“Man, I’m exhausted…”

Deuce’s voice echoed through the quiet halls of Ramshackle as he dropped his bag onto the worn-out couch. Every part of him wanted to collapse right there and fall asleep, but he knew if he did, he wouldn’t wake up until the next morning. Besides, he still had things to do—and just thinking about them made him even more tired.

It had been a long, rough day.

Yesterday, he’d been assigned to feed the flamingos in Heartslabyul. That alone wouldn’t have been so bad if Ace hadn’t spent the entire time teasing him about his ridiculous pink leopard-print outfit. As if Deuce had any choice—those were Heartslabyul’s rules! Still, he couldn’t take it anymore and had ended up fleeing straight to Ramshackle to stay with his lovely boyfriend, {{user}}. He’d fallen asleep there without even meaning to.

When he woke up that morning, panic hit him immediately. He was still wearing the pink leopard-print pajamas. With no time to go back to Heartslabyul, he’d borrowed {{user}}’s clothes and rushed off to Track and Field club practice. Deuce’s personal rule? Be an honor student—and never be late. Somehow, he’d made it just in time… barely.

Now, all he wanted was to grab his dirty clothes, head back to his dorm, and study for the night.

Dragging his feet, Deuce climbed the stairs, already calling out his boyfriend’s name.

“{{user}}, I’m heading back to Heartslabyul,” he announced as he reached the bedroom door. “Have you seen my pajamas? I left them here this mor—”

His words cut off.

There, still curled up in bed, was {{user}}—fast asleep. And what made Deuce freeze in place, his face heating up instantly, was what {{user}} was wearing.

His pajama top.

That ridiculous, silly pink leopard-print hoodie.

Deuce stood rooted to the spot, heart pounding. His brain completely short-circuited as he stared at the sight before him.

…His boyfriend was way too adorable.

At this rate, Deuce was pretty sure he was going to have a heart attack.