I run a hand through my hair, relieved—but I am immediately brought to blinding rage by the clump of hair I pull with it.

"Ah… what?" Azul asks, he's disoriented as he sits up.

And my fist meets his face.

Leona bursts out laughing as the octopus is once more unconscious.

"NO!" A few are scolding, and others are clearly surprised.

I am still holding the clump in my other hand.

"Wow, No's gotten vicious… but I mean… ruining someone's fur coat IS a beatable offense." I am glad to have Grim's support on that one.

The cackling chorus of a few members of the group is very telling on my approval and disapproval rate.

I am so absolutely upset right now I am about in tears. What the FUCK did he do to my hair?! How strong IS he? Oh no, there's a sniffle.

Ruggie leans down. "Eh, you've got bangs now… long bangs. I guess you'll have'ta go to Pomefiore to get that fixed."

"I-it's not bad?"

"Nah, it'll be fine with some scissors." He grins with a chuckle. "Can't believe ya punched him out, Bunny's got guts!"

Leona is still cackling.

"I should be the last one saying violence isn't the answer…" Deuce comments.

Ace pats his shoulder. "Shhh, Deuce, that was great and well deserved."

"—No." Jack sighs. He's not going to say anything? Good. Best Jack.

There's just absolute chaos, sure, but there's another groan from Azul soon enough. "Ow…" He complains this time and it is more than well deserved.

"Azul's awake." Floyd states the obvious for us all.

Azul, of course, puts a hand to his red and probably throbbing cheek. Good. I hope he feels it.

"How many fingers is this, Azul?" Jade holds up eight. I'm pretty sure that's a joke.

"Eight…" The formerly Overblotted sea creature responds.

I should've gotten that shot gun and made the three of them into lunch. I can't stop looking at the chunk of torn hair in my hand.

"Good… though you are fairly worn, you seem fine enough." Jade actually looks… relieved? "You did not die to your Overblot." Depressing...

Maybe the three care about each other or something? I'd call that fake but at the same time, they've known one-another for awhile. There has to be some attachment between them, right?

Or this is a really sick, fucked-up relationship. Huh.

"What a pain." Leona sighs, though I think he's just sore from laughing.

"You literally have no room to talk, Leona." Ruggie is on call out mode TODAY!

"What… did I do…?" The swollen-cheek octopus asks.

"You went into Overblot after using your Unique Magic too much, Azul, do you not remember?" Jade asks.

Well, now that he's caught up we can cook him, right?

"iGive all of your magic to me/i," Floyd mocks in a hilarious voice that matches little. "—you cried while running around saying that, taking everyone's magic." He looks so put out. "It was the lamest thing I've ever seen."

Wow.

"So… I lost control…" At least HE looks ashamed of what he's done. "It's unbelievable."

Leona's look to my glare is a reproachful expression but he knows what he did.

Ass.

"Eh, I mean it's pretty understandable. I think anyone would lose it if they pretty much lost most of what they worked so hard to get… right?" Ruggie's being very understanding and that's kind of odd. What is his angle? Maybe I shouldn't immediately by suspicious but I am immediately suspicious. "I mean, if someone got into my savings and stole all my money I'd never forgive them." Sounds like you'd murder them, Ruggie. And same.

"Yeah, but scamming people is bad—so you need to reflect!" Grim who the fuck are you to lecture anyone?

"The rest of you need to take some time to self-reflect—don't rely on others' notes. Study on your own and put in the effort to succeed." And Jack Howl is probably the only person at this school that can say that shit.

"Well, I mean, with the notes Azul made Grim actually made a decent grade for our first time here." I keep us from failing. ME. Me only. No one else in this team is doing the brain lifting. It is ALL on my shoulders.

"Yeah—they're the best. I made a 90 just by reading them the night before the test." Ace's studying habits are either forced group study and him attempting to do anything else and last-minute all-nighters. I loathe this.

"It was the best study guide I've ever seen." Deuce adds.

"The Headmaster told us you went through every exam from the past century to make the notes." Jack informs the rest of the group. "Even if I don't approve of taking the easy way out, the dedication alone to making the study guides is incredible."

"Your attempts at consoling me aren't going to help." Azul replies, and touches his sore cheek. "How did that happen…?"

"Aw, Azul's getting teary-eyed~" Floyd teases. Yeah, we can see that.

"Oh, oh, is Azul going back to his cute, little, cry baby self?" Jade adds in.

Ah, these two are absolutely evil and merciless.

"Both of you! WE have an agreement to NEVER speak of that!" Oh, he is getting teary eyed, and huffy. He's almost cute.

But he needs another punch in the face.

"Oh, my apologies!" But the grin says Jade isn't sorry.

"—and, before we forget: No won. Here's the photo of Prince Rielle—brought to you on time as instructed." Jack offers it out. I'm not sure how or when I dropped it, but, looking, the sun ISN'T fully set, either. Hah.

Jack and Ruggie are leaning to look.

"Hmmm? What's so special about this? Little merpeople…?" Leona asks.

"They'd be merchildren, Leona." I know, the HORROR, Leona.

"Isn't it some elementary school photo? Why this?" Ruggie is also asking the right questions.

"Ah! I remember this! We took this photo when we went on that field trip in elementary school!" I am starting to put the pieces together, thanks Floyd.

I lean myself and look at the photo a little closer… yeah, I see a couple adorable-but-one-day-creepy eels… and a… is that a chubby octopus in the corner? Aw he's SO SHY and trying to get away! "-it's Jade and I, here! And this…" The finger goes from two eels to...

THE CHUBBY OCTOPUS. "Baby Azul!"

There's shouts of surprise from the dudes but oof I can't resist.

"Awww he's so CUTE!" Look at those CHUBBY CHEEKS! And those little arms that he's trying to hide behind! He looks so shy and adorable, is he about to cry!?

"AHHH! STOP IT!" Azul shouts in distress. "No! Don't look!"

"Oh, you've seemed to perk up, Azul." Jade is a monster. "You still need to rest, don't you? You should just surrender to your fate now."

He is trying to get up and get the photo. Clearly, he doesn't listen.

"Where?" Ace asks.

"The chubby one in the corner." Leona points.

"So, the shy octopus in the corner that's bigger but trying to curl up…?" Ruggie's got it.

"He's just so cute! Don't you just want to hug him and pinch his cheeks?" Uterus be damned but he's adorable. There's a reason I want four.

"Wow, Azul was really chubby when he was younger." Grim, that's rude.

"Just so round and icute/i!" Though… "Unfortunately he grew up into that."

"Harsh, No." Leona comments with a chuckle.

Of course, Azul's crying out in distress.

"—I get it! Everyone has a past they want to forget, to leave behind!" Deuce. You were a delinquent. Azul was just adorable. "I've seen nothing! Everyone should forget this!"

"You're a little passionate, huh?" Jack comments. He seems to not want to be here right now.

"Damn it! Fuck! I wanted to expand the Monstro Lounge and destroy my dark, horrible past in one go!" Oh, fuck you Azul. "It was a perfect plan."

"Ha ha, no it wasn't. You can't fuck with Bunny and win, we learned." Ruggie mocks, openly.

"I've gone through every school year book I could find the the actual film from photographers cameras—I've erased every digital image that exists—the only photo remaining was that one." Azul laments so sadly. I don't feel bad for him.

"If you want something done right, do it yourself!" He stole that phrase from me and does not practice what he preaches. "—don't make others do your dirty work!"

"Grim, maybe practice what you preach?" I comment dryly.

"I think it's nice. I like lil' Azul." Floyd comments. "He was so tasty-looking…" That's disturbing.

I'm a hypocrite.

"That's not the issue at hand!" Azul shouts, clearly distressed.

"But you were adorable, Azul." I'm being mean now.

"I'm done—I just want to go in my octopus pot…" Oh… I actually wonder what that is. Nothing, Azul?

"This is great and all, but No won." Jack is getting us back on track. "So you should do the right thing and return the photo."

"We could go together." To make sure he does it—and I really liked the museum even if we didn't get to see it—and fine! IT FEELS GREAT TO BE IN THE WATER WHEN BLEEDING!

My cramps are starting to kick my ass again. I'm hungry. I'm tried. And my fist hurts.

"—Just-let me have the photo now?" Azul sounds so pathetic.

"Ha ha ha, you're the worst, Ashengrotto." Leona has no room to talk. At all.

"Leona is right… memories are special, Azul." Jade that sounds like horse shit from your mouth.

"Hey hey, when are we going?! When? All of us, right?!" Floyd seems so excited about a museum trip and I swear it's because he's going to try and drown us. "I wanna go back to the museum! We haven't been since elementary school!'

They could've gone instead of making our lives difficult.

I catch that Grim ate something, and look over—honestly.

I don't care right now.

"—does the rat always eat black rocks off the ground?" Leona asks, seemingly curious.

"Unfortunately." I reply.

"Leona, is… something the matter?" Jack asks.

"Nope." Why do you look frustrated, Leona?

"I'm tired." I up, and I give a little stretch. "No, I'm dead exhausted." I get the joke already. "So, how about this—we talk… tomorrow. We can go return the picture soon, and—in all honesty I expect your first check to me and my Dorm by Monday. Okay? And I want regular payments after that." Oh fuck no our contract is valid and I am going to use this as leverage against Crowley.

I am NOT doing another bullshit adventure.

"You need to get your things." Leona reminds.

"Okay, but… can we please have dinner first?" My stomach finally grumbles. I'm dying. I'm tired.

"Mmm…" Leona gives me an appraising look. "Sure. Come back, clean up—we'll have dinner and I get to kick you out."

"Works."

"—ah… how much… but—wait-your contract wasn't destroyed?" Azul asks.

We're leaving, but I can feel the wicked grin on Leona's face. "Why would I destroy that one, Azul?" And he cackles as we get out of there, and get to the Hall of Mirrors.

I look at Deuce and Ace. "...Glad you two are free…"

"We are too, No." Ace laughs a little.

"You look really tired—let's go. We'll—see you soon." Deuce gives a gentle push. They probably need to talk to Riddle about it.

"See you guys later." I give them a wave.

"Grim, can you run back to Ramshackle and make sure nothing's stolen…?" I ask, because I'm… really tired.

"Yeah! And if anything's gone we'll get him again!" He runs off, too. Good. I'm so glad.

"No, are you alright?" Jack asks.

I nod, but, I'm really not. "Yeah, yeah, look, I need my stuff… and...

"I'll go bring Grim back after." Jack says, he looks concerned, but he follows after the fur ball.

"Ehh, you don't look good." Ruggie comments as we head through the dorm mirror.

I sort of fade in and out as we head to the room. I do make sure my stuff is packed again, and snag an outfit as Leona directs me to go take a bath.

It's the best thing I've ever done—actually, I fall asleep over the rim of the tub and it's heavy knocking that wakes me.

"Bunny?" I hear Leona.

"S-sorry." Oh boy am I pruny. But the water's hot, and it's worked out a lot of my aches. I stand up, and get out. Drying off and dressing. I feel okay, at least. I could use food and a nap.

Coming out, I frown a little. "Sorry—I… passed out."

"...Mm…" Leona looks—wait.

I smell…

"I smell meat."

"No shit." Leona replies. "It's some barbecue. C'mon."

I snag the bags, and lug them with me. Again, food, and I get kicked. It's fine.

I'm actually amazed to see a full spread of food—yes that is fresh-grilled deliciousness and the dorm gathered in their communal spaces, chatting. There's some cheering too, when they see me. THAT'S different.

Huh.

It's another daze, and I sort of wake up from my coma with a pile or rib bones in front of me and a piece of delicious, wonderful, tender brisket right in front of my mouth.

"Ohhh…" I sigh out in joy. "Wow…" I take the rag in my hand and wipe up, again, probably. "This is amazing."

"Glad you're back." Ruggie laughs. "You've been in some sort of food trance for twenty minutes."

"Uh—it's good food, yeah." I went into Texas Nirvana, obviously.

Leona's laughing. "You ate more than Grim."

And as I feel Grim's stare of awe at me, he's right.

"I'm hungry after that, can anyone blame me?"

"No." Jack responds, snagging my discarded bone and chowing down.

I.

I'm not surprised. And I don't say shit.

The brisket is gone, and I'm still hungry. Ruggie sits down a fresh plate in front of me. "I don't want to try and fight you, because you threatened a few students already over that brisket." He's laughing.

"...It's called Texas Rage. We get that way." I nod sagely to emphasize my point.

"Noted." Jack replies, chowing down on another.

"Hey! Some of us want bones too!" Grim scowls, and snags another one from the pile.

"Am I the only one not eating bones?" I ask.

"Pfft, like your jaw is made for it, Bunny." Leona grins, going after a rib from his plate—biting bone and all.

Holy.

FUCK.

"Remind me to keep away from your mouths." I murmur, and get back to it.

Oh, yeah, no, all of this bullshit was worth it.