Chapter Text
Rook and Trey were in the botanical garden with certain objectives in mind.
They needed moonflowers for a particular potion. The Heartslabyul one volunteered to grow and brew them, while the Pomefiore one just wanted an excuse to hang out with his friend, though he ended up lending Vil a hand with some film study club duties in the process. That night, as on previous ones, the vice leaders were watering the results of their efforts.
Trey's hand was resting gently under the whitish petals of the bud of one of them. He checked that everything was in order, with no threatening insects. He stroked the stem subtly with his gloved hand and averted his gaze to the rose bush near his position. He let his golden eyes linger on the dewy reddish petals, remembering for whom he was elaborating the so-called Noctambulous, appeaser of nightmares.
A comfortable silence fell between the two in which only the night crickets could be heard rubbing their little legs together, producing a repetitive, soothing melody. It lasted, at least, until it was suddenly broken by one of them.
“Look, Rose Chevalier, it's about to bloom!” Exclaimed Rook, pointing to the half-opened bud of one of them. Trey flinched and, as he recovered himself, he walked over to check it out. “Ah, magnifique! Your Roi des Roses is about to receive your nightly nectar, he will soon be able to enjoy a peaceful sleep thanks to your grande gentillesse (formidable kindness), worthy of his rose knight-errant.”
“Ah, yes, soon they will be out and we will be able to use them at last” He remarked, grinning crookedly with a frown. “And Rook, please cut out that name.” It was no longer just the nickname, but also any insinuation from his friend towards the relation he had with Rosehearts. He felt that, somehow, Rook was insinuating more than he said. “Besides, I remind you that it's to stop Riddle from having nightmares about his overblot, it's nothing extraordinary.”
The Noctambulous potions in Sam's shop were not safe for his leader, as they were known to have adverse effects if they had been made for a prolonged period of time, such as falling into a deep sleep, or causing nightmares to intensify. So the best thing to do was to create new, natural ones if he wanted to achieve his goals, not that he did not trust the shop owner, but he preferred to make them himself, and besides, his leader had given him the green light to do so.
It had been Riddle's idea. They found that Trey's presence calmed him enough to keep the anxieties away, as well as the remnants of Blot's nightmares, so, as a vice and also as a friend, he made sure to stay by his side until he fell asleep. Riddle's sleeping hours varied, but at least he got more sleep than when he was not there. The fact that he was missing sleeping hours because of him was unacceptable, so Rosehearts, convinced that he needed to get adequate rest, suggested finding an appropriate solution.
The hunter looked at him inquisitively, with that smile on his lips that told him he was about to blurt out what he had been fearing. He could hide nothing from Rook, but when it came to that matter, he sought rather to hide it from himself, to deny it ad nauseam.
“I think it is, we've been growing these delicate flowers for almost a month now for the sake of the rose leader, the fact that you care so much is so touching, I know you've always been by his side since last year, but this time I see you really comfortable.” Trey turned to the flowers again and stopped forcing a smile, there was his friend again. He wanted to focus on watering, on ignoring his words and the quickening in his pulse, but he felt his presence beside him. Oh well, he would answer.
“Well, Riddle is trying his best to change, it's easier to talk to him now.” He tried to justify himself. He could feel those emerald eyes fixed on him. “And so is getting close to him like before Night Raven College. At first we had resumed our friendship and were close, but now we are closer.” He smiled again unconsciously as he acknowledged that fact. “But my obligations haven't changed, I must take care of him.” For all that he couldn't do in those years. “And of the other students in my care.”
“Non, non, vices here do not care for their leaders out of duty alone. I am with my Roi du Poison because I want to be, not because I have to, and like you, if the same thing happened to him I would try to stay by his side because I love him and care about him.” Sometimes, and only sometimes, he envied his ability to have full freedom to express his feelings. “Maybe you see it that way because you want to make amends, am I wrong? But Trey, Roi des Roses sure appreciates you for being his friend and for all you do for him, not just because, as you excuse yourself, you are his vice. Besides, I insist on my point. I have observed you and lately you both seem happier in each other's company, especially Roi des Roses, I have even seen him laughing with you! That's quite an achievement, not just anyone has managed to do it.”
“Because we are very close and I know how to deal and joke with him, if others would make an effort maybe they could achieve it.” He was quick to emphasize. It was true, the students were afraid of him and had never bothered to get to know him either. “To make amends? Well, yes, it's not easy being Riddle's right hand man, I couldn't stand to fail him.” Fail him again. Trey bit his tongue as he watched out of the corner of his eye as Rook looked pleased that he had been able to admit it, however, he was not finished. “And happier... There you're right, I'd rather see him like that than tormented by rules he himself considers absurd. I hope it will not be misunderstood that it is pleasant for me to see him better. I don't have much more to add, yes, things with Riddle have improved now, so that's good for everyone, including me.”
“Rose Chevalier…” He was not going to keep trying to get him to stop calling him that, he had given up. On the other hand, the tone in which he called him was not even remotely amusing to him, nor was that warning glinting in his greenish eyes. “You don't notice it, do you?”
“I'm afraid I don’t know what you mean, Rook.” He admitted, uneasy at his disbelief.
“Vous êtes un trèfle amoureux! (You are a clover in love!)” He exclaimed. Trey cocked his head, perhaps now that he no longer had to memorize rules, he could venture to learn the language necessary to understand the hunter. Rook grasped his wrists, he seemed particularly enthusiastic at that smirk and his sly gaze. “You like Roi des Roses, don't you? Votre histoire (your story) reminds me vaguely of mine with my precious Vil, though in this case, I am his hunter and you are Riddle's knight. You deny so much and yet you prove the opposite. Though perhaps he's interested in you too.” He concluded with a wink
For some reason, Hunt's words stoked certain symptoms within him. He did not want to acknowledge that, as much as he pigeonholed everything he did for him into the excuse of being the rose tyrant's peacemaker, deep down, it all boiled down to a much simpler, hard-to-admit sentiment.
“What are you saying, Rook?” He questioned. It was no use, no matter how hard he tried, he could not fool himself. “You're not suggesting that what you're claiming, if true, is reciprocal, are you? Riddle doesn't like me, and it wouldn't be convenient for us to date either. Our relationship is very different from yours and Vil's.” He lied. Because he had been convincing himself of that ever since he became his vice. It might not be real, but it was his way of self-pity.
“Vous avez tort, Très tort! (You are wrong, very wrong!) Rose Chevalier, those are your insecurities, don't speak for Roi des Roses!” He had never seen Rook with such a serious expression, though, rather than angry, he looked wistful. “You won't know if you don't talk to him, besides, convenient? This is your only chance, this precious year! Next year we'll be in the fourth year and it will be too late, please, vous reconsidérez (reconsider). You are at Night Raven College, so there are no obstacles, besides, you are vice-leader and leader. Roi des Roses needs to get out of his shell and you, monsieur, you.” He pointed accusingly at him, plunging his finger into his chest. “If you dared, Rose Chevalier, I would support you.” He shook his head deliberately, he could not tell him to what specifically, for his friend was talking faster than ever and his mind was going through every single word spoken. Suddenly, the blond's expression turned into a grim smile, as if he was about to reveal his most hidden secrets. “Besides, if you want proof I'll tell you that your heartbeat is racing, your breathing is rapid, even though it's dark I can see a blush on your cheeks, your pupils have dilated a few millimeters as you looked at that rose instead of me.” He could only blink in perplexity, puzzled by that analysis. “I've been painfully watching your relationship for the past year and now is the right time, tu fais le pas! (you have to take the step!) As I have taken it with Vil, well, he took it first, but that's for another story. The point is!” He took him by the shoulders, still looking determined. “You have the whole year ahead of you, you to forgive yourself, Riddle to heal and you can do it together, which would be ideal. No more des excuses bon marché (cheap excuses), you're going to find out what he feels, if he's interested, and, if he's not ready now, wait a little longer. Please, you and Roi des Roses need each other, you are the flower and the stem, the queen and the knight, the clover and the…”
But, but, but, too much information! Trey felt like his head was on fire, from Rook's endless monologue along with that infernal shaking and the definitely accentuated blush on his cheeks, which he could now feel all the way down to his ears. He could not even be angry with the hunter, he was just terribly embarrassed by his words and the fact that it was not worth the effort to deny them.
Trey brought a hand to the bridge of his nose, but his head only went over his words again, and again, as if Rook was the voice of truth, the one that sought to forcibly drag him out of the shelter of denial. His words had stuck in him like daggers, or rather, accurate arrows aimed at where it hurt most.
For what he was terrified of was that his feelings for Riddle had only increased over the months and now, as Rook had emphasized, this year offered him the chance to move their relationship forward, but what he was most afraid of was to ruin everything they had forged, for what he had told him was mostly true. That was his only chance, but he was still unaware of Riddle's feelings, and if he did not do anything about it, he would miss it too. To resign himself to being his friend and right-hand man, or to jump at the chance to be his partner? Before he could answer that question, the doors of the botanical garden were opened.
“That's enough, Rook.” He was interrupted by an intruding voice. He looked behind the hunter, now silent and grinning, and found Vil, folding his arms. “Look at him, you've broken Trey, sometimes you're too direct.”
“Roi du Poison!” He exclaimed happily. The aforementioned advanced towards where they were standing. “I was just telling him he should take chances.”
“Clearly he's not ready to admit anything yet, don't stick your nose in any further.” He tried to help him. Trey regained his composure and was grateful that Vil was speaking for him. It was a truce of sorts, Rook and Vil's relationship was secret, a huge scandal if discovered, and Trey was trusted with that information with both of their consent.
“Thank you, Vil.” He brought a hand to the frame of his glasses and took a breath, reassuring himself. “Look, Rook, I appreciate your interest, I really do, even if this time…” He had emphasized even his pulses! For the Seven. “I'm sorry, but this is between me and Riddle.” He sentenced, this time with a more serious expression, folding his arms. “You may see it clearly, you may have been doing well and you may want the same for me, but, I'll say it again, we are not the same. Riddle and I have known each other for many years and I wouldn't want, for anything in the world, to lose everything.” Vil positioned himself at Rook's side, and hooked his arm as he seemed attentive to his words. “I simply have options to consider, I can't jump into an empty pool, do you understand?”
“If it's empty.” Vil blurted out. “If you want my opinion, it would be best to talk it over with him and make it clear what you want, but only when you both feel ready.” He glanced briefly at Rook in an indecipherable manner, as if they were understanding each other in a simple gesture. Then the hunter interlaced his fingers with his queen's. “You're quite a catch, Trey. Riddle has suffered an overblot, he needs someone by his side right now that he truly trusts and feels comfortable with. Honestly, I can't think of a better choice. Consider it, but, as you said, it's between him and you, so you have the final decision.”
Great, now both the leader and vice leader of Pomefiore were convinced that there was definitely something going on between the ones from Heartslabyul. Trey just sighed, smiling awkwardly, he had a lot to think about. He averted his gaze to the flowers, he had watered them all, so he was free to go. He stopped again at the rose bushes and looked at the reddish petals.
At least he was not alone, those two were determined to keep him going. Surely it was because Rook had told him countless times that he had played a part in bringing them together. He had not given his friend a monologue, indeed, he was unaware of exactly how he had helped him beyond advising them both out of ignorance in his lack of relationship experience, Rook said he had opened his eyes and also, a slip of his tongue had caused Vil to propose. It was clear that both were willing to lend a hand in return. He diverted his golden eyes to his wristwatch to connect it with his excuse.
“It's about time I return.” He sighed. “Again, you two should not be underestimated, though I will only admit that I may have your advice in mind.” For longer than he would like to admit, in fact, he doubted whether he would be able to sleep a wink that night. “I guess I deserve it for meddling in your relationship.” He set the watering can down on the appropriate shelf.
“You didn't meddle.” Vil interjected. “Though it's true you did encourage us to take the plunge. I don't want to sound like Azul, but it's only fair that we help you now, only if you want us to.” Trey nodded.
“That's right, as my Roi du Poison said, if you need anything else, we're here for you.” Vil cleared his throat and Rook looked at him for a few moments, until he realized what he meant. “Ah, yes, je suis vraiment désolé! (I'm so sorry!) I apologize for shaking you up and if my ramblings have troubled you, I was excited about your relationship.”
There went that word again, they were still nothing yet, yet. Trey sighed again and patted the hunter on his left shoulder. He was still recovering from his words.
“It's been almost three years of friendship, Rook, though I have to admit, you've gone too far this time.” Rook repeated his apology as he heard him and saw his attempt of a serious expression, even if inside he was dying of embarrassment. Trey looked at the pair and judged that it would be best to leave them alone. “Well, I'm leaving now, I'll see you tomorrow. I've got some unmade apple pie waiting for me in Heartslabyul, ah, I'll bring you a slice if you want.” At least making sweets was always restorative for him, it would do him good to disconnect. “Don't stay up too late, see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Trey, I'll look forward to that promised sweet.”
“Bonne nuit (good night). Rest well, Rose Chevalier.”
As Trey left the botanical garden, Vil rested his head on Rook's shoulder. He had been talking to Riddle about it after the leaders' meeting, only in a much more subtle way than his hunter, was what he had gleaned from what little he had heard of his monologue and Clover's complaints.
“It may be reciprocal. They just have to realize it and take action. Just like Trey said, it's up to them.” Vil stressed, lifting his face in pursuit of his lips. Rook stroked his cheek, gently. “They'd make a good couple, that's for sure.” He mused before kissing him.
The poison king settled into his arms, leaving one hand around his waist and the other on his back. It had been a long day where they had had little opportunity to see each other, and on Rook's lips he always found that comforting feeling, in his subtlety and his words, it was like feeling at home. As they parted, it was Rook who initiated the contact of his embrace, Vil tightened his grip as he felt his arms around his neck. He could smell the pleasant, subtle traces of his fragrance on the collar of his shirt.
“Of course, and what has Roi des Roses told you?” The hunter inquired as he ran his left hand along the length of his back.
“He's constantly given me Trey as an example of an ideal partner when I've asked him if he had one, threading it, of course, as a result of the conversation coming up at the meeting, I haven't been as direct as you.” He rested chin on his shoulder. “He has no experience, so…”
“... Roi des Roses clings to the only feelings he's ever had as an example.” Rook finished instead, grinning. Vil nodded. “I am so happy for Rose Chevalier, ah, that la graine de l'amour (the seed of love) has been planted in both of them for so long and has blossomed now is truly magnifique, how touching. They have survived the drought only to welcome the water more strongly in their reunion, the four-leaf clover sealed their fortune, and now that the rose has lost its thorns it is safe to take it at last. May they declare soon.”
He wanted to lock himself in the kitchen and not talk to anyone, to bake the cake in the hope that the apples would take his worries with them. The idea to look his leader in the face after everything that had happened seemed terrifying, he had been preparing himself for it since he had set foot outside the botanical garden, in case the worst case scenario was that he would run into him before he reached his destination. Rook had been so direct and honest that both, his head and heart were still pounding, that time, in addition to everything he had said, with a clear and present idea amidst all the chaos, as attainable and undeniable as the feelings within him.
As he had feared, he found Riddle in the corridor. He tried to psyche himself up so that he could pretend for a few more minutes, just a few more minutes. They stopped as they bumped into each other, and Clover shivered as a smile spread across Riddle's serious face at the sight of him.
“Goodnight, Trey.” No, he could not pretend, his head was still spinning and he feared that Riddle might be able to hear his rapid heartbeat from where he stood, or suspect the blush on his cheeks. “Trey?” He called out again, removed the black glove from his right hand and stood on tiptoe to bring it to his forehead. That's when the vice-leader came out of his trance, smiling politely, trying to act normally.
“Ah, night, Riddle. Sorry I'm distracted, it's been a long day. I don't have a fever, don't worry.” He assured him. The shorter one nodded and withdrew his hand. Trey put a finger to the frames of his glasses. “And I still have to make tomorrow's cakes, so it's not over for me.”
“All right, don't push yourself too hard, do you need help? I'll try to follow the recipe to the letter.”
“Don't worry, I've prepared the dough in advance, I just have to bake them and decorate them.” Poor Riddle, he had done nothing wrong. He would make it up to him some other time. “But another day we'll make them together if you like, just don't add oyster sauce.”
“I'm afraid I've learned my lesson.” He chuckled. Hearing that soft laugh escape his lips did not do him any good either. “Then good night, Trey, I trust it will be as exquisite as usual.”
“See you tomorrow, Riddle, and don't even doubt it.” He left a hand on his silky red hair to stroke his head, appearing natural. “See you, and remember, if you need me to come today, I'll be there.”
“I'll let you know if I need to, thank you.”
As his dorm leader disappeared down the corridor, Trey put a hand to his chest.
Rook was right.
He definitely, undoubtedly, liked Riddle.
And the future only filled him with uncertainty.
With the last sweet grinning image of the Heartslabyul leader in his mind, he entered the kitchen hoping to find calm again.