Chapter Text
When it was later in the day and the 2 year olds finally took a damn nap they got ready to go to the beach.
One of the students had happily bought some swim wear for the babies and even got them a bunch of gear such as hats and floaties.
They did look absolutely adorable in their swimsuits, little hats, and their floaties, they were even color coordinated!
A good chunk of Heartslabyul had also wanted to join along so it was rather busy at the beach with the addition.
Riddle was in his own swim wear and hat as he carried Trey and Ace, Deuce was holding Idia’s hand, occasionally whining and mixing babbles of ‘dada’ when Idia wouldn’t pick him up, and Cater was giggling at being carried by Ortho.
“Why don’t you pick Deuce up?”
“Why? Look at him! I can’t lift him, he’s too heavy.”
“I can lift him just fine.”
“You could, and have, lifted me!”
“It isn’t that hard to lift you.”
Riddle sighed and they compromised by having all of the kids walk to avoid Deuce being left out.
Most were fine with it… except Ace who was now about 1 millimeter too close to Idia and hugged Riddle’s arm, struggling a bit with the floaties that Riddle simply took off, it would too hard to have them in the ocean anyways.
The beach was pretty nice, the sea breeze felt amazing when it came and wasn’t too bad when it wasn’t.
Idia immediately laid under the umbrella on a beach towel once Ortho set it up, setting up the small toys for the children to play with in the sand near him.
“Oh, Rosehearts, I did not know you also had the idea of taking the little ones out.”
Idia’s head snapped up at the voice, seeing Vil smiling at Riddle, who had sat on the chair with Ace in his lap still babbling about Idia being a monster.
Was getting pretty old.
“Schoenheit! How nice to see you, yes, I thought I’d take them since I’m getting some help now.”
“Hello, Shroud, I’d never thought I’d see you out of your room, let alone on the beach.”
“Uh… hi, Schoenheit, yeah… helping out.”
Vil was holding Epel and Rook’s hands, who were in similar outfits to the 4, though Epel was trying his damn hardest to escape his grasp, letting out growls of anger when Vil wasn’t letting go.
Epel hadn’t even noticed the rest of them with how much he was focused on escaping he jumped when he looked up and saw Riddle, staring at him and stopping what he was doing.
“Hi, Epel, awe, aren’t you adorable! Rook as well.”
Riddle waved when he noticed his staring, momentarily stopping his conversation with Vil.
Epel stared at him with wide eyes before he went into a fit of giggles and hid behind Vil, peaking from his legs to look at Riddle and giggling more when he noticed Riddle was still staring.
“He seems to like you.”
“A lot of them do, surprisingly enough, as much as they like me, these ones aren’t the biggest fan-”
“Don’t crush on my mommy!”
Ace suddenly shouted, Idia had ignored the baby’s whines, assuming it was about him, but learned very quickly that Ace didn’t like anyone liking his mother.
Epel stuck his tongue out and made that annoying mocking noise before hiding again, pouting at the idea of not being able to do that.
“Ace, you can’t control that.”
That was only met with whines and more squirming from Ace.
Vil put his hands on the back of Rook and Epel, giving them a small push forward, leaning down to point at Trey and Cater.
“How about you guys go play with Trey and Cater? I’m sure they’ll love it.”
Rook took the initiative and nodded, walking, more so stumbling in the sand but he was trying his best, to Trey and Cater, doing whatever it was with them.
Epel, however, clung right back to Vil and shook his head, for someone who just tried to escape his grasp he sure was clingy again.
“No!”
“This brat… Epel says no to everything, he really is a terrible two…”
“Epel, darling.”
Riddle said softly, leaning down despite Ace’s protests and looked at Epel from his level, who immediately looked up at Riddle.
“Why don’t you play with Ace and Deuce? I’m sure Deuce at least would love to play with you.”
At that moment Deuce had looked up from where he was playing with Idia in the sand, more so blabbering to himself as Idia sat on the towel with a small toy in his hands, and waved to Epel.
Epel looked at Riddle before back at Deuce and walked over to them, plopping into the sand and moments stunning Idia since he was NOT paying attention.
“Uh… hey… buddy?”
“This is my daddy!”
“Deuce, don’t say that in publ-“
“He kissed my mommy!”
Idia felt himself cringe when Deuce said that out loud and had to resist shutting his mouth himself, he could even hear Riddle and Vil chuckling at that!
“What? Fatherly men are quite attractive.”
“Oh how I wish I could say the same about Leona…”
“Ruggie! Quit eating the sand like I don’t feed you, you little shit!”
“If only…”
Idia momentarily pulled his eyes away to look at Leona, who was pulling a small clump of sand out of Ruggie’s mouth as the very boy cried the entire time.
Idia looked back to see Deuce doing the exact same thing and he had to drop the toy he was holding for said child to also pull the sand from his mouth, which he actually obediently spat out when Idia extended his hand.
“Didn’t taste good, huh?”
“Nuh uh…”
Deuce shook his head and grabbed the toy truck Idia placed in the sand to play with Epel.
“Ace, do you want to go play with Epel and Deuce?”
“No! Monster!”
Ace screeched out, shaking his head back and forth before Riddle sighed and forced Ace off his lap right next to Idia.
“Go play now, Ace!”
Idia looked at Ace and grabbed him from the back of his swim suit and forced him forward with Deuce and Epel.
“Go play before I take a bite out of you.”
Idia hissed and Ace had the right of mind to plop into the sand and take the toys Idia had given him.
Idia decided to play on his phone as he briefly watched the babies and half listened into Riddle and Vil’s conversation.
“Oh yes he is great help, I actually got some rest for once!”
“Wonderful, wonderful, I’m glad this introvert is being kept out of his room, it’s great experience.”
“Well it’s reaffirmed the fact I don’t want children, this many at least.”
Vil only nodded with a small chuckle, looking back to see Rook holding up something for him, a seashell of sorts.
“Aweee! Is this for me? Thank you!”
Vil cooed, ruffling Rook’s hair and taking the seashell, toying with it along with a few others Rook had given to him.
Cater soon came up holding his own seashell to give to Riddle, smiling proudly when Riddle praised him for it before running off to find more seashells.
Didn’t take a genius to know Cater and Rook were battling to see who could get their parents the most seashells and it was admittedly adorable watching them scour the sand for the best ones.
Riddle and Vil both had an assortment of shells in their laps that were rather pretty.
Trey, now that he had been left alone, had waddled over to where Idia was sitting, sitting next to him under the shade, leaning on Idia’s arm.
“I’m hungry…”
“Yeah you always hungry, aren’t you?”
“Idia!”
Riddle looked at Idia as though he had insulted his entire lineage and reached into the bag next to him, pulling out a basic fruit snack, handing it to Idia to open.
“Don’t say that about him.”
“He’s so big, look at him, he’s like that giant ball of meat in that one book you showed me.”
“The Ball of Swine???? Don’t say that about him!”
Idia had to hold back a laugh as he opened up the fruit snacks, carefully hand feeding it to Trey, who chased after it like he couldn’t wait to eat it.
“Acting like you’re starving aren’t you?”
“Idia!”
“Yeah yeah…”
Idia mumbled as he quickly went through the snacks, obviously sneaking a few for himself that made Trey whine before Idia stuffed another into his mouth.
“Idia.”
“Hm?”
“You actually read that book I recommend?”
“Yeah… so many pages though… there’s no need for 7 books but it was really good.”
Riddle looked at Idia for a while before he smiled softly and brought a hand to Idia’s head, patting it before grabbing his hair.
“Eep!”
“Insult Trey like that again and I’ll make sure you have no more vocal cords to ‘eep’.”
“Got it, got it…”
Riddle let go, patting his head again in a comforting manner before pulling away.
At least Riddle appreciated the fact that Idia read the book he recommended, it did kinda suit his tastes.
[CONTEXT: Ball of Swine is a boss in the book series Dungeon Crawler Carl (the first book), it’s basically this giant ball made of hundreds of these pig men soldiers that rolls around a maze like area]
Trey eventually got up to go play with the Deuce, Ace, and Epel, allowing Idia to go back on his phone.
Ortho soon came back and Kalim was behind him, a giggling tiny Jamil as well chasing Kalim with a few of Kaim’s bodyguards behind, since everyone apparently wanted to go for a damn swim today.
“Oh, Riddle! Hi! Jamil, you remember pretty Riddle, don’t you?”
Kalim said and Jamil, who was once giggling, suddenly went quiet and hid behind Kalim’s leg, seeing embarrassed about him saying that in front of Riddle.
“Hi, Jamil.”
“Hello…”
“Oh he wouldn’t stop talking about you last time we visited! Kept saying he wanted to see the Pretty Riddle”
“Nothing in the magnificent Vil?”
“Nope! Just Riddle!”
Kalim said to Vil as Riddle finally managed to beckon Jamil over and picked him up, placing him in his lap and then playing him a bit that eventually coaxed bubbling giggles from Jamil at the tickling.
Idia had to admit… he was a tiny bit jealous, which sounded ridiculous since this was a damn baby! But it wasn’t their… it wasn’t Riddle’s babies so it didn’t count!
Ace didn’t see to appreciate it either and let out a small screech before Idia turned to silently scold him to make him shut up.
“Ah! What a handsome boy you are, aren’t you?”
That statement from Riddle earned another giggling fit from Jamil and one big old whine from Ace, who dramatically collapsed into the sand like a stack of blocks.
Riddle got the message after what seemed like deliberately ignoring Ace and waved Jamil goodbye to play with Kalim again before Ortho said something to him and even whispered to Vil.
“Big brother! Riddle! Do you wish to get us some ice cream? We can watch the kids!”
“Oh, I’d love to Ortho but I’m unsure if I can-“
“Don’t worry! I have a ton of bodyguards my pop assigned me since Jamil turned into a baby! More than enough!”
Kalim butted in, smiling as he motioned to the guys surrounding them, a few looking down at Cater and making room when he let out a small screeching noise when one happened to be too close a seashell.
“Well… I mean if you guys can handle it I’m sure it’s fun, right, Idia?”
“Uh… yeah, yeah sure.”
Idia nodded, getting what Ortho was trying to throw and got up with Riddle, they quickly had to rush out before the babies noticed and started to freak out.
Idia felt like he was going to absolutely melt, the sun was one thing but Riddle next to him looking so unfairly cute did things to a man was a whole other thing.
“So… you’re well liked among the kids… huh?”
“Yeah, apparently they think I’m pretty.”
Riddle said softly with a chuckle as they entered some ice cream store, waiting in line, though the at he said it seemed like he didn’t believe it.
Sure, Riddle was still considered a tyrant and still deathly scary when he wanted to be, but he was extremely pretty.
Maybe Idia had a huge crush on him but he’s seen enough Riddle fan groups on Magicam to know he was considered beautiful by most.
“Do- do you not believe that?”
“Well, I’ve heard from people I’m really pretty but… I don’t know, can’t bring myself to believe it.”
Riddle sighed softly, looking through the menu as they got closer before looking back at Idia, clearly wishing to skip over their previous conversation.
“What flavor do you want?”
“Oh- uh, I- I’m fine with anything, really.”
“No you’re not, which one do you want?”
“Um… the chocolate one looks good.”
Riddle only nodded as he looks at the one Idia pointed at this chocolate one in a cup with chocolate chunks inside.
“Hi, welcome to [generic ice cream shop] what would you like?”
“Hello, firstly, can we get the magically enhanced cooler that holds a bunch of ice cream?”
“Of course!”
“Great, let me get 1 regular strawberry, 3 small chocolates and 1 regular with the chunks, 1 small vanilla, 2 s’more one regular one small, 2 small caramel, and 1 regular raspberry…”
Riddle said it rapidly, like he already had everything locked and loaded before he paused and pulled out his phone, calling someone.
“What?!”
“What do you, Ruggie, and Jack want? I’m at the ice cream shop.”
“You shouldn’t be feeding those kids of yours ice creams they already fat enough-“
“Then I guess you don’t want anything.”
“No no, get me mango and I don’t know just give them whatever.”
“Mango???? Gods, also one regular mango, and 2 small chocolate I guess, please put it under ‘Bloom’”
Riddle placed his phone down and nodded at them asking him if that was all and reached to his wallet to pay the exorbitant amount.
Idia was fiddling with his own card in his pocket and quickly took it out and slid it on the counter, still looking way that made Riddle pause.
“You don’t have to pay, I’m fine footing it.”
“Uh… no- no it’s fine.”
Idia looked away when the cashier took Idia’s card and scanned it, giving it back and they stood off to the side to allow others order and waited while they got to work.
“So… ‘Bloom’?”
“Never really liked putting my actual name, I’ve always used Bloom, it’s my middle name.”
“Most- your middle name is Bloom????”
“Yeah?”
“That’s just really sick.”
“Sick?”
“Cool, it’s a cool middle name, but most know your name, aren’t you, like, afraid of what they think knowing they’re getting the wrong name?”
“Never thought of it, why would they care? I’m sure they already thinking we’re a bitch for ordering 14 types of ice cream.”
Riddle said with a small shrug, it almost had Idia aghast hearing Riddle cuss so casually, sure, he was no Mother Teresa but Riddle was always so poised and elegant it sounded weird.
“… what’s with that look?”
“No-nothing, it’s just- weird, ya know? Hearing you curse, like a once in a lifetime event.”
“I don’t curse often but that’s the only word that can accurately describe how they feel.”
“I feel bad now…”
Riddle hummed softly when Idia said that, rubbing Idia’s back, his hand going the sweater Idia still refused to take off, tugging at the front of it.
“Why don’t you take the hoodie off? Are you not hot?”
“Yeah- yeah kinda, it’s just… don’t like it when people stare at my body… you know?”
“People already stare at you, look at your hair.”
“I know! It’s nerve wracking!”
“Come on, I’d rather people stare from how you look than you seizing from heat stroke.”
Riddle pouted, tugging on Idia’s hoodie harder until he finally relented and yanked his hoodie off, wearing a basic tank top that was an attempt to stay cool while wearing the hoodie.
“I’m cold now…”
“That’s because we’re in an ice cream shop, you’ll be happy when you’re outside and no longer suffocating.”
“Rosehearts? Shroud? Is that you?”
“Vanrouge!”
Riddle exclaimed as he heard Lilia’s voice as him along with the other Diasomnia students came by, waving as they walked up to him.
Lilia was holding Sebek while Malleus sort of awkwardly held Silver in his arms, who immediately started to tiredly squirm to get out of his grip and Malleus reluctantly let him go.
Silver walked over to Riddle and gave him the grabby hands, which he didn’t even have to do since Riddle was already crouching down to lift him up.
Silver, once lifted, laid his head on Riddle’s shoulder, already nodding off.
“We already ordered ice cream, I would’ve gotten you some if I knew you’d be here as well!”
“Oh no, we have been here a while and they already had enough ice cream, it’s fine.”
Riddle nodded and chatted with Lilia some more and Idia’s eyes went from Silver, who promptly went to sleep and started to drool slightly on Riddle’s shoulder, to Lilia and an awake Sebek, to Malleus, jumping slightly when he noticed Malleus actually got closer.
Malleus’s eyes however were locked on Sebek, who was babbling some nonsense and reaching up and touching at Lilia’s face, which he only pushed away with a small chuckle.
“Uh… are you okay?”
“… no.”
“Um…. Why?”
Malleus didn’t answer, still saltily staring at Sebek before he got it.
“Are you- are you jealous?”
“… no.”
He was.
Malleus was very very jealous.
“… Silver didn’t even want me to hold him.”
“Nah, I think Riddle just has that SSR rank in child care, I think he just magnetizes their love like it’s his special ability.”
“What does that mean?”
“Kids just love him, I think- I mean- he smells nice and is really pretty, think kids just like that.”
Idia said, trying to say it as quietly as physically possible in order for Riddle not to hear him say this.
Malleus looked at him for a moment, definitely staring at his hair that had started to turn pink at the tips and even let out a low chuckle! He laughed!
“I suppose so, Rosehearts is a rather pleasant person to be around.”
“1 regular strawberry, 2 small… oh whatever, a shit load of ice cream for ‘Bloom’?”
Riddle looked back at the cooler and raised his hand slightly and walked towards the ice cream cooler and lifted it with one hand with Silver in the other.
Riddle beckoned Idia and Malleus to follow as he and Lilia left to head back to the beach, which they followed behind.
As they walked Malleus gave Idia a small nudge.
“I can’t!”
Idia hissed but Malleus urged him silently and he quietly groaned and walked closer to Riddle and grabbed the cooler, his hand enclosing around Riddle’s.
“I- I can- uh, I can carry it.”
“You don’t have to, I’m fine, I promise.”
“No- no I insist…”
Idia had to quickly hold it before Riddle could deny more and Riddle smiled softly and muttered a thank you as he grabbed it.
And almost immediately dropped it.
This was so fucking heavy! It felt like he was trying to carry Trey.
Malleus noticed and helped Idia, in fact just grabbing it from Idia and holding it instead.
It was very embarrassing but thankfully Riddle didn’t look back.
When they got to the beach the 4 surprisingly enough weren’t crying.
Except for Deuce, Deuce was in fact crying and Kalim was trying his best to get him to stop.
Once Riddle was in view of Deuce he immediately ran to Riddle, crying hysterically and trying to get lifted.
“Oh, Deuce! What’s wrong, honey?”
Riddle gasped and Silver woke up from the crying, still holding on to Riddle when he leaned down to pick Deuce up, setting him on his other side of his hip.
“It’s remarkable Riddle can do that even with someone of Deuce’s… size.”
“Yeah apparently all babies from the Queendom are fat, I couldn’t hold Trey if I tried.”
Idia said to Malleus, Deuce had calmed down almost immediately but was staring curiously at Silver, chewing on his fingers.
Malleus had given Idia the heavy cooler back and he struggled to place it near Riddle’s chair and opened it, grabbing the small ice creams for the kids, who started to swarm him once finding out what Idia had.
Leona along with Jack and Ruggie had also came by now.
“Be careful, if you fall with your ice cream I’m not paying for another one.”
Idia mumbled as he finally gave them all of their ice cream before giving Leona his ice cream and stood up with his own and Deuce’s ice cream.
“Deuce! Look what daddy got you! What do you say?”
Riddle said as Deuce grabbed the ice cream cup, sticking two fingers in it before licking them.
“Thank you…”
Deuce brought the ice cream close to actually eat it and finally let Riddle place him down, who was sitting next to Riddle’s chair.
Riddle smiled softly at Idia once he gave him his ice cream, motioning Idia to come down and gave him a small kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you, you’ve been a ton of help.”
Riddle laid back in his beach chair, Silver taking up his entire space on his lap, falling back asleep.
Idia sat on the towel next to Deuce and had to help him eat the ice cream since he was making a mess.
“Geez, you’re are so messy…”
“Kids are messy, Shroud… very, very messy…”
“Malleus, you leave that boy alone!”
Riddle said as he looked at Malleus, who had taken on the small job of helping feed Trey, his eyes narrowing at how messy someone being hand fed could possibly be.
Though most of the children were pretty messy with their ice cream, thankfully no drops happened.
“You should stop feeding these children, they’re ginormous.”
“It’s a Queendom thing and you know that!”
“You didn’t look like this as a child.”
“… I want to choke you out right now.”
Malleus only smiled and looked at Riddle with a very teasing glint in his eyes.
Idia knew Riddle was rather close with Malleus, he had noticed a photo in Riddle’s room that was Riddle and Malleus together in some place.
Still… he was admittedly a bit jealous at how easily they spoke to each other.
“Has Shroud been helping?”
“Oh yes, he’s a load of help, I’ll make sure to make it up to him after this.”
Riddle smiled, looking back at Idia with a very certain glint in his eyes.
… maybe Idia won’t stay a virgin forever.