Work Text:
Honestly, as cute as his Goldfish was, Floyd was getting tired with the small spats they'd always have. Riddle himself wasn't always to blame, of course; in spite of his stubbornness and usual reluctance to admit his wrongdoings, he's been surprisingly patient with Floyd's mood swings all along, and lately he's even come to start apologizing (!) whenever he'd say something that messed with Floyd's head. Everything was doing so, so well. They were so, so happy.
In that case, why the fuck was Goldfish so cautious around him lately? Was he... Avoiding him? What was it this time?
"This stinks." Floyd finished relaying all of his thoughts to his brother and childhood friend, the three finding refuge in Mostro Lounge's VIP room. He had hidden face in his hat, frustrated; Floyd was trying his best to be a better boyfriend, and was that not enough?
Azul crossed his arms, sighing, taking a moment off of drowning in paperwork to hear his friend's troubles out. "Consider the following... What date is it today?"
"Huh? How am I supposed to know?"
"It's March 19, Floyd." Jade chimed in all of a sudden, and, familiar with his twin brother's mannerisms, the older Leech could sense his bloodthirsty intent. This served only to worsen his mood: why the hell was everyone treating him like an idiot?! "Tell me, what happened a month ago?"
"Don't remember."
"A month and five days ago."
Floyd hummed. "...Valentine's day with Goldfish?"
"And what do people who received gifts that day do a month later?" Azul seemed surprisingly more composed compared with Jade, and yet Floyd noticed the telltale twitch in his eye.
"Dunno."
The octopus stared at him. "God, why do I even bother."
"You two're spoiling my mood," he clenched his fist, the familiar anger bubbling within his chest, dangerously close to spilling out, "if you just think I'm a fucking dumbass, tell it to my face directly."
"No such thing," Jade touched his shoulder lightly, face and voice apologetic without revealing what he wished to apologize for. It's a gesture just for Floyd, something of a secret language between the two dating far before they met Azul. Back then, it was just the two of them having fun against the world; Floyd feels a slight pang of guilt at getting mad with his brother, even if just a little. Instead, he settles for pouting like a scorned child. "It's just that you're supposed to give something back to someone from whom you received a present on Valentine's day."
"Didn't I get Goldfish that bouquet?"
"Yes, but he made you chocolate," Jade continued, "so I fathom it'd be best if you made something for him, in turn."
"He said he likes ruby chocolate," Floyd finally put his hat back on, "can't I just go to the store and buy him some?"
Azul was still buried in paperwork, nonetheless taking his time to chide Floyd, "I'm surprised Riddle hasn't dropped you yet."
"Yeah, well he loooves me!"
"Oya, I'm sure that's right." the younger twin smiled, sheepish, ignoring the raised eyebrow Azul shot him.
"Hey, Jade. What'd you get Sea Turtle for this White Day thing?"
"Hmmm. I was the one offering him a gift during Valentine's, so I received another from him this White Day," he nodded, "it was a box of chocolates and the stuffed eel you seemed to be so intent on destroying."
"Ehhh?! You should've told me it's from Sea Turtle..."
"It's fine," Jade giggled, "right now, you should focus on getting Riddle to talk to you again. Who knows, maybe he'll get so frustrated with you it'll throw him into another overblot?"
The thought itself made Floyd sick to the stomach. "Not funny. I'll be in the kitchen, if anythin'."
"Don't destroy that, please," Azul screamed in his wake.
Floyd was no stranger to cooking, baking, or making sweets; his mother would teach him how to bake, while his father would show him the proper way to cook and grill food - those were skills both Leech twins were equally proficient at.
Admittedly, Floyd had used up Mostro Lounge's recipes for making sweets for Goldfish several time so as to cheer him up after a hard day. Now, he thought, was absolutely nothing different! He'd done all the usual: crushing up the remnants of chocolates in stock, melting it, mixing it with thick cocoa powder and sorting it by molds; ruby chocolate, his mind reverberated, is Riddle's favorite. It tasted a little bit of berries and roses and something tangy, something sweet, just like Riddle himself. It was no wonder that was his favorite type of chocolate, and even less of a shock was the price. To Floyd, it was funny: the way he had only glued himself Riddle to get this stuck-up nerd's attention, initially something he'd developed so as not to bore himself to death, and the way this grew into puppy love and the current weakness of infatuation he has been feeling towards Goldfishie. It's a weak spot that feels good to press upon, a love that would honestly get him up at 4 am to make dozens of strawberry tarts for his boyfriend, even if begrudgingly, to see his uptight face smile, to see his bowstring-straight posture relax, if even for a spare second.
And that's why he had skipped half of his shift at Mostro Lounge, eyes wide open as he ran straight to the dining table in Heartslabyul dorm.
"Goldfish," he yelled, "I've something for you!"
"Well, thank you for at least making sure to come after the tea-party this time," Riddle rolled his eyes, carefully picking up and petting the belly of a stray hedgehog that lay on the ground and next to a croquet bat, "if it's something material, I must refuse until I can find something to offer in return."
"No, no, it's for - uhm - White Day, so technically I should've gotten this for your chocolates on Valentine's."
Riddle cocked his eyebrow. "White Day...?"
Floyd stared in awe. If Li'l Goldfish didn't even know what White Day was, why the hell was he avoiding him?
"I gotcha ruby choco," Floyd still pushed the box in his hands into those of Riddle's, much to the dismay of the latter, "I know I was an ass not to get you anything for White Day, yeah, yeah, just stop ignoring me for hell's sake."
His Goldfish blinked at him once, twice, and his lips stretched out in a thin line.
"For all your overconfidence, Floyd, you're the one who's used to being looked down upon," Riddle shook his head, putting the heavy crown he donned as part of his dorm uniform aside, "but because I don't yet know how to help you or comfort you, I'll start with this: it's not your fault. You mustn't let others tell you off; you are more than everyone's scapegoat."
Gloved hands met Floyd's cheeks, gently cradling the exasperated hollowness of his facial expressions.
"I only now realize that you probably thought I was ignoring you," Riddle made a face; the hedgehog next to him scurried over to Floyd, laying tummy-down on his knee without touching him with its needles, "but I assure you that was the least of my intentions. I had so many things to run over for the Executive Committee, and you know how hard I hate the slackers I work with."
"Goldfish isn't mad today," Floyd pondered, "is it because I gave him chocolate?"
"Maybe," a fond blush spread across his cheeks, "or maybe it's just because I've grown far too partial to you."
For the first time, it's Riddle's hand that seeks his out first.
("...what is this White Day again?"
"Don't remember. Jade told me somethin' about it, go ask him!"
In the corner, a very disappointed Jade spilled the tea from his pitcher straight into his own lap as he started off into the distance, accompanied by a very concerned Azul's scolding.)