Iridescence | Y! TWST x Reader

✦╣Labradorite﹣4╠✦

You rub your arms, trying to chase away a lingering chill as the pale morning sun filters through the moth-eaten drapes. Thin beams dance weakly across the room, dousing it in a fragile warmth. The feeling fleeting yet familiar– a quiet reassurance that transcends even this strange world. Across the room, Grim lays curled in a snug ball atop the strained bed, eyes resting in blissful unawareness.

You let out a tired sigh, rubbing your eyes softly. The grim truth of where you were settled, slow and smothering, now that there were no distractions left to shield you. Fear and dread swaddled you tightly as though it were a second skin you couldn't peel away. Your hand drifts to your stomach, a hollow ache stirring as thoughts of past regrets and missed chances surface once more.

You wished they were here– your love. The ache deepens at the thought of them. How you longed to share this moment with them, share this new chapter of your life. You imagined their surprise, how they'd gently cup your face and smile, soft and full of conviction. Their reassurances would be like whispered blessings, sweet and steadfast. You see their hands in yours, steady and certain, their embrace a sanctuary of safety and strength.

A pained, bitter chuckle escapes before you can stop it, quickly followed by a tear slipping down your cheek.

You needed them. More than anything.

But you could do this. For them. For them both. You had to.

The sharp slam of the dormitory door jolts you back to reality. Your breath catches, and you blink before shaking your head, pushing away the lingering shadows of melancholy as you rise from the armchair.

Whether you were prepared or not, the day surged forward, with your onerous responsibilities looming close behind it.

✦✦✦

Your footsteps echoed against the cobblestone pathway as your gaze swept the campus, searching for the landmarks Crowley had described. From the Front Gates to the Library– this was where you and Grim were expected to begin your janitorial duties. Beside you, Grim bounded along, his excitement impossible to miss.

"Wow, so this is Main Street, huh? This is incredible!" Grim exclaimed, eyes sparkling as he took in the grand displays around him.

"I didn't get to see much of it yesterday!" His head darted from side to side, as though he was afraid to miss even the smallest detail.

You glanced at him, imagining what this moment must mean to him. For all his bravado, Grim seemed genuinely awestruck at it all. Though, it wasn't hard to imagine that stepping foot on campus had been a dream of his long before your arrival here.

His steps faltered suddenly; his attention snagged by something ahead. Curious, you followed his gaze and found yourself staring at a line of statues, tall and commanding, their stone faces glistening in the sunlight. Their polished surfaces showed meticulous care, and each figure stood distinct– some with humanlike features, others blending with animalistic traits.

"What's the deal with these seven statues?" Grim muttered, tilting his head as he studied them.

"They all look pretty scary."

You moved closer, letting your gaze trace the intricate details carved into the stone. Their stances and expressions spoke of authority; some stern, others regal, but they were all purposeful in their own way. However, one in particular had caught Grim's attention– a queen, captured mid-curtsy, her smile edged with both grace and menace.

"Like this lady here," Grim said, jabbing a paw toward her. "She looks like she's got some reeeal anger management issues."

You frowned at his comment, opening your mouth to scold him for his rudeness, when a voice suddenly cut through the air behind you.