Work Text:
Ever since the day Leona got married to Idia on a warm summer day, Leona had started keeping track of things on a paper calendar. He used to do this sort of thing on his phone or had Ruggie keep track of any important events for him, but a new life of marriage made him want to change a few things. For the better, he hoped. A paper calendar was one of the many changes he adopted, there’s just something so satisfying about crossing out a day and ripping off a calendar page. It made his weeks feel a little more real, in some sense, like the fact that his new life of marriage wasn’t only a dream. Leona had been doing this for months now, crossing off another well-lived day every day off of the paper calendar after dinner. It’s winter now, and Leona had the pleasure of crossing off Christmas a few days ago, but it seems like there’s one last event left that he had marked down before this rather amazing year came to a close…
Leona put the cap back on his pen before hanging the pen on the calendar, like he usually did once he was done marking the thing up. Then he turned, leaving the dining room, passing through the kitchen, and finally making it to the living room where he knew Ortho and Idia were resting. As usual, the two brothers sat on one couch together. Ortho was watching the latest episode of some show about a blue dog while Idia typed away on his work laptop, perhaps cracking away at the latest problem STYX was examining (Idia really needed to stop doing work after dinner while he was at home).
Leaning over the edge of the couch, Leona placed a kiss on Idia’s cheek, “Oi, radish sprout, stop working for a sec.”
"M'kay." Idia closed his laptop and put it on the coffee table before turning to look at Leona, “What is it, kitty-cat?”
“Have you ever seen fireworks before?”
“Fireworks? Well, no, I guess.” Spoke Idia thoughtfully, “I’ve seen them in anime and shit, but that’s it.”
“So… you haven’t seen them with your own two eyes in real life?”
“Yea. I don’t think Ortho has either.” Idia turned to talk to Ortho, “Have you seen fireworks irl yet?”
“Nope!” Ortho didn’t bother looking away from his show to join in on the conversation, “I’ve only seen them in anime with you, niisan!”
“Well then, do I have good news for you two sprouts.” Leona pulled out his phone, he needed to start making some plans with Jack and Ruggie as soon as possible for the new year, “The Sunset Savanna has a firework show-”
“A firework show?!” Idia snapped his head around quickly to look at Leona with his bright, dazzling eyes, his once tired expression now painted over with excitement, “In the Sunset Savanna?!”
“Seriously?!” Ortho was looking at him as well, beeping with shared excitement, “The Sunset Savanna has fireworks?!”
“Well, yeah. We have fireworks… and firework shows.” Leona leaned against the backside of the couch, “Don’t you guys have fireworks down there in the Isle of Woe?”
“Nah.” Idia rested his head in his hand as he frowned, “Safety hazard. The sky down there is fake and everything, so… yeah.” Idia perked up right after, “But there’s fireworks in the Sunset Savanna?! Really?! When?!”
“Yeah!” Squeaked Ortho, practically buzzing in his seat, “When?!”
“It’s happening in a few days.” Leona looked up an ad of the event on his phone before passing it over to the two brothers, “Fireworks are shot off around town and from the palace to celebrate the coming year and a new dawn.”
“We have to go!” Ortho clutched onto Leona’s arm, “Please? Pretty please? I wanna see fireworks! Please! I promise I’ll be good for a week and blow up no walls for a week!”
“I also want to go!” Idia held onto his other arm, “I can’t miss out on a cool limited time event! Especially a limited time event that has fireworks!” Idia gasped as he let go of Leona’s arm, leaping off of the couch and scrambling up the stairs, “I have to cancel all of my plans with crimson muscle now! Brb!”
Leona watched his husband dart away before patting Ortho’s head with his now free hand, “We can go see the fireworks, I was planning to go anyway.”
“Yay!” Ortho let go of Leona’s arm to jump on the couch, “We’re going! We’re going to see big, big fireworks! Yay!”
“I plan to invite Ruggie and Jack as well, so you’ll see them too.”
Ortho gasped loudly, “Fireworks and more family?! This plan keeps getting even better! Best new year’s start ever!”
Leona nodded as he started typing up a text, “We’ll also watch them from my favorite spot.”
Ortho stopped jumping on the couch to tilt his head at him curiously, “Your favorite spot? Where? You have a favorite spot to view fireworks from?”
“Yeah, I do.” Leona sent off the text to his boys, “The castle has an observatory. It’s dark, empty, and perfect for seeing all the fireworks since it’s up pretty high. I used to hide out there all the time as a kid during the new year’s firework celebration, I think you two will-”
“I can’t wait!” Ortho hopped over to hug Leona tightly with one of his classic bone-crushing hugs, “This is gonna be so amazing! Oh thank you for giving us more adventures, Leona! I can’t wait to see fireworks with everyone, I wish the new year could come right now!”
Leona couldn’t help but chuckle before placing a kiss on Ortho’s forehead, “You’re welcome, Ortho. I’d do anything for you two, ya know?”
“We know! We’d do the same for you of course!”
“Of course… Besides that, do you want to hear about some of the fireworks they’ll have this year?”
“Yeah I do!”
-🦁💀-
It has been a couple days since Leona brought up the firework celebration with his family. Thankfully Idia and Ortho were up for it, and Ruggie and Jack were able to come as well. It hasn’t been that long since they’ve all been together (they did have a Christmas party and all), but it’ll still be nice to see everyone again. Plus, this was one of the few festivities Leona actually enjoyed, and he couldn’t wait to share it with Idia and Ortho. This is their first year living in the Sunset Savanna, after all, they had to experience this for themselves at least once to truly enjoy the beautiful, endless history of their new homeland.
While Leona didn’t like to wake up particularly early (sleeping till noon is the best), he made sure to get up earlier today to make sure everything was ready and in order. He made sure everyone had breakfast, wore comfy clothes, brought a jacket just in case it got cold at night, and shuffled them off into the family van. He picked up Jack and Ruggie as well, just so that they could save some gas, and finally got to drive them all up to the palace. It felt like a rather long morning, but thankfully they’d have all day to chill out at the palace before midnight came around.
Leona barely managed to park the car on palace grounds before Ortho was hopping out of his seat, throwing the car door open with a rather loud bang, “We’re here, we’re here!” Ortho zipped out of the car with a very long, drawn out ‘whee’, “Fireworks! Yay fireworks! Here we come!”
"W-Wait!" Idia struggled to take his seatbelt off, quickly sliding out of the passenger seat as he slipped out of the car, "It isn't even night yet, Ortho!"
Leona could see them run off towards the grand palace gates as he got out of the car himself, making sure to pick up the few bags of luggage he and Idia had prepared the night before. They were all planning to have a big sleepover at the palace tonight, and the last thing he'd want to do was leave his family's pajamas in the car when they most needed it. He had everything, right? He's got their bag of clothes, Idia's laptop bag… Oh! He needed-
"Ey, Boss." Ruggie lightly patted Leona with Ortho's favorite teddy bear, "Looking for this?"
"Oh, yeah." Leona reached out to grab it, "Thanks-"
"No way! That's mine!" Ruggie held it away from Leona, "I'm holding it boss! You've already got your hands full, let me help out!"
"Let me help out too!" Jack ran over with two wags of his tail, "I can hold a whole lot!"
"I have nothing else for you to hold-" Leona reached for Ortho's pegasus backpack, but Ruggie managed to snatch it with his quick little hands before he could get a hold of it, "Hey!"
"Hush, Leona. You're already holding two things." Ruggie plopped the bag into Jack's hands, "Here you go buddy, you can hold Ortho's backpack!"
Jack held the small bag close to his chest, "I'll guard it with my life!"
"You sure will!" Ruggie hopped back into the car, perhaps to get one last look around, "You aren't hiding anything else in here, are you?"
Leona shook his head as he held up his two bags, "Nope, that's it. You two nabbed everything else… which I could totally hold, by the way."
"C'mon, boss!" Ruggie leaped out of the car, making sure to close the car door behind him, "We've got spare hands to hold the little things, let us help you out a little since you've planned most of this stuff."
"Fine…" He huffed as he locked the car, "Just this once, ok? And… thanks."
“No problem, boss!” Ruggie walked ahead with Ortho’s teddy in tow, “C’mon! Let’s go!”
The three of them brought their bags up towards the palace together, and as time progressed their once slow walk grew into a full-on race. How did it happen? Great seven, Leona had no clue. They were walking together and chatting at first, but then Ruggie hopped a few steps ahead of them, then Jack did the same, and soon enough they were all running up that long path to the palace doors, laughing all of the air out of their lungs as they tried to outrun one another. Perhaps this little race was childish and all, but damn did it feel exhilarating when he managed to slap the palace doors a second before Ruggie could. He’s a stay-at-home dad with a not so intense exercise regime, yet he still managed to beat the fastest hyena he had ever gotten the pleasure to meet. Score! He hasn’t lost his edge yet to fatherhood! None of them could beat Jack, unfortunately, but it made sense. Jack probably eats protein powder for breakfast, plus he’s a professional athlete and all, his bulk is no joke. If Ruggie and himself wanted to even try beating that man they’d have to get back into magift, and Leona isn’t sure if he even wants to try putting on his old sport uniform. He’s probably too big for it now, but maybe Ortho will grow into it…
“You’re-” Ruggie gasped loudly as he regained his breath, “You’re fucking lucky I haven't ran competitively since NRC. I would've kicked your ass."
"You still run a lot, sport or not." Leona chuckled as he leaned against the door, "Can't believe you got your ass kicked by a stay-at-home dad. Can you believe it, Jack?"
Jack shook his head, "No. Ruggie joins me when I go through my training regime every Friday, I'm surprised he lost to you when we work out more intensively than you do these days."
Oh man, hearing that got Leona laughing louder, "You work out with Jack and still got your ass beat?! That's gold, Ruggie! All I do is run around my neighborhood with Ortho and do some weight lifting!” As much as Leona wanted to milk this, he had to get them all inside. So, he got off of the door, opening it as he beckoned his boys inside, “C'mon now, let's keep going. We got a long day ahead of us."
The three of them entered the palace, and the familiar scent of warm spices that hit him filled Leona with an odd sense of nostalgia. It’s not like he missed this place, he was just here last month for a meeting after all, but when was the last time they’ve all been in the palace together? Quite a while, he’d imagine. They usually met up at one of their houses or a par or- well, anywhere but here. Still, as much as these halls held bad memories, they held many more good ones as well. He could remember holidays, parties… the likes. The little animal crossing event he had hosted once was fun, but nothing could quite match the wedding he held with Idia here on palace grounds… that memory is one that he’d love to adorn the palace with forever if he could.
“Leona!” Idia waved him over, it seemed as if he had been talking to Farena and Sarabi by an open window, “Come here!”
Leona looked at his boys, shrugged, then walked over to his husband’s side, “What is it?”
“We were just talking about having dinner together, is it alright with you?” Questioned Idia with a tilt of his head, “We don’t get to hang out with Farena and Sarabi every day, so…”
“Sure, we can have dinner with them, but first we need to-”
“Uncaaa Leonaaaa!” Cheka ran over, hand in hand with Ortho, “Can I watch the fireworks with you all?! Pretty please? With a mango on top?!”
“Sure, but only if your parents agree.” Leona looked towards the couple next to him, “I know you all usually are the ones who blast off the fireworks. Want me to take Cheka for the night?”
Farena and Sarabi spoke to one another for a moment before nodding as Sarabi voiced their agreement, “We’d be delighted if you could take care of our son for the night, Leona. Our little cub has only seen the fireworks from where we blasted them on ground level…” She looked towards Cheka, “Wouldn’t it be fun to see the fireworks from somewhere very high for once, my little cub?”
“Super fun!” Squeaked Cheka, delighted by the idea, “So can I hang out with them tonight?!”
“You may.”
“Yay!” Cheka dragged Ortho elsewhere down the hall, “We can watch fireworks together!”
“We can!” Cheered Ortho as they sped off, “BFF fireworks together! Yay!”
Farena grinned as he watched the children run off, “Ah, the joys of parenthood. Isn’t it fun to have a son of your own, brother?”
Leona scoffed, “Not when Ortho is crawling on the ceiling on all fours or shoving his little hands under the bathroom door because he’s lonely. Otherwise, yes.”
“... Ortho crawls on your ceiling at home..?”
“He did that once! Ok?! Only one time!” Idia made a rather frantic, nonsensical movement with his hand, “You see, Ortho got really into Hotel Transylvania once and wanted to be a vampire, you know? And vampires usually hang on ceilings so…”
-🦁💀-
In comparison to the many months that have passed by in a blur since Idia married the love of his life, today felt painfully slow. It was fun, yes, but slow. He kept thinking about the fireworks he’d see tonight as he played in the garden, enjoyed meals, and so forth. He’s just… excited! He had never seen a firework in his life, and now he can! This marriage of theirs had certainly given him the opportunity to explore more of the world, and Idia was more than ready to see it all with everyone at his side. So, to say the least, he was pretty excited as he climbed the observatory stairs, fingers intertwined with Leona’s own. He hoped that Leona didn’t mind how he shook at each step, his body buzzing with unsaid excitement. The clock is ticking down slowly, and soon it will be midnight… How bright will the fireworks be before him? Brighter than the stars?
As Idia made it to the top of the stairs (thank the seven he managed to make it to the observatory in the first place, he felt close to collapsing on the stairs twice already), he couldn’t help but feel as if he walked into a little part of Leona’s world rather than stepping foot in a royal observatory. The place smelled of old books, weathered beyond its years, and in the corner of his eye Idia could see stacks of paper, books, and a spilled box of crayons hidden behind several crates and dusty, undisturbed sheets. Leona must’ve spent a good amount of time here as a child.
“Niisan! Niisan look!” Ortho pointed towards the biggest window in the observatory, its ancient wooden frames pushed open to reveal more than the dusty glass offered, “Everything looks so small and shiny from up here, it’s amazing!”
“I’m coming to look, just gimmie a sec!” Idia left a little kiss on Leona’s cheek before walking over to join Ortho at the open window, “How small is everything from- woah!”
The world really is small from up here! He could see the castle grounds sprawled out before him, left aglow with so many lanterns and lights. Beyond the palace walls laid the endless city, glittering with lights from- well, everywhere. From homes to streets to that one large market he thought would be closed by now- they all glowed bright, brilliantly, with energy that could rival the sun they so adored. It felt as if Idia had found a pile of shiny, glittering gold underneath the sea. The always lively Sunset Savanna just felt livelier now! Is the Sunset Savanna always like this or is everyone just waiting with bated breaths to see the new dawn together?
“D’ya like it?” Leona slipped to his side with ease, wrapping an arm around Idia’s waist before pulling him closer, “You can see almost everything from here.”
“Yeah, I do.” Idia leaned against Leona, soaking up any bit of warmth that he could from his beloved husband, “It’s very shiny… and lively. I think it’s beautiful.”
“Hah, beautiful…” Leona turned his head slightly to look at him, “I never really thought of this sight that way but… yeah. I thought a little differently about this view back then, but it sure is beautiful now.”
“Why is it beautiful now but not back then..?”
“Well… It’s beautiful now because you’re here.” Purred Leona with a sweet, lovely smile, “Everything is always better and more worthwhile when you’re around.”
Although Idia wouldn’t admit it now, hearing those words got him feeling all giddy and very much loved, “Aww, kitty-cat! I could say the same about you! My kitty! My king! My bright, warm, beautiful sun! You make everything you stand close to glow in positively delightful ways!”
“What about you, hm? You literally glow and brighten everything with your fiery hair and all.”
“My hair is unrelated!”
“It’s totally related.” Leona kissed his cheek ever so sweetly before murmuring his soft words of worship, “You make everything glow, both figuratively and physically, radish sprout. I am the happiest man in the world to know you, my love. My moon. You are simply divine, Idia, and I’m lucky that I get to wake up right next to your glowing splendor.”
Great seven, these sweet, romance lines are depleting his HP, they’re way too strong! After years of being with Leona he still is as defenseless as ever to this SSR prince’s words! Well, not like he’d complain or anything. Why would he want to nerf such impactful dialogue that makes his heart flutter? Only crazy people would complain about such a great feature!
Idia willed himself to hold strong in their flirtatious little moment, “If you think I look neat when I’m sleeping, you should see your-” Idia let out a pathetic little ‘eep’ as he felt something land in his hair, “Uh. Kitty-cat, do you know what landed on my head?”
“Let me see…” Leona combed a hand through his hair, going an extra step to be a tease by lightly scratching his nails against his scalp, “Ah.” Leona pulled whatever that thing was, holding it out for the two of them to see, “It’s a… tiny old dog?”
“This isn’t a tiny old dog!” Idia snatched the little dog figurine from Leona’s hand, “This is a monopoly piece! From the game! Is this a sign from the great seven to play monopoly tomorrow?!”
“It’s a sign from me to get over here and play monopoly with us!” Shouted Ruggie from behind here, “Either that or get a room for seven’s sake! I can taste sugar on my tongue from all the way over here!”
“O-Oh!” Idia turned a little, and he can see that everyone is standing around a large table, and upon its dusty surface lid a rather old looking game of monopoly, “Where did you guys find that?”
“In the back with some other games! C’mon, we got an hour to kill, might as well kill it with monopoly until the fireworks start!”
“S-Sure!” Idia looked towards his love, “Shall we join them?”
“Of course.” Leona led the two of them away from the window and towards the table everyone stood around (it seems as if none of them could find chairs), “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on a game, radish sprout.”
For the remaining hour of the night, the burned time away playing a rather fun game of monopoly. Nothing is more thrilling than trying to make your friends go bankrupt! Ortho seemed to have a lead at first when they started, but as the hour passed by it seemed as if Ortho slowly fell behind, slowing bit by bit. It’s not like Idia minded, because this means that he could get ahead, but Ortho seemed awfully… tired? He used to float fine, but now his eyes are rather droopy, and he’s starting to float towards the ground every now and then before snapping out of it and floating right back up… Is he running out of battery? Did he get too excited and not charge up all the way last night?
“Ortho?” Idia shook his brother’s shoulder gently, “Are you ok? Sleepy?”
Ortho shook his head, “M’not sleepy!” He claims, although that claim was easily overridden by the little yawn that escaped his mouth, “I can stay awake till the fireworks!”
“Sure you can, bud.” Leona left his spot at the table to scoop Ortho up in one of his arms, “You look like you’re about to fall over at any second, though, so I’m just gonna hold ya.”
“I’m not falling over! And I’m not gonna sleep!”
“Ya sure about that?”
“Yeah!”
“Ok.” Leona patted Ortho’s head, “Why don’t you rest your head on my shoulder for a bit, ‘kay?”
“… Why?”
“Oh. You know. For fun.”
Ortho yawned again as he settled his head on Leona’s shoulder, “I’m gonna… Firework…”
And with that, Ortho was out like a light in Leona’s hold. Wow, Ortho usually put up more of a fight when it came to going to sleep, he must’ve been really tuckered out…
“That was surprisingly easy.” Mused Leona as he readjusted his grip on Ortho, “Ey, Ruggie, how much more time till it’s midnight?”
Ruggie looked at his phone, “About a minute left, boss.”
“Cool. Let's gather around the window and count down the fireworks.”
“But Ortho is asleep!” Cheka pointed at Ortho, “He can’t count down and see the fireworks if he’s asleep!”
Leona patted Cheka’s head as he passed, walking towards the window, “I’ll make sure to wake him up so that he sees some, don’t worry. Now hurry up before I get the best viewing spot at the window.”
“Don’t hog up all of the good views, Unca!” Cheka ran over to claim his own spot by the window, “I wanna see the good stuff too! I’ve never seen a firework from high up in my life!”
Idia joined the three at the window, followed by Jack and Ruggie. Sure, it might be a little cramped, but it’s quite homely. Although Idia should be watching his own phone for the big countdown of the year, his eyes kept wandering over to Leona, taking in every little detail of his husband in this dark little room they stood in. He’s as pretty as always, and the way he holds Ortho is so protective and sweet. He really lucked out in life and landed on the best secret happy ending ever, huh? He wanted to tell him something nice before the year ended, but his mind could only draw blanks. Happy new year? I’ll love you next year as well? What should he say in a moment like this?!
“It’s almost time!” Announced Ruggie loudly, causing Idia to look away from his husband, “Ready?!”
Ah. The fated countdown.
TEN!
Maybe he shouldn’t say anything.
NINE!
He had so many things he wanted to say, though…
EIGHT!
… Like how he loved Leona…
SEVEN!
… And how he's thankful that they met…
SIX!
… He really found the jackpot, huh..?
FIVE!
He never knew that his future would be this bright and loving before…
FOUR!
… But…
THREE!
… He’s so glad.
TWO!
He couldn’t wait to love Leona next year as well.
ONE!
A spark could be seen in the distance, and in a moment it felt as if Idia could see his life flash before his eyes. No, not in a morbid “I’m about to die” way, but… something else. Some emotion that is just as gripping but much warmer than the gaping, blot-ridden jaws of death. Up until the moment he started his youthful days of love, Idia had a feeling that he’d be alone in STYX with no love of his own. Just himself, his brother maybe, together in the darkness of styx forever. When he imagined his future, he thought of a dark, lonely world, covered in a sickly sanitary white, outlined by the sliver of a fake sky. He’d never imagine that one day he’d stand in an observatory, surrounded by people he considered family, standing before brightness that he had never quite seen before in his life.
In the darkness of the night the fireworks bloomed brilliantly, like ethereal flowers, like flames that have taken life and color of their own. They’re beautiful. Not as beautiful as Leona under the evening sun, of course, but still beautiful nonetheless. He liked seeing them, honestly. All the animes he ever watched hyped them up as something truly spectacular, and he can understand why now. He can understand how it feels now that he is here, watching colors bloom across the sky, lighting up the once dark night. He could hardly see the stars now, for they were being drowned out by the light of hundreds of man-made ones, but he didn’t mind. All these different shapes and colors are truly impressive, and it oddly made him want to put a firework launcher on Ortho for some reason.
Idia turned to Leona, hoping to voice all the bouncing thoughts in his head about the fireworks, but every little thing he wished to say fizzled out into nothingness upon seeing his husband. More often than not, he’s at a loss for words when Leona is just standing there, effortlessly beautiful, like he is right now. Leona looks rather happy and relaxed, his lips curved slightly to show off a soft smile. His eyes, as delightfully green as always, now seemed to glow when reflecting the fireworks, much like shining an array of colors upon the most beautiful emeralds in the world. Idia is always in love with Leona, that much is true, but man- he felt more in love now. He could probably swoon. He could call Leona handsome tonight, but he also looked quite adorable with their child in his arms. Ortho is definitely dead asleep, little face squished against Leona’s shoulder. He’s completely unaware of the fireworks, so cozily content in Leona’s arms. The flashes of color make them all look so charming, as if the world wanted to bless them in the bright strokes of a rainbow in the darkness of the night. Before Idia could properly recognize what he’s doing, he takes his phone out, snapping a rather beautiful picture of Leona holding Ortho as he gazes out into the dazzling night. He couldn't help it, he had to. Leona is beautiful and breathtaking, even more so underneath this man-made festivity of fireworks.
Leona notices this action of his and turns with a grin, smiling so lovingly, "You're supposed to look at the fireworks, love, not me."
"But you're more beautiful." Admits Idia out loud, "I can't take my eyes off of you."
"Well then..." Leona leans close, "Lovers usually celebrate the new year with a kiss, may I have one?"
“Of course, Leona.”
He would never turn down a kiss, especially in a moment like this. They came closer and closer to one another before their lips finally met. This felt like any other kiss, so full of love and oddly magical, yet it felt different at the same time. Idia couldn’t put a finger on why, but he knew he felt happy.Their lips fit together perfectly, and the crackling of fireworks made things just feel… right. Yeah, right. It feels as if he were born to experience this moment, like some happily ever after of a fairytale. He felt slightly giddy at the thought of being in a fairytale of all things, living out the perfect life he had read of in books with his charming prince. Life really does get better, doesn’t it?
They pulled away from one another, smiling, and Idia felt happier than ever. What a way to start the new year, huh? He got to see fireworks for the first time in his life, kiss his husband, and also most definitely made Ruggie a third wheel for the first time this year. He's pretty sure he could hear Ruggie complaining (playfully, of course) behind them about how they're kissing in front of his firework show.
"Happy new year, Idia." Leona held Idia's hand in his own, "I love you."
"I love you too." Idia felt like he could cry from joy, "Happy new year, Leona… I can't wait to spend another wonderful year with you."
"Me too." Leona gave him another kiss, although it was a brief one, "Let me wake up Ortho now, he wanted to start the new year with some fireworks with the rest of us."
Idia watched Leona carefully coax Ortho awake. It worked, slowly, for Ortho stretched with a yawn in Leona's arms before sleepily focusing on the world outside of the window they stood by.
"Woah!" Ortho seemed filled with renewed energy as he pointed at the fireworks, "Are those fireworks?!"
Idia nodded, rather delighted by his brother's reaction, "Yes, those are fireworks."
"They're so cool! There's circles! Flowers! Ooh, even a bunny! Do you see the bunny niisan?!" He wagged his little finger into the darkness, "It's by the blue spider thingy!"
"I do see it, that's adorable!"
"Yeah yeah!"
They all watched the fireworks, together, until the show came to an end with one final, glorious show. As expected, Ortho fell asleep once again after the last firework faded from sight. Leona led them all down the stairs and back to his room, and they all managed to fit in Leona's bed with little to no struggle. What a perfect, comfy way to end the night. Sleepovers are the best, especially ones like this. It really reminded him of the good old times back in NRC where they had a small animal crossing themed vacation.
-🦁💀-
Two things felt off as Leona slowly awoke from his slumber. One of them was his arms being empty, but the other was the bed being slightly colder than before. Both of these things could be attributed to Idia's missing presence in bed. He sat up, blinking away sleep from his eyes as he looked around the room. Huh. It seems as if everyone is up, quietly chatting amongst themselves as they put on some hats and jackets.
Idia turned, noticing him and hopping over with a grin, "Leona, you're awake! Thank the seven for that, we were debating on waking you up since you like your sleep so much."
"I don't mind it if you wake me up." Leona stretched out, trying to wake himself up from his short slumber, "What's going on?"
"Well… Ortho woke me up because he wanted to see the first sunrise, then we accidentally woke everyone else up with our noise so… we're all going to see the sunrise together!" Idia held out a peace sign, "Want to go watch with us?"
Hmm… more sleep or first sunrise with his family..?
Leona threw off the blankets as he got out of bed, "Sure, I'll come."
After everyone was ready, all six of them shuffled out into the royal garden, taking a seat in the grass as they waited for the first sunrise together. How long are they going to sit out here? Leona hardly knew the time, he forgot his phone back in his room. Oh well, guess he can just sit here and stare at- oh. It looks like his husband has already been staring at him.
"Hey." Idia smiled softly at him, scooting closer to intertwine their fingers, "Are you sleepy?"
Leona shook his head, "Nah, not with you around."
Idia laughed, and the sound was music to Leona's ears, "Geez, what a flirt. I guess you don't need any more of our sleep dates, huh?"
"No! I definitely still need those!" Leona wouldn't be able to live without his sleep dates with Idia, it's one of the few times where he can cuddle Idia without Ortho trying to squeeze in between them for a family cuddle session, "I lied! I'm so sleepy right now, so unbelievably sleepy!"
"Fuhihi, you're a very adorable sleepy kitty." Idia reached out to run his ears, "Well, kitty-cat… we can have as many sleep dates you want in the future… we have so much time together, after all."
"Yeah…" Hearing those words filled Leona with a sense of love and hope, "We have so much time to do so many things together… I want to show you and Ortho the things you've never seen before… together."
"I look forward to that, kitty-cat." Replied Idia as he looked off towards the first rays of light that peeked over the horizon, "You've shown us so much… so I hope I can show you just as much in the coming years."
If only Idia knew that he already had. Leona kept that thought to himself as he watched the sunrise with everyone, although he was more interested in the way Idia seemed to shine in the morning light that dawned upon them all. He's used to seeing the first sunrise of the year, so he had no interest in this sort of thing, but he might be interested in it now… this is his favorite sunrise by far. He has love, a family, and more than he ever dreamed of by his side. It may be cheesy to say this, but his future seemed as bright as the sunrise before them, and he couldn't wait to see what the new year would bring.