Chapter Text
Ever since he was born, Jamil understood his life would mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Knowing it didn't mean he liked it. To be forced into a lesser role for someone inexperienced and weaker compared to him was humiliating, but he pushed through regardless because it's all his family's known. He swore he wouldn't fall into the same trap.
It was his hard work that brought him to NRC. It was his hard work that would've given him the position of dorm leader. It's Kalim's last name that takes it away from him before he could even rejoice. He falls back into the role he's been forced to play, keeping every unsavory feeling that bubbles beneath the surface down. Mediocrity becomes second nature. Lying about his talent is akin to breathing.
And then right when he's come to terms with it for the second time in his life, his worldview shatters.
The entrance ceremony is ruined by a screaming raccoon and one magic-less student. They're forgettable in the eyes of the other students, but Jamil thinks back fondly on that botched event and the way the student— he'll eventually learn their name is Yuu— moved with grace in robes they've never worn before in their life, each movement a dance Jamil wanted to learn the steps to. Caught up in that feeling, he almost forgot the raccoon set fire to Kalim. Almost; He allowed himself to laugh under the guise he was watching the chaos.
He doesn't see them again for a while, but rumors spread to Scarabia like wildfire. The beloved and oh so kind Headmage allowed them to stay in the rundown dorm on campus along with the raccoon cat (he really should learn exactly what animal it is), the Queen of Hearts statue was scorched, chandeliers broke and cauldrons flew; Jamil couldn't tell what was true or false until he saw the damage himself. He was pleasantly surprised to see Yuu in the halls the next day after the chandelier accident, two first years clinging to their arms as they proudly wore the school uniform.
There was an odd sense of pride when he noticed the slightly scorched ribbon they tied on their arm somewhat resembled the Scarabia dorm colors.
———
Once again, Jamil doesn't see them for a while. They're a first year, so naturally he won't see them unless they happen to take the same electives. The rumors of them only increase as they associate with the two incredibly… energetic Heartslabyul first years. If anything, they cling to them as much as they do. Whatever happened after that incident gave them some kind of bond.
They stick to that dorm full of strict rules and a stricter dorm leader while Jamil gives his life to Scarabia. It's a lovely dorm at least. It reminds many of the students of home.
"Jamil! We have a guest!" Kalim's cheery voice echoes throughout the halls. Pushing down a sigh, Jamil leaves the dorm kitchen after being assured by the students with him that they can handle finishing dinner preparations.
"Kalim, you can't keep dragging random students to the dorm. You're lucky I made extra." Jamil begins his scolding, only to stop when he recognizes the wide eyed Ramshackle prefect. They're looking around the dorm in awe, their fingers interlocked with Kalim's as he unknowingly keeps their hand in a vice grip. Kalim laughs and lets go, unaware Yuu is yanking their hand back and rubbing their wrist. They don't seem too upset over it, at least. Jamil wishes he could have the same attitude.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Kalim says, not feeling sorry at all. "I just wanted to show Yuu around Scarabia! They said the dorm reminds them of their culture so I wanna give them a Scalding Sands style feast!"
Jamil could scold Kalim all night if he wants to, but none of the words would stick. Resigning himself to his fate, he sighs. Kalim knows he won, happily grabbing Yuu's hand again before Jamil could even address them and runs off. Pinching his nose as the familiar feeling of a growing headache emerges, Jamil returns to the kitchen to finish dinner preparations. He doesn't see Kalim or Yuu again until he's finished setting the table and most of the students have gathered around to eat.
"See? It's just like the food back in your world!" Kalim pulls a chair out for them. Jamil can see the stars in their eyes as they look at the wide array of food he's prepared. They sit next to Kalim, nervously waving at the other students. "Alright, let's eat!"
With Kalim's approval, everyone begins to eat. Many of the students close to Yuu make small talk, asking questions about their world. Jamil finds himself half listening, hanging onto their words as they describe a world that doesn't need magic to be magical in their eyes. They happily describe their cultures as they eat, pausing every so often to savor the food. Jamil notices by how fast they eat that it's not just out of appreciation but also because they're hungry. It doesn't go unnoticed by Kalim.
"No need to eat so quickly!" Kalim laughs. "Jamil made plenty, it's a feast after all!"
"Jamil made this?" They ask, their eyes finally meeting his. "It's amazing!"
Jamil's heard compliments all his life. Kalim thinks everything he does is amazing. Yet, the words he once deemed as hollow sound different when it comes from Yuu. Stunned for only a moment, he snaps himself out of it and waves the compliment off, claiming it's nothing. The conversation drifts back to Yuu's homeland, and Jamil watches how easily Kalim can make small talk with them.
He forces himself to believe he doesn't care.
———
Yuu quickly becomes an honorary member of Scarabia at Kalim's insistence. To Kalim, it's only natural that Yuu becomes part of the dorm that reminds them of home. No one objects to it; the students are also fond of Yuu and claim they fit right in. It's impressive how easily they've managed to win over the hearts of everyone there. Perhaps that's just a benefit of being the only magic-less student in a highly renowned magical school.
He joined the basketball club at the start of the year. It was mainly something to do while Kalim was at Light Music, but Jamil enjoys playing even if he has to deal with that rambunctious first year Ace and a volatile Floyd. They just finished practice, Ace face first on the dirty gym floor as Floyd sat next to him and downed a water bottle.
"Ahhh! My body hates me." Ace whines. "Why did I join this club?"
"I feel ya." Floyd agrees, tossing his empty bottle across the room and into the garbage can. "It seemed fun when I joined but now I'm bored."
"Both of you…" Jamil sighs, choosing not to continue his thought. Honestly, they could be worse than Kalim sometimes. He still has some energy left, opting to stretch while his teammates groan and complain. He pays no mind to the sound of the door opening until Ace perks up.
"Oi, Yuu! Whatcha doing here?" Ace asks, quick reflexes allowing him to catch a water bottle thrown in his direction. Yuu smiles at him and makes their way over to them.
"Deuce said you'd be here. Guess I missed practice though." Interestingly, they stick near Jamil as they talk to Ace. It's most likely because Floyd is eyeing them up and down like a shark noticing his next meal, but Jamil appreciates it. They wordlessly hand Jamil the second water bottle they were holding. He accepts it, their fingers brushing against his ever so slightly as they hand it over.
"We can do another match!" Ace cheers, his earlier fatigue gone. "Take a seat and focus on me, alright? I've been practicing for ages."
Yuu rolls their eyes but happily takes a seat on the bleachers as Ace runs to grab one of the stray basketballs. Jamil places his water bottle next to them, doing his best to ignore the fluttering feeling in his chest when they give him a thumbs up. Before he can ponder on it too much, Ace throws a ball at him and they start their impromptu match. Ace is clearly making a show of it with how much he keeps glancing at Yuu, but he's a tricky opponent when he puts his mind to it. Same with Floyd, who's suddenly decided he's hyped up and uses his height to his advantage.
Jamil could win easily. He has numerous strategies in mind, and yet his brain and body are operating separately as he follows what's been drilled into him since birth. He can never surpass Kalim, even when Kalim isn't even here playing basketball. He plays it safe, hoping Yuu's attention would shift from him to Ace or Floyd. The few times he glances at them, their eyes are focused on him, like they're silently cheering them on.
Their cheering becomes verbalized when Ace takes the ball from him. "You got this Jamil!"
Something in the air shifts. Before Jamil could even recognize what he was doing, he snatched the ball out of Ace's hands and tossed it in the air. It goes in, ending their quick game as Ace whines and Yuu cheers.
"Dude, what was that? That was amazing!" Floyd's circling around him waiting for an answer, but Jamil finds it hard to focus on him when he has the perfect view of Yuu's smiling face.
———
He finds himself talking to Yuu more after that. It helps that they visit Scarabia often, making it easier for him to make small talk and watch Kalim at the same time. They listen to him, often including him in conversations and asking for his opinions. Even when Kalim takes over the majority of the time and drags them away, they always find time to say hi to Jamil, even if it's only once a day while walking in the halls.
They start spending most of their time in Scarabia after Riddle's "incident", sticking to what they call their comfort dorm and doing odd jobs to be helpful. With how often Kalim likes to throw parties, he's grateful for their help.
They're both washing the dishes in the dorm kitchen, thanking the Great Seven that at the very least Kalim threw this particular party on a weekend.
"What was this one even celebrating?" Yuu asks, drying dishes as Jamil hands them over.
He shrugs. "He never needs a reason to throw one. I'm not entirely sure what his reasoning for this one even was."
"I'm not gonna lie and say they're not fun but would it kill him to throw parties that are more on the smaller scale?" they laugh, putting what must've been the hundredth plate away. "I don't envy you in the slightest."
Jamil would agree wholeheartedly with them, but to voice even the slightest discomfort went against what he's been taught. A Viper doesn't complain, especially if he's going to complain about his master. He gives them a noncommittal shrug, hoping maybe that would convey everything he wanted to say. By the time all the dishes are packed away, Jamil's hands are cramping up and Yuu collapses on one of the pillows in the lounge area.
"It's late. You should go back to your dorm." Jamil advises, but Yuu waves it off.
"Nah, I'm fine. Maybe I'll sleep here, like we're having a sleepover."
They're like Kalim in this aspect, always going with the flow without a second thought. They, at least, listen to him when he objects. "Kalim would get upset if he learned you slept here the whole time. I figure your dorm room would be more comfortable than here and I need to wake up early to make breakfast."
"I could help you with that," Yuu counters, "and if Kalim wouldn't want me to sleep out here then I should sleep in your room."
It's a simple and stubborn suggestion they made so they can stay, but the mere idea of them in his room makes Jamil's brain stop working for a split second. It's dangerous to not be alert, even for a moment, but somehow Yuu has a way of disabling all his barriers and making it impossible to think rationally. He sighs, and Yuu knows they've won.
"Fine, you can stay." he relents. "Bring some of the pillows with you and you can sleep on the floor." Technically, he's meant to give up his own bed and sleep on the floor, but there isn't anyone awake who can judge him and Kalim never has to know. Yuu grabs a few pillows and follows him to his room where he throws a few of his blankets onto the floor despite their protests. "Remember, I'll be waking up early so you might not see me in the morning." he reminds them as he undoes his braids.
When he doesn't hear a response, he turns around to see Yuu has fallen asleep bundled up in the blankets with their head not even on the pillow. He sighs when he sees their glasses are still on too. Why would they agree to help if they knew they would be this tired? No wonder they didn't want to make the trek back to their dorm. He carefully places their head on the pillows and takes their glasses off for them, placing it on his nightstand as he finishes getting ready for bed.
He can't help but envy how peaceful they look in their sleep, how they can fall asleep so easily without a care in the world while he has to keep one eye open for intruders. What he wouldn't give to not have to worry about someone else. He checks on them one last time before he goes to bed, a small smile finding its way to his face as he finds himself at peace simply by watching them.
He closes his eyes and for once finds himself dreaming.
———
Jamil figures this is what it's like to have a friend. He genuinely enjoys their company. It's different from being stuck by Kalim's side since birth and being hounded by Azul to be his partner in class. Yuu's understanding, often willing to be the one talking when Jamil couldn't think of anything to say or content listening to Jamil's playlist in silence while they do their respective homework. It's a calmness he's never truly had when around Kalim.
He's clearly getting too used to it, as is Yuu. He's heard from Ace that it's like a switch flipping in their head, that their personality truly shines when they're comfortable around someone. Jamil can now say with confidence that it's true. They at least knock before barging into his room, giving him a chance to move some of his stuff off his bed before Yuu walks in and flops onto the space where his history textbook was.
"I wanna punch Floyd in the face." They say without prompting.
"How come?"
"Cuz he's an asshole and he's tall as fuck which makes me wanna punch him more."
Jamil rolls his eyes and grabs his notebook, flipping through his notes as he entertains Yuu's antics. "Good luck trying to reach him."
Yuu rolls over. "You play basketball with him. Can't you throw the ball at his face for me?"
"Like he'd stay still long enough for me to try."
Yuu smiles, propping themself up on their elbow as they hug one of his pillows. "I bet you could do it. You're amazing like that."
Ah, so that's the game they're playing. They've been doing it ever since they saw him play basketball. Whether they truly understand it or not, they know Jamil's weakness for their compliments and they use it to their advantage. He can't help the way his brain nearly blanks when he hears the genuine words, or the way his body stops functioning and he almost dropped a plate one time. It's dangerous, and the smirk on their face lets him know they know it.
"I've said it before. That was a one time thing." and it's unfortunately the truth. Every time they stop by the gym to watch everyone practice, Jamil has gotten better at controlling himself. No more "random" bursts of energy where he wins the game. It disappoints Floyd the most, so he's grateful Yuu doesn't care about what happens during those practice matches. They say "As long as you're having fun, I'm having fun too." and it's the stupidest thing Jamil's ever heard.
(He loves hearing it all the same.)
He stares at them in exasperation as their smile is unwavering. He rolls his eyes. "No promises." he tells them, earning the privilege of seeing them make a small fist bump and a quiet "Yesss," quickly followed by a "you're the best, Jami."
Only two people call him Jami; Kalim, who would never listen to him if he said not to call him that, and Yuu, who has a habit of never following the rules set up by others. At least Yuu makes up for it in their own way, which is often food, clothes, or personal entertainment in the form of doing something incredibly stupid. They never get hurt though, reckless but not dumb.
Jamil figures this is what it's like to have friends. Playful— equal — banter and jokes only the two of them would know. "You're amazing." he tells them, the words doing little to convey everything he truly felt about them. They smile, brightening up his room and making everything else seem unimportant.
Yeah, Jamil figures they're amazing.
———
Perhaps… just maybe… Jamil Viper has a crush on Yuu. His younger sister takes immense pleasure in figuring it out.
"That's sooo adorable." Najma teases over the phone, her joyful voice contradicting the way he groans and pulls his hoodie over his face. It was a mistake to tell her anything. "Yuu and Jami sitting in a tree—"
"That's so childish." He mutters, attempting to pull his hoodie further down his face to hide his embarrassment. Even in his own dorm room he couldn't hide from anyone, especially Kalim. Najma ends her teasing with long, exaggerated kisses that make him want to crawl into a hole and die. "Are you done?" He asks, completely ready for her to say no. He sighs in relief when proven wrong.
"You can't tell me all of that and then say you're not in love! You've been into them since they arrived!" She points out, and Jamil can't disagree. "Tell them or I'll have to go over there and do it myself."
"You will not."
"I will too. Especially if you plan to ask them out with food. I'm sure even they agree your presentation is bland."
"What does asking them out have to do with my food?" He could hear her exasperated sigh on the other end.
"Everything! Presentation is key when you want to ask someone out."
Begrudgingly, he admits she has a point. He knows he doesn't have to do anything fancy to woo Yuu, but if anything that makes him want to do it even more. He wants to wow them, make them look at him with sparkles in their eyes the same way he looks at them. Still… It's too early to act on impulse. The feelings might pass. It might be a fleeting crush that'll disappear quickly due to the circumstances. He would never drag Yuu down with him, and getting together would do that even if Kalim approved of their relationship. The fact that Kalim has to approve of their relationship makes his skin crawl.
"I don't need your help with this, and my presentation isn't bland ." Jamil hangs up with a quick bye, listening to Najma's laughter and teasing as he tosses his phone onto his bed. He can get through this. It's a small and insignificant crush. It's not going to take over his entire life. He has better, important things to focus on.
"Vice dorm leader! Kalim set the kitchen on fire again!"
Unfortunately, those important things are Kalim's antics. He takes a deep breath and yells "I got it!" before taking off to see a sheepish Kalim standing in the middle of the kitchen with a few first years and covered in soot.
Great Seven, help him.
———
Jamil's already figured out who used their unique magic to make him burn his hand, but he isn't going to call them out just yet. He isn't going to make a scene. Plus, it's entertaining watching Yuu play detective. In the middle of their investigation, they return to check on him.
"You're sure you're ok?" They ask, gently holding his hand as they look it over.
"I'm fine. Kalim fusses over me enough and I can take care of myself." he answers. Kalim's been frantic ever since it happened, offering to do everything for Jamil. He can't, because that goes against the very nature of Jamil's existence and also because he's terrible at everything , but he supposed the thought counts. Yuu offers assurance and support, and he enjoys seeing the determination on their face to find the culprit.
"And you're sure you didn't see them? Or do you know who could use magic like that?" They ask again, wanting to get as much information as possible.
"No and no. Unfortunately, I told you everything I knew when we talked in the cafeteria." The look on Yuu's face immediately tells him they don't believe me. "What?"
"You covered Kalim's mouth when he was speaking. If you both know something, I gotta know."
"I do that all the time. You know this." Jamil counters. They've been around enough to know Jamil has a habit of covering Kalim's mouth before he could say something embarrassing. It's become a habit. Plus, he didn't want his unique magic to be discovered this quickly. He wants to hold onto it for a little while longer, let it become even more powerful before it's revealed. He has plans for its reveal, where it's when he's not perceived as a mediocre magician.
Yuu stares at him for a little longer, like maybe he'd crack under the intensity of their stare, but their stare isn't as intense as they believe it is and Jamil is well acquainted with that face so it doesn't last long. They sigh. "Alright, I trust you. Let me know if you learn anything, I gotta go meet back with Cater." They get up and begin to leave, his hand immediately cold once they let go.
He finds himself saying "Savanaclaw." before they could leave. He has to hold back from slapping himself. He thought he fixed his problem of being impulsive around them. They turn around confused and he elaborates "Savanaclaw is full of students that participate in Magift. One of them either knows something or is going to be the next target." It's a reasonable thing to say, not revealing too much but giving them a good hint. Their smile is an extra bonus.
"Thank you," Yuu waves goodbye, "and feel better!" They disappear from sight, leaving Jamil sitting criss crossed on his bed with a familiar fluttering feeling in his chest.
———
His hand heals. Leona has a meltdown before the Magift tournament. He gets to kick Leona's ass during the game after he already got messed up during his overblot. While he had to hold back in front of the cameras, Jamil enjoyed it.
At least until Grim hit Yuu in the head with the disc.
"Are you an idiot ?" he hisses at him during break. Everyone's getting destroyed by Diasomnia students, which left an already injured Jamil out of the game and hanging in the infirmary with Yuu. Disgruntled Savanaclaw students roll their eyes as Grim panics and jumps onto one of the cabinets.
"It was an accident!" Grim yells, pressing himself against the wall as Jamil holds a broom like a weapon. With Kalim with his friends and a promise from Cater that he'll be fine, Jamil allows himself to let loose. It takes a disappointed look from the nurse to make him stop. He puts the broom back and watches Grim carefully jump down and hide under Angel's desk.
"I know it seems worse because Yuu doesn't have magic, but they're surprisingly resilient. They'll be up before the day is over. I guarantee it." Angel assures him, his hair a variety of pinks and purples as his unique magic takes effect and begins altering the mood. "Let's all just relax and take it easy."
Jamil sighs, giving in to the mist filling the air. It smells vaguely like strawberries. He takes a seat near Yuu, his attention solely on them as Angel frets over the rest of the students in the infirmary. "I'd say you're missing out on the fun, but you've never been one for sports until now."
"Nyeh, we were having a lotta fun learning from the ghosts." Grim takes a hesitant step towards Jamil before leaping onto the bed. Kneading the space he plans to use as a pillow, Grim makes himself comfortable under Yuu's arm. For a second, Jamil could feel the jealousy bubbling within him. Grim starts purring as he humors Jamil with tales of their Magift practice. He can imagine it all too vividly— Yuu running around the back of Ramshackle with contacts on instead of glasses, their sleeves rolled up as they slowly become more competitive only to complain afterwards about how tired they are.
"Ugh, that's disgusting." Leona groans from across the room, and Jamil's forgotten he was there too. "I can feel your horniness from here and I don't wanna know what you're thinking."
"Fwa!? Ew!" Grim yells. "So you weren't paying attention to the Magnificent Grim at all?"
Flustered, Jamil raises his hands in self defense, doing everything he can to maintain a calm and unbothered expression. "I was not acting horny. I'm simply… wondering when Yuu will wake up."
Leona's expression flickers briefly, a small hint of understanding dawning on his face before it's replaced with a smirk. "I'm sure they'll be up soon, like doc said. For someone who's never dealt with any of this before, they put up a good fight."
Jamil didn't really see Leona's overblot due to the amount of sand that was whirling around. The plausible deniability was nice, but he was more concerned with what Yuu had to deal with. An angry Leona was bad enough, but one who overblotted? It's a miracle they came out of it alive, or anyone for that matter. He doesn't say anything, simply nodding and going back to longing to hold their hand. Leona scoffs and turns onto his side, a soft growl leaving his throat as he falls asleep in seconds.
Yuu doesn't wake up when he forces himself to leave and check on Kalim. Their partners are by their side at least, and he feels comfortable leaving them with those two and Jack. He's called them a trouble magnet before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
"You'll make Kalim worry if you don't wake up." he whispers before he goes. "I'll be worried too, so wake up and be back in class tomorrow, ok?"
The following day, Yuu is back in class wearing fuzzy snake earrings and the weight on Jamil's chest disappears.
———
He takes it back. They're always finding new ways to attract trouble, and this time it's in the form of two eels. He's sitting in the cafeteria with Kalim, watching Ace and Deuce get dragged away by anemones on their heads. News of what happened already circulated around the school five times; dumbasses made a contract with Azul and were paying the price. He pities their partners for being that desperate to get their grades up, especially now that it seems Yuu is also paying the price for it. He watches intently as Floyd and Jade approach them, sinister smiles doing little to hide the bloodlust in their eyes as they target their new victim.
"Jamil? You're staring so intensely at them!" Kalim waves his hands in front of him, various bangles dangling and loudly clanking together. "You're really worried about them, huh?"
"Of course I'm worried. Octavinelle will eat them alive."
Kalim laughs away his worry, like he always does. "They'll be fine! They're super smart, so there's nothing to worry about."
Yes, they were smarter than the average NRC student; it was one of their qualities that made them an honorary Scarabia member. That should've been enough for him to stop worrying. It wasn't. Not when he's dealt with Azul long enough to know when he really means business. He waits for the twins to give their spiel and leave before motioning for You to sit with them. Jack follows, looking a little out of place as he stands to the side.
"You better not." Jamil warns them.
"I have to."
"No, you don't. They got into that mess themselves. They can get out of it themselves."
"It's not just about my friends. It's about the fact Azul is taking advantage of people and I'm not gonna sit around and watch it happen!" Yuu counters. "I won't make a deal with him."
Jamil leans forward, an attempt to intimidate them. "Promise me."
They lean closer. "I promise. I'll be fine anyways, Jack will be with me."
Jack's ears perk up at the mention of his name, but his face stays neutral as he keeps looking off to the side. Jamil's pretty sure he's a first year, but he held his own during the Magift tournament so he has some faith in him. Sighing, Yuu knows they've won.
"Just… be careful, ok? Not even I could help you if you get into trouble with him." he relents.
"I'll be fine." Yuu assures him, placing one hand on his shoulder and giving him a thumbs up. "They say they wanna talk, so we're just gonna talk."
"I'll be fine. No need to worry."
Their words don't bring him the comfort he hoped for. All he could do, as Kalim wished them good luck, was wait and see.
———
How did he fall in love with a reckless idiot? He's standing outside of Ramshackle dorm with Yuu, shaking them like a rattle while he glares at the entrance. "You gave up the dorm as collateral ?"
"Ok, in my defense, I didn't know they would hold onto it!" Yuu raises their hands up to try and steady themself. "I thought I could still sleep in it at least."
Jamil sighs, the familiar signs of a migraine forming as he places his head on Yuu's shoulder. Too frustrated to form any coherent sentence, he settles for some of their usual remarks. "You're a clown. The entire goddamn circus. What made you think giving up your dorm was a good idea?"
"I didn't know they'd hold onto it." Yuu repeats, placing a hand on his back. "I'll be alright. It's just for a few days anyway."
"And if it's not just for a few days?"
He could feel Yuu smirk without even having to look up. "Well then, I guess Kalim will finally have his dream of me being a permanent Scarabia student."
"Don't joke about that." Jamil grumbles, finally pulling away and resisting the urge to stay there forever. Now isn't the time. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Yuu shakes their head. "Nah, this is something I gotta do myself. You already have a lot on your plate anyways."
Kalim always has to come first , is what Yuu wouldn't say aloud. They knew, deep down somewhere, that Jamil had other priorities. They knew they couldn't come first. If only they knew how badly he wants to change that.
"Oi, Yuu!"
"Henchman! I brought the duo!"
Ace and Grim's loud voices are heard as they run up to them. Jamil takes a few steps back as Ace and Deuce tackle Yuu into a tight hug. Grim follows closely behind and jumps onto their shoulder.
"Yuu… thank you so much!" Deuce cries.
Ace nods frantically as he clings to them. "We'll make it up to you, don't worry! You can sleep with us, no problem, we'll figure something out with Riddle."
As they began discussing living arrangements for Yuu and Grim, Jamil found himself sticking to the side again, purposefully moving out of the way for their… friends? Partners? What exactly was their relationship anyways? Either way, he blends into the background, becoming nothing as Ace and Deuce begin brainstorming ways to get Yuu into Heartslabyul. He knows it'll never work— there's been no free space in Heartslabyul ever since Riddle was in charge— and takes the opportunity to suggest Scarabia.
"I'm positive Kalim wouldn't mind—"
"I'll get Leona to let you stay in Savanaclaw."
When did Jack get there? Jamil holds his tongue, doing everything he could to keep his face the epitome of neutrality. He doesn't miss the way Yuu's eyes light up.
"Thanks, Jack!"
"Would Leona even want us there?" Grim asks.
"Well, I figure he owes you guys anyway. He's gotta take responsibility for what he did and I think this is a good way for him to do it." Jack answers, and apparently that's good enough of an answer for everyone. His suggestion is cast aside as Ace and Deuce begin teasing Jack for being a softie. He's not sure Yuu even heard him.
He forces himself to believe it's fine as Yuu waves goodbye and leaves him standing in front of the dorm. He sighs, leaning against the creaky gate as he watches them walk towards Mirror Hall.
"Great Seven, give me strength." he mutters to himself. All he can do is watch and wait.
And pray. Definitely pray.
———
Jamil finds it's been increasingly difficult to try and sleep when he's aware Yuu is three days away from potentially losing their dorm. Kalim would take them in without a doubt, but he's more worried about the part of the contract where they'll be under Azul's thumb. If he was dumb enough to try and help them out, Azul would no doubt try and coerce him into making a deal to free them.
Would he sign it knowing the risks? He doesn't know. All he knows is the ache in his chest as he imagines them sleeping in Savanaclaw of all places. He should've spoken up. Exhausted, Jamil gives up on trying to sleep and heads to the kitchen. A glass of water would be nice.
He stops midway when he hears footsteps. An intruder? This late at night? Holding back a sigh, he presses his back against the wall to remain hidden in the shadows. Peering over, his reflexes kick in when he finds himself face to face with someone. While hard to see in the dark, he recognizes the squeak the intruder lets out and stops halfway, his outstretched hand only lightly touching Yuu's face.
"Glad to know I'm so welcomed." Yuu laughs, interlocking fingers with his. "I probably scared you. Sorry."
"It's… fine." Jamil settles on saying, his eyes focused on their hands. "I thought you were staying in Savanaclaw?"
"I am, but I wanted a glass of water and—" they let go of his hand to fix their glasses "—I wanted to see you too."
Oh . There's that feeling again. Instead of voicing his concerns, his worries, his love— his brain decides the better option is "Can you get back into Savanaclaw this late at night?"
Yuu didn't think about that judging by the way their eyes widened. They wave it off. "Another sleepover?"
Normally, he'd be against it. Now? He wants nothing more than to have them in his sight. "I'll allow it. Let's get some water first." he sighs, leading them to the kitchen. Absent-mindedly, he can't help but think about how suddenly his hands grew cold without their touch.
———
"Dude, I'm begging you, these anemones should at least be removed when we play— OW!" Ace yelps as a basketball hits his head. Rubbing the spot he was hit, Jamil watches Floyd laugh maniacally and walk away.
"No way, Crabby! They're proof you're working for us!"
"Do we need to show proof all day every day?" Ace grumbles as his anemone yanks itself forward. Jamil can't lie, he still isn't sure if Ace is worth Yuu losing their home.
"Oi, sea snake. You've been distracted all game." Floyd looms over him, grinning wildly as he plays with the basketball in his hands.
"I wasn't distracted."
"So you say, sea snake." Floyd throws the basketball behind him, not a care in the world of where it was going or who it might hit. Carefree and casual like he isn't going to work Ace into the ground after practice. "Heyyy, you're both friends with Shrimpy, right?"
"Yeah," Ace answers, "but why do you wanna know?"
"They dating anyone?"
The question makes Jamil freeze. Even Ace looks surprised. "Uh… why do you wanna know?"
The frequent questions begin to annoy Floyd as he steps closer to Ace. "Why do you care so much, Crabby? I'm asking you a question."
Put on the spot, Ace's eyes darted around the room before landing on Jamil's and back up to Floyd's. "Well… it's a little complicated."
"How can it be complicated? Are they dating someone or not?" Floyd hisses.
"Cuz they're kinda but not really dating me and Deuce?" Ace answers, his voice slightly higher pitch as he barely avoids Floyd's arms reaching to squeeze him. "It's called a QPR! It's, like, mostly platonic!"
QPR…
"Are you talking about a queerplatonic relationship?" Jamil asks. Ace nods frantically as he dives behind him.
"Yes! That's what Yuu calls it. They said it's common in their world and the definition fits us pretty well. We aren't, like, "into each other" into each other! Well, Deuce and I are a different story but—" Ace's rant is interrupted by Jamil side stepping Floyd's next attack. The first year is caught in Floyd's arms, dangling upside down as Floyd stares at him.
"Well… I guess that's fine! You guys don't kiss, right?"
Ace nods. "Not on the lips! We're both fine if Yuu wants to date someone else too. Now, uh, please put me down?"
Floyd lets out a long hum, spinning slowly in a circle as Ace stares at Jamil in fear. He can't help Ace even if he wanted to while he's in Floyd's grasp. Luck is on his side, however, and Floyd unceremoniously drops him onto the hard floor.
"Sweet! I wanna hang out with Shrimpy!" he smiles, already grabbing his things and making plans as he leaves halfway through practice.
Jamil could only watch as Ace half heartedly tries to stop him and wonders if the universe truly hates him.
———
He's back in his room, another sleepless night as he wonders whether or not Yuu will be alright. He thinks about making a deal with Azul before banishing the thought. He thinks about it one more time.
Floyd's words refuse to leave his head. Maybe he'll get bored of Yuu; he has the attention span of a goldfish sometimes. He'll probably forget their name the second the deal is over. He'll forget, and Yuu will return to Scarabia where they can go back to their late night dance competitions in the lounge area.
Surrounded by pillows in the dead of night with the cold night time breeze for company, Jamil plugs his ears and searches for Yuu's playlist. Picking one of the songs he likes, he turns up the volume and drowns in the music.
Late nights in Scarabia are always pleasant. The cool air from outside quickly fills the dorm and creates a calming atmosphere. Usually, students would sleep in the lounge area during nights like these. Kalim affectionately calls the event "cuddle piles" and likes having them at least three times a week. Tonight, however, the area remains empty as everyone sleeps in their rooms.
Well, almost everyone.
Jamil, when he gets the chance, spends some of his nights walking around the area. The brief moments of free time he has is used to dance, a chance to pretend he's anywhere but there. It's therapeutic, dancing his troubles away for even a second before he has to remember his surroundings.
And this time, he isn't alone.
Yuu's leaning on his shoulder as he goes through the songs on his playlist. A slip of the tongue revealed his love for dancing, and he ended up promising to show Yuu when the opportunity arose. Tonight was that opportunity.
"You're taking too long." Yuu whines, moving from his shoulder to the cold floor. "I'm about to die of boredom, Jami."
"You know, patience is a virtue."
"A virtue I've run out of ever since I met Grim."
"Dramatic ass." he mutters, insults becoming compliments when they say it to each other. Swears become endearments and terms of affection are disguised as exasperation; their friendship is the opposite of what he has with Kalim. It's liberating— a chance to always say what's on his mind without needing pretense or formalities— and almost addicting.
Finally, Jamil finds a suitable song and hits play. Lowering the volume so it's barely audible, he tosses his phone onto a nearby pillow and quickly ties his hair up. "Watch me." he smiles as Yuu quickly sits up and gets comfortable. This is his comfort zone, his little not so hidden world where nothing in life mattered. And here Yuu was, in that space and excited to see him as Jamil and not as a Viper.
With that in mind, his body moves on its own. The world vanishes around him, leaving Yuu as the only face he could recognize amidst his blurry surroundings. Sharp, precise moves guide him as he matches the song's tempo. He's breathless by the time it's over, panting slightly as he opens his eyes to see Yuu staring at him like he's hung the stars in the sky just for them.
"Wow." They whisper, just as breathless as him.
"Wow." He mimics, grabbing his phone and hitting pause before it could jump to the next song. He looks up at them. "Happy?"
"Very." They smile, getting up and taking his phone from him. He lets them, his phone easily slipping out of his grasp and into theirs. "How good are you at improv?" They ask, searching up their own playlist and saving it to his phone.
"I deal with Kalim on a daily basis. I'm excellent at improv." Jamil answers, this time proud to state his accomplishments rather than hide. Yuu smirks, their thumb hovering over a song.
"Good, because you're about to dance like an idol."
Oh shit. He glances at his phone right as Yuu clicks on the song and the room is filled with the recognizable beat of an idol song. It's that one group Najma likes, though the name slips his mind. He holds back a groan as Yuu tosses his phone back on the pillow and grabs his hand.
Their laughter quickly fills the air as they impersonate the leader of the group, their moves quick and slightly awkward at points but genuine. Jamil doesn't know the steps so he copies them, lagging slightly as he watches Yuu dance without a care in the world. They start singing at some point, too. Their voice, while imperfect, was angelic. He picks up on the choreography fairly quickly, keeping up with the pace as Yuu starts dancing for real and their moves become less awkward.
They end on a literal high note, with Jamil managing to figure out what the last words would be and singing with them. Their eyes light up as he sings. "No way! You can sing too?"
Flustered, he looks away. "I don't do it often."
"You should! You're amazing." Yuu says, and before he can even process the words, they're holding his phone again. "One more and then I'll stop."
They don't stop until the sun begins to rise and they're both on the floor, exhausted. Laughing as a few early risers find them on the floor, Jamil finds all he can feel is unrestrained happiness.
The song ends; that damn idol song that Yuu got him into that night. He gets why they like the group now, even if the songs are a little too bubbly for his taste. Turning his phone off, Jamil looks around the empty room and sighs. When did his time alone become so boring?
Glancing out the window, Jamil looks at the night sky and wonders if Yuu has been able to sleep well. Maybe he should bring some of the blankets to them with Kalim's permission… or would that matter with almost one day left before Yuu loses against Azul?
His phone vibrates in his hand as he thinks. Thinking it's Najma, he doesn't check the caller ID before answering, only to immediately pull the phone away from his ear. It sounds like a dying cat on the other end. He checks the ID, sighing as he sees Yuu's name. "Yuu, what the fuck?"
"I need you to scream, Jami! It's very important!" Yuu yells, and the sound of banging pots becomes clearer. The dying cat sound is back, but now Jamil could tell it's Grim screaming at the top of his tiny lungs. "Video call me when you're ready, I need both hands right now!" He hears something soft hit Yuu on the other end before the line goes dead. Sighing, he glances at the time and looks out the window.
Was he really about to do this? Yeah, he was.
Rushing to the storage room, Jamil grabs the magic carpet and flies out of the dorm. He stops halfway near the oasis, a good few feet in the air when he calls back. Now that he can see, he holds back a laugh when he notices Yuu's phone is propped up. He has the perfect view of Leona on the floor, grumbling as he presses pillows against his ears. Grim is on top of him screeching as Yuu bangs on pans and proudly walks around the room.
"Do I want to ask?" Jamil asks no one in particular.
Leona answers with an almost barely audible "Make them stop!"
"This is all part of our perfectly crafted plan!" Grim exclaims, jumping up and down for good measure as he begins singing a song with no proper tune or lyrics. Yuu stops making noise to wave at Jamil.
"You can leave whenever you want but we're gonna be here. All. Night." They tell him, emphasizing just how long they were planning to do this. A well aimed pillow hits Yuu in the back but they don't pay any mind to it as they throw it back at Leona. "Still don't wanna help us?" They ask him.
A defiant "NO!" is lost in the cacophony they create in response. This is their perfectly crafted plan? He has to admit, it's smart and cruel in its own way. He looks up at the night sky and the stars egging him on.
Holding his phone and carefully standing up on the carpet, Jamil screams until he hears Leona scream for mercy. It's oddly therapeutic at the cost of a sore throat the next morning.
———
He's not sure when he's all alone again. Suddenly, Yuu isn't by his side and is always with Floyd. Suddenly, Kalim is trailing behind him like an overexcited puppy. Suddenly, the tight feeling he used to get in his chest is no longer comforting but choking. Suddenly, he's alone.
The pain he feels at the realization is excruciating.
Yuu has their dorm back after another overblot. He should be happy for them— and he is— but the rest of his emotions are louder and out of control. Floyd skips practice to hang out with them. Azul whisks them away to Mostro Lounge and Board Game Club after school. Even Jade has been speaking to them during lunch. It's all wrong. You don't befriend the people who made the past few days a living hell. You don't give people like that a second chance. You don't act like—
"Jamil! Practice finished early? My club just finished too, let's walk to the dorm together!"
You don't act like the one person he hates.
"Kalim." He says through gritted teeth. The dorm leader doesn't notice the thinly veiled rage hiding behind his eyes. Instead, he looks at him full of sunshine and rainbows and whatever else goes on in Kalim's head.
"Hi, Jami! It's been a while since we've seen Yuu, huh?" he says, already walking ahead without waiting for Jamil's input. "I'm glad they're making more friends."
He can't hold back the venom in his mouth. "With Octavinelle?"
Kalim looks at him with that stupid, pitying look he always likes to give. "There's nothing wrong with the dorm. Azul apologized to them, didn't he? It's all water under the bridge now!"
Water under the bridge? Could something like that be forgiven so easily? If it was Jamil, he'd never forgive them. He huffs, walking faster to keep up with Kalim. What would Kalim know about dealing with Azul? What would Kalim know about his friendship with Yuu? What does Kalim know about anything?
Nothing. Kalim knows nothing yet his word is law. The fluttering feeling Jamil used to get in his chest is replaced by something more sinister, something that's been festering for years.
"I don't want to be a Viper." Jamil thinks bitterly, kicking a rock down the street as they walk. It's an old thought, one he thinks about in the dead of night when there's nothing but the stars to witness his hate. "I don't want to be a Viper." he'll often think, but if he wasn't a Viper then what else could he be?
"Jamil! Kalim! I haven't seen you guys in a bit!" Yuu's voice cuts through the growing fog in his mind, bringing sudden clarity as they rush over to them. Kalim meets them halfway, animatedly talking about whatever comes to mind as Jamil trails behind. A small wave in his direction settles things.
He wants to be a Yuuken.