Work Text:
Today is a normal day for most NRC students, including the Heartsbyul housewarden - Riddle Rosehearts. Ever since he woke up, his day goes exactly like he planned. He had the right amount of nutrition intake, went to his classes (and performed perfectly, as usual), took (the heads off of) care of the students in his dorm, and, of course…
“Goldfishie! ~”
Indeed, a certain teal-headed eel always intrudes him out of nowhere.
“Floyd, how many times have I told you to stop calling me that ridiculous nickname?”
Riddle crosses his arms, clearly unimpressed. His good mood that was still visible a few minutes ago all gone now - instead, irritation takes place.
All because of a certain eel.
Most – no. Actually, every time, the presence of Floyd indicates that Riddle’s plans for the day will be ruined to different extents. For instance, that one time where Floyd dragged him around the campus for 5 hours is a perfect example of his plans being ruined.
“C’mon Goldfishie~ don’t be so mad already. Let’s play together!”
“No, Floyd. I need to review for tomorrow’s history exam. Now, if you’ll excuse… wha- FLOYD! Give me back my textbook!” Riddle’s face suddenly flushes red due to anger, and he furiously waves his arms towards Floyd, attempting to reach his history textbooks that Floyd is currently holding. These study materials are still in Riddle’s bag a minute ago, so he has no idea how this slicky eel steal the textbook from his bag without his notice.
“No~ I don’t feel like it. If you reaaallllly want it, c’mon and get it! Ahaha!” With Floyd’s signature laugh, Floyd sprints off. Immediately, a clearly pissed off Riddle chases after Floyd to save his precious textbooks. According to Ramshackle’s prefect, it really is a normal interaction between the two sophomores, with Riddle throwing magics at Floyd, and Floyd bouncing off Riddle’s magic with his unique magic. However, they both look like they’re enjoying though, not that Riddle would agree with it.
---
“FLOYYYD! I DEMAND YOU TO GIVE ME BACK MY TEXTBOOKS AT THIS INSTANT!”
“Eh~ Sure, Goldfishie, I’m feeling bored now.”
“!”
Riddle does not expect Floyd to ACTUALLY and FINALLY give him back his textbooks. It’s been a while since they’ve been running around the campus, to the point where Riddle’s feet are starting to get sore. That being said, Riddle definitely does not expect Floyd to stop running and turn around – this results in Riddle crashing into Floyd. As Riddle seems to be falling backward because of the force, Floyd instantly catches Riddle by placing his hands around Riddle’s waists while holding the textbook. Riddle yelped out by surprise. After catching his balance, Riddle couldn’t stop pinching his nose in order to try to stop the numb pain. How can somebody’s back be so hard?
While Riddle tries to stop the pain from his nose, Floyd stands there and observes Riddle’s features. Because of the crash, there are some tear drops forming around Riddle’s eyes, attaching to his long, scarlet eyelashes. His face is scrunched up because of the pain, and his cheeks are red from running around the school. He sometimes whines very quietly, which wouldn’t be heard normally, but that doesn’t apply to mermen. Somehow, Riddle looks super adorable, though it might not be the best term to describe the “Rose-Red Tyrant.”
After a few minutes, when the pain eases a bit, Riddle notices Floyd’s hands are still on his waists. For some reason, Riddle feels his face heats up a tiny – tiny - bit, “Thank you for catching me. You can release me now.”
“…’
However, Floyd just stares at Riddle without saying anything. Riddle feels his face heats up a bit more. Perhaps it’s because of the sunset, the red-orange light makes the usual disinterested and cold heterochromia eyes unusually soft.
“Floyd? I said you can - ”
Yet, Floyd interrupts him by nuzzling into his neck. Riddle’s mind suddenly goes blank. What’s up with Floyd today? Floyd’s acting unusually… nice?
They just stand there, with Floyd bending down, burying his head into Riddle’s neck. Technically, only a few minutes have past, yet it feels like forever for Riddle. Logically, he should yell or resist Floyd to release him, but, for unknown reasons, he doesn’t. He somehow enjoys the warmth of the eel, which, is absolutely absurd. ‘This is definitely the sunset’s fault,’ Riddle thought, ‘I’m definitely not enjoying this. I’m definitely dreaming.’
“… you”
Floyd’s voice broke the odd-yet-peaceful-silence, but because he is burying his head into Riddle’s neck, Riddle couldn’t quite hear him. “What did you say?”
After a few seconds, Floyd’s voice ring quietly next to his ear, “…like…,”
However, Riddle still couldn’t hear Floyd, since he’s oddly quiet, and his voice is muffled. Riddle frowned a bit, and said, “What did you say?”
“…I’m gonna see you around later Goldfishie!” Abruptly, Floyd stood straight, pushed the textbook onto Riddle’s chest, and ran off. With his long legs, Floyd disappeared in Riddle’s sight within no time.
“What’s up with him today?” With a bunch of questions in Riddle’s mind and feeling frustrated, Riddle picked up his textbooks. He couldn’t stop thinking about what Floyd wanted to say just a moment ago, and the unusual behavior is bothering Floyd as well. He’d put his hands on Riddle’s shoulders or head, but he wouldn’t NUZZLE into someone’s neck. Remembering it, Riddle’s face heats up within a second.
Somehow, he kind of feels chilly around his neck.
Fin.
---
“Welcome back Riddle, you’re a bit later than usual, what’s up?” Trey lifted his head from the card game he was playing with Cater and looked at Riddle, who just got back to Heartsbyul.
“Nothing much. Floyd just took my textbook again, so it took longer,” Riddle replied. While walking towards to where Trey and Cater are sitting at, he notices that Trey and Cater are still staring at him, while paying no mind to their paused game, which makes Riddle feels a little self-conscious, “Is there something on my face? Why are both of you staring at me?”
Cater smirked, “No~ It’s just that your face is reaaaaaaally red today. Did something happen?”
“! NOTHING AT ALL!!”
---
“Jade.”
“Yes, Floyd?”
“What’s up with the mushroom you fed me today?”
“Fufu,” Jade turned around from his plants and look towards Floyd, “You noticed it? Well, it makes you think about your loved one stronger. Did something happen today?
“Don’t do that again, or else I’m squeezing you.”
“My, of course,” Jade smiled at his brother. Despite Floyd’s back is facing him, it still shows that his ears are red.