Synopsis: Cheka spends the day at Night Raven with his dear ojitan Leona and Charlotte.

Requested by: @Klareesa28

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"Ngh!" Leona jolted from his place in bed. Something was ringing and it was really cutting into his sleeptime. He growled, opening one eye to look at the source of noise: his phone. "For fuck's sake...." he snatched it off the nightstand, jamming his finger onto the screen and hitting the "answer" button. "WHAT?" he spat.

"Leona! Long time no talk, brother!"

If he wasn't irritated by his sleep being interrupted, he was especially mad now. "Tch! What do you want, Farena?"

"C'mon, is that anyway to talk to family?" Farena laughed on the other end. "Just calling to say hi is all!"

Leona sat up, ruffling his hair into a messier style than before as his bro rambled. "Lemme guess: you want something from me?"

"Just a teeny favor!" Farena corrects. He heaves a big sigh and says, "I need you to watch Cheka for the day."

That really made Leona snap out of his sleep-trance. "Repeat?!"

"I've got my hands full for the day and we needed all hands on deck for this!" Farena explains. "Plus, Cheka's caregiver called in: she's got a high fever. So, I called you as a second resort."

Leona clicked his tongue in irritation. "No way. Not happening."

"Leona, please! It'll just be until the end of the day!" Farena tried to reason with him. "He's really excited to see y- whoa! Cheka! You nearly knocked me down there, son!"

"Papa!!" a sweet voice chirps from the other end. "Can I talk with Uncle Leona?!"

"Sure, champ!" Some rustling sounded on the other end when-

"LEONA OJITAN!!!!"

Leona's ears were pinned to his head as he yanked the phone away from his ear, the ringing loud as fuck. 'Damn that little munchkin....' he growled. "Hi, Cheka."

"Isn't it awesome?! Dad says I can hang out with you for the day!!! I can't wait! Can we go into town and get food?! Will Ruggie be there with us?! Can we play games in the dorm!!! What about Charlie?! I wanna get to hang with her an-....."

Leona just let his nephew ramble on, not giving a shit. Honestly, he never expected his bro to hand over the next-in-line for the throne to him to be watched over, and he never had plans for the day, which then again, is what's always on his list. He just had plans to throw Ruggie into the fray and handling his tasks.....

Until his ears perked up at the familiar name: Charlie. Turning the gears in his head, he started to formulate a plan and a devilish smile creeped up onto his face.

"...na? Leona?! You there?!" Farena spoke. Swiftly, Leona put his phone to his lips and smiled while saying,

"Actually, on second thought, Farena...I'd love to watch the little rascal today."

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"Wait...hold up!" Charlie held up a hand as Ruggie led her to Savanaclaw later on in the morning. She struggled to tie up her mass of hair and speak. "Cheka's being watched by Leona today?!"

"Yea! C'mon, get with the program!" Ruggie chuckled.

"No, no I get that part." she shook her head. "But what I don't get is why I'm being dragged into this!"

"Me too! I could be gobbling Tuna or eggs for breakfast, but you really had to drag me out of the house?!" Grim griped, hanging upside down by his tail, which was being clenched not-so-softly by Ruggie.

"You're needed as much as she is!" Ruggie scoffed. "Maybe less. She's more important than you are, fleabag."

"Rude!!!!"

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At the front of the school gates, Leona stood by as Cheka hugged his dad.

"Bye, dad!" Cheka giggled.

"You be good for Leona now, okay?"

"Yes, sir!" he giggled and clutched himself onto Leona's pant leg.

"Take good care of him okay?" Farena laughed.

"Don't worry. I've got it." Leona grumbled.

"Tell mama I love her!!!" Cheka waved as Farena returned to the portal.

"Okay, Squirt. Wanna go meet up with Charlie?" Leona smirked.

"YEA!!" Cheka smiled and took off for the Mirror Hall. Leona sauntered after, whistling to himself.

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Ruggie, Charlie and Grim made it outside Savanaclaw.

"Well, not much has changed here." Charlie shrugs. "So tell me again: Why was I brought here?"

Ruggie shrugs, "That's the thing-"

"Charlie!!!!!" The girl was suddenly met with a small body colliding into her legs.

"Whoa! Cheka?!" Charlie gasped, nearly hitting the dirt. The small lion cub looked up and giggled hugging her legs.

"I missed you! Are you here to spend time with Ojitan?!"

"Ruggie? Care to explain?" she glared lightly at him.

"Actually, Imma leave that to Leona! Shsishishshishi!" Ruggie scampered off.

"Hey." Leona greets neutrally, standing beside her as Cheka giggled.

"Leona." she nods, picking up Cheka and carried him in her arms. "Care to answer the question?"

"Let's get some food and I'll explain it from there." he waved two fingers for her to follow him and she did so, Cheka snuggling in her arms.

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"So your brother's got his hands full and wants you to watch Cheka for the day? Is that it?" Charlie titled her head as she sipped her mocha carefully. The Savanaclaw lounge was rather peaceful, except for some students dotted here and there, talking to themselves.

"What do you mean 'is that it'? Didn't I explain it well enough?" Leona scoffed, staring at her from the corner of his eye. Cheka, meanwhile was nibbling happily on a few shortbread Cookies and sipping some fresh-squeezed orange juice between the two students.

"No, you did." She shook her head. "It's just...." she looked away, snickering a bit before continuing, "I never took you for the babysitter type. Makes me nearly see you in a whole different light!"

"Yea, well, it's a one-time thing, Rabbit." Leona tsked.

"Charlie, isn't it awesome! I get to spend the day with Ojitan! He even said he wanted you to join us for the day!" Cheka jumps in.

"What?!" Charlie got up from her seat, stumbling away from the table in shock. "I didn't sign up for this!"

"Neither did Ore-sama!" Grim growled.

Cheka frowned a bit, "But it's been so long since I saw you and Ojitan....he promised you'd spend the day with me...."

Charlie pressed her lips in a thin line nervously. "Leona....can I speak with you? ALONE?" she spoke as gently as possible. Leona shrugged and stood up from his seat, only to be yanked by his wrist down the hall far from Cheka. A second later, she threw him against the wall and hit his chest. "What the hell, Kingscholar?! You really think it's a good idea for me to get dragged away from my homework to look after Cheka?! I'm already in hot water for three nearly late assignments from Crewel! And you think you can just persuade me into a babysitter's job?!"

"Will you shut up?" Leona growled, feeling a headache coming up. "I didn't want to get dragged into this as much as you, maybe more. But what other choice did I have? Farena wasn't taking no for an answer. I tried, believe me. But then...."

"....'but then' what? What is it?!" she spat impatiently, displeased at his silence.

Leona felt his nerves act us as he answered, "....I thought back to the Magift tournament....when we were in the infirmary....I saw you with Cheka and the way he was smiling and laughing with you...." he couldn't finish the thought. "Tch, it made me think of my own past..."

"...." Charlie never said anything as she let Leona spit out subtle details of his past. She knew he wouldn't be that open with her, even after all they've gone through. But she might as well put him in the right mindset.

"You know the reason you're such a bastard is because deep down you're insecure." she blurted out without a second thought. "And that there's only one person in the world that you care about. And it's yourself."

Leona began to go on the defensive. "What?! You have no idea-"

"I'm not finished!" she shouted over him. Her voice toned down as she began to lash out at him. "You're not a teenager anymore, Leona. So how long do you plan on playing the victim card?! Since day one, you have been nothing more than the same prideful, arrogant and conceited asshole who wanted one thing in life, but you ended up falling prey to your own demons! You turned against your morals, you nearly killed your dormmates, you tried to murder anyone who so much as looked at you the wrong way! And I don't ever recall you ever saying so much as a thank you! Not even after helping me overthrow Azul and his schemes!" she grabbed a fistful of his uniform and pulled him down so he was at the same height level as her.

"I know about your past. I saw through the ghost camera itself. You can try and hide all you want beneath that snarky attitude and insane power, but it won't get past me. Not anymore, that is.....I even overheard through the grapevine about your talk during Hallo-Week. You didn't want to speak with Cheka over the phone, but Vil made you either way. And After that, now I see what it really is: you don't have heart. Not towards your family. Not towards anything. You're still hung up on being at the top of the food chain. Have you learnt after your overblot episode?!" she was shouting at the end of her claim. "Unlike you, I cherish what I have in front of me! And I couldn't ask for more in life! Sure, my friends have their own two sides of a coin, but I still accept them for who, what, they are. You can't have everything you want in life! And you should be happy that you have at least who to you!" she looked out in the lounge to see Cheka laughing at something Ruggie told him. "And the sooner you realize that family is all you'll have as of now, the sooner you'll be alone with no one to call you as part of their own." she shoved him away and turned back, walking towards the table. She calls over her shoulder, "And just so you know, I'm taking your job. But I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Cheka."

Leona could only watch mutely as she walked up to Cheka and swept him high up into the air, laughing as she did so. Cheka squealed along with her as she hugged him close to her. Her words kept resounding over and over in his heads, making him, for once, empty of words and thought.

"So, what'cha wanna do for today, kiddo?" she asked, smiling at the small prince.

"Let's go out in town!!"

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"Uh, remind me why are we in town watching Leona-senpai with Cheka?" Jack whispered.

"Duh! Charlie's with them so we need to see what's up!" Ace shushed.

"No, Charlie asked us to help keep an eye on Leona and Cheka in case anything goes wrong." Deuce shook his head with a sigh. The three first years were hiding in the shadows of one building, watching from around the corner. The two lions and the seer were sitting in the plaza, over by the fountain. All around, people were walking, chatting and laughing in their own circles. Several kids were running around and playing with one another and a band of musicians played by one of the street corners. Cheka happily ate a bakery's sandwich with soda as Charlie nibbled on a creampuff with her chicken salad, as Cheka told her what happened the day after Magift. He told all his friends about her and how she was a warrior out on the battlefield when he saw her pre-game play, and one day he wanted her to visit his friends and parents and the Savannah kingdom so she can teach them a few things she learnt. She laughed at his claim and nodded, agreeing that one day she will.

"Didn't she yell at Leona earlier today? I thought I saw them talking down the hall earlier when I went to grab something from the kitchen." Jack scratched his head.

"Yea. She was pretty scary, I'll admit." Ruggie whispered, having joined them. "Haven't seen someone yell at Leona like that since....ever!"

"R-Ruggie-senpai!" Ace whisper-screamed, early falling as he turned to see him. "Why are you here?"

"Eh, Charlie asked the same thing from me as much as you three: watching them in case something happens." the hyena shrugged. "She promised she'd get me a day off from Leona's chores next weekend. So I figured why not? As long as it doesn't mean I get to do his laundry, I'm cool with anything!"

"Also, I think we need to be careful. Heard there's a group of thieves running around the town pilfering from others." Deuce whispered as he checked his Magicam feed. "We should keep our eyes peeled."

"Pfft, as if! The only thieves we got are in the school grounds!" Ace snickered. "Plus, they're gonna be sorry they cross paths with us!" he cracked his knuckles.

"You're not fighting! Respect your title as a student!" Deuce chided. "You want to be expelled?!"

"He's right." Jack nods. "We can't be fighting all the time. Especially if it's coming from someone who used to be one himself back then."

"HEY!"

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After the brief lunch, the trio decided to walk around town, Cheka skipping down the street as Charlie and Leona walked a few feet away, just to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"HA! I know this part of town!!! There's been something I've been wanting to buy!!" Cheka squealed and ran off to a small shop nearby. With a brown spanish-tiled roof and plaster walls painted a delicate shade of terra-cotta, with a large rectangular sign that read "Raven's Wing Pawnshop".

"You want to buy something from this pawnshop?" Charlie asked as Cheka made his way to the windows in front of the shop. A stand with three tiers stood in the sill, showing off little novelty and rare items on their shelfs. But in the bottom row, the second item had Cheka's eyes glued onto it like Abu and the Red Gem in the Cave of Wonders. A statue of five lions, crafted out of blown glass and resin clay. Three of which stood on a rock, their heads raised to the skies, and two lying in front of the rock, facing one another, heads bowed in respect. Underneath a small cardboard stand-sign scribbled a front printed boldly was "5,000 M".

"Wow...." Charlie breathed. "That's beautiful!" she walks up to where Cheka is and squats to look down at the statue with wide eyes.

"What is it?" Grim asked, peeking up from the rim of the sill on Cheka's other side.

"A statue momma and dad had their sights set on back when Magift came around!" Cheka smiled as he remembered that day.

"But why would this beautiful piece of art be stuck in a pawn shop?" Charlie asked.

"Dunno! But when we rolled around the shop before the games, we passed by the same shop window and they began to talk about it!"

-flashback-

Farena, his wife and Cheka all stood outside the shop window, gazing in at the grande statue with smiles.

"Can't believe it's still here!"

"Me too, hon." Farena chuckled and kissed his wife by her temple, gazing at the statue. "One day, the statue will find it's rightful place in a home somewhere in this world."

Cheka had listened to them musing over the statue and his eyes glimmered with hope and promise.

-end flashback-

"How sweet! So you wanted to buy this statue for your parents to surprise them?" Charlie asked. They had just stepped inside the pawn shop to buy the statue, with Leona's money, and much to his chargrin, and Cheka left with more pep in his step.

Cheka looks up and nods at Charlie's claim with a cute closed-eyed smile.

Charlie felt her heart burst with happiness. "What a sweet little boy!!! C'mere, cutie pie!!" she kneeled down and scooped Cheka into a bear hug, the cute prince giggling with her into the shared hug.

"Ore-sama's getting a bit misty eyed here!" Grim sniffled as a small smile etched his face.

"Not me, though..." Leona scoffed. Cheka pulled away and looked up at Charlie claiming,

"Charlie! When are you and Ojitan gonna kiss???"

"Wait, WHAT?!" she jolted in shock at the blunt claim from the small prince. Even Leona nearly stumbled over his feet at the question.

"Dad and Momma kiss all the time!!" Cheka nodded his head rapidly.

"That's nice and all, but you know we're not your parents, Cheka!" Charlie got to her feet and looked away as a small blush emerged onto her face.

"Ojitan! Give her a smooch!" Cheka smiled and points. "On the lips!!"

"Gotta do as he says~!" Grim chuckled.

"You're way too young askin' for that kind of thing." Leona coughed a bit awkwardly, not looking at his nephew nor Charlie.

"Yea, sorry to rain on your parade, but that's out of the question! We're not even dating!!!" Charlie added. Cheka looked down, his hair hiding his eyes as tears welled up.

"B-But Ojitan said he would do anything I asked him today...."

Leona looked up and saw Charlie. He caught whiff of her scent and it radiated maximum anxiety waves and a bit more.....sexual shyness. Even the blush grew on her face, turning her face the shade of the inside of a watermelon. He rolled his eyes and brought up his signature smirk. "Oh well, not like it's gonna kill us or anything...." he started to approach her.

"Yea! Totally! Hold on a minute!!" she whirled around at his claim, wide eyed. "I thought we said we'd never do that!" But before she could say another word, she was thrown up against the wall, a pair of arms trapping her on either side. She squeaked in fear and looked up to see Leona's eyes glint with a predator-like snide. He grinned, a flash of his pointed canines showing from underneath his lip. "W-W-W-Whoa...you're not really planning to go through with it.... are you????" she felt her voice shake as she realized what was going on.

"Hmph.....depends if you want me to....Charlotte~." he smirked, his voice low and grovely, sending shivers down her back. She felt as if his animalistic side was coming out to seduce her and she felt.....a bit flustered and charmed by it. She could get lost in his eyes forever....

Leona tilts her head up with his fingers and brings his lips close to hers, his breath ghosting over her lips.

Charlie closed her eyes and without thinking.....

She had grabbed Grim as a last resort and shoved him in her place, making Leona kiss him.

"This is why I wanted to stay in today...." her voice shook as she felt her face heat up again.

Cheka laughed from the scene that unfolded. "That's good enough I guess!" But then he gasped as he felt the weight of the statue leave his hands. "It's gone!!!"

"Huh?!" Charlie looked over to see the statue Cheka had was gone from his grasp.