Chapter Text
Riddle had lost track of exactly how long they’d simply been sitting and talking about absolutely nothing of importance.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed that a moment of pure self-indulgence and idleness would make him feel so at peace.
He shifted to his side to get a better look at Floyd as he rambled on, jumping from one subject to another, his eyes locking onto him.
His usual, insufferable, crooked smile was plastered over his face exactly where it belonged; he couldn't keep his eyes off it, almost like he was scared of losing it again. He caught himself staring for longer than anticipated, looking away suddenly.
“You know, you never did say what made me so different, why ever do you like me?” Riddle spoke up, finally asking what had been eating away at him the entire time.
“Hmm, let's see… you’re crazy immature, childish, stuck up, you get all red and huffy over nothing.” Floyd counted on his fingers as he continued adding to the list, clearly enjoying himself.
Riddle’s eye twitched as he listened, completely taken aback, not having expected Floyd to have a mental list, part of him wanted to bite back but then again he was the one asked him in the first place which might've been a mistake.
“I fail to see how any of that is meant to be flattering,” he said flatly, slightly disheartened, though there was no real bite behind his words.
Floyd snorted, noticing the redhead's expression, an almost fond smile spreading across his face as he rolled onto his side so he could face Riddle properly.
“But I'm not any better, am I? What was it you said, that I don't think ‘bout consequences, I get bored all the time, and I'm reckless? yeah, that sounds like me alright.” Floyd huffed out a laugh, glancing away for a moment before looking back at him trying to find the right words.
“It doesn't matter if you're some crazy rule obsessed tyrant or an awkward teenage boy, you're still you goldfishie, and that's the same boy who'd throw me across this courtyard and put me back in my place if I tried somethin’ stupid like on the first day we met.”
Floyd propped himself up on one elbow, grinning from ear to ear. “And that’s the guy I like,” he finished putting it rather simply that's because it was just that simple to Floyd.
Riddle paused at the information being thrown at him. It was almost too much for him to stomach, despite some of the comments sounding more backhanded than a grand romantic gesture, but he didn't want it to be anything else.
“I like the way you never gave up on me even after I pushed you away, I love how thoughtful you are, I love how you'd hold and treat me like I wasn't something fragile about to break,” Riddle retorted. Like hell he'd let Floyd one up him by having a sappy love confession; he wasn't about to be the only flustered person in the courtyard.
“That so?” Floyd asked, slightly surprised, mostly amused.
“Yes, it is,” Riddle responded almost smugly, before Floyd leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Riddle's lips.
But Floyd barely had a second to react before Riddle pulled him back in, closing the gap with little to no thought, Riddle’s fingers tightened into the fabric of his sleeve, as if letting go would undo everything they had just managed to piece back together.
Floyd leaned into it without any protest. The kiss itself was clumsy; Riddle still had no idea what he was doing, neither of them really did, but there was nothing uncertain about it.
He was still terrified of the thought of finally allowing himself to feel this way, but he was choosing Floyd, he was choosing his own happiness and he wanted his feelings to be known.
Riddle's breathing was laboured, as they both reluctantly pulled apart for air, though he looked almost proud despite his reddening face.
Floyd seemed to go through countless emotions as they pulled apart before suddenly wrapping his arms around Riddle and pulling him down with him into the grass below.
“Wait ack-!” Riddle protested, though the sound dissolved into something far less indignant as the air was knocked out of him. He made no real attempt to free himself.
Floyd buried his face into the crook of Riddle’s neck, his grip tightening just slightly before relaxing as if reminding himself not to squeeze him too hard.
Floyd exhaled almost nervously. “Thanks for not running,” he muttered, his voice slightly muffled.
“Thank you for chasing me,” Riddle responded quietly, feeling the warmth radiating off of Floyd.
Floyd pulled his head up from Riddle's shoulder, his mismatched eyes lighting up at the sight of Riddle's flustered state he grinned from ear to ear as he flopped back down onto the grass.
Riddle murmured something under his breath, he had half a mind to scold him right there about staining their uniforms, but he still lay down beside him all the same.
They laid there side by side, their shoulders pressed together. Floyd stretched one arm behind his head, the other lazily nudging Riddle’s hand until their fingers brushed again.
Riddle didn't wait another second before lacing their fingers together.
“…You know,” Riddle started after a while, his voice steady despite the fact he was just rambling, “I went to Jade for advice before this.. I want to court you properly like in the Coral Sea."
“You went to Jade for help? What’d he say?” The eel excitedly lifted his head hearing this, already liking where the story was going.
Riddle huffed thinking back on it. “He told me to propose.”
Floyd's shoulders shook as he attempted to suppress his laughter, before entirely giving up, rolling back down as he echoed in the courtyard.
“That's so like him, and what? You believed him?” The taller boy managed to ask in between breaths.
“Well of course not, it was off the table, we are not of age.” Riddle scoffed, turning his nose at the very suggestion.
“Ahh so you thought ‘bout it. I’m real flattered goldfishie,” Floyd teased, leaning in closer, something unreadable flickering behind his usual grin.
Riddle’s face burned up as he turned his head so quickly that it was a miracle he didn’t strain something.
“That's the end goal of all relationships, is it not? That is, if you'll have me,” Riddle finally muttered back, not completely convinced by what he was saying either.
“Ehh I don't really do all that future stuff,” Floyd admitted, shrugging his shoulders. “I'll do whatever in the moment.” His lips twitched slightly as he thought for a second longer.
“Don’t hate the idea of stickin' around you though. I'll marry you if I feel like it.” Floyd grinned as he watched Riddle squirm at the statement.
It was all just baseless conjecture, none of their words carrying any real weight, but there was just something so oddly exciting about being able to just hope and dream without being dragged back to reality or being tied down to anything.
“That is hardly a formal agreement.” Riddle crossed his arms completely unimpressed, though his voice was noticeably softer.
“Good,” Floyd shot back immediately. “Didn’t we just say no rules?”
“We did.” Riddle exhaled softly, laying his head onto Floyd's shoulder.
-
“Heyyy Trey, you know how I'm your favourite freshman? You should totally make cherry pie for the next unbirthday party, it would just be really cool,” Ace begged as inconspicuously as he could manage.
“Do you have no shame, Ace?” Deuce hissed under his breath, elbowing Ace sharply in the side, though his eyes flickered toward Trey with a similar kind of hopeful curiosity.
“Hmm I don't know about that one, buddy,” Trey let out a sympathetic chuckle, looking back at both the boys.
“Nothing personal Acey, it's just whatever Rids feels like, he's been down recently y’know,” Cater chimed in, looking up from his phone to back Trey.
“I think cherry pie would be perfectly acceptable for the next unbirthday party,” Riddle declared, already reaching the head of the table.
Almost everyone at the table was taken slightly aback by the fact that they hadn’t heard Riddle approaching.
“Good morning housewarden!” Deuce straightened his back as he shot up.
“Good morning, Deuce,” Riddle responded slightly amused, though he wasn’t fully sure why.
“You’re in a good mood. That’s suspicious.” Ace squinted at him.
“I am always in a perfectly acceptable mood,” Riddle replied, though there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he sat himself down at his rightful place at the head of the table. “Though I suppose one could say I’ve resolved a personal matter.”
“That so?” Trey’s smile widened just a fraction as he gave Riddle a knowing look.
“Yes.” Riddle gave back a small nod.
Riddle had taken his seat as if nothing had changed, because most things hadn’t, except for the fact that he felt like he could finally breathe for the first time in a while. He let out a small huff looking around the table, allowing himself to bask in the atmosphere, he missed this.
Trey studied him for a moment longer before letting out a quiet chuckle. “I’m glad it worked out.”
“Yeah, you’re way less terrifying today. It’s kinda weird.” Ace leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head.
“Do you wish for me to be terrifying, Ace?” Riddle asked coolly, raising an eyebrow playfully.
“Nope. I’m so good actually,” Ace responded a little too quickly, holding up his hands.
“Soo any ‘prior arrangements’ today Rids, or you sticking with us?” Cater chimed in a teasing way, not really expecting a response.
“Well, I suppose I do have plans with my partn- ahem, boyfriend soon, do go on without me,” Riddle responded, beaming rather proudly. The words were unfamiliar and rather improper, but they filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride.
The next thing that came was a barrage of sounds varying from shock to genuine confusion, with all the boys stammering over each other, trying to make sense of what Riddle had suddenly dropped on them.
“Heya Goldfishie! You comin' or do I have to get in through the window?” Floyd called out from the entrance of the dorm loud enough for everyone to hear, cutting through the shared confusion.
“Don't abuse that now that it isn't a rule! It's still completely improper. I'll be there in a moment,” Riddle called back out as he stood up from the seat rather quickly.
“I'll be excusing myself now.” Riddle turned on his heel, making his way to the entrance with a clear pep in his step leaving behind more questions than answers.
“He can't just leave after dropping that on us, I'm dragging him back,” Ace started, though he did hesitate when he remembered just what two individuals he'd be dealing with, truly a match made in hell for him.
“Don't you dare, can't you see? Housewarden Rosehearts is busy!” Deuce barked, dragging Ace back, who didn't struggle nearly as much as Deuce thought he would.
“He looks happy… will it really last though?” Cater muttered under his breath, almost absentmindedly as he watched on, all the fuss being made blending into the back of his mind.
He watched how Riddle locked arms with Floyd, letting him lead him away, how Riddle straightened up, too proud to admit that he was looking forward to seeing him.
Cater's expression softened in a way that made him uneasy as he shifted in his seat.
“That's for them to figure out,” Trey said softly from behind him, placing a grounding hand on his shoulder, startling Cater who hadn’t realised anyone had actually heard him. “I'm rooting for them. Funnily enough, I think Floyd's just what he needed.”
“Yeah, me too,” Cater finally sighed, squeezing Trey's hand before shaking his head and forcing his usual grin back into place, barely making out Riddle who was already scolding Floyd, backhanding him as they continued walking "I think they'll be fine."