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-Hi, kitty, kitty… Hiiiiiih!! L-Leona-shi?!
Once in a blue moon, students from Night Raven College could see Idia Shroud walking out of Ignihyde, whether it was to get food or visit the Board Club. He used to follow stray cats, or Trein’s pet, due to his liking of these feline friends, but he got scared at the sight of Leona, resting and playing with the kittens.
That was an even rarer sight.
-Oi, you’re scaring them. Get away. – The characteristic growl from the older made the otaku shiver in fear.
-W-what?! I just wanted to… - The lion ignored the rambling from the other, and sighed, looking at the window from what should be the Advanced Poisons classroom. Knowing Vil, he must be preparing a new formula, according to Crewel’s instructions.
As he wanted to caress Lucius, which was purring and relaxing on his lap, the Second Prince of Afterglow Savannah got a strange feeling and looked at the blue flamed-haired one, noticing he was returning the look, terrified.
-What do ya want, radish sprout? Wanna fight, ah?
-… You were claimed? By an Alpha? – Had it been human, probably Leona wouldn’t have heard the faint whisper, carrying a heavy question. For a second, he forgot that he hid his essence, and now he felt trapped.
Frightened.
Lost.
-Why are you looking at my neck?! Fuck off, you freak! – As he got up – annoying Lucius in the process-, and took the pale boy from his neck, Idia tried to stop the wrath of the lion, holding to the hand that grabbed him.
-Hiiiiiih!! W-wait, it’s not what you think…! Leona-shi, wait!
-Why, you…!
-Just listen to me! I don’t care about your type! I already knew about it from a long time ago!!
The cats from the place stood on fours, hissing angrily at the current mood; however, they started to get calmer as they watched Leona loosing his grip over the other. For the one from the Isle of Lamentation, it might have seemed like a sign of peace, but he understood the lion’s pale and broken expression immediately.
He wanted to go to his den, to hide from a possible attack.
-L-Leona-shi… - As soon as the one from Savanaclaw let him free and sat down, he crouched to explain the situation. – I won’t tell anyone about that. D-Don’t worry about it, okay? J-Just… let me ask you something.
-How can I believe you?! And how did you know it?! – Of course the big kitten was scared, thought Idia sadly. It was such a troublesome situation…
-I know we don’t get along, but even so, Omegas are much better than Alphas at speaking to all types -. Explained the yellow-eyed Dorm Leader, more relieved at Leona’s silence. Probably he didn’t want to, but listening to the answer was a sensible choice. - I’m an exception indeed, because I don’t like talking to anyone, but even Malleus-shi had problems commanding Diasomnia due to its Alpha-dominant staff. You, on the other side, don’t have any issues in speaking to everyone…
-I’m the Captain of the Magift team. I must command everyone.
-Fu hee hee, don’t even bother, Leona-shi. – Idia laughed nervously at the excuse from the dark-skinned lion-. I’m an Omega. Your Alpha-scented perfume is perfect indeed, but I think the others must be dumb if they didn’t feel your change in scent when Vil-shi is close. Ah, also, I know he’s an Alpha…
-If you say that to someone else, you’re dead, shitty radish sprout! –. The mentioned Ignihyde classmate jerked when he felt Leona’s hands trying to grab him again.
-At least let me finish!!! I never said it was wrong to disguise your identities! I understand it must be hard to command an Alpha group when you’re an Omega, and to be an Alpha in a Beta/Omega-influenced world!! – He rambled, begging for a more positive reaction.
To Idia’s relief, the older stopped his attempts to grab him, and stayed in his place, with a cautious stance. At last, the beast’s fury had been slept.
-Goodness, I never thought you’d be so mercurial, Leona-shi…
-Why d’you ask about me bein’ claimed, Idia? – The impatient thumping of the lion’s tail, and the fact that he used his name were the signal for the gloomy Dorm Leader to speak at once.
But even with his scared demeanor and clumsiness, the beastman wasn’t prepared for the question he’d hear.
-Was it… did you want it? Or did Vil force you into it?
Even if the answer was clear, it got some seconds for the other to answer, due to his astonishment.
-… That’s a weird question, but nobody forced me. Vil… Vil asked me, and I accepted.
-But he asked you during a heat, didn’t he? – Pressed the pale-skinned student, making Leona frown at the implicit idea behind.
-Oi, just for the record, Vil didn’t force me into anything. He took me to Pomefiore to protect me from anyone and look for suppressants in order to keep me in control. I was the one who wanted him to claim me. I waited for him for years and I took the chance.
In spite of his hostile tone, Idia smiled in such a way that, even the one from Afterglow Savannah thought, made his features look friendlier.
-I’m happy to hear that, Leona-shi. I really do.
-… I don’t understand.
-As I said before, I’m an Omega -, answered the other, while sitting down and caressing a cat that started to purr-. And I know the burden we must bear due to the Alphas’ demands. I’ve been in charge of S.T.Y.X for some time, and even if it’s not our area of expertise, we’ve developed a hidden branch that assists Omegas from the Isle of Lamentation for… reasons, but as you can imagine it, most of them are quite… “ugh”.
-Abuse? – Asked the lion, this time completely relaxed, looking at Idia nodding-. And you thought that Vil…?
-Do not think it that way. I don’t judge Vil-shi as a bad Alpha or so, but I’ll always prioritize an Omega’s answer. For that reason…
Usually, the idea of thinking about the Queen of Pomefiore as perverse would’ve annoyed Leona to no end, but nonetheless, he felt thankful for the other’s concern.
-Besides, in your case, I think Vil-shi’d be in danger considering your bad temper… Hiiiiiiih!! – Idia stopped his rambling at the dark-skinned Dorm Leader’s growl.
-He’s fine. We’re fine. So get away, sprout.
-Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going! Cats are so moody… It was a joke!!! – Running away from the lion’s paws, Idia stayed far enough to tell him a last piece of advice-. B-by the way, Leona-shi, if for some reason, y-you feel ill or need to talk about something related to your… type, you can visit me. I’ll be always available for that.
As the blue flamed-haired student turned to go to his real objective – Mostro Lounge, to get snacks-, he heard Leona’s low tone.
-… May I go to Ignihyde tonight? I’ve got several questions, and I haven’t been able to find real answers. – Even if Idia used to be quite aloof, his smile and nod made him feel as if talking to a friend he’s known for a long time.
-O-of course, Leona-shi. Ortho will be waiting for you in the Main Hall, in case you don’t know how to get to my room.
-Good. Thanks. Now go.
-Always so friendly…
As he watched the radish sprout walk inside the school, the lion watched again the window, being surprised at Vil’s smile and waving of his hand, greeting him. Smiling back and imitating the gesture, the Big Cat King went to look for his Queen.