Work Text:
The forecast hadn’t called for rain, but Leona should have known better. Because how often were the weather predictions actually correct for an island like Sage’s Isle? The skies had been clear most of the day, but the heat and humidity had rolled in (along with the clouds) earlier in the afternoon. The beastman had held out hope for the evening. But now, as he stood under the awning of a bakery with Vil, listening to the steady patter of rain on the pavement, it seemed like the night had other plans.
The rain had started as a light drizzle, but it quickly escalated into a downpour that sent everyone scrambling for cover.
So much for their date.
Leona leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his tail flicking back and forth in mild annoyance.
“Typical,” he muttered as he glanced up at the rain clouds. “Of all the nights, it had to start raining now.”
Vil stood beside him, calm and composed despite the situation. He held a small, stylish umbrella in one hand, though it wasn’t much use at the moment. At least the model had been prepared for the weather change. Unlike him.
“Patience. It’s just a bit of rain,” he said, his tone light. “I’m sure we’ll be able to head out again soon enough. These showers never last long.”
The beastman let out a low growl of frustration, his emerald eyes narrowing at the downpour that showed no signs of letting up.
“Yah say that, but look at this mess,” he grumbled, as he gestured at the sheets of rain that now cascaded from the awning’s edge. “We were finally gonna have a decent night out, and now we’re stuck here like a couple of drenched rats.”
The actor shot him a sidelong glance. “It’s not the end of the world, Leona. A little water won’t kill you.”
Leona huffed, the words striking a nerve. “Yeah, well, gettin’ soaked for no reason isn’t exactly my idea of a great date night,” he muttered, his tail flicking again.
Vil arched an eyebrow. “And what, you think I am? Just because I’m not sulking about it doesn’t mean I’m thrilled, either. But it’s rain, Leona. We can’t control the weather.”
Leona clenched his jaw and suppressed his urge to snap back at the other man. The truth was, he knew Vil was right. He was just frustrated—at the rain, at the ruined plans, and maybe a little at himself for not being able to let it go. But instead of admitting that, he just glared at the ground, his mood darkening by the second.
The model sighed. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to be a little more flexible,” he said, his voice softer but still firm. “Not everything has to go perfectly for it to be a good night.”
Leona’s ears flattened slightly as he turned to face Vil. “Yah say that like I don’t know how to roll with the punches,” he shot back, his tone defensive.
Vil blinked and shrugged. “Do you? Because this behavior is odd, even for you.”
The lion ran his tongue over his canine as he narrowed his eyes.
He felt the words hit a little too close to home. He was the type to brush things off, to act like nothing ever really bothered him. But the rain? It was different. Something about it always put him on edge, made him restless in a way he couldn’t quite shake.
He ran his tongue over his canine again, more out of habit than anything else, his gaze dropping to the puddles forming on the ground.
“Whaddya you gettin’ at, Schoenheit?” he muttered, his tone a touch more guarded.
Vil studied him, his expression thoughtful. “I’m saying that I’ve seen you handle a lot worse with a lot less fuss. But since the rain started, you’ve been… off. Moreso than usual.”
Leona’s tail bristled and flicked behind him again. “It’s rainin’ and we had plans,” he said, trying to sound more casual, but there was a sharpness he couldn’t curb. “I think me being annoyed is justifiable.”
The way Vil quirked an eyebrow told the lion that his boyfriend wasn’t buying it. He tilted his head and searched Leona’s face.
“Is it?” he asked quietly. “Because it seems like this is bothering you more than you care to admit.”
Leona’s ears twitched, and he clenched his jaw. He hated being this transparent, especially around Vil. But the actor had a way of seeing through his defenses, peeling back the layers he tried so hard to keep intact.
“I just don’t like it, alright?” he snapped, more harshly than he intended. “It messes with my senses and everything just smells…off. It puts me on edge.”
The confession hung in the air between them, and Leona immediately regretted saying it. He turned his gaze away, not waiting to see Vil’s reaction. Admitting a weakness, even a small one, wasn’t something he did easily. It made him feel exposed. And this flaw of his was something even he thought was laughable.
But instead of hearing laughter come from the other man, he felt Vil’s arm wrap around his.
“Leona… You could have just told me,” he said, his voice soft and full of empathy. “I’d rather understand why something is bothering you than get annoyed because you’re on edge.”
Leona stiffened at the touch, his pride warring with the comfort Vil’s presence brought him.
“It’s not somethin’ I like talkin’ about,” he grumbled, still avoiding Vil’s gaze. “A prince shouldn’t be rattled by somethin’ as stupid as a little rain.”
Vil let out a soft chuckle and pulled on Leona’s arm until he could move his hand down to intertwine his fingers with Leona’s.
“A prince is still human — or in your case, beastman. It’s okay to not like something. It doesn’t make you weak, Leona.”
Leona took one last look around the flooded streets before he finally looked back at Vil.
“Yeah, well…I’m not used to showin’ that side of me,” he admitted, his voice now more relaxed. “Feels like admitting defeat.”
Vil squeezed his hand, a small, understanding smile on his lips. “It’s not defeat, Leona. It’s just being honest. And I appreciate that honesty more than you know.”
Leona let out a long breath, the tension slowly easing out of his shoulders. “Guess I’m still workin’ on that whole ‘honesty’ thing,” he muttered.
The actor’s smile widened just a fraction. “For what it’s worth, I like this side of you; the side that’s willing to admit when something’s not right.”
Leona huffed a laugh, the sound half-amused, half-resigned. “You really know how to get under my skin, don’t yah?”
“Only because I care,” Vil replied, his eyes twinkling with affection. “And because I know there’s more to you than just the tough exterior.”
Leona shook his head, but there was no real bite in it. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t go tellin’ anyone else about this, alright? I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”
Vil chuckled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Leona’s cheek.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” he promised, his voice warm and reassuring. “And…to keep things fair, I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of storms either.”
The prince raised a brow. He could tell by the tone of Vil’s voice that his boyfriend was genuine with that admission and wasn’t just saying it to make him feel better about his own.
“Yah worried about your makeup washin’ off, or somethin’?”
The actor rolled his eyes. “Please. My makeup is all waterproof,” he said and shook his head. “No. The rain itself doesn’t bother me. It’s storms I don’t like; wind, lightning, and thunder,” Vil shivered and pressed up closer to Leona. “I’ve hated it all since I was a small child.”
Well, that wasn’t an admission the beastman had expected.
Vil, who always seemed so composed, so unflappable, didn’t like storms. The revelation made Leona see him in a slightly different light — one that made him want to protect Vil even more.
The lion wrapped an arm around the other man’s waist and pulled him closer. “Didn’t think you’d be scared of somethin’ like that,” he said, his voice softer now. “Guess we’re both not as tough as we look, huh?”
Vil chuckled again. “It’s not about toughness. It’s just…something that’s always been there, a fear I never really outgrew,” he admitted. “When I was little, I used to hide under the covers whenever a storm would roll in. Even now, if it’s a particularly bad one, I find it hard to sleep.”
Leona’s grip tightened slightly, his tail flicking, but now with a protective instinct.
“You ever tell anyone else about this?” he asked, his tone low and serious.
Vil shook his head. “No. I’ve always kept it to myself. Didn’t seem worth mentioning, and I didn’t want to appear weak.”
Leona’s brow furrowed. “You aren’t weak, Vil. Don’t ever think that,” he said firmly, his emerald eyes locking onto Vil’s.
Vil met his gaze, something warm and grateful flickering in his violet eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you, you overgrown house cat.”
The prince blinked a few times before he huffed out a laugh and shook his head. “Very clever, Queenie. Very clever.”
He was about to ask his boyfriend if his story about disliking storms was even true, or something he’d come up with on the spot to make a point when a loud boom of thunder broke out. When Vil flinched and pressed himself closer to the lion, he knew it had all been the truth.
Leona pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against Vil’s.
“Why don’t we stop standin’ out here waitin’ for this shit to pass and head into the bakery,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “Won’t be as nice as the restaurant we were headed to, but it’s still a date.”
Vil nodded, his eyes shining with a mix of affection and relief.
“Lead the way, my prince,” he said, his tone light but filled with genuine fondness.
With that, Leona tightened his grip around Vil’s waist and turned them so they could head inside the bakery. The night might not have gone as planned, but maybe that was okay. Even if it was raining.