Twisted Piko

He wouldn't call it a spark. It was more of a slow burn. No longer were you an obstacle in his way but a goal he chased.

The way you could see the best in people after everything. The way you could see the best in HIM. Slowly but surely his every waking hour became a test.

Because he didn't know what to do. How to react. He has never felt this way before. This overbearing feeling of longing for something he hasn't experienced before.

He missed times that never were. Dreaming about leaving everything behind and giving in to the warmth he felt when he laid his eyes upon you.

Jamil Viper, the man who spent his entire life scheming to get his freedom felt as if he was meant to give his entire life to you. You were like an antithesis to his entire way of being.

Was that what drove him towards you? That made this flicker of love grow into passion so overwhelming he stopped even questioning it.

Love wasn't something he flaunted around carelessly. It was a strong word and an even stronger feeling. An admission that he would no longer be able to feel entirely fulfilled without you. A promise to keep seeking you out even if it meant recontextualising everything he ever thought he knew about himself.

And he loved you.

With all the weight of the word he loved you.

He was a man of his word and of conviction. Like a simple follower he gave in to the feeling and let it consume him. The new goal of making you smile... it fueled him.

He wouldn't stop at anything to figure out what this love could be. As long as he followed his heart, he knew he would find the right answer and you within it.

And yet

"I have a crush on Kalim"

And yet

"Could you help me..."

And YET

"Get with him"

...

"Sure"

He couldn’t bring himself to confess.

In the time he needed that conviction the most he folded under the pressure. Was this love he thought to be so overbearing just a passing obsession?

No. It just ran deeper than he could have imagined. Like shackles it tied him down again to the idea of never losing you. He was again avoiding the worst possible outcome by never taking a stance.

He had to do something. Say anything. Get this feeling of wrongness off his chest and say a simple "I love you". But the weight kept him from doing even that.

So as you told him more and more, about your crush, about your feelings, oh how naive he felt. He loved you too much. Your love made you free. It gave you wings, made you feel weightless. His love was keeping him down like a prisoner.

Kalim had everything he never had. Money, charm, status. He made you feel good, he made you laugh and he made you feel loved. Jamil meanwhile, caused you only suffering.

No matter what he does he can never beat Kalim. And this time... he couldn’t find an excuse to keep himself from crying at night.

You had plans. Very detailed ones. It's obvious you spent a lot of time trying to make it perfect. For him.

"What do you need me for, then?"

You laughed. Great seven, it made his heart stop. Everything was worth it just for that laugh. He would overblot again, if he had to, just to hear it again. Thinking like that was so corny even for him.

Not that he didn't mean what he said. You were doing fine on your own so why... why were you twisting the knife in his chest by asking him to help. You had to have known...

Well, you didn't know, obviously. About how it made him feel, how it made him suffer. He was a master of disguise. A liar so good he could fool even himself. Or so he kept telling himself.

It's better this way, he repeated to himself. Maybe if he said it enough times he would finally believe it. Maybe.

Kalim fit you so much better. It's like you two were made for each other. Just like you, he was gentle and caring. Your charm brought people hope. It made them feel seen and appriciated. Jamil knew that better than anyone.

He couldn’t help but notice everytime Kalim made people laugh. Every time he made you laugh. But Jamil? People looked at him with suspicion and fear. And he couldn't sleep at night, wondering if undeneath your kind smile you were feeling the same as everyone else.

But, he thought he deserved it. He betrayed them all, led them on and used them as pawns is his plan. He deserved every suspicious glance sent his way and every rumor spread about him. He deserved it all.

But when you talked to him, and someone instinctively looked at you the same way... it made his blood boil. You were the last person who should be treated this way. If he tried to confess to you, would they look at you like that all the time? As if you were a person horrible enough to have someone like Jamil Viper fall for you.

And yet, he couldn’t help his selfishness. Deep down, he didn't care how people would look at you. He didn't care that Kalim was a better pick. He didn't care you would probably never love him. He needed you.

So as you laid out your plan he was only half listening. Torn between what he thought he should do and what he has yearned to do for so long. To stop you and confess to all of his feelings. Beg you to take him in, give him a chance, finally be his.

"Kalim trusts you"

These words took him out of his fantasy. Of course. You weren't there to talk to him, Jamil Viper. You were there because he was Kalim's servant. Someone who would help you to get with him.

Never able to be his own. Always Kalim's vice housewarden, Kalim's friend, his buddy, his servant... Was that all he was to you as well? Was he too late? Did the years spent hiding his true nature doom you both? Maybe if he showed you his true self earlier... maybe you would fall for him then. But it might have been too late now.

You said your goodbye and went back to your dorm. Gone from his sight again. The plan was simple. Tell Kalim to show up at a place, convice him it was something Crowley told him to do. And there, Jamil would set a picnic, so you two could spend time together and you could confess. Simple enough.

Just a few days till he would lose you forever. This was for the better. His love was already suffocating him. When, not if, Kalim accepts your feelings, Jamil would be free.

He was lying to himself again.

He knew he would never be free. Not from Kalim, not from this feeling. He would keep thinking about it day and night. Wishing he had done something else. Fantasizing about what could have been if he had put his foot in the door. Mourning the times he could still look forward to seeing you smile.

His mind shifted again once Kalim return from his club activities. He looked so happy. He was always happy. He never experienced problems like these. Of course he didn't. The best person in the entire Twisted Wonderland would confess to him in a few days and he had no idea. No idea he would be taking another thing from Jamil forever.

Thoughts like these clouded his brain for the following days. He was quiet and reserved, maybe even a bit more than usual. He just couldn't bring himself to really care about anything. Not when he was suffocating alone.

Azul's teasing didn't annoy him like usual, Floyd's mood swings didn't bother him anymore and Ace's schemes were nothing but a tiny nuisance. Nothing mattered. Even Kalim didn't make him mad. He would be losing everything he's been dreaming of in less than a day. How could he care in a situation like this?

So he went to the kitchen and prepared all of Kalim's favourite cooking. The thought to sabotage your confession didn't even cross his mind. You deserved better than him. You deserved Kalim Al-Asim.

He took a blanket, told Scarabia students to bring in the food he made and called Kalim over. He set everything up perfectly.

And against his better judgement, he hid nearby to listen in on your confession.

It went smoothly. Kalim was surprised to see you. Of course he immediately wanted to invite more people and you had to convice him not to do that. So you two sat and talked.

You never talked to Jamil like this. So carelessly. Since the winter break you were always just a little bit weary of him. He deserved this treatment. But it still stung.

With Kalim you could be happy. Truly happy. You could be with someone who since day 1 wanted to be close to you. Never tried to push you away or use you to his own advantage.

He wished he could give you this love you deserved. But he knew he would be jelous easily, would be mad every other day, probably argue a lot.

Yes, Jamil Viper was a masterful liar who has fooled even himself. He told himself enough times that this love had to stop. That you deserved someone else. He believed that with all his heart.

"I love you, Kalim"

How could he? You were a forgiving person at heart but the way he spoke to you just now... it made your blood boil just thinking about it.

You were not a trophy. Not someone who would always agree with him and would never fight back. You were his goddamn partner after all.

The moment kept replaying in your head like a bad nightmare. Who does he think he is, you thought.

"You don't know anything"

From the mouth of your boyfriend it sounded like an accusation. You were trying to understand. You thought he had finally let you in and tried opening up to you. But here he was again, using it like a trump card.

Yes, Kalim could be overbearing and inconsiderate. Anyone who spent more than 5 seconds with him would understand it. You also got it that Jamil needed to rant about him sometimes. If you weren't okay with that, you would have never agreed to this relationship.

But... "The biggest moron, who would not survive without everyone jumping to do the basic tasks for him" was a bit too far for you.

If he just shut up and apologized, it would have been okay. But it's Jamil Viper. He still thinks everything he ever thought was an undeniable truth.

So he argued back "What? Don't tell me you think he doesn't enjoy parading me around"

"Kalim is a bit stupid, not evil" You retaliated. It's not that you wanted to argue for the sake of it. It's that Jamil was wrong and you didn't want to affirm his wrong belief.

The rest felt like a blur. You raised your voice, he raised his. He accused you of something and then you accused him. Honestly, you regretted some things you had said. It was the heat of the moment

"You don't know anything"

He was convinced he was right. Not even attempting to think critically. He wanted affirmation. So he went to you

But you weren't just a "yes man". You were a partner, an equal.

Maybe it was silly to think that that was what he was implying... but you couldn't get it out of your head

You thought he had finally let you in, let you hear the real him. After all the lying and scheming he was finally okay with admitting he wanted someone by his side.

He finally wasn't alone

And yet he might have still been treating you like a wall to bounce his thoughts against. Like a cave to echo back his own ego.

You forgave him after the winter breal, saw the best in him, wanted to learn who Jamil Viper really was when able to express himself.

Was this it?

That's the him you sought out?

Someone still willing to blame Kalim for everything, instead of acknowledging that the situation was more complex than it seemed?

You were spiraling.

God, you hoped you were wrong.

Because those tender moments with him, the times he apologized, gosh he actually apologized, made your heart flutter. The way he would avoid your gaze before admitting he was wrong. The way he learned to take a deep breath instead of immediately talking down to people.

He was trying, but it felt like in the moment it mattered the most. He forgot it.

Was he still playing a character? Just someone you would like more?

"You don't know anything"

Maybe you didn't. Maybe you were wrong. Maybe you were wrong right now.

Maybe you were the worst partner ever to start assuming stuff like this after your first ever fight as a couple.

The anger left your body quicker than you thought it would. In its place, deep self loathing and uncertainty took shape. The subject of your argument? Forgotten. You were alone with the feeling of sadness that warped every thought to be its worst possible version.

The tears began falling down your face much to your own dismay. Damn it. You were supposed to be mad, standing your ground, showing him where he can shove that attitude.

But instead you were crying, alone, thinking it's probably all your fault

"There you are"

You recognized the voice immediately but didn't budge. You couldn't face him after everything you just thought about. And, admittedly, the anger came back as soon as you heard him.

He sat down next to you, but didn't attempt to look you in the eyes. He was ashamed as well.

There was nothing but silence filling the air. No tender apologies spoken from either of you, no hugs, nothing. You sat there and waited. It's not like you were in the wrong for saying anything. Well not until you both started screaming at each other. That part... yeah, again, not your best moment.

"I apologized to Kalim" He said.

Silence followed. You were already questioning if he did it for you or because he recognized that he was wrong. You hated that that's where you mind went. That he said it just to appeal to you.

"Listen... I'm sorry for saying those things" He added after a bit.

"Me too. I'm sorry for everything I said" You immediately answered. You didn't want to say this first. But now that he did the honors... you couldn't be happier to finally get this off your chest.

"I... was wrong..." He tried again. It really sounded like he was finding the best words to say.

"Continue" You nagged on, finally looking at him

"I... shouldn't have said that, ok? I was mad and didn't think about what I was saying"

"I know" You snickered. He was kind of adorable, trying his best to apologize with his pride in the way.

"Don't laugh, I'm trying my best"

You laughed even louder. Jamil Viper, who always thought he was 5 steps ahead of everyone, was sitting next to you, stumbling over his words. He didn't really care for people's opinions of him. Not after the winter break accident when the whole world turned on him. But still, there he was, apologizing.

He was still playing a character. Someone he though you would like more. But underneath it all he knew he also did this because it was the right thing to do.

You challenged his stupid ego in a way he haven't felt since he talked one-on-one with Leona back in Styx. It was shameful to admit, but he still had a lot to discover. A lot to learn and a lot to unlearn.

It stung a bit, seeing you laugh at his attempt to be just a little bit nicer.

But he couldn't be truly mad. It was funny. How quickly he turned from anger to humility just not to lose you. Stupid how he couldn’t stay alone for even an hour after you stormed off. He knew he just had to run after you.

You changed him and he was still fighting it, but he knew it wouldn't last long

"Well, what did Kalim say?"

"He said he's sorry and he'll try to be better"

Of course that's what he said. Jamil liked to pretend Kalim was some kind of evil master mind who used him. But in truth he was just a dumbass. Didn't make Jamil's problems less valid tho. But it did show how far he could stretch the truth in his head when left unchallenged.

Not that you were any better.

"So... we're cool?" Shit, he sounded so insecure. He was, but he didn't want you to know.

"One more sorry and we're cool"

Jamil sighed and you laughed again. Not that you meant this seriously. You would have forgave him anyway. You just wanted to know he's willing to put his pride aside when it mattered.

Riddle Rosehearts

- Was very confused as to why you would ask. It's nothing special. Just a few stars on some old scars from accidents

- He might have missed the sh part of your request and didn't know how to react properly

- He decides to not mention it. He thinks it's better to just do what you asked him to, since you said it would make you feel better

- You can see how he is avoiding most scars, being extra careful when any line crosses over a scar

- He makes all the stars as perfect as they can be. But since skin isn't the most even canvas, they become a bit wonky once you move your arm. Very poetic

- He really hopes he was of use to you

Ace Trappola

- Is not on the same side of Magicam so he didn't know it was a trend. Tho he might have seen a video or two

- Anyway he's always ready for some silly things

- When you roll up your sleeves you can see a little sincere flicker of surprise. It's always different to see something than to imagine it

- But he doesn't mention it. He goes back to his casual and laid back self

- He makes the scars extra big and then lines them up in a constellation that looks like nothing in particular

- You spend some time laughing about what it could represent

- He also mentions that you can come up to him if you ever need another masterpiece on your arms

Deuce Spade

- Didn't know what you were talking about. He just couldn't visualise it well

- So you decide to show him. You roll up your sleeves take a marker and make one star

- He just stares at you. He's terrible at hiding his surprise

- You think you'll have to sit down and explain that you are in fact fine and it's a very old story

- But he's very chill about it. It just took him by surprise. He knew a lot of different people back in his delinquent days so he's not really weirded out by stuff like this

- Sometime life happens and different people deal with it differently. Weirdly mature for him

- He is very careful with his stars, the tip is barely touching your skin. The stars come out wobbly and crooked. But very, very cute

Cater Diamond

- He is SO down for that

- Sitting with you and making sure to snap a few photos to post to add to the trend himself

- For you it's a very laid back interaction

- For him it was more emotional. He really appreciates that you were open with him and really hopes he didn't ruin anything with his reactions

- Did manage to sneak in a few "I hope you're doing better now" and "If you need anyone, Cay-Cay is there for you"

- Trends usually come and go but this one stayed with him for a long time

Trey Clover

- Again, didn't know what you meant. He uses Magicam sporadically after all

- He is the only one in Heartslabyul to genuinely ask about the scars

- You explained your story, and assured him it's better now, scars are fully healed and won't get infected by the marker. It made him calmer

- He draws small stars in a shape of a bigger star. A little gift from him

- He helped to clean the marker off after you took the photos. Again, he might have been a bit scared about any damage

- He tells you that he's there for you if you need anything. He will let you take your anger out on some dough while he is baking if you need it, you just laugh because there's a no-0% chance this was a genuine proposal

Leona Kingscholar

- Can't be bothered. But after nagging him enough he agrees just so you would stop

- Didn't really process what you were even asking about initially (he just said no automatically) so he was taken by surprise when you so openly showed him your scars

- But it's Leona we're talking about, you didn't even see that surprise on his face. It looks like he didn't even budge from your perspective

- He made the stars quickly, holding the pen cap in his teeth.

- When he's done he just goes back to whatever he was doing (probably sleeping)

- He definitely thinks to himself that you're a bit more brave than he thought

Ruggie Bucchi

- Sure whatever it's not like he had anything better to do. Leona disappeared again but honestly he would rather do anything but look for him right now

- He's actually pretty surprised to see it. He isn't the type to hold himself back from commenting

- He asks any questions that comes into mind. He's not asking from malice, it's just genuine curiosity

- You get lost in talking and he has to rush the stars at the end once some Savanaclaw members come around, looking for him

- They are rushed but still, it's not often you get to just sit and talk with him

Jack Howl

- He doesn't have much against it. Just some stupid Magicam trend

- No reaction to your scars at all. People have their stories, it's nothing new

- He might be a little concerned for you deep down but, as every NRC student, his ego is just too big to admit it

- He is pretty good at arts and crafts, weirdly enough, so the stars come out very pretty

- He also made way too many. Almost covered your scars completely

- He just tells you to take care of yourself and goes back to his workout

Azul Ashengrotto

- In his infinite benevolence he agreed to your request, though he didn't really understand what it was about

- When you explain the trend he still finds it quite bizarre

- He won't say it out loud but he has hard time seeing this as something positive. Why go back to your old self and try to celebrate it?

- But as you two talk he starts to get it a bit more

- It's not about celebrating who you used to be but accepting it and loving who you are now

- Again, you wouldn't catch him dead saying this, but it gives him a bit to think about regarding himself

Jade Leech

- He would rather die than look at his old photos again but the way you're able to find joy in simple stars across your scars is weirdly admirable to him

- He then says he charges hourly rate just to see your reaction

- Now he just didn't expect you to have this kind of baggage

- This goes for all Octavinelle guys but, though exploiting people's weaknesses is their favourite hobby, they wouldn't dare to stoop so low as to use something like this against you

- Jade makes sure you know that. And if you want to keep it a secret he is also your guy

- He makes the stars very neat and nice, almost like they are organised in a pattern

Floyd Leech

- He's silent when he is doing it but he has a nice smile on his face. He's just making it a pleasant time for both of you

- You trust him so you avert your eyes

- You end up with a mushroom constellation of stars

- Oh he's SO DOWN for that

- He basically rolls your sleeves up for you

- Grabs the marker you brought with you and starts scribbling

- It's kinda chaotic but you appreciate the enthusiasm

- It takes you a few minutes to realise that after a star or two he just went on to draw a big ass shrimp on your arm

- He said he got bored with the stars and thought this would fit you better

- You're left wondering if this still counts for the trend

Kalim Al-Asim

- Kalim is just a rollercoaster of emotions

- At first he's so shocked he almost screams. You have to shush him, not that you're keeping your scars a secret but the idea of everyone learning about them through Kalim is just not ideal

- Then he's crying after realising you've been through a lot. He tells you how much he wants to be there for you since you two are friends.

- You say you appreciate it but it's an old story so he doesn't have to worry THAT much

- And then he's super duper happy to help you!

- He brings a bunch of different coloured markers and he insists on you also drawing

- At some point he decides that simple stars aren't enough and decides to draw whatever comes to mind

- So instead of aesthetic stars for Magical now you look like a kid's cast

Jamil Viper

- The biggest hurdle here is to convince him to do the trend in the first place

- He's a busy man, he doesn't have time for that

- But after waiting for the perfect moment, Kalim being taken care of in the Pop music club, he finally agrees

- He has a little lag when he realises you meant sh scars but it doesn't really shock him per se

- He just asks if he should be doing the stars around the scars or over them. And if it's the latter should he do it more carefully because they are more fragile or something

- He also asks you to take care of them properly, and if you ever need help with any injuries he can just add you to the list of people to take care of

- It's Jamil, there needs to be a snark remark about Kalim somewhere

- His stars are very crooked as he is constantly moving your arm around to find a good spot with less scarring tissue on it

Vil Shoenheit

- Saw it on Magicam but didn't think much of it

- So he is rather surprised when you ask about it. He agrees, of course

- He deeply understands the idea of making flaws into something beautiful. Not that he sees your scars as flaws. They are just a part of you

- He makes perfect stars effortlessly, you were planning on posting them to Magicam after all, nothing tied to Vil should ever be anything but the most beautiful

- He also tells you that, for all the bad they symbolise, they don't take away from your beauty at all

Rook Hunt

- You knew exactly how Rook would react after seeing your scars

- He is shocked and immediately asks if you are really okay. You explain that it's all alright now and it's just a fun trend you saw on Magicam

- After making sure you know that he's always there to listen to your problems, he's very excited about this

- He doesn't just do stars. No, no, he goes all out

- To be fair Rook is a very talented artist so you end up with a marker tattoo that looks like a constellation

- Oh the views and likes you're gonna get!

- He also says that you're beautiful with your scars not in spite of them or because of them.

- You're just beautiful

Epel Felmier

- Now that's one hell of a shocked expression

- He thinks they are new or something, he only calms down once you explain everything slowly for his lil brain to catch up

- He's from a small town, they don't talk about issues like these there, he just doesn't really know what to say

- You tell him it's okay to ask questions, if you're gonna feel uncomfortable you'll just say you don't want to answer it

- So you sit down and talk, the conversation is about the scars for like a few minutes and then it's back to your usual shenanigans

- You're joking around while he's making genuinely beautiful stars. Then he just starts doodling on your arm, with your permission of course

- Now you have a little collage, with multiple apples involved

- He really hopes you like it

Idia Shroud

- A bit spooked by them. Not in a negative sense, he just wonders why you would trust him of all people

- He explicitly asks how he should react

- You don't really know what to say so you just say whatever he wants

- So he ends up asking so many questions

- Some of them are on the very edge of being considered in poor taste, but you knows Idia well enough to realise there's no actual malice behind that

- He definitely shows you some cool fanarts of his favourite characters with sh scars as a way to bond with you

- His stars are... Well... They are here, that's what counts!

- He is pretty disappointed in how they turned out so he forbids you from posting them, he'll learn to draw better ones and then he'll show you that he was the good person to ask for this!

Ortho Shroud

- Little curious robot heard that you're okay with questions and now you're stuck answering everything that comes into his mind

- He cross-references your experience with others online and you have to tell him to stop doing that since it's no use, it's not a competition

- He offers you a good therapist that he found online who happens to be situated on the island... WAIT THEY HAVE THERAPISTS HERE?? THEN HOW COME THE ENTIRE PLOT-

- Anyway, he's really trying to be supportive tho it does get a bit irritating at some point

- You also beg him to not use any fancy gadgets on your skin, especially your arm that has been through a lot already

- So he obliged and just uses the marker

- They come out perfect... Well until you move your arm, then they look normal. He really likes this

Malleus Draconia

- You specifically said sh and he still doesn't get it

- At first you thought he might have gotten it confused. Now you're convinced he's just a bit stupid

- You explain in vague details the concept of sh and your own experience. It's not a comfortable subject but he is willing to listen and very curious

- He thanks you for educating him, truly the Briar Valley library doesn't have books on everything

- He is very sad to hear that life's been this tough on you, he promises to make it better as much as he can

- He knows he cannot control his strength that well but he does his best. And actually, it's not that bad. He might have pressed a bit too hard here and there but overall a great experience

Lilia Vanrouge

- He's the one that asked if you wanna do the trend

- You wonder how he knows but then again, it's not like it's your most guarded secret

- He explains he thought it could look cool and it's okay if you don't want to do it

- You say you were already thinking of asking him for that so you're more than happy to do so

- He is quite the artist. He brought a pack of non-toxic color markers

- Basically you end up with a galaxy on your forearm

Silver

- He doesn't react at all. It seems weird, Silver is a pretty compassionate person

- It turns out he didn't get the implication at all.

- "People fall down and get scars all the times. What's the big thing?" He means it sincerely

- You explain just a bit what those scars are actually from. Of course you mention that's it's an old thing and you're much better now

- He says he's sorry you went through that, that you can rely on him if you ever get sad again and then he goes back to drawing

- His stars kinda look like a child drew it, wobbly lines, inconsistent proportions...

- But they are very adorable and he is very pleased to see you happy with what he gave you

Sebek Zigvolt

- He immediately assumed these are battle scars

- You are about to correct him but...

- He tells you how brave you must have been, that scars like these are no reason to shame but a reason to be proud since you did survive stronger than ever

- He has the general idea...

- Actually, it's kinda comforting for him to see it so positively

- You do correct him anyway

- "Yeah I know, these are still battle scars, no? Or should I call them something else?"

- That's... Ok that's just way too sweet. You tell him he can keep calling them that

Riddle Rosehearts

- You two are on a walk around the heartslabyul's maze. He asked for your help with going over the painted rose bushes. Just to see if Ace or Deuce haven't been slacking off

- It is kinda rude that you are now not only Grim's caretaker but also these two idiots' babysitter

- But Riddle is very nice while explaining all the Queen's rules so it's not all that bad

- Somewhere near rule 34, you accidentally trip over an unsuspecting branch

- You should definitely blame Ace and Deuce for this. Just because

- There're a few seconds of delay in Riddle's brain before he notices that you're not in his field of vision anymore. The moment he glances down, he immediately gets worried and rushes over to you

- "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" Rare panicking Riddle spotted

- "Adorable" you find yourself thinking

- Fortunately, you only scratched your knee. Unfortunately, there's now a hole in your uniform

- "I'll use healing magic, just give me a moment" He says as he quickly reaches for his magipen

- "You can always just kiss it better, you know?"

- A pause

- Pause so long you start thinking you might have just broken some kind of rule about not flirting pathetically in the Rose Maze

- And as you see his face turning red, you start fearing the worst. Not like you have any magic that could be taken away, but those collars do look extraordinarily annoying to wear

- However, it's a pleasant surprise to see it's not one of those times he turns red because of anger. It's just an ordinary blush

- "I don't know what type of medicine you perform back in your world, but, I can assure you, here healing magic will do just fine"

- Okay, he is still angry with the way he says that through his teeth. But it's more of controlled anger than his usual explosion. You should tell Trey, he would feel like a proud mother

- He gets down on his knees next to you and uses his magic to heal the wound. Easy, painless and effective. 10/10

- "I can ask around Heartslabyul if anyone is willing to fix the rip in the fabric"

- "Adorable" you find yourself thinking again

- Or maybe he's scared that you'll try to torture him by performing terrific cover of "Baby shark", in his room, with Grim again. Who knows? One of these options is much nicer to believe

- It is truly a mystery of life how you're allowed to just nap in Leona's room

- Well, if you had to pin point the reason, it could be that he finally noticed and appreciated all the times you have helped him

- Nonetheless, a place to sleep is a place to sleep. Handy whenever winter nights at Ramshackle become just too cold for your liking

- So now you're stuck cleaning Leona's room. What? Did you really think you could get free housing, with no strings attached with Ruggie around? Think twice

- Leona, to no one's surprise, is sleeping. And it would be just rude to wake the man up. For all the bullshit people at NRC go through, it is rather inspiring to care so little about it all, like Leona. Truly, a model for all of us to follow

- Going back to cleaning

- Due to a literal mountain of clothes in your arms, obscuring your vision, you don't notice a random T-shirt on the floor

- So you trip over it. You hit your head against the wall and drop everything you were holding in the process

- Great

- A loud thud is what wakes Leona up. He's ready to scold Ruggie for being annoying again

- But instead of that hyena, he sees you, slowly massaging the side of your head that just kissed the wall

- "Oi, what are you doing?" He barely moves, just enough to see you in the corner of his eye

- "Just tripped, nothing serious"

- He just groand and returned to his sleeping position

- "Get yourself some bandages from downstairs and stop hissing, herbivore. It's loud"

- Very caring

- "You can always kiss it better. I'm sure that would fix it instantly" You say with a smug expression. Nothing beats banter with Leona

- You hear a groan and how he switches to laying on his other side. Not even entertaining you with a response

- What can you really do? You just pick up a few things that fell when you tripped-

- "Leave those be, Ruggie will clean them. Now go downstairs, I don't want you to be whining from some small bruise the whole night."

- Well... At least you aren't getting your sleepover privileges revoked. Very caring indeed

- So 9-5 within your reasonable qualifications it is

- How did you get roped into helping around Mostro Lounge?

- Well, you see, the campus has been awfully quiet from any major events recently, and that means Crowley has no incentive to give you free food

- Between experiencing ABSURD tempo Jade puts on every employee and Floyd... Well, being Floyd, you find yourself making mistakes more often than not

- It wouldn't be an issue if not for all the twins' comments about putting you in debt for breaking even the smallest piece of silverware

- So no matter how sluggish your pace is, you must not break a single piece of the dishware, got it! Better to be fired and be forced to beg Leona for money than to get wrapped into servitude

- So when you see one poorly placed glass about to fall over, the instinct takes over, and you just run

- The glass is safe. But now you're on the floor and with a new bruise. Great. At least you were still a free man

- That thought does waver a bit once Azul asks you to go to the VIP room with him. Maybe Jade sold you out?

- "You must understand that an employee getting hurt on the clock is amongst the worst things that might happen to a business. We pride ourselves in the best working conditions-"

- Seriously is there some hidden camera recording this for an ad?

- He goes on. And on. And on. And you're forced to just sit down and listen

- "But fear not, my benevolence would never allow me to ignore my dear, even though part-time, employee when they get hurt. Of course, here at Mostro Lounge, we do cover the expenses-"

- "All that yapping and you could have used your mouth more effectively by just kissing it better"

- That one just kinda slips out before you can stop yourself. But MAN does this awkward silence feel 100x better than that HR bullshit

- "I..." Azul Ashengrotto being at a loss for words is a very sought out commodity these days and here he is, completely stunned as to what the hell he should say next

- "I have no idea what kind of joke that was but I implore you to take this seriously" He says, adjusting his glasses from nervousness.

- "Just a joke? Well, how about you test it?"

- You could absolutely get used to the sight of Azul Ashengrotto blushing furiously while struggling to say even a single word

- Being invited to Kalim's party has become a routine at this point. Not always do you show up, manz is really out there partying every day, but you do make a conscious effort to appear at least once a week

- So here you are, once a week happens to be today after all.

- The music is fantastic, the food is to die for and generally it seems like every concern is just disappearing

- You could try to join people on the dancefloor but, knowing Kalim, he would drag you there soon enough. Better to just relax alone while you still can

- Well, you were relaxing, until you saw Jamil helping a waiter carry some food to the table. Or maybe the waiter was helping him, since Jamil was probably the one to make it all

- So you make your little exit and follow Jamil to the kitchen. He was probably wanting to just spend some time alone before Kalim finds him

- Well, too bad for him because now you're here to annoy him as if it's your only goal in life (and who knows, maybe it is)

- "Soooo... What's this?" You ask for the 2739th time while pointing at a different dish with a big smile

- "That's just some chicken nuggets, Kalim wanted to try them since- Wait what the fuck do you mean 'What's this', you were the one who gave them to Kalim the first time!"

- "Oh was I now..." You smile even wider and go over to another dish while Jamil is stuck massaging his temple and repeating something about forsaking his entire family just to get away from this shit

- "Ow!" He immediately rushes to see what happened. No matter how annoyed, he has those protective instincts ingrained in his very core due to... People...

- Well now you're no better cuz you forgot to put on some gloves on before touching the hot tray that he just pulled out of the oven. Like an idiot

- This might have been just one of the deepest and most irritated sighs you have ever heard. Leona has nothing on this man

- "Get those under cold water" He turns on the tap so you don't have to grab it with your burned hands "I'll grab the first aid kit"

- First aid kid turns out to be a gross understatement as he pulls out a bag so huge you could probably put your entire wardrobe in there

- But despite its size he finds the things he was looking for in just a few seconds

- This could be such a cute moment for him if not for the mumbling under his breath akin to "I hope next time you straight up die so I don't have to deal with this"

- "If it's really such a hassle you can just kiss it better"

- He stops for a minute to look at you, hitting you with one of those "Are you kidding me" looks he sometimes gives Kalim

- "Forget I said anything" You avert your gaze

- Then you hear some clinking and he takes your hands into his. Without a word he starts applying the medicine, stopping whenever you hiss from the pain.

- He really can be cute if he just shuts up

- Pomefiore is one of those places you want to feel relaxed at and yet everyone makes it impossible to do so

- You have Rook randomly dropping pieces of lore about you that you didn't even realise and then you have Epel going full rebellious teen on you since he can't do it in front of others

- And then you have Vil...

- Well Vil is just scary as fuck with that judgmental glance of his. Like a disappointed mother that is so close to calling you a failed abortion

- And despite it all, you are sitting outside the dorm, accompanying Epel for some spelldrive practice

- Apparently he was ordered like a bazzilion throws because he missed one during last practice match

- Leona calls it tough love, Epel calls it a good challenge and you call it stupid

- But once Epel sets his mind on something there's no way of stopping him. Just a shame you're getting dragged along

- "What is this commotion" Vil comes up to you from behind, ready to put an end to whatever was happening

- "Please, do what you must, I just want to go home and eat something" You pled

- He chuckles and so do you

- Epel, hearing that someone joined in, tries to turn around to see who it was, nevermind the disk he was currently controlling, nevermind that it slipped from his grasps, nevermind that it just flew into your direction with full force...

- Yeah you got smacked in the face and got knocked out

- Deja vu from somewhere I'm sure

- You wake up in the Pomefiore lounge with Vil applying some cool gel to your forehead

- "Ugh this skin is so dry already and now it's all purple. What a monstrous sight."

- He's attending to your bruise, being extremely delicate as to not cause you any pain

- The thing just escaps your mouth

- It is probably because the thing that got hurt is your face. If it was anything else, like the famously useless lungs, he would probably just send you home

- Jokes aside you're already feeling better and you have barely woken up

- "Thank you, Vil" you say, your eyes still closed. He doesn't respond, just sighs

- So you just lay there, enjoying your face massage from the prettiest boy in school while he's still mumbling something under his breath about the ugly bruise

- "I'm sure a kiss would heal it faster"

- Vil just stares at you for a few minutes before resuming to commenting on your face

- You think you just ruined it all, but the way he then held your face a little tighter, stumbled on his words a couple of times and the way you could definitely see a faint blush beneath the foundation...

- You should try it again sometime

- Helping Ortho around Ignihyde is not a chore it is a pleasure

- It's nice to sometimes let the hormonal teenage boys just go at each other's throats while you relax with this cute little humanoid

- So when your nice time with Ortho was over you finally turn around to talk to Idia

- Or it would be nice if not for the shadow in the corner of your eye, sneaking around and observing you from the distance

- Now the inexperienced NRC student would immediately think to ask someone for help. But you're not inexperienced

- His motives are as clear as day the moment you see a small plastic box in his hands

- "So, um... There's this super lit new game that just got released. It has an epic campaign but apparently playing it with someone else completely breaks the game open"

- Yeah he wants to play his new favourite game with you

- "I would love to, really, but I think we will have to wait a bit for that" You say and show him bandage around your arm

- You explain how you had been tasked with a mission from the headmage. You fell off a tree while trying to get Lucius down. Headmage said something about 'Not asking Ortho ever again for the sake of the gardens'. Whatever that means

- "What in the-! Are you fine? Do you need a healing potion?"

- "Oh, bummer. Though getting trolled by a cat, that sounds pretty hilarious if you ask me"

- "Yeah, I guess. But we definitely have to postpone playing the game"

- Idia simply nods, but you could see how sad he is because of those goddamn puppy eyes

- "Why does it have to be like that irl. Wish I could just find a cheatcode and just heal you back to full HP"

- "I don't think that's possible but you can kiss it better and I'm sure it will heal faster"

- Idia.exe has stopped working

- And even when he goes back to being capable of movement and speech, he is just blabbering stuff without substance and waving his hands around

- All that with him also sprouting a prominent blush on his face makes you real glad you said that

- This is one of THOSE afternoons

- And by THOSE I mean Malleus found you and is now keeping you captive to yap about gargoyles

- Not literally, of course, he's too pure to literally tie you down, but the sheer pressure of not wanting to disappoint this boy is keeping you from declining against your better judgement

- You tried to listen, you really did, but after the 10th one you kinda spaced out and just nodded along

- It's been 2 hours already, you deserve a small break. You let yourself zone out

- Imagine your own surprise when green flashes in front of your eyes and suddenly the ground beneath your feet is not there anymore

- You slip, you trip and suddenly you're having a near death experience. Again

- You can only gather together that you are on a rooftop, about to fall and it was all probably Malleus' fault

- You start writing your will in the back of your mind but are fortunately rescued by Malleus before hitting the floor

- "Is everything alright, Child of Man?"

- Your eyes do the anime thing and momentarily turn into spirals

- So he lets you sit down on some grass and lean against a tree to catch a breath

- "I deeply apologise, it was my carelessness that has caused this" If it was any other person in this academy, you may have used this as a banter opportunity

- But it's Malleus who looks dead serious and ACTUALLY apologetic about this whole ordeal. The other boys would never

- "Don't worry, it's not that bad."

- "No, I shall take full responsibility. I'll make sure that the next time I show you the gargoyles overlooking the east wing I will teleport us to a safer place"

- The fuck you mean next time

- That boy has on braincell and it's a gargoyle ffs

- That's the moment you decided: No mercy

- "I'm sure you could just kiss it better and I will be as ready as new"

- He looks at you and you look at him and he looks at you and you-

- This boy was stunned

- "I... I assure you a simple k-kiss cannot cure you"

- You don't need Lilia to tell you Malleus is more than embarrassed to be entertaining your stupid request

- He sounds so pure and cute when he stumbles over his words