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Heartslabyul
Riddle knew that the sleepovers his first years insisted on going to at Ramshackle dorm were good for them. After all the trauma they’d experienced due to the overblots, he knew they’d all be close to each other. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with how close they were, either. Didn’t see any issues with how Sebek would yell at anyone who bumped into one of the smaller three first years or how he, Deuce, and Jack would form a protective circle around the physically weaker ones.
They were just a bit traumatized and it was all still so fresh. Seven overblots in as many months was too close together. They weren’t too close, they were fine.
Then along came spring break.
Riddle and Cater were both planning on staying at Trey’s for the holiday, both because of family problems. Then Trey heard about how Ace’s parents were visiting his brother and invited Ace…and where Ace went, Deuce went too. So they all packed and met in the mirror chamber and everything was perfectly fine.
He and Trey could share a room, and Ace and Deuce were fine sharing a room with Cater. So, in the beginning, everything was fine.
The freshmen were polite, if a bit nervous, once they left the school but it was understandable. They were meeting their upperclassman’s family and staying with people who were essentially strangers. Both of them were still polite, so Riddle didn’t see any issue. Ace showed Trey’s younger brother and sister some card tricks while Deuce showed them some basic light spells he learned….when the two could be pulled away from their phones, that is.
It was at dinner when things went downhill.
“Ace,” Riddle hissed. Ace sighed and turned off his phone again. Riddle then shot Deuce a look, glaring the taller student into submission. “Both of you, stay off your phones during supper, at least. Cater isn’t even on his!”
“Sorry,” Ace muttered. “I just wanted to check up on Yuu-chan.”
Riddle suppressed the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. “You’ve been checking up on her every thirty minutes!”
“Thirty minutes was all it took for her to get caught up in Jamil’s overblot!” Ace hissed back.
He took a deep breath. Ace did have a point. But still, Ace and Deuce were going a bit overboard. It wasn’t even like Yuu and Grim were alone at the school. They weren’t even at Night Raven! From what he’d heard, she went home with Malleus for the break.
The rest of dinner went fine and they all went to bed not long after. Then came the issue of getting sleep. Ace and Deuce insisted on calling Yuu before bed. He couldn’t fault them for that and Cater gave them space to call her.
They had all fallen asleep in their respective rooms not long after.
This was the routine for the first five days. With each day, however, Ace and Deuce got more jittery, more nervous, and would spent less and less time away from their phones. They also insisted on face timing Yuu, Sebek, Epel, Ortho, or Jack whenever they could.
It was the sixth night when the screaming started.
“Nightmares,” a Cater clone explained by the time Trey threw open his bedroom door. “The real me’s trying to get them to calm down, but they’re not having it. A bit of backup would be appreciated.”
“I’ll help Cater, you explain this to your parents and siblings?” Riddle asked.
Trey nodded and went to where his family had gathered. Riddle didn’t hesitate to move to the guest room where he found Cater with his arms wrapped around the two first years trying unsuccessfully to get his phone to call “Yuu-Yuu” over their cries.
“What can I do?” Riddle asked.
“Get Yuu on the phone,” Cater said. “From what I gathered, they had nightmares about her dying during an overblot. Nobody specific, thank the seven, but they aren’t calming down!”
Riddle gave a sharp nod and grabbed Caters phone. He scrolled through the contacts, not able to remember Yuu’s phone number off the top of his head.
When Yuu didn’t answer, Riddle started to panic too. Why wouldn’t she answer? Did Lilia or Silver overblot?! Did Malleus overblot again somehow? Or maybe-
An incoming call from Lilia lit up the screen. Riddle answered it as soon as he processed who it was.
“Cater, please tell me one of the first years- IT’S A FALSE ALARM! GET BACK TO YOUR POST! - are you you?!”
Lilia’s voice was rushed and he was giving orders to guards, Riddle assumed.
“It’s Riddle and yes, we have Ace and Deuce with us,” Riddle said. Lilia made a noise of affirmation before snapping another order.
Then, Silver’s voice was coming through instead. “Sorry, Riddle-san. Yuu started screaming and sent the entire castle into a frenzy. Malleus went to get Sebek, I’m bringing the phone to Yuu now.”
“She had a nightmare, too?” Riddle guessed.
“Every night,” Silver confirmed. “Sebek’s barely left her side since we got here, but apparently five days away from all the other first years are their limit.”
And all of the sudden, the consequences of their encouragement of the weekly sleepovers hit Riddle square in the jaw. In several months, none of the first years ever left each others sides. They saw each other every day, multiple times a day, yet still needed sleepovers to cope better with the trauma they endured. If it was at the point where they couldn’t even go a week without each other, Riddle didn’t even want to imagine what summer break would look like.
Or, seven forbid, what would happen if Crowley managed to send Yuu back home. Suddenly being torn away from all her friends would surely be even more traumatic for her, and Ace, Deuce, Sebek, Ortho, Grim, and Epel would all likely throw a fit at the idea.
While Riddle was lost in thought, he heard Yuu’s voice on the phone and instinctively tossed it on speaker to press the button to request a video call. Sebek and Yuu’s faces appeared and seconds later, Ace had snatched the phone.
Riddle watched in awe as the group calmed each other down. A glance at the clock had him realizing that all of this was over the course of eight minutes. One to get here, two trying to call Yuu, another three of Lilia and Silver on the phone….and they all managed to calm down in the last two minutes once they were certain they were all perfectly fine.
It was amazing to watch but also incredibly worrying.
As the first years navigated Cater’s list of contacts to somehow get Jack, Epel, and Ortho on Vil, Rook, and Idia’s phones respectively, Riddle worried.
If this was how they reacted to five days he wasn’t sure they’d ever survive two months of this. Much less forever.
One thing Riddle did know? They were all in way over their heads.
Diasomnia + Yuu and Grim
Malleus invited Yuu to stay over at the castle for numerous reasons. She was his first real friend and she and Sebek were extremely close, for one. For another, she wasn’t scared of Fae and had been dying to see more of Twisted Wonderland. Finally, his Grandmother wanted to meet her.
So Malleus didn’t hesitate to invite her (and therefore Grim) to Briar Valley for spring break. It had been three weeks since his overblot and they had made up. Sebek appeared to be overly attached to his new friends, but Malleus didn’t worry.
He had even thought Lilia was overreacting when the former general mentioned the group of freshmen being too attached to each other.
He had said something about codependency and trauma bonding. Looking back, Malleus wished he had listened to what Lilia had said. Looking back, the signs were there from the beginning.
A month ago, Sebek would have never given Yuu a piggy back ride just because it was too dark for the two humans to see, yet as soon as they were in Briar Valley, Sebek was…hovering for lack of a better word. He carried her and both of their things. Then, once they were at Castle Blackscale, Sebek went straight to ensuring Yuu was comfortable in her room and had even searched her bedroom for any threats before leaving just long enough to get them both food.
It was almost as if Sebek didn’t want to leave. Which, in and of itself, wasn’t abnormal. But what was abnormal was the fact that he didn’t push to train, just to get Yuu settled. Sebek had even tried to drag Yuu along to watch Lilia train him and Silver. Lilia had put his foot down at that point and informed him that after his grandmother met Yuu, he had an appointment scheduled for her.
Malleus was confused about this but had only asked when and where the appointment was.
“She’s going to see a therapist,” Lilia said. “Every two days the entire break. Sebek is too, his appointment ends right after hers begins. I want the two to get used to not being attached at the hip and they’ll already be in horrible mental states after being separated from their friends.”
“A…therapist?” Malleus asked.
Lilia nodded. “They’re traumatized, Malleus. I strongly recommend you see one too, but I can’t force you to. Nor can I force the other first years to see their own therapists. I can, however, stick Sebek and Yuu in therapy for the next two weeks.”
This was the most serious Malleus had seen Lilia years, he realized. Since the day Silver ran away. In recent years, Lilia preferred to be seen as rather silly and light-hearted. Not particularly responsible. So this was an alarming development.
A sense of dread settled in Malleus’ stomach over the course of the next five days. Sebek came to the castle at dawn (as was usual for him) and didn’t leave until Lilia insisted (again, normal for Sebek). But then it happened.
Screams echoed through the halls. Yuu’s screams. How he wished he didn’t recognize them, but he was up in a heartbeat, memories flowing. There wasn’t any actual danger, Malleus knew this. Yuu had nightmares - the entirety of her group of friends did - and her screams were a result of her own mind torturing her rather than a physical threat.
Malleus just wished someone had told the palace guards this.
“Your Highness,” one said, “you must remain here while we secure the grounds. A unit is already securing your guest-”
“No!” Malleus’ eyes widened. “Do not send anyone into her bedroom other than former General Vanrouge or one of his two charges.”
Yuu would get worse if some unknown force burst into her room in the middle of the night. It would remind her too much of STYX storming in and taking Grim, Jamil, and Vil. Malleus cursed silently at the sight of guards already entering her room.
As predicted, Yuu’s screams turned to shrieks and pleas to leave her friends alone.
At the end of the hall, Malleus spotted Silver sprinting around the corner with a phone in hand. The guard in front of Malleus had turned and that was all the distraction he needed to disappear in a flurry of lights.
If Yuu was having nightmares, then it was highly probable that Sebek was too. And Baur was the only warrior in his family. Sebek would need someone, especially someone who knew what had happened to the demi-fae. Especially someone who could get him to his friend quickly.
“Sebek?” he called out the second Sebek’s room materialized around him. It was nothing like it had been at the start of the year. Even when they got back for winter break, Sebek’s bedroom had been as close to perfection as he could get it. Now, the bedroom actually looked lived in. Of course, it was still impeccably clean (that would never change), but there were pictures on the wall. Of Ace and Deuce. Yuu on Jack Howls shoulders with Epel Felmier walking next to them, another of their robotic friend Ortho standing behind a Sebek who had bows in his hair.
Malleus’ gaze snapped towards Sebek at the rustle of his sheets and the hitch in his breathing.
“Malleus-San,” Sebek greeted. His hair was damp with sweat and clinging to his face, eyes wide and pupils held a clear fear. Not of Malleus but of whatever nighterror he had been awoken from.
Malleus took a deep breath and held out a hand. “Come along. It seems you and the Child of Man are having similar dreams.”
Sebek wasted no time in getting up and taking hold of Malleus’ hand. One moment they were in Sebek’s room and the next, the guest suite in the castle. Yuu was clutching Lilia’s phone in her hand and Malleus could hear Lilia outside the door, barking orders.
The second the excess magic from the teleportation dissipated, Sebek had launched himself at Yuu. He was clutching her like a life-line and had wrapped himself around her protectively. As if he could use his own body to shield her from any possible threat.
Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade’s voices rang through the room and were soon joined by the rest of the sobbing first-years.
It would have been adorable if it wasn’t so heartbreaking to witness. Like a melancholic melody. The dread that filled Malleus worsened as he remembered the way that the group had been attempting to find a way to send Yuu back to her original world before he had overblotted. If Yuu went home…what kind of devastation would that wreak upon Sebek? Upon Grim, who was silently allowing the human girl to use him as a stuffed animal while he tried to wipe her tears with a paw?
Malleus wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.
Vil and Jack
Inviting Jack to stay with him for spring break was admittedly a spur of the moment and rather lackluster plan on Vil’s part. He had done so in a moment of nostalgia. Wanting back the days where things were slightly simpler and all Vil had wanted was someone to see him as a person rather than a villain.
He wasn’t stupid enough to think that everything would be perfect or that they’d click as they had as children. No, Vil wasn’t moronic enough to believe that. In fact, he had prepared for the awkwardness and the spats that could occur.
What Vil hadn’t been prepared for was the nightmares. He knew that Epel had them and logically knew that Jack did too. In fact, he and Leona were slightly more civil with each other now that they often found themselves in each other’s company when brewing dreamless sleep draughts for their respective first years.
But Vil wasn’t prepared for them to be happening every night.
Not even Epel had nightmares every night. The third night in a row of nightmares was when Vil mentally tallied every difference that could possibly affect the nightmares that Jack was having. It was that moment when he realized what he and the other housewardens had done.
Now, as an actor, Vil often came across terms that he needed to research. In one of the horror movies where he’d played the teenage psychopath who kidnapped two classmates he hated, the terms codependency and trauma bonding had been tossed carelessly around the set. Vil had gone into a deep dive that year to figure out exactly what those were.
He and his fellow housewardens had enabled their first-years codependence on each other.
It hit Vil all at once how the first years always saw each other multiple times a day. They shared classes, sat together at lunch, and had sleepovers that lasted all weekend. Damn it, there were times he’d find one or two of Epel’s friends trying to sneak out of Pomfiore before they were caught, or went to Epel’s dorm to find that his bed had been untouched.
So, Jack’s nightmares were increasing due to being apart from the other first years. He’d been alert and defensive because he didn’t have his pack.
At eighteen, Vil realized that as grown up as he acted, he wasn’t actually an adult nor was he qualified to handle this in any way. Crowley was a damned asshole for sweeping the overblots under the rug with no regard for the mental health of the students who had overblotted and witnessed overblots.
Vil found himself wishing he’d attempted to kill Crowley rather than Neige. Perhaps then, Jamil and Kalim wouldn’t have bothered to stop him.
(How many children had to get hurt before Crowley got consequences? How many years of therapy would his negligence cause for so many students? How many former students had been written off as lost causes because they broke under what Crowley tried to hide?)
The night that Vil found Jack snarling in his wolf form, hackles raised and looking ready to bite anything that moved, was the night he pulled out his phone and called Rook. That was the night that anyone else who currently had a first year with them got the honor of having Vil Schoenheit’s phone number.
Leona, Rook, and Epel
Schoenheit had Jack, Rosehearts had his two card soldiers, Draconia had his loud green one, the herbivore and her cat. The weird robot kid was with his brother. That left Epel Felmier as his responsibility for the break, Leona supposed. He assumed this wasn’t planned by the younger housewardens but it was smart.
Have a housewarden with each first year to minimize the damage of them being apart.
At least if he didn’t take initiative, Hunt would be with Schoenheit’s cub. He’d invited him to the Sunset Savannah for the break and had offered to teach him to hunt.
Leona had simply invited them both to the castle.
He reasoned that he wouldn’t actually have to spend any time with them. He could drop them on Neji and sick Cheka on them too if he played his cards right. Leona would just have to keep an ear out in case Hunt got in over his head with the codependent first years being split up.
Unfortunately for him, Neji was determined to ruin Leona’s break. He’d dragged Leona along, nagging incessantly about how it was his responsibility to entertain his guests.
Leona stuck the two in training with the guards for a day while he took a nap. Another day, he drove them all out to the middle of the savannah and let the two stalk some animals like the creep Hunt was.
The nights were the only time Leona actually despised the two pomfiore students being in the same building as him. He wasn’t completely negligent, unlike a certain crow. Leona had the two placed in rooms in his hearing range and had warned the guards that any screams from Epel’s room weren’t anything for them to worry about.
His only solace was that Draconia had to do the same damned thing with the herbivore and his own guards.
Leona had even had the forethought to ensure Riddle’s most extroverted card soldier - Cater Diamond - had his phone number in case the eight first years truly couldn’t handle being without each other, separated by oceans rather than just hallways and mirrors.
The fifth night ended up being the worst night of the lot and the one that proved Leona was right to make sure he could contact Cater Diamond.
When the first year woke up shrieking about phantoms and yelling for the herbivore to duck before it got her, Leona yanked out his phone to see and incoming face-time request from the card soldier.
And hell, if this was a preview of the summer, Leona found that he felt a bit bad for the parents of this lot. The therapy bills Crowley caused them were going to be sky high.
Idia and Ortho
Ortho wasn’t capable of having dreams. That was the thing about having wires instead of nerves, of hard drives and memory discs instead of a brain. Ortho physically couldn’t sleep. Idia was glad for this, really, he was! He didn’t want his younger brother to have to go through what he said his friends were going through. The way their minds took what actually happened and twisted it into something worse was horrifying in a familiar way.
Ortho tiny and limp and cold and blue and bloody while blaming him-
Yes, Ortho didn’t have nightmares. This made it especially infuriating that the SSR extroverts seemed to think that he had to be on a call with them! It was a special event that the devs didn’t even write well.
How Heartlabyul’s boss-level extrovert even got his phone number was beyond him! To top everything off, he had to place STYX on lockdown before Ortho took off to go try to fix his friends by himself. His parents hadn’t even forgiven him completely for the whole nearly destroying the world thing, so Idia wasn’t completely sure that they wouldn’t be pissed about the updgrades Idia had done to Ortho’s beam cannons.
As he slouched in the corner of Ortho’s bedroom (his younger brother insisted that he wasn’t allowed to leave the room), Idia made many realizations.
- Ortho befriended the most fucked up group he possibly could
- Ortho’s friends becoming Idia’s problem was going to be a regular occurrence if he didn’t do something
- This was all. Crowleys. Fault.
While Ortho talked to his friends who were starting to calm down, Idia pulled out his tablet and ran through all possible ways he could potentially handle their headmage for causing this.
He groaned at the fact that all plans would need either his parents approval so he could use STYX or having to work with the high-maintenance extroverts.
Idia tossed the plans out to revisit when he was more tolerant of said extroverts.