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It was a quiet night on campus. Not a surprise at all, of course, for most students tended to retreat to their dormitories after curfew - they had that much respect for the rules, at least. Good.
Riddle hastily stopped himself from continuing that train of thought. Those sorts of things were usually less thoughts of his own, and more the thoughts of Mother, simply being regurgitated by him. They rarely did him any good.
Besides, he himself was outside, was he not? Granted, he had a good reason. The Headmaster had forgotten to complete a massive lot of last-minute preparations for the stables, so he'd sent Riddle there - ever too incompetent to actually do it himself.
But it wasn't entirely unpleasant. He'd gotten to see Vorpal, hadn't he? And this night, it was-
Beautiful. The sky was clear, making the twinkling of the stars easy to see. The temperature was perfect, a cool breeze rustling through the trees on occasion. Riddle couldn't help but deliberately slow down as he walked back to Heartslabyul. He couldn't help it, really. Walking down this vast expanse of a field, in the quiet where no one could disturb him, it was simply so peaceful.
And it was that very peace that made the sound of sobs all the more clear.
A peculiar sound. Loud and utterly heart-broken, yet oddly stifled. And whoever it was that was sobbing so miserably in the dark, they were likely trained in some form of music, for even through their sniffles and gulps Riddle could gather an air of refinement about their voice.
No, no. Enough of that. This was someone out past curfew, regardless of how enchanting their voice was. And from the looks of it, they didn't seem to have a particularly good reason.
The sound was coming from-
Ah. Right beneath the Oak Tree closest to him. Riddle inched closer. Whoever those sobs originated from failed to hear him. He inched a bit closer - enough for them to hear his inquiry.
"Just what exactly are you doing past curfew?"
"Fuck off," was the slightly nasally, sniffle-filled reply he received. Riddle was just about to ask that insolent student what they thought they were doing when-
Was that Azul's voice? Riddle couldn't quite make out the face of this crying student, for it was buried in their hands, but the sound of that voice was entirely unmistakeable. Pitchy, expressive yet refined, with a slight lilt. That was Azul, no doubt.
Since when exactly did Azul cry? And since when had he begun swearing?
"Azul?" he said in shock. The other student's sobs were cut off by a gasp.
"C-Certainly not." So Riddle was right.
"What exactly occurred to trouble you so greatly that you had to violate the rules, Azul?"
Azul snarled. It was completely different from how Riddle had even heard him sound - less like a conniving businessman and more like, well-
A wounded animal. Injured gravely, it feared predators so it lashed out in defense, attempting to make itself seem like the true threat. It was all too familiar a tale.
Unfortunately, Riddle had been made to study to be a doctor, not a veterinarian.
"Your childishness helps no one here," Riddle said through grit teeth. "Count yourself fortunate I haven't yet beheaded you."
Azul finally pulled his head out to glare at Riddle. His face was flushed, nose a swollen bright red, glasses discarded on the floor revealing his baggy yet puffy eyes.
"Try it and I'll send you to the infirmary," he hissed. "Octopodes are known for their muscular strength."
It was an empty threat. Even now, in his grief-wracked state, Azul would certainly know better than to do something so blatantly against the rules, especially after his overblot.
Wait. That was it, wasn't it? His overblot. That was the source of his grief.
The revelation really shouldn't've struck Riddle as much as it did. After his overblot, Riddle too had been a mess. He'd cried those wretched inky tears more times than he could possibly remember.
He was still endlessly grateful to Trey for assisting him through it after all he'd done. After all the mistakes he'd made, the way he'd pushed all others away…
Sevens, his own eyes were growing misty now. He sighed. This was applicable to Azul, was it not?
"You would do well to go back to your dorm," he said, rolling his eyes at the snarl that elicited from Azul. "I speak from experience. When suffering from any of the various phenomena pertaining to your overblot-" He couldn't help but pause in satisfaction at how Azul's eyes widened at his deduction. "-You'd do well to seek assistance. You could quite easily seek Jade and Floyd's, could you not?"
"Not all of us are privileged enough to possess the companionship of highly understanding individuals," Azul said - more spat, really.
Really, now? How foolish.
"Jade once recounted a tale of him spending hours attempting to cook you a dinner you'd actually eat as if it were nothing more than a sad story on your end. It would be a rather painstaking task to find someone more understanding than that."
Azul, still, seemed entirely unconvinced.
"He was simply garnering amusement from attempting to fatten me up," he said. That was quite an unhealthy train of thought, to say the least. "I assure you, Jade and Floyd Leech possess the capacity to be highly understanding, yes, but they certainly do not possess it with me, and I do not possess their companionship."
Riddle honestly didn't even understand why he remained here. Azul was being nothing but completely and utterly obstinate right now, unbearable, even, relentlessly snapping at Riddle even as he attempted to help the blasted fool.
Yet he couldn't help it. He remained.
"What exactly led you to possess such an opinion?" He said, softening his voice. The old saying regarding flies and honey rang true, after all.
"I've never been of the belief that we're anything other than business partners, I assure you," he said.
"Then would a part of their duties not be to keep you in your typical state so you maintain their interest?"
"They wouldn't care for anything but calling me lame, I assure you."
Riddle was oddly concerned now. Azul had- no one. Even those twins of his insisted on mocking him.
Why did it make him feel so terrible? He was meant to have a distaste for Azul, was he not?
More than anything, he felt- enraged. Overblot wasn't something to be mocked so easily.
"They're entirely incorrect," Riddle said. "Though you have many flaws, that certainly isn't one of them."
But he couldn't help the displeased murmur of "I'd have their heads for such a thing" at that. Funnily enough, at that, Azul smiled. It brought Riddle pause. It was entirely unfamiliar, all too fond, and all too-
Cute.
Azul was a dastardly, scheming prick, a cold man who took pleasure in exploiting loopholes, so why was Riddle suddenly feeling such a strong sense of protectiveness over him?
"You ought to have lunch with me tomorrow," he said before he could stop himself. Azul looked at him wide-eyed.
"Pardon?"
Riddle's face warmed.
"It would be a show of alliance b-between our two dorms, of course," he scrambled to explain, making up an excuse to cover the truth that even he himself simply didn't know. "It's mutually beneficial, as you'd say, correct?"
A pause. Then, Azul giggled, indeed, he giggled. Like a character in some romance novel laughing at the love interest's terrible joke.
Why was he even thinking like that? Riddle had only gotten into romance novels recently, and yet, somehow, that was enough time for those odd tropes to begin haunting him. It made no sense.
"I would much appreciate that," Azul said. "Thank you for your kind invitation."
"I don't suppose you'll refrain from entirely excessive attempts at debt repayment?"
Azul smiled, grasping onto Riddle's hand in a manner that was all too unnerving and yet all too pleasant.
"W-What exactly are you doing?!"
"I'll escort you back," Azul said. "Would that not suffice?"
Riddle groaned.
"You've returned to being insufferable as always, I see."
"It's my specialty, dearest Riddle!"
Though, as Azul walked him back, Riddle had to admit he didn't entirely mind Azul's antics, nor did he mind the way they made his heart pound.
Ever since his overblot, Azul had been in a terrible mood. Snippy, constantly tired, and painfully avoidant. Jade was beginning to grow fed up with it. Really, he didn't care what he'd have to do, all he needed was for Azul to cease his misery for even an hour!
This wish, thankfully, was one thank came true by the hand of none other than Riddle Rosehearts.
"You're making a strawberry tart?" He crooned, avoiding signifying the true extent of his interest in this matter. "Why?"
"You're rather nosy," Azul said, only for his expression to immediately soften. "Riddle likes strawberry tarts."
"A gift of sentiment, then? I never thought you capable," Jade said with a grin. Azul immediately fell into a sputtering pique.
"I-It isn't- I'm simply attempting to repay- Ugh!" Azul turned away petulantly. "You simply wouldn't get it."
This flustered expression was certainly far preferable to that miserable one he'd been so frequently sporting. Jade laughed.
"Well then," he said. "Continue your - of utmost importance and logic, I'm certain - business endeavors. I shan't be bothering you."
Azul huffed.
"Good."
As Jade left the kitchen, he couldn't help the grin that made its way upon his lips.
It seemed Azul had a crush.