AN: Before we start, there is a reason why I used some of the Japanese names for Leo's dreams. I feel like names would definitely change in different lifetimes, but who you are doesn't, if that makes any sense.

But anyway, enjoy.

The feeling of exhilaration while on the battlefield is quite familiar to Leo. To best his enemies with tactics and magic rather than sheer brute force is a feat most gratifying – something he takes pride in. The power in Brynhildr flows through him like a river, and the strong tingling sensation in his fingertips reminds him that this power must be used for the good of Nohr.

He isn't as ruthless as his sister in battle, or so he likes to think, but since he was finishing up her mission, being merciless is a safe way to ensure that the job is done right. Besides, he, Camilla and Xander thought it to be a good idea if someone went to watch over Corrin, who is currently in Dia. Before they could even decide who would go, Camilla had already sped off on her wyvern as she cried, "Take care! And please, take care of this nasty situation for me, will you darlings?"

Leo can't afford to be sloppy, otherwise, it's Camilla who will be punished by Father for disobeying orders. This means that the enemy before him who cowers underneath him in fear cannot be spared. His pleas to spare his life are cut short when Leo deals the final blow, and he watches his enemy fall to the ground with a thud.

He lies there, unmoving. Upon looking at him, Leo only feels a sense of relief that his sister's job is done. He closes Brynhildr and guides his mount over to his eldest brother to report in. "Marx," he calls out. "Everything on my end is taken care of. How are things on yours?"

Xander, who places Siegfried back into its scabbard, gives his brother a light nod. "Things are just fine over here. Now all I can do is hope that Camilla and her retainers have caught up to Corrin in time before he leaves Dia." There is a small pause between the two before the eldest brother speaks up again. "Leon, may I speak my mind quickly?"

Leo's eyebrows quirk up in surprise. Xander isn't one to lay his doubts and concerns on the table so easily. Still, Leo is willing to listen to his brother's plights. "But of course. What's on your mind, Marx?"

He tells Leo that thoughts of Corrin and their father eat away at him, and have done so for quite some time now. "I simply cannot comprehend Father's recent actions. I know he's a strict man, a little rough around the edges, but something feels… off." Xander doesn't know that he's put all of Leo's thoughts into words he's never dreamed of uttering. "I do my best to protect Corrin, but this is all proving to be difficult, especially with Iago and Hans off their leashes."

"I know," Leo sighs. And Corrin, who makes wearing his heart on his sleeve a fashion statement, makes it easier for Iago to undermine him. "I want to protect Corrin too, but there's only so much I can manipulate behind Father's back. And speaking of Father, you've stolen the words right out of my mouth. Though, I'm speculating that maybe it's the stress of the war that's got him like this."

And the loss of the two women he's loved with all his heart.

Leo wants to say it, but he doesn't have the heart to. Xander knows it's what he wants to say, but doesn't coax it out of him. Their father truly is a broken man, no matter how hard he tries to hide it. "Right," Xander says. "When the war is over, I'm sure it'll bring him some stability he so desperately needs."

Maybe not as stable as Queen Katerina and Queen Arete, but stable enough with all of his loving children by his side. After they stand in a considerably long, thought-provoking silence, Xander lightly clears his throat. "I'm sorry for burdening you with my troubles. I do want to thank you for listening, Leon. I really needed it."

Leo shakes his head. "No, no. You aren't a burden at all. This is what siblings are for."

Xander smiles, but it doesn't last long. He looks towards the now desolate battlefield. "Now that this mess is taken care of, I should inform you that Father wishes for me to tend to matters elsewhere."

"Likewise," says Leo. "I'm to head out to Nestra immediately. Hopefully we'll meet up again soon." The feelings are mutual. When the two of them part ways, he can't help but replay their conversation in his mind. Xander says that something feels off about their father. Although they sort of danced around the subject, Leo is aware of the fact that both he and his brother know that more lies underneath the surface, especially with all his strange talk about Anankos as of late.

Even so, Leo puts those thoughts in the back of his mind, and closes his eyes to regain his composure. He breathes in and out steadily, and tries hard to shake the doubts in his mind. It works, but when he reopens his eyes, he notes that his vision has gone a little funny. The sky looks like a blur of grey clouds.

When his vision refocuses, Leo is sure that he's looking up at his bedroom ceiling. He doesn't make an effort to move. He just lies there. The images of the enemies he's killed in battle flashes before his eyes. He remembers every detail of their mangled bodies that lie haphazardly on the battlefield. He remembers where each open wound is on their bodies and where each bruise is located. He remembers the way their faces twist in pain and the looks of pure terror and defeat they'd throw his way before ultimately meeting their end.

He doesn't understand why he doesn't feel anything for them. Not a hint of remorse or disgust… nothing. It's a total contrast to the feeling that whirl inside him only when he's fighting to incapacitate. It's as if he's completely empty while taking the lives from others. Though, when he's awake, Leo doesn't feel shaken up or distraught by this fact. It's rather numbing, if he's being honest with himself. Leo does think back to why the dream version of himself does what he does, and each time, he is brought back to one conclusion.

Family. His family.

And he's content with that.

Silently, Sakura slips him the book he's lent her across the checkout desk at the library. His gaze darts from the small smile upon her lips to her hand that rests on his book. He also takes note of her manicured fingernails. They're all pink, with the exception of her ring fingers which have cats painted on them.

Although he accepts the book back, he's a little skeptical. She's finished the book already? Sakura nods, saying that once she picked it up, she just couldn't put it back down. Leo can't really blame her for it. It is a good book after all. He rests his arms on the desk between them, and asks her what her thoughts are on it.

She bubbles over with light giggles that Leo finds endearing before she points out that all her thoughts are inside of the book. Leo frowns, and asks if it's a jab at his forgetfulness. She shakes her head. "Oh, no. Not at all. I liked looking at your notes, so I put some of my own notes in there as well. Um… i-is that okay?"

Leo doesn't answer at first. Instead, he opens the book and flips through a few pages. He looks back up at her once more after seeing what she's replaced his sticky-notes with. "Hearts?" He asks. Sakura gives him a sheepish smile, complete with slightly reddened cheeks.

"W-well, those are the only sticky-notes I have," she tells him. "I let a friend borrow my flower-shaped ones. I-is it that weird?"

He gives a small chuckle before returning his gaze back to the book. "No, it's not weird at all. I just wasn't expecting it." Though, it shouldn't have been surprising at all. All the pens he's seen her use has some sort of cute animal print on it, and her binder is littered with Hello Puppy stickers.

As he looks over her notes, Sakura covers them with her hands. "Hey, don't read them yet. M-maybe sometime later?"

"How am I supposed to talk to you about it if I don't read them now?" He asks.

"I know… b-but you're working. Won't you get in trouble?" While she has a point, it's not like many people come to the front desk for help all the time. Only during midterms and finals week when they have papers to write and need assistance in locating certain books. However, Leo closes the book and places it in his book bag.

She thanks him, and says that they can talk about it when he isn't running the front desk. They share their goodbyes, and Leo makes sure that she's gone, he pulls the book out of his book bag and begins to read over her heart shaped sticky-notes. No one is coming over to ask him a single question, so why not read her thoughts on one of his favorite pieces of literature?

Now he'll truly be able to determine whether or not Sakura has good taste.

He's only read a couple of her notes before a figure looms over him, and Leo can practically smell the smugness on this person as if it's coming off in waves. He looks up, only to find himself face to face with Laslow. Leo gazes back down at his book. "Can I help you?" He asks dryly.

Laslow feigns hurt. Gently, he places a hand over his heart. "Why, Leo… How cruel of you to speak to me in such a manner. I thought we were friends? And besides, is that anyway to talk to someone who's in need of assistance?"

"Don't you have someone else to go bother?" He asks. Can't Laslow see that he's pretending to work here?

Laslow frowns. "Funny, you didn't say anything like that to Sakura." The smug look on Laslow's face returns when Leo finally looks up at him and it's evident that he's thrown Leo off his game. "Oh, I saw everything, Leo. It's like a little romance novel unfolding before my eyes. Though, you might want to be just a little more gentle with a woman like that."

Boy, Laslow sure is one to talk when he's the one that scared her away upon meeting her.

He continues. "Your cold demeanor could be putting her off– Oh? Are those hearts in your book? She left you hearts?"

Leo hastily shuts the book and drops it into his bag before forcing a smile. "You said you were in need of assistance, right? What can I help you with today?"

His roommate gives a light laugh. "Oh relax Leo, I'm just teasing you. I'm sorry, but it was too good to pass up," he says. Leo rolls his eyes before Laslow continues. "I originally stopped by because I was in search of a book. I've had a paper assigned today about it and I really need to find it before anyone else gets their hands on it."

Leo asks for the name of the book, and when he receives it, the computer is able to locate 10 copies. "Huh, there's so few… Well, hand me your ID so I can reserve one for you. Then you can go pick it up. When's your paper due anyway?" Leo asks.

"By the end of finals week. I thought I should snatch one up early and not wait until last minute, unlike some people we know," Laslow laughs as he hands over his school ID.

"Yeah, tell me about it," says Leo. Once he's done with all the technical stuff, the text book is Laslows to borrow for two weeks. "I don't have time to help out with emergency cram sessions, I have my own studying to do."

Suddenly, Laslow's expression shifts into a look of concern. "Oh, I also meant to ask you Leo, are you alright?"

Leo knits his eyebrows together in confusion. "I'm fine. What are you talking about?"

"The other night, I could hear you talking in your sleep," Laslow says. "Something about your father and war. And names I've never heard of. Marx and Corrin, I believe? In any case, are you sure you're alright?"

He bites down on his bottom lip. It isn't enough that he's forced to think about them while awake, he also has to talk about them in his sleep too? How loud was he speaking anyway? Enough to rival Odin at two in the morning? Leo sighs, and runs a hand through his blond hair. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine," he lies. "I guess I have been a little tired recently, so I'll be more careful. Thanks for the concern, Laslow."

These dreams of his are beginning to become a pain.

Ever since his talk with Laslow, Leo hasn't had a dream in a while. He supposes that it's a good thing. Finals week is right around the corner, and he doesn't want to be distracted. Laslow believes he's gotten better since there's no more murmuring of strange things in his sleep, but Leo isn't too sure about that.

The dreams will come again, he's certain of it. As to whether or not he'll sleep talk through them, Leo can only hope that it'll never happen again, as he doesn't have control over himself while he's asleep.

"Are you okay? You look like you're spacing out a bit," Sakura says, and Leo immediately turns his attention to her. She sits across the table from him at Stahlbucks with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. It's a perfect drink for the cold weather they've been having as of late.

He nods. "I'm fine, I was just thinking. In any case, I'm glad you liked the book. Now I'm certain that you have good taste. For the most part."

"Ah, what do you mean? We bonded over The Do-gooders, d-didn't we?" She asks.

"True, but everyone likes The Do-gooders, so that doesn't count. What matters is which book is your favorite," he says, "and yours… well, it's an okay pick."

It's quite amusing to him when Sakura puffs out her cheeks and argues that the third book is beautifully written and has the best story. "O-oh right. Um, speaking of good stories, I wanted to share my favorite book with you too… but I'm not sure that you'd like it very much," She says bashfully.

Leo smiles. "Nonsense. I'm sure that if it's something you're able to call your favorite, it'll hold my interest. Besides, why don't you think I'd like it very much?"

Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, and Leo watches as she fidgets nervously. "W-well… it's an adventure story, which I'm sure you'd like. Um, b-but it's also a romance story too, and I didn't think you were a romantic person…" When Leo's gaze hardens, Sakura hastily tries to fix her previous statement. "I… I mean, n-not that to say that you aren't romantic because… w-well, I wouldn't know, but more like the genre d-doesn't interest you!"

Just what is she trying to imply anyway? Though, he can't really fault her for drawing such a conclusion. He wasn't too big on romance stories like Camilla or Laslow. However, "Just because there's romance in doesn't mean I'd reject a story entirely. It just has to be well done and believable," he says.

Suddenly, Sakura's eyes practically light up. Leo thinks that they have this unique sparkle to them, and she fishes out the book from her bag to hand to him. "Oh! W-well in that case, I think you'd really love it! The characters are so complex and interesting, and the story's so good! Sometimes, I even caught myself feeling something for the villains in the story! Like the one time–"

"Hey, slow down a moment. I don't want you to spoil anything for me," Leo says.

Sakura covers her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just really excited that you're reading it!" As she gushes on and on about this story, Leo hangs onto her every word, completely enthralled by what she has to say.

"I knew this would happen," Leo says as he closes the book Sakura has lent him. Both Odin and Niles give him sheepish smile and small, nervous chuckles before Leo remarks that there is nothing even remotely funny about this situation. He sighs. At least this time they aren't asking for his help at the very last minute.

Their promises of dish duty and cleaning the common area for an entire month is getting to be quite old, but Leo still accepts them. They always (begrudgingly) follow through with their promises anyway. Leo, who is writing a paper of his own, manages to help the two of them with their studying. He can afford to multitask since there's more than just a few hours to study.

"Hey Leo," Odin starts, "what's this term mean?"

Leo's eyes gloss over the paper Odin is holding, and when he comes across the term, he frowns. "Odin, didn't we go over this term for your midterms?"

Odin snorts. "Yeah right, like I remember any of that. Hah, good one buddy!"

Slowly, Leo closes his laptop. On second thought, maybe this study session will require all of his attention. "Listen, I'm only helping out for a few hours. After that, I need to start doing my own studying. Is that clear?"

Niles and Odin both give a salute and reply, "Yes sir," at the same time. The two of them work diligently for about an hour or so before Niles casually asks when Leo's family is coming to pick him up for the holidays. Unfortunately, Leo is leaving on the absolute last day that they are allowed to stay on campus. It isn't because of his exam schedule or anything, but it does have to do with his father's work schedule.

Odin tears his eyes from his work in front of him, practically brimming with excitement. "Have no fear, Odin is here! After this exam on Wednesday, I get to go home! You can definitely get a ride with us if you want." As tempting as it is, Leo declines, and Odin is shocked. "What? But last one here has to do all the cleaning!"

"I don't mind cleaning up," says Leo. "Just don't purposely leave this place a place a pigsty before you go." Although he doesn't mention it, Leo also wants to read Sakura's favorite book in peace, and give it back to her before break begins. He's been enjoying himself so far, but something always pulls him away from the story. It's usually Niles and Odin's nonsense.

"Hmm, are you sure Leo?" Niles asks. He doesn't like the wicked smirk on his face. "Because I think you're staying here for a different reason."

When Leo visibly tenses, Niles begins to grin. It's true that Niles has the dirt on almost everyone at this college, but he can't possibly know anything more about Sakura other than the time she passed by their apartment, right? Unless Laslow said something. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yes you do. You're staying here for her."

"Her?" Leo and Odin both repeat.

Odin asks who "she" is and Niles obliges him. The girl that Niles is talking about isn't Sakura, and all of a sudden, Niles has lost Leo's interest. As usual, Niles makes some suggestive comments about Leo and some girl he's only spoken to a few times in his life, Odin wiggles his eyebrows, and Leo tells them that their time is up and that he ought to be doing his own studying now.

"You aren't very talkative today, a-are you?" Sakura says quietly.

Leo looks up at her momentarily, and takes in the demure expression on her face. When he feels his gaze has lingered for too long, he looks back down at his book. "That's because I'm reading," he tells her. He's forced to stop when her hand covers the page, and she lowers the book.

"You aren't reading, you're speed reading…" she says. "Don't just flip through it. Really enjoy it, okay? Oh, u-unless you don't really like it after all…" In the few months that he's known her for, Leo knows exactly how Sakura gets her way every single time. She does this thing where her voice gets smaller, and her lips quiver ever so slightly.

He ends up feeling bad all the time and obliges her. She's probably the type of girl that has a doting father who's wrapped around her finger. Little does Leo know that this isn't some sort of tactic. This is how Sakura is normally. He sighs, and ends up putting the book away. "I never said I didn't like it. So far, it's been a good book. Honestly. But I was hoping to get it back to you before break starts so I could share my thoughts."

Leo can see the relief on her face as she laughs. "Oh, thank goodness. I really thought you didn't like it. But you don't need to rush. Take your time with it."

"I appreciate the thought, Sakura," Leo starts, "but I won't remember what I wanted to tell you about it once the new semester starts back up again."

He can see Sakura fiddle with something in the pocket of her coat before she pulls it out and hands it to him. It's her cellphone, and it's very pink. "Um, w-well, if we trade numbers, you can tell me about the book that way, right?"

Leo grabs hold of her cellphone and enters his phone number. "Trading numbers, huh? If you really wanted my number, all you had to do was just ask, Sakura," he says without even looking at her.

Sakura's cheeks turn a bright shade of red as she vehemently shakes her head no. "Th-that's not it at all! W-were doing this for the book!"

He lets out a small laugh. "Lower your voice, we're in the library."

"B-but… you can't just say s-something like that out of the blue," she mumbles. "It's not very nice…"

"I apologize," he says with a smile. "I was only teasing."

Leo hands her phone back with his number now saved, and Sakura sends him a text message. "O-okay… I forgive you. B-but um… remember… th-this is just for the book, okay?" Sheesh, does she have to rub it in like that?

"And only for the book?" He asks. "Not for any other reason?"

Her embarrassment is forgotten, and her cheeks are no longer red. Now, Sakura looks thoughtful. "Ah, well… there is another reason," she says. "Friends should have each other's numbers so that they can keep in touch, don't you think so?"

Leo isn't aware of the small smile that graces his lips. For a while now, Leo has always wondered what he'd call their relationship. Acquaintances seemed much too formal, and calling them friends when she was still so wary of him felt weird and way too casual. Now that Sakura's said it, the two of them truly are friends, no question about it.

"I agree," he says finally. "And I'm delighted to call you a friend."

Snowflakes flutter down lightly, and cover treetops, car roofs and the concrete flooring. Leo and his father create messy tracks of footprints as they load some of Leo's belongings into the car. He looks over the apartment once more, and makes certain that he hasn't forgotten anything before getting into his father's car.

When Garon adjusts the rear-view mirror, Leo catches a glimpse of the back seat, and his sisters are nowhere to be found. Where were they anyway? They love taking trips up to his school for some reason, especially Elise. Garon tells him that Camilla went out the night before and came back drunk at four in the morning.

Elise couldn't be bothered to get up so early, so he left her behind. She's sure to be in a sour mood when she wakes up to find Leo back at home, and knows that she wasn't there for the ride.

The drive back home his mostly quiet, save for the low humming of the car's engine and the woman over the radio who announces holiday sales. Garon cuts the silence, and asks how exams went. Leo smiles. They're nothing he can't handle. Soon, the car is filled with his father's gruff laughter. "That's my boy!" He grins.

A feeling of pride swells in Leo's chest when he hears his father's words. Garon isn't one to dish out praise often, so it's nice to hear every so often. His expression changes slightly when he thinks of the man who he calls father in his dreams. That man is… different than Leo's father in reality. At least, he's different during the war. Leo can recall a dream he's had before the war between Nohr and Hoshido happened where his father would carry him on his shoulders, and it almost exactly mirrors the times when Garon would carry Leo on his shoulders when they visited the circus and Leo had been much too small to see anything if he were standing on his own.

Garon eyes his son's pensive expression, and asks if there's anything troubling him. Leo quickly shakes his head. "Not at all. I was just thinking… it's been a while since I've last spoken to Xander. I wonder how he's doing."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. Xander's supposed to be coming come sometime tomorrow. Said he wanted to stop by and say hello since we haven't seen him in a while."

Leo is quite surprised. "Wow, and Camilla didn't say anything?" Garon says that Camilla doesn't know Xander's coming home, or that he's bringing a guest. He wants it to be a surprise, but Garon tells Leo because he says that Leo is too old for surprises. And Camilla's not? Leo thinks. "Hey, wait a second. Xander's bringing a guest? You don't mean–?"

"I don't know what kind of drivel your sister's been putting in your head, but you really need to stop listening to her," Garon says. "Camilla just likes to chat, that's all. Looking for a ring, pah! Surely my boy would come talk to me when he decides he's ready to settle down."

Leo isn't so sure about that, but he lets his father rant anyway. The only thing he can do really is sort of listen to his father while he stares out the car door's window. There's a small feeling of excitement in him that certainly wasn't in him before. Xander is coming home in time for the holidays, and they can all spend some quality time together just like old times.

When he and his father pull up into the driveway of their house, Leo smiles. It hasn't really occurred to him how badly he's missed his home.

Although school is a nice change in pace, there truly is no place like home. Leo never knew how much he's missed his bed until he's woken up the next day feeling refreshed and alert. When the smell of fluffy pancakes and warm maple syrup fills his nostrils, Leo knows that Camilla isn't so hung over that she can still manage to make breakfast.

He never knew how much he's missed his sister's cooking until he's taken a bite into one of her pancakes. The taste is absolutely heavenly. Though, all he manages to say is, "This is pretty good, Camilla. Thanks for breakfast." She pinches his cheek, and Leo isn't sure if she does because she thinks he's adorable or because she's annoyed that he's not speaking his mind and telling her what she wants to hear.

"Only the best breakfast for my baby brother," she coos in a sickeningly sweet voice before letting go of his cheek. It sort of stings.

There isn't much to do around the house now that he doesn't have work to do, so Leo focuses of reading the book that Sakura lent him. It's a good read, and a good way to pass the time. Leo is quite fond of the heart shaped sticky-notes she's left in there, as they're entertaining.

He wonders about her briefly. How is she doing? Is she having a good time with her family? Leo wants to text her, but decides against it. There will be plenty of time to catch up with her.

"Oh~!" Elise says, peeking over Leo's shoulder. "There are a bunch of hearts in your book!"

Leo keeps on reading. "I'm aware."

"Oh yeah? Did your girlfriend put them in there? Are they love notes?" She asks. "Oh my goodness! You have to tell me!"

Having had enough of his little sister's antics, Leo closes his book. "First of all, love notes aren't usually written on sticky-notes. And two, no it's not from my girlfriend. I don't have one."

"Don't lie to me, Leo! I know all about what happens in college. Everything's on TV nowadays," she says slyly. Elise is in for a rude awakening come next August. The sound of the doorbell rings throughout the house, and Leo offers to get it. He knows exactly who to expect anyway.

As soon as he opens the door, he's face to face with his older brother, who notices how tall he's gotten. When Elise and Camilla hear the familiar sounding voice, the two of them race to the door, with Garon trailing slowly behind them. The four of them all greet Xander right at the doorway, but their lips stop moving when their eyes fall on his guest.

She wishes them a good morning, and smiles as Xander puts an arm around her shoulder. "Everyone," Xander begins, "I'd like you to meet my fiancé–"

"You're engaged!?" Garon cries in complete shock.

"Oh Father," Camilla says smugly. "I hate to say I told you so, but I will anyway. I told you so."

Leo has never seen a man as big as his father faint before, and for him to watch his father go down with a thud as his sister fans his face is… strange. Xander helps their father back into the house while Camila and Elise fetch him some water. Leo brings in the suitcases, but is distracted by the vibrations in his pocket.

He checks his phone briefly, only to see that he's gotten a text message from Sakura. She hopes he's gotten back home safe and wants to know how being home has been for him so far. Leo doesn't hesitate to reply:

Well, my brother's engaged and my father's passed out as a result. If I can sum it up in one word? Dramatic.

AN: I don't have a strong OTP for Xander, so I didn't specify who his fiancé was. (I'm terrible at decision making) But you can insert whoever you want! Hope you enjoyed it. (: