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GOODBYE EVERYONE (ACE TRAPPOLA)

SUMMARY:

The story of their disappearance starts when Ace Trappola wants to make a difference.

OR: In the face of helplessness the burning sun that can't do anything else but burn, and burn and burn, wishes to flee into the dark where the others are.

WARNING SIGNS:

long content below (the fic is about: 19k+ words)

character slandering (mainly crowley but i promise you this man is genuinely trying he's just very bad at it. Like really bad, not that Ace-y here cares though KJSHKFHDKJF)

references/allusions to power imbalances and abuse of authority (forced imprisonment as well, but... im not sure about that one actually---)

implied/mentions of child abuse/neglect

worldbuilding and original characters are shown and used

2nd POV is used in this fic (You/Your)

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

The first part for my mini series for ms. honey's 1.8k followers event. I hope you'll enjoy ^^

People who knew them a long time ago... @honey-milk-depresso @aulilyu @randommagicpotato @mellowberrie

Your day starts out like this:

You wake up inside your room and to the sound of your alarm blaring obnoxiously through your peaceful sleep. The sun barely getting in through the curtains and the only thing you can see are the faint shapes dimly highlighted by the rays that manage to slip through. If you had shit eyesight then maybe you would have gone back to sleep assuming it was still dark, but you haul yourself off of your bed after some time while listening to your shitty ringtone. You punch the off button then proceeded to open the curtains and tidied your room.

Then after that, you make your way inside of your bathroom, strip your clothes off and then shower, then after you would do just that—you'd dump that shit in the corner of your room where the rest of your laundry stayed, make a mental note to somehow do—or get someone to do it. Dress up go downstairs, heat up whatever meal you can find in your fridge, eat. Then go to your garage to start up your car, lock the doors and then double check the security in you house before finally leaving for work.

It sounds normal right? It's a little repetitive, monotonous, and often times just straight up boring sometimes. Sure something weird happens every once in a while, but that's just part of the job you're in—your boss did make sure to tell you that on your first day. But it's normal for the most part and it sure as hell is more than anything you could ever ask for.

Except here's the thing—Today is not a normal day.

Because when you go down stairs to start up your car, the aforementioned vehicle had displayed signs of being a poor victim of a good old case of breaking and entering. Your car... your poor, poor car...

The window by your driver's seat has been smashed open, the door, dented and it's handle broken—also your tire had been crushed flat and was bent awkwardly. the door leading outside, dented and showcasing signs of having been forced open,.

How the hell did this happen you didn't know and more importantly why the hell did the alarm not, well—alarm you of this?!

You scowled and cursed under your breath, frantically rushing to the crime scene. You swear to god you'll sue that goddamn company someday. (Or maybe you should sue your brother instead of suing the poor workers who you are sure are being exploited by their asshole of a boss, but you aren't so sure how to go with that...)

You hurry, to check if anything has been stolen. While you're pretty sure that you didn't actually leave anything of value or anything of importance like documents or evidence or anything, it didn't hurt to double check either way (why else would anyone attempt to slaughter your poor car after all). You attempt to open the door, the handle rattles and shakes but it doesn't move at all.

You scowled harder and cursed under your breathe. Whoever did this you'll make them pay. Growing impatient when the door doesn't open you force it open, punching through the window and opening it from the inside. (You inwardly weep at the cost damage you'll have to pay but that's a problem for a later date). You check through your drawers and let out a sigh of relief when you realize nothing has been stolen, but blink as confusion grows within you if nothing was stolen then what happened...?

You frown. Some kind of freak accident? But if there had been something like that then you would hear it, you weren't the type to sleep like a log so what—?

And as you turn to check the bag a red journal sits there, ominously immediately grabbing your attention. You're pretty sure you hadn't bought a journal, not when....

("Ah but XXXX-chan you were being so defensive that I couldn't help but look through your—")

You blink as you grab it with steady hands, inspecting it closely you realize that it was a journal. Red and hardbound. One would think it would be newly bought if it weren't for the faint scorch marks and the vague claw marks that littered all over it's cover.

What was something like this doing here? You wonder staring at it. Nothing was stolen from you but instead someone left this behind...?

For what reason? Was it some kind of bomb meant to kill you? You shake your head at the ridiculous thought.

While you're sure this line of work did risk your life it never made you any enemies (and even if you had you doubted they would be able to harm you in any way, with your lineage and all).

You open the book. A letter falls off from its ages, you blink and pick it up. It reads as follows:

Yo, Detective. It's been a while hasn't it? If you know who I am then you must be plenty of surprised right? I mean a dead/missing person contacting you? I'd think I would be still asleep too—But anyways I didn't really wanna do this but my idiot said I had to since... we needed to go back, not that I really care I really don't want to go back. But they're ready to go back now so there's not much I can do about that... and it's what they want so what can I do about that? Anyhow I can't necessarily tell you where we are directly since we're already just risking so much just leaving you breadcrumbs to our trail so here's a book that'll help you figure shit out. I don't know why... But they trust you for whatever reason and I trust them even if I don't trust you so... yeah. Don't disappoint us alright? Mister Detective? -Ace Trappola

Your eyes widen as you re-read through the letter sent for you. Shock rushing through your veins at the name of the sender.

Ace Trappola? One of the students of the prestigious school of the Night Raven College? An exemplary student of the Heartslabyul dorm? And...

One of the kids who disappeared all those years ago?

That Ace Trappola?

There was no way, you think blinking. There was just no way, but... As you go through the journal it's handwriting, all the notes, the dates, and all the memories that are being unveiled to you at that very instant—there was no way to deny the very evidence right before your eyes.

This journal...

It really did belong to Ace Trappola...

You slump at the driver's seat of the car at this realization, unbothered by the glass that's pricking against your skin, too deep in thought. But why...? All the things written down in the notebook dated back during the first day, the details vague and weren't in detail either. The last thing written on it being the day for their final exam and not the day they left, which made things hard to work with.

Was someone targeting them for them to do this? To act subtle and run away...? And if you were right on the money then...

We're they in danger...?

You let out a long drained-out sigh and glance at your wristwatch in your left hand. It's 6:30 in the morning and even if you're car is okay you know for a fact that you'll still arrive on your work place late. You scowled and groaned hitting your head against the driver's wheel. God dammit all to the Great sevens...

You sigh once again sitting up straight and stare at the journal within your hands with the only thing repeating in your head... Why?

Why now? After three years of having gone missing with not even a single hello or goodbye at all, why only now...? Why...?

Ah that's right. You think as you pick up your phone from your pocket and open your contacts to a familiar group of names...

"If you find any information in regards to them then please update me immediately. " You remember the headmaster tell you in almost every time you meet, worry clear in his eyes, and genuine concern seeping through his voice.

"Please tell us if there's anything new in regards to our sons." Thalia Spade--the mother of Deuce Spade pleaded to you all those years ago, her pretty ocean eyes all glossy and bottom lip trembling. Not far behind either of the Trappola's stand with the same pleading expression.

...But... You hesitate---your thumb floating above the call option. If these kids didn't even go to the headmaster or any of their parents for this then... You couldn't trust anyone at all with the children's lives could you? You think and let out an exasperated sigh as you curse and shove back your phone inside. Guilt swirling within your system. You had promised their families that they would reunite with their children and yet...

What the hell was going on....? Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade.... and the magical monster Grim and that ghost called Yuu...

What happened? What is the real story that truly unraveled within that school? What made you all... run away? From everyone and everything...?

You run a hand through your hair, tugging it lightly and letting out a frustrated sigh, before taking deep breathes... And finally, place a hand against the cover of the book as your heart hardens in determination.

Well, there was only one way to find out was there...?

And so with that in mind, you utter a familiar chant, squeezing your eyes shut as your magic rises and rises and—

"Slip into shoes that don't belong in yours,

and enter a world that you aren't the center of.

The curtain rises as the story begins to unfold

Let the truth of it all begin to unroll!

Truman's Show."

—until it swallows you whole.

ACT 00: THE FIRST ACT

What people don't understand about stories is that even when it ends... The characters story will always continue.

The bigger picture might have long since ended but the smaller details—the ones that don't seem to matter in comparison to the bigger picture, the ones that people forget about will always continue on to grow. Much like how the world will always continue on to spin.

But here is a secret that no one knows.

The story that no one reads. The scenes that happen when the curtain falls. You know them all. And the story that begins after the journey he goes through. The reason for the disappearance of the burning sun that was Ace Trapolla, within the dark grim world that was the confines of Night Raven College would soon be no exception at all.

And so as the darkness disappears and the stage set begins to fall in place. The curtain rises—to you in place of the burning sun.

ACT 01: THE AFTERMATH OF FIRE.

The story of Ace Trappola's disappearance starts like this:

You are on your final month of your first year in the ever glorious and prestigious school of Night Raven College when things go utterly and terribly wrong.

There is fire everywhere.

That burning light that was ravaging everywhere in sight around the vicinity was in the same shade of that annoying magical beast's eyes that you've grown so terribly fond of. The same magical beast who wanted and swore to be the best mage out of any of you. The same magical beast that almost killed you all, with its own fire you've grown to like.

The same magical beast who's name is Grim and was--is, your friend.

You swallow a lump in your throat at the memory that only happened moments prior... (fire and fire and more fire ravaging, burning and your hand slipping from another as you attempt to reach and pull away someone from the fire, someone important, and precious, but they slip from your grip and you scream because oh gods are they dead they can't be dEAD---) You still your mindless wander that you began in hopes of finding them---of finding those two to take in deep breathes to calm yourself down. The others having long since gone back to the safety of anywhere but here—within the broken down walls of the mirror chamber. You're the only one left behind, looking for them, hoping to find them.

Those idiots. (Your friends).

He didn't mean it you knew.

Grim might be an annoying, greedy, and terribly selfish thing but you knew... You knew more than anything else that the terrible things that happened in the prior months that ensued... Was never his fault nor had he meant any of it. Any of this destruction.

At all.

....But that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. You think as you forced yourself to move, your eyes stinging from the smoke (or was it something else?)—coughing every once in a while from the ash that entered your lungs. It didn't mean that—even if you didn't mean it it wouldn't hurt the one you've hurt any less. You thought rather angrily, rage curling against your chest like the flames that flickered all over the place. Grim still had hurt him badly and you... You wanted an apology.... and the fire quietens as your mind adds that maybe you want to work things out too... Because even then... Grim was still your—Friend, and... You just... You just wanted to really know why...

Why had he hurt him?

Hurt them?

All of them?

Because as angry as you are (and rightfully so) you could never hold on to that anger for too long. While others held unto a burning rope that burned their skin, You never did so---After all why should you? If one person didn't mean it then there was no point in holding unto that anger, but even if someone did it with malicious intentions it was still pointless to do so either. Staying angry has never been a good thing, something You had learned over the time you continued on to stay by their side.

By Yuu and Grim's side... Who, speaking of which...

You feel yourself still as soon as you spot them in the distance—that magicless human and that annoying magical beast. Those idiots that always seemed to be at the center of the storm. The ones always seemed to be in the middle or dragged within the mess of it all.

Those idiots. Your idiots.

(Your friends.)

The Ramshackle prefect—the magicless human of Night Raven College, and that annoying magical beast—that wannabe great mage. Two-half of a whole student. Yuu and Grim. The two of them are on the ground. Yuu is kneeling, their back against you and Grim is... Grim is still, the feline gently cradled within their ward's arms.

Yuu seemed to notice you as they had turned over to look...

"Hey Ace..." They croak out, trying for a bright smile that only comes out as strained and in pain. "I'm glad you're okay..." they say and they sound okay, just a little raspy from all the smoke you bet... but as they twist their body twists in order to look at you... You realize that the two of them had it far worse than any of them.

Yuu with their burnt clothes and soot covering their skin, hair singed and bruises all over, along with several cuts along their face. Grim... wasn't looking any better either. The feline's face, beaten and cuts both large and small scattering all over his skin, the wounds still bleeding out... He wasn't moving either... The only sign of life he had were the flickering flames on his ears and tail and his terribly shallow breathing.

You blink at the sight, your anger dying out like a candle in the cold and your eyes stinging for different reasons now.

Of course the two would have it worse. You think cursing yourself for your insensitivity once again. Grim may be a magical beast but he was literally taking the brunt of powerful spells from up and rising powerful mages whilst Yuu was nothing but a magicless human who had nothing to protect themselves... nothing to defend themselves with... Nothing but Grim... Your heart drops to your chest at the remembrance of this realization. Stupid! You really were so stupid!

Yuu laughs—as if to reassure you, but it sounds like their choking on their own cries and your heart only breaks further at the sound.

"I'm sorry for the mess." they say as their shoulders start to shake, your feet move on instinct towards them. "I'll have to pay for this won't I? and Grim obviously, but mainly me and—" Yuu breaks down crying and you immediately rush over no longer walking, before quite literally sliding to the ground on your knees and ignoring the burn that causes that against your skin to reach them. Wrapping your arms around them in a tight hug.

"Grim--Grim, oh fuck—" They sob, the sound foreign and grating in a way you hear your firstborn cry in pain because of something. "Th—They're going to take Grim away from me again won't they?" they say but you say nothing, or rather you can't say anything at all. The words you need or want to say up in the wind much like the ash that blows around them.

What were you suppose to say? You think as your mouth goes dry almost as if the fire around you had evaporated them from your mouth. You were never good at words at all.

"I—I can't loose Grim. I—I don't wanna loose Grim!" Yuu sniffled as they begin to wail. The levelheaded prefect of that rundown dorm who extended a helping hand out for him now sobbing wildly in his arms. And the worst part was that there was nothing You could say or do to make them feel better either.

"What should I do Ace?!" They ask you and you can feel your own breathe hitch because Yuu ever rarely asked of you for help but even if they did ask.... It was never like this: With sobs and tears, and the voice filled with so much helplessness that one could drown.

"I'm---I'm... I'm so, so scared..." They whispered as their sobs died down turning into whimpers. "I don't wanna be alone again."

And at their words you think your heart might have shattered even further. Because rarely had Yuu ever admitted or shown their own negativity. Compliments were their usual and annoyance even more so... but sadness... and fear... You swallow the lump in your throat as you pat the prefect's back gently and clumsily—you were never good at comfort.

"I—I don't know..." you admit somehow finding your voice but because for once in your life you can't just be serious, you joke "But hey at least look at the bright side—That stupid headmaster could give you money for the materials to rebuild this place."

Yuu laughs, wet and sad, but even so they laugh giving you a momentary reprise before crying again and its a lot more quieter than the last one at least.

"Do you think that money would be enough for me to bribe him...? So I could keep Grim?" They ask still crying, and you don't need a brain to know that Yuu was desperately grasping for straws, anything to keep the one thing they actually have in this world that they were allowed to call their own—Grim.

You squeeze your eyes shut, a lie rolling out of your tongue. "Maybe." and Yuu only whimpers as you grit your teeth, that fire of rage within you rekindling but not at Yuu anymore, or Grim, but everyone—everyone including yourself.

You really were such a useless guy weren't you? It was always like this, you think. Back then when the chandelier fell and you could do nothing but almost have your future almost be taken from you because of one stupid mistake. Back even during the VDC against Vil when everyone was almost rundown and in the edge of falling apart, back when STYX attacked and took Grim away from them...

Even now... When the person who's helped you the most needed you... You couldn't even do anything for them at all...

You squeeze your eyes shut as you continued to hold Yuu in your arms along with Grim who was held within their arms, unmoving and unaware of the person crying for them. The prefect still in tears even in what it seemed to be a happy ending of a big fight and you—the always useless guy, helpless to soothe their fears and tears.

But even so you hope... as you hug Yuu as tight as you can. You hope that this—This hug could be enough to help them through it.

Even if it doesn't make the pain entirely disappear.

—

ACT 02: A WISH MADE PAST MIDNIGHT

Then the scene changes and you're in a much cleaner place to say the least.

You're in the school infirmary. The clock on the wall ticks as the time reads: 01:35 a.m. It's already past midnight but oddly enough you don't feel tired like you're supposed to be.

The room is quiet and filled with the soft shine of moonlight, the only noises you can hear are that of the breathing and occasional snoring of the students around the room, all who were fast asleep, unlike them. Still wide awake and not sleeping anytime soon.

You quietly grunt as you shift from your seat, having insisted that Yuu would take the last remaining bed instead.

Who speaking of which...

"Yuu...?" You call out to them, your voice barely even a whisper the small thing almost loosing itself to the cold wind of the AC that thrummed within the room.

The prefect blinks at them, slow and blearily, a small grunt of acknowledgement spills from their lips. Despite your insistence of rest in regards to their well being they still haven't shut their eyes with the past few hours you stayed within the room. Probably due to their own thoughts, you think unamused—not that you could say anything considering you were both in the same boat anyways.

"What is it Ace?" they ask him quietly, voice still scratchy from all that crying and their eyes a bloodshot red, Grim on the other hand is still fast asleep in their arms since Yuu had absolutely refused at the thought of not being with Grim. (After much pestering on their part due to Professor Crewel's hesitance that is, not that you could blame him with what happened even if it pissed a tiny part of you).

The only reason why you all were even looking somewhat decent was because of Professor Crewel who had insisted on taking care of the three of you before letting you all rest for tonight.

"... You doing okay?" you ask them, reaching out to them from your seat, carefully intertwining your fingers with theirs, their scar-marred hands rougher against yours, despite the callousness and all.

They don't speak, not for a while, face twisting into a variety of expressions as they pick up letters to form words inside their head, and you let them. Despite your impatience.

Being there and staying patient for them... It was the least you could do for them who had always done the same for you after all. (and nothing more than that, because what can useless old you do after all?)

"I–I don't know... But I do know I feel like shit." They croak out---obviously joking, expression sheepish. You shoot them an unimpressed look, something that sobers them--their expression more... tired and weary as they turn their back on you. You let them.

"... To be honest no, I'm not." they tell you honest this time, their back facing towards you while they faced the wall. Their voice hushed to the point you almost couldn't hear them.

"I... sometimes I wish I can just run from here... From all of it y'know? Maybe... start fresh somewhere, somewhere calmer... somewhere I can find peace." They confess, the sudden event of it causing you to blink. You hadn't expected their honesty truth be told. You had expected that they never really were going to say what they wanted to you, keep their needs and wants under lock and key...

"But... I know that won't happen..." they laugh bitterly. "Not with Crowley... and this whole mess."

And you bite your lip because you knew that too... Whatever the headmaster had planned for them it couldn't be anything good, and it certainly wasn't about finding a way home for them either... You clench your fist, as you thought—and there was nothing you could do for them either was there?

You weren't like your dear dormleader—who's determination and strictness could persevere through anything in order to achieve his own goals, or their friend the future darconic fae heir of the briar rose valley who could easily weave space as easy as knitting sweaters—hell even that sly but helpful octavinelle dormleader whilst shady as hell could make anything happen despite the price—even with the price because even you could admit that his deals were in fact fair.

But you? You were just... You.

You were just Ace Trappola—the troublemaking, rule-breaking, annoying first year from the heartslabyul dorms, that idiot who always seemed to cause trouble whether he intended for it or not—That Ace Trappola.

And you're fine with being just that. You never had any big dreams, just a want for a fun time. You didn't mind being just that because you didn't care or mind at all. You didn't mind being dragged or causing trouble as long as it was fun, didn't mind the risks as long as it guaranteed a nice adventure, didn't mind because in the end you could get out of the problem you made safe and sound.

Because you were just you, and painfully so.

Because nothing was ever about just you wasn't it?

There was your family—Your strict but loving mother, your distant but warm father, and your laidback but enthusiastic brother. Then... there were your friends, because as much as you denied that they were... All of them were really your friends.

Those idiots.

Grim, Deuce, Epel, Jack, Sebek, Ortho... and more importantly—

—Yuu.

It wasn't just you now.

You had people to come home too, people to make proud and smile, people to make happy and smile, and most importantly...

People to keep safe...

But something like that... It was impossible for useless old you now—wasn't it?

But even so, even so.... You still wanted to try.

Because it was the least you could do. For them. The person who'always been there and tried for you.

"Haha.." Yuu laughs, quiet and sad—a sound that you know they use when they're near to tears, a sound you've heard before—when you found them. "Sorry Ace, you must be tired from my complaining right...? I'm sorry... Go to sleep... I'll follow you just... just lemme stay awake for a little while longer, okay...?"

You're quiet for a while as you stared at their back, burning their contour within your mind. Their form that was okay and alive with you in this night, right now.

Of course, of course they'll apologize for spilling their own thoughts, apologize for being openly vulnerable to them about their own state. (Despite having always worn their own heart in their sleeve no one seemed to know anything about them—nothing at all).

Of course it shouldn't be all that surprising that they would put down their own problems as if it weren't a valid thing to have or even complain about—as if it were just some annoying trash to just throw away. Because of course—of course they'd feel like that... They've felt like that for a long time now haven't they? And you feel yourself growing angry at the thought. Your eyes flickering to the row of sleeping students around you. None of them have aver apologized nor thank Yuu of their services haven't they?

You can only guess when that shitty habit of bottling things up start, considering you actually don't know Yuu well enough to even do so (or think you deserve to)... But things had been going downhill for Yuu ever since the start of their term on Night Raven College hasn't it?

Forced to be a rip-off therapist that no one ever pays for. Forced to see and know every nitty-gritty detail of a trauma isn't theirs, and to have be demanded to give the validation, appreciation, and help that they aren't even well equipped of—hell even have to give—towards others. When they could have spend their time focusing on themselves instead... Then wasn't it clear that Yuu's way to happiness could not be found here at all? But at someplace else entirely?

It would be their home most likely, you think as Yuu turns to you, careful to maneuver Grim around and looks at you—their face full of worry and concern.

"Ace?" They call for you as gears in your head begin to turn. You don't give them a full word response, but reassure them nonetheless with a small smile as you pondered...

But their home was quite literally a universe or multiple universes away actually.

You can't bring them back home, in fact no one could bring Yuu back home.

That was what that stupid headmaster had been hiding from Yuu ever since he knew they were from another world... (And you can't help but feel your blood roar in anger at the revelation that he had only been stringing Yuu along from the start—all their hardwork for nothing as the supposed prize they had been desperately searching for didn't exist at all...)

But...

You didn't have to take Yuu to their old world for them to be okay again right? You just... Had to have them get away from here—from Night Raven College, from this shithole, from that useless headmaster—from everything.

From everyone.

You feel your heart steel as you stare at them with determined eyes, having decided on one thing to do for them: You were going to make Yuu happy, and you were going to do that by making sure they leave this shithole in one piece, with Grim and somewhere better. No matter where that might be.

Because while you were no doubt an asshole... The people that claimed you as theirs and handled you with nothing but care and love were far more important to you than your very own ego and pride would ever be.

("Hey you watch your fucking mouth you asswipe! That's my precious brother you're talking about not some stupid animal!")

("Ace! For the love of the Great sevens! My son...! Don't ever do that again please... If you get hurt I wouldn't know what to do at all...")

("Huh? Of course I'll save your asses even if it's a pain to do so... That's what friends are for right? So of course I'll save your annoying ass Ace isn't it obvious already?... You're my friend after all.")

Which is why... You force a smile on your face and shake your head at them---saying. "No, it's nothing... Nothing at all Yuu..." Even if the thought of playing hero or being one made you itch and gag, you'd bear it all despite complaining---because as long as Yuu could smile freely again... then did any of the risks matter?

Someone doing the very same thing Yuu had been doing for them all this time... It was the least they could all do for Yuu at this point.

And if no one was going to start now, then you don't mind being the first one to try and doing so.

Because... That's what friends are for, after all... Right? And Ace... Ace had never been much of a good friend now had he? It was time to change that you think. Even if it was a bit too late for that now....

"I'm gonna go and get some shut eye now..." You hum eyeing them with a pointed look. "Don't stay up for too long alright? I doubt that stupid headmaster who most definitely isn't the reason for this whole shit. Is gonna take pity on you for the shit he has to do... even if you did fix that mess." You snort, your voice dripping with sarcasm and venom. Yuu smiles, accepting the joke despite the underlying bitterness within their expression.

"Alright... I will, promise" they hum, looking at you warmly as you make yourself comfortable within the cushions of the seat, pulling the thin blanket closer around your curled form. "G'night Ace..."

Your eyes are becoming to grow unbearably heavy, fatigue finally catching up to you as you smile at them. That's right... If you wanted to somehow pull this insane idea off all by yourself then you needed to have enough rest if you wanted to have the needed energy to pull it off.

You feel yourself drifting off to sleep, but before it could swallow you whole---you grab their untucked hand and squeeze it gently. Calling out to them, one last time for tonight. "And hey, Yuu?"

"Yeah..?" they response peeking at you through the gap of their closed eyes, they looked fragile like this---unguarded and vulnerable. Their scared and wearied expression not helping the thought of that either.

You squeeze their hand harder, but not enough to hurt. "Everything will be alright." you say. "Just trust me okay? I promise." because it's time for you to be the one to be at the receiving end of the kindness you've given to others now.

Yuu smiles, uncertain but warm nonetheless. "Okay I will Ace." and with that you let go of their hand and drift off to sleep...

ACT 03: A SECRET SHARED BENEATH THE PLUM TREE.

When you come to be again. The scenery is bright and warm.

You are beneath the blossoms of a plum tree you realize. The plant vibrant and glowing underneath the sunlight. You are inside the botanical garden, on the very corner where anyone ever barely comes to. On your right, laying on your shoulder long since asleep is Yuu--the student holding Grim tightly and secure in their arms even when resting, and on your left... Was a boy with sea green eyes and ocean blue hair.

Deuce Spade was his name.

And... He was the one person you trusted the most in regards to Yuu within the school.

"So you're going to run away with Yuu?" Deuce asks you, voice under his breathe. the walls had ears and no matter where one went the wind would snitch. Nobody else should know about their escape.

(Yuu who was a beacon of light in a dark, dark world could not escape no matter how much they tried you knew. That stupid headmaster would not let them you're sure of it.)

"Did they even consent to this?" He squints at you in scrutiny and you fail to resist the urge to smack him, making him hiss loudly like a cat in the process. Several fairies scurry away from them in a distance squeaking all the while. Yuu and Grim neither stir.

"Obviously." You huffed waving the ache off of your hand from the smack you landed on him. "The deadline is in three days, since we plan to leave before STYX and that stupid headmaster can take Grim away."

An hour before your current conversation---just a minute before the day began, You had chosen to accompany Yuu after they had woken up and called over to the headmaster's office. You don't hear most of it as you were told to stay and watched over by several dormleaders and vice-dormleaders outside so you wouldn't try anything rude---like eavesdropping, but because of how loud Yuu's distress was you could catch the topic of their conversation without the need to---And the subject was rather touchy... for Yuu.

It was about how much time Grim had left with Yuu, and needless to say the results were what you had expected---as much as you disliked to even think about it.

"What do you mean by I can't have Grim anymore?!" You could hear them scream even through the walls. Several of the students around them flinch or wince at the sheer distress Yuu's voice had and you scoffed.

Stop pitying them, you want to snarl but you aren't Deuce nor Jack. You weren't as strong as them or well-respected with these people as much as these people denied it. Those two were exemplary students after all, unlike You.

And as much as you want to tell them that, to tell them to stop pitying Yuu when they had no right too (Because when had Yuu ever pity someone for their circumstances?) you don't want to risk running your mouth in case you accidentally slipped up about your idea of running off with Yuu. You might be stupid but you were self-aware at the very least about your shortcomings, and a loose mouth was one of them. So you grit your teeth and hold your tongue back. Now wasn't the time to be impulsive after all.

"I feel bad for Yuu." you hear Kalim, the dormleader of Scarabia speak. "But Grim's really dangerous now..." and at his words you want to scream.

Didn't you say you liked Grim? Weren't you thankful for Grim because he helped you when Jamil-senpai overblotted too? Did anything Grim ever do for you ever meant anything at all? You want to ask him---all of them actually--but hold yourself back. Maybe, not everyone was close with Grim, maybe not everyone liked Grim but on the name of the great sevens did he try his damn best---it wasn't just Yuu putting in on the effort but him as well.

And you would know because you've seen him putting effort, regardless of the reason. Grim tried, Grim was always trying.

("Agh! This question is so hard... I don't get why we even need to solve this I mean mages just use magic instead of math right?" the feline grumbled and you remember laughing. The two of you by your lonesome as both the Prefect and Deuce had went away with the promise of snacks to Sam's shop.

"I know what ya mean..." You groaned, slumping in your seat. "But hey no use being a great mage if you're stupid right~?" you jest, and you can't help but snort at the look of annoyance in Grim's face as you poked him. He scowled and hissed at you, attempting to claw your face off.

The two of you continued on to bicker but you notice that even if he complained and whined, Grim still held on to his pen and scribbled and tried.

You don't forget the pure joy in his face when he claimed the highest score between the four of you.)

"I'm so sorry for this Yuu-san..." The headmaster says, his tone solemn. "But the only thing I can give to you is three days... nothing more than that... I'm so sorry---" a large resounding slap could be heard from inside the room. Everyone around you winces and gasps in shock. Not that you could blame them for that. Yuu raising a hand against someone was rare---very rare. They never did it unless they were cornered or forced to... But...

... Not that the stupid headmaster didn't deserve it though, you think rather gleefully. Get his ass Yuu. You think grinning---careful to hide it from the rest, you look outside the window to see workers bring in materials to help fix up the mirror chamber.

"S-SCREW YOU...!" Yuu screams, their voice torn and angry and filled with so, so much grief. "I DID EVERYTHING YOU ASKED! PUT IN ALL MY GODDAMN EFFORT TO DO THE SHIT THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO---!"

"---AND NOT ONLY DO YOU NOT HOLD YOUR END OF THE DEAL BUT YOU...! BUT YOU...!" Their voice cracks and like a damn the tears come pouring out, something you know because of how they sound. "Y-You're going to take Grim away from me too...? How much more do I have to go through just to..." they sob and immediately your smug demeanor switches to one of concern as you immediately try to get inside.

"Ace---" Your dormleader stops you despite the conflict visibly seen on his face. "No."

You grit your teeth. You didn't have time for this. Yuu was in distress because of that shitty headmaster when they've already been through enough. Like hell you were just going to stand idly!

"No you get out of my way dormleader." you hissed but he remains firm on the ground not budging much to your frustration.

"Ace you have to understand that there isn't much we can do." he says trying to explain things as if you weren't here with them. "Grim has become too dangerous to keep we can't just---"

"So everything we did with Grim... all the things we've been through with him... it means absolutely nothing to you guys...?" You ask cutting him off, and something in your heart twists into something ugly at the disgust and betrayal you felt as soon as you saw the hesitant look in their faces.

"I...! Ace, that's...!!" He stumbled taken aback and you let out a harsh laugh.

You get it you really did---Grim has always been a pain on the ass to everyone, but for everything they've all been through together to just be thrown under the rug...

Now you understand why... Why this place was called a villain's school---You think as you clenched your fists hard enough to make them bleed and stared at everyone in the room with eyes full of disdain. Everyone here was nothing but a bunch of egoistical shitheads.

And maybe you couldn't really say shit but...

"Get out of my way." You snarl and with a new surge of adrenaline rushing through your veins at the anger that you felt, pushing your dormleader Rosehearts away harshly.

"Ace...!" Trey your vice-dormleader calls out for you, voice surprised and caught off-guard as he catches Riddle.

"You..!"

"Oi, herbivore..."

"Child of man...!"

"Ace stop!"

"Hey, hey Ace! You really shouldn't...!"

But you ignore all of their half-hearted attempts at stopping you---walking past all of them with a cold look on your face and slammed the doors to the office open.

There before you---you see Yuu sobbing on the ground whilst the stupid headmaster only looks at them, unsure of what to do. There is a red hot handprint across their face but even that doesn't stop you from seeing red. You take heavy breathes in and out of your system and force your sights on Yuu instead. If you looked at the headmaster any longer then maybe he would have a black and purple bruise across his face to compliment that burning red on his cheek from the punch you want to give him so, so badly.

"Hey..." You call out to the prefect who was now sniffling quietly on the floor.

You hum, slinging an arm across their waist and help them up to their feet. "C'mon Yuu." You say "Let's get out of here... You must be hungry after all right? We did forget to eat before coming here." and you're about to leave with them in your arms when the headmaster sputters.

"Trappola! I don't remember calling for you!"

"And I don't remember the headmaster could be allowed to harass their own students but here we fucking are." You snarl almost immediately in turn, and turn your head to glare at the useless bastard with burning eyes. The headmaster's mouth hangs agape in shock at your words.

Yuu only remains quiet by your side, their head buried in your shoulder. You feel them still crying through your shirt that's being damped by their tears despite their silence and stillness. You pull them closer to remind yourself of Yuu and not to give into the molten hot anger that's bubbling in your veins.

"I have never--!!" He starts but you don't let him, You've had enough of the bullshit coming out of his mouth and cut through---uncaring of the clear consequences that might befall on you for doing so.

"Shut the hell up already man..." You groan in a rather mocking manner.

"You've done nothing but cause grief for Yuu, so do me a favor won't ya headmaster?" You let your anger show through your eyes, bright hot red flashing as your magic sparks very, very briefly but enough to get your point across in warning as you warn him. "Don't let us see your face again or else..."

"Who knows maybe you won't even be a headmaster anymore you stupid crow." you threaten him, and it wasn't just an empty threat either.

You huff, kicking the doors open (since your hands were a bit preoccupied currently) and careful to maneuver Yuu out the halls. No one bothers to stop you, all either unsure of what to do or even say. no one bothering to move an inch from their positions.

You don't care though. As long as they don't bother to stop you from leaving with Yuu then it didn't matter to you.

"C'mon lets go to the botanical garden, Deuce will be there with Grim." you muttered to them softly, after some time and in some distance away from everyone--the two of you still walking side-by side

They nod at you. "Okay." giving you a weak smile. "Thanks Ace." they tell you and you smile in turn---genuine.

"No problem ya idiot." you tell them while rummaging through the pocket of your slacks with your free arm, pulling out your phone you send a quick message to Deuce to meet at "the usual place ASAP" since the other boy had decided to stay with Grim back in the infirmary (after much bickering) to make sure nothing suspicious happened to their little annoying monster (like... who knows? getting kidnaped by a suspicious organization for one) while Yuu was away in the headmaster's office.

The two of you fall quiet for a while, the only sound accompanying you both are the sound of your footsteps and the sound of people reconstructing the chamber from a distance. You let out a sigh as you continue to walk. The school year had been a wild one.

From almost getting expelled to almost dying in the mines. To almost loosing your head to befriending your uptight dormleader that just tried to kill you... This school year had been an absolute wild fest that you were still having a hard time processing... well, all of it actually. A chain of events that didn't make sense but were absolutely connected to one another... It was that kind of mess that didn't make sense until you took the time to understand it... Not that you ever had the opportunity to even do so, you snort.

It was all such a convoluted experience you muse.... But it was one you wouldn't trade for the world you think as you looked at Yuu who stared blankly at their shoes.

"Is something wrong...?" They ask you still not looking up. You jump, was you staring that obvious?

You laughed awkwardly looking away embarrassed. "It's nothing." you say, "Just wondering... how we ended up in this mess is all..."

You wonder if you had just ignored them on the very first day... Not bother them as they cleaned with Grim on the Main street at the first day of school, then.... would things have been different? Would you have simply lived your life uncaring and free as you always have? Gotten into trouble, cause ruckus, and live life the way you wanted it to? Would you still be ignorant about all the overblots... All the pain and everything if you did?

You wonder if you've never met Yuu... would things not be as it is today?

But it was too late to think about all the what-ifs now wasn't it? You were too deep into wonderland and there was no exit in sight... The only thing you can do to find it is to go deeper, and deeper, and deeper... Not that you wanted it to be any different that is.

Sure things were messy and all... But the journey was fun and honestly you wouldn't have it any other way... Because as sappy as it sounded...

Everyday was just as fun as much as it caused you to grieve too.

(And deep in your heart... something tells you that no matter how things would go---you would always come back or find your way to them... And you wouldn't have it any other way.)

"... I'm sorry." they say sometime after you mused still not looking at you and you blink. You stop to frown at them.

"What do you mean?" You ask them and they fidget before uttering in a voice, so, so small that it might have been lost to the wind.

"I'm sorry... So sorry for everything..." They uttered and you feel something in your chest clamp down tightly. "For dragging you in all this... For hurting you guys..."

Your chest tightens at the words. I'm sorry. Their voice filled with so much regret hurt. It was almost as if they didn't want---regretted to be your friend in the first place, and while you know that it isn't true. You can't help but think of that anyways. This idiot, you think sighing, momentarily letting go of their waist to flick their head and your other hand to pinch their cheeks.

"Wh-- Ashe???" They go, looking at you through their wince with confused eyes. You only sigh letting them go, the other hand you used to flick them with going back around their waist.

"Stop apologizing." You say. "It's almost like you regret meeting me or Deuce and Grim." For being friends with us you want to say but don't, but hope either way that they catch your drift.

They freeze, tensing in your hold before relaxing---face guilty. "It isn't like that... It's just that things always seem to happen---bad things and... you guys get caught up and get hurt because of it... I hate it" they say, quietly and you hate it. Can't you be loud again? It's just me and you in this lonesome hallway and everyone else is busy. You think, let me hear you be your usual self again please...

And it wasn't as if they were wrong. For whatever reason coincidences happened all over Yuu. Like they were some sort of trigger for everything---for the overblots that happened and all things aside it. But it wasn't their fault. You think. For it to be their fault meant Yuu wanted it too happen, but not had Yuu once wished for any of it to happen.

Yuu had never wished to hurt people and that was them at their core. Someone who didn't want to hurt or bother people.

"I know..." you say because it was the truth. "But I don't regret it at all one bit y'know?" and they blink and unintelligible noise coming from their throat because of the surprise.

You grin. "It was fun. I mean I got hurt but it was fun you know?" and it was, it really was. You think as your chest is filled with so much warmth from the memories of you escapades. The chaos made you feel like a little kid going on an adventure, and you loved every minute of it. No matter what the consequences

"Besides." you shrugged. Forcing yourself to sound nonchalant despite the embarrassment rising out of you from the next words you utter. Because they deserved the honesty. Because they deserved to know that they mattered. "I'd always choose you over all these boring bastards."

And wasn't that the truth? You've been thinking about it for a while, but somehow deep in your heart you knew that you'd always, somehow end up going back to Yuu in the end---and well, you were never one to fight the flow of things if it benefitted you.

Their eyes get a glossy look as their bottom lip trembles. Their voice so, so quiet and terribly shy. "Then... If I told you to run away with me... Would you?" their voice cracks midway as a small tear rolls down their cheek.

You smile, pinching their cheeks again but this time with both of your hands.

"I told you already didn't I? I'd always choose you over any of these guys." you say pulling your hands away from their aching cheeks. "So of course I'll follow you, you idiot." and then shrug as you joke. "Who's going to help me answer my homework, Deuce?" something which earns you a weak giggle from them.

You huff as you chuckle along, your grip around their waist loosening but still there as you refuse to let go. It was just the two of you, all by yourselves, in that empty hallway, basking in the sunlight... It, it felt nice truth be told. You wondered how long it has been since you two joked around like this.

Your phone pings loudly cutting in the moment. The notification being Deuce's reply which was a picture of Grim sleeping on his lap and a few snacks scattered about.

You snort at this and show Yuu the message. "Now c'mon lets get going. I don't know about you but I'm hungry." you tell them with a grin.

And for what has been a while unlike the weak and small sounding giggle they had earlier... Yuu laughs, bright and warm. You feel yourself still soaking in the sound. How long has it been since they let out a sound like that?

"Yeah let's." They grin at you brightly and somehow the sun just shone a bit brighter. "I'm hungry too." they hum, tone happy and content as they lean against you. You smile.

"Yeah. Let's go."

And so the two of you walked back, hand-in-hand and side by-side...

After that, the two of you had successfully met up with Deuce in the Botanical Garden with little to no issues at all. Something that lead you to the current scene.

"I see..." Your fellow Heartslabyul dorm member mutters staring out of the glass wall of the garden. His gaze at the Mirror chamber that's still being rebuilt.

"And how do you plan on doing that exactly?" He asks turning to look at you, a serious look on his face. "It's not like you've ran away from home right? Which means that you have no idea what you're doing or how to do this at all---do you Ace?" and at this you flinch because he was right.

You don't have any idea of what you were meant to do. What you were supposed to do. There were too many factors, too many risks and too many possibilities that this whole shtick would go down. But that wouldn't stop you from trying at the very least. Because you had to.

For them. For Yuu and Grim.

"Oh and you do?" you laugh harshly, mocking and taunting. Glaring at him hard. Maybe telling him was a bad idea you think... anxiety brewing inside you despite never letting it show. Of course it was a bad idea to tell Deuce. Even if he cared for Yuu and Grim he still wanted to be an honor student.

Fuck, you curse to yourself inside your head. But it was too late to take back any of the words you've said anymore wasn't it? Shit, shit. Stupid you and your stupid mouth. You shouldn't be trusting an idiot so easily.

But before you can say anything along the lines of "forget it" or "it was just a joke." Deuce hums looking away from your gaze and to the leaves above all your heads, murmuring rather softly:

"Yeah I do... I've run away before..." He admits looking back at you with a sincere gaze that held no lie. There was regret in there too, sadness and maybe grief.

You blink, mouth falling agape. "Wait seriously...?" you say in disbelief. You could never imagine Deuce running away from home. Not with the praises he sang in regards to his mother or the way he always treated her regardless of her physical presence in his life.

"... Yeah I have..." He says with a nod. "It was before I decided to change... Back when I was just some stupid reckless delinquent..." he explains and you can see that actually...

"I ran and I ran and I didn't look back at all.... And.... No one could find me at all." He says with a sigh. The wind blows outside the garden and inside to them through an open window.

You blink looking at him skeptically with a squint. "Really? You're joking right...?" you say laughing a bit. "Not even those detectives that specialize tracking...?"

Due to the volatile nature of magic it was quite common for non-government and government sponsored agencies to be set up all over the globe. These agencies usually handled in the clean up or something along those lines depending on what category they fell under of magical related incidents, man-made or not. You didn't know much as you weren't interested in such but your older brother who was an intern in one of the agencies explained to you that there were around roughly 5 or 7 categories depending on the region of your agency was in.

One of those categories were the finders. They were something like detectives basically. They specialized in cases of finding people who accidentally fucked up teleportation magic or people being spirited away by magical beings. They were one of the more fast and efficient groups considering the nature of their work. To fuck up on that line of business meant possibly getting fired from your job, while their services were relatively cheap the salary was amazing that's more reason as to why no one wanted to fuck up badly on the job. Your brother had explained.

Something you knew to be of truth as you've seen their work up close one time when your father had accidentally been spirited away in exchange of you when you accidentally offended a local fairy lord back in your home. (You could never forget the sheer relief you felt after all---when you realized that no, you were in fact not going to be the cause of your own father's premature death. Even if the incident only happened in a span of a week, it felt like forever to little old you.)

"Yeah... Not even them at all..." Deuce nods his head, serious and you feel your eyes widen in shock

"But how?!" you gasp, when you could find no lie in his eyes at all.

"That's because I had someone to help me... someone good at hiding really good..." Deuce says.

You squint again, dubious. "... And your saying that this guy can help Yuu...?"

The world was not a kind place, you knew this. Yuu's situation or Grim's scenario wasn't the only examples of this. You could count on the back of your hand the many times you've seen injustice and prejudice against people, but mainly at your family---for not having magic---your parents especially. Greeted with fake smiles and knives on their back for being magicless where their children weren't....

"You won't be able to provide for your kids."

"You're magicless what can you do for them?"

Things like that and more. It made you sick to hear them, sick to the absolute core. Everything had its price it was a lesson you learnt that all too well during your time under Ashrengotto.

And if someone like that had managed to disappear for so long without being found... Then wasn't it obvious that a person like that would do anything to ensure that things went their way?

"You don't have to worry about that." Deuce says after some time, not looking at you, briefly your eyes flicker outside to where you find your vice-housewarden from the distance looking at you both with an unreadable gaze. You look down pretending to be interested in the fauna surrounding you.

"It's because I helped them on a tight spot before, so now they owe me..." Deuce then elaborates on once you could both feel the pressure of the gaze behind you being lifted. "That's why I know they'll help us...."

You don't know about that really. A debt or not there was still a chance of being stabbed from the behind, but...

You look at Deuce, his eyes bright and shining with so much determination, expression screaming. "Let me help---I want to help." and maybe in normal circumstances you would have told him no or tease him or both actually but....

You genuinely trusted Deuce for what's it worth. Even with all the bickering and animosity between the both of you. You genuinely trusted him, especially with Yuu.... And if what he was saying was right, then....

"Just leave it to me Ace...!" he tells you determined, his voice startling you causing you to jump. "I'll definitely help you get Yuu and Grim out of this place!"

"Shhh not so loud!" You hurry to silence him with a palm of your hand, hissing at him. The two of you look around and let out a sigh of relief simultaneously when you see no one around and that Yuu and Grim were still fast asleep.

"Mmmph-- Right... sorry, sorry..." He says, voice lowering until it was a mere whisper.

"Let me help alright Ace...?" He starts again once you both calm down well enough for you both to speak.

"This is the least I can do for Yuu..." He then goes on to say fidgeting in his place. "I'm not good with words... And I've always been too harsh... I'm no good at comfort at all..." and maybe you can dismiss his musings but the next words Deuce says baffle you to the core.

"Unlike you..."

You choke on your spit, before punching your chest on repeat. "Huh?!" You manage to wheeze out gaping at him in disbelief.

You, being good at comfort? No way! You were far too blunt for your own good to be good at comfort. There were many words to describe you---harsh, demanding, annoying, terrible, etc., etc., and yet none of them were well... comforting.

Deuce smiles at you in dry amusement. "Yeah... you hadn't noticed?" before chuckling "Well to be fair I wouldn't call you that either but... back when Grim scratched Yuu's arms... And even before that... With the thing in Scarabia... and even Halloween too..." He lists off looking at you with a warm smile on his face.

You don't know why but something lurches in your stomach at the boy's expression. It made you feel warm and giddy like you were floating but falling all the same.

"Everything you've done for Yuu and Grim so far... it always put them at peace you know?" He says his gaze flickering from you to Yuu, tucking a strand of hair that fell from their face to their ear carefully

"... You've been helping Yuu and Grim a lot y'know?" He murmurs gaze so soft as he looks at Yuu for a little while loner before looking at you again, his gaze so bright. "So let me help too! I'll definitely make this plan a reality... Nothing and I mean nothing will prevent that from happening..."

"Deuce..." You say unsure of what exactly to say. The warmth that bloomed in your chest having fully grown and was spreading throughout your body.

Deuce was annoying and stupid... A brash and reckless idiot.... A wannabe honor student, but...

He was wholeheartedly genuine that you had no choice but to trust him. He was your friend after all, for what's worth---for all that was worth. Your bestfriend after Yuu, and you knew that he wouldn't fail you when push came to shove.

If it's you... You think looking at him, your eyes locking. Then I'm sure we can make this work.

"Agh, fine..." You say feigning annoyance as you huffed and crossed your arms, tearing your eyes away from his. "You better uphold your word alright?"

And you don't need to look to know how bright Deuce's grin must be. "Obviously!" you hear him laugh and his joy was just so infectious that you couldn't help but smile as well...

A moment passes as time seemed to still for just a split second, the warmth dimming down but still there---lingering, comforting and reassuring as---in a rare burst of something between you two. Deuce reaches out to hold your hand and squeeze it tight, murmuring to you as the wind blows.

"You've already done enough for them Ace... Just keep being there and things will be okay. Trust me."

And you do trust him. Because you've never ran away, you don't know how to do this, how to pull any of this off---but Deuce knows and he can find a way for it to happen. Because Deuce is your friend, and Yuu's friend as well and he had been nothing but earnest and genuine to the both of you ever since the start and maybe soon to the bitter end.

Trust never came easy to you but Deuce... Deuce was a trustworthy person you're sure. You knew if you fell he would simply catch you even if it meant falling in himself too.

You squeeze back and smile at him. No mocking or taunting or anything mean behind it at all. "Okay... I trust you Deuce."

And underneath the plum tree where no one can see. An agreement is made between two card soldiers without anyone noticing.

ACT 04: CODED CONVERSATIONS.

The scene shifts into one of the colors of dawn seeping through the dim white and red of the walls of your dormitory halls, giving it a vibrant but melancholic shade. The clock on the wall say: 04:10 a.m. You are simply sitting and playing with the hedgehogs all by your lonesome, no one else still awake at this time, having long since been unable to go back to sleep after a bad dream (one of blue fire and screaming and sobbing and blood---) when your phone lets out a soft ping.

You hold the hedgehog you've been playing with in your other hand as you fetched your phone with your dominant one from the table just in front of you. It's a text from Deuce.

Usually they would be the one earlier than you but... You guessed you weren't the only one getting antsy with what's happening huh? You open your phone, the hedgehog in your lap now as you use both your hands to type, having still be.

[Hey Ace.] His text says. It's plain and simply like how it always is, and you would either mess around Deuce by either not replying or trolling but you have a feeling that's something up so you stop and instead type...

[What is it Deuce?]

[You know how I have hedgehogs, back home?] Is his instant reply it's an innocent question really but one that did not make sense.

You furrow your brows in confusion. Deuce in fact did not have hedgehogs back home if you remember correctly, he had mused one time to you that he would love to have one but the expenses they had to spare for them was quite too much for them to handle... So no they didn't have hedgehogs unless....? Those hedgehogs he mentioned were....

[Yeah?] you responded back before holding your phone in one hand and gave attention to the hedgehog nuzzling against your stomach. You run your index over them gently, careful not to prick yourself with their sharp quills.

As you wait for Deuce's reply your eyes flicker to outside. There a S.T.Y.X drone stares right at you presumable looking at your conversation with Deuce or what-not. Those things had been set up by the Shroud brothers yesterday under the orders of their parents to keep track of Yuu and Grim. Ortho had told everyone in advance via their phones that it would keep track of everything that they do as long as they were in the vicinity of Night Raven College from their locations to their schedules.... including their conversations.

[I'm so sorry for the breach of privacy that we---my brother and I are committing.] He had told all of them. [But unless we give them proof that we have nothing else to hide, the scrutiny of everyone outside of this school won't stop. I hope you can all be patient] The message was then deleted and erased later on after the drones were established.

And while no one was exactly psyched or appreciative of having their privacy breached even if it was for their own safety. Ace didn't need a no brainer that most were quite thankful to the humanoid first year for the heads up. And while Ace wasn't one of them (he thinks, he isn't sure what counts as incriminating evidence...) he knew that there were a handful of students who had more than suspicious activity going on in the background where no one could see.

His phone pings cutting his stare off with the drone and his absent-minded petting. He'd have to put the little fella back in their cage after this but before that... He reads Deuce's message which goes as followed:

[I called my mom earlier about it since they said that it's getting cold back home so we've decided on planning to bring the hedgehogs to someplace warm]

You take a while to translate it but you think you can get the gist. It was I called the guy and they said it was okay and something something... did they have to meet up For the plan to actually work? Your mind goes around in circles until---

[And think it might be around your place? So I was wondering if you could come and show us around.] He suddenly types out and you furrow your brows wondering what the hell it means. You frown focusing... My place? What did he mean? Was he asking you to show you around your hometown? But that didn't make sense considering---You blink as a sudden realization hits you.

Was he asking for you to run away with Yuu?

[Are you sure your mom will be fine with that?] You respond to him, looking out the window spotting the drone lingering but not up close to the glass barrier anymore, but still there---watching. Because as much as you knew Deuce cared for Yuu... Would he actually leave his mother behind with no warning at all?

But that was Deuce's problems and not your own so you can only hope that Deuce wouldn't regret it at all... Meanwhile you on the other hand...

... Truth be told the idea of running away with Yuu has always been in your head ever since you came up with the idea in of itself. The world was a cruel place and to someone who did not originated from it, it would be without a doubt twice harsher than to any normal guy. You knew that but still you had your hesitations and reasons.

One of them being the most obvious---Your family.

They'd be worried sick you knew if you went on with running away with Yuu. Your mother would be twice as shaky then she usually would be and your father would loose sleep. Your brother would no doubt bury himself into more work or throw himself to more internships with the finders if it meant finding you... Your family would be a mess if you left them, without a word... And out of nowhere too, But...

[I'm sure.] Deuce types out [She's like me so she'll understand.] and you blink taking in the words shown to you...

The thing about families is that it was built from love right? and love was born from care and trust. You know that if you went on with this plan then you might as well have disowned yourself from your own family. You broke their trust after all, broke it to a thousand pieces by leaving them behind for some kid that didn't even belong in this world. But...

You trusted them... You trust them that even if you do just that they'd still welcome you back---that they'd still love you. That they'd understand your actions and forgive you despite the hurt you would cause them. Because even if you loved them Yuu and Grim still needed you more.

[What about yours...?] Deuce asks you, and you put the hedgehog back in the cage before finally deciding.

[They'll be fine.] you respond.

Because they will be. Because even if you weren't no longer there. Your mother still had your father and your brother still had them both, and the three of them still had each other even if it was missing another one. They would be fine you knew because who else would you get your resilience from?

[... Okay then...] Deuce responds back after sometime. The clock on the lounge dinging loudly as its hands struck to 05:00 a.m. sharp. [So... you'll come?]

[Yeah... I like those little hedgehogs anyways...] which was a direct translation of: well no shit. You think that the blue bubbleheaded idiot might have gotten it... You think.

[Okay good] He responds and you let out a sigh of relief when you recognize that he in fact did get it.

Upstairs you can hear doors being swung open and chatter filling in indistinctively within its halls. You glance out the window and note that the drown was no longer there now. You let out a small huff and pulled yourself up to your feet.

[gtg now, see you downstairs?]

[yeah, see you.]

[you too.]

After the goodbye from Deuce you pocket back your phone inside the pocket of your slacks and join with the others who have gone outside for the roll call.

ACT 05: FROGS OUT OF THE WELL.

The scene then changes from the one in the orderly chaos that is the Heartslabyul dormitory to one of a quiet serenity. The place you're in right now is a place you know quite well despite being from another dorm. It's rundown and old, barely rebuilt but somehow still standing. Filled with holes and too many scars from stories untold.

This place was aptly called Ramshackle dorm but it was something you could still call home thanks to the experiences you've shared with it despite not quite living in it. It's inhabitants being... Yuu and Grim. The two of you are panting as you manage to dodge another drone successfully. The two of you hidden deep in the bushes, holding your breaths before letting out a sigh of relief as it buzzes past the both of you.

"Come on." Deuce whispers to you through gritted teeth, he sounds in pain but the both of you can't stop---not now, not until you reached both Yuu and Grim.

"Hang in there." You muttered in return, helping him sit up so the two of you can crawl all the way there---since running or walking was too risky. He hisses as you accidentally brush past against his wound.

"Shit! Sorry!" you tell him apologetically, a large branch having scratched him up badly when the both of you hurried to dive away from the drone's view.

The two of you still, checking with your ears for anymore drones before sighing in relief at hearing nothibg. He shakes his head at you, muttering. "It's fine. Let's just get moving."

And you nod, crawling just right behind him. The two of you stopping every once in a while as a drone whizzes pass by the both of you. Your heart hammering loudly and wildly in your chest that you think you might just keel over.

The two of you had planned for this over in-between breakfast and preparations for the usual shtick in your dorms. The plan was that you two would meet up with Yuu and Grim inside of Ramshackle and wait for the mystery man Deuce oh-do-dearly trusted to enter and do his magic which would ensure all of your escape. While it wasn't much and had too many holes and risks—it was admittedly better than nothing like yours which was well---nothing at all.

Escaping Heartslabyul was the hard part considering your dormleader had seemed to develop a sixth sense for you and Deuce's bullshit and had seperated both of your tasks unlike the usual.

("As a precaution." He told you with pressed lips and a stern look when you asked. "We need to keep our heads low after all Ace, no troublemaking or what-not and I mean it." His actions stemming from genuine concern for you, you knew. You apologize inside your head half-heartedly for not being able to follow his wishes, one last time.)

Although escaping from Heartslabyul was hard, getting to Ramshackle was harder. You both had to make sure not to get caught by the drones, that and with Deuce's injured leg... You were genuinely surprised that you somehow you both managed to reach the rundown dorm.

The two of you pant as you stumble out of the forest. The two of you having taken the long way around for less risks. The area is surprisingly desolate with the exception of several drones flying above overhead from a good distance away.

"Come on." You tell Deuce helping him up to his feet. The night is cold but the wind is colder. The two of you stay take your time to catch your breaths for a moment but immediately start moving not long after. You guys couldn't stay in one place after all, lest you both would get caught...

You both end up in the front door, Deuce leaning against your back for support, tense and rigid as he looks around somewhat paranoid.

"Calm down." you tell him, but you're just as scared too. You both had gotten this far you cannot fail now. Deuce only smacks the back of your head with his own, you hiss in pain and Deuce only grunts.

"Just open the door already." his tone dripping with impatience.

"Alright, alright..." you mutter with a sigh, knocking on the front door loudly, you wince at the loudness. You hoped neither of the drones picked up on that.

"Yuu?!" You call out taking the risk. Behind you Deuce hisses for you to quiet down but you don't and call out again, much louder this time when they don't respond. "Oi Yuu! Open up the door!"

"Oi Ace shut up---!" Deuce covers your mouth with a palm of his hand, hissing frantically. You lick his hand in an attempt to get it off you since trying to pry it out wasn't working.

Deuce yelps, mortified and embarrassed all the same. "You---!"

"You were covering my mouth! What was I supposed to do??" You retort glaring at him and he stares at you agape before exclaiming, voice in a funny high-pitched way.

"B-Be normal about it?!"

But before you can retort and bicker or tease the other boy anymore further, just behind the front door a loud thump could be heard as someone fumbles around. The two of you look at each other, blinking, before the door swings open and your eyes are called to the person in front of you.

Yuu stands the door, swung open to the side. They look like a mess, eyes sunk and rounded dark with eyebags and their sclera painted red, and their hair is a rat's nest. Overall it just looking like they've gone through hell and back in general.

And they have. You think. Tomorrow after all, was the day they'd take Grim away from Yuu after all. No pleading or begging would change those bastards mind... You huff shaking off those thought. You could mull over the shittiness of that useless headmaster later. You think as you greet them with a wave and a smile.

"Yo." you say shuffling to the side, to let Deuce stand by your side. "You got a minute?" and Yuu blinks looking at the mild mess that they were before, owlishly blinking and steps aside.

"Come in." they mutter letting you both in.

Ramshackle is warm.

It's a surprising statement considering what Ramshackle appears to be on the outside. Old, rundown, and has a frame of an already fractured glass that's about to break any minute. Couple that with the nameless gravestones and the overall dead and gloomy atmosphere. One would think that a place like this would be cold and gloomy.

But the truth was far from that really.

Deuce hisses softly as Yuu dabs alcohol and cotton over the scratch on his leg, movements careful and gentle. Yuu hasn't spoken in a while ever since you both entered and asked for Grim's presence as well before explaining.

The ghosts come down from upstairs, Grim being carried like a baby in Gus's arms. The rounder ghost gently setting Grim by Yuu's side. Yus smiles at them apologetically.

"He wouldn't wake up." He says but you know that they all deliberately chose not to wake Grim up, the magical feline probably stressing out as much as Yuu has been as well.

"It's fine." Yuu says tone hushed as they still their movements to look at the ghost thankfully before flickering their eyes to Grim and then back to Deuce's leg where they continued to tend to the wound.

The atmosphere is somber but warm. You wonder why that is because the night tonight is so, so cold but here you feel so warm, in this place that looked so utterly cold and dead that it was kind of funny to think about it.

(Vaguely a more younger and childish part of you supplies that it must be because you're with them---With Deuce and Yuu and Grim, but you push away the thought, feeling rather embarrassed at that sappy kind of realization no matter how true it was.)

The ghosts look at you then to Deuce, then to Yuu, then amongst themselves, before looking back at all of you. A smile on their faces as they said.

"We'll leave you guys be." Gus pipes up and Yus besides him laughs.

"Yeah! Whatever you guys are planning to do---just don't die because of it alright~?" he jests with a grin and was met with Rus's hands who smacked him from behind his head.

"Don't joke about that right now." the thinnest ghost among the bunch reprimands the other one sternly before looking back at them with a weary but an exasperatedly fond look. "Just be careful alright you brats? I doubt those S.T.Y.X guys will take responsibility if you get shot by their drones or something."

You hum. "We will."

And the three ghosts only shake their heads terribly and utterly fond for them that you can't help but feel your heart ache. You were going to miss these guys. You admit but never out loud. You hoped that they would know that though once you all leave...

The ghosts then fade from your view and the four of you are left to your lonesome. Yuu finishes up on tending to Deuce's leg with a sigh, lightly giving it a small pat before setting it down to the floor, careful not to hurt.

It's quiet for a little while longer between the four of them, the calm before the storm you knew. It wouldn't be long after all, until things pick up their pace again and things become a mess like they always have been.

The only difference now... Would be that Yuu would no longer be their to clean up the mess. You think, and that's for the best now wasn't it?

It's silent and quiet until Yuu clears their throat and looks at them with a face clearly asking for answers. "So... What's going on...?"

The two of you look at each other, nodding. It was time, but first...

"Wake up Grim then we'll explain."

Everything is quiet save for all of your breathing as you patiently await Yuu's verdict. Their consent the one last thing you need to get this show on the road after all. (But you doubt that you would need it when you already know the answer from the start.)

"So... You're telling me I can escape...? That--That I can leave...?" They whisper to the both of you tone in disbelief. Grim only looks at no one but at the cushions beneath his feet, his usually smug grin nowhere to be seen but his face twisted into an expression of a deep genuine pondering.

You and Deuce exchange glances having expected this. It must be a miracle for Yuu to actually have the opportunity to leave after all, by their own volition for their own happiness too.

"Yup." You nod as Deuce adds.

"And we'll be going with you."

"That part is non-negotiable by the way." you then added just before Yuu could speak any further. They look at you blinking, before sighing. You were an immovable rock after all once you've made a decision that and with Deuce's unshakable will Yuu knew they wouldn't be able to convince you both otherwise and you both knew that all too well.

They look at you, conflicted. "But what about your parents?" they say. "Your friends?"

"Yeah!" Grim then chimed in looking at them both with a frown of genuine concern.

"What about NRC? Your future and stuff...!" He exclaims that it touched you. You would never have expected Grim to express genuine concern over the both of you, but then again you never expected to go this far over someone you only met for almost a school year.

They've all come a long way from being just strangers haven't they?

"We already talked about it.... They don't know about this but... We trust them---trust them to understand.." Deuce explains his eyes so utterly soft as he stared at them both. An expression only one could call jokingly lovesick or whipped but one out of genuine care and love built from trust over time.

You would know, because you felt strongly the same. No matter how much you hid it.

"Yeah and... Who cares about this shitty school?" You huff out loud leaning against Deuce who didn't seem to mind your weight on his side. "I'm fed up with this place anyways so running away is the more appealing option than staying for me."

Deuce snorts in front of you, unbelieving of your words. Almost as if he heard something else. Like what you really meant.

You can feel your ears flush from the embarrassment at his actions.

"Shut up." you hissed out groaning at him and the bastard... This asshole just laughs at you...!

Yuu smiles at you both before it falters and disappears completely, they fidget--anxious and uneasy. "But... If you go with me and Grim then... won't you guys loose everything....?" they say biting their lip.

And you sigh, knowing full well they won't agree... But the least you could do is make sure they don't try to stop you both from following them. You shrug responding with "... It's fine you know? We never had much anyways so why not just loose it all?"

While it wasn't all that true that you and Deuce had, well---nothing at all. It was true that in comparison to the rest you had the least to loose. You were already a troublemaker with a bad reputation and had no aspirations at all, and meanwhile Deuce had his long history of delinquency and shady connections that would make his goal of becoming a magical officer much harder to reach or just impossible to do so.

If the both of you left nothing would change all that much in your lives. That was for certain you knew.

"Besides... you need us out there much like we need you and Grim here." Deuce then adds after a thoughtful hum and you nod behind him pushing on.

"Deuce is right, you know?" You say looking at the two seriously. "You both don't know what's it like out there considering the otherworld thing and magical beast thing you both got going on... It'd be better if you guys had someone to teach you right?"

"Ace has a point..." Deuce then carries on. "The four of us are a package deal aren't we?" he says face that very same genuine brightness that you couldn't help but succumb too and knew that Yuu would too. "Wherever you and Grim go me and ace will follow too!"

And that was just the honest truth about the four of them, you think--snorting. "Yeah. You really think we're just gonna leave you idiots be?" you grin at them, mischievously. "Fat chance!"

All of you had been through everything, hell and back, thick and thin and all that jazz. And none of them were gonna stop now---they refused to. Because if there was one thing both you and Deuce shared with is that when you both started caring you would never stop caring---ever. And maybe both Grim and Yuu knew that because all of a sudden Grim tackles them both with his tiny arms as big fat tears burst out from his eyes and roll down his face.

"AAACCEEE!!! DEUCEEEE!!!" Grim wails loudly as he sobbed against Deuce's chest. From their seat Yuu is sniffling quietly as their shoulders begin to shake.

Tears from their eyes begin to pour as they croak out weakly voice filled with so much emotion. "You two are seriously so...!"

"WH-YUU?! GRIM?!" Deuce panics, and you cant help but feel the same. Sure you expected gratitude and joy, but you didn't expect for them to cry...!

You rush over to Yuu, squeezing yourself to the free space beside them and pat their back soothingly "Hey hey hey! What's wrong?" You ask biting your lip anxiously. Shit maybe you both should just abort the whole thing--

But Yuu laughs which puts your spiraling thoughts to a halt. It's soft and wet but the sound is filled with so much genuine joy.

"Hahaha...!" They laugh with a hiccup as they wipe their tears before looking at you with so much adoration and appreciation in their eyes that your stomach begins to flip like an acrobat doing somersaults in the sky. "It's nothing it's just that.... I'm happy like really..."

"Yeah we didn't know we meant a lot to you guys...!" Grim chimes in from Deuce's arms his voice muffled as his face was still buried in the other boy's chest. It sounds shaky but so utterly touched to it's core.

"Well obviously..." You trail off awkwardly rubbing the back of your neck, as you look away in embarrassment from Yuu's face. Was it just you or was it getting hot in here? Deuce chuckles from his seat and you glance to where he is. The boy patting Grim softly in the back and cradled the feline like how a mother would to a child.

"Haha, i think it's only natural considering what all we've been through together..." Deuce says his gaze on Grim---fond and soft.

You glance at Yuu who looks utterly touched and you can't help but let out a chuckle of your own, because wasn't that just the truth?

They've been together since day one to this whole dumpster fire of a mess. Through the hell and back, through the thick and the thin, and somehow they were still all in one piece despite everything--together too. And maybe you could have just left the three of them be, but you're n so deep that you have just accepted and embraced your fate with the three of them at this point.

(Not that you ever minded, you realized. You don't know when you stopped minding all of it. All the chaos, all the annoyances, all of the joy... But you just... never minded anymore. Not that it mattered in the grander scheme of things anyways.)

"Haha... I guess..." Yuu laughs weakly, wiping their tears with the sleeve of their pajamas, sniffling all the while. You help them wipe it off with a handkerchief of your own as silence descended down upon you four.

It's calm and quiet. Like the calm before the storm.

Before it had always been Yuu and Grim and maybe either of you or Deuce or and Deuce at the middle of it all, but the thing right now is that... When all is said and done... When the storm hits this small bubble of NRC... None of you will be here for any of it, for any of you to be in the front or center, or anywhere near it at all.

The wind blows but still... As you look at the three of them whose expressions are content and happy... You can't help but feel still forever warm despite the cold of the night.

You clear your throat, the sound cutting through the silence earning curios look from the other three to you. You shift slightly feeling somewhat embarrassed at all the attention at you but push through nonetheless.

"So do you consent?" You ask Yuu, hiding away your handkerchief through the inside of your sleeve. Yuu blinks at you and takes a moment to ponder, despite the answer you know they would still say.

From his seat Grim groans. "Just accept already henchman!" and Yuu bursts out laughing once again before smiling so bright and wide, all the way to their ears. Eye glittering brightly like the moon seeping through the cracks in the walls and reaches out for your hand saying:

"Yeah... I consent."

And from his seat both Deuce and Grim cheer with joy. You laugh and pull yourself up along with Yuu, wrapping an arm around their waist and pulling them close.

"Alright." you grin, mischievously and excitedly, as the wind outside picks up. The storm nearing you all but never reaching any of you, your sure. "Let's get this show on the road!"

And as the three of you somehow manage to leave. The storm hits the school but none of you are there to clean up the mess for any of them anymore.

ACT 06: THE FROGS IN THE WELL KNOWS NOTHING OF THE SEA.

The horns of ships blare loudly throughout the dock, along with announcement and PSA's through the speakers. People begin to trickle in and out of passenger boats, all with stories of their own and reasons for leaving and staying in this small island of sages. Just a distance away from all the bustling are you and Yuu, with Grim who was fast asleep in the prefect's--ex-prefect rather---arms, having his battery drained from all the chaos from last night.

The three of you are in the corner of some shop hiding away from the pouring rain, no one not seeming to mind any of you. All simply ignoring your presence or... It was as if they didn't sense any of you at all. Meanwhile Deuce and... your mystery helper conversed further down the corner of the alley way in soft whispers you can't discern thanks to the distance and the pitter patter of the drops that ensue from the weather.

It had been hard to get away from that small bubble world of NRC. You aren't someone to believe in something like fate or destiny yet it seemed that all of your fates seemed to tie so very tightly around that very school. From the sorting to the overblotting, it seemed like everything always happened because of someone rather than something.

Everything always seeming to tie back to that school that you thought you might never be able to get away because of that and yet... here you were:

By the docks about to leave with Yuu and the rest and with a couple of newly bought items just by the corner of your feet. Into the great big world that you admittedly were just as clueless as Yuu was.

"Hey." A voice halts your thoughts. You blink as you look at Yuu who stared at you in concern. Their eyes so soft and tired but there's a brightness in there that relives you. You hadn't seen a speck of light in their eyes ever since thing started becoming messy.

"You okay?" They ask adjusting their hold on Grim who continued to snooze away, pressing themselves unconsciously closer to you due to the cold, their casual wear not helping them either as they only wore a sleeveless white shirt with a thin plaid polo and some socks along with shorts.

You huffed. "I'm fine... Just thinking about where should we all go next after this is all." You say with a shrug. There were so many places that they hadn't gone to yet. You had gone to several outside of your own home country with your family, but only for vacations... Not running away.

So you were just charging on blindly with no exact plans at all, only vague outlines and lists of what you think should be done next... But there's an obvious thrill to that, that you can't deny liking. Things were always more fun when you dived into something deep woth no idea after all.

They hum easily relaxing around you. "Maybe we can go around your hometowns? Since we're going to your country first... You and Deuce do live in the same place right?" they mused but pause, their face freezing. "Wait, nevermind actually your parents are there... they might..." they take their words back with a grumble.

But you smile, getting an idea and gently knock their head with yours. "Why not?" you say shrugging lightly. "Besides it'd be a good opportunity to test out if this no one will see you, feel you thing we got going on..."

Before you had all left the vicinity of NRC, The boy with the whitest of hair and the grayest of eyes (almost like someone you know---)----the one you dubbed as Deuce's helper and the guy who called himself Cross--- had casted his unique magic upon you all. He explained that as long as no one has that "piece of you, which you put on those books of yours" then everything was fine. You have no idea what that's supposed to mean but... The unique magic seemed quite effective for the most part... You think feeling your journal around the fanny pack hung around your chest. Even through the bag you could feel it's warmth radiating off almost as if it was a living being....

Although.... You stared on the mobs of people that did not bat an eye at any of you... What better way to prove it effectiveness than to have the people that raised you fail to recognize you?

(Or maybe deep in your heart you just want to see your family again one last time before fading... Into somewhere in the far distance they can't reach you, for god knows how long... Not that anyone needed to know that anyways...)

"I guess." Yuu laughs lightly shifting in their place slightly before murmuring. "Not that it matters though... I'm just glad to be with you guys..." And you can feel the back of your neck and the tip of your ears burn.

This person seriously... Was there anything they said that they were at least slightly embarrassed about?!

Yuu laughs at your flushed state, a lot more louder and bolder than the last one. It was nice to have them laughing so loud and bright now, but... It always sucked when it was because of them teasing you.

You groaned. "Don't. Tease. Me." you say with a pout, but Yuu only giggles further. Something which only serves to make you even more embarrassed.

"YUU!" You whine at them but they only laugh and laugh and laugh.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" They say but they aren't sorry at all. Not with that bright grin on their face or the laughter that comes from their lips as you continued on to protest against Yuu's gentle teasing.

No one pays any mind to the both of you, the world still spinning and the people not turning to look at any of you—no matter how loud your laughter or voices were. No one turned to look. Usually you would be angered at the thought of being ignored... Your pride wounded but... Somehow... it was exhilarating and freeing right now at the moment. You could say anything you want, do anything you want and no one would bat an eye at anything you would do at all.

Maybe that's why... You mused, as you continued to holler and chatter with Yuu so, so loudly without any care in the world, free from the burden of anything at all. You didn't seem to mind nobody paying any sort of attention at you at all.

From behind the both of you a voice speaks up, voice amused and light-hearted. "You guys are so loud... What are you both talking about?" Deuce asks them, not bothering to hide that cheesy fondness he had for either for them as he adjusts his hat against his head with one hand, another holding a small pouch.

"Nothing." Yuu chirps in before you could say anything. Their gaze flickering to Deuce before looking at you again, grinning too widely for your own liking. "Just teasing Ace is all, nothing much."

And you squawk at that indignant, your voice rising a pitch at your embarrassment. "Hey!"

Deuce grins, mirroring Yuu's expression (you think that maybe you should just go back... You might have just rubbed off on them too much at this point...)

"Oh really now?" The other boy muses, approaching them---highly amused and entertained that you have to reel yourself in before you do something stupid... Like decking him against the ground for example.

"You're so easy nowadays Ace what happened?" He mocks easily, slipping by Yuu's left and lean against them both. Squishing the ex-prefect in between them to lay his head against your shoulder. "Are you just that soft for us~?"

"Yeah, yeah Ace. You soft for us or what?" Yuu joins in the teasing with a shit-eating grin. You groan resisting the urge to deck these two, or yourself against the wall. You hadn't decided just yet.

"Oh would you just shut up." You grumble as they continue to coo and tease at you as if you were some kind of cute house pet or something.

Oh well, You think as you watch the rain slow and calm, the early dawn slowly peeking through the gray horizon. At the very least Grim still isn't awake or you really would have just decked them and ran. Small mercies.

"Just stop it the both of you!" You protest as you finally had enough again and they finally halt their teasing against you. Giggling amongst themselves like a bunch of school children.

You don't stop yourself from resisting the urge to smack them, which earns you a yelp and a whine.

"Ow!"

"Hey!"

You only huff and cross your arms as a result. "Serves you both right!" you say with a glare directed at their way. Something that only makes them laugh even more. These shitheads, you think but despite your annoyance---can't help yourself but laugh along either way.

"Seriously you two suck." You say but there's no bite to your words.

"Says you." Yuu hums poking your stomach, making you yelp like a girl. Deuce laughs just as your about to pinch their side which earns him for you to step on his foot promptly instead.

"You suck harder... I just bought these!" Deuce cries out gesturing to his nice Mike brand shoes---Were those the new edition? But you only stick your tongue at him.

"Sucks to suck I guess!" You mock.

A vein pops from his temple as he growls. "You little...!" He goes as he traps your head in a chokehold but doesn't quite choke you.

In between them Grim stirs and yawns loudly, stretching their small body, still in Yuu's arms. "Nnngyahh, are we leaving now?" he asks, voice slurring.

"Good morning Grim." Yuu greets him with a soft coo and Grim streches to nuzzle against Yuu's face. Good morning to you too he seems to say.

Deuce looks at Grim, his expression surprised but in a good way as he lets you go out of the awkward chokehold he had on you. "Huh? Oh yeah we are." He says. "We just need to get in the boat then we're off."

"Really? But... I thought we didn't have any madols left to pay for our seats and rooms." You cough out rubbing your reddening neck that you got from his hold on you earlier, Yuu looks at you concerned but you only shake them off.

"Oh that... You don't have to worry about it. R--Cross-san gave me some. It'll be enough for all of us." Deuce responds vaguely with an unreadable look before shaking his head and pulled out a list from his pocket, unfolding it open. It seems to be a list of sorts.

"And... They also gave me a list of job applications just for us all over the world!" Deuce then explains to your puzzled expressions, something which earns him a sound of confusion from each and every one of you.

"How is that even gonna work...? Won't people ask questions?" Grim asks, clearly skeptic and for good reasons. The feline now seated on Yuu's shoulder this time around, an arm around Yuu's head for support.

Somewhat muffled Yuu asks too. "Are they safe?" They inquire through Grim's fur. How they never cough because of that you'll never no.

"... Don't worry about any of that, just let me handle those parts and we'll be set for life!" Deuce responds cheerily, not answering Yuu's question you noted. "Just trust me!"

Grim hums, tail swishing as he leans against you, a hand gripping a fistful of Yuu's hair to prevent him from falling.

"Ngyah... I don't really trust you Deuce, but it's better than nothing I guess~!" He says, with that all-knowing smug smirk of his.

"H-hey!" Deuce sputters at Grim's words as you only burst out laughing.

"Bwahahaha!" you wheeze out and Grim yelps as he almost falls over. Yuu easily pulls him back with ease. An expression of amusement and sternness plastered on their face as they scolded them.

"Grim that's not nice!"

And Grim whines with a puff of his cheeks. "What? But it's true!" He says and from the side, Deuce protests.

"Hey it's so not!" He says lightly hitting Grim against the head earning a small shout from him. You continue on to laugh, your shoulders shaking and stomach cramping.

"Ahahaha! It is though!" You cheer all too gleefully, enjoying your payback against Deuce from earlier.

"Grr, shut up Ace!" Deuce growls out and you only smirk, cocking your head to the side all high and mighty.

"What because you wanna choke me again? Bet!" you immediately shoot back with wiggling eyebrows making Deuce sputter all red and embarrassed. Showcasing your reddening neck to him.

"Wait! I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!" Deuce screeches like a banshee his face so red that if you pit him in a competition with their dormleader Riddle he would win instead.

"Sure you did~" you sing-song, your grin only growing wider and Deuce can only yell back---

"Shut up Ace!" mortified.

Yuu groans pulling them away both by their collars "Guys stop!" but Deuce is far too embarrassed and you're too busy laughing your ass off to try and stop

"You guys... Are disasters." Yuu and Grim deadpan at the same time.

"Says you two." you shoot back with a face and they only sigh as Grim yelps offended. Deuce continues to hang his head low in shame, and you giggle. You hope you haven't broken him yet. That would suck.

"What did you and Cross-san spoke about anyways." Yuu asks, tugging Grim off you shoulder and sets him down. Changing topics.

You hum along. Looking at Deuce skeptically. "Yeah what was about that?" you ask as well and Deuce awkwardly laughs shaking his head.

"It's nothing... It was just about the madols and the job listing is all." He says doing the thing where he doesn't look at any of you in the eyes---an obvious sign that he was lying.

"... Seriously what was that about?" You demanded this time around. Your eyes narrowed and expression one of seriousness. Had the dude scammed them or something? While it would certainly piss you off if that was the case, you wouldn't be too surprised considering the scenario.

Still that would suck and you would all have no choice but to go back to that hell hole. Then what? What next?

But before you can spiral anymore further Deuce looks at you in the eye and shakes his head.

"It's nothing I swear!" He says, serious and a little confused himself. "He just asked me something about Rosehearts-senpai which is weirdly specific for him so I thought it was something I shouldn't tell you guys about!" he then elaborates, causing you to blink. What?

"Like what kind of questions actually...?" Yuu tilts their head--curious.

Deuce shrugs weakly, looking just as lost as you were. "Like how he was doing and stuff... Rosehearts-senpai's mom... that really specific stuff..."

"Huh." Grim says, squinting. "That is really specific." And you can't help but agree.

Was the dude related with your dormleader in any way? But... You shake your head at the thought as you huffed. "Whatever though, that isn't our issue so let's not think about it too hard."

Because really it wasn't. As cruel as it sounded. Whatever... Problem the guy had with your dormleader was neither yours, Deuce's, or Yuu's business. And besides... You all had your own problems to deal with, you weren't gonna add a stranger's to your plate---even if the said stranger did help you.

"... I guess..." Deuce sighs with a shrug.

Suddenly through the speakers all over the dock, a professional voice speaks up---announcing--- "Bleeding Hearts Voyage has arrived. Passengers to the Queendom of Roses please line up neatly to board the ship" the phrase repeating on for a while. The two of you quiet from your bicker and exchange looks. Looks like it was time.

Yuu is the one to speak up first, an unreadable expression on their face as they spoke, voice even and measured. "I'm guessing that's our ride?"

"Yeah." you nod at Yuu who only blinks. Grim yawns, but looks more alert than you've ever seen him.

"Relax you two." You tell them with a harsh smack on the back. "You two are so tense geez... It's not like we're gonna die or anything." and the two relax, with Yuu laughing somewhat and rather awkwardly whilst Grim bristles.

"I wasn't scared at all." he muttered.

"Sure, sure." you muttered as you reached for the cellophane by your feet and carry it.

Deuce smiles at the two while tying the pouch against his belt, before reaching out to hold both yours and Yuu's hands tightly. "So... You guys ready?"

You grin, cocky and confident. "Well obviously." You huff with confidence.

"Of course! The great Grim is always ready for everything!" Grim cheers a single paw curled to a ball in the air, almost as if he was shaking a fist.

Yuu meanwhile is quiet. All of you turn to look at them, worried. You especially. Were they still anxious? Did they still want out?

"Yuu?" Deuce calls out, squeezing their hand. "Are you ready...?"

Grim meanwhile paws their face, grumbling loudly. "Oi henchman you better not be thinking about backing out!" he says serious and Yuu sputters shaking their head rapidly at the comment.

"H-huh of course not!" They say with wide eyes. Before sighing and then "I just... No it's nothing," and you wonder what exactly it is they want to say.... You wonder if they'll ever tell you, any of you... But then a thought hits you:

You have the whole time in the world for that now. You realize.

Quietly and silently you store away that thought. Promising to yourself that you'll learn who Yuu really is. Not the magicless but helpful Prefect or the kind and calming Yuu. Just Yuu.

Then they shake their head before smiling brightly, so brightly. One filled with hope. So much hope. "Yeah I am... I'm ready." they say, voice so clear and confident for once.

"You sure?" You ask with a tilt of your head. There was no turning back after all once you board that ship and leave. But Yuu nods, resolute. Eyes burning with fierce determination that you can't help but smile.

"Yeah... I am. Let's... go home. Wherever that is anyways." they say and you grin.

That was your Yuu alright. Bright, fierce and shining Yuu. Your Yuu. And you can't wait to see the other Yuu's either.

"Then let's go then." Deuce says leading the way for them. through the crowds of people and to their destination. The sky fully clear and the rain nowhere to be seen as they all step out together towards a new day.

Then the image fades completely and you're back to reality.

You blink as your vision clears, the book is still in your hands and being held tightly against your lap. Outside the birds chirp and the phone in your pocket begins to blast the song you use to notify yourself for incoming calls. Your mind still in a whirl.

Ace Trappola... What a good guy, you think still somewhat out of it as you sit up straight. You never had any friends, acquaintances, business partners, and the what-nots, maybe. But never any friends. You don't know what friendship is like, to simply hang out and do things for each other because you want to. It was a strange and foreign concept to you. Whether or not you were back at home in the waters or here in the land far where the sea can't touch. You could not understand what it meant to be friends.

So perhaps that is why... It was so utterly and fascinating to see from someone's perspective---someone like Ace Trappola who ran away for the sake of another.

It's... interesting to say the least.

But what was more interesting perhaps was how they left.

Who was Cross, and what was his relationship towards the previous dormleader of Heartslabyul, what was his UM how did it work... And why did Dire Crowley summon an otherworlder without anyone noticing? So many questions and yet such little answers... You flip through the pages of the journal again, going through the pages to look for anymore info for the next clue.

Surely Ace Trappola would not drop by your place and wreck it (whether or not that was intentional was up for to debate, and you are still curios as to how he managed to dent your car but that was a story for another day) only to give you his and Yuu's life story.

Well, life story may be a little too dramatic but the point is. This wasn't the only thing he left for you wasn't it?

There had to be something else? Something that would lead you to them, you're sure of it because why else would he give you something that could obviously track his whereabouts down only for it to contain his reason?

There had to be something else. Something important.

And as you go through the journal, your hunch is right. Because there, within the pages of the book, a single photo is glued to one of its pages.

It shows the four of them in some dark hallway, the four of them wearing the NRC uniform with the exception of the magical beast who only wore a ribbon with the school's colors in stripes and a magic gem that hung at the very center of it. The four of them are huddled against the camera, faces pressed against each other in order to fit in the frame. They all looked like a mess, their hairs all over the place and several pieces of leaves sticking out along with dust and soot somewhere in their faces. Still they smiled---big, wide and filled with so much hope and joy.

Just below it is a set of numbers jotted down.

XX.XXXX° [], XXX.XXXX° []

You blinked it was a set of coordinates to some place. Are you telling me to go there next Ace Trappola? You want to ask but can't... But you already know the answer to that question don't you? You think as you can't help but sigh and smile. Whatever you'll see next... It would surely be a pleasant surprise wouldn't it be?

I'll find you. You promise silently as you pick up your blaring phone and answered your boss. And I'll make sure you four will be alright by the end of it all. Everyone deserved a chance to live in peace after all.

"Hey boss?" You ask just as your boss finishes ranting to you. You look over to the windows and realize that the sun had fully risen now. "Do you mind if I borrow your car for a bit?"

#disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst #ace trappola #twst ace #adeuyuu #adeuce #aceyuu #deuceyuu #THEY WOUND ME #THIS TORE MY HEART OUT AND POURED SALT IN BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK #i love my idiots #my package quartet #sometimes living life is living with your 2 bfs and your arsonist cat child

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