I actually cleaned my lines for once AAAnd I’m fashionably late as usual. Buy me coffee!
@leonilesweek Day 1: Meeting
So I have no end of headcanons for that fateful night in Castle Krakenburg. It’s probably the one instance that I could write in a hundred different ways. I’ve always thought of Leo as feeling left behind by his siblings and obviously neglected by his father. I like the idea of him making the choice to make Niles his retainer in a perfectly reckless and terrible moment. If Niles wants to die, then why couldn’t he be his entire reason to live?
He was filthy, covered in cuts and bruises of varying states of healing. The tunic he wore barely stayed in place by virtue of the belt strapped high upon his waist. Leo also noted that the man likely would've stood a full head taller than him if only he could stand. Someone's weathered knife protruded from the intruder's thigh, clearly making it either impossible or extremely painful for him to do that. Surely, he would've tried to make a run for it by now if he could have.
Niles knew that he was nothing but canon fodder now truly and fully betrayed by the other thieves he’d been with. Kept alive by scraps and begging. Lost dignity and body parts to inconsequential mistakes and their so-called leader’s short fuse. Now, he’d just be tossed somewhere to rot and probably end up in a flashy public execution-- King Garon seemed fond of that kind of thing these days. He drew in a ragged breath, dirty hair like dusty starlight obscuring his eyes as he spoke.
"Kill me." Leo was a bit taken aback.
His brow shot up, emotion etched clearly on his face. He nearly felt pity, but no-- nothing so simple. Was it kindness to give the man his wish? Leo was the faceless younger son of a monarch gone ma. He couldn't risk making a choice that made him seem weak.
"Tell me your name." Leo demanded, kneeling down to face the thief as he tucked his housecoat in around him.
"I’m... I’m Niles. Please. I'm begging you. Just kill me. It would be an honor to see something so beautiful in my last moments." Again, the prince blinked and watched the intruder in the shifting shadows, too stunned to think clearly after that comment.
Niles knew now what they meant by the divine right of kings. They were descended from dragons or gods, or dragon gods-- weren't they? This prince, as he was certain he was just at a glance, was without a doubt divine. He was everything that Niles had ever feared of divinity as a child: a swift and merciless judge, and as beautiful as sunlight. His heart raced, but he did not tremble.
"Death is a mercy. You ask mercy of a Nohrian prince?" There was laughter in Leo's voice, but it was unclear as to whether it was cruel or not.
A shudder ran through Niles' body, his hair standing on end and he licked his dry lips.
Leo leaned forward and lifted the thief's chin with fingers so delicate they felt like warm silk to his skin, that had so often known pain rather than gentleness.
Baffling. This man did not tremble, did not weep or grovel. He asked only for one thing. Was his plight so hopeless? Well, getting left behind in the keep of the most feared dynasty on the continent was certainly reason to abandon all hope. Leo shook his eyes, mahogany meeting dusty blue. Leo knew in that moment that he had to have him.
"I would not sully my good name. I am Prince Leo of Nohr, and you will address me as "your Highness" or "Lord Leo" is that understood?" He asked, voice low and as dangerous as the knife lodged into Niles' flesh.
"Yes, Lord Leo." Niles found himself saying. It was clear that he had lost all will to fight; that he had nothing to live for.
"Do you crave the darkness? The sweet embrace of death?" Those long fingers caressed the underside of Niles' chin as though he were a treasured pet already. The thief gave a small nod, unable to break his gaze.
"Then you will follow me. You will serve me with both your soul..." he gave a sinister pause, "And your body. And I will show you the path of darkness."
"Yes, Highness."
Leo hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. He hadn't even made any of his words magically binding-- but perhaps Niles was just desperate for structure, for something to cling to. And Leo would not deny longing for the same thing, ever feeling left behind by his siblings who were tied up in his father's wars and obsessing over Corrin.
Something-- nay, someone, of his own.
"Pledge yourself to me, Niles. Make a pact with me." Niles still couldn't break away from the entrancing gaze holding his, the shivers he was wracked with probably caused by shock and blood loss-- but he believed they were all in Leo's hands.
"Yes, yes my Lord. Anything." He paused, choking as he tried to come up with something with enough gravity to swear. "My life has no meaning to me. I already cast it at your feet. I will do anything you ask of me. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. I will use every skill in my arsenal to thank you for your kindness."
"Oh Niles, kindness? No, I will work you to the bone. You will know true suffering, and you will repent for your evil ways... Save for when I want to make use of them." A wicked smile split Leo's angelic features. "But I will never abandon you. I will never leave you to founder alone. I will be ever at your side. That is our pact."
Niles nodded again, light headed and dizzy.
There were sounds of commotion outside, likely the castle guard making sure everything was fine after sighting intruders. Absentmindedly, Leo wondered if anything had been stolen. He hadn't yet been allowed to take a retainer. His father was infuriating, pawing through everything, wanting control of everything. But if he made this pact and sealed it in blood as was their tradition, there would be nothing anyone could do to stop it.
"In my veins flows the blood of dragons. Will you accept it and be bound to me ever more?" Leo asked shortly, the sound of armor and talking coming closer. There was a knock on the door.
Niles' trance seemed broken, and he looked sharply at the door, a spark of fear and confusion dawning on him. Leo grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Quickly now. We haven't any time." Niles nodded, and Leo drew the tip of his finger across his wrist. Magic sparked, and the prince winced, grunting as his skin split open as if a sharp knife had been drawn across it. A few moments later, blood beaded to the surface, then began to pour at a nearly alarming rate.
"Drink." The door burst open as Leo pressed his wrist to Niles' mouth, and he locked eyes with his frantic older brother as he charged into the room.
Leo was calm, a wicked, nearly cruel smile on his face as he slowly drew Niles closer.
"No--! Leo-- what is this madness?" Xander barked, rushing up to stop short knowing full well that what was done was done.
The prince's fingers passed briefly over the' bleeding wound on Niles’ leg, and he touched the thief's blood to his lips.
"He's mine now." Leo said simply.
Niles' strength seemed to be running out, and he blinked rapidly as he fought the urge to pitch forward.
"What have you done?" Xander breathed, shaking his head so hard that his pale blond curls bounced.
"Only what you have done, and Camilla. I have a retainer who will serve me." And I will never be alone again. He reaffirmed, and began to ignore his brother to tend to Niles' wound.
He was tired of being denied, of being left behind-- and now, he would never stand for it again.
