Chapter Text
A Monster Most Scary
(Chapter 1)
Dismissal of Agency
Yuu was good at keeping their mouth shut. Well, some of their personal thoughts slipped out from time to time. But it didn't change that Grimm did most of the yapping of the two of them and most people in Night Raven didn't know what they were thinking about.
However, most students knew better than trying to take over Ramshackle for any reason less they want to gain their ire. Heartslabyul and Savanaclaw were aware of who ruled when they came to Ramshackle. Ighihyde, Scarabia, and Pomefiore didn't bother with them. And Octavinelle learned the hard way about Ramshackle's methods of dealing with enemies. Azul was still wary of cookies and tea to this day.
There was one dorm however which has not learned to respect the quiet ruler of Ramshackle.
Diasomnia was known for its arrogance and superiority complex. There was only one person whom Yuu would dare call a friend in that dorm. Even then they were occasionally hesitant on that. Tsunotaro was prone to jabs just as much as his dormmates after all, and Yuu cannot tell if he was teasing or not at times.
One of the other people whom Yuu would have said is not as bad as the rest of Diasomnia's rabble was Lilia Vanrouge the Vice Head of the dorm. However...
“Without permission? Why, the Headmaster himself said it was perfectly fine without any hesitation.”
Typical of the man. If it was any other dorm to be invaded he would have been hesitating before signing off the safety and privacy of his students.
“What?! That dirty little crow face...!” Grimm started.
Knowing where this was going they interrupted.
“And again with us having to go along with his whims...”
Vanrouge seemed slightly put out by the residents' responses.
“Don't be like that! 'Tis Halloween!”
Like that makes someone invading another's home better. If anything it made it worse. Given what happens around Halloween.
“'I would like to spend Halloween at Ramshackle Dorm.' That is what Malleus told me, and he was rather insistent about it. Aren't you glad? Such a decorating feat would have been impossible with just the two of you alone. No need for thanks. Halloween is a time to enjoy with everyone. Hah hah hah!”
Malleus... of course it was the estranged head of Diasomnia that was the reason for their home being invaded and decorated without their input. Yuu didn't have a good opinion on the Crown Prince of the Valley of the Thorns. Everywhere they looked his students, his subjects, were rude, mean, and demeaning. His own personal guard was extremely racist against humans and weakening potential alliances due to it and nothing was done about that. Vanrouge might put up a good front but it was obvious that he was just as bad as the rest of the dorm.
Yuu glanced at the gaudy colors of Diasomnia's display. It looked like they were trying to aim for a Land of Dragons influence. It did not do anything for their dorm. If Draconia wanted their dorm to be the spot of Diasomnia's party he could at least choose something more fitting for Ramshackle.
It was disgusting.
Their other residents came floating out and were covering Yuu's anger by distracting Vanrouge with laced flattery.
Although, it was likely Vanrouge didn't notice the anger bubbling under the Dorm Head of Ramshackle's skin or he didn't care. It wasn't his home being invaded by strangers with strange powers after all.
Yuu half-listened to the explanation about Halloween to Grimm. The whole dismissive nature towards the evil spirits who come out to play at this time of year was to be expected of their local ghosts. Vanrouge was likely not aware of how dangerous the Night of Souls was. It isn't just spirits that come out to play but monsters and other things too.
“Hey Yuu, have you heard of Halloween before?”
They couldn't keep a smile from their face as Grimm looked up at them curiously.
“Of course I have.” They tilted their head towards their dorm. Grimm's blink and slight nod told them that he got their message. They will give more details inside away from intruders. Their ghostly residents were a bit surprised that they had Halloween in their homeworld.
Vanrouge mentioned that it wasn't something to be surprised at. Yuu tipped their head at him as they watch Diasomnia students stomp all over their yard. Vanrouge then began talking about some sort of event to come and decided to leave it to the teachers to explain.
Yuu really did hate Diasomnia. Heartslabyul would have teased, depending on the person at least, but an answer would come. Riddle was one of the few who seemed to recall that Yuu was of equal standing as him. Leona was too lazy to try to poke into such politics. He did find it amusing that Yuu did get some of his underlings trapped into cleaning duty. They haven't stepped on each other toes, just one accident of tail stepping, so there was no need to prowl around each other.
Diasomnia however, apparently wants to add insult to injury.
They watched as their ghosts went about snapping pictures of the display. At least they were having fun. It must have been years since they had a Halloween to participate in as a dorm.
Sadly Yuu didn't have a chance to prove that they were able to present a good Halloween worthy of Ramshackle.
Yuu leaned against the fence and watched as Grimm got caught up in the ghosts' picture taking.
They will need to inform them all that they didn't want their picture on the internet. It was a fight and a half with Cater. They didn't want to have such fights in their own dorm.
No matter. At least their dormmates were having fun.
Their brown eyes glanced over to the disgusting display in their yard.
At least someone from Ramshackle was, that was the most important thing.
~~~
“Hey, you guys.” Ace greeted. “I got a glimpse this morning on the way here, but what the hell's going on at Ramshackle?”
Yuu got out their books and supplies instead of answering.
Deuce answered instead.
“Malleus and Lilia look as if they are giving it their all.”
It took a lot to hold back a snort at that. Sure the décor was well made but it was still an insult to Ramshackle.
“Yup. Sure is something I tell you.” They couldn't keep most of their sarcasm out of their voice.
Grimm gave them a worried glance. They have been irritated since yesterday.
“I'm glad they are putting up such cool decorations!”
Yuu couldn't keep the scowl from their face but they held their tongue. Let Deuce be optimistic about it. He was only trying to look on the bright side of this.
~~~
Ace notice Yuu's scowl and gestured to Deuce to cut it. Something was wrong. Ace might be a dick at the best of times, but he knew when to stop when Yuu got like this. Sure they were easier to read than Riddle and easier to calm down, but once Yuu snaps it got ugly. Ace would actually rather be collared than deal with Yuu's idea of punishment.
Deuce blinked in confusion before looking at Yuu's posture and Grimm's motions.
While the monster was always going on how Yuu was his henchman, there was no question that Yuu was the actual boss of the relationship. The moment that Yuu started to get pissed is the moment the monster starts to walk carefully. Unless he was being cheeky or rebellious that day. It never lasts long though.
Deuce carefully nudged Yuu's shoulder.
“Everything good?”
Ace bit his lip at the look on Yuu's face as they slowly glanced over to their friend. Yeah, that was telling right there. Yuu was pissed about something and wasn't going to talk about it right now. Deuce got the message as well as he nodded and sat a little closer to the Ramshackle Dorm Head.
The redhead scooted closer as well. His stomach tying up in knots. Grimm taking his lap instead of Yuu's only made it worse.
Ace had to hold back a wince at the darkening look on Yuu's face as Crewel's announcement continued. He gripped his pants leg with the hand under the desk when it came to light that Yuu wasn't informed about Halloween Week. The Headmaster really didn't want to recall that Yuu was a legit Dorm Head with power, did he? All of Heartslabyul knew that Yuu may only have one student to look after but that didn't mean that they didn't have the power to make your life hell if you broke the school rules around them.
He lounged as though he wasn't ready to jump at any moment and watched Yuu carefully in the corner of his eye.
Deuce declaring to help and to answer any questions soothed the Prefect a bit, but there was still a dangerous air around them. He glanced at the monster in his lap. Grimm was excited about the party and the food to be served. It made his heart ache. While most people dismissed how much Grimm focused on food, it was not hard to see that food was something that Ramshackle hoarded like gold. Yuu was gaunt around the face and their wrists were too thin for any member of Heartslabyul's liking.
There was a reason that Ramshackle's students were always invited to Heartslabyul's Unbirthday's Parties. And why there were so many more than typically done during the year. Trey always wanted to feed the two when he had a chance, and Riddle was doing what he could reason around the Laws of the Queen of Hearts and not insulting the Leader of Ramshackle.
After homeroom, it was obvious that Yuu was still pissed. Grimm hadn't demanded to be carried but instead was walking next to the Prefect. A lot of people wouldn't think twice about this. But to Ace and Deuce, it was obvious that their friend was on the verge of snapping.
This was bad. And knowing Yuu they wouldn't want to talk about it until they were in the safety of Ramshackle's walls.
Straightening out his posture a bit, he nodded to Deuce who got the memo and started to quietly update Yuu on Halloween Week and what was going to happen during it. Ace took up keeping watch on the students around them and Grimm's actions.
Yuu may not be his Queen or King. But they were a dear friend and an ally in this school where allies were rare. Let Deuce work on calming the oncoming storm, he had watch.
~~~
Deuce did actually like the decorations Diasomnia was putting up around Ramshackle. They were so cool and so well made!
But he didn't miss Yuu's dismissive look at the decorations. Nor did he miss the near crackling air around them as they walked up to their dorm. The Diasomnia students working around the Ramshackle Dorm glanced over as the Dorm Head stormed up the steps almost looking like a vengeful spirit swooping down to wreck the mortals who got in their way.
Deuce didn't miss how some of those students stepped back in surprise or how some of them looked at Yuu dismissively.
Heartslabyul had a few who still dismissed the magicless Dorm Leader. They will learn why Dorm Leader Rosehearts respected Yuu as a fellow Dorm Head in time. And Deuce knew that these arrogant Diasomnia students would learn in time too.
Ramshackle was messier than usual. Usually, Yuu did everything in their power to make their dorm look lived in.
Their hairbrush they leave out on the side table by the couch was missing. Their school books were not out on the currently upturned coffee table. Instead, they were scattered on the floor. The pictures on the walls were crooked. And the basket of yarn by the rocking chair was nowhere in sight. Yuu's seat, the rocking chair, was tipped over and the carpet was partly rolled up. Actually, the dorm looked similar to how it was when he first saw it. Just less mold and dust and a few more objects here and there. But it did actually look like an abandoned dorm instead of the warm fixer-upper he was used to.
Yuu dropped their bag down by the stairs then went over to the large lounge window and tapped on the windowsill before going around to the other windows and the archway to the Lounge before turning around and with fury in their eyes watched them.
Ace had draped himself on the couch. Grim had joined Deuce in the love seat. The monster's ears were folded back in fear.
Deuce didn't blame him. Yuu was barely holding it together and seeing that Ace was causally twirling his Magic Pen in his hand he was expecting something to break. Best to leave Ace with the spells right now. He was always better at making his preparations to lunge into battle less obvious than Deuce was. If Deuce was to take out his Magic Pen right now, Yuu would likely lash out. And that was never pretty, so he would look after Grimm and restrain Yuu physically if needed. Hopefully, nothing would break.
Yuu did do their best to make Ramshackle livable and homely, and they were proud of their work. They would be dismayed if they broke something in their anger.
Waiting for Yuu to talk or to blow was always nerve-racking. They tried so hard to be a good example to everyone on communicating their issues and thoughts about things. Even if it was a struggle for them. Just like the rest of the students in this school, Yuu hated showing weakness and relying on others for help. They were better at teamwork, but the moment they needed help with something personal, or something dealing with Ramshackle's repairs that they couldn't do alone or without magic, they got twitchy about help.
But they took their position as Dorm Head seriously and did their best to look after everyone. So they took a bit, but they would talk if you gave a willing ear to listen.
Deuce and Grimm jumped as Yuu growled low in their throat and began pacing the floor.
Ace was tense as he watched Yuu move. Magic pen still moving causally in his hand. Not looking like a threat, but not looking dismissive. It was a hard line to balance for him, but he was getting better at it.
“Do you know how infuriating it is to have your authority and agency as a person be dismissed so easily?”
Deuce shook his head. He had an idea, but not to the extent Yuu had to constantly deal with. Ace didn't answer instead biting his lip as he watched the Dorm Leader move. Grimm shrunk back into the love seat. His leader moved around the lounge like a large predator in a cage. Dorm Leader Kingscholar has never seen Yuu like this, or he might have a different nickname for them.
“It is very infuriating.” Yuu's voice dropped and the growl in their words made Deuce's hair on his neck and arms stand on end.
“Diasomnia really does live up to their reputation.” There was a cold look aimed outside the window where the other dorm's students were working.
“Rude, crude, and demeaning to everyone around them.” Yuu's long brown hair fell over their shoulder as they turned away from the window and took up their path from earlier.
“I was not informed of their wish to use my dorm for their play zone for this Halloween Week. I wasn't aware Halloween existed in such a playful manner in this world until yesterday.”
The white ribbon around Yuu's arm fluttered as they sharply turned to sneer at the fireplace. Deuce quietly noted that the candles were missing from their holders on the mantle.
“I am the leader of Ramshackle. As little as our numbers are, we are still a dorm in Night Raven College. We should have the opportunity to show off our dorm's pride. Little as it may be. We still have it.”
Deuce clasped his hands together in his lap. Yuu didn't often get defensive on Ramshackle's behalf. But when they did it came in like a rumbling storm. Octavinelle was a prime example of that.
The Headmaster really did screw up, didn't he?
“Diasomnia didn't bother with common courtesy to ask the Dorm Leader if using their dorm for this was alright. No, they went behind my back and went to the Headmaster directly.”
Oh no. Deuce's green eyes met Ace's red eyes in a worried glance. If there was one thing Yuu hated more than the Headmaster holding food over their head, it was someone using the Headmaster against them.
A sneer spread across Yuu's face as they glared outside to the decorations beyond.
“Diasomnia didn't bother figuring out a theme that would work with my dorm. Instead, they come bringing dragons and bright colors to my haunted house.”
Deuce glanced out the window. Yeah, he could see what Yuu was talking about. Sure the decorations were cool and very much a Diasomnia type of thing seeing that it was dragons. But it did clash with Ramshackle's image. Which was more of a classic haunted manor vibe with a hint of homely comfort hidden away from prying eyes.
And Yuu, who didn't get the chance to show off their dorm with any of their pride. Of which they had a lot of for this dorm they have made livable with their own two hands and with no magic at that. Had to see that display in their yard for over a month.
“No respect for others' hard work.”
Deuce couldn't hold back his wince as he nodded. His eyes met with Ace's once more. The same conclusion between them.
Diasomnia just declared themselves an enemy to Ramshackle.