Chapter Text
From a young age, Ace’s observation skills and mimicry was something he used frequently. It never failed him and got him out of bad situations. He never took his skills for granted. He quietly kept cultivating his skills, improving his ability to read situations and respond appropriately. Or inappropriately since sometimes that was more fun.
His skills have helped him out more than he could count, but people discount him at every turn.
Ace can’t even count the number of times he’s just been completely looked over and deemed as a liar. Which, to be completely fair to all of those people, he was. He learned that first impressions were important the hard way. He somehow made friends (he has no idea how that happened) and while they don’t discredit him at every turn, his opinions aren’t really factored into anything.
That was fine. Ace enjoyed watching the situations in quiet anticipation to see if his predictions were right.
Currently, he was sitting with Deuce working on homework in the lounge when Ace noticed Riddle talking to some freshmen in the corner, quietly chewing them out. But there was something else he noticed about Riddle’s demeanor. His shoulders weren’t as rigid and tense, his hands relaxed and holding his pen loosely in his fingers. His gray eyes seemed more sullen and had the slightest bags underneath them. Ace studied the freshmen he was talking to and saw them visibly shocked before running back to their rooms.
“Ace are you-” Deuce started, looking up from his paper before he saw what Ace was looking at. “Did some more people piss off Riddle again?”
“I wouldn’t say he’s angry,” Ace said, watching the housewarden sigh and stride towards the kitchen. His mind ran through all the little factoids he kept to himself from the last few days, trying to piece together why Riddle was drained. He certainly helped with that, but there was clearly something else going on that was more than just dealing with unruly first year students. There was something heavier present all throughout Riddle’s gaze.
Deuce scoffed at Ace’s comment. “I know I’m not the smartest, but he seemed pretty pissed off to me.”
Ace shrugged his shoulders. There was no use trying to figure out Riddle when he couldn’t remember any other strange instances of similar behavior. He turned back to his work, resuming the math problem he had been previously stuck on. “Sure. Riddle’s always mad. But he seemed pretty tired. Like, emotionally.”
The former delinquent stared at the troublemaker. Ace could tell that his roommate didn’t believe him. “Are you just trying to get me to do some crazy prank again? You know what happened last time right?”
And Ace knew that this was the part where he was supposed to insist that he knew what he was talking about and probably get into a dumb argument. Instead, he felt a bit of weariness settle into his bones. In truth, he was tired too. Yeah, he definitely expected resistance and some disbelief, but not constant rejection. He was tired of having to constantly defend himself. Again, he was completely aware that it was his own fault, but he thought he was still allowed to feel at least a little bit angry about it.
“I’m just telling you what I think,” Ace told his roommate, not even looking up from his worksheet. “You don’t have to believe me.”
Deuce just looked at him, bewildered by his behavior before he ultimately chose to ignore him and go back to his work. Ace just continued to do the problems, occasionally helping his best friend if he was stuck on anything. They fell into an easy rhythm, their focus completely on the homework due tomorrow.
Then Trey and Cater walked by, and Ace heard them whispering. He immediately dropped whatever he was doing and stared at the two. They were both clearly on edge, stressed about something, and that something was probably Riddle. They were quiet, so it was hard to listen, but Ace could see their tense facial expressions.
“I just… I don’t know how…” Trey was whispering.
Cater held Trey’s arms in his hands. “I know. You just have to talk to him,” he replied. “Clear it up… You’ll both be fine.”
A few lightbulbs started going off in Ace’s head. It was clear to him now that Trey and Riddle must have gotten into some sort of argument or misunderstanding. He tried to hear more, but they had dropped their voices even lower. Ace could fool himself and try to read their lips, but he wasn’t that good. One thing was very clear to him though; whatever argument the two had, it was weighing heavily on both of their minds.
“Ace, stop trying to eavesdrop,” Deuce scolded.
“I’m not eavesdropping,” the redhead replied, narrowing his eyes and analyzing the demeanors of his upperclassmen. Just trying to figure out what’s going on.
Deuce rolled his eyes. “Sure. Don’t come crying to me when you get in trouble again dude.”
Ace ignored him as he recalled seeing Trey and Riddle talking in hushed whispers at an unbirthday party that ended in Riddle walking away suddenly. He only heard a little bit of the conversation, and that time he wasn’t even trying. He distinctly remembered hearing Riddle asking him “When were you going to tell me?” before the freshman had decided he was better off not hearing anything.
Clearly whatever secret Trey was keeping from Riddle, it was a big enough deal that they weren’t speaking about it.
Now, the smart and safe thing to do would be to ignore it. Ace was already a pro at ignoring most things that happened around him, brushing off insults and compliments with a simple yet burning comeback or just a quick thank you to whoever was talking to him. He learned how to do that over time as a part of cultivating his observational skills. He couldn’t let bias affect him and look at everything objectively. At least until he knew the why, if he could even figure it out.
But… There was a smaller, yet louder part of him that said Riddle needed someone there for him, even if that person was the biggest headache any upperclassman has had to deal with.
“I’ll be back,” Ace announced.
Deuce blinked, not expecting Ace’s defeated tone. “Oh, okay. Where are you going?”
“To check on something.”
Ace snuck off, following the direction Riddle had sulked towards. He genuinely had no idea how he was going to approach his housewarden. The two already had a less than cordial relationship that mostly involved Riddle yelling at Ace and Ace seeing how far he can push his housewarden before he’s about to snap. It was cruel, the freshman knew, but it was important to know someone’s limits.
Something bad might happen if not.
The younger redhead found the older redhead sitting and drinking tea, breathing in and out slowly. Ace steeled himself for whatever conversation he was about to have. Hesitantly, he stepped towards the second year. “Hey, housewarden,” he greeted softly with a smile.
Riddle sighed in exasperation. Not surprising but it still hurt a little. “Hello Trappola,” he greeted coldly. “What have you done this time?”
Ouch. Again not surprising, but damn. “I haven’t done anything this time. I just- I-...” Ace struggled with his words. Riddle’s gaze was cold, and he was not about to take any bullshit from his least favorite freshman today. The boy breathed in, avoiding his housewarden’s gaze for a moment. It doesn’t matter if he believes you, he told himself. All that matters is that you meant it. You’re being genuine. It doesn’t matter if he believes you because you know the truth. “I just wanted to ask if you were okay.”
Riddle was silent, eyes widening in surprise. Ace drummed his fingers on the side of his thigh, waiting patiently for the second year’s response. “You’re asking about me?”
“Yeah?”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why?”
It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. “You seem tired. You’re not jumping at the chance to give me detention, that's for sure. And I wasn’t listening, I swear, but I saw you talking to Trey the other day and it looked like you were arguing. You and Trey don’t normally fight.”
Riddle winced. “Very perceptive of you.”
Ace fidgeted uncomfortably, trying to seem calm and failing miserably. He wasn’t used to this. He didn’t do gentle words and consolations. He was better with the cold hard truth or outright lies. Nothing he ever said was delivered gently. That wasn’t how he was raised. Words were never delivered with the censorship most kids heard when they were younger. Hell, even the darker stuff his parents would talk about Ace still heard. How was he supposed to comfort his housewarden? Did his housewarden even believe him now? Did he trust that he had good intentions?
“I mean, you obviously don’t have to tell me anything,” Ace rushed out, scratching the back of his head. “I just wanted to see if you were fine, and you don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”
Some tension in Riddle’s shoulders fell, his gaze softening as he studied his uncharacteristically anxious freshman. “I am okay. A little tired, but okay,” he replied, voice laced with weariness. “How are you, Ace?”
Ace flinched back, not expecting the question to be thrown back at him. Honestly he was expecting the housewarden to tell him to leave. His hand traveled to the back of his neck, nails scraping his skin rather harshly. “I’m good. Exams soon, but good.”
“Magical Analysis?” The freshman nodded. “I expect a good grade from you given that it’s your best subject.”
“Me and Deuce are studying together, and I guess you could say that I’m helping him since he struggles with it.”
Riddle’s lips curled upwards into a small smile. “That’s kind of you.”
The younger redhead fought a blush. Stupid Riddle and his stupid intelligence. “It’s whatever. I can just hold it over him and ask for a favor later.”
“Ever the opportunist.”
“You’re making me sound like Azul.”
“Not a very far off comparison.”
Ace rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and gently tugging on the fabric hugging his upper arm. “Well, I guess I can let you get back to whatever you’re doing. I need to make sure Deuce isn’t getting in any trouble without me.”
He turned to walk away, but Riddle suddenly asked, “Would you like to know what Trey and I were talking about?”
And, well, they say curiosity killed the cat. Ace was willing to die for the drama. “If you don’t mind sharing,” he replied, walking back over to sit down across from his housewarden.
Riddle’s small smile faded into something sadder. “Trey and Cater had neglected to tell me something and it has called into question how much either of them trust me.”
Ace’s eyes went wide, realizing exactly what he was talking about. “They didn’t tell you they were dating,” the freshman concluded. The sophomore frowned, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he nodded. Ace began to back pedal, explaining, “I mean, they didn’t tell me either. I don’t think they’ve told anyone to be honest, but it’s really obvious.”
The older boy's expression relaxed slightly. He took a sip of his tea. “You’re very perceptive when you want to be.”
“I’m perceptive all the time.”
“You don’t act like it.”
“I keep my cards close to my chest. First rule my parents ever showed me.”
Riddle hummed thoughtfully, his glare narrowing as he studied the freshman across from him. Ace hated the scrutiny he was under. “You are… certainly interesting, Trappola.”
“Thanks?”
“Anyway, you can imagine my shock when I found out they had been dating for months and never told me about it.”
Ace sympathized. He remembered when he found out his brother was engaged. He didn’t even know his brother was dating someone. It felt like a punch to the gut from the person he trusted the most. “Yeah. Doesn’t sound fun, but I’m sure they would’ve told you at some point. Coming out to someone takes time and confidence. You can’t hold it entirely against him. Like, no one knows that you and Floyd are dating either. Except me of course.”
Riddle’s face morphed into shock. “How do you-”
“I’m perceptive.”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Right.”
“So you’re both kind of in the same boat.”
The Heartslabyul Housewarden pondered on Ace’s words for a few moments. Ace could practically see the gears turning in Riddle’s head before he set his tea cup down. “This talk has been enlightening. I am going to talk to Trey.”
The second year stood up and began to walk away. Ace let out an incredulous laugh. “What? No “thank you”?” he called out, his laughter bubbling up his throat. Riddle didn’t respond and Ace laughed even harder because seriously? All it took was reminding Riddle that he too was dating another man just for him to go and clear up his misunderstanding with Trey?
Hysterical. Ace couldn’t wait to tell Deuce about this.
Except he’d probably just roll his eyes and at the very least, humor him while making it very obvious that he didn’t believe him. It saddened Ace for a few moments, hating that he couldn’t talk about these kinds of moments with his friends. But at least they happened, and that was funny enough in itself.
Ace, once he calmed down, walked back towards the lounge to see what Deuce had completed. Said boy was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. “What did you say to Riddle? He just stormed through here like a man on a mission.”
The redhead resisted laughing. “Our housewarden was being stupid so I knocked some sense into him. Trey and Riddle should be all sunshine and rainbows by the time they’re done talking.”
Suspiciously, Deuce replied, “Okay?”
They continued their work with Ace occasionally helping Deuce with certain problems. Riddle and Trey had walked by them chatting amicably. Before Deuce could ask his best friend what he did, Ace smirked and walked off towards the kitchen for snacks. The former delinquent probably wouldn’t have believed him anyway.
That was fine. Deuce could figure it out for himself if he was really that curious.