In the Second Time Around universe, there's conversation about some of the better halves going on with Y'shtola and Lyse. Will this give Leon the confidence he needs to ask Minfilia to go on a date with him? Endgame here is Leon/Minfilia, with the debut of Minfilia from FF XIV in this tale! The other pairings are either married or in a domestic partnership. There are mentioned time skips in this story, consider yourselves warned!
The Meaning of an Ally
"...So THAT'S why Fang is called Snaggletooth, Light! Who would have guessed...?" Rydia asked the oldest Farron sister while causing Seven, Y'shtola and Lyse to laugh their arses off after hearing the pinkette's story behind Fang's nickname, effectively making the Mist native's day much better from the events from recent times. It was a 'Girls Day Out' for coffee and lunch at the cafe in Bodhum-Oerba, which Lyse and Seven treasured between the current group. The happy chatter between the currently small group - Serah, Maria, Vanille and her partner Carlyn (Vanille revealed not too long ago that she's bisexual, which a celebration party for that came a few days later (all planned out by Leon), plus Porom, couldn't make it for varying but understandable reasons... and Fang was... well, Fang - which Leon somehow overheard, but kept his head down as to not be noticed by anyone he knows. The comment about the origins of Fang's nickname, however, made him smile. Fang and Lightning are happy together. As are Vanille and Carlyn, Y'shtola and Lyse... even Seven and Sice. Their happiness is all that matters to me. People should love who their hearts want them to without question or judgment, Leon happily mused to himself.
It was during this particular outing that Lyse, for reasons unknown, suddenly felt sad. "I wish someone would give Leon, Maria's older brother, a chance... he is one of the most genuine lads we know and every lass on the planet won't give him a chance despite his past. My heart goes out to him..." the blonde reveals to the group, which Y'shtola immediately agreed with Lyse at every point of that revelation. "People need to see beyond certain things in my opinion - it's a shame that he can't get a date because every female he tried to go on ONE date with him dug up his past and judged him based on that. A real damn shame..." Lightning adds to the talk here, clearly in support for wanting Leon to be happy. If Lightning was able to get her happy ending with Fang, the oldest Farron felt anyone who wants their happy ending with whoever deserves that too, regardless of their past. Leon included. It was one quick scan of the cafe that Y'shtola saw Leon, but after seeing him wanting to be by himself, the Miq'ote let him be. She didn't want to interfere with whatever he was thinking out of respect, plus she knew that he was in deep thought about something - the exact thought, however, was a mystery to the Miq'ote.
A couple of hours later, the group left the cafe and went to their respective homes - after all, even with the happy chatter exchanged, their hearts all broke that Leon wasn't being given a chance. Y'shtola and Lyse, upon arrival to their home which is the opposite side of Bodhum-Oerba (by that, next door to Maria and Firion's home) decided to have a talk about how to help their mate/friend Leon, Maria's older brother. "Lyse, do you have that photo of Minfilia anywhere nearby...?" the Miq'ote started to ask, before finding the photo in question herself. Lyse, being Lyse, found an extra copy of the group photo from the Guardian Corps Halloween Party where everyone, including Leon, was dressed up like Y'shtola. Upon meeting in their living room, the married couple talked about the newly single lass, whose heart was destroyed by a lad whose views on certain topics drove her away. They felt that if Minfilia got to know Leon, she'd see that not all lads think the way she feels they do. To the married couple Leon is the meaning of an ally - he became a better version of himself from his past. He encouraged a cat to defend his hoomans at a party and provided the most meaningful gift to a couple who became first time parents to a healthy baby boy.
Time heals everything as they say.
XXX
Leon stares at his phone in the cafe, the picture of a blonde lass in clothing that was tied to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn on the screen, apparently from a recent issue of a noted fashion magazine Maria is a lifetime subscriber to - the same group Y'shtola and Lyse were a part of before their move to Bodhum-Oerba - with a combination of fondness and sadness in his facial features. He had no idea who she is or was, where she lives or what she does for a living... at all. To him she's a catch, but too attainable at the same time. After each and every rejection he was given, Leon was feeling like a nomad, that he should remain single forever. In fact, he was beginning to accept that very fate, knowing his past was one hard to shrug off or explain without further scaring any potential date away from him. Within a hour of being at the cafe - he was able to get a small lunch he could finish quickly - he left the cafe and headed back to the GC so that he can start looking into double shifts or extra work as a means to distract him from the obvious. If there was one thing Leon was grateful for it's the Guardian Corps, the very company that gave his life new meaning and purpose. He was even more grateful that a lesbian like Lightning was able to secure him a good paying, legit (his words, not Lightning's) work that made a difference.
With this particular trip to the GC, Leon was denied the double shifts (according to Fang recently, Lightning did the same thing shortly before they started to date) but was granted some extra work. As long as I keep myself busy for the time being, I should be okay... Leon mused to himself, and not just because he needed a boost to his confidence. He needed to be doing something productive to stay sane. When the extra work started a month later, it seemed to do the trick: Leon kept himself busy and was available less often than usual. When a few months pass by however, the trick seemed to backfire. Lightning saw some of Leon's PTSD emerging and knew that if he didn't take it easy on himself he'll be worse than how he was in the past back in Fynn. Lightning had a surprise coffee and chat with Y'shtola one day, who had a plan of her own. Out of the blue, the Miq'ote showed a photo of one she knew ages ago - Minfilia Warde - the same lass that graced a magazine cover Maria owns, and the same lass Leon looks at more fondly than other lasses he's eyed in recent times. "Minfilia keeps on whining about how all lads are pigs and whatever have you, Claire..." Y'shtola starts before a light bulb goes off in Lightning's head.
"Why don't we help get Leon the date with Minfilia, Ysh? Leon's been nothing BUT supportive of you and Lyse as well as Fang and I as well as Seven and Sice... he spoils Kurasame ROTTEN, I kid you not there. Odin is one healthy furball of a cat because Leon took him to get his shots, and he even paid the vet bill! Granted he needs to be himself but it wouldn't hurt to try to help them both..." Lightning suggested, remembering that Seven, of all people, helped Y'shtola get even with a certain group of people. That, in turn, inspired Lightning to do the same for others in time. With a huge smile forming on Y'shtola's face, the duo start to formulate a plan to give the two most deserving people a chance to have a happy ending of their own. Lightning does what she can on her end of the deal with help from Sice, while Y'shotla only needs Lyse to help on her end, but only because Firion, Edge, Maria and Rydia don't know who Minfilia is. Sice vaguely remembered Minfilia from Akademia (Seven doesn't) and was the best person to help in the situation. Leon and Minfilia are good people who deserve to have their happy ending.
Leon is about to get the shock of his life.
XXX
Some time has passed, with Minfilia meeting Y'shtola and Lyse at the popular cafe in Bodhum-Oerba. For one who runs the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Minfilia was oblivious to the cafe Y'shtola and Lyse frequented for the longest time. Although she wasn't aloof Minfilia often had dreams that went unfulfilled, which could have been a reason why she is the way she is now. The married couple showed Minfilia the first picture of Leon - by himself, and taken by Maria - it was Leon standing with Lightning when he graduated from the Guardian Corps boot camp. It was the married couple who talked about the lad from Fynn in such a good way. The single blonde remembered Maria... as well as Leon and his entire past. Doubtful thoughts entered Minfilia's mind for a short while being able to recall everything Leon did with a certain individual, knowing that he's too good to be true. Lyse came to the rescue with the photo from the GC Halloween Party, where everyone dressed and looked like Y'shtola. Leon was in that photo too, and had a gentle smile on his face - he was more than happy to dress up like Y'shtola for that Halloween Party. In fact, everyone in that photo were all happy people, and Leon was happy to be at that event, because good people like Y'shtola were worthy to him.
"What's the meaning of this...?" Minfilia started to ask the married pair, before Y'shtola planted her 'attack': "Minfilia, Leon is beyond happy for us. Claire and Fang... Vanille and Carlyn... especially Seven and Sice... them too... he's genuinely happy for us. He's the least judgmental lad we know. For the photo from that party he encouraged Claire and Fang's cat to attack those who had a habit of attacking me without getting himself involved. And don't get us started on how Leon let some douche waffle - his words, not mine - have it because they threw homophobic slurs at Seven, and Leon was NOT happy to have heard the terms that was used at Seven. He wound up breaking a few people's arms at the end of it... and he got away with that I must say. He earned the friendship with Lyse and I, which is the best decision we made. He's been the most loyal and considerate lad we've gotten to know since..." the Miq'ote finished her speech to Minfilia, which Lyse confirmed everything Y'shtola said as true. For the single blonde, Minfilia had LOADS to think about, with the new information given to her about Leon. Like the others, Minfilia's heart broke for Leon.
The single blonde stopped thinking about the speech Y'shtola and Lyse gave her about Leon - she was definitely going to give him a fair chance. He's happy to see Y'shtola and Lyse happy... that makes me happy. He's the real meaning of an ally... love is love, all day every day... Minfilia happily mused to herself over the matter. Once the trio finished with their lunch, they went their separate ways... with Minfilia landing Leon's phone number in the end of this meeting. Y'shtola had to make a call to one Claire 'Lightning' Yun-Farron about the successful chat she and Lyse had with Minfilia, with Lightning's report bringing in similar results: Leon's back to his regular hours at the GC. Lightning basically told Leon her past and the real story of how she only got to start dating Fang but also how Lightning and Fang ended up falling in love, getting engaged then married, the bit with Seven and helping Leon get his shit together for the better. What made it more interesting was that Maria and Rydia took him clothes shopping for a decent outfit meant for a date with a female. Y'shtola jumped up and down for joy over the matter.
Leon was about to get the start of his happy ending with Minfilia.
XXX
One more week passed, and Leon is dressed in the best outfit Maria and Rydia bought for him with Lightning's money, as Leon FINALLY got the courage to ask Minfilia out on date, with the leader from the Scions of the Seventh Dawn willing to give him a chance. He was waiting a little longer than usual for Minfilia but when she arrived, she swept HIM off his feet. Leon simply couldn't stop smiling, for someone finally gave him a chance. Being the gentleman, he was beyond respectful of everything Minfilia was and wasn't, which saw her point of view on lads changing for the better. It was a box with a friendship ring Leon held out for Minfilia that saw the blonde seeing a potential happy ending with the lad from Fynn, which Minfilia immediately accepted. The date was a resounding success, which saw the pair planning their second date together, in order to get to know each other even better. In fact, Minfilia had loads of fun with Leon which saw Lyse and Sice literally roll on the floor laughing their arses off at the matter.
In the end, Leon and Minfilia gave each other the happy ending they deserved: they fell in love, got married and had a family of four kids, naming their daughter after Lightning's real name of Claire. If anything, being loyal to those who love who they want without question was a major deal to Minfilia, which Leon more than honoured: to Leon, being yourself is THE way to be.
With Lightning and Fang's love being his guide.
FIN
A/N #2: Next story is back in the Paying it Forward universe, with this one being the extended scene from 'In Their Favour' and the exact scene being the talk between Fang and Celes about Lightning's past with Jihl and Rachel.
