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“So, this is the place.” Azul looked up from his phone to the two story building lined along Yensid Boulevard. It was the public shopping and dining area outside of Yensidland, and the future home of the next franchise of the Mostro Lounge.
“So, really putting a nightclub outside of a theme park, huh?” Yuu said as he looked up at the side of the building. “Seems like a weird place…”
“Is the Mostro Lounge really a nightclub?” Azul asked as he turned to look at Yuu. “I know there’s a certain… Vibe to it. The cool colors, the comfy chairs, but… I still don’t see what gives you that impression. It’s just a lounge… And not the first in this area…”
The two looked down the path, at all the stores, restaurants and lounges for the public. While they were mostly closed in the morning, some advertised music, drinks and dancing, and others seemed more relaxing, but the Mostro Lounge was far from an outlier as far as entertainment went.
“...I’ll just have to make up for the fact that I’m not selling alcohol with good food and a relaxing environment…” Azul trailed off. He was lost in thought as he stared back at the building, before suddenly Yuu grabbed his hand.
“Now, we’ve spent enough time finding your spot! We’ve got a double date!” He said as he started to drag him.
“W-Wha… I-It’s not an actual date! W-Why did I let you talk me into this…” Azul said as he was dragged along, hand held tight by the excited Yuu as they finally made their way to the lines, and into Yensidland proper.
“Because I wanted an excuse for this double date! They were begging me to come and I sure as heck ain’t missing a chance to actually go to a theme park in Twisted Wonderland.” Yuu explained as they waited, and finally the two crossed the ticket line and stepped into the park proper.
As they walked into the main street of the park, the pair was hit by the sights of the small town life and the scents of food as the morning bakeries offered their wares. They glanced around, hand in hand, and looked for their companions.
“And there he is!” Yuu said as he pointed towards a certain lion prince. Leona sat at one of the open cafes that morning, an attempt made to hide his “celebrity” status as a prince behind a pair of sunglasses. He sipped at a coffee and glanced at his wristwatch as he waited, only to notice the pair approach him.
“So you really came.” Leona smirked, but behind those sunglasses was a look of relief. The lion got up and gave Yuu a single armed hug, his other hand holding his coffee away so as to not spill any.
“I mean, you invited me.” Yuu gave a shrug after releasing the hug. “I wouldn’t turn you down.”
“No. You invited yourself because you wanted to see the brat and wanted to come to a theme park.” Leona shoved a (playfully) accusatory finger into Yuu’s chest. “And I said yes. And I paid for both of your tickets.” He pointed that finger at Azul as well.
“Wait, Kingscholar bought our tickets?” Azul gasped. Yuu stared back at him.
“I’m literally living on an allowance from the school. You think I got money for theme park tickets?” Yuu said matter of factly.
“...I could always get you a job at the Lounge…” Azul looked away, embarrassed. “Or even just pay for things myself…”
“Either way we’re here now!” Yuu changed the subject. “Now, where is the man of the hour?”
“Unca Yuu!”
Almost as if on cue, the small figure of Cheka Kingscholar, ran out of a nearby store and up to Yuu, giving the older teen as big a hug as a child could. Yuu smiled and and reached down, hugging the child back.
“Hey there Cheka. You excited to be here at Yensidland?” Yuu asked. The boy nodded happily.
“Unca Cater has the day planned out! Cater and Leona said today is an early birthday present, and I get to hang out with Unca Cater and Unca Leona!” He was so excited, he was practically bouncing.
“Don’t go running off Cheka!” The voice of Cater came from inside the shop Cheka just left, and the redhead ran out of the shop and to the child. Cater held a shopping bag, from which he pulled a few objects.
“Come on, you wanted the bracelet, right?” He held out a bracelet with a cool jungle design on it, almost reminiscent of some parts of the Sunset Savana. Cheka bounced again as the bracelet was placed on his wrist.
“What is that?” Azul asked, actually not knowing.
“It’s called an… Arcane Bracelet.” Cheka said, speaking those magical words slowly. “It does cool things around the park!”
“They’ve got games and stuff around the park that you play with using that bracelet.” Cater explained. “Hopefully we can do that, but first!” Cater turned and reached into the bag to pull out a shirt with an outline of a figure Yuu learned was called “The Beastly Prince,” along with the text “I’m His Beast.”
“...Do you really expect me to wear this?” Leona asked as he took the shirt from his husband.
“Yes.” Cater said matter of factly. The redhead pulled out a matching shirt that read. “I’m His Beauty.”
“I feel like me wearing this shirt is a little racist.” Leona joked as he put the t-shirt on over the t-shirt he had on, and did his best to wiggle out of the undershirt and tossed the old shirt in the shopping bag.
“Well you look good in it.” Cater said as he replaced his shirt as well.
“We’ll have to get something ourselves, huh?” Yuu smiled and looked over at Azul, who flushed at that.
“You can shop later!” Cheka hopped excitedly, “Now that you’re here we can go actually do stuff!”
“I-I think the prince is right…” Azul pushed his glasses up his face, “Especially if its an early birthday present.”
“You’re gonna spoil him!” Leona said with a laugh. “But yeah, let’s get going. We already burned some daylight waitin’ for you two.”
The day marched on, and the group ran around the park, going on roller coasters and rides, and playing interactive games hidden around the land using Cheka’s special bracelet… At least until Cheka looked like he was about ready to pass out.
It was around lunch time at that point, so the group took a seat at a small covered restaurant that served various kebabs and meat buns, definitely a treat for the beastmen.
“Noooo, I dun wanna eat…” Cheka muttered even with his face planted on the table. “We have to find the pirate treasure…”
“We can find more treasure when you’re not dehydrated…” Leona grumbled as he knelt next to Cheka and pulled out a wet towel to put on the boy’s neck. All that athletic experience had prepared him for one thing.
“This is what you get for only drinking soda.” Cater gently scolded the boy. “Now you just relax and we’ll get you something to drink.”
“Think you two can keep an eye on the kid?” Leona asked. “We’ll get you some lunch while we’re there.”
“Yeah. You can surprise me.” Yuu said. “Maybe get some chicken kabobs for Azul.”
“Will do.” Leona nodded, and he and Cater went off to the counter. It was a short line, and soon they were at the front and ordering their meat and drinks.
“...Actually can we get the big water?” Cater asked as he pointed to the bottle on the cash register.
“Two honestly. Kid’s gonna need it…” Leona looked back at Cheka.
“Ah… Looks like someone already wore himself out, huh?” The cashier asked. “I can give you some free water too, if you want that.” Leona and Cater looked at each other.
“I think it’d be good… Save the bottles for later?” Cater asked.
“Yeah. Just get as much water as we can.” Leona chuckled. “Thank you.” The lion pulled out his wallet and paid for the food.
“You’re welcome.” The cashier said. They handed the food across the counter, handing Cater and Leona their food.
“Oh, this is going on Magicam!” Cater said excitedly. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!” The cashier repeated. “Hope your son feels better!”
Cater flushed and Leona stared for a moment.
“Um, sorry, that’s our nephew…” Cater said with an awkward laugh.
“Oh!” The cashier flushed, “S-Sorry, I saw the… He looks like you but with the red hair and you seemed to be taking care… Sorry…”
“No, it’s fine…” Leona said, even as he looked embarrassed. “Thank you for the water…”
Leona and Cater took their food back to the group, and while Cater took some photos of the food for his socials, Leona gave Cheka the water and made sure the boy drank it. While the boy grumbled, he did thank his uncle for taking care of him.
Eventually, after food, drink, shade and relaxation, the party went back to its wandering of the park. Treasure hunting, riding rides, and watching the occasional show where little Cheka got to dance along with a parade.
But as the evening started to come and the sun started to set, Cater and Cheka ran off to do one last ride (dragging Azul along) while Leona and Yuu sat on a set of stairs, claiming a seat for a late night show for their little group. They were mostly silent, enjoying drinks and snacks as they waited… Before Leona spoke.
“...Yuu, do you think I’ll be a good father?”
Almost immediately Yuu choked on his drink.
“That’s… Hah… I think you should be talking about that with Cater, not me…” He said as he cleared his throat.
“We have… Kinda…” Leona muttered. “It’s been vaguely brought up…”
“You being a good father?”
“No, just… Cater and I having a kid…” Leona said and leaned over. He looked at his feet normally.
“Come on, Leona…” Yuu put a hand on the lion’s shoulder, “Savanaclaw all admired you when you were their head. After… The whole Spelldrive tournament thing a lot of other people admired you even more… You’ve done good being a leader and taking care of people. You really think you won’t be a good father?”
“That’s the thing. This ain’t Savanaclaw…” Leona let out a growl. “Ruggie, Jack, everyone else could take care of themselves even if they looked to me… This is someone whose entire life is in my hands.”
“Not just in yours. In Cater’s, in Farena’s, in-”
“And that’s the problem…” Leona looked over at Yuu, still hunched over. “Cater and I are happily married, but we travel all the time. Half the time we’re separate. I’ve got the Spelldrive team, Cater works at the studio… So, there’s a good chance at least half the year they’d be with one of us or the other. And then their time at the palace…”
“Well, if you want my honest response… It’s not a good example because it’s not my family, but back in my world there are parents who work long ways away. You wouldn’t be the first parent to do that, but you have a hell of a support network with Farena and-”
“And that’s the real issue, Yuu…” Leona looked back down and rested his face in his hands. “...What if our child is like me?”
“Leona…”
“I’m serious. What if they’re a grumpy loner who kinda sorta hates everyone-”
“We both know you don’t actually hate everyone.”
“-Who also- They’d be third in line assuming Farena doesn’t have another kid… W-What if they hate Cheka like I… Felt about Farena? What if they’re just as lonely and angry and desperate as I was, but worse because it’s just that much farther. If something happens to my brother, and Cheka becomes king…” Leona shuddered a bit.
“Yuu, I don’t want my kids to hurt like I did…” The lion whispered. Yuu reached over and pulled Leona into a hug.
“Hey, you gotta remember… Cheka isn’t Farena. He’s his own boy… And your kids aren’t gonna be you. They’re not gonna be Cater either.” Yuu comforted Leona. “Yeah, you can worry about that but… You just need to be there for your kids. Make sure they’re loved. Same with Cater…”
“...It sounds so easy when you say it but-”
“I’m serious. Talk with Cater… No avoiding the subject or code words. Just say what you’re feeling… Talking to my single ass ain’t gonna answer these questions…” Yuu said. There was a moment of silence as Leona just sighed and leaned harder against Yuu… And then the human spoke again.
“Plus, he’ll have the best damn godfather if I have anything to say about it.” Yuu said. Leona raised his eyebrow.
“Oh, you’ve got a suggestion of who to make my childrens’ godparents?” Leona smirked.
“Yes, me. I’m the most well traveled, I’m the friendliest-” Yuu started.
“You are not the most well traveled. No more than anyone else.” Leona laughed.
“I’m from another dimension.” Yuu pointed out. “That’s gotta be more well traveled by default to the rest of your friends!”
“Honestly, I’m just shocked you’re assuming Cater isn’t just gonna ask Clover to be the godparents if we ever have kids.” Leona said matter of factly.
“...You know what, I’ll take that L. Trey is probably a better parent than either of us.” Yuu shrugged and let go of his hug.
“I’ll drink to that.” Leona raised his bottle of water up to Yuu, who tapped the bottle with his own bottle of soda.
“Cheers.” Yuu said before he took a sip. There was silence again, only for a moment, before Leona spoke again.
“...Thanks, Yuu. I know that it’s more a Cater thing but… I needed someone else to get it off my chest with…” He said.
“No problem… I’ll be here if you want support with it, man.” Yuu said.
Before the conversation could go on any longer, Leona suddenly felt himself grabbed from behind as the excited form of Cheka practically lept on him.
“We’re back!” Cater shouted as he ran with Cheka. “Hopefully you weren’t too bored without us.”
“Nah!” Yuu said with a smile back. “I hope you all had fun too.”
And so the show went on, with Cheka watching the show as heroes fought monsters and songs from old movies played over a beautiful light show.
The night finished and the park began to close, and a tired Cheka clung to Leona as his uncle carried him out of the park. The party made their way out of the park and towards the parking lot, only to stop and talk.
“So, are you three staying at the hotel with us?” Azul asked as he motioned to the nearby building.
“Nah, we’re staying at my apartment.” Cater said, referencing the one he used when he was staying near the studio, “Do you two want to come by?”
“Maybe tomorrow.” Yuu said with a yawn. “Now I just want to rest.”
“Alright, we’ll see you two later then.” Leona said. “Say goodbye, Cheka.”
Cheka didn’t respond, as he was already asleep in Leona’s arms. There was a bit of laughter, and the two groups split. Leona carried the boy to their car and safely put the kid in the back seat, buckled and ready to go.
“Is he good?” Cater asked from the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, I think so.” Leona said as he climbed into the passenger’s seat. “Let’s head home.”
Cater offered Leona his phone, and the lion chose some soft music from Cater’s large selection of tunes, before he sat back and watched the streetlights go by.
“...I do hope Cheka enjoyed his birthday gift.” Cater said as he drove. “I’ve got so many pictures to show his parents tomorrow.”
“I’m sure Vesha will be gushin’ over them…” Leona said, already imagining how excited the queen would be. “...I’m sure she’d be laughin’ at what happened at that restaurant though, with the cashier thinkin’-”
“Hahah, yeah…” Cater bit his lip. “He kinda does look like he could be ours.”
“...I wouldn’t mind us gettin’ him a cousin though…” Leona said softly, “I just…” He looked over at Cater, who was trying to hide his surprise as he drove.
“...It’s kinda scary…” Cater nodded. “The idea of being parents…”
“But…” Leona smiled. “...Maybe we don’t have to be scared, together… We can, uh… Talk about it after the kid is back with his parents though.”
“Yeah…” Cater let out a soft laugh. “But once we’re alone, we can actually plan and…” He smiled wide, eyes a little wet. “...Whatever the future holds, you’ve got me here with you…”