Chapter Text
Floyd flitted about the lounge like a toddler given caffeine and sugar for the first time. His nervous energy was off the charts, as he dashed around beginning one task before dropping it in favor of another, only to sigh yet again when he’d seen only 5 minutes had passed. “Someone’s cast a spell on me I’m sure of it,” he growled in frustration.
“A love spell maybe.” Jade teased as he followed his brother around righting the chaos he was causing. Normally he’d be more reprimanding of Floyd’s behavior but the cause of his erratic state was also the reason on the whole Floyd’s mood and behavior had improved dramatically. One Riddle Rosehearts.
“Bah!” Floyd scoffed before giving up on his search for a distraction and flopping dramatically on one of the couches. “He said he’d at least try and contact me. But I ain’t heard a single word the whole two weeks.”
Today was the day the students were supposed to return from winter break and Riddle, Floyd’s boyfriend had went home with conviction to talk to his mother, not only about her treatment of him but about his relationship with the Eel. Floyd had been a nervous wreck the entire break, checking his phone at every given opportunity. No messages had come through. Jade and Azul both knew it hadn’t been a good sign. Every time they tried to comfort the twin though, had been rebuffed with a “Goldfishie probably just got really busy, you know how his mom is….”
They all knew what Riddle’s mom was like that was the problem.
A chime sounded signaling the noon hour and Floyd bolted upright. He didn’t even bother to address Jade or Azul who had just entered the room and bolted to the mirror. The gate had been open and soon students would be pouring in. Azul looked to Jade and crossed his arms. “We should probably follow him.”
Jade sighed and put down the rag he’d been using to dust the tables. “I’m just hoping for the best.”
Floyd bounded into the mirror room, and then flopped against the wall. And waited, and waited and waited. Nothing was said as he was flanked by Jade and Azul. Their dorm leader took a moment to greet those he deemed important enough to welcome back. Most were smart enough not to question the Octavinelle leader and his companions. Riddle and Floyd were hardly a secret.
Still, as the hours passed Floyd felt like he wanted to bang his head against the wall. “Hi-yo!” Cater waved to the group with a smile on his face but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I take it since you’re here, Riddle’s not back yet”
Floyd just grunted pulling his fedora down to cover his eyes.
It was Jade however that answered the question. “Riddle has regrettably yet to return. Did you hear from him over break?”
Cater frowned a bit. “No.” he shook his head. “I talked to Trey some but he hadn’t heard anything either. But that was two days ago.”
“They share a hometown correct?” Azul asked adjusting his glasses.
The ginger nodded. “Yeah. Figure if anyone other than you guys had heard a thing it would be him. But hopefully, they’ll both be here soon. Mind if I wait with ya?”
“Do you what you want,” Floyd growled out before turning to kick the wall. With the others around him flinching and a few passing students spared him a glance, no one reprimanded the eel for his behavior.
“I’m sure Riddle’s fine. You know how his mother is, she’s going to control everything as long as she can.” Jade tried to reassure his brother.
“I’d been waiting until he returned to see how his visit went to bring it up,” Azul spoke trying to adjust his glasses. Trying to calm the twin. “But I’ve been reading up on legal emancipation.”
“E-man-c-what?” Floyd leveled a stare at his boss.
“Emancipation.” Azul reiterated. “Before our jaunt to Scarabia, I had been spending my free time during our winter holiday looking up ways for Riddle to legally separate from his family.”
“You can do that?” Cater asked in surprise.
“You can under the right conditions.” Azul leaned on his cane. “Rules vary from kingdom to kingdom so I had to look into the rules that govern the Queendom of the Rose. They were…quite eccentric and extensive,” he explained. “But I believe I may have found a proper path forward for him….if this trip home went as poorly as you fear.”
“Really he can like divorce his mom?” Floyd kind of perked up a bit at the news.
“I suppose it is like a divorce in a way.” Azul smiled glad to have caused the other some relief.
“Good, Goldfishie~ can divorce his mom and marry me,” Floyd smirked a bit.
“Please don’t phrase it that way. That…that sound so wrong.” Cater had to stifle his own laugh. He had to admit at least he liked the idea.
The swirling sound that someone had activated the mirror caught the group’s attention as they turned to find Trey stepping through. “Hey man!” Cater waved. “Have you-” the words died in his throat as he could see the red tear-stained face of his best friend.
Trey brought his arms up to wrap around himself, though he could barely meet the gaze of the others. In flash he found himself shoved up against a wall by and nearly manic Floyd. “What is it sea turtle. Out with it.”
“Floyd!” Jade cried out trying to pull his brother off the other boy who was clearly in distress.
“It’s…It’s Riddle.” Trey covered his face. “He’s…he’s not coming.” he choked out a bit.
“What…” Floyd backed away in shock.
“Trey what do you mean.” Cater ran up as panic rose in him. “Why isn’t Riddle coming.”
“I…went to his house. To see if we could at least head back to school together. He’d been silent all break I knew what he was trying to do.” Trey closed his eyes “When I got there…” he took a deep breath as 4 sets of eyes bore down on him. “The place was roped off like a crime scene….no it WAS a crime scene. Riddle’s mom…..she.” he couldn’t even say it.
Floyd was already heading towards the mirror. “Wait!” Jade chased after him.
“No, I’m gonna go find Goldfishie and drag him back myself,” Floyd growled out.
“He’s in the hospital, Floyd. His mom…she tried to kill him when she found out.” Trey called out trembling as the Eel stopped in his tracks.
“Where….” was all Floyd managed.
“I couldn’t get that information.” Trey hung his shoulders. “They wouldn’t tell me anything. *Pending investigation* . ” The tear-stained boy replied “I…kind of had to break into his house and access the security footage to even know what happened. And I wish I hadn’t.” He was pretty sure the image of Mrs. Rosehearts beating Riddle with an iron poker from the fireplace would be engraved in his brain for all eternity. There had been so much screaming, so much blood and she hadn’t even stopped when her son lay motionless. It had taken the boy’s father to discover what happened and pull her away from the limp body for her rampage to stop.
“Do … do you know if he’s…?” Tears had welled up in Cater’s eyes. Not able to bring himself to say still alive.
“The officer took pity on me and let me know he was still alive, but in the ICU. He said he can’t share more for Riddle’s own safety.” Trey rubbed his eyes. His glasses long since shoved out of the way on the top of his head.
“I’ll squeeze those stupid officers till they let me see him.” Floyd spat back as he renewed his walk towards the portal.
“Floyd wait!” It was Azul’s turn to call out as he swept forward and put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let me handle this. It wouldn’t do good for you to threaten the officers and have them think you’re a violent threat to Riddle now would it.”
The Eel closed his eyes as he growled. He hated the fact Azul was right. He had to curb his temper for Riddle’s sake. “Fine. But let's go now,” he spoke through gritted teeth.
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It had taken Jade using his unique magic on the officer for him to reveal Riddle’s location in the end. And that had been to stop Floyd from grabbing the man by the collar and being charged with assaulting a police officer.
So now they were standing in front of a receptionist at the hospital. Riddle was marked as no contact. She couldn’t even verify that he was there. Floyd long beyond his limit was about to reach out and strangle a woman when Azul pushed forward and shoved a document down on her desk. “While I never even imagined this scenario, before he left I had Riddle Rosehearts fill out some paperwork. Which included a Power of Attorney in case he wasn’t able to speak for himself. I had intended to use it to apply for Emancipation paperwork on his behalf, But it should serve us in this scenario.”
“I’m afraid as the fact that Mr. Rosehearts is a minor. He was not legally able to sign such an agreement.” The nurse replied. It had been as far as he’d gotten with the officer too when Jade stepped in and took care of the situation before Floyd exploded but now, would require a bit more finesse. Simply knowing where he was wouldn’t allow them to stay or even see him.
“Ah, but you see. Normally that would be the case. But as Dorm Head of Heartslabyul at Night Raven College, the rules give him the authority to step in on legal matters and make decisions for members of the Heartslabyul Dorm if there is no otherwise available consenting party for that student. That would include himself. And as you see here, his mother nor his father were available at the time when the paperwork was signed. “ Azul had studied up on this thoroughly knowing how the Queendom of Hearts was on their rules.
“The contract was signed at 3 in the morning.” The woman stared up at him.
“The rules don’t specify a time limit. That would be disastrous if a student had a medical emergency in the middle of the night and needed consent for treatment.” Azul pointed out adjusting his glasses. He’d made sure to cross all his t’s and dot all his i’s.
The woman’s lips pressed into a thin line.
She glanced over the document, sneering as she scrutinized it for loopholes. Azul stood patiently as Floyd strained against the grip his twin had on his shoulder. Finally, he snapped at her “Let me see my goldfish!” he screamed as tears leaked from his eyes.
The women’s eyes narrowed. Before she handed back the paperwork to Azul. “Get him under control, or Power of Attorney or no, we have security ask you to leave.” quickly she scribbled down a room number to Azul. “He’s in the ICU and only allowed two visitors at a time.”
“Thank you My lady for your cooperation.” Azul bowed before turning to the group. “Floyd come with me. The rest of you stay in the waiting room. I’ll make sure to speak with the doctor and let them know you’re all on his approved guest list then come back down and either Trey or Cater can take my place.”
“I can’t believe you had the forethought for this.” Trey sighed as his shoulders relaxed a bit. “But I’m glad you did, thank you.”
“You can go up next.” Cater insisted, looking at Trey. He would be alright just knowing Riddle was ok.
“Less talking.” Floyd crossed his arms.
“Right let's go.” Azul turned and headed towards the elevator, as Jade, Trey, and Cater headed to take a seat in the waiting room.
Honestly, the rest was a blur for the Eel as Azul explained the situation to the nurse on the floor, as he went room to room looking for the number 8037. There had been enough standing between him and his boyfriend. However, when he reached the room and gazed through the window in the door his heart stopped.
There just as he logically knew would be, laid Riddle. He was wrapped in bandages, with so many machines attached to him. The breathing tube scared the Leech twin more than he could admit. A tube shoved down his goldfishie’s throat? Overall he looked so small and helpless, his skin once vibrant and healthy looked pale and sickly, the little bit he could see beneath the gauze anyway.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, as Azul nearly whispered “Are you all right Floyd?”
“I...I’m not the one in a fucking hospital bed now am I?” The Eel snapped before wiping his eyes.
Azul just squeezed his shoulder and reached down opening up the door. “Go have a seat. The nurse said she’s send the doctor in for a full report soon. ”
Floyd shuffled into the room and flung himself into a chair next to Riddle’s bed. The urge to crawl up beside him and just hold him was strong, But with as fragile as the boy in the bed looked he was afraid to hurt him if he tried. Instead, he slipped his hand into the bandaged one of Riddle’s and laid his head down to stare at him. He had to admit it felt weird. It had been a long time since he’d slipped his hand into the redhead’s and not have the other one link their fingers together and squeeze. His limp hand helped to drive home just how bad it was, as the heart monitor beside him steadily beeped away.
Azul leaned against the wall, looking out the window with heavy eyes. He and Riddle had secretly planned for several different scenarios and how to navigate them before he’d gone back home. His heart had gone out to the other boy. While he had his own issues with his parents, mostly brought on by how little he saw them growing up due to their respective careers, they’d always loved and supported him. The idea of going home with an ‘exit strategy’ had been so foreign to him that he’d had to ask Riddle to repeat himself.
Yet when the redhead that had stolen Floyd’s heart had asked, he nodded. Asking for something trivial in return for his contract. (A supply of tarts from Heartslabyul for the lounge) and had dove into the project. Thankfully he’d gotten most of the work done when Ramshackle’s Dormlead had tumbled into the Monstro Lounge, needing help with Scarabia, Overall, he was beginning to feel like a charitable organization, but honestly, with all he’d put both the prefect and everyone else through he felt he owed them something. Though neither he nor Riddle could have foreseen a future where his own mother would try and kill him.
It had felt good actually being able to truly help someone. That feeling had lasted until he’d walked in and seen Riddle motionless on the bed, the anguish on his friend’s normally laissez-faire face. Suddenly he was back to his childhood self, powerless to do anything.
No that wasn’t entirely true, he’d managed to get them this far. Get Floyd in the room with the other boy. But still, it felt lacking.
He owed Jade and Floyd….everything really.
Azul’s train of thought however was interrupted as the door creaked open and in walked a middle-aged man with greying hair. “Hello” he spoke softly as he stepped in. “I’m Doctor Thorn and I’ve been taking care of Mr. Rosehearts here. I had been told he wouldn’t be receiving visitors, but I’m glad to see that's changed.”
“Thank you.” Azul nodded, though Floyd didn’t even acknowledge him. “I’m Azul Ashengrotto, Riddle’s power of attorney. The one at his bedside is Riddle’s boyfriend.” the would feel almost wrong on his tongue to describe what the two meant to each other, but it would have to due for now. “Feel free to discuss with either of us his condition. We are actually quite anxious to know.”
Doctor Thorn nodded, and Azul was thankful he seemed to be more receptive than the hospital’s receptionist had been. “Do you…know what happened?”
“We know his mother assaulted him when he returned home for Winter Break.” Azul offered
“I’ll be honest with you it's probably the most gruesome case I’ve seen in the last 10 years. I don’t say that to frighten you. But to make you aware of just how extensive his injuries are. Overall he sustained 73 fractures. 3 in his skull, his right hand was completely shattered. 7 ribs broken and both lungs punctured. Along with numerous other fractures, and contusions scattered across his body. He also lost a lot of blood. We’ve had to give him 10 units slowly since he’s been admitted.” Doctor Thorn spoke calmly as Azul’s fists closed in a tight grip. Floyd had still not looked at the doctor or acknowledged him but Azul could tell his body had stiffened.
“The good news is he should recover. Despite the fractures, he has not sustained any major brain injury. His spinal column remains intact. But otherwise, it's too early to tell what his recovery will look like even with magical assistance. Other than it will likely be long, and require a lot of therapy.” Azul noticed that the doctor hadn’t stated which kind of therapy but it was likely to be both physical and mental.
“Thank you, for everything Doctor Thorn.” Azul took a deep breath before looking at Floyd
The doctor’s gaze turned to the boy next to his patient and his features softened. “Normally visiting hours end at 8 pm. But I’ve found my patients tend to fare better when they have loved ones around. I’ll let the nurses know he’s an exception. If anything changes we’ll let you know immediately”
“Thank you, it's probably for the best anyway. I doubt we get him out of this room before Riddle wakes up.” Azul acknowledged. “I should head down now. We came with three others, and I need to let them know about his condition. Another of his friends will be taking my place.”
“Alright, if that's all then I have other patients I need to attend to. I do wish your friend the best recovery.” The doctor left as Azul headed to the door.
“Are you gonna be ok while I go?” Azul asked one last time, but not expecting a response.
“I’ll be fine,” Floyd muttered. “He said Goldfishie should recover. That's good enough for me. Now he just has to hurry up and wake up.” he punctuated by rubbing his thumb over Riddle’s palm.
“Alright. I’ll send Trey up after I fill them in with what happened ok?”Azul prodded one last time, but this time he was met with no response as he turned and let the door fall shut behind him.