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There was something satisfying about being able to hold the coveted human of Diasomnia.
After the whole mess with the lizard’s overblot, it became apparent to everyone that there was a strange sort of distance between Silver, Lilia, and Malleus. The crocodile was as loud as ever and the only one seemingly unaffected by the whole thing, but there was a fierce protectiveness that quickly became evident for everyone to see when it came to Silver. No one knew exactly what happened in the realm of dreams, and no one wanted to ask.
All they knew was that, without Malleus’ fierce gaze on them, it meant that they could move about as they pleased without the fear of his wrath upon them.
From the very beginning, Silver had been the only one Leona could tolerate from Diasomnia. Despite his naivety and frustrating obliviousness, Leona couldn’t find any real faults in the sophomore. Perhaps because he was the only human surrounded by fae, and while Leona could care less about the circumstances that caused it, it did strike something within him.
After the lizard’s overblot, it just became even more obvious about the power dynamics within that little group.
Leona’s tail flicked, agitated, as he thought about the circumstances that led to their current situation.
He had nothing against Silver. In fact, he was probably the only herbivore in the school that he didn’t mind being around. (The prefect of Ramshackle didn’t count.) But he couldn’t help the agitation that bubbled up whenever he thought about why Silver was with him in the first place.
The Diasomnia human was probably one of the most affected by the lizard’s overblot, enough to distance himself from Lilia and his master. Even his drowsiness had worsened to the point where several students found him passed out in the strangest places. Leona couldn’t recall how many times he had found the sophomore passed out in the garden or the courtyard, or how the other sophomores began to express concern whenever Silver just suddenly dropped. The emotional turmoil he was facing was clearly something he didn’t want to talk about—not even to the crocodile or the prefect.
Which led the housewardens sans Malleus (and Lilia) to finally take matters in their own hands.
It was an open secret in the school that everyone was just a little in love with Silver, after all. Despite his looks, his kindness and pure heart tended to win everyone over whether he knew it or not. It was really no surprise that Scarabia had been the first to step up to be there for him in whatever way they could. It nearly became a common sight now to see both Kalim and Jamil walking with him in the halls, or how Riddle seemed more vigilant than ever in ensuring he didn’t suddenly fall asleep somewhere while making his way to his destination. Even Azul and the Leech twins took a more proactive approach, despite it meaning Silver suddenly working a shift or two at Mostro Lounge where they could keep a better eye on him. Vil seemed eager to finally do something with him, but the biggest surprise came from both Leona and Idia.
Leona doesn’t know how Idia became acquainted with Silver, though he heard that the Shroud brothers helped in knocking some sense into Malleus. But the oldest Shroud was quickly taken by him and seemed to consider Silver a special exception to his introverted ways. He was the first to give a piece of his mind after everything before checking on Silver.
As for himself…
Well, Leona always did find it amusing to get under the lizard’s skin and what better way than to take his precious human? Not that he really felt that, but that was beside the point.
Leona let his fingers run through Silver’s hair, silently coaxing him back to sleep when he felt him begin to stir.
The Savanaclaw housewarden only stepped in when he realized that whatever happened between the lizard and Silver only caused their relationship to become strained. The human’s natural expression tended to be apathetic, but the beast man had smelt tears from him one day and it seemed to be enough to raise his protective instincts. Tears were common, especially from Kalim, but not from Silver. And while Leona didn’t pay too much attention to the human otherwise, he knew it had to be bad if it had this herbivore’s mask breaking.
He didn’t do anything rash—not like the others.
All he did was offer a quiet space for the boy, somewhere without anyone bothering him.
Silver was quick to take him on his offer.
If it made the lizard upset once he realized what was going on, then all the better. But really, Leona’s first priority was making sure Silver was of sound mind, content, and not a threat of becoming overblotted like many others in this damn school.
(He wasn’t sure how anyone would be able to handle Silver becoming a victim to his own darkness, anyway.)
He sighed, forcing himself to relax lest he really did wake the sophomore up. While Silver was still a victim to his sleeping spells, he began waking easier. Sometimes, Leona wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“…Leona-senpai?”
“Go back to sleep.” Leona gently nudged Silver to lay his head back down to where it was previously positioned on his shoulder. A low rumbling purr emanated from his throat, hoping it’d be enough to coax the sophomore back to slumberland. “I’m still here.”
There was a sleepy mumble before the human finally succumbed to sleep once more.
Leona forced himself to relax, letting his tail curl lazily around Silver’s leg while his own hold remained protective.
The nightmares were getting worse, and the beast man knew it was only a matter of time before it started up again.
Damn that lizard.
—
A low growl was eventually what woke Silver up.
It was different from the rumbling purr Leona sometimes let out to help him sleep. It was different from the rasping purr that Lucius let out around him in class.
No.
It was a warning.
“You’re not welcomed here,” Leona warned, voice deep and he felt the arm around him tighten.
“I merely came to check on him.”
That was Malleus’ voice. How long had it been since he heard it properly? While he didn’t blame his prince about what happened, he hadn’t been able to face him either, and it went both ways.
There was still immense guilt for what his biological father had done. Even when Sebek and the prefect told him he shouldn’t blame himself for something he hadn’t even been there for, it was still his father who had killed Malleus’ parents. It was still his blood that shed the ones that were important to his liege. And he knew (wanted to believe) that Malleus felt guilt over what happened during his overblot as well.
“I understand if you’d like some distance. Take all the time you need. I’ll let Malleus know as well.”
That was what Lilia had told him, and with that permission, Silver stepped away from his duty as guard and attendant temporarily. It felt odd, not being by Malleus’ side, but he knew he wouldn’t be at his best in his current condition.
Not after everything.
Silver knew he should talk to someone about it. Sebek and the prefect were both there when the truth was revealed. If he spoke to Lilia, he might get the closure he so desperately needed. Even Kalim, despite his obliviousness, would be willing to lend an ear. But he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stand it.
He was the child of the knight who killed his prince’s parents.
Blood stained his history.
He appreciated the others who stepped up and tried to be there for him. He recognized kindness when it was being offered, behind the usual sly smiles or hidden intentions. There was concern behind their actions, all of them aware of the sudden distance between him, Lilia, and Malleus. While none of them knew why exactly, they attempted to help.
But he only managed to find true solace with the second prince of Sunset Savanna.
It was a surprise to him when the older man approached him first. It wasn’t as if he was close to Leona—far from it—but he couldn’t deny the relief he felt upon seeing him. Perhaps out of everyone, Leona felt the most disconnected from what happened.
Maybe it was because of how much he claimed to hate Malleus or maybe it was something else.
“I ain’t going to bother you about what happened. If you want a quiet place to think or nap, follow me.” It was all Leona offered, and Silver took him up on it.
Which led to many days together of them just napping or quietly spending time together in the garden.
Leona never said anything, and for that, Silver was grateful.
“He is still my friend,” came the argument, and it brought a warm feeling in Silver’s chest.
At the same time, it made his chest go heavy.
Leona scoffed at that, and he realized he could feel a tail curled tightly around his thigh. “Right. Friend. I don’t know how you treat your friends but it sure hasn’t been like you’ve been his friend lately, especially after that stunt you pulled.”
“You dare lecture me, Kingscholar?”
“At least I haven’t left those under my care to deal with the aftermath alone,” came the low growl. “Can’t say the same for you.”
In the distance, he heard the roar of thunder.
“He is still—”
“He’ll come back to you when he’s ready. I don’t give a damn otherwise. But right now, you have no right to talk to him unless you’re here to apologize.”
“Kingscholar.”
“Lizard.” It was a sneer this time. “Get moving. I’m not the only one pissed off at you for ignoring Silver, you know. You can talk to him when he’s awake. Now, get lost.”
A hiss, another roar of thunder, and then—nothing.
There was a moment of silence as Silver felt Leona slowly calm himself down before the tip of that tail tapped against his thigh.
“I know you’re awake.”
Silver forced his eyes open, still bleary with sleep, but with more clarity than there should be. “…I’m sorry.”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for,” the older man sighed, allowing his hold on the sophomore to loosen. “He’s annoying.”
“He’s still…important to me.”
An agitated flick of that tail. “Not saying he can’t be, but doesn’t make him any less annoying. He’s got no right just barging in, especially when he knows you’d be sleeping.”
Silver pressed his lips together, unsure of what to say. He wanted to defend Malleus. No matter what happened, he still considered the prince to be someone important to him. He would still give his life to defend him.
But he also knew Leona didn’t want to hear it right now.
“…thank you.”
A sigh. “Yeah, yeah. If you ain’t going back to sleep, then you get a move on, too. You still got classes, yeah?”
A blink and then a nod as Silver forced himself to sit up, already missing the warmth the older man provided. There was a brief hesitation in his movements.
“Will you…”
“I’ll still be here,” Leona reassured him, eyes already closing. “Don’t worry.”
Silver breathed out a sigh and nodded. He reluctantly stood up, and with a soft ‘goodbye’, left to try to make it to his next classes.