"I could have loved you if you let me"
Leona Kingscholar x fem!reader
cw: slightly suggestive ,mention of alcohol, second person, reader is not Yuu. Mallyuu briefly mentioned, no use of Y/N, set a few years into the future. Leona is so fucking pathetic In this I'm sorry.
type: oneshot | friends to lovers| wc: 2k
description: You're a royal in an arranged marriage with none other than Malleus Draconia but it's loveless and Leona can't help but take that chance, too bad he ends up absolutely whipped for you.
Being engaged to one of the most powerful mages alive should be a warning sign for Leona. It's stupid to rob from the most guarded place on earth, the risk of getting caught so high and the consequences dire. Yet that's what makes the reward so worth it. Leona had to claw his way through, be sneaky and sly. His goal is to get Malleus Draconia’s little fiancé wrapped around his finger...just for it to be the other way around.
You come from a royal family in the neighboring kingdoms of Briar Valley; finally securing an alley ship by marrying off their two oldest kin. Malleus was a distant lover, it was not as if he didn't care for you but it was nothing close to romantic. You told yourself you didn't care how Malleus viewed you because it was simply a political marriage. Yet it still pained you knowing he spent all his free time with another person—someone from his school days
You did not attend Night Raven College with your fiance so you did not get to know what went on with him and the so-called “Perfect” of Ramshackle Dorm. Yuu is their name from what you remember. That is all you know of them aside from the fact you were aware of how captivated Malleus was by them. You'd be a fool if you didn't recognize you could not hold a candle to the affection he held for them in his heart.
“You look tired, your highness” a cool voice cooed from behind you breaking you out of your trance. You could feel a game of cat and mouse on the rise. You let out a sigh and turned to the prince whose smug face you've come quite acquainted with. His green eyes study you , slowly softening once he truly sees your face and how tired you actually do look. Leona Kingscholar is a tease but he knows when to hold his tongue.
“Good evening to you as well Leona” You speak almost indifferently which causes the beastman to quirk an eyebrow. He smoothly walks closer to you and rests his back onto the balcony, eyes focused on you whilst yours were now back on the view of the valley. You could smell the alcohol clinging to the second prince and when you went to sneak a glance at him you could see his bronze cheeks tinted a deep red. His tail swishes behind him in a slow rhythmic way. His green eyes catch yours and you huff realizing how much you've been staring at Leona.
“May I ask , why the star of the party has not been seen all night?” He speaks finally breaking the thick silence that blanketed over you two. “You know , this is all for you, why hide away” he continues, cocking his head to the side, his dark brown locs falling over his nose. You observed him waiting for him to crack a joke at your expense like he always did—waiting for you to fall into your comfortable back and forth. Yet nothing came out, no smart remark or jab. You swallowed thickly.
“Well does it matter when no one is complaining?” you finally replied. You rest your head in your palm. Suddenly the cool Briar Valley air felt warm and suffocating, or maybe it's always been that way? Since you've stepped foot into the affairs that regard anything with Malleus Draconia you've always felt suffocated and you're only now coming to terms with it now. You feel your face scrunch up.
“‘I’m complaining, you're too gorgeous to stay hidden from gaze “ he says with a slight chuckle, sharp cat-like fangs on display. There it is, his playful demeanor he seems to always let slip out no matter the situation, that's what you liked about Leona …what you tolerated about Leona— what you tell yourself anyway.
“You flatter me Kingscholar although I have to remind you I am engaged “ You said, a smile fighting at the corners of your lips. His addictive laugh filled your ears;when did you start to think thoughts like that? You're caught off when you realize how close he's gotten to you. The smell of thiouraye and vetiver hitting your nose and overriding your senses with just…Leona.
“I could give you so much more than that overgrown lizard ever could if you gave me the chance” He said, more sincere than you'd expect from him. He spoke so softly and you could swear this is the most serious you've seen him. Leona was always a laid back person. The day you met him at a reunion for Nrc students he immediately came off as an arrogant lazy prince who couldn't care what anyone had to say. Yet the way his eyes gaze down at you; you can't help but melt on the inside.
You try to turn away from him but he catches your wrist before you can move any further. Your eyes dart down and you bite the plump of your bottom lip. You didn't understand why you seemed so nervous, you and Leona have always had an unserious relationship if you could even call it that ,which stemmed from his disdain of your soon to be husband. Your flirtatious banter is never serious. Yet you can't help but feel flustered by this newer softer side he's showing you.
“Leona you’re drunk I suggest you head back inside “ You state, trying to keep that authorial tone you once had but it just fizzles out into a soft whisper. You feel your heart beat pick up as you take in how utterly…pathetic he looks in front of you. His ears are pinned to his head and his plush lips find themselves in a pout, an expression you've never expected to ever see from the Leona Kingscholar.
He softly calls out your name almost like a prayer. Your heart squeezes and you avert your eyes. “I have never been number one…or anyone's first choice itsstupid” he speaks his last words slurring into one. The brunette suddenly leans into you and flops his forehead into the crook of your neck startling you. You squeak as his arms warm around you in an embrace. The most affectionate you've ever seen the prince.
“Leona!”
“You make me feel special…like I'm the best. I get soooo fuckin frustrated whenever you're upset over him…he doesn't treat you right no one in this forsaken kingdom treats you like they should…” he speaks out , one of his claws playing with the ribbon on your black and green dress. Leona’s sudden words and manners cause heat to rise to your ears and cheeks.
"Yet you make me feel so alive, like I can do anything if I put my mind to it, I don't deserve you but I think I'd rather die than let him or anyone else for that matter have you.” He continues to ramble on. He can feel your pulse and how fast your heart rate is against his lips. The idea of consuming you until you're utterly his sounds so delicious in his depraved sick head.
“I could treat you so much better you know…I'm aware that I'm a pain in the ass—I’m not pleasant to be around, I'm a salty man who is wasting his potential because I can't accept I'll never be king…it's pathetic right? " he chuckles to no one but himself.
He wanted nothing more but to inhale every part of you, feel every part of you ,love every part of you.
“Leona…” You speak again gentler. Pulling away enough to cup one of his warm cheeks in your hand. The biting red now more noticeable against his dark mahogany skin. Fuck he was stupidly attractive like this. It was unfair how good looking Leona was. Malleus was gorgeous and you must admit that was one of the selling factors that made you more calm about the idea of an arranged marriage. Although his pretty face would not do much now. Leona however was Malleus' complete opposite—Malleus elegant and cool while Leona was ravishing and oh so alluring despite his nature. You'd be lying if you said it did not drive you crazy, especially like this.
“You're not in your right mind…” trying to collect whatever sense you have left in you and to not fall into the inviting words of your fiancé's rival. He just lets out a groan, standing up to his proper height. Towering over you , he stares at you.
“I am not, doesn't mean I want you any less, I mean every word I've said…just wouldn't say it if I were” Leona explains, emerald eyes half lidded. Your hand can't help but find its way back onto his face , your fingers gently trail across the scarred tissue on his right eye. He closes his eyes letting you trace the scar from the top of his eyebrow to his lower cheek. After a while you stop and bring the same hand to his fluffy ears which twitch upon your touch.
“Getting bold herbivore” The beastman says, opening his eyes to look down at you. You smile back at him in protest. Your other arm snakes around his neck whilst his own arms wrap around your body again. The sound of the party had faded into the background long ago, it felt as if it was just the two of you dancing among the stars in your own world.
You don't know if it was you or Leona who connected the distance between you two but you did not object when you felt his soft lips clash against your own. It was sweeter and softer than you had expected, another surprise from the lion. He cradles the back of your head before deepening the kiss. You can taste the alcohol and whatever food he had consumed prior as you feel his tongue meet yours. There's an ache, a type of hunger you have not felt before that blooms within your chest. The need to be as close to Leona as possible, it seems to be mutual the way his claws push you closer and closer leaving no room for you two to be apart.
“I- we can't , If I leave out here with any bruises, who knows what people will say?” You mumble, looking back at the stars once more. Leona knew you were right, you weren't a bunch of teens anymore, you were both royals with an active reputation to uphold. He huffs and scrunches up his noses in that cute way he does , it reminds you how he truly is part cat.
When you pull away for air, string of saliva connects you two. Your chest heaves as the prince pecks at your lips softly, then nibbles at the flesh, his warm lips travel to under your chin and neck. He kisses and drags his tongue against your flesh causing you to shiver as he explores the sweet new territory. His canines poke at the skin slightly, he barely gets to sink his fangs into your flesh before you abruptly pull away. Immediately he backs off, stepping back in worry he pushed you too far.
“Fuck” He says suddenly, his tail rapidly flicking behind him a stark contrast to his smooth and calm sway from earlier. You can't help the guilt spread across your chest. You open your mouth to say something before a sudden loud mouth interrupts you.
You and Leona pull away from each other quickly as Sebek now stands in the doorway of the balcony, the moon glow highlighting his pale face and bright eyes. His face in a frown, his snaggletooth present and his eyebrows promptly furrowed.
"There you are!" he boomed, the sound grating against the silence. "Are you aware of how poorly this reflects upon my liege? To be found missing from the festivities , it is simply unacceptable!”
“I do not need to hear it from you Kingscholar!” the mint haired boy huffs out. You tried to stifle your laughter at the two’s banter. To think these two went to school with each other is such an amusing thought , granted for about only a year or so considering their four year age gap. Sebek was always kind to you, just very loud and passionate when it came to Briar Valley’s crowned prince. You understand why considering how he grew up around protecting the fae, as if he needed the protection. The knight puffs out his chest and turns on his heel. “W-well just make your way to the party soon…My lady..” He mumbles the last part.
“Sevens you're still as loud, and that is no way to speak to a lady especially not your precious liege's fiancé, did you not learn any manners?” Leona mocks with a slight venom in his voice , causing the half-fae’s face to redden in embarrassment.
Before you could respond Sebek was gone as fast as he had arrived. Once he was out of airshot you couldn't resist bursting out into laughter. Leona quirks a brow. “What's so funny?” He asks, his curiosity peaked in your amusement.
“You” you breathed out “It's just a bit funny seeing how quickly your demeanor changed considering how drunk you are right now, you were so…sappy” You continued, your laughter dying down into something more soft and intimate. Leona lets out a scoff and rolls his eyes. The prince rests his back against the balconies railing, tipping his head back to look up at the midnight sky.
“I should get going, they must have realized my absence now ” you whisper. A frown tugs at his lips, annoyance now playing on his face. “Don't be like that, kitty” you say gently tapping the bridge of the prince’s nose. Watching him cringe at the nickname. Another grumble arises from his chest as he sits up to look at you properly. You really couldn't get enough of the way he looked. It was as if there was something in the air that caused every feature of him to be heightened.
Leona lets out a sigh and picks up your hand. He stares at the wedding band that shined brightly under the pale light the moon casted . His thumb traced over the metal. His lips press against your hand.
“Come back to me…kay?” he murmured, his voice dropping to a rough, honest plea that made your heart skip. "Promise me… just come back to me"