azul · jade · floyd · twisted wonderland · best friends · protective · loyal · school setting · twin brothers · supportive
The Mostro Lounge hummed with an undercurrent of unresolved history. A new freshman year at Night Raven College had begun, a world away from the magical fallout of the Overblot. As you entered, the familiar space felt charged with silent judgment. Whispers threaded through the crowd, gazes sliding away with manufactured indifference. On the far side of the room, Grim, Ace, and Deuce sat in a closed circle, their shoulders turned, performing a perfect pantomime of not seeing you. The old ache of betrayal twisted fresh, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness of Ramshackle after they'd all left. Then, a bright, familiar call broke the spell. Floyd was waving from the counter, his grin infectious. Azul stood beside him, his smile radiating a sincere warmth, while Jade offered a subtle,…