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Yuu stretched her arms upwards and yawned into the cold night air of Night Raven College. She had stayed behind in Heartslabyul to help clean up after one of Ace and Deuce’s mishaps, leading Riddle to chew them out. She cranked her neck, ready to head back to Ramshackle.
Yuu froze for a moment as she heard the crunch of the branch behind her, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't realized anyone had followed her here,
“Who’s there?” Yuu said, her guard fully up. But before she decided to run, a tall figure came out of the shadow. A figure with horns.
Slowly, hesitantly, she turned to face him, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear. As she took in his imposing figure, standing tall and regal even in the moonlight, Yuu felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She knew his reputation, knew that most people feared him, but still, the sight of him now, appearing so suddenly out of the shadows, was enough to make her take a small step back.
"I... I wasn't expecting to see anyone else out here," Yuu said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her arms instinctively went up to wrap around herself, as if trying to make herself smaller, less noticeable. "Especially not you, Malleus."
It must have been rude to follow where Yuu was going to go today; it even gnawed at Malleus' soul, but it didn't stop him. He followed from far away under the light of the moon, following almost like a beast. Step by step, he didn’t intend to catch the human's attention; all that would have been left would have been to teleport away from here, but Malleus didn't. He didn't want to lose his only friend.
"Ah… Forgive me, Yuu. I didn't mean to pretend to follow you; I just noticed you were going somewhere, and it just so happened that I followed you…” His eyes look towards his feet, his eyes casting an alluring glow in the night as he shyly asks, “While I'm here, can I join your company?”
He pauses. “Please?"
Despite her nerves, there was a gentle warmth in her eyes as she looked up at him, her head tilted slightly to the side. She could see the sincerity in his request, could sense that he wanted to spend time with her. And as much as Yuu wanted to refuse, to disappear into the shadows and be alone again, she found herself hesitating. Because as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, Yuu wasn't truly happy being alone all the time. She craved connection, even if she was too shy to admit it.
"I... I suppose it's alright," she said after a long moment, her voice still soft but a little stronger than before. "I don't usually have company out here, but... I don't mind if you want to join me."
With that, Yuu took a deep breath and stepped closer to him, her arms still wrapped around herself. She looked down at the ground for a moment before glancing back up at him with a small, hesitant smile.
"Just... just don't expect me to be terrific company. I'm not used to having people around, especially not..." She trailed off, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks as she realized the implications of what she was about to say. "Especially not someone like you, Malleus."
Malleus felt relief wash over him as Yuu agreed to let him join her. He couldn't quite believe it, but here she was, standing before him with a tentative smile on her face, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. And at that moment, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"Thank you, Yuu," he said, his deep voice breaking the quiet of the night. "I won't take up too much of your time, just until we get to Ramshackle."
As they began to walk together towards the Ramshackle dorm, Malleus found himself stealing glances at Yuu. Her hair, draped over her collarbone, caught the moonlight in a way that made it shimmer. And those eyes…
The night was cool but not unpleasantly so. The forest around them seemed to come alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, their songs and calls a symphony in the darkness. Malleus could navigate the path with ease, his fae eyes allowing him to see even in the dim light.
As they walked, Malleus tried to think of something to say, something to break the silence. But he found himself at a loss for words, not used to having to make conversation with others. Finally, he settled on a question that had been on his mind.
"Do you come out here often, Yuu?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light and casual. "I can't imagine many people would want to wander around in a place like this at night."
Malleus could feel the weight of his presence, the aura that normally kept people at bay. But with Yuu, it seemed different. She didn't seem afraid of him, not like the others. And that made Malleus feel... hopeful. Hopeful for a chance to connect, to be seen as more than just the feared and respected Crown Prince of Briar Valley.
"Only as a shortcut. But it's nice, I don't usually go out at night, though. I only got back because I had to help Ace and Deuce at Heartslabyul."
Malleus nodded slowly as Yuu explained her reason for being there that night. A shortcut, she said. It made sense, given the location of the Ramshackle dorm and the fact that she preferred to keep to herself. He could understand wanting to avoid the longer, more populated routes.
"Ah, I see," Malleus replied, his voice a low rumble in the quiet night air. "I don't blame you. The front route can be... noisy, at times. Too many people, too much chaos."
He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "But you're right, there is a certain peace to be found out here at night. A solitude that's hard to come by in the dorms."
As they continued to walk, Malleus found his gaze drawn to Yuu again and again. The way her hair swayed with each step, the way her eyes reflected the moonlight as she looked around, taking in the nighttime forest. He wanted to know more about her, to understand the sadness he sensed lurking beneath her gentle exterior.
"Why do you prefer to be alone so often, Yuu?" Malleus asked, his tone soft and genuinely curious. "Not that I don't enjoy your company now, of course. But... I can't help but feel like there's more to it than just a preference for solitude."
He kept his gaze fixed ahead as he spoke, not wanting to make her uncomfortable with too much direct eye contact. But he could feel the weight of her presence beside him, could sense the subtle way she tensed at his question.
"I only ask because... well, I suppose I'm curious. And I want to understand you better." Malleus added the last part softly, hoping she would know that his interest was genuine and not just idle curiosity.
Yuu stopped in his tracks, and she looked at him dead in the eyes. Mallleus could feel the gust of cold wind behind him, but he didn’t feel the chill from the wind but from Yuu's eyes alone.
“What about yourself, Malleus?”
Yuu's voice was soft but steady as she met Malleus's gaze, her eyes glinting with a sudden intensity in the moonlight. She had a point, and Malleus knew it. Here he was, prying into her personal life and feelings, when he himself is a mystery to most of the students at Night Raven College.
He looked down for a moment, his long dark lashes casting shadows on his pale cheeks. When he glanced back up at Yuu, there was a new vulnerability in his green eyes, a rare glimpse behind the intimidating facade.
“Yuu i—”
“We’re here.”
Malleus blinks and looks up behind Yuu. Ramshackle dorm.
“Thank you, Malleus, for walking me home. But we can end our walk here. Goodnight.”
Before Malleus could even say anything, Yuu had already left him there. He watched as her figure grew more distant before he couldn’t see her anymore. He slumped down against a tree and sighed. '𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵…’
Yuu hurried up the steps to the ramshackle dorm, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe she had just left Malleus standing there like that, but the intensity of his gaze, the vulnerability in his eyes, had caught her off guard. It was a side of him she had never seen before, and it both frightened and intrigued her.
As she reached the safety of her room, Yuu leaned against the door and let out a shaky breath. She looked around at the familiar chaos of her space - the piles of plushies cluttering every surface, the oversized clothes draped over furniture. Normally, it brought her a sense of comfort and security, but now it just felt... empty.
Yuu's mind raced as she replayed the conversation with Malleus in her head. His question lingered, haunting her thoughts. Why did she prefer to be alone so often? It was a question she had asked herself countless times but had never dared to answer out loud. Because the truth was too painful, too shameful to admit.
With a heavy sigh, Yuu began to strip off her uniform, letting it fall to the floor as she made her way to her bed, now just wearing an oversized shirt that hung loosely off her frame. She climbed under the covers, surrounding herself with the soft, familiar weight of her plushies. But no matter how many she hugged close, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her stomach.
Yuu closed her eyes, trying to block out the swirling thoughts and emotions. But all she could see was Malleus's face, those piercing green eyes boring into her soul. She had seen the real him tonight, the part of him that wasn't just the feared and respected Crown Prince. And it made her feel things she had never allowed herself to feel before.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as Yuu buried her face in the soft fur of her favorite teddy bear. She didn't know what to make of her reaction to Malleus, but she knew one thing for certain - she couldn't let herself get too close. Because if she did, she might just shatter completely. And right now, in the darkness of her room, Yuu didn't know if she had the strength to put herself back together again.
—
The next morning, Yuu groggily woke up. She rubbed her eyes sleepily as she shuffled into the living room, still in her oversized shirt and a pair of ratty pajama pants. Her hair was a wild mess of tangles from a restless night's sleep. She blinked in the morning light streaming through the window, trying to get her bearings.
"Morning, Grim," Yuu mumbled, her voice hoarse from sleep. She scratched her arm absently as she made her way to the kitchen counter, where Grim was indeed sitting and munching on a bowl of cereal.
Yuu felt a pang of jealousy seeing Grim so casual and at home in her space. She couldn't help but wonder if Malleus had made it back to his dorm safely last night after she had abruptly left him. The memory of their intense conversation lingered, making her feel flustered and off-balance.
"Is there any cereal left?" Yuu asked, trying to focus on something, anything, other than the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She opened the cabinet, peering inside to check the shelves. The thought of facing potentially running into Malleus again filled her with a mix of anxiety and something she was hesitant to name.
Yuu knew she needed to push away the thoughts of Malleus, to retreat into her shell of solitude and isolation. It was what she knew, what she was used to. But after last night, after seeing a glimpse of the real Malleus beneath the fearsome exterior, Yuu couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity, of longing for something more.
Shaking her head, Yuu tried to dispel the thoughts. She couldn't afford to let herself get caught up in such things. With a sigh, she grabbed the cereal box and a clean bowl, pouring herself a serving of the sugary flakes. As the milk swirled and settled, Yuu couldn't help but space out. Had she been too rude to him? After all, he was still a housewarden, her senior, and a crown prince.
As she stared intently at her bowl of cereal, Grim munched, “Oy, you humans eat with your mouth, right?”
Yuu almost choked on her cereal at Grim's sudden comment, a blush rising to her cheeks. She swallowed hard before responding, still not quite meeting the cat's fiery gaze.
"Y-yes, of course we do, Grim," Yuu said softly, poking at her cereal with her spoon. "I'm eating with my mouth right now. Why do you ask?"
She couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious under the cat's scrutiny, acutely aware of every slurp and crunch of her breakfast. It was a reminder that even in her most unguarded moments, she wasn't truly alone.
Yuu shifted in her seat, tugging at the hem of her oversized shirt. "Is there something wrong with how I'm eating? I've been doing it this way my whole life." She tried for a note of levity, but it came out sounding more defensive than she intended.
Grim shrugged. “You’re burning holes through that bowl. I thought you were feeding off of its energy.”
Yuu blinked, and then she laughed, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease slightly. Leave it to the sarcastic cat to lighten the mood with a silly joke. She stuck her tongue out at him teasingly.
"Very funny, Grim," Yuu retorted, but there was a warmth in her voice that belied her words. "I think my spoon is doing just fine, thank you."
As she spoke, Yuu couldn't help but think back to last night's walk with Malleus. The way he had looked at her, the vulnerability in his eyes... it was hard to believe it had actually happened. But the memory lingered, a phantom touch that made her skin tingle beneath her shirt sleeves.
Shaking her head, Yuu tried to focus back on her breakfast, but her appetite had waned. She set her spoon down with a small clink against the ceramic bowl, her mind drifting to the day ahead.
Yuu sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. She knew she needed to get ready for school, but the thought of leaving the safety of her room filled her with dread. Because out there, in the halls of Night Raven College, Malleus was waiting. And Yuu didn't know if she was ready to face the feelings he stirred up inside her. Feelings she had never allowed herself to have before.
—
Yuu went about her day at Night Raven College as she normally would, trying her best to maintain her usual routine and keep a low profile. She attended her classes, took notes, and answered questions when called upon. Nothing unusual, and it helped her relax more.
During lunch, Yuu sat alone in her usual spot in the cafeteria, picking at her food without much appetite. She sighed softly, doodling in the margins of her notebook as she lost herself in thought. She closed her eyes as she laid her head down on her arms. Wanting to take a quick nap.
But her eyes suddenly opened when she felt something landing on top of her nose. A firefly?
Yuu blinked in surprise, startling her out of her attempted nap. She sat up quickly, her heart already racing from the unexpected contact. As she did, she noticed the warm glow of more fireflies flickering around her, their tiny lights illuminating the dimly lit study room.
Rubbing her eyes, Yuu looked around in confusion, trying to find the source of the sudden firefly invasion. That's when she spotted a small note tucked beside her notebook, a note that certainly hadn't been there before.
With trembling fingers, Yuu reached out and picked up the note, her eyes widening as she read the concise message scrawled on the paper in elegant, bold handwriting. "Come see me the same at yesterday's place."
A mix of emotions swirled inside Yuu - anxiety, curiosity, and a flicker of excitement she couldn't quite suppress. A part of her wanted to crumple up the note and pretend she had never seen it, to retreat into the safety of her solitude. But another part of her, a part she had long suppressed, yearned to follow the instruction. To see Malleus again. To talk to him. To... connect with him.
Yuu took a shaky breath, her mind racing as she tried to decide what to do. She knew she should say no, should ignore the note and the fireflies and the way her heart was pounding in her chest. But as she sat there, surrounded by the soft glow of the fireflies, Yuu found herself standing up, tucking the note into her pocket, and making her way towards the door.
She didn't know what would happen when she met Malleus, didn't know if she was ready to confront the feelings he stirred up inside her. But one thing was certain - she couldn't ignore the pull she felt towards him, the inexplicable connection that seemed to draw her in like a moth to a flame.
With a determined nod, Yuu made her way across the campus, the fireflies dancing around her like a secret escort. She kept to the shadows, not wanting to draw attention to herself as she wound her way through the familiar paths. The warm glow of the fireflies illuminated the ground, a mesmerizing trail leading her toward the same place she and Malleus had walked last night.
As she approached the grove of trees where they had spoken, Yuu hesitated, her hand hovering over a gnarled branch. She could see Malleus standing there, his tall frame silhouetted against the fading light. He stood with his back to her, but she could sense the power and intensity radiating from him, as if the very air around him crackled with energy.
Taking a deep breath, Yuu stepped forward, her footsteps soft and tentative on the forest floor. "Malleus?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. "I got your note. And the fireflies... how did you do that?"
Malleus turned to face her, his green eyes glinting in the dappled light. A small smile played at the corners of his mouth as he took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them. "I'm glad you came," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Yuu's spine. "I wasn't sure if you would."
He paused, studying her face as if trying to read her thoughts, her feelings. "As for the fireflies, let's just say I have my ways," he added with a shrug, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "But more importantly, I wanted to see you again, Yuu. To talk to you. To... understand you better."
Yuu's breath caught in her throat as Malleus drew closer, his presence both intimidating and alluring. She knew she should be afraid, should feel the same fear and unease that everyone else at the college did. But instead, she felt a strange sense of anticipation, a flicker of excitement that made her heart race. Yuu swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. "Why?" she asked, her eyes searching his. "Why do you want to understand me, Malleus? No one else has ever cared enough to try."
It was a vulnerable admission, one that exposed a piece of her soul she had long kept hidden. But as she stood there, batIt was a vulnerable admission, one that exposed a piece of her soul she had long kept hidden. But as she stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the fireflies, Yuu found herself wanting to open up to Malleus, to share parts of herself she had never revealed to anyone before.
Malleus's eyes softened at her words, and he took another step closer, now standing mere inches from her. He reached out his hand, and Yuu looked at it. “Come with me.” he says.
Yuu looked into his eyes, soft and gentle. And that’s all she needs to put her own hand on top of his and let him lead her. The fireflies seemed to illuminate their path, their soft glow casting a mesmerizing dance on the ground and the surrounding foliage. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew denser, the branches intertwining overhead to form a natural canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight.
After a while, the trees began to thin out, and Yuu found herself staring in awe at the sight before her. The ruins of an old castle loomed ahead, the once grand structure now nothing more than a crumbling shell, reclaimed by nature. Vines and moss crept up the cracked stone walls, and trees had taken root in the broken windows and collapsed roofs.
Malleus led her towards the ruins, his hand never leaving her hip as he guided her over the uneven ground. As they approached the entrance, he turned to face her, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.
"This is a ruin of an old royal castle. The remnants of it are a testament to how long it has been abandoned," Malleus explained, gesturing to the dilapidated structure. "I found it while on one of my escapades during club hours."
He started to walk, and Yuu followed close behind, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. The air was musty and thick with the scent of old stone and decaying wood and mossy walls.
"When I was little, I used to imagine it," Malleus continued, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "running through the halls, pretending to be a knight or a hero, fighting off imaginary dragons and monsters."
He turned to face Yuu, a wistful smile on his face. "But as I got older, I realized that the real world was not as simple or kind as the stories. People feared me, not because of my bravery or my skills, but because of the power I possessed."
"I suppose I've always been... different. A fae, an outsider, even in my homeland of Briar Valley. I was raised in isolation, kept apart from most of society." Malleus paused, searching for the right words. "It's hard to form connections when people are afraid of you, when they see you as a threat rather than a person."
His gaze was steady on Yuu now, a silent plea for understanding in his eyes. "I've never been good at making friends, at being... social. I've been the Crown Prince, the powerful and feared one, for so long that I don't know how to be anything else. And yet... I want to try. With you, it feels different somehow."
Malleus fell silent then, leaving the confession hanging in the cool night air between them. He waited for Yuu's reaction, his heart beating a little faster in his chest. It was a strange feeling, opening up like this. But it was also... liberating. Because somehow, Malleus knew that Yuu would understand, would see the real him and not just the fearsome reputation.
Malleus's gaze turned distant for a moment as if lost in thought. Then he blinked, focusing back on Yuu. "But here... in this place... I can just be myself. I don't have to put on a show, don't have to be the crown prince or the powerful magician. I can just be Malleus," he finished softly, his eyes searching Yuu's as if trying to gauge her reaction. "And I want you to see that side of me, Yuu. The real me, without all the fear and the expectations."
Malleus's hand slid from her hip to the small of her back, guiding her deeper into the ruin. The air grew colder as they ventured further from the entrance, and Yuu found herself shivering slightly, whether from the chill or the intensity of Malleus's presence, she wasn't sure.
"I know this place is a bit... eerie," Malleus admitted, glancing around at the crumbling walls and the shadows that seemed to lurk in every corner. "But there's a certain beauty to it too. A raw, untamed beauty that reminds me of the wild magic that flows through my veins."
He turned to face Yuu, his green eyes glinting in the dim light. "And I wanted to share it with you. I wanted you to see this part of me, Yuu. The part that craves freedom, that chafes against the expectations and restrictions placed upon me since birth."
Malleus's hand tightened slightly on her back, pulling her just a bit closer. "Tell me, Yuu," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in the quiet of the ruin, "what do you think of this place? And... what do you think of me when I'm like this? When I'm just Malleus, not the crown prince or the feared magician?"
His words were like a soothing balm to Yuu's battered soul. No one had ever seen her like that before, had never bothered to look beyond the walls she had built around herself. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she gazed up at Malleus, her heart swelling with a mix of emotion she couldn't quite name.
"I... I don't know what to say," Yuu whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "No one has ever wanted to understand me before. They all see me as just a loner, a freak. But you... you're different."
Malleus smiled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "And so are you, Yuu. You're not a freak. You're a survivor. And I want to help you, if you'll let me."
He held out his hand to her, a silent invitation. Yuu hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. Then, with a deep breath, she placed her hand in his, feeling the strength and warmth of his fingers curling around hers.
"Okay," she whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'll try, Malleus. I'll try to let you in."
And there, at that moment, their walls shattered against each other. Letting the silent warmth envelop them and their heartbeat become one. Because they knew that no matter what, here with each other. They will always be accepted.