Work Text:
“…Leona?”
The Savanaclaw Housewarden groaned as he turned to face the conversation going on around him.
“What?” Leona growled out in a low voice, his rough question turning into a loud yawn.
“Your nephew is on the table.” Azul stated pointedly, adjusting his glasses before adding, “Again.”
“M’not seeing a problem here, herbivore.” drawled out Leona, already returning to his nap.
“He’s interrupting our meeting.” said Azul calmly, waving a hand around the large dark purple table.
In turn, Leona was met with various looks from Riddle Rosehearts, Kalim Al-Asim, Vil Schoenheit, and Malleus Draconia, the looks ranging from mild annoyance to resigned acceptance to outright disapproval. The Housewardens had gathered for another meeting amongst the dorms, all except Idia, and had been getting along surprisingly well, saving time they used to spend bickering with each other and putting it towards bettering their own sections of the school.
Leona looked at his nephew Cheka sitting happily in the middle of the meeting room table, occupying himself by humming along to some tune Leona assumed his mother taught him.
“He’s not harming anyone.” Leona observed carelessly, “Besides, it’s not the Savanaclaw way to bother a child exploring his surroundings.”
“What is there to explore?” Riddle scoffed out with a laugh, “This room is about as drab as could be. Cater would love to redecorate if he ever found his way in here.”
Leona cracked a sleepy grin at Heartslabyul’s Housewarden. “Now there is someone who would actually interrupt a meeting.”
“Which is why I intend for him to never enter this room.” Riddle said simply.
“Putting aside students who are not present…” spoke a calm voice from the table, and Leona quickly met the light purple eyes of Vil, “Your nephew is still more than a little in the way.”
“Since you’re all so eager to babysit the kid, why don’t you herbivores take care of him for a bit?”
Leona grinned smugly at the shocked looks the other Housewardens sported, all of them making one excuse or another for not taking care of Cheka.
“I have to be back at my dorm…”
“Jamil said he was cooking…”
“Professor Trein asked for my presence…”
“I have a business to run…”
Leona roared over the overlapping voices. “Seeing as how none of ya are willing, keep your mouth shut about the kid!”
“I could assist you if you so required the help.”
Leona looked at the last of the Housewardens, Malleus Draconia, who nodded at him, his smile thin-lipped but his eyes soft.
“Great.” said Leona abruptly, “Then you get to pay for this kid’s lunch.”
Wordlessly, Malleus rose to his feet, taking Leona by surprise as he picked Cheka up from his armpits and began to leave the room.
“Where the hell do you think you’re taking him?” Leona demanded, uncharacteristically energetic.
“To eat.” was the only reply Malleus gave before he shut the door behind him.
Leona barely had time to mutter under his breath before he slowly peeled himself off his chair, gripping the door knob and pulling it open unceremoniously. Within a few steps, Leona caught up to Leona, matching the stride of the Diasomnia Housewarden easily and glancing up at Cheka sitting happily on Malleus’ shoulders.
“You’re willingly feeding him?” Leona grunted out, stretching his arms wide and yawning.
“Why would I not?” Malleus asked politely, smiling another thin-lipped smile at Leona.
“Cuz a Savanaclaw kid will eat whatever you put in front of him,” said Leona. “Royalty or not, food of any kind is food.”
“Perhaps some stuffed bell peppers will suffice?” Malleus suggested, chuckling when Cheka eagerly nodded down at him.
The two Housewardens arrived at the cafeteria swiftly, Savanaclaw prince in tow, and set about ordering food for Cheka and themselves. Malleus set Cheka down on the floor and Leona took Cheka’s hand, guiding him to a table next to the large windows so that the sun could hit their backs while they ate. It was not long before Malleus arrived with the food, making polite conversation while they ate and listening to Cheka tell stories from his home.
Leona had not realized he dozed off during the meal when he startled awake to Cheka giggling, “And Daddy said when he was kid that he went with Uncle Leona down to a creek and-”
“Let me stop you there,” Leona growled, slapping a hand to Cheka’s mouth and fixing a glare on Malleus.
“That is disappointing.” sighed Malleus sadly. “Cheka was entertaining me with second hand tales of your youth.”
“I am aware.” Leona spat out, flinching and yanking his hand away from Cheka’s mouth when the young prince licked his hand. “If you really care to know, just ask.”
“I will keep that in mind.” Malleus said, tipping his cup to Leona.
“Aww, Uncle Leona!” Cheka whined, clambering onto the Savanaclaw Housewarden, “I was having fun with the tall man!”
“I too was enjoying myself,” Malleus added, poorly hiding his smile.
“I bet you were, but we gotta get back to the dorm for our royal nap.” Leona stared at Malleus momentarily before saying, “And you’re not invited.”
“Why can’t he come, Uncle Leona?” asked Cheka as Leona scooped him up, waving back to Malleus, “I liked him.”
Leona looked back at Malleus, returning his thin-lipped smile and continuing to leave as he replied, “I like him too. He’s alright, for a herbivore.”