87.Dramatic
Inside car --
The moment Marcelline settled into the passenger seat, Leo closed the door gently and walked around to the driver's side.
He glanced at her as he started the engine.
Marcelline leaned her head back, letting out the smallest sigh.
Leo smirked.
Leo:
"Long day, princess?"
Marcelline narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don't call me that."
Leo shrugged.
"You walk like royalty, look like royalty, act like royalty—so… princess."
She glared.
"Leo."
He grinned wider.
"Yes, your highness?"
She groaned and turned her face toward the window.
---
He started driving, the city lights passing like ribbons of gold on the windows.
Leo sneaked another look at her.
Leo:
"So… first day of college. How many fainted?"
Marcelline didn't look at him.
"Two."
He burst out laughing.
Leo:
"Two?! That's actually lower than I expected."
Marcelline crossed her arms.
"I wasn't trying to make anyone faint."
Leo smirked.
"That's the problem. You don't try. You just exist."
She shot him a warning glare.
Leo kept teasing.
Leo:
"Heard someone cried?"
Marcelline's jaw tightened.
"One girl teared up because her eyeliner wasn't good enough today. Apparently I 'destroyed her confidence.'"
Leo placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
Leo:
"You're a menace to society."
Marcelline exhaled loudly through her nose.
He laughed again, eyes gleaming with amusement.
---
Leo:
"And what about the boy who confessed his eternal loyalty in the hallway?"
Marcelline's eye twitched.
"He said he would gladly be my servant for the rest of his life."
Leo slammed the brakes just enough to make her jolt slightly.
He stared at her.
Leo:
"You didn't say yes, right?"
Marcelline scoffed.
"Are you stupid?"
Leo leaned back, satisfied.
"Good. I'm already your full-time babysitter. Don't need competition."
She deadpanned.
"You're not my babysitter."
Leo grinned.
"Says who? I feed you, I drive you, I stop you from killing annoying humans—"
Marcelline kicked the back of his seat.
"OW—! Okay, okay!"
---
Silence filled the car for a few seconds.
The city noise softened behind them.
Marcelline looked out the window, the faintest vulnerability in her eyes.
Marcelline:
"…It was too much today."
Leo glanced sideways.
His teasing tone melted away, replaced by something warm.
Leo:
"I know."
She kept staring outside.
"All the attention. All the whispers. It felt… loud."
Leo softened completely.
Leo:
"You handled it better than anyone else would. Don't underestimate yourself."
Her fingers tightened on her skirt.
Leo continued gently.
Leo:
"And hey… if it gets too much, I can always scare them a little."
She turned to him slowly.
Marcelline:
"Leo. No."
He smirked.
"Kidding. Mostly."
She shook her head, but a tiny smile tugged at her lips.
Leo caught it.
Leo:
"Aha. You smiled."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Shut up."
He laughed softly, the sound filling the car like warm sunlight.
---
ARRIVAL AT VILLA --
The car rolled to a stop outside the elegant villa.
Leo unbuckled first and walked over to open her door — an old habit he never dropped.
She stepped out gracefully.
Leo leaned against the car with a teasing tilt of his head.
Leo:
"So, princess… ready for day two tomorrow?"
Marcelline shot him a deadly look.
But her voice held a softness he almost missed.
Marcelline:
"…Thank you, Leo."
His teasing expression softened instantly.
Leo:
"Always."
She walked inside, her silhouette glowing under the evening lights.
Leo watched her for a moment, something protective and ancient flickering in his eyes.
Then he smirked again.
Leo (muttering):
"And she calls me dramatic."
He followed her inside.
---