Chapter Text
Days after his startling encounter with Rook, who was on a quest to find out Leona’s weakness at that time, he was still getting the chills every time he caught a single glance of the signature dark purple fedora.
“I believe your fur’s texture would suit a scarf better than a carpet or coat. Would you agree?” Despite understanding none of his fancy shtick, Rook’s ominous final statement floated around in Ruggie’s mind like an unwanted parasite. Something about the wording and sharp gaze made him think that the older student wasn’t done hunting him for information, or whatever he was after. Just the thought of it made the fur on his tail stand up on end. He did not want to be victim to another one of Rook’s info-gathering sessions.
Ruggie shook his head to dispel the thoughts. Oh, who was he kidding? Rook had always been a little unsettling to him. He shouldn’t be dwelling on something like that, considering the upcoming events. He needed the previous Housewarden to focus on his classes, or he’d be held back his senior year. After all his work to keep the Leona from being held back his junior year a second time, he couldn’t have the lion failing his grades weeks before he officially graduated!
He went over his mental list of strategies for making sure Leona actually attended and performed his schoolwork (which was really just one, and that was bugging the heck out of Leona), and turned towards the botanical garden that the brunet spent all of his time napping in the morning.
It’s been three years since I got here and two since I started making him take his classes and he’s still trying to nap through it all. Ruggie thought, scoffing. He wasn’t able to watch the senior as much during his work studies and internships, so he didn’t know how bad Leona’s napping habits had gotten during those times. Not to mention treating the hyena like an alarm clock whenever he was around. Thank the Sevens there was a Housewarden who actually tried to do things properly instead of snoozing all day!
Actually, Leona did work enough to be respectable while he’d been Housewarden. But that was besides the point. With his own things… honestly.
“Hey, Ruggie!” Ruggie’s ears twitched and he jumped, the sudden call tearing him from his thoughts. Trying to locate the voice proved unnecessary, as the origin of said voice was headed straight towards him. In school uniform, the sophomore-from-nowhere and their pet weasel raised their hand (the weasel didn’t) in greeting. “You look like you’re thinking about a lot right now. Something bothering you?”
Ruggie huffed. “It’s just the usual. It doesn’t exactly concern you. Don’t you have other things to worry about?”
“Uhh, no, actually.” Grim replied, as if it were obvious. “We have to worry about this specifically.” Well sorry for not being a mind-reader, Grim!
“Shut up.” Yuu scolded, swatting at the gray weasel before turning back to Ruggie with an apologetic smile. “Anyway, we’re just concerned. You look more off-put than usual, and you don’t usually jump when you’re called even when you’re thinking that hard.”
Ruggie folded his hands behind his head, sighing. Already he sensed a long talk coming, if he wasn’t able to escape early on. Yuu and their do-gooder antics, sheesh. Leave this upperclassman alone already. “Yeah, okay, but it’s not your business. And I have to find Leona, otherwise he’s going to sleep all day again! I can’t have him suddenly qualifying for a hold-back only weeks from his graduation!”
“Yeah… you’re usually more upbeat than that.” Grim decided. “Okay, spill!”
Ruggie lurched back, glaring at Grim. “Keep your nose in your own bubble, you lousy weasel!” If he knew anything about Grim, this would get him off of Ruggie’s back and more on the names.
“What did you just call me?” Grim growled. “I’m gonna burn you to toast for that!”
“Grim!” Yuu picked up the cat by his magestone collar. “Lay off already! If you’re gonna ask, you have to change your overly blunt tactic!”
Grim being manhandled? Now that was a sight Ruggie couldn’t help but laugh at. He covered his mouth in an attempt to stifle it, but a few giggles still came out. “Shyeheehee…” He knew he was offending Grim. It was too funny, though. Nearly enough to make him momentarily forget about Rook. Nearly. “Well, as much as this sight is hilarious, I really need to go find Leona. Toodles!” Ruggie weaved around Yuu and Grim (Grim still making threatening remarks involving fire) and buzzed off.
They didn’t need to know about Rook, right?
Right?
Well, even if they did, he didn’t feel like sharing.
In any case, Leona was top priority. Knowing him, the prince went to one class from Ruggie forcing him as the day started and then headed straight to the botanical garden to snooze all morning. Ruggie shook his head and sighed, thinking about how lucky he was to be on Leona’s good side, even if that came from doing all the heavylifting of Leona’s life (minus actually participating in the classes) one hundred percent of the time. Otherwise, the lion would’ve ripped him to shreds a hundred times over by now.
As the botanical garden came into view, Ruggie wondered how he was going to force Leona to take the classes that he couldn’t be there to personally see him to. The only person Ruggie knew to be more stubborn than the former Housewarden of Savanaclaw was the former Housewarden of Pomefiore. Which—Ruggie’s ears flattened against his head as he shuddered, the image of Rook (Housewarden → Vice Housewarden → Rook) and his backhanded interrogation tactics stalking its way back to the front of his mind. This time, nothing Ruggie tried took his mind off of Rook, and probably wouldn’t until he woke up Leona. God, Rook was going to be out of school this month. Why was his paranoia burying him in so thick now?
Thinking back over what Leona needed to do… ah, crap. Better hurry.
Ruggie groaned when he opened the door to the garden and saw exactly what he expected. Leona sleeping peacefully, right next to the garden path, curled up on the soil like a lion, with his tail splayed out far enough into the path to be stepped on, just like Yuu had in the first god damn week of last year.
“Leona!” Ruggie yelled, loud enough to shake even Azul from his deep-thinking sessions. “You gotta bounce for Professor Crewel’s extra potionology lessons! You know he’s gonna go feral if you’re late! Do you want him on your tail?” How Leona had landed those sessions despite the fact that the seniors of Night Raven were off campus most of the year, Ruggie had no idea, even after Leona explained to him.
Leona made a sound of annoyance, but reluctantly picked himself up. “God, you just had to find me now… But I guess dealing with him sooner rather than later is better.”
Ruggie grunted. “You weren’t planning on skipping again, were you?” Knowing Leona, he was definitely planning on skipping for the sake of laziness, forgetting about Crewel’s wrath (despite being a really smart guy!).
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Leona probably wasn’t even paying attention. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“Dude, it’s your class.” Ruggie grumbled, but started out of the garden with Leona anyway, making sure the lion was in front of him so that he’d actually head over.
Ruggie closed the door to Crewel’s classroom behind him and started down the hall. He pulled out the food he’d snagged seconds after the lunch bell had rung and started munching, heading towards the cafeteria to find the other Savanaclaw students.
Not even two steps on his way, a stalker’s voice reached his ears.
“Ah, Monsieur Dandelion!” Ice ran through Ruggie’s blood, and he just barely managed to avoid shivering. “The weather is quite nice today, wouldn’t you agree?”