#The fact that Lover's Oath is also called Guizhong's Lullaby makes me feel like Zhongli just passed his romance song onto his son

[it-happened-one-fic]

A Lover's Oath - Xiao

Author Notes: This one was largely inspired by the song "Lover's Oath" from the Genshin Impact OST and some of Xiao's voice lines which I used within the fic itself. Fun fact: The only place within Genshin Impact that plays "Lover's Oath" that I know of is when you meet Xiao. As usual the reader is gender-neutral.

Type: Fluff/romance implied/perhaps a dash of angst because its Xiao

Word count: 869

“If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door, call out my name. Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call.” 

They were words I would never forget. A solemn oath that was sure to catch one’s attention and stay in your memory for a lifetime. Perhaps that was why meeting Xiao was a memory that would last for longer than eternity. 

What’s more is that he upheld his promise. A promise that would be impossible for anyone else to keep. If I called for him he was sure to appear in the blink of an eye.

I looked out across the view of Liyue from Wangshu Inn, bathed in the light of the setting sun like it had been that day. That day when I’d first met the ancient being that sat next to me, gazing out across the same landscape that I looked at. The same landscape that he watched over in silent, solitary guardianship. My eyes flicked over to him as shared memories danced through my thoughts.

“I'm willing to protect you. But don't think about getting close, and stay out of my way, or all that awaits you is regret.” 

Such bitter words. But they were why I knew better than to voice my thoughts and affections for him. Xiao’s walls could come up frighteningly fast as he withdrew. Because he was always trying to protect me from himself in the same way he protected me from everything else.

Telling him that he reminded me of my very own guardian angel would only be met with a cold scoff. He more likely thought of himself as a demon trying to atone for the sins that haunted him. Sins he could never atone for even though it was an unjust burden.

And then he would tell me what he always did, “If a day comes where even you are taken by the darkness, it will be up to me. So do not fall prey to the darkness. I have no mercy.

Though perhaps you can stand your ground alone.”

He always looked away just as he finished, not able to meet my eyes when he admitted that I was capable of standing on my own two feet. It always made me wonder if he was afraid of being alone. He’d been alone for so long… And though I wasn’t always around, I liked to think that I eased his loneliness.

Even if he only wanted me to view him as a weapon…. After all that was what his promise was. One that he reminded me of every time I went away to handle a commission or explore some new area.

“I deal in death. If you cannot bring yourself to kill — speak my name.” 

The meaning behind his words was all too obvious and one that pained me whenever I remembered them.

Don’t forget me. And remember that I will always come when you call. Don’t sully your hands when mine are already too stained to ever be cleansed.

It was almost like a plea for help and swift refusal of assistance all at once. Don’t get too close or you’ll get hurt. These are my burdens, not yours. 

 I was accustomed to such thoughts myself, but thinking of him feeling that way…. Well, it was upsetting to say the least. After all, I had learned to accept help. I’d been forced to. Being an adventurer wasn’t always easy. Especially with the Abyss order constantly lurking around every corner.

I looked over at Xiao once more, studying his profile that was shadowed in the dusk of the day’s slow death. Would he ever learn to accept other’s help?

He met my gaze, a solemn look on his face as we silently looked towards each other. Understanding the other’s thoughts without saying anything. It was there, in his golden eyes. The quiet request for me to withdraw. To distance myself from his cursed self. 

I didn’t get to refuse his silent request though as he sighed and began to speak, possibly more to himself than to me, “It's too late. The connection between us is too strong. Even if you wanted to, it's too late to sever it.” 

He paused, his eyebrows arching at my speedy headshake, “Hm? You've never thought to sever it?” I smiled at his correct assumption but that just seemed to exhaust him more as he sighed, a sound of long suffering.

“This eternal dance of demon subjugation... My fight goes on. But I would like to know more about you.” His eyes flicked around, looking at me one second and looking away the next. Almost like he really didn’t know where to look.

I felt my smile widening as I reached out and took his hand, “So you’ll come with me to the lantern festival this year?”

He looked down at our tentatively interlocked hands and flipped his palm over, returning my grip with a gentle squeeze as the faintest of smiles spread across his face. “As If I could refuse. All you need to do is call and I’ll come…. Even if it is something inconsequential.”

[it-happened-one-fic]

I posted 52 times in 2022

That's 52 more posts than 2021!

41 posts created (79%)

11 posts reblogged (21%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@thegoldenshi-shi

@traumxrei-archive

@zgvlt

@welshoot

@shyspider

I tagged 44 of my posts in 2022

Only 15% of my posts had no tags

#mywritings - 25 posts

#fluff - 24 posts

#twisted wonderland x reader - 21 posts

#fanfiction - 20 posts

#twisted wonderland x y/n - 18 posts

#twisted wonderland imagines - 18 posts

#twst x reader - 17 posts

#twisted wonderland x you - 17 posts

#twst - 17 posts

#disney tw - 15 posts

Longest Tag: 129 characters

#the fact that lover's oath is also called guizhong's lullaby makes me feel like zhongli just passed his romance song onto his son

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

How Terrifying Pirates Can Be - Leona

Author Notes: this is probably going to be my last Halloween fic for the simply because I am out of ideas. This is my first Leona fic though! Reader is gender-neutral as always.

Type: fluff/romance hinted

Word Count: 1018

Green eyes lazily followed your motions as you slid through the crowd of tourists and Savannaclaw students with only a little difficulty.Leona watched as a smile graced your features when you started to go past Jack, throwing a tiny wave the freshman’s way. Your smile grew slightly at Jack’s awkward acting as he determinedly stuck to his role of a ghost pirate. 

You pointedly ignored Grim’s jabs at the freshman and patted Jack on the shoulder affectionately. After only a brief moment you continued on, cat by your side as you made your way to the ship itself.

Leona felt an amused smirk curl across his face when you hesitated in front of the gaping hole in the side of the ship’s hull. Tilting your head back, you looked up at the gargantuan construction, entirely missing the beastman who lounged upon the deck, looking down at you.

 Your eyes were wide with slight awe before you looked back ahead towards the hole. Leona watched, slightly curious as you stepped forward on the false coins that slid slightly under your feet. 

Despite the treacherous footing you didn’t slip or go down, instead you peered inside. Still hesitant about taking that first step into the practically perfect rendering of a wrecked pirate’s ship.

Your hesitancy paid off as you were easily able to jerk back, eyes going comically wide when Ruggie jumped out from the recesses and shouted at you. The hyena’s signature laughter filled the air as you playfully swatted at him. 

After a brief moment Ruggie stepped back, removing his hat and pressing it against his chest as he mockingly bowed and gestured for you to enter the boat. With an amused eye roll you stepped forward, no longer hesitant and Leona felt his smile grow.

Halloween had never been particularly entertaining to the prince, but this year…. 

Leona pushed himself upright up on deck and began to make his way into the depths of the ship. The idea of startling you.… There was a certain charm to it.

What had promised to be a dull evening mere moments ago had now changed. Morphing into something far more intriguing as soon as you’d stepped forward. Especially since you were the only herbivore who’d been brave enough to come this far into his current domain. 

Most of the stamp-claimers stopped early, either assuming the ship was merely a decoration or feeling too afraid to continue forward. It was either that or they were those pesky ones who grabbed at everything and took unwanted pictures. His job was either easy, if a bit boring, or a complete nuisance.

He slunk through the darkness, ears twitching and picking up every noise within the false ship. Every creaky board, every groaning door, and every slide of the fake coins upon which you stepped.

He stopped, leaning against the wall to wait. From his location he could both watch and listen to your progress.

There was no reward for exploring the ship, but Jack had been meticulous in the ship’s construction. The freshman had been insistent that it should reflect the pirate ship from those books he read in his youth. 

Convincing Jack that having someone ‘haunt’ the interior was a good idea wasn’t hard, but Leona had not expected anyone to actually venture very far into the boat.

But he couldn’t say he was disappointed as he watched you cautiously brush some frayed, moth-eaten fabric aside.

What had been boring and a waste of time became a delight as he watched you glance suspiciously around. Grim, bolder than you, stepped forward and triggered the trap that Ruggie had placed. The fabric you’d just pushed out of your way fell down and landed on the cat who yowled and took off in the opposite direction. He would be back outside where Ruggie could laugh at him in no time.

Your eyes were wide as you whirled, calling out after your cat. After a brief moment you recovered, snorting to yourself before turning back forwards with an amused grin and venturing onwards.

Leona huffed out an almost silent laugh at your amusement before shifting, slinking into the perfect area to await his prey. 

The door to the stateroom creaked open, revealing you standing there and looking around. You didn’t look as nervous now. Instead you glanced around the room with an admiring gaze, seemingly impressed with the work that had gone into its construction.

You stepped forward, foot tapping almost silently against the stained wood beneath you as you ventured deeper into the room, unaware of Leona’s presence.

It wasn’t till you were fully in the room and approaching the large derelict desk that the door swung shut behind you with a resolute bang. You jumped, whirling with wide eyes to see that the large door was now sealed with a single hand planted on its surface. Green eyes peered out at you from the shadows.

 Leona’s smug grin was fully on display as he shoved off the wall, his hand leaving the door as he pushed himself forward and towards you.

You stepped backwards with only one foot before stopping yourself. Shock bled away from your eyes and you let out a relieved chuckle as you recognized the young man in front of you, “Leona… it’s you.”

“Not scared?” Leona sauntered forwards, beginning to circle you as if you were prey. 

His grin only grew when you snorted, evidently unimpressed by his actions or tone since you didn’t even bother to turn to keep him in your vision. Instead, you stayed in place, “Hardly.”

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318 notes - Posted October 14, 2022

#4

A Lifelong Love

Author Notes: I wanted to write Idia but wow, is he hard. I actually wrote this while listening to Kenny Rogers "Lady" but it really doesn't fit the song very well and is also gender-neutral. This fic takes place briefly after the Ghost Marriage event.

Type: Comfort/fluff/romance hinted

Word Count: 1663

I blinked up at the Idia who was standing in the middle of the cafeteria dressed to the nines. Of course, he was supposed to have filled the role of groom in the ghostly wedding that had just taken place, but still. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him look like this.

He twitched, looking up at me from where he stood beside the now abandoned altar that had been made especially for the wedding, “Wh- What are you staring at?”

I blinked in quiet surprise at his stuttered question before vaguely gesturing to his current clothes. I could only wonder as to how the ghosts had gotten him into his outfit. He looked down and made a rather moody expression “Is my outfit that strange?”

His question was rhetorical, logically I realized that. But I found myself answering him nonetheless and drawing his attention back to me, “Well… Yeah. It’s not everyday I see someone dressed up as a groom.” Much less one quite so pretty….

I don’t know how I’d missed it till now but Idia was quite attractive. One of the prettier boys at this school of handsome young men even. 

My explanation for my stare did little to calm him though. In fact it just caused him to make a desperate shooing motion, “I���m not on exhibition y’know! Shoo, leave!” 

I did not go ‘shoo’ though. Instead I stood and stared some more as his hair changed from a pale glowing blue to a radiant pink color. A pink that matched the flushed color of his face quite well.

I felt myself slowly starting to grin at his embarrassment, but rather than teasing him I merely shook my head, “Actually I need to clean this place up. Crowley’ll bug me endlessly if I don't and tomorrow it’ll be needed.” 

His hands, that had already been tangled in his long hair, seemed to clench the glowing strands tighter at the revelation that I was not, in fact, leaving. He was mumbling something incomprehensible to himself as I started moving about the room. Ignoring him as I collected the pale flowers that had been thrown upon Eliza’s appearance in the room.

 It was almost a shame. If one had merely been watching and hadn’t known about how she’d kidnapped her groom it would have been a lovely wedding. Sure, she’d gotten married anyway and Chubby and her were a cute couple but….

 Well, to be perfectly blunt Idia was the better looking groom. He looked like he’d stepped out of some period romance. Were I bit more of a romantic I might have been able to imagine a touching but sad story about a ghost and human romance that could never be.

Such daydreaming would have to be left to Rook though. After all, I’d been so focused on the mission to save Idia I’d only thought of such things now. 

To be fair, Chubby and Eliza getting their happy ending was rather nice. Romantic even, if I really wanted to think about it. Eliza had finally got her happily-ever-after. Even if it had been a long road to get there.

I glanced over to see Idia staring, almost forlornly, at the altar. He’d been so excited moments ago when his unsolicited wedding had been canceled that it was odd to see him quite so down now. Rook had said earlier that Idia usually exuded a lonely beauty but right now…. 

Right now he looked far lonelier than I’d ever seen him. Perhaps the botched wedding had more of an effect on him than he’d let on.

I drifted closer to him, cautiously getting closer while staying silent so I wouldn’t startle him. But my approach didn’t go unnoticed as he soon revealed by looking up at me, “What?”

 His flat tone startled me. It didn’t tremble like it did when he was anxious nor was it the speedy talking that outed him when he got excited. Additionally, it was completely at odds with his previously flustered state. Gone was the Idia I knew. Replaced by someone who seemed distinctly apathetic to the point he’d never be embarrassed to the point of trying to shoo someone away.

 I shifted slightly, setting the flowers on a nearby table before turning to look at him, “Are you okay?”

He scoffed slightly, causing me to raise my eyebrows, but he didn’t answer. He just looked away, back towards the pale wedding decorations. I frowned at his uncharacteristic behavior, “Idia, I thought you were going to head back to your room. Why are you still here?”

Instead of answering my question he responded with a dry sounding question of his own, “Aren’t people with strong beliefs scary?”

I waited for him to continue but he never did, so I responded with no small amount of confusion, “Are you saying you don’t have any strong beliefs?” 

He let out something that sounded distinctly like a snort before he turned with a grin that I could best describe as villainous, “I can’t swear to something that doesn’t exist like eternal love.”

I stilled, not entirely sure what was going on but feeling like I’d stumbled across an unmarked landmine. He continued though, explaining his previous statement nonchalantly with a mocking grin, “Because I’m a sincere person.” 

What did that even mean? Was he trying to imply that I, Eliza, or everyone in the school outside of him wasn’t sincere? 

I leaned back, propping myself against the table as I puzzled about his words. They didn’t seem quite accurate. After all, I could think of one person whom I was pretty sure Idia would love for eternity.

“What about Ortho?” He froze at my question and I let it hang in the air, challenging him to deny it. 

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349 notes - Posted June 10, 2022

#3

Pretend this Love Isn't Real - Azul

Author Notes: Fair warning this one is longer than my other fics at 2129 words. I wrote this to the KIRA remix of the ChiruChiru cover by Rachie. I also got the title from one of the lyrics from that song. It was actually quite a bit of fun to write since Azul seems like the sort who be kind of frustrated and frenzied when in love. Reader is gender-neutral and the prefect.

Type: Fluff/romantic/pining

Word count: 2129

Azul templed his hands as he listened to Jade report his findings with an annoyingly amused smile on his face, “The prefect remains a mystery. There is no trace of them anywhere. In fact they do not seem to exist when one just looks at records. They have no social security number, hospital visits, memberships, or even  any email accounts. All told, they have no digital footprint or records.The only information to be gained is that which they share themselves.”

Azul nodded, at this point he wasn’t even surprised. He’d had Jade looking into the prefect since they’d first become an object of interest. First surviving and defeating the Riddle overblot and then Leona’s. They were definitely something special. That had only become more obvious when they’d beaten his contract and handled his overblot too.

From there his curiosity had spiraled, especially when they’d shown an interest in his past. If they were going to dig for his secrets he could do the same. It had seemed like a fair trade. 

Thus far it had been anything but fair though. While they could get information on him there was nothing on them. The only things he knew were, as Jade had said, what they had told him.

“Why don’t you just try to befriend Shrimpy and find out about them that way?” Floyd’s bored-sounding voice interrupted his thoughts and shined a light on the situation. Azul looked at Floyd with wide-eyes. 

How had he not thought of that? People were always more open with those they deemed close and the prefect was open to friendship anyway. They’d made that obvious when they’d asked about how he was doing post-overblot. “That’s… That’s actually a good idea Floyd.” 

Floyd only rolled his eyes in response and Jade chuckled as if that solution had been obvious. Ignoring their amused but blessedly silent mocking, he stood. 

Snatching his hat and coat from the hooks in the office, Azul glanced towards them, “I’ll be back shortly. Jade. Floyd. You two take care of the lounge till I get back.” 

They both nodded, differing smiles on their identical faces as they chorused their matching answer, “Yes sir.”

It didn’t take him long to get to Ramshackle. It wasn’t that far from the school, but then it was far enough that Azul couldn’t imagine walking the distance every day was pleasant. That said, walking the same distance for lunch at a Monstro Lounge offshoot would have been acceptable had his business venture worked out.

Azul rolled his shoulders as he stepped up on the porch that had seen better days and calmly knocked on the door. The answer was prompt as the door swung open to reveal the infamous prefect peeking out at him, Grim winding his way through their legs to look as well. 

Azul found he was struck, once again, by how average they were. There was nothing particularly outstanding about them. They were attractive enough, but nothing stunning. Their grades were as good as one could expect for magicless person attending a magic school, but certainly not top scores. They were friendly but not overly so and though they had a decent number of friends the number wasn’t unusual. Yet despite their overwhelming mundaneness they were always found at the center of anything of interest that happened at NRC. 

Unaware of his less than glamorous review, their eyes widened in a comical fashion as they opened the door a bit wider, “Azul?” 

Azul feigned a warm smile at them, “Hello prefect. I was wondering if you could help with something.” 

Their eyes narrowed almost immediately at his words and they started to shut the door, “No.”

Azul caught the door with a single hand, his other palm pressing to his chest, “You wound me prefect. I only come bearing the offer of a job.” 

They did not look impressed with his make-believe hurt but he didn’t let that stop him, “I heard you were in need of excess funds for your continued refurbishing of Ramshackle dorm. If you would be willing to help out at Monsto Lounge I will pay you handsomely.”

Their eyebrows arched and, ignoring Grim’s comments about how shady Azul was, they released their pressure on the door, “And what do you get out of my working for you?”

Azul released the door, no longer concerned about it slamming in his face, “I remember how quickly you and Jack cleared out that crowd at Monstro Lounge when you first visited my establishment. Having someone of such skill working for me would doubtless ease the press of serving all of our many, many customers.”

They frowned but glanced back at the house, most likely looking at something Jade and Floyd hadn’t worked on during those three days of repairs. When they looked back  at him their unimpressed defiance was slipping, “I can’t work often, Crowley keeps me pretty busy.”

Azul immediately nodded, a picture of compassionate understanding, “Of course, I can work out a schedule that takes your prior appointments into account.” 

He watched as they shifted, knowing he already had them hooked. Their uncertain expression gave everything away, “That could work… But Crowley doesn’t really tell me when I’ll be busy with his…” They waved their hand in the air for slight emphasis, “Jobs.” 

Well, he had them baited, hooking apparently was going to take longer. Unconcerned, he rested his hands on his walking stick in a relaxed manner, “That won’t be a problem, you can just be a part-time employee. Someone we call when things get to be too much for our usual workers.”

In an unexpected turn, they narrowed their eyes at him, “That sounds nice, but you're going awfully far to hire me.” 

Well, they weren’t a person of interest for nothing. When dealing with Ramshackle’s prefect there were bound to be surprises. Azul had never been one to back down from a challenge though, and he certainly wasn’t going to start now.

So he sighed, shaking his head slightly, “Things are just that difficult for us prefect.” He met their gaze in a pleading manner, “The usual crowd is bad enough but the lunch rush is pure chaos.”

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387 notes - Posted July 22, 2022

#2

The Best Choice You Will Ever Make - Floyd

Author's Notes: I have finally done it! I have written Floyd Leech! In all seriousness though, I was really worried about characterizing Floyd so I've been sitting on this fic and editing it for a while. But with this fic, I will have finally written ( and posted) a fic for each of the Octatrio! A good way to celebrate my return from, and final day of, vacation I think. Reader is gender-neutral as per usual.

Type: Fluff/romantic

Word Count: 1349

Ever so often you meet someone and the sensible part of your brain whispers, “Danger,” to you. And ever so often, for reasons unknown, you ignore that sensible part of your brain and smile over at the very person who set you on alert. 

Perhaps it was something akin to the call of the void that people felt when looking down into a long dropoff. That strange urge to jump even though you knew for a fact that you would never survive the fall.

Mismatched eyes had met yours that one day, and you’d suddenly recognized that feeling. The sensible part of you had whispered, “Danger, avoid at all costs.” All the while, another, more impulsive part of you had whispered, “This could be fun, and don’t you know better than to judge a book by its cover?”

And so, without hardly thinking twice, you’d jumped into your friendship with Floyd. Knowing full and well exactly how dangerous it, and he, could be.

Ace had been telling you for quite some time that you were danger-prone, and maybe he was right. After all, it was now quite common to find you walking and laughing alongside the infamous Floyd Leech of all people. But the more time you’d spent with Floyd and the longer you’d known him, the more you’d felt that maybe he wasn’t nearly as bad as people liked to make him out to be.

Oh, he could be dangerous to some. That much was obvious from the injuries he often sported from his numerous fights with people and the cover-up work he undoubtedly did for Azul. But he also wasn’t nearly as bad as people liked to make him out to be.

He could, you had discovered, be quite soft-hearted. Since you’d befriended him, he’d been stopping by your classroom each day. Just to say hi and check in on you. No other reason. 

During one of your now many visits to Monstro Lounge, Jade had told you that Floyd did the same thing for him. Neither of you knew why he did it, only that he did. But something about it was touching.

Just like there was something oddly sweet about how he would excitedly wave at you whenever he saw that you’d come to one of his basketball games. Then he’d playfully bicker back and forth with the Ace about who you’d come to watch. You always told them you’d come to watch Jamil just to watch them both sulk while Scarabia’s vice-housewarden rolled his eyes.

There was also the way Floyd seemed to adore sweeping you into an impromptu dance anytime, anywhere. You were getting quite used to being waltzed around the room by the lanky young man who crooned out whatever random tune was going through his head at that specific moment.

As for him being trouble…. Well, he was really no worse than anyone else at this school. Trouble and trouble makers were common at NRC. Floyd was just a slightly different brand of trouble.

It had been a long time since you’d first made eye contact with Floyd and your brain had whispered, “Danger.” Now when you looked at him you instead felt a smile raise to your face, no matter the situation.

Even if it meant being pulled into the rain to run to your next class with him, or being pulled over into an unplanned cuddle/nap session because he felt you were working yourself too hard. After all, “Shrimpys need rest too.”

For better or worse you were now close to Floyd, which was why the little trinkets he’d begun giving you were of no surprise. In fact they were a delight.

 Especially since, if Jade’s slyly amused looks that were almost always followed by Floyd shoving at his brother were anything to go by, it implied one thing. Floyd liked you.

Now you instead had classmates’ concerned whispers to deal with instead of those from within your own brain. 

“Floyd gets bored of everything. I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

That statement was almost immediately accompanied by someone else saying, “Yeah, he’ll get bored and just ditch you like he ditches everything else. It’d be best to steer clear of him Y/n.”

Such remarks were always met with Ace rolling his eyes and Deuce chasing off whoever was speaking up. 

All of these reasons, and so many others, were why you weren’t surprised when Floyd came back from a trip home and immediately came to Ramshackle. Sporting a grin as he came up the walk, waving at you all the while, “Got something for you Shrimpy!” 

The nervous giggle that bubbled from your lips was not faked. 

You were both thrilled to see the young man and nervous about what gift he might be bearing this time. While it was usually just seashells there was the time he’d caught a fish and brought it to you while it was still flopping about….

“Come on, I’ll show you what it is inside,” He seemed almost giddy as he pulled you through the foyer, into the lounge, over to your couch, and sat you down on one of the striped cushions.

His grin was large as he held your gaze and reached into his pocket, “Alright, don’t go getting embarrassed on me now.” With those words he produced a long, slim black box and handed it to you.

You glanced down at it and then back up at him, about to thank him before he waved off your gratitude as if it was a particularly annoying fly, “Don’t thank me yet. Just open it.”

You snorted slightly to yourself before opening the box to find a string of glimmering pearls. Your eyes went wide as your fingers hesitantly touched the glistening orbs.

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640 notes - Posted October 28, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I Just Missed You - Riddle

Author Notes: This one is a touch indulgent. As soon as I thought about Riddle having to go home and face his mom after overblotting I wanted him to have some sort of escape. So I gave him one. An easy chat with the Prefect. This one is female-reader simply because I felt like it and it was written to "Far Away" by Nickelback

Type: Angst/Comfort/Fluff/ Platonic or Romantic you choose.

Warning: Riddle's Mom... that's it.

Word Count: 928

Riddle inhaled deeply, resting his head back against the door of his room and letting his hand lay limply in his lap, cradling his phone. He’d known visiting home was going to be a test worse than anything he’d ever faced before.

He’d come quite a ways since his overblot. Y/n, the Prefect, had helped him to better himself. To change his ways and not become a tyrant fit to overtake his mother. But it was still hard. Returning home to the place where it had all started. 

Everyone had told him he shouldn’t have been treated that way. Even Ace, who’d held Riddle accountable for his oppressive actions, agreed that his mother had been in the wrong. And yet Riddle wasn’t comfortable blaming her.

 It was true, she’d been tyrannical about her rules and had, in many ways, treated him horribly. But she’d also raised him. Without her there was no telling who he’d be now.

He looked down at his phone, already feeling drained. It hadn’t taken his mother long at all to discover the changes in him.

“I thought you were in Heartslabyul? What about the rules?!” Her astonished and evident agitation had made him cringe and want to burst into apologies. But he knew he shouldn’t. He couldn’t really help the overblot nor the Heartslabyul rules. The worst part was he didn’t know what she was upset about.

“Having cake each day at the Unbirthday Parties is a rule Mother.” She’d pursed her lips at his surprisingly calm statement. But rules were reliable. They were a way he and his mother could communicate.

“And your grades?” Riddle had offered a sheet on which he’d carefully monitored his progress, doing his best not to tense as she scanned the neat line of top-notch scores.

“Perfect as always Mother.” She’d hummed as she scanned her way down the sheet of perfect attendance and grades. When she’d given an approving nod and returned the sheet to him, Riddle had almost beamed. It had felt like a pressure had been lifted from his chest and could breathe again. From now on this visit would be smooth sailing.

Or so he had thought.

“And you aren’t making any… unsuitable friends? The sort that would lead you astray? I heard that Clover boy was going there and when you were young-”

“Of course not Mother.” The lie had fallen from his lips like a defense mechanism. Too fast and desperate. A condemnation.

Her eyes had narrowed at his irretrievable reply. It had sounded too urgent even to his ears. She hadn’t said anything but Riddle knew it was coming. That was why he’d sealed himself in his room with the excuse of studying.

The moment she’d questioned his choice in friends, Y/n had come to mind. A wonderful person and a loyal friend, but definitely not what his mother would deem suitable. Not with their light-hearted teasing and easy going nature. Y/n wasn't strict enough about rules and didn’t have high enough grades.

Mother didn’t even view Trey as trustworthy and only barely accepted that he was the vice-housewarden when Riddle had explained how well he knew and obeyed the rules. There was no way she’d accept Y/n… Much less Ace or Cater.

Riddle’s fingers itched to tap in the number that the Prefect had given him just before he’d left on break. She’d donned such a bright smile as she’d handed him a tiny slip of paper, “I haven't ever given you my number so, here! If you get bored or… need anything, I’m just a call away and I’m not going to be doing anything anyway.”

It was like she’d known he would need someone to get him through this ordeal. Sure, he could leave the house and go visit Trey but….

Trey would doubtless be busy with customers and catching up with his family. After all, his siblings and parents adored him and their bakery was always busy.

If Riddle were to be totally honest, he missed the Prefect who’d turned his life upside down. She’d done far more than just save him from overblotting and then work with him to figure out the Spelldrive situation. She’d worked with him and helped him to overcome his obsession with rules. She’d shown him he didn’t have to punish every single slight infraction and could relax at times. And he missed her.

His fingers hovered tentatively over the screen. She was a single tap away and even though it’d only been a few days it already felt like it had been far too long since he’d heard her calm but friendly voice.

What would she say? Probably something along the lines of knowing he could face this and that everything would turn out alright in the end. And then she would ask him mundane questions about his home and he would humor her. Calming down at the sound of her quiet voice that always ensured he relaxed. That ensured he didn’t melt into a ball of stress and frustration.

Riddle had hardly realized what he was doing until he heard the beep at the end of the line and her familiar voice sounded from far away, “Hello?”

He exhaled, strangely relieved to hear her voice, “Hey, It’s me.” He could hear the smile in her voice when she responded, immediately chipper.

“Riddle! What’s up?” He smiled despite himself at her casual words. No, Mother definitely wouldn’t like them. But he did.

“I just…” He hesitated and she waited, ever patient with his hesitations and unsureness. “I just missed you.”

713 notes - Posted June 23, 2022

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