Chapter Text
“Oh, just shut up about it already!”
Ace snickered as he and Deuce walked around the pier. That weekend the Headmage had decided the school would get to spend some time down at the boardwalk before the port town would inevitably become busy for the start of the summer season.
Summer itself was still a few months out and while Ace was looking forward to it, he was not as happy as he expected to be.
Honestly, he knew the reason too.
He was gonna miss the place and his odd group of friends among the first years. He'd miss the 2nd and 3rd years that they had somehow become sort of friends with too, but mostly he was really gonna miss Yuu, Deuce, Jack, Epel, and Sebek.
Yeah, even that hard headed idiot.
“Shut up about what?”
That was Jack. Who had headed off earlier with Epel to explore a couple of shops that had opened up in preparation for summer. Both carried a couple bags a piece. The shorter of the two was using his bags like dumbbells and Jack looked like he had been counting.
The redhead sighed. Only those two, and probably Yuu, would think about exercise during a break.
He could see Yuu now, hands on hip as he shrugged. “You should stay active during the summer too.”
Ace promised he'd do his best to get a little something in, but had his fingers crossed behind his back so he wouldn't feel too bad about not following through.
Like props to Jack and Epel if that's what they wanted to do, but he was going to enjoy the summer for what it was supposed to be: a break.
And yet, he almost didn't want to leave.
What was the chance they could talk Crowley into letting them spend summer at school? No classes or homework, but they could just stay and hang out and that was that.
But then he wouldn't get to go home, which he was looking forward to doing. Maybe he could talk his parents into letting his friends come stay for the break?
His thoughts were distracted by the final member of their friend group, who looked as haughty as he always did. Would it kill the guy to relax for once?
“What are you humans talking about then?”
Ace sighed. “Sebek… my guy… look. We're just dudes. Friends. Buddies. Guys. You don't gotta do the whole ‘human this’ and ‘human that’ with us. Like yeah, half fae. Cool flex, dude. We got it.”
Sebek drew himself up, but to his credit, did seem to at least consider the advice.
Sweet if he'd managed to actually get it through his thick skull for once, but Ace wasn't about to hold his breath.
“Ace was just about to tell us what Deuce wanted him to shut up about,” Epel said with a little smirk. Jack sighed, but it was clear enough from the idle wag of his tail and the alertness of his wolf ears that the beastman was just as interested in hearing.
Sebek, obviously having no qualms of taking digs at companions, smirked as he turned his attention to Deuce.
“Oh, this shall be good. GO ON THEN, HU—uh, dude.” He made a face, but didn't correct himself.
Good job, buddy, Ace thought with a grin, turning his attention to Deuce.
The look he gave his best friend was clear. You tell or I tell. Deuce finally groaned.
“I asked this guy out. Saw him a bit ago. He uh… said no.”
Ace snickered. “I'm not surprised. You've never dated anyone yet, have you?”
“No. So what?!”
“You’ve got zero game is what! Honestly, none of you do.”
Jack scratched the back of his head, a perplexed look on his face. “I mean, Epel and I only just recently started so… it's not that weird.”
“Yeah, well… I definitely know Sebek has no love life, so I'm the only one who actually dated anyone, you know, prior to school.”
Everyone rolled their eyes and collectively groaned.
“One person! And you only ever mention that she was a girlfriend. Literally nothing else about her! So, maybe she doesn't even exist and you're just as hopeless as the rest of us!” Epel cried out in annoyance.
Jack grumbled at that, tail sagging and arms crossed. Epel looked up at him in confusion before realization hit. The shorter male reached up to scratch behind Jack's ears.
“Oh, sorry Jack. I meant, you know. Before you and I decided to give it a shot. I'm very happy being your boyfriend.”
Jack leaned into the touch and his tail wagged eagerly as he leaned down to steal a kiss. Epel, bright red, leaned into it for a bit before pulling away to clear his throat. “As hopeless as we all had been, except for me and Jack recently anyway.”
“Ugh, you too are so domestic it makes me sick.” The redhead complained, resting his hands behind his head. “But anyway. She definitely existed and we definitely kissed a lot too, so you two aren't special.”
Deuce, feeling better now that Ace was getting roasted, chuckled. “And you are?”
Ace grinned a winning smile. “Damn straight, I am. I could totally make anyone in our grade fall for me before summer.”
His statement had a lot of responses, but none he'd wanted. In fact, all four of the others just bursted out laughing. Well, three of the four. Jack was doing a pretty damn good job holding it in, but every now and then he'd let out a little exhale-wuff that made it clear he was trying not to laugh.
After glaring for a solid minute, he sighed and shook his head.
“I'm serious. But if you're all too scared I'll prove myself right… I mean, I can't blame you—”
“Then prove it! We will pick who you've gotta woo though.”
Ace glared at Deuce. They'd pick someone awful for sure. But he couldn't really back down. Not after the declaration he'd made.
“Name them. Name the first year and I'll woo the fuck outta them! They'll be putty in my hands in no time!”
“HAH!” The loudmouth of the group chimed in. “And what qualities do you possess that have remained hidden until now that will manage that?”
Ace actually pouted at Sebek. Like geez, man. I know I kinda dressed you down or whatever but what gives. That was cruel.
“Please, Sebek! You're just saying that because you haven't seen my moves yet! Just wait and see. Then you'll know exactly what they are.”
Sebek's eyes seemed to widen and then he shook his head, as if dislodging something from it. Ace grimaced. It looked painful.
I know I'm so cool and interesting, but don't hurt yourself, buddy.
“Alright!” Deuce punched his fist into his hand with that maniacal grin on his face when something was about to go down. “So we've set the bet. We'll come back to what we get when you lose—”
Ace glared. “Hey!”
Deuce smirked and everyone else chuckled. “—Now we just gotta figure out who to have you hit on—”
Epel cleared his throat. When Ace looked at him, he was the picture of innocence. Anyone else might have felt safe with such a look turned on them, but that was because they didn't know the true Epel. That was really the sign of when the shortie was gonna be a little shit.
As if channeling his thoughts, Epel’s face took on an eager sneer. “I think Ace has already done that for us. You heard what he told Sebek right?”
Jack tilted his head. “Oh. You mean when Ace told ‘im he didn't know his moves?”
Epel grinned at his boyfriend and nodded. “Yup. Then told ‘im to wait and see and then he'd know what they are. So, let's make that happen then.”
Ace, dread growing with every moment of Epel's little villain monologue, couldn't believe it.
No, there was no way he meant—
“Ace, we all decided. The first year you've gotta woo to high heavens is Sebek.”
Ace groaned as Deuce laughed. He looked up into Sebek's eyes and very nearly called the whole thing off.
But then the mint haired teen smirked and then sneered.
“As if I would fall for such trivial human traditions of romance.”
Ace felt his body reacting before he could consider the consequences.
“Oh yeah?” Moving across the space, he offered Sebek a hand and smirked. “Deal.”
Sebek took his hand and shook it. “You've got a lot of moxy, for a human, but my resolve is strong. You won't win.”
Ace only smirked, his expression even more determined.
“Bet.”