xoxo, yuu

twst fic writer ✧ from ramshackle with love

[spellbound-rosehearts]

welcome to my blog ࿐˚ . ✦

aurora. age 21. she / her.

( links: masterlist | ao3 | rules )

⊹₊⋆ lover of all things twisted wonderland

⊹₊⋆ requests: open !! askbox: always open

[spellbound-rosehearts]

hello everyone! in case anyone is following along my work and was wondering about an update on my current story, it has taken me a bit to figure out where this story will go but now that i have that figured out, i will be writing and posting updates soon!! thank you for being patient with me and for all the love and support on my work ♡

[spellbound-rosehearts]

i want to post my leona fic on AO3 but i don’t know what tags to put they’re so confusing and i want to make sure it reaches the right audience, does anyone want to help a girl out? :)

[spellbound-rosehearts]

NIGHTMARE : CHAPTER 12

warnings: mild language

notes: nightmare comfort trope my fav ♡

part 11

yuu’s breath hitched as she jolted awake, her pulse racing. the remnants of the nightmare still clung to her, vivid images echoing in her mind. she rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fear, but unease settled deep in her chest. it was a feeling she knew all too well by now—the ache of being far from home. not home meaning ramshackle, though losing that had been its own kind of heartbreak, but her real home. the one she’d been torn away from. the one she longed for nights like this. she told herself she’d grown used to it, that she was learning how to endure, but tonight, that heaviness felt harder to shake.

waking up in leona’s bed rather than her own somehow made it worse. the unfamiliar environment gave her little comfort now. even grim’s soft snores from the corner didn’t ease the growing tension curling in her stomach. the dorm was foreign, the bed wasn’t hers, and the nightmare’s chill hadn’t left her.

yuu glanced at the clock—2:30 a.m. sighing, she threw off the blanket and swung her legs over the side of the bed. she had to get out of here. maybe stepping out would help clear her head.

she slipped out onto balcony just outside of leona’s room, her bare footsteps quiet against the cold hardwood floor. the cool night breeze greeted her, brushing up against her skin and causing goosebumps to rise along her arms. the world surrounding her was hushed, held in a gentle stillness that only happened during these hours of the night.

she tilted her head back and and lifted her gaze to the sky. the stars blinked down at her, their gentle shimmer giving a comfort she couldn’t quite put into words. back home, she used to do the same—sneak outside when the noise in her head got too loud, when everything felt too much. the stars had always been there, forever unchanging. and now, even in this new world, they were still here. a tether to something she lost. her one connection to home.

the tread of footsteps behind her pulled her back to the present. her body went still, heart beginning to race before she turned her head. when her eyes landed on the familiar figure, they widened in surprise.

“what the hell are you doin’ up so late?” leona’s voice broke the quiet, low and gravelly, laced with the sleepiness of someone who had just woken up. as he stepped into the pale moonlight, he looked less put-together than usual—his shirt hanging off one shoulder like he hadn’t bothered to fix it, his hair tousled, a few strands falling into his eyes. there was a drowsy softness to him in that moment, his usual sharp edges dulled, his expression more relaxed. she wasn’t sure why, but something about seeing him like this, unguarded and stripped of his usual pride, made her breath catch.

“i was- i’m just getting some air. didn’t know i needed permission,” she said, harsher than she meant and a little too defensively. he blinked at her, and the words hung heavy in the silence.

she exhaled and looked away. “sorry…i didn’t mean that. just—needed to clear my head. i didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“you didn’t,” he said, brushing off her comment with a lazy shrug and stepping closer to her. “i was already awake.”

yuu didn’t respond, just let out a soft sigh and tilted her head back again to look up at the night sky. there was a strange comfort in his presence that made the weight on her chest just a little easier to bear.

leona hummed low in his throat, crossing his arms loosely over his chest. he glanced at her, eyes carefully studying her face. “you’ve got that look again.”

she turned to him, her brows knitting. “what look?”

“that quiet, far-off thing you do when your head’s heavier than you’re letting on.”

“i’m fine,” she said, then swallowed down the lump that was beginning to form in her throat. she shook her head like she could shake the thoughts away. “why did you follow me out here, anyway?” the question was sudden, a deflection.

leona noticed the shift, but he didn’t push her to talk if she didn’t want to. “just heard you get out of bed and figured something was up.”

she nodded, her eyes tracing the stars above. then after a beat of silence, she spoke again, softer this time. “back home, whenever i couldn’t sleep, i’d sit outside and watch the stars. it aways calmed me down.”

leona was quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting upward. the faint breeze ruffled his hair, but he didn’t move.

“…i get that,” he said finally, voice low. “when i was a kid, i’d sneak out. there’s this spot past the palace grounds, i used to lie in the sand and stare up at the sky ‘til i couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.”

he gave a soft huff and shook his head, like he wasn’t sure why he was even sharing this. but he continued anyways.

“didn’t matter what was going on,” he added with a shrug. “out there, it was quiet. and the stars didn’t expect anything from me. sometimes felt like the only place i could breathe.”

his words lingered in the air, full of vulnerability. she thought of his overblot. the way leona bottled up his emotions until they consumed him. it had been terrifying, seeing him like that—lost, almost unrecognizable. and yet, when he stood here now, looking up at the stars, there was a softness to him that she hadn’t quite seen before.

maybe that was what made it easier for her to open up to him. maybe it was the way he had slowly, without trying, without even seeming to notice, become someone she trusted. someone who didn’t press, who didn’t pry, but still stayed.

whatever it was, it made the tight knot in her chest shift, loosening just enough. and for the first time in what felt like a long while, she didn't feel like she had to hold everything in.

“…i had a nightmare,” she admitted suddenly, the words slipping out before she could second-guess them.

leona’s ears gave the faintest twitch, turning his head to look at her now. his expression remained unreadable but his eyes were attentive.

“i get them often,” she continued, voice barely above a whisper. “sometimes it’s about my family, sometimes it’s being stuck here forever, watching everyone i care about fall apart one by one,” she let out a shaky breath, arms tightening around herself. “i keep telling myself i’ve gotten used to it. to being here, lost and alone. but sometimes it still hits me… how far away from home i really am. and honestly… i’m scared.”

yuu turned her face away from him, trying to hide the tears welling in her eyes. “i’ve never told anyone that before,” she admitted, voice cracking. her shoulders trembled as the tears slipped past her lashes against her will.

leona didn’t say anything at first, his ears angled toward her even as his gaze drifted elsewhere, like he didn’t want to make her feel more exposed than she already was.

“sorry,” she murmured, wiping at her face with the heel of her palm. “i just—today’s been a lot. i didn’t mean to fall apart like this. i know it’s stupid.”

“it’s not,” he said flatly, slowly exhaling through his nose.

there was a pause. his eyes flicked to her hunched shoulders and the way they trembled slightly with each shaky breath. his fingers twitched at his side with the urge to reach out. to place a hand on her shoulder, maybe. something. anything.

but he didn't move.

comfort didn’t come naturally to him. he wasn’t used to giving it, and he sure as hell wasn’t used to wanting to. more so, she was already giving him more than he knew what to do with—her tears, her trust.

he didn’t want to risk messing that up.

so instead, he shifted his weight and leaned against the balcony railing, looking back up at the stars.

“most people in your position would’ve cracked already,” he said, his voice gentler now. “you’re always lookin’ after everyone else. pushin’ through, pretendin’ you’re fine… but you keep tryin’ to carry everything alone you’re gonna break. that’s how people overblot.”

at that, yuu turned to look at him. her eyes were red-rimmed, lashes damp, and her nose tinged pink from the crying she hadn’t been able to stop. seeing her like this made something squeeze in leona’s chest.

“i just… i feel like i have to be strong. like if i let myself fall apart, everything else will too,” she said softly.

“you ain’t a damn pillar, herbivore,” he said, eyes narrowing just slightly. “you don’t have to hold everyone up by yourself.”

“i don’t know what else to do,” she whispered, staring down at her hands.

“you let someone help. that’s what.”

she didn’t know how to respond to that. a part of her wanted to brush it off, to tell him that she didn’t need the help. but another part, tired and fragile, clung to what he said like a lifeline.

“i’m not sayin’ i’ve got all the answers,” he added, voice rough but sincere. “but if you ever need… someone to just shut up and listen… i’m not goin’ anywhere.”

yuu’s breath caught at his words. she looked at him closely, searching for the usual teasing glint or smirk she expected, but there wasn’t any.

“…thank you,” she said finally, her cheeks growing warm beneath his steady gaze. “you have no idea how much that means to me.”

leona shifted, clearly feeling the weight of what he’d just said. his ears twitched, and he clicked his tongue with a glance to the side.

then, with a small grunt, he pushed off the railing. “c’mon. you need rest.”

she hesitated at first, but when he reached out and touched her elbow, guiding her back inside, she followed without protest.

leona moved with uncharacteristic gentleness, pulling back the covers on his bed and motioning for her to lie down.

“get in,” he said, voice low. “don’t make me say it twice.”

yuu didn’t argue. she slid into it slowly, the residual warmth of the bed wrapping around her like a sigh. he pulled the blankets up around her.

leona hovered a moment longer at the edge of the bed, arms crossed like he was debating whether or not to say more.

he glanced at her, his brows drawn faintly. “…you gonna be able to sleep?”

she nodded. “i think so.”

he made a quiet noise in response, the sound low and satisfied. there was a pause and his gaze shifted away, jaw tight like he was weighing words on his tongue.

“…i meant what i said,” he finally added, quieter now. he kept his eyes down, like it’d be easier that way. “didn’t just say that sappy shit to make you feel better.”

yuu sat up a little at his words, shifting to prop herself on one elbow.

“i know,” she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

without another word, he turned and crossed the room, dropping down onto the futon without looking back.

yuu laid back down, the blanket tucked around her shoulders, and let her eyes drift toward the faint outline of leona across the room. just the sight of him there—his broad shoulders rising and falling with each breath, effortlessly beautiful, even in the middle of the night—made her chest feel warmer than it should.

she pressed her face into the pillow, cheeks flushed, and forced herself to focus on the quiet rhythm of his breathing rather than her racing thoughts.

but even that couldn’t slow the strange, quickening beat of her heart, or quiet the uneasy realization curling beneath her ribs… that no matter how hard she tried, the feelings she’d been trying so desperately to outrun were finally beginning to catch up to her.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

COLLATERAL : CHAPTER 11

warnings: none

notes: this might be the longest chapter yet! i’m very excited for this next arc in the story ;) enjoy!

part 10, part 12

the sun was setting when yuu finally reached the savanaclaw dorm, her feet dragging and her shoulders aching from the weight of the day and the decisions that led her here. grim grumbled about their current situation as he trailed behind her, and jack walked beside them, arms crossed and jaw tight, his usual stoicism undercut by the way his ears kept twitching.

yuu paused at the entrance, glancing up at the towering walls. the dorm radiated heat and tension, even this late in the afternoon. of all the places on campus, this might’ve been the one she least wanted to show up at tonight. not because savanaclaw was known for its rugged and often hostile residents, or even because the dorm always smelled vaguely of sweat and dry grass. no, it was because she’d have to tell leona she’d lost ramshackle—his unofficial hideout. the spot where he could disappear from everything he didn’t want to deal with. and now it was gone. because of her.

in her mind, she was already imagining his reaction to the news. the incredulous look he’d give her, the scoff that would follow. telling him she’d given ramshackle to azul, of all people, as collateral? that she’d gambled his peace and quiet for the sake of her reckless, trouble-making friends?

she winced again.

to make matters worse, jade and floyd hadn’t exactly been gentle about her eviction. they had all but tossed her and grim out by the scruffs of their necks with wicked grins, barely letting her grab an overnight bag before the doors slammed shut.

she’d thought maybe heartslabyul would take her in, but ace and deuce mentioned that the dorm was packed. plus, final exams were looming, tensions were high, and the thought of living under riddle’s ever-watchful eye sounded like a punishment more than a reprieve.

jack had been the one to suggest savanaclaw. “you and leona are on good terms, right?” he’d said. “so i’m sure it’ll be okay.”

yuu wasn’t so sure. she couldn’t imagine “surprise houseguests who lost your favorite nap spot” would go over very smoothly. still, they were all out of options. it was either face leona or wander the campus homeless while trying to fulfill azul’s seemingly impossible task.

jack looked down at her. “you nervous?”

“a little bit,” yuu said honestly. “but we don’t really have a choice, do we?”

he didn’t answer that, he didn’t need to.

“just tell it to him straight,” jack said gently. he could feel the anxiety radiating off of her. “he’ll probably grumble about it, yeah, but i don’t think he’d kick you out.”

grim groaned loudly. “ugh i hate this! he’s gonna glare at me like it’s all my fault!”

yuu raised an eyebrow. “it is your fault we’re in this mess to begin with.”

“hey, it wasn’t all me!” grim shot back. “you’re the one who signed our dorm away!”

yuu scoffed in disbelief. “i did it to help you!”

“enough,” jack cut in, his voice firm. “arguing out here isn’t going to help. let’s just get this over with.”

the three of them fell quiet, the weight of what was ahead settling between them as they stepped through the savanaclaw doors.

—

leona kingscholar was exactly where he usually is this time of day: sprawled on one of the large lounge couches, an arm draped over his face to block the light from the high windows. his legs were spread carelessly, one boot on the table, tail flicking idly over the couch’s edge.

“um…leona-senpai,” jack said, folding his arms. “we need to talk.”

leona groaned, but didn’t move. “if this is about the training schedule, take it up with ruggie.”

“it’s not,” yuu said, stepping forward.

at the sound of her voice, leona dropped his arm from his eyes and squinted at them. “herbivore. furball. what’re you doin’ here?”

yuu stood there for a moment, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “uh… hey, so… funny story.”

leona exhaled slowly, sitting up a little. “why do i got a feelin’ i’m not gonna laugh.”

she huffed a breath. “okay, maybe not funny. um. we kind of… temporarily don’t have a place to stay.”

there was a beat of silence.

then, “what?”

“i mean—ramshackle’s not exactly mine right now. azul has it.”

at that, leona sat up fully, clearly irritated now. “who has it?”

“here we go,” grim mumbled.

she cringed. “look, it’s temporary! ace, deuce and grim made a deal with azul to pass their exams, and he was going to take them, so i stepped in and made a deal to get them out of it. i just didn’t have much to offer. so… i had to give up ramshackle up as collateral.”

leona groaned again and dragged a hand down his face. “so you gambled my nap spot to save those three idiots. unbelievable.”

“i’m sorry!” she said quickly. “i didn’t think he would take it so soon! azul gave me three days to do what he wants. but jade and floyd kicked us out tonight, and jack was all like, ‘go to savanaclaw,’ and—”

“don’t pin this on me,” jack interjected, ears flattening. “i just said he might let you stay.”

leona exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “well for one thing, our spare rooms haven’t been cleaned in months and are packed with junk.”

“why not just put ‘em in leona-san’s room?” ruggie popped up from behind them, letting out a sly laugh.

yuu startled and leona snapped his head towards him.

ruggie leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and a mischievous grin playing on his face. “just let them stay, yeah? you’ve been moody all week, and i need a break.” he pushed off the frame, stepping into the room with a dramatic sigh, rubbing at his shoulder. “plus i’m still not fully healed from the tournament. if they’re here, they can serve you ‘round clock in exchange for room and board.”

leona narrowed his eyes at ruggie, then looked back at yuu. she seemed exhausted. the slump of her shoulders and the faint shadows under her eyes stirred something deep in leona’s chest—an annoying, relentless urge that made him want to take away whatever was making her feel like that. so he made his decision.

he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “fine, you can stay.”

yuu blinked. “wait, really?”

“but,” leona added sharply, raising a finger, “you’d better get that haunted shack back. i don’t care how. that’s my peace and quiet we’re talking about.”

yuu exhaled slowly, her entire posture relaxing. “thank you, leona. really.”

jack sighed in relief, nudging her arm gently. “see, i told you it would work out.”

“whew! we don’t have to sleep outside!” grim shouted with a smile on his face.

leona leaned back and shifted his gaze toward ruggie again. “where’s my dinner, by the way? i asked for it an hour ago.”

ruggie rolled his eyes. “it’s gonna have to wait until i’m done with washin' the clothes you leave all over the place and cleanin' up.”

“dinner? i can make it,” yuu offered quickly.

ruggie looked at her in disbelief. “huh? you mean that?”

she nodded with a soft smile. “it’s the least i can do.”

leona arched a brow, lips twitching like he was holding back a smirk. “hope you know how to season meat, herbivore.”

—

leona sat back in his chair, licking sauce off of his thumb and eyeing his empty plate. “wasn’t bad,” he muttered. “actually… it was pretty good.”

ruggie blinked. “wow. high praise coming from leona-san,” he smiled at yuu from across the table. “first meal i’ve had in a while that i didn’t have to make. mind stickin’ around?”

at that moment, jack reappeared with a rolled futon slung over his shoulder. “where should i put this?”

“i dont care, just toss it anywhere my room,” leona said with a grunt, standing.

jack had just finished spreading the futon out when yuu, grim and leona walked in.

“look at all this space!” grim shouted in awe.

jack gave the futon a firm pat before standing up. “there. it’s not much, but it’ll do.” he offered yuu a soft smile.

“thank you,” yuu said, already crouching down to adjust the blankets.

jack left at that, and yuu set her bag onto the floor next to the futon. but before she could settle in, leona’s voice cut in low from behind her.

“yeah, no. that’s not happenin’.”

grim and yuu looked over to him. “what?” they both asked in unison.

leona stepped closer to them, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable in the dim light. “on second thought, herbivore, you take the bed.”

“what?! no fair!” grim whined.

yuu’s brows knit in confusion. “but it’s yours.”

leona exhaled through his nose. “yeah. and?” he crossed his arms, gaze settling on her like she was being deliberately difficult. “look, you’re not sleeping on the floor in my room.”

she frowned, caught off guard by the shift in his tone. “i’m already crashing in your room,” she argued. “i’m not kicking you out of your own bed on top of that.”

leona gave a small grunt as he shrugged off his vest and tossed it toward the desk chair. “it’s not about that.”

“…then what is it about?”

he didn’t answer right away. just walked over to the futon, kicked his shoes off with a sigh and let himself collapse onto the thin mattress.

“you don’t sleep on floors,” he said simply, like that answered the question. “not here.”

yuu blinked, still confused. “you know i’m used to it. ramshackle didn’t exactly come with luxury.”

“that’s not the point.”

she stared down at him, unsure what to say.

his gaze didn’t meet hers, but his voice softened, just slightly. “you think i’d be okay lettin’ a girl sleep on the floor while i take the bed?”

the words were matter-of-fact. not offered like some grand act of chivalry, but like something obvious. and not something to be argued further.

yuu felt a flutter in her chest at that, leaving her uncertain how to respond.

“…okay,” she said finally before turning towards his bed, her voice softer than before.

“but the furball can find somewhere else to curl up,” leona said with a smirk.

“unbelievable! you’re heartless!” grim wailed. grumbling under his breath, he stomped toward the corner by the dresser, where leona had a pile of clothes stacked, and circled once before flopping down on them dramatically.

she sighed, bending down and ruffling grim’s ears sympathetically as she passed him.

leona stayed quiet—laying back on the futon like it made no difference at all, one arm resting behind his head, the other working to tug the thin blanket over his torso.

yuu climbed into the bed slowly, pulling the covers onto herself. the silence that remained wasn’t tense anymore. it was grounding and gentle in a way she hadn’t expected from savanaclaw.

for the first time that day, she allowed herself to breathe. a quiet exhale escaped her as she sank deeper into the warmth of the bed. the sheer exhaustion of the day finally won over her, and she was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

WORDS UNSPOKEN : CHAPTER 10

yuu falls asleep first for once and leona wrestles with feelings he never meant to have.

warnings: none

notes: i absolutely love this chapter, hope you enjoy!

part 9, part 11

leona leaned back on the worn couch, lazily tossing a ball of crumpled paper into the air and catching it again, half-listening as yuu scribbled furiously at the coffee table. her textbook lay open in front of her, pages crinkled at the edges, highlighter marks everywhere.

"don’t over-complicate it," he drawled, watching her fumble for the right answer on her worksheet. "focus on the key concepts. break them down into smaller parts. if you keep trying to memorize every little detail, you're just going to burn yourself out."

yuu nodded, her gaze fixed on the paper in front of her. leona paused and watched her for a moment. she looked tired, the kind of tired that dragged at her shoulders and made her blink a little too slow, but stubbornness kept her going.

“you still with me?” he asked, his tone more concerned than sarcastic.

she blinked rapidly. "yeah, i’m good. keep going."

“alright,” he said after a second. “tell me again, what's the rule for conjuration theory?"

she sat up a little straighter, like she was rallying her energy. "the...uh, law of proportional trade. you have to sacrifice an equal amount of energy to create a new magical object."

leona nodded once, satisfied. "good. you might actually pass your finals."

she let out a weak groan and slumped over her notebook. "miracles do happen."

he smirked and pushed himself up, stretching his arms above his head and wincing as his joints cracked quietly. he then leaned over and flicked her lightly on the side of the head with two fingers.

"good luck, herbivore,” he said, but his voice had softened. “you’re going to need it.”

yuu mumbled a soft "thanks" before diving back into her notes.

he left her to it, claiming his usual spot by the window where the sunlight spilled in. he sprawled out there, arms behind his head, prepared to doze off.

the minutes dragged by in a thick, heavy quiet.

until... the silence in the room shifted. the sounds of pen scribbling across the paper had stopped, and the soft rustling of pages was absent. it was too still.

leona cracked one eye open suspiciously, and then he saw her.

yuu had fallen asleep. her face was relaxed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, her breath even and steady. the book she'd been so intent on studying now served as a pillow, and the pen had fallen from her hand, lying abandoned beside her.

leona stared at her for a long moment, an unreadable expression flickering across his face. then he narrowed his eyes. 

typical.

stupid herbivore, working herself into the ground like that.

his first instinct was to leave her be. but she looked so small like that, folded over the coffee table, shoulders curled in. the quiet little sigh she let out as she shifted ever so slightly made something tighten in his chest. it almost felt like a string tugging him forward. annoying, insistent, undeniable.

he could just ignore it. that was what he usually did. he was good at detachment, at keeping people at arm’s length. let her sleep, let her wake up sore, cold and alone, and maybe she’d learn her lesson.

but the tug wouldn’t let go. it never did when it came to her.

his body betrayed him before his mind had even finished the thought, and he stood up.

with slow and silent steps, he moved over to the back of the couch where an old, battered blanket was draped. he shook it out once, sending a puff of dust into the air. then, with a carefulness that was foreign to him, he draped the blanket around her shoulders. the fabric slipped once, and he adjusted it, brushing her hair aside in the process.

leona swallowed hard. he lingered there for a second, looking at her face. all peaceful and soft in sleep, none of the usual stubborn determination furrowing her brow.

he didn’t know when it started, this stupid, subtle ache in his chest whenever she was near. it wasn’t a pain, not exactly. more like a weight, steady and pressing, as if something had settled in him that he couldn’t shake loose, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.

he had always been able to shut out what he didn’t want to feel. yet now, with her, it was different. the more he saw her, really saw her, the deeper the ache grew. and somewhere between the moments they shared together and the times he found himself watching her over the rim of his teacup, she’d started mattering to him.

he hadn’t agreed to that. he hadn’t planned it. it wasn’t like him. and still, here he was, standing over her as she slept, quietly wishing she would take better care of herself.

a muscle in his jaw twitched. he sighed, dragging a hand over his face, trying to shake the thoughts from his head.

leona pulled away slowly, going back to his spot in the sun. as he sank down into it, arms folded behind his head, he let the warmth soak into his skin. he shut his eyes, hoping sleep would come quick and wipe the weight of this softness away.

but it didn’t. it stayed there, low and steady, warm and frustrating. he told himself it didn’t matter. but part of him, the part that kept glancing her way, quietly checking on her, knew better.

he could try to run from it, try to push it down, but the way his chest ached when he looked at her said it was already too late.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

CHECKMATE : CHAPTER 9

two weeks after leona’s overblot, life at ramshackle starts to settle into something familiar again.

warnings: none

notes: finally a wholesome chapter after all of the angst :)

part 8, part 10

it had been two weeks since leona overblotted. since then, he’d started showing up at ramshackle again. not every day, but enough for it to feel like things were going back to whatever normal they’d managed to carve out together. yuu didn’t question it. she didn’t ask why he kept coming back or what it meant. she just made sure there was hot tea and a spot for him on her worn-out couch if he wanted it.

this evening that spot was occupied by leona, sprawled on the faded lounge sofa with a book open across his chest, half-asleep, half-reading.

across the room, yuu teetered on top of a wobbly step stool in the storage nook, stretching up on her toes to grab the old, battered playing cards she always used for game nights. ace and deuce were coming over soon, and everything else was ready. the only thing left was the deck of cards tucked inconveniently high on the shelf. grim stood dutifully at the base, tiny paws gripping each leg like he was the sole thing preventing disaster.

“i don’t like this,” he mumbled, tail lashing as the stool creaked ominously. “this thing’s probably been here since before the ghosts moved in. if we die, i’m blaming you in the afterlife.”

yuu rolled her eyes but smiled. “if it breaks, i’m haunting deuce for putting the cards up this high in the first place.”

grim gave the stool a cautious nudge with his paw, as if testing its sturdiness. “you know you could’ve just asked leona. he’s right there.”

“i- i don’t need help, i’ve got it,” yuu insisted. “just a little higher…”

“your funeral,” leona’s voice grumbled from the couch behind them.

yuu didn’t have to look to know he was watching her. she could feel it, the weight of his gaze prickling on her skin.

focusing back on the task at hand, she bit the inside of her cheek in concentration and went back up to her tip-toes. then finally, her fingers brushed the rough cardboard and she closed her hand around the box of playing cards.

“got it!” she said triumphantly.

and then something else tipped forward with the movement. a longer, thinner box tucked behind the cards. it slid off the shelf, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. the lid popped open on impact, and small wooden pieces clattered across the floor.

yuu flinched and the groaned. “seriously?“

she started to clamber down, a little too quickly. that proved to be the wrong move.

the stool shifted beneath her feet. grim let out a strangled yelp. “yuu!”

she gasped, her arms flailing as her balance gave out.

“whoa—!”

she barely had time to panic before a strong hand closed around her arm, steadying her. another settled lightly at her waist, firm but careful, guiding her safely back to the ground.

leona had crossed the room in an instant, so quick it felt less like a reaction and more like a move he’d been anticipating.

“you’re hopeless,” he muttered, voice low beside her ear. “are you trying to get yourself killed?”

yuu blinked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. she tried to respond but she could only focus on how his hand felt around her waist. warm and surprisingly gentle.

“no?” she said quietly, her cheeks flushed.

he gave her a look, ears angled back in mild irritation. “you knew that was a bad idea.”

“i almost had it,” she protested, even though her voice wobbled a little.

“you almost busted your head open on the floorboard.” his hand lingered at her elbow even after her feet had touched the floor, just to make sure she was steady.

yuu let out a breath, trying to ignore the way her pulse thudded in her ears. “okay, maybe it wasn’t my best plan,” she admitted, glancing up at him with a sheepish half-smile. “but i got the cards.” she held up the crumpled box of playing cards still clutched in her hand.

leona didn’t look impressed.

he stared at her for a second longer, lips pressed into a line, before exhaling sharply.

“you’re lucky i was here,” he said flatly. “next time, ask. i wouldn’t have said no.”

yuu’s smile softened, a little caught off guard by the quiet sincerity in his voice. “…noted,” she said gently, tucking the box under one arm.

grim peeked out from behind the stool, eyes wide. “i almost got crushed twice today! first by falling chess pieces, then by your body!”

“sorry, grim,” she apologized sincerely, ruffling his ears. he gave a soft, grumpy growl, but then leaned into her hand with a dramatic sigh, begrudgingly accepting the affection.

yuu straightened back up and turned to find leona crouched beside the open box on the floor, gathering the scattered wooden pieces. she knelt beside him, picking up the lid. a cloud of dust puffed up as she brushed it off, and she immediately turned her head, coughing.

“ugh—gross,” she wheezed, waving a hand in front of her face. “i didn’t even know we had a chess set hidden up there.”

“looks ancient,” leona said, turning a worn rook over in his hand, the faded carving catching the light. then he glanced over to her. “you know how to play?”

yuu hesitated, holding a knight between her fingers. “no. not really,” she admitted, a little shy about it. “i, uh… i mean i’ve always wanted to learn. but no one ever taught me.”

leona chuckled under his breath, low and amused. “well, you’re in luck. i’m not doing anything else tonight,” he looked back down at the board, then stood and walked it over to the coffee table. “come here.”

she blinked. “wait—now?”

“you said you always wanted to learn.” he said without looking at her, already setting the board up. “no time like the present.”

yuu glanced toward the door. “but ace and deuce—”

“they won’t be here for another hour,” grim cut in, already flopping onto the chair across from them. “long enough for you to lose at least twice.”

leona smirked faintly, lining up the pawns. “see? look at that. you’ve got time for a crash course.”

with that, yuu knelt down on the floor across from leona. she watched in awe as he placed the pieces in their starting positions with practiced ease. then, he gestured to her side. “you go first.”

at first, it was clumsy.

yuu stared at the unfamiliar pieces, half-afraid to touch anything for fear of moving the wrong one. “okay, um… this one moves forward?”

“pawns move one space forward. or two, if it’s the first move,” he explained patiently. “diagonally to take pieces.”

she slowly nudged a pawn forward. “like that?”

he nodded. “you’ll get the hang of it.”

yuu fumbled her way through her first few turns, trying to remember which pieces made which moves. leona corrected her when needed, but never with impatience. if anything, he seemed invested. not in winning, but in watching her figure it out.

“that one moves diagonally,” he murmured, tapping her bishop.

“right. i knew that. kind of,” she said, adjusting it with a sheepish glance.

he smirked. “you’re doing fine.”

grim leaned his chin on one paw, now clearly uninterested. “i didn’t know chess was this boring. people play this on purpose?”

leona let out a quiet scoff in response. he nudged one of his pawns forward with his finger and nodded toward her. “your turn.”

yuu stared at the board deep in thought, chewing her bottom lip. “so… if i do this—” she advanced her knight in an L-shape. “that’s legal, right?”

he blinked, mildly surprised. she cut off a play he’d been setting up. likely accidental, but still a good move. “legal and decent.”

she lit up, beaming at the comment. “i made a decent move.”

“don’t get cocky now,” he warned, though he sounded amused at her reaction.

leona leaned forward, eyes scanning the board. his next move opened a trap, exposing a rook he normally wouldn’t sacrifice. but he made it anyway.

yuu stared at it, then at him. “…was that a mistake?”

“no.”

“but i can take your rook if i do this, right?”

“try it.” his gaze lingered on her face instead of the board, almost like he was studying her. the way her brows scrunched in concentration, how she held the piece so delicately between her fingers.

she did, carefully sliding her piece forward and taking his rook. she clapped her hands together quietly, smiling up at him. “yay! now this game is getting fun.”

leona let out a soft exhale through his nose, almost a laugh. not because she’d won the exchange, but because she looked so genuinely proud.

“you sure you’re not going easy on her?” grim muttered.

he didn’t respond. his expression remained unreadable, but there was a faint curve at the corner of his mouth. not in a smug way, but rather… content. somehow, her taking one of his pieces this didn’t bother him when it meant seeing her light up like that.

yuu, oblivious to the weight of the moment, tilted her head with a pleased little grin. “okay… your move.”

leona studied her expression for a second longer before he looked back at the board.

yeah. he wouldn’t mind losing a few more pieces tonight.

—

the front door opened with a bang.

“yo! we brought snacks!” ace called, his voice bouncing off the walls.

“sorry we’re late, ace insisted that we stop to get some candy for game night,” deuce added, balancing a couple of bags in his arms.

when they stepped into the lounge, they both paused at the scene in front of them.

yuu and leona sat cross-legged on the floor, chess board between them. her eyes squinted with determination as she carefully nudged her bishop across the board. across from her, leona sat with one elbow on his knee, his cheek resting in his palm. his eyes weren’t on the game anymore. he was completely focused on her, like he found her far more interesting than any game.

“…are we interrupting something?” deuce’s voice cut through the moment, gentle and a little surprised.

“looks like a chess date to me,” ace teased, a slow grin spreading across his face.

yuu looked up at them, her face already warming. “no,” she said a little too quickly. “… i mean, we’re just playing.”

ace let out a laugh. “aww, she’s blushing! definitely a date.” he elbowed deuce playfully.

deuce just shook his head, smiling softly. “leave her alone.“

leona glanced up, clearly unamused. “you’re all loud.”

“just let ‘em finish this game” grim huffed, waving them in with a paw. “the henchhuman’s finally figuring it out. she was just about to crush him.”

“hey, don’t stop on our account,” ace said, flopping onto the couch. “this is much more entertaining than the card game i was expecting.”

deuce settled down beside him and gave yuu a soft smile. “yeah, we don’t mind waiting until you guys finish.”

she gave deuce a small, grateful nod before turning back to the board. for the next few minutes, it was just the quiet clicking of pieces and the occasional teasing comments from the boys on the couch.

and eventually, “checkmate,” leona said, looking up at her.

ace let out a low whistle. “yikes. brutal.”

grim groaned, flopping back dramatically. “ugh, i was betting my snacks on you!” he reached behind him and begrudgingly tossed a small bag of chips at ace, who caught it one-handed with a smug grin. “here. a deal’s a deal.”

“i thought she had him for a second,” deuce added, leaning forward to inspect the board.

yuu stared at it, eyes wide. “wait—really? how?”

leona gave a small nod and then gestured toward the board with a tilt of his head. “look again.”

yuu squinted, leaning in as her eyes darted between the pieces. slowly, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “ohhhh,” she said, exhaling dramatically. “i think my brain is melting. but that was really fun.”

“you played well,” leona said, gathering the pieces again. “better than i expected.”

ace let out a dramatic gasp. “whoa. was that a compliment? from leona kingscholar?”

deuce smiled warmly. “it sounded genuine. i think he’s proud of her.”

“shut it,” leona muttered, though the edge in his voice had softened.

“thanks for teaching me,” yuu said, smiling at him. “really.”

“if you’re ever in the mood to lose again, you know where to find me,” he replied easily.

ace shuffled a deck of cards on the couch, preparing for their game. “so, now that you know how to play, should we make this a regular thing? like cards and chess?”

“only if you promise not to cry when I destroy you,” yuu said sweetly.

ace clutched his chest like he was hurt. “ouch. i liked you better before you got competitive.”

“wow she really flipped the switch, huh?” deuce grinned, nudging ace. “she’s been hanging around you for too long.”

grim snorted, his tail flicking. “she’s been corrupted!”

leona leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes as their voices carried around him. light, teasing and familiar. yuu remembered how he used to grumble about the noise, claiming it gave him a headache or ruined his naps. but lately, he didn’t really seem to mind it as much.

yuu watched as ace and deuce started setting up the game, shuffling leona into their circle without hesitation. deuce handed him a handful of cards, and ace made a joke that earned him a side-eye, but leona didn’t complain. he just adjusted his seat, a little closer to the group, and let it happen.

her eyes softened as she looked at him. he caught her staring, and for the briefest moment, the corner of his mouth twitched before he turned away, feigning interest in his cards.

it made her heart swell, catching that almost-smile he hadn’t meant to give.

and for the first time in a while, everything just felt right.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

AFTER THE STORM : CHAPTER 8

the aftermath of leona’s overblot.

warnings: emotional distress, mental health struggles, mentions of physical injury

notes: this is one of my fav chapters so i hope you like it just as much as i do <3

part 7, part 9

it was quiet in the infirmary, save for the rhythmic hum of the ceiling fan. the scent of antiseptic mingled with the faint trace of scorched magic that clung to the air even now.

yuu stood in the doorway, unsure if she should be here.

no one had asked her to come, and she didn’t come prepared with any grand gestures or clever words to lighten the mood. just a small bag tucked under her arm, inside a few get well items. it was all she could think to bring, even if it didn’t feel like enough. now she stood here, the weight in her chest pressing heavier with each breath, a knot in her throat that hadn’t loosened since the overblot.

leona’s overblot.

even now, the memory made her heart painfully squeeze. it haunted her in a way she hadn’t expected.

it wasn’t the memory of the roar of power he unleashed or the crushing force of sandstorms that swallowed everything that made her chest ache in such a way—it was him. it was seeing that beneath all of his wrath, his eyes still held something unmistakably human. something exhausted and raw. it was seeing the hatred he carried, not for others, but for himself. it was watching him fight like he believed he had nothing left to lose.

she hadn’t even noticed she was crying until after. until the sand settled, the world stopped shaking, and all that was left was leona collapsed on the ground, breathing like the fight had been wrung out of his soul.

that image wouldn’t leave her.

she stepped inside quietly. the lights were dimmed to half-brightness, casting soft shadows across the lined beds. there were only two occupants.

ruggie was out cold, curled on his side beneath a thin blanket, his breathing slow and even. she could see his arm twitch slightly, like he was dreaming. he looked exhausted in a way that sleep alone couldn’t fix.

and leona…

he was lying flat on his back, arm draped over his forehead, one leg bent at the knee. his bandaged torso rose and fell in steady rhythm, and even though his eyes were closed, she knew he was awake. she’d seen him sleep enough times to know. she also knew he heard her come in. he always heard everything.

she stopped beside the bed, unsure of what to say.

sorry…? for what, being there?

you scared me…? he already knew that.

maybe she shouldn’t say anything, maybe she should just turn back now and—

then his voice came, quiet and scratchy.

“if you’re here to gawk, don’t bother.”

she didn’t flinch. “i’m not.”

leona shifted at the sound of her voice, his hand sliding off his forehead so he could peer up at her. there was something under the usual arrogance his expression held. a dull ache.

she gave him a small, hesitant wave. “hey.”

he grunted and turned slightly onto his side, breath catching like it hurt him to move. he tried to cover it up by casually clearing his throat, but yuu caught the flicker of discomfort that crossed his face before he masked it. “what are you doing here, herbivore?” he asked, his voice low and rough like he hadn’t spoken in hours.

“i know you probably don’t want visitors,” she said gently, stepping a little closer, “but… i wanted to see how you were.”

leona huffed a tired exhale. “hmph. you’re not wrong. i don’t want visitors.”

he paused.

then, just as she was about to offer to leave, he added, “but i don’t mind that it’s you.”

the words were soft. almost reluctant. like it cost him something to say, but he meant it all the same.

yuu blinked, her eyes widening a little. “oh.” the tension in her body eased a little, and a faint smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it.

that caught leona’s eye—only for a second. then he looked away, gaze shifting toward the wall, suddenly fiercely interested in anything that wasn’t her reaction to his sudden confession.

she could almost swear she saw a flicker of pink heat his cheeks.

he crossed his arms over his chest and exhaled, like he was trying to slip his guard back into place.

“what’s in the bag?” his voice was a shade rougher, but not unkind.

yuu looked down like she’d forgotten she was even holding it. “oh—uh, just some things i thought you two might want. or need. i didn’t really know what to bring, so…”

she crossed the room and placed the bag gently on the bedside table.

“i packed some snacks, some drinks. pillows and blankets that are softer than those infirmary sheets. and, uh… i also brought two heating pads. i don’t know if you need it, but riddle told me it helped him when he…” she stopped before she finished that sentence.

leona looked at the bag for a long moment, and yuu watched him closely, catching a brief wave of emotion flicker in his eyes. regret, maybe, or guilt. buried deep beneath layers of pride.

he finally looked up to meet her gaze. “…why are you doing this?”

yuu hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “i just… i couldn’t stop thinking about what happened.”

“you mean the giant sand-tantrum,” he said, bitterness threading his tone.

“no,” she replied softly. “i mean the hurt beneath it all.”

leona went still.

yuu lowered herself into one of the stiff infirmary chairs beside him, careful not to crowd.

“i saw it in your face,” she said. “right at the end. just for a second, when the blot started to fade. you looked… absolutely drained. and hurt, more than anything. like the weight of everything you keep bottled up had finally caught up with you.”

he didn’t speak.

“i saw the same thing in riddle after his overblot,” she continued. “before it happened, he was raging. but when it ended, he looked empty. and no one really knew what to say.”

“so what’d you say to him?” leona spoke after a beat.

“nothing, really,” she admitted. “i just stayed with him. let him know he wasn’t alone.”

leona scoffed faintly. “that’s not gonna fix me.”

“i didn’t come to try and fix you,” she said simply. “just to be here for you. that’s all.”

he turned his head, watching her, like he couldn’t quite figure her out.

the silence stretched. ruggie shifted in the bed next to them, murmuring something incoherent in his sleep.

leona finally spoke again, his voice a little lower. “you’re not scared of me?”

“i was. during the overblot,” she said honestly. “but not now. not anymore.”

he stared at the ceiling for a while, like he was trying to absorb that.

“…i remember bits of it,” he muttered. “like some of the things i said. but it’s foggy. mostly i remember the way it felt. how… angry i was. at everything. at myself.”

he swallowed hard. “i hate that you saw it.”

“i’m glad i did,” she said gently. “i feel like… i got to know you better.”

leona’s brow furrowed and he let out a dry, incredulous breath. “from that?”

“yes,” she said without hesitation.

he looked at her then, like he was searching for the angle, the catch, the hidden motive. but there wasn’t any.

she held his gaze. “because i saw something underneath all that anger. under the sarcasm and the lazy, nonchalant attitude you wear like armor. i saw someone who’s been pushed aside, overlooked, treated like he was always second best, until he started believing it himself.”

she paused, then said softly, “and, for the record, i don’t think that makes you any less. i think that makes you real.”

leona’s eyes narrowed. then he shook his head in disbelief, his mouth giving the faintest twitch of a smirk.

“…you really don’t know how to leave people alone, do you?”

it came out gentler than expected, and if anything, there was something almost grateful in the way he said it.

she returned his smile and shrugged. “guess not.”

he let out a breath. not a sigh. not frustration. just a slow, heavy breath that sounded like something he’d been holding in for a while.

“you’re either very brave,” he muttered, “or very stupid.”

after a minute, leona reached for one of the drinks she had brought him and twisted the cap off with one hand.

“thanks,” he said, barely audible.

yuu just smiled. “you’re welcome.”

he took a drink. then glanced back toward the bag. “you said you brought a heating pad?”

“yes i did,” she quickly stood up and pulled it out of the bag, happy to finally do something for him. “want it?” he nodded and reached out to take it from her.

leona watched her as she plugged it in for him. he didn’t say anything else, but something in his gaze had softened. less guarded, less distant.

yuu straightened back up and turned to him, hesitating. “i can go, if you want. let you rest some more.”

he didn’t look at her, just muttered, quiet and almost offhand, “tch. you’re already here. might as well stick around.”

her heart squeezed.

she didn’t say anything. just sat down and leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs and settling in.

she watched over as leona’s breathing evened out. his eyes fluttered shut, looking more peaceful now than he had when she had first arrived.

and even though he didn’t say anything more, he let her stay with him, didn’t push her away.

that, in its own way, said enough.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

BREAKING POINT : CHAPTER 7

yuu finds leona and the second-born price is unraveling.

warnings: mild language, emotional confrontation, family issues, self-worth struggles

notes: i reworked this story a LOT to make it more accurate to the canon storyline but i did put my own spin on it! and i’m throwing in some angst, yay! leave me a comment to let me know how you’re liking it so far! i’d love to hear some feedback <3 anyways enjoy!

part 6, part 8

yuu and ruggie had searched half the campus, their footsteps echoing in tense silence until ruggie stopped abruptly, squinting into the shadows.

“there,” he said with a strained breath of relief. “i knew it.”

yuu followed his gaze, and there leona was. under the pale moonlight, sat on the ground with his legs stretched out, a crumpled paper beside him. his eyes were fixed on the stars, a distant look in them.

“um…” ruggie hesitated, then nudged yuu gently forward. “he might listen to you more than me right now.”

“what?” yuu glanced at him. “are you sure?”

“well, not really. leona’s…complicated,” ruggie rubbed the back of his neck. “but you’re good with people. and he seems worse off than usual.”

yuu opened her mouth to protest, but ruggie was already backing away, giving her an encouraging look.

she stepped closer, slow and quiet. he didn’t turn to look as she approached, pretending as if he didn’t hear her, but his ears gave a slight twitch that showed otherwise.

“leona…? she started, her voice gentle. “ruggie came to ramshackle looking for you, said you disappeared. i just wanted to come check on you.”

at that, he finally looked at her. his eyes were less sharp than usual, like he was exhausted, and not physically.

“you’re wasting your time,” he muttered.

“if something is bothering you, i want you to know that you can come to me.”

he didn’t respond.

yuu stood there for another moment, unsure if she should stay or turn back. the silence hung heavy between them, but something about the way his shoulders tensed told her to stay. so she lowered herself carefully to the ground, sitting a few feet away. close enough to be present, far enough to give him space.

“ruggie mentioned you got a letter.”

that made him flinch—just barely.

“…just another one of the usual,” he started, voice low. “my brother’s kid, always got something to say. sending letters like i’m someone worth talking to.” leona shook his head. “he doesn’t get it, none of them do.”

“then tell me,” yuu urged gently. “i’ll listen.”

leona’s jaw tightened. his eyes flicked toward her for a second, then away again. for a moment, he was silent, like he was debating on saying more. then finally, “he said he wants to be just like me.”

he let out a bitter, joyless laugh.

“stupid kid doesn’t get it. he’s already better than me. he doesn’t even know.”

yuu paused, trying to think of the right thing to say. “it sounds like he really looks up to you. that’s gotta mean something—”

“it doesn’t,” leona hissed, cutting her off. “none of it does.”

the words hung heavy in the air, and yuu’s heart sank.

he met her gaze, and for the first time since they met, she saw that his usual indifference was gone, replaced by pure, unfiltered anger. and underneath it, something darker, heavier.

despair.

“you don’t get it, herbivore. you come from somewhere else. you weren’t born with your worth decided before you could even speak.” his lip curled. “falena got the crown. cheka’s next in line. and me?”

he pressed a hand to his chest, voice falling to a whisper.

“i’m the hated, second-born prince.”

yuu felt her heart squeeze in sympathy for him. she reached out, placing a hand on his. “you’re more than your title, leona. you have the power to change your story.”

“don’t act like you know anything about me,” he snapped, pulling away. “you don’t know what it’s like to try harder than anyone else and still have the world spit in your face because someone else got there first. you don’t know what it’s like to be born to lose.

“that doesn’t mean—“

“it means everything!” he raised his voice at her. “you think people care how hard you try when they’ve already decided you’re not enough? it doesn’t matter what i do, how hard i work. the decision was made before i was even born. no amount of effort i put into it will change anything!”

she flinched. leona kept going, quieter now. a confession bleeding through clenched teeth.

“everything is already set in stone the moment you’re born. you don’t fight fate. you live under it.”

“that’s not how i see it.”

he snapped his head toward her, his expression darkening. “don’t,” he bit out. “don’t continue your hopeful little speech like you’re some kind of savior.”

yuu faltered, blinking at the venom in his tone. “i’m not—”

“yes, you are,” his voice dropped to a low growl, his body tense. “you come here acting like you can fix something you don’t even understand.”

“i’m just trying to be there for you,” she said, her voice hitching.

“yeah? well, i didn’t ask for that. i didn’t want you to come find me. and i sure as hell don’t need you to pity me.”

his words landed like a gut punch, but yuu didn’t let it show.

“i didn’t come because i pity you. i came because i care about you, leona.”

his jaw clenched tight. “well, next time, don’t bother. now get lost, before i say something i’ll regret.”

the silence fell between them, even the wind seemed to still.

finally, yuu rose to her feet. “you don’t have to listen to me. but pushing everyone that cares away won’t make it hurt less.”

he didn’t respond. just stared ahead, face unreadable now.

she turned and walked back toward the courtyard’s edge, past ruggie, who looked like he’d heard more than he wanted to.

behind her, leona sat alone beneath the tree, the moon casting silver lines across his face. he picked up the letter and his grip tightened on it, crumpling the edges.

tomorrow, the tournament would begin.

tonight, everything felt like it was breaking.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

ON EDGE : CHAPTER 6

the magift tournament is right around the corner, and leona is no where to be found.

warnings: mild language

notes: i’m backkkk, enjoy !!

part 5, part 7

the halls of NRC were buzzing with energy as the magift tournament crept closer. with only seven days left, teams were working hard on sharpening their strategies and practicing plays late into the night. but the savanaclaw team had grown… quieter.

and on top of that, leona had stopped dropping by ramshackle.

yuu first noticed when her evenings became too quiet. no sarcastic comments drifting from the couch, no annoyed sighs at grim’s antics, no half-bored eyes watching her from the corner of the room. the dorm felt colder without him there, somehow. she hadn’t realized how used to his presence she’d gotten until it was gone.

the absence wasn’t just in her own observations, even grim had mentioned it. “weird how he hasn’t came by lately, huh? thought he was glued to our couch.” yuu hummed in agreement, glancing at the couch and the patch on the floor, right next to the window where leona usually slept.

she tried not to think about it too much. that was, until crowley showed up with a task.

“i’m afraid i have to request something… delicate,” he said, folding his gloved hands with exaggerated gravity. “there’s been word of foul play across campus. unexplained injuries to promising magift players from every dorm…except savanaclaw. we suspect someone’s trying to sabotage the matches.”

yuu didn’t even need to ask.

“let me guess,” she said flatly. “you want us to spy on savanaclaw.”

“not spy, per se!” crowley chirped. “merely observe. discreetly. perhaps use your… rapport with certain individuals.”

“always sendin’ us to do your dirty work,” grim mumbled under his breath.

yuu narrowed her eyes at him. “my rapport? what are you suggesting.”

“i know everything that happens on this campus, miss yuu,” he said with a sly smile.

yuu didn’t answer right away. her stomach churned with unease.

“it’s leona, the one behind the accidents,” she said quietly. “isn’t it?”

crowley hesitated. “we have reason to believe he’s involved, yes.”

there it was—the truth she’d already known in her gut. leona had always walked the line between ruthless and calculating, but this was different. this was desperation. but why?

that night, after crowley left, she sat by the dorm window, looking out into the dark campus as grim slept curled at her feet. the ache in her chest wouldn’t let up.

she closed her eyes.

“leona…”

crowley had given her the instructions: observe and gather evidence. but yuu had never been good at standing by with her hands tied. especially not now, when she was starting to worry that the person behind it wasn’t simply just plotting a victory.

maybe he was just trying to prove something, to the world, to himself.

or maybe he was beginning to crack under the weight of everything he’d never let himself say out loud.

—

the loud knock on ramshackle’s door startled yuu. she and grim had been curled up on the worn couch, a dim lantern flickering on the table beside them as they reviewed their plans for tomorrow’s magift tournament. the sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting the old dorm in deep shadows.

grim’s ears perked up. “eh? who the heck is knockin’ this late?“

yuu set her notebook aside and stood, her steps echoing softly on the creaky floorboards as she approached the door. when she opened it, a gust of cool night air swept in—along with a breathless, pale ruggie bucchi.

his chest rose and fell in sharp bursts, like he’d been running. his eyes scanned the shadows behind her before locking onto her face. it was the first time yuu had ever seen ruggie so rattled, and it made her nervous.

“hey… uh. leona’s not here, is he?”

yuu blinked in surprise. “no, he’s not.”

ruggie didn’t relax. if anything, the tension in his shoulders worsened. he let out a shaky sigh and dragged a hand through his windswept hair, clearly anxious.

“damn,” he muttered. “i thought maybe he’d—” he cut himself off, jaw tightening.

grim narrowed his eyes, uncharacteristically concerned. “what’s goin’ on?”

yuu’s heart began to race at that. “did something happen?”

ruggie hesitated. then sighed again. “nah, not really. he just… he got this letter from his nephew. think it upset him…” he trailed off. “leona sometimes crashes here, yeah?”

yuu nods. “sometimes. but honestly, he hasn’t been by for a while.”

he shifted on his feet, his mouth pressed into a tight line. finally, he muttered, “with the magift tournament tomorrow… it’s not like him to just disappear. he knows we can’t afford to screw this up.”

yuu frowned, a pit of worry growing deep in her gut. “let me help you look for him,” she said, grabbing her coat from the hook and shrugging it on. “grim, stay here and keep an eye on ramshackle.”

“huh? wait, seriously?” grim sat up, ears twitching. “you’re really goin’ out in the dark this late to look for him?”

she nodded firmly, already stepping out into the night beside ruggie. “if something’s wrong… i want to know.”

ruggie blinked at her, a little stunned by her willingness. after a beat, he gave a short nod, shoulders still tense.

“…thanks. alright, i’ve got a few more places we can check.”

and with that, they headed off into the night, the silence between them stretched tight.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

requests are open!! link to my rules ♡

[spellbound-rosehearts]

my masterlist ࿐˚ . ✦

a full list of all my fics

HEARTSLABYUL

coming soon!

SAVANACLAW

stand alone fics:

nothing to see here!

series:

the deal : multi-chapter leona kingscholar x f!yuu romantic slow burn.

OCTAVINELLE

coming soon!

SCARABIA

coming soon!

POMEFIORE

coming soon!

IGNIHYDE

coming soon!

DIASOMNIA

coming soon!

[spellbound-rosehearts]

rules for writing ࿐˚ . ✦

guidelines for what i will and won’t write !!

fic request rules:

⊹₊⋆ what i will write - romance, friendship, family, hurt/comfort, slow burns, slight angst and non-explicit intimacy.

⊹₊⋆ what i wont write - offensive content or abuse of any kind. inappropriate or harmful dynamics.

⊹₊⋆ be kind and patient - first and foremost, i want to say that i will always do my best to get to your request, but i write with love so it may take some time. please be respectful of this!

⊹₊⋆ be specific and clear with your request - be sure to include which characters you would like me to include and the relationship they have to each other (friends, established relationship, mutual pining, etc). the more detailed your prompt is, the easier it is for me to write something you’ll love!

⊹₊⋆ other notes - i typically write fem!reader/yuu so when you request, i will automatically stick to she/her pronouns for the reader/yuu unless you state otherwise!

[spellbound-rosehearts]

CONFRONTATION : CHAPTER 5

ruggie confronts leona about where he’s been sneaking off to.

warnings: mild language

notes: ruggie my beloved finally making an appearance in this fic. i hope i wrote their dynamic in a way that’s fitting enough! anyways enjoy!

part 4, part 6

leona barely made it three steps into his bedroom before he heard the door slam behind him. he turned to see ruggie, arms crossed, a scowl already fixed on his face.

"’bout time you showed up," ruggie said, his voice sharp. he stomped towards him and roughly thrust a stack of papers into leona’s chest. "hope you had a real nice time napping wherever, 'cause i’ve been busting my tail doing your work all day.”

leona caught the papers lazily with one hand, glancing at them with an expression that read he couldn’t be bothered less. "not my fault you're the one stupid enough to stick around."

ruggie huffed out a short, humorless laugh. “well someone’s gotta cover for you when you disappear every time there’s work to do. you think no one’s catching on that you’ve been MIA all the time? especially with the magift tournament being so close, i’ve been making excuses left and right and i’m getting real tired of cleaning up after you.”

leona sauntered over to the couch and dropped onto it with a groan, tossing the papers onto the floor without a second glance. “sounds like a personal problem,” he said mid-yawn.

ruggie’s eye twitched. “yeah? well, my 'personal problem’ is about to start charging overtime."

leona let out a long, theatrical sigh, and then without a word, he pushed himself up from the couch and stalked over to the side table by his bed. he yanked open the drawer, rummaged for a second, then pulled out a small leather pouch.

with a lazy flick of his wrist, he tossed it in ruggie’s direction. the pouch hit ruggie square in the chest before he caught it on reflex. the unmistakeable clink of coins made his ears perk up.

"what’s this?" he asked suspiciously.

"payment," leona muttered, already turning back toward the couch. "you keep coverin' for me and keep your mouth shut. everybody wins."

ruggie stared at the pouch in his hands for a beat, brow furrowed in disbelief. “… seriously?”

leona dropped back into the cushions and draped an arm over his eyes. “you wanted compensation. you got it. now quit yappin’ and let me nap in peace.”

ruggie eyed the pouch, then leona, then the pouch again. slowly, a grin split his face. “must be something real important if you're coughing up money."

leona gave him a side glance, unimpressed. “maybe i just got tired of lookin' at your ugly mug."

"ouch," ruggie said, clutching his chest dramatically. "cold. real cold." leona rolled his eyes.

there was a beat of silence before ruggie spoke again, voice sly. "you always smell like outside when you come back, y'know that? like old wood and grass and... tea, sometimes."

leona’s brow twitched. barely.

ruggie grinned wider. he knew he was onto something.

"so, what is it?" he pressed. “it’s a girl, ain't it?"

leona didn’t look at him, just reached over, grabbed one of the couch pillows, and chucked it at ruggie’s head with casual precision. “mind your business, hyena.”

ruggie dodged his throw and the pillow bounced off of his shoulder, but his grin didn’t fade for a second.

“i knew it!” he said with a laugh, tossing the pouch up and down in his hand. "you’re sneakin’ off to see somebody! big bad dorm leader, going soft..."

leona finally sat up just enough to shoot him a glare over the arm of the couch. “you really enjoy testin’ your luck, don’t you?”

ruggie only snickered, unfazed. “hey, i’m just callin’ it like i see it.” he rocked back on his heels, eyes glinting with mischief. “now who could this girl be, huh? not a lotta options in this school.” he looked up with a mock thoughtful expression, tapping his chin. “hmm… maybe a certain little ramshackle prefect?”

leona eyed him, his gaze sharp now. he sat up slowly, his smirk gone, replaced with something a little darker. “keep runnin’ that mouth and you’ll be coughing up sand for a week.”

"aww, c'mon. don’t be like that!” ruggie held up his hands in surrender. “i’m rootin' for ya! you’re downright domesticated lately. is she feeding you? scratching behind your ears too?”

leona narrowed his eyes at him. “out,” he muttered, voice low and threatening.

ruggie only cackled harder. "yeah, yeah, whatever you say. your secret's safe with me," he tipped the pouch towards him playfully. "for a price." he turned to leave, the door shutting behind him a second later.

leona just huffed, sinking back into the couch and throwing an arm over his eyes. “damn hyena…”

still, he didn’t deny a single word ruggie said.

and that was the most telling thing of all.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

RAINY AFTERNOONS : CHAPTER 4

an afternoon storm brings leona and yuu closer together.

warnings: none

notes: i have most of this story written out, and originally this was a scrapped part, but i decided to upload it anyways bc it’s cute! enjoy!

part 3, part 5

the rain had started gradually. soft at first, a whisper against the old windows of ramshackle. but within ten minutes, it had swelled into a downpour, the kind that drummed hard on the roof and made the windows tremble. the world outside grew darker, the light swallowed by the thick curtain of rain, placing a misty gray veil over twisted wonderland.

leona was already there, settled on the worn-out couch as yuu flipped through her textbook at the coffee table. he’d been helping her with her assignment in history of magic, though "helping" mostly involved explaining things in his usual dry tone and then watching as she scrambled to write everything down before she forgot.

but now, the rain outside had grown loud, its steady patter on the roof accompanied by a soft, rhythmic drip. one drop. then another. and another.

yuu froze mid-sentence when she heard it, brow furrowed as she glanced up at the ceiling. sure enough, water was leaking from a small crack in one of the beams. then another started dripping across the room.

“oh no,” she groaned, pushing back from the table and darting into the kitchen.

leona didn't move at first, just followed her with his eyes, one brow raised.

she returned a second later with a mismatched collection of old pots, metal bowls, and even a cracked teapot. “this place falls apart more and more every week, but i figured i had a few more months before the roof finally gave out.”

before leona could respond, the sound of scurrying footsteps echoed from the staircase, followed by an exaggerated groan. “yuu! there’s a leak in my room! we’re going to drown!” grim’s voice carried from the doorway, and he stormed in, a grumpy look plastered across his face.

she glanced over her shoulder as grim padded into the room, fur fluffed and ears pinned back. “you’re being dramatic. it’s just a little water.”

“a little water?!” grim huffed in disbelief. “you know i don’t do water! it makes my fur all soggy and gross! you try walkin’ around with wet fur all day, see how you like it!”

“okay, okay, i get it,” yuu bit back a laugh, shaking her head. “how about you grab one of those pots and put it under the leak in the bedroom, and i’ll cover the ones down here. we’ll make sure the whole place doesn’t flood.”

grim hesitated for a moment, eyeing the steadily growing puddle under the leaking ceiling, then let out a small sigh. “can’t believe i gotta do maintenance work now…” he grabbed a metal bowl, muttering as he turned. “if it drips on my bed, i’m sleepin’ in yours, y’know.” with that, he shuffled back upstairs, tail flicking with every step.

leona finally sat up with a sigh, tossing a throw pillow aside. "this dump's one strong gust of wind away from collapsing."

"and yet you choose to stay here," she shot back, setting one pot under a new drip and moving a chair out of the splash zone.

he rolled his eyes and stood, “it ain’t the building i’m here for,” he muttered under his breath, reaching for a nearby bowl with the same nonchalant attitude, before casually placing it under another drip across the room. “you’re just less annoying than most.”

yuu smiled at him. "that almost sounded like a compliment."

"don’t let it go to your head."

a few minutes later, they'd successfully placed pots under all of the leaks, though yuu couldn't help but glance worriedly up at the ceiling every now and then. the storm showed no sign of letting up, and with the power flickering slightly, the dorm was dark and cold.

she collapsed onto the couch beside leona with a long sigh, tugging an old patchwork blanket around her shoulders. “this is not how i planned on spending my afternoon.”

"you were gonna waste it on studying anyway.”

“it’s called being productive." she teased, nudging his leg with her foot. “thank you though… for helping me.”

he gave a quiet grunt, leaning back with a stretch, one arm draping lazily across the back of the couch behind her. “not like i had anything better to do.”

after a moment, yuu stood up, keeping the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “be right back,” she said lightly, not really expecting a response. “might as well grab something to read if we’re going to be stuck inside all afternoon.”

she returned a minute later, book in hand, and plopped down beside him again. when she flipped it open, his eyes cracked open just enough to catch the title.

“…that the one i told you about?”

“maybe,” she didn’t look up, just turned the page.

he gave a soft huff. “didn’t think you actually listened.”

i do, sometimes,” she said, her tone playful. “figured i’d give it a try.”

“it’s a slow start, but it gets good around chapter four.” leona leaned his head back against the couch cushion, eyes sliding shut again. “i’ll be impressed if you make it past chapter three without fallin’ asleep.”

she didn't reply, just shook her head with a small, amused smile and continued reading. the rain had finally started to ease up a bit, now a soft hum against the windows.

they stayed like that, next to each other on the couch as the rest of the afternoon drifted by, the room filled with the steady rustle of her book pages and leona’s slow, even breaths as he dozed.

and in the comfortable silence between them, a warmth began to settle that hadn’t quite been there before.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

TEXTBOOKS AND TENSION : CHAPTER 3

yuu’s deal with leona is no longer a secret, and her friends have many questions.

warnings: none

notes: another chapter for you guys! i hope you’re enjoying and excited for the rest to come!

part 2, part 4

yuu sat cross-legged at the battered coffee table, spreading out her notes and textbooks, trying to mentally prepare for an afternoon of group work. the place was even more drafty than usual, the wind blowing hard outside, but she had piled up blankets, put out a tray of snacks and brewed extra tea, hoping it would be enough.

grim, who had been eyeing the snacks since she set them out, was already sneaking a handful of chips. his tiny paws grabbed at the pile with alarming speed.

"grim!" yuu scolded, glaring at him over her notes. "i told you to wait until everyone gets here. you can't just eat all the snacks!"

grim swallowed his mouthful and grinned at her, his nose twitching. "they’re good! you can't expect me to resist when there's food this tasty."

“you’re going to give yourself a stomach-ache at this rate,” yuu sighed, giving him a pointed look. "at least save a few for ace and deuce." grim just snickered and shoveled more chips into his mouth.

across the room, leona was stretched out on the old, creaky couch. he wasn’t napping for once. instead, his eyes were flicking back and forth between the papers he was scribbling and a diagram in his hands. but every so often, he would glance up to where yuu was sitting. he wasn’t exactly paying full attention, but there was a watchful air about him, like he couldn’t help but absorb whatever was happening in the room around him. just his instincts, maybe.

yuu caught one of his glances and narrowed her eyes. she was trying to read through a dense section of her notes, and despite how much she was concentrating, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was paying far too much attention to her.

“you could at least pretend to be busy,” she said dryly, breaking the silence. 

leona’s lips twitched into a half-smile, then he looked back down to his scribbled notes. “pretending? i am busy,” he drawled. “i’m planning a game strategy, not slaving over some stupid school work.”

yuu let out a soft laugh. “at least i’m doing my stupid school work,” she said, raising an eyebrow playfully. “you know, the thing that actually keeps you enrolled here.”

“and what’s your point, herbivore?” leona glanced up from his papers, giving her a pointed look. “don’t act like you’re any better. i’ve seen how you’ve been staring at that paper without actually doing anything.”

yuu huffed, half amused, half annoyed. “you’re impossible.”

he smirked. “and you’re too serious. you should take a lesson in relaxation.”

yuu shot him a side-eye and returned to her work, muttering, “i’ll relax once i actually finish this.”

before she could say more, there was a loud, impatient knock.

“they’re here!” grim shouted, running to the front door.

yuu scrambled up, smoothing down her sweater as she crossed the room. when she opened the door, ace and deuce stood there, backpacks slung over their shoulders, looking a little wind blown.

“hey, hey, we brought you some hot chocolate!” ace declared, handing her a steaming cup like he was presenting a treasure.

deuce took a swig of his own cup, and then gave her a more sincere smile. “got the research notes you asked for, too.”

“hot chocolate? gimme some of that!” grim yelled up at them, eyes sparkling with excitement.

deuce looked down at him, crossing his arms. “sorry, grim, cats can’t have chocolate.”

grim huffed, his tail flicking. “but i’m a special kind of cat!”

yuu couldn’t help but laugh softly, shaking her head. “no hot chocolate for you. but if you actually pull your weight on this project, maybe i’ll get you some tuna later.”

grim’s ears flattened as he muttered under his breath, but the promise of tuna seemed to get him moving, and he reluctantly turned to walk over to the table, grumbling about the injustice of it all.

yuu stepped aside to let the two boys in, but the moment they entered, they both slowed, staring past her into the living room.

at leona.

sitting there.

causally sprawled out on the couch like it was his house.

the silence hung awkwardly for a beat.

ace rubbed his eyes and squinted, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “is… that leona kingscholar?”

“maybe we’re in the wrong building?” deuce suggested, shifting uneasily on his feet.

ace leaned in toward her, lowering his voice like leona couldn’t clearly hear him from six feet away. “yuu. blink twice if he’s holding you hostage.”

leona flicked his gaze up at them and yawned before dropping his eyes back to the page.

yuu stifled a laugh. “he’s not holding me hostage, you guys. he’s just… here.”

ace gave her a look. “just here? seriously?”

grim, who had been listening intently, snickered from his spot on the floor. “yeah, ‘just here.’ he’s always here.” he flicked his tail in leona’s direction, eyes narrowed with sarcasm. “at this point we need to start charging rent.”

leona didn’t even blink, just stayed focused on his papers with that trademark lazy smirk.

deuce looked baffled. “you… you’re letting him hang out here?”

“it’s complicated,” yuu muttered, walking back toward the couch and starting to clear space for their group project. “we have an…arrangement. he needed somewhere to get away from savanaclaw sometimes, and i owed him a favor. so he’s allowed to crash here.”

leona finally looked up and scoffed, but it sounded more amused than irritated. “yeah, i needed a place to crash. had no idea it would come with a tutoring job.”

“you make it sound like it’s some horrible deal,” yuu said, rolling her eyes as she straightened a stack of papers. “you get a place to escape your responsibilities and i get some help with my school work every now and then. seems pretty fair to me.”

deuce looked between the two of them as they bantered, still a little confused. "well, i guess that makes sense. you’re both... helping each other out." he gave yuu a warm smile. "and if you're getting help with your school work, that's pretty nice of him."

ace plopped onto the floor, crossing his legs like a kid. “man. you could have asked for any favor and you decided to willingly crash here?“

deuce immediately frowned he nudged ace with his elbow. “don’t be rude! ramshackle’s… a little rough, yeah, but it’s still yuu’s home.“ he shot yuu an apologetic look.

grim snorted, stuffing a pawful of chips into his mouth. “a little rough is an understatement! we’ve been placing bets on how long until the roof falls in on us!”

yuu gave a small laugh, setting down her cup of hot chocolate. “no, that’s fair. ramshackle dorm’s not exactly five-star living.”

“tch, maybe not,” leona finally spoke up, tossing the papers he’d been scribbling on onto the floor with a lazy flick of his wrist. he shifted, slinging an arm over his eyes as he stretched out fully on the couch. “but the good thing about this dump? no one comes botherin’ me here. it’s quiet, peaceful…even the ghosts mind their business. i like it that way.”

ace made a judgmental face and looked over to yuu, but she just huffed a laugh under her breath, strangely warmed by the comment.

deuce started unzipping his backpack, pulling out a notebook. “it’s kind of weird though, right?” he asked a little more quietly. “you two being…friends?”

yuu faltered slightly at the word, glancing instinctively toward the couch where leona lounged, utterly relaxed, as if he hadn’t heard. but she knew better.

friends?

she wasn’t sure that’s what they were. not exactly. he didn’t talk much. he teased her sometimes, in his dry, sarcastic way. but he showed up. he helped her without hesitation.

it was something.

“i guess,” she said simply, but her cheeks flushed pink.

ace pulled a pencil out of his bag, grinning. “it’s cool. unexpected. like you feed a stray once and next thing you know, you’ve adopted a lazy housecat.”

“watch it,” leona’s deep voice drifted from the couch without lifting his arm.

ace chuckled and leaned back, glancing at grim. “that’s how yuu got stuck with grim too.”

grim’s ears flattened, and he shot a glare at ace. “excuse you! i’m not some stray- i’m practically royalty around here! yuu’s my hench-human y’know!”

deuce cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly trying not to laugh. “uh, anyway, project time?”

yuu nodded quickly, grateful to get back to focusing on their work.

they spread out papers and started planning, sketching diagrams, debating answers. every so often, yuu caught leona peeking an eye open to glance at them, sharp and assessing, but he didn’t intervene.

it wasn’t until ace and grim started arguing that he broke his silence.

“you’re both wrong,” leona said, not opening his eyes.

ace blinked. “excuse me, professor?”

leona turned his head, lifting his arm just enough to shoot him a look. “wrong. it’s second law. not first, not third. you’re mixing up your fundamentals.”

deuce double-checked his notes and winced. “… he’s right.”

grim bristled, puffing out his chest. “i was closer than you, ace!”

“yeah, yeah,” ace muttered, slouching in defeat. “guess the lazy housecat knows a thing or two after all.”

leona smirked, dropping his arm back over his eyes like he couldn’t be bothered anymore. “you’re welcome, by the way.”

yuu just shook her head fondly and went back to her work, hiding her smile behind her hand.

as the hours dragged by, the sun set and the project continued, yuu had caught herself looking over to leona more than once. despite his usual indifference, he stayed, eyes half-lidded, occasionally making a sarcastic comment or two, but never actually leaving. he would help them every once in a while, tossing in advice when they got stuck, correcting their mistakes with the same laid-back tone.

he had no real reason to be there, no need to stick around, but he did. and yuu couldn't help but feel that maybe this odd, reluctant bond they shared was becoming something more than just an arrangement, even if neither of them would admit it out-loud.

[spellbound-rosehearts]

A ROUTINE OF SORTS : CHAPTER 2

leona starts napping in ramshackle, and yuu starts making two cups of tea.

warnings: none

notes: i didn’t expect my blog to get so much attention already, i’m glad you guys are liking the story so far! here’s part two for you ♡

part 1, part 3

it became routine, somehow. a pattern neither of them formally acknowledged but both settled into with surprising ease. yuu would return to ramshackle after her classes alongside grim, her arms full of books or papers, and more often than not, leona would already be there. he never announced himself. she’d simply push open the creaky front door and find him, half-sprawled on the couch with a book lazily balanced in one hand, or tucked into the sunniest corner of the room with his eyes closed and a faint, contented scowl on his face.

she never said anything about it. never asked why he came, or how long he planned to stay. she just let him be, stepping around his shoes or tail when she passed, tossing him a glance and a nod at most. he, in turn, never made a fuss. it was a wordless arrangement, strange in theory, but in practice… it worked. grim, of course, would make the occasional snarky comment, but when leona would crack his eyes open or send him an icy glare, it always shut him up.

and as the weeks trickled by, leona’s presence in the dorm became almost natural. comfortable. familiar.

yuu started making two cups of tea instead of one. it became habit—one cup for her, and one extra she’d leave on the table. if he wanted it, he’d drink it. if not, it would sit there until the steam faded and she would dump it out later.

snacks followed. sometimes she’d give him the extra fruit she had laying around that was about to go bad, sometimes it was a couple of cookies from heartslabyul’s latest tea party leftovers. nothing fancy, nothing extravagant—just small and quiet gestures she would make without asking anything in return. he was a guest in her home after all, she felt as if it was the kind thing to do. she never lingered, however. she’d drop the items beside him, maybe give him a short glance or smile, and then she’d disappear upstairs to study with grim. her presence upstairs was just as regular now as his was downstairs. it became theirs, in a way neither of them labeled.

one afternoon, the sun glowing low and golden across the weathered ramshackle floorboards, yuu came out of the kitchen with a mug in hand and set it on the table beside leona’s lounging form. he had his usual spot on the couch, one leg kicked over the armrest, the other hanging lazily off the edge. a book lay open across his chest—some historical tome he probably hadn’t been reading for the last twenty minutes.

she turned to head back upstairs like always, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.

“you know you can speak, right?” he drawled, his eyes meeting hers. “i don’t bite. not hard, at least.”

she blinked, then turned back around slowly. “well, i know you don’t like people yapping your ear off.”

he gave a quiet, amused huff. “i make exceptions sometimes.”

that earned a small, surprised smile from her. she stepped a little closer. “you’re in a generous mood.”

“i’m horizontal in a sunbeam with tea delivered to me daily. hard not to be,” he said with a lazy shrug. then, as his gaze lingered on her face, his expression shifted slightly. less teasing, almost softer. “you look tense.”

her grin faltered, and her eyebrows knit together. “huh?”

he sat up a bit more, closing the book and setting it on the worn coffee table. “you’ve got that look. like you’re about five seconds from snapping a pencil in half.”

“i do not,” she said a little too quickly, her gaze shifting away from his.

“you do,” he said, eyeing her. “so, what’s chewing on you this time? school?” he reached forward, picking up the tea cup and taking a sip as he waited for her to answer.

she hesitated, letting the silence between them stretch. the steam from her cup curled around her face and she felt her cheeks flushing. the weight of his attention was heavier than she’d expected. but it wasn’t unwelcome. not exactly. she sighed and rubbed at her temple. “yeah. it’s ancient magic. i’ve read the same page about six times now and i still can’t grasp the concept.”

leona raised an eyebrow at her, sitting a little further upright. “which part?”

“all of it?” she muttered dryly. “i’m behind in my class. and it’s like they expect me to just get it. i’m not from this world, i didn’t grow up learning about magic, but i’m supposed to act this like it’s common sense.” she sighed, then eyed him warily. “…why are you even asking?”

“because you look ready to explode, and i was about to take a nap. you pacing around upstairs is interrupting my sleep.”

she rolled her eyes. “glad to know your naps are top priority.”

“they are. but,” he started, and then yawned, stretching his arms above his head. “ancient magic you say? you should have just led with that. i could help, it’s my best subject after all,” he says with a prideful smirk. “bring it down here, herbivore. i’ll take a look at it.”

that surprised her. “i- you- what? you’re offering to tutor me?”

he waved her off. “don’t get weird about it. faster we get it done faster i can nap peacefully. do you want my help or not?”

she stared at him for a second, then finally set her mug down on the table next to him. “…yeah. okay. i’ll be right back.” she turned on her heel and started off upstairs. leona leaned his head back against the couch and let his eyes slip shut again, the ghost of a grin tugging at his mouth.

he had said it was just to get her to quiet down and stop pacing, but… maybe he didn’t mind her company after all.