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Ruggie’s still not sure what Leona saw in him. When Ruggie came to NRC for the first time, he was sixteen. A kid from the slums who hadn’t had any prior education except for basic street smarts. He was hardly anyone who deserved any attention. He definitely didn’t deserve any special treatment. At first, Ruggie had been weighing his options with what to do with Leona. He remembers that he was thinking of if he should do tiny favors for Leona in exchange for cash, maybe steal from him some or if he should just flat out ignore him. Leona was the Prince of Sunset Savana. Ruggie knew that he had been lucky that Leona hadn’t graduated before he was able to get to the school. He had all these cards that he could play, he just had to choose which ones would be best.
Leona was the one that decided for him.
He remembers the very first time Leona came up to him. Ruggie wasn’t expecting it. It was the very first week of school. Ruggie couldn't afford the entire school uniform, just the button up and the vest, really. But that was the important part at least. The first time Leona came up to him, it was to give him a uniform. A complete uniform.
At first, Ruggie thought Leona had paid for a whole new uniform for him and that familiar sense of dread filled him. Great. Something else that he had to save up money to pay back eventually. That was until he realized this uniform was way too big for him. Leona had explained that it was one of his from a year prior that was too small for him to fit in now. He went on further to explain that it looked like it would fit Ruggie good enough, maybe if just a bit big. He was right. Ruggie’s sure he could wear this uniform WELL into his third year at this school!
Ruggie didn’t mind. Wearing a belt and rolling up the sleeves and pant legs was a small price to pay for a complete uniform. It was even BETTER that it was so big, actually. He wouldn’t have to pay for a new uniform every year! Unless Crowley decided to change the uniform or something.
Leona did the same thing for a dorm uniform too. Ruggie had just a bit of the dorm uniform already but Leona gave him a bit of clothes that used to be his from years prior. The shirt was a dress on him to be honest and he decided to use the cloth belt as a scarf instead.
Ruggie remembers that he had offered to do some favors for Leona after that, just so he doesn’t owe him anything in return. Leona had told him to not worry about it. That he was ‘tired of getting lectured by that Heartslabyul jerk’ and he just sent him on his way. He wasn’t sure what to really think of Leona after that but he thought he was… an okay guy. At least, he’s better than some people give him credit for. He knew that he couldn’t go the route of simply ignoring him anymore. Leona had noticed him and Leona knows his name. He had better cards to play anyways.
—————
The second time Leona ever did anything for him was about three months into the school year. When he stopped looking all brand new and now started looking like he belonged in the dorm.
Ruggie had already gotten a name for himself in the school. You need something done? He’s your guy!… For a price, of course. He’s gotten quite a few people who pay him decently for his work but nobody that he really reports to. Which was fine for him. If he had a stable boss, that might cut into opportunities to make even MORE money elsewhere.
As long as these brief employers knew the risk of hiring him included possible theft, he didn’t care who he worked for.
His work, however, came to a screeching halt when Leona came up to him. More like, when Leona grabbed him by the back of his shirt to stop his constant moving around the dorm.
“Woah, Woah! Hey!”
“Bucchi,” He heard Leona growl out and Ruggie felt his eyes go wide. What had he done? He didn’t steal from Leona at all recently! Why was Leona so upset? “Come with me,” Leona said, keeping his grip on Ruggie’s shirt as he dragged him to his room. That probably wasn’t good. Going into your Housewarden’s room when you were just some random freshman almost always meant you were in trouble. If he was going off of how Riddle handles his new underlings was anything to go by.
Leona pushed him inside and closed the door.
“Sit,” Leona commanded and Ruggie straightened up before making his way to the bed and sitting down. It was comfy, not too surprising for a prince. He feels like he’d be well rested for days if he had even a thirty minute nap on it.
Leona made his way to his closet, reaching up to the highest shelf and bringing down a few textbooks before bringing them all to the table in his room. He moved the chess table over a bit before setting the books down. Then, he looked at Ruggie.
“Come here,”
Ruggie did as he was told, sitting on the couch the table sat in front of. Leona did the same, sitting beside him.
“Your grades have been lackin. Now, I’m not one to really CARE, mind you. Usually, I’d just let you do what you want. It’s just that I know you can do better and it pisses me off. If I’m not mistaken, beastmen from the slums don’t have your opportunity. So we’re gonna go through some stuff together, okay?” Leona said and Ruggie nodded. “Good. I took a look at some of your grades and I think I know some of the things you need most help on,”
“So… How much was it YOU lookin out for me and how much was it your Vice tellin you I’m failin?” Ruggie asked, laughing a bit. Leona let his own laugh out, though it was just a laugh coming out of his nose and not a big one. Just enough to let Ruggie know he was humored.
“Got me there. But he ain’t the one that suggested I do this for ya. Don’t let this be a waste of time,”
After that, Leona would tutor him on things he didn’t quite understand in class occasionally and his grades improved. Once again, Ruggie offered to do favors for Leona to make them even but Leona just rolled his eyes at him and groaned.
“Didn't I tell ya? I don’t want nothin,”
Once again, Ruggie wasn’t sure why Leona was helping him at all.
He was from the slums. He wasn’t worth the dirt on Leona’s shoe.
And yet, Leona still put effort in him. Which was a big ask in and of itself. Leona didn’t put effort in many things and even having him wake up for classes was a hard task (at least from what he heard from the vice).
——————
“Damnit…” Ruggie sighed, a pout on his lips as he looked at his wallet. Ever since he started tutoring with Leona, it’s cut into his time with other jobs. Now, as he looked into his wallet, it was coming to bite him in the ass. He didn’t have any money for lunch. Ruggie looked across the cafeteria. He could always steal lunch from someone else. It wasn’t how he wanted to do it, especially with over half of the student body itching for a fight and being a lot bigger than him. He wasn’t even very good at magic yet. And unlike back at home, he didn’t have any allies that WERE bigger than him that he could use for protection.
“What is it?” Ruggie’s back straightened at the deep voice behind him. He calmed when he realized who it was.
“Oh. Leona-senpai! Hey, I’m sorry, don’t mind me,” Ruggie said as he put his wallet away. Leona’s eyes followed the wallet, then looked at the lunch line. Ruggie could tell he was thinking of something but he’s not sure what. “I was just about to head out. I should study at the library or somethin since I’m not too hungry today,” Ruggie said, which was a lie. He WAS hungry. But he could eat dinner at the dorm. At least there was free food there.
“Before you do, could you go in the line and get me somethin? Get me that,” Leona said, pointing to the most expensive item on the menu. Rich people… “I don’t care if you get somethin for yourself, just make sure you get me my thing, got it?” Leona said, handing Ruggie his wallet. This made Ruggie blink at it in bewilderment. “…Well?” Leona said, his eyes narrowing and his hands going to his hips. Ruggie looked at him then back at the wallet.
“…Man… you really don’t give a shit, huh?” Ruggie laughed. “I could take as much money outta this as I wanted to, you know. In case ya haven’t heard about my reputation yet,”
“Bucchi, I don’t care. Just get my lunch before I change my mind in lettin you do it,”
“Alright, alright, chill out. Imma get it,” Ruggie said as he stood in line. Even though the thought of taking money out of the wallet DID cross his mind, he wasn’t sure if he actually wanted to do it or not. He decided not to. More hassle than it was worth.
At least he got lunch that day.
——————
It was bound to happen. Leona’s Vice Housewarden challenged him and lost quickly, humiliation evident on his face as Leona stripped him of all titles and privileges.
“And THIS-!” Leona growled, throwing the Vice Housewarden down on the ground. “Is why I’M in charge! Anyone else got any complaints? I still got fight in me, don’t worry about tiring the old man, now!” Leona scanned over the crowd and clicked his tongue when nobody said anything. “Good. Now, I’m goin to my room. And you,” Leona said, directly to his ex vice housewarden. “Clean yourself up. You look fuckin pathetic on the ground like that,”
The crowd dispersed soon after that, everyone focusing on their own things but nobody really saying anything.
After that, Leona refused to take another vice housewarden.
‘Too much trouble’ he said. ‘I don’t need someone around that’s gonna disagree with me all the time. Don’t need someone who’s disloyal and just waitin to stab me in the back’.
—————
“Look here,” Leona said, pointing to a part in the textbook. “This is the answer,”
“Right. Thanks, Leona-Senpai,”
“Hm… if you can’t remember that then we can put it in your study guide for later…” Leona said, making note of it. Ruggie sighed, looking around Leona’s room. It was a lot messier since the Vice had been removed. Laundry was strewn all over the place, a mix of dirty and clean. There was trash lying around and all of Leona’s belongings were disorganized and not in the right places. For someone who doesn’t leave his bed most days, he sure knows how to make a mess. “Bucchi, are you even listening to me? What did I say about not wasting my time?”
“I’m sorry, Leona-Senpai. Was just lookin at your room,”
“My room?” Leona questioned, his gaze sharpening in defense. “What about my room?” He asked, his tone daring Ruggie to say anything about the state of it.
“Well, it’s just… a bit messy. I mean, I ain’t blamin you or nothin but I’m guessin it’s been a real hassle to clean with your Vice gone,” Ruggie said. Leona leaned back against the couch.
“And what? You wanna be my vice now?”
“No! I ain’t say all that. Still…” Ruggie trailed off, gathering his thoughts before he continued. “…I mean, I could clean your room for you. Do your laundry, throw away trash, organize… For a price,”
“Yeah? What’s your price?” Leona asked and Ruggie was a bit surprised he got this far. Especially surprised that Leona was letting HIM set the price. He honestly thought that Leona would refuse his offer, maybe even insult him because of how fresh losing his previous Vice was.
“Well… I haven’t thought of that…”
“Well, let me know when you do. I’ll pay you whatever. We’re gonna finish studying first though, then you can clean my room,”
“Okay! Thanks,” Ruggie said, a smile approaching his face. Working for Leona would be the easiest to get right back on his grind without sacrificing study time with Leona. It was a win-win situation. Especially since Leona would pay him whatever he wanted!
——————
…
Ruggie’s not sure what possessed Leona to approach him like he had. He’s not sure what Leona saw in him and he’s not sure why Leona kept him around.
All he knows is that he’s grateful for it. Their relationship only progressed from there. He no longer feels like he owes Leona and while they still have a boss/employee relationship, their dynamic is more than that.
Ruggie would go as far as to call Leona his friend and he knows Leona feels the same. He just doesn’t like saying it.
Leona’s a big softie, really. Just don’t tell him he said that.