Chapter Text
“Wait, what?!”
The noise of the gymnasium tittered down quietly, everyone having turned towards Clawd.
He was currently gripping a piece of paper, growling only slightly.
Today, everyone had formed a line in the school gym, awaiting to see who they’d be rooming with. Monster High had just recently introduced dorms, which had soon become mandatory. Every ghoul and monster found themselves now living at the student dorms, which in turn came with some students having to room together.
Now, Clawd isn’t one to complain, really, he isn’t. However, he just hadn’t expected, or even thought of the possibility, that his roommate would be..
Valentine.
Draculaura had soon started walking towards him after his outburst, concerned for his sudden reaction. No one had uttered a word since he spoke, it was a bit embarrassing if he wasn’t so busy worrying.
“Clawd, what’s the matter? You’re holding up the line, come and talk to me over here.”
She guided him a little ways off to the side of the line, just barely out of earshot of the others. Taking the piece of paper from his hands, she let out a quiet gasp while reading over the words.
Looking back up at him, she smiled slightly, “There’s nothing to be too worried about, sweetie. He apologized to us, remember?”
Growling ever so slightly, Clawd crossed his arms. Draculaura huffed.
“Really, Clawd. We accepted his apology, you were more than happy to dance with him at the party. What’s up with you?”
Clawd sighed, digging his claws into the sleeves of his jacket, “I just.. there’s a difference between accepting his apology, and living with him.”
She rolled her eyes, rolling up the paper and smacking him with it. If he wasn’t so upset, he would have chuckled at it, reminding him of his sister.
“You are so dramatic, Val- Kieran, is better now. You know this.”
“I guess you’re right.. it can’t be that ba-”
A few yelps could be heard from the line, causing the two to glance towards the commotion. There at the front was Valentine himself.
From what Clawd could tell, he hadn’t looked quite happy with the arrangements either. If the clouds snickering and disrupting other people in the line around him was anything to go by off of.
With a slight whine, Clawd hunched over, Draculaura rubbing his back softly; “Great, just great..”
Valentine couldn’t believe the day he was having.
Firstly, his hair just wasn’t cooperating. He chose to believe it was those pesky clouds’ fault, despite their ‘maybe you’re just ugly’ defensive comments. Secondly, he found out he wasn’t going to be one of the students who got a single dorm, which in itself isn’t that bad.
However, he likes to think of himself as a high-maintenance person, and he knows that doesn’t translate over well with people who don’t know him.
Thirdly- no, Valentine was tired of listing. Everything was going wrong, his roommate is Clawd.
He should feel happy, really. He’s started getting along better with everyone, especially after apologizing at that party. They were friends.
So why did he feel so uneasy?
Clawd was his friend, he thought. So how come ever since that party, despite them becoming closer, he feels just as distant as he was before he’d even set foot onto Monster High grounds.
It wasn’t that Clawd was scary- well, he was intimidating. Big, strong, wolf. It was hard not to be a little intimidated, but he wasn’t scary. So why was it that Valentine always felt nervous around him, like he wasn’t entirely welcomed?
Maybe that normie myth was right, Clawd should outwardly invite Valentine in, maybe that’d make him feel better around the wolf.
No, that’s stupid. Valentine sighed, he’s been feeling more stupid since he decided to be a better person. It feels better, being nice, really it does.. but it also feels dumb.
Clawd hadn’t seemed too thrilled about being his roommate either, maybe he really doesn’t forgive him.
He was probably just going along with what Draculaura wanted, but even he didn’t deserve Draculauras forgiveness, let alone Clawds.
Now that he mentioned it, the two were whispering an awful lot over there, probably about him. Clawd is probably talking about him right now, maybe he wanted to beat him up. Draculaura is in on it too, her forgiveness was just a set-up, and they were both planning on- okay, no.
He clicked his tongue, walking out of the line while shoving his paper into his bag. He needed to get a hold of himself, he’s started to be so self conscious lately.
Walking over to the two, he put on his best smile, letting his accent take over.
“Hey, sugar, Clawd, what are you two doin’ over here?”
Clawd visibly tensed, and Valentine held in a sigh.
“Kieran! We were.. Clawd was just telling me how excited he is to be your roommate!”
Valentine cocked his head to the side slightly, glancing between the two; “Really?” He winced slightly, he really didn’t sound too sure of her statement.
“Uh, yeah man. It’s gonna be great, just us two bros rooming together. I’ll even teach you how to play ball if you want.”
Valentine calmed slightly, his smile becoming more natural, “Well, I wouldn’t consider myself an athlete, let’s leave that to the big fellas like yourself.”
Draculaura giggled, “Yeah honey, sports aren’t exactly vampires’ thing. Well, our thing, Skating was fun, but I’m more of a cheer ghoul myself.”
Valentine watched Clawd wink at her, only feeling a little pang in his chest, maybe for a relationship like theirs?
“You’re the best cheerleader there, ‘Laura.”
She continued to bashfully giggle, before Valentine spoke up again; “You know, I never have gotten the chance to see you cheer, or you play. Maybe I could come next time?”
Before Clawd could protest, Draculaura spoke up, “That would be wonderful, Kieran! It’d be great to have another person cheering Clawd on, he likes the praise, don’t you?”
Valentine watched her scratch under his chin, and while Clawd looked like he was trying to resist giving in, whatever willpower he had didn’t seem to last after he started panting.
He could almost gag at how sickeningly sweet it was, if he wasn’t so jealous of their relationship. If he hadn't treated so many ghouls poorly in the past, he might have had a chance with someone now.
“Well, it was nice speaking to you both, it’s best I head on my way now.”
Clawd perked up slightly, “Ah, wait. Since we’re.. roommates now, let's head up to our dorm together?”
Valentine paused, drawing in a breath, before nodding.
Draculaura just smiled at the two of them, taking out her phone; “You boys have fun, send me pictures of your room sweetie! Bye, kisses!”
Their dorm was, in short, not half bad.
It was spacious, clearly, seeing as there’d be two occupants. Two beds, undecorated-along with the rest of the room-and overall pretty clean.
Valentine loved it, Clawd however didn’t.
“It’s so clean in here, too clean.”
Valentine let out a chuckle, “No such thing as too clean, hound. What did you expect?”
Clawd glared a bit before huffing.
“I’m just used to home, it’s pretty messy there.”
Valentine hummed, going to unpack his boxes that Clawd had helped him bring upstairs. He was particularly excited to make his bed, it was too bare for his liking at the moment. He wanted to liven things up with his silk sheets, his soft blankets, and his lace canopy.
What could he say, he was a lavish vampire.
As he got his bedding out, Clawd seemed preoccupied with his own belongings. Placing trophies on the window sill, kicking his shoes off, anything except making his bed.
“Your bed is so.. girly.”
Valentine perked up from tucking his blanket in, “Bedding doesn’t have a gender, wolf. Plus, it’s quite comfortable.”
“.. Comfortable?”
“Mm, that’s what I said, didn’t I?”
Clawd continued to stare at him, making Valentine a bit uncomfortable. He couldn’t exactly explain why.
Letting out a nervous laugh, Valentine started to fluff his pillow; “You plan on blowing my house down, big bad and tough over there?”
“I thought vampires slept in coffins.”
Valentine let out a hum, “Well, some do. I used to. However, I’ve learned to appreciate the comfort of non-vampire sleeping habits.”
Turning towards Clawd, he crossed his arms.
“I assume you don’t sleep in a dog bed?”
“Hey man, that’s not-”
Valentine started laughing, “Quit your yipping, I was merely joking. Not all vampires sleep in coffins, and not all cute little puppies sleep in doggy beds.”
He doesn’t know why he said that, why he’s purposely choosing to aggravate Clawd. It’s definitely not helping his nervousness, especially with the low growl that came from Clawds side of the room.
Instead of saying anything as silence filled between the two of them, he instead chose to turn back around to his bed.
It was getting quite late, perhaps he should change into his pajamas. Turning on his heel, he located his clothing box and started rummaging through it. After a few moments, he found the set he was thinking of.
It was silk, of course. A nice dark red, which he’s been told suited him. Just a comfortable, button up shirt, and some shorts. Nothing too extravagant.
Setting the clothes out on his bed, he started removing his jabot. He heard some rustling behind him, but paid no mind to it. Clawd was a grown boy, he didn’t need to be too concerned with whatever the pup was doing.
Only when he started removing his jacket, and pulling his shirt down his shoulders, did he tense up when the other shouted.
“What are you doing?!”
Valentine quickly turned towards Clawd, alarmed; “Um, changing into my pajamas? What’s your problem?”
“My problem? It’s not even that late, and you didn’t even warn a guy.”
“Sugar, I hate to surprise you, but you change in a locker room with more men than I can count.”
Clawd narrowed his eyes, before turning away, “That’s different.”
Valentine raised a brow, before bristling.
“Oh, I see.”
“Good.”
“You feel like I’m trying to seduce you.”
“Ye- what?! No!”
Valentine huffed, buttoning his shirt up again, “That’s just like you. All you people can do is assume I’m here to taint your minds.”
“It’s not like that, Val, really.”
He laughed bitterly, grabbing his pajamas.
“You meet one gay man and suddenly you think you’re the center of their world. Well, read my lips and listen carefully when I say this,”
Valentine stalked towards Clawd, learning down into his face.
“I’m not interested.”
With that, he stormed out of their dorm, slamming the door behind him, leaving a disgruntled Clawd behind.