"All the Best People are Mad" (part 1)

Diaz looked between Azul and Doppel Malleus.

"Malleus please refrain from starting a fight." Azul said calmly. Malleus looked visibly disappointed.

"As for you Diaz, is there something... unrelated to your dispute that I can assist you with?" Azul asked, trying to stay polite. He didn't know what he'd do if Malleus got violent. Maybe he'd call Jade. Floyd seemed like he might encourage the problem.

" Azul i-" Doppelganger Malleus started

"So this is where you ran off to," A nearly identical sounding voice said.

Azul suppressed the grimace from having two terrifying people occupy the same space.

After a pause Diaz made an actual smart decision " I'd like to get something off the menu if you don't mind?" He faked his polite attitude since the odds were not in his favor if either Malleus chose to fight him. He didn't see why the Doppel --whatever liked Azul.

"Well then if you'd like to order something, come with me," Azul stated and walked away Diaz following.

"I didn't run off I simply had other things to do," Doppel Malleus commented a slight pout on his face.

Strangely, to Malleus, his Doppelganger seemed unusually subdued and quiet.

"Doppel Malleus I've been informed of your infatuation with Ashengrotto -san from Lilia and I would like to implore you to keep it under control. Things are different in this reality. The amiable relationship with other dorm leaders is a bit strained to say the least." Malleus warned gently.

Doppel Malleus lowered his head so his bangs gid his eyes. He seemed crestfallen by this news. But not all too surprised given his lack of outburst.

"If it makes you smile I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine," Malleus placated and his human counterpart looked at him quietly.

Azul approached the entrance of Mostro Lounge where he last saw Malleus and his alternate universe human self. He wasn't surprised to see them leave and was glad the fight was handled without any violence.

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~The afternoon of the next day~

'I shouldn't have caught Azul earlier. I miss holding him.' Malleus thought the next morning. He'd been up all night or most of the night talking with Yuuta Origami, Malleus's friend. Yuuta asked a weird question about whether or not he knew of their own Alternate universe counterpart and seemed dismayed when he didn't.

He stared at his hands focusing on today. 'But I can't just walk up to this world's Azul and carry him around. As much as that would make me happy, I don't wanna embarrass him. Nor do I want to spread any more rumors.'

'No doubt people are already saying there's no way i can be a normal human. Just from that action alone. They are gonna flip if they see some of the other hidden talents I have...Still I miss Azul's touch. Azul's warmth and embrace...'

"I would like to thank you for catching my fall earlier." Azul's voice brought him back to reality.

"It was nothing I'm used to catching people" he said waving it off 'usually Ace and Deuce' he thought.

"Still I hate to owe a person anything. Is there any favor you'd like to ask--" Azul started, pushing up his glasses.

" come on Azul we don't need any favors, after all I--" Doppelganger Malleus interrupted but cut himself off as he suddenly realized who he was talking to.

"...! sorry that was a default response" he covered his face and averted his gaze.His hands messed up the bangs of his hair.

Azul stared at him curiously, raising a eyebrow in response. "...in any case as I was saying feel free to ask me anything to make up for you helping me in flight class today." He walked off presumably to get back to class.

Doppel Malleus smiled thinking of when he and Azul first met. He looked at his phone and sweat dropped remembering that he'd need a way to charge it when the time approached.

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"Why are you still in your PE uniform?" Riddle asked. Malleus gave a half smile, "Lilia is preparing some test exercise thing for me so he isn't giving me back the clothes I came here in."

Traveling through the mirror to the Heartslabyul dorm, Doppelganger Malleus opened his mouth in awe as he stared at the beautiful scenery of the castle-like building that was the dorm, the lush gardens and rose bushes.

"It's beautiful!" He remarked.

"Stay with me, we do have a maze and I wouldn't want you to accidentally find it," Riddle said sternly.

Doppelganger Malleus looked at the cages filled with hedgehogs.

"Oh Hello" he smiled at the tiny adorable animals.

When Riddle glanced back he bit his tongue to keep from yelling at the sight. He wouldn't admit it but watching it his face seemed to soften and gain a thoughtful look. Cater smiled nervously. Malleus was being engulfed by four hedgehogs. "Seems your small, adorable friends have taken a liking to me," he smiled.

Riddle stared at Malleus who fell over as two hedgehogs crawled into his shirt.

"This is a photo op! Mind if I take a few pics and selfies, Draconia-san?" Cater asked, holding out his phone as he observed Malleus be engulfed by hedgehogs.

"D-doppel Malleus Draconia, please separate yourself from the-" Riddle started and Deuce flinched knowing soon he'd start yelling.

"Well that's a sight you don't see everyday," Ace voiced, drawing Riddle's attention to him.

After awhile Riddle and Deuce helped Doppel Malleus up to his feet and gently put all the hedgehogs back. "Come let's get you properly dressed for the unbirthday party." Riddle commented, suppressing his mental amusement.

Upon entering the dorm first, Doppel Malleus took in the sight of the chaotically beautiful decor of the floor, walls and stairs and bookshelves.

"Walking into this dorm intoxicated in any way will be interesting!" He mused.

Riddle looked aghast.

"There are the Queen's rules to prevent this" He stated confidently and Malleus smiled approvingly.

"Always the role model aren't you, President Rosehearts?" He remarked. Riddle couldn't help but think his expression made him look like a proud older brother.

Riddle flushed at that thought when he remembered who he was speaking to.

"President?" Riddle blinked.

"In my world you're the school's student council president," Doppel Malleus remarked. "We don't have dorm leaders since it's just high school but you handle your role perfectly."

Riddle recalled from Trey's letters about middle school. He smiled, seeming content with this knowledge.

Cater followed and was trying to be calm and natural although in all honesty now that he wasn't smiling, human Malleus Draconia scared him more than the actual Malleus Draconia. In his mind, Cater could see a puzzle with Malleus face set in a calm neutral expression. The more he observed Doppel Malleus the less he understood about Malleus as a person and the more puzzle pieces vanished.

"Um.. Draconia-senpai..?" Riddle asked.

"Senpai?" Malleus echoed.

"I already hear that from Sebek regularly, I am not a senpai, my role here is the inexperienced one. I know little about this world,"

"Still, this place, takes my breath away, I could walk through the mirror a hundred times and still not be accustomed to seeing this grandiose sight on the other side," Doppel Malleus smiled faintly. 'It also seems familiar, like I saw it in a dream once...'

"Wait till we get to the best part! I smell Trey's baking!" Cater piped up.

"I don't think we should indulge, we didn't help Trey make the dessert -" Doppel Malleus protested.

"Come on! It'll be fine!" Cater grinned. "Besides you mentioned before that you want a new charger for your phone, I can look in my spares and see if I have one. Consider it a "on the way" trip"

Cater opened the kitchen door. Doppel Malleus close behind, bending slightly so his head didn't hit the door frame.

Trey looked up from the freshly made lemon tart. Then he did a double take. "Draconia-kun?!" He blurted in his surprise.

Doppelganger Malleus tilted his head. "Yes?" He asked seemingly innocently.

"You-you look different," Trey said suddenly feeling awkward.

"I always look like this," Doppel Malleus responded, he sounded a bit amused.

Cater flashed a camera worthy smile. "Oh Trey this is Doppelganger Malleus Draconia, he's basically Malleus from another Universe,"

"An alternate universe Malleus Draconia?" Trey scanned Malleus's form, still clad in the school PE uniform.

"What brings you to Heartslabyul then?" Trey asked.

"Oh I'm here because Cater said he'd give me a phone charger. I have a portable one but I used it already." He admitted.

"Surely you can go a few days without a phone," Riddle huffed from behind him.

Doppel Malleus half-lidded his eyes, "no I would very much like to not die because I made my boyfriend lose a decade of his lifespan worrying about my safety after he lost contact with me." He quipped.

Riddle blinked. Trey adjusted his glasses. "Nice tart Trey," Malleus grinned turning his attention to the food.

"B-BOYFRIEND?!" The Three Heartslabyul members yelled.

"Yes is it odd that I have one?" Malleus asked coolly.

"Well you being in a relationship is odd enough but didn't think you swung that way," Cater said scrolling through something on his phone, likely Magicam.

"It's not so odd," Doppel Malleus remarked simply .

"You're right," Trey adjusted his glasses, "what's odd is how casual you are at the thought of him killing you."

"Oh I'm very confident that if he wished he could absolutely render me incapacitated for at least five minutes but I know he won't." Malleus shrugged.