Chapter Text
Oh lover, what boat do I need to traverse your wicked waves? Are you simply a rough river or a tsunami waiting to destroy me before I pass the shore into the ocean? Either way, I'll find my way across and accept my fate of no return.
The recent magical analysis exam marks had been released. Students of all ages were crowding up in the halls eager to see if they'd managed to pass, or perhaps even garner a top score. This time there was no widespread study guide that promised so many a guaranteed high mark, simply people anxious over their own capabilities. Lists filled with hundreds of names were taped to almost every wall. Multiple hands shoved their way past others, flailing against the wall with minimal grace as they traced names down the list.
“It’s much too early for this kind of noise” They mused before letting out an exasperated sigh. Bodies of other students crashed into theirs as they sprung across and shoved their way to the front. They heard an irritating cackle in their ear as the little beast sitting comfortably on their shoulders watched the scene unfold.
"Hurry up, henchman, we gotta get to the front! All these suckers are probably fumin’ after seein’ the Great Grim’s results!” Grim raised a paw up in excitement though it really just ended up tangled in their hair. He had woken them up in such a hurry this morning they were stuck with bed head, hopefully no one would notice.
"If we got a good mark it's because of me. All you did was get some shut-eye while I was trying to study!" Grimacing as they remembered all the nights before exams they’d spent studying as Grim would begin to snore before they’d even get a third of the way through the material.
"Hey, I was just tryna be super well rested! And anyways your mark is my mark so it doesn't matter!"
"You're hopeless, Grim.." by some miracle they managed to make it to the front as all the eager rowdy students began to clear up upon seeing their horrible marks. They swore they’d heard some of them utter the words ‘unfair’ and ‘difficult’; luckily they couldn’t relate to any of them.
“Myah! Look, we got 98% henchmen!” Grim exclaimed loudly causing the other students in proximity to return them with jealous glares and frustrated sighs.
“And we made it in the top 50 for this exam.” Grinning as they traced both of their names with their finger before it collided with someone else’s gloved hand. They let out a small gasp at the contact before turning to look at whoever the hand belonged to.
“Oh my, it seems you happen to be quite good at this subject despite not having any magic.” Standing beside them was Azul, his eyes still looking at the list of names before meeting their gaze. They rolled their eyes at his words, of course he’d bring up their lack of magic again.
“Well you don't need magic to analyze it now do you? It's pretty much just calculations. But say shouldn’t you be focused on your own marks over others, Mr. Study Guide Master?” They retracted their arm back from the wall as they turned to face him. They were sure he was up to no good. Why else would he be wandering about eyeing everyone else’s marks instead of his own? He wasn’t the lost lone vagabond of this world, they were.
“I saw my marks much earlier than the rest and as expected they were practically perfect.” He grinned, and maybe it was genuine. They didn’t have time to figure that out as his hand quickly covered it to push his glasses up. And they knew very well that meant he was going to conveniently reveal a small detail of his true intentions. “I was simply wandering about to see if some poor soul was in need of a tutoring session or perhaps an exemplary student looking for a job on the side.” They let out a sigh, he was like a rom-com you could easily guess the plot of after watching a few of them.
“Of course you’d be doing that but an exemplary student…do you mean?” They were hoping he wouldn’t try one of his dastardly schemes on them ever again after that overblot incident. Maybe he wasn’t entirely predictable after all.
“I knew you’d catch on quickly. Now if you remember I had added a point system as part of the lounge services. Now it's such a shame I have no one incredible in both calculations and wait staffing to help manage the system. Unless of course…"
"No way am I falling for one of your perfectly crafted, too-good-to-be-true traps Azul. You can use that trick on someone else but not me, you just aren't worth the trouble." Somehow it felt like they were trying to convince themselves more than him.
"My you wound me, I was simply giving a generous offer of employment. You should consider it an honor that someone is even considering you useful enough to employ. Unemployment does happen to be a big concern of most. I'd assume it would be so for…someone like you as well." He glanced down at them with a strange look. The kind of look a king would give his serf after a good harvest, an indirect sign that acknowledged both how useful they were and yet how pitiful they’d always remain in front of royalty despite their services.
"Someone like me? You even hire the worst of the worst to work in the lounge, what would you know?" It was true that a lot of his employees were the lowest-level miscreants that had ended up with no choice but to succumb to Azul in order to salvage what little they had left. It might’ve offended them that he didn’t look down on those students the same way as he did with them but they knew the reason and what his next words would be.
"They may be horrible students but they still have something you never will; magic. That single thing makes them much more valuable." How pitiful it truly was that they ended up in such a place. Maybe one day they’d look their king in his eyes and let him realize how he’d starve without serfs like them.
"Only because it's something you can take from them. You don’t even feel bad saying such things to someone who just happens to be down on their luck like me. You're even more hopeless than Grim."
"Myah! What's that supposed to mean henchman!" Grim sprung up upon the mention of his name after having been idly tuned out of their conversation. He’d had enough of getting involved with Azul for his lifetime and would rather stay out of it.
"Exactly. What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm worse than a gluttonous, foolhardy and foul…" Azul narrowed his eyes as he looked over Grim before saying the last word of his sentence. “Weasel?”
"I ain't a weasel!" Of course Grim would be the one to focus on the least insulting aspect of that statement.
"Well to some degree you are exactly that. Actually, you know what? You look like the kind of person that sits alone at a bar, book in hand and peering at everyone else over it while pretending to read. Nobody likes those kinds of people. A typical philosophical creep, that's all you are."
"First of all, I do not do such a thing and second, how is that related to what I asked?"
"Just a thought I had after seeing your face so early in the morning. Anyways you would be surprised at how many strange things you do while unaware."
“Not that it’s any better seeing you in the morning, have you seen your state? If I look like a creep then you look like a clown.” He said the words whilst smoothing down their hair. What others would ignore he’d always notice.
“Are you sure that isn’t because I’m so incredibly entertaining. I’m sure even with my hair a mess I look much less sleazy than you.”
"Conversing with you is akin to trying to understand the words of a… never mind." He wished to call them a deranged seagull, but that would be much too crass. He wasn't going to stoop to the level of insults lest they got offended and did not consider his offer at all. "I'll be taking my leave now, if you consider my offer of employment do send me a message. I'll be eagerly waiting."
"You'll be waiting all your life then."
He grinned at those words as he walked away before mumbling to himself.
"Sadly I would be willing to wait longer."
"You really need to stop staring at us all when we work. It totally kills the vibe ‘Zul." Azul watched Floyd sprawl himself across the counter lazily as he complained. Azul sighed in frustration before he felt this sense of familiarity from the situation. He looked back down at the book in his hand and then the other empty seats next to him. His eyes widened as he realized.
They weren't wrong about him.
And Floyd had definitely noticed his momentary shock as he began to grin at Azul.
"I'm not staring, I'm simply ensuring you all are doing your work efficiently. Which you seem to be doing a terrible job of, get back to work Floyd." He shut the book closed and got up from his seat.
"You're so lame! Ugh!" He heard Floyd shout from behind as he began to make his way back to the VIP room.
When he got in he walked over to the bookshelf and placed the book in his hands back in its spot. He grumbled to himself as he removed his overcoat and hung it over the back of his chair. He sat down and leaned forward, his head propped on his hands. His eyes shut wearily and he swore he heard a voice mentally speak to him.
“Oh you look horrid today. Let me guess something didn’t go right and you went to sulk-oh I mean process the issue in the VIP room alone but then you simply got so worried over it you forgot to do another important thing which pushed your sleep schedule back.”
Right. They’d also predicted this habit of his before. How would they feel if they realized that he’d probably be losing sleep over them this time. He sighed and opened his eyes.
Ever since he'd first seen them, talked to them the first time he knew they were nothing of interest to him. Well he thought he knew that but slowly he started to find the things that made them unique. Unique in his eyes that was. Such as how they were good at being a waiter, something of use to him. How they weren't amazing at studying but found ways to master a few subjects, something he could find a use for. And lastly, their horrible ability to predict things about him…correctly, something he wished he didn't have a use for. It was good for someone to know what they looked like from an outside perspective, to know one's flaws and talents like the back of their hand. They knew all of his too well and he wanted to know his own the same way. A part of him wanted to know theirs as well, he thought he knew them as well but each time he’d discover how little that truly was.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, startling him. He fished it out and looked at the notification that had popped up. It was a message.
Prefect: So about that offer...
He grinned, he didn't have to wait a lifetime after all.
The lunch bell had rung and soon the cafeteria was filled with chatter and students rushing around to find a seat. Their eyes swept around the room as they spotted the odd trio seated in the same spot as always. Slowly making their way over to them, cautious to not let any eyes stare at them for too long.
They were certain they wouldn’t end up in this position again. Certain they’d learnt their lesson the first time they’d ended up making that deal to save Ace, Deuce and Grim. And yet here they were again. He was like a river in winter. Dormant and frozen from above yet alive and flowing underneath the thick layer of ice. Waiting silently for a naive person to step afoot and fall straight into the icy current. Falling directly into his trap. And they were always falling no matter how hard they tried to resist. Even if they had a thousand paths to choose from they would still end up on the one that trailed over the river.
“Ah, welcome to your interview. Have a seat!” That familiar charismatic voice of Azul chirped with false sincerity. Not wanting to dawdle near any longer than needed they quickly slid into the benchside opposite from them.
They glanced up towards the trio as soon as they’d taken their spot. The twins both had adorned a toothy grin, both mischievous and haunting at the same time. Azul too was slyly grinning behind the hand he’d been covering his face with as he adjusted his glasses. They peered back at the three of them uneasily as their eyes trailed back and forth looking at each of their faces.
“I’m already regretting agreeing to this.” They sighed. Azul noticed their expression and nudged the twins. They quickly hid their toothy grins.
“Don’t mind them, they’re simply very…excited to be working alongside you. Now shall we discuss the details of your job?”
“Go on.” They beckoned him to continue with a flailing wave of their hand. Their disinterest was so apparent that he found it difficult to believe they’d actually agreed to this themselves.
“Well the job is simple, you simply will do the basic tasks a waiter does but on the occasion someone has enough points on their card you will simply check the signed receipts to ensure they have made recent purchases.”
“That is quite simple.” They leaned forward, seemingly a bit more intrigued by his words now.
“Great, so shall I create a contract and have it ready for you to sign by tomorrow?” He decided to seize the opportunity.
"I'm definitely not signing a contract." And then they leaned back again, he had lost them.
"Ah, but if you wish to be employed" Jade spoke up first, his head tilted and his teeth once again bare.
"You gotta sign an employment contract!" Floyd continued his sentence and flashed a similar sinister grin at them.
"Indeed, though I suppose we could frame it in a way that you only need to work for a few weeks first as a trial run and once those are over you can decide if you'd like to continue." He beamed, feeling his chances increasing again.
"And there won't be extra strings attached?"
"No strings, threads, cables or lines at all." He reassured.
“And if there are any, I have permission to use those strings, threads, cables or lines to strangle you, correct?”
Floyd wheezed at their words and grabbed onto Azul’s shoulder to stabilize himself, earning him a glare. Jade simply chuckled.
“It really wasn’t that funny. And to answer your question I believe it would be in your best interest to not cause me any harm unless you’d like to face legal repercussions.”
“Going to prison may be interesting, they keep you fed and housed.”
“Taking this job will also keep you fed and housed”
“Always finding a way to spin it back in your favor, I like that about you.” Their last words made him feel something odd. He gave them a simple chuckle after a slight pause. He was sure Jade noticed his moment of being stunned though he didn't point it out aloud this time, thankfully.
"Hey shrimpy is that all ya ever eat?" Floyd blurted out as he glanced towards the small serving of vegetables they had on their plate. Azul passed a stern look towards Floyd, it was a considerably rude remark to make especially to someone who was barely acquainted with them yet.
"Oh…yes that's usually how much I eat during lunch." A serious sullen tone loomed over their words. "Nothing to be concerned about though I tend to eat a lot more during dinner." their usual cheerful tone took over once again.
It wasn't that they particularly hated the idea of eating too much during lunch and neither was it a lie that at dinner they'd often overindulge. The notion of eating in front of others was still troublesome to them, they still had that fear that someone else would berate them for it, even if it wasn't him.
"You’re eating like a pig again, I swear that irritating ballet teacher of yours is going to pester me and you if he thinks you gained a single pound. Just control it for a bit alright?"
"Yes Dad, I will. I'm sorry"
That conversation was well over 4 years ago, they should've forgotten it by now but that always felt impossible for them.
"I just prefer eating in solitude, it's more comfortable that way."
"Ah I see, reminds me of someone else I know heh" Jade spoke up sending a cheeky grin Azul’s way. He just needed to get a dig in whenever he could. He looked down at his own tray, it was similar to theirs other than the amount of vegetables that filled his.
“Well that was all we needed to discuss today, I suppose I’ll see you again tomorrow. Is 5 pm alright with you?” He spoke up after a moment of silence noticing they’d all finished their lunch.
“Mhm that’s fine, see you.”
“You do have quite a large book collection.” He watched them from his desk as they roamed around the room staring at the shelves appraising the title of each book. “And they're all quite boring looking.” He expected they'd think as such.
They’d only come over to sign that contract he’d mentioned the day before and yet they were still here. Although getting them to sign that contract took longer than he’d expected. They’d read it over at least 8 times and had made him revise it just as many times before finally agreeing to it. They were a lot more troublesome than he'd like and yet he still found himself seeking them.
“It would be very shocking if you were into such intellectual business books honestly.” He spoke without looking up from his work.
“Why? Because you think I'm too stupid for this kind of stuff?” They sneered back.
“I never said anything of the sort.”
“Well you did imply it. You know, my father used to make me take care of his business papers sometimes whenever he was out cold.” Them mentioning their father made him look up. They rarely spoke of their life before coming here. Were they afraid of the past like him?
“I see, so you do have some business experience. Were you good at it?” He continued to fill up glances of them in between writing. They plucked a book off the shelf before replying, the same book he'd been holding that day.
“Why do you think I got top marks on that exam? Business calculations were my forte.” They opened the book and began to skim the page before continuing. “Although it wasn't enough for him..” He could've sworn he saw a shadow of sadness and maybe guilt cast upon their face. He wanted to tell them that whatever it was wasn't their fault and that he'd be there for them but what was the point of empty promises.
“Maybe if you read that book you'll become a master of calculations.” The look on their face brightened as the sorrow crept its way back, not gone forever of course. He knew the ways of crafted repartee not the artless act of empathy.
“Enough to surpass you?”
“Oh I wouldn't say that now.”
“Ah of course ‘someone like me’ could never dream of comparing with you. This book is just so complicated please help me understand it” They uttered sarcastically as they walked over with the book in their hand.
“You want me to explain this book?”
“Well I assume if you own it you must have read it.”
“I…uh certainly did read it. I simply cannot recall what it was about. Do you not see the sheer number of books here, you can't expect me to know the details of all of them.” He maintained eye contact hoping it would make him seem resolute.
“Is it also common for you to forget your bookmark in the first few pages?” They looked at him amused knowing they’d caught him.
“I perhaps might have forgotten to finish that book.” His eyes darted away as he admitted it.
“The cover art for this book is also quite stunning. It's a shame the author isn't well-versed in the topic.” As they spoke his eyes slowly returned to them, he was surprised they knew that about the book as well.
“And a shame how respected the author is. The book functions better as an accessory you pretend to read in public.” He responded after a pause.
“I was right about you wasn't I?”
“...You were”