"Whatever your wayward little hearts desire, I personally guarantee that anything and everything is... IN STOCK NOW!"

"Um," Kat said awkwardly, blinking back into the... Shopkeeper's?- Blindingly white grin. "I..."

She looked back over at Deuce again.

It looked like he'd finally caught wind of what was going on. Coming over, he cleared his throat. "Um... We'd like to buy all the items on this list, please," he said politely, proffering the folded piece of notebook paper.

The shopkeeper turned to face him. He stepped away from Kat, taking the list, and Grim jumped out of her arms, running over to Deuce with a grin. "Ooh-- an' I'd also like a couple cans of tuna, too!"

"Hang on," Deuce interjected, putting his fists on his hips and scowling at Grim. "We didn't come here for tuna!"

Turning back to the shopkeeper, he gave a small, polite bow. "Just the things on the list, please."

"Well now-- let's see, let's see..."

The young man flipped open the folded list. He scanned it with a critical eye, raising his eyebrows and nodding. "Fresh cream, eggs, fruit cocktail... Well, well, well! Isn't this quite a sweet lineup!"

He folded the paper in one hand, waving cheerfully. "OKAY! I'll be sure to get everything right away for you!"

Tucking the list away into his jacket, he winked, touching the brim of his hat. Then he turned, striding across the shop and vanishing through a doorway with a tapestry and bead curtains hung haphazardly over it.

"Ohhh..." Deuce's eyes widened in surprise. "I guess he really DOES have that stuff, huh?"

He walked over to Kat, stopping a little ways away from her and looking at her in concern. "Are you okay, Prefect?"

Kat shook her head, looking at him. "Y-Yeah... I'm fine. The dude just kinda jumpscared me a little bit..."

First Crowley, then Lilia, now this guy, she thought. Is it an NRC thing to just pop up out of nowhere like Batman?

She barely had time to complete the thought before the shopkeeper reappeared... From a doorway on the opposite side of the one he'd disappeared into.

"Thank you for waiting!" He announced proudly. He strolled over to what was probably the counter, even though it didn't have a cash register or anything on it. Both his arms were laden with white plastic grocery bags, but he didn't seem to be breaking a sweat, or even so much as a wobble. With another grin, he deposited them on the counter, brushing his hands together.

Kat's eyebrows raised, and she looked at Deuce, who seemed to be just as surprised as she was. "Wow," she commented quietly, following him.

Deuce approached the counter, pulling Trey's wallet out of his pants pocket. "Th-Thank you," he ventured.

"Hey, no problem, little imp!" The shopkeeper replied, spreading his arms magnanimously and winking. "All this is pretty heavy, though... Will you two be able to carry all this?"

"Um-- I think we'll be okay," Deuce said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, Prefect?"

He looked over at Kat, who nodded. "Yeah, I think so," she said. "Thank you, though."

"You sure?" The shopkeeper asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. "As it happens..."

He snapped his fingers. There was a loud whirring sound, like an RC drone, and something zipped out of one of the doors. It zoomed around in a wide circle over their heads.

Kat ducked instinctively, hair blowing in the wind kicked up by the object. It came to a hover at the shopkeeper's side, bobbing slightly.

"...Our one-onehundreth-scale flying saucers are 30% off-- just for today! Whaddya' think? Perfect for carrying groceries!"

The object twirled like a frisbee, making an electronic humming sound. It really did look like a mini flying saucer, all shiny chrome with greenish-blue glowing balls on the bottom.

"Whooooa!" Grim gasped, mouth dropping open as he put his paws on the edge of the counter, staring. "What the heck is that?! Man, that looks awesome!"

"N-No thank you!" Deuce interjected, shaking his head firmly. "Just these, thank you... How much is all this?"

The shopkeeper blinked, looking mildly disappointed, but shrugged. "Well, the customer knows best..." He clicked his fingers again.

The flying saucer did another pass around the room, spinning in a tight circle around Kat. She laughed, ducking again, and it vanished through one of the doors, leaving the hangings flapping in its wake.

The shopkeeper gave her another grin, looking pleased with himself. Then he turned his attention back to Deuce. "That'll be forty madol for all this, my blue-haired friend," he said, leaning an elbow on the counter.

Deuce nodded, thumbing through the wallet. He pulled out a couple of white bills, printed with ornate patterns in black ink. "Here you are," he said, holding them out.

The shopkeeper nodded, taking them and tucking them away somewhere in his jacket.

"THANK you!" He announced, straightening back up and touching his hat again with another wink. "Pleasure doing business with you!"

Deuce bowed politely again, then tucked the wallet back into his pocket, starting to pick up the bags.

Kat tried to help, too, but she only managed to grab three of them before she had to chase after Grim. Cutting in front of him, she blocked his path with her leg before he could run off after the mini UFO.

"HEY!" She scolded, grabbing him by the ribbon with her other hand and picking him up. "No! Customers don't go in the back!"

"Fnyaaagh..." Grim seethed, slumping. "No faaaaaair! I wanted ta' goof off some more before we went back!"

"Too bad," she retorted, tucking him under her other arm. "Trey and Ace are waiting for us. Deuce, do you-- oh..."

When she turned back to Deuce, he'd already picked up all the remaining bags, carrying them in both hands. He looked at her, blinking. "Yes?" He asked.

She shook her head. "N-Nevermind... Looks like you got them already."

"Okay, okay!" Clapping his hands together, the shopkeeper strolled out from behind the counter. Moving across the room, he headed towards the front door. "If you lost lil' lambs are really set on setting off on your merry way, then I guess there's nothing for it!"

Opening the door, he bowed at the waist like a doorman, grinning and winking again. "I'll be waiting eagerly for your next visit, my little imps! Ciao!~"

"Thank you," Deuce smiled, nodding again and walking out the door. Kat followed him, hefting the bags into the crook of her elbow.

Deuce descended the steps, walking onto the path. She had just alighted on the first step when the shopkeeper cleared his throat politely. "Little Miss Imp?"

Kat jumped, turning and blinking. "Y-Yes?" She ventured.

He'd unfolded from his bow, leaning slightly against the door to keep it open with his arms folded. He looked her up and down with bright fuschia eyes. "Word is you're a long way from home," he said, one eyebrow raising.

She shifted, wishing she had one of her hands free so she could do something like fiddle with her hair. "Uh... Seems like it," she said, smiling awkwardly.

Tilting his head, he gave her a sympathetic look. "Really? Must be tough..."

"Eh..." She shrugged, grimacing. "Honestly? I've actually been doing better than I expected. Hopefully I'll keep doing that... Fingers crossed."

The shopkeeper blinked, then laughed, throwing his head back with his hands on his hips. "That's the spirit!" He said, giving her a rakish grin. "Here."

Raising his right hand, he twisted it again, and something popped up-- a rose made of white paper, stem and all.

"Oh! U-Um..." Kat blinked, looking down at Grim, still tucked under her arm, then back at him. "Is... Is that for me?"

"Sure is!" He replied, nodding and proffering the rose.

She shifted the bags to her forearm, reaching out cautiously and taking the flower. Upon closer examination, she realized it was folded out of the piece of notebook paper she'd written the list on. She laughed, twirling it between her fingers and looking up at him. "Thank you!"

"Hey, no worries, little lady!" He grinned back. "The name's Sam, by the way. And you're Kat, right?"

"Yep," she confirmed, nodding again.

Sam nodded back. Then he glanced over his shoulder, frowning slightly like he was listening to something. "Hmm," he said aloud, brows furrowed.

Kat blinked again, she and Grim exchanging another glance. "Um... Are you okay, mister?" Grim asked, giving him a worried look.

Sam blinked, looking around like he'd just remembered they were still there. "Huh? Oh!" He regained his friendly grin, waving a hand. "I'm fine, I'm fine... No need to worry on my account, little fella!"

He looked at Kat again, the grin slipping off into that concerned expression again. "Hmm... Well, actually..."

He looked around, then leaned in, lowering his voice. "My friends on the other side have a message for you."

She blinked. "...Huh?"

"They seem to like you," Sam continued, giving her an approving look. "Say you're a sensitive soul... Not gifted with the sight, exactly, but very open, very receptive. Maybe a little dreamy, bit of a fantasizer, but pretty clever."

"Um... Thank you?" She ventured again, fiddling nervously with the paper rose. "Was that... All of it?"

Sam shook his head. "Nope..."

He leaned in a little more, jerking his head to indicate she should lean in as well. She cast a nervous look over her shoulder at Deuce, standing on the path looking slightly worried. Then she drew a little closer to Sam.

"They're saying to be careful," he said lowly, holding a hand up to his mouth. "Watch out."

Kat blinked again, drawing back and giving Sam a puzzled look. "...That's it?" She asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

Straightening up, Sam shrugged. "Sorry... That's all they're giving me to work with for now. Just a warning... But they'll be keeping an eye on you."

Kat felt a small shiver go up her spine, and she drew back slightly. "Um... Why?"

"Like I said-- they like you!" He replied, quirking an eyebrow and crossing his arms. "Oh-- but don't ask about who or what they are, exactly. They won't answer that... And neither will I, I'm afraid. Family secret!" Leaning against the threshold, he winked.

Kat, who had opened her mouth in preparation to ask that exact question, shut it awkwardly. "O-Okay... Um-- thank you?" She said, giving him a wan smile.

Sam grinned in response, nodding. "Hey-- keep your chin up, huh? You've got a lotta people in your corner-- more than you know. Even those friends of mine are in there now-- and trust me, that's nothing to sneeze at!"

He stepped back, one hand on the doorknob. "Okay, okay, I think I've held you up long enough... Your gentleman friend over there is starting to get antsy." He nodded towards Deuce.

Kat turned, seeing that the boy had drawn a little closer, visibly frowning. Looking back at Sam, she smiled again, nodding and giving a final "Thank you."

Then she turned, hopping down the steps and to Deuce's side. "Hi-- sorry to keep you waiting," she said, crouching down and depositing Grim on the ground.

Deuce looked suspiciously back at Sam, still standing in the threshold and grinning. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" She assured him, taking the paper rose in her free hand and tucking it behind her ear. "Sam just wanted to introduce himself."

Deuce didn't seem convinced, giving Sam one last suspicious look before shrugging. "Okay, if you say so..."

He started walking, with Kat keeping pace beside him. Grim ran out in front, strolling on his hind legs with his front paws crossed behind his head.

"Bye-bye!" Sam called, waving. "I'll be looking forward to your next visit, my little imps!"

Grim shuddered, looking nervously back at him. "That guy's kinda creepy," he muttered, ears drooping.

Kat shrugged. "Nah, I don't think so... A little mysterious, sure, but he seemed nice! He's got fun vibes."

"Hmph," Grim scoffed, flicking his tail. "Guess there's no accountin' for taste..."

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head at the sky, smiling dryly.

The trio walked down Main Street, towards the statues of the Great Seven.

The sun was starting to set, turning the sky a beautiful pale lavender and casting the campus in light purple shadows. Students were walking here and there along the paved paths, going to and from club activities and hangout spots. The air hummed with the sound of quiet chatter, and the occasional peal of laughter.

Deuce looked over at Kat. "That shop sure was amazing, though, right?" He asked, smiling.

She nodded. "Sure was!"

"Tch..." Grim muttered, glowering back at them. "Yeah, an' Deuce is one amazing cheapskate..."

"HEY!" Deuce objected, glaring. "Who are you calling a cheapskate?! I'm not gonna blow Clover-senpai's money on dumb stuff, you know!"

"Yeah, Grim-- leave him alone," Kat scolded, hoisting the bags up onto her shoulder with a grunt. "Ouch..."

Deuce blinked, looking over at her. "Oh... Hey, Prefect, looks like you've got the bag with all the cans," he said. "Isn't that heavy?"

Kat shrugged. "Eh... I'm fine," she replied.

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking worried. "I can take it for you, if you want..."

"No, it's fine!" She replied, shaking her head. "You're the one with both hands full, it's fine."

"No, really!" Deuce insisted, drawing closer. "I have a trick for carrying heavy bags. Trust me!"

Kat blinked, then gave a quiet snort of laughter, shaking her head. "Okay, okay... Twist my arm about it, why don'tcha?"

Grinning, she held out the bag, and Deuce took it.

"Thanks," she smiled. "I didn't know there was some kind of trick for that, though..."

"Yeah," Deuce sighed, hefting the bags. "My mom always goes crazy over sales at the supermarket... Of course, the bags always end up getting super heavy."

He shook his head, getting a small, nostalgic smile on his face. "I'm the man of the house, so of course I'd do all the heavy lifting, and--"

Catching her eye, he blushed, coughing and looking away. "Oh-- S-sorry... Didn't mean to talk your ear off there."

Kat snorted again, putting the side of her hand to her mouth. "No, it's fine..."

Man, this kid was cute. So earnest and straightforward... She wanted to ruffle his hair.

Putting her head to one side, she smiled. "Sounds like you take good care of your mom, huh?"

Deuce blinked. Then he looked down, face darkening. "N-No," he muttered, voice going low and a little bit rough. "That's not it... It's not like that. Not at all. The truth is, I... Me and my mom..."

Someone practically jumped out from behind the statue of the King of Beasts.

Deuce ran straight into them, rebounding hard and falling backwards. "Ah!" He exclaimed, landing in a crumpled sitting position and wincing.

At the same moment, there was a loud, wet crunch as the bags he was holding went scattering across the flagstones.

"MYARGH!" Grim yelped, jumping. "N-No way... The eggs!"

"D-Deuce!" Kat blurted, hurrying forward. "Are you okay?"

Deuce cursed, clenching his fist and pounding it against the ground. "Dammit..."

Shaking his head, he looked up at her, scowling. "I-I'm fine, but... The whole carton of eggs is smashed!"

Sure enough, the bag was crumpled, leaking a runny mixture of clear and yellow goo.

The person he'd run into reeled back, shaking their head. "OW!" They growled, whirling on the prone Deuce. "Where the hell do you think you're-- H-HEY!"

Their eyes widened, and they stepped back. "Wait a minute... You're the bunch'a punks who broke the yolk in my carbonara at lunch!"

Kat looked over, cursing quietly. "Shit..."

It was the bleach-haired, unkempt delinquent from the cafeteria. He crossed his arms, scowling meanly.

"Hey, hey-- it IS you!" Another voice drawled. The reddish-haired bully strolled out from behind the statue of the Lord of the Underworld, hands in his pockets. "Man, you've got some nerve, huh?"

Deuce stiffened, face darkening. Then he got slowly and deliberately to his feet, brushing down the front of his jacket without taking his eyes off the pair in front of them.

"You were the ones who suddenly jumped out at us from around a corner, senpai," he muttered, jaw clenching. "And you tried to pick a fight with us over an egg that you could've still eaten, too... And now you've destroyed six of OUR eggs?"

"Yeah, yeah, he's RIGHT!" Grim agreed, putting his paws on his hips and glaring. "What were you thinkin', huh?! What, you're not even gonna say sorry?!"

The bleached-hair bully raised his eyebrows, exchanging a look with the smaller red-haired one. "Huh? What's that?" He asked in a theatrically wounded voice, drawing back and putting a hand to his chest. "You're sayin' it's all OUR fault or somethin'?"

"Yes," Deuce responded flatly, crossing his arms. "That's right. I am. Please reimburse us for the cost of those eggs... And then apologize to the chickens."

"Haaah?" The red-haired one sneered, stepping a little closer. "What's all this, what's all this? You tryin' to start a fight or somethin'? Kicking up such a big fuss over a few stupid eggs..."

Deuce stiffened again. Kat saw his shoulders rise, and his hands started working, fists clenching and unclenching. "...Huh?" His voice muttered quietly.

The taller bully grinned, putting a hand on his hip as he strolled a little closer. "C'mon... It's not like they've even touched the ground yet, so you can still eat 'em!" He laughed. "What's with all the whinin'?"

The shorter one nodded, grinning. "Yeah, yeah-- we've just saved you the trouble of crackin' em, is all! Heck, you should be thankin' us!"

They caught each other's eye. Then they burst into laughter, slapping each other on the shoulder and throwing their heads back.

Deuce growled quietly, and Kat saw his clenched fists starting to tremble slightly. He mumbled something she couldn't make out.

The bleached-hair one tilted his head, looking down at him. "Huh?" He sneered, cocking an eyebrow. "What'd you say, little first-year?"

Suddenly, Deuce exploded. He jumped forward, grabbing the delinquent's disheveled collar and yanking him down to face level. "I SAID-- WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LAUGHIN', HUH?!" He demanded, yelling in the guy's face. "IT AIN'T UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHAT'S A BIG DEAL OR NOT, JACKASS!"

Kat jumped, taking a few involuntary steps back. She exchanged a startled look with Grim and the red-haired bully.

Deuce shoved the taller delinquent roughly, making him stumble back. Head still lowered, he started cracking his knuckles, slowly and deliberately. "Hey... Did ya know? About these eggs..."

The delinquents exchanged baffled looks, drawing back a little. "Kn... Know what?" The red-haired one ventured.

" 'Stead a' growin' up into chickens... They were S'POSED TO BECOME A DELICIOUS TART!" Deuce yelled again, raising his head. Stepping forward, he pointed, driving the tip of his finger into the taller bully's chest. "Do ya get it NOW?! HUH?! Because of YOU, now these eggs don't get to be ANYTHING!"

"Gweh!" The red-haired punk yelped, skittering back and going pale. "Wh-what's WITH this guy all of a sudden?!"

He looked over at Kat, panicked. "H-Hey, lady! Get your boyfriend under control, okay?!"

"He's--" Kat began, but Deuce interrupted, shouting again. "I ain't her FUCKIN' BOYFRIEND, SCUMBAG! SHE'S the Prefect of the RAMSHACKLE DORM, who I LOOK UP TO AN' RESPECTA LOT! She came ALL THIS WAY with me to carry all this junk, an' NOW..."

He growled again, shaking his head angrily. "You owe us SIX eggs," he muttered, stepping forward. "If you ain't gonna pay us back for 'em..."

He slammed his fist hard into his other palm, yelling at the top of his lungs. "THEN I GUESS I'LL JUST HAFTA' BEAT YOUR SORRY ASSES SIX TIMES OVER!"

Sam: *Tries to get the gang to buy a UFO, communes with spirits, drops cryptic hints, refuses to elaborate* Chad move tbh.

DEUCE FINALLY SNAPPED LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

*Steve Harvey voice*

YES! K I L L !!!!!!!

I'm splitting the chapter a little differently than how it goes in the app. I'll leave it here at this dramatic cliffhanger, then put the actual fight in the next one. And yeah, I'll actually write the fight this time.

I want to write as much as I can of Deuce getting tired of being nice and going apeshit.

Plus, I think I need more practice writing fight scenes, 'cause I'm working off and on on another TWST-related story with a very fighty, scrappy character/OC and I really like that about her, but I'm not confident in my abilities to write that yet.