Holds Out The Mic To You Cause I Just Octotrio L/tweel Thoughts I Love—but I Wonder What Do You Think

Hello :D back again with more rambles !!! So as much as the Leech twins say they don’t care about Azul and would leave him; I have a hard time believing they genuinely would. I mean yes they clearly don’t have a traditional friendship but they definitely have one. The twins seem closer to each other but they often shadow over Azul even when he does things that seem boring. Playing more on the thought I mentioned in my Floyd ask, I think they might not say they’re friends because it could be exploited? Of course the twins are obvious with how close they are, but they can protect themselves. Meanwhile, Azul is powerful but not so much in the physical parts. They could avoid showing their friendship simply because it would make them seem “weaker” or that someone could harm Azul to harm them. Their dynamic is interesting because it breaks the stereotype of having 2 loyal servants. The twins are free to do whatever they want and deny a request unlike in other shows. Overall I think they have a friendship it’s just different than a traditional one- 🦭

HIII 🦭 ANON HOW ARE U?? I'm so sorry for taking so long to answer, life has been real busy lately, but I'm powering through!! thank you for sending your thoughts again!!

I agree with you, the twins and Azul are not only friends, but also very close ones! they've stayed with Azul for years and have watched him grow into the person he's now, being by his side the whole time! they all know each other on a very deep level, thus they also care about each other, in their own eccentric ways.

the twins, at first, only stayed because Azul was different from others (as this is the reason he was bullied in the first place). because of that, they didn't know what to expect with him, thus making him insteresting to be around. they ended up actually becoming friends though, and stayed together after that, following each other from dephts of the cold ocean to the lands of the warm earth.

of course, they say they'd leave should Azul start to bore them, but I don't think Azul would ever get boring, not with his witty intelect and shady schemes. Azul says he doesn't control the twins, which is absolutely true, but that doesn't mean they won't stay by his side. as they said themselves, they don't care about the money, as long as they're kept entertained.

naturally, the twins are closer, as they've been working together since their birth, only them against the cold and cruel sea. they always been odd ones as well, so that's why they clicked with Azul so well, but they're still different brands of weird.

hmm, I could see that! with the line of business Azul conducts, it might be dangerous to have weak points such as a soft spot for his two closest and most competent employees. not only that, but being openly friendly with people that are supposed to obey him, as their boss, could crack his intimidating untouchable image, thus making him seem weaker.

still, Azul isn't weaker, as he seems to be! he's actually stronger than the twins, as Floyd mentions on beans fest, so he's got strong magic, strong muscles and a strong brain. I think it'd be hard for anyone to harm him, unless they could get under his skin by attacking his more emotional side. Azul's got an amazing mask of indifference and faux confidence, but he's still very insecure about his past, which could be one way to get to him that would involve the twins.

I personally think that their refusal to be seen as friends might have come from old habits they carry from their home. as I see the Coral Sea, if it's anything like real sea life at all, it's a dog eat dog world, where everyone lives by themselves and protect their own. sea life can be very cruel, even to their own kind, so it would make sense for them not want to appear weak. it also is related to their own personalities, as they're not very open and emotional people, like Kalim for example, and they don't like showing their hand, prefering to keep their cards close to their chest.

their dynamic reflects that of Ursula and Flotsam and Jetsam very well! differently from other disney villains, who are cruel to their minions and oftentimes only put up with them for their own gain, Ursula genuinely likes the eels, as they are her beloved pets, not her servants. the eels are very cunning and like to create trouble, aiding Ursula in her evil schemes. when they are accidently killed by the end of the movie, Ursula gets furious, going on a rampage and attacking the ships. (see background part of the wiki!)

also, I really like this meme that sums up what you said really well lol

their relationship is very insteresting indeed! since they individually are already so fascinating, as part of a dynamic they have even more potential. a non traditional friendship like theirs is a nice break of stereotypes that TWST does once more!

[Octopus piercing - Jade Leech]

Summary: Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

Notes: gn!reader, based on the early concept of punk Jade, in this household we like flustered Jade who's down bad while also being a tease, now I'm certain he had a punk phase at some point and still has the piercings!

"Oh? What's this?"

Your voice rings out in the otherwise silent room, being quickly replaced by the sound of clinking metal.

Jade turns his head around your direction, tilting it to the side in interest. If you had been looking at him, you might have noticed the ever so slight widening of his eyes as he realizes what you found (you always do, as attentive to his expressions as he is with yours), but alas, something else had caught your eye.

It's as if the air in his bedroom stilled and time had stopped for a moment as you lift up your hand to look closer at your finding. He watches attentively, wanting to drink in your reaction.

You don't disappoint (you never do). Your lips part as you let out a breath of amazement, your eyes shining as they reflect the light of the jewel. Something so simple managed to mesmerize you. Your fingers delicately, as if afraid they could break it, toy around it, spinning it from one side to the other, taking in the texture and the coldness.

Jade gets so deep in watching you he almost forgets his comeback. Almost.

"Prefect, you shouldn't mess with other people's things, it's not very polite."

You turn to him, making him feel exhiliration tickle down his spine from having your attention on him, your humorous smile directed at him and only him. 

"You didn't seem to share the sentiment a few months ago, huh?" You refer to the little... incident with Azul's contracts at the end of the year. It was all water under the bridge now, but you still liked to tease them about it.

"These were very different situations, wouldn't you say?" 

For emphasis, he lowers his voice and slides to the side you're seated on his bed, his leg touching yours and his face close enough you could count his eyelashes if you wanted to, but not enough for his nose to touch yours. 

There's a hitch in your breath, so quiet that if it was anyone else they would have missed it. Jade doesn't. His smile turns more genuine at the corners.

"No, I don't think so." 

Instead of trying to get away, you stay where you are, attracted like a moth to the flame. Your hand comes between your faces, putting the object of your fascination in display.

It was an octopus tentacle piercing, one that would curl around the top of the ear and pass through the earlobe. It was quite detailed, with all the suction cups carefully craved in silver.

"It's beautiful. I didn't know you had other earrings."

There it is, that curious look in your face, the one that promises to deliver endless entertainment. He decides to indulge you to see where you're heading with it, although he already has an inkling.

"That must be because I only use this one nowadays." He touches the signature scales earring he's using. "But there was a time I was still experimenting with my appearence. I suppose I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them."

"It's a bit hard to imagine you using anything other than this one, but..." Your gaze turns to the octopus earring, evaluating it, before sliding to his face again. Jade feels as if he was being examinated from the inside out, as if you could investigate his very soul from the intensity of your stare. "I think this one would look pretty good too."

"Shall we check?" 

His fingers do quick work of taking off the backing and pulling his current earring away from his ear, leaving it bare. He puts it on the nightstand and turns around, exposing his side to your ministrations.

You stare for a second, caught of guard. "May I?"

"Of course, go ahead."

You hesitate for a second longer, hearing him let out an amused huff of laughter, before your fingers approach him. You tuck the longer strand of black hair behind his ear to give you space to work. In the process, your warm hand brushes against it, making him shiver. 

Taking your time, you let your touch ghost his cold skin, captivated by such a rare chance to be so close to his space. You notice, for the first time, that there are more little holes alongside it, where other piercings might have been before. The image you conjure in your head is charming enough to make you smile.

The pad of your thumb strokes his earlobe before you insert the post and screw the back, holding it in place and sliding the cuff to hook it on his upper ear. 

Your hand stays in place as you admire your work, rubbing the helix absentmindedly. You hum, your other hand cupping his cheek to turn his head in your direction so you could see how it looked.

"Something's wrong?" You whisper, noticing how he feels warmer under your touch.

Jade's pupils look slightly blown when his eyes meets yours. "Go on." It comes out in a rushed breath. 

Humming once more, your smile widens. "As you wish." 

Hand slipping down from his cheek to his chin, you pull away to take in the whole picture. Jade, octopus piercing covering his whole ear, skin flushed a delightful shade of light pink, eyes looking at you the whole time, entranced. 

"What's the veredict?"

"I was right, you know. It does look good."

"Is that so?" There's something to his tone, something you can't quite name.

You turn his head around, enjoying the thrill you get when he complies and lets you do as you please.

"Actually, maybe I wasn't."

At this, he turns around by himself, a calculating look on his face, trying to guess what you where going to say. He catches up just before the words leave your mouth, but it doesn't make them any less enjoyable to say.

"It's more than good. You look lovely."

The sincerity in his answering laugh is elating.

"You flatter me, prefect. If this is the reaction I'll get, then I might change around my looks more often."

"There's more, right? I'd like to see them too!"

The pleased glint in Jade's expression turns into mischievousness as he pulls away from you, moving to get up.

"Perhaps another time. This would take time I can't afford without risking running late to my shift at Mostro."

"C'mon! Just one more!" You hold his arm before he can move out of your reach, looking through your lashes at his towering form. "Please?"

Sighing, he concedes. "If you insist so much, I suppose we could look at another one." You cheer, pulling him back to where he was, already looking through his other piercings in the drawer. "For a price, naturally."

You only deadpan at him, earning an amused chuckle.

"My, my, what's with that face? Can you say you weren't expecting it?"

"Of course I was, it is you after all. What will it be then?"

A sharp grin exposing his teeth blooms. Most would be scared by it, but the only thing passing through your mind is how this expression goes quite well with this new piercing.

"Not backing down? Very well. How about you participate in this week's Mountain Lovers Club meeting?"

"Deal." There's not even a moment to blink before you agree. Truly, you didn't mind going on his club meetings. In fact, they were very enjoyable most of the time, and if that would make him happy you could sacrifice a few hours from your day. Besides, you were having a lot of fun with your new discovery. "Now, how about this one?" 

You show him the piercing you chose, a little fish skeleton that looked cheaper than the other one. You thought it would look quite cute.

"This was a gift from Floyd, so I'm rather fond of it." You can tell it's true from his softer tone. "We have a deal, you can go ahead."

Letting you have full access to his ear once more, you explore the options where you could put this new piercing. Since the other one covered a good part of the available space, you decided to insert it on the helix, where they wouldn't clash.

You carefully hold it on one hand while your other supports his ear. It's almost reverent the way you insert it, treating it like it was a precious jewel, watching intently as it pierces the skin and appears on the other side, nimble fingers screwing it in place.

Like before, you take his chin between your thumb and index finger, taking in the sight of him. Your lips pout as you think, his eyes darting to stare at them as if in a trance before quickly glancing back to meet yours.

"If feels like there's something missing..." You mumble, thinking out loud. "Oh! Maybe if I just..."

Without further explanation, your free hand combs his hair backwards, messing with it enough to get a spiky look that could rival his twin's. The strand of black hair you had tucked behind his ear gets loose, only half of it staying in the place you left.

Thumb gently rubbing his skin, you push his face away. The messy hair alongside the piercings made him resemble a delinquent. If it wasn't for his awestruck expression, Jade would look quite intimidating. 

"There you go! You look great!"

A second passes where he just stares at you, as if taking this moment in and commiting it to memory, before there's a signature smile adorning his face.

"I trust you did a good job then."

"Nah, you already did before, I just tweaked with a few things here and there."

The amused huff of breath he lets out warms your fingertip. You feel your cheeks getting hotter. 

"I see. In this case, thank you for your assistance. Hopefully Azul will be able to appreciate this new look as much as you do."

Imagining Azul's reaction to his usual put together employee going to work with such a carefree look makes you chuckle.

"I have no doubt that he'll love it. Not as much as I do, but close enough."

"That's a relief, seeing as I have to go now in order to not get late." 

He gets up again and extends his hand to you. You take it, letting him help pulling you up to your feet, standing so close you're pressed against his chest. You can feel his hum resonate through it. Your arms embrace his torso to keep you balanced.

Before you can make a comment, his hand holds your chin, mirroring the position you were in minutes ago, while his other tousles your hair.

"I enjoyed our time together, it's truly too bad it had to be cut short. Let's meet up another time for you to look at the other piercings, yes? There are quite a lot of them, after all."

"I'd like that." You close your eyes to enjoy his touch, leaning into it.

"I'm sure you do." Jade's teasing actions turn softer as he starts to stroke your hair affectionately. "I'll look forward to our next meeting, prefect." 

His tone makes you open your eyes to peek at him. It sounds far too tender, far too sincere. His smile betrays nothing of his thoughts, but you know he said the truth. 

"Me too. Make sure to prepare a special activity for the club meeting since you'll have a special guest!"

"I'll do my best to keep you entertained, don't you worry. I'm sure you'll enjoy what I have planned."

"You sure know how to make someone curious." You tease, hoping he'd give you a hint at what he had planned, but no luck.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait and see."

You sigh exaggeratedly. "That I'll do." 

"I promise it'll be worth the antecipation. Now, I truly must get going." 

Leaning down while his hand combs your hair backwards, his lips leave a fleeting touch on your forehead, an almost kiss that leaves you wanting more.

"Until we meet again, dear."

With that, he leaves the room in quick strides, leaving you alone to process what happened. Your hands shoot up to your forehead as you splutter, trying to get your thoughts in order. 

Just what was that?

Sighing, you decide you'll have to wait until the mountain lovers club meeting to confront him. It's shaping up to be quite an eventful day and you can feel your excitement bubbling up.

Jade sure knew how to keep someone on their toes.

Glancing one last time at the nightstand, the light catching on his scales earring laying there innocently, you leave to go to your dorm.

Your thoughts turn to the mental picture of Jade, flushed face and blown pupils, messy hair and piercings on his ear. Involuntarily, your lips shape into a giddy smile. 

There was a jewellery shop at the island's city, right? Maybe you'd take a look at which piercings they had next time you go run errands.

BONUS SCENE!

"Azul! Jade's here!" Floyd's excited giggle rings out in the otherwise silent office as he opens the door with a bang.

"Finally! I was starting to think he forgot about his shift..." Azul trails off as he takes in the sight before him.

Right next to a smiling Floyd was Jade. His outfit was in perfect condition and his posture was as formal as always. Still, Azul couldn't stop staring at the different hairstyle and piercings he was using.

There was a time when they were first years and very new to living on land in which Jade decided to experiment with his appearence. He got a lot of piercings and cut his hair in what could be known as a "punk hairstyle", contrasting terribly with his buttlerly personality. He seemed to find it very amusing, but after getting in trouble with the teachers for breaking the dress code and getting bored of the usual reactions he'd get from the other students, he decided to take them off and let his hair grow, going back to his usual look.

So it was quite a shock to see them making a comeback, although in a much tamer way than how he used to be.

"What... what has brought this back?" Truly, Azul thought he'd gotten used to the twin's antics by now and couldn't be surprised anymore, but they always found a way of surpassing expectations. 

"Yeah, I wanna know too! When I asked you to put them back you just ignored me." Floyd pouts, crossing his arms and slouching dejectedly.

"It's a long story, but it started when the prefect and I were studying in my room..."

"Wait, you know what? You can stop right there, I don't want to know. Please just get to work." Azul sighs, massaging his temples.

Whenever Ramshackle's prefect was involved, there surely was some crazy story following, and they were already behind schedule as it was.

"Of course, as you wish." Jade agrees with his usual polite smile, but no one in the room was fooled by it. They both knew he was extremely amused by their curiosity. 

"Awn, I wanted to know." Floyd complains, whining. 

"Perhaps I'll tell you another time. Right now, let's get to work, shall we?"

With a groaning Floyd in town, Jade walks out of the door as if nothing was amiss. Azul simply accepts that he'll have to deal with this new development and decides to have a talk with the prefect later. Not that it would change much of anything. When Jade had his mind set on something, he didn't stop until he was satisfied, and for some reason or other he seemed to be interested in experimenting again.

The Octavinelle dorm leader could only wonder what had caused this sudden interest.

Masterlist

Literally just a bunch of Idia sketches from science class

Could i request hcs of how the dorm leaders react when you fall asleep on their shoulder?

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭

| Notes: Hi, anon!

Sorry but I didn’t get to write for Vil. I just never feel confident enough to write him in a more serious and complete request… but I hope the other six are enough! I had fun writing for each one of them, I think my favorites are Kalim and Idia for this request~ Hope you like it!

Thanks for the request <3 |

Riddle Rosehearts, Leona Kingscholar, Azul Ashengrotto, Kalim Al Asim, Idia Shroud, Malleus Draconia x g!n reader / headcanons / fluff / sleeping on their shoulder / established relationship / six dorm leaders / use of “you” pronouns

Cherry’s Harvesting 🍒 Masterlist

Dear Shoulder Pillow

Riddle had invited you to have a study meeting at the school library. It was no big deal. Just a moment for you to spend together and study at the same time. People say dating can get in the way of studies but Riddle wasn't the type of boyfriend who would let that happen. It was nothing more and nothing less than to unite something useful with the pleasant;

Although reading about the history of teas during the reign of the Queen of Hearts was neither of them, or helpful nor enjoyable. Because you two were from different grades, the content Riddle read was different from yours and although he insisted on helping you if you had any questions, you didn't want to bother him with something as banal as that;

A long time later, Riddle was already moving on to the next chapter of arithmetic when he felt a weight on his right shoulder. As he turned around, Riddle could only see your head tilted at him, your eyes closed and your concentration completely lost. You were asleep! When he was going to say something, you moved a little more, settling on his shoulder;

That was a good card for you to play but Riddle was still determined to wake you up so you could pay more attention to your studies. He nudged you lightly, calling your name and for a brief moment, you awoke again. You swore that you wouldn’t sleep again and that at least the next lines were about a Knave that tried to poison the Queen — which made Riddle twist his nose a little;

Well, obviously the Knave of Hearts failed at his mission because five minutes later you got back again onto Riddle's comfortable shoulder. You have to wonder how such a thin, lean shoulder could have handled your head satisfactorily, but you managed to get a perfect position. So much so that you barely moved from there;

Riddle had to take a deep breath before he looked at you again. While sleeping, you had this cute little pout that he took a long time to deviate from. The icing on the cake was that you pulled his right arm like a second pillow, squeezing it tight enough to have it at your pleasure and as much as the already small distance between the two chairs allowed;

The two of you were in a more distant and private area of the library, where the huge bookshelves blocked you from other people’s view. But at a certain point, Trey showed up over there to communicate something to Riddle and ended up finding you and the dorm leader in that position. Riddle had been content to continue reading a book but his friend’s arrival scared him;

“One word and it will be off with your head...!,” Riddle whispered loudly, his face colored by a vibrant red. “It better be important like Ace blowing up the dorm or Deuce getting lost in the maze again...!” Trey was silent for a moment, trying to hold back his laughter and undecided if he should say something or not;

At almost the same moment, you yawned as you stretched out and held Riddle's entire body to be your dear pillow. He couldn't say anything because the top of your head was too close to his mouth. The best Riddle could do was to adjust you back to your old position on his shoulder, although trying to undo your arm around him was in vain;

“You know, I think we can hold Cater doing a flash-mob of himself for another hour. See you later, Riddle,” Trey pulled his glasses back and waved goodbye to his friend, disappearing back among the bookshelves. Riddle sighed. To choose the safety of Heartslabyul or continue your afternoon nap? Unfortunately or not, he had enough heart to not wake you up;

Eventually you woke up, of course. But Riddle had fallen asleep too, leaning on your head and his book open on the table. You got away from him very carefully for a minute, left a highlighter on the page and gently woke him up. Riddle opened his gray eyes, his black eyelashes with slight red reflections blinking softly. A wonderful sight, for sure.

It was another ordinary afternoon in Savanaclaw. The sun was shining brightly and Leona was sitting next to you on the balcony of his room, enjoying the view. Although you were at a high point overlooking a landscape of big dusty rocks, further on the horizon there was a river curving in the Savannah and some humble small vegetation;

You had tried calling Leona to play chess but he was a little more sleepy and lazy than usual. And was winning all times even like that — the audacity! Eventually, you put the board and pieces aside and you two turned to admire the simple, natural wonders of the dorm;

Leona had fallen asleep in no time, not that you were too surprised about it. In fact, Leona had earlier brought a large cushion from his room — large and soft, made of the most expensive fabric you could imagine — and was probably planning to sleep there the entire time. You sighed but smiled at the same time, sharing the pillow with him;

What you didn't expect was to end up taking a nap too and using Leona’s shoulder as your support. He woke up for a brief minute only to find out what that strange weight next to him was, confirming it was you. Leona has never seen you so relaxed before, vulnerable and comfortable. Being at the mercy of a carnivore like him;

Leona laid your head better on his shoulder so that you could stay in a position that wouldn't give you a tremendous sprain afterwards. Trust him, he has mastered the art of sleeping in the strangest ways and in the most unusual places;

But to Leona’s surprise, you suddenly wrapped your arms around his torso and squeezed him as if nothing in the world was going to get you out of there. Leaning on his shoulder, you had the serenity of a little lion using the support of a rock to be worshiped by the kingdom without actually realizing it. Leona had to fight a smile that escaped the corner of his lips;

You're really more than a mere herbivore, huh? While Leona was thinking about it, he heard the sound of his bedroom door opening and he recognized Ruggie approaching the balcony. Through the half-open door, Leona could hear the other students in the dorm arguing about something in the hallway;

“Whatever these animals are doing, it's not my problem, Ruggie,” Leona replied before the hyena boy could tell what was going on. He said this without having to raise his voice or get out of position, keeping you quiet and safe around him. If there was one thing Leona hated, it was when people tried to disrupt his nap for silly reasons — and knowing his pack, they sure were idiots;

Ruggie just leaned against the balcony column where the two of you were leaning and took a look at the scene. He knew that intruding on your date would come at a high cost but it was either that or just letting the guys kill each other to see who would clean up the dorm’s magift court. But it turned out his leader was dealing with a much bigger issue;

“Alright, alright. But Leona... look at that wandering hand there, huh,” Ruggie couldn't hold back a low laugh and it got worse when Leona growled at him. The noise of Ruggie's laughter, growling, and someone running out of the room eventually woke you up and you stretched out your arms like cats do. Maybe Leona passed this habit on to you unintentionally;

But Leona led you back to a new nap, where you could relax again just the two of you. You could perfectly feel Leona’s breath rising and falling, like a natural and soft orchestra. He stroked your head, giving you a sense of security that you appreciated. Leona rested his chin on the top of your head and smiled. That’s the good life.

Every time Azul invited you to study in Octavinelle’s lounge room, you felt even more the feeling that you were in the middle of the ocean. Everything was so serene, the fishes moved quietly inside the aquariums and the students were reasonably quiet, even with the common noise of books being opened and notes being written;

Azul had chosen for you a more private area, where you could study without anyone bothering you. And it stood next to an aquarium with the fish type you liked to look at the most. The environment was so calm and relaxing that you were fighting sleep, almost like a brave prince saving your own life from a giant sea monster;

As if it couldn't get any worse, Azul was explaining the subject to you. His voice was like the waves of the sea on a beach in the early morning, softly as the singing of a mermaid. If you didn't know about Azul’s commitment to his studies, you'd think he was making you drowsy on purpose. No one had the right to have a naturally melodious voice! — and, good Triton, he had;

Before Azul could realize it in time, you fell asleep on his shoulder and interrupted him reading about the maritime discovery of the true functions of a pipe. That scared Azul for a solid minute. Even though you were in a relationship, he sometimes forgot that things like that could happen;

Not knowing what to do, Azul watched you snuggle better on his shoulder, your newest soft and fragrant pillow. He wondered if the cologne he was using wouldn't bother you sooner or later, yet you drew closer to him than ever — as if to contradict him. Azul closed his history book, lost to say the least;

Azul adjusted his glasses to make sure no one was paying attention to you. The Mostro Lounge’s opening hours were over and Octavinelle’s students were behaved enough that no one would go after him because of any trouble. But to distract himself from the feeling of you being so comfortable and relaxed around him, Azul kept thinking about all the possibilities that would come from this scenario;

Every once in a while, he would make the mistake of looking back at you and staring at your half-open mouth. Azul closed it as gently as he could, but he felt guilty for never stopping watching you. Azul had already read several mermaid tales as a child about how one kiss of true love could solve everything. He wishes he could kiss you to make you focus on your studies again!;

Azul was so distracted that he didn't notice when Jade stood in front of him, with some papers in his arms and silently observing the situation. Eventually he looked away from you and found the vice. “J-jade...!,” Blue exclaimed in the lowest, most restrained manner he could muster. “What is it? You don't see I'm busy...?!”;

Jade smiled, almost saying without words that, yes, he knew. And how busy. But those papers were the receipts for the month’s Lounge and dorm expenses, which Azul always requested to do the accountability. He left the papers on the table and had the audacity to stack the books you were reading in front of a very embarrassed Azul;

“I don't think you'll need them anymore at the moment,” Jade said, closing his eyes and waving a farewell to the leader. Azul cursed him quietly with all the curses and threats that a good Ashengrotto knew. He couldn’t tolerate such insubordination;

A little more used to the situation and getting tired, Azul ended up leaning against you too and fell asleep next to you. In the brief moment you woke up and realized that Azul was holding your hand, you took off his glasses and carefully left them on the table. All this without waking him up. You didn't know that Azul could have such a heavy sleep — and that he smiles while doing so.

When Kalim invited you to Scarabia that afternoon, you couldn't deny it. It was a heated day and as much as the dorm’s Sun shone as bright as gold being forged, the two of you were sitting near the fountain in the center of that huge and sumptuous palace. You could hear the noise of water falling incessantly, forming small drops on the edges of the fountain;

Kalim was cheerful as always, his mood was steady whether it was raining or sunny. It was one of the things you liked about him. Kalim seemed an inexhaustible source of energy, cheering you up at all times in the small and big things. He was telling you various stories about his younger siblings and his own childhood memories;

The mood was so pleasant, the fountain tumbling to a serene beat and the ornaments on Kalim's outfit tinkling to a soft, fun background music that you couldn't help but yawn. First you came closer to Kalim, without interrupting his words, and then you felt as if you were melting;

Kalim only saw your eyes close, your lashes lowered like a peacock’s tail. You leaned on his shoulder and got lost in a desert of dreams. Kalim got closer to the edge of the fountain and watched you sleep, a smile growing on his face. When he met you earlier, you looked tired and he wanted to cheer you up a little;

But if you wanted to enjoy that free time by napping, Kalim saw no problem with that. After all, a nap is fun too! Kalim wished he could have laughed more but the slight movement of his shoulders seemed to bother you and he went back on being quiet. As complicated as it was, he did his best not to interrupt your sleep;

To pass the time, Kalim sang you a famous lullaby from the Land of Hot Sands. It was a beautiful and soft melody, words that you might not understand very well but full of meaning. In this came some birds who wanted to take advantage of the water of the fountain to bathe and accompany their friend’s song;

All this unusual peace in the dorm was the reason that Jamil approached the fountain after a few hours. To his relief, Kalim was safe and quiet, nuzzling you on his shoulder while a dove also rested on his dorm bandana. Jamil was speechless;

“Jamil!! O-h... Ja… Jamil...!,” Kalim exclaimed but then tried to speak softly. “Shhh! We can't make noises now…!” Jamil saw more birds gather near the boy to rest and felt that he was not paid and accommodated enough to put up with such visions on a simple Tuesday afternoon. At least, you two weren’t causing any trouble;

Kalim didn't expect to meet Jamil at that moment, but it reminded him of all the times the vice had to take care of him when he fell asleep unintentionally. It was a very difficult task and one that really required care! But he was happy that he was handling the situation well, in the careful and effective way that he knew Jamil did;

“Make yourself comfortable then, Kalim. I'll leave some hot tea ready just in case you two want it later,” Jamil had already turned to leave the courtyard but he still heard Kalim whisper-loudly that if possible he wanted some crackers to go with it — Jamil sighed, as usual;

A few minutes later you stirred on awakening and this sudden movement startled the little birds near you. Kalim waved to them all and asked if you were feeling better. You stretched out, still a little drowsy, but feeling sore from sleeping sitting on the floor for so much time. In this, Kalim had an idea: you would have some tea with crackers and you could nap together again, only in the room with all those pillows and tapestries!

In other times, it would be impossible for you to enter Idia’s room. If Ignihyde was the underworld where he reigned, his room was like his own temple. Only Ortho could get in there — and now, so could you. As you got closer and started dating, Idia was becoming more inclined to spend time with someone else and share more about his hobbies;

Even if you aren’t very good with games, Idia always seemed to have something up his sleeve to show you. Whatever you wanted, in the theme of your choice, it didn’t matter. He could do it. The same thing went for manga, anime, movies — Idia would go digital distances to make your time alongside him worth. Even though you assured him many times that his company alone was good enough;

That night, you ended up meeting after dinner to spend time together in Idia’s room, as usually happened on your dates. Idia was particularly anxious because he found a manga with a very interesting story and it was just the kind of story he knew you liked too;

Idia made that discovery for a while but he had so caught up with the story and was eagerly awaiting the release of the new chapters. In the meantime, he tried to explain the plot in general, the characters he liked, the characters he hated and his favorite chapters — all without spoiling anything beyond necessary;

You were side by side in bed and it was one of the few occasions when you could hear Idia’s voice so lively and louder than usual, without losing the relaxing tone his voice had. It was getting a little late but you didn't want to interrupt Idia and end the night there. You were focused on Idia but your mind turned into Charon and led you to another direction in the river: slumber;

Idia stopped talking when he felt you leaning on his shoulder, sleeping peacefully — just like those scenes in shoujo manga! His heart stopped, came back again, took a break and continued. Idia panicked but when he moved to try to get away from you, you followed him and on top of that, snuggled even more into him. Counterattack!;

Quiet, lost and confused — and restricted — Idia wondered what had put you to sleep after all. Was it him? Listening to him talk for hours about manga was too boring? He went on a tangent of worried and anxious thoughts until the digital clock beeped eleven o’clock in the evening. This woke up Idia a bit and made him wonder if maybe there was an option that you had fallen asleep because it was too late;

Eleven O'clock was still peak time for Idia so he sometimes forgot that “normal people” didn't spend more than that. Well, to complete the shoujo cliché bingo, Ortho walked into the room and witnessed you two in this unusual position. Idia stared into his little brother’s eyes with intensity. “P-p-please, Ortho... help me!,” he asked softly, the ends of his fiery hair turning hot pink;

Ortho held his chin, taking a closer look at you hugging Idia’s figure. Your heartbeat was normal — compared to his brother’s chariot racing heart — and your serotonin levels seemed good. You were having a good dream and even though his technology couldn't prove it, Ortho hoped it was dreams with Idia;

“Sorry to bother you, Nii-san. I’ll get my charger and leave you two alone,” Ortho said at a low volume that wouldn't make you wake up. Idia trembled and stuttered meaningless words to his brother, feeling somehow betrayed. Ortho closed the door and Idia felt that now he was lost. He wasn’t at all prepared for this rapprochement between you, not even in the craziest scenarios that he sometimes imagined;

Swallowing hard and looking at you carefully again, Idia noticed how soundly you were sleeping. He's never seen you like this. It was unexpected, even a little weird, but he couldn't take his eyes off you. Idia dared to lean against you a little more and feel your warmth, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Maybe it was a good thing you were asleep. Idia didn't want you to see how much he was smiling like a fool — that was what people called the “protagonist moment”, right?

It was a magnificent night full of stars. Malleus had shown up for another late-night visit to his favorite ramshackled dorm, graced all the more by the fact that the human he loved so much had called him to see the sky on that humble roof. Grim didn't want to go with you because stargazing seemed pretty boring and Ace always told him to stop playing your “personal third wheel” — whatever that means;

You were side by side on the roof. As Malleus was an expert in astronomy, he pointed out the stars and said their names as if they were old friends. You had no doubt that this was a sad truth given his restricted life in his castle. Malleus knew the name of each star in the constellations, some quite different figures from what was in your world;

You even briefly explained the concept of zodiac signs to Malleus and he was as confused as he was fascinated by the way humans tried to use the stars for fortune telling. He had heard of one using the constellations to guide themselves along the way but not much about predicting someone’s day;

You two continued to talk for a while, sharing these different experiences as you felt the coolness of the serene summer. It was Malleus who was telling you a story about stars from his homeland when you started to feel a little somnolent. You didn't know what time it was and the whole environment around you was too relaxing;

Malleus’s voice was soft and affectionate, enchanting as a sleeping spell. He could be talking about the most absurd thing and you would listen as if it were a bedtime story. You started by resting your head on Malleus’ shoulder and in what you told yourself would be resting your eyes for one minute to enjoy his voice, you ended up actually falling asleep;

Malleus realized this when he asked you something and you answered nothing. He stared at your sleepy figure, surprised for a moment but then giving a small smile. So you were playing Silver on him, weren’t you? — Malleus hoped this was the proper way to say the “human younglings expression”. He held your hand and continued to wander in a monologue about the stars;

Lilia showed up there unexpectedly because he was looking for Silver who hadn't returned to the dorm yet, probably from falling asleep somewhere. But he came across this scene and when he noticed that you were sleeping, he decided to approach to try to at least tease Malleus for a brief moment;

“Child of Man eventually fell asleep. It must be so hard to live with a need for rest and succumb so easily to the dream world,” Malleus commented, looking gently at you. “But it feels so peaceful at the same time.” Lilia held back his laughter as he saw the way Malleus smiled;

It wasn't as if the fairies didn't know what sleep was, but staying awake for quite some time wasn't difficult or problematic. Malleus usually spent hours wandering through the night before actually sleeping. When he was younger, he joked about keeping the Moon company and telling the grandiose, lonely satellite how his day went;

“Don't forget to put your sleeping beauty to sleep in bed afterwards. Enjoy the night, my little bats,” Lilia said goodbye, going after his own sleeping beauty son. Malleus waved back at him and as he turned around, he took you in his arms gently. You hardly even felt yourself being lifted from your position to a different environment;

When you opened your eyes, Malleus had kissed you goodnight. Before he went, you pulled his sleeve lightly and in a low mutter asked him to stay. It was such a simple and lovely gesture that Malleus couldn't deny your request. He arranged a piece of the bed to lie on and you leaned on his shoulder again, falling back to sleep with the help of a sweet little lullaby that Malleus made especially for you.

People always talk about how they kin Idia or Cater but where are my Riddle kinnies we must come together and collectively hate our moms - A Riddle kinnie

go anon start the Riddle kinnies revolution!!! I believe in you!

I'm guilty of being an Idia kinnie as well (and an Azul kinnie but atp he is the one kinning me honestly), but younger me would definetely relate to Riddle a lot!

as a sign of my alliance to your cause, I offer thee: this Riddle playlist that I loveeeee sm

update²: I got very busy today and couldn't write that much 💔💔 it'll have to be finished tomorrow then !!!

to the Jade-with-a-crush anon: I've started to write smth based on your asks and I'll have you know I'm giggling and kicking my feet and rolling on my bed and twirling my hair right now I'm having so much fun thank youuu for the inspo <33

HES A WIUTTGCHHH OIUGHH HHHHGOOOOI

BEE I CANT BREATH THE TAGS ON THE JAMIL FIC JKSHKJSHK I CANT RN I SHOULD BE STUDYING HISTORY BUT INSTEAD IM TRYING NOT TO SMILE AT MY COMPUTER LIKE A CLOWN OMGOMG ILSYM I WENT TO GOOGLE TRANSLATE TO TRANSLATE THE PORTUGUESE AND WALLAH أعشقك كثيرا يا حب حياتي YOUR WORDS ARE SO KIND AND LOVELY THEY MAKE ME BURST WITH JOY TYSM

MORI I'M GLAD YOU LIKE MY SILLY LITTLE THOUGHTS SO MUCH !!! seriously your writing is wonderful and I love to learn new things about different cultures!!

good luck with studying!! and don't forget to take breaks and drink water!! you've got this!!

EU TAMBÉM TE AMO AMORINHA <33

[I refuse to drown - Azul Ashengrotto]

Summary: He had hurt you. Azul had hurt you and he wasn't sure how he could ever forgive himself, the guilt gnawing at his core. Despite that, you still smile at him. 

Notes: reader and azul knew each other before chapter 3, gn!reader, angst and hurt/comfort, self deprecating thoughts, some mentions of blood, injury and death but none too graphic, not proof read

Azul had lost everything.

Everything he had built painstakingly for years, crawling himself from the bottom of the depths, that he exhausted himself for, that he carefully planned and gained through his hard work. Gone, just like that, floating away in the wind the same way the sand of the beach is carried away by the waves.

But, the worst of all: he lost control. 

Control of himself, his actions and his mind. Azul couldn't remember what happened after seeing his contracts disintegrating, only that he felt more despair than ever before. Even when he was isolated and mocked by the other merman, he's never felt such helplessness, such anguish, such misery. 

His mind was muddy, he didn't feel like he was in his body. Why would it matter, anyway? It was all gone, gone, gone. 

He let himself drown in the feeling.

Drowning was a strange sensation. Azul, being a merman, never thought he could experience it, but Night Raven College was full of surprises. His lungs felt full, an inky substance occupying where once was air. His vision was dark, as if he had fallen into an abyss. He couldn't bring himself to care.

Azul didn't know which was worse, the hopeless feelings or the lack thereof. 

He stayed floating into nothingness for a while. He wasn't conscious, but he was. He was there, but he wasn't. He didn't have a body, but he did. If he could manage to string a coherent thought together, it might have been something like this: "Is this what death looks like?" Perhaps if he could muster enough strenght to feel something, he might have felt regret for all the things he still had left to do.

If he looked deep into himself, deeper than he was willing to, he might have found that he regretted making you sign one of his rigged contracts and dragging you into this mess. He should have known better than understimating you, he should have known that something like this would happen. After all, you were amazing enough to catch his attention. What made him think you wouldn't be amazing enough to find a way out of his deal? What made him think Jade and Floyd would be enough to disencourage you? What made him think someone like him, so dirty and insicere, could ever dampen someone like you, so determined and bright?

He didn't think about any of it. He didn't think about anything.

The first thing Azul felt when he came back to his senses was light against his eyelids. He was back at the surface. His body ached all over but his lungs no longer bled that viscous black liquid and he felt alive once more. He was still alive.

He could smell a familiar scent, one that he was used to smelling back at the Coral Sea, so used to he didn't identify it a first. He heard shouting that seemed to be miles away and right by his ear at the same time. His slugish head couldn't distinguish what was being said by whom, but he could swear he heard your name, it's mention alone being enough to jolt eletricity back into his being and keep him awake. There were hurried footsteps getting farther away and he finally recognized what the smell was. It was the metalic smell of blood.

He tried to open his eyes but the bright lights of Mostro Lounge burned them, so he kept them tightly shut. He couldn't get up, his legs hurt more than any other part of his body. What had happened? He couldn't have... could he? The last thing he could remember happening before passing out was... oh.

Oh. He did. Azul had an overblot.

His breath hitched, but he forced himself to keep breathing in the air, to keep the blot out, out of his system and out of his lungs and out of his veins and out out out of him. He bit his tounge, clenched his fists and forced his sore eyes to open.

The contracts, they were gone. His life's work. He had made a fool of himself in front of another housewarden. He had an overblot and put everyone in danger. He had put you in danger.

Jade and Floyd were by his side. They were talking to him, but he couldn't register the words. His head was underwater, the pressure weighting him down, his ears filled with water and dripping, dripping, dripping.

He could still smell the blood. Ah, it felt just like home.

Azul looked at his lower half, almost sure in some hysterical part of his brain that he would find his tentacles there. His legs laid on the floor, clean and useless. He breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he couldn't help but wish the blood was his.

He got the gist of what the twins were saying. Leona destroyed the contracts and you had managed to adquire his childhood photo. They were mocking him for the tantrum he threw, but he could tell they were worried. There wasn't much force behind the half hearted taunts and no matter how much they tried to hide, Azul knew them just like they knew him. They were aggravated at what happened as well, no matter how much they pretended they couldn't care less.

"What would you like us to do about the photo?" 

"I'm pretty sure we could just snatch it up with how shrimpy is now, but man, I'm not in the mood for it."

"...I don't care about the photo anymore. Tell me, what happened to the prefect?"

Jade looked at him with pity and Floyd's mood deteriorated. There was a bottomless pit of dread at his stomach, his throat felt dry all of sudden. His eyes burned, but no tears fell from them. When had his breathing become so erratic?

As soon as the twins broke the news to him, Azul tried to stand up and see you, not caring for how much his legs ached and hurt and screamed at him to stay down. Good, he thought with venom, so much loathing and disdain it left a sour feeling in his mouth, they better be hurting after what he'd done. He deserves worse.

Jade helped him balance himself on his legs and Floyd laughed at his clumsy footing, as if it was the first time the three of them set foot on land and were just learning how to walk. Azul felt like he had been stripped from his tentacles and siphon all over again. He had been stripped from his skin and from his mind, had been laid open and bare and vulnerable for all to see, had his chest teared apart and his lungs leaking onto the floor.

Once they arrived at the infirmary, Azul was almost jumped by your friends. The Heartslabyul duo and the young Savanaclaw seemed ready to plummet him to the ground, no care for his condition, if it weren't for Jade and Floyd tanking him by both sides like bodyguards. Azul was glad they didn't care, he was glad they worried so much about you. He would have let them hit him and taken the beating, there wasn't much of his pride left to salvage anyway.

The school nurse had just finished attending you and promptly went to work on his injuries. The Headmaster appeared at the infirmary right after Azul was discharged, no doubt already knowing what happened. He had never seem Crowley look as serious as he did when he asked for the three of them to accompany him to his office. 

Azul's body was exhausted, he clearly needed to rest. Still, he agreed without a fuss, the twins following him closely from behind. He could feel Jade's gaze burning the back of his neck, but he couldn't gather enough energy to care for whatever was going on the eelmer's mind. He felt empty, almost hollow. Frighteningly so, like he was still on that void state, disconnected from his body. Was he even awake?

The talk with the Headmaster was a long and tiring one. At the end of it, Azul accepted the new terms for him to keep running Mostro Lounge at the school, gripping tightly to the only thing he had left. He couldn't lose his beloved restaurant alongside everything else, it would be too much, more than he could handle.

It was dark by the time they were excused to go back to their dorm. Azul felt and looked like a mess, not like the businessman he took pride in being. His hair was dishevelled, there were eyebags under his eyes and his mouth was set in a firm line for a while, not managing much more emoting. 

There was a restlessness under his skin, on his muscles, deep in his bones, down onto every single cell. No matter how worn out he was, there was no way he would be able to sit back. Not until he saw you with his own eyes, saw exactly how much damage he had caused. 

He wasn't able to muster up the courage to look the twins in the face as he told them to go ahead, that he had something to do. Luckly, they decided he had suffered enough and didn't kick up much of a fuss before leaving him alone.

The walk to the infirmary felt like a fever dream, too long and too short at the same time. Azul wondered if your friends were still there at this time, if you were awake, if he was even allowed to enter. He stayed rooted in front of the entrance, trying to gather every last bit of confidence to put up his usual serene façade. 

He wouldn't let you see how affected he was by the whole ordeal. This wasn't supposed to be about him, he wanted to take a look at you. You, who had been nothing but friendly to him, who had caught his attention early on, who spent time with him at Mostro Lounge, who he admired so much, who wormed your way into his heart and refused to leave.

Azul was afraid you hated him now, but by the Sevens how much he wished you did. Why wouldn't you, after he tried to scam you out of your house and almost got you killed. All for his selfishness, for his stupid pride and greed. He was ready for you to scream at him, to hit him, say you never wanted to see him again. Even if the mere thought was enough for him to feel like throwing up, he knew it would be better if he stayed away from you and your light. That way, he wouldn't hurt you again, never again.

Steeling himself with the fakiest smile on his face, he pushed the door open, hands shaking.

The infirmary was quiet, no one in sight save for you. You were laying on one of the first beds, a peaceful expression on your face. You looked beautiful. You always did, to him. There were bandages all over where your skin was visible. Azul could feel the guilt choking him. How could he have the audacity to come talk to you after he was the one that did this?

He turned around and was about to leave when he heard you whisper. It was spoken so softly he wouldn't have heard at all if he wasn't hyperaware of you. "Stay." 

Azul stayed. He could never deny anything you asked for. Especially not when you sounded so pleading, when you looked at him like that.

There was a chair next to your bed, so umconfortable looking as it must feel. But it was the best way to stay closer to you, so he sat on it, waiting for you to drop the guillotine over his head for his sins. 

The silence was suffocating, denser than the pressure at the bottom of the ocean. He wanted you to say something, anything. His gaze was on the floor, lips pulled back, brows furrowed. If he closed his eyes, only the darkness would welcome him, swallow him whole, so he kept them stubbornly open.

"Azul." It felt like a blessing, like a drop of water after walking through the desert, like a warm embrace. Azul relished the way you said his name, the delicious entonation as your tongue rolled over every letter. He wanted to beg you to say it again and again. The only thing he does is lifting his head to look at you.

The proximity between you two was startling. He hadn't noticed how close you were, hadn't noticed you raising your hand, hadn't noticed the shine in your eye. He thought you were about to slap him, but couldn't drag his stare away from your eyes. They looked so gentle, so full of... something. He wouldn't dare try to name the emotion behind them, wouldn't dare hope.

Your hand made contact with his cheek, making him flinch lightly. There was no sting, only your warmth as you held his face. Your fingers left burning imprints where they touched, marked him from the inside out. Wide blue eyes meet your affectionate ones, so open and honest. Why were you being so gentle to him? Acting like nothing happened, like things were the same as before this whole mess occurred. 

"I'm glad." You confess softly, a secret meant only for the two of you, thumb brushing against his cheeks as he leans into your touch and lets himself melt into it while he still can. "I'm glad you're alright, Azul." 

"How can you say that when you're the one laying on a hospital bed?" His voice falls flat, trying to hide his emotions. But he's a cracked shell, his insides are spilling out into your palms, plain for you to pick apart and analyse as you please.

You smile, your joy is so sincere Azul can feel his eyes burn with unshead tears. How could he ever hurt someone like you? How could you still look at him without an once of hatred or disguist or fear?

"I was worried about you." You state as if it was the simplest thing in the world, because it is, to you. The sky is blue, the ocean is cold and you care about Azul. You say as if you aren't shattering his last bits of composure, as if you aren't breaking his heart into little jagged pieces. 

"Don't say that." He manages to choke out, as if the mere words hurt his throat, voice watery and breaking. "Please, don't say that." The 'I don't deserve it' is not said out loud, but both of you can hear it.

"How can I not? It's the truth." His tears flow freely, no longer under his control as he feels the urge to sob, to beg for forgiveness, to hide and never see you again in fear of hurting you. Only you had this effect on him, only you could break his barriers and composure so easily. 

You brush his tears away, whispering reassurances. Wasn't him supposed to be the one reassuring you? He had come to see how you were, to apologize, to let you scream at him, anything. He could take it if you hated him, he would understand, but how could your gaze still hold so much fondness in it, so much love? The guilt shatters him, pierces his heart, make his sobs louder. How cruel could your kindness be?

He had hurt you. Azul had hurt you and he wasn't sure how he could ever forgive himself, the guilt gnawing at his core. Despite that, you still smile at him. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeats, over and over. You say you forgive him, but he keeps going until his voice is hoarse. You don't, no, you can't understand it. You did nothing wrong, you're not like him, hands stained with blood and rot. He lets his guilt out before it festers and consumes him. It isn't enough to make up to you, although it does make him feel a little bit better, to let it all out like this.

You don't lie to him. You don't say it wasn't his fault or that he wasn't in the wrong, but you don't rub it in either. Azul appreciates it, the sincerity. He knows you can hold him accountable when the time is right. For now, you comfort him. You tell him how nobody else could put such effective notes together, how determinated and hardworking he is. How his past doesn't define him and how he has greater strenghts than any magic. He drinks every word up, commiting them to memory.

As his tears seem to dry out alongside his voice, you pull him closer to yourself. He submerges himself into you, your scent, your voice, your touch. He would happily let himself drown on the sensation. You just hold him, rubbing circles on his back and lending him your shoulder. 

It's like time has frozen over. Azul wishes it had. He could stay like this with you for hours if you'd let him, although he doesn't feel ready to admit it, be it to you or to himself. 

Everything is not right. You're still hurt, his contracts are still gone and Azul still feels wrong, the effects of the overblot lingering underneath his skin. His reputation took a significant blow and he'll have to change the method he's always used to work at his own establishment. 

But not all is lost, either. He can start over, the right way this time. You'll be by his side, cheering him on. There's a long road to improvement and Azul has never been one to get scared by such things. He'll put his efforts on getting back on his feet and breaking the surface of the water, as he refuses to drown. 

The late hour weights on your tired bodies, causing you to yawn, your hold on him getting laxer. With the way his body aches, he wouldn't be able to go back to Octavinelle. In fact, he doesn't feel able to move from the chair he is in. He doesn't want to leave you from his sight, to lose your touch. 

You ask him to keep you company, prompting him to lay his head on your lap, an umconfortable position, as he has to bend his torso to reach it, but he doesn't mind. Just having you nearby will be enough. One of your hands interlock your fingers with his and the other plays with his hair as you hum, not letting the silence engulf the room. He's beyond grateful for that, for how you just seem to know what he needs and is more than willing to give it to him. He's never been handled with such care before, like he's wanted, like he's precious. It makes his body feel warm and he basks on it.

He waits until you stop your ministrations, until your breathing evens out and it's just him alone with his thoughts. He keeps his eyes shut, as he knows that if he dared to glance at your sleeping face his heart would burst with affection, the feelings he's trying to rein in exploding from his chest. 

Azul only has made a promise to himself once, when he was a little kid being bullied by his peers, eager to prove them wrong, to prove he could be better than their expectations. Now, he makes a new promise, to protect you and your kindness, to never let someone, least him, hurt you again, to make up for his own shortcomings and become someone you can be proud of.

He loses consciousness for the second time that day, but this time he knows he's alive. He feels it in the way his heart beats in sync with yours, the way his breaths come out from his mouth, the way your fingers are laced with his. 

Azul is alive and swimming to the surface, as he refuses to drown.

Masterlist

Here are the roles for the other characters in my fic, i’ve become the villain’s lover! I’ve also included a sentence or two on how they would be as love interests. The difference with the side characters is that you’d have to be the one to pursue them, unlike how the housewardens try to pursue you. The housewardens would respect your decision no matter what, but would probably be a bit more happy if you decided to date someone from within their dorm (they’re petty like that).

Ace Trappola: The new, impish knight that Riddle hired. He followed in his brother’s footsteps, but doesn’t seem to take his job very seriously, playing petty pranks that often lead to hour long lectures from Riddle. Still, he’s skilled and quick-witted, and Riddle has admitted that he sees potential in him. He treats you like an old friend, quick to sling his arm around you and complain about Riddle’s temper. He’ll flirt with you as a joke, but if you don’t shy from his advances, he may take it a bit more seriously…

Deuce Spade: The other new hire who’s determined to prove himself. Coming from humble origins, Deuce once fell into a group of thieves and almost committed to a lifetime of crime before he heard his mother cry over him. After that, he turned over a new leaf and trained to become a knight to make her proud. Well intentioned but prone to accidents due to his straightforward and gullible nature, Deuce is often teased by Ace. Still, it was easy for him to fall for you at first sight. He’s determined to keep his feelings to himself, but if you reciprocate, then you might have a loyal knight pledging himself to you for the rest of your life…

Trey Clover: Riddle’s most trusted vassal, and a man born into a commoner family. He’s known Riddle since they were very little, and when he became a knight, Riddle was the first to appoint him. This caused a stir because knights are usually appointed from noble families. Still, Trey is genial and well liked, and does his job diligently. He treats you well, often pausing to pat your head and ask how your day has been. He tells you that if you need anything, don’t hesitate to knock on his door. Trey seems to treat you a little more kinder than others, but is that because you’re important to Riddle, or to Trey himself?

Cater Diamond: Cater is carefree and bright, and the most popular of Riddle’s vassals by far. Though his origins are unknown, as he simply wandered into town one day, Cater claims he comes from a minor noble family. Despite his seemingly open personality and endless list of friends, Cater keeps everyone at a measured distance. He’s friendly and affectionate with you, but if you attempt to start a relationship with him, perhaps you might be the first person to break down his walls…

Jack Howl: A man intensely loyal to Leona, Jack admires him for his strength and intelligence— though they often argue over Leona’s underhanded methods. How did a man as straight laced as Jack ever become entangled with Leona, anyways? Perhaps it’s because Jack seeks to best Leona one day. Though he acts gruff and uninterested, Jack often accompanies you around town and handles minor repairs around your house without complaint. And with the way Jack’s tail wags around you, a relationship might not be as hard to start as you initially thought…

Ruggie Bucchi: Leona’s most trusted aide and right hand man. If Leona gives orders, then Ruggie is the one carrying out the grunt work and getting his hands dirty. Born in the slums, Ruggie believes whole heartedly in Leona’s cause and wants to make a difference in their country. Wily and clever, Ruggie will follow you around town and make you laugh while his fingers inch closer to your wallet. Despite his mentality that it’s a dog-eat-dog world, it seems he may have developed a soft spot for you… Now, what will you do about that?

Jade Leech: Along with his brother, Jade and Floyd have known Azul since he was young, along with every sordid detail of his past. Though polite and calm on the surface, underneath that, Jade is always seeking a new source of amusement. He carries out all of Azul’s plans flawlessly, and handles the blackmail and interrogations for him. It seems like he’s deemed you a new source of entertainment, but perhaps his feelings run a little deeper than that…

Floyd Leech: Someone who lives by his whims, Floyd is temperamental and capricious. He handles the physical aspects of Azul’s plans, such as threatening debtors who refuse to fulfill their contracts. He doesn’t seem terribly interested in people outside of his family or his close friends, but you seem to have caught his interest due to all your unpredictable actions. It’s up to you if you want to integrate yourself into his inner circle, or pursue something farther with him…

Kalim Al-Asim: After everything that happened, Kalim sees you as a close friend! Kind, sweet, and always willing to see the good in others, it’s no wonder that Kalim ended up as your favorite character in the novel. He basically treats you like a partner, always affectionately curling up to you or inviting you out to eat whilst holding hands. It seems Kalim’s feelings towards you are frustratingly vague, so it’s up to you to define what you want them to be.

Epel Felmier: In Epel’s eyes, the two of you have been through thick and thin, so he’s very fond of you already. It’s easy to be himself around you, and not the perfect gentleman Vil is training him to be. His accent slips through while you talk, and the two of you often work on a little garden that Epel has planted out back. However, Epel seems to be a bit moodier than usual when you spend time with others, and tries to impress you with great feats of strength when you’re around. Now, what could the source of this change be?

Rook Hunt: Vil’s right hand man, and a retainer who has been by his side for years. It’s hard to get a handle on him: there are no details on his past despite his exuberant nature, and he has a habit of sneaking up on others. Vil often sends Rook on… tasks… that take him days to complete. Rook is completely charmed by you, though, and often espouses your beauty and talent. Rook welcomes any advances you would make on him with open arms; whether he experiences the beauty of love himself or watches it blossom in front of him, he will always have his eye on you.

Sebek Zigvolt: Sebek comes from a long line of fae knights who have pledged their service to the Draconia family, and takes pride in his heritage. However, he suffers from insecurity over the knowledge that his father is an ordinary human. He’s determined to prove himself worthy of his title, and seems to view you as a nuisance. However, he is the first to draw his sword to protect you, so perhaps there might more to his feelings than hostility…

Silver: Silver is Lilia’s adopted human son, though no one knows precisely where he hails from. It’s said that Lilia simply showed up one day in the palace, covered in blood and carrying a snoozing baby. There are rumors that Silver is the child of an enemy general, or from an enemy kingdom, though Silver himself seems content with his current family. It might take him a bit to realize your feelings towards him, but he’ll always welcome you to the palace with a gentle smile and an outstretched hand, no matter his own feelings.

Lilia Vanrouge: Malleus’s advisor and someone who has watched over him for a long, long time. You’ve heard whispers that in the far past, he was a great general who led the kingdom to numerous victories. Though there are contradicting accounts on Lilia’s precise age, everyone agrees that he was tasked by the now retired queen to watch over her grandson, Malleus. Though he has seen much and lost many, Lilia is not afraid to embrace new relationships in his life. He seems to take your potential interest in him as a challenge…