leo and xander both growing up and never talking about it, but always being aware of the love they have for their sisters (camilla and corrin respectively).
they both recognise the guilt and shame in each other’s eyes, and there’s this subtle, unspoken, shared experience between them. until corrin comes back from hoshido and reveals her true parentage. and suddenly xander is walking around the castle with his eyes the slightest bit brighter, the crease in his forehead the slightest bit softer, and his shoulders held the slightest bit lower. he’s still tense and stressed (he is xander, after all) but he looks relaxed, if only the slightest bit.
and leo sees this. and it wrecks him. he can hardly bring himself to look at xander, without being reminded of his situation. xander doesn’t even know if corrin does or will ever return his feelings, but it doesn’t matter—the guilt that he’s always harboured about them, while still present, has been partially lifted off his shoulders.
and where leo used to have an unspoken bond of solidarity, he’s now alone, carrying feelings he knows are wrong and will never be right. a part of him hates xander for this, even though it’s not irrational. and he hates corrin for revealing it, or finding out, or just for her parentage in general—it doesn’t matter why, exactly. not to mention how he already feels about xander showering corrin with attention and camilla smothering her with affection while both ignore him.
the resentment he’d develop so quickly…. and likely never fully overcome. even if camilla loved him back, they’d have to live in secrecy and hope for the support of their loved ones. while xander could make corrin his queen, if she wished, and shout his love for her from the rooftops














