Chapter Text
“Ah had to be careful when Ah spoke. Never knew when Vil was gonna be there to call mah accent out.” Epel explained. His face shifted into a scowl. “An' those frilly uniform shirts Ah wear? Those ain't mah first choice, that's fer sure. Housewarden's orders.”
Deuce blinked. “Wait, housewarden's orders? Really? Your dorm doesn't have some crazy set of rules like Heartslabyul. Why is this a thing?”
Epel sighed. “Well, lemme tell you 'bout mah orientation back in September…”
(One long explanation later…) “...An' that's the long an' short of it.” Epel finished.
Deuce's eye twitched. “You picked a fight with a housewarden on your first day at school?!”
“Ah didn't know how crazy strong the housewardens were, okay?!” He pointed at Deuce accusingly. “Didn't you an' Ace pick a fight with yer housewarden right after orientation, too?”
Deuce winced. “Erk! That wasn't intentional…”
“Back home, the only way anybody ever saw you as powerful was if you were big an' buff an' strong...So Ah've always been a soft target fer teasin'.” Epel sighed. “Lookin' back now, Ah don't think Vil meant nothin' by what he said, but still…”
Deuce nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, I get you. You felt like you had to make a point right out of the gate.”
Epel kicked some sand. “But Ah've never beaten the housewarden once. Ah've been stuck doin' what he says ever since.”
Deuce hummed. “Now I get what you guys meant when you were talking about ‘the usual’ during practice. Rook was right when he said it wasn't a fight. It was more than that to you guys.”
“Vil says Ah can act however Ah like if Ah kin take him in a fight. But it just ain't happenin'.” Epel’s frown deepened. “Ah wanna be stronger… Ed managed ta take Vil down easy.”
The wind blew Deuce’s hair as he spoke. “You know, before I left campus, Kalim and Rook told me something. They said that we have a ‘power’ all our own, and that we should make the most of it. So I thought about it, and I figured something out. I think...my strength might be this hard head of mine.”
Epel blinked. “Huh? But Ah thought you said you hated that about yerself?”
“Yeah, it frustrates me a lot. But sometimes, it means I can take off running without stopping to second-guess myself. I'm not smart enough to think about a lot of things at the same time. But that also means that once I put my mind to something, I can make a beeline for the goal without stopping.” Deuce clenched his fist. “I think that's a power I can call my own. My weakness can be my strength.”
Epel pouted. “That's all well an' good fer you, but it don't mean much fer me. In mah case, it's mah looks, right? Ah look all dainty and effeminate. How's that s'posed ta be a strength-” Epel’s phone rang. “Oh, that's mah phone. It's...mah folks?”
****
Deuce's mouth hung open at the information he'd just received. With a single post from Vil, Epel’s whole town might have just been saved from financial ruin.
“Is this the power of beauty Vil was talkin' about?!” Epel yelped.
Deuce frowned. “Now that you mention it... The only reason this worked at all was because Vil was so focused on that. Magical might or brute strength alone never would've accomplished that.”
“Ah wonder... Ahem. I mean, I wonder: was this the point Vil was tryin' to make about power?” Epel pondered. “That my ‘charm’ is a power only I have, and I should weaponize it?”
Deuce shrugged. “Maybe. Neither of us are super smart or buff. But I bet nobody in this school has you beat in the cuteness department!”
Epel winced like he’d been hit. “Erk... Not sure how I should feel about that.
But it's true that I'm not gonna look this way forever. Just think—this time next year, I might be taller, or more muscular. Or I could have a mustache!” Epel looked excited at the thought.
Deuce barely held back his laugh. “I dunno about that one, buddy.”
“Vil says my charm is my power. If I can put that power to good use in this year's SDC…” Epel grew a determined look. “Maybe I could give the town a way bigger boost than just sellin' a bunch of juice crates.”
Deuce nodded. “Yeah. If there's power to be found in the things we've spent our whole lives being ashamed of… Then let's play to our strengths and prove we can break out of our shells! If that's what it takes to beat our rivals, then who am I to say no? I'll double down!”
Epel laughed. “Heh heh... Yeah, I hear ya!”
“Epel, you know what I think we should do?” Deuce asked with a grin. “We should win this year's SDC and prove ourselves to Ace and Vil!”
Epel cackled in agreement. “That's what Ah'm talkin' ‘bout! Ah'll be cute n' powerful as kin be!”
The two of them high fived in joy-
“Are you two done now?”
****
Truth cackled when Epel and Deuce practically jumped out of their skins at Ed’s question. ‘Ah, a healthy reaction! We should do this more often!’
“Ed! When did you get here?” Deuce flusteredly asked.
“Been here the whole time,” Ed answered. “By the way, how the hell did you two float in the air while high fiving?”
“We did that?!” Epel squeaked.
Ed raised a brow. “Yeah, that’s why I asked?”
Deuce sputtered, face flushing brightly, before looking at the motorcycle Ed was leaning on. “Wait- did you ride that here?” At Ed’s confirming nod, Deuce looked even more confused. “How though? You have a metal leg.”
Ed maneuvered the bike slightly. “It’s got a side car.”
Deuce Mouth opened. “Ohhhhh, that makes sense- is Ling sitting in there?”
Ling paused his chewing. “Mhm! I even have Appy slices!”
Epel’s hand reached out, towards Ling and her food, which- terrible idea. “Can I have some-”
“NO.” Ling hissed. “MY APPY SLICES.”