Chapter Text
“Wait isn’t yours way longer than everyone else’s?!”-
As they descended back down the library, Ace kept reflecting back on his previous teasing from earlier, before Trey cut him off. He still couldn’t believe it even after Cater went and showed them a picture of the four trapped in the library he took earlier. At first he thought it was just a simple trick of the camera to make Riddle’s hair look long, but seeing it up close from the window made him lose his train of thought for a second. Sure it was easy to laugh at Deuce and Jack at their whole ensemble, including reveling in their riled up reactions at his usual jabs, but something about Riddle looked so different to him.
The outfit that they had given him made him look more like an otherworldly prince, the cape off his shoulders making his complexion much more warmer and the embroidery from the vest piece. Even if it covered most of everything there, his eyes still zeroed in on his chest and didn’t miss the side eye Trey gave him when he audibly gulped. He felt his cheeks warm at the thought that their vice-housewarden had begun to catch onto his attraction towards his childhood friend whom he hovers around like an older brother; making sure he squashes any bugs who try to surround Riddle.
He wished he had his phone on him when they went to visit the library window’s patrons, because now he just wanted to relive the moment of Riddle smiling at him when he handed over the darts from his and Deuce’s dorm room. The way he looked at him with upturned eyes with makeup that flattered his doe-like appearance, the bounce of his braided hair making his short stature more apparent, or the tender look on his face when he told them to take care of the dorm in his absence. There was also the library’s lighting creating a halo-like effect around his head as he had it peek out a bit from the window’s balcony, and the flowers adorning his hair made him look … ethereal. He was literally a fae under a human’s form with his beauty, and it did things to his heart that he’d rather not think about right now.
Everything about that look was so unfair! Ace felt his grip on his broom tighten when he remembered how Deuce and Jack were jeering from behind him, knowing how he immediately forgot about them once Riddle began to talk with him.
I hate how they’re quite literally the worst ones to catch onto this dumb crush of mine. Once they’re out of there I really won’t hear the end of it from Deuce. Well, I might have an advantage if he still didn’t get something out of this considering he got to spend more time with Jack outside of their club activities. I’ve really had enough of his late night groaning over him… As if, he’s more of a chicken than I am-
“-are you sure you’re alright Ace?” A hand shaking to his shoulder broke him out of his musings, slightly flinching at the sudden touch.
“Huh? Sorry didn’t quite catch what you said.” Real smooth there, pretty sure he noticed right out the gate. Ace looked off back to the window to avoid Trey’s knowing glances towards him. The older of the two hummed before sighing and repeated himself, “Well I just wanted to say thanks for accompanying me this time around. I know we’re running around making the lanterns and notifying other dorm members to bring other supplies but this is some of your time I’m taking up. I know you were worried for them.” He saw the brows creased with worry smooth out and flashed a soft smile.
“W-well who else am I supposed to make fun of if he can’t come back out?!” Ace responded back, frowning when Trey began to let out a hearty laugh.
“Haha you’re right about that, I really don’t want to be responsible for you if you get into fights with other classmates.” Trey smoothly replied back to him, with a lilt in the end of his sentence.
“Hah?! I’m not that bad! Besides! He usually starts it!-” Ace whines, knowing that he was right. No one really was as fun to tease as Deuce, but he also knew there was more Trey was going to tack onto their conversation at some point in their descent back down to campus.
As his feet touched the ground, he knew there was something else that was in his upperclassman’s mind. Ace looked up to see Trey staring back at him with a hard look in his eyes that meant he was in his big brother mode, and that meant it was also going to involve Riddle one way or another. He sighed, knowing what was next.
“...So?” he crossed his arms. Here it comes-
“I want to know your intentions towards Riddle.”
-and there it is.
“I’ll be honest. Riddle? He’s probably the best thing that’s happened to this dorm and I really do appreciate his guidance after our whole battle.” Nothing wrong about saying a half-truth right?
“While that might be true, don’t think I didn’t notice you basically eating him up with your eyes, and really laying it on thick with how different he looked.” Trey’s eyes glowered, the usual warm amber tone darkening slightly and raising the hairs behind his neck.
Shit I forget how he’s scary outside of the kitchen-
“A-ah I mean yeah he’s great and all, but um… I really uh…” Ace stuttered out, feeling his mouth dry up at attempting to voice out his feelings out loud. He really was more obvious than he had led himself to believe, or he was just delusional like usual that no one other than Yuu had caught on.
“... I guess I like him…” He finally let out in a small voice. There was no coming out of this, especially if it’s Trey we’re talking about.
Shuffling his feet back and forth for a few seconds was enough for Trey to make his face turn to more of a neutral expression after hearing his confession. He heard the other sigh and adjusted his glasses. “...I’d say that went better than expected.” The other mumbled while looking at Ace’s rapidly reddening face.
With mortification, Ace curled himself into a ball on the floor, squatting and rubbing his hands in his hair and grumbling. “AUGHHHHHH!!!!!! YOU’RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS WHOLE BIG BROTHER ACT THAT I FORGET HOW EVIL YOU CAN BE!!!!”
Trey couldn’t help but bark out a laugh at the younger’s theatrics and let him slowly compose himself at the wall of the library. Taking out the thermos of the extra tea they had brought over, he handed it to Ace and smiled when he took the peace offering. In-between sips, he began to speak up again, “Listen I know you’re trying your best to look cool in front of everyone, and that includes Riddle, but remember that you only have a finite amount of time before you let this chance slip. Trust me on that, these years go by in a flash and you might miss out on that opportunity. Even if I did see you ogling him, I know you’re more serious about him than you might let on.” He picked up the basket from the floor and looked directly towards Ace.
“I know it sounds overprotective of me to say this, but I just want to make sure Riddle has a good school experience, especially after everything I wasn’t able to do for him while we were growing up. I know about your feelings for him, and I’ll let this matter go if you promise me that you really will put effort into doing something about your relationship with him.” He said with a soft smile. It’s like you’re marrying off your daughter or something-
Knowing that he was waiting for an answer, he took one more sip of the tea and closed it, wiping the excess off his lips. Feeling a smile form on his face, he handed the thermos back to Trey and offered him a confident smile and a nod of his head.
“From what I read in that story, I’ll play the thief who shows this princess the outside world, and give him his happy ending!”