#romance implied

Floyd was a difficult young man to describe. Words such as ‘wild’ and ‘free’ were accurate, but they were also putting it kindly at best. However, words such as ‘moody’ or ‘capricious’ were also accurate, but they often gave others a rather poor view of the young man that you found yourself spending more and more time with.

And though it was true that it was largely due to Floyd hanging around you that you kept interacting with him, it was also true that you had found yourself slowly growing more and more fond of him, though you sometimes wondered if the same could be said for him. Especially since getting a read on Floyd could be as difficult as divining what, exactly, was going on in Crowley’s head.

You really couldn’t blame your friends for worrying a bit about the fact that Floyd had been spending more and more time with you when you considered his rather… odd personality.

 After all, while Floyd was indeed laidback, he could also be quite sinister at times in ways that reminded you that he and his brother likely handled a fair bit of dirty work.

You twisted to the side to glance behind you at the young man in question, who was currently sauntering along behind you. His arms crossed behind his head as he looked off to the side at the horizon with a vaguely bored expression.

And the more you thought about it, the stranger it seemed that Floyd had started spending time with you. 

It had started after Azul’s overblot, and you’d assumed he’d been intrigued but that he’d soon drift away after getting bored. In fact, you’d even reassured Jack, in particular, that hanging around you probably just served as a way for Floyd to kill time.

But that hadn’t turned out to be the case.

Instead, Floyd continued to hang around, and rather than just killing time, he even made numerous and often startling attempts to get to know you better.

By now, you could easily state that he was a friend. Especially since he’d also shown that he could be quite protective of you if he saw you getting bothered. A fact that was touching, considering I’d honestly figured that Floyd just hung around as a means of staving off boredom.

“Shrimpy, look,” Your thoughts were interrupted by Floyd tapping you on the shoulder and then directing your attention off the side. 

Following the direction in which he pointed, you looked towards the horizon where the sun was slowly setting over the sea. The clouds had turned a soft pink hue that made them look like cotton candy as the sun slowly dipped lower and into the steady ebb and flow of the ocean.

“Me and Jade used to swim all the way up to the surface just to look at the sunset sometimes.” You continued to look towards the horizon as Floyd spoke, smiling to yourself at the thought of the two young mermen swimming all that way just to watch the sun set.

“We’d chat about all sorts of stuff, sometimes about what it was like on land… I was always sort of curious about that.” You twisted to look at Floyd as he finished, curious as he continued to stare out at the horizon.

It was odd, in many ways, for Floyd to reminisce in such a fashion, and a small part of you wondered if he was feeling nostalgic for simpler times.

 After all, it was something you could understand in a great many ways. 

There were plenty of times that you thought of your home and wondered about things while missing both it and the people you’d left behind. 

You had largely moved on, recognizing that it might be impossible for me to return home and that you needed to get used to life in Twisted Wonderland, but was it the same for Floyd? He could still return, and that simple fact might make homesickness worse.

But you didn’t question him about any of that. Instead, you smiled at him and tilted your head, “And? Is land everything you expected it to be?”

Floyd glanced down at you, blinking for a moment before a lopsided smile crept across his face and he bobbed his head, “I’d always figured it was just dusty up here, so….”

He trailed off, leaving you to draw my own conclusions, and you snorted at his words before turning to continue on your way to Ramshackle dorm. 

You could hear him strolling along just behind you, but your steps began to become more hesitant as I continued to truly ponder whether or not Floyd missed his life in the sea. 

You didn’t see how he couldn’t, but the thought of him leaving brought an odd sadness that told you that you’d let Floyd get far closer to you than you’d initially  realized.

Logically, you knew his leaving would be a long way off. It wouldn’t be until he graduated, at the very least. But the thought still made you oddly sad. Which was something that was surprising and might have been the reason that you spoke without even entirely meaning to. 

Your words were little more than a murmur as your steps slowed, “Do you miss living under the sea?”

In no way had you meant to actually voice such thoughts, and you almost froze up when you realized that you had spoken aloud. But at least your words had been quiet, and when Floyd didn’t immediately respond, you relaxed. Assuming he hadn’t heard me.

But then he spoke in a nonchalant tone that was somehow surprising, even though it was very characteristic of Floyd, “It used to be worse when we first came here. But it’s gotten better recently.” 

Your eyes widened at his words, and you found myself turning to see Floyd looking off towards the horizon once more. 

He tilted his head, though. His mismatched eyes sliding back towards you in an amused fashion that told you he was waiting.

And in some ways, a petulant part of you didn’t want to say anything else since he’d made it quite clear that he knew you did have something you wanted to say. But you found yourself crossing your arms as you spoke once more, “What changed?”

Floyd grinned, his amusement coming through fully now as he leaned forward. His hands shoved their way into his pockets as he peered a little closer at you. Almost like he was looking forward to seeing your reaction to whatever he was about to say.

“Ya’ forget stuff as you get older Shrimpy, and I’ve been forgetting about missing home more and more,” Floyd paused, looking at you almost expectantly before he giggled and grabbed your hands. Swinging them between us in a playful way that had you looking up at him in utter confusion.

His words made sense, considering you were in a similar position. Growing more used to living here and missing my home less and less. But his playful, almost giddy actions were confusing.

“You aren’t fair, Shrimpy~ Replacing my homesickness with your presence.” His words caused your eyes to go wide as you froze. Unsure of what to say in response to such an assertion.

You realized, of course, that he was teasing you, but you also couldn’t let go of the large part of you that was incredibly flustered by his words.

You recovered slowly, though, as Floyd snickered at you and you tugged your hands out of his. “That’s not fair, Floyd. You shouldn’t say stuff like that,” You glanced away from him, finding yourself looking anywhere but his grinning face.

“Even if it’s true?” His tone had a distinct lilt to it, but it had you turning to look at him in surprise once more, only to see him smiling calmly at you.

And right now, in this instant, Floyd only looked gentle. Not teasing, moody, or even wild. But you were fairly sure that was one of the reasons you had been letting Floyd get gradually closer to you until you were feeling more and more affection for him. 

You’d realized quite some time ago that Floyd wasn’t just moody. It was true that he was incredibly moody, wild, and free, but he was also gentle and, surprisingly enough, honest. It was true that his honesty typically came in the form of almost painful bluntness, but Floyd wasn’t one to lie.

If Jade was highly likely to lie, then Floyd was highly likely to be truthful. Not to say that Jade couldn’t be honest or that Floyd couldn’t lie. It was just that both of them had their usual methods.

Perhaps it was his way of coping with growing up alongside Jade, who was a flawless liar, and perhaps Floyd just felt that lying served little purpose when the truth could hurt just as much. But either way, Floyd was probably the most truthful of the Octatrio. 

And that was what made his words so alarming. The realization that he wasn’t just teasing you right now. 

While he was definitely picking on you, he was also being honest. And that…. That was startling.

“Floyd….” You even sounded like you were at a loss. Not knowing how to feel.

 And in response to your confused emotions, Floyd smiled. A picture of amusement as he leaned towards you, “I like you, Shrimpy. You’re fun and unpredictable, and I expect to continue liking you forever. Even if you aren’t fair~” 

You fought to find words as he looked at you even as he sauntered on by you. A grin on his face that said he knew exactly what he was doing and found it incredibly amusing. 

But that was another thing about Floyd. As honest as he was and as gentle as he could be he also did take great delight in toying with people.

This was the careful road that you’d been walking with Floyd and you had already found yourself slipping gradually closer to him even though you knew perfectly well of the risks even without your friend’s concerns. 

But then who at this school was without risks?

So you trotted after him, bumping into him slightly as you did my best to match his pace and walk side by side with him, “Promise?”

Crowley’s words had hit hard: “You may leave using the mirror but, you will never be able to return. And after that, you will be forever bound to your world.”

He’d spoken with an uncommon amount of seriousness, which made it all far worse. I’d made a home here, but I also had a home back in my world. A family who cared for me and probably worried about me. But the more I thought about it the more I wondered: What did they think?

 Did they believe I was dead? Had I just disappeared suddenly, without warning, from my home, or had I been entirely wiped from existence in my world? Did they even remember me?

Such were the thoughts that now filled my mind, haunting both me and my decision. Because a decision had to be made. I couldn’t stay in an eternal limbo of neither here nor there. Did I want to stay, or did I want to go? Perhaps such swirling, turbulent thoughts were what had led me out of Ramshackle dorm to wander around in the deteriorating forest just beyond the graveyard outside my home in this world.

My home in this world… Was it even stable? I’d been staying here as a student, but what about when I graduated? Where would I go then? I couldn’t live indefinitely here at the school. Crowley would never allow it, but I also doubted that he would be willing to assist me in finding my way. Unless, perhaps, I decided to work for the school in exchange for room and board. Which was an option.

I could rely on my friends too, but that felt wrong. Especially considering the fact that they’d already helped me so much.

But avoiding either of those options would leave me struggling to find my way in an unfamiliar world. And that was only if I decided to stay here.

But going back could be equally problematic. Because what if everyone back home really did think I was dead? My return would come as quite a shock, and how would I explain my disappearance? It wasn’t like they’d easily believe that I’d been magically transported to another world, and I didn’t want to go home just to get locked up in an insane asylum. But I had no proof that this place even existed that I would be able to show them. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to bring back anything with me anyway….

I let out a frustrated groan, flopping down at the base of a tree and leaning my head back. None of the options that readily presented themselves seemed right. 

I wanted to keep my friends and my family and to have the best of both worlds. But even I knew that was impossible. I, unfortunately, couldn’t have my cake and eat it too.

I closed my eyes, willing the answer to my questions to come to me, but my mind remained a tangled web of troublesome options and potential problems. 

Suddenly overblots seemed a lot less frustrating. At least with them the path was clear….

There was a rustling sound, and I heard a familiar hum. I opened my eyes to see bright, almost poisonously green eyes looking down at me with a thoughtful, concerned gaze. Malleus. “Child of man… You seem troubled.”

His words, ever calm, brought a wry smile to my face, but I nodded. Not bothering to deny his words when they were all too true, “I am. I don’t know what to do, Hornton…..”

I trailed off, wanting to complain but knowing full well that he couldn’t help me. This was a decision I had to make for myself. No one could help me.

“You’re thinking about going home?” It was almost impressive that he knew exactly what was bothering me, though I supposed it wasn’t that difficult to guess. And I didn’t miss the sorrow that appeared in his eyes at the thought of my leaving. 

 It was a small comfort that he would miss me if I did leave, but it also complicated matters. I didn’t want to hurt him or anyone else. It would be easier if my decision didn’t matter to anyone but me, but that was quite obviously not the case.

Because if he was going to miss me, then that invited the possibility that others would as well.

“I’m trying to decide what I should do. Stay here or go home,” I clarified, causing his eyes to go comically wide.

“You’re unsure? I had thought….” He trailed off, but I could fill in the blanks. He’d thought I’d simply leave and that would be that.

I smiled slightly before patting the ground beside me, gesturing for him to sit, which, with the delight of a small child, he did. 

Sebek would no doubt be furious if he saw his grand lord sitting in the dirt at the base of a mossy tree. A thought which brought a more genuine smile to my face even as I shook my head at Malleus fondly, “It isn’t that simple, Hornton.” 

I leaned over, resting my head against his shoulder as I spoke, “If I leave, I’ll never get to see you or anyone else important to me here again. But if I stay, I’ll never see my family again….”

I trailed off as Malleus hummed his response, and silence seemed to fall around us as my mind continued to swirl with the varying possibilities, as I pondered what the right choice might be. And honestly, it really felt like there were too many influencing factors to juggle. Because there wasn’t a single choice that I didn’t think I wouldn’t regret at least a little bit.

I laughed quietly, an alarmingly bitter sound, “I don't even know what has happened in my world…. Did I just disappear without a trace, or was I entirely erased from that world, memory and all?”

He stayed silent, letting me lay my thoughts out in a jumbled pile for both of us to inspect.

“If I do stay, what will that mean? I can’t just live at Ramshackle dorm indefinitely, but I have no way to make it in this world…. None of my options seem right, and I can’t seem to just wholly give myself over to here or there either.”

I sighed, closing my eyes once more and willing myself to remain calm despite my turbulent emotions, “I just don’t know anymore….”

Malleus remained silent, wrapping his arm around me and rubbing his gloved hand comfortingly along my arm that was furthest from him.

“I can’t answer all of your questions, Child of man, but if you are concerned about where you would stay should you choose to remain in this world…. that I can assist you with.”

My eyes popped ,and I leaned back to look up at him, my eyes wide, “What?”

He smiled, half-amused by my reaction as he looked down at me with an almost playful tilt of his head, “It would be a small matter for you to come and live in Briar Valley with me.”

I blinked up at him, both touched and startled. “Hornton, I… But that….” I fumbled, not entirely sure what to say when he’d solved one of my issues with such ease.

He laughed, an easy sound that was at odds with the tone of our previous conversation, “You wouldn’t be intruding at all; think of it as a gift from me.”

His eyes narrowed, obviously pleased with himself as he smiled down at me. Weirdly smug about this new gift he’d come up with. 

His glance was soon cast down at my hands, though, as he took one of them into his own, “Now you only need to choose. Go home, return to your family, and leave all of us here or….”

He paused, looking up at me with a smile that told me he knew how I would respond even as he continued, “Come with me and stay by my side…. What would you like, Y/n?”

I felt myself smile slightly at his sudden use of my name rather than his usual ‘child of man.’ A small sign that he was, in fact, wheedling just a little bit.

It was strange, though, that with his support paired with the knowledge that he would stay by my side, I suddenly knew what I wanted. A small part of me felt ashamed; it was like I couldn’t make my decision on my own and needed his guidance. 

Leaving my family for good, though… Could I do that? I met his gaze, a smile working its way onto my face as I did so. As if I even had to ask myself that question. No one could live with their parents forever… And I’d found someone who I wanted to stay with, and they’d even accepted me without me ever having to ask.

“I think living in a palace for the rest of my life sounds rather nice, don’t you think?”

“It’s kinda nice how dark Ignihyde is…” I trailed off as I noticed Idia staring at me from where he sat in front of his monitor. 

Not only was he looking at me with no small amount of surprise, but he had also paused his game and actually swiveled his chair around so he could better stare at me incredulously. 

I honestly didn’t know whether to be flattered or uncomfortable with the sudden amount of pointed attention he directed my way as I shifted awkwardly under the weight of his sudden stare.

“I mean… I was just thinking about how it’s darker in here than in other places, and it’s kind of nice. Like a change of pace or something?” I fumbled slightly as I attempted to explain my previous words.

I shifted again, locking my hands together as he continued to just stare at me as I smiled at him awkwardly, “But then again that isn't too good for your eyes since you play games on your computer in here…. The intense lighting probably gets hard on them.”

At last he mercifully interrupted my rambling, rolling his eyes dramatically as he spoke, “I don’t have to worry about lighting. It’s never completely dark where I’m at.”

It was my turn to stare at him in confusion, eliciting a characteristic sigh from the housewarden. He pushed himself out of his chair in an almost bored manner and sloomed across the room and over to the light switch before looking my way pointedly, “Watch.”

With that single word, he clicked off the lights just as his computer fell asleep at an impressive rate, almost like he’d somehow cued it for maximum effect. 

But, instead of the utter, pitch-black darkness I was expecting, a soft blue glow filled the room, not unlike what one might expect from a computer screen. 

I blinked slightly as Idia looked at me sulkily from where he stood, illuminating the entire room with the just light from his hair. And in hindsight, it only made sense that Idia’s hair, being the flame that it was, would emit light. Especially since it usually casts at least a slight glow on him.

Idia managed a mildly bitter smile as he held my gaze and spread his hands, as if to gesture to the light he was putting off, “See? I can’t ever be in the dark….” 

He trailed off, his voice getting quieter till I could barely hear him, but I managed to make out the words, “I can’t ever hide, not even in the dark.”

I felt myself frown at his words, watching as he looked down and towards the ground, almost like he was ashamed.

I shifted, slipping my previously curled-up legs off his bed so I could stand, “Idia, do you not like your hair?” 

At my quiet words, he snorted, a distinctly bitter sound, “Wouldn’t you hate it? I’m a flame-haired weirdo. It’s no wonder everyone stares whenever I show up anywhere. It is, quite literally, a curse.” 

He looked up at me once more, yellow eyes bright even though the lighting was dim. But even then, I could clearly make out the scowl on his face.

I felt myself smile, though, as I stepped towards him, shaking my head slightly, “That’s a shame. I like your hair.” He blinked, staring at me incredulously yet again, but this time, rather than faltering, I let my laughter bubble out of me.

 “It’s true, I really do. While I do like the darkness of Ignihyde since it’s a change of pace, I also really like the light your hair puts out. It means you and whoever you’re with can never lose their way, even in the darkest of places.”

I stopped in front of him, still smiling up at him despite his confusion, and shrugged, “Call me a pyromaniac, but I’ve always thought fire is pretty. And blue flames are unique, so you don’t get to see them very often anyway.”

He blinked, still staring down at me with now widened eyes, and I felt my smile do what I’d thought was impossible; it grew. 

Somehow the fact he seemed to find it so hard to believe that I liked his hair was oddly cute.

“Just remember that everyone doesn’t see you as a freak and might even like the qualities of yours that you find so horrid,” I pointed out cheerfully, half-teasing him as I grinned at him playfully.

Idia swallowed, and silence hung between the two of us for a beat as I patiently waited for him to respond, genuinely curious as to what he would say. I didn’t receive a response, though. Instead, I flinched as he clicked the lights back on, the sudden brightness assaulting my eyes, causing me to let out a tiny but indignant, “Hey!”

“I guess⏤” He started, and his voice cracked slightly, causing him to go stiff before he slumped back down into his usual posture. His hands began to tangle into his long, flaming locks as he looked away. And I watched as the hair he held crushed in his hands began to slowly change from its usual pale blue into a soft pink that had my eyes widening before I held up a hand to cover the smile that started to creep onto my face. 

There was no telling how he would react if he figured out what was happening, and luckily, as he cleared his throat, he seemed unaware of his hair’s fascinating but slightly condemning behavior that made me love it even more than I already did. “I guess if you like it, then that’s alright… I mean, it can’t be all bad or whatever.”

I grinned at his less-than-honest behavior but opted to not call him on that or his blushing hair; better to just leave things be.

Swimming through the deep waters of the Octavinelle aquariums was not the plan that I’d had for my Friday, but here I was.

Floyd and Jade were the ones who’d let me in, gave me the potion, and now swam alongside me. Laughing not-so-subtly at my awe-stricken face as I looked around at the undersea beauty that surrounded me.

Fish flitted away from me, fearful of my unexpected presence as I explored the plants and rocky caves that had been placed to make the tank more hospitable.

“The real thing’s prettier, ya’ know,” Floyd’s voice came from beside me, causing me to turn with a half-amused grin to face the merman that drifted through the water alongside me.

I had known exactly why they’d invited me here in the first place even without his words to prove it just now. Floyd had been bugging me to come and spend summer break with them under the sea for quite some time now. This entire venture was quite likely their way of tempting me into giving in to his, and no doubt Jade’s, whims.

“You know Azul doesn’t want me coming with you. He’s pointed out a million reasons that it wouldn’t be a good idea,” I fought to spin around to better face the merman who was soon joined by his amused looking brother who sliced through the water with far greater ease than I imagined I ever could.

“That’s just cause he’s shy, Shrimpy,” Ever the pest, Floyd swam under me just as I’d gotten spun around. Leaving me looking up at Jade, who picked up exactly where his brother had left off.

“Indeed, I’m sure Azul would be perfectly thrilled if you were to come with us. After all, he’s already mentioned you at least twice to Mrs. Ashengrotto over the phone.” Jade’s words were delivered with a far-too-pleased smile that told me he wasn’t supposed to be telling me anything that had just spilled from his lips.

Which, to be honest, made what he’d said even better.

“He’s been talking to his mom about me?” I questioned both of them with a smile, half-touched and half-amused.

My question earned me a laugh from Floyd as his webbed hands cupped my shoulders, and he began to curve up and around me with glimmering eyes.

“You should hear him, Shrimpy! He could go on for hooouuurs,” I laughed at Floyd’s dramatics. Watching as he grinned delightedly and finished circling me to take my hands in his far larger, webbed ones.

“Come on! There’s something you still need to see,” His eyes were alight in a way that spoke of mischievousness, and I felt my eyebrows arch. 

But I had little time to prepare before we were taking off once more. This time with Floyd tugging me along with him as I flailed inelegantly through the water in a desperate attempt to keep up and not just get dragged along.

Jade, on the other hand, zipped right past me. Pausing only for a moment with an amused grin on his face as he watched my struggling before he sped onwards. Ever-poised and never offering a hand to help me out of my current predicament.

But we reached our destination quickly, and Floyd let go of me as I looked at the cave-like structure in front of me curiously. It was larger than the other decorations had been and practically filled this entire section of the tank.

“Many of the fish and other aquatic creatures like to hide in here. I would imagine quite a few of our finned friends are in there right now,” Jade had at some point slipped up behind me.

He leaned around me as he gestured towards the dark entrance of the cave with a too-polite smile that told me there was far more to this cave than a few fish even as he continued, “Go ahead, Prefect. This will, without a doubt, be the most interesting part of our adventure for today.”

I frowned slightly, noting the way he cooed his words at me with a healthy amount of suspicion before Floyd glided in front of me. Effectively distracting me from his brother as he spoke up.

“There’s a lot of caves like this in the Coral Sea. Me, Jade, and Azul used to play in them when we were little,” So saying, he darted towards the hole in the rocks, leaving me to paddle after him as Jade swam along. Perpetually and annoyingly amused.

Floyd darted along, taking the curves with such confidence that made it seem like he swam through here everyday. And, to be fair, I supposed it was possible that he did. Just not terribly probable.

I opened my mouth to call out for him to slow down only to be stopped by Jade, who tugged me to a stop and held up a single finger to his mouth with a knowing smile.

“Floyd?” Azul’s voice called out from just around the corner that Floyd now swam around with a lazy grin cast back my way as Azul continued to speak, “It’s about time you got here. I thought you’d ditched me, again, and were going to leave cleaning the tank up to me.”

Jade nodded at me with a tell-tale grin before swimming off in front of me. Leaving me to hesitantly follow after as he rounded the corner. Already speaking as he looked up at where I presumed Azul was, “How cold. As if we would abandon you to such a task.”

I paddled over to the rocks’ edge, letting my fingers curl over the smoothed edges of the strangely realistic aquarium piece as I peeked around to look at the three mermen.

Jade and Floyd swam around the impressively large cave in lazy spiraling circles, never glancing back my way even though their smiles spoke of knowing far more than they let on. They were relatively small, taking up little room, while Azul….

Well, I’d seen him when he’d been in his merform while overblotted, so I’d already known he was large, but I’d forgotten exactly how huge he was. He made Jade and Floyd, who were already far larger than the average human, look teeny. Rather like toys, in comparison.

Azul practically filled the cave all on his own, with his eight tentacles splayed. Each wiping a different surface of the cave with some sort of cloth as he cleaned.

Gone were his glasses from his face, and his body was now black and gray with purple undersides to his tentacles as he gestured annoyedly towards the twins while he spoke, “You would in a heartbeat. You’ve done it a thousand times now. Both of you.”

I gaped up at him, half-amazed by what I saw, until I noticed Floyd subtly gesturing for me to enter the space with a wide grin on his face that was accompanied by a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it wink. 

I hesitated, wondering exactly how Azul would react before slowly swimming forward. I didn’t know whether to announce myself or remain silent and simply watch the three of them.

I didn’t end up having to make a decision, though, since Azul turned with a suspicious frown, as if he somehow sensed that something was amiss, and spotted me at impressive speeds.

His pale blue eyes widened, and his mouth opened. His jaw working furiously as he tried to find the ability to speak. 

But he was frozen. Staring at me in horror and causing me to hold my hands up as if I were surrendering. At last he found his voice once more, “A- Angelfish!”

“Now, Azul. Don’t ink, and let’s be reasonable,” Jade’s calm, but amused voice sounded from overhead, and Azul’s reaction was immediate.

His eyes narrowed, and he was whirling to look towards the two eel twins in annoyance and betrayal while Floyd simply swam closer. Unafraid of the larger merman as he bopped him on the nose playfully, “Now there’s no reason for Shrimpy not to come home with us for summer break~”

“You-!”

“Don’t lose your temper, Azul. You wouldn’t want to scare our darling little Prefect, would  you?” Jade’s ever-calm voice intoned over Azul’s shriek, and the octopus merman froze again.

I pressed my lips together as I watched Azul cycle through a myriad of expressions as he pointedly avoided looking my way as a red flush took over his body. And distantly, I recalled Floyd telling me that octopuses would sometimes change colors with their emotions.

The only question was whether red meant anger or embarrassment.

“You’ll both pay for this,” I blinked at the perfect venom in his words. Almost impressed at how vehement he sounded.

And at odds with him, Floyd shrugged, “And you’ll thank us later when you finally get to introduce Shrimpy to your mom.”

I blinked before feeling myself smile as I looked up at Azul, “You want to introduce me to your mom?”

Azul tensed and looked my way in what I could only describe as pure panic while both of the tweels grinned at me. Both proud that I’d honed in on what Floyd had said quite so quickly.

“I- She’s been wanting to meet you since I happened to mention you one day. She’s probably just curious about why a magicless student has been allowed to come to school here.”

I blinked, almost impressed with his quick explanation despite the fact that I could tell that his words were an excuse even without Floyd’s snort of amusement.

“Soo, does that mean I can come with you three when you visit home?” I lifted my shoulders slightly as I smiled at him. Honestly curious as to how he would react, and his mouth opened. And then closed. And then opened again.

“Well… I suppose if YOU would like too….”

“Yay! Field trip with Shrimpy!”

“Congratulations, Prefect, it looks like you’re coming with us.”

I shook my head in silent amusement at all three of them. Not really having the heart to let them know that I hadn’t been overly concerned about it.

Even if I did have to silently admit to myself that spending summer vacation with friends, rather than on my own, was a welcome change in plans.