#a flash fic! well a little more than 500 words but shh it's fine

[cerealmonster15]

Quiet Morning [LeoCay]

[Ao3 Link]

Summary: Cater wakes up after having fallen asleep in a certain Savanaclaw dorm leader's room the night before.

Cater knew he wasn’t in his own bed when he awoke. The pillows were a different shape, the blankets were a different texture, and the overall climate - even indoors - reminded him that he had not even fallen asleep in Heartslabyul last night. 

The firm pair of arms secured around his middle reminded him that he was also not alone when he fell asleep. The sounds of light snoring-

Wait. Not snoring. 

Purring?

“Oh, my god… ” Cater whispered as he squirmed around to try and find where he dropped his phone in the bed. “I didn’t know you could do that. Even Leona has a cute side, huh?”

“Mmph…” Was the reply mumbled against Cater’s back.

Cater just giggled to himself and reached over to run his fingers through Leona’s hair.

He paused when he heard a voice in the hallway.

“Hey, Leona!” Ruggie shouted through the door, voice growing louder as his footsteps approached. “You better wake up, ‘cause I’m comin’ in for your laundry.”

Cater again attempted to sit up, struggling against Leona’s heavy grasp. “Oh, shit! I gotta- I should, uhh…” he glanced at the door with a frantic expression, unsure of how he could leave without having to walk past Ruggie. The only other option was the window… Or maybe there was somewhere in the room where he could hide?

“....ugh, noisy…” Leona mumbled, releasing Cater and rolling onto his back. “What’re you makin’ such a fuss for?”

“Uhh, Ruggie?” Cater whispered back. “He’s about to bust right in here!”

“Yeah, so?”

“So he’ll see me!”

“...So?”

Cater looked down at Leona, blinking silently with confusion. “Uh, I dunno… I mean… Don’tcha have an image to uphold, being a prince and all? Like, people talk, y’know?”

Leona let out an exasperated sigh and trapped his arm over his eyes. “I don’t give a shit what a bunch of small fries say. And it’s Ruggie . He knows when it’s in his best interest to keep his mouth shut.”

“...So…?” Cater tilted his head, unsure of how to proceed.

“Ugh… Stay, go, do whatever you want. Just do it quietly.”

Cater smiled and flopped back down onto his back. As he scrolled through his Magicam feed, he felt Leona’s arms find their way back around his middle, and the snore-purring resume.

Moments later, Ruggie reached the end of the hallway, and the door opened.

“Knock, knock, I’m comin’ in! You awake ye- uh.” Ruggie halted mid sentence, eyes locked on Cater.

Cater stared back at him with a sheepish grin and wave.

Ruggie’s momentary look of shock quickly shifted into a mischievous grin. “...You find yourself a new roommate, Leona?” He asked with a teasing snicker. “Careful; I don’t think Riddle will let'cha hear the end of it if you try and keep one of his precious card soldiers, huh?”

A muffled growl was heard from within Leona’s pillow.

“Don’cha worry, boys. Your secret’s safe with me,” Ruggie said as he winked at the pair and scampered back out the door. “I’ll come back for the laundry when you’re less busy!”

Cater’s laughter joined Ruggie’s. Leona wordlessly and grumpily tugged Cater back into his arms, once again resuming his attempt to sleep away the morning.