Lessonshipping (Noa Kaiba x Leonhart von Schroeder)


"You're stupid."

The German boy frowned at the tone, but Noa doubted he understood the Japanese words.

Noa pouted from his spot, crouched on the floor and looking at the little boy laying on his belly. Noa had been shunted off into a side room once the party had started. Siegfried wasn't around today. Something about a cold, and staying in his room. Ha. He was stupid too, for not coming to this, because it was important. This was the day that Noa's dad was going to get the deal he wanted in America, and Noa was pleased that he had been allowed to attend, excited to watch the CEOs in action. That was going to be him one day. Siegfried shouldn't be missing this; Noa was the smart one for getting involved when he was so young.

But no, apparently, he was stuck in this little room with the four-year-old Schroeder boy. Siegfried wouldn't have been much better company, but at least he spoke Japanese and was somewhat intelligent.

Noa groaned and leaned back. His hands sunk into the plush red carpet. It was dimly lit in this room, the only light coming from a fancy electric chandelier. The light it gave off, though, was quickly absorbed by the dark wood walls and fancy furniture in varying shades of maroon and dark green.

The Schroeder twerp had already been in here when Noa had been dismissed. He was still laying on his belly in the middle of the room, scribbling across cheap copy paper with crayons that were missing their sleeves and smudged with other colors.

"You're stupid," Noa said again. "And your picture is stupid. And your house is stupid. Your country is stupid too."

The boy frowned again, but didn't look up from his drawing.

"You're really stupid because you don't even know what I'm saying, stupid," Noa said. "You're just a baby. Bet you don't know how to speak Japanese. I can speak German, but I don't want to. Because you're stupid."

The boy's crayon broke as it stabbed a hole through the page. Noa frowned at him. He didn't look up, though, and just reached for a new piece of paper and another crayon from the disorganized box of colors. He gripped the crayon with his whole hand, not like a pencil. This caused his lines to be really thick and dark, and his proportions to be sloppy.

"What are you even drawing?" Noa said, although he didn't really care, or expect the boy to understand. He was so bored out of his skull that he felt like stealing one of the crayons just so he could vandalize something.

"...It's a princess."

For a second, Noa didn't realize that the boy had spoken. Then he blinked out of his thoughts and stared.

"Wait...you...?"

"I'm not stupid," the boy said – what was his name again? Noa couldn't remember. "That's a mean word. You shouldn't use it."

Noa glowered at him.

"I'll use it if it's true," he said, determinedly speaking in Japanese to make it harder for him.

"It's not true," he said, looking up for the first time.

His hazel eyes were narrowed, and his bottom lip stuck out slightly in a pout. The effect was ruined slightly by the fact that his red bangs were totally falling in his face. Leonhart – that was his name.

"Yeah it is. Boys don't draw pictures of princesses."

"I do," Leonhart said.

"You shouldn't."

"Says who?"

"I do!"

"Well you're stupid."

"I'm not stupid!"

They glowered at each other. Noa's hands were balled into fists. This kid really was stupid. Noa wanted to be out there at the party, paying attention to all the "big-shots" and watch his father making his big deal. He wanted to know how to do that stuff, not be stuck here with a little kid who drew pictures of princesses.

He jumped up.

"I don't wanna stay here in the baby room anymore," he said.

He was going to walk out there and find his father, and do what he was supposed to do – learn how to be the CEO of Kaiba Corporation. Leonhart stuck out his tongue at Noa, and Noa stuck his tongue out too. Then he turned on his heel and headed for the door.

He peeked out into the ballroom. There were adults everywhere, dressed in tailored suits and slinky dresses. Everyone was holding a wine glass with some color of beverage inside, and if they weren't holding one, they were getting one poured or waving for an attendant to bring a tray over for a glass. Soft voices filled the room, echoing just slightly in the high-ceiling room. The giant windows showed off the night sky and the almost-full moon, light glimmering down on the extensive gardens outside.

Noa scanned the crowd for his father, but couldn't find the distinctive red suit. He poked his head out further. He stepped out into the ballroom, letting the door close quietly behind him. Standing on his tiptoes, he tried to see over the heads of the adults, looking for...

"Noa!"

The harsh voice caught his attention, and he glanced to his left to see his father stalking towards him. Noa brightened, and then withered as he saw the look on his father's face. The CEO set his wine glass down on a proffered tray before he reached Noa.

"What in the blazes are you doing out here, Noa? I told you to stay in the room. Out of trouble."

"I...father, I just wanted to watch you working, and..."

Gozaburo didn't wait for him to finish. He grabbed Noa roughly by the arm, ripped open the door, and pulled him back into the room. Leonhart glanced up at the sound of the door opening. His face turned a bit white, and he looked down quickly at his picture, as though pretending he wasn't there.

"Father, please, I just wanted to –"

Gozaburo's hand cracked against the side of Noa's face.

"Don't make me do that again," he said, his voice almost a growl. "Now you listen to me, young man, I've taught you better than this – you know better than to be so stupid. I know what's best, do you understand? You stay here until I say otherwise. Are we clear?"

Noa bit back a sob, his cheek throbbing, but he nodded.

"Yes, father," he whispered.

"Good."

He nodded curtly. Then he was gone and the door was closing behind him. Noa stood perfectly still. Slowly, he moved his hand to test the damage on his cheek. It wasn't bad. Father usually hit harder, so he hadn't been too angry.

The soft crinkling of paper caught his attention. Leonhart was sitting up now. He had his messy drawing of a princess sitting in his lap.

"Cinderella's mom hit her too," he said quietly.

Noa scowled. He hated the fact that he was almost about to cry in front of this twerp.

"I'm not Cinderella," he said. "I just did something wrong."

"Daddies shouldn't hit," Leonhart said.

"What would you know?"

Leonhart didn't quite answer. Then he stood up, bringing his drawing with him, and a fresh sheet of paper with him.

"I don't think you're stupid," he said.

"Well I think you're stupid," Noa said, sniffling slightly.

Leonhart offered Noa a piece of blank paper. Noa looked at it for a moment.

"Wanna draw with me?" Leonhart asked.

Noa glowered. But he accepted the blank paper.

"Fine," he said. "But I don't wanna draw princesses."

Leonhart smiled slightly.


A/N: I like writing about kids too much, especially Noa. Kid Noa is so adorable and sad. I wanna go hit Gozaburo now. Next is Leathershipping (Keith x Yami no Yugi).