Bart was told he could run track as long as he didn’t break any records and didn’t win all the time. And he isn’t! But this is the first race where he’s running against a fellow meta! He’s just gotta not lose control in the heat of the competition. And he won’t … probably.
Warning: Mentions of blood, violence, and friends-to-enemies
This is my 500 follower special :) a word of warning, this is going to be very angsty, unlike my other works. So be warned!
=_=
Those four were always inseparable, everyone thought. Despite the chaos they brought, they brought smiles to everyone. You’d never find one without the others.
Which is why Trey and Riddle found it odd to see Ace walking into the kitchen alone.
“Ace?”, Trey had said, “Did the Track and Field club have a last minute meeting?”
“Eh? Why are you asking?”
“Oh, it’s because you usually come here with Deuce.”
At the mention of his friend’s name, Ace’s expression changed. He narrowed his eyes as he gave a frown.
“Why should I care if he has a club meeting to attend?”, the redhead scoffed, “What he does doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
Without any more words, Ace left the kitchen. Riddle and Trey give a glance to each other, though they say nothing. It was not unusual for the ADeuce duo to have small fights and act like the other doesn’t exist. They’d make up eventually.
=_=
“Grim?”
The cat in question gave a low growl, as he slid into Jack’s room. Grim smelled of sadness and fear, the wolf beastmen noted. That was certainly unusual, for the boisterous cat. That...made Jack worry.
“What? I just wanted to crash in here for the night.”, he said, curling up at Jack’s feet.
“I...see.”, Jack’s ear twitched, “How come you aren’t with Yuu?”
“I just didn’t want to see them.”, Grim said as his tail curled around his body.
Jack’s expression flickered to reflect worry, “Is that all?”
“...yes, that’s all.”, Grim stated quietly, before laying his head down, “Now be quiet, I’m trying to sleep.”
Jack stayed silent, pondering the sudden change in Grim’s behavior. Yuu wasn’t someone who would...act mean or lash out at people, especially not Grim. Jack worried that something bad had happened to Yuu or worse.
Though, rationally it was nothing more than a little spat they might have had, and Grim was being overdramatic (as usual). Maybe Jack was overthinking things.
=_=
Grim didn’t come with Jack to go to school. He had stated that he would go to class by himself. (Unusual; why would Grim willingly go to class?) But when Jack mentioned that Grim should meet up with Yuu, the cat became more insistent to go to class early.
Something was wrong, Jack could tell. Maybe last night’s worries weren’t nothing. He wanted to know more, which would be easy since he sees Yuu every day at Main Street with the rest.
Which is why he found it odd when only Epel and Sebek were present.
“Where’s the others? Shouldn’t they be here already?”, Jack asked as he approached the two.
“They should, but we haven’t seen them at all.”, Epel answered, frowning, “I expected Ace or Deuce to be late, but never Yuu. They’re always on time.”
“Maybe Grim kept Yuu back!”, Sebek said, “He must have wanted them to get tuna for him!”
“No, that isn’t possible.”, Jack shook his head, “Grim came over to Savannaclaw last night.”
“He...he what?!”, Sebek shouted, “Why would he stay with you?!”
“I don’t know, but judging by his actions and his scent...something must have happened between Yuu and Grim.”, Jack sighed.
“His scent?”, Epel repeated, “What does Grim’s scent have to do with anything?”
“Well, you see-“
“Hey guys!”
The three turn their heads to see Yuu smiling at them. But...there was this air around them that seemed anxious. They had been walking quickly, as if someone was following them.
“Oh, good morning Yuu.”, Sebek greeted, “How are you?”
“I’m doing well.”, Yuu said quickly, “By the way, can we go to class now? I was hoping to get to class early you see-“
“Shouldn’t we wait for Ace and Deuce?”, Jack interrupted, “They should be here soon.”
“We don’t have to worry about them.”, Yuu said in a strained voice, “Besides, I don’t think we want to see each other.”
This got the group’s attention. It was as clear as day that Yuu did not want to see Ace or Deuce. The question was: Why?
“...Does this have to do with Grim staying over at my dorm?”, Jack asked.
“...”
It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Gradually, Yuu’s face fell into a look of annoyance.
“He stayed over at your dorm? Did he say anything?”
Jack flinched at the sudden coldness in their tone.
“No, he just slept for the night and left early.”
Yuu nodded, “Then...that’s fine. But, I don’t want to stick around and wait for the other two. You can, if you want. I won’t force you to.”
Jack narrowed his eyes. Something was definitely up. The four were usually glued to the hip, but seeing Yuu act so...indifferent about the other three gave a bad feeling in his gut. Sebek and Epel must have had the same idea.
“What happened yesterday?”, Epel asked, “What did the three do to get you so mad?”
“....I don’t want to talk about it.”, Yuu said, “Just- I don’t want to be friends with them anymore. I never will be.”
CRASH!
The noise was so sudden, that everyone jumped at it. It came from behind them, a large sound that sounded like food splattering.
Behind them, was Deuce and Cater. A trey of what was presumably backed goods smeared onto the ground.
“Oh shit.”, Epel whispered.
The look in Deuce’s eyes made Epel shrink away and closer to Sebek and Jack. It felt out of character of the bluenette - having such a murderous look on his face.
Yuu stood their ground, glaring at Deuce.
“How nice of you to join us.”, Yuu stated, “But I’m going to class.”
“Oh, fuck off.”, Deuce snarled.
Cater, poor guy, visibly moved away from Deuce, shock written on his features.
“Whatever you say.”, Yuu waved their arm half-heartedly as they walked away.
Deuce growled, before he walked in the opposite way of Yuu...before he turned around and passed the group, because he was actually going in the wrong direction of the school.
The group were left in complete shock and confusion. Yeah, something was up. Seeing the two act so hostile towards each other in mere seconds of seeing the other raised a lot of flags.
“Uhm, Diamond-Senpai, right?”, Jack recalled, “What was that about?”
“Ah, if I knew the full story, I would’ve done something about it.”, Cater snapped out of his thoughts, “Deuce-Chan just came up to me and Trey yesterday and asked to help him make an apology cake. We happily agreed and I went with him to deliver it. I didn’t know it was for Yuu...I honestly thought it was for Ace.”
“Eh? Is Deuce mad at Ace too?”, Epel asked.
“I would assume so, Ace seemed particularly annoyed when he came back to our dorm yesterday.”
“Hm, this seems like a mystery that’s waiting to be solved...”
“I guess we have to go ask them individually to figure out what happened.”, Sebek said, “School is almost in session, so the best time is to ask during class.”
“Right.”
=_=
Cater was worried. About Deuce, Ace, Grim, and Yuu. It was evident that something happened yesterday, that caused them to be hostile with each other. He’s noticed how they refuse to be in the same room of each other outside of class - how uncomfortable the other three of their group had looked when the rest of their group was divided.
He sighed, as the last bell rang. Cater knew he’d have to bring it up with Riddle and Trey. Maybe they could intervene with Ace and Deuce.
As he turned the corner, he noticed a rather big crowd next to the Heartslybul mirror. Unconsciously, Cater took out his phone, ready to record whatever drama was happening.
Did he expect Deuce and Ace to be full on brawling on the floor? No, not at all.
He could only watch in silent shock as he recorded the whole fight. He should intervene, as their senior. Make sure they don’t get seriously harmed and get Riddle and Trey-
Deuce grabs Ace’s head and smashes it against the floor. A sickening crack echoes as Ace screams. Cater almost drops his phone.
Oh god, there’s blood dripping onto the floor, he has to-
“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!”
Riddle storms into view, red in the face. The crowd of students part way for him to pass by. Trey is next to his side.
“Trappola? Spade?”, Riddle looked at the two first years, “What on Earth were you thinking?! Fighting in the corridors, I-“
Riddle fell silent. He must have noticed the blood leaking from Ace’s head.
Cater pushed past some of the students, going to meet with the two Heartslybul dorm leaders.
“I’ll take Ace to the infirmary.”, he offered, “I don’t know much but...I did get some recordings.”
He inwardly cringed at saying that. Seriously, what was he thinking?! He shouldn’t have recorded the fight and stood by.
Riddle slumped his shoulders, “Please do, Cater. Trey, please take Deuce to my office.”
The redhead turned to the body of students, “The rest of you - back to your dorms! This “fight” is over!”
Cater hoisted Ace over his shoulders. Ace groaned, looking very much out of it. Deuce scowled, though he passively followed Trey to the Heartslybul mirror.
Cater hesitated, even as the students began to leave the scene.
This was so uncharacteristic of the two of them. Since when did Deuce throw punches to the point of causing someone to bleed? Did Ace escalate some teasing to a full on brawl (no, Ace can annoy someone, but he would never poke a bee’s nest intentionally)
As Cater dragged Ace down the halls, he wondered if the fight was a climax of something much more bigger - something that started with Yuu denouncing their friendship between Deuce and Ace.
If you were picking Cersei’s ladies in waiting for political reasons, like rhaella having Joanna Lannister and princess of dorne. Who’d you pick? I don’t think cateyln would come even if she had a royal ask, as Ned wouldn’t want her to go.
I would not pick the daughter of any lord paramount, or anyone who commands a large army, or anyone with enough money to hire a large army (or any army of any size tbh) because if ladies around Cersei started dying accidentally, that would be very bad, for political reasons.
