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Leona Kingscholar could’ve never imagined himself sharing his space with anyone. He liked being left alone and wasn’t the type to enjoy close proximity. Keeping others at a distance came easily, thanks to his intimidating nature, and he found it simpler to deal with people that way.
But despite all that, the aloof lion prince was now curled up by your side on the couch, his head resting on your chest and his tail loosely wrapped around your ankle. It had been a long day for both of you, so some much-needed rest in each other’s company was exactly what Leona needed—not that he’d explicitly tell you that though.
Still, you know your lion well enough by now. So there you lay running your hand gently through his wavy locks, being careful around his fluffy ears. To anyone who knew Leona’s usual gruffness, this would have been a completely foreign sight. Hell, even Leona himself was amazed (and a bit unsettled) by how vulnerable he became around you. You just had to weasel your way into his heavily guarded heart huh?
This wasn’t an easy feat however. You’d put in tireless effort to get to this point in your relationship with Leona. He commended you for it and was quietly grateful that you never gave up on him. How could he not fall for the stubborn herbivore, who was determined to bring a little light into his life?
There were several things Leona began to enjoy doing since entering a relationship with you. But his absolute favorite thing? Doing nothing. Yes, nothing. Your mere presence was enough to make him feel content. You brought a sense of peace to his usually racing mind; there wasn’t anything you needed to do—just being with him was fulfilling. But, of course, he’d always go along with your whims.
So when you suggested playing video games on that new console you’d received as a gift from Ignihyde’s dorm leader, he couldn’t refuse. In your matching loungewear, the two of you played several rounds together—with you winning almost every time.
It was an odd outcome, really. Leona wasn’t particularly fond of video games, but he is competitive to his core. The same Leona Kingscholar who wouldn’t go easy on anyone—whether in a game of chess or pool—was now sitting here, doing just that with you.
There aren’t many people Leona doesn’t mind losing to (or anyone, for that matter). So how were you winning? Simple, really.
As you focused intently on the TV, completely immersed in the game, he watched you with the same intensity—though you remained blissfully unaware. How oblivious you were to how your eyes sparkled with joy after winning yet another round, or how the grin on your face had Leona wanting more.
“Ha! That’s game 7/10 for me!” you declared, winning yet again.
“You’re real happy, aren’t ya?” Leona remarked, scrutinizing you with a slight tug at the corner of his lips.
“Of course!” you replied gleefully.
Eventually, you grew tired of video games and opted to watch a cheesy romance series you and Leona had seen multiple times. You loved it; it always pulled at your heartstrings. Leona, on the other hand, acted indifferent—but you could catch the way his eyes glazed over every time you watched it.
“Ah, that stupid show again? Fine, if you like it. No, I ain’t tearin’ up. The TV light is just hurtin’ my eyes…” he grumbled, earning a smirk from you.
After a couple of episodes, you and Leona fell into various nonsensical conversations. Your mindless chatter kept him amused, and despite himself, he found it endearing.
“So… do you think fish ever get thirsty?” you ask, dead serious.
“Wha—what the hell are you on about now?” Leona asks, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a serious question, Leona! Do you think they drink the water around them?” you press.
“You—haa, you know what? Sure, yup, that’s exactly what they do. But if you’re genuinely curious, you could always ask those guys from Octavinelle. Actually, nah…scratch that—don’t go near that shady cephalo-punk…” He replies, indulging your nonsense while throwing a jab at the Octavinelle dorm leader.
Your dumb conversations continue late into the night, with you both eventually clutching onto each other, laughing uncontrollably.
That laugh of yours had him melting. The way your eyes crinkled when you grinned—Leona was charmed. He couldn’t help but notice how your eyes seemed to glisten, and in a rare moment of poetic thought, he mused that if the sky were ever deprived of its stars, it would surely be because they existed in your eyes. It was a cringy thought, sure, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he had these disgustingly cheesy thoughts about you frequently.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that when the laughter subsided, Leona simply stared at you, his gaze soft and fond as he took in every detail of your features, committing them to memory. His deep green eyes glinted, giving away his emotions and just how completely enamored he truly was.
Unable to resist any longer, he reached out, his fingers brushing gently across your cheek before cupping your face with his warm hand. His thumb softly caressed under your eye, searching your features for the green light, he leaned in closer once your eyes fluttered shut. Finally, his lips met yours in a chaste kiss, his adoration fully conveyed by the simple, tender gesture.
When he pulled away, there was a playful glint in your eyes, and Leona looked at you, utterly love-struck. You pulled him back into a gentle kiss of your own, then upped the intensity by playfully biting his lower lip. He stared at the cheeky look on your face when he pulled away—slightly caught off guard, yet amused by your antics.
You had him wanting you even more. Eventually, Leona pulled you closer, capturing you in a deeper kiss. Between the kisses, you fought for dominance, occasional burst of laughter slipping from your lips. This little game of yours ended with the two of you in a tangled heap on the floor.
The thud from hitting the ground made you both pause, taking in each other’s mildly disheveled appearance—still wrapped in the blanket that had draped over you both earlier. You couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and soon enough, Leona joined in.
If Leona had the choice to be anywhere else, doing anything else in that moment, he would’ve refused without hesitation. Because, to Leona, there was nothing like doing nothing with you.