Twisted Wonderland x Reader (One-Shots)

𝔼𝕡𝕖𝕝 𝔽𝕖𝕝𝕞𝕚𝕖𝕣 ~ ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟

Stepping down the beautiful halls of the Pomefiore dorm upon emerging from the shimmering mirror, you can hear Vil's scolding voice clearer with each stride towards the main lounge; nearer, you walk, and nearer.

And now, you've walked so far that you are now there... standing just outside the doorframe of the lounge where you can see every beautiful thing that fashions the room. It all seems to glitter and shine as the light hits each fracture. It's beautiful and breathtaking, but at the same time... a little overwhelming.

You lean your head forward, peering further into the room. You can now clearly see Epel, Vil, and Rook standing together at the corner. Vil is standing close to Epel—perhaps too close, even—with his handsome scowl and tense fists gripping the fabrics Epel wears. Rook stands more to a distance, separate from the two responsible for the tensive atmosphere.

Epel stands between Vil and Rook, his head tilted up and glaring at the tall, demeaning dorm leader. His effortless beauty is striking, even despite his current scowl. And—oh! What lovely attire he had on! A costume meant for the upcoming Halloween celebration that you have heard vaguely about. The fabric is of a deep purple that seem to match perfect with the dormitory's staple colors, with floral patterns all around and all adorned in chains that glitter, and complete with a long cape and high boots. Every detail is elaborate and created with fine care. It is gorgeous but... perhaps, also, too much. At least, you think so, for you are certain that such intricacy is not to Epel's taste.

In concern, you step into the lounge, yet immediately regret doing so. It strikes you now that perhaps your presence here is a bit inappropriate. With Vil and Epel at each other... it seems unfit for you to stumble in.

But... Epel had asked you to come, hadn't he? So the others must expect you, yes?

You press your lips together, hoping so, as you lean your back against the wall beside the door frame, wishing to blend in and wishing you could have something else to focus on other than the grueling banter.

But how can you possibly put your attention on anything else? You had heard Vil even before entering the lounge, and his harsh words against the way Epel had worn the costume he'd fashioned accompanied by his hard handling in the way his hands fixed it upon Epel's body... It makes you flinch, and you are the one furthest away.

Rook, on occasion, as you notice, attempts to ease the rising tension and pass Epel a sparing compliment to reel away his growing frustration. But Rook goes overheard, and you, as well, begin to feel the fever of the argument. You try and fix your eyes onto Rook, for at least his air is calm and free of care for much of the aggression in the room.

Rook looks to you and smiles. Are his eyes communicating something that he wishes to speak? You think so, but he pulls his attention away from you in an instant and focuses once more on Vil's criticism of Epel.

Hopeless, all you can do is stand back and bite your tongue as the brutal exchange goes on.

~'~

And, fortunately, it did not last long.

You watch as both Vil and Rook leave the room, and you give a polite nod toward the passing two, though avoiding all eye contact.

You see Epel still standing in the same spot, looking at you, expecting you, and you walk towards him as the aggression leaves his body with every short breath.

With compassion in your eyes, you try a gentle smile, "Vil is mean, isn't he?" you say softly with care, and Epel looks to you in alarm, almost lost in your stare. He would never expect you to say such a thing in Vil's regard, however passive of a thing it was, but now you have said so, and he gazes with parted, plush lips to the fondness of your concern.

"Very much..." is all he says; his voice a whisper in the air with a tone of clarity and flair.

The strings that hold your gaze in his are growing taut and tense as your pupils shake and fixate from the right eye to the left.

And you feel it, suddenly; the depth you somehow share. You feel it and look down quickly but break that intensive stare.

"I'm sorry.." you try to say, but the words can barely come, for you suddenly feel so shy as your throat closes up. It aches you, and it suffocates you, but you fight pass that white lump that feels forced inside your lungs, "I'm sorry you have to deal with him for so long."

Heat rises to your face. Oh, why are you this way? Why do you get nervous and unraveled when you have but little to say?

You don't sense much as your heavy thoughts seem to seize your very breath, but fighting panic, you fill your chest with a deep inhale of a cooling fragrance from the dorm, releasing it slowly in attempt to calm your nervous storm. Epel takes a step your way, and you hear the heels of his boots give a delightful "clink". How very much like Vil you think as the heels tap in sync.

Epel, now standing so close to you, spills what he never could before, "H-He is always this way, and every time I think that I have accepted it, I.... I find myself growing angry again," he touches your shoulder, you feel the room a little warmer, the atmosphere a little woozier, "But thank you for coming," you hear his smile, "you always bring me back down. You always put me in a better mood. I'm not sure why."

You say nothing but look up into his glittering blue eyes. You grin, and the gentleness withheld in his expression melts you and makes you eager all at once. You wrap an arm around his waist and search his gaze.

Thank you the words don't even need to be said as Epel pulls you to an embrace.