Chapter Text
From the moment he let the lance drop, all the adrenaline keeping him awake vanished. The strength in his arms vanished, a numb ache creeping up from his hands and feet to the rest of his body.
He breathed, gagging slightly at the reminder of the heavy blot in the air before turning his attention back up to what was once their opponent.
The Phantom was gone, falling into the still open gate below, leaving only a swaying girl on the edge, brilliant blue hair glowing faintly even from a distant. Blot dripped down from where she stood, forming an almost sickening waterfall down into the gate below.
Everything stayed still, the tension and fight still settling into the space.
It took only one small step forward.
Falling.
Idia was falling.
He was running before he could stop himself, with the following becoming a blur he could barely register.
Yelling.
Vil jumping.
Screams.
Worry.
Fear.
Waiting.
Hope.
Anticipating.
Relief.
Leona paid little mind to Vil’s aged state, instead rushing towards the blue in their arms. He pulled her close, letting her head rest on his chest while holding her tight.
Idia breathed slowly, her chest rising and falling in time. The curling flames at the end of her hair were dulled, barely flickering with each breath.
But… she was alive, she still glowed like the stars she admired so much.
His hold tightened as he adjusted her to be more comfortable and to let her cousins check her over with frantic worry.
He tried not to think about the peaceful expression she’d had as she fell. Or the way she took an extra step to reach the edge. She was alive and that was what mattered.
While she did struggle with social ques, Yuukika was more observant than most people gave her credit for.
As she sat there on the ground, holding Grim tightly as he curled into her for comfort, she watched the trio of cousins as the younger two fussed over the older in her fiances arms.
Leona hadn't let go of Idia still, keeping her head on his chest while a hand tangled in her hair. The other hand gripped at her waist, holding her close. He remained silent throughout, not a single word spoken as he let her be examined by her worried cousins.
Even without words… his care for the girl in his arms was practically being screamed.
The Pomefiore trio chattered to the side, crying and worrying over each other.
The octopus pest and Jamil were quietly bickering as they did their best to assess Riddle’s condition.
Everyone had their little bubbles… and Yuukika could only watch them from hers.
It wasn’t awful this time.
Carefully, Leona stood, Idia now being carried. Agapi looked like she was against such an action but she was also too tired to say anything.
Slowly, Grim still in her arms and Ortho’s data in her pocket, Yuukika stood on unsteady legs.
It was time to go home. And to hug her friend tight.
Idia shouldn’t have been standing before them. Her pale complexion looked ghostly, eyes underlined by dark shadows that nearly reached her cheekbones, thin limbs shook with her voice as she apologised and informed them of what would happen.
Spyro stood to her side, looking equally as exhausted but still braced to catch Idia should she fall. Agapi stood to the other side, quietly listening to everything with a nod of confirmation occasionally.
The hairpin in Leona’s pocket pressed against his leg. So easily he could return it, so easily get rid of a reason to see her again.
But…
He couldn't. Was it an excuse? Yes, but in this case an excuse was needed.
The garden was one easy excuse, he could just leave but… Instead he lingered.
“L-Leona-shi,” Idia stuttered “go, the ships leaving.”
“They can wait a second,” he answered “one last thing I need to say.”
Yellow eyes widened in surprise,
“Got something of yours,” he said “you better come back so I can return it you hear?”
A beat of silence.
“…okay,” the girl whispered “I’ll be back, I-I promise Leona-shi.”
Her eyes shone with something barely readable, like a flower barely beginning to bloom.
Hope.
With one last nod, Leona turned and walked to the ship. He had a promise to uphold after all.
And now so did she.