DUN DUN! Prepare yourself for feels!
AN: No flames please because I really don't even give a shit.
Leo couldn't believe what he was seeing right now. He must be in a dream or something because there was no way that what he was seeing was real. His heart was racing and he felt like he couldn't breathe. Leo didn't even notice that there were tears running down his face.
"Leo?" Vincent questioned him but Leo didn't pay him mind. No, all his attention was on the person before him.
Zack looked at Leo worriedly, not liking that the mysterious person had made Leo cry. He could hear Leo's heart race wildly and it scared him a bit to be honest. Unenhanced people could be so fragile sometimes he just forgot...
Angeal and the others just glanced at each other, not sure where the situation was going, though the Turks had a hand on their weapons in case it went south.
"Aquarius?!" Leo gasped out as he rushed towards her. He took a good look at her noticing that there were huge differences in her looks.
He immediately noticed that she didn't have her tail and instead in its place were legs. Her hair was long and a beautiful shade of blue and her bright blue eyes looked a bit haggard. She was wearing a strapless blue dress held by her impressive bust and her tattoo was accented by a necklace of an urn, and she had black heeled sandals. She still had her accessories of a black choker, her golden arm bracelets and her head attire (the necklace thing. IDK.)
When he finishes taking in her look he rushes to her and he hugs her. Tightly. He hadn't seen anyone from home in who knows how long and he had missed them.
"God Leo, you're okay!" she says, not like her usually pessimistic tone. She has tears in her eyes as well and she sounded relieved.
As soon as Aquarius saw Leo, a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. It had been hell ever since Leo had disappeared and Fairy Tail was going a bit crazy. The other spirits were anxious as well. Day by day they saw Leo's gate detiriate a bit each day. It made them wonder how their leader had been doing. Leo was an important person in the Celestial Spirit World and he helped maintain order. The minor spirits loved him as well. Leo always made time to always help them with whatever they needed and he did so much for them...
She was so happy to see him because in the back in her mind she had thought she might never see him again. He was like a brother to her and a great friend. "Do you have any idea how crazy everything is at home? Do you have any idea how- how worried you have the others?"
Leo looked sad. "I'm sorry... You know I-"
Aquarius shook her head. "No, I know it wasn't your fault but do you know how bad it is to just see," she took notice of the others in the room, "it deteriate? Your gate to your home doesn't look too good you know. It's getting rustier by the day and it looks like it might fall over. You should do some maintenance, you know? It's chained right now," She chided, forcing a smile on her face. Your gate is breaking apart and it's locked up.
Leo noticed the charade immediately. He rolled his eyes, trying to not make the situation not look as severe as it seemed to the others. "I know. I know, but I wanted a change of scenery. Besides I was locked out and I have to fix the key." He held his Zodiac Key out to her and she gasped at the sight of it. I'm not in the right state and I can't go home yet.
"What the fuck Leo?" She slapped his arm and he laughed at her nervously.
"Sorry... anyway I should introduce you to my friends." He turned to the others. They were watching curiously the whole time, wondering who the mysterious woman was.
"The SOLDIERs first," He pointed out the group of SOLDIERs clustered together, "Up first we the General, Sephiroth," he pointed to the silver haired swordsman. "That's Zack Fair," Zack waved happily. "Cloud Stife." A blond in black nodded. "Genesis(?) Rhapsodos." A redhead smirked at her. "and Angeal Hewley." A big man leaning on the wall nodded.
"Then we have the Turks and President of Shinra." He pointed to the suit clad people. "Rufus Shinra." He pointed to the blond dressed in white. "Tseng, Cissnei, Elana, Reno, and Rude." He pointed to each in order.
"I would have thought that we would have been more known by now with all the press and what not, yo." Reno said.
Aquarius scowled, her fiery attitude returning. "Well some people just aren't interested, you know? I certainly didn't care." She added the last part to herself, not knowing that the others could hear perfectly well. She turned to Leo who had gotten his things in the brief moment they had conversed.
"So you're his friend? From Fairy Tail?" Sephiroth asked his voice deep and questioning.
Aquarius blinked. "No. I'm part of the Zodiac."
"That kind of sounds like a gang." Zack asked, confused as he rubbed the back of his head.
Leo shook his head as Aquarius gave him a look. "No. The Zodiac is different. It's like a small group of people that have these," he showed them his key and then turned to Aquarius, "by the way I have yours." He reached into his pocket and unknown to the others, the key morphed from her charm and he broke the little chain attaching it to the bracelet. He showed it to her.
At the sight of it, Aquarius' eyes widened in shock. "It was true!" she yelled. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Sure she had felt the contract end and heard about the fit Lucy had put up... but she still couldn't truly believe... "Y-You broke all ties with Lucy?! I- I Leo, I d-don't know what to say," she stuttered.
Leo sighed, feeling the weight of the world at that moment. "You know I probably won't be going home soon," he looked briefly at the others, "so you should take these with you." He takes out the other keys from his pockets. For all the others knew he had them with him the entire time.
He showed Aquarius the keys and the others saw them as well. Eleven golden keys, all of them with their subtle differences as well as the silver keys. Leo took Aquarius' hand and he laid them there, gently closing her hand as she seemed to be in shock.
She shook her head. A bad feeling rose in her. He talked like he wasn't expecting to be going home. What utter nonsense. He was a part of Fairy Tail the others would defy the gods themselves in order to get their Nakama back. There was no way Leo was not going home and she was determined to make him see it. "No!" She slapped his hand away while shoving the keys back at him but she kept hers. "You're the leader; you can give it to them in person!"
Leo blinked at her. "But I don't know if-"
"No excuses! Besides you're going to see Natsu and the others here soon."
Leo was floored for a moment. "I- Really?"
She smirked at him. "Of course. Natsu Dragneel, Laxus Dreyar, Gajeel Redfox, Wendy Marvell, Sting Ecliffe, and Rogue Cheney." She could already imagine the destruction they caused.
"What? Wait, why them? And how?" He asked confused, his mind racing for answers.
"They were the only ones who could make the trip. The others would probably die of boredom on the way," she rolled her eyes for effect. They wouldn't make the trip; they're the only ones strong enough. "and Sting and Rogue are coming because of Yukino. When I meant soon, I didn't mean so soon."
Leo scowled not sure if he would dare ask but he needed to, "How long would it take to get here?"
Aquarius hesitated but then she sighed. "Honestly, I'm not sure. They didn't give me details on when but only that it'd be within two years or so."
"Two years!" Genesis exclaimed, slightly shocked. That must be some planning they needed to do.
Leo couldn't say anything. Two Years? He had almost been on Gaia for nearly a year already and by the time they came he'd probably be near death or dead already. Aquarius smiled at him apologetically, knowing what was going on his mind. "Sorry Leo, but they have a lot of things going on right now. They're dealing with the Barem Alliance and whatnot and not to mention that getting here takes time and they need to prepare..." she shook her head, "but don't worry about that."
"So wait... how are things with Lyra and the others?"
She hesitated, not sure if she should answer or not. But she needed to though. He had a right to know. "Honestly Leo...Lyra and the others are crushed right now... after everything we went through together and with you not there well... She stopped singing. Horologium and the others aren't the way they were before and..." she sighed, running a hand through her blue hair. "They just aren't the same not with what Lucy made them do."
Leo's head snapped up and his green eyes sharpening. "What?!"
She frowned a bit nervously. Leo was their leader for a reason and he could be scary when angered. No one would survive facing his wrath. "Lyra and the others had a few encounters with Lucy before their contracts were broken and they never really said anything. They only changed when you left. I guess they felt better with you there."
Leo felt terrible. How could he have not noticed? Didn't they trust him? Aquarius frowned, already knowing what he was thinking and she didn't like it. "Compared to anata (you)," she added for his benefit, "what karera (they) went through was nothing. And they didn't say anything because they didn't want to burden anyone. Don't worry about it Leo," she laid a hand gently on his face and gave him one of her rare motherly smiles, "everything's going to be okay."
Leo sighed as he leaned into her touch. He just then remembered the others. 'I seriously need to get alone sometime and not just forget that they are there.' "Sorry Aquarius, we have somewhere we need to be."
Zack grinned. This could be their chance to know more about Leo and he could spend time with his friend at the same time. "Why doesn't she come too?"
They both blinked at him, not knowing what to say.
The Turks clearly seeing where he was headed picked up his lead. "Yes, I believe you should come⦠Miss Aquaius was it?" Rufus added. She nodded at him. "We are going to visit some friends and afterwards head to a beach, would you be so kind as to come as well?" he smiled and her cheeks warmed up a bit. If she didn't already have a boyfriend... Hmm maybe Scorpio wouldn't mind sharing.
Leo and Aquarius shared a look. Maybe she should come? Leo needed to be updated on other matters as well and Aquarius wanted to know how he was doing.
"Very well." She nodded.
Aquarius piled in with Leo and the other SOLDIERs. She sat next to Leo, well more like on him. The other sat the same as before but Angeal was driving this time. Aquarius took the time to observe her leader's new friends.
Zack Fair, a cheerful person and with what she guessed was a sunny personality. Black hair and blue-purple eyes. Sephiroth, silver hair, bright green eyes, and with a stoic attitude and a personality to match. Genesis, bright red hair and green-blue eyes and a flamboyant attitude. Angeal Hewley, big and strong, black hair and grey colored eyes, she wasn't sure what his personality was but he seemed gentle and protective. Cloud Strife, blond and with bright blue eyes, stoic was what she got but other than that she wasn't too sure. Last but not least, Vincent Valentine, long black hair and red eyes, stoic to the core it seemed.
Aquarius looked at Leo, who was leaning against her and had his eyes closed for a moment. As she took in his face, she saw dark bags under his eyes and his brows were furrowed with tension. Almost immediately her mind flashed back to a time when she saw him covered in blood, his back an array of wounds...
She felt horrible. She had hated herself in that moment and afterwards, when Leo was injured by her. Aquarius hated that she had done nothing but watch. She could feel her ties to Lucy sever in that moment completely. Her bond with her had been weakening a few months before, but when she saw her raise her whip...the one that Virgo gave to her so that she could protect!...She just broke down when Lucy left the room. All there was were the sound of Leo's heaving gasps and the sound of blood hitting the floor. She had wondered to herself in the moment... What went wrong? Hadn't they raised her to be kind and compassionate? How could Lucy have acted so, so cruel? Especially when she was in a guild like Fairy Tail, where their ideals were nothing but to protect and love!
She swallowed down a lump in her throat and fought down her tears. She buried her face in his shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him. Almost immediately she could feel him trying to burrow himself into her embrace. She felt him put his face in the juncture of her shoulder, his eyes closed.
"Leo?" she whispered tentively, as she ran a hand through his long orange locks.
"Hm?" he responded, as he wrapped his arms around her. He took comfort in her warmth. He could almost pretend he was back home. "I'm sorry." he heard her say and he opened his eyes. She sounded so sad and he could feel the weight of her words. He felt like she meant that she was sorry for so many things but she didn't need to be though...
She apologized. She was sorry for so many things. For not being able to help him, for not doing more! The only thing she had been able to do was try to sooth his pain and try to keep away his nightmares, but it wasn't nearly enough. They had to act as if nothing happened and she had wanted to tell their King of what happened but deep in her heart she still loved Lucy and felt like there could still be hope. But who could blame her though for feeling that way? She had practically raised Lucy along with her maids. She watched her cry, laugh, love and so much more. Lucy had been like her own daughter and friend!
And it had torn her heart apart to watch her become a monster. That day when Lucy had assaulted Leo, when she had been done she could do nothing but stare at her leader's broken form. She knew Leo would get better, but the emotional wounds... and in that moment he had told her that everything was going to be okay! Leo, was telling her, that everything was going to be okay when he was the one bleeding and in pain and she could say that she broke down.
She had gone to her leaders side and carefully laid him on her lap on his stomach. Aquarius could feel the tremors going through his back and she had run a hand through his hair and she repeated what he told her. "E-Everything's going to be alright Leo..." she said and she had repeated it over and over again. She had summoned her urn, and torn off a piece of cloth that was around her waist and dipped it in water. That day she had carefully washed away his blood and she tried to ignore his tears.
"It's okay." Leo said and he could feel the anguish that was going through Aquarius. They still had a bond between spirits after all. He felt her shudder and tighten his hold around him. And he felt that everything would be okay. She didn't need to feel so sad. It wasn't her fault. None of it was.
"Words are born into air
And quickly fade out in the wind
But they find their way inside you
Where they live on forevermore...
When the skies are dark and full of rain
Look inside your heart
The light, so warm will come and glow
Shining just like the sun...
You can see, just how much you've grown
How strong you are,
A love will open up to you
And it starts from the day that you, first heard those words..."
'Her voice is beautiful,' Leo thought, 'too bad she doesn't sing often.' Leo laughed quietly, shaking a bit. "Have you been with Lyra lately?" he teased, sensing that she was in a better mood now. She laughed softly at him as she smacked his arm. "Well someone has to, since her student is off dillydallying."
Leo snorted. "What does that mean?"
She didn't answer him as she absently ran her hands down his sides. She was always careful with him now, she couldn't help it. In the back of her mind the image of his back torn open never left. She had wanted to know if... "How's your back?" she asked tentively.
Leo glanced at her briefly but then closed his eyes back again. "It doesn't hurt anymore if that's what you mean. I mean, I feel it sometimes but..." It was true on some days, he could feel his back throb in pain and it could feel so excruciating that he has to catch his breath sometimes but recently the pain has been abiding... 'The scars are mostly gone now at least.'
"How long are you staying?" He needed to know.
"Not long. Just two or three days... I would stay longer but I can't..."
He sighs. "It's fine."
Zack and the others are quiet. He would have figured that Zack would have at least made some comments. When he looked back though, Genesis was sleeping on Cloud's shoulder. Vincent and Cloud were looking out the windows with passive eyes. Sephiroth as well was quiet. Zack however, had a frown on his face and looked like he wanted to ask something. Angeal was dutifully keeping his eyes on the road.
"Aquarius?" Zack asked, not sure if he should ask or if she would answer him. Surprisingly she turns to face him. He held still as he saw her run her eyes up and down on him, as if assessing him. He must have passed or something because she nodded at him. "Yes?" she responds.
"How long have you and Leo been friends?" He asked curious. At the question Sephiroth and the others pay more attention. Genesis however is still asleep. Leo sits up.
She hums and as she sits up straighter. "Well I've known Leo for a long time. I'd say we've known each other for our entire lives. Actually all of the Zodiac has known each other for a long time." She looks at Leo for confirmation and he nods. "Yeah. I'd say we'd known each other ever since we were born." Actually they didn't really remember not being around each other except when they were out serving the mage they were contracted to.
"Seriously?"
"Yep. It's me, Leo, Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Gemini, Taurus, Sagittarius, Pisces, Scorpio, Virgo, and Cancer."
Sephiroth raises an eyebrow. "You're all names after constellations then?"
Both Leo and Aquaiurs laugh. "Yes. I know it's weird but that's what we're named. That and we happen to like out names. By the way Aquarius, forget about Lucy. Everything will sort itself out."
Vincent furrowed a brow. "Why do you change language so much?" he asked, genuinely wanting to know.
"Oh, that happens a lot with us. We actually know a lot of languages, you see. We pick a few things on the road of life you know." It was true. They were ancient beings and sometimes they just slip without meaning too. It didn't help that everyone knew about the same languages too, so when someone slipped they didn't really bother to correct the mistake and the habit just stuck since they all understood each other.
Leo laughed. "She's right. It's kind of a habit we have with each other and we don't really bother to correct it. I don't think we really notice anymore, really."
Aquarius takes the time to take in her leader's happy expression. Regardless of Lucy, Fairy Tail had really made on impact on him... In fact..."Leo... you know before we left home... I heard that you had a crush!~" She smiles a predatory grin and he pales.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Seriously, where she get that idea? Sure he acted like a playboy but it was just that, an act.
He could swear her grin nearly split her face. "Oh~ Are you denying it then? You don't have a crush on Grey then?"
Leo choked as he shoved her face away from his. "Where in the name of the stars did you get that ridiculous idea?" He said as he felt his face warm.
Aquarius slapped his hand away, cackling. "Is it Natsu then? I heard you guys have been spending an awful lot of time together!~"
Instantly Leo started denying her claims. "Or is it Laxus?"
"Where the hell are you getting these ideas from! In fact, what the fuck? Laxus I haven't even spent that much time with him. I went out to Hosenka with him once! And-"
"Wait you went to Hosenka?! So what you went to one of the bath houses together?" She laughed as his face got red.
"No damn it! Beside Laxus was intolerable back then! It was after he left Fairy Tail he became tolerable and-"
"So you like him better now?"
Leo groaned. "No damn it! Why do you think I like anyone? And why all guys? I could love Cana for all you know."
Aquarius gave him a look. "That drunk please. Besides you look nice with them~"
"You perverted-"
"Uh uh, you don't get to protest! So is it Natsu then?"
"No damn it! Besides Natsu's just a friend. He just helped me out when I was in trouble. He's been really understanding that's all and he's just someone I admire and respect. Natsu's a really great person and I don't really think anyone could really help not liking the idiot. Even you." He raised an eyebrow.
She sighed and then smiled. "Yeah. I have to give you that one. I swear the idiot turns bad guys into friends after beating the shit out of them. You can't help but like the guy, I guess. I love that he really values his friends the way he does... In fact I'd say that everyone in Fairy Tail is like that from what I've seen."
Leo snorted. "You should've seen Phantom."
"So wait Natsu helped you out? How I don't think you guys even really hanged out with each other until King accepted you back home." She asked curious, after all she didn't really know what her leader did during his three years in the human world.
Leo squirmed and he looked away from her. She didn't really understand what it was to stay in the human world and how it affected a spirit. In fact no one did. He wasn't sure but he thought that he was the first spirit to be banned from the spirit world. He didn't include the spirits that were unwillingly locked in the human world... (Karen, and her cuffs)
"Tell me!" She slapped his arm again as she leaned away from him, her face serious. "I can tell when you're lying, Leo."
He cringed but he obliged. "He helped me out... when I was sick." That was all he was going to tell her though. He didn't want her to find out or learn just what happens when you're stuck in the human world.
"We're here." Angeal cut in.
They had come up to a helicopter. They all got out of the car and Reno was already up front turning on the helicopter. Soon everyone piled in and they were in flight. No one really talked though, since it was hard over the beat of the helicopter.
Soon enough they arrived in Rocket Town.
They were led through the town and soon enough they had been led to their designated area.
Leo and Aquarius saw a huge aircraft and it was unlike anything they had ever seen. They could say it was amazing but Leo thought that the Blue Pegasus' ship had a better feel to it. In front of the aircraft were a few people. There was a tall blond, a short Wutain looking girl, a busty black haired woman, and a dark skinned man.
They all had somber looks and Leo just knew that it wasn't going to end well.
The blond stepped forward and Cloud stepped forward as well to greet him. He took a drag of a cigarette in his hand and quickly exhaled the smoke all while saying "We've got a problem."
Leo sighed. 'Why can't anything ever go normally for once?'
AN: That's all for now. I'll try to update quicker and I've noticed a few mistakes before and I'll try to correct them as soon as possible. I'd like to know what you guys think so please review!
