Chapter Text
Ed had a hunch and refused to look down the entire fight- which normally would be bad, but Floyd wasn’t used to having legs all the time. She's not even sure what she would see, but she’s learned her lesson about knowledge you can never unknow.
‘ Teehee.’
‘Okay, what we’re not gonna do is start saying THAT.’
Ace, clearly fed up with this whole situation, readyed their pen. “Summoning magic ain't my strongest suit, but... I summon thee, cauldron!
“Hey! Don't crib my magic!” Deuce yelled out.
As the cauldron came crashing down, Floyd giggled. “Didn't we go over this yesterday? You'll never touch me with that! Bind the Heart!”
The cauldron bounced around the room, almost hitting Azuls precious wittle safe.
“Floyd! Watch where you're directing that spell!” Azul barked out. “You've aimed right for the vault, you fool! ”
‘ Wow, way to confirm what I already knew.’
‘ He’s sweating buckets, holy shit.’
As Azul argued with Floyd, Ed slowly grabbed Grim, and with everyone else, started inching towards the door to leave. Contract still in cleavage and all.
****
Jack skidded to a stop with everyone as soon as they reached the Hall of Mirrors. It was lucky that Azul was to busy yelling at Floyd to notice anything.
Deuce let out a sigh of relief. “ Phew. I was scared stiff there.”
“We wouldn't be in this mess if you weren't such a huge target, Jack. That and if Grim kept his mouth shut for once.” Ace grumbled.
Grim bristled in agitation, and Jack felt his tail do the same. “Maybe I would’ve been quiet if ya didn’t just grab me!”
“Wh—hey! I just work out more than you guys! What's wrong with that?! ” Jack defended himself. “Besides, wolves are naturally large creatures. And- I wasn’t the one who gave away our position!”
“Well,” Ace sighed. “It was a bust regardless-”
“Was it?” Ed interrupted, waving around the contract. “Because I think We’re doing quite well actually.”
Jack blinked at the contract in Ed’s hands. “Oh right. I forgot about that. I think it’s best if we call this a day regardless.”
“Sounds good, I want to go visit Nina anyhow.” Ed agreed.
“Oooo, I’ll come with!” Ling cheered.
****
Malleus looked at Ramshackle with a fond sigh. Ed really did a wonderful job fixing it up- but keeping its charm. The gargoyles and grotesques were still well loved, but the details were fixed up, and Malleus was ever so grateful for it.
“Hornton?”
Malleus turned around to see Ed and someone else staring at him. “Ah, Ed. Lovely to see you on this fine night. Who is this accompanying you?”
The other human bowed slightly. “Ling Yao, I’m her husband. You must be Hornton.”
Malleus nodded, delighted that another person wasn’t scared of him. “Ah, yes. Ed gave me a nickname, one I’m quite fond of. She’s quite the wonderful friend.”
Ling smiled softly. “Yes, she is. However, based on what she tells me, you’re also quite a good friend also. I try to keep up with her hobbies and such, but she enjoys talking to someone who loves it as much as she does.”
“ Ling!” Ed hissed out in embarrassment. “She didn’t need to know that!”
Malleus laughed. “That’s wonderful to hear! Oh right- By the by, I've noticed that this dorm has seemed rowdier as of late. Are you taking in more students?”
Ed scratched her neck. “ Bout that…”
Malleus hummed thoughtfully at the new information. “ What? You made a deal with Ashengrotto? Well... I suppose that does explain it.” He sighed. “Then once the sun sets tomorrow, I suppose this place will belong to him and become a hotspot for noisy students.”
“You’re saying that like I have any chance of losing.” Ed pointed out.
Malleus blinked. “Well, it sounded quite grim when you explained it. Is it not?”
Ling chuckled. “No, My lovely wife here has ensured that there is no way she will lose. Ramshackle is as safe as it can be.”
Now that sounded like a wonderful tale. “Ed, you simply must tell me about this at the next club meeting.”
Ed snorted. “Oh, you bet your sweet ass I’m gonna tell you. Now, as much as I’d love to keep talking to you, I actually came here to check in with my kid.”
Malleus blinked. “You have a foundling?”
“I…guess?” Ed said. “I mean…. By definition not exactly, but sorta?”
****
Leona turned to Ed and Ling when she walked in with a bored look. “There you two are-” Leona stopped himself. “Is that what I think it is?”
Ed waved around one of Azuls golden contracts with a victorious smirk. “Oh you fucking know it’s what you think it is.”
Ruggie barked out a disbelieving laugh. “No fucking way.”
“Oh, yes fucking way.” Ling gleefully sang.
“Yeah, turns out complete immunity to magic is very useful.” Ed simply stated. “Dickhead didn’t even consider the fact that his little ‘spell’ that he puts on them could ever be fallible.”
“Well,” Leona began. “Despite doing what was considered impossible, why should I care?”
Ed grinned, leaning forward slightly. “Read the signature numb nuts.”
Leon glanced at it- “Oh fuck, that’s one of my contracts.”
Ruggie dropped the laundry he was carrying. “Oh shit.”
Ed cackled. “Yup! Azul- in all his infinite wisdom, just so happened to leave out this contract in particular. A bad move on his part, but great for us. I can grab the contacts just fine, and well- should we see if I can tear them?”
“Yes.” Leona blurted out. “Yes, please do.”
Ed held up a finger. “Before that, I have a proposition to make, one that benefits you and requires little to no work on your part.”
Leona grumbled. Blackmail, huh? Still, Ed’s a person of her word, Leona knows that much. “Alright, I’ll hear you out- as long as I get to see that damn octopus suffer. ”