Iridescence | Y! TWST x Reader

✦╣Labradorite - 5╠✦

The day's exhaustion drapes over you like a heavy shroud, making each step laden as though your limbs were made of stones. Your fingers press against your temples, gently rubbing away the tension as you trudge forward. Fatigue stings behind your eyelids with a relentless burn that shows no sign of fading.

You mutter a string of curses as you trail after Grim, who marches ahead with a single-minded resolve. All prior attempts to convince him to wait in the cafeteria had been stubbornly swatted aside, leaving you here– swept up in an impromptu manhunt for a responsibility-dodging redhead.

Your shoes clack against the polished flooring as you and Grim speed into the Hall of Mirrors, led here by the surprisingly helpful guidance of a sentient painting.

In front of you, seven towering mirrors line the walls, each wreathed with ornate carvings: their reflections shimmering softly with swirling hues of enchantment.

Their salient displays are enough to make you pause, but Grim bounds forward, completely unfazed.

"Yeah, right," a voice mutters nearby, catching your attention.

"Like I'm gonna wash a hundred windows. I'll just head back and–"

There. Not far from one of the grand mirrors, you spot him– Ace Trappola. His back is turned as he strolls away, unaware of your and Grim's pursuit.

Before you can call out, Grim's voice cuts through the air. "Aha! Gotcha, punk!"

Ace startles, spinning around to face you both. His eyes dart between you and Grim before his expression melts into one of amused defiance.

"Stop right there, pal!" Grim growls, his tail whipping fiercely behind him. "S'not fair gettin' a head start! Wait!"

Without missing a beat, Ace retorts, "Wait? Who in their right mind would ever wait? Seeya!" With that he gives a cheeky wave and dashes away.

Grim snarls, ears twitching with frustration. "No way you're gettin' out of this! You think I wanna wash windows?!"

Suddenly, a boy with blue hair is shoved out of Ace's way.

"Hey! What gives?!" he yells, stumbling as he tries to regain his balance.

You glance at the boy before calling out to him in a rushed plea, "Please, stop him!"

The boy turns to you, wide-eyed, "You want me to use a spell? Like– Freeze his legs? Bind him in rope?" He fumbles for ideas, clearly flustered.

"Or maybe–"

Grim cuts him off impatiently, "I don't care how! Just do something! Anything!"

The boy jumps, "Anything?! Anything– uhm... All right!" He pulls a pen from his jacket pocket and points it toward the ceiling.

"I summon thee... something heavy!"

For a tense moment, nothing happens. Then, with a sudden wham, a large cauldron materializes out of thin air and crashes into Ace. The sound of its heavy landing reverberates throughout the hallway, making you wince.

"Wha– A cauldron?!" Ace wheezes, his voice muffled beneath its weight.

You gasp, horrified by how close that cauldron was to seriously injuring him. You rush to Ace's side, kneeling beside him as you help him push the pot off. His breath comes in ragged gasps as he struggles to sit up, his expression lined with shock and irritation.

In your panic, you grab Ace's face, your hands trembling slightly.

"Are you okay?! Are you hurt anywhere?" you ask, worry flooding your voice. Your fingers comb through his hair, cautiously feeling for any signs of blood or swelling.