Chapter Text
Leona’s eyes are warm and half-lidded as he watches Ruggie and Cheka dart through the yard. They’re at one of the Kingscholars’ countless summer homes, this one in the Shaftlands so they can visit Jack throughout the summer break.
Cheka’s taken such a liking to Ruggie that it makes a strange sort of warmth spread through Leona. If Falena was here, he’d probably be distressed that his brother and his son are both so infatuated with a slum boy like Ruggie, but Falena isn’t here, so Leona doesn’t let himself linger over Falena’s dislike of Ruggie.
It’s nice to see Ruggie getting along so well with Cheka. Leona knows, even though Ruggie hadn’t ever said anything, that Falena and his wife’s dislike of Ruggie made Ruggie feel distinctly unwelcome in Leona’s life anytime they weren’t at NRC. Cheka adoring Ruggie so much hadn’t gotten rid of that feeling, but it had helped to alleviate it- as far as Leona could tell, of course. He was in sync with Ruggie, to a distinctly unsettling degree, but he still wasn’t a mind reader.
What would Ruggie’s mind look like? Leona wonders, then blinks hard and shakes his head. The summer heat is getting to him. He needs to get up and move around, or he’ll pass out right here, and he knows Ruggie would take that opportunity to douse him with ice-cold water or something equally as vile.
He drags himself to his feet, his eyes still on Ruggie and Cheka. Ruggie draws to a halt, shaking his head and leaning on his knees. His shoulders heave as he struggles for breath. Still, Leona can see his blue eyes following Cheka as the cub slows down and turns back to Ruggie.
Leona snorts as Cheka runs to Ruggie, cheering about his victory in their last round of tag. That poor cub has no idea. He’s never met a hyena before- he doesn’t know just how long Ruggie can keep running. He can’t see that Ruggie’s exhaustion is just an act- can’t read the tension in Ruggie’s shoulders, the barely-there smirk on his face.
Sure enough, as soon as Cheka’s within reach, Ruggie darts forward and scoops Cheka off of the ground, letting out a triumphant laugh. Cheka shrieks with his own laughter, squirming in Ruggie’s arms as the hyena turns to Leona. With his hands under Cheka’s arms, Ruggie hoists Cheka up and over his shoulders. The cub laughs again, loud and bright and happy, and buries his hands in Ruggie’s hair.
Leona watches as Ruggie comes closer, still balancing Cheka on his shoulders, and when they’re in earshot, he says, “You two worn out yet?”
“No,” Cheka says cheerfully.
Leona sighs, shaking his head. “‘Course not. Ruggie?”
Ruggie rolls his eyes lightheartedly, bouncing a little to get another choked laugh from Cheka, who squeaks in alarm as he nearly loses his balance. “Don’t ask stupid questions, Leona.”
“ Yeah , Leona,” Cheka crows, and Ruggie laughs as Leona leans over and tweaks one of Cheka’s curls.
When Cheka begins squirming again a second later, Ruggie leans down and lets the cub off of his shoulders, tumbling gracelessly onto the wooden deck. With a small oof , Cheka hits the ground but immediately clambers back to his feet, shaking himself off. “Are we done playing?” Cheka asks, peering up at Ruggie with wide eyes.
“Just for a bit,” Ruggie says and offers his hand to Cheka. “You played great, though, pipsqueak.”
Cheka slaps his hand enthusiastically against Ruggie’s, giggling, and then a servant steps out onto the deck and says, “Leona? It’s time for Cheka’s call with his mother.”
In unison, Ruggie and Leona turn to their left, where the sun is just barely visible over the horizon. “Shit, it’s late,” Leona says, and Ruggie half-heartedly swats at him for his language.
“Go call Niana, chatterbox,” Leona says, using one finger to poke at Cheka’s shoulder until the cub turns away.
Cheka leaves with the servant, and Ruggie immediately tucks himself into Leona’s side, resting his head against Leona’s chest. One ear swivels until it’s pressed flat over Leona’s heart, and Leona knows Ruggie can hear it when his heart skips a beat. “Not a word,” Leona mutters, wrapping his arms around Ruggie’s waist.
“I wasn’t gonna say anything,” Ruggie cooes, in that sugary-sweet tone he gets when he’s lying. He tilts his head back, ears still angled toward Leona’s chest, and says, “It’s cute when you get all embarrassed, though.”
Leona glares at Ruggie for all of two seconds, and then Ruggie effortlessly disarms his annoyance with a bright smile and a slow, sweet kiss as the last of the sunlight fades away.