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Ace sat in class, fiddling with the pen in his hand. Whatever Crewel was saying didn't even reach his ears, he was too focused on the fact that winter break was just days away.
Only a few days until he would see his older brother again.
And Ace had something special planned just for him. Well, maybe not planned, but rather a vague idea of what he wanted to do. But he'd need to prepare. He'd also need Deuce. Deuce was essential to all of this.
Tenkai was always teasing him, sending pictures of him with random girls or him about to go down on one in Ace's room, and Ace thought it was about damn time he gave that son of a bitch a taste of his own medicine.
Class ended, and Ace made his way over to Deuce. The ginger slung an arm over the other boy's shoulder and pulled him close.
"Hey, Juice!"
Deuce bristled. "It's Deuce. Deuce . You're doing this on purpose to mess with me, aren't you?"
"Maybe." Ace grinned. "Alright, I gotta ask you. Are you free for winter break?"
"I mean, yeah. I am. Why?"
Ace gave him a thumbs up. "Great! Wanna come over to my place?" Deuce raised an eyebrow.
"... Why?"
Deuce looked like he wanted to reply with something else but couldn’t come up with anything to say. With a sigh, he agreed to the proposal.
Deuce was the only one that was dense enough to actually go along with something like this. Jack or Sebek would catch on quickly, as soon as he did what he had planned, and that would be it. Sebek would never go home with Ace either, needing to protect his master or whatever. Epel was already in a relationship so that was out.
Ace needed someone stupid and kind, and there was nobody better for the job than Deuce.
“How long?” Deuce asked.
“You can leave whenever you want and go home, but make sure to stay a night at least.”
The plan was going to be a success, Ace would make sure of it.
It was lunchtime when Ace was struck with another idea.
"Play along, okay?" Ace whispered in Deuce's ear.
“With what?”
“Just don’t say anything! Lemme do this without much input from you.”
Ace pulled out his phone and flipped it horizontal. Camera time. Ace took Deuce's hand into his own and interlaced their fingers before raising it up for the camera to capture.
But he knew this wouldn't be enough for his brother. The ginger quickly pressed a kiss to Deuce's cheek and took a few pictures. Just in case some turned out blurry.
Deuce looked at him stunned, his cheeks flushed slightly.
"What...?"
"Don't mind~"
Ace chose the best picture among the few he managed to take and sent it to Tenkai.
Photo sent
my boyfri, deuce
bringin him 4 break btw
It'd be a little bit till Ace got a response but the deed was done. Until then, he needed to deal with Deuce.
Deuce was still looking at him with a sour expression. What was that for? Ace didn't think the kiss was gross or anything. Deuce should be grateful. Ace would bet nobody but his mom has kissed his cheek.
"It's for my brother. He dared me to." Hopefully, Deuce would buy that.
“Dared you to?”
“The kiss.”
“For what?”
“Hell if I know.”
“Then why do it?”
“Only pussies don’t complete a dare.” Deuce left it at that.
Luckily, the other first years had been preoccupied with Grim spilling water all over Epel's meal so Ace and Deuce's interaction went unnoticed.
Ace's phone buzzed in his pocket. Excitedly, he took it out and checked it.
fugly peanut
LMAOOOOOOO no
uh yes lol
accept it
i got myself a boyfriendddddd
Tenkai left him on read, and Ace snickered at how obvious his brother was.
The time had finally come. Winter break was here. Ace felt like he was dying these last few days from boredom. The only thing on his mind had been when they would finally be released from all the lectures and work and at last, it was here.
Plus, he was finally going to be able to see his older brother again. It was all coming together.
After the whole ceremony, both Ace and Deuce had finally got out of the mirror and were in front of Ace’s home.
“You got everything you need?” Deuce asked.
Ace gave him an incredulous look. “You’re asking that now?! We’re already here, Deuce.”
“I only just remembered… “
“You’re lucky we both have what we need in that case since your memory was too late.”
“Shut up.” The dark-haired boy snarled.
They were right at the entrance. Before they could enter, however, Ace needed to relay a message to Deuce. Considering the different point of views in what Ace and Deuce’s relationship was, Ace might need to do some things to get his plan against Tenkai to work. (Ace kept calling it a plan but really there wasn’t anything listed. Basically, it was just ‘Make Tenkai as jealous as possible’ in whatever moment he could.) And Deuce would need to not freak out as well or else his brother would find out and his vengeance would be ruined.
“Deuce?”
“Yeah?”
“Do me a favor and just go along with what I do at home, okay? Don’t ask questions.”
Deuce gave him a look. “What are you planning, Ace?”
“I’m getting back at my brother! So just do me a solid and listen, okay?”
“Ah! A revenge thing! I know how you feel but, Ace, revenge isn’t the answer.”
“I don’t wanna hear that from you .”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Deuce had this look of agitation.
“Ugh, just listen to me.”
Deuce huffed. “Fine.”
With that, Ace and Deuce went inside the house. Tenkai was lounging on the couch watching some trashy television program when he noticed the dorm opened. At the sight of Ace, he looked like he was about to get off his ass. But Ace could see the exact moment where he registered Deuce was there as well and how he sagged right back into the couch.
“So, you’re the boyfriend?” Tenkai asked.
Deuce raised an eyebrow. It looked like he wanted to protest against it, so Ace squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes before giving him a small nod. To Tenkai, it might’ve looked like he was reassuring Deuce it was fine to say. The reality was that Ace was pleading with his life at the moment.
“... Yes.” Deuce said at last, and Ace wanted to breathe the biggest sigh of relief but knew he couldn’t. Thank god for Deuce and actually listening to him! He had a chance!
“Well, alright.” Tenkai got up and walked away from the two, probably going to his room. Ace was hoping that was that, but Deuce staring at him in a confused manner made him think twice. Of course he’d have to explain, it was stupid he was even hoping to get out of it.
Ace didn’t want to tell Deuce that he selected the dark-haired boy to be his fake boyfriend. It was embarrassing. Plus, Deuce was a terrible actor. He would over-emphasize it and give them away immediately. It’d jeopardize the entire plan.
“Big bro is weird. Calls my friends who are boys ‘boyfriends’, and I still don’t know why.” That was a lie, but Deuce didn’t need to know that.
“People could get the wrong idea.”
“I know! He doesn’t care, says it’s not his problem.”
Deuce placed his shoes next to Ace’s and nodded. “I guess it’s just another difference in types of people… “
Ace thanked his bloodline once more for his ability to lie easily.
Ace and Deuce were upstairs in his room, playing video games just as the ginger had promised. After the two of them put down their things, they raced to Ace’s room. Tenkai looked rather bitter about, mouthing ‘Already going in his room?’ and ‘They’re going way too quick.’ or something similar to that. Ace liked that kind of look on his face. It was satisfying, it was exciting to see how well his idea was going.
Neither one had eaten anything in a while, and just as Ace was about to address it a low growl stopped him. Looks like Deuce’s stomach beat him to it.
“You wanna grab a bite?”
The dark-haired boy nodded in response.
“Bet. I’ll just tell my bro to pick something up from the convenience store.”
heyyy
The response was immediate.
owner of trappola badonkers
we are in the same house
ik but :(
anyway can u pick up food
i can
i have the physical ability to
not wht i meant omg
u kno wht i mean
dyin of hunger big bro
deuce is gonna go home cos he is so hungr
good
Oh? That was interesting. Ace grinned.
y u mad lol
im not mad??
ok sure
pls gettuce food
4 me :(
ur precious baby bro :(
Ace considered sending him “I’ll let you eat my ass if you do” but decided against it. Too much, too soon.
will you stfu if i get you food
yes
okay be back in 15
Fifteen minutes? Tenkai would probably bring the food to them when he came back…
An idea popped into Ace’s head. He could give his brother a nice little surprise when he came back. Tug more jealousy out of him. Saying ‘good’ as a response to his supposed boyfriend leaving? Tenkai couldn’t have made it more obvious.
“Bro is getting our food.” Ace informed Deuce. “In the meantime, I’m going to need you to let me do something… “
“Is it something weird again?”
“Kind of.”
Deuce pursed his lips. “Are you gonna explain anything?”
“Not a chance. Now, just sit there…” Ace readjusted their positions and smiled to himself. Sure, it was a little weird, but nothing he was uncomfortable with. Ace didn’t particularly seek out skinship but it wasn’t something he minded either. It seemed to be the same for Deuce, with the way he was acting just as he was before.
Ace beat Deuce’s ass with careless ease in the game, not putting in too much effort. The real entertainment for the ginger was seeing how frustrated he could make Deuce, who was taking this very seriously and gripping the controller so hard Ace was slightly afraid the dude just might break it.
Though Ace was more afraid of Deuce becoming angry enough to throw said controller in a rage fit. On the other hand, Ace knew that Deuce knew how bad of an idea that would be. For his sake as an honor student, and for the charges Ace would cast upon him and his mother. Shit was expensive, single mother or not Ace wasn’t letting him get away with it.
Fifteen minutes, as it turns out, was nothing. Tenkai opened the door to Ace’s room only to find the ginger seated in Deuce’s lap.
“Here.” Tenkai threw the bag towards Ace, a look of anger covering his face. His fists were clenched, teeth gritted, and Ace could see the distaste in his eyes. Could see the jealousy. The irritation.
Ace loved that expression.
Most of the day had been spent with the two messing around, either in video games or around the household. Tenkai had gone out after delivering the food earlier and only just returned to go to bed. It was late at night, and Ace knew the perfect thing to say to spur his big brother on further.
“Deuce will be sleeping in my bed tonight!” Ace exclaimed, an arm over Deuce’s shoulder as he said this. Tenkai’s eye twitched.
“Why? We have a futon.”
“You wouldn’t understand ‘cos you’re single.” Ace scoffed. Deuce looked confused but at this point had learned not to question whatever was going on. Ace said to just go along with whatever he does, after all.
"That makes no sense."
"It makes all the sense! C'mon Deuce, up we go!" Ace was shoving Deuce to the direction of his room, a wicked grin plastered on his face.
Tenkai was jealous. He was so incredibly jealous and Ace was loving every single second of it. His brother was always teasing him, taunting him with pictures or stories. Ace already knew how the both of them felt. Tenkai wasn’t exactly the greatest at hiding his intentions, what with how he was always bragging about it to Ace. Bragging about how happy all the girls were with him, how well he fucked them, and other shit like that. What normal brother bragged about that?
So, Ace decided to finally do something about these feelings while also getting back at him. He’s not going to forget all of the turmoil and tears his brother caused him over feelings of jealousy and insecurity in those first few years after discovering how he felt.
Wondering what those girls had that he didn’t. Hating himself for being attracted to his own brother. Hoping, after seeing the way Tenkai would look at him, that he felt the same only for that hope to be crushed completely. It took Ace a while to actually be able to grasp what Tenkai was really doing, and by that time he didn’t want to play nice and just confess anymore. He wanted his brother to feel just a sliver of the jealousy he had been harboring for so long.
Hopefully, this would end the way Ace wanted it to.
Ace did not actually sleep with Deuce in the bed. No chance in hell. There were limits. He grabbed a futon and made Deuce sleep there.
Sure, he was the guest and Ace probably should’ve offered up his bed, but also this was Deuce he was talking about. There was no way that was going to happen.
The important part was making sure Tenkai thought they slept together. And if Heartslabyul was good for one thing, it was getting him up early in the morning. By now, his body has adjusted to getting up a bit earlier in the day, and so had Deuce’s. Tenkai wouldn’t be up for a while most likely, and Ace fully intended to utilize that time.
Ace let his feet dangle over his bed before kicking his dark-haired friend.
“Get up.” Ace exclaimed cheerfully. His smile was so sweet it was downright evil.
Deuce made some sound of discomfort and turned. Ace kicked him again.
“What the fuck do you want?” Oh! Ace might have forgotten that Deuce was a little bit more… feisty in the morning. More bad-boy than honor student, at the very least. It would be wise to stop kicking him.
“Get up~ You’re getting in bed with me.”
“Ace. What the fuck.”
“Deuce-chan~ You promised to help~”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did!”
He didn’t. But Ace was going to make him believe he did. Tricks were Ace’s strong suit.
“When?” Deuce grumbled.
“Outside the house! C’mon, get up, time’s a-wastin’!”
Deuce growled, low and irritated. Ace decided to shut his mouth. The dark-haired boy scrubbed the sleep out of his eyes and got out of the futon, Ace immediately taking his chance to roll it up and put it away. No evidence.
The ginger swiftly pulled Deuce into his own bed and pulled the covers over them. It was only for a little while, so he didn’t mind being this close to Deuce. He’d have to truly play the part in order to get Tenkai as upset as he wanted. Ace huddled close to his friend, letting his head fall on his shoulder, and wrapped an arm around Deuce’s middle.
Deuce was still rather sleepy when Ace had gotten rid of the futon he laid out for him, so the boy ended falling asleep the second his head hit Ace’s pillow. He was snoring softly, completely unaware of Ace being on top of him. The ginger just hoped he didn’t drool.
Ace made sure to focus on the sounds from outside his door. He was wide-awake already, so he wasn’t worried about actually falling asleep on top of Deuce. Ace was playing a part.
He couldn’t wait till Tenkai finally came through that door. What expression would he wear then? Would he be even more jealous? Even more enraged? Ace wanted it. He could almost taste it.
Footsteps. Ace could hear them clearly. Quickly, he closed his eyes and evened his breathing. The perfect image of someone fast asleep. He had a lot of time to master the art, whether it be pretending he was asleep from his dad or Riddle.
Tenkai thought he could tell when Ace was faking, but he was just as gullible as the rest. Well, when Ace actually got his act together. Too many times had his brother caught him in the process of pretending which totally blew his cover. So annoying.
“Ace!”
There it was. Tenkai’s classic wake-up call. He loved to bug the absolute shit out of Ace, and this was one of his favorite methods. Unluckily for him, that would be his downfall today.
Ace nuzzled Deuce’s chest and held the boy closer. The ginger knew exactly how he looked to Tenkai at the moment. His cheek pressed up against the other boy’s chest squishing it slightly, his lips slightly open and his hair all messy. Ace was sure he looked rather cute.
Or maybe he was thinking too highly of himself. He didn’t actually know, but he sure hoped he looked as cute as he was imagining himself to be.
Tenkai stomped over. That sounded so angry, so infuriated that Ace was tempted to give up the act and wake up. The older Trappola grabbed Ace’s shoulder, the grip strong and painful. Tenkai shook him harshly.
“Ace, wake up.”
Ace pretended to stir, blinking slowly and letting out a small yawn. The ginger turned to face his older brother and gave him a soft smile.
“Mornin’.”
Tenkai seemed taken back by this, shock etched into his features. But just as quickly as the expression came just as quickly it left and was replaced with that anger Ace was sure was from earlier. His lips in a thin line and glaring down at Ace.
“Get up, you shitty brat.”
Tenkai threw his arm away as if it burned him and left the room. Deuce was still sleeping peacefully next to him. Ace’s heart skipped a beat. That anger was like nothing else. That treatment was like nothing else. Ace was loving every second of this.
“C’mon!”
“Can’t we have eggs for breakfast?” Deuce squinted at the ginger.
“We’re young! We can have some ice cream instead.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Shut up and follow me.”
Ace grabbed two cones from the fridge and got rid of the packaging. He handed one cone over to Deuce, who looked like he wanted to protest the very idea but took it anyway. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Tenkai grabbing something from the cabinet.
“You can have eggs later. But make it yourself, my bro and I don’t know how to cook.”
“Last time we tried we burned the counter!” Tenkai quipped.
Ace closed the fridge and the boys made their way out of the kitchen. They both sat on the couch outside of the kitchen.
“Then who cooks?” Deuce asked.
“Dad.”
“Not mom?”
“Don’t have one.” Ace said, casually.
His mom died shortly after giving birth to him, so he didn’t really know her well enough to care about her passing. But Ace made sure to not mention it around his brother or father. They were definitely more affected than he ever was. He was hoping Tenkai didn’t hear.
“Oh. Sorry.” Deuce tried to think of something to say. “I don’t have a dad.”
“We’re in the same boat then.” Ace nodded.
“Imagine if your mom married my dad.” Ace couldn’t help the cackle he let out at Deuce’s disgusted expression. Both boys enjoyed their ice cream, licking it and remaining in blissful silence.
But Ace knew something. Something so important and crucial to his little plan. He knew Tenkai was right there, right behind the wall to the kitchen and that’s exactly what spurred him into action. Deuce was still licking off the cream and some of it ended up on his face. The ginger angled his head just so he knew Tenkai couldn’t see what was going on and cupped Deuce’s face.
“You got something here.”
Deuce raised his eyebrow but said nothing more as Ace moved closer. With a quick wipe of his thumb, he got rid of the cream and stared into the dark-haired boy’s eyes.
“Ace?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re too close. I can feel your breath.” Deuce deadpanned.
Ace smiled. “Just stay like that for a bit, okay? Trust me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Just do it.”
The younger of the two wrapped an arm around Deuce’s middle and pulled him closer.
A shout interrupted them.
“Alright, that’s enough!” It was Tenkai. He looked somewhat angry. Ace turned around, his arm still on Deuce’s waist.
“Hmm~ Did you need something?” Ace asked, smirking a bit. He couldn’t keep the smugness off his face.
“Just come here,” Tenkai said and went back to the kitchen. Ace got up and gave Deuce a thumbs up before leaving him alone on the couch. The dark-haired boy stopped trying to make sense of Ace’s antics and resumed eating his ice cream. Deuce couldn’t really be bothered by all of this, he just wanted to go home soon.
Ace entered the kitchen, not even bothering to hide his smirk.
“What are you playing at?” Tenkai was glaring at him now. Ace felt a shiver down his spine.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t act stupid. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Ace put a finger to his bottom lip. "Do I?" Tenkai rubbed his temples with three of his fingers and sighed.
"Stop being a brat."
"Is this about you?" Ace asked innocently and began to approach his brother. Tenkai gave him a look.
"Is this about your sour attitude since I brought Deuce home?"
Tenkai didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Ace knew. He always knew. The younger was walking towards the older one of the two, the former backing away in the wall. Ace tipped his chin up with his pointer finger.
"Is this about how jealous you are?"
Tenkai barked out a laugh, flustered. "I barely know the Deuce kid! I don't even like him, how could I be jealous? You're way off mark, little bro."
Ace's grin didn't falter. If anything, it became even more shit-eating.
"No. You’re just jealous of Deuce.”
His older brother stared at him, shocked. Color flooded his cheeks.
"N-No!"
"You want me. I know you do." Ace pressed his body up against Tenkai's and wrapped his arms around the older’s neck. The younger shifted his hips and grinded against him. "And I want you too."
Tenkai's hands were still up, unsure of what to touch or what to say. He could only stare at his brother in embarrassment at being caught.
“How did you… ?” There was no point in denying it anymore.
“Your constant boasting about how well you could fuck your girlfriends. It was pretty obvious.” Ace laughed. “It’s like you wanted me to know how well you could fuck me .” Tenkai averted his gaze, opting to look anywhere but Ace’s face.
“What about Deuce?”
“That was a lie~”
Ace shifted his hips again and got on the tips of his toes to quickly plant a kiss on Tenkai’s lips.
“There’s more where that came from.”
Tenkai gave in and cupped Ace’s face, bending down to finally capture his brother’s lips with his own. Tenkai put a hand behind Ace’s head and pulled him closer to himself, deepening the kiss. Ace made a small noise against his lips, Tenkai taking this as a chance to push his tongue into Ace’s mouth.
They split apart after a while, both of them out of breath. It was the start of something new.