Chapter Text
Heartslabyul’s gardens have been regarded time and time again as a sight to behold. Although the dorm’s version of the garden only serves to mimic the actual Queen of Hearts gardens, it’s beauty is still a treasure on its own. Staying true to it’s mimicry of original, the rose gardens are also very high maintenance. In turn, it falls to the dorm’s residents to make sure the garden is continuously worthy of the praise it has earned.
On this day in particular, such a duty falls to Deuce Spade– a first-year at the prestigious Night Raven (of which the Heartslabyul Dorms fall under the jurisdiction of) and one who had just returned to his dorm. Setting down his bag, he had picked up his list of chores on the way back, skimming through it. See, Deuce Spade could be considered an… eccentric individual with his past as an ex-delinquent and his ‘lack’ of smarts. In any case, he is still very determined in his pursuit of his goals and the application of his own morals. And yet, despite his good will, he can’t help but be a little envious of actual honor students.
For example: Riddle Rosehearts –second-year at NRC and the current Dorm Leader of Heartslabyul– if known for his smarts, his poise and his dedication to implementing all eight-hundred-fifty Queen of Heart’s rules over the students of his dorm. Despite Deuce’s former bad blood with him (prior to the Housewarden’s overblot), he still greatly respects him for his abilities. The same could be said with a large portion of the other Heartslabyul seniors, such as the Vice Leader: Trey Clover. Hell, even Cater had more of an opportunity to be considered an ‘honor student’ than he did, despite how lax the third-year was with just about everything.
He could spend all day listing down all the people he knew that could be considered more capable than himself, but he didn’t have time for that. The garden had to be tended to of course! And if he truly wished to be more of a capable and reliable student, then the best way to do so would be to put effort, right? Hence the commencing of his daily routine, fueled by the thought itself. The freshman was quick to change to his dorm uniform and make his was to the gardens with the usual vigor in his step.
What he did not take note of before leaving, was the fact that his roommate –Ace Trapploa, fellow freshman (and a tad bit insufferable)— was not in their room. What he also did not take note of, was the name of his assigned partner on the list of garden chores. And so, it comes to shock him when—
“Ughhhh, you’re finally back Juice! Come on, hurry up so we can get ready for the movie night with Yuu.”
Crap. He was partnered with Ace.
Ace barely gave Deuce time to respond to his exaggerated complaint once the latter had entered the gardens. However, this was quite normal for his self-proclaimed ‘rival’. Although it tended to tick the boy off then and now, he’d come to accept it as a part of the redhead’s character— and easily the biggest part of his charm. In all the months he’d known his rival, he… had come to fall for that wonderful charm. He subconsciously smiled for a second at the thought, staring at the retreating back of his dormmate, before catching up with him.
“Alright, alright! But you better not slack off with your chores!”
Being several months into the school year, both Heartslabyul freshmen had become very well acquainted with their usual chores— both in the garden and around the dorm. Deuce was not the smartest, but he certainly had a relatively good knack for memorization and a very friendly disposition, making him one of the best freshmen to deal with the hedgehogs.
(And frankly, Ace —as much as he loved them— didn’t want to deal with the little rascals at the moment, when he was too focused on getting everything done quickly and returning to their room for the Freshman Trio’s long anticipated movie night.)
However, Deuce was a little ‘out of it today’ as Yuu would call it. He’d taken note of it himself, but he’d been inclined to take note of all the more capable people around him.
Speaking of which, he had turned his head to his chore partner’s area, where he was checking up on some of the rose bushes next to Deuce. The hedgehogs, in their cage, scurried around as they noticed the food in the bluenette’s hand— while the man in question didn’t seem to notice their little squeaks. Put simply, he was too caught up in staring at his rival whenever the boy pointed his magical pen at the rosebushes and quite flawlessly painted the remaining white roses red.
The blue haired teen had once again started to hone in on another’s prowess as he took note of how effortlessly Ace applied his magic before yawning into his hand and moving onto the next bush. He could parallel it to how Ace acted as a whole. The ginger was quite talented as he was and severely clever— he just never cared to utilize his skill in actuality. If only he did and reached his raw potential, would Ace have a higher opportunity of being able to become as great of a mage as he aspires to be.
Quite the polar opposite of Deuce himself, actually.
A frown had quickly reached his face, as he was once again reminded of his own disability by comparing himself to another student. He was quickly snapped out of his depressive thoughts by the sound of the redhead’s voice. “Hey, you’re staring.” Ace hadn’t even turned to look at his partner, still inspecting one of the roses to make sure it was properly painted red (and that he didn’t mess up). The latter was caught off guard, taking a moment to recuperate himself. Avoiding the other’s gaze, he was quick to mumble out a stuttered apology.
The ‘other’ in question cocked his head to the side, slightly confused by Deuce's recent mannerisms. It’s not everyday that Deuce Spade of all people would become so sheepish with little-to-no explanation. (Of course, unless the man was face to face with a female peer. Then, he would probably act a little shy— though most likely not to this degree.) Ace, placing down his paintbrush and red paint bucket, jumped down from his step stool to land directly in front of his rival. “Do you have a fever, you dumbass?” The latter said while placing a hand on the blue-haired boy’s temple. “Because you’re acting like more of an idiot than usual. And that’s saying something.” Despite the way Ace worded it, Deuce could tell that his classmate was quite genuine with his concern for his well-being.
Straightening himself up, he was quick to retort back— “No! I’m fine! You’re just way too skeptical!”
The Heart-Suit student quirked an eyebrow at his classmate’s defensive response. “Eh~?” Perhaps Deuce made a mistake, he realized, when Ace started leaning forward with the two’s faces a little too close to proximity. “You sure? Sure you don’t want me to kiss your little fever better or something?” The former’s face turned as red as the Dorm-Leader’s hair in a flash.
And then he fell over.
It seems as though the ginger pushed the ravenette back a little too hard. Deuce, slightly dazed, only stares at Ace— who is currently towering over him. “Uh— Er—,” The resident troublemaker of Heartslabyul is not good at these things, so he takes a second to flit his eyes around nervously before finally extending his hand to his rival. In turn, the aspiring honor student was simply a little too caught up in his racing thoughts to make any reaction to the gesture for a few seconds, before he too regained his composure. Ace helps his peer up, grabbing his shoulders and playfully exaggerating the wordless ‘stay standing up’ motif. He sighs in relief, while Deuce is still a little star-stuck by both the incident and his rival’s previous words. Was Ace being serious about… ?
“So, are you alright?”
Deuce was snapped out of his thoughts once more, brought back to reality. Ace’s expression seemed much more sincere than before— rare as it was. “You’ve been spacing out a lot more than usual, and you’ve been getting this solemn air about you from time to time.” A moment of silence passed as he awaited a response. Not getting one, Ace placed his hand on Deuce’s shoulders. “I’m not the best at this compared to— let’s say, Yuu but… you can tell me if something’s bothering you, m’kay?“
The boy in question lowered his gaze, slightly ashamed to tell Ace. Yet, he had to let the cat out of the bag sooner or later, right? Deuce took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about how talented everyone here is! I mean, compared to me, the—“ With the push of his finger to his peer’s mouth, Ace stopped the rant as fast as it started. He stifled a giggle. “Okay, pause for a second. You’re seriously concerned about that?”
“I mean well—“
“You —Deuce Spade— who is still a freshman, didn’t receive the same harsh training like our own Dorm Leader or others of his caliber, a normal and well-functioning human being with a good family background; who’s trying his hardest and showing as producing as much results as the effort he puts in…” Deuce narrowed his eyes at Ace, ready to retort about him ‘rubbing it in’ but was one again stopped before he speak. “You’re seriously concerned about that? Hell, even Malleus Draconia goes to our school and you’re concerned about not being on par with people like him?“ The ravenette looked away again, now even more ashamed about his line of thinking. “You,” (Ace gave a knowing smirk) “have a point.”
Ace gave a little huff of victory. “Hah! Told ‘ya!” He lightly punched his rival in the arm as a little show of affection, smiling brightly. “Even if there’s someone out there better than you, there’s no way they didn’t reach that position without some sacrifice. Like more years of training or something, something, trauma.” Deuce gave a knowing smirk at that— having witnessed the result of trauma and magical talent mixed more than enough times. “Bottom line, you’re doing good enough as it is. No need to pressure yourself or envy others.” Ace continued. “Alright?”
It had been a while since Deuce saw his peer give such a… genuine smile. He’d never taken notice at how good it looked on Ace. Well, to him, Ace looked good all the time. That’s just something he’d never admit. “Haha, alright you doofus. Thanks.” the ex-delinquent responded with a big grin, definitely much happier than he was before.
Ace took a moment to savor it —something he would never admit to the latter either— before patting Deuce’s back and turning back to the rose bushes. “Now that that’s settled, we should finish up quickly! Can’t—“
“—can’t keep Yuu waiting, I know.” Deuce had also turned around, now even more determined than before to finish up his work. What he didn’t notice, however, was Ace reaching for his phone the moment Deuce had turned around.
[ yuudeis#9639 ] — online
> ass trappola: hey deuces sad
> ass trappola: cheer him up when u get here mkay?
> yuudeis: What’s he sad about ? And it’s not like I’m actually this school’s therapist, dumbass.
> ass trappola: yea yea whatever
> ass trappola: hes sad because he thinks hes not doing good enough
> ass trappola: i tried but yknow im not good w this shit
> yuudeis: Oh, and I am?
> ass trappola: honestly yea u could be a professional at this point
> yuudeis: Fine, but only because I love him.
> yuudeis: And because I would have done it either way.
> ass trappola: what about me ?!?!?!?!
> ass trappola: don’t you love me uwu 🥺
> yuudeis: No one loves you, dumbass.
> ass trappola: 😨😨😰😰