note: riddle is stuck in his overblot form and the former prefect takes care of him. for my friend Leo so that's why it says Leo instead of Yuu. (can be read with gn! reader)

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"Graaah?" A certain redhead growled, but not in aggression. Simple curiosity as he leaned over Leo's shoulder. He pointed at something they were working on. "Arah."

Leo glanced at him from their position kneeled on the worked field. "What am I working on? Hmm..." They hummed, turning their attention back to gently digging through the dirt. "Since it's spring, turnips are in season. We've got to keep planting crops like this to keep eating. Riddle, mind handing me the fertilizer?"

Riddle remains floating a few inches off the ground, pausing to consider Leo's words. Eventually, he nods and floats off towards the shed near their shared cute cottage. His pale hands grip the cold metal of the-

So cold. Why won't he say anything? Trey?

Trey lays on the wilting grass, rose petals littering the area around him. The life in his eyes flickers in and out.

Riddle's hands reach out to him.

The forever stuck overblot victim released the handles of the shed. He floats back a bit and bends over, his hands clutched tightly around his temples. "Aaargh!" He cries to himself, his voice making a creepy, pain filled echo throughout the area. "T.. Traeh!"

Leo tugs off their gloves and throws them in the dirt with little care. They stumble to their feet and rush to their friend's side. "Riddle!" Calling for them, they continued on. They almost crash into his back, practically tackling him. Leo's arms curled around Riddle's waist. "Hey, you're okay. You're okay. We're safe."

"Traay...! Tr... argh..."

His sobs began to die out quietly.

"Looks like your ability to speak is slowly getting better. Your memory is improving, too."

The two of them lived on a isolated farm in Briar Valley, graciously given to them by the current ruler. After graduating Night Raven College, Malleus Draconia had shortly been proclaimed king. He, maintaining contact with Leo, set aside land for his friend. The otherworldly visitor wouldn't have any place to go after college, after all. Plus, Leo's relationship with Crowley has always been... Shaky, to say the least.

As for Riddle's situation... He had graduated as well. However, he didn't have the same streak of accomplishments as Malleus. After returning to the Queendom of Roses and living with his mother, Riddle found himself unable to go back to his old life. The catalyst to his second overblot was when Leo visited with Malleus. Leo had given Riddle's strict mother a very harsh scolding, to which the mother turned her fury onto her son.

Things escalated from there. Riddle overblotted as retaliation, maintaining the same outfit and overall vibe from the first time. Due to Malleus and his guards' quick thinking, the group didn't have a hard time taking him down. For some reason, though, the once mighty and noble Riddle couldn't turn back. He lost all recognition for the people around him, and his very own world. His speaking reduced to grunts and growls, hardly being able to make out any clear words.

Despite being stuck in his overblot, Riddle couldn't use the force he mustered. It's like he became an almost mute child, quietly observing and only causing chaos here and there. His magic is doing all it can to keep him alive, and even in his foggy state Riddle recognizes it would be deadly to attempt using it in a different way.

After a thorough (and frankly uncomfortable) checkup from the renowned Idia Shroud, he came up with an explanation and a solution. It's a defense mechanism, he explained. It'll go away on it's own if he's in a peaceful environment. It's like a status effect in a game!

Malleus decided to send overblot Riddle to Leo's land while he recovered.

Leo sighed. How long had it been since then, anyway?

Releasing their hold on Riddle's waist, Leo took a few steps back from him. "Are you alright now, Riddle?"

The victim held himself, his gaze glued to the ground. After a few moments of silence, he trained his gaze on Leo. "Trey.... Okay...?"

The former prefect nodded. "Yeah."

Riddle breathed out a sigh. "Rah..." He rubbed his throat and sighed again. "Arahgh."

"Sorry, I still don't know what you're saying."

The morning passed faster than the two of them could blink. Leo finished planting the turnips and other crops, with Riddle watching intently. It began to rain, so they retreated into their cottage overlooking large fields. Clearly, a certain king had favorites.

Riddle slid into a chair by a window. He scrutinized the water droplets rolling down it. The corners of his lips tugged downwards into a bored frown. He brought his elbow on the table (in front of his chair) to rest his chin on his palm. "Ra."

Leo set a tea set in front of him.  "I didn't think you liked the rain," they remarked, pouring tea into a cup. They slid it towards him. "Drink up."

He shifted his head to face Leo and the cup. "Faoh maweh?"

"C'mon. It's not gonna kill you, you know."

"T.... Taaaaank.... y.... ywuo..." Riddle spaces out his words, desperately trying to form coherent words. Looking down, he reaches for his tea cup and his fingers curl around the handle. As if remembering something, Riddle's head shoots back up to Leo. "Leeseah taerh?"

Leo slides into the chair across from Riddle's. "No problem. By the way, are you wondering what kind of tea it is?"

He nodded vigorously.

"Lemon tea. Lilia came by and dropped some off yesterday. He said that you'd appreciate it, but... Honestly, I'm not too sure about it."

The corners of Riddle's lips turns upwards into a smile. He fixes his arms so he's not resting his chin on his palm anymore. Humming an upbeat tune, he gingerly picks up two sugar cubes from the sugar tray. He drops them into his tea and stirs it slightly.

Leo gets up to bring over a particular book and some pencils. They sit down again and set the supplies on the table. "I wanted to try something with you today."

Riddle tilts his head slightly to the side. "Grah?"

"How about you try writing in this notebook? Or drawing."

He pauses to consider it, sipping on his tea. "Iargh daon naorg," he says. Riddle placed his teacup back on its saucer and pushed it to the side. He reaches for the notebook and pencil, bringing it closer to himself. Flipping to the first page seems to make Riddle stare at it. He grips the pencil in his right hand. A bead of sweat rolls down his cheek.

Leo sighs. "You don't know what to write, do you?"

Riddle shakes his head.

"How about your name? Riddle Rosehearts."

His hand begins to shakily move across the page. It takes him a few minutes to complete it. After, Riddle looks up and turns the notebook around so Leo could read it. "Aargh!" He proudly announced. He intently watched for Leo's reaction.

Reidfle Roaseharts.

"Uhh... Good job, buddy," Leo awkwardly complimented.

"Hraagh." Riddle frowns and he gestures to the notebook. He then averts his eyes, sadly growling, "Haaah graah."

"O-Of course I like it!"

He turns his eyes back to Leo. "Praaam?"

The otherworldly visitor bit their lip. "Yep. Promise."

The two of them waited out the rain doing this for a while. Riddle kept writing and writing until eventually Leo called for lunch. By then though, the rain hadn't let up. Instead, they enjoyed their fruit sandwiches and apple juice inside the comfort of their home.

How long would they be able to live in peace like this? Leo didn't want to think about it. What will happen if he recovers?

They watched Riddle focus on eating his sandwich. He glanced up at Leo mid-bite. "Grr?"

"It's nothing. Hey... What do you think of visiting Malleus tomorrow?"

To be continued...