Chapter Text
It was a beautiful day at Night Raven College. The sun was shining, birds fluttering through the sky. Students chatted in the halls on their way to various after-school clubs.
And Rook Hunt had a wonderfully unobstructed view of the quad from his perch on the 3rd floor tower window. The quad, and the beastman who slumbered there.
The hunter’s keen eyes fixed on a peaceful Leona, reposed under a shady tree, unconscious and vulnerable…No, not vulnerable. The constant twitching of the lion’s ears betrayed his alertness. It would be foolish to assume that he was not aware of everything happening around him.
But from this distance? Could the prince sense danger even from so far away?
Well. Hypotheses are made to be tested, non?
Moving slowly and silently, with careful and precise movements, Rook nocked an arrow and drew back the bow string. Eyes focused and unblinking, he traced a line from the lion’s muscular legs, to his broad torso, his defined jugular…The hunter released a short breath, repressing his glee. He could easily let his arrow fly, cripple the unsuspecting beastman, and watch his life blood pump from his veins…He wondered what kind of face Leona would make. He bit his lip, feeling himself flush at the thought.
Raising the arrow a touch higher, he sighted on the prince’s handsome face, just as emerald eyes snapped open. Rook froze, not daring to breathe. Had he been spotted…? The lion’s ears flicked in annoyance. Perhaps…The slitted gaze lifted, right in the direction of the Pomefiore vice, just as he smoothly hopped down from the window ledge, back sliding down against the stone.
Definitely, then. …And an affirmative for his hypothesis, too.
Rook’s heart was pounding. He felt dizzy. For a brief moment…he had wanted to shoot Leona. A grin split his face as nervous giggles bubbled from his throat, until he was doubled-over, wheezing from the exhilaration of it. Part of him was incredibly thankful he hadn’t actually fired – for moral and political reasons, of course – but also because he liked Leona. He was interesting and attractive and gave Rook feelings he had been trying to avoid putting a name to. He didn’t particularly want to put a damper on…whatever it was they had going on by severely wounding him. But another part of him, the part that made most other students steer clear when they saw him coming, wished he had. Wished he had gotten the chance to see the lion writhe in pain, fiercely snarling for retribution, his body scarred and bloody from the fresh arrow wound – Rook’s arrow. Oh, how that part of him burned to leave his mark on that tanned skin.
The hunter took a deep, steadying breath, tempering his anxious excitement. Would that provocation alone be enough to stir the aloof prince to action? While Rook wasn’t one to shrink from a confrontation, the mere thought of Leona baring his fangs in vexation sent a rush of heat through his body. He feared losing control of his racing heart and the beastman discovering his true sentiments too much to desire such an encounter.
Still…
A threat should never be taken lightly, lest the threatened risk losing his place in nature’s hierarchy. Every predator knew this. And so, though his heart both quailed and sang at the thought of Leona’s response, Rook decided – if the lion didn’t act on this, next time he would definitely shoot him.
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The next morning found the huntsman in the classroom, waiting for first period to start. Idly picking at his sleeve, he wondered if Leona would be in class today. Surely not. The prince rarely came to class, preferring to find somewhere secluded to nap instead. Still…
His eyes flickered to the doorway, stomach flipping as his errant classmate slouched in. Cool, emerald irises scanned the room, stopping on the blond. Rook hurriedly looked down, suddenly enraptured by the loose thread he’d been pulling at. A moment later, to his utmost surprise and moderate discomfort, there was movement in his periphery and a figure plopped down in the empty seat next to him.
When he still did not look up, a large, gloved hand entered his vision, coming down on top of his own to stop his mindless fiddling. The hunter flinched, eyes tracing up the tanned wrist, to the fitted gold vest, all the way to Leona’s amused smirk.
“Prolly shouldn’t do that, yeah? What’ll your beloved housewarden say if ya pull your jacket to shreds?”
Rook blinked, thrown off by Leona’s…concern? “Ah…Oui. You are right. Merci. My mind was elsewhere, and I failed to notice what I was doing.”
The lion’s brow lifted, eyes narrowing conspiratorially. “That ain’t like you. What’s got you so…distracted?” His smirk widened, revealing a sharp fang.
The blond knew it was fruitless, but he still hoped that the prince wouldn’t notice how stiff his smile was. “Oh, trifles I wouldn’t dare bore you with, dear Roi des Lions. But my, how attentive you are today! And much more loquacious than your customary admonishments. I may just swoon from your dashing concern! I must ask, what has stirred your sudden interest in moi?” He glanced down pointedly, trying to ignore the fluttering in his stomach at the sight of the lion’s big, warm hand encircling his own.
Leona let out a huff of laughter, but didn’t immediately pull away. “‘Sudden’? I dunno if I’d say that…I notice more than you think, hunter…You’ve gotten rather bold lately, haven’t ya?” Without waiting for a response, he removed his hand, tucking it under his chin as he turned to face forward. With the grin still on his lips, the first period bell rang not a moment later.
Rook maintained his amiable smile, though his mind raced to analyze the unusual and puzzling interaction. A threat to one’s life wasn’t typically followed by…geniality? He turned as well, looking toward the board as class started…though he could focus on little other than the man sitting next to him and the lazy smirk on his face.
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Leona yawned, stretching languidly as he exited the botanical garden. While he didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, he was a bit surprised that his nap hadn’t been disturbed at all. No freshmen tramping through the plants, no Ruggie nagging him about whatever nonsense…and no annoying hunter stalking him for “research”.
It’s not that he missed the behatted creep or anything. Definitely not.
He let out an irritated huff. Okay, fine. Maybe he did. A little. But Rook seemed to follow him everywhere! He couldn’t help it if the irritating bastard had wormed his way into his heart.
Leona shook his head, trying to clear away the thoughts of him, just as melodious laughter floated across the courtyard. …And there he was, talking animatedly next to his housewarden as they walked along. His green eyes shone in such adoration, smile bright, like sunshine. To the prince, he appeared to sparkle. Was there ever a time when Rook had looked at him like that? Leona couldn’t remember. Right now, it felt like the blond had reserved all his light for his precious Vil.
The lion felt a low growl rumble in his chest. He quickened his pace, eager to get back to Savanaclaw and away from…this. As he exited the courtyard, he missed how Rook paused to turn, letting his housewarden walk ahead. Missed how he stared after the prince’s retreating back, telltale blush dusting his features. The hunter silently grimaced, touching his cheeks as he hurried to catch up with Vil’s long strides.
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Rook stepped out of the locker room, adjusting his cap to shade his eyes. It was another picture-perfect day. He looked up at the blue sky, musing about how he might fetch his bow after classes to practice his targeting.
Coach Vargas’ booming instructions interrupted his thoughts. “All right, class! Everyone partner up for stretching!”
The blond turned to the group, about to look for an unattached student, when a voice from behind made him freeze.
“Rook, let’s be partners.”
Slowly, he turned to see Leona, waiting casually for his response. He plastered a smile on his face, even as he felt his cheeks begin to warm.
“Quelle surprise! Your class attendance has improved drastically of late, Roi des Lions! Bravo! How wonderful that you’ve decided to apply yourself!”
To Leona’s credit, and Rook’s frustration, his expression didn’t flinch from the indifferent, if not bored, mien he generally wore. He just continued to look at the hunter steadily as he said, “You haven’t responded.”
The younger male blinked, faltering. “Ah…” Mind racing, he could think of no easy way out of the situation – especially since it looked like everyone else had already paired up. “…D’accord.”
The lion’s mouth curved so fractionally, Rook thought he was imagining it. Before he could look closer, Leona turned and began walking to an empty patch of grass. “C’mon.”
They started the stretching routine, alongside the other sets of students. Rook tried not to think about how Leona’s arms looked as they flexed, or how firm his back muscles felt. When it was his turn to be helped, he tried to meditate, recite, anything to keep his mind off of how good the prince’s hands felt on his body.
He had just begun to mentally tick off the ingredients needed for the Science Club’s latest potion, when Leona made a sound from behind him.
“Hm? Did you say something, Roi des Lions?”
There was a beat of silence, and Rook brought his attention back to the present. Leona was pressing against his back to assist in his seated straddle, in which the blond could almost nose the ground – without help. It was a basic stretch. Did Leona have a question?
He could hear the smirk in the lion’s low voice as he finally responded, “I never realized you were so flexible.”
The hunter was grateful that Leona couldn’t see his face at the moment. He swallowed, trying to keep his voice nonchalant. “Oui, Roi du Poison has us do yoga regularly. It does wonders for your core strength, and helps one maintain an elegant and graceful physique. You should consider joining us sometime!”
“Hmm…” Was the Savanaclaw housewarden actually considering it? No way… “What do you wear?”
Rook blinked. “…Quoi?”
Leona continued. “I might consider joining…if the view was enticing enough.”
The blond flushed, the lion’s words echoing in his head. He hesitated to presume the insinuation, but it sounded like…Non, non. That couldn’t be it. Leona wouldn’t – not for him anyway.
Coughing slightly to cover the stammer in his voice, he forced a laugh. “Ahah, vraiment? Perhaps I should warn Vil against displaying too much of his loveliness, lest he attract wild beasts – though he can no more contain his overflowing beauty than a butterfly can revert to a chrysalis.”
Rook felt more than heard Leona humph, barely stopping himself from flinching as he felt the prince’s chin rest heavily on his shoulder. “That ain’t what I meant…and you know it.”
The lion blinked as the hunter suddenly slipped out of his grasp, brushing himself off as he stood. The sharp green eyes flickered from his partner to where other students had already begun the next exercises.
“It looks like we are to run laps next. We had best get started, Roi des Lions! We don’t want to fall behind! Allons-y!” With that, he started moving toward the edge of the field, jogging to get started with the daily allotment – and eager to get away before Leona noticed the pounding of his heart.
The prince followed slowly, smile threatening to tug at his lips. Rook could run, but he’d get his prey yet. He’d catch his little hunter.