Chapter 1: A Storm and a Teacup

If it was in Leo's power, his first night spent in this wretched place would be his last.

Even by Nohrian standards the Northern Fortress was depressing at first glance, but now it was just downright terrifying. The long hallway he was lost in was shrouded in complete darkness, the storm raging outside the only source of light. The walls seemed to rumble with each clap of thunder, and every bolt of lightning threw distorted shadows against the walls and floors.

In spite of his less-than-stellar situation, he chose not to blame himself. Having read though the tomes he had brought with him (as he had predicted), he had no choice but to seek the sanctuary of the fortress's library. Sleep was impossible because he couldn't relax in a bed that wasn't his own, and wandering aimlessly was preferable to dying of boredom.

Well, at the time it was preferable. Now that Leo really WAS lost, he didn't find much comfort in all of the supposedly good reasons he had to leave the guest room. The library here was pitiful compared to the one back at the castle, but he had no trouble spending his time browsing the shelves and poring over its books. When he had realized how late it was, he hadn't panicked at the time because he was confident in finding his way back. Nearly an hour later, any confidence he had went out like the candle he had brought with him. His previous efforts to cast a simple illumination spell were broken by the chaos of the storm, and he lacked the energy to try again.

So here he was at the end of some godsdamned hallway, too tired to walk and too proud to call for help. Silently resenting the fortress's staff for doing a lousy job of night duty, Leo sank back against the pile of empty crates he had bumped into earlier. Soon enough his grudge went beyond the faults of the staff and shifted towards all three of Leo's siblings.

He blamed Camilla for saying he could only bring a few books with him, which proved to be a near-impossible feat. He blamed Xander for bursting into his room later, accusing Leo of taking too long to decide. And as if preparing for the trip wasn't bad enough, Elise didn't help the situation with her inane chatter about all the things she wanted to do at the fortress. But on the whole, Leo blamed all of them for being swayed by the staff's insistence that they stay for the night. If they hadn't been so preoccupied, his siblings would've noticed how late it had gotten and Leo would've been home by now.

Did anyone even know that he wasn't in bed? While he was in the library, did Camilla stop by his room to check on him? Or did Xander try to visit, wanting to apologize for being so curt with him earlier? As much as he wanted those scenarios to be true, Leo highly doubted that either of his older siblings even cared where he was. If they weren't already asleep, they were probably in the common room with Elise and his other so-called"sister", the one they had all been so intent on visiting.

"It's all HER fault," he said out loud, as if hearing it would make him feel better. "I didn't even want to come here." He could imagine the ire his words would cause his family, but he wasn't saying anything that was untrue. No part of him wanted to accept the older sister he never knew he had until three months ago.

Another bolt of lightning filled the hallway with blinding white light. Over the deep roar of accompanying thunder, shadows stretched across the walls again, looking more like monsters with jagged claws and pointed teeth, and then they sank back into darkness. This time, Leo quietly acknowledged that he was afraid. He was also just scared enough to admit that he wanted to be back in Windmire, in the comfort of his own chambers. The bed in the guest room was soft enough but the blankets didn't smell like his own, and the pillows had yet to be broken in. Back at the castle, he knew where Camilla and Xander's rooms were. Back home, all of his books were organized by date and author, and he didn't have to worry about choosing which ones to bring.

But all the wishing in the world wouldn't help anything, let alone himself. Looking for the guest room was pointless at the moment, so he would just have to wait for either the storm to pass or for morning to come.

After he settled his back against the crates, his ears picked up a noise. What he thought were footsteps were coming from the end of the hallway, soft but distinct. Finding enough courage to peek above his makeshift shelter, he called out to whatever was making the noise. "Hello? Who's there?"

If it was a person, they didn't answer, but the storm did. Its response was a swift strike of lightning and a clap of thunder so loud he felt the teeth in his head shake. Again the shadows appeared, leaping out of nowhere and towering over him. His imagination was running amok now, and he feared right then that the shadows actually were monsters conjured from another realm. Suddenly it wasn't so hard to believe that a mage was lurking in the fortress, having spent years waiting to exact vengeance for some ancient wrong Leo's family had committed.

He ducked behind the crates, fumbling in the darkness for a weapon. Of all the times to forget his tome, it had to be now.

Even so, he refused to believe that he was defenseless.

"My name is Leo. I'm a prince of Nohr," he muttered above the storm and his racing heart. "My big brother will be king one day."

His hands found something wooden, and he discovered that it was a broom handle when he picked it up. His swordsmanship was average at best, but he didn't have to be Xander to know how to swing a stick. "My big sister can tame wild wyverns." He clutched the broom handle to his chest. "My little sister needs me around to tutor her."

Again thunder exploded outside, shaking the walls and Leo to his core. He held his breath, his heart pounding in his ears when he realized that the footsteps sounded like they were coming his way. It hadn't been a figment of his imagination, but the fact did little to soothe his nerves.

"My name is Leo. I'm a prince of Nohr." He said, slowly rising from the ground, weapon in hand. "I'm not afraid. I'm not."

When the footsteps stopped behind the crates, Leo decided that he wouldn't hide anymore. He leapt up to his feet, the broom handle raised high and ready to smash over his attacker's head.

"Leo?"

The familiar voice cut through the fear and adrenaline, and he was quick to recognize Corrin's face. She was dressed for bed, her figure shrouded by a grey cotton nightgown. Her hair was partially pulled back, but some of it tumbled just above her shoulders in thick silver waves.

Gods, not her! He slowly lowered his arms, holding the broom handle all the while as he tried desperately to salvage his pride. "Why didn't you answer me earlier?!"

His voice was unfortunately raised a pitch, but Corrin didn't seem to notice. "If you said something, I couldn't hear it over the thunder." Her ruby red eyes drank the glow of the lantern she carried, holding him in confusion. "Well, why are you out here? You should be in bed."

Don't talk down to me, he thought, but he bit back the impulse to snap back. "I was in the library," he quickly said, setting the broom handle against the crates. "And then I took a walk to familiarize myself with the layout of the fortress."

"In the dark?" She asked pointedly.

"Don't you know anything? It's a training exercise." Leo asserted, hanging onto the scraps of his dignity like armor that threatened to fall apart. "In certain situations, a source of light will tell your enemies where you are. If your eyes are used to the dark, you won't have to rely on something that will give away your position."

Thankfully the candle he used to light his path was hidden from Corrin's view. Even better, she doesn't accuse him of lying. "Huh, that's actually really smart. But if you're done now, you should head back to your room."

"Didn't you hear me?" he asked, getting more agitated by the second. Don't let her get to you. "I said that I'm training."

"You shouldn't overdo it, Leo. It's late, and that storm's not letting up."

"I'm not afraid of the storm."

To his growing frustration, Corrin didn't budge. "I didn't say you were, but I don't think Xander and Camilla would want you walking around right now."

"How would YOU know what Brother and Sister want?" The mention of his siblings had the effect of rubbing salt in an open wound, and he couldn't keep himself from raising his voice. "It's not like you live with them!"

Under the orange glow of the lantern's light, it was easy to see the hurt that crossed her face, but he didn't feel a shred of remorse. How could this girl pretend to know what his siblings wanted when she didn't see them everyday like Leo did?

It doesn't matter if they like you more than me. I still know them better! His hands tightened at his sides, not caring about the slight difference in height between him and the girl. "Besides, I don't need anyone to watch over me. I'm strong enough on my own."

His fingernails dug into his palms, and he heard the tremor in his own voice. I'm not a weakling like you. I don't need coddling. "I'm going to keep getting stronger, and then when I'm old enough, I'll be fighting for Nohr!"

Leo hands were shaking now, and no amount of willpower could force them still. Every pessimistic thought he has ever had drove the words from his lips, and he didn't hold them back. "So you see? I don't need Brother or Sister to look out for me, and I definitely don't need you to, either. I'm…I'm a prince of Nohr. I'm not afraid of anything, and I can take care of myself…"

After his outburst the silence that settled between him and Corrin was stifling, broken only by the rumbling thunder and the sheets of rain that hammered against the fortress's walls. He thought that saying everything would've made him feel better, but now, he just felt empty. It was like the knot in his chest, the one that formed when his father had forced this girl into their lives, had loosened, leaving a hollow space in its absence.

But it was Corrin that confused him more than anything. Unlike what he expected and almost welcomed, there was no angry response on her part. Her red eyes just gazed at him thoughtfully, and he felt an odd twinge in his chest when it occurred to him that she looked sad.

When she finally spoke, he could hear how sad she actually was. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm NOT upset." Embarrassed and angry with himself, Leo tore his eyes away from her. "I'm just tired."

Fearing that he had just handed Corrin an opportunity in the form of his white lie, he waited for her to taunt him over his display of weakness. But against his predictions, what she said next was as jarring as the storm outside. "I know you're plenty strong. Camilla tells me so, and I've seen you train."

He raised his eyes to hers, his curiosity winning over his wretched mood. "You have?"

She nodded, and beside the wavering light of her lantern, she smiled. "Yes. I'm not allowed to go outside yet, but sometimes I watch you all when you're in the yard."

Stunned by her words, he had no idea how to respond. Perhaps that was why he didn't move when Corrin's hand reached for him, her warm fingers gently clasping around his. He froze from her touch, not knowing what would possess her to do this. They have barely exchanged more than pleasantries (forced on his part) and to him, she was little more than a stranger. In spite of his misgivings, Leo couldn't deny that the hollow feeling in his chest was slowly ebbing away.

"You're going to do great things for Father and for Nohr. I'm sure of it."

For a short while longer, he didn't move, transfixed by how comforting her small gesture was. It wasn't long until he regained his senses, and he tugged his hand from her grip when he did. No matter how genuine Corrin's concern might've been, he didn't want to look as pathetic as he felt.

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

She wants my help…? Although his indignation was overcome by his curiosity, he tried to sound disinterested. "What is it?"

"Will you walk me back to my room?"

He blinked at her request, wary that this was some kind of trick, or worse yet, an act of pity. "Why? You have a lantern."

She suddenly looked embarrassed, but her smile remained. "I still get lost here, especially at night." Her eyes held his, and it was maddening, but he couldn't find anything dishonest about the way she looked or spoke. "And I don't want to be alone right now."

As odd as it was, her admission of weakness made her appear vulnerable, but not weak. She sounded like she truly needed his help, and hearing her ask for it somehow lifted his spirits. To silence any other doubts that weighed over him, Leo thought about what his siblings would do in his place: Camilla and Elise would've been sad to see Corrin in distress, and Xander would've scolded him about the responsibilities of being a prince.

It was all enough for him to put aside his personal feelings and help his half-sibling out.

"Geez." He mumbled, moving to the girl's side. "You're a little old to be afraid of the dark, you know."

She giggled, the bright sound a small source of cheer in the gloom. "I can't help it. The fortress can be creepy."

Much to his relief, they left the end of the hallway that had been his temporary shelter. As his slippers and her bare feet padded softly against the cold stone floor, he remembered the frightening shadows that he had seen not too long ago. Suppressing a shudder, he decided to throw Corrin's earlier question back at her. "Why are you up, anyway?"

"I heard the storm. Around this time of year, they get bad, and…I was already having a hard time sleeping."

She wasn't saying it, but Leo knew there was more. Still, he didn't pry and followed her through the network of hallways that had been so harrowing to him before. He silently noted each door they passed, mentally retracing their steps so he wouldn't get lost here again. Soon he saw the door to his guest room and he burned it into his memory, intent on returning to it later. It was tempting to leave Corrin now for the warmth of his bed, but she asked for his help. No matter how much he disliked her, he hated leaving things unfinished.

Unlike their conversation in the dark hallway, no other words passed between them. Leo was fine with this, focusing on the task at hand. Occasionally he saw that Corrin's brow would furrow together, as if she was remembering which turn to take, but overall she seemed content with the silence, too.

Finally, they reached a staircase that twisted upward to the tower belonging to her chambers. His task finished, Leo was more than eager to go back to his own room. "There, we're here. Now—"

A loud rumble cut him off, and his cheeks flushed hot when he realized that it wasn't from the storm. Making matters worse, it was obvious that Corrin had heard his stomach grumbling as well. She was looking at him with wide eyes, and his cheeks burned from being on the end of her surprised stare.

Humiliated, he forced himself to look away from her while the heat slowly overtook his entire face. But as he struggled to regain his composure, he heard Corrin giggling again. There wasn't any malice in the sound of it, and when he found the courage to raise his head, she was looking at him with sympathy. "That's right. You didn't eat much at dinner."

He was too mortified to feign indifference this time. "How do you know that?"

"Because I saw, silly. After Jakob served the roast, everyone started eating except you. I hadn't even started on my potatoes when you excused yourself from the table."

He recalled the event she was describing. Leo had already been in a foul mood before they arrived at the fortress, and it worsened when Xander announced that they would be staying for the night. Thinking, perhaps a bit unfairly, that Corrin had manipulated his siblings into sleeping over, the peppery scent of roast beef and herb potatoes weren't enough to keep Leo in his seat. While his sisters fussed over Corrin, he had chosen to skip his meal for the company of his tomes, and then he had gone to the library afterwards.

Of course Corrin didn't have to know that, and Leo wasn't of the mind to tell her. Just as he was about to offer some excuse for his absence at dinner, a vaguely familiar voice called out to them.

"There you are, Lady Corrin!" Both their heads turned towards the hallway to see a boy running them. "I've been looking all over for…"

The taller boy's eyes widened in recognition when he saw Leo, and he quickly fell into a formal bow. "Good evening, Prince Leo."

Leo was impressed that even at this time of night, the butler was dressed for his duties; there wasn't a single wrinkle in his neat slacks, and his vest and white shirt were spotless. Although he wasn't that much older than them, this boy took his duties at the Northern Fortress's seriously.

Concern clouded over his half-sister's face. "Jakob, are you all right?"

"Hardly, milady," When the butler stood upright again, Leo noticed that he was out of breath and his long bangs were askew. "This dreadful storm woke me up, and I wanted to check on you to make sure you were well. When you were nowhere to be found, my heart nearly stopped!"

Leo's knee-jerk reaction was to reprimand the butler for how he was scolding the girl next to him. Even if she didn't live at the castle, Corrin was still one of King Garon's children. But before he could say anything, his half-sister cut in. "The storm woke me up, too. I'm sorry, but I couldn't get back to sleep or stay in my room after that." Her free hand clutched the skirt of her nightgown, but she didn't break eye contact with her butler. "I wasn't going to walk far, Jakob. Honest."

Her visible guilt brought out sympathy from the butler. With a deep sigh, his expression softened with a half-smile. "I'm just glad that you're safe. But if I may ask, what is Lord Leo doing with you?"

Corrin's lips broke into a sheepish smile. "I bumped into him along the way, and he was just walking me back!" There was no mention of her finding him behind some boxes, nor of him almost swinging a broomstick at her head. Thinking neither detail was crucial, Leo didn't go out of his way to correct her.

"Honestly, Lady Corrin. To walk around in the dark is one thing, but to walk around and get lost is another…" Jakob's shoulders heaved with another sigh, and then his face was set with purpose. "Well, I must be off to tell the others to call off the search."

"Oh, I'll go with you—"

Leo was stunned again when the butler rebuffed Corrin's request. "I ask that you stay in your room."

Stubbornness or determination, Leo couldn't tell which, flashed in his half-sister's eyes. "It doesn't sound like you're asking at all. And anyway, they're looking for me."

"It may be a while until I find either of them," the boy responded, holding firm. "Flora most likely went down to the kitchens to search for you, and gods know where Felicia is. I hope to not find her on the roof."

The lantern in Corrin's hand swung as she took a step towards her butler, ready with another protest. "That's all the more reason to go with you! I can't just stay back while they can be anywhere!"

Having been trained in the art of war, Leo knew a battle when he saw one. He didn't expect such a spectacle to unfold in this manner, and as he watched the back-and-forth with mild interest, he wasn't sure what surprised him more: his tenacious half-sister or her defiant butler.

From a tactician's standpoint, morning would've arrived before either opponent admitted defeat. A break in this petty battle was contingent on the arrival of a third party, and he was too tired to wait around all night for it to appear.

Must I do everything?

"Sister, I'm hungry."

As he predicted, his words caught both of their attention, but they seemed to have a stronger effect on Corrin. When her eyes lingered on him in astonishment, Leo knew she realized what he had done.

He had just called her "Sister" for the first time.

"I'm sorry, I almost forgot." She turned away from Jakob, and Leo's cheeks felt warm knowing that her attention was solely on him now.

"If I may," Jakob piped up, his voice bright with optimism as he seized this opportunity. "I thought you might have been hungry, so I brought a pot of tea and some cookies to your room."

In an instant, Corrin's face lit up. "You mean the jam-filled thumbprints?!"

Despite their earlier verbal sparring, the butler smiled. "The very ones. Why don't you entertain Lord Leo for a while?"

"I guess I could, but…" The excitement on his half-sister's face darkened again, and a sliver of disappointment crept into Leo when he feared that his tactic wasn't working. "When you find Flora and Felicia, will you come see me?"

"Of course, milady. Leave it to me." Jakob ended the conversation with another bow to both of them, and without wasting another second, he took off.

Corrin's eyes remained on her butler's back until he disappeared into the shadows of the long hallway. When they could no longer hear his nimble footsteps, she finally spoke. "Come on, let's get you a snack."

Avoiding his sister's gaze, he looked down at her bare feet instead. His stomach didn't need to growl again to tell him that he wasn't going to reject her offer. "I'm not going to stay long," he told her and himself. "I'll just have ONE cookie."

Trying to bask in his small victory over Corrin and her butler, Leo followed her up the winding stairs. With each step the wind howled mournfully outside, and the thunder went off with such ferocity that he almost forgot he wasn't afraid of storms.

To take his mind off the weather, Leo asked, "Why do you want the servants to see you?"

"Because I need to apologize." She answered, her hands carrying fistfuls of her nightgown so she wouldn't step on the hem. "I'm the reason they aren't in bed now. I can't relax knowing that they're scrambling to find me."

Even with her back to him, Leo didn't have to face her to know that she was telling the truth.

When they reached the top, he was almost out of breath whereas Corrin was unaffected by the steep climb. As he silently cursed his apparently inferior stamina, his thoughts went back to what had happened downstairs. The wide-eyed, stupid look she gave when he called her "Sister" made Leo feel so embarrassed, but it couldn't be helped. She had forced his hand, and…he was really, really hungry.

Hoping his empty stomach wouldn't betray him again, Leo waited as Corrin turned the iron handle of the door and opened it. The comfortable warmth of a fire hurried out to wrap around him, and his aching limbs welcomed it wholeheartedly. After he stepped inside, Corrin shut the door and immediately started for the table at the foot of her bed. He saw that there was a lightness to her steps that wasn't there before, like she was looking forward to something.

As she set down her lantern, he took in his surroundings and found that this place was as spacious as any of the royal bedchambers in his father's castle. The wood and stone of the furniture took on a rosy color under the firelight, and the plush red carpet that blanketed the floor gave the room a cozy look. Several tomes lined the bookcase against the wall, and toys were neatly arranged in one corner next to an ornate chest. The sheets on the king-sized bed were the only things that were untidy, having been thrown aside when Corrin left for her walk.

Then Leo's eyes went to the windows, and he noticed the iron bars positioned over the glass.

"Oh, he even left some of the cinnamon cookies!" Corrin's voice broke over his thoughts, and he shifted his gaze from the imposing windows to the table. There, a platter piled high with the cookies her butler had mentioned was set on top of the cloth, and his half-sister was waiting with a teapot in hand.

He went to the table and sat down in the chair across from her. When he was seated, Corrin began pouring the tea. Curiously enough, she watched the dark liquid with the intensity of a studious pupil, her lips set in a firm line. When the tea almost reached the brim of his cup, a small sigh escaped her. "Jakob makes this look so easy!" She then moved onto her own cup, still looking focused. "It's hard to pour without letting any of it splash."

When Corrin took her own seat, Leo picked up his drink. The steam rose from the piping-hot liquid, filling his senses with the scent of vanilla and honey. Enticed by the smell, he took a sip. Floral notes and a hint of sweetness bloomed across his tongue as the tea went down smoothly, sending a pleasant warmth down his throat and across his chest.

Encouraged by the perfectly brewed tea, Leo eyed the platter of cookies with renewed interest, and he chose one of the jam-filled cookies that Corrin had mentioned so fondly. When he bit into it, he tasted toasted hazelnuts and perfectly tart raspberries.

"Your butler MADE these?" He blurted out, astounded by how good the cookie tasted.

Corrin smiled as she reached for a round cookie speckled with cinnamon. "Yes. He made everything from scratch, including the jam!"

Leo chewed thoughtfully, remembering scraps of gossip he had heard back home. The maids had mentioned a boy who had failed in every possible way that a butler-in-training could. Before he could be turned out to the streets, he had been assigned to the Northern Fortress where he was expected to fail as well.

As Leo reached for his second snack, this time choosing one of the cinnamon-dusted cookies, he knew that the boy had drastically improved. More interesting than that, Jakob had displayed a devotion to Corrin that went further than a servant's obligatory duties to his master.

The possibility mingled with the taste of warm butter and cinnamon. Recalling the argument between Corrin and Jakob, a particular detail stood out in his mind. "You lied to your butler, didn't you?"

Corrin looked up from her tea, her hand paused in midair with another cookie between her fingers. "Huh?"

"You told him the storm woke you up, but you told me that you were already having trouble sleeping." Leo pointed out, watching the girl's reaction. "Which is it?"

"It wasn't a complete lie…" She trailed off, and then a defeated look settled over her features. In the firelight, the glow of the flames flickered with something darker in the red depths of her eyes. "You don't miss anything, do you?"

"No, I don't." He said, pushing away the guilt his own actions brought out in him. He had almost hesitated to act on his suspicions, but his curiosity over his half-sister's actions proved too strong. "I think you'd be used to the storms by now because you've been here for a while. So why did you really leave your room?"

Even when she was at the receiving end of his accusation, Corrin didn't show any signs of anger. He almost wished she did: he would've finally had a good enough reason to dislike her. But instead of lashing out like he almost wanted her to, the girl's face took on a more solemn expression. Her hand lowered onto the tablecloth, the uneaten cookie still between her fingers. "I had a weird dream."

"You mean a nightmare?"

"I'm not sure." Corrin bit her lip, and Leo watched her struggle to remember. "Someone was yelling, but it was so dark that I couldn't find them. All I remember seeing was this…hand, I think, reaching for me. When I tried to get away from it, I couldn't move, and it kept getting closer and closer."

Leo didn't miss the small shudder that her shoulders gave, and he tried to ignore the chill that her story was sending down his own spine. Her eyes lifted from her tea cup to him, and somehow, she looked a little younger than she really was. "Just when it was about to grab me, I heard the thunder. When I woke up, I was shaking so hard, and I couldn't stay here any longer."

She said that she didn't want to be alone… Leo looked away from her, unsure of what to say because he knew the rest of it: Corrin walked down from her tower, found him in a hallway and here they were. He was tempted to know more about her dream, but he hesitated, fearing that seeking answers would trigger some kind of unpleasant memory for her. By Father's orders, Corrin had to live in this fortress and be guarded at all times. He didn't know why that was, but Leo had to believe there was a reason for it.

"I'm not really sure what my dream was about, but I'm glad I woke up."

The shift in her voice was distinct: she had sounded so gloomy, but now she sounded at peace. Not knowing what was behind this change, Leo looked up at her again to find his half-sister smiling.

Her behavior caught him off guard, but he found his own voice soon enough. "Why is that?"

"Because you're here now," she answered cheerfully. "This is the first time that we're having tea together. If I hadn't woken up, I would've missed this."

After her silly declaration, Corrin's focus went back to the cookie she was holding. As his sister ate, Leo turned the tangled mess that was his thoughts over in his head. Until now, he had never gone out of his way to find out what kind of person she was. He had kept his distance, his attention always caught between the dusty pages of a tome and his own petty jealousy.

But now, spending time with Corrin had shown him things he would've never learned about her otherwise. He learned that she liked sweets, jam-filled cookies in particular. He learned that she was a light sleeper and that she had nightmares, just like anyone else. And by the way she talked to him and her butler, Leo found that she was unabashedly honest and nicer than he wanted to admit.

Tonight, he learned more about Corrin as a person. Knowing what he did now, he didn't like the idea of her being alone.

"I guess it can't be helped." He felt her gaze on him as he reached for his tea again. "I'll stay with you until your butler comes back."

He knew that she was smiling, and when he looked at her to see it, he did his best to ignore the warmth that rose to his cheeks. "I'm bored. What do you do to pass the time here?"

After throwing around ideas like reading and drawing, they settled on a game of chess. When Corrin took out the board, they moved their impromptu tea party to a space closer to the fire. It didn't take long for him to learn that she wasn't the best chess player, but he didn't hold it against her. It was enough for Leo to see that she was trying her best, and he just liked being in a warm room and sharing cookies with her.

As the hour stretched on and the storm died around them, Leo decided that this was the most fun he has ever had at the Northern Fortress.

Writer's Note: So there it is, my very first Fire Emblem fanfic. I didn't plan on writing any until I fell into the rabbit hole that was Leo x Corrin (they're too cute together). I hope you liked it, and thank you for reading. More to come!