She would… She said that she would stay with him; why does he not believe it?
His eyes are fixed upon the cracks in the timeworn stonework, fingers gliding over the aging dust settled upon the small tea table in the corner of the room. Flames flicker and burn in their gold-encrusted sconces, two per holder and several holders evenly spaced along the walls. Draperies like cataracts, deep purple and heavy, hide the only window behind the folds in their fabric. The silence is suffocating, just like the castle in which it festers. His lungs release a stale breath they have been holding, and he glances over at Lucina seated on his duvet.
The sight of her makes his heart wring itself dry in his chest, or maybe it is the thought of her not being there tomorrow or the next that does it.
“What if your family leaves Nohr? Then… what will you do?”
He knows that he is not Lucina’s sole reason to stay; though selfishly, he wishes that he could be so important to the woman whose gaze never strays from his face. Her sister, her cousin, her friend — they remain here, for now, tying whatever loose ends remain to be tied. However, when they depart, how will her feelings for him change? Will he be enough to keep her happy? Or will she someday leave him, mournful over the lost time, time she has spent away from those whom matter most?
Those whom matter more. They are her family, after all.
“I can’t ask you to choose me over them.” Leo already knows how that would turn out.
he’s becoming even better at avoiding her gaze . sapphire blue & marked with the blood of naga , she doesn’t falter . lucina’s hands brush the silk against her thighs -- a dress that camilla gave to her . she recalls what the princess had said , it was an old hand - me - down that had been tailored for elise , one day .
elise was no longer around to wear it .
it felt odd , to be so familiar with leo , when she had come to this time with the same resolution she’d had the last time she crossed the bounds of time -- make no connections , leave no tracks . just like then , that plan was foiled by hoshidan - red strings and purple roses . his room was dark , with shelves and books lining the walls . the bed was perfectly made , aside from where she sat now , crumpling the blankets .
in the privacy of his room , she can speak frankly , secrets spilling forth from her lips without a lapse in trust , nor a second thought .
❛ if they leave ... i will say goodbye to them , for a second time . our bonds are stronger than the streams of time and the worlds that separate us -- that much has been proven time and time again . i’ll come to their aid if they should ever need it , but i’ve found where i belong ... finally . ❜
with a small smile , lucina slides off of the bed to her feet . her hands seek leo’s , lacing with his . she can see his insecurity , it hides between his words and just beneath his own gaze . there have been many times lucina had struggled with her convictions , unsure of what choice would lead her down the right path -- for once , she was sure . ❛ i still love them . i always will , just as you will always love your family , despite everything , but i don’t belong in ylisse . my halidom has long since been destroyed , and my parents have the lucina and severa of their time -- i don’t want to take any time away from them , after working so hard to create a future where they can be happy and safe .
if you’ll have me -- i belong here . by your side . we belong together . which means i have more family than just them . camilla and elise , you and xander ... are my family now , as well . and we will rebuild nohr , and make them proud . ❜
