Chapter Text
Sahel and Ruggie, Ruggie and Sahel, its always been like that. Since Sahel was born he was taken care by ruggie like half of the kids in the slums, Ruggie is everything for Sahel like Sahel is everything for Ruggie. They live a hard life, but its okay because they have each other. Sahel helped ruggie in any way he can, wether its chores or stealing.
Sahel is not like other kids,literally. unlike the majority in the slums who is hyena beastmen, Sahel is a lion beastmen, but it doesn’t stop them from becoming family. Are they brothers? No that’s not quiet right, father and son? Close but not really but it doesn’t matter what label they fall under, they are still family regardless.
even if Ruggie come home with a runny nose and turns out to have a very high fever. Sahel consciously knew that he should do something. But his mind is still blank from incredulity. "What the?" he lets out, face streak with bewilderment. "Are you stupid? Who told you to work in the rain?!"
"Spare your dear family some pity, will you?" small mercies, he could finish his sentence without sneezing. Its short-lived, because barely a second after he sneezes.
"Hmph." Sahel huffed, "Just don't get sick next time." he shakes his head, exasperated.
"Aww, is little sahel worried for his dear dad?" a familiar grin appears on ruggie's face, blinding. And it would have been charming, if he had been literally anyone else.
"You aren't even my dad!" He argues, and shoves him almost-playfully-but-not-quite into the chair. "Just lay down, I'm gonna call grandma."
Ruggie sighs, a barely concealed exhaustion. "Thanks, Sahel." he say. Sahel didn't even turn back to nod back at him.
The moon shines, and time ticks forward. Supposedly. Because the thread unravels at the seam, and a time yet pass, loops back around in a neat little bow. Space and time has always been an interesting subject. Ruggie closes his eyes in exhaustion, and he does not know the difference between being granted knowledge or the alternative.
Sahel walks back in, and it would be to meet the same pair of eyes, the same person, but a different gaze.
"Oh, you're awake, I'm-" he announces, but Ruggie's eyes widened as if hadn't been expecting him at all.
"Sahel? Sahel it's really you?!" it's as if the earlier exhaustion had been nothing but hallucination, because Ruggie sits up and in a blur was hugging him. He ignores the sign of desperation in Ruggie's voice quite easily.
"What the?"
But Ruggie pays him no mind, going off on a rant, and he could only catch the tail end of it.
"Oh thank the stars, its really you, im not dreaming," he sighs. "wait-"
"Are you okay? did you dreamed about something weird?" because that would be the only reason, unless fever also comes with hallucination. In which case, he's not looking forward to the next time he'll have a fever.
"What year is it?" Sahel mentally adds a tally to the fever induced hallucination. How could Ruggie forgets what year this is?
"...oh, uhm. Its XX," he sighs, and adds, "What's wrong?"
And he went off a tangent again.
"XX? I still have time," he seems ot be weirdly deep in thought. Sahel just stands there, hesitating on the course of what to do exactly. "Wait, when is the royal dance?" its spoken like an afterthought.
"Why are you-" Sahel stops, and thinks that he'd rather not know. "It's like, next week." he answers instead.
"Okay, I do have time. Sahel, my sun. It's all going to be okay." Ruggie is weird. He says so in not as many words.
"What's wrong with you?" He scoffs, moving to go to the kitchen, before ruggie chuckles exactly before he did just that.
"Spare your family some pity," ruggie shrugs, and his smile is a little too knowing than usual. Sahel decides thats a problem for future-Sahel. "What's wrong with missing your own son?"
"You aren't even-" he stops. he weighs his option, and decides that no, he will not be doing this today. "You know what, whatever….Weirdo"
The hug lasted a long time, but Sahel doesn’t mind because the trembling shoulders of Ruggie says it all, Ruggie is crying muffled sounds of sob filling the awkward tension, but slowly the tension melted and Ruggie compose himself. When he pulled from Ruggie, his eyes puffy from crying but Sahel decided to not comment on that fact.
“Sahel listen to me carefully,” Ruggie started and Sahel did what was just told, he listens. “A few days again there will be people looking for you so, you must hide alright? I will help you, don’t worry,” Now that was alarming, Sahel doesn’t know who’s looking for him or why anyone would want to look for him.
“Next week is the dance, so I have to go within that days, when a tall buff white haired Wolf beastman come knocking to our door, follow him I can assure you he can be trusted, his name is jack howl he will protect you,” Sahel once again is thrown in the dark but nodded.
“Where are you going? Then?” Sahel asked, he deserve some explanation, Ruggie just smiled knowingly.
“The dance,” the blond said bluntly smiling as if he didn’t drop the biggest bomb on Sahel.
“THE WHAT?!,” Sahel felt like he was dreaming, maybe the one who has the fever is him not Ruggie because this felt like its stright from a hallucination “You’re gonna go there?! are you even invited???”
Ruggie chuckled and patted Sahel behind his ears. “Who says I have to be invited to enter kiddo?”
“Its the royal family’s dance for gods sake” Sahel tries to knock some sense to Ruggie. “I know you’re crazy but this is beyond life and death!” But Ruggie already got up, and walked out of the room leaving a bewildered Sahel.
“I will find a way, Sahel I always has,” Sahel hated the fact it’s true, Ruggie has always find a way whether it put himself in danger or not, Sahel sighed with a 8 year old comprehension that probably Ruggie didn’t want to go to the dance he just have to mak an excuse for him.
“...Fine…just take care of yourself,” Sahel hesitated, it’s weird to call Ruggie dad but “…Dad,” Ruggie’s ears perked up, and he chuckles he put his hand on Sahel’s Hair and ruffled earning a low purr from Sahel.
“Goodbye Sahel, remember our promise okay? I wont be gone for long take care of granmama and yourself,” Sahel nodded looking through the door frame to a slowly far away visage of Ruggie.
…
An hour turns to a day a day turns to days. 3 days, 3 days since Ruggie left the slums to take care of this mysterious business. And turns out he was right, there were people looking for him, but Sahel is smarter than them, he is the child of the slums after all. He will use his knowledge of the inner slums to his advantage even trapped a few man that were looking for him.
Children of the slums normally didn’t prided themselves in where they’re from but Ruggie does. He always say “No matter, where you are, what you have become, this slums will always be the part of your life forever, so just accept it and move on,” and it’s true, He is witty, smart and resourceful because he need to be, and so is Sahel.
“Grandma, what if he runs away forever?,” Sahel sticks close to Ruggie’s grandma, half of his face is tucked on her arm, “What if I’m too much of a burden,” Sahel has no reason to think other wise, he is a burden because for some reason or another Ruggie decided to adopt him and that means more mouth to feed.
“hmph no, Ruggie is not that kind of person,” Grandma say, “He loves you as much as you love him, because you are love,” Grandma added, Sahel couldn’t comprehend what it’s mean to be ‘love’.
“But-” Sahel immediately shushed by grandma.
“no buts! He cares a lot about you, that young kid does have some oh how do I put it unique way to solve something, either way,” Grandma reached out to grab Sahel “Don’t worry about him okay?” she hugged him.
A knock comes to their house, Grandma instruct Sahel to get ready to run if it’s one of the men that were looking for him, and she goes to open the door.
In front of her, a big and muscular Wolf beastman reside, he has white hair and yellow eyes which reminds Sahel somewhat of the moon. “Is Sahel bucchi is here?” The man asked his ears flicking lightly as if picking up every noise inside the house “I am terribly sorry, I am Jack Howl trusted aide of Leona Kingscholar he sends me to pick Sahel up under Ruggie Bucchi request,”
Jack..Howl, That’s what Ruggie told Sahel, “…im here,” grandma turns around, concerned her face painted with questions, “don’t worry, Grandma dad say I can trust him,”.
The wolf tilted his head to the side, as if a revelation hit him. “Lets go, Sahel, your father is waiting for you,” Jack offered his hand, extending it to Sahel but Sahel hesitated.
“What will you do if I don’t follow you,” Jack’s eyes widened, he then sighs.
“lord Ruggie… is currently sick right now, he wants to see you,” Jack say with a sorry on his voice, but this little lie shakes the whole foundation of Sahel. The image of a sick- almost dead Ruggie brings tears to the 8 year old, he can distantly hear, “Sahel…where are you…,” and a dying Ruggie on a bed.
“Sick? SICK?! DAD IS SICK?!?!?!” Sahel screamed, “WHERE IS HE?! RIGHT NOW!” Jack nodded and pointed to the carriage in front of their house.
“This way, Lord Sahel,” and Sahel follows him ever so willingly, but not forgetting to bid Grandma goodbye. Unbeknownst to him, Jack Howl is now currently trying to hold his laughter as if something worked out in his brain.
“if he don’t want to follow you, just tell him I’m sick,” Say a distant voice on the wolf’s ear, it really does work.
“What are you waiting for? Lets go!” Sahel exclaimed, standing in front of the carriage’s entrance, Jack followed him and sit inside the carriage, in front of him, Sahel kicked his foot awkwardly.
“So tell me,” Sahel catches the attention of Jack, “What really happen to Ruggie, how is he sick wait- don’t tell him I call him dad earlier alright?” it sounded like a threat more than anything, well how threatening an eight year old can be, Jack just sighed.
“I don’t really know, I just get called to Prince Leona’s Chambers and there lies what I presumed to be lord Ruggie Bucchi,” For a second Sahel breath hitched.
“Wh-what does Ruggie doing in the second prince’s Chamber?,” Sahel mumbled, all kind of imaginations popped up in his brain, could it be possible that he gets poisoned in the second prince’s stead? Wait does his fever has anything to do with this?, Sahel thinks hard on every possibility that could cause Ruggie to be sick and getting on the second prince’s bed no less.
Jack sit silently in front of him, he doesn’t know why he and only he that Lord Ruggie would trust. Prince leona even ordered specifically Him to pick up this little 8 year old. Jack glanced at Sahel, still deep on his thoughts, and noticed the little child’s determined eyes, Blue eyes…Jack is reminded of Ruggie’s own blue eyes, ‘they really do look like each other..’
The carriage stopped, and the driver notified with a muffled “we’re here!” from the front seat.
Sahel bounced to his feet and raced for the door, Jack stopped him, insisting that he will open first. The door opened revealing the lavish entrance to a big castle, garden and golden gates while mixed with the mountains in it, rather than building from the mountain, the castle looked as if it was carved out of a mountain. The trickling sounds of fountain accompany the calm night, stars hanging clearly but not as clear in the slums.
Far, in the entrance of the castle stood Ruggie, a mask still hanging on his head, and layers upon Layers or clothing covered his thin body. “Sahel!” he extended his hands to is side seemingly looking for a hug from Sahel. Sahel brings back his tears and runs to Ruggie, ignoring the Lavish castle while Jack followed behind him.
Sahel practically throws himself to the older man, and cries like a child while Ruggie hugged him and whispered reassurance. “You’re sick why didn’t you rest? what are you doing here? how are you here? Where are you the last 3 days? I- I’m-”
“worried? I know Sahel I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you anything but we’re here now okay, there is nothing to be worried, no one would hurt you again,” Ruggie hold Sahel close, unmoving for a little while, “And I’m not sick,” that earns a little Huh from Sahel. “I lied, hehe” Ruggie winked while holding out his tounge.
“You…Lied?” Sahel asked once more and Ruggie nodded giving him the signature chuckle. “Damn..you… I’M WORRIED YOU KNOW I ALMOST CRY FOR SEVEN SAKE I- huuu….” Sahel hit Ruggie repeatedly akin to a tantrum while he sucked in his tears.
“So this is the kid you’re talking about?” an unfamiliar voice catches Sahel attention, looking up he will found a tanned man, similar to him but also a lion beastman, his hair is messy and two braids hanging to either side of his hair, on his right eye lies a scar, not too deep but deep enough to leave a scar. His green eyes staring menacingly to the both of them, contrasting Ruggie’s and Sahel’s ashy blue eyes.
“Slow down, you’ll frighten him,” ruggie says with slight annoyance but not enough to be hostile.
Sahel tilted his head to the side, wordlessly expressed that he’s currently questioning who’s this man is. Ruggie laughed, and stood up to introduced him.
“This is Leona Kingscholar, your new father,” Sahel weighed the god awful statement of Ruggie, tallying it as a hallucination or joke but neither Ruggie nor Leona objected the “Joke”, “And this is my adoptive son, Sahel,” Ruggie turns to the prince and he simply nodded in return.
“Hello,” Leona greeted him, his laziness didn’t go unnoticed, “Take him inside, after he’s asleep we can discuss the Marriage,” Leona said simply then signaled jack to leave with him.
Jack bowed to the both of them, and followed Leona obediently. “That guy…lets go, Sahel,” Ruggie extended his hand and Sahel took it, Ruggie took them to what would Sahel guess is a bathroom, along the corridor adorned with various vases and paintings, Sahel itched to take them all for himself. The bathroom itself is pretty fancy, bathtub carved to the stones with intricate design along it.
Back in the slums, they would often bath together in a river deemed save enough to bath on, two times a week, maybe less maybe more. The slums wasn’t stranger with stink after all but now, Sahel is alone, taking a bath in the royal palace no less. “I’m sorry my sun, you must be surprised right?,” Sahel rolled his eyes signaling yeah-no-shit.
“Well, me and the second prince, we are in a contractual marriage,” Sahel took the time to decipher what con-trac-tual means, tasting it on his own tounge. Contractual is from Contract so that means…
“This is a beneficial Marriage?” Sahel Tilted his head, shampoo falling from his hair, and Ruggie congratulated him.
“exactly! Oh, my son is sooo smart!,” Ruggie cooed, “I help him and he help me, think of it as a favour trading okay?,”
“how long will this contract lasts?,” Sahel asked.
“Maybe 8 years, maybe until the crown prince take over the throne or…him…” Ruggie mumbled the last part, but Sahel picked up on it, he decided not to comment on it. “after that, we will live beside the beaches near our slum, helping the best we can for equality with the support of the second prince,” Ruggie leaned his arms against the bathtub.
Sahel thought of it for a while and ruled it out as a possibility “But does that means I have to act princely?,” He cringed at the idea. Its not the first time he met rich people they’re all entitled annoying and very bossy, he doesn’t like them, the slums doesn’t like them and the saying eat the rich is often taken literally.
“Just act how you always act, of course we’ll arrange an etiquette teacher for you, its just for a few years, Sahel if you don’t want to act the part I wont force you,” Sahel thought about it, if this is the price for a better life with also potentially improving the life for the slums then so be it.
“But how about the public, wouldn’t they be suspicious that some hyena popped out of no where and then married into the royal family?,” Ruggie coughed, and his cheeks is flushed a little.
“Hmm…what about you found out for yourself after the marriage?” Sahel raised his eyebrows noticing the strange acting from Ruggie, he just shrugged as Ruggie helped him get covered up.
The clothes, it’s clean and didn’t stink, it’s soft, is this what the nobles feel everyday? Sahel asked internally as Ruggie braided his long hair. He then gets lead to a king sized bed, Ruggie tucked him in and kissed his forehead.
“sleep, my sun, all of this just put faith in me,” Sahel held onto Ruggie’s hand for a little while and lets go, “No one is going to take you away from me.”
Sahel drifted to the land of dreams, the day has been taking a toll on him, slowly his consciousness slipped away as he closes his eyes for the night.
“Tell me your highness, did one of your lives worth a thousand and more of us? Why did our cry sounds different to all of you?”