Chapter Text
It was 2 days before the dearly awaited holidays, and Deuce could swear he has been counting down the days since they came back from the last ones. He was supposed to get a call from his mother today, and he waited for it anxiously, staring at his smartphone as if it was a two headed monster, or a very angry Riddle, who knows.
After that he had promised he would meet Ace and Yuu in the Ramshackle dorm for a nice cards play.
It rung once, twice, and Deuce rushed on it, answering quickly and with a wavering voice
- Yes mom!?
- Haha, calm down sweetie~
He calmed down, and listened attentively to his mother’s rambles about what happened in town. Seems like she couldn’t wait those two short days keeping them apart to tell him. She then asked him a few questions about how it was going at school. He could hear at her tone that she was way happier than during his delinquent days. He remember how for the last holidays she assaulted him with countless questions, like how well he got used to his dormitory, were his teachers too harsh, how was the food, did he study well? Now, it seemed like she was interested in friends talk.
- So…any boyfriend, Deuce sweetheart?
Uh? Why was she asking that? It was an all boy school and she knew it, so why was she asking if he had any guy friend? He blinked a few times, entirely confused about what his mother wanted to know and just answered, unsure
- Yes? Of course mom?
He heard her squeal in the other end of the phone, and cough slightly to hide it.
- I’m so happy for you my baby chick. Then, why don’t you bring your lover home with you for the holidays? I know it’s a short notice but I hope you’ll convince him~ Send me his favorite meals by messages later, so I can prepare him something good, it’s the least I can do for the one making my baby happy! Oh, I have to leave you, I’ll see you and your boyfriend when you’re back! Mwah!
She hung up as soon as she finished rambling, not leaving him speak for a single second. He stared dumbly at his phone for a solid minute, replaying what she said in his mind. His lover? What lover? She only asked about a boy-
Oh. OH. So that was what she meant by boyfriend. And he said yes. Oh no. Oh no no no. What was he gonna do? If he called back and said he didn’t have a boyfriend, his mom would be so disappointed, her who seemed so joyous at the idea of him bringing someone back home…
He couldn’t do that to her. But he clearly had to find a solution to this surprising issue. A message notification then popped on his phone. Yuu asking when he was gonna come, followed by a picture of Grim eating all the food that was prepared for their game night.
When he arrived at Ramshackle dorm, he was greeted by the laughing ghosts, telling him to hurry up if he wanted to try out at least one snack : the hungry beast Grim was unleashed and unstoppable.
He entered in the living room and could see Ace and Grim fighting for a piece of fried chicken. Jack apparently came too, exasperated at the scene unfolding, and Yuu looked like he was having fun taking pictures of it. He could hear some noise in the kitchen, and thought it was probably a ghost having fun preparing a prank.
He sat down on one of the couch, and sighed, making everyone look at him suddenly, the room filling with uncomfortable silence. Ace gulped down the chicken he acquired and said in a mocking voice.
- Hoho~ did something happen to momma’s boy?
Jack immediately jabbed Ace in the side, making the latter cough out in sudden pain, and asked in a serious tone.
- Spade, you look worn out. Upperclassmen causing some shit on the way? We can go beat ‘em up fair and squa-
- Thanks Jack, it’s not that….aaaah I’m so dumb.
Yuu observed him quietly, then zoned out for a few seconds. When he came back to his senses, he just quietly said.
- You said something you can’t take back and now you’re in deep shit? I can bet it’s from a misunderstanding. We can help your sorry ass, you know, that’s what friends are for.
- Yuu!!!!
Deuce really wanted to hug the prefect right now. But he stayed still, only his yell of joy proving that Yuu hit the nail.
Asking help from his friends, uh...that could work.
He cleared hos throat awkwardly and shuffled in his seat.
- You really plan to help me?
All those present in the room acquiesced in silence, and seemed to wait. Wait for what Deuce needed help for. But as he took too much time thinking about how to tell them, Grim huffed and asked for him to hurry up.
- ….riend
- What? We didn’t hear anything, can you talk louder?
- I NEED A FAKE BOYFRIEND DAMMIT
Silence fell immediately after and everyone looked at him, and Deuce could swear they were just trying to keep their laughter in check. Ace was the first one to fail and almost fell on the floor, laughing obnoxiously loud.
- DON’T LAUGH ASSHOLE
He didn’t stop no matter how much Deuce yelled at him, at least not until he ran out of breath, and left coughing his lungs out. At least someone had a good laugh out of it. Jack was the only one that stayed deadly serious no matter what, and was the one who asked, in a totally monotone voice
- Why do you need a fake boyfriend?
Deuce had to explain everything, throwing things at a laughing Ace and Grim from time to time. He was so embarrassed that he was red to the tip of his ears. He waited a bit after he finished his tale, before muttering out a soft
- Do you think you can help me with that?
Jack was the first one to refuse. Aouch. He explained that faking relationships was the act of cowards and how he would never fake something as sacred as love, even for a friend. Well, at least he stayed true to himself and his wicked sense of justice. Deuce turned hopeful eyes to Yuu, who nervously looked away and rubbed his neck.
- I’m sorry Deuce, I would love to help you but….
The door to the kitchen opened and Deuce saw Riddle get out, a plate adorning a beautiful slice of tart in his hands, and strolling over to Yuu, sitting on his lap. The red head saw all eyes on him and asked, already cutting through his cake and ready to eat it
- Why was there so much noise earlier? Did something happen?
Since when Yuu and their dorm leader were this friendly with each other??!
- Umm, Deuce, as I said, if I could, I would have helped you but Grim and I will stay here with Riddle actually…
Riddle looked cutely to Yuu for answers, but seeing he wasn’t going to get any, he just got back to eating his tart happily, and Yuu just hugged him silently, an apologetic look directed at Deuce.
So...there was only one person left to help him, since even Grim, not that he would have stooped that low, wasn’t available. He sighed deeply and turned around to stare at Ace.
- Oh come on man, don’t look at me like that! I-
- I BEG YOU ACE PLEASE HELP ME!
- ...Well, geez…What will I gain if I help you out?
- My mom’s good meals?
- Seriously? You think it will be enough?
- It isn’t? I’ll do anything you want then! Just please help me!
Ace smirked at that, and faked thinking it over before singsonging happily
- Oh, I wonder if I can do that~
- Please oh great Ace, help me!
- Eh, I like that...ok ok I’ll help you, don’t forget your promise though. I look forward to that part~
Deuce suddenly felt that getting the help of Ace, of all people, was going to make everything a lot more difficult.