Chapter Text
Riddle knew that he was strict and often didn’t allow leeway with his strict rules, unless there were circumstances that couldn’t be avoided, despite how people assumed otherwise.
All of the students in Heartslabyul knew better than to try him at any time of day, those in other dorms knew even more so, despite his short stature, Riddle’s famous temper and fire was known for the rules being broken and kept his name high and above.
But there was always that one person that got under his skin, that knew how to press all his buttons, but in a way where he couldn’t even feel anger, but rather soft endearment.
His precious Heart Suit freshman, Ace Trappola.
Now, Riddle knew that Ace had a certain way of endearing himself to others, through cheeky and bratty comments and words, cocky attitude as a hard shield from him and the rest of the students in NRC. Most things bounced right off his armor and barely ever broke through the kinks in it, but when they did, he always had others behind him that would protect him.
Riddle also knew that Ace was aroace (both aromatic and asexual) and in a Queer Platonic relationship with the first years. Ace had come out to him one day, before the other first years had even found out about it.
The little redhead had been touched, knowing how hard it was for Ace to open up about the deeper parts of him, even to others that he’d been through so much with for so long.
After that, he remembered watching as Ace slowly came to terms with the fact that he was platonically attracted to his friends, serving as a base of comfort for the younger as he agonized on how to come out to the others, not wanting them to feel awkward or pressured by his new and unique feelings.
Eventually, Riddle managed to convince Ace to talk to his friends and thankfully, everything turned out alright. The group soon became known around the school as one of the few polyamorous relationships, even if it was different from their normal types.
But even with the good news, Riddle remained protective of his special Heart Suit, making sure he was always comfortable and happy, even when others would consider it favoritism, despite Riddle often saying that it was natural.
Though, whatever happened to people whoever tried to harm his precious Heart would have their heads rolling.
⸻
Ace knew he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, it led to a lot of the predicaments that he found himself in (he shuddered as he remembered Riddle and Deuce’s protective rage after Trey and Cater explained what had happened at Playful Land and how neither of them had let him out of their sight, though Yu had been in the same boat as him with the rest of their partners). But he also knew what made him uncomfortable and what didn’t.
It took a lot of trial and error, considering he didn’t really allow others to see him uncomfortable and would rather allow others to do what they want and snap to keep them away. That was one of his defense strategies.
Snap at a person enough and they get the point to leave him be.
The only people who didn’t run from his constant snap and bait trick would be the first years that he grew close to and the upperclassmen around him, for some odd reason. Ace didn’t mind, after everything they had been through, but it still made him marvel at the kind of people he managed to find at NRC.
Honestly, after everything that had happened, Ace had been happy to know there was a group of people that he could feel comfortable with and that he could enjoy the rest of his college life.
…until Ace felt stares from afar.
The redhead had brushed it off. People often still stared at him, all things considered. He was part of the Basketball Team and starter, despite being a first year. He was part of the group nicknamed ‘Overblot Cleaners’, due to the amount of times he and the others had helped with the bouts of overblotting that school year. And finally, the people he hung around weren’t the types that usually had others lingering too often.
So, yeah, Ace was used to people staring.
But the feeling of being stared at continued and he even noticed the way that Sebek, Deuce and Jack would stay closer to him when they hung out or when they went to class, even if he couldn’t exactly tell why.
He’d approached Yu about the situation, but the magicless student had shrugged, just as lost as Ace was.
The first year Heart Suit didn’t think anything of it anymore and tried to move on, only for that thought to be brushed off when he was approached by another freshman, this one being a kid he’d seen around Heartslabyul and from classes.
The student had approached Ace and spoken to him for some time, admitting that he’d always admired him for standing up to people like Riddle and Azul, despite the obvious difference in magic strength. Ace had laughed it off, admitting that he couldn’t stand assholes who took power trips like they did and that he would do it again to anyone like that.
The student had smiled widely, throwing his arm around the shorter’s shoulders and walking in a random direction, offering to buy him some lunch.
It was then, Ace ignored the first sign, beaming brightly and nodding. Free lunch outweighed the over familiar arm, even as he shouldered it off and put distance between the two of them.
After that, it was like he ran into the other student all the time. On his way to class, on his way back to the dorm, hell, he even ran into him on group outings.
It was weird as hell, Ace had even told him it was uncomfortable how often the two of them ran into one another. That was when the other made the first move, confessing to Ace that he had held a crush on him ever since they met after Riddle’s overblot incident.
Ace’s bursts of righteous outrage somehow reminded him of the Great Queen of Hearts herself and the way he would tease and push others away was alluring in a way.
Ace had made himself scarce after that.
Deuce and the other first years had looked everywhere for their boyfriend when they couldn’t find them at their normal meet up spot, only to come up empty handed.
That was when the Spade Suit decided it was time for drastic measures, knowing that Ace wasn’t one to shy away from them, unless someone either did something to irritate him (he, Sebek and Jack were constant offenders of this) or something happened from external forces.
“We can’t find him, Housewarden Riddle-senpai,” He admitted in front of their little Queen, who eyed them with serious gray eyes. It was no secret that the Hearstlabyul Housewarden would do anything for his card soldiers, but it was even more well known that he would especially do anything for his favorite Heart Suit.
Ace had rescued him from his own trauma and the constant enabling of the people around him. Ace had reminded Riddle how to have fun at times, how to be there in the moment and not let everything fly by with his own rage and hurt from his childhood.
Ace had become their Housewarden’s Heart, even if he was unaware of it.
And Riddle, the little Queen that he was, would always protect his Heart and card soldiers with everything he had.
That was how he went out and searched for Ace in places that he knew the other had been sighted at, Trey and Cater at his sides, until they caught sight of their Heart Suit, their freshman, pinned against a wall, squirming uncomfortably as another Heartslabyul student held him there, a look of anger and annoyance on his face.
“What is going on here?” He seethed, barely containing his anger and keeping the burning hot flush from his cheeks as he approached the two, Trey and Cater’s faces stony as they stood tall on his right and left sides.
“Nothing important, Housewarden Riddle-senpai!” The student who had his Heart pinned against the wall deflected instantly, leaning back from his threatening loom. “I was just asking Ace-kun here if he would consider a little off campus date this weekend and he’s just having a hard time thinking of an answer.”
Riddle saw Ace’s face go impassive, the briefest flash of pain flicker across Ace’s mask, before he looked down, shifting slightly.
“Is that so?” Cater drawled, hip cocking outwards slightly as Trey crossed his arms over his chest tightly.
“Yeah, we weren’t up to anything, sir.” The teen responded, brown eyes flashing back to Ace and Riddle hummed, crossing his arms.
“Ace, is that the truth?” asked Trey, yellow green eyes meeting red as he placed a hand on Riddle’s shoulder, trying to keep him grounded.
Ace bit his lip and Riddle’s fire flickered slightly from his staff at the sight of the grip on his wrist tightening slightly, before Ace’s red eyes flashed dangerously and he shoved the student off of him. “No…no it’s not, Housewarden Riddle.”
The lack of the suffix ‘-senpai’ both warmed Riddle’s heart at the same time that it annoyed him. Ace was the only one who didn’t add the suffix to his name, despite the lack of respect it showed, while simultaneously showing him that Ace considered them close enough friends to not need it.
“Then, what is going on, Ace?” Riddle made sure to use his Heart’s name in order to keep the stupid Clover in front of him from cutting in with anything.
“He’s asking me to go out with him, after I already told him I didn’t want to.” Ace finally shoved the other off him and jerked his wrist free. “I tried to stay out of trouble this time, since I don’t particularly feel like being collared, but it seems that me trying to let him down easy was just not getting home.”
Riddle nodded, waving Ace over to Cater’s side, as Trey and the Diamond Suit began to check over the younger Heart. “Now, tell me. How long were you planning on harassing Ace for an answer before you let him go?”
The student stuttered and stammered, hands waving nonsensically for a moment, before Riddle cut him off with a blast of fire near his feet, sending him tumbling to the floor. “That’s not an answer.”
“I-I just thought I could shoot my shot and try to curry some favors from him!” squealed the terrified Clover as Ace’s face changed into one of hurt , Cater cupping his cheeks softly to try and keep his eyes on him.
“What kind of favors could you get from another first year?” sneered Trey, eyes nothing like the dorm big brother that everyone knew him as.
“W-Well, he seems close with you guys and L-Leona-senpai, I thought if I could get him to go on a date or something, he would allow me to use some of the influence you guys give him.”
“Sorry to inform you, but Ace-chan doesn’t have any of our ‘influence’, as you call it.” Cater spat, a clear lie if Riddle’s ever heard one. “He’s a normal Heartslabyul freshman just like you.”
Riddle knew that he still punished Deuce and Ace just as much as anyone else who broke the rules, but he was much more lenient with the amount of trouble and good the duo got up to.
The Clover stuttered a bit more, but one look at Riddle had his mouth clamping shut as sweat began to bead down his forehead. “Off With Your Head!”
The wooden, magic disabling collar, clamped around his neck as he yelped in shock and fear. “H-Housewarden…”
“You’ll have your collar on for the month and I’ll be taking this concern up with the Headmage.” Riddle smirked, arms crossed, as Trey went over and dragged the freshman to his feet and led him away, Cater heading to his other side as Riddle walked over to Ace and began to look him over, frowning softly at the sight of the redness on his wrists. “Are you okay, Ace?”
“...Yeah.” Ace sighed, shrugging his shoulders slightly. “Just feel kind of stupid. That’s the kind of thing I should’ve expected and I kind of hate that I fell for it.”
“What do you mean?” Riddle took the wrist back and rubbed his gloved fingers over the pale skin for a moment, frown strong as he tried to soothe the angry red.
“I mean, the only people who would willingly spend time with me without wanting something would be Deuce and the others.” Ace sounded tired, resigned and slightly hurt. “I’m used to this, but I guess I keep trying to have hope.”
“Well, I spend time with you because you’re you.” Riddle implored, gray meeting red and a slight flush came to his cheeks at the surprised look he received. “You’ve done more than I would ever admit for me and as your Housewarden and the Queen of Heartslabyul until I graduate, I’ll always treasure you, my Heart.”
The smile Ace gave him in return made all the embarrassment Riddle felt from his little confession acceptable and if the student was later expelled for borderline sexual harassment at the behest of Riddle, the wide grin and carefree way Ace held himself afterwards as he went to one of the freshmen hangouts was all the more rewarding.
After all, if the soldiers are to protect their Queen, the Queen is to protect his heart and body himself.