Chapter Text
“...So basically what I’m sayin’ is that I like you and that Jade was fed up with me not sayin’ nothing and I just needed to tell you.”
Riddle stared at Floyd with a gaping mouth. Had he just heard correctly? Floyd Leech, the same moray who continuously found pleasure in tormenting him? He was sure he was just hallucinating from his lack of sleep the previous night.
Floyd had pulled him away from his studies in the library into a private tutoring room in the pretext that he needed help with something and wouldn’t leave Riddle alone until he received it. Riddle clenched his fist, and as he felt the creases of his nails press into his skin, he was sure this was not a dream or hallucination. This had to be a prank by the moray, another way to watch Riddle squirm, but as Riddle looked over Floyd’s face, he found no trace of that usual amusement, no glint in his eye, just pure worry. ‘Was he actually nervous?’ Riddle found himself thinking.
“Goldfishie? Are ya’ gonna say something? Makin’ a guy kinda nervous over here…” Floyd softly laughed, which Riddle wasn’t even entirely sure he knew the eel could do, and he would be damned before he admitted it wasn’t slightly endearing.
“What do you expect me to say, Floyd?” Riddle snapped at him accusingly, “You just sprung this upon me, I had no idea your intentions towards me were anything other than for my own discomfort. How should I know this isn’t another way to make fun of me?”
“Whoaaaa, hold up, I wouldn’t joke about this kind of stuff. I promise.” Floyd looked down at Riddle, and Riddle could only find sincerity in his words, “I like you Riddle.”
It was the use of Riddle’s name that broke down that first barrier as he found the tips of his ears flushing at Floyd forgoing his usual nickname, and he glanced downward to stare at his feet for the moment. Such a simple thing reduced him to blushing; he was actually losing it. However, with all of Floyd’s antics and annoying him, Riddle did find him missing the eel's presence whenever he was absent from his life for extended periods of time. Maybe the constant nagging had worn him down.
As much as he wondered about the outcome if he accepted Floyd’s advancements, he just couldn’t. It was not in the cards for him right now; his mother would not approve of something distracting him from his studies (especially Floyd). Plus, Floyd could get bored at any moment and might leave him, which would be a whole other issue of heartbreak. Riddle also didn’t know how his mother might feel about him dating another man; she had tried once to set him up with a family friend’s daughter, but she had never really ruled out the possibility of Riddle being with a man. It was far too much of a risk to take, though Riddle decided, and he looked up to politely decline Floyd’s advances.
The first thing Riddle saw was the look on the other boy’s face, and Floyd was both enamoured and worried sick at the same time. His usual bright smile was soft, and his lips were pressed together nervously. Floyd’s eyes were darting around, trying to read Riddle’s expression, filled with worry and adoration. Floyd bounced on the balls of his feet, swaying back and forth. He wouldn’t be so nervous if he didn’t care so much; he cared so much because of how much he liked Riddle. This conclusion stopped Riddle in his tracks.
“I– well.. um– I will have to think your proposition over, Floyd, have a good night!” He spoke as he darted out of the room, not even gathering the textbook he had been reading, but leaving it in its place as he speedwalked to the mirror chamber.
‘What the absolute HELL was I thinking? Why didn’t I say no?’ Riddle thought to himself as he stepped through the Heartslaybul mirror, bee-lining it to his own room, muttering quick hellos to those whom he passed.
He quickly opened his bedroom door and slammed it behind him. Riddle was breathing heavily, practically heaving as he stood frozen against his bedroom door. Recognizing this, he began to regulate his breathing and took deep breaths as he logically considered his next steps.
There was no way his mother was going to allow him to date, and he wasn’t even sure he returned Floyd’s feelings! The fact that he was questioning it at all made him want to rip out his hair, but that look from Floyd still made his cheeks warm up.
To clear his mind, Riddle decided to take advantage of his housewarden privileges and use his personal bathroom to take a long bath. He walked to his bathroom, shut and locked the door, and began to fill the tub with water. As the water rose, it only troubled his thoughts more. He wondered if Floyd could transform in this bathtub and how dating a merman would even work. It wasn’t that strange that merfolk and humans were to date, but it just wasn’t the regular. How would his mother take that?
The tub filled, and Riddle soaked himself in the warm water. It felt like the tension in his muscles was slowly falling away, and at least for a minute, he could pretend all was right in the world. His thoughts, as they had this evening, circled back to Floyd and what he was to do. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious to know what dating was like; all his peers were already doing so. Trey was in a committed relationship as his vice and never let his duties or grades slip, so why couldn’t he?
The answer was his Mother, no matter how little he shared on social media or to her, if he was publicly dating someone, she would find out. Riddle sighed as he sank deeper into the water, realizing there wasn’t any way for him to do this. The second he was spotted doing anything ‘coupley’, it was over for him. The second he was spotted…
Riddle shot up out of the bath. As long as he wasn’t publicly dating anyone, he could! He would just have to keep the relationship a secret until… well, until he was ready! It was a big ask, especially for someone as public and affectionate as Floyd, but he had no other choice. If Floyd really wanted to date him, this is what they would have to do.
Riddle got out of the tub (after washing himself) and dried off, then got into his pajamas and grabbed his phone. While making his way to his bed to sit down, he noticed he had a few missed texts from Floyd.
>> sorry if I scared ya
>> hope you’re doing ok and thinking about my ‘proposition’ hehe
Riddle rolled his eyes at Floyd for making fun of his word usage earlier, and then shot him a quick text.
<< If you are alone and in a good location, may I call you?
>> im just in me and jades room but hes out at the lounge so ya
Riddle hesitates before hitting the call button. He had to do this and could not wait until tomorrow physically.
“Hi Goldfishie~” Floyd’s voice sang through Riddle’s phone.
“Good evening, Floyd, I thought over what you said to me in the library today, and I accept your feelings on–” Before Riddle could finish his sentence, Floyd interrupted him.
“Really? Really? Oh, I uh– okay. I gotta tell Jade right now!”
Riddle could hear rustling on the other end and practically screamed, “WAIT!”
Floyd stopped in his tracks and spoke, “Whassup Goldfishie?”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Riddle huffed out before continuing, “I accept on the condition that this must be kept a secret between just you and me. Not a soul can know, not Azul, or even Jade!” Riddle could practically hear Floyd’s pout on the other end.
“But whyyy…” Floyd whined, “I wanna tell everyone about you and how you're mine now.” He complained, stretching out syllables as he whined.
Riddle flushed at the last bit of information, as he had only agreed to date. He wasn’t sure if that qualified as claiming someone as his own, but seeing how Floyd was already upset, he wasn’t going to push it.
“Well, it’s because–” He hesitated in telling Floyd about his mother. Getting this personal so soon seemed like overkill, but if they were going to date, he had to be able to trust Floyd, and Floyd had to do the same. “It’s because of my mother, she doesn’t want me to date right now, and I would be in an immense amount of trouble if she were to find out. Even if we just refrained from posting on Magicam, I am sure she would somehow get word.”
“Oh, okay,” Floyd was quiet for a few moments after that, which sent Riddle’s heart rate into overdrive. This confused him, as this wasn’t even his confession, he was just accepting it on certain terms.
“That works for me,” Floyd spoke certainly, “So, can we go out this weekend? I won’t do anythin’ all romantic or nothin’. It could just be disguised as like a friendly hangout.” Riddle could tell Floyd was smiling as he talked.
“I suppose that can be arranged.” Riddle found a small smile creeping on his face as he imagined the outing, “Would Saturday around noon work well for you?”
“Yeah, works good.”
“Very well, I will see you then. Good night, Floyd.”
“Good night, Goldfishie! Bye bye~” Floyd sang out and then hung up the call.
Riddle stared at his dark phone for a solid minute before processing what had even just happened. Did he really just accept Floyd’s advancements towards himself? He was sure he was losing it; no way he would make these decisions otherwise. That’s what his head told him, but Riddle’s heart was the thing that plastered that smile across his face the whole night. It was what made him agree to go out with Floyd in the first place, because despite all the pestering and annoyances Floyd caused, he was also one of the first people to ever look at Riddle like he meant something to him, and Riddle was not letting that go so easily.
Riddle rolled over and set his phone on the nightstand before rolling over once again. He lay there deep in thought until he felt the exhaustion of the day catch up to him as his eyelids drew heavy and he fell into a deep slumber.