Chapter Text
“You have to understand you can’t skip all of your classes.” Riddle tried to stay calm as he spoke to Ace. “It is not only against my rules but school rules as well! I simply don’t understand why you chose to.”
“I just didn’t feel like it today. I'm sorry.” Ace sincerely apologized.
“It’s…not fine, but next time you are feeling upset to the point you skip school, please talk to one of us.” Riddle sighed. “I didn’t make your collar too tight, did I?”
“No, it’s fine.” Ace rubbed his neck and pulled out his phone. He sent a quick text to someone and turned to leave. “I’ll tell you next time.” He gave a quick wave and left for his room.
Riddle let go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding as Trey and Cater left their hiding places.
“You handled that really well.” Trey rubbed his back. “It’s like what I told you after your overblot. You don’t have to lose all your strictness at once. It's perfectly fine to show that you are angry.”
“I know…” Riddle groaned. “I fear if I get too strict, I’ll become my old self again.”
“That's not going to happen.” Cater assured him. “You are absolutely working this new you!”
“Thank you. You are right. If I get too lenient, Ace will never learn. I will simply scold him once more.” Riddle marched forward. “You two will accompany me to make sure I don’t go overboard.”
Trey and Carter looked at each other and shrugged before following Riddle.
The trio walked to Ace's room. The door was already ajar. Inside were Sebek and Ace sitting on his bed.
“Did he use it on you?” Sebek carefully asked Ace. “Was it tight?”
“Totally!” Ace lied to Sebek's face. “I really peeved him off, so it was really tight…”
Riddle didn’t make a sound in fear of getting caught, but his face turned red. Ace not only skipped classes; he also lied to Riddle and now Sebek.
His anger quickly turned to shock as Sebek wrapped his hands around Ace's neck and squeezed. Ace gasped for air but didn’t seem scared. He had an eerily happy expression on his face. Sebek's face scared Riddle the most. It was a wide grin with his sharp teeth on display.
It felt like it went on for minutes when in reality it was 15 seconds.
Ace gasped for air as soon as Sebek let go. “You must have been really riled up!”
Sebek only silently kissed the imprints he left on Ace's neck. Ace smiled the whole way through, holding Sebek tightly.
Riddle, Trey, and Cater all snuck back to the lounge. It was silent for a moment. No one knew how to address what happened.
They all just left to do their own thing. They didn’t want to breach the subject for now.