2023 Redraw (only Face And Colors Changed Really)

HI AMORA I'M SO HAPPY YOU LIKE HER 😭😭😭 I'LL SAY A BIT ABT HER DYNAMIC WITH THE CHARACTERS

from Heartslabyul she gets along super well with adeuce duo since they are The Besties ever (and the main source of headaches around NRC). she likes to clown them but is ready to help at any time!! of course, after having her fun too! Bee and Cater talk with internet slang and if he's around she WILL ask to take a pic together. she wants to be featured in his magicam even tho she doesn't have an account herself. you scroll through his page and 50% of it are random pics with her. Riddle likes how curious she is and how she actually is dedicated to learning things and listens to his lectures, so they are study buddies! though her upbeat personality can be a bit too much, so she tones it down a little when it's just the two of them and actually gets more serious. she likes to eat Trey's sweets and they bond over being the Oldest Sibling TM, but aren't as close as she is with the others.

from Savanaclaw she and Ruggie are also The Besties ever <3 they like to get into mischief together and she gives him a special discount at Mostro (what Azul doesn't know won't hurt him). Leona probably sees her like an energetic little sister at some point after they get closer, mainly they hang out by napping together or with her asking him a bunch of questions until he caves in and answers them. Jack is one of the first people she makes friends with after getting lost around school and asking him for directions. multiple times.

from Octavinelle she gets along pretty well with the trio since she spends so much time around them. Floyd, Bee and Kalim share a single brain cell, so imagine when they are together... the chaos... since she's part of the mountain lovers club, she spends a lot of time with Jade and loves to listen to him talking about whatever be finds!! she works at Mostro (she has to earn money somehow) and is pretty casual with Azul, they bully each other (affectionate) and are little shits together.

from Scarabia, Kalim and her are like a duo of unsupervised kids having a sugar crash, which means they get the wildest ideas together. Jamil is STRESSED. though he lets them be for a while, since he knows Bee won't let anything happen to Kalim. still, they aren't that close.

from Pomefiore, she isn't all that close with them, but she gets along fine with Vil! at the VDC camp at Ramshackle they get closer and she acts a bit more mature, a lot of their views on things align too, though she calls him out when he's wrong, very bluntly. Epel mostly respects that she can stand up to her morals and how free she seems to be. Rook... is having Rook typical behaviour. they have some interesting conversations.

from Ignihyde, Ortho likes her since she acts like a cool big sister around him. not only that but she thinks he's really cool too! Idia is complicated since they almost never talk, their interactions happen mostly with Ortho's help and then he gets tired of being their messenger and they get each others number to talk about nerd stuff.

from Diasomnia, she has a relationship like the one in game with Malleus, though she's even more casual around him. she will ramble about things of her world and make questions about magic, since he seems to know a lot about it. Bee and Silver are a kind of unexpected duo? they also get along very well, sometimes when she's got a low social battery she spends some time with him and they just chill together. she isn't as close to Lilia or Sebek, but they also have their convos here and there, which are sooo entertaining to her.

from RSA, Che'nya is another of The Besties ever, they like to spend time at the town together and cause mischief! she isn't close with Neige since they had like... one (1) convo total, but she thinks he's cool.

QAMAR YA QAMAR TELL ME MORE ABOUT BEE PLEASE I WANT TO KNOW SOOOO MUCH WHEN I GET MY IPAD I'LL DRAW HER WITH NILLOUFAR AND MY OTHER OCS FOR THE GIGGLES

AMORA YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BEE???? AND DRAW HER TOO??? I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DOCINHO <33 SENDING YOU THE BIGGEST KISS RN

also I don't think I've seen Nilloufar yet??? I'm going to look for them asap!!

now, be prepared for my Bee lore drop:

she's the prefect of Ramshackle from another world, so basically she's got the role of MC in the game! she's usually very friendly, although more to the introverted side. she's also VERY affectionate with her friends and when I say very, I mean it. yes, everyone at NRC has thought she was dating her friends at least once. she respects their boundaries of course, but if they don't complain about it she will hold their hand, hug them, kiss their cheeks and forehead and noses and hands, play with their hair, rest her head on their shoulder, cuddle with them, all very much platonic.

not to mention she's shameless around these she trusts. if she becomes your friend you bet she will say anything that's on her mind, which includes random compliments that are 100% genuine and some out of pocket jokes that will take you by surprise. while she's usually abiding by the rules and does her best at school work, she will cause mischief at times to entretain her. nothing that could put people in danger, just to mess with them in a light hearted way like teasing or roping them into her schemes.

Bee loves studying the theorical aspects of this new world, it's all so very new and cool to her. magic exists, there are different species, there's people that live under the sea, there's fae, there's a whole new geography and history and politics and culture, from movies to literature to music to games to folklore to traditions, that she can explore. she's very curious, which means she will want to know as much as she can and will make questions to any of her friends willing to answer! she especially is interested in social studies and would like to make ressearch about it, even work with it in the future!

she's in two clubs, the arts club and the mountain lovers club. now, you ask me: how did this happen? well, first she entered the arts club, since it was something she was used to and had an interest on! then, she finds out about the mountain lovers club and gets curious, so she checks it out one day. Jade is very pleasant (he wants more members to the club) and she likes it, but sadly she's already enrolled in one club and thinks Crowley wouldn't let her join another. Jade tells her to not worry about it, he would have a talk with Crowley. the next day, Crowley suddenly lets her take part in two clubs. I wonder how that happened...? nah, no need to worry about it.

if there's one thing she LOVES is sweets. anything with sugar will have her directing heart eyes at you. also, in a disney princess style, she gets along very well with animals. maybe not to the same point as Silver, but they do seem to have a soft spot for her too, which is GREAT because she will want to pet them. Jade has lost her more than once on their mountain expeditions because she wandered around following some cute animal she saw.

and she's the type to "go with the flow", you know? if adeuce get into trouble, she's there to either get into it with them or bail them out. if Floyd appears out of nowhere screaming "Shrimpy" and running in her direction, she will scream one of the many nicknames she's got for him and run in his direction as well. if Leona is napping on the botanical garden and there's space for one more, she will nap alongside him.

Bee will say some random sentences in portuguese sometimes or call people portuguese nicknames. she's very aware no one understands a thing and it's incredibly amusing to her. she will keep doing it, so there's no use in complaining. don't ask her the meaning of the words, there's a high possibility she will tell you the wrong meaning and giggle any time you say it. little menace (affectionate).

I'm SURE there's a vignette with Trey and Rook in which Rook is making alchemy experiments and blowing stuff up so the science club members get scared and Trey has to intervene but. I can't remember which one it is. help????

[Would it be enough? - Azul Ashengrotto]

Summary: He felt pathetic. He was sitting on the floor trying not to hyperventilate, desperately bitting back tears and gripping on the edges of his dignity. Azul was pathetic, and he was not enough for you.

Notes: gn!reader, unrequited love, angst, hurt no comfort, yes I like to make Azul suffer, some self deprecating thoughts too, oh the pains of unreciprocated love

It all started when you entered the board games club.

Azul would forever curse that day, the day you entered in his life and changed it forever. He'd curse and cry to whatever cruel entity watching over him for ever putting you in his path like that. But, at the same time, should he have been given the chance, he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Even if he had to re-do it all over, the one thing he would never change would be that day, the day the sun shined on him for a few moments and took his breath away.

It might be a foolish, sentimental feeling, something he was not used to, so out of character for him. But he couldn't bear to imagine how different his life would be without that day on it, committed to his memory, imprinted on his soul.

You were new and bright and warm, so different from everyone else he's ever met, be it from the land or from the sea. It must be because you weren't from Twisted Wonderland at all, but from a whole another world. Azul has never and will never meet anyone like you. He's not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, it simply is the truth.

Idia had decided to not go on that day, something or other about an important event he couldn't miss on one of his online games. The club didn't have anyone else besides them, so Azul would have skipped as well should he have been warned sooner. As he was already at the reserved classroom, he saw no point in moving, taking it as a break from work. He spread himself at the teacher's chair, feet coming up to rest at the desk, undoing some of his blazer's buttons and taking his hat off, messing his hair with his hands. He put his arms behind his head and let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes in fatigue, glasses sliding down his nose.

When the door opened, taking him by surprise, Azul was not prepared to greet you. He was not the image he presents to the public, not a refined businessman, not the top student of his grade, not Octavinelle's feared housewarden. No, he was simply Azul, such a vulnerable side to show as a first impression, no masks or pretentiousness.

You entered, both in the classroom and in his life, a little shy at first, eyes scanning the room before landing on his form, as he fumbled to recompose himself on the teacher's chair. If it were anyone else, he'd have been mortified and expected teasing at best, blackmail at worst. You did none, surprising him even more. You only smiled, brighter than a pearl, and asked him if that was the board game club room, so innocently, not batting an eye at his ruffled state.

He cleared his throat and tried to appear professional, even if he knew it wouldn't matter much for you anymore, but for his own comfort. You took a chair and put right in front of his desk, excitedly telling him you'd like to join.

The next hour could be described as casual for most people, but Azul wasn't most people and he did not do casual. When you spent a whole hour playing chess with him, listening to him as he talked about the club and, eventually, about Night Raven College itself, your full attention on him and only him, Azul felt like he never had before.

There was something about you. Something that made Azul's tongue roll on itself when he wanted to speak, something that made his heart beat concerningly faster, something that made his hands clammy and shaky when they moved his pieces, something that made his cheeks feel warmer around you.

And oh, you were beautiful. Radiant, even, with a smile of gold and warm eyes. You must have been a siren, for your voice fished his heart so easily, made him feel like he was floating on the calmer waves, the salty scent that felt so much like home lulling him into a sense of security. Azul wanted you to keep making him feel like that, he wanted to keep hearing your voice and keep looking into your eyes, he wanted the electrifying touch of your skin as your hands would accidently touch his, he wanted the comfort of your knees resting against each other.

It was not love, of that he was certain, since he had only just met you. Azul was not sentimental, that wasn't what this was about at all. Perhaps it was more like... infatuation. Perhaps Azul simply wanted to chase the feeling of being wanted for who he is, without pretenses or his usual barriers. Perhaps he liked the feeling of being on top of the world, something only you could provide him.

No matter. It was not love and Azul would not go after you. In fact, he would make sure to keep his distance, least those troublesome feelings get stronger. 

And stronger they did get, because he couldn't avoid you. Your alluring song always brought him back to you, like a sailor infatuated with the sea's wonders, he'd always go back. There was no way to avoid you, not when you came back the next week for the club meeting, and the next, and the next, and the next. There was no way to avoid you, not when you were so kind to him, not when you treated him so different from what he was used to, not when you took his cunning side in stride and didn't get scared of him, didn't try to distance yourself. (Not when you treated him so much like a person, an equal, someone worth of your time). There was no way to avoid you, not when you would send him text messages to take care of himself and check on him at late hours to tell him to stop working and take a break, not when you would visit him at Mostro Lounge and invite him to sit with you at a table to simply spend time together. 

There was no way to resist you, Azul was but a fish caught in your hook, completly at your mercy. You either didn't notice or didn't care, content with the way things were. But Azul did, he noticed and he wanted and he ached. There was a hole in his heart, molded perfectly for you to fit right in. It would be so easy for you slide to his side and click, fitting like puzzle pieces. Azul could accommodate to your needs, he could change the way he did things to spend more time with you, he could use his hard earned money to buy whatever you wanted, he could praise you for how long you wanted him to, never running out of things to say.

But here's the thing: Azul was not enough. You were content with being his friend, and only that. No money or praise would be able to change your mind, because Azul himself was not enough, never enough. 

You deserved someone nicer, someone who would take good care of you, someone that could spend time with you and protect you and think of you above everything else. Someone that could give you the world. Someone that wasn't Azul.

It happened like this:

The little booth at the corner of the restaurant was warm. Not because that's how the air conditioner had set it to be, but because you were there with him. The chill of the undersea atmosphere couldn't reach the little world the two of you shared. He listened to you as you spoke about your day, what mischief your friends had gotten into and the new book you had been studying.

It happened like this:

There was something on your mind, Azul could tell. There was some restlessness in you, your eyes would wander around the lounge every once in a while, as if looking for something (or someone), your hands were agitated in their moviments, you were more thirsty than usual, you would derail your line of thought and get lost in your head for a few seconds, as if considering something before discarting it, or perhaps as if gathering up your courage to say something.

It happened like this:

Worried you were hurt or having trouble with someone, Azul gently asked what was on your mind. He saw your hesitation before you sighed, but you trusted him. Other people would know better than to open themselves up to the Octavinelle housewarden and give him any information for him to leverage, but you trusted him. Azul would do his best to help, even as a pit grew in his stomach and his senses screamed at him that something was wrong, because you trusted him, and he would never break that precious trust.

His heart cracked like this:

You confessed shyly, a little smile playing at the corner of your lips and your eyes avoiding his, gazing into the distance as if looking at someone else. Your fingers danced with each other and your head tilted to the side as you sighed, so full of emotion. It was an endearing scene, anyone would be lucky to get to see that lovesick expression in your face. Azul didn't feel lucky. No, in fact, he felt very unlucky. In another situation, he'd have given anything to hear you say those things, to have the chance of seeing you like that, flustered and giddy.

But here's the thing: Azul is not enough. Because it's not him you're thinking about when your lips curl like that, it's not him you're thinking about when your eyes soften like that, it's not him you're thinking about when your heart beats faster. 

And there's nothing Azul can do against it, because you weren't in love with some complete random person, so far from him he couldn't even recognize their name. It might have been easier to take, should that have been the case. No, you had fallen for the closest possible person next to him, his vice housewarden. Jade Leech was the one in your mind as you ate besides Azul.

His heart broke like this:

The little booth wasn't warm anymore. It was impossibly cold, colder than his home under the sea. The chill settled on his bones, made a home on his lungs as his chest caved in. Your little bubble had burst, the world was no longer only shared between yourselves. Azul felt his heart dropping, he felt like throwing up. His hands shook and he stared and stared and stared. You had never looked so beautiful and so far away. You were glowing, but it wasn't at him.

He could only stare as you talked in rushed whispers, not wanting to let the truth out, not wanting anyone to overhear. He could only stare as you jumped in surprise and flushed as Jade suddenly appeared by your side to check if you wanted to order anything else. He could only stare as Jade smiled softly and teased you, you bantering right back at him, so full of affection and so naturally that the two of you just... clicked. 

Azul hurriedly excused himself, murmuring an unconvincing excuse to leave the two of you alone and far away from him. He locked himself in his office and slid down the door, biting his lips and pressing the back of his palm to his eyelids, trying to rein his tears in.

He felt pathetic. He was sitting on the floor trying not to hyperventilate, desperately bitting back tears and gripping on the edges of his dignity. Azul was pathetic, and he was not enough for you. He was no longer the little boy he used to he, he did not need to hide in an octopot, but he wanted to. He wanted the easy comfort, he wanted to pretend nothing was wrong, he wanted to be left alone and to have you by his side at the same time.

He had always known. You have never tricked him, your feelings were clear. You liked Azul as your dear friend, your confidant, and that was the end of it. And Azul loved you and loved you and ached for you, as you fell for someone else. He was merely playing pretend for as long as he could, trying to stay blissifuly unaware of what was happening right in front ot him, as his two closest friends fell in love and left him behind.

When had that happened? When had you grown fond of each other? When had Jade won your heart over? When had Azul stopped being enough for you?

Has he ever been enough at all?

The floor had no sympathy for him or his sorrows. The vacant office mocked him, showing his life long accomplishments, everything he fought tooth and nail for. Was it worth it? He had what he had always wanted, didn't he? So why did his chest feel so empty, so dull, why did his heart ache so much?

Time passed by, but he gave it no mind. No one knocked at his door, most likely because the twins noticed he wanted to be left alone, and left alone he was. He broke down, a pathetic sight of a pathetic man, and he pulled himself together, drying his tears and fixing his clothes. He had to keep his image, at the very least, otherwise what else would he have left going for him?

Azul did what he does best. He pretended. He pretended everything was alright, that nothing had changed, that he was fine.

The one thing he didn't have to pretend was that he was happy for you. Of course he was, seeing you so excited about your crush was heart warming. But it was also heart crushing, to have what he's yearned for at his fingertips and letting it slip away. He'd stay happy for you, even as his feelings ate him alive and his heart screamed and kicked and sobbed that it was supposed to be him. Not Jade, but him.

Here's the thing: Azul is not enough, but Jade is. Jade is, and Azul will make everything in his power to make sure it stays that way, so that your heart won't break, not like his did.

It's a few days after that Azul pulls Jade to his office to talk.

He didn't want to talk, he wanted to scream at him, wanted to cry about how unfair it was, but he had more composure than that, he knew better. It wasn't Jade's fault you had fallen for him, just like it wasn't Jade's fault that Azul was not enough. And Azul knows Jade, he knows him like he knows himself, he knows Jade will be able to treat you right if that soft smile he reserved for you was any indicative. Yes, Jade could be vicious and decieving, he could lure you in only to break you, he could outsiren the siren. But he wouldn't. He wouldn't, because Jade was just as infatuated with you as you were with him. No, not infatuated. In love with you. 

The thought left a bitter taste in Azul's mouth. He was terrible and selfish, he wanted you to himself, he wanted you to look at him with that loving gaze, not Jade, but him. He'd swallow the feeling down for your happiness, for you.

"You wanted to see me?" Jade inquired politely as he entered, closing the door behind him.

The air felt tense. His stuffed little office made him seen so close. Azul held the scream in.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about the prefect."

"Oh? What about?" There was a glint in his eyes at your mere mention. Azul clenched his fists, his short nails biting into his skin to help him gather his strength, not back out on this. He had made up his mind.

"Your feelings."

"My... feelings? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." 

Jade, of course, wouldn't reveal his hand so easily. He could deny it all he wanted, his body spoke for itself. The way he became more alert, he leaned in slightly, his eyes widened just a fraction. It was proof of their years of partnership that Azul could notice all of this in the first place. Jade obviously liked you back, and Azul wasn't in the mood for his mind games.

"You like the prefect. Don't bother with denial, it's quite obvious." 

"Oh? I'm obvious now? How funny, I could swear I've seen you swooning over the prefect before." 

He was having fun with him, the bastard. Jade was perfectly aware of his feelings, just as attuned to him as Azul was, wanting him to take the bait. It was entertaining to taunt him, perhaps, or he wanted to see if Azul would try to talk him out of it and leave himself to try his chance with you. He might have if he thought he had a chance to being with, but that wasn't the case.

"Cut it out, I'm not trying to compete. Quite the contrary, in fact. Jade, I want you to take the prefect out on a date."

There, he had said it. He was almost sure there was blood on his tongue with how much it hurt to get those words out.

For once, Jade looked surprised, genuinely taken aback. Not his carefully constructed mask of shock, but his true reaction. Azul tried to feel the usual satisfaction that would follow such a thing, but he could only feel bitter.

"My my, that wasn't what I was expecting at all. How come, Azul?"

"The prefect likes you back, simple as that."

He couldn't, was physically unable to, hold back his heartache at that. His feelings came stumbling down each word, it was obvious. But he'd do it for your happiness, he would beg Jade to treat you well and with the utmost care, he would dig his own grave and lie in it.

Not that he would have to. At these words, Jade perkep up instantly. Nothing anyone else would have noticed, but Azul did. Of course Azul did, Jade was his closest friend. And he was about to let him have you all for himself. 

"What makes you think that?"

Jade had to know, had to know the way you looked at him with stars in your eyes, had to know the way you giggled and joked with him, had to know the way you liked to stay as close as possible. He had to.

"It's just as obvious as your feelings. So, do me a favor. Please, Jade." His voice breaks. Azul feels something inside him breaking alongside it.

Jade's eyes soften, an equal mix of pity and elation, and isn't it a funny sight? Who wouldn't be euphoric to know they hold your affection? Azul knows he would, Sevens, how much he would, how much he wishes that was the case.

"I understand. Thank you, Azul. I'll make sure we will have a most pleasant time together."

With a corteous bow, Jade leaves him to his misery. Azul could imagine it all, Jade's own cooking as you ate with him on a dinner illuminated by candlelight, your laughter as you slow danced in the dark afterwards, the stars shining bright above you and giving their blessings. How your lips would be so soft as you press it against his.

He grabs his hair in frustation, his chest feels ready to combust, Azul is a ball of jealousy and self pity and he's not enough.

Being your friend would have to suffice. He couldn't bear to lose you from his life, so that would suffice. Keeping you close, but never too much. Having your attention, but never all of it. Staying by your side, even if you're not by his.

Digging his cracked chest bones into his lungs, breaking and breaking the pieces left of his heart, waiting for his throat to be rasped raw, until his tears dry and he dehydrates. Until the sea runs dry and the land gets flooded, until the sun combusts and the moon implodes. Azul will stay by your side, of course he will.

Even if he has to watch you holding Jade's hand oh so tenderly, asking him to bend down a little for you to kiss his cheek. Even if his insides burn at the scene. Even if he only ever gets to stare at your back all day. Once your smile shines again, he can't bring himself to regret it.

He'll curse the day he met you, but by the Sevens, he wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. As long as he gets to watch you being happy, from afar, he'll be satisfied. He'll focus on his work and his studies and anything else to keep himself busy, but a single message from you will be enough to break his concentration and capture his attention.

You'll always be enough for him, more than enough. No matter how many years pass, Azul will keep loving you, even if he's still not enough.

Masterlist

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.

I was writing a silly little fluffy piece and then it got away from me and turned into angst ??? somehow ???

yes yes, they helped but were kinda acting like nothing happened ig??? ooh that's true, as the first overblot, Riddle has a bit more content about it! I'VE READ IT, it felt like such a different tone from the rest of the anthology and it hurt too (like Riddle is so confused, still adapting his way of acting and trying to redeem his past wrongdoings), but it was so good, I loved getting a glimpse of Riddle's and Ace's relationship after everything and how they were adapting!

With care,

Bee ♡

[Valentine's first spring - Riddle Rosehearts]

Summary: Autumn passes by, with winter following closely. You stay, keeping his heart safe. You stay, and Riddle craves you more than anything in this world.

Notes: gn!reader, fluff with a bit of angst, riddle's mother is it's own warning, wrote this in like an hour while listening to Valentine by Laufey and First Love/Late Spring by Mitski

The wall was red. Not too vivid, to not hurt the eyes to look at, but not quite light enough to be pink. Riddle remembers clearly, the hours of staring at it, locked in his bedroom, marked it in his memory, burnt a hole and stayed at the back of his mind. Sometimes, if he closes his eyes long enough, he feels as if he's staring at that wall again.

As a child it felt agonizing. He stared and stared and stared, trying to will his brain to keep quiet for a little while, to stop thinking. He never managed to do that, not like the other kids, who always looked so cheerful, without a care in the world, only thinking about the present moment. Riddle wasn't like them, he never was. His brain didn't look at the wall and wondered about what the next episode of a cartoon would be or what sweet he would eat next or what prank he'd pull with his friends.

No, he wasn't like these misbehaving brats, his mother told him so. He thought about the exercise he couldn't get right and his mother's disappointed frown. What should he do to be better? He didn't want to be burden, the least he could do was get a simple exercise right. Other times he would think about the high grade he got on his latest test. His mother looked pleased then. Not happy, she was never happy, not around him. Perhaps if he only put more effort into studying, if he followed the rules, if he did everything as she told him to, perhaps then she would smile and tell him he did a good job. She loved him, she told him so. It just didn't feel like it, sometimes.

After meeting Trey and Che'nya, he stopped looking at the wall for a while. He was happy, he couldn't stand that reddish color anymore, nor his stray thoughts. He met a blue sky and green on the streets and the world was full of color. He bid the wall goodbye for good. 

Even so, he missed staring at it when his free time was taken away from him. Back when he still could, his mind would rest a little and he could pretend he was doing it out of his own free will, not because he didn't have any game to play or any non academical book to read or any candy to snack. The books were nowhere as comforting as that familiar red shade. His chest ached. He wondered if that was what love felt like.

After his overblot, Riddle was lost. He was thankful for your help, for you stopping him from commiting even more mistakes and making him see how he was doing things wrong. Still, he couldn't help but resent you a little for opening his eyes, forcing him to leave the comfortable zone he was in.

He was taught to follow the rules, since it was the right thing. Naturally, everyone should do the same. Have their mother's never taught them how to behave? Riddle could do the job, put everyone in line, make Heartslabyul follow proudly in the Queen of Hearts' steps.

But the rules weren't always right, human nature was a complicated thing, there would always be exceptions. He couldn't expect everyone to act like him when they weren't brought up the same way. He should have been more considerate to their feelings, stopped to hear their justifications before collaring them mercilessly. 

Riddle had never wanted to be a tyrant. He only ever had wanted to be a good ruler, someone his subordinates can count on.

He continued to be lost as he stared, alone, at the cooking book's instructions. Trey was so kind to lend it to him, even after all the mess he had made, even after everything he had put him through. He still smiled at Riddle and tried to help, in his own way.

Riddle wanted to cry, then. He wanted to apologize over and over, to thank Trey until he couldn't talk anymore, to ask why didn't he stop him sooner, why did no one tell him he was wrong, why did his mother mislead him so? He felt like a child, so small and pathetic. A lost child, at that. He refused to let the tears fall and only thanked Trey politely with a strained voice. From his firend's pitying smile, he could tell Trey saw through his façade easily, but didn't comment on it, letting him save the last bits of his dignity.

Wallowing in self pity wouldn't fix his mistakes nor get the tart done. He should get started as soon as possible and follow all the steps perfectly to bring a most satisfactory result. Although he couldn't find the measures for the secret oyster sauce Trey had told him about. 

There's a sudden noise at the kitchen's door as someone enters, surprising him. Riddle turns around, not expecting any company, much less yours.

"Prefect. Have you forgotten something here?"

"No, I didn't. I wanted to see you, actually."

There's dread in his gut and his hands tremble slightly. He's not sure how to act after the stunt he pulled, after he had put you in danger on your first week, after he broke down crying in front of everyone. Perhaps you're here to demand a better apology or to mock him. So be it, he'll take it all gracefully.

"Oh? What for?"

"I want to help."

There's a soft smile on your face, determination shining in your eyes as you roll up the sleeves of your uniform and look around for an apron.

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused." Your smile turns into a playful grin and you let out a victorious sound as you put on the apron you found laying on the corner. 

He's baffled. What were you talking about? Ace made it very clear he should do this alone to prove he was truly sorry for his past actions.

"I'm... not sure if I understand."

"Well, it's just that I didn't want to leave you alone after... uh... everything." You make a motion in the air with your hands, as if it would be enough to sumarize the whole disaster that had transpired. "You don't have to isolate yourself, you know. You can count on us if things get too tough."

There's a strange lump on his throat and he swears he has stopped breathing. What were you talking about? Why were you being so kind to him, of all people? You haven't even known each other for that long and he has only caused you trouble the whole time.

"Also, I had a lot of fun baking with the guys! I want you to have fun too! The more, the merrier, and all that."

You walk to his side in order to look at the book, all smiles and confidence in a pink apron. He stares at you in shock, scooting away as soon as your elbow makes contact with his. He feels tingles on the place, as if your touch could burn. You pay him no mind, reading carefully the list of ingredients. 

"Alright, sounds easy enough. Let's get started, then!"

"Wait. You don't have to do this. I don't need your pity, prefect, I can handle myself just fine."

Riddle wants to slap himself as soon as the words are out of his mouth, but he couldn't let you help. He needed to this alone, that's how he's always done things. Your stare makes him want to scream in frustration. He doesn't understand it, it isn't the disappointed one his mother gave him, nor the pitiful one from his dormmates. If he looked long enough, he would have concluded it was an understanding stare, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"I don't pity you, Riddle. You knew what you were doing and you deserved to hear those things from Ace."

His breath hitches and he's never felt so ashamed before. It feels worse than a slap, to have the truth thrown at him like this. His actions mocking him, his own faults tightening the collar around his neck.

"Still, I can see you truly regret it. And it doesn't feel right to just leave you alone. Don't get me wrong, you're not my charity project or anything. It's just... I understand how hard it is to start again, to try to be better. And it's so much harder when you feel like no one is by your side."

Like an open book, Riddle feels you can read every line from his being, that his thoughts are yours to pick apart. Is he so obvious? He feels rooted in place, a poor fool waiting to receive his sentence at your mercy.

"You're not a bad person, Riddle. I can see that. So, let's start again, together."

Your smile looks too much like the light at the end of the tunnel, like some sort of salvation. His chest expands and contracts again as his breathing resumes, he gulps the dryness out of his throat and blinks firmly, holding the tears in. Suddenly, he doesn't feel as lost as before.

You extend your hand at him, expectantly. How could he deny that? Sparkles fly on his skin as your hands touch, the gentle feeling like nothing he's ever felt before. How did you manage to make him feel like he's floating, like everything will be alright, like there's a shock running through every single bone of his body?

"Come on, we've got a tart to do!"

"Yes. Let's do this." He can't control his facial muscles, a little smile forming on it's own.

Only after both of you had gathered all the ingredients did he remember something.

"There's just one more thing."

"Yes?" Your attention focuses solely on him, head tilted slightly and he feels at the top of the world to have you looking at him like that.

"We don't have any oyster sauce."

The cute inquisitive expression falls from your face, a carefully neutral one taking it's place, making him fidget on his spot, worried he might have done something wrong. He truly didn't want to ruin things with you, not when everything has started to feel right again.

"Why would we need any?"

"Trey has told me it's an unlisted secret ingredient that all the finest bakers use..."

He watches, mesmerized, as your expression cracks, a giggle leaving your lips, followed by another and another until you're full out laughing, eyes crinkled so hard they're almost closed, teeth exposed and chest heaving, pure joy flowing through you. It's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard.

Still, he's not sure if he should feel hurt or offended that you're laughing at him. He settles on confusion, not wanting to jump into conclusions.

Once you've calmed down enough to speak again you explain, between giggles sweeter than sugar, that it was only a joke Trey had pulled on you as well. 

The embarrassment creeps up his spine and makes his face blush, cheeks warming up. He would have been mad, had it happened a few days ago. And yet. Your happiness is contagious, making a laugh break out from him, joining the chorus with your melody. 

It feels so silly, laughing together in the kitchen like that, but he's not lost anymore. The air is comfortable once more and it feels sweet on his tongue, it feels like home.

As the time passes, you grow on him, you make a place for yourself in his life, to the point he can't remember how he's ever lived before you.

You study together, you listen to all his explanations attentively, he answers any questions you might have, you make sure he's taking breaks. You take him on walks around the campus, hand clasped in his. You rope him into snack runs, sharing with him a piece of whatever you're having.

You give him hugs without asking anything in return, your arms open and oh so inviting, so alluring. You tousle his hair when you're feeling playful, fixing it gently when he complains. You give him a kiss on the cheek when you're proud of one of his accomplishments, loudly congratulating him.

He's never had this before. No one has been this affectionate with him, so openly and unashamed. No one has treated him like he's precious, like you do. 

Riddle craves you. He has never desired something so fiercely before. He has never had the chance. 

The next best thing he could compare the feeling to was to a strawberry tart. Not any strawberry tart, but Trey's parents' bakery's strawberry tart. Whenever he gazed at the window he would see it on display, the red color calling to him. His mouth salivated just thinking about how it would taste should he take a bite of it, the sweetness exploding on his tongue. Maybe he could satiate the aching whitin him, fill that empty hole and feel happy. Then, his mother's voice would play on his head, reprimanding him for even thinking of consuming that amount of sugar. He'd look away, ashamed, but the red strawberries would always pull his eyes to them again, like a magnet.

Whenever he saw you, he felt the same ache on his chest, but stronger. A yearning to see your smile, to feel your warm hands against his, taste the most delicious red from your lips. Just from having your attention on him it felt like lady bugs dancing on his stomach, making his heart accelerate, face flushing. He craves you, more than any strawberry tart in the world.

It scares him. He's never felt like this, never felt this strongly for anyone. He's still young and sorting his life out, he doesn't even know what he wants to become without his mother's overbearing demands. He's figuring himself out, getting lost in the maze of his feelings. He's always acted older than his age, always complied to his mother's desires, and now he feels younger than ever and he's scared.

Riddle wants you to like him back, desperately so. Still, he can't bear to imagine you saying you love him. The thought leaves him breathless, his chest aches and aches and aches for you and he doesn't know what he'd do without you.

Autumn passes by, with winter following closely. You stay, keeping his heart safe. You stay, and Riddle craves you more than anything in this world.

The fresh breeze of spring brings forth the scent of the flowers scattered across the garden. Riddle can hear birds singing at the distance and the sun's warmth settles pleasantly on his skin, warming up his bones. It's as if the flora has come to life, buzzing in excitement for the season.

There's nothing prettier than your smile directed at him, nothing else that could make him feel like he's lost control of his heartbeat.

Your hands are behind your back and you have a spring in your step as you stop right in front of him. You ask him to extend his hand and he does so, watching intently as one your hands takes his and brings it to your lips, tenderly pressing a feather light kiss on the back of it. His eyes are blown out, his lips drying and heart running wildly.

"These are for you."

A bouquet of flowers in red shades is given to him, your other hand making contact and holding his. A smile blooms on his face, stretching his red cheeks as a loving sigh leaves his mouth. 

"Thank you. They are lovely."

"Just like you." You wink playfully, sticking your tongue out a bit and letting go of his hands. He has to stop himself from reaching out again, missing your warmth terribly.

Riddle clears his throat and motions at the other side of the small round table he's set up. "Please, have a seat."

You do as he says, admiring the decorations he's prepared. Between the red and white roses of the garden, the two of you share a cup of milk tea and a strawberry tart. The conversation flows naturally, telling each other how your days have been and how things are going. Riddle could listen to you all day, every story you have to share captures his interest as easily as you've captured his heart.

It's such a domestic scene, the two of you. Riddle thinks that's what love must feel like. Like a warm embrace, or like the sweetness of the tart melting on his tongue, or like your smile. Not like a red wall and a disappointed frown.

The sun sets in a hue of reds, the sunlight creating a dream like atmosphere between yourselves. The way your relaxed face reflects the colors makes Riddle feel full of affection. He's content, he realises. He wishes he could share a million other moments like this with you, a million other springs.

"It's beautiful." You comment, breathless. You're not looking at the sunset anymore, though. Your gaze is on him and only him, as if he's the most important thing in the world. "You're beautiful." Your voice is filled with sincerity and something else, something that makes his heart ache with yearning, something that makes him want to hear you say that again and again.

It feels so much like a confession.

He can't help but blush, red like his hair. He's never had this before, he's not sure how to react. So, he blurts out the first thing he thinks of, the truth slipping from his lips.

"You're beautiful too."

It feels like a promise.

You look surprised, eyebrows rising and mouth opening. He's surprised too. And then you laugh, honey dripping from the sound. You look pleased as you take his hand in yours, lacing your fingers and squeezing it gently. 

The table is small, small enough for you to lay your elbows against it and come closer to his face, for your other hand to cup his red cheek and bring his face closer to yours. Riddle is lost in the moment, closing his eyes and tilting his head, his free hand resting against your shoulder. 

As your lips press together, Riddle feels elated. His fingers tremble and grip harder onto you, not wanting to let you go. The kiss is slow and so tender, so sweet. He can taste the strawberries on your tongue, can feel your thumb caressing his cheek. You deepen the kiss and he lets out a whimper from deep within, a sound filled with sheer want. He lingers over this moment, wanting to commit it to memory, carve it on his soul.

You pull back, separating your lips. Riddle chases after you, wanting more, needing more. You giggle and nuzzle your noses together, such an innocent act that it feels more intimate, somehow. You've got his heart on your hands and you hold onto it with the utmost care, so much so that he can't feel himself ever regreting this. If he could, he'd like to kiss you, and only one, for the rest of his life.

"Riddle." The way you say his name is soft, not breaking the moment. "Will you be my valentine?"

He opens his eyes and traces every inch of your face, his hand moving to the back of your neck and pulling you closer. He gives you a chaste kiss, trying to satisfy his craving enough to be able to get the words out from his throat without choking on it.

"I'd love to, if you'll have me."

Your answering smile is exactly what he needs. Your lips connect again, it feels a lot like love.

Masterlist

JADE ROMCOM IS DONE!!! I was giggling and blushing writing the ending fr fr, I'm really fond of how it turned out <3 I'll make some last minute edits and get it posted before going to sleep!

❤️❤️❤️Happy Birthday Riddle❤️❤️❤️

…please come home :’’’)

THE FRIENDS OF ALL TIME IDC ‼️‼️

School and finals were happening so I finished this several weeks late to the redraw trend but it's alright at least they're real now🥲

Zoom-ins + the original sticker

CHERRY I'M GIGGLING OUT LOUD AT THIS

"please spare a moment to hear about our most wonderful club full of fascinating activities -PUT THE BROOM AWAY- I'm sure you'll love it if you give it a chance!!! I even brought a mushroom casserole of questionable quality for you 🥺 -I SAID TO PUT THE BROOM AWAY-"

instead of running to the sunset we run to the sunrise while you chase us away from your house (for now)

No one:

Jade: Let me tell you about the wonderful Mountain Lovers Club