Chapter Text
Prefect of Ramshackle dorm, beast tamer, and student of NCR all titles you have been chained to. The dorm isn't empty as another student has been placed under your watch, Grim, you know nothing more about him other than the fact he's going to be "The greatest mage this world has ever seen!" Apparently. He's loud that's true, but at least he keeps the dorm from being too quite, to some that's a blessing, to you? Torture actually, he keeps you on your toes.
"MC! Hurry up already human, it's almost lunchtime and the bakery has come we gotta be quick!"
"Okay okay, could you stop yowling in my ear?" As I told you, he keeps you on your toes. Grim is only a few paces ahead of you, but you know he's milliseconds away from bolting to the cafeteria, he's not starving, he's very well fed. He's just fat. And as was prophesied, he ran.
"Your too slow today! I'll see you there!" He yelled behind himself as he disappeared around a corner twisting through the crowd to his destination. You heard the faint thumping of his magestone on his chest gently fade away. I guess it can't be helped, as soon as he hears about the promise of food you can clearly see him morphing from a cat to a dog begging for it's treats. Probably the reason you give into him so much when he ask for fourths. Don't think that just because of his large appetite he doesn't do anything, you can always see his small form settled over a textbook.
You suppose it wouldn't hurt to pick up the pace, you begin to take longer strides and lead your way through the other students giving the stray apology here and there. Among the heads, you see some short red hair, you recognize it as Riddle's.
"Ah prefect, good Noon." He saw you.
"Hi Riddle, how're you doing today? Any students lose their head yet?" You ask with a teasing tone already knowing the answer.
"Yes, you may know the the two rule breakers."
"Oh?"
"They go by a 'Ace Trappola' and 'Deuce Spade' although I may be wrong? They don't seem like the type of people you'd accompany." You sigh at seeing that you were right on the money. Riddle chuckles before telling you what they did this time, always making trouble. A 16 year old white boy and a rehabilitated-not-rehabilitated punk, but they're your boys, since that time in the mines, they stuck by your side and became some of the best people you know in this school.
"Do you know where they went?"
"By this time i'd say they're getting lunch." He replies. You take note of it and start back on track.
"I'm really lacking behind today, i'll see you later Riddle, have a good day!"
"As to you Prefect." He calls back. You continue your walk, weaving through, you've done this same dance for the last couple of months now, it's just school. You meet the doorway, deep oak doors aged along with the students of past and rest of the school. Stepping inside the afternoon chatter of others topics ranging from projects, the current trend, videogames, and to partners they've scored a date with.
"Oi MC!" You glance to your left and speak of the devil.
"MC have you seen Riddle???" The ADeuce duo in all their glory....collared. It really is a battle not to be cruel and laugh at their misery, but then again, Riddle has been dealing out more fair punishments as of late, especially with Trey there to monitor him.
"That's a way to start a conversation I guess. So how has your day been guys?" You tease. Ace gives you the nastiest glare he's ever achieved, but Deuce's is nastier, so enough messing with them.
"Last I saw, he was in the East Hallway."
"Thanks for complying!" Says Deuce with all anger leaving and suddenly going back to his puppy demeanor. They run off in pursuit of the "Red Queen" himself. Time to get lunch. You hop in line hoping there's still something good. You settle for the lasagna with a Caesar salad on the side and a pudding as dessert. Taking your seat beside Grim, you eat.
How long had it been since you came here, how long were you going to stay? These thoughts float around your head, the silverware sat in your hand unused as you picked at the food, bigger things were on your mind.
"What's wrong?" Snapping out of it, you turn to the voice, you see Grim's blue eyes looking at you the slightest hint of worry in them.
"Y-yeah. I'm just a bit off today." Off like you've been ever since you came to this school, the magic mirror's words rang in your memories.
"You do not belong here, I sense nothing from your soul. You are empty." Those words have filled you with nothing but dread, you haven't a clue what they could mean. Maybe you'll just ask Crowley.
Shouts of your name follow suit and you find Ace and Deuce without their collars and their heads on their shoulders. They grabbed whatever was left for lunch and it looks like they snatched some of the best items.
"So you two were able to convince him?"
"Yeah but it wasn't easy, we were able to get in Riddle's good graces with an offering of cake"
"It was a tart." Ace says through chugging a carton of milk.
"Same difference." Deuce retorts, you snort, just a normal day at the NRC. A few minutes go by with idle chatter about upcoming test, who's the best teacher and who's the worst, so far Vargas is losing. Badly.
"Hey Grim is that a grilled cheese from the bakery? Those things are so good! How much tuna for it?"
"Keep dreaming Ace! You were here before us so too bad, so sad." Grim immediately shields the beauty of melted gruyere between two slices of grilled brioche bread. He must really want the grilled cheese if he won't even trade for tuna.
"Now I'm gonna savor this bad boy!" The grin on his face is wide he makes a show of preparing to eat it, he's looking at Ace and has no shame....
"Excuse me, I heard you had a grilled cheese from the bakery?"
You hadn't been here long, so when you turn you're surprised to see it's a student from a dorm that's not Heartslabyul. But it's even more curious seeing that he has large round fluffy ears on the top of his head.
"Yeah what about it?" Grim throws a questioning glare at the student. He puts his hands up in mock fear putting what you can only call the smile of a businessman on his face. Grim's ears fold back, the flames coming from within them curling up into the air, almost as if it were steam.
"Whoa cool down! I'm just here to ask if you'd be willing for a trade with a little ole hyena like myself." It was more of a statement than a question, but you continued to watch the interaction. He pulls out what looks to be a hotdog bun... He pulled out a hot dog bun. He starts brandishing it as if it'll make it anymore appealing. Everyone at the table was clearly holding in their own laughter, some struggling, others having a pokerface, and one shamelessly laughing. You could hardly hold yourself together at this joke of a deal.
"You clearly know nothing about Grim if you think he's gonna give that up-" in a moment the transaction was completely. The unknown student stood there grabbing the grilled cheese from a shocked Grim's paw. The table became deadly silent and confused.
"Pleasure doing business!" And with that he left.
"MY GRILLED CHEESE!"
"Why'd you give it away??"
"I DIDN'T!" Grim was too angry to be confused, you felt the small body at your side heat. So much so it became uncomfortable, causing you to slide over. As adorable it is to see a cat pouting, Grim is loud about it, you lasted about five minutes before giving him half of your lasagna and the promise of tuna. He's making it sound as if he didn't stick his paw out. Ten minutes more pass and the bell rings, signaling for class.
Everyone says their "goodbye" and "see you later" before departing to their separate teachers. Grim is still in his depressed state while you walk to potionology. It's time to ask him why he did it if he wanted it.
"Grim?" He replies with a snort.
"Why did you give away your grill cheese?" His fur stands on end, now bristling.
"I told you I didn't! For whatever reason my paws weren't listening to me!"
"Really now?"
"I was gonna tell him to kick rocks but I just gave it away." You looked at him quizzically.
"Are you feeling sick?" You asked in a last ditch effort. His ears remained flat. You both dropped the conversation as you entered the room.
"Now my puppies, today we shall be learning about the Ardor Cor, it's common name the Heated Heart."
"FLEX THOSE MUSCLES!"
"Repeat what Lucius says, and be vigilant of your grammar." All classes were a blur for you, as the final bell of the day rings, you prepare for the walk back to Ramshackle. Grim works on his homework as you make dinner, thinking back to that boy. He said he was a hyena, you've seen him before, but where from? You don't let it eat at you. After dinner, you find Grim already on the bed, you lie under the covers ready for sleep.
"Goodnight Grim"
"Night MC." As you drift off, you find a light in the mirror.