Twisted Wonderland x (Todoroki) Reader

The Lord of Malevolence

-3rd POV-

"You're a smart guy, so you're anticipating what comes next and blanching at the thought, right? I can relate. I remember something I had just as much trouble processing. It was when you guys ran out and faced Riddle when he overblotted." Cater said.

"What...?" Ace looked at him.

"I'd never seen an overblot before. The sheer pressure of the vibes Riddle was giving off had me sweating bullets. My throat went dry. All I could think about was how we didn't stand a chance, how we had to get away. But..." He trailed off, recalling what he said during the overblot.

"So what, you're not even gonna fight unless you know you can win?"

"It felt like a smack to the face when you called me out. You were seriously cool. And I felt like a loser in comparison. You guys being there was the reason I fought instead of running. I never said it back then, so I'll say it now..."

"Thank you. So...mind if I borrow you line?" He smiled, "So what, you're not even gonna fight unless you know you can win?"

Ace's eyes widen.

"If I'm being honest, I'm p. scared of fighting Malleus myself. But we're not crying children lost in the woods, unable to find our way home. And waiting for someone else to save the day isn't our style, right? So let's buckle down and do this together. We're not gonna settle for being weak. Are we, Ace?!"

"Ha..." He stared to laugh, tearing up, "Cater-senpai, come on...How is that fair? Running now would make me a pathetic coward to end all pathetic cowards...Okay, okay...Fine. I'll wake up from the stupid dream!"

The upperclassman extended his hand to him, "Attaboy! Take my hand. I'll pull you up!"

"Ace? What's gotten into you?" Trey said.

"You're not siding with a Cay-Cay-postor, are you?" The dream Cater said, both tugging him back into the darkness.

"Agh..." Ace struggled, "Quit tugging at me! You're the imposters here, not him!"

"Ace! Are you seriously gonna betray us and abandon us?" Deuce said.

"That amounts to treason for a card soldier! It's absolutely unpardonable!" Riddle said.

"What?! I wasn't even on your side! And I'm not your card soldier!" The freshman exclaimed.

"Yeeeaaargh! What did you say?! If you refuse to listen, I will have your head!" He pushed his head under the ink.

"Gah! Can't breathe...Urgh...!"

"So heavy..." The real Cater tugged his arms, "Keep at it, Ace! One more push!"

"Let me go...You...Aaagh!" He let out a yell, as he finally woke up. He huffed, now wearing his Heartslabyul dorm uniform, "Ah, man! I'm so lightheaded...!" He winced.

He chuckled, "Finally awake, are we? G'morning, Ace-chan."

"I'm only up 'cuz you dragged me out kicking and screaming! You're seriously mean!"

"Don't let Ace escape! Him and the impostor...Off with both of their heads!" Dream Riddle said.

"Yes, housewarden!" The other three said.

"Ack, they're rushing us! What's the plan, Cater-senpai?!" The freshman said.

"Don't worry, Cay-Cay's got this." He looked off to the shrubbery, "Leona! (N/n)-chan! Everyone! A little help here?!"

"What's this? I thought you wanted us to stay out of it." Leona smirked, as they all walked up.

"Just for the Ace-chan part. Having to face down the housewarden and vice housewarden changes things!"