Chapter Text
"I-Idia..?"
It worked. It fucking worked.
He couldn't believed his eyes. Is this really happening right now? Will his nightmare end right here now? No..no, he can't. He knows he can't.
You can never escape you're fate.
Remember?
"Idia..is..is that really you? You..came back?"
Carol's voice pulled him out of the trenches of his thoughts and nodded to what she said.
'Focus Idia..you finally saved Carol with Malleus's help. That's all that matters right now. So, stop thinking about that. Just focus. Yeah..'
Malleus sensing his discomfort spoke up to ease the tension in the air.
"Hello, I'm Malleus. Idia's friend. I've heard alot about you from him. Are you Carol?"
Carol looked at him and back to Idia who was still staring off into space n' got the hint as she rubbed her wrist meekly.
"Yes. That's my name. And I didn't know Idia has another friend here aside from me, haha but it's nice to meet you too, Malleus. I hope Idia haven't been causing you any troubles lately."
She added the last part as a joke to which Malleus didn't get and just nodded while thinking why would Idia cause him trouble when he's been a great help these days. In the cafe and finding a way back to their world.
But that's not the point. They should focus on their task right now.
To escape and never come back into this town.
"Introductions aside, let's get you home. I'm sure you're pretty tired from everything and wanted an explanation from everything."
Carol nodded like Malleus read her mind and he turned towards to Idia n' lightly tapped his shoulder to get him back to reality. Idia snapped back to reality as he looked at the two who was looking at him with worry in their eyes.
Idia shake his head not wanting to talk about it and the two understood as they both didn't question him and let him take the lead.
"Alright, let's go home. I'm pretty beat from everything. We'll explain everything to you tomorrow Carol. For now, let's all rest before we get spotted."
The two nodded again not speaking to give him a peace of mind knowing he's not in the mood for any source of noise right now or else he'll snap. The scowl on his face says otherwise.
The three all went to walk back home as Idia gave Carol a hoodie to stay warm since it was pretty late at night n' the air was cold. Carol thanked him under her breath to which he just nodded in response.
And it was quiet again after that with just their footsteps n' breathing being the only sound heard.
.
.
.
They finally arrived and Idia dropped down onto the couch immediately with Malleus putting away their bags to the rack.
Carol looked at Idia and back to Malleus silently questioning Idia's behaviour but Malleus just shook his head and Carol nodded as she went to put the hoodie that Idia gave her back to him as she noticed that he was already asleep.
She chuckled and patted his head while saying thank you again under her breath as she went to her room and blinked in surprise upon seeing the lock.
"Uh..Malleus, can you help me open this?"
Malleus looked at her as he put his shoes away and went to open the locked door of her room. Carol thanked him with a smile as he nodded n' smiled back. She then went inside and closed the door behind her softly not wanting to wake Idia by the noise.
Malleus looked at Idia who is passed out in the couch sleeping soundly and shake his head with a smile on his face. He hummed as he went to carry Idia bridal style back to his room.
Not minding that Idia was lowkey heavy as this was nothing compared to his strength. It was like holding a pillow.
He chuckled at the thought of Idia feeling like a pillow. He then opened his room using magic as he put Idia gently down the bed and closed the windows along with the curtains.
He then tucked him in properly with his blanket and took off his shoes since he went to the couch upon entering the apartment which shows how drained he is from everything.
He can't blame him as he was rather tired himself from this mission and luckily, their mission was a successful one and won't have to redo it all over again like Idia's past attempts.
He smiled as he looked at the sleeping Idia who is all bundled up in his blanket.
"Goodnight Shroud. You deserved it."
He kissed his forehead and left the room making sure to lock it behind him as he also went to sleep.
The Next Day
The circus went into chaos, first thing in the morning.
"WHERE IS ONE OF THE FOOLS?!"
Jester screamed at the top of his lungs which was out of character for him as he never yell like NEVER in his life when mad and prefer things to be talked civilly ( aside from his sadistical tendencies ) he is rather more mature when it comes to this things, second to his place is Ticket Taker.
Pierrot, Harlequin, Columbina, Doctor and Ticket Taker looked at one another with no clues to the missing fools whereabouts.
Jester groaned and rubbed his forehead in frustration as Columbina spoke up with her head bowed down fearing his wrath even though Jester has never laid any hands on the members. Who knows what could happen?
"Uhm..Jester, calm down. I'm sure the fool just lost their way back to the circus. You know how they are whenever they wonder around."
Columbina tried to justify the missing fool's action but Jester wasn't having none of it as his eyes glowed neon purple making Columbina cower in fear with Pierrot almost stepping forward but Harlequin hold him back shaking his head "no" at him.
Pierrot glared at him for doing that but nonetheless understood as he watched in the corner while gritting his teeth in silence.
"I know what you meant dear Columbina. But remember..they are in my control. And, I felt one of them has drifted off from that. And no one knows how to undo my spell unless I do it myself. So, who did? Do you know who.."
Jester looked at Columbina who looked at him with fear in her pink eyes.
"..Did this?"
.
.
.
"Good morning everyone."
Carol greeted the two as the two woke up from their slumber. Idia's hair was messy along with Malleus who rubbed his eyes tiredly.
Carol chuckled seeing the two and went back to cooking. She woke up feeling refreshed like she was a newborn chick that just hatched from their shell and decided to cook for them as a way of expressing her thanks for saving her.
"Carol..? You cooked this for us?"
Idia questioned with a yawn as he sat down in the dining table as Carol put down a plate of pancakes with maple syrup n' butter ontop. Malleus also sat down beside him and Carol placed another plate of pancake with the same toppings as Idia then sat down infront of them holding her own plate of pancakes but her pancakes has chocolate syrup instead of maple syrup.
"Yep! So, eat up. You guys have aloooott of explaining to do remember?"
Idia almost choked on his pancakes and Malleus offered him water to which he took from his hands and nodded at him as thanks then drank the water to clear up his throat.
"Right, we did. So, let's start from the very beginning.."
To be continued..