Chapter Text
It was a rather slow day today, not many people were breaking the rules or pissing him off (thankfully, and Riddle is proud of that) and it was a weekend. He had some leisurely time and after a short Housewarden meeting, he was on the way back to Heartslabyul.
“Oh, hey Rids!” A familiar voice exclaimed with that excitement Riddle knew all too well.
“Ah, Cater. What are you doing here? I hope you’ve been studying, I heard the third years are about to go through a tough test in professor Crewel’s class.” Riddle asked.
“Ah, about that, me and Trey were just studying back in the library for it. We decided it was best to take a break at this point….” The influencer sighed, tired from all of the studying and memorizing.
“That’s good. But if that’s the case, where’s Trey?”
“He said he had some books to return to that he forgot back at the dorm and went to get them.”
“He should’ve gotten an alarm for that then to avoid the hassle of going back and forth between the dorm and the library then.”
“Haha, maybe.”
“I’ll remind him about it when we see him.”
The two kept talking while walking in the empty hallway, chatting away of studies, the dorm rules, how Crowley is useless, and the like.
It wasn’t until after Cater laughed that something odd happened.
“Hey Rids, what was that about a study guide for the two freshies?”
“Ah yes, about that-“ Riddle was about to speak of that study plan when-
“‘That’s a fine mindset. Take these with you, I’ll be grading them after your study group’“
“Wait, take what with me?” Cater exclaimed in confusion.
“I did not say anything of the sort, Cater.”
It was then that the two noticed that they were nearing a corner. Riddle and Cater both peeked their heads through to see the two “freshies” Cater was talking about, as well as their magicless friend and direbeast. The squad were talking and laughing along.
“Haha, Ace, you always make the best impressions of people!” Yuu smiled.
“Speaking of, how can you do such accurate impressions?” Deuce asked, looking genuinely surprised and flabbergasted.
“What can I say, I’m a man of many talents.” Ace smirked, confident in his little “acting” ability as he rested his hands behind his head.
“Hah, sure you are!” Grim cackled, “now do that impression again! The one of Riddle!”
‘Of…me?’ Riddle thought, ‘that voice was supposed… to be me?’
“Yeah yeah sure! Ahem…” Ace cleared his throat, and puts a hand over his chest in that dignified way Riddle would often do. Actually, Ace seemed to embody Riddle at that time. “‘That’s a fine mindset. Take these with you, I’ll be grading them after your study group.’”
The voice was dignified and expectant, sounding slightly proud. That was what Riddle sounded like when he gave that study guide to the two freshman. Riddle knows this, Deuce knows this, Cater knows this as he was there too.
And it was very clear that Ace knew it too, all too well.
Grim and Yuu laughed, the former even full on cackling. Deuce tried not to laugh, it was rather disrespectful of him to laugh at something like this behind his Housewarden’s back, but it was hard not to. He covered his mouth as he did so.
His voice was so accurate. The tone, the inflection, the slight smugness. It was all like Riddle.
Since when could he do this?
In the end, even Cater chuckled, doing it silently so their juniors don’t notice them. He was rather amused.
Riddle definitely did not look amused.
“That does not sound anything like me at all!” Riddle whisper yelled to Cater.
“I don’t know, Rids. That was pretty accurate. I’m just as surprised as you are that our little freshie could do this.”
“This has to stop immediately!”
“Now hold on Rids-!”
“Ace Trappola!”
Ace immediately turned around after he heard that, loud, imposing, familiar voice he knew anywhere. Deuce, Yuu, and Grim also froze up a bit after hearing who spoke.
“A-ah, Housewarden! I didn’t think you would be here!”
“Likewise, I wouldn’t think that you would be here, hosting a magic show.”
“A magic show? Housewarden, what do you-?” Ace was confused, questioning his Housewarden before a certain influencer entered the scene.
“He means your impression of him, Ace.” Cater walked towards the group too, still chuckling a bit.
“O-oh, you heard all that?” And suddenly, Ace wasn’t grinning ear to ear and confident in his mimicry. He was blushing a bit from the embarrassment, already looking to run, half from punishment that might entail, and half from embarrassment that the person he was impersonating was right there, hearing it all.
“Yes, we did Ace. Now do you think it was a good idea to even attempt to mock me?” Riddle was close to popping a blood vessel.
“Now hold on a minute, Housewarden! I wasn’t trying to mock you!”
“And what were you trying to do, exactly?”
“Well, uhh-“
“Exactly! Did you really think you could make fun of me while I was not present?”
“Now Housewarden-“
“Wait, please don’t get Ace in trouble…” Deuce spoke up. Both Ace and Riddle looked towards the blue-haired freshman.
“We were the ones to encourage him. It was supposed to be a one off thing, we promised! But we… wanted to see more of it instead of moving on. So, if anything, blame us Housewarden!” Deuce pleaded. If he was the reason why he got his friend in trouble for doing something rather harmless, then he wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt.
“Yeah, plus it was Grim that enabled Ace anyways.” Yuu added casually, causing a hiss from Grim.
“Now hey, how is it my fault?! I’m not the one doing the impersonating! It’s not my fault that Ace is good at this!!”
Ace looked around, somewhat surprised of this whole ordeal, but a small warmth warmed his heart when his friends came up to defend him. He smiled just a bit, despite the situation.
Riddle, after seeing Ace’s friends ready to take the fall for him, sighed, calming him. It was at that time that Cater placed a hand to the small redhead’s shoulder.
“Hey Rids, maybe you should let this slide? After all, it doesn’t seem like Ace had any bad intentions. Plus, it’s just harmless fun, right?” Cater looked to Ace, who immediately nodded.
“Yep, just harmless fun! I swear I wasn’t trying to mock you or anything!” He nervously agreed, praying internally to the Great Seven that he wouldn’t be collared right there and now.
Riddle looked towards Ace, then Deuce and Yuu and Grim. Then to Cater. Finally, he sighed.
“Alright, fine, I’ll let it slide for now.” Riddle decided aloud.
Everyone, particularly Ace himself, sighed in relief. Riddle sighed in annoyance of the things that his freshman can get into.
“But,” Riddle added, “you should not, under any circumstances, use that… talent of your for malicious purposes. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Housewarden!” Ace said with relief, very glad he wasn’t getting collared.
“Great. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get back to Heartslabyul. And I better see you, and you-“ Riddle glares at Deuce, “to use that study guide I gave you to the fullest. Is. That. Clear?”
“Yes, Housewarden!” The two said in unison, while Yuu and Grim watched. They weren’t a part of Heartslabyul anyways so they didn’t need to say anything.
Riddle started walking ahead when he turned his head behind. “Ah, and Prefect?”
Yuu turned their head towards the Red Sovereign, “yes, Riddle?”
“Make sure to keep an eye on those two, and Grim, to make sure they do not get into any funny business.” With a huff, Riddle walked away, towards the Hall of Mirrors.
Cater sighed, and started to sprint towards Riddle, but not before ruffling his juniors hair.
“Ah, Cater-senpai-!” Ace yelled in surprise as he tried to fix his messed up hair.
“You heard the man! See you later Acey and Deucey! You too Prefect and Grim!” He exclaimed before turning the corner to catch up with his Housewarden.
For a bit, there was silence, until Ace sighed for the umpteenth time today. “Oh thank the Sevens… I thought that Riddle was goin’ for my neck there…” he wiped his head, which was glistening with some sweat from all that stressing.
“Well, it could’ve been worse.” Yuu commented.
“That’s true…” Deuce agreed.
“Nyehehe, well now that Riddle’s gone, do that thing again.” Grim chuckled, already thinking of the impression in his head.
“Maybe next time…” Deuce sighed.
“Yeah, I really don’t want my head on the chopping block again… let’s just go.” Ace pulled his hands behind his head again, as he started walking towards the Ramshackle Dorm.
“Yeah, let’s…”
…
The mirror of Heartslabyul had two people come out of it, a short Housewarden, and a carefree influencer.
A certain baker noticed the two of them while walking to said mirror.
“Hey there Trey!” Cater waved at his friend.
“Oh, hey there Cater. Back from the library? And with Riddle too.” The dark green haired man looked towards the both of them, stopping at where they intersect to converse. Riddle watched and listened as the two familiar friends converse like normal.
“Yeah. Hey, you should’ve seen Ace today, he’s got an amazing talent, you had to be there.” The 3rd year laughed.
“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Trey asked, now curious, looking at Riddle to know what Cater meant.
Riddle sighed from remembering the odd experience, and cleared his throat. “While we weren’t watching, Ace decided to mimic me with his voice and a few gestures. It was a poor attempt at it.” He looked away on that last part.
“‘Poor’ attempt?” Cater eyed Riddle, “you should’ve seen him Trey, he was so accurate that I really thought it was Riddle talking!”
“Wow,” Trey chuckled, “that must’ve been quite a sight to see…”
“I know right? I should’ve recorded it for Magicam. Maybe I could ask Ace to do it again when he comes back…” Cater wondered out loud, automatically taking out his phone.
“That will not happen on my watch!” Riddle declared, definitely not wanting that to appear on any social media.
“Whatever you say, Housewarden. Still, it was a bit uncanny, seeing Ace mimic Riddle one for one… I’d wonder if it’d happen to me?” Cater asked rhetorically.
“Then maybe he would say something about Magicam, since you’re almost always on it.” Trey commented.
“Yea, maybe! It would be an honor to have my kouhai to mimic me, really! It be like a lil’ Cay-Cay!”
“Whatever makes you happy, Cater.” Trey laughed.
“Are you just going to stand here with those books in hand, or are you going to return those to the library?” Riddle butted in with a stern expression.
“Ah, right, I should. Thanks Riddle.” Trey thanked.
“I’ll join you! It’s not like I have much to do anyways!” Cater shrugged.
“While you two discuss amongst yourselves, I’ll be heading back to my room. I have next week’s homework to catch up on after all.” Riddle said as he started to walk away.
“Bye Rids!”
“Alright, bye Riddle.”
As the two 3rd years got out of earshot, Riddle sighed.
He had to admit, Ace’s impersonation was quite accurate. Not that the Red Sovereign himself would admit it.
“As long as he doesn’t get into any trouble with that talent of his, then it shall continue to be amusing.”
He chuckled to himself as he shut the door of his room. Riddle was somewhat looking forward to the next impersonation, depending on who’s next.