Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I’m tellin’ ya,” Epel argued as he sat at the table, “There’s no way you can sneak it past Riddle senpai. You’re better off askin’ him if ya can add one more.”

“And I’m telling you Riddle senpai isn't the problem this time,” Ace shot back, “Trey senpai banned both me and Riddle from bringing any more hedgehogs into the dorm.”

“Where do you even find these guys anyway?” Jack questioned as he returned Ace’s newly smuggled-in hedgehog to him.

“They’re naturally drawn to me,” Ace declared proudly.

“Well, either way, housewarden’s the one with the last say, whether Clover senpai says so or not,” Deuce casually lifted up his tray just as Grim tried to swipe from it. “Ha!”

“Dang it! Gimme some of those fries!”

“Get your own!”

“My henchman isn’t here yet!”

“Relax furball, I’ll take you,” Ace said, standing back up.

“Ace’s being nice? To Grim?” Deuce fake gasped, “Maybe we should let him smuggle in hedgehogs more often.”

“And as a thank you for taking you, you can buy me something too.”

“Yep, there it is,” Jack chuckled.

“Shoulda known that he doesn’t do nothin' for free,” Epel laughed. Ace stuck his tongue out at both of them before walking back over to the lunch line. Once they were gone, Epel reached into his bag and pulled out his own lunch.

“Smart, you waited until Grim was gone to start eating,” Deuce commented.

“Yeah, my meemaw sent me some apple candies from back home and I really didn’t want him stealin’ ‘em.”

“So if we asked, would you share them with us?” Epel laughed as he popped one into his mouth.

“Nope,” he said, popping the ‘p’.

“Y’know in savanaclaw, betrayal like this gets you exiled for like a week,” Jack teased him.

“You’d exile your best friend?”

“Over candy? Yeah, probably.” Deuce burst out laughing at Epel’s offended expression. He put another candy in his mouth before fake glaring at Jack.

“That’s low, Jack!” Epel playfully gasped. “Have a little class-” His comment was cut off as he started coughing.

“Yeah, maybe don’t be overdramatic and eat candy at the same time?” Deuce suggested.

“I swallowed the candy already,” he said between coughs.

“Here’s some water,” Jack slid the pomefiore freshman a water bottle. Epel nodded in thanks and drank the water, only for his coughing to get worse.

“Epel?” Ace asked as he and Grim returned from the lunch line “You good?”

“Nah-” Epel coughed again, this one racking his whole body, “Somethin’ ain’t right…” Those were the last words Epel managed to get out before he slumped forward.

“Epel?!” Deuce exclaimed.

“What the heck?!” Ace gasped. Jack caught him before he could hit anything. “We were gone for like five minutes, what happened?!”

“We don’t know!” Deuce answered, borderline panicking. “We were joking around then he ate one of his candies then this happened.”

“Maybe it just got stuck in his throat?” Grim piped up, “Food gets stuck in mine all the time.”

“Yeah, but he swallowed it.” Jack grumbled as he took a look at Epel. “Hey, were the veins in his arm always purple?

“Shit…” Ace muttered.

“What was in those candies?” Deuce reached for the bag.

“Candies?” Grim eyed the sweets but was stopped by Ace grabbing him by the scruff of his fur.

“Don’t even think about it, furball.”

“I’m taking him to Vil-senpai,” Jack declared. He grabbed Epel and slung him over his shoulders.

“You’re going to be okay, Epel, just hold on for me, yeah?” Jack ran out of the cafeteria, Deuce following him with the candies.

“Shouldn’t they have gone to the infirmary?” Grim asked Ace.

“If it’s what they’re thinking, then Vil senpai’s the best person they can go to for this,” Ace answered, his eyes never leaving the doorway.

Afternoons in pomefiore were always a peaceful time of day. Rook would be off stalking some poor savanaclaw sap, and Epel would be hanging out with the other freshmen, so it left Vil with ample time to unwind with a book or redo his makeup before his next set of classes.

However, this was not such an afternoon.

“VIL SENPAI!” Jack’s scream echoed through the halls of pomefiore. Under normal circumstances, such behavior would have resulted in a stern talking to and some magical restraints; but the fact that it came from Jack of all people had alarm bells ringing in his head. He swiftly exited his room and entered the common room, where he found Jack and Deuce, the former carrying an unconscious Epel on his back. However, this would not be the first time Jack’s had to bring Epel back here; but it was the first time his poison apple had purple creeping up his arms.

“My room. Now.” Jack nodded and followed Vil through the hallway and into his bedroom. “Place him on the bed.” As Jack lowered Epel onto Vil’s bed, the housewarden turned towards Deuce.

“Explain what happened.”

“We were joking around during lunch and he was munching on these candies he got from his grandmother,” Deuce explained as he handed Vil the candy bag, “But then he started coughing up a storm and passed out after saying something wasn’t right.” Vil eyed the candies in suspicion.

“Jack, I need you to go get Rook for me.” Jack visibly wilted at the idea of leaving Epel’s side.

“Why me?”

“Because there’s a 90% chance he’s stalking your housewarden right now and you and Ruggie are the only ones who know how to find Leona.” Jack hesitated, his gaze lingering back to Epel’s still form. “He’s going to be fine, I promise. Now go.”

“I’ll call you if anything happens,” Deuce reassured him. Jack nodded and with a last look at Epel, quickly exited the dorm. Vil grabbed the bag of candy and took a single piece.

‘Come with me, potato #2,” Vil instructed, “I need to bring some things to my room if I want to figure out what’s causing this.” Deuce nodded and followed Vil through the halls of pomefiore.

“Do you have any suspicions, senpai?” He asked.

“Well, my first instinct was that he choked on it, but then I saw the purple creeping up his veins and now I’m suspecting someone’s poisoned his candy.” Vil threw the doors to his potions lab open.

“Poison?! Why would someone do that to Epel?!” Deuce angrily exclaimed.

“Jealousy is a dangerous emotion, especially if you let it take control of you,” He explained as he dropped the piece of candy into a vial. The liquid inside of the vial immediately changed to a bright green color and Vil bit back a curse.

“Can you cure him, Schoenheit senpai?” Deuce’s voice was laced with worry.

“I can make an antidote, but it will take time. But to stave off the effects of the poison,” Vil opened a cabinet and pulled out two closed vials. “Give these to him in alteration every half hour until I return. Got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Now go and keep him company, if anything changes, call me immediately.” Deuce nodded and swiftly exited the potions lab, vials in tow. Vil donned his lab coat and lit his cauldron.

“Just hold on for me, my poison apple, I will save you,” he promised.

Chapter Text

“It's poison, Jack,” Deuce had told him over the phone, “Someone poisoned the candies he got.”

Jack liked to pride himself in being able to stay calm while others got upset. However, someone stooping to this? To poison one of his best friends? It was taking every ounce of self-restraint not to go chasing after the culprit himself. Instead, he did as Vil asked and went straight to the botanical gardens, where he was sure Leona would be napping during the afternoon (and by proxy, where Rook would be stalking him.) His housewarden immediately noticed his presence and scowled.

“If Ruggie sent ya, tell him I'm not coming,” Leona’s eyes were closed and he was resting in his favorite napping spot.

“Vil-senpai sent me, I need to find Rook senpai and Vil suggested he’d be out here with you . It’s about Epel.”

“What’s wrong with Monsieur Cherry Apple?” Leona’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Rook’s voice. Rook himself hopped down from a rather high tree.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than to watch me sleep, you creep?” Leona growled.

“Ah, but Roi de Lions it's merely a simple pleasure of mine,” Rook smiled before turning to Jack, “I’m assuming the news you bring isn’t good news, Monsieur Tough Guy?” Jack shook his head.

“Somebody poisoned him.” Leona raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. Rook meanwhile, let out a string of curses in french. “Vil senpai’s working on an antidote but he asked me to come to find you.”

“How could someone do such a thing to our dear little apple?!” Rook lamented. “Such an ugly behavior to turn to in jealousy!”

“You talk way too much,” Leona rolled his eyes.

"But you're also just as upset, non? There's no hiding your feelings from me, you know."

"So what's the plan?" Jack questioned.

"Right now, we search for the person responsible for committing such an act!" Rook happily declared, "If we can find the one responsible, we find the poison they used on our Monsieur Cherry Apple, which will allow for Roi de Poison to make an antidote quicker."

"And if Queenie already has it done by the time we find this guy?" Leona crossed his arms.

"We make them rue the day they tried to harm one of our own." Jack flinched at Rook's ominous tone, deciding to move closer to Leona.

"I'm surprised you're willing to help, housewarden," Jack said.

"Just looking out for my players, we have a spelldrive game tomorrow and I need Epel on the field."

“Monsieur Tough Guy, how did Monsieur Cherry Apple fall for such a trap?” Jack looked at Rook in confusion. Leona pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What did they use to poison Epel?”

“Oh! He got these candies from his grandmother and he was munching on them during lunch,” Jack answered.

“Then it’s likely he kept these candies with him at all times.”

“So then who could have gotten into his things and slipped in the poison?”

“I’ve got a couple ideas and I’m starting to see why Queenie sent you over here. He likely guessed the same thing,” Leona stood up from his spot.

“I’m not following.”

“Who did Epel spend the whole day with?”

“Us and the spelldrive team…” Jack realized.

“Epel spent this morning with myself and Roi de Poison, and headed to spelldrive practice afterwards, where he remained until his class with you, right before lunch,” Rook dutifully listed.

“Plus, knowing you, you probably would have tried to go after the guy yourself,” Leona noted with a knowing smirk. “Despite not knowing what he could be capable of.”

"I can tell you it wasn’t anyone in class,” Jack explained, “He had his bookbag in his lap the whole time.”

"So then this leaves us with either someone in the dorm or someone on the spelldrive team," Rook observed. Leona scowled and pulled out his phone, texting Ruggie to get the spelldrive team gathered at the field.

"Do you think someone from his own dorm would do this to him?" Jack asked.

"Pomefiore is filled with air headed beauty fanatics, all with some capabilities in alchemy. I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often."

"It's because our dutiful housewarden keeps a sharp eye on his pupils," Rook smiled. "Now onwards, to find the culprit!"

"Ugh. Housewarden ordered us back to the fields," a savanaclaw student groaned as he pocketed his phone.

"What for?" Another one, from scarabia, piped up, "we already had practice this morning."

"Wait, you two haven't heard?" A heartslabyul student came rushing by. "Bennet I'd expect not to know, but you too, Joshua?"

"Well, not everyone is as popular as you are, Alex," Bennet rolled his eyes. Alex continued on, unfazed by the scarabia student’s comment.

“Y’know that one kid from pomefiore? The purple haired one?”

“We know who Epel is, idiot,” Joshua pinched the bridge of his nose. “What about him?”

“Someone poisoned him and they’re trying to find out who did it,” Alex concluded. Bennet’s jaw dropped.

“Are they insane?! Our game’s tomorrow and he’s supposed to be teamed with Ruggie for defense!” Joshua, meanwhile, looked like he wanted to be sick, but said nothing.

“Yeah, whoever did this is gonna have to deal with Leona senpai and Vil senpai,” Alex laughed. “Good thing we don’t have to worry about it.”

“Oh definitely,” Bennet agreed. Joshua’s smile wavered. “I can do without the extra drills he’d give as punishment.”

“Forget drills, according to the school bylaws, intentional poisoning is grounds for expulsion and pen snapping.”

“What?!” Joshua squeaked out. Bennet and Alex gave him a confused look.

“Something wrong?”

“Nah,” he attempted to regain his composure, “I just didn’t know they still snapped people’s pens as a punishment.”

“Yeah!” Alex beamed proudly, “after I heard what happened from Ace, he and I went to my housewarden about the laws behind it and he explained the whole process to me! Ace just wanted to know if there would be repercussions if he and Deuce jumped the guy but I wanted to know more about the rules.”

“Nerd,” Bennet coughed. “Remind me how you're on the team again?”

“Because I can catch the disc better than you could ever dream of!” The three of them continued to the field. While Alex and Bennet continued their bickering, Joshua was silently mulling his options. Little did they know, a certain hunter had overheard their entire conversation.

“Most interesting indeed,” he smiled, absolutely feral.

Chapter Text

“So why are we out here when I could be getting leftovers from the cafeteria right now?” Ruggie crossed his arms. Leona pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Someone poisoned Epel and I’m suspecting it's one of the players trying to claw their way into a better position,” Leona answered as he pocketed his phone. “Plus it was easier to gather everyone here than go stalk them like the damn hunter wanted to do.” Ruggie paled.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Wish I was, pup interrupted my nap when he came cryin about it. I sent him back to check on Epel so the guy that did it doesn’t get mauled.”

“You should’ve let him stay; mauling him would be easier.”

“Too messy,” Leona shot back, “But I’m sure if a finger or two got turned into sand, no one would notice.” Their conversation ended just as the players entered the field.

“Is this everyone, Roi de Lions?” Rook asked, appearing out of nowhere. Ruggie jumped at his sudden appearance while Leona looked even more tired than normal.

“Don’t do that!” Ruggie criticized, “You’re going to give someone a heart attack one day!”

“Apologies, Monsieur Dandelions I didn’t mean to startle you,” he answered cheerfully before turning his attention to the approaching players. The hunter eyed all of them, a predatory smirk etched on his face.

“Alright listen up,” Leona’s voice silenced all conversation. “I’m only going to ask once. Which one of you poisoned Epel?” Cries of surprise and denial echoed from the players.

“Someone poisoned him?!”

“Is he dead?!”

“Isn’t pomefiore supposed to be good at detecting poison or something?”

“Yeah, I don’t think we’re going to get an answer from them,” Ruggie spoke up. Leona pinched the bridge of his eyes.

“Fine, your turn, hunter; don’t kill anyone.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve promised Roi de Poison that pleasure.” He flashed them a knowing smirk before stepping forward. Every beastman on the team visibly flinched upon seeing the hunter.

“Now, there were three students chatting in the hallways earlier who caught my eyes. From heartslabyul, scarabia, and savanaclaw based on their bands.” Bennet, Alex, and Joshua exchanged worried glances.

“Oi, you three,” Leona caught onto them immediately. “Come here.”

“Nothing escapes your perceptive eyes, Roi de Lions,” Rook smirked. Leona rolled his eyes but gestured for the hunter to continue. “Now, I shall ask you three just one question. Your answer is the deciding factor about whether or not you get expelled so answer carefully.”

“Wait Leona, what’s their positions again?” Ruggie asked.

“Alex is on offense, Joshua is second goalie, and Bennet is on second defense.”

“So Bennet would have the most motive to do it if he wants Epel’s position.” Leona nodded in agreement.

“Why do you think it was us?” Alex blurted out. “Because you heard me talking about it earlier?”

“Au contraire, it wasn’t your words that gave way to you poisoning Epel’s apple but rather the sheer panic on your faces right now.”

“Yeah, because we’re being interrogated by the school’s biggest stalker,” Bennet mumbled

“Wasn’t it candy that poisoned him?” Joshua added, “How could it have been us when Epel didn’t bring any food to practice?” Leona and Ruggie perked up. Rook’s lazy smile turned downright predatory.

“And how did you know that Epel’s candy was poisoned?” Bennet and Alex stared at their friend in horrified realization. Leona and Rook both glared down at the savanaclaw student. Joshua scrambled away from them, pushing his way through the crowd and taking off towards the school building.

“We’ve got a runner,” Ruggie snarled, ready to go after him but Leona put out his hand to stop him.”

“Ah Monsieur Dandelion, they always do. It makes the hunt more fun.” With the snap of his fingers, Rook’s bow was in hand and he fired an arrow straight at the fleeing student.

“I thought I said not to kill anyone,” Leona shot him an unimpressed look. Joshua went rolling across the field as the arrow dug into his calf.

“Fret not, all I did was immobilize him. Now, let us collect our prey and report to the headmage.”

“Alright, my poison apple,” Vil spoke gently, “this should work.” It was nearly sunset when he had finished the antidote. Rook and Leona (much to his surprise) were waiting for him in the headmage’s office; along with the culprit that dared to harm his protege. But Epel’s recovery was his first priority. He tipped the vial, dumping the contents down Epel’s throat. Deuce and Jack watched in anticipation, silently hoping the antidote worked. A beat of silence. Then Epel shot up like a bullet, eyes wide and gasping for air.

“Epel!” Jack exclaimed relief evident in his voice.

“Thank the seven, it worked!”

“Take it easy, Epel,” Vil placed a hand on his shoulders to steady him. “It’s alright, you’re safe now.”

“What happened?”

“Someone poisoned the candies your grandmother sent,” Vil answered. “You’ve been out for the whole day while I’ve been preparing the antidote.”

“What in tarnation?!” Epel went from confused to angry, “I waited months for those candies!”

“That’s what you’re worried about?!” Deuce stared at him in surprise. Vil pinched the bridge of his nose but did nothing to hide the ever-so-present smile on his face.

“I’m happy to see you’re alright, Epel.”

“It’s thanks to you, Vil senpai!” Epel smiled at him. “I’d have been a goner if it wasn’t for you! And you guys too. Thanks for your help.”

“We didn’t do much,” Jack admitted, “We just brought you here then I went to get Rook senpai.”

“Where is he anyways?” Deuce questioned.

“He’s waiting for me along with the person responsible for all this in the headmage’s office. He’s definitely getting expelled, so you don’t have to worry about him, Epel.”

“Worry?” Epel snorted, “I was gonna ask if I can punch the snot outta him!”

“I suppose if I don’t see anything while discussing the terms of his expulsion with the headmage then I can’t really discipline you for such an act,” Vil smiled knowingly. Epel beamed in excitement. “Now, shall we get going, gentlemen?”