#rumiwrites

The thought had apparently failed to cross their minds since Silver never felt the need to create relationships past family and friends. He was occupied with training and classes—then there was a sleep curse he had to juggle, and his natural expression which made most classmates avoid him.

It took him long enough to realize he actually liked you to begin with. The way you painstakingly heaved him off of the school's paths during his sleep spells (he was blocking the way), the way you return his lost items to him (Crowley has you on cleaning duty), the way you offer to do projects and study groups together (your grades were in a dire situation)... You even showed special interest in caring for the plants and animals around campus. What was there to not love about you? He may have never realized these feelings until he asked Lilia. Why did his thoughts become a jumble around you? Why did you often occupy his mind? To him, "romantic love" was a briefly-taught concept, never an experienced one. Until now.

The old bat was overjoyed upon learning his son found a love interest... so much that he completely forgot his lack of guidance in courting.

•

If the situation wasn't bad enough, he also happened to be courting the underpaid, overworked, prefect of Ramshackle. Whenever you crossed paths, Silver seemed to have the same look on his face, as if you were any other passerby. His polite use of words made your relationship feel distant and professional to a degree, and that's exactly what you thought of it. Not to mention, Silver was one of many students you met daily. The only reason you remembered him at all was his good manners, but you never went out of your way to meet him. You were more worried about getting home, staying away from Crowley's slew of work, and trying not to literally die from harsh weather or hazardous architecture in your own dorm (...and from overblots).

•

It was only logical for anyone in your situation to be baffled by the sudden appearance of unblemished fruits and unique rocks around your dorm. They weren't neatly packed in any box or basket, but left in piles by windowsills and doorsteps. Silver had been taking time to meticulously pick the best gifts for you, leaving with a confident smile on his face once they were all set.

You just thought Grim started picking up hoarding behavior. That meant you didn't accept the gifts at all, since it just made sense to let Grim deal with his own stashes.

Then the gifts began multiplying. You swear Grim doesn't leave your sight often enough to find all of those items, but then what is leaving it here? The critters you helped? Probably. Silver begins to realize this plan is a bust, so it's onto the next step.

•

It finally clicked that he has to make it an invitation. Sudden dances only worked for woodland critters, it seemed. You were more understanding when he asked you to watch his performance "for guidance," although it was already suspicious that Silver came to you looking gaudier than a Christmas tree. You decided to humor him anyways.

Silver started wearing accessories of brighter color to catch your eyes, and picked up dance. He asked Kalim for help, to which Jamil naturally joined in on the tutoring, and later Lilia. It resulted in a complete and utter mess of dance styles and outfits, none of which matched him at all—even if Lilia and Kalim seemed pleased with it. Not that Silver knew what looked good or not.

The first few attempts in front of you were complete fails, because whenever he tried to break it down in front of you, you seemed to get extremely uneasy before clutching your ghost camera and speed-walking away, eyes deliberately screwed into any other direction than his.

15 minutes later, you had a pounding headache from doing your best to stifle any laughter, practically dying inside. You were also too nice to say he danced like a chicken with two left feet. The best you could offer was the most half-hearted nod and constructive criticism, but apparently, he took your constructive criticism to heart. Now you're stuck with a weekly routine of watching this stoic knight's dance of second-hand embarrassment.

...Which might have been more successful, considering it was somewhat endearing how hard he was trying. You just didn't understand why. It even scored him a few conversations with you after his performances.

You and a few friends got roped into work at Monstro Lounge due to... circumstances. To be specific, Azul refused to help during Camp Vargas unless everyone signed his contract.

There was no choice but to sign it, so of course, you were worked to the bone for a whole week with everyone else.

You were not known for being outspoken or aggressive in any way, but those grueling shifts over weekdays and weekends built up a lot of exhaustion. And frustration.

With Jade and Floyd by his side, it was obviously too risky to pull anything physical.

So, when you turned in your work uniform on the last day, you slowly pivoted to Azul with the straightest expression on your face.

"May your pillows and chairs always be too hot for you during the summer."

It was a calm—perhaps even formal—speaking tone, so it took him a while to register.

"...Excuse me?"

"May your pillows and chairs always be too hot for you during the summer."

You repeated yourself again, no change in tone. Then, you just... sauntered away.

Azul was somewhat wide-eyed between offense and perplexity. It wasn't extremely personal, but it still rubbed him the wrong way. Did you think you were so slick, trying to slight him the moment you are able to retire?

"Hah! Monstro Lounge's temperature has been managed by the faeries in Night Raven College for years! If you studied a bit more, perhaps you would know that such a phenomenon is simply impossible."

His voice was raised so you could hear his comeback, but you kept walking. That was a bit more frustrating.

Worst of all? The fairy gala happened only a month after the incident, and Monstro Lounge felt like the inside of an oven. The pillows and seats were indeed too hot... As well as everything else.

Maybe he was a bit superstitious, but in a world of magic, he was wise enough to think twice before swindling you again.

You even received a few thanks from students who thought you could actually curse people, and in following days, they started pestering you to "chant your curse" towards anyone they had a vendetta against.

Jade tried to provoke the same reaction out of you after hearing Azul rant about your "unbecoming" behavior.

You could endure it until he dug up your mandrakes. The ones you were RAISING. to plant mushrooms in their stead.

You ignored him for a while, but he had a knack for getting on your nerves.

He would steal your school supplies and make you retrieve it, or hover over you all day with endless small-talk; the dry type of small-talk, like mentioning the weather or talking about Monstro Lounge's stocks.

You were not as straight-faced with Jade, but you kept your voice to a very calmly passive-aggressive tone.

"...May your pillows and chairs always be too hot for you during the summer."

Jade raised his brow in amusement, placing his hand again his chin with a sharp smile. So that's what got Azul tilted, hm?

He went along with it.

"Boo hoo! How cruel. I had only wished to know you better, but alas, this is what I receive for my kindness..!"

You just furrowed your brows at him and walked off, causing him to chuckle.

It was even more entertaining to him that he found heating pads on his chairs and pillows the next day. Perhaps he should return the favor to your room.

Thus, a passive-aggressive battle between "discreetly" heating each other's seats and cushions began.

Floyd was ignoring Azul when he ranted about you, so the eel had no clue how you reacted to getting annoyed.

He was bored of toying around with his usual victims, so he latched onto you instead.

"Hey, shrimpy~ Let's play! I'm in the mood for basketball!"

He slung himself over your back, much to your annoyance. You kept walking on, occasionally making attempts to shake him off. It did not work.

"And I'm not. I'm in the mood to study."

You really weren't, but mentioning boring things had a decent success rate of chasing Floyd away. Unfortunately, he was persistent today.

"Well, I don't WANNA study. I'm in the mood for basketball, so we're gonna play basketball."

...And so, he easily dragged you to the gymnasium.

Floyd went on his own accord and grabbed the basketball, beginning to dribble. You didn't move an inch, and it was annoying him. In fact, you were sitting down instead. He stopped his dribbling, stacking the basketball on your head as he loomed over with an almost crazed expression.

"So that's how your gonna be, huh? D'ya wanna get squeezed..?"

You stared back up at him blankly, letting out a weary sigh.

"May your pillows and chairs always be too hot for you during the summer."

"Huh? What's that s'pposed to mean?"

You brushed the ball off your head and left without further elaboration. Thank the seven he didn't chase after you.

He seemed too thrown-off by your calm reaction to bother wasting energy on you.

Floyd retold the story to Azul and Jade later that day, receiving their exasperated and entertained reactions respectively.

It was something he shrugged off until this pillows and chair were actually irritatingly hot on the following day. Jade might be the suspect, this time...

He was enjoying the situation at Floyd's expense, and all the blame would be on you.

It was exam week.

Many students were occupied with studying, especially those in Heartslabyul, who were at risk of losing their heads. It also happened to oh-so conveniently land on the same dreaded week that would arrive each month.

You tried to focus on studying, shutting yourself in your room and staring at your work. It felt impossible. The pain coiling inside of you would not relent.

You couldn't afford more medicine after buying the bare essentials for your cycle, and asking your friends for help made you feel guilty. They were likely pulling all-nighters studying, and your boyfriend was most definitely occupied with supervising them.

•

At 8 p.m., you heard a knock on the door. You managed to stumble over and unlock it, revealing Riddle waiting patiently.

"I apologize for not arriving sooner... I noticed you had been looking a bit pale today. Is everything faring well? If you are worried about the exams, I would be willing to—-"

He quickly noticed the way you clutched your stomach while quietly listening, and the way your eyes tried to suppress twitches. He had seen this before. It was confusing the first time, but he was a quick learner. This time, he had medicine on hand—painkillers he always carried around after that first time. He did extensive research since then.

Urging you back to bed, he produced a cup of water and helped you take the pills shortly before tucking you back in.

"Have you eaten yet? I can acquire some ingredients from Heartslabyul for dinner. It may sooth your pain to eat a well-balanced plate of salmon and cruciferous vegetables."

"I didn't eat at all, I could barely even leave my room. But, right now..."

You tugged his sleeve, making his eyes widen from shock. You looked very, very exhausted at the moment, even your slight tug being far too weak.

"...Could you stay until the medicine kicks in? Please?"

A faint tint of red pricked his cheeks from the polite request. He cleared his throat while cupping your hand and folding it back over your chest in a gentle movement.

"Naturally. You should begin to feel better in nearly twenty-seven minutes. I will stay with you until then."

•

Riddle stayed with you, not for twenty-seven minutes exactly, but until you could say the pain had truly lessened. He sat at the edge of your bed, fingers threading through your hands with slight nervousness. Seeing you in pain always made him anxious, but he did his best to hide it. You were the one who needed comfort.

And when you asked him to join you for a cuddle? He obliged despite his lack of experience with touch, giving the most caring hug he could produce.

The pain lightened up after cuddling for a while, so he left to prepare your meal. Of course, you protested, but he insisted skipping your food could cause worse cramps.

He would just make up for it later by staying with you overnight as a pillow.

Since it aligned with spring break, barely anyone had noticed when you began to feel those dreaded cramps. It left you bedridden, your arms wrapped around your stomach from the excruciating pain. Even reaching your phone wasn't an option, as you made the mistake of leaving it on a counter.

Fortunately, Leona noticed earlier by scent, though he knew better than to say so. He already bought a bag of supplies, but only barged into your room when you had been isolated for too long. No knocking on the door, or announcing he was coming.

"Here, herbivore. Can't have you losing strength on me, now."

Leona tossed over the bag with an exasperated sigh. He wasn't the type to let his softness show, even for his partner, but the fact that there was even sweets in the bag amongst other necessities was more than enough proof. You gave him a genuine smile to let him know.

"...Thanks. You're a lifesaver."

Instead of leaving, he sat down on the bed as you took medication, his tail flicking in rhythmic measures. He did not speak, only staring with those piercing green eyes. It wasn't predatory, but he was certainly observing your every movement to asses your condition.

•

The silence was persisting far too long for your taste. Your hands trailed up his head until they brushed his ears. Despite his scoff of annoyance, his ears began to twitch in your hands—and he let you pet them.

"Whatever... I'll let you do it for now. Just don't expect this to be a regular occurrence, got it?"

You giggled at the feigned authority in his voice, knowing this wasn't the first time he had said this.

To your surprise, Leona even lowered his head onto your chest this time, letting out a nearly inaudible purr as you continued to pet his ears. It was similar to petting any other house cat... except this one was oversized, and had his limbs tangled with yours. He did care about his pride, but your comfort took priority. He knew this helped you relax, as mortifying as it was.

"You're really cuddly when you don't bother to hide it..."

"...Just don't go mouthing off about it to others."

Azul was busy with managing Monstro Lounge since it was a weekend. You didn't tell him about your cramps for that reason, so he didn't know... Until Floyd busted into your room. He was probably skipping work to ask you to play, but instead, he found you curled up like a shrimp. He figured it was funny enough to tell Azul, who was reasonably far more concerned.

In a last-minute decision, he put Jade in charge of managing before rushing to your room. Floyd failed to mention the context of why you were curled up, making him feel incredibly careless when you explained it was menstrual cramps. He was completely unequipped for the situation.

•

Azul somehow managed to brew a potion with just a regular pot on a stove, afraid of leaving your side to visit the store or alchemy lab.

"And what will this cost me?"

"The price? I hereby request that you invest your utmost effort into... Resting."

He spoke with a business-professional tone, as if he was striking a deal with an unfortunate student. His actions were, however, a stark contrast; his hand brushed your cheek as he tilted the potion to your mouth, ensuring you wouldn't spit it out because the concoction was "too bitter".

•

Azul's movements had clearly gotten jittery between leaving the lounge unattended and seeing you still experience pain, but he stayed by your side the entire time. Free of charge.

"Azul, my head hurts... And I'm still cramping."

You spoke up, shifting around uncomfortably. His first reaction was to fold his coat, lifting the back of your head and sliding it beneath you. You shook your head at his makeshift pillow, staring straight at him.

With a helpless sigh, he sat himself down in place of the pillow, letting you rest your head on his lap. It left Azul visibly flustered, biting down on his lower lip and avoiding eye contact until you groaned in pain again. His shaky hands tried to massage your abdomen in attempt to ease the pain, working in circular motions. It left him a brighter shade of red, but also relief when your face relaxed.

•

It was almost a defeating feeling to see you in a weakened state despite his potion and attentiveness. You felt far better than before, but you occasionally scrunched tighter from convulsions.

"...Dear."

He pressed his fingers again the bridge of his glasses with a sigh.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to make another deal? I may be interested in borrowing a... fraction of your pain for this week. For further research."

Jamil had already planned for today, pawning off Kalim to the Pop Music Club. It was guaranteed to keep him occupied. Even without a single mention of your cramps, he had everything prepared beforehand and arrived early. He was familiar with caring for others in this scenario due to Najima's loud complaints.

To spare you of any embarrassment, he only claimed to have come for "spending quality time" with his lovely partner... Though you could see he brought snacks for your cramps.

Jamil set a tray of assorted chocolate snacks on the coffee table, helping you lay on the couch. He even brought two high-quality pillow from Scarabia; one for your head, the other for you to hold.

"Do you need anything else? I could cast a simple ice spell for cooling, or perhaps you would prefer a warmth spell for your back?"

His hand pushed up your bangs, feeling the temperature of your forehead. Calm and methodical, as always. You shook your head at his questions, though you couldn't help but flash a soft smile—one that made his heart melt. He quickly cleared his throat to mask it, his hand instinctively moving to massage the back of your neck instead.

"You should at least try to eat. I prepared your favorites for this time of month, and they are baked with the proper medication for easing pain. There is no need for concern, the medicinal taste shouldn't be detectable. Please, help yourself."

Jamil lifted the tray with one hand, pressing a chocolate drop filled with pistachio cream to your lips. It wasn't a forceful gesture, just gentle enough to see if he could coax you into taking it. To his relief, you ate one... Then began to crave for more. It was his solution to your aversion of medicine, especially since potions were far too bitter.

•

When you laid to rest again, he began running his fingers through your hair. He stared at you quietly, with a subtle adoration. It was always a nice change of pace to care for you, considering how chaotic Kalim's ideas could be.

"Jamil?"

"Yes?"

"Could you speak?"

"Speak? I'm afraid I don't have anything interesting to say... Is there something you were hoping to hear in particular?"

"Just... say anything, really. Your voice is calming."

A slight hint of shock appeared on his face, the combing motions paused. Then, he schooled his expression and continued.

"In that case... Earlier, today, Kalim—-"

He rambled on about everything he could recall that day. The commotion Kalim caused, the arguments between Ace and Floyd during basketball practice, the few quiet moments he spent in the kitchen... Jamil kept speaking until you fell asleep, seeming undisturbed by cramps in this peaceful state. He pressed a kiss against your forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my treasure."

You were doing your best to hide how bad the cramps felt, since Vil had asked you to star in one of his films for the Film Research Club today. Everyone was in place, the weather was beautiful, and you had your costume done... But the cramps were only getting worse.

You went through the first few takes without showing signs, but the pain had taken a considerable cost on your acting skills. Vil seemed to have noticed, stopping you before a fourth attempt.

"You seem utterly exhausted today, darling. The film can always wait. While it is a shame... You appear to be making a similar grimace to those of my colleagues on their 'months'."

"So, you noticed."

You let out a helpless sigh, slumping your shoulders. If anything, it was a relief that he didn't sound disappointed.

"Come. I will care for you in Pomefiore. You should know your limits better than anyone else. Today simply won't cut it for filming."

He didn't let you protest about the film any further, swooping you up bridal-style so you wouldn't exhaust yourself. He knew how persistent you could be, even to the point of ignoring your own health.

•

You were set down on the soft sheets of his large bed. Of course, Vil already made you take a potion. They were always available, as he made a new batch every month with you in mind.

In the meanwhile, he gave you a full body massage, knowing you were aching; firm circles on the back, sides, arms, abdomen, legs... He remained mindful of not moving you too drastically. Just as you were beginning to feel like putty, Vil changed course again.

"...If you want your cramps to feel better, you best expect to put in your own work, as well."

•

As always, his words came from a place of love, even if it caused you to grumble. He was helping you form yoga poses, only the easier ones to relieve your pain. Before each one, he would ask if it caused discomfort. If it did? He would simply have you try another pose. Surprisingly, most of them released the tension in your muscles.

Vil only allowed you to rest once your body was in better shape. He laid thin, breathable sheets over your body, resting a hand over your chest for you to hold—should you wish.

"I will admit, you are quite strong. Your acting skills today left much to be desired... but if we consider the pain you were experiencing, you are quite the skilled performer. Next time, you must inform me of any unforseen events. I do not care if the set is fully prepared; your comfort will always come first. Do you understand?"

He said no more on the topic after you nodded, trusting you to be honest in future events.

At the same time, he didn't want you to only see him as some sort of instructor... so, looking around, he began to change the topic. He knew how boring the idleness could be.

"Well, do you not have any gossip to share?"

You personally came to Idia's room the moment you felt even a slight sense of pain. And, quite honestly, declared you were having cramps. It was proper protocol for having a boyfriend who was afraid of coming out and speaking bluntly—not counting when certain interests were involved.

He did his best to clean his bed in a rush, tossing books and scrapped hardware into unorganized boxes. In his mind, he was even planning on carrying you to the bed like a princess, but he ended up leading you with a fidgety hand instead. Once you laid down, there was a rapid fire of nervously-asked questions.

"...U-um... Is it cramping bad? Where are the cramps? Did you take anything? Do you want background music? Or snacks?"

"Yes, the cramps are getting worse—they are mostly in the lower abdomen. And no, I didn't take anything. I was just trying to make it here before I became completely immobile. If you're going to play music, just don't blast it... Snacks would be nice, though."

You had gotten so familiar with his quick speaking that you could even answer during extreme pain. He gave a pause, then immediately scrambled to lower the speakers and search the cabinets.

•

...You had to take the painkillers with juice instead of water since he, somehow, did not have water. The only other option was soda, but honestly, you didn't mind the juice right now.

Much to his fear, just medicine wasn't enough. So, he prepared backup.

A handcrafted massaging device for your abdomen, repurposed cooling systems for your cold sweat... even a TENS unit.

"Whee hee hee! How's that?! I built them all in a day, and they're more effective than any of their standard counterparts!"

"That's nice, Idia, but I really just wanted your presence..."

He let the silence hang in the air, completely unaware of what to say. That was something he considered himself terrible at—providing adequate company. Idia slowly turned his head to the PC, then back to you... Maybe both of you needed a distraction, for different reasons.

•

Somehow, you ended sitting snugly on his lap as he played games on the PC. He only used one hand for the controls, the other occupied with wrapping around your midsection as a form of concealed reassurance. Snacks laid scattered around the desk for you to pick from. It was safe to say he wasn't quite watching your diet... He just opened whatever you were craving.

Idia rarely had to leave his room, so he cuddled with you all the way until night. He was staying up, of course, so you knew he would be available if you woke up from cramps again.

"Idia?"

"Uh.. huh?"

"We should really do this more often."

You nuzzled into his shoulder, drifting to sleep. He was left utterly flustered without any room for a comeback.

Malleus had already been exploring around your dorm when his sensitive ears detected pained groans coming from inside. He wasted no time in using teleportation magic to your bedside, nearly causing you to tumble out from the scare.

"Child of man, what seems to be ailing you? You have been producing a sound akin to that of a dying animal for a substantial amount of time..."

He rubbed his chin with his index, looking off thoughtfully.

"'For a while'? You only just now entered my room—- oh, right. Your ears. Well, if you really must know, I'm having... cramps."

"Ah, I see. You have trained too hard, then?"

"Menstrual cramps."

He appeared almost confused at first, then came to a realization. The fae suddenly flashed a toothy smile, placing his hands on his hips with confidence. Lilia had taught him before, though very briefly... now was finally his chance to put those lessons in practice!

"Very well. You must crave food, yes?"

With the flick of his hand, food began to pile from thin air, likely summoned from Diasomnia's kitchen... It was almost too much.

"Wait, wait, wait..! I'm thankful for the food, but I'm not really craving anything with all of this cramping..."

Even from a quick glance, one could tell that the simple task of laying down and speaking took great effort from you. Though Malleus considered most humans "fragile", you appeared weaker than usual. He tried to slow himself down and gave an understanding nod, hovering his hand just inches away from where yours were clutched. He casted a spell, and the cramps declined from intolerable to a standard amount of pain.

He knew you must have been suffering an unordinary amount of pain if his magic couldn't fully cure it.

This might have been the first time he felt helpless in a while. Asking others for assistance was out of the question; he couldn't use his phone, he didn't want to leave your side, and the thought of Lilia or his retainers barging didn't sit right with him. Surely, they would only disturb you?

•

None of your praise for his spell was doing much to ease his worries. From his view, he needed to stay close, or else your pain could progress again.

Malleus wrapped his tail around your body and snugged against you like a giant pillow, ready to re-cast his spell at any moment. Being a creature of the night, he never lost track of your body language. If you began to groan and curl in your sleep, he would simply rock you in his arms and do his best to strengthen the spell. If you relaxed, he would allow himself to snuggle tighter. If you were about to wake?

Ace has never been shy of contact. It is entirely commonplace for him to pat your back, rub your shoulder, rest his chin on you... Mainly casual contact. You had always been just as welcome to exchange the touch.

However, for all his bragging about "scoring" you, he never tried to work on more intimate gestures. Hand holding and, great seven, cheek-kissing? He always had to play it off as a joke. The suspicious tint of red on his face said enough.

So, the first time you held your arms open for him, he stood there with a blank stare. You could practically see the hamster wheel spinning in his head, trying to process if that was really what you wanted.

You stood your ground, still as a statue, waiting for the hug. It did NOT help that you were asking for this in the middle of a courtyard. How would he live this down if his fellow first years saw him hugging you? Wouldn't they call him sappy? It would also make him a coward to put his pride over his partner, though...

With a sigh, Ace walked over and wrapped his arms around you, expecting an equally delicate motion on your side.

Not having his partner enthusiastically strangling the breath out of him.

Maybe he was overreacting a bit, between being flustered and your surprising strength, patting your back as he coughed.

"Okay, okay, I think I get it now..! Is this because I don't hug you often enough?! Jeez, at least warn me before you--"

He finally managed to pry you off, but noticed a pout on your face. Oh no. Did he do something wrong? Again?

"Ace..! That wasn't a proper hug. It was THREE seconds, and you were hardly putting strength into it."

He turned his head away and groaned to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. When he glanced at you from the corner of his eyes, it was clear you were still waiting. Exhaling through his nose, he wrapped his arms around you in proper hug this time.

"See! It wasn't so hard, right?"

You returned the hug, Ace seeming a lot less dramatic now that he was prepared for the squeeze.

"...Fine, I'll admit it's not terrible. But next time, we're doing this in PRIVATE, okay?" Don't tell anyone about this."

"No promises..."

Deuce was just coming out of remedial classes, shoulders slumped. His entire evening, spent on getting chewed out by Crewel...

He didn't have time to react before you crashed into him—or, rather, deliberately pounced a hug onto him. He nearly lost his balance.

"WOAH--?! Oh, it's just you... Did you also get held back in make-up classes? I heard you fell asleep during History of Magic, so--"

"Nah. I wanted a hug, so I'd been waiting outside since an hour or three ago."

Your arms tightened around him, rocking back and forth with contentment. It took him a few minutes to process that.

"Ah, okay... Wait, an hour or THREE?"

You nodded, seemingly unbothered. He felt a little obligated to give a better hug now, one that could be worth waiting three hours... Not that he even knew if a hug of that quality existed. At least he was determined to let you hug for as long as you wanted.

To be honest, he hadn't hugged for a while. Not once during his delinquent phase. It was long before then, when he still hugged his mother without worrying how others may call him "wimpy" for it.

You helped him position his hands into a less awkward grip, causing him to mumble mental notes on how you prefer to be hugged.

Then Ace came through the same door, his expression peeved from dealing with Crewel. Deuce nearly forgot, due to your sudden ambush. They had been taking remedial lessons together that evening.

When Ace saw the two of you, he immediately broke into a barely-suppressed chuckle... Which broke out into a full burst of laughter.

"PFT.... Dude, that's totally lame! Hugging in the hallway after getting held back? The other's are gonna get a kick out of THIS."

"Shut... Shut up! I'm not the one who initiated it. Besides, you're probably just jealous!"

Deuce, surprisingly, refused to break the hug. He was grumbling at Ace's jeering, giving him a major side-eye, but he knew you waited too long for Ace of all people to ruin your moment.

"Yeah, whatever, man. I'll see you lovebirds tomorrow!"

Ace snapped a few pictures for the first years group chat, something that would become the subject over tomorrow's lunch. He departed shortly after, leaving Deuce with his burning-red face buried in your neck.

"Just ignore him, he's an idiot."

It turned out, that consolation was mostly for himself. One look at you was all he needed to know that you were hardly bothered by it.

Jack may seem tough, but you often have to pester him into skinship. Recently, he has gotten used to holding hands and carrying you. Maybe even allowing the occasional head rub.

You caught him after his practice with the track and field club, the beastman's ears perking up as you came bounding over. He fully braced himself for catching you, in case you planned to jump on him. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened.

Today, however, you stopped right in front of him. Then, you opened your arms wide, looking up at him and blinking through your lashes. It was a very telling sign whenever you expected something.

Jack took a scan around the field, seeing some of his clubmates still lingering around. Chatting, gathering the equipment, cooling off...

"Hey, there's still people out here, you know..."

He looked back at you, scratching his head. Even his ears were twitching nervously. Yet, turning down this invitation would be rude, and he didn't want to upset you. He has dated you for long enough to know how obstinate you could be.

"...Fine. Just one hug, alright? And make it quick."

His words might have seemed uncaring, but the tone was undeniable soft. You felt your feet lift off the ground as he scooped you into a hug, his tail subconsciously wagging from the intimacy.

He knew how to control his strength, having delt with delicate things like his cacti. You, on the other hand, could hug him as hard as you wanted. He wouldn't get hurt at all.

But, when it came time to pull you off... He found it rather difficult. Now he was starting to get worried that someone really would see.

Jack tried gently prying you off by the back of your shirt, then your arms, your torso... He got desperate enough to try shaking you off like a wet dog, but it only seemed to increase your enjoyment.

He ended up running off the field with you attached, spending the next hour persuading you into getting off. Despite his act of exasperation, he kept allowing you to pull the same antics on him day after day.

Epel may be the least embarrassed about hugging. You've done it several times, in fact. He's quite used to being smothered and having the breath hugged out of him, courtesy of his family.

Oddly enough, whenever he hugs you in return, it is uncharacteristically delicate. It was a habit which derived from the advice Vil drilled into him, upon learning Epel was dating you. Not that you knew, since he would never admit to something like that.

It all changes over vacation. You and a few others went to Harveston with him, as the Sledathon was coming up. Among those "few others" was not Vil, Rook, nor any other Pomefiore students, so he could finally loosen up.

When you open your arms for him, he happily runs over to give you a hug. You expected it to be as delicate as always... Not a bear hug.

Compared to the others, he is lacking in muscle mass, so it didn't hurt; it was just stronger than usual.

He also takes public affection better than the rest. Even with his grandmother cooing over the scene, he didn't budge or get flustered.

"Awh, don' mind Meemaw. She's jus' a'lil happy ah finally brought'a girl home."

For the rest of the trip, the two of you tried to get in as many hugs as possible—long, secure hugs as if you were adhered together with glue.

After seeing all of those hugs, it seemed his grandmother became even sweeter on you. She was always stuffing snacks into your pockets and serving you warm cider whenever you entered the cabin. There was definitely approval of the relationship.

And, surely enough, when you return to NRC? He was back to controling his hugs again, just as he had to control his accent and diet. There was a bit of mutual disappointment between the two of you.

"...If you want, I could give better hugs in private, y'know. I kind of miss them, too."

You were willing to take pity on Sebek by choosing a less-crowded area to request a hug. The dorm's common room was quite empty at this time of day, the only students being those who were passing by to access another room. Everyone was minding their own business.

As he was passing by to the training grounds, you tugged at his sleeve, causing him to turn around with an inquisitive hum.

"Can I have a hug?"

Your smile and tone made it more of a request than a question, especially with your arms already open to receive your due.

"Hu...HUMAN!! That is PREPOSTEROUS! If we were to hug in front of so many people, THE RUMOR MAY COME TO LORD MALLEUS'S EARS!!!"

He dug his own grave by shouting. NOW everyone was listening, pausing in their tracks to see what all the commotion was about.

"Mmm... Doesn't matter. I don't think he minds. Besides, you should stop calling me human. We're a couple. Remember?"

Sebek sputtered at your words, rubbing his head as he tried to think of an explanation to support his point... Only to realize how illogical it was.

He glared daggers at the onlookers, grumbling as he shuffled you to the very meager cover of Diasomnia's main stairwell. After fidgeting and looking around for even longer, he hastily scooped you into a hug, practically melting against you. His brows were still furrowed, eyes shut with the corners of his lips turned downwards, but it was really just an embarrassed face. That much was obvious from the pink dusting his ears and cheeks. He wasn't sure if a knight should indulge this much.

Sebek was losing track of time until your hand began smacking against his back, the sound of your coughs breaking the rare silence. He was accidentally hugging you TOO hard.

He quickly pulled his arms away, moving them to your shoulders instead as he bent to your level.

"HU--... ARE YOU OKAY?! No, we should take you to the infirmary POSTHASTE!"

At least he was learning to leave out the "human" part of his sentences... You may have to work on terms of endearment later. For now, you had to reassure him that the infirmary was not necessary.

You shook your head at his words, pinching his cheeks to deescalate the pressue of the situation. He only stared back in surprise.

Before he could start shouting again, you clung onto him with another hug, causing him to freeze.

"Rrr...! You..."

He could only sigh, giving you a more cautious hug this time. You would get an earful about safety and manners, later...

Ortho is an amazing friend, sure, but it is not common for anyone—besides his family—to make contact with him. Perhaps when it was necessary, but he didn't receive anything in the way of back pats or fist bumps, and certainly not hugs.

That's why, when you held your arms open in front of him, he was confused.

"Hmm... Is this a new stretch? My databases are unable to find any exercises that match your position. You might be doing it wrong."

"Nope! Guess again."

"Did Ace dare you to extend your arms for a certain amount of time? If you hold stay there for any longer, they may become sore."

"Wrong again. I'm going to give you a hug!"

"...Huh!? "

"A hug!"

He understood that word perfectly well, but the concept was questionable. Not only was he made of metal, but it was a body which contained many ridges...

"Wait, you should really rethink this!"

It was too late, you were already squeezing him in a hug. He was strong enough to pry you off, but the damage was already done, right?

You seemed surprisingly alright with this, giving him a pat on the head and walking off casually.

Daily Basis

Ace is very much aware of his fumbling, so when you first started dating, he knew he had to lock in. The first few weeks of the relationship just so happened to consist of... a lot of trial and error.

He puts in extra effort to act cool around you, because if he's not constantly doing a parlor trick or flirting, he thinks you will gradually become unimpressed.

You had to get used to opening Ramshackle's door just to see your boyfriend leaning against its frame with an expression of forced nonchalance, bringing some sort of flowers. Every. Single. Time.

It didn't end there—he always had a cheesy line for equating the flowers to your appearance. You were pretty sure you saw a notepad of pickup lines fall out of his pocket one day, as much as he assured you it was "nothing". Ace only stopped after a particularly mortifying day. He came to Ramshackle's doorsteps with Riddle's signature collar around his neck, slouching like a soaked puppy with a couple of Heartslabyul's roses in his hand. You could infer what happened, and made sure to have a talk with him while bandaging the thorn pricks on his hands.

After that incident, Ace had—thankfully—become somewhat less desperate to always put on an entertaining show for you. That did not mean he wasn't still cheating against others in card games for your attention, or getting into fights with students who mildly irritated you.

One thing that never changed was his penchant for skipping classes. It was very obvious how Deuce was not always included anymore, just for the sake of quality time. There was a sense in freedom of using class time to cuddle up on a bench, laughing at each other's gossip and Magicam feeds. Until the professors found out. Staying together for remedial lessons was romantic in its own way, if you ignore how long it took to complete them with Ace being a huge distraction.

On the topic of Magicam, he loves to flood your DMs with his selfies in different environments, and boasts it to the other first years when you send any singular selfie back.

As much of a flop as he is, you'll sometimes be surprised by how casual he is with genuine gestures of care. If he sees you shivering on a chilly day, he will put his blazer over your shoulders while claiming "you should have dressed warmer," and that "he doesn't need it anyways."

He also has a surprisingly amazing memory for things you like. That's exactly how he quickly adapted from fumbling to composed.

And he makes it known. It can be slightly embarrassing when he speaks up after a server gets your order wrong. It extends to telling people off when they're doing something that annoys or overwhelms you.

One of the best parts about his good memory and people-reading skills is that his gifts never miss. Sure, he'll still buy gag gifts to make you roll your eyes or laugh at it, but then there's the genuine ones that he saves for. He once spent half of his weekly budget and a whole day trying to get a plushie from a claw machine since you had been staring it down. He only got it after a staff member took pity on him.

He also tries to cook on special occasions, such as dates, holidays, birthdays...sometimes for apologies...

He knows your preferences, but it takes far more time to beg Trey for lessons and successfully replicate everything himself. The culinary crucible course had fortunately aided his cause.

At least you know you're in good hands when you're sick. Not only does he cook, but he can clean your dust-caked dorm while mumbling curses about the Headmage for not fixing up Ramshackle and overworking you! He tries to be quieter than usual when you're feeling unwell, to your relief.

He will still jumpscare you with an uncool pickup line or failed trick once in a while, no matter how much he adapts to the relationship. He continues to miss some of the basketball shots that are meant for you, or accidentally drops the cards in his sleeves during a "magic" trick.

Dates

More often than not, Ace takes you on high-energy dates if you're on board with it.

Amusement parks are his favorite. He's always trying to get you on the tallest, fastest rollercoaster, or the scariest free-fall. If you don't like thrill rides? It's fine, he might tease you about riding them, but he's not forcing you. Not when he can get you on a teacup ride and spin the wheel until he accidentally breaks the ride. Don't appreciate getting dizzy? He can try to win prizes from scam games for you. And make loud complaints to the game operator when he fails his nth attempt. It isn't dampening his mood since he'll still get on rides solo, so you can see the faces he makes on the ride's snapshots. Plus, there's pretty good food.

He just thinks the Ferris Wheel is a little overrated because "he can fly you way higher than that" on his magic broom.

If your feet begin to feel sore from walking, he notices fairly quick, and offers you to sit down while he fetches food or drinks.

Playing any type of sports together is also a fun date option when you're both tight on budgets. Just because you're a couple, it doesn't mean Ace will hold back; he ONLY makes an exception if you look very upset at a lose streak. If he is the one on a lose streak, you know he'll be pulling underhanded tactics soon. Not harmful. Just underhanded.

Taking him on movie dates isn't advised unless you're fine with him giving the blow-by-blow on every single thing that happens, or unless you need him there for a horror film. Even if he enjoys the film, his commentary is unintentionally loud, regardless.

Ace is fine with quiet dates, especially if that's what you need. And he always asks if there's a couple discount at cafes.

He likes to share food if it's with you. As in, he'll offer his food, then stare intently at your food if not offered in return. He has the courtesy not to take huge bites out of your food. You're actually pretty sure he gives you a larger portion of his own compared to what he takes from yours.

For the majority of his life, he had always invested his time into caring for someone. Lilia knows that he can't coddle his boys forever. Malleus has royal duties to attend, with Silver and Sebek at his side.

He has been preparing for this moment of separation, but after the events that took place near his fourth year at Night Raven College (book 7), coming to terms with an empty nest became harder than he thought. There was far too much time to be worried in his thoughts. It seemed as if the only path left was finding activities to distract himself.

Visiting new places was not much of an entertainment. Boasting nearly 700 years of experience prior to graduation, Lilia had traversed every country in Twisted Wonderland. Instead, he figured it was time to visit his cabin in the woods after so many years.

It was oddly silent, slightly overgrown with flora from lack of maintenance. Though he felt nostalgic now, it lacked the charm of his family's laughter and banter.

After tidying up the cabin, he walked down the forest path where he used to take Silver and Sebek before leaving them out for the night with only a wooden sword to their names, reminiscing over their childhood.

The tranquility was suddenly interrupted by your yelp as you tumbled down a tree, Lilia's reflexes working fast enough to hold out his arms before you could hit the solid ground.

It was interesting. These woods were secluded, far from any society, and you were certainly not some stray, orphaned child like Silver.

Regardless, he brought you in, asking all sorts of questions. The silence in the cabin was filled with chatter again. If anything, it seemed your surprise entrance into his life had piqued his interest again.

You were surprised at the invitation to stay a while, gladly accepting his hospitality. Albeit, you quickly learned to take charge of the cooking.

The days were filled with long epics about his adventures from before and after his entrance to the "prestigious arcane academy," not that you believed half of them. You entertained his stories, however, learning about his family and feats.

Slowly but surely, you began to open up about yourself in return. It started as an obligation, since he often seemed to... overshare about himself.

What was originally an act of courtesy had turned into something you found to cherish. Without any official statement, the relationship had undoubtedly deepened.

He was perhaps most surprised to discover someone as curious and exploratory as you who had somehow hardly traveled. He had to show you around, whether you chose to travel by broom, ship, or plane.

Your trips took you all over the globe, and Lilia was the perfect travel partner. He could get you around any bustling city of a foreign country, while finding the quietest places when you needed a break. He didn't hold back on using magic along the way, casting spells to entertain children or trip up crooks.

He was also amazing at pushing you outside of your comfort zone, especially with food, if you ignored the following days where he would take care of you when your stomach ache renders you bedridden.

Perhaps, he pondered, your next vacation should be Black Scale Castle in Briar Valley. He just had to introduce you to his family! And perhaps receive a blessing from the crowned prince.

Leona had a direction after he graduated, but his passion for it was limited. He found little purpose outside of work, only ever sleeping if he had free time. It was fine. He could be perfectly content this way...

Until a complete random tripped over his tail, tumbling onto him. It was not as if he fell asleep on a sidewalk; he was resting on the grass within a public park's grounds. The rough awakening was beyond irritating, causing him to sit up with a growl, gritting his teeth.

Looking down, all he saw was some herbivore slumped over his midsection in a post-fall position, panicking to simultaneously get up and apologize.

Leona did not have the energy to deal with this today. He picked you up by the back of your shirt, removing your body from his, then plopped you back down. It was like a large cat moving its pesky kitten aside. He walked off before you could even give a proper apology.

You were surprisingly stubborn about the apology, seeking him out the very next day. There he was, sleeping in a nearly identical area again.

Apologizing with a basket of fruits and a heartfelt speech must have been overkill, because it seemed to somehow worsen the exasperated expression he wore. He walked off without accepting any of it, again. You didn't realize you would have better luck with a basket of meats.

It became a daily routine. He tried to sleep in spots you wouldn't find, but you were getting too good at this game of hide-and-seek. Even his acquaintances noticed, slightly horrified by your persistence towards Leona—who you hardly even knew.

It was so tiring that he finally gave up on resistance. He would normally leave the moment you found him, but he stayed this time, his back pressed against a low-hanging branch of a tree in a reclined position.

You assumed the beastman was "warming up to you." Your seeking did not stop after the apology was accepted.

Perhaps it was his expression or the sheer amount of hours he spends at rest, but you figured he could benefit from being near company. Talking about yourself, your interests, recent events, rhetorical questions--knowing he wouldn't answer either way.

The buzzing he had initially perceived as "annoying" became a normal part of his day, and he hardly realized it. Or he didn't want to admit it. He would sometimes fall asleep to your voice, or spontaneously remember some trivial fact you said while managing his workplace. The phenomenon was baffling.

There was a strange obligation to visit his usual rendezvous point each day. Not from social pressure, but a feeling that felt as if it spawned from within. It felt foreign to his previous routine, yet inescapable. Who else would you talk to? Would you make the same apologies to the wrong type of person? There were many things he could analyze, but that did not include the feelings he had actively tried to ignore.

The hard, undeniable truth was only brought to light when you had fallen asleep on him one day. It was dusk, the usual time, but you seemed more exhausted than usual. You had not anticipated the extent of your weariness, slowly nodding off until you slumped onto him. He did not remove you this time. He laid there, and stared, carefully analyzing your features. It was surreal. You were so peacefully resting against someone like him, your calm breaths a telltale sign of subconscious trust.

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to explore things further. You were too naive. It was only a safety precaution to have you by his side.