Compass

Author's note: Hello everyone!

So, I finished Tales of Xillia (only Jude's route, though), and I absolutely fell in love with this game. I really like the characters and the story, and I particularly liked Leia. I think we're kind of alike, and I related greatly to her. After several ideas popping in my head, I've decided to give a try in this fandom. I haven't played Tales of Xillia 2 though, so the events in the game won't count.

And I chose an Al/Leia story because I really like this couple. I know that they seemed odd together because of their past, but to me it can be a good base for a relationship, and I can totally see them reunited after all that.

So; I hope you'll enjoy this little story starring mainly Leia in the first chapter, but don't worry; Alvin will soon come in her way.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Xillia series!

CHAPTER 1

« Dad, I need one Chicken Leronde please! »

"Right, 15 minutes to go!" replied an enthusiastic voice coming from the kitchen.

Leia stormed out the area, picking a dish standing in the counter to deliver it to the customers.

Smiling, presenting cheerfully the plates, she seemed to dance gracefully between the tables, completely at ease.

"Thank you for staying, I wish you a safe trip and I hope to see you again!"

Waving to the customers with a big grin on her face, she waited for them to close the door to let a sigh.

She did great every day, giving her best to help her parents, but she felt desperately empty. At first, she thought it was the aftermath of the journey that depressed her: it made a brutal change; being separated of her friends after all they've been through. So during the first week, she did her best to come back to her normal life, working at the clinic and giving a hand at the inn. Weeks turned to months, and she gave up her nursing job little by little, not knowing full well herself why she was dropping it.

In her letters, she justified it by the fact that she wanted to find her path in life and to prepare herself for her life as a wife. But as months prepared to turn in a year, she doubted greatly of her prior motives.

"Leia, can you help with the laundry? We're running low on clean sheets," asked her mother.

"Huh? Oh, right Mom!" replied Leia, her voice a little bit unsteady due to her sudden return to reality.

She ran to the unoccupied room to gather the sheets, bring them to the laundry and hang out the clean washing, trying her best to avoid her mind to drift away. Soon her task was finished, leaving her in search for other things to do : sweeping the courtyard, setting the dining room for tomorrow's breakfast, she was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

Her mother grabbed her arm while she was wiping the dust on the counter for the fifth time.

"Dear, you need to stop, or soon I'll only have a bunch of shavings for a counter…"

Leia jerked her head up a bit violently, like she had been kicked out of a trance, her eyes a bit unfocused.

"Huh ? Ah Mom, I just thought that it was best if we gave the customers a great first impression, and the first thing they see is the counter, so..."

"Cut the crap Leia. You've been quite odd lately, what's the matter?"

"Nothing very important, maybe I'm a bit tired, but that's all."

Leia averted her green orbs and dediced to continue with her wiping.

"You know very well that it's not true… Guess I'll have to do something drastic to have the truth, huh?"

Leia stopped right on track, glancing at her mother with a fearful look on her face.

"I forbid you to wander in the inn until you come clean with what's going on your mind. The only exception at this is the meal and the time you'll have to use the bathroom," stated firmly her mother, not leaving her eyes.

"But…"

The glare Leia received was enough to keep her silent. She dropped the cloth she'd been using, and headed upstairs to her room. Closing the door, she fell on her bed, sighing. That was the worst punishment her mother could give her. She always knew what to do to annoy Leia, so she could learn her lesson. But right now, it was the last thing she needed.

Her stomach rumbled loudly, making her sigh louder this time.

"And with all this, I forgot to take my meal… Guess I'll take a big breakfast tomorrow…"

She kept her gaze on her ceiling for a long time before sleep claimed her without warning her.

The morning found her exhausted: she had slept longer than usual, but her sleep had been troubled by dreams that left a strange feeling in her. She didn't even remember what those dreams were about, but they had left here with a strange impression, like she was trapped in a place, alone and without any solution left.

She felt nauseous and sweaty, tired and hungry. She couldn't wait for this day to finish, when she remembered yesterday's events. She felt like screaming in frustration, but restrained herself. That would be of no use anyway. So she settled for a hot shower, a good breakfast, and a day of hard thinking.

Closing her eyes, her mind drifted to what she had been thinking yesterday, while the hot water relaxed her muscles. She felt so out of place here that it hurts: she always did her best, and was convinced that there was a way if the will was sincere. She always made efforts to achieve her goal: the reeducation after her incident, taking care of Jude and trying to reach him, saving the world… She always does everything she can to help: that was how she had live so far.

But even if she gave her best to help her parents, she didn't feel proud of herself, didn't feel the positive energy run through her veins. Even if she realized that her feelings for Jude were not mutual, she still felt happy to have tried her best and didn't regret anything.

Her eyes snapped open: that was it. She fooled herself with a new goal without having thought seriously about it. She first wanted to go on with helping in the inn to buy her time to think, but soon it became a way to forget…

To forget what exactly?

"Come on, the hard thinking was supposed to happen after breakfast… At least, I have a piece of the puzzle right now!" whispered Leia, looking at the white tiles of the shower.

She went out after washing herself, and watched her reflection in the mirror. She had faint circles under her eyes, but it was okay. What point into masking it anyway? She would be stuck in her room, and she was tired of pretending.

She wasn't feeling well; she knew it and acknowledged it right now. It was time to think seriously about it and to act on it.

Turning around, she checked her scar on her shoulder: it was a morning routine, even if she couldn't explain why she was doing it. The wound was healed, the scar was noticeable but not ugly, but the memories were still vivid. She had to come to term with this too: she had pretended for too long that she was fine with all that, but she had still many questions about Alvin's reasons to act like that.

Yeah, that was it: the cheerful and carefree Leia died back there. This encounter changed her, and she lied to herself this whole time, thinking she could make like nothing happened, being the same old kind and forgiving Leia, doing her best to not be a burden in a difficult time.

Bur right now, she wanted, no, she needed to be heard, to put herself first, to move forward again.

She ended her morning routine by dressing up. One last glance told her what she needed to know: her green eyes were faintly sparkling again and her head was held high again.

"Here Leia, I made you a special breakfast!" said her father with a broad smile.

"Thanks Dad!"

She began eating, enjoying the taste of the fried eggs and bacon. It seemed to her that it was the best meal she had in a long time.

Her dad watched her, his smile tainted with worry.

"You know, I can talk to your mother about her punishment…"

Leia smiled: her father was always ready to protect her, even if it meant to undergo her mother's wrath.

"It's fine dad. In a way, I'm grateful that she decided that. She saw things that I didn't want to see… I guess I needed I little shove."

Her father looked at her with watery smile.

"My, my… You've grown up so much, Leia!" her dad cried while hugging her tightly.

"Dad… Can't….. Breathe…," gasped Leia while her fork dropped on the floor.

"We'll always support you, you know that, right?" asked her dad, tightening the hug.

Leia nodded, whispering a faint "yes", to avoid wasting her air.

Her mom came in, and shouted for her dad to let her do, scowling him for being too sentimental.

Leia laughed at the show her parents put on.

"Thanks… to the both of you. Mom, I'll say as you asked me yesterday. When I'll have my answer, will you hear me out?" asked Leia once the storm has calmed down.

Her mother grinned from ear to ear.

"Of course, silly daughter of mine!"

Leia took the path to her bedroom, ready to face whatever comes to her.