Riddle Rosehearts, Post-Overblot, Headcannons
After the debacle with you punching Riddle in the face, you grew a little more amicable with him.
Not her it, but what's it got to do there anyway?
He doesn't seem to hear it, which is... Awkward for you.
But the shared sensation is proof there's something.
Not one to give this world another opportunity to drag you through the dust by virtue of your obliviousness to magic and it's rules, you've been trying to find the limits of that connection...
By avoiding Riddle entirely and pestering he... it for test answers after it said "I'm us"
It most definitely works. Good for you.
(And Ace, he's cheating off you)
Crewel and Trein are suspicious of your sudden spike in knowledge (not as much as of Ace though, HA!) but you answer okay on the board or at the front...
You HAVE been studying more, with second year topics going into your head most easily.
To Riddle's advantage, you brush up on basics you've never seen before and only feel a hint of nostalgia.
If you empty your head, it is the easiest to just... Write the answers, top to bottom like a well studied vocabulary test.
Yes, Trein has once stood behind your back the entirety of you writing an essay. Yes, Crewel has too.
Yes, the entirety of the school is flabbergasted.
And fuck yes does it feels good to throw your great grades in mages faces. "Can't even beat a magicless person who didn't know you existed two months ago!"
They are so mad, but they cannot say anything because you're right.
A L W A Y S R I G H T .
Have you been more vindictive as of late?
It most certainly feels like both Ace and Deuce tell you so, the former louder than the latter.
You don't believe it until Trey tries to get you to calm down by offering you the first slice of a strawberry tart of all things.
The card soldiers were suspiciously quiet when your gaze fell danger to fall on them, you realise, and get to detaching it from your thoughts.
She's not you. Neither is he.
And so you return to detaching it from your thought process.
Over and over and over again.
Your friends remind you, Deuce holds on to you when you're alone until your breathing steadies and your face cools, keeping you from doing something you'll regret. Ace actually holds his tongue when go into Queen that mode. That alone returns you to your senses after a minute. The fundamental wrongness of a quiet Ace. You have to cuddle Grim for calmness afterwards. He should not be afraid of you.
Anyone could be.
Not them.
Everyone should be.
As if you don't miss your king.
Everybody may quiver before me…
…But them, then.
Trey?
The silence that answers you settles some frustration in your chest. She doesn’t exist on her own, as her own complete self. At least that.
She is him. Now she is connected to you. They together are "us", now, in the limited capacity you will allow yourself and them for you to be the third party. However, she should be more him than he is her.
And that is the beginning of you returning to Heartslabyul after punching it's Queen with barely any talking out after.
Neither of you is afraid of the other, minutes later you are in his dorm room, studying together when you let slip it's been a lot easier since... The incident.
Cramming comes naturally to both of you now, you nearly feel her behind your chairs to nod her approval.
Capable soldiers.
Heartslabyul, since that fateful day, has had two Queens. There is no King of Hearts.
You two naturally share the first slice of tart at an Unbirthday which you actually attend more often than you don't, not pushing... her... away as hard as you could.
Grim reminds you, then. Stealing your second slice, because Riddle has a scepter in his hand and the first is sacred to both Queens.
Sometimes, you turn that staff over in your hands, Riddle at his desk, Grim in your lap to keep her far enough... And swear it hums in your grip.
When you sat next to Riddle, taking his hand...
You set his alchemy book on fire. Worst of all, not on purpose. His fireballs were a near legend, you thought of them, irritation always hummed under your skin to some degree now and fanned the flames... They burst forth with more intensity than you expected.
Fuck. You'll have to pay for that, won't you? Five fancy tuna cans less. Poor direbeast.
You are Riddle's reasonable counterpart, most days. He's trying, she is a little farther, but habit and perfectionism...
Maybe it is the dorm's remaining shellshock.
Order something seriously, truly seriously, like their Queen, it will be done so. Even Trey and Cater.
You are effectively a second year. You and Grim join Riddle in class instead.
Sometimes you stumble, but it is little.
Your roster isn't officially changed.
Just know that Crewel and Trein will not only tolerate but welcome you as a respectful guest... And finally a responsible "resident" of their classes after a few weeks.
You do not tell Vargas that. No way in seven circles, tartarus or purgatory are you of your own free will hang onto a broom with three fingers and do pull ups. Screw that. And your balance isn't near good enough to balance on whatever chopsticks the man wants you to do tricks on. What are you, a cat?
About 900 words, I’d say like an entry size. A mashup of both a lil story, a dash of plot and headcannons about what I genuinely begin to consider as my own little AU.
Tell me of whatever tags I missed!
