Mirror, Mirror... (Father's Day Drabble)
((Today is feels day! Leon is just in a cuddly mood, I guess. It must be the holiday tomorrow, which is what this drabble is about. No triggers at all, not even depression unless visiting graves count there. I actually wrote straight fluff in a long drabble! Yay me! Enjoy! ♥))
He had decided to set time aside to visit both his father and Ashe's father, the previous king before him. It was the first time he had paid his respects to Raminas by himself. The late king had been a great man and fair ruler according to Ashe, but he had been assassinated when he least expected it by a man disguised as his loyal knight. Such a tragedy, and such a loss for Dalmasca.
And then, there was his own father to think about, the very man who raised him. He knew personally of how great his father was, strict but fair and always caring. His own death had been just as violent, slain while trying to protect his wife and children from being slaughtered. The form of his corpse lying in a pool of blood had never left his son's mind.
It was the least he could do to send up prayers to both worlds' respective gods, though he did so feeling nervous about both sets of deities. Would they even listen? Either way, he was a heathen or unbaptized. Would either man get to hear him?
Several hours later, he passed by a portrait of the late king as a younger man, paying attention to his appearance and body language. The young king could definitely see how regal he was and where his wife inherited certain features, but what truly caught his attention was his eyes. They were full of wisdom, determination, and pride, much like what he remembered his father having. The wisdom of life experience, the determination of having people to care for, and the pride of knowing they were achieving what they needed while growing in both. It was sort of like...
"Your Highness!"
The frantic tone of the maid over a familiar, high-pitched wailing nearly made Leon laugh as he turned around and saw what was coming toward him: his son, Rasiel, crying in the poor tired woman's arms.
"His governess is sick again today?"
"Yes, my lord," the young lady answered as he took his son from her arms. Aside from a few exceptions, Rasiel was turning out more shy than expected, especially coming from two stubborn, outspoken parents. Still, the baby slowly relaxed once he heard his father speaking to him to calm him down, even giggling as the young king played peekaboo for a minute or two.
On the way back to their room, he happened to cross paths with a mirror on the wall. He stared into the reflection and had to laugh to himself. Inside the frame was a young man with his own child in his arms and the same eyes as the men he had kept in his mind all day. A wisdom of life experience, a determination to care for those he held dear, and a pride in knowing both would be done and continuously get better. Rasiel gave a small noise of concern when he heard his father's laugh grow louder, but Leon only smiled and gave his son his finger to grip and play with while they entered the room to spend time together.
'I suppose I've joined both of you this year. Happy Father's Day...to all of us. I swear I won't fail our family or Dalmasca...or both of you.'
