5+1 Things
The five times that Malleus Draconia wished he receive an invitation from you and the one time he did.
Genre: A little angst with a happy ending!
Notes: Recently got back into TWST, so please don't mind any extreme OOC elements and grammatical errors in the story.
ONE
Malleus knew his bedroom was long overdue for some redecorating. That was how he found himself standing inside a variety store, scanning the different shapes and sizes of picture frames.
His fingers brushed against a golden frame with an elegant design as he imagined how it would look like with the photo of you and him from last semester, when the two of you decided to stroll around NRC to admire the gargoyles throughout the school grounds.
"You can't just pick the decorations that only you would like!"
He snaps out of his thoughts, the familiar voice grabbing his attention.
"Child of Man."
You froze, turning around slowly to find the one person you hoped you wouldn't see on your outing.
"Oh Hornton! Fancy seeing you here..."
"It seems like my room was in need of a few new furnishings, so I wanted to buy this frame to hang up our photo," Malleus explains, before continuing, "You must be doing the same if you're here too."
You let out a nervous laugh, "Y-yeah, I decided the dorm needed redecorating so I asked Vil and Rook for help," you point towards the Housewarden and Vice Housewarden of Pomefiore behind you, who happened to be debating over which piece of ribbon would look better along the walls of the hallways and lounge in the Ramshackle Dorm, "But obviously it's not going as smoothly as I would've thought."
Malleus nods, looking away from the duo and back towards you, "Then, may I accompany you in searching for some decorations?" He inquired, closing the distance between the two of you.
"Oh!" You take a step back, panicked.
He frowned.
You didn't usually do that.
Were you avoiding him?
"Actually, I think Vil and Rook have it all under control!" You take another step back, putting more distance between the two of you, "Got to go! Bye!"
Malleus watches you practically sprint towards the Pomefiore duo, dragging them elsewhere, leaving him, once again, alone.
TWO
Malleus had heard the rumours of some new ice cream flavours being sold at Mr S's Mystery Shop. That was how he ended up in the said shop, contemplating which ice cream flavour he should buy.
He sighed, torn between the mint chocolate flavour and the blackberry flavour.
"THAT WAS DISGUSTING, HUMAN!"
Malleus turns to the familiar sound of his retainer.
"I warned you, didn't I? I told you that the black coffee flavoured ice cream was bitter!"
Before you could continue to scold the first year, Sebek shoves you aside.
"Young Master Malleus?!"
"Sebek." Malleus greets his retainer, before turning to you, "Child of Man."
"Hornton! What brings you here today? Are you alone?"
Malleus ignores the fact that you and Sebek look like you were internally panicking and responds to your mini interrogation, "I heard there was some new ice cream flavours, so I decided to pay a visit and browse the flavours."
"Have you decided on a flavour, Hornton?"
Malleus turns back to the options, staring right back at him, "No, I can't decide between mint chocolate and blackberry."
"Young Master, there is no reason to torment yourself with such trivial matters. Both flavours should be brought!" Sebek beams, proud of his suggestion.
You, on the other hand, had kept looking behind you as if you were waiting for someone or something to appear.
"Don't you agree, human?" Sebek nudges you, pulling you back into the conversation.
"Yes! Why not try both, maybe you'll-"
"Henchman! Trey and Riddle have finished gathering the ingredients!" Grim comes flying towards you, "We can finally start baking- MMHP!"
Sebek slaps a hand over the cat's mouth before he could elaborate any further, "I'M SO SORRY YOUNG MASTER!" The first year grabs onto your collar, "BUT WE HAVE TO GO!"
Malleus watches as Sebek drags the Ramshackle duo towards the direction of the checkout counter. The aches in his stomach returns overriding the feeling of confusion at his friends' abrupt exit, it hits him then that he, once again, was not invited to another outing either.
THREE
Malleus had no idea what he had done to make you avoid him like your life depended on it. Perhaps, he had been too straightforward when mentioned about putting up a framed photo of the two of you in his bedroom. Or maybe you decided that you didn't want to be friends with him anymore.
Nevertheless, he was determined to buy you a gift and try to reconcile with you.
Standing in the games and entertainment aisle, Malleus searched for the board game you had been asking him about. He remembered the way you had casually mentioned it, interrogating whether or not he would be interested to play with you.
That plan would work. He was sure of it.
He reached out to grab the board game, only to find another person's hand reaching for it at the same time. He glanced over to the person, curious of who had also taken interest in the board game.
Idia Shroud.
"M-malleus?!
"Hello."
Idia drops his hand, "You want this too?
Malleus nods, "It's for Child of Man."
An awkward silence hangs over them.
Idia lets out an awkward cough, "S-sorry but you can't have this."
Malleus furrows his brows, confused by what Idia had meant by that. He looks down at the game board that he had been holding since Idia had made his presence known before glancing back at the Ignihyde Housewarden whose hand was still on it.
He looked like he wasn't going to let this go either.
Before Malleus could push him any further, a voice chimes in, "Idia? Have you found the game yet?"
You appear from the other end of the store, alongside with Azul, who notices Malleus immediately.
"What an unexpected encounter..."
Malleus nods, agreeing with the statement, "Child of Man, are you here to buy this too?"
You nod, "Grim and I were thinking of playing it tonight, so I got Idia's help to locate it..."
That makes sense. Malleus thinks, but why not ask him to help instead, you had been going on about this game for weeks. He doesn't continue to interrogate you, instead he opts to try to get on your good side to join you for tonight's event, "I, too, was interested in this game, I would like to join-"
"I'M SORRY BUT I REALLY NEED THIS!"
Idia, with the sudden surge of confidence, snatches the game board from Malleus and runs towards out of the store.
The three of you stood there in disbelief.
Azul adjusts his glasses and breaks the silence with a sigh, "Come on, let's go pay before we get in trouble," Azul starts heading to the counter.
"Sorry Hornton, I would stay and chat, but I have go pay for this before we get into the trouble." You slowly step backwards, "But, I'll definitely invite you over next time to play!"
Before he could even reply, you run off towards Azul who had been waiting for you at the counter.
Malleus watches you, a feeling of confusion creeping up on him.
Had he done something wrong?
FOUR
Malleus knew it wasn't a 'him' problem but a 'you' problem. Or at least that's what Ace and Deuce had told him when he decided to confront your two closest friends at NRC (aside from him obviously) about your odd behaviour towards him.
It had been his day off and he had decided to roam the hallways of NRC, admiring the gargoyles that hung along the walls.
He truly wished that you could have accompanied him for this stroll, but as the two first years had assured him that you were just too busy.
CRASH!
BANG!
CLANG!
The sound of, what sounds like, a bunch of instruments falling onto the ground, pulls Malleus out of his thoughts.
Curiosity gets the best of him and he heads towards the sound.
"I don't know about you guys but I think the Crocodile needs to go-"
"HOW DARE YOU-"
"Hey! Let's not fight!"
"Control your child, Flapjack."
'No <3."
"I'm starting to regret even ever suggesting this idea in the first place."
"I already wish I didn't even agree to your idea."
It was you.
Malleus leans in closer to the door, looking through the gap between listening to the conversation that you were having with the six others in the music room.
Malleus leans in closer to the door, carefully peering through the narrow gap in the door. He listens to the conversation that you were having with the six other students in the music room.
It had seemed like, from his perspective, that Floyd and Sebek were arguing while Kalim was trying to deescalate the situation, while Lilia, Jade and you were unbothered.
"You know you're welcome to join us for band practice?"
Malleus turns around, confronting the person who had just snuck up behind him.
Carter Diamond stood in front of him with a gentle yet playful smile.
"YOUNG MASTER MALLEUS?!" Sebek gasps, not expecting his housewarden to be spying on them, "How long have you been standing there?"
"I heard a crash and came to confirm that there wasn't any threats." Malleus responded to the first year, before continuing, "I shall take my leave now."
He had left before anybody could respond, ignoring the feeling of loneliness growing in his chest.
FIVE
Malleus told himself that he was fine. He never received invitations to outings or events, and that was completely normal. He would usually be able to move on (eventually) and wouldn't take it to heart (kind of).
Even so, he would be lying if he had said he didn't miss you.
You were the first human to ever treat him like, well, an ordinary person. The only human who didn't fear him or feel threatened by him.
Malleus had learnt that when humans were upset or mad at another person, they tend to avoid that person. So he decided that he would give you as much space as possible until you were ready to come back to him.
But that didn't mean he couldn't buy you the perfect gift. A gift that would symbolise your friendship, and a gift that will hopefully allow you to reconcile with him.
This gift had to be perfect.
Because...
What if you don't like it?
What if you didn't want to reconcile with him?
What if you were scared of him?
"No way! That is absolutely ridiculous!"
As if the universe was taunting him, Malleus turns around and finds you surrounded by all three of his closest friends. It had seemed like Lilia had told a funny joke causing you to laugh, while Sebek and Silver just shook their heads in disbelief.
What bothered him most wasn't even the fact that he had not been invited to this outing.
But it was the fact that you were happy.
Without him.
Child of Man...
Without making a scene, Malleus quietly turns around and leaves.
ONE
If you had a penny for every time Malleus had almost caught onto your plans, you would have four pennies, which isn't much but it was odd how it had happened four times over the past previous week.
But you were positive that he didn't know what you were planning.
Or at least, you hoped he didn't.
"Are the decorations done?"
Rook gives you a wink, "Oui!"
"Music?"
Lilia strums his bass, "Of course!"
"Games and entrainment?"
Idia nods.
"Food?"
"GRIM, STOP TRYING TO TAKE A BITE OF THE DESSERTS!" Ace screams, scolding your friend and roommate.
Grim ignores him, "I can't help it, they look so delicious!"
As good as it's going to get, you guess.
While everybody was busy completing last minute tasks or changes, you glance over at the clock. Normally, at this time, Malleus would be around the Ramshackle house, sharing about his day and enjoying the quiet that the area provided.
Had he known that there was a party for him?
Surely not.
You weren't good at keeping secrets but you weren't the type of person to spoil something this big. Maybe he was just late.
But Malleus was never late.
You nod towards Grim, signalling to him that you were going to go outside and search for Malleus instead.
The moment you left the house, you see a shadow in the distance.
"Hornton!"
Malleus turns around at the sound of your voice.
You run towards him, leaping into his arms, "You're here!"
Malleus catches you, surprised that you were even talking to him, "Child of Man...have I, perhaps, done something to offend you?"
"No, of course not!" You frown, questioning where he even got that ridiculous idea from, "What made you think that?"
He places you back down, "It seems that you have been avoiding me for the past week."
Avoiding him?
"What?" You pause to think, you haven't really been avoiding him, though, it made sense why he would think that considering you were very busy trying to plan his surprise party.
Oh.
You needed to clear this misunderstanding before it ruins the nigtht and possibly your friendship, "I could never be upset with you, Hornton."
"I see..." Malleus responds, nodding.
"I'm serious," You sigh, frustrated that you can't explain why you have been 'avoiding' him, "Come with me."
For a split second, Malleus froze, not expecting you to suddenly intertwine your fingers around his. The third year was left speechless, allowing you to gently pull him along towards the Ramshackle entrance.
The main entrance was completely quiet, just as he remembered, with the lights off. Malleus was confused why you had suddenly dragged him to your home.
"Child of Man-"
The lights flashed on, filling the previously dark house with a warm glow and revealing every fellow NRC student that he had interacted before.
The purple and green ribbons along the walls, covered the previously bland walls of Ramshackle. Malleus realises that the decorations were the same ones that Vil and Rook had been holding when you dragged them away from him.
The boardgame that were resting on the table was the same one that Idia had snatched off him, which had explained a lot about why he was desperately wanting the boardgame in the first place.
He glanced over towards the instruments and then to the dinner table filled with various colourful desserts.
Which only meant that-
"Young Master Malleus!" Sebek appears in front of him, a neatly wrapped box in his hands, "I, along with Lilia and Silver-"
You nudge him.
"And the human, have personally selected this gift for you. Please accept this gift as a symbol of my admiration and loyalty!"
"And friendship!" You added.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW DISRESPECTFUL THAT IS?!-"
Malleus shakes his head in disbelief. Of course his one and only human friend would never avoid him without good reason.
He smiles, unwrapping the neatly enveloped box, only to reveal the exact golden frame he had been eyeing just last week. Inside the frame was a photo of his three companions, you and him.
He lets out a gentle smile, "Thank you."
Malleus Draconia had never felt so far from the loneliness that haunted him until now.
