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It's not uncommon knowledge that the Pomefiore dorm leader, Octavian, is a controlling person. At least, it isn't uncommon knowledge to those not blinded by his sheer charisma. Even though he's a member of the Ignihyde dorm, since he's the vice dorm leader, Leo finds himself seeing Octavian more than the average joe of his dorm would.
As Octavian's an upperclassman, Leo would expect for him to at least offer some guidance, especially since Leo's appointment to vice dorm leader was so sudden. But each time he made the smallest of a fumble Leo would find himself on the receiving end of a look from Octavian like he cannot believe Leo managed to land the role he did. He's not sure what he did to manage to land on Octavian's bad side but Leo is certain he's definitely on Octavian's bad side.
-------
Leo's sitting in the courtyard, fiddling with a project of his during lunchtime, when someone interrupts him.
"Really, do you think this is the place for that?" Octavian says, drawing Leo's attention away from his project and to the haughty cat beastman standing above him.
If someone is going to interrupt him while he's working Leo would prefer it be a friend, but, really, he'd appreciate if it didn't happen at all. He wonders if ignoring Octavian will make him go away, however, Leo thinks that'd only drive Octavian to bother him further.
"If I went back to my dorm to work I'd never make it to class in time." Leo replies.
"Your uniform is utterly filthy." Octavian scoffs.
Leo's uniform does have its fair share of machine grease on it. Leo can't see how that's Octavian's problem though. He doesn't belong to Octavian's dorm so he has no right to fret over Leo's state of cleanliness.
"It'll wash out." Leo says, knowing full well it probably won't.
You'd think Leo placed a curse on Octavian's bloodline with the look he gives him."You should care more for your appearance. Have you no care for your reputation?"
Leo figures with the way Ignihyde is, machine grease would probably be considered a good thing. He did become vice dorm leader due to his engineering skills. Some proof his skills are legit would do him good.
"Reputation involves different things for me and you." Leo replies, boiling down what he would've said to the bare minimum in order to not draw this conversation out.
Octavian scoffs again, his fluffy, persian cat like tail flicking from side to side in irritation.
"How's this any of your business?" Leo says, deciding it's high time to talk back as it's unlikely Octavian is going away anytime soon.
"Well!" Octavian doesn't continue his sentence beyond that. If he has any reason to pester Leo, which Leo believes he doesn't, he's keeping it a secret.
"Worry about your own dorm members. I'm sure they can use all the help they can get." If Octavian is going to snark Leo, Leo's going to do it right back.
"Why you!" Octavian starts, the fur on his tail bristling, but then abruptly switches gears. "As an upperclassman it's one of my duties to tend to my underclassmen."
Leo doesn't see how what Octavian is doing is tending to him. It's more like bothering him.
"When have you ever done that before?" Leo asks.
"Plenty of times." Octavian answers, listing exactly zero times he's done so.
"Right. While I greatly appreciate your guidance I don't think I need it." Leo replies, knowing full well he neither needs nor wants Octavian's so called guidance.
Octavian puts a hand on his hip, aggravation clearly growing, "It doesn't seem you do. You should work on showing your gratitude."
If Octavian is going to demand gratitude, Leo will find a way to turn it into a comedic moment. "Of course, your majesty. This lowly peon is blessed to have your royal knowledge bestowed upon me."
Octavian glares at Leo in response.
"That good enough for you?" Leo asks, shooting Octavian a cocky grin.
"Mind your manners in the future." Octavian says coldly before storming off.
Leo can't imagine a scenario where that conversation ended well. At least Octavian's chosen to leave him alone now so Leo can get back to work.
------
Leo pushes the conversation out of his mind and resumes his project, working until lunch time is over. Back in class, despite how he should be paying attention, Leo fiddles with parts of his project, dreaming of getting back to work. Leo likes to keep his hands moving. Or, rather, he hates sitting still.
Although he was trying to be incognito with the fact he isn't paying attention, Leo is in the end caught and sentenced to care for the greenhouse after school.
Leo wouldn't consider himself to have a green thumb. He'd actually consider himself to have the opposite of one. He stands in the greenhouse, wondering what he's supposed to do besides water the plants. Surely that must be the only requirement.
"You're in the way." Leo recognizes the voice of the person speaking to him right away. Running into Octavian twice today means it must be Leo's unlucky day.
"What are you gawking at?" Octavian asks. Leo takes notice of how he changed the color of the bow on his tail since Leo last saw Octavian. He wishes his knowledge of plants came as easy as noticing changes in Octavian's wardrobe.
"Figuring out what to do with these plants." Leo answers. "If you've got any guidance now would be a great time for it." He relates this conversation back to their earlier meeting.
"You're struggling to garden?" Octavian asks in disbelief.
"More of machine guy than a nature guy." Leo replies with a shrug. "I'm not great with organic things."
Octavian rolls his mismatched eyes. "Just this once I'll help you out. Someone like me can't stand to watch someone else struggle."
Leo doesn't believe that in the slightest.
"So, like, what's the game plan? What do I do besides water them?" Leo asks.
Octavian gives Leo another look before rambling off activities Leo should do. Leo zones out near halfway through and Octavian takes clear notice of that.
"Oh, let me do it! Otherwise all the plants will end up wilting." Octavian huffs, fur bristling in irritation.
Leo wants to ask why Octavian is being so neurotic about plants but he feels like any answer he gets would only bore him. Maybe he's secretly growing catnip and doesn't want Leo to kill it. That'd be amusing.
"Want me to help?" Leo offers. It is his punishment so he should at least chip in.
"You'll only get in my way. Begone with you!" Octavian dismisses Leo in a fashion Leo doesn't believe people talk like anymore.
Leo won't argue with him on that. He's grateful to be able to get back to his own projects. This is probably the first time he's ever been grateful for Octavian.
He finds the feeling mediocre at best.
-------
On his way to his dorm he's stopped by yet another person speaking to him. Though, he appreciates this person much more than the earlier occurrences.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the greenhouse?" His friend, Jason, calls out.
"Octavian kicked me out." Leo replies, skipping summarizing what actually happened.
"Guess you got lucky." Jason responds, strolling up to stand beside Leo.
"Could say that." Leo says, folding his arms behind his head. "Could say he's the type of guy who wants things done his way or not at all."
Jason gives the slightest of a smile. While he's much closer to Octavian than Leo could ever dream of being, Jason's aware his friend's behavior can be off putting.
"Looks like he's taken an interest in you if he decided to help. Some people would kill to catch his eye." Jason says.
Leo assumes he's caught Octavian's eye the way a mouse catches a cat's eye. Knowing how things normally end for the mouse, Leo isn't too enthused about the current happenings.
"Maybe you should get him a thank you gift." Jason offers.
"Like a can of tuna?" Leo replies. He believes Octavian would turn his nose up at anything Leo offers him.
"Octavian hates fish." Jason responds.
"He's a cat! What sort of cat hates fish?" Leo asks, astonished at the sheer idea of this.
"I think cats liking fish is like a folklore thing. But more importantly, it's going to rain soon." Jason swaps the topic.
Besides his pointed ears, there's not very many tells of Jason being fae. It's at times he uses whatever fae powers he has to tell when storms are upcoming does Leo remember his friend's nature.
"Maybe it's some sort of omen." Jason says.
"An omen? What for?" Leo replies, assuming Jason is still referring to his interactions with Octavian.
"No clue. I was just trying to make a joke. Lighten the mood." Jason responds to Leo, looking a bit flustered.
"You're cutting into my territory." Leo nudges Jason, trying to show the mood had in fact been lightened.
Jason smiles sheepishly. "I wasn't kidding about the rain though. You don't even have five minutes before it'll start to pour so you should get back to your dorm."
"Oh, what?!" Leo responds.
"You should probably run. Or at least jog lightly." Jason says, clearly not having great faith in Leo's physical prowess.
Leo wishes Jason a quick goodbye before running off. Despite the fact it isn't too long a run due to the mirror transportation, Leo's still completely winded by the time he's back at Ignihyde. He crashes down onto his bed, still fully clothed.
His earlier mediocre feelings have blossomed into full blown gratefulness towards Octavian as Leo got to safely avoid getting caught in the storm. He does feel a bit bad knowing that Octavian likely got stuck in it in his place, but Octavian is the one who demanded he take over the greenhouse duties.
Maybe Leo should get him a thank you gift. A giftcard to the campus store should work. And it'd save Leo the hassle of having to pick out an actual gift.
---------
So the next day, Leo does go to the campus store to grab a gift card. And a few things for himself which may be the actual reason he went and picking up something as a thank you is an extra benefit. With everything he needs in tow, he heads to check out.
"Well, well, have I got a bonus for you." The Shopkeep says as Leo hands over the amount due.
Leo has no idea what to expect when he's told he's getting a bonus. He's hoping it'd be a coupon, but what he gets is an intricate lace choker, notable for the golden bell on it between the beadwork.
Lame. Leo doesn't wear fancy jewelry.
"Not for you, for your little kitten." The shopkeep says.
Leo assumes the shopkeep is referring to a special lady in Leo's life when he says kitten, something Leo absolutely does not have. His love life category is barren at the moment.
"Uh, thanks." Leo replies, not willing to admit he's so single it hurts.
"Best to hold onto that. Putting it with the other items could ruin it. You wouldn't want that, no?" The shopkeep says and Leo nods, muttering some acknowledgement as he leaves.
Leo's strolling across campus when he runs into exactly the person he's looking for. Not looking very hard, but he was still looking.
"You've certainly caused me a share of trouble." Octavian says to Leo, meaning he most likely did get caught in the storm.
"I gotcha a little something to make up for it." Leo says, and Octavian quirks a brow.
"Show me and I'll judge whether you're off the hook or not." He says.
Leo was going to hold out just the giftcard, but he realizes he could dump that choker off on Octavian. He's a fancy guy, surely he'd love a new necklace. And it's not like Leo has anyone else to gift it to.
Octavian snatches the choker away from Leo with such ferocity Leo's surprised Octavian's sharp nails didn't slice Leo's tender flesh open.
"What surprisingly good taste you have. And purple's one of my favorite colors." Octavian says, still not bothering to take the giftcard.
Neither the taste nor color have anything to do with Leo, after all, he didn't pick it out. He didn't even plan to give it to Octavian at first. And he could've guessed purple is a favorite color of Octavian's, what with the purple makeup he wears and all. Octavian's lucky he got assigned to a dorm with a purple uniform, otherwise he'd clash terribly.
"How does it look?" Octavian says, having fastened the choker around his neck while Leo was thinking about clashing colors.
"Looks good." Leo replies.
"Is that all you have to say?" Octavian asks, resting a hand on his hip. This seems to be a common position for him.
"Not exactly sure how to compliment a necklace." Leo says. Like, what was he supposed to say? Nice throat?
"I don't know what I was expecting from you." Octavian's tail flicks side to side. "I suppose I'll settle for what you told me."
With that said, Octavian turns heel and walks off, the choker's bell chiming with his steps.
Leo will owe Pomefiore members an apology if Octavian wears that bell often.
------
While Octavian isn't always wearing the choker, he is always wearing it when he speaks to Leo or casts him one of his signature looks. Leo isn't sure if that's Octavian's way of showing he's pleased with it or not. But for a gift Leo didn't even pick out he's certainly gotten his money's worth,
or lack thereof, out of it.
They're at a meeting for the dorm leaders and their vices over some occurence that has once again gone wrong because this school can't manage to stay out of trouble. Leo can see Octavian's wearing the choker again clear as day. He wonders why Octavian's so attached to it. Surely he has plenty of necklaces. Judging by the other jewelry he wears Octavian must have no shortage of accessories. So why does he wear this one so often?
With a team selected to handle whatever is happening this time, everyone else is dismissed. Compared to their usual interactions, Leo approaches Octavian first this time as they head down the hall.
"You really dig that necklace." Leo says, trying to find a way to get to the bottom of this choker based mystery.
"Is there an issue with that?" Octavian replies.
"No, no, just wondering if there's a reason you like it so much." Leo asks, not at all smoothly.
"It goes well with my uniforms." Octavian's answer is almost believable if it weren't for the fact he routinely swaps out the bow around his tail depending on what uniform he's in but the necklace stays constant, no matter what uniform Leo sees him in. If it were for the sake of uniform matching surely Octavian would rotate necklaces too.
"That's good." Leo responds. It's not like he could call bullshit on Octavian's answer without concrete proof. But he knows whatever the real reason is Octavian isn't telling.
"Is that all you had to say?" Octavian asks.
Seeing as Leo has no idea how to get the truth out of Octavian and has no plans on how to change topics, yes, it is all he has to say.
"Was just curious what the reason was for why you like it so much." Leo says. A partial truth.
"Why? Do you plan on getting me other things?" Octavian's sounding like a real primadonna girl.
"Depends." Another partial truth. If Octavian did Leo another favor, maybe he'd get him another gift. It'd likely be the giftcard Octavian neglected to take since Leo doesn't think he'll be getting another freebie. Lightning doesn't strike twice, they say.
"I look forward to whatever you have in store."
Octavian says.
"Hey, I didn't say I'd get you anything for certain. It's a solid maybe." Leo responds.
"Do I have to take over one of your punishments again?" Octavian asks, and Leo thinks he's joking, but he cannot say he's a hundred percent certain. Octavian isn't known for his humor.
"I said I'd help." Leo responds. He had offered to help, not intending to leave everything to Octavian.
"And I said you'd only get in my way." Octavian replies, obviously not joking this time. "I have things to attend to so if you no longer require me now is the time we part."
Leo doesn't have anything that requires Octavian's attention, and he likely has his own duties to attend to back at Ignihyde.
"Catch ya another time." Leo says. Octavian only responds with a hum before separating from Leo.
Leo was unable to dig up why Octavian wears the choker so often this time, but this doesn't mean he's giving up on finding out just yet. He'll find out one day.
------
"Were you hanging out with Octavian again?" Jason asks Leo later that day at dinner.
"We don't hang out. We just talk sometimes." Leo responds, "And how could you tell?"
"You've got cat hair on your uniform." Jason replies with a grin as if he's seen something funny.
"Oh, ew. How'd that even get on me?" It's not like Leo was rubbing against Octavian. They were only standing next to one another. How Octavian got fur on him is beyond Leo.
"You get used to it." Jason says. "When Octavian and I hung out when we were younger no matter what we did I always got at least some fur on me."
That's right. Jason and Octavian were childhood friends. Maybe he could give Leo a look into Octavian's attachment to the choker.
"Does Octavian have necklaces?" He asks.
"Loads. He doesn't wear them too often though. Says he's more of a ring and bracelet type of guy." Jason answers, giving another reason as to why Octavian's past answer seems fake.
"Every time I see him he's wearing that choker I gave him. Does that mean something?" With one step closer to his answer, Leo's hoping Jason holds the final piece.
"No clue." Jason says with a shrug.
What a disappointing answer.
"Why'd you get him one of those anyway?" Jason asks, turning the question on Leo.
"Shopkeep gave it to me to give to my girlfriend, but since I've been single since the dawn of time I figured he would get some use out of it." Leo responds.
"The shopkeep gave you a gift for a girlfriend you don't have?" Jason repeats.
"He said it was for my little kitten. I don't have one of those. A girlfriend or a cat." Leo says and Jason looks at him for a moment. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"No, I'm just thinking about why that would've happened." Jason responds.
"If you ever figure it out be sure to tell me because I don't have a clue." Leo says.
------
Leo's gotten so used to seeing Octavian with the choker on that it's a surprise to see him without it.
"Your throat's naked." Leo says, gesturing towards Octavian's neck.
"The correct word is bare. And so it is." Octavian responds.
"Didja lose it?" Leo asks, curious as to why Octavian suddenly abandoned his go to accessory.
"Perhaps I woke up late and didn't have time to put it on." Octavian says.
"Oh."
"That's not what happened though." Octavian continues on.
"So what did happen?" If Octavian had been honest from the start Leo wouldn't've been overly concerned with where the necklace is, but now he's dying to know.
"I was seeing how you'd react if I failed to wear it." Octavian's answer is a more confusing answer than Leo wanted.
He furrows his brow before cracking a joke. "Vying for my attention? The certified badboy supreme caught your eye?"
Octavian blinks. Leo isn't sure what that means in cat, but it's probably the date and time of his death.
"What." Octavian says, breaking his own silence.
That sort of joke may have been the wrong move as Leo doubts Octavian will take "I'm kidding" as a valid explanation. It's worth a shot.
"It's, like, a joke." Leo says.
"Why?" Octavian asks.
Huh. Leo doesn't have an answer for that. He's never been asked why he's told a joke before.
"You know, because." He answers. This is becoming humiliating.
"I do not." Octavian replies.
This conversation is so painful it makes Leo long for the days Octavian used to nag him. Anything but what's happening right now would be better.
"Well, it's a joke. So." Leo would do anything to leave this conversation. In a desperate attempt to end it Leo tries a topic change. "Are you going to go back to wearing the choker?"
"Perhaps." Octavian answers. Leo's never been so thankful for anything as he is at Octavian accepting the topic change.
"That's good." At times where Leo is at a loss for words it makes him want to joke even more. It looks like it's time for plan B: Get out of there. "Listen, I've got some things to take care of."
Octavian quirks an eyebrow, doubt written all over his face. "Run along now. I shan't waste more of your time."
Leo resists the urge to actually run away from this conversation. He settles for walking away very quickly while stewing in the fact he fumbled this conversation hard. This is going to haunt him for a while.
--------
"Is this seat taken?" Octavian asks Leo, referring to the seat across from him. The choker is back around his neck so it looks like Leo's free of being tested today.
"No, just me here." Leo replies, his friends busy with their own relationships.
Octavian sits down and makes far too direct eye contact for Leo's liking.
"What brings you here?" Leo asks, uncomfortable with Octavian's gaze.
"Lunch." Is all Octavian replies.
"Can't you sit, like, anywhere you want?" Leo asks. He can't see himself as priority seating for Octavian.
"Yes." Another one word response
"Cool..." Leo trails off.
"Nice going! This conversation is going great and hasn't crashed and burned!" Leo thinks to himself.
"If you're curious to as why I sat with you it's because I wanted to. There is no deeper meaning." Octavian says.
While it's nice to get a reason for Octavian sitting with him such a vague one. Although Octavian has been slightly kinder after receiving a gift, he's still fickle and often on and off again with Leo.
"Thanks, I think." Leo replies. It's the only thing he can think to say here.
Octavian makes a noise of acknowledgement before moving to eat the meager amount of food on his tray. At least with no conversation, there isn't anything Leo can fumble. Maybe eating in silence is the way to go.
Or it would be if after a few bites Octavian pushes aside his food and says to Leo, "So, Dear Badboy Supreme."
Language is a burden Leo is forced to bear. He's haunted by his past actions like a ghost.
Judging by the way one of Octavian's ears flick, he's clearly taking pleasure in Leo's humiliation. "Is something wrong, Mr.Badboy?"
"Just adjusting to my new title." Leo tries to bottle up his humiliation and own the ridiculous title he regrets giving himself. Maybe that'd make Octavian lose interest in calling him that.
"You're the one who gave yourself that title. You should embrace it." Octavian is still teasing him. Leo can tell by the wry smile he's sporting
"That may clash with my title as vice dorm leader." Leo is desperately trying to push the title he gave himself away.
"I bet it would." Octavian replies. "That's what makes it interesting to say."
Interesting, Octavian is teasing Leo for the sake of finding him interesting, not for his own pleasure. What a weird guy.
"Maybe we should retire that title. For the sake of my dorm." Leo says.
"Maybe." Octavian repeats, looking like he has no intention of dropping said title.
Leo lets that linger, going back to eating his lunch.
"If you'll pardon me, I have things to attend to." Octavian stands up and grabs his tray, "I'll see you another time, Mr.Bad Boy."
Leo wants to dig a hole and climb inside.
------
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Leo asks Piper, another close friend of his, "About your dorm leader."
"Do you have to?" Piper replies. Leo's aware Piper isn't fond of the dorm she's been assigned to and, by association, her dorm leader either.
"Sorta." Leo says.
"Ask away, I guess." Piper responds. "But I don't know much about him."
"Does he wear that choker often? The one with the bell, I mean." Leo asks.
"I've seen him wear it. But I don't study him too closely so I don't know the frequency of him wearing it." Piper says with a shrug.
Leo was hoping for a more concrete answer, but he can't blame Piper for not knowing much about Octavian.
"Does he normally wear accessories?" Leo asks another question.
"Every day. I'd be surprised if he doesn't sleep in them." Piper says, unfondly. She's not a huge fan of jewelry, Leo knows this.
"Uh, that's all I had to ask." While it isn't, Leo doesn't expect Piper to know more about Octavian. They're not especially close. Leo pauses for a moment before asking something else. "Actually, is he seeing someone?"
Leo's not sure why he asked that one. Maybe it's because he figures whoever Octavian may be dating might be jealous of how Octavian treasures Leo's gift. Leo would like to know if he has a surprise person who hates his guts.
Piper quirks an eyebrows. "I can't say for sure. There's lots of gossip about his relationship status. Some people say he's dating Reyna, some say he's dating Mike, and some people say he's dating Drew." Piper says the last one bitterly. Her and Drew don't get along well.
"But there's no concrete answer?" Leo asks.
"Nope. Octavian keeps his personal life to himself. And it's not like I've ever been curious enough about it to ask him." Piper replies. "Why do you want to know though?"
Leo doesn't know what Piper's implying but it makes him feel somewhat flustered. Like he's been caught prying into someone's personal life which he is on the border of doing.
"Uh, gave him a gift a while ago and I'd hate to have pissed someone off cause of that." Leo responds.
"I'm sure even if he's not dating anyone you've angered someone by cozying up to him. Octavian's popular in Pomefiore. And pretty much everywhere else too." Piper says.
"I do not cozy up to him!" Leo responds as quickly as he can manage.
"Jason says you do." Piper replies.
"Jason is just saying that." Leo says, resisting the urge to curse his friend's name.
"You've sure asked a lot of questions about him for someone who doesn't cozy up to him." Piper responds, probably teasing Leo.
"He hangs around me. Not the other way around." Leo tries to explain himself. He in no way seeks Octavian out. Well, technically he has in the past, but for good reasons! Not to cozy up to Octavian.
"Cozy or not, you should be careful. It'd be a shame if one of his fanatics went after you." Piper says, patting Leo on the shoulder.
Leo doesn't like the sound of that.
--------
Surprisingly, Octavian doesn't approach Leo until after another meeting of the dorm leaders and vices. Something about trouble which isn't a surprise. There's trouble nearly every month at this school. Once again Leo dodges being assigned to fight this trouble.
It seems Octavian has dodged that bullet as well, walking over to Leo the moment the meeting ends.
"Aren't you a lucky one? Avoiding being chosen to solve trouble once again." He says.
"Could say the same to you." Leo responds.
"I have more important things on my plate. But I'm sure one day that time will come." Octavian says. "It'll come for you too."
Leo will take that as a forewarning. Supposedly Octavian's unique magic lets him temporarily see the future. But Leo's heard Hazel say he's bluffing and keeping his real unique magic secret.
"I can only hope we're on the same team when that happens." Octavian continues, drawing Leo out of his personal thoughts.
"Why?" Leo asks, unsure why Octavian would choose him over some of the others at the school with ridiculous magic powers. Leo hasn't even discovered his own unique magic yet.
"I've heard you're quite handy with fire magic. That could benefit me." Octavian responds.
While Leo is nearly a master of fire magic, he doesn't see how that'd help Octavian any when his own magic is much more advanced. "Is that all?"
Octavian stares at Leo like he's observing him. Leo feels a bit awkward at that. It makes him feel like he's under a microscope.
"Is it so wrong to want to be on the same side as a friend?" Octavian finally replies to Leo.
Leo hasn't considered the idea of Octavian being a friend. With Octavian's finicky behavior towards him Leo couldn't've guessed Octavian considered him a friend.
"Oh." Leo's not sure what to say in response.
Octavian scrunches his eyebrows together as if he's deep in troubling thoughts.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Octavian puts Leo on the spot.
"No, no, I'm just caught off guard. Didn't know someone like you would be interested in me." Leo replies. He hopes that answer is good enough as he doesn't know what to say.
"Someone like me?" Octavian seems mildly offended.
Is Leo cursed to fumble nearly every conversation he has with Octavian? He really hopes this isn't a trend.
"You know, like important to people and all." Leo replies, wondering if he's digging himself deeper into a hole.
Octavian flicks his tail, a sign of irritation. "Are you not important to your dorm? You do hold the position of vice dorm leader."
Leo does hold that position, but in his own friend group Leo has always been an outsider. Someone left out of the tangle of relationships they have, a wheel that doesn't hold importance.
"Well, yeah," Leo replies. He doesn't want to dump such a heavy topic on Octavian. Or anyone really. "But you're like super popular. A lot of people love you."
"No one's loved me since the day I've been born. I am admired by many and loved by none." Octavian says, being the one to bring up a heavy topic instead of Leo.
Leo's not sure what to say to that. Octavian's good at rendering Leo speechless.
"Uh," Leo starts but follows that up with nothing. He has no idea what to do.
"I don't need your pity. There's nothing I hate more than pity." Octavian replies, crossing his arms. Leo's really sinking this conversation.
"It's not pity!" Leo says hurriedly. "I'm just surprised. There's a lot of rumors about you being in a relationship. Sometimes people say you're in several."
Octavian looks at Leo with an unreadable expression. "Rumors are only rumors. They rarely hold the truth."
"So you're not dating anyone?" Leo's surprised. Someone who has people worshipping the ground he walks on could easily score a date.
"As I said, no one's loved me since the day I was born." Octavian says. He does not look mad, but he doesn't like pleased either.
"Not even your parents?" Leo feels like he's prying but it all seems so strange. How could someone go through life never gaining at least one person's love.
"Especially not my parents." Octavian replies. "But no matter, I don't care for what they think of me."
This conversation is rather depressing.
Leo thinks it's best to end this conversation here and now. "Do you really consider me a friend?" He asks, starting a new conversation.
"Is that truly such a surprise? Was it not obvious by the times I've sought you out." Octavian says, acting like it was obvious to see.
Leo always thought Octavian hated his guts or, at least, viewed him as someone mildly annoying.
"Thanks, I think." Leo knows this isn't a good response but what else could be said?
"Why are you thanking me?" Octavian is full of tough questions."
"You know, for being nice to me and all." Leo replies.
Octavian blinks. It looks like he's the one at a loss for words now. "I'm being normal."
From everything Leo's heard, Octavian is never normal. He's just good at faking it
Leo's anxiously fidgeting. He normally has a tough time staying still, but the awkwardness of this conversation only adds to how much Leo craves to fidget.
"I'm also being normal by thanking you." Leo says, not feeling normal in the slightest.
Octavian uncrosses his arms, maybe a sign that he's no longer irritated.
"So you are." Octavian replies. "I've got to tend to my dorm underlings. I fear my lambs may panic at a time like this."
Does Octavian really refer to his dorm underlings as lambs? And is that a good or bad thing?
"See you soon?" Leo means that to be statement, but it comes out as a question.
"I'll see you soon enough." Octavian answers like he has been asked a question. Those are his final words before he turns tail, rather literally and walks away, leaving Leo alone.
Man, that conversation was rough. Leo doesn't know how he survived it.
------
Leo approaches Octavian first this time, sitting across from him at a lunch table.
"Usually people ask if the seat's taken before sitting down." Octavian says.
"Was someone sitting here?" Leo asks, just yo make sure he hasn't stolen someone's seat.
"No. But it's still polite to ask." Octavian replies.
"Right," Leo says, "How have you been? I haven't seen you around recently."
"Perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough. How many people in this school have heterochromia?" Leo's not sure if Octavian's teasing him or mocking him.
Leo hasn't observed every person in the crowded school, but he can take a wild guess on the number of students who share what Octavian has. "Just you?"
"You sound unsure." Octavian replies.
"Just you." Leo repeats, this time as a statement.
"Yahtzee." Leo doesn't believe Octavian is the type to get words jumbled so saying yahtzee instead of bingo must be his idea of a joke.
"I don't always focus on people's faces so you could've slipped by without me noticing." Leo replies. It sounds like an excuse but it is true. Leo tends to keep people at arm's length, his most common form of interaction is trying to make people laugh.
"What about by my perfume?" Octavian asks.
"My sense of smell isn't as good as your's." And it's weird to sniff people, Leo thinks.
"The troubles of being a human. I wouldn't know what that's like." Octavian responds with such sympathy in his voice you'd think Leo just lost a loved one.
"I'm used to it." Leo replies with a semi shrug. "So, what have you been doing?"
"The responsibilities of a dorm leader are endless. Shouldn't you be busy as well?" Octavian asks. Leo wonders if Octavian thinks he's been slacking off.
"I really only help out sometimes. My dorm leader tends to handle things himself." Leo replies, really trying to seem like he isn't slacking off.
"How admirable." Octavian says deadpan, making it sound like he's dismissing what Leo said.
"I do stuff when asked to. How often do you rely on your vice dorm leader?" Leo asks, hoping Octavian's answer allows him to prove that he does not push off his duties as vice dorm leader.
"I prefer to do things myself. I can assure they're done correctly that way." Octavian responds.
"See? My dorm leader is the same way. Not every dorm leader relies heavily on their vice." Leo manages to turn the conversation around.
"Perhaps. Though I doubt they do it as well as I do." Octavian says, praising himself.
Leo absolutely has to tread carefully here. Even the slightest fumble would be horrendous.
"Your dorm members must be impressed." Leo says. Octavian doesn't look offended so Leo thinks he's made the right choice.
"My lambs?" There's that term again. "Of course they are." Octavian responds. Leo doubts that's true for every dorm member but he won't argue that point.
"That's good." Leo is unsure if his response is good enough this time.
"So it is." Octavian says, "What brings you to me today?"
"Just checking in on you. That's what friends do, right?" In truth, Leo was wondering if Octavian was avoiding him, but this answer is close enough.
"I suppose. I do not have enough friends to affirm or disagree." Octavian once again brings up a terribly depressing topic.
"It is. Why wouldn't it be?" Leo defends his earlier question. He's not in the mood to feel strange.
"I suppose there is no reason to not check in on your friends." Octavian agrees with Leo. "If you must know, I've been alright."
"Haven't you been busy?" Leo questions.
"Busy does not mean miserable. I rather enjoy being dorm leader." Octavian says.
"That's good." Well, at least it's probably good for Octavian. Leo doesn't know if it's good for his quote lambs unquote.
"It is." Octavian says firmly. "If you do not hurry and eat your lunch you'll be tardy to class."
"Right." Leo says, moving to eat his lunch. He's not a big eater, but he certainly eats more than Octavian does from what Leo's soon.
"Don't you need to-" Leo starts to ask
"No." Octavian answers, knowing what question would be asked. "I'll be more than fine. I'll eat at dinner."
Leo nods. What's he supposed to say to that without seeming like a nag? He can't force Octavian to eat and trying to lecture him about how important eating is will only sour the mood.
"Don't fret over me. I'll be fine on my own." Octavian says. That doesn't make Leo feel like Octavian's scenario is any better.
"You're not on your own though." Leo doesn't know what he means by that but it sounds good.
"What do you mean?" Octavian asks.
Leo pushes his food around his plate with his fork. "You have me. So you're not on your own."
Octavian hums in response. "I suppose not."
------
Leo's still recovering from the earlier conversation during class, completely unfocused. He can still feel Octavian's eyes on him, a rather haunting feeling. He has no place to lecture Octavian on his relationship with food, but it still doesn't make him feel great.
Octavian had called Leo a friend and it's natural for friends to worry about one another. He may have not always had the best relationship with Octavian, but it's obvious Octavian hasn't ever thought of their relationship as poor. Leo's not sure how Octavian viewed their relationship at the start. Maybe his way of befriending people is by fussing over them. That does seem fitting.
Leo doesn't pay attention to any class for the rest of the day, not just because of worry. He has a lot of unanswered questions on his mind. They're causing disorganized thoughts that he can't sort through.
------
"You look troubled." Octavian stops Leo in the hallway at the end of the school day.
"Do I?" Leo asks. He guesses he is. He didn't expect it to show though.
"What haunts you so?" Octavian questions and Leo really wishes he didn't.
"Got a lot on my mind." Leo responds vaguely.
Octavian looks at him before saying, "Come with me." He gestures for Leo to follow.
"Come with you where?" Leo asks.
"On a walk. It'll help clear your mind." Leo doesn't think that's the case but Octavian will probably bother him about this until he agrees.
"Sure," Leo responds as he follows Octavian out of the building.
With their height differences it's hard for Leo to properly match Octavian's pace and Octavian makes no effort to slow down. It doesn't help that Leo doesn't know where Octavian is leading him. He follows Octavian around until Octavian stops in the middle of a courtyard suddenly enough that Leo almost walks into him.
Leo looks around. He has no idea how the walk or how standing in the middle of a courtyard will help him any.
Octavian doesn't ask if Leo feels any better. "There's lots of things in life that will go unanswered or unsolved. You cannot expect things to work out because you want them to."
That isn't something Leo wanted to hear. It certainly doesn't help him any. If anything, he feels worse now.
"So what am I supposed to do?" Leo asks.
"Survive. Sometimes that's all you can do." That also isn't something Leo wants to hear.
"That's-" Leo starts, he's not really sure what argument he could make here but be doesn't have the chance before Octavian's talking.
"If you let bitterness seep inside you you'll only end up overblotting." Octavian is three for three on saying things Leo doesn't like
"I wouldn't do that." If anything, Leo thinks Octavian's more likely to overblot than him.
"That's not a choice you get to make." Octavian says.
Leo doesn't think that's a threat but it sure feels like one.
"What would happen if I did?" Leo knows about overblotting. He's heard bad things. Still, he wants to hear what Octavian has to say.
"I would save you, of course." Octavian says, "And I trust you'd do the same for me."
Leo's pretty sure overblotting is unfixable. At least from what he's heard it is. Octavian sounds very confident in his words though
"Leo is a precious friend of mine. I would save you no matter what it takes." Octavian gives a soft but honest smile, something Leo has never seen him do before.
Being called a precious friend is embarrassing, especially with how direct Octavian says it. He doesn't even know why Octavian thinks of him as a precious friend. Leo doesn't feel like he's earned that title. He averts his eyes from Octavian.
"Have I made things worse?" Octavian asks and he sort of has. Leo can't say that though.
"Just never had someone refer to me that way." And he really hasn't heard someone who he feels like he's barely bonded with say it.
"You've heard it now." Octavian states.
Leo thinks maybe Octavian is only being nice, lying to make Leo feel better. He wants to do what Octavian has done to him so many times and ask why, but he can't manage that. He doesn't want to hear something that could hurt.
Heavy silence hangs in the air between them before Octavian wraps his arms around Leo in an embrace. Leo can hear the chiming of the bell in his ear. Is it because of that gift that Leo hasn't even brought that Octavian is fond of him? Did he win Octavian's favor because he was trying to get rid of something.
The hug lasts a moment before Octavian pulls away. "Did that help any?"
It didn't really. It just clouded his mind with more bad thoughts. "A little." He lies, not wanting things to last any longer than they have to.
"You know," Octavian starts, "Other people may be fooled by your lies, but I'm not."
Now the situation feels awful. Leo thinks he may throw up.
"I won't force you to tell me things. Even if I would like to. I'll wait until you're ready." Octavian says
Leo thinks about telling Octavian the origins of the necklace. He knows Octavian will leave the moment he does, but it's better that way. Affection he didn't truly earn makes him feel rotten.
He reaches up and touches the bell in order to listen to that ring one last time before Octavian likely discards it. "This wasn't meant for you. I didn't want it so I gave it to you."
"I'm aware. I'm not easy fooled. That doesn't change the fact you gave it to me. You could've given it to anyone but you chose me." Octavian says.
Leo feels ridiculous. How could Octavian treasure something that wasn't meant for him?
"I just didn't want it. It's not special." Leo replies.
"It is to me. You cannot change that no matter what you say." Octavian leans down and places a kiss on Leo's forehead. "One day you'll understand how I feel. It's only a matter of time."
Leo has no idea what Octavian is feeling. He doesn't even know what he's feeling.
"I'll wait for you so wait for me." Octavian says. Then he walks away, leaving Leo all by himself in his guilt and grief.
------
Leo doesn't want to go to class. He doesn't want to risk seeing Octavian after their last conversation. But he knows if he skips it'll worry his friends and he'll have to explain himself. That sounds like the worst case scenario for him.
Despite trying to push his feelings down, Piper still catches on. She sits across from him at the lunch table and looks him dead in the eyes.
"Did something happen?" She asks.
Leo doesn't want to answer but if he avoids answering that will only cause more concern.
"There's something I don't get. Why would someone care so much for a gift that wasn't meant for them?" Leo says, already wishing he didn't.
"Is this about that necklace?" Piper asks.
Leo nods.
"Why don't you ask him why?" Piper replies.
"I did. He gave a confusing answer. I don't get him at all." Leo says. He really doesn't get Octavian. He doesn't get why Octavian considers him a precious friend or why he was so on and off again at the start. He doesn't get why Octavian tells him such personal things but never pries into Leo's secrets. He doesn't get what Octavian's waiting for.
Piper purses her lips in thought. "That does sound like something he'd do." Piper responds. "He's not the type of guy who shares how he feels."
This doesn't help Leo at all. Hasn't Octavian shared how he feels with Leo in the past? He can't tell Piper what Octavian has said. He can't give hints or stories to help clue her in because he'd violate Octavian's trust.
"So what am I supposed to do?" Leo asks. He wants a solution. He doesn't want to wait like Octavian said.
"You keep moving forward." Piper responds.
"What." Leo says back to her. He's getting tired of answers he has to decipher.
"Keep moving forward. Things will work themselves out eventually. You'll hold yourself back if you dwell." Piper replies to him. Her explanation doesn't please Leo.
Nothing anyone's said makes him feel better or answers his questions. So what's the point in asking. He doesn't respond to Piper.
"Leo." She says.
Leo grunts in response.
"You'll get him someday." Piper continues.
But Leo doesn't want to wait til someday.
---------
"You look lonely." Leo hears someone say as he sits in the middle of the courtyard while skipping class. It's really the last person he wants to see right now.
Leo considers running away to avoid Octavian, but he's heard Octavian is a pretty fast runner despite not being very strong physically. Running wouldn't help. Things would be easier if it did.
Leo doesn't respond to Octavian.
"I could fix that if you'd like." Octavian offers. Leo doesn't think he can. Currently he's the root of Octavian's problems.
"I'm not lonely." He denies.
"I can tell when you're lying." Octavian says. Leo forgot Octavian could do that. It was outweighed in his mind by Octavian's speech.
"I don't need it fixed." Leo doesn't want help from the person causing his current woes. "Shouldn't you be in class?" He changes the subject from himself to the other.
"Are you the only one allowed to skip classes? I can do it too if I so choose." Octavian replies. He sits down next to Leo which Leo wishes he didn't. He wants to be alone if it means not being with Octavian.
"Pretty sure a dorm leader has to be a good example." Leo mutters.
"Utterly false. Have you seen some of the other dorm leaders? It's a surprise when they do attend." Octavian replies, wrapping his tail around himself.
"Won't your lambs be upset if they found out?" Maybe he can convince Octavian to leave.
"They'll be alright. This isn't about them either. It's about you." Octavian says. Leo's not sure if he wants to scream or throw up from the mixture of stress and anxiety within him.
"I don't want to be blamed for the fact you skipped." Leo grumbles. That's not the real reason he wants Octavian to leave. He wants Octavian to leave because he's upset him.
"Do you intend to chase me off? That won't work. I give orders, I do not take them." Octavian is stern in his words. Leo doesn't like that and he doesn't like what he said.
"If you know what I want, why are you staying?" If Octavian understands the hint Leo wished he would take it.
"Because I want to." Octavian says deadpan.
But what about what I want, Leo thinks.
"Why?" He asks, repeating Octavian's common question.
"If I tell you than I'll have no secrets left to keep. You'll have to figure it out yourself." Octavian gives the most frustrating answer.
"Why do I have to do that? If I'm your precious friend why are you keeping secrets from me?" Leo nearly snaps.
"It is because you're my precious friend I'm leaving it in your hands. I cannot rush you to a conclusion you have to sort out." Octavian replies. Leo feels like Octavian can't help but speak in riddles.
"This sucks." Leo doesn't bother hiding his frustration anymore. There's no joke he can crack to make this situation any better.
"So it does." Octavia scoots closer to Leo. Leo can smell the seasonal perfume he's chosen to wear today, he can head the sound of Octavian's necklace chiming. They only want to make Leo run away more.
"So why do you keep doing this?" Leo frowns. Octavian's self aware but continues to act like a prat.
"If I tell you it'll rush things forward. It'd only feel insincere and false. And that's not what I want." Octavian says
"What do you want?" Leo wants answers. He deserves answers if he's living out Octavian's wants.
Octavian smiles, it's not mocking or fake, it's genuine. Leo can't imagine why he's smiling at this moment while Leo's about to burst with anger.
"It'll be obvious one day. You'll look back on these moments and wonder how you didn't figure it out earlier." Octavian says before standing up and brushing any grass off his clothes. "Trust your own feelings, Leo. You'll get an answer that way."
Leo's current feeling is frustration. He doubts that'll help.
"I'll see you soon." Octavian says before dismissing himself. Leo hopes that's not the case.
-----
He unfortunately does see Octavian again soon. He sees him the very next day, speaking to Jason. Leo wants to turn tail and leave before they notice him but the quick witted Jason spots him before he can.
"Leo!" He calls out. Leo forces a grin and looks towards Jason.
"Yeah?" Leo answers.
"Come on over!" Jason invites Leo. Leo could decline, he could say he's busy, but there's a chance Octavian would call him out. Begrudgingly he walks over.
"What's up?" He asks.
"Just saw you. Thought you'd like to chat." Jason answers. Fae must be really out of touch with how humans feel.
Leo does not want to chat. He does not want to see Octavian. It's unfortunate he cannot just say that.
"I really don't have much to say." Leo says, throwing out an excuse to leave the group.
Jason furrows his brows as if upset Leo doesn't want to stay. "You sure?"
"Got some projects that have been occupying my mind." Leo continues on with the excuses.
Jason goes to say something but Octavian speaks first. "Let him work on his projects. You two can catch up later."
Leo did not expect Octavian to bail him out. Just another thing about Octavian Leo doesn't get.
"I guess," Jason says, "I'll see you later?"
"Definitely," Leo replies. As long as Octavian isn't there, he thinks.
--------
Octavian doesn't hound Leo for several days. It's a sweet relief from the frustration he's been causing Leo. Still, there's a funny feeling in his chest as if something's missing. Has he gotten so used to Octavian bothering him that he misses it? Leo's sure if he did see Octavian he'd only get frustrated again.
He's right about that. When Octavian finally approaches him it's not long before a rotten feeling returns to him. He hasn't asked any questions, but knowing they'd go unanswered is enough.
"Do you want this?" Octavian says, holding out what Leo knows is a rather expensive chocolate box.
"Can cats not eat chocolate?" Leo asks.
Octavian scoffs. "I do not have the same restrictions as a common animal. Do you want this or not?"
Leo grabs the box of chocolates. If Octavian isn't going to answer his questions the least he can do is gift Leo things. "Why'd you buy this if you didn't want it?"
"I didn't buy it. It came with a love letter. But since I turned them down it doesn't feel right to eat." Octavian says.
While still displeased with Octavian, Leo is curious about gossip. "Why'd you turn them down? Not hot enough for you?"
"My affections lay elsewhere." Octavian replies.
"Didn't you say you weren't dating anyone?" Leo asks, wondering if there's been some development.
"I'm not. I'm waiting for this person to realize my feelings." Octavian responds casually.
"Have you told them?" Leo doubts Octavian has. If he did it was probably in a cryptic fashion.
"I've given hints." Octavian says and that's very like him to do.
"No wonder they haven't realized." Leo responds. He's sure whoever this person is they must be as irritated at Octavian's cryptic ways as he is.
"If I tell them, they'll feel obligated to accept. I want them to return my feelings naturally."
Leo thinks that's an exceptionally stupid way of doing things. "What if they don't? What if they start going out with someone else because you always feel the need to keep secrets?"
Octavian furrows his brows. "I never thought about that." He looks deep in thought for moment. "What would you do in my place?"
Leo doesn't have a good response. His love life is barren. A deserted wasteland of love life. "Tell them?" He answers, sounding unsure against his will.
"Tell them how?" Octavian asks
"Directly? To their face." Leo responds. Maybe Octavian was right when he said he's never been loved. He's even worse at handling a love life than Leo.
"To their face..." Octavian repeats then trailing off. "And if it doesn't work?"
"You move on." Leo says.
"I don't want that." Octavian says.
"Aren't you the one who said not everything works out?" Leo brings up a point Octavian made before things went off the rails completely.
Octavian frowns, obviously disliking how thins conversation is going. It seems the tables have turned on who's miserable during their chats. He flicks his finger against the bell, letting it ring before speaking up, "I will be loved someday."
Leo can't respond to that. What's he supposed to say? No, you won't? Octavian may frustrate him but he doesn't deserve such a harsh insult.
"Listen, If you tell me who this person is I can help you confess. In return, you've gotta tell me those secrets you've been keeping from me." Leo tries to reason with Octavian. He'll find a way to get answers out of Octavian.
Octavian burst into a fit of laughter.
"What? I didn't say anything funny!" Leo would prefer Octavian to laugh at his jokes rather than laugh at him. He's back to wishing he didn't have to see Octavian.
Octavian takes a minute to reign in his laughter. "I like that you make me laugh." He says.
"I don't understand why you're laughing! I'm trying to help." Leo responds. He's also pretty sure he hasn't seen Octavian laugh before.
"I'm afraid this is something you cannot help me with. Though I appreciate the offer."
That sucks, Leo was really hoping he'd be able to get answers out of Octavian with this bargain.
"Why not?" He asks.
Octavian gives a cocky smile. "Perhaps I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Aw, c'mon, man. Why is it always like this?" Leo's tired of secrets
"Don't fret. You will be told in due time. I just need the right timing." Octavian says.
"Can't I be told now?" Leo asks
"Nope. If you come to the greenhouse tomorrow I'll tell you." Octavian replies.
"Didn't I tell you I'm not good with flowers?" Leo says. That is partially where everything began.
"We won't be gardening. Simply meet me by the roses at noon." Octavian says before noticing that Leo looks like he has no idea where the roses are. "Far left, half way up the greenhouse"
"And you swear you'll tell me?" Leo wants to make absolutely sure he's not wasting his time.
"I'll tell you all my little secrets so have patience." Octavian says. "I'll see you tomorrow."
-------
It's the idea of finally getting answers that causes Leo to go to the greenhouse. Finally all this frustration would end. He can see Octavian waiting. He picks up the pace, no longer holding onto patience.
"You showed." Octavian greets him.
"Of course. I gotta know what you've been hiding." Leo gets straight to the point.
"How I wish that were not the only reason. But since you're here I'll tell you." Octavian starts.
Leo can hardly wait.
"Leo, you are where my affections lay. It's always been you. While I hoped you'd realize on your own, I'm taking your advice. I cannot wait forever." Octavian says.
That's a real slap in the face. And Leo does feel awfully stupid for not realizing sooner. It would've been easier if Octavian was honest from the get go.
Leo opens his mouth to respond.