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The air was hazy and the scent of burned wood with a lingering sweetness from the singed roses filled your senses. You watched a petal lazily fall to your feet as if it had just been blown away on a gentle spring breeze, but the sight in front of you betrayed that idea.
It wasn’t your place to say anything right now. Riddle was crumpled on the ground in a sorrier state than you had ever seen him while Trey attempted to coax him into standing. Even after his rampage that could’ve well killed you and all of your newfound friends, you could feel your heart ache as he wailed pitifully at no one in particular.
You bit your tongue as Ace laid into Riddle for everything that he did wrong. Ace wasn’t wrong, but it just made your heart break further for Riddle who was frantically trying to keep further tears from spilling out. He was fully responsible for his own behavior, but after being wound so tight for so long, you knew he had to be hurting as he realized all of his mistakes and how he hurt the people he truly cared about.
You were lost in your own thoughts as you noticed motion from the group so you snuck behind Deuce to listen better.
“No Trey,” Cater said. “You take Riddle to the infirmary.”
“No,” Riddle interjected weakly. “I want to stay and help fix what I did. It’ll be faster if Trey and I help first.”
“Dude, you just overblotted,” Cater sighed, “I think getting checked out is more important than fixing the garden.”
Riddle huffed and shook his head, getting onto his unsteady feet in an attempt to show he was fine. His visible shaking revealing to everyone that he was, in fact, not fine.
Trey sighed and Crowley seemed to be deep in thought. They both were all too aware about how stubborn Riddle was.
“Riddle?” you said, moving past Deuce and into the middle of the circle closer to Riddle. “What if you and I go to the infirmary and Trey stays here to take your place? I can’t help much anyway.”
Trey seems to brighten at your suggestion and Cater looks like he’s holding his breath as Riddle looked at you, anxiously chewing his lower lip before his eyelids closed with a heavy sigh.
“I suppose so.”
A mini cheer rippled throughout the group as you contained yourself to a small smile and looped your arm around Riddle’s lower back.
“I’ll text you when we get there,” you said with a nod to Cater. “Good work today, guys!”
Trey ruffled your hair as he whispered a quick thanks before being pulled aside by Crowley.
The silence was awkward as you made your way to the mirror at the entrance to the Heartslabyul dorm. It was obvious that Riddle was in a lot of pain by the way he tried to disguise winces and slight whimpers as you walked.
“You can put more weight on me,” you smiled. “I’m not that fragile, I promise.”
“I’m alright,” he started, “I don’t even need-“
“Riddle, you have nothing to prove right now, please stop acting like a tough guy!” you said sternly before ruffling his hair gently with your free hand. “Please let me help you.”
Riddle sighed but it was accompanied by a small smile as he put he looped an arm around your neck and shoulder and you easily adjusted to the new weight.
“See? No problem!” you said brightly, getting a small laugh out of him.
You walked like that for a while, pausing only to go through the mirror and drop into the Hall of Mirrors where you quickly steadied him. You mused silently over what you could say to him right now, you couldn’t imagine what he was thinking.
“Hey Riddle…” you said, thinking over your next words carefully. “You didn’t deserve that, okay?”
“Didn’t deserve to overblot?” he asked, raising a brow. “I think I had it coming, honestly.”
“Mm, well maybe,” you mused. “But I was moreso talking about your upbringing. I’m sure that had to be really hard.”
He said nothing as he stared ahead, but you could tell he was listening intently, so you continued.
“My parents were pretty strict too, not to that extent, but I can empathize somewhat,” you smiled softly at him. “I can’t count the number of meltdowns that I must have had over the years… but you just took it. For 17 years, Riddle, that’s crazy.”
He remained silent but his eyes had become glassy as he blinked quickly to will his tears away. You comforted him by rubbing small circles on his shoulder with the arm wrapped around him, waiting for him to calm down before saying more.
“I just think you’re amazing,” you whispered. “Not many people are strong enough to handle what you went through. Even though today was bad, I doubt anything like this will ever happen again. You’re stronger because of it.”
“Maybe, but what I did was inexcusable,” he muttered.
“Yes, I agree. You have a lot of apologies to make and relationships you’ll have to mend,” you replied, “but if anyone could come back from this, it’s you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” he said sadly.
“You aren’t your mother, Riddle,” you softly chided him. “You’re incredibly talented with magic, have some of the highest grades in school, and are an amazing leader.”
He stiffened as you praised him.
“So while you may have used your abilities for some,” you paused, “…unsavory? disciplinary techniques… I think you’ll be an even better leader after today’s events.”
“Rules are all I’ve ever known,” he replied as he wiped his eyes quickly. “I’m afraid I’ll go crazy again.”
“That fear is good though!” you smiled. “It means you want to change.”
“I do,” he said softly, a tear slipping down his cheek.
“Hmm,” you pondered, the gears turning in your head. “It’s Wednesday, yeah?”
“Uh, I think so? But what does-“ he started before you cut him off.
“Here, sit here for just a sec, okay?”
You sat him gently on a bench along main street before taking off in a sprint to the Hall of Mirrors. You flew through the mirror back to Heartslabyul, receiving a worried Deuce sprinting to your side as you waved him off saying you’d explain later. Finding an uncharred part of the garden, you plucked a few roses before leaving a bewildered Deuce in your wake as you hurried back to Riddle.
“Sorry about that… say, Riddle?” he looked up at you with wide eyes as you appeared back at his side. “What was rule 22…8?”
“Why are you… nevermind,” he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Rule 228, one must not pick flowers from the garden on a Wednesday.”
“Oh, darn.” you said sadly, presenting the flowers you had been clumsily hiding behind your back. “I just thought I would get you some get well soon flowers…”
As Riddle’s face showed his journey through the seven stages of grief, you tried your best to maintain your anxious expression.
“Ah… “ he seemed a bit lost for words. “ … That’s okay.”
“That’s okay?” you replied, breaking out into a smile.
“Yes,” he said awkwardly, “I don’t think that’ll hurt anyone.”
You couldn’t help contain your burst of excitement as your little plan worked.
“See? The old Riddle would’ve tried to collar me for that!” you cheered. “Little things that don’t hurt anyone are no big deal, y’know? Save the collars for the serious stuff?
He smiled a bit at your giddiness and then nodded in agreement before allowing you to help him to his feet.
After a short walk you arrived at the main building, and following a particularly arduous amount of hallways, you arrived at the infirmary.
“You don’t have to stay,” he said, trying to wriggle out of your firm hold.
“No, I’ll be here just in case,” you replied, not giving him an inch.
With a deep breath he pushed open the door and the doctor immediately had Riddle rest in a bed, signaling a chair nearby where you could sit. Since it was mainly making sure he was hydrating before resting for a while, you were allowed to stay. After a bit, you were left alone with Riddle.
“How are you feeling?” you asked, moving to put a hand on his forehead as you stood at his bedside, he didn’t feel too warm.
“Better than earlier,” he replied, sounding a lot better. Tired, but better.
“That’s great!” you smiled gently as you looked down at him, “I just wanted to remind me that you can always lean on me if you need it, and everyone else too! We’re keeping that magestone squeaky clean from now, alright? Consider that The Queen of Heart’s Rule #811, ‘Riddle must always share his burdens with his friends so he doesn’t lose his own head again.’”
That earned a bright laugh out of him, so you opened your arms and looked down at him expectantly as he opened his in response. You leaned down to gave him a hug and he clung to you tighter than expected. He said your name so faintly you could’ve missed it.
“Thank you,” he mumbled into your shoulder. “Thank you for everything you’ve said and done for me today.”
After a moment you released him, returning to your designated seat near his bed and smiling softly at him. You sat there and talked to him for a bit about this and that before soft snoring interrupted a ramble about one of Grim’s latest misadventures.
Quietly, you retrieved the flowers from earlier from the floor near your chair and placed them in the empty vase on the side table. You added water to both a glass for Riddle and the vase, feeling content as you gathered your things to leave.
“Good night, Riddle,” you said softly as you closed door to his room.
.
.
.
In the pale moonlight, Riddle awoke with a start, from what he could only assume was an awful nightmare. Panic rose in his chest when he realized he wasn’t in his room, until he saw his bedside table. He smiled gently at the roses that seemed to glow under the light streaming in from the window. They were a warm reminder of the kindness you showed him today, dissolving the rising panic within him as he remembered your gentle words.
The smile remained on his face as he drifted away into a peaceful sleep.