The Bishop.

@hyenatm​ 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃: Spots to kiss +31 - hyenatm to Leona 31. a kiss on the palm

                     Why ? 

      The question was simple, but held so much meaning behind it. It was a rare occasion that Leona had taken off his gloves, and a moment of between him and the hyena had been a happy one. Laughing and joking, before soft touches were made. Before Ruggie had gently taken his hands, tracing his fingers against his skin. It wasn’t until he felt his lips against the palms of his hand the lion begin to feel guilt wash over him. 

                                                       Why ? 

     These hands … these hands that were raised against Ruggie. He was kissing them, so softly , so tenderly. Leona could feel his ears fall flat against his head, his heart beginning to beat to a much more dreary tune. These hands had that wrapped around his neck, hurt him. Ruggie… how can you kiss the hands that hurt you ?  he asks himself, wishing he could somehow find the words to speak a loud.  

          No doubt Ruggie had noticed the solemn look in his eyes, troubled and lost in his now vacant mind privy to only one memory that replayed in his head like a video on loop. 

            ‘ Ruggie… ’ he says finally, lifting a hand to gently caress the side of the hyena’s face and for a moment he let himself become lost in his gaze, as confused as it was, but it was brief as his mind played a rotten trick on him. Ruggies soft gaze now reflecting as distressed, crying out for Leona to stop. His heart races in his chest and his eyes widened in shock as he is quick to jerk his hand away. 

         ‘ You shouldn’t have to do that, not to me ’ he bursts,  eyes avert to anywhere but Ruggie’s gaze. ‘ Not after what these hands have done to you. ’ 

It was a soft and tender moment, something the two of them aren’t exactly known for. But they happen, and Ruggie feels more exposed when they do. Fake tail off and forgotten, chess pieces scattered about somewhere between the laughing and chatting.

He’s not sure what possessed him to do such a thing, but it felt right. Instincts drove his actions more often than not and this was no exception. But part of them did hope it would bring comfort to Leona, though as he looks up and as Leona’s hand is on his face - he can’t help but wonder if it did the opposite.

He’s about to put his own hand over Leona’s when the lion jerks away. Ruggie stares, and stares, and sighs heavily. “Cut the crap.” It’s said with a half laugh, a tired smile coming across the hyena’s face. There were better words he could have chosen in this situation, but since when were they ever to really think about what they said before they said it?

They crawl closer, sitting close to the lion as they reach out to push Leona’s face back towards them - and keeping their hand on his face in case he had any ideas of looking away again. “You know these hands have done as much good as bad.” His free hand reaches out for one of Leona’s, holding it gently. “You carried me that night with these hands, remember? That night where you saved my life.” Talking about the night he lost his tail was never something Ruggie did. No, was never something Bishop did. Because in this moment, he feels more himself than he had in a long time. He feels more in touch with his past, with the name he had been given.  “You lead me during physical therapy with these hands. You taught me how to walk again, how to do magic, how to fly.”

“ Finally, I hope it doesn’t hurt too badly. ”

❛      My my,  you should not follow your leader’s mannerism and make an early judgment at face value without even trying something out     ❜     building such rushed conclusions seems to be a shared trend within this dorm of snarling kittens doesn’t it ?    ❛      I’m only presenting you with a friendly invitation for some fun, you do look very tense.     ❜

Their ears twitch as they give a small huff. “Well you haven’t exactly given me a reason to not take your words at face value, right?” He puts his hands on his hips. He really couldn’t tell what Lilia was thinking of what he was even implying. Why couldn’t this guy just talk like a normal person?

“Talk clearly or stop wasting my time. I have a busy schedule, you know.”

“What the hell....” They know what this body language is, and grumble under their breath. It wasn’t like they could escape if they tried, lest they get pulled back into Leona’s embrace or fall to the ground thanks to the older’s weight. Effectively trapped, there was only one way out.

the courtyard was quiet, yet if one would actually adventure deeper within, maybe just a few steps closer to peek behind the big old tree still covered with some snow, one would hear the sound of muffled sniffles and sobs in hiccups and see the crying boy hidden there. Appearing even more fragile lying on the cold ground as if he gave up on trying to get on his feet.

“ I don’t……i-i…..i don’t want anymore ! ” he cried his sorrow out almost sure nobody was there to hear it, that nobody would see him in such a pathetic state. A strong man doesn’t cry like this, yet….he can’t stop this from happening.

@hyenatm​

Being back at the school was a bittersweet feeling. Better living in exchange for twice as many errands to run. He sighs and rubs at the back of his head, mentally going over the list of what else he needed to do before heading back to the dorm.

He takes a short cut through the courtyard, mumbling to himself before his ears twitched at the sound of crying. Perhaps he was still in ‘taking care of the neighborhood kids’ mode after returning from the slums, but before he can even think he finds himself walking towards the source of the noise. He always watched after them, helped them when they cried, so his mind was in autopilot when he heard sudden crying.

He’s on the opposite side of the tree, having approached silently as he debates his options. It really wasn’t any of his business, he could just walk away. But then the person speaks, and Ruggie rubs a hand down his face. Fuck, it was Epel.