Chapter Text
The day started like any other at Night Raven College: too loud, too chaotic, and too early for anyone from Savanaclaw.
Ruggie Bucchi rubbed sleep from his eyes as he trudged across the courtyard, a half‑eaten roll hanging from his mouth. He’d snagged it from the cafeteria before the morning rush, because if he didn’t, someone else would. That was just how things worked around here. You snooze, you lose. And Ruggie Bucchi didn’t lose. Usually.
He was halfway through mentally calculating how many odd jobs he could squeeze in before lunch when a familiar voice cut through the morning haze like a sunbeam.
“Ruggie! Good morning!”
Ruggie flinched. Only one person in the entire school sounded that cheerful at this hour.
Kalim Al‑Asim came bounding toward him, waving both arms like he was greeting a long‑lost friend instead of someone he’d seen two days ago. His white and gold uniform practically glowed in the sunlight, and his smile was so bright it could’ve powered the entire campus.
Ruggie sighed through his nose. “Mornin’, Kalim. You’re up early.”
“I’m always up early!” Kalim said proudly. “Jamil says it’s because I have too much energy, but I think it’s because every day is exciting!”
Ruggie resisted the urge to shield his eyes. “Yeah. Sure. Exciting.”
Kalim didn’t seem to notice the sarcasm. He never did. “Are you heading to the Mirror Chamber? Headmaster Crowley said there’s a big announcement today!”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard.” Ruggie stretched his arms behind his head. “Probably another one of his ‘brilliant’ ideas.”
Kalim laughed, like Ruggie had told a joke. “I bet it’ll be fun!”
Ruggie didn’t bother responding. He’d learned long ago that Kalim’s optimism was a force of nature, unstoppable, unshakeable, and completely immune to reality.
They walked together toward the Mirror Chamber, Kalim humming some upbeat tune while Ruggie mentally prepared himself for whatever nonsense Crowley had cooked up this time. Inside, students were already gathering. Jamil Viper stood near the back, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in a way that said he’d rather be anywhere else. Leona Kingscholar was slumped against a pillar, tail flicking irritably, clearly two seconds from walking out.
Ruggie made a beeline for him.
“Boss,” he said, nudging Leona’s leg. “You awake?”
“No,” Leona grumbled. “And if Crowley doesn’t start talking in the next thirty seconds, I’m going back to bed.”
Ruggie snorted. “Fair.”
Kalim waved enthusiastically at Jamil, who responded with a tired nod. Ruggie caught the faintest twitch of Jamil’s eye, the one he got whenever Kalim was being especially.. Kalim.
Crowley finally floated into view, arms spread dramatically.
“Students of Night Raven College! I bring wonderful news!”
Leona groaned. “Here we go.”
“As part of our ongoing efforts to promote unity, cooperation, and academic excellence,” Crowley continued, “we will be launching a new inter‑dorm collaboration initiative!”
Ruggie’s stomach dropped. That sounded like work.
“And,” Crowley added, “each dorm will be paired with another for a month‑long joint project!”
Leona straightened slightly. “If we get paired with Octavinelle, I’m leaving.”
Ruggie silently agreed.
Crowley snapped his fingers, and a list appeared in glowing script.
Ruggie squinted at it. Then he froze.
Savanaclaw × Scarabia
“Oh no,” Jamil whispered.
“Oh YES!” Kalim cheered.
Leona stared at the glowing words like they personally offended him. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Ruggie’s ears flattened. “This is gonna be a nightmare.”
Crowley continued, oblivious to the collective suffering. “Each pair will complete a practical assignment involving budgeting, planning, and resource management! A wonderful opportunity to learn from one another!”
Ruggie felt his soul leave his body.
Budgeting. With Kalim.
The guy who once bought an entire camel caravan because he thought the animals looked lonely.
Kalim turned to Ruggie, eyes sparkling. “Isn’t this great? We get to work together!”
Ruggie forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “Yeah. Great.”
Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kalim, please don’t-”
“We should start right away!” Kalim said, grabbing Ruggie’s hands. “Let’s meet after classes! We can brainstorm ideas! Maybe we can make something fun! Or helpful! Or both!”
Ruggie’s brain short‑circuited. Physical contact. With Kalim. In front of everyone.
He yanked his hands back, ears burning. “Whoa, whoa, slow down! We don’t even know what the assignment is yet!”
Kalim blinked. “But planning is part of the fun!”
Jamil muttered something in Arabic that Ruggie suspected was not complimentary.
Leona pushed off the pillar with a groan. “If this turns into a circus, I’m not participating.”
“You have to participate,” Ruggie reminded him. “Crowley said it’s mandatory.”
Leona glared at him. “I don’t care.”
Ruggie shrugged. “Suit yourself. But if you ditch, I’m the one who’s gonna get stuck doing all the work.”
Leona paused. His tail flicked.
“…Fine,” he grumbled. “But I’m not doing anything stupid.”
“With Kalim involved?” Ruggie said. “Good luck.”
Kalim beamed. “I promise it’ll be fun!”
Jamil sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Crowley clapped his hands. “Assignments will be distributed this afternoon! I expect great things from all of you!”
The moment he vanished, the room erupted into chatter.
Ruggie rubbed his temples. “This is gonna be a disaster.”
Kalim tilted his head. “Why do you say that?”
“Because,” Ruggie said, “you and I? We’re… different.”
Kalim smiled. “That’s what makes it exciting!”
Ruggie stared at him. Kalim genuinely believed that?
He wasn’t pretending. He wasn’t mocking. He wasn’t trying to get something out of him.
He was just… happy.
To work with Ruggie.
Ruggie didn’t know what to do with that.
Jamil stepped between them, expression tight. “Kalim, we should go. You have alchemy in ten minutes.”
“Oh! Right!” Kalim turned back to Ruggie. “See you later!”
Ruggie waved weakly as Kalim and Jamil left the chamber.
Leona yawned. “You look like you just got hit by a carriage.”
“I feel like it,” Ruggie muttered.
Leona raised an eyebrow. “It’s just Kalim.”
“That’s the problem,” Ruggie said. “He’s… a lot.”
Leona smirked. “You’ll survive.”
Ruggie wasn’t so sure. Because as much as Kalim overwhelmed him, there was something else too.
Something he didn’t have time for.
He shook his head. “Whatever. I’ll figure it out.”
“You always do,” Leona said, already walking away.
Ruggie watched him go, then glanced toward the door Kalim had disappeared through.
He had a bad feeling about this project. A really bad feeling.
But somewhere beneath the dread, buried deep under layers of caution and survival instincts…
…was a tiny spark of curiosity.
What would it be like to work with someone who wasn’t using him?
Someone who smiled at him like he mattered?
Ruggie shoved the thought away.
No point thinking about things he couldn’t have.
He had work to do.