Work Text:
Riddle let his eyes drop to the floor. “What I'm trying to say is… I… I like you, Trey.”
Trey blinked, a billion thoughts racing through his mind. Me?? But… but… I'm me! I guess… I certainly don't not like Riddle… and my chances with Cater are shot, seeing as he's so obviously straight…
Trey took a deep breath. “I… I don't know what to say…”
“It's okay if you don't like me back.” Riddle’s voice was quiet and he appeared smaller than he ever had before.
“No, it's not that- I-” before Trey could stop himself, he reached forward and grabbed Riddle’s face, pulling him into a kiss.
Riddle’s eyes widened in surprise and his face dusted with a light blush, but nonetheless he embraced the kiss, content. Riddle was smart, though. He knew Trey didn't actually like him back. He knew his best friend like he knew all 810 rules of his dorm. Trey was too scared to reject him; he didn't want to ruin the friendship dynamic. But if he was willing to do all this for Riddle, well. He wasn't going to object, that is.
Month after month passed, and Riddle watched and watched as Trey kissed him with no spark in his eye. One night, Riddle (surprisingly) woke up at two in the morning. Not having the energy to fall back asleep, he got up to get a midnight snack- something that he never could have expected himself to do a year ago, because it contradicted rule #267.
However, when Riddle walked past Trey’s room, the door was ajar and there were not one but two silhouettes sitting on his boyfriend’s bed.
And then they leaned in.
Romantically.
And kissed.
Actually, it was more of a “make out sesh”, as Cater would say.
Although, Cater was in no position to say.
Because he was currently making out with Riddle’s boyfriend.
Riddle didn’t do anything but stare.
He had known this was coming all along, hadn’t he?
He had known Trey didn’t love Riddle the way Riddle loved Trey.
He had known about Trey’s crush for years.
So then why does it hurt so much? said a small voice in the back of his head.
Riddle shook off the lingering feelings of heartbreak, steadying his gaze. He wasn’t about to become one of those boyfriends to charge in having a mental breakdown and screaming “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, YOU DIRTY CHEATER!!”. So as always, Riddle composed himself, bottling up his feelings. He was content with just having Trey in his life, so he wouldn’t say anything. Nothing would change. Nothing ever changes…
Riddle carried on with his daily life. Nothing changed. Trey also continued, and even though he carried on supporting Riddle as a best friend, he grew more distant in the “romance” area. Riddle told himself he didn’t mind. Nothing changed. He told himself it didn’t hurt. And still nothing changed. He didn’t deserve Trey. Nobody liked him. Cater was clearly the better choice. As long as Trey was happy, nothing else mattered. He was a terrible person and everything was his fault. He didn’t deserve to be in this world. Or any world, for that matter, not even Yuu’s.
Yet Riddle pushed through the pain.
His A+’s became A-’s, and those A-’s became B’s. His mom yelled at him. B-. Everyone in his dorm resented him. C+. He couldn’t do anything and his whole life was a failure. C-. D. He couldn’t do this anymore. He just couldn’t. F.
One night, Riddle was coming back to the dorm unusually late. He had been up late studying in the library for his big maths test the next day, but was starting to nod off. He wasn’t really paying attention to his surroundings, just wanting to get to bed, and accidentally walked into someone.
That someone being Trey.
Who. Was making out with Cater.
Again.
Trey jumped a little and turned around. His face whitened as he realized who it was and he froze. “R-Riddle. It’s… it’s not what it looks like! I swear!! I was- I was just- I-”
“It’s okay, Trey,” Riddle said softly, mustering a weak (fake) smile. “I’ve known for months. Your heart was never with mine. That’s okay.”
“No… No, I-”
“Save your arguments, Trey. It’s okay, really.” Riddle kept smiling his tired smile as he stepped into his room, shutting the door quietly.
Trey sank to the ground, running his hands through his hair, his face falling. Cater hesitated for a second before kneeling down to comfort him. “It's all my fault,” Trey croaked. “I should've… I… I-”
“I'm sorry, honey.” Cater didn't know what to do. “I'm sorry.”
Trey groaned in frustration. “Maybe I should go check on him??” He started to stand, but Cater put his hand on his shoulder.
“You know that's not what you should do,” Cater said, and Trey nodded unhappily. “He needs space. The best thing you can do is wait it out.”
Trey sighed. He knew Cater was right, but he still felt horrible. Riddle was his childhood friend, after all…
Riddle stared at the wall. No tears fell. All he felt was numb. Yet his chest hurt. The pain dug into his heart like a knife. But his face stayed dry. Emotionless. He slowly turned his head to stare at the window. He was on the third floor. He felt no pain. Yet he felt everything. And it was all too much.
The next morning, Trey took a deep breath, mentally prepping himself to talk to Riddle. Cater stood a bit back in the hall. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. Trey frowned. He's typically quick to answer the door though… Trey knocked again, yet still no one answered. Concerned, Trey twisted the door handle and to his surprise it swung open.
There was no one inside. Trey’s frown deepened. He swiveled around. “Cater??” he called out. “He's… not here. And he always sleeps until eight. It's 7:45. I don't know where he would've gone…”
Cater stepped in after him and the two looked around, trying to look for clues as to where he could have gone. Trey went over to the bed and Cater decided to check near his desk. Nothing there… “What about the window? Why is it open?” Cater murmured to himself.
Cater glanced out the window.
And gasped, tearing up.
He sank to the floor.
“Cay Cay, what's up?” Trey asked, following his line of sight. “What's so interesting out the wi…” Trey trailed off. Because out the window…
On the grass below…
A human… with dried blood spilled around him…
And a small crown rolled to the side…
There was a note on the window sill.
Dear Trey and Cater,
I would like you two to know this was not your fault. It was all my fault. I was foolish to believe I ever deserved happiness. I'm sorry I caused so much trouble for you both, and I hope you can forgive me. My grades were slipping as was my life, so don't blame yourselves. This was always fated to happen. The cards were, indeed, not in my hand. I never deserved to be alive in the first place. I know everybody hates me, my mom, the dorm, you guys… But still, thank you (and Ace and Deuce, I guess) for the times that made life a little more bearable. I hope to not see you soon. Please continue pushing on. Not for me, but for you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Riddle Rosehearts
Trey was frozen. “He's gone,” he whispered to himself. “He's-” Trey felt himself tearing up. “NO!” he screeched. “NO HE'S NOT! I- I DON'T BELIEVE IT!” Trey flung open the door, racing down the stairs to get to the ground floor of Heartslabyul. He ran in the direction of Riddle’s dorm, and sure enough, the Queen of Hearts was lying face down in a pool of blood.
Trey sunk to his knees, tears streaming down his face and fogging up his glasses. He took Riddle’s head in his hands. A single dried tear was on his dear friend's cheek. His face was cold, his eyes empty.
Trey screamed through his tears.
Cater appeared eventually, still sobbing, and joined Trey on the grassy hill.
“WE SHOULD'VE DONE MORE!!” Trey screamed. “HOW COULD WE NOT SEE? HOW COULD I NOT SEE?!”
The three sat there, on the bloody grass.
It was 8:00.
People would begin waking up and getting out of bed soon.
The day would continue.
But for now, Riddle lay on the grass, dead. Cater sobbed. Trey screamed. And they all blamed themselves.