So, not to be a bummer but I'm not super happy with this chapter. It's a little serious, but one of the first things I wrote for this character, so I wanted to include it.
...
They were on route to Lestallum to meet with some of Cor's friends. According to Noct, Cor had run into some surviving members of the Crownsguard as well, which would be a welcome source of information as to what had happened in Insomnia. Luckily, they had already been camped near the city when the call came so they could catch them before they left.
It was such a beautiful day that Prompto insisted on switching seats with Noct, so he could take sweeping shots of the landscape as they drove by. Leo held down his feet when he got so distracted that he was halfway out of back of the car. If it were anyone else, she'd be mad, but his excitement was too contagions. Besides, Ignis already had the role of mother in their group and gave Prompto an earful.
When they got into the city, Noctis looked to Ignis. "Hey, why don't we stay at a hotel tonight?"
They all looked to Ignis with anticipation and whooped when he nodded. "Yeah, soft beds!" Prompto cheered.
They then met up with the two Crownsguard soldiers in the market where Noct was told they were. They weren't of the highest rank, but any allies were welcome. The taller of the two, Claude, had to leave that night for business, but the other one, with fiery red hair, Ferrus, was in town for a few days. The boys continued to chat while Leo grew more and more tense without anyone's notice. Claude eventually took their leave, leaving them with Ferrus who captivated them with tales of their escape from the city.
It was only after a few minutes that Gladio noticed how quiet the normally vocal Leo was. He saw that she was looking anywhere but at Ferrus, and that Ferrus kept shooting her curious glances as well. "You two know each other?"
Leo turned a deep red, a remarkable feat for having such dark skin, while Ferrus smiled. The conversation stilled as everyone's attention fell to the two of them. "Uh—I—um…"
"Leo and I dated a few years ago." Ferrus explained, looking to her with a fond smile.
Leo's gaze was stuck on the ground as she visibly tied to not look at anyone. After a stunned silence, Noct laughed "Damn, you of all people had a boyfriend?"
"Shocking, I know." Leo snapped. "I'm going to go check in at the hotel now." With those words, she all but fled.
"C'mon man, did you have to make fun of her?" Prompt nudged Noct.
"I didn't know she'd freak out." Noct argued but looked at the path she'd left.
"It's alright, Prince Noctis." Ferrus said with a rueful smile. "I didn't mean to make her feel awkward."
"How long were the two of you together?" Ignis asked.
Ferrus rubbed the back of his neck and looked away as if he was reminiscing. "Almost a year."
The boys were silent at that. Noct and Prompto exchanged shocked glances. How was it that they of all people hadn't known that Leo had dated someone for that long? This would have been about the time she and Prompto joined the Crownsguard after high school. They refrained from questioning Ferrus on that topic further, and parted ways with him. "If you're still in town, we'll treat you to dinner." Gladio offered, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Least we can do for your service." Noct added.
"That sounds like a plan." With a final bow to Noct, he was on his way.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Prompto pulled on Noct's sleeve. "How did we not know about this?"
"I dunno, I didn't go around asking about her love life." Noct snapped back.
"Best not to tease her." Ignis warned the rest of them as they neared the hotel.
When Noct entered the room they normally stayed in, Leo jumped in surprise from her hunched position on the couch. She was fiddling with some tools in her lap but tossed them aside when she saw them. For their credit, Noct, Prompto, and Gladio followed Ignis's instructions… at first.
After they lounged about for a bit, Leo spoke up. "Hey, I think we should do that hunt tonight outside the city. It's the perfect night for it."
Noct groaned. "No way."
"Besides, we have a few weeks to complete that hunt." Ignis pointed out.
Leo was worrying her scarred lower lip. She nodded in defeat and plopped back down on the couch. "Also," Gladio added with a grin, "We're getting dinner with your boyfriend tonight."
Gladio thought that she'd turn red and yell at him a little. What took him aback was how Leo paled. "I—um—I can do the hunt on my own. I feel like killing something."
"Leo," Ignis turned from whatever he was writing in his journal and peered at her over his glasses. "If you don't wish to come to dinner, that's perfectly alright."
She gave a forced laugh, running a hand through her short boyish black hair. "You got me. Have fun."
They watched her all but flee the room. Gladio gave a low whistle. "That must have been an awkward break up."
Prompto couldn't take his mind off of how distressed she looked. "I'm going to go check on her." He announced, jogging out of the room. He didn't have to look far and found her on the roof of the hotel, leaning over the railing. He tapped her shoulder and she recoiled. "Leave me alone."
Prompto froze upon hearing the tears in her voice. "Hey, look at me."
After a moment of hesitation, Leo reluctantly complied, revealing her teary blue eyes. Upon being caught, she sobbed and buried her face in her hands. "What's wrong?" Prompto asked, immediately drawing her into a hug.
"Nothing," she said with a sniffle against his shoulder. "It's just me being stupid."
"It doesn't seem like nothing." He pointed out. After a moment, she drew out of the hug and wiped her eyes furiously, before resuming her gazing out at the city. Prompto watched her before it clicked. This was all related to that dude, wasn't it? He felt a bout of sympathy for her. Clearly, she was still in love with him. Prompto had never been in love before, but imagined it sucked to not have it reciprocated. "You don't mind me keeping you company, do you dude?"
Leo looked to him. "You don't have to if you don't want to." When he grinned at the subtle acceptance, she pouted. "Promise me you won't tell the others about this?" she indicated to her red eyes.
"Pinky promise." He stuck out his pinky for good effect. Leo laughed at that and wrapped her pinky around his.
They stood on that roof for a while, talking about mindless things. It relieved Prompto to see her go somewhat back to normal the more they talked. He had never seen Leo this distraught in all the years he'd known her. And he'd known her the longest out of all the boys. When he had the spare moment, he shot a quick text to Gladio, claiming to check his messages when Leo asked.
Once the temperature dropped further, Prompto nudged her. "Wanna head back inside?"
Leo was shivering in her t-shirt but seemed reluctant to leave her haven. "I don't look like I've been crying, do I?"
Prompto gave her a look over. "Nope, you look fresh as a daisy!"
She snorted at that but followed after him when he moved to leave the roof.
When they got back to the room, Leo was visibly surprised to see trays of room service and the boys dressed in their nightwear. "Um… what happened to dinner?"
Gladio shrugged and handed her a burger on a paper plate, which she took with some confusion. "Change of plans."
"I'm beat." Noct yawned unconvincingly. "I don't feel like going out now."
"We must comply to His Highness's wishes, after all." Ignis added.
"We'll treat the kid some other time." Gladio assured her before she can worry aloud. He clapped a large hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it."
A multitude of emotions crossed Leo's face, and Prompto worried she might cry again. But she nodded and plopped down on the bottom bunk of the bed beside Noct. "If you're sure… thanks." She looked to Prompto with that and he knew that she knew he'd arranged this stay in. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly but was glad to see that she looked to be in a better mood.
Prompto was fooled. And the rest of the boys were too for the night as they went to their respective bunks, Noct drawing the stick for the couch. It was the next morning when they set out that Ignis began notice that Leo was not acting like normal.
From his driver's seat, he spared a glance to her every couple of minutes. Gladio was absorbed with his current book, while Noct was snoring away. Leo was gazing out the side with a faraway look in her eyes. Her hand kept wandering to trace the scar on her lip.
He frowned as he continued inspecting her over the next hour as they drove out of Lestallum. While feeling awkward over encountering a past relationship was normal, this was a bit much. He had never seen Leo retreat into herself like this… as if she was afraid of something.
Ignis thought back to two years ago, when she had been in a relationship with this Ferrus. Leo, Noct, and Prompto had just graduated high school. Their group was just starting to form, and he didn't know her particularly well back then. There was that one time when…
Everyone jolted, startled, as the car swerved and Ignis made a sharp U-turn. "Wha-what the hell?" Noct sputtered, being rudely awoken.
"Surprised you woke up." Gladio joked, before looking to Ignis in concern. "But seriously, what's going on?"
Ignis didn't answer for a few minutes before a terrifying smile crossed his face. "Oh nothing serious. I just realised I forgot my notebook in Lestallum."
That was unlike Ignis. But still, no one protested. Ignis's notebook was too valuable in the recipes they knew it was full of. Still, Gladio noticed how tightly Ignis was gripping the wheel and the stiffness to his shoulders.
By the time they made it back to the scenic parking lot in Lestallum, the sun was about to set. By this time, Prompto was fast asleep in the front seat. Ignis parked properly then immediately got out of the car. "Someone's in a rush." Leo noted.
"It won't take long." Ignis straightened his coat.
"I could use the walk." Noct joined him.
"Me too." Gladio said, stretching out his long arms as he got out of the car.
Ignis looked to them but nodded. "Very well. Leo, you'd best stay with Prompto then lest he get confused." He said before Leo could think of offering to go with them. With that they were promptly off, leaving Leo watching them with a frown.
Gladio and Noct followed after Ignis towards the direction of the hotel they'd stayed in last night. But as soon as they were out of the car's sight, he made a sharp turn towards an opposite street. "Are you thirsty?" Noct asked, bewildered as they moved to a bar. "I thought you wanted to find your book?"
Wordlessly, Ignis pulled out his notebook from his coat pocket, before putting it back, resuming his path. Gladio and Noct were extremely confused as they followed after Ignis. Before they could question him further, they had entered the establishment. After looking about, Ignis found what, or who he was looking for. To their surprise, he pulled up a chair across Ferrus, who was nursing a mug of something at a booth by himself.
Gladio followed Ignus's example and slid in beside Ferrus. Noct opted to stand, confusion still displayed on his face. "Not that I mind," Ferrus said softly. "But I thought you lot were headed out today."
"We decided to take you up on the offer for dinner after all." Ignis said curtly.
"Uh, Iggy—"
Ignis held up a finger to silence Gladio's thought, which would have pissed him off if Ignis didn't look so grave. "I will cut to the chase," Ignis said, all pretences of formality gone. "Why is Leona afraid of you?"
There was a stunned silence at the table as that question rang through the air.
Ferrus blinked and leaned forward. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Yeah Ignis," Noct butted in. "That's a hell of a jump to make."
Ignis turned to look at the prince, making him flinch at the intensity of his stare. "Prince Noctis. You and Prompto have known Leo the longest, and yet you do not see it?" Before he can protest, Ignis asked a question that stopped him in his tracks. "Two years ago, do you remember when she broke her leg?"
He thought for a moment, then nodded, still not knowing what he was implying. Gladio however stiffened in his seat. The easy smile fell from Ferrus's lips as Ignis continued. "That was around the same time you broke up, was it not?"
"I see she's spreading lies about me." Ferrus said, face losing any kindness it once held. "I assure you it's not true. That incident was entirely an accident on her part."
A chill ran down Noct's spine as he finally understood what they were talking about. That time she broke her leg and laughed it off seemed so long ago. He dug through his memory and remembered him and Prompto visiting her in the hospital with a giant moogle plushie. He couldn't remember what she'd said, but suddenly he recalled how she stuttered over what put her there in the first place. He'd just assumed she had tripped somewhere and was embarrassed. He had no idea… Before he could react, Ignis asked "And the scar on her lip? Was that an accident as well?"
Ferrus scowled, answering Ignis's question. Gladio growled and grabbed him by the collar. "You bastard!" Ferrus struggled to escape Gladio's grip but was overwhelmed by the bigger man.
"Oh, of course you'd believe that bitch." Spite twisted his features. "Even if I did hit her, I promise, she deserved it."
Gladio was red now as he slammed his head down on the table. Other patrons of the bar cried out, but none moved to interfere as Noct in his anger drew forth his engine blade. Only Ignis sat still, his eyes the only thing betraying his fury. "Now, that is no way to talk about a lady."
Ferrus lifted his head as much as he could and grinned bloodily. "A lady? What a joke. Tell me, what's it like to share her between the four of y—ah!" his crude comment was interrupted by Gladio slamming his head down again.
Noct indicated to Gladio to lift him up. He looked dazed now as the prince stuck his blade under his chin. Before he could do anything, a new cry broke through the room. "Stop it!"
They all turned to see Leo rushing towards them with a bewildered Prompto trailing behind. "Leo." Ferrus groaned.
"Go fuck yourself." She said frankly, before grabbing Noct's arm and staring Ignis and Gladio down. "We're leaving, come on."
It took a few moments of insistence before Gladio dropped Ferrus ungracefully. To Leo's relief, the three of them followed after her as she left the bar. She saw Ignis leave some gil on the counter of the bar, the bewildered bartender taking it. Once they were outside, Prompto asked "What the heck is going on?"
Leo flushed, not wanting to relay what was going on. She saw Noct take Prompto by the arm and pull him to the back of the walking order. All she could make of their occasional mutterings were the occasional swear words. When the talking stopped, she looked back to see Prompto with tears swimming in his violet eyes.
But still, no one dared to talk to her. Her hands shook the entire way to the car, though from what emotion, was anyone's guess. Ignis chose to drive them to the nearest camp to the city, a few miles away. It was only when they were all seated around the campfire that Noctis finally spoke up. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Tell you about what?" Leo snapped. "It wasn't important."
"Bullshit." Gladio scowled.
Leo couldn't take all of their angry faces and was severely tempted to run away, but Prompto stopped her by holding on to her hand. "I'm sorry for not noticing."
She looked away from them. "I didn't want any of you to notice."
Before anyone could respond, Noct snapped at her. "You could have reported him! Cor would have taken care of the bastard."
Leo shook her head. "I-I doubt anyone would have believed me." Before Noct could shout again, she stopped him. "It was a very convincing break. I'm a clutz. It makes sense for me to fall down some stairs instead of… well…" she trailed off, unable to complete the thought, ashamed.
"Could you relay the entire story now, if you're comfortable?" Ignis asked, appearing to be the calmest out of them all.
If she was comfortable… what a joke. She didn't really have a choice here if she wanted them to stop looking at her like that. Moments like these made her wish she wasn't a girl.
"He was real nice at first." Leo began reluctantly. It was the first and only time a boy had paid attention to her. He seemed like he liked her for who she was. "After a while though, he started getting pissy over every little thing. I think he hated me being in the crownsguard, or something. I don't know." Prompto squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on. "I thought he'd go back to normal, but he only got worse." That was about the time he'd begun hitting her.
At first it was only gripping her wrist too tight, but it escalated to throwing a cup at her face, scarring her lip. Each time he went too far, he apologized immediately, showing convincing remorse. "I was dumb, and I stayed with him for longer than I should have." Her cheeks heated with shame. "But when I had enough and decided to break up with him, he was pissed.
"I was leaving the room, when he pushed me down the stairs." There, she said it. "He was nice enough to call an ambulance, at least." She shrugged. "He tried to apologise, but I avoided him after that and it worked." There was more to it than that. Her mom had found out about that situation and scared the bastard enough that he stopped coming by. "He left me alone from then on."
They were all silent as Leo finished her story. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at their faces anxiously. "Can we just pretend like this never happened?"
"Hard to do that." Gladio said. "I still want to go kick the shit out of that bastard."
"It's not his fault I was an idiot." Leo muttered.
"Is that what this is about?" Ignis asked, incredulously. "You're blaming yourself for this?"
At his look, she snapped. "Well, duh! I act like I'm hot shit, but I couldn't even defend myself back then. I was weak. So, yeah, I'm kind of to blame."
That was the worst part of all this, the real reason she froze up when Ferrus walked into her life again. It wasn't him she was afraid of. It was of what the boys would think if they found out what had happened. The last thing she wanted to be was weak, and that goddamned bastard had made her that.
"You're an idiot." Noct said bluntly. She winced and Prompto made a noise of protest. "What? She is. It wasn't your fault you got stuck in an abusive relationship, dumbass."
Leo could only stare at Noct dumbfounded. While he was harsh about it, his sentiment was surprisingly kind.
"And if you're weak, then what am I?" Prompto asked jokingly, prompting a tiny smile from her.
"Fine, I get it." She said, waving the two of them off. "Sorry for not telling you before. I thought it'd be humiliating, and oh look, I was right."
"There is nothing to be humiliated about." Gladio said firmly. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Leo let that sink in and nodded. "Alright." At least things couldn't get worse. She couldn't stop them from knowing, but they hadn't reacted as horribly as she'd imagined. "Thanks for…" standing up for me, "Thanks I guess." She finished lamely.
Ignis nodded, and Noct rubbed the back of his head. "Just say the word and we'll hunt him down." Gladio offered once again.
"Nah, it's fine." Leo bit her lip. "I'll keep it in mind though. Mind if I turn in early?"
No one begrudged her of that. Leo rolled up in her sleeping bag, surprisingly less tense than she'd been in the past few days. Yeah, things could have definitely been worse.
No matter what, it was nice to know that her friends cared about her and didn't blame her for her past as she feared they would.
Perhaps she'd be able to forget about Ferrus completely now…