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Floyd had always been wary of Trey Clover. He was a close friend to Riddle—a close childhood friend to Riddle—as well as the vice dorm leader and second-in-command to Riddle, the dorm leader. He was always seen defusing Riddle’s bursts of anger with a slice of strawberry shortcake, calming the redhead with that smooth voice of his and those gentle reminders he always uttered…
Floyd didn’t like it. He never had and he never would enjoy the way Trey slipped by everyone’s eyes, sneaking closer and closer to Riddle, getting more and more chummy with the housewarden and trying to snatch him away with that teasing smirk of his.
Actually, that wasn’t even right. It wasn’t that Floyd disliked it.
It was that Floyd despised it.
Riddle Rosehearts was Floyd’s . Not Trey’s. Not Cater’s. Not Azul’s or Jade’s. Riddle was his, and Floyd would make sure of it. Because ever since they started dating, those lingering eyes on Riddle had started to bother him more and more, had started grating into his skin, causing him to gnash his teeth in irritation. Why was it that they noticed Riddle now , when Floyd started dating him ? Why was it that they started taking an interest in Riddle now, and not after Riddle’s overblot when the boy needed the support most?
What a buncha garbage. Floyd kicked at his feet, glowering when he saw an empty tin can on the floor. He punted it hard, ignoring the shrill squeak of a nearby student and watching it bounce against the wall and fall into the trash can, where it was supposed to be. He stopped, shoving his hands in his pocket and looking into the bin, full to the brim with other useless items. He grunted. Trash like them don’t deserve Riddle.
He skipped class that day, avoiding Crewel’s scathing voice that told him to get in the classroom, ignoring all the stares and looks of fear from other students he passed by in the hallways. Floyd didn’t know who any of those small fries were. He didn’t know, and he didn’t care, heading to his usual spot in the courtyard and all but passing out on the bench in the shade. He didn’t want to deal with any of that learning shit, not today.
Floyd didn’t bother trying to sleep. He could never get any serious shut-eye around here, especially not with so much on his mind and so many enemies lurking nearby. The most he did was pretend to sleep, opening his mouth and baring his teeth to any passersby, to scare off the idiots that tried to bother him.
Today, however, wasn’t his lucky day, as not even five minutes after he sat down, he heard voices in the distance, growing louder and louder, rapidly approaching. Floyd scowled, peeking one eye open toward the commotion, eager to see who it was that desperately wanted a beating.
He hadn’t expected to see Riddle Rosehearts, rounding the corner with a gloved hand over his pink face, coughing wildly into his fist as an accompanying student held him steady, walking with him.
“Riddle, are you sure you can manage…?”
Floyd flinched. He recognized that voice. It was Jade, his brother.
Riddle coughed again but nodded. “I’m perfectly fine, Jade. Just take me back to class—”
“Perfectly fine?” Jade interrupted with a questioning smile. “You call having to lean on me for support while coughing into your fist ‘perfectly fine?’”
“I can’t afford to miss a single second of class—”
“No, you’re coming with me to the infirmary,” Jade said, shutting him down. “And that’s final. You wouldn’t want to see what Floyd would do if he saw you like this, would you?”
Floyd perked up at the mention of his name, now fully brought out of his ‘slumber,’ both eyes open and staring at the two from a distance away.
“No…” Riddle’s voice quieted and he sighed after a moment. “Fine. I shall go to the infirmary with you.”
Jade smiled. “Very well. I’ll make sure to bring you the lecture notes after class.”
“I should hope you do.”
“Fufufu.”
By now, the two were getting closer, and Floyd had stood up from the bench, walking closer to them, unable to stop himself from pursuing the urge to swing by and scoop Riddle up from Jade’s grasp, dragging him to the infirmary himself. That way, Jade wouldn’t have to miss another second of class, Riddle would make it to the infirmary faster, and Floyd…
A giddy smile rose on his face. Floyd would get Riddle all to himself for the day. Skipping class had never been so fun. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his smile increasing along with the pace of his strides.
Just as he was about to open his mouth and say hello to the housewarden, however, he was interrupted by the presence of another student, arriving from behind the two other second-years.
“Jade! Riddle! What happened?”
Floyd’s expression soured immediately. It was Trey Clover. The third-year that always just had to get in the way.
Riddle turned around. “Oh, Trey—”
He immediately interrupted himself with a fit of hacking, apologizing through his coughs as he looked away from Trey, leaving Jade to slowly pat his back, a half-apologetic and half-smug smile on Jade’s face.
“My apologies, Trey,” Jade said, turning to the green-haired student. “It seems that Riddle’s come down with a cough. I was just about to take him to the infirmary when you arrived.”
“Ah.” Trey scratched his head. “Well, third-years have a break right now so if you want, I could take Riddle to the infirmary while you head back to class…?”
“Why that seems like a splendid idea,” Jade said, still smiling, eyes wandering over the third-year. “However, I don’t think I’ll take you up on that proposition…”
Jade trailed off, and at that moment, his eyes landed directly on Floyd, the subtle twinkle in his eyes telling Floyd that he’d already noticed his presence ages ago, but was just waiting for the right time to let him know. There went Floyd’s plans for a sneak attack.
Trey, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to Floyd’s presence. “Hm? Why not?”
Jade chuckled, eyes flitting back to Trey. Floyd had a bad feeling about what he was about to say. “Well, you see here, we’re not the only ones in the courtyard…”
Floyd grimaced. Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.
“…and Floyd is already waiting to take Riddle to the infirmary anyway.”
Fuck.
All eyes turned to Floyd, including Riddle’s, those gray eyes that struggled to stay open through his hacking sending chills down Floyd’s spine.
“Floyd…?” Riddle’s voice was full of confusion. “What are you doing here?”
Floyd had no choice but to answer, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets as he glared at Trey. “S’nothing. Waitin’ for you, I guess.”
Trey’s eyes widened. “Oh. Well, in that case, I’ll leave Riddle in your care.”
“And I shall do the same,” Jade said, lightly pushing Riddle in Floyd’s direction, causing the redhead to stumble forward into Floyd’s grasp.
“I will NOT have you manhandling me,” Riddle started to say, only to pause midway, breath hitching with coughs as he felt Floyd’s warm face lowering to his neck, pressing a kiss to his skin, a blush rising on both of their cheeks. “B-but since you insist on leaving me with him… I suppose I’ll have to endure it just this once.”
Neither Trey nor Jade bought into his act, fully knowing that Riddle was glad to spend more time with the mer. Floyd only smirked in response, hugging Riddle closer to his chest before picking him up outright, much to Riddle’s surprise.
“F-Floyd!? Put me down this instant!”
“No thanks~”
Riddle spluttered, pulling his magical pen from his pocket. “OFF WITH YOUR HEAD—”
“Bind the heart.”
CLANK. The spell flew in the opposite direction, knocking Trey backward as a collar rammed into him. Floyd grinned victoriously at the sight while all three of the others let out different reactions of surprise, Jade’s eyebrows rising a full centimeter on his face while Riddle stared aghast at his friend, Trey groaning as he tried to get up.
Riddle quickly undid the spell, releasing the collar from its spot around Trey’s neck. Jade helped Trey up with a surprised laugh.
“Trey, are you alright?”
“Haha, well, I’m not dead.”
Riddle’s face went beet red at the statement and he glared at Floyd. “FLOYD. Apologize right now.”
“Sorry Sea Turtle~” Floyd said easily, not particularly sorry at all. “You should apologize too, Goldfish, since you were the one that shot the spell~”
Riddle’s flush deepened and he coughed again. “I apologize, Trey. I didn’t mean for a nuisance to get in the way of my spells and redirect it to hit you like that—”
“HEY! I’m not a nuisance—”
“Now, now, why don’t you two hurry up and get to the infirmary already?” Jade’s smile seemed almost oddly impatient as he looked at them. “There’s no need to sit around like this.”
Floyd and Trey cocked an eyebrow. It was unlike Jade to be impatient, especially when it came to Floyd and Riddle’s conversations. Still, Floyd didn’t bother pointing it out. After all, he wanted his own alone time with Riddle too. He adjusted Riddle so he was more comfortable in his arms, then sped off with one last nod in Jade’s direction and a smirk in Trey’s.
Back off, Sea Turtle. Goldfish is MINE.
Bonus 1:
“Speak. What is wrong with you today, Floyd?”
Floyd grumbled, looking away from Riddle’s bed and scowling. “Nothin’s wrong.”
“Then why were you acting like that toward Trey?” Riddle crossed his arms. “Tell me. Did he do something to deserve any of this?”
“‘Course he did,” Floyd grumbled.
“And what did he do?”
“He got too close to you,” Floyd mumbled, fully knowing how childish it was and pouting all the while. “Close enough that they’d think he’s the one datin’ you and not me…”
“Well, he’s my friend. It makes sense that we’re close.”
“Still. I don’t like it…”
Riddle rolled his eyes. “You’re worried he’ll try to take me away from you?”
Floyd only continued to pout in response. “Hmph.”
“…You do know he’s dating Jade, right?”
“He’s WHAT?” Floyd whipped his head toward Riddle.
“Jade didn’t tell you?” Riddle’s face morphed into confusion. “It’s already been a week or two since they’ve gotten together.”
Floyd’s shock quickly turned into a scowl. “No, he didn’t tell me. That asshole—”
“Language,” Riddle said, although his tone was dripping with smugness. “Now do you understand what you’ve done wrong?”
Floyd grumbled something about sea turtles not supposed to be eating eels but nodded begrudgingly. Maybe he really would apologize to Trey later on.
Of course, that was only after he made sure Trey didn’t fuck up his chances with Jade.
Oh, and after he squeezed the shit out of Jade for not telling him about this.
Bonus 2:
“Do you think Riddle's finally told him? Lately, Floyd’s been quite on edge around you, thinking you were stealing Riddle from him,” Jade mused. “I do think it’s about time he finds out.”
Trey rolled his eyes. “‘About time?’ Floyd’s been glaring at me like he wants to kill me for the past week, and you’re only just realizing that he should know?”
Jade chuckled. “Now, now, Trey. Don’t go looking at me like that. I already know how far you’d go for me.”
“Cheeky bastard,” Trey said harshly, although he was smiling.
Jade smiled back, leaning forward and kissing Trey on the cheek before turning on his heels and walking in another direction, still addressing Trey.
“You mentioned you were on break, yes?”
“I did, yeah. What about it?”
Jade glanced behind him, turning around once more as his smile grew even larger on his face. “Well, I’ve already missed most of Class by now. I might as well skip the rest of it too.”
“Huh? Aren’t you a vice housewarden? Wouldn’t that look bad for your dorm?”
“Not if I have an excuse. After all, I was escorting Riddle to the infirmary on the way here… Nobody has to know that Floyd carried him the rest of the way, right?”
Trey’s eyes widened, and he went silent for a moment before laughing, striding forward and pinching Jade’s cheek. “You really are something, Jade.”
“Aren’t I your something, Trey~?”
“Haha, sure.” Trey grabbed Jade’s hand, pulling Jade toward him for another kiss, this time on the lips, and the second-year finally blushed as Trey stole that kiss from him. They pulled away, with Trey’s ears slightly tinged red while Jade’s entire face was already blooming with the color.
Jade covered his face dramatically, shaking his head. “Trey, I’m afraid you’ll break me with all your surprise kisses…”
Trey smirked. “That’s the goal, Jade. That’s the goal.”
“How cruel of you, Trey.”
Bonus 3:
“You haven’t left yet, Floyd?” Riddle closed his book, coughing lightly into his fist, taking a breath, and sighing deeply. He still hadn’t gotten over his cough yet and it was already nearing the end of the day.
Floyd glanced at him blandly, head against Riddle’s bed as he yawned, rubbing his eye slightly. “Nah. I’m not goin’ ‘til you’re goin’.”
“You’re yawning, Floyd.” Riddle reached over, combing a hand through Floyd’s hair idly, admiring how soft it was. “You should go back to your dorm if you’re so bored.”
“I’m not bored. Not with you here, Goldfish.”
“Still. You don’t need to stay here with me.”
“Why not?” Floyd pouted. “What if I want to stay?”
Riddle coughed and sighed again. “Just go.”
“Nope~” Floyd flashed a lazy grin, shifting closer to the redhead, roping him into a tight hug. “I ain’t leavin’ ya here. Not until you’re ready to leave.”
“But why…?” Riddle tried to stifle the cough in his throat, sucking in a breath of air and holding it. “Why does it matter…?”
“Cuz I’m your boyfriend. And boyfriends gotta keep their boyfriend company, forever and always~”
Riddle didn’t answer, releasing his breath in surprise and eliciting a sharp cough from within him. He tried to push Floyd away, so he didn’t cough on the mer, but Floyd resisted, pulling him even closer even, nuzzling deep into Riddle from behind as he pressed kiss after kiss to Riddle’s neck.
Riddle gasped. “F-Floyd—!”
Floyd only smiled. “Forever and always, Goldfish. Forever and always.”
