Work Text:
Yuuki hummed to herself as she sat underneath one of the palm trees that was in the botanical garden’s temperate area. It was one of her favorite places to be after class because it was such a quiet place, plus the plants were so pretty to draw. She had actually just finished sketching an orchid flower, along with several other flora.
Her work done, Yuuki put her sketchbook in her bag and began to head out. She figured she had been here long enough and it would be time to get back to Heartslabyul soon. The renovations to the Ramshackle Dorm would be done by tomorrow, so she would be happy about that. It was nice rooming with Ace and Deuce, but she missed being in her own bed. Plus, she was certain the ghosts missed her, too.
As Yuuki walked down the path, she suddenly stopped as she heard the sound of snoring nearby. That’s when she began to look around on the ground cautiously. If there was one thing she learned from the last time she was in here, it was always keep your eye on the ground. She did not want another incident like what happened last time, after all.
That’s when she spotted a long, fuzzy vine on the ground, tipped with dark brown hair. Yuuki gulped as she carefully stepped over the limb, knowing fully well that it was not a vine. She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice… lest she accidentally bring up his wrath, again. Although she doubted that he would be too angry with her.
As Yuuki carefully stepped over the tail, she took a quick look to her left… and that’s when she saw him.
Leona Kingscholar, the Housewarden of Savanaclaw… just snoozing away under the shade of the cherry willow tree, his arms tucked under his head as he snored.
‘Probably skipping classes, again,’ thought Yuuki. ‘You’d think that after everything that happened, he’d have learned by now.’
As Leona dozed, Yuuki quietly sighed as she attempted to walk away… but then, she took a glance over her shoulder at the lion beastman’s sleeping face. She blinked at him, curiously before she shook her head and was about to walk away, again… and yet, she suddenly found herself going in the opposite direction. Before she even knew what she was doing, Yuuki crouched down, hugging her knees as she took a good long look at him. As for Leona, he just kept snoozing away, even as a butterfly came fluttering up to rest on his ear, which flicked at the light touch, causing it to flit away.
‘He actually looks really peaceful,’ thought Yuuki before she took a quick glance around the garden. ‘Come to think of it… the school’s garden has always been a peaceful place, huh? It’s nice and calm here… and it’s quiet… no wonder Leona likes to nap here.’
Leona snored while Yuuki smiled at him softly, resting her cheek on the back of her hands as she gazed at him.
‘I wonder…’
Soon, she opened her bag and got out her sketchbook and pencil as quietly as she could, then she began to sketch. Her strokes were small and quick, but soft so as not to wake the sleeping leonine prince. She wanted to make sure she got every detail right while she could, right down from the shading of his hair to the scar that marred his eye. She also added a bit of shadow underneath him and even added the butterfly that was flying around him. After adding a few more touches, Yuuki smiled as she carefully tore the page out, satisfied with her work.
“Beautiful…” she whispered as she gazed at the sketch.
“Hey. How long are you gonna gawk at me, herbivore?”
“EEP!!” Yuuki yelped as her cheeks turned bright yet, accidentally dropping her sketchbook, her pencil, and the drawing she made… as she met Leona’s steely gaze.
“Do you enjoy waking me up or something?” he asked in his usual grouchy tone.
“Uh… well… I, uh… umm…!” Yuuki stammered, trying to find the right words to say, but then…
“Leona! Where are you? You have to go to remedial classes, again!”
“Huh?” Leona muttered as he glanced back, hearing the familiar voice of his hyena sidekick. The moment his back was turned, the embarrassed Yuuki hurriedly grabbed her sketchbook and pencil and ran as fast as she could. However, in her haste to get out of the garden without being seen, she accidentally left something behind: the drawing she made, which Leona noticed.
“Hey!” Leona called as he picked up the sketch. “Hey, herbivore, you forgot your…”
Too late. Yuuki was already long gone.
“Drawing…” Leona finished before he scoffed. “Jeez, typical herbivores… about as jumpy as gazelles.”
“There you are, Boss!”
Leona turned to see Ruggie approaching him, his hands shoved down his pockets.
“I figured you’d be here, again,” said the hyena boy. “Come on, let’s get movin’.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” Leona muttered as he went to join his lackey… but as he glanced down at the drawing in his hand. Once he got a good look at it, he arched an eyebrow in intrigue as he saw how detailed and shaded it was.
“What’s that you got there?” asked Ruggie as he tried to take a look at it.
“Huh?” Leona muttered. “Oh, uh… nothing.” He quietly folded the drawing and shoved it into his back pocket. “Come on, let’s go.”
Ruggie blinked at his princely benefactor before he shrugged and walked after him… but as they headed to class together… a small smile crept across Leona’s lips.
‘Beautiful, huh?’