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Leona Kingscholar.
A cold, stoic, and rather harsh individual. Never raising an inkling of concern for anyone but himself, never looking in the direction of others, hell, he doesn't even show up for class.
.
.
.
.
Well, contrary to belief, only one of those statements are true despite his retaliation against the evidence.
Helping Epel with practice? Just what you're supposed to do he would say.
Telling Jack he's improving everyday? To get him off his back, as he would say.
Comfort Kalim after he gravely messed up a potion? Just didn't want to hear the whining, another excuse he'd often use.
Most bought his excuses, after all who'd be dumb enough to question the Housewarden of SavannahClaw? Well to not keep you in suspense, there was one individual. The Housewarden's long-term boyfriend, Ruggie Bucchi. A beloved, sticky-fingered, jokester hyena in SavannahClaw. Most didn't know about their relationship- at least they didn't know there was actual love in it. They just typically thought Ruggie was an easy errand boy for the lion. Which was a good assumption, the hyena always did clean his room, bring him meals, even wake him up for classes and attempt to drag the lazy beastmen to them. More like a nanny than an errand boy honestly.
But they couldn't be more wrong- at least about Leona not loving Ruggie. The lion did adore his boyfriend and mate, he just wasn't good at showing it publicly, maybe it was the way he grew up without much affection or just his own embarrassment, either way he could never seem to get himself to publicly display his love to ruggie unless they were alone or away from the school, away from all the students they'd have to see everyday. And Ruggie didn't mind, I mean he knows Leona isn't ashamed of him or any of the sorts, it was just his own personal demons he had to fight.
But as of right now, Ruggie found himself in the midst of the chaotic lunch line, Leona's credit card in his wallet, ready to get their usual. The hyena was used to the chaos, the noise, the crowd, it almost felt like being back home with all the little children he'd fed and cared for with his Grammy. But he could vaguely feel something rub against his rear end, but ignored it, I mean the cafeteria is filled to the brim with rowdy, hungry, growing teenagers. Sometimes body parts accidentally touch, no biggie right? But then it happened a second time, then a third. That's when Ruggie had finally had enough and snapped his head around to glare at the seniors of SavannahClaw. One a Bison beastmen, and the other a cheetah beastmen, both looking rather smug, as if they uncovered some dirty secret.
“Can I help you?” Ruggie asked, making his annoyance clear. “Well actually, you can,” the bison beastman said, hooking an arm across Ruggie's shoulders in an all too friendly manner. “You see, we've noticed you're quite the little maid around SavannahClaw, and we were hoping to score a few favors.” He hummed out, as if the request wasn't ridiculous. “I'm not a maid you know, you brutes just don't know how to clean up and I'd prefer to not have flies swarming the dorm.” Ruggie said, keeping his tone annoyed and growing most agitated. “Oh come on, help a classmate out Rugs, you're always cleaning Leona's room, we've even noticed you always bring him lunch too. I mean, isn't that what you're doing now?” He prodded, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yes, and if I chose to get Leona food or not is MY business, not YOURS” Ruggie said, now trying to end the conversation by shoving the man's arm off, but only hissed in annoyance as the others grip tightened to where he was actually tightly gripping onto his shoulder, not budging. “Now come ooonn, don't be like that Rugs!” The cheetah laughed mockingly, leaning down a bit so Ruggie and his nose were practically touching “We just want to cash in a few favors, well even…compensate handsomely” the lust that was so heavily laced on the others tongue made Ruggie's stomach churn with disgust and make his face physically scrunch with cringe.
“Hey.” He knows that voice, they all know that voice.
The cheetah and bison snapped to look behind them, their eyes wide, immediately feeling their hearts sink as they saw a rather pissed, his eyes narrow, pupils almost completely slitted, ears folded back defensively and his tail swaying intimidatingly, it was rare to see such….seeping hatred from the Housewarden, usually it was plain annoyance. Not….this.
“H-housewarden Leona! What a pleasure!” The cheetah stammered, a nervous smile on his face. But Leona ignored it, his eyes narrowed down onto the beastmen who had ruggie- HIS ruggie in their grip. How dare they, the gall these animals have.
“Get your hand off of him.” Leona said, it wasn't even a suggestion, it was command, a threat laced with absolute seething rage. “B-boss, we were just having a good ol’ jab with rugs!” The bison quickly said, lifting his hands up in a defensive manner and backing away from the hyena swiftly. “And you all didn't see anything wrong with this??” Leona asked rather loudly, looking at the surrounding students who either chose to ignore the situation or were too oblivious to know what was going on, dumb herbivores.
Leona only shook his head at the thought and casually walked past the cheetah and over to Ruggie, who was least to say surprised to even see Leona out and about today. There wasn't a reason for him to be out, at least in his book of Leona related activities- but that didn't matter. Ruggie's train of thought was put to a screeching halt when he felt a familiar leather glove on the back of his head, pulling him in towards Leona so that they kissed. It took a few seconds to register but….
They're kissing.
Leona is kissing him, in the middle of the cafeteria. During the most crowded, rush hour time of the day. He could feel the shocked eyes of other students on them and the others of curious students.
The hyena could feel the blood rising to his cheeks as he felt his mate pull away, standing tall as he usually does, noticing the subtle pink tint on his tanned skin as he looked down at Ruggie before turning his attention to the two beastmen who were now avoiding eye contact. Clearly embarrassed and uncomfortable at the realization that they not only bothered possibly one of Leona's only friends- but his boyfriend.
“..Touch him again and you'll be visiting your families as piles of sand for spring break, am I understood.” Leona said, his tone ice cold and low, the obvious underlying threat dripping from his threat.
“..yes housewarden.” The bison answered quickly for both him and the cheetah before grabbing his friend and quickly leaving the scene, they weren't that hungry anyway.
“Leona i-”
“Pick what you want, I want to go back to bed already.” Leona said, putting both hands in his pockets, his face returning back to his neutral, relaxed face.
And Leona didn't leave his side as he ordered, waiting for the food to be done and taking the bags for ruggie so his boyfriend didn't have to carry them back to SavannahClaw.
The rest of the evening was a blur, once he and Leona reached Leona's room, all he remembers was his mate's lips pressed against him as he backed down into his large and messy bed, wandering hands stripping him of his loose clothing teeth biting and pulling his lips, bruising the hyenas lips as small gasps left his mouth, his own hands pulling Leona close, his body begging for his touch, for his words and bite.
And now Ruggie finds himself sitting next to Leona in his bed, the sun nearly set fully, their once lunch now cold. They ate in silence, watching a movie on Leona's laptop. Ruggie was sore, his neck aching with bites and hickies, but he could feel Leona's tail wrapped behind him gently, his own smaller tail laid across on top of it.
“Ruggie.” Leona's voice echoed after he swallowed a bite of his sandwich, making the smaller male look over at him, Leona's back was turned. His face flushing once more as he could clearly see the long, deep marks his nails left behind on his partner's back. But he focused again and looked up at Leona when he turned back to him “Wear this.” He said, handing over a beaded hair piece, similar to the ones he himself typically wear “In the savannah, this signifies that a person is mated or taken” the lion explained, Ruggie looked down at the hair accessory. It was simple but beautiful, four small and rounded beads mended together to form a square-like shape. The colors dark green and light blue, they criss-crossed each other.
Ruggie felt himself smile and looked up at Leona, who looked embarrassed himself. “I'd love to.” The hyena said softly. “Good, sit still.” The lion muttered softly, carefully grabbing a piece of Ruggie's dirty blonde locks and clipped the hair bead onto it, a small smile on his face as he did. “There.” He said, actually sounding proud of himself.
“I love you Leona.”
“...Yeah, I love you too Ruggie..”
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The next day, Leona asked Ruggie to hold his hand to class.