Chapter Text
Jack was never safe in his dorm.
What he did at the beginning of the year was social suicide, not just in Savanaclaw but for the entirety of NRC.
Jack knew he had stronger morals than most of his seniors, but didn’t realize just how bad it was until he overheard both Ruggie and Leona talking about trying to get rid of her. Two people he had admired and looked up to for years.
Jack was scared.
Before, Jack was fine with being alone.
He was always alone.
But then, he met the rest of them.
Ace always wore that infuriating grin, his messy hair framing his face like a chaotic halo.
Deuce was a picture of steadfast loyalty, bound by his duty to his mother and an almost obsessive love for eggs, which seemed to be his only solace amid the ridiculousness that surrounded him.
Epel flaunted his brash persona, driven by an unyielding ambition to conquer the insecurities tied to his appearance.
Ortho zoomed around with relentless energy, his affection for his brother occasionally slipping into an unsettling intensity.
Sebek was a whirlwind of noise, his boisterous proclamations filled with fervor for his master—or rather, his brother.
And then there was Yuu.
Protective and kind-hearted, Yuu was a gentle soul caught in the storm of judgment within the school, desperately striving to maintain a cheerful façade for both themselves and Grim, who constantly bounced around in mischief.
They were hurt, each and every one of them.
Yet, so were the others.
Their bond was forged in necessity; they clung to each other because the world outside was harsh and unforgiving.
Jack stirred awake, his growl of annoyance barely stifled as a cacophony of crashing sounds erupted from down the hall.
Only he, Deuce, and Epel remained sound asleep, blissfully unaware of the mayhem that was brewing in the kitchen.
With a groggy sigh, Jack began the tedious task of peeling Deuce off the other two, detaching the sleepy arms and tail that clung stubbornly to his friends.
As he made his way down the dimly lit hallway, he offered a respectful nod to the friendly ghosts that lingered in Ramshackle Dorm, their ethereal forms drifting silently about.
Upon reaching the kitchen, Jack’s internal sigh deepened.
What unfolded before him was pure pandemonium.
Ortho zoomed through the room like a hyperactive drone, while Sebek and Ace were locked in yet another fierce confrontation, their argument ricocheting off the walls over the proper measurements for whatever culinary creation they were attempting. Meanwhile, Yuu dodged about the kitchen, a whirlwind of determination as they tried to prevent Grim from devouring anything raw—a task that seemed increasingly futile.
Flour covered every surface, blanketing the chaos in a soft white layer, yet somehow, it all felt… right.
It encapsulated them perfectly—disordered and broken, but so were they.
This mess was their home, unmistakably, and it always would be.
Ace finally caught sight of Jack, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Striding over with confidence, he seized Jack’s hand and pulled him into the center of the chaos, right to an exasperated Sebek who was practically bubbling over with frustration.
Ace’s grin widened, his dimples deepening at the corners, while Sebek flushed a bright, furious red, huffing in disbelief as he glared at Ace.
“See? Even Jackie agrees with me, Becky-chan!” Ace teased, throwing a cheeky middle finger at Sebek before narrowly avoiding a furious punch aimed at him.
“Psssh, skill issue,” Ace taunted, effortlessly sidestepping around the kitchen before darting out of the room, with Sebek in hot pursuit, his expression one of pure rage as he sought revenge on the card soldier's antics.
Jack shook his head, a resigned smile tugging at his lips, as he strolled over to Yuu to lend a hand in the kitchen cleanup. With ease, he plucked Grim from Yuu’s grasp, setting the mischievous creature on the table before crouching down to help sweep up the floury mess that spattered across the floor along with a mysterious powdered substance that would remain nameless.
As Jack helped Yuu set the table, he caught a whiff of something rich and enticing from the container resting there. The scents wafted up, warm and inviting, mingling in the dusty air of their haven, a place the headmaster never bothered to notice.
“What is this?” Jack asked, curiosity bubbling inside him. The aroma was unlike anything he had encountered in Sage Island or the Shaftlands—familiar yet deeply personal to Yuu.
Yuu, deftly handling the contents, carefully shifted a steaming bun from one hand to the other, trying to avoid burning themselves. After wrapping the delicate bun in a small napkin, they presented it to Jack with a bright smile.
Without missing a beat, Yuu repeated the gesture for Grim, ensuring that the “great mage” wouldn’t feel slighted.
By the time Sebek forcibly dragged Ace into the kitchen once more, his grip firm in an exaggerated headlock, both Epel and Deuce had finally roused from their slumber. Sebek’s usual fervor had dimmed somewhat, and though he continued to grumble under his breath, it was clear he had calmed down from his earlier intensity.
Ace, on the other hand, looked utterly disheveled; his hair was a wild mess, sticking up in all directions, and he was vocally protesting his predicament with an exaggerated yell that echoed through the dorm before abruptly quieting down as he found himself wedged snugly between Deuce and Yuu.
Yuu, ever the peacemaker, swiftly handed a soft, warm bun to Ace, who immediately tucked himself beneath Yuu’s chin, seeking comfort from the chaos around him. He mumbled about the incessant harassment from everyone in the dorm, his voice muffled but filled with frustration as he complained about being tormented for no good reason.
Meanwhile, Jack let out an exasperated sigh that felt like the thousandth in a series, his patience wearing thin as he passed two steaming buns to the still-grumbling Sebek, who accepted them with a huff. In another corner, Ortho and Epel had engaged in a lively card game that Idia had recently picked up for his brother, their laughter and playful banter contrasting with the tension radiating from Ace and Deuce. The two were already squabbling again, playfully pushing each other as they fought for dominance over the last remaining bun on the table.
Despite the chaos and the lighthearted bickering, an air of contentment hung in the atmosphere, a warm reminder that all was right in their little corner of the world.