Chapter Text
Idia flattened his body to the wall, feeling the dips and edges of the bricks dig into his skin. One of the more rugged pieces felt like it would break skin, right above the nape of his neck. It was painful, but pain was a small price to pay in return for getting out of a, and Idia could feel himself shudder at the mere thought of such torture, conversation with a jock.
The spelldrive club had been doing a charity match against some nobody academy (and had, tragically, completely and utterly lost) and were only now arriving back at NRC. At 11:30 sharp, aka pretty much the only time Idia risked leaving his room. If he had known about this ahead of time, he would’ve just stayed cooped up in his room, or sent Ortho on the snack run, but noooo… he just had to get them now of all time? The terrible Shroud family luck, on display once again!
So here he was, pressing himself against the wall and hoping none of the other students saw him while trying to escape to his room. He had chosen the darkest corner he could find, but it was right next to the main entrance, which meant there was always the terror inducing moment when the Students walked past him and into the main doors- right in front of his face. Each time, there’s a risk of them spotting his freaky hair, or the knocking of his knees as he wobbled and shook from anxiety. Well, technically he was covered by the doors, as he was hiding just behind them (his hair was a huge negative to his stealth stat, so he always had to hide behind something) so it was mostly safe, but there was still a risk! And it had Idia’s heart pounding in his ears like a drum and his hands somehow managing to be even clammier than usual. Thankfully, he had placed the packet of snacks in one of his pockets, so he didn’t have to worry about dropping it from nerves. But seriously, this was basically hell! He just had to stand there, listening to all of those jocks whine about their loss and jostle each other, praying to any god on the pantheon that would listen that he wasn’t noticed- it was like something out of his nightmares!
(Not really though, given that there were no dead Orthos showing up yet, or shades from the Underworld, or a chain on his ankle slowly dragging him down, no screams of the dammed to torment him-)
Idia had… underestimated the number of people in the spelldrive club. It had been fifteen minutes, and there was still a steady stream of people going through the gates, seemingly unending to Idia’s gaze. Which meant putting up with more of this agony… great.
It wouldn’t be so bad if he could pull out his phone or tablet and game a bit, but that would definitely make him fail the mission objective, so he just had to stand there, doing nothing but stewing in his own neuroses. With each passing minute, he felt… not quite relaxed, but at least more at ease. With the majority of the terror slowly dissipating, that mostly just left him bored out of his skull. He couldn’t even get comfortable, since the rough bricks were digging into his skin, and he was basically squished in between the huge, heavy doors and the wall behind him. At this rate, he’ll end up squashed flat like a pancake!
Thankfully, the stream of people starts to drain to a trickle, the last few stragglers making their way inside, some sobbing and others laughing, all of them reeking of sweat and stupidity. It’s enough to make a nerd like Idia want to throw up! At least the tide’s receding though- finally, he’ll get to escape! Room sweet room, here he comes!
There’s just one last person standing in the entryway, one last obstacle before Idia could be home free-
It was Leona, pacing with his tail thrashing back and forth while he held a phone to his ear. Even in the darkness of the late evening, Leona’s sharp green eyes shone through, his cutting gaze darting about. Idia did not envy whoever he was speaking to, cause Leona looked furious. His hands kept balling up into fists, then contorting into a claw-like shape, then back into fists. Distantly, Idia could hear the sound of blood dripping from Leona’s hand- he had clearly broken his skin with those nails of his. He looked… almost as though he was in agony. Honestly, it was none of Idia’s business, and he’s normally had run off by now, if it wasn’t for Leona blocking the doorway.
But he was stuck here, and Idia’s brain just kept barreling down this route. Man, what rotten luck. Here he is, at prime gaming hours, watching Leona on the phone like a creepy stalker. Wonderful, just how he wanted to spend the evening.
“Falena, for fuck’s sake, do your goddam job! Stop showing up to these games, you slacker!” Leona screamed into the phone, fury emanating off of him, each word a sharp strike to whoever was on the other end. (Falena, presumably)
“Listen, I don’t care- no, don’t you dare change the subject, you cannot come to my games this often. Falena! You have a job to do!”
Ohhh this is really awkward… Idia’s couldn’t help but gulp hard, doing his best to make himself appear as small as possible, all in the desperate hopes of avoiding a confrontation. His mind devolves into a litany of “don’t look at me, don’t look at me, don’t look at me-“ as Leona continues his screaming match with Falena(?) fangs bared and all.
Idia had never wanted to be somewhere else so badly in his life- but he can’t come out now! Leona will realize he was here for his very private few phone call, and had basically eavesdropped on him, and oh gods Idia didn’t want to think about what Leona would surely do to him.
“Fine, then- have it your way!” Shouted Leona as he hung up with a snarl. “Damm that bastard… doesn’t he know he’s the first prince? He has to be more responsible! Useless piece of…” He muttered to himself, the words echoing in the (mostly) empty night.
Okay, now Leona will finally go inside, freeing Idia’s from this torture! Go go go! Come one, the goal’s so close- all Leona needs to do his leave and Idia will have his peace back!
Instead, Leona’s piercing gaze turned to the doors Idia was hiding behind. Shit, was he spotted? Oh no no no no-
Leona was steadily making his way towards him. What the hell should he do?! Try and talk his way out of it? What can he even do!? Should he try to run? It’s game over for him!
Thanks gods, that’s the last time he’s praying to those assholes.
Leona stalked closer and closer, his steps silent and his ears twitching, his powerful muscles tensed like a predator about to pounce. Fitting, for him, and it nearly made Idia whimper in fear.
Oh he is so screwed.
Abruptly, Leona stopped a mere meter away from Idia, suddenly stilling. His ears swivelled like satellite dishes, the blood still dripping from his palms.
“Found you, Radish Sprout.”
!
Leona, faster than Idia could see, had grabbed him by the arm, his green eyes staring into Idia’s own, claws making indents in his skin. Leona’s voice was deep with wrath, and sounded hoarse, with a raspiness to it that made Idia shudder. Even though Idia was probably taller than Leona, his slouching made him appears and feel so much smaller than him. He felt like a mote of dust next to Leona.
“I- uh- umm-“ Idia stuttered out, words failing him when faced with the fury on Leona’s face. “It’s- it’s not what it look l-like?”
“Uh huh… then why are you here, exactly?”
“I was… holding t-the door open?” Oh fuck why did Idia say that?!?! That’s the world’s worst lie, he must’ve rolled a nat one or something on his deception check, cause there’s no way Leona would believe that. It sounded (even to Idia’s own ears) more like a question than a statement.
Leona didn’t even bother to dignify that with a reply, increasing his grip on Idia’s frail arm and tugging him out of his hiding spot. Idia made a token effort to get away, but compared to Leona’s muscular body, Idia was really nothing more than a piece of overcooked spaghetti- which is to say, he never had a chance. Oh, he is so dead! Leona’s going to kill him for having overheard his conversation and Ortho’s going to be left all alone and Idia will never get to finish any of his new games or manga or listen to Premo’s songs ever again-
“Just.. what the hell were you even doing here?” Demanded Leona with that princely arrogance of his, glaring at Idia as he shivered in the moonlight.
“Listen, I had wanted to go get some snacks, right? Totally normal, even a normie like you would get it- and I was planning on peacefully returning to my room, no muss no fuss, but then you guys came back from your charity game, and there was no way I wanted to talk to you guys, you would’ve eaten me alive! So I hid behind the doors so I could leave when you all were out of sight and I didn’t have to risk an encounter, but then you ended up talking on the phone, and I wanted to leave but you were in the entryway and I didn’t want you to think I’m a stalker or something so I was going to wait until you were done, I swear I didn’t mean to overhear you pleasedon’tkillme-“ Idia rambled, impossible fast even to his own ears, as he cowered in Leona’s grip.
“Okay, geez, you can shut up now. I’m not going to kill you, for seven’s sake. Has anyone ever told you that you mumble?” Leona snarked, breathing sharply through his nose in annoyance.
“Oh all the time- at least w-when I bother talking to p-people.” Idia responded, his mouth already forming the words before his brain could think it through, like usual.
“Hah!” Suddenly, Leona barked out a laugh, harsh and sharp, almost horse sounding, more a rasping sound than a typical laugh. “No shit, huh?… listen, you probably already know this, but-“
“Don’t go telling people what I heard, got it l-loud and clear. I’ll- I’ll do my best to-best to forget this ever happened, Kay?” Idia said, more than willing to wash his hands of this whole affair. “I-I get not wanting- or, like, having stuff you don’t want people to overhear. I’m a-all about respecting privacy, it’s m-my favourite thing, basically.” He rambled, nerves spurring him onwards through the awkward silence.
“It’s not really all that secret- I mean, most of my dorm knows I’m not on the best terms with my brother.” Leona deflected, rolling his eyes as his grip on Idia relaxed a bit. Still not enough for Idia to escape from, though.
“Oh yeah, Falena’s your… brother’s name? He’s the older sibling, right? I-I don’t k-know you were, um, fighting.” Idia mumbled. Honestly, he couldn’t care less, he had only known all that because of the stupid S.T.Y.X. meetings about different heads of state he had to attend.
Apparently, that was what set Leona off. “Fighting? Yeah, I guess. That idiot keeps slipping out on work to do inane shit like coming to my small time spelldrive games- it’s fine if it’s a big tournament or something like that, but this was so small time that the only reason the press showed up is because he was there.” He ranted, tail thrashing to and fro, his free hand gesturing about.
Okay… clearly Leona’s got some stuff he needs to get off of his chest. Idia would’ve run by now, but Leona’s still holding him by the arm, so that’s a no-go. Hell, he can even feel the blood on Leona’s palm dripping through his hoodie and soaking his skin.
“Umm… isn’t that just what older siblings do? I mean, I go to Ortho’s activities whenever I can.” Idia offered shyly.
“Yeah, but he’s not just my brother, he’s also the first prince. He’s got a job to do! For fuck’s sake, he skipped out on a diplomatic meeting to go to this stupid game! Can the guy be any stupider or more laid back?! His work’s way more important than this dumb shit. I mean, he’s the first prince who’ll inherit this country, and he never acts like it- all this power, all this responsibility- is it nothing to him?!” He growled, ears flattened to his head in irritation. On one hand, the sight of Leona all pissed off like this was terrifying, but on the other hand… oh, his ears are too cute! Idia wants to pet them so baaadly- but he knows that Leona would definitely kill him for that, no doubt about it. Especially when he’s in such a bad mood.
“I dunno… like, he’s probably just proud of you? A-at least, that’s what is sounds like to me. C-cause that’s how I feel when I go to my brother’s activities… um, just going off my own experience here, but as an older brother… of course he’s going to make you his priority. Besides, it was a charity game, so it probably brought some good press or something…” Idia retorted, his inability to keep his mouth shut biting him in the ass again.
“Sure, whatever…” Leona half heartedly replied. His eyes as trailed off into the distance, seeming watching something only he could see. There was a loneliness to him, his warm brown skin bathed in moonlight, washing out his vibrancy in favour of the cool solitude of the night. He seemed lost in thought, his regal features completive and sad.
“Hey, Radish Sprout.”
Leona’s voice… all of the rage had left it, leaving it hoarse and bereft of its usual arrogance. He seemed… vulnerable, for once.
“Um, yeah?”
“Do… do you ever feel like there’s… something impassable weighing you down? Like… a stone or a boulder, hanging over you no matter what?… fuck, never mind-“
It was like someone has crashed cymbals into Idia’s brain, because that was exactly how he felt. All day, everyday, there was always the looming spectre of his position as the Watchman, his grief, his curse, his fate- they were all omnipresent forces that crushed his very spirit.
“No, no, I… I get it. It’s like… you want to be happy, or something, b-but no matter what you do… it’s like a chain that’s dragging you down. A-a shitty fate that you can’t escape.”
At his words, Leona stilled. He looked shocked and almost relieved, his green eyes blown wide, his expression a strange mixture of sorrow and joy. “Yeah… t-that’s it. That’s… how I feel.”
“G-guess there’s two of us then?” Idia replied as he felt Leona’s hand go slack, falling to the man’s side. Blood stained the area where Leona’s had grabbed, presumably from the cuts he made on his palm.
“Mmm…” Leona nodded, mind seemingly elsewhere. “You… can go, Radish Sprout.”
Well, Idia’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Okay then… um, s-see you around? Or whatever… uh, I guess if you ever want to talk about it, h-just text me? Y-you could also contact me t-through Ortho…”
It feels weird to give the offer, almost forbidden- besides, there’s no way Leona of all people would ever take him up on it. But the expression on his face when he hears Idia offer… his features soften, ears perking up as a small smile graces his face.
“Sure.”
And Idia immediately runs off before he says something he’ll regret. Still, even as he dashes through the halls as quietly as he can, he can’t keep Leona’s expression out of his head.