Chapter Text
Even knowing that Skully had done the exact same thing to him and everyone else, Riddle couldn’t contain his sudden annoyance when he saw Skully kissing your hand.
“Likewise, (Y/N) and Grim, it’s a delight.” Skully says before kissing Grim’s paw and then the back of your hand.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Riddle says instinctively and positions himself between you and Skully.
“Oh, I was merely extending my deepest gratitude for the occasion of our acquaintance.” Skully explains with a smile. “And, of course, I could not fail to do the same with the lovely personage who was fast asleep in my arms upon their arrival.”
“F-fast asleep…” Riddle repeats before raising his voice, almost outraged. “IN YOUR ARMS?!”
“Well, yes. A wonderful coincidence, wasn’t it? And such a fortuitous event deserved my utmost care for this person’s well-being.”
“A… coincidence…” Riddle says through gritted teeth, thinking. Then takes a deep breath and continues. “Skully… I … apologize for my reaction. From what I can understand, you were looking out for (Y/N) and simply exercising your gentlemanship. I may have… overreacted.” He says with a mix of embarrassment and reluctance.
“There is no need to worry. I can see that they are extremely dear to you. May I be so bold as to inquire how close you two are?”
Riddle blushes bright red and stutters slightly.
“In fact…” Jade smiles with that shrewd look. “I’ve always been curious to ask myself.”
Jamil, Leona and Azul also looked at Riddle with the same smirk.
“We… I… am not sure I understand your question. Shouldn’t friends look out for each other?”
“If you’ll excuse me…” Trey interferes. “I believe that at this moment we have more important things to worry about.”
“Well, much to my curiosity’s chagrin, I can’t disagree with that.” Jade admits.
“And that’s the gist.” Jamil explains, after returning from checking on Jack’s house, because you guys were taking so long to come back. “The mayor’s driving around alerting the townsfolk now. This is turning into a real mess.”
“How…” Riddle’s face turned red, his pupils and irises contracted, and his voice grew hoarse with anger. “HOW DARE HE?! The moment I see him, IT WILL BE OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”
“Riddle, please calm down.” Jamil intervenes. “We have to find out where Skully took them, and we need to remain calm to analyze the possible clues to do so.”
“Fu fu. I wonder what Riddle would be capable of doing in this… situation.” Jade comments.
“This is neither the time nor the place to find that out.” Azul reprimands him.
Riddle takes a deep breath and agrees with Jamil, but without apologizing for his reaction. He can’t calm down enough for that.
You were tied up with Grim and a sleeping Jack in a bathtub full of candy when a group of familiar faces approached to rescue you. Riddle was the first to reach you.
“(Y/N)! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Skully had removed your and Grim’s gags, but you still had your hands and feet tied. Without a second thought, Riddle plunges his arms into the candies to pick you up from the bathtub. He set you down on the ground ans uses his magic to untie the ropes that bound you. Immediately afterwards he bent down beside you to examine your wrists.
“I don’t see any redness on your skin. He didn’t tie you up too tightly.”
“Aww, were you that worried about me?” You ask.
“Of course I was! You were kidnapped. How was I supposed to feel?”
He was closer to you than he thought, and seeing you looking at him like that, he moved away, flustered. He clears his throat and composes himself, while the others struggle to get Grim out of the middle of the candy and wake Jack.
“Oh, Jack…!” Sally approaches as soon as you arrive at the Halloween Town plaza. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I was worried sick!”
“You were worried about me?”
“Of course I was!”
“Wow… Thanks, Sally.” Jack smiles reassuringly. “But you don’t need to worry anymore. See this? Not a bone out of place!”
Riddle has never left your side since they rescued you, and he’s not oblivious enough not to notice that this exchange between Sally and Jack is very similar to the one you two had. This, plus the fact that he was one of those who noticed that Sally had some kind of crush on Jack, made him wonder if his situation with you might be similar in some way. But he quickly dismissed that thought from his head.
Some time later, Skully approaches you to apologize for what he did to you and Grim. Riddle is still by your side, but not even that stoped Skully from trying to apologize in his own way.
“Allow me to express my remorse through actions.” Skully finishes by saying and extends his hand to take yours, but before he can, Riddle is faster and protectively grabs your hand instead.
“Your words shall suffice!” Riddle retorts in a tone very similar to his Housewarden’s assertive one.
“Oh, but-”
“(Y/N) already said they accepted your apology.” Riddle interrupts him and places himself between you and Skully. “Why don’t you go check on Grim? He was saying his paws were numb after being in that bathtub for so long. Perhaps he requires your assistance.”
“Very well then.” Skully sighs, but with a smile. “If Grim is feeling to weak, I shall carry him myself.” He bids you both farewell and walks away to look for Grim.
“Is something wrong, Riddle?” You ask.
“Wrong? No. Why do you ask?” He simply replies.
“I think I remember you commenting that you appreciated Skully’s gentlemanly bearing, but… that’s not what it seemed like just now.”
“Gh! I… I just…” He blushes slightly. “I just didn’t think it would be appropriate, after what he did to you, for him to have the privilege of kissing your hand… Huh, Wait! I mean…”
“It’s rare to see you so flustered with words.” You comment with a chuckle.
“I… I’m sorry if I intruded too much.” He apologizes, ashamed of himself. “I just… don’t like seeing him so close to you. If he had the nerve to kidnap you, who knows what he might do next.”
“Well, he kisses everyone’s hand, including yours.”
“Well, yes, a somewhat… strange habit.”
“And he really seems sorry for what he did.”
Riddle doesn’t answer that one, he just looks away.
“Are you sure you’re not just a little bit… jealous?”
His gaze abruptly returns to you, and his cheeks flush even more.
“What?! Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just concerned about your well-being… I… think…”
You tell him that it’s okay, that you even find this side of him cute, and that makes him even more flustered.
“Well, I saw how flattered you were whenever he kissed your hand.” Riddle says, somewhat sullenly. He looks at you and sees you smiling encouragingly. “Why are you looking at me like…” He blushes when he realizes. “Wait! You want me to do it?!”
“Would you like to do it?”
He thinks for a second until he sighs with a small smile.
“Well, perhaps I should practice my gentlemanly.” He smiles confidently, straightens up, and extends his hand to you. “Allow me to demonstrate my affection for you through actions.”
He waits for you to place your hand in his so he can hold it tenderly, lean in, and kiss it gently but affectionately.