Chapter Text
Professor Crewel pinched the arch of his brow in frustration. Somehow, SOMEHOW, what would have been a fairly uneventful alchemy class turned out to be anything but that.
An "accident" in the classroom (Crewel swore that half the time these things happened on purpose just to irritate him) Class A, the Heartslabyul and Ramshackle group had been working(well more like Deuce and Yuu we're trying to work while Ace was messing with Grim) and Grim had knocked into Deuce, who in turn knocked some vials into the cauldron causing a reaction that sent a cloud of bright purple smoke. While the rest of the class scrambled away, the group was caught in the colorful cloud. When it cleared, everybody was shocked to find, instead of the group of teens, now stood three small children who looked no older then five years old.
After clearing out the classroom and containing the potion, Crewel had called for Trey and Cater. Who now stood in front of the Alchemy professor. Trey holding Ace, Cater holding Deuce, and Yuu standing between them one hand gripping Grim's paw, the other holding onto Trey's pant leg. Crewel gave Trey and Cater a rundown of what had happened.
"As you can see, this pack of untrained pups have gotten themselves into trouble. Normally they would receive discipline immediately, however due to the current circumstances, their punishment will be received at a later time after they've been reverted to the proper age."
The two younger boys heads shot up at the word punishment, the two panicked, starting to squirm. Ace pointed a finger at Deuce. "It's Deuce's fault! He dropped the stuff in the cauldron!" Deuce's eyes went wide, "Nuh uh, it's Ace's fault! He pushed Grim into me!"
"No way, it's your fault!"
"No it's yours!"
The two boys bickered back and forth, soon trying to grab at each other. Cater and Trey trying to wrangle the squirming boys, and poor Yuu looking back and forth not knowing what to do.
"Heel!" Crewel commanded, snapping the crop in his hand, startling the group in front of him. Ace and Deuce snapped their mouths shut, leaning into the older boys, Yuu ducked behind Trey's leg. Crewel stared down the lot, daring any of them to utter a peep. He continued.
"This can be fixed, however." Crewel paused. "As much as it pains me to admit. I'll need time to brew the antidote. Thankfully it will be ready by tomorrow. But, I can't do it while keeping an eye on three small children, and that's where you two come in. As dorm mates and friends of theirs. I need you two to keep an eye on these pups until the antidote is ready."
Trey felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down at Yuu, who looked up at him, their lower lip was slightly wobbling. Trey kneeled down to be eye level.
"Yes, what is it Yuu?" The older boy asked gently. Yuu's eyes started to get watery. They gripped tighter onto Trey's pant leg and spoke in a voice just a bit above a whisper while looking at Crewel "I'm sorry Professor... It really was an accident..." Tears started streaming down Yuu's cheeks. Trey gently pulled Yuu to his chest with his free arm, rubbing the sobbing child's back as Yuu buried their face in Trey's uniform coat.
"I know Yuu, I know you didn't mean to." He spoke soothingly. If Trey knew the lot of them, Yuu was most likely caught up in the mess the others caused. "Accidents happen, and you're being very brave right now."
Yuu looked up with big wet eyes. "Really?"
"Yes you are, you're being very brave right now. I know it can be scary to apologize when you're scared"
Yuu's face brightened up, calming down at Trey's reassurance. "Thank you Trey!" Smiling brightly.
Trey stood back up, now holding a much calmer Yuu's hand.
"And now Ace, Deuce, don't you think you should follow Yuu's example and apologize to Professor Crewel?" Ace buried his face in Trey's jacket while Deuce looked back and forth between Trey and Crewel. He was panicking. Cater patted Deuce's back. "Come on Deucey, you can do it!"
"Um... Um.... I'm sorry Professor Crewel!" Deuce stuttered out, before burying his face in Cater's jacket.
"Now Ace, I think it's your turn now"
Ace shook his head. "Don't wanna..."
"Ace..." Trey's tone becoming firmer.
"Oh fine, I'm sorry!" Ace crossed his arms and pouted.
Cater snorted while Trey gave a slight sigh. Ace was still Ace, no matter the size.
Cater shifted Deuce as he spoke. "Hey why don't we get this lot outta here?" Pointing a thumb towards the door.
"I agree with Cater, I think it's best we get these three out of your way professor."
"Very well. Diamond. Clover. I will contact you once the antidote is ready. Remember to keep them out of trouble or I may have to put them on a leash. You're dismissed."
Cater and Trey exited the classroom, closing the door behind them. Both gave sighs of relief, finally out of site of the irritated professor. Cater spoke up first
"Well Trey my friend, what do you think we should do now?" Tilting his head.
"Well, I'm not sure atm. It's not like there's many places in NRC we could take them. I think our best course of action would be to head to the dorm for now."
"How long do you think it'll take before everybody knows about this?
"Quick enough that Riddle will know before we even get back to Heartslabyul."
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Riddle had heard about the accident in the alchemy lab. He had a sinking feeling he knew who it was about. He had hope he was wrong but....
But now, in the courtyard of Heartslabyul he stood, with Trey, Cater, Grim, and three familiar looking children. The little ones safety deposited on the ground, Grim was snoozing in a sunny patch of grass by a rosebush.
It was Riddle's turn to pinch his brow.
"Of all the places to bring them, you decided to bring them here?" Riddle shot the two older boys an incredulous look.
"Well to be fair, we couldn't really think of another place to take them?" Cater gave a nervous chuckle while giving a shrug of his shoulders.
"Truth be told, I didn't really feel safe taking them anywhere else. Yuu's all alone at Ramshackle and is there anybody else we could trust enough to babysit?" Trey spoke up.
Riddle didn't want to admit it, but Trey was right. There was probably less people he could count on one hand at NRC he'd trust to watch a child, let alone be capable enough to watch three. He sighed.
"Psst... Trey! Trey!" Ace tugged on Trey's arm. "I'm hungry"
"Me to, me to!" Deuce exclaimed, tugging on Trey's other arm.
"Okay okay you two. Slow down." He swiftly moved, picking up a boy in each arm. Causing both to break out in excited giggles. "I think we all missed out on lunch today, so why don't we head to the kitchen and I can make us something to eat?" As he started walking towards the entrance of the dorm.
"Sounds like a plan to me, you coming Riddle?" Cater shot the Housewarden a look over his shoulder as he started walking behind Trey.
"I'm sorry but I must decline, it's my turn to tend the hedgehogs"
"Oh geeze is it that late already? Well, we'll catch you later Riddle. Come on Yuu."
Yuu who had been standing near Riddle, shot a look between the two older boys. "Um.... Cater.... I kinda wanna stay with Riddle." Yuu's hand clutching their shirt nervously.
"Hmm.... Are you sure Yuu? Trey's cooking is really good." Shooting Yuu a wink.
"Umm... Umm...." Yuu stuttered while fidgeting.
Cater knelt down in front of Yuu. "Or maybe it's because you wanna go see the hedgehogs?"
Yuu stared up at Cater with wide eyes. Bingo.
"Ahaha I knew it!" Cater laughed while giving Yuu's nose a playful boop. "Sounds like our little Yuu here wants to hang out with the hedgehogs today. Well, Housewarden, what do ya say?”
"Well...." Riddle looked down at the small child, Yuu was giving Riddle the big puppy dog eyes. "Ohh..... Alright. You can help me tend the hedgehogs."
"Yaa! Thank you Riddle!" Yuu ran up and jumped up to hug Riddles waist, almost knocking the young man over with their enthusiasm.
"Well, that settles that., see ya Riddle, Yuu." Cater gave them a wave as he walked away.
Yuu gave Cater an excited wave back, other hand clinging to Riddle. "Bye bye Cater, see you later!" Yuu turned their head and looked up at Riddle. "Can we go see the hedgehogs now, please, PLEASE?" Yuu's bursting with excitement. Riddle couldn't help but smile at the eager child. Riddle knew Yuu always had a soft spot for the adorable animals and loved helping tend them when they visited, but a young Yuu was absolutely adorable bubbling over with enthusiasm.
"Okay we'll go tend the hedgehogs, but first" riddle held up a finger "You have to listen to what you're told, understand?" Yuu nodded.
Riddle chuckled. "Okay, then let's go see the hedgehogs." Holding out a hand towards Yuu.
Yuu's head shot away from Riddle. "Wait I almost forgot! Grim can come to right?" Riddle and Yuu looked over at the snoozing Grim(who now looked more akin to a harmless housecat rather then the troublemaking, fire breathing monster everybody was used to.)
"Yes, Grim can come to, but only if he behaves, if he misbehaves, he gets the collar, understood?"
Yuu giggled while they picked up Grim who started protesting at suddenly being woken up for his nap. Yuu gave a playful salute "Yes Mr. Housewarden sir!" A bright smile plastered on their face as they walked up and grabbed Riddle's hand, starting to swing it back and forth as they walked. "Too the hedgehogs!" They exclaimed.
"Yes yes, to the hedgehogs." Riddle replied and hand in hand, the two of them walked off to the hedgehog pen.