Archive of Our Own ^beta

Cater said that he’d rather have a ton of shallow relationships than to have a small group of close friends.

Ace knew that was bullshit.

How did he know that? Well, he’d say it probably started pretty early in the year. Just a bit after Riddle’s overblot.

_—_—_

“Do you know where Cater is?” Ace had asked casually. He doesn’t really remember how the conversation got started, but Cater’s absence was brought up none the less. He didn’t really care either way, but Ace still asked.

“Oh, he’s just holed up in his room.” Trey had responded. The way he said it, with a heavy sigh leaving his lips. Like there was something more to it. It caught Ace’s attention.

Ace didn’t consider himself and Cater to be friends. Just people in the same dorm who knew each other well enough to talk to sometimes. Even if taking down Riddle together did help them get closer. They weren’t friends. And yet, the way Trey said those simple words… Ace couldn’t help but push further. There was something more going on that he was going to find out.

“Why’d ya say it like that?” Ace asked upfront. “Is there something wrong with him?”

Trey seemed to realize in that moment that he had let his true feelings slip a bit more than he wanted, and started to backtrack. Typical. “What? No, no, you’ve got it wrong, Ace. Cater’s fine. It’s just that sometimes… Well, sometimes he needs space. And at that point, there’s nothing else to do than give it to him, is all. He’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

Ace narrowed his eyes. That sounded like bullshit. Ace knew that Trey had a habit of… covering, for people he was close to. That if he gives them enough gentle support, then someday things’ll turn around. Or at the very least, not go to shit. And this? This reeked of that.

It was like he was saying that he was waiting for Cater to come to him. And maybe it was just because it was still so close to Riddle’s overblot, where Ace had personally witnessed, and even played a part in, that fallout, that right then, right there, Ace decided. There was something going on with Cater. Trey wasn’t doing anything about it. Ace was.

Of course, Ace knew it probably wasn’t as bad as the shit that Riddle had going on. In fact, it was definitely better than Riddle’s shit, but still. Ace was going to go hang out with Cater. Just because Trey wouldn’t.

Of course, it’d be to suspicious if Ace immediately got up and walked away, Trey would definitely stop him, so Ace just sighed, as if he was giving up. “Whatever you say, man.” Ace shook his head slightly.

Trey looked relieved. Ace thought he was a pussy. “That’s good. Don’t worry about the troubles of your upperclassmen.” Trey said. Ace thought, ‘too late.’

Their conversation carried on. Ace doesn’t remember the rest. What he does remember, when he got up to leave, how he pulled out his phone and pulled up Cater’s contact.

Ace: I’m coming over to your room. You better not be doing anything weird when I get there

Ace put his phone back in his pocket, ignoring how it buzzed with Cater’s responses. ‘Too late’ he thought once more. He’s already on his way, and very few things could stop him right now.

_—_—_

It took awhile to remember where exactly Cater’s room was, and the fact that the dorm had a habit of changing which doors led where and it’s annoying layout in general did in fact, not help.

But, standing outside Cater’s door, Ace had finally found it.

Ace knocked on the door. “Hey, Cater, I’m here.” He said.

“What are you doing here?!” Cater asked. Ace could tell that he was frazzled by Ace’s sudden declaration. Fair enough, in all honestly.

Ace opened his mouth, words on the tip of his tongue. What is he doing here? He just had the vague plan of “confront Cater” but what did that really entail?

“Just wanted to hang out.” Ace decided on. He needs to find out what’s wrong with Cater before he can confront him on whatever’s wrong with him, after all.

“Just-” Ace could hear Cater sigh from beyond the door. “That’s all? Listen, your cool upperclassman Cay-Cay can play with you another day. Isn’t it just about time for you to turn in anyway?”

Ace briefly checked his phone. He had this planned out, but it still felt good to double check. “I’ve got like forty-five minutes. Now, are you gonna let me in or am I gonna have to do it myself?”

“Do it- Ace! I just told you to leave!” Cater pleaded from the other side of the door.

“Too late.” Ace said aloud, pulling out a bobby pin. “I mean, you’re not doing anything weird, right?”

“Wha- no!” Cater responded.

“Then it’s fine!” Ace said, sticking the pin in the keyhole, playing around with the mechanics to open it. “Since you’re not gonna open your door for me, I guess that means I’ll just have to do it myself!”

It took Ace a couple seconds to get the lock to open itself, but he eventually found the right combination. A sneaking suspicion formed in the back of his mind that very much like the doors themselves, deciding that they lead to the dining room now, actually, that the locks would switch themselves on occasion just for the fun of it. Well, whatever, it’ll be a fun challenge, in case he ever has to break into Cater’s room again.

“I’m coming in!” Ace announced himself, as he opened the door.

Inside, he found Cater, halfway across the room, most likely to close the door shut so that Ace couldn’t get in. Bit too late for that one now. Cater was in his pajamas, wearing his hair down, and he had on a cardigan. As Ace looked around, he realized that he’s never been in Cater’s room before. And suddenly this interaction got a whole lot more awkward. Welp, too late to get cold feet now.

The two of them just stood there for a few moments, locking eyes. The only movement was of Ace closing the door behind him, the light from the hallways outside leaving with his chance of escape.

“...You know how to pick locks?” Was what Cater eventually decided on.

“Uhh, yeah. Taught myself awhile back. Thought it’d be a cool skill to learn. And hey, might come in handy someday.” Ace responded.

The awkwardness hung in the air of the room like a disease.

After a few more tense moments, Cater eventually sighed. He walked back over to he bed and plopped himself down in a sitting position.

He rubbed his face a couple times and then said, “Y’know? Whatever. Just,” He took a deep breath in and out, then plastered on his best smile and cheery voice. “Sorry, Acey. Cay-Cay doesn’t feel like talking right now. So if you really want to stay, then you’ll just have to stay in silence, kay? Or I will have to tell Riddle. Sound good?”

Ace looked at Cater. All the lights were off, so his eyes were still adjusting to the darkness. Maybe that was why Cater’s usual demeanor felt so wrong on him right now.

Ace thought he was starting to understand what Trey was talking about.

“That’s fine.” Ace said, feeling a lot less awkward now. Still not settled in, maybe, but calmer.

Cater immediately shot up and stared at him, eyes wide. “Really?” He asked, unbelieving. “I, mean, uh- Thanksies for understanding!”

Ace stared thoughtfully at his upperclassman. Huh. He knew that constant cheer felt fake. This sure was something…

“Yeah I get it.” Ace said, as he moved to sit down, his back resting on Cater’s bed. “I just said I wanted to hang out. We don’t have to talk.” Then added, muttering, “Though I guess this is still technically talking… Whatever, I’ll shut up now.” He told Cater.

Cater was quiet, but didn’t make any moves to get more comfortable than just sitting where he was. Ace noticed he was looking right at him.

Ace wanted to ask, ‘What?’ but he had already said he’d shut up, so he stayed silent. He’s sure his expression said all he needed, anyways.

After a few more seconds, Cater’s face broke into a smile. It was small, and it was soft, and it was barely there, but it fit him much better than the bright one he was trying to put on earlier.

“It’s nothing.” Cater said, dropping the false cheeriness. “Thanks for understanding.” He said, throwing his legs onto the bed to lay down. “Though, you sure you’re good on the floor there?”

Ace nodded. He thinks he can respond verbally for this one. “Yeah, I’m good. Don’t worry.”

“Hm. Well, whatever you say.” Cater said. Ace could see the room get just a bit brighter from the light of Cater’s phone. “Oh, and by the way, I am kicking you out when it’s official lights off time, just so you know.”

“Kay.” Ace responded, pulling out his own phone, and turning down the brightness as he just accidentally flashbanged himself. He could hear Cater snicker quietly.

‘Better not be laughing at me.’ Ace thought.

_—_—_

The next morning, when Ace saw his upperclassman once more…

It was normal. Cater was just as bright and cheery as ever. No traces of his demeanor from the previous night.

Ace did not mention it. Neither did Cater. Things carried on like normal. Like nothing even happened.

_—_—_

And that was it. That was how their… ritual, of sorts, got started. Every so often, Ace would text Cater that he was coming, and then most of the time the only words that would be exchanged those nights would be Ace telling Cater to open his door. Of which Cater would no doubt respond, ‘open it yourself.’ Not even bothering to get up. The lazy fuck. And then, Ace would unlock Cater’s door, tell him to ‘move’ so that Ace could lie down next to him on his bed. From there they would just lie there, on their phones, not talking to each other, occasionally showing each other a meme. Even more rarely than that, they would carry on a conversation.

It was strange, how nice it was. To just sit there together. In the dark. No words being said. And yet, both of them knew. Without having to exchange very many words at all, they grew closer.

_—_—_

Riddle was going around, making sure that everyone was proper and in their rooms in time for lights out.

Riddle opened the door to one of the freshman’s rooms. Peeking his head in, he checked to see if everyone was in their place.

“Ah! Housewarden!” Deuce called, the second he noticed him.

Riddle opened the door fully to acknowledge the conversation. “Yes, Deuce? What is it?”

“Ace isn’t here right now. We think that he might be with Cater? Hopefully he’s on his way back right now, but we just thought it’d be best to tell you upfront.” Deuce informed him.

Riddle’s eyes peered over to the empty bed to his right. He sighed. “Alright. Thank you for telling me. Get to sleep, now.”

“Yes, housewarden!” The three underclassmen in the room chorused. As annoyed as he was, with Ace, and even Cater for encouraging this behavior, it seems, it still always felt nice to hear his card soldiers say that.

_—_—_

The plan was to check Cater’s room, and if he didn’t know where Ace was, Riddle would circle back around to Ace’s room to see if he really did come back, and if he wasn’t there either, then he would start an actual search.

For now though, Riddle was right in front of Cater’s room, so now was the time to enact part one of that plan.

Annoyance bubbled as Riddle took a breath to calm himself, knocking on Cater’s dorm. Cater liked his privacy, and since he was the only one in his room, he often locked the door.

“Cater?” Riddle raised his voice loud enough to be heard through the door. “May I come in? I have a question to ask you.”

No reply. Was he asleep? Or worse, missing along with Ace.

It probably won’t work, but Riddle placed his hand on the doorknob and twisted. Pleasantly surprised when he added a bit of force, the door actually opened.

Riddle looked into the room, saying, “Cater? You bette- oh.”

The room was dark, so it was hard to see, but right there, in Cater’s bed was the two of them. They were fast asleep, cuddling. Probably didn’t even realize that they passed out.

A pang of emotion ran through Riddle’s heart. But what was it? It was something Riddle knew he was familiar with. Everytime he looked through his window and saw Trey and Che’nya playing together. He’ll feel it ring true, and stomp it down whenever he saw the joyous faces of his peers having fun, doing something they’re not supposed to. And he felt it right now, ringing through his whole body and stabbing his heart.

What was it?

Riddle couldn’t bring it in himself to wake the two up. They looked so peaceful.

Gently, Riddle closed the door. “Goodnight.” He whispered.

The feeling did not go away.

Riddle pressed his back up against the door. Just for a little while, there’s still more rooms to check.

He took a deep, shaky breath.

And pushed himself off the door, heels clicking as he carried on his duties.

The feeling did not go away.