, the second-year plopped down in the seat beside you. While at first, Floyd was more than happy to procrastinate his schoolwork in favor of talking with you, a text from Jade asking how his task was going was enough to dampen his mood once again. When you noted his deep frown, the mer had groaned about the overdue project. As he finished complaining, the eel watched you pull your notebook out and hastily scribbled on it before sliding it his way. 

‘Why don’t we work together? You can start your project while I do my own homework. That way you don't have to do it alone!’

Floyd blinked at the words on the page. Any other person would’ve gotten a nasty sneer sent their way at the sheer audacity, but since it was you—with your bright eyes and saccharine smile—Floyd was mighty unwilling to say no. 

Thus, the mer started on his history project while you continued with your astrology homework. While it wasn’t the most thrilling thing, the second-year found the task more bearable with you at his side. Even when his patience waned at times, you didn’t hesitate to reign him back in. You started to write little encouraging words in your notebook that would cheer him up, and it somehow made the once boring task doable.

So when the eel noticed your growing frustration directed at your worksheet, Floyd felt the need to return the favor. Wordlessly, he grabbed your notebook and began doodling. It took a few minutes, but once he was finished, Floyd tapped on your shoulder. 

Floyd eagerly watched you lean close to peer down at your notebook. Across the white page was a crude drawing of what looked like Riddle yelling at Ace, Deuce, and Grim. The four of them were rather childlike, and you liked the comically terrified expression on your friends’ face as they ran from the housewarden, whose two strands of hair stood straight up in anger.  

The discouraged frown on your face quickly faded away, and a little giggle escaped from your lips. It was soft and barely audible, but Floyd honed in on the tiny sound. It wasn’t often the taller twin heard you laugh, but it never failed to cause a pleasant warmth to spread throughout his body.

With a sharp grin, Floyd leaned into your field of vision. As he caught your attention, the second-year raised his left hand to his chin. His thumb is sticking out as his index and middle finger brush against his chin before flicking them down into his palm. 

Upon registering what the mer signed, your eyes grew wide and you immediately smothered your face into your hands in a flustered attempt to hide your expression. Floyd lets out a raspy giggle at the sight and he reaches over to pry your arms away from your face. It was easy to tug your arms into his hands, and the eel-mer would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy seeing the rosy tint to your cheeks. 

If he knew you’d react this way, Floyd should call you cute more often.

Sebek Zigvolt

When Sebek first met you, he was more than ready to force you to apologize to Malleus. How dare you refer to the revered heir of Briar Valley as ‘Hornton’!? Just seeing that name scrawled across your notebook has a vein throbbing in his forehead and a righteous fury brewing within him. A part of him is abundantly pleased at the wide-eyed, fearful expression as he really digs into you for calling his liege as such.

…What do you mean you’re allowed to call Malleus that? What do you mean that you can’t hear any of his words? He’s frightening you? Why is he getting pulled away by Silver while Malleus is apologizing on his behalf? This is all terribly wrong.  

It’s not until Lilia scolds him later on does he understand your situation. He doesn’t necessarily feel bad about yelling at you, but he definitely feels more embarrassed that Malleus had to apologize to you about his behavior. If anything, Sebek feels more awkward around you.

As he’s known for his strong voice, Sebek finds himself at a loss on how to get his words across to you. More often than not, he tends to grow quieter around you and relies on your notebook and pen to communicate to you—though it doesn’t feel quite right to him. He much prefers looking at you when communicating, rather than staring at a paper to convey his thoughts.

When he watches others closer to you use sign language, there’s a growing frustration that stirs inside him. And since Sebek is very open with his emotions, Lilia, Malleus, and Silver immediately notice his envy towards your other friends and do their best to help him. 

The morning sun streamed through the open windows of the hallway, cascading a gentle light on Sebek as he walked briskly through the corridors. His hardened gaze scanned the hallways, weaving in between still tired students that eyed him warily. Yet he didn’t pay them any mind—Not when he was too focused on the task at hand.

It was minutes later did he finally find the target of his search. You were just entering through the mostly empty main entrance of the school. Oddly enough, there was no Grim or other first-years at your side, but Sebek wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

“Ah, prefect!” He says instinctively, straightening his back. You were occupied with sleepily rubbing your eyes to notice him, but Sebek didn’t mind. He continued making his way to you, making sure to stay within your line of sight while ignoring how his blood rushed through his veins. 

The first-year was halfway to you when you finally opened your eyes. Immediately, your gaze landed on him and a darling smile graced your face. You crossed the distance to meet the half-fae in the middle while taking out your notebook and pen out of the bookbag slung over your shoulder. It was when the two of you were a foot apart did you quickly scribble across the paper. After a few seconds, you flipped the notebook over so he could read it. 

There, covering the sheet was your handwriting—Distinct and wholly yours. ‘Good morning, Sebek!’ filled the white page, and it was enough to have his heart rate begin to frustratingly increase. Once he finished reading the words, you held out your notebook and pen towards him, clearly expecting the Diasomnia student to take it into his hands. However, your expression morphed into mild confusion when Sebek took a small step back.

With a deep breath, Sebek raised both of his hands with his palms raised upwards. His left hand started at his face before moving down towards his right hand that hovered lower at his chest. Smoothly, his left arm moved underneath his right hand and raised back up, keeping his right hand near his left elbow. 

“G-Good morning,” Sebek stammered softly. There was a tenderness that laced his words, a tone you unfortunately won’t hear, and a good part of him was utterly grateful that there weren’t many other students that were nearby to witness his pitiful self. 

Despite the stiff movements and obvious awkwardness on the half-fae’s face, you looked at him with awe. There was a pretty shine in your eyes as a wide smile began to bloom across your face. Without hesitation, you tuck your notebook and pen between your legs and mirror his signing enthusiastically. 

Across from you, Sebek falls completely silent. Something heavy stirs in his chest as the first-year takes in the sight of your glowing expression—already committing the way your eyes lit up upon seeing him sign for the first time to memory. Then there’s an embarrassing heat that rushes to his face, and Sebek raises a hand to his lips, feigning to cough in an attempt to hide his furious blush. Even as you silently beamed up at him, Sebek suddenly can’t find the strength to make eye contact with you.

Thank the Sevens that there wasn’t anyone else around to see him like this.

[Spring Day]

Synopsis: Silver wakes up and loves you, wholly and intensely.

Genre: Fluff

Notes: Mentions of intimacy that could lead to having kids, but it's a single sentence and nonexplicit whatsoever (so could be considered fem!reader or AFAB!reader?).

Pairing: Silver x Reader

It’s so warm. 

That was Silver’s first thought when he started to feel himself come out of slumber. And it was. He could feel the sun’s soft rays against his skin. It wasn’t too hot to the point of causing his skin to itch under the light. No, it was gentle and soothing, almost as if it was a soft blanket cascading over his exposed skin.

The sensation paired nicely with the gentle breeze. Neither too warm nor too cool—just a temperate wind across his face. The floral scent of the nearby wildflowers pleasantly wafted through the air. 

It was by-the-book a perfect spring day, and it wasn’t a surprise that Silver found himself dozing off again, even when he didn’t mean to. 

Part of him felt guilty, especially since he was spending time with you. He remembered idly chatting about classes and future dates plans, but the familiar presence of drowsiness began curling around his mind. But you were always so kind about it, and he remembered the faint “Sweet dreams,” you whispered before the tendrils pulled him into the quiet unconsciousness.

Even if he couldn’t help falling asleep, Silver still should apologize to you, especially as he was laying in your lap before he dozed off. So, the knight opened his eyes and…

…Oh.

Oh, you were so beautiful. 

The thought came to him at full throttle, and he couldn’t stop his heart from thumping against his chest even if he tried. Cause there you sat, leaning against the tree behind you. The sunlight flitted over your soft features and made your locks of hair shine in the rays—Silver swore you look angelic and the way your hair glowed made it look as if there was a halo around your crown. Not to mention, your sweet lips curled into a serene smile, unaware of being stared at by the lovestruck knight-in-training in your lap. 

No, you were too honed in on the letters scrawled across a romance novel you picked up at the library at Rook’s behest. Your shining eyes, putting the most brilliant gems to shame, followed the words across the page with a curious shimmer. You were eating up every bit of information from the book and storing it in your memory, and Silver was so sure that he would hear your recollections of what you read in that melodic way you speak.

And he could imagine the way your lips would part with excitement as you recount an enchanting moment in the story, blushing over the lingering touches and shy gazes between the lovers in the novel. It was so endearing how thrilled you got about these two fictional characters, acting as if the two of you haven’t gone through the same actions hundreds of times before. 

In spite of your gushing, Silver adored you. It was so apparent that he deeply cherished you. Often, he’d hear about it from others. He’d sometimes hear Kalim cooing about how cute the two of you were, then there’s times where Sebek would shout about “how unsightly it was for Silver to ogle you in such an unknightly way”. 

Though his father was more on Kalim’s side of his relationship. He would claim to be the biggest supporter and it genuinely showed. Every time Silver returned to Diasomnia after an outing with you, Lilia would be right there at the entrance with eager ears on how his time with you was. The expansive grin on his father’s face when Silver spoke of your time together always spread immeasurable warmth throughout his chest. It was incredibly comforting to know that his father, regardless of the lack of blood shared between them, wholeheartedly accepted you. 

“Silver, make sure to do right by them,” Silver can practically hear Lilia’s laughter as he sends an offended look towards his father. He can feel the old fae pat his back and look upon his human son with a tender smile. “Oh, I know you will, just humor this old soul will you! I’m fully expecting a wedding after you both finish your education,” 

That thought sends another bloom of joy through Silver’s chest. The idea that you, his sweet and patient partner, loving him so deeply that you would bind yourself with him for the rest of your incredibly short human days has him nearly bursting at the seams with overflowing love. 

Though he only knows fae customs, Silver will practice any traditions you wish if it meant he could continue on life with him at your side. Whatever you wish, he will grant it to you on a silver platter. 

A home? He’ll build it from the ground up, laying down the foundation and constructing your ideal house if it meant you would have a safe place to rest your head. 

Protection? He’d kneel before you in that same manner he would with Lord Malleus, sword at his side and your knuckles to his lips with the promise of safety. 

A family? He’ll kiss every inch of bare skin and love you intimately if that would grace him with your company forevermore. 

The both of you are still so young and in school. Silver wants to abide by his father’s words and do right by you, but a tiny, irrational part of him wants to marry you right here and now, underneath the still flowering crepe myrtle tree. 

Yet because he is a good knight-in-training and a better son, Silver stows the notion away in favor of softly calling out your name. You immediately snap your eyes up to meet Silver’s steady gaze and a smile blossoms across your face. 

“Oh, hello, sleepyhead,” You greeted, slipping your bookmark—a pressed heliotrope that he plucked from the school’s garden when he first started courting you—into your book and setting it on the ground beside you. “Did you have a good nap?”

Before he could answer, you lean down to press a kiss upon his forehead. The spot tingles with your devotion and a comforting heat rises to his face. At the sight, you let out a huff of adoration and let your left hand rest on his face, cupping his rosy cheek. 

Sevens, he cannot wait to spend the rest of his life with you. 

And to stop the two words from spewing out of his mouth, Silver tilts his head to instead kiss your fingers, making sure to linger on your ring finger with a silent vow. 

“The best, my love,”

[To Remind You of Home]

Synopsis: You miss spending Christmas at home, but at least you can relive a tradition with Floyd.

Genre: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort

Notes: So, I didn't know much about the NBC: The First Christmas event, aside from the cards (both base and their groovies) and the twistune. However, Floyd's parts in the song (especially the "They kiss? Why that looks so unique,") scratches my brain in the best way possible, which somehow broke through my very long, very exhausting writer's block and made this (which boils down to the different ways Floyd can kiss someone). I did minimal research for the fic, so mild spoilers for the first two books of the event. But happy holidays to everyone! Stay safe and best wishes to you all! :)

Pairing: Floyd Leech x Reader

If someone were to ask you what your favorite holiday was, you’d wholeheartedly answer Christmas in a heartbeat. 

There’s something about Christmas that makes your heart pound with simmering excitement. Honestly, you loved all the traditions and activities that come from such a jolly holiday—like planning out your gift list for all your friends and family, singing carols on the street, or building gingerbread houses. And there’s truly nothing that can beat sitting in front of a cozy fireplace with hot chocolate and warm cookies at your fingertips while a classic Christmas movie plays on the tv. 

Unfortunately, Christmas didn’t seem to be a thing in Twisted Wonderland. When you had asked Ace and Deuce about celebrating the next holiday, they’d give you curious gazes and tell you the next big thing was New Years. Honestly, that made you kinda bummed out since Twisted Wonderland also celebrated Halloween, so you had gotten your hopes up. Since then, you silently resigned yourself to spend the 24th and 25th of December with no celebration and a bad case of homesickness in its place.

So you would’ve never guessed that trying to study for exams would lead you here in Christmas Town, but you weren’t complaining. 

Okay, maybe you did have something to complain about. After all, the circumstances could be a lot better. Frankly, if you didn’t have to deal with a frightening fae dubbed the “King of Desires” and a terrifying monster named Oogie Boogie trying to hijack all the holidays, you’d enjoy your visit significantly more. But alas, nothing ever goes easy for you.

However, you’ll take it all in stride. After all, it was hard to focus on the situation when you’re under the colorful decorations and snow. The nostalgic red and green string lights had you beaming from ear to ear, and the ever familiar scent of freshly baked goods, warm spices, and pine made you feel sentimental. 

And perhaps it was obvious to everyone around you because in spite of their initial plain disbelief towards the holiday itself, none of the guys had been grumbling or making snide comments about it (though maybe Santa mentioning his naughty or nice list had a hand in their behavior).

Still, you easily brushed it off as you explored Christmas Town with all your friends. Decorating the tree had you keeling over with laughter as Ace and Grim teased Deuce for hanging all his decorations on one side before they all inevitably fought over the ornaments. Skating hand in hand with Jack and Cater reminded you of visiting your local skating rink with your friends, and it was all too amusing watching Lilia and Floyd struggle across the sleek ice. Sharing bites of fruitcake, gingerbread cookies, and fudge between Ruggie, Grim, and Rook was delightful, even if it ended with the two gluttons fighting over the last piece of pie. And it was really nice chatting about the festivities (like gift giving and dressing up in Santa hats) with Silver, Ortho, and Kalim, arguably the sweetest souls in NRC. 

It was fun gushing to your friends about the holiday you were ever so fond of, delving into your favorite traditions and participating in some of the activities. Seeing their smiles had you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

It was familiar. It was comfortable. It was kind. 

It reminded you of home. 

The thought, while initially sweet, had your smile tightening. It’s not like you wanted to feel this way, but remembering your family and friends from your home world brought a certain rawness that you couldn’t quite ignore, even if you were in the company of your close friends. 

Thus, you slipped away from everyone at the first chance you got. While you didn’t stray too far from your friends, there was a sort of loneliness that crept in now that you only had the drifting snowflakes as company. Something about it reminded you of those nights where you sat by the window to watch the snow fall on all the charming decorations in the wee hours of the night; a distinct sense of vulnerability and solitude that you really only felt in those quiet moments.

You didn’t get a chance to really bask in it as you heard the gentle crunch of snow compacting under someone’s boots. The sound was steady as it grew closer to you, and it wasn’t long till you felt someone settle beside you. The familiar scent of sea salt mingled with the peppermint and gingerbread; it was a unique combination but one that you’re quickly growing to love. 

“Whatcha doing by yourself? Thought you’d be running around, seeing how much fun you were havin’,” Floyd’s voice cut through the silence, lilting in a way that could solely belong to him.  

“I just wanted a moment to myself,” You answered softly, keeping your gaze on the carousel spinning nearby. The string lights on it flickered prettily and vaguely reminded you of the one that was set up at your local mall—one that you used to bug your parents to let you ride when you were younger. You quickly shoved that thought to the back of your mind before snapping your head up to your companion, whose eyes were already honed in on you. “Or am I not allowed to have that?” 

“You can but not too long. It’s not fun without ya,” He said before flashing a wide grin. However, his smile slipped away as his dual-colored eyes narrowed the longer he looked at you. After a few beats, he straightened to his full height, an unsettling frown replacing his typical lax expression. “What’s wrong?” 

At that moment, you should’ve known the eel-mer would’ve caught onto your gloomy mood. Despite his mercurial moods, Floyd was rather perceptive when he wanted to be, and now was one of those times.

“Nothing’s wrong, Floyd,”

“You’re lying,” And Floyd had no problem calling you out as his eyelids drooped half-way. You could already see his mood shifting, the bright gleam in his hues dulling into a predatory glare. “Did someone say somethin’? Tell me and I’ll squeeze them,” 

“Nobody said anything,” You reassured with a small, albeit sad smile. It was only then did the second-year’s rigid form go slack, signaling you to continue on. “I...I'm just a little sad,” 

“Huh? I thought you were havin’ fun. You were all smiley when you were telling us about all the Christmas stuff…” Floyd trailed off. It took a few seconds, but a flicker of recognition flashed in his eyes. He let out a little knowing hum before reaching out with grabby hands. “Aw, ya miss home? Why didn’t you say so?”  

Floyd didn’t give you a chance to respond as he pulled you towards him. Your face was buried into his chest, and your cool nose began to warm against his chilled jacket. It was just then did you realize how cold you were till you felt Floyd’s body heat radiate from underneath his patchwork clothes. Without any fuss, you leaned into him to leech off some of that warmth while the taller twin absentmindedly swayed the two of you. There was no rhyme nor reason to his rocking, and, while it didn’t take the pain away—if it would ever go away—it eased the slight hitch in your breathing.

The mer let out a pleased noise when the tension in your shoulders slowly dissipated and you ended up slumping against his bigger frame. He had no trouble taking all of your weight; in fact, he adjusted his stance to hold you easier and you can practically sense the satisfied grin that he was probably carrying on his handsome face. You don’t know how long you stood in the snow with Floyd, but, eventually, he shifted and made a curious hum. The second-year leaned down close to your ear, calling your name in a sweet manner.

“Hey, what’s this?” Hearing this, you moved your head to the side to see what he was talking about. Further down the snowy path were two elves standing in one of the house’s doorways. It seemed like they were just about to head inside before they noticed the small green plant tied in a pretty red bow dangling from the above. 

“Oh, that’s a mistletoe,” You replied as you both watched the two elves’ faces grow excited. They were beaming brightly with ruby cheeks before one leaned to press a sweet kiss on the other elf’s lips, causing them to giggle softly. 

“And why are they kissin’ underneath it?” The mer questioned, not bothering to mask the weirded out inflection in his voice. You chuckled at his tone while the two elves retreated back into the warm comfort of their home. 

“It’s tradition. Basically, if two people are underneath the mistletoe, you have to kiss. And if you refuse, it’s considered bad luck,” You raised a hand to point to the sprig of mistletoe, causing the eel’s gaze to follow suit. “See the little berries? People have to pluck one berry off for each kiss, and, if you kiss till all the berries are off, it’s considered good fortune. But most people don’t do that anymore,” 

“Eh? You guys have something weird like that…?” Floyd snorted, squishing you closer to him. Despite his obvious disbelief, he continued staring at the little sprig with mild interest. With a single blink, his expression suddenly lit up and he wordlessly unwrapped his arms in favor of holding your hand instead. 

“Uh…What are we doing?” You asked while the massive mer dragged you towards the house, only to stop in the doorway. When you tilted your head up, you were met with the sight of Floyd's sharp grin with the dainty mistletoe brushing the top of his head. There was something about the way his eyes shimmered and how the string lights created a colorful halo behind him that you were momentarily stunned. 

“Now we have to kiss,” 

“H-Huh?!” The moray only snickered at your flustered yell as he reached up to smoosh your face inbetween his gloved hands, forcing your lips to pucker before releasing you with a barking laugh. 

“Yeah, and you can’t say no, right? Or else you’re gonna get bad luck, and you don’t want that, do ya? It’s tradition!” He cackled. The eel-mer gestured to the sprig of mistletoe, pointing at the little cluster of red berries. “And look at that—Six berries, so six kisses!” 

You could feel a flurry of butterflies twisting in your stomach at the thought of sharing kisses with Floyd, who looked rather excited about the prospect. Yet you couldn’t find the strength to deny him, even if your heart hammered against your ribcage at an alarming pace.

“Fine, but only because it’s tradition, okay?” Hearing this, Floyd nodded enthusiastically. So, you took a deep inhale, doing your best to steady your nerves as the mer across from you thrummed in anticipation. Once you deemed yourself ready, you gave the second-year the go ahead. 

Immediately, your partner took your face back into his hands. The fabric of his gloves were cold against your cheeks, but you didn’t focus on that for very long. Not when you could feel his breath fanning across your face. Not when sea salt was the only thing you could smell. Not when he stared at you with such an unwavering gaze. 

He leaned in. 

You imagined the constrictive moray would swoop in, greedily taking kisses all while stealing your oxygen, but that wasn’t what happened. Instead, he leaned in, pressing his lips to your forehead. He didn’t move back right away. No, he lingered there, letting his affection pour into you as he cradled your face ever so gently. 

When Floyd pulled away after a few moments, there was a rather cheeky grin stretched across his face as you openly gawked at the tall mer. The persisting sensation of his kiss made your skin tingle and your face grew hot underneath his gloved palms. Still, the tall eel removed one hand in favor of reaching up to the sprig of mistletoe above him.

“Five more!” The two words came out so playfully while Floyd easily plucked one of the ruby berries off the stem. He made a show of slipping the fruit into one of his pockets before tilting closer to you once more. This time he planted a peck in the middle of your right cheek. Unlike the kiss prior, this one was a quick one and his lips smooshed against your skin, sounding out a loud “Mwah!” as he kissed you. 

“Four more kisses!” was quickly followed by another berry getting picked from the bunch. The next kiss had the eel’s head tipping the opposite way, adjusting his angle so he can give your left cheek a similar kiss: this time directly on your cheekbone right beneath your eye. “Gotta even it out or else one side of your face will get too heavy,” 

“Will it now?” You tried to play along in a poor attempt to hide how embarrassed you’ve gotten. Luckily, Floyd just leaned back with a scoff. His expression had twisted into an incredulous scrunch, almost as if he was personally offended by what you asked. 

“Obviously!” You laughed at the overdramatic eye roll Floyd did at your clearly foolish question. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards as the third berry quickly joined the others in his pocket. Now tired of cupping your face, Floyd’s hands drifted down to your hips. In one fluid motion, he tugged you closer while swooping down to plant a smooch on the tip of your nose. However, that didn’t last long as he opened his mouth to nip at the cartilage. You let out a tiny squeak upon feeling the points of his teeth, to which the second-year just giggled in response. He replaced his teeth with his own nose, nuzzling his to yours with a cute grin. “Okay, that’s three more,” 

Floyd slowly dragged his nose down your face, blindly reaching above him for one of the few berries left. You weren’t trying to be too loud, but snickers kept escaping as you watched your eel miss each swipe—to which your partner ghosts his teeth against your skin in retaliation. Having watched the mer struggle long enough, you batted his arm down.

“I’ll get it,” You had to get on your tip toes and use the second-year as leverage, but you picked the fruit off. Instantly, he grabbed it and shoved it into his pocket, nearly bursting it in the process. Yet Floyd didn’t seem too concerned as he latched back onto you, burying his face into your neck. There he placed a forceful kiss under your jawline, lingering on your pulse. Then, without warning, he blew a very loud raspberry. “Floyd!”

An unrefined snort from you filled the air as the vibrations against your throat tickled. You could feel him smiling against your skin, his own chuckles mingling with yours. Gradually, Floyd straightened to his full height with bright eyes. His dual-colored eyes swept upwards towards the mistletoe above. Wordlessly, he grabbed the second to last fruit and fixed his gaze back to you.

“Last one,” Floyd’s voice dipped low and deep—eerily similar to the dark depths of the Coral Sea. Though he appeared laid-back, there was no missing the settling tension now that there was only one kiss left. The moray eel’s eyes were bright yet held a certain gleam that had your heart thumping in anticipation. 

“Then you better make it count,” You whispered. And just like that, Floyd’s golden eye glowed and he dove into you. His mouth crashed against yours almost greedily. It was the exact kiss you imagined Floyd giving you at first, but it was apparent that he was savoring it for this moment. His lips moved in tandem with yours, constantly shifting as if he was finding the best way to pour his devotion into this singular kiss. 

The air from your lungs began to dwindle in Floyd’s relentless kiss. Yet as you made to pull away, the mer’s hands instantly cupped the back of your head, holding you in place. He pressed himself flush against you, ensuring you couldn’t escape from his loving assault.

By the time your head started to fill with dizzying static, the eel-mer finally showed you mercy. Floyd pulled away with rosy cheeks, his chest heaving for oxygen as well. Yet he didn’t seem bothered by it. No, he seemed real pleased with himself as the final berry disappeared into his pants pocket. 

“Look at you, all pink like a little shrimp,” He cooed, drinking in the sight of your flushed face and adorable attempts of regaining air. Slowly, he reached for your hands, his thumbs drawing little circles against your knuckles. Then he dipped towards you with a softer voice and a sweet yet boyish smile. “Feel better now?”

It was then did you recall your feelings prior to Floyd showing up. Before, you were admittedly in a vulnerable state, where home was too far and the longing was incessant. While those feelings felt fierce and burning like a fire, now it felt as if they were barely there—similar to the remaining embers left after snuffing out a fire. Not gone completely but not as heartbreaking as they were before. Instead, you felt different, like a syrupy warmth that settled beside your heart.

And when you looked up at the tall mer in front of you, it was clear why you didn’t feel as homesick as you did before. Because looking at Floyd’s smile had you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

It was familiar. It was comfortable. It was kind. 

Floyd reminded you of home. 

The thought was utterly sweet, and you couldn’t help but give him an earnest smile. While you still missed your home, you also knew that it wasn't completely out of reach. Because you remembered that you had your own place here with him.