Chapter Text
After the Spelldrive exhibition match, Moon blinked her eyes open, meeting the unfamiliar scenery of the infirmary and not Ramshackle dorm.
Actually… now that she thought about it, how did the exhibition match go?
“Hey, Moon’s awake!” Her dorm mate, and cat shaped friend Grim excitedly jumped on her chest, which earned a pained groan from the woman.
Grim was swiftly grabbed off of her by Deuce with a disapproving look.
“Huh?” Moon murmured, rubbing her sharply throbbing head.
“At the start of the second half, Grim threw the disc right at your noggin and knocked you out. You don’t remember?” Her other friend Ace explained while leaning against her bed.
“I was tryin’ to steal our victory with a shot from way downfield…” The perpetrator of her pounding migraine in more ways than one grumbled while still being held up by Deuce.
“You amateurs gotta work on your disc control.” Her newest friend, Jack from Savanaclaw said disapprovingly.
“I’m just glad you’re awake. You were out so long that I was starting to worry that the hit had caused some real damage.” Grim’s wrangler Deuce said with a relieved smile.
“Yeah, you even missed the closing ceremonies! They’re taking everything apart right now.” Ace stopped leaning on the bed.
Moon sat up a little, the pounding sending a sharp jolt through her head as she did so. Concussion for sure. Thing was, she wasn’t sure about the severity.
“How did Savanaclaw do?”
“Hmph. Everyone we played was ignoring the disc and throwing everything they had at US.” Moon could recognize that rugged voice anywhere, and she looked up as none other than Leona Kingscholar walked up to her infirmary bed, hands lazily in his pockets. His emerald eyes roamed her, checking for any injuries, and then returned to his normal carefree look so fast that Moon felt like she might’ve imagined his concern.
“We were dead on our feet by the time we faced Diasomnia, so they ended up taking first place.” Ruggie walked up beside Leona, leaning over the rails on the bed with a lopsided smile.
“Housewarden! Ruggie!” Jack looked shocked, as he straightened up his posture around his seniors.
“Tch… Bein’ stuck in an infirmary bed for anything other than a mid-day nap is about as lame as it gets.” Leona leaned against the wall beside her bed, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.
“And what’s worse? Not a single Diasomnia student ended up here.” Ruggie complained as Leona let out a low grumble.
Ruggie mentioning Diasomnia sparked a discussion about the famed dorm, a conversation Moon wasn’t horribly interested in. After a while of the little gathering by her bed, her head started throbbing so hard she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Alright, noisy froshes. Get out. She’s awake, you’ve yapped at her enough.” Leona’s commanding voice broke through the noise.
“Sorry, Moon! Get well soon!” Deuce patted her shoulder as he and Jack ushered Ace and Grim out of the infirmary, leaving only Leona and Ruggie around her bed.
Ruggie straightened up, stretching his arms over his head.
“I’ll leave ya be too, Moon. See ya.” He grinned like he knew something she didn’t. As Ruggie left with a lazy wave of his hand, one of Leona’s emerald eyes cracked open as he looked at her.
Moon waited quietly, expecting him to also leave, but he didn’t. He just stared at her with an unreadable expression.
“Is there something you wanted to say that you couldn’t say around anyone else?”
“No.”
The silence stretched between them again, and Moon shifted nervously. “Then why-”
“Are you hurt anywhere else?” He asked abruptly before she could finish asking why he was still here.
“No, I don’t think so. Just a killer concussion. Why are-”
“I didn’t hurt you?”
“Stop interrupting me, damnit! No! I stay away during the fights.”
“That’s wise of you. You are a fragile little herbivore.” He crossed his arms, fully facing Moon with a smug shit eating grin.
“I am not!” Moon puffed her cheeks out in frustration.
Leona leaned down, his emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh yeah? Then how’d that cat hit your head so hard?”
“Grim hits a lot harder than you’d think! Especially when you have no magic to defend yourself!”
“Fragile.” He smirked, leaning a bit too close as he stared into her eyes, and backed away, but not before Moon leaned away with an embarrassing blush and widened eyes, which seemed to entertain Leona more. He put one hand in his pocket, and held out one hand to her expectantly.
Moon raised a brow, confused. “Wh-”
“Phone. Now.”
Moon frowned at him, but took her phone from the side table, unlocking it and setting it in his waiting hand. He took it, his thumb gliding over the surface with ease, and then as quickly as he’d received it, returned it to her. On her screen was his added contact, and he put his other hand in his pocket.
“Let me know when you’re better.” He said, and turned around, walking out of the infirmary without even a goodbye or a see you later. Moon felt positively shell-shocked at the interaction, but locked her phone back up and sank under the covers of the infirmary bed, grateful for the peace and quiet.
A few days later after much rest, Moon was back to tip top shape, and she was making breakfast for herself and Grim, the little monster himself badgering her about what he, Ace and Deuce have been doing while she was out for the count.
“Uh huh…” Whisk the eggs. “Oh wow! How interesting.” Butter the toast.
“Hey! Hench human! You’re not listening to me!” Grim popped up in front of her face, causing her to jump up, startled.
“Nuh uh, I totally was.”
“Liar! I asked you if you’ve ever tried the chips Deuce recommended, and you responded with ‘how interesting’!” Grim pouted.
“Sorry, it’s too early for too much chatter.”
“Well whatever! When you’re done doing my bidding, I’m going to practice spelldrive with Ace, Deuce and Jack.” He put his paws on his hips proudly.
“Good, burn off some of that unwanted energy.” Moon smiled, setting down a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.
Grim took the plate with two paws, and wandered off to the living room, leaving Moon alone finally. She checked her phone, text notifications from her group chat with Ace, Deuce, and Jack, Grim effectively unable to use a phone. Deuce was notifying her that they’d be there to pick up Grim in a half hour, and was bringing get well gifts from Trey and Riddle. As she looked through her contacts, she spotted Leona’s name with no picture, and she opened the blank chat, taking a picture of her own place of eggs, toast and bacon, sending it with the caption of ‘Would a herbivore eat such delicious bacon?’
She figured Leona probably wouldn't respond, and put her phone in her pocket, walking out to the living room, sitting down on the couch, Grim already off doing something else, his plate left abandoned on the coffee table. She sat down and began eating. checking her phone again, and almost dropped her fork when she noticed that Leona had actually responded.
He had sent her a picture of a massive breakfast with more meats than she could name, all sprawled out on a messy bed, Ruggie popping his head in the top right of the photo, waving. The caption said ‘you're a herbivore until you can eat all this.’
Moon gasped, and typed away.
‘There's no way! That feast is practically the size of me!’
‘Exactly.’
Moon saw Leona typing still, and as if right on time, there was a knock on the door. She stood and opened it, finding Ace, Deuce and Jack at the doorway.
“Good morning! We're here to get Grim for Spelldrive practice! You coming?” Ace said excitedly, walking in empty handed while Deuce and Jack were holding large boxes. They set the boxes down on her table.
“Morning guys. I'll sit this one and all others out from now on, I think. I think I'm more suited to the spectator lifestyle.”
“I understand your fear, Moon.” Jack nodded.
“Yeah, but you're more than welcome to cheer us on whenever!” Ace clapped her shoulder.
“Make sure to get rest, Moon.” Deuce smiled and looked at the two boxes. “Trey made you some feel better cupcakes, and Riddle sent over detailed notes from the days you've missed and some variations of his favorite teas. They both expressed that they wanted you to join them for tea whenever you have the energy.”
“Thank you, Deuce and Jack for bringing these. And make sure to thank Trey and Riddle.”
Grim bounded down the stairs and almost ran directly into Jack.
“NYEH! Less yapping more Spelldrive! Let's go!” He said excitedly. with one paw in the air.
There was a chorus of “Bye Moon,” as they all left Ramshackle, and Moon sat back down with a sigh, checking her phone. She had 3 unread messages from Leona.
‘are you home?’
…
‘i take it you're feeling better?’
…
‘im coming to visit.’
Moon smiled a little, and typed a response.
‘Sorry, Ace, Deuce, and Jack came over to pick up Grim. I am feeling much better. You really don't need to go out of your way to see me.’
There was a read symbol below her message. That bastard. She set her phone face down on the coffee table and sat back on the couch, enjoying her now cold breakfast. She finished it and opened one of the boxes from Trey and Riddle, revealing some beautifully decorated cupcakes that almost had her drooling in anticipation. Just as she was about to enjoy one of them, a heavy knock sounded at her door, making her jump in surprise.
She walked over and opened the door, revealing Leona standing there with his hands in his pockets. Moon stood in awkward silence for a moment, and then stepped aside, letting the tall beastman into Ramshackle dorm. He walked in slowly and without any rush, looking around the dorm curiously. Moon closed the door, and gestured to the striped couch and matching recliner.
“Uh… feel free to sit wherever.” She murmured, closing the box of cupcakes, mourning the moment to enjoy them alone. Leona sat down on the couch, the cushions sinking beneath his much larger form as he made himself comfortable, legs spread out and one arm slung loosely over the back of it.
“Tch. This place is pretty nice. Would do well for a snooze.”
“Thank you. I cleaned the place up myself.” Moon sat down in the recliner, much less relaxed than Leona.
They both fell silent again, and Moon figured she’d just let him be rather than try to entertain him. She still wasn’t sure what he was doing here anyways.
She opened the other box from Riddle, grabbing the manilla envelope that held his detailed notes. She set them down, and inspected the tea boxes he sent. There was a chocolate tea box, strawberry tea box, and a few chai tea boxes, her favorite tea. She smiled softly, and suddenly felt eyes on her. She looked at the lion beastman lounging on her couch, his tail swishing slowly against the cushion.
“You’re not very good at entertaining guests, herbivore.”
“And you’re not very good at giving proper notice.”
Leona chuckled lightly, and leaned his cheek against his hand with a shit eating grin. “You’ve got guts for such a tiny little thing.”
“I am not tiny!” She yelled, slamming the box of chai tea she was holding down in not so serious frustration.
Behind her, it sounded like a guffaw erupted and she whipped her head around, glaring daggers at the beastman on her couch. He was bent over in laughter, and she turned red.
“So height bothers you, huh?” He remarked as his laughter died down.
“You may not understand since you're a god damned mountain but I've had to deal with short jokes my entire life.”
“I know a few things about drawin’ the short stick, herbivore.”
“I'm sure you do.” Moon huffed and turned back around, grabbing the tea boxes and walking into the kitchen to put them away, and Leona watched her like she was prey, still an amused expression on his face.
“What did you do before comin’ here?” He asked offhandedly after a few more moments of silence.
Moon looked at him with a raised brow. “You're asking me about myself?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“No… I just wouldn't have expected it.” She murmured, walking back into the living room.
“Oh? And tell me. What were you expectin’ of me?”
“One question at a time, pal.” She sat down in the recliner again, much more relaxed. She sighed and ran her hand through her unruly brown hair. “Well, I was actually a nurse before coming here.”
Leona looked surprised. “You're an adult? You don't even look—”
“Shut it.” It was Moon's turn to interrupt him now. “As I was SAYING. I was a nurse. So I quite like not having to work all day every day.”
“Would not have expected that one, herbivore. You've got a bit too much sass to be in such a caring position.”
“Gee thanks.”
“It wasn't an insult.” Leona pulled out his phone and made a face. “Tch.” He clicked his tongue and put it back in his pockets. “I'm leaving.” He said as he stood.
Moon stood up, watching as he lazily walked past her, and she figured it wouldn't be polite to ask him why.
“Thank you for coming over… I'm doing much better.”
He grunted in response as he opened the door and paused in the doorway, looking back at her with a smug smile.
“I'll remember that you've got a sweet tooth and don't like sharin’.” He said with a smile and left.
Moon stood flabbergasted, her face turning hot and bright red. She couldn't believe he'd noticed her staring longingly at the cupcakes.
Well, at least now she could eat one.