Leo Erickson

-

“Your happiness is my utmost priority. Parliament, the rebellion, and the people of Elysi are all secondary to your needs.” Theodore responds dryly, his expression and overall disposition still tense. It was commonplace for Leo to be the recipient of Theo’s harsh moods. With so few to turn to, he had become a necessary outlet. In turn, the Northerner responded with an easiness that he never anticipated needing. A shred of sanity, amidst the psychosis that began to draw upon him. “What can I do to rectify the situation? Should I step outside and pretend to be afraid again?”

He quirks his lips, the anecdote fitting for the situation. He was not a thief, and therefore never had to rely on slight of hands. Instead, his was a game of strategic manipulation. Theo supposed one lent the other. “And what is bigger than the Lord of the most fertile land in Elysi? I already have my fiance, should we need to claim to the trading ports. And the Red Keep is Phelix’s domain. No, it will have to be something different.” He snorts, the derision in Leo’s words all too predictable. The fellow rebel never had a fondness for his relationship with the assassin. “None quite like her. She’s brilliant, selfish, and devoid of sentiment and idealism.” Theodore summarizes, an almost wicked smile now occupying his face. “And I would like her skill set among our ranks.” And more aptly, her presence by his side.

-

“Now there’s the best friend I know and love,” Leo joked, the corner of his lips tilting up into an amused grin despite Theo’s tense disposition. He knew Theo was in one of his many moods, but at least the man was still joking which was a good sign. “I mean I’m not going to say no to that,” Leo told the other cheekily despite not actually expecting the man to do it.

“Not sure. You’re the strategist, remember? I’m just the ideas guy. But, maybe something to do with Loqoala? Or maybe we use one of the other Ashcrafts in the meantime while Alek is still in the picture? Or you know, send your thief in to snatch up their trade route information? Or I don’t know. Find a way to have you become the crown prince already?” Leo tossed a few ideas out there, not thinking much of it as he yammered on. “Devoid of sentiment and idealism? You know what that sounds like to me? Boring... Just saying,” Leo let out a low whistle as he rolled his eyes lightly over at the other. “Oh I’m sure you would. You’re quite fond of her ‘skill set’, aren’t you?”

CECILY  WAS  A  GHOST  ,  slipping  into  the  keep  silently  and  leaving  no  trace  of  her  behind.  all  this  effort  only  to  find  theo’s  loyal  lapdog  behind  closed  doors.  she  made  no  effort  to  hide  her  scowl  as  she  shut  the  door  behind  her.  her  distaste  for  the  prince’s  friend  was  no  secret  ,  thankfully.  cecily  could  scowl  and  groan  all  she  wished.  

     “  yarra’s  dry  cunt  ,  what  are  you  doing  here?  ”  disgust  dripped  off  of  cecily’s  words  ,  her  eyes  rolling  at  the  sight  of  him.  she  entered  the  room  nonetheless  ,  plucking  a  couple  grapes  from  their  stems  as  she  passed  leo.  eventually  she  made  her  way  to  theo’s  bed  ,  kicking  off  her  shoes  so  she  could  tuck  her  feet  under  her.     

     “  i’ll  wait.  ”  cecily  finally said  ,  narrowed  eyes  resting  on  leo.  if  he  were  so  lucky  ,  she  thought.  cecily  felt  a  tinge  of  satisfaction  knowing  that  she  was  disrupting  his  plans  for  the  evening.  “  i  know  by  now  not  to  trust  your  memory.  ”  

“Oh haven’t you heard, I’m the Prince’s lover. The two of us are very found of one another,” Leo told Cecily with a cheeky smile. The sarcasm rolling off the tip of his tongue despite the amused look in his gaze in response to Cecily’s scowl. 

“Oh joy,” Leo muttered under his breath. It was now his turn to let at a scowl at the thought he might be stuck with Cecily until Theo’s return. “Just what I always wanted. An assassin who is- what was it that Theo said? Oh! Yeah. ‘Devoid of sentiment and idealism’,” He grumbled, shooting Cecily a look as he popped another grape into his mouth. 

Lucan loved hard and where family was concerned, he held room in his heart even in the most disappointing of circumstances. Had he always wanted his brother to follow in the footsteps of those before him as well? He definitely had, but did he selfishly want to forge a bond with Leo despite the disappointment? He most certainly would. Their mother leaving left an empty hole in the family and Lucan wouldn’t allow this to mean that he lost a brother as well. 

“Sir Lucan has never done a single thing wrong ever in his life,” Lucan said, an amused grin playing at his features as he and his brother both knew that to be a falsehood. Even though he did mostly tell the truth in his life, he wasn’t completely a saint. “When they told me I would have a younger brother, I only wish someone foretold of what it would be like. I did not agree to this being my life.” His words were lighthearted and he knew Leo knew this wasn’t an actual poke at him, but rather an amusing assessment of their current predicament. “Sir Lucan’s coins won’t be paying for anything. I told them thief and known swindler Leo Erickson was the culprit. But that drink for my pain and suffering would do just fine,” he said dramatically as if there were actually any pain or suffering that he endured.  

Lucan studied his brother for a moment, concerned etched in his gaze. “How are you?” he asked. “You fairing okay?” Sometimes he wanted to ask just what his brother was up to, but he feared the knowledge would implicate him as complicit in things he didn’t truly want to be a part of. 

Leo burst into a fit of laughter as his older brother not only referred to himself in the third person, but also how the righteous knight made a clearly bold faced lie. “So we can add lying to the list of crimes against Sir Lucan, I see,” Leo chuckled some more. “And not many people do and yet here I am. A blessing and a curse wrapped up in one. You’re welcome,” He added with an amused smirk as he went ahead and ordered himself an ale. Despite their differences, he knew his brother still adored him, just like he loved his brother. Even if their differences sometimes drove a wedge between them. “Aww fuck. You gave them my name? What kind of wingman are you? No. Nope. No drink for you. You ratting me out makes us equal, oh brother of mine,” Leo grumbled, glancing over his shoulder, suddenly slightly more on edge than he had been a moment before, well aware of how many people the thief had offended or pissed off in the past.

Glancing back over at his brother, Leo gave Lucan a raised brow. “I’m fairing just fine,” He told the other, which wasn’t completely a lie. Especially now that he had befriended a Prince of all people. “Don’t worry about me, Lucan. Believe it or not, I have friends in high place,” He said, brushing off his brother’s concern with a shrug. Even though Leo was well aware that his words probably wouldn’t ease his brother’s concern much.

…

“Oi, don’t be silly, you. It’s not like I plan to spill my beer in a specific area, is it? It’s the whole bartop.” Oggy rolled his eyes. Leaning against the bar as he waited for Leo to sort himself out. “Either way neither of us has to be desperate enough to be sleeping or licking on bartops if we play our cards right.” 

“Come of it, just want you to get a start on getting into your character. Yeah? S’bit more complicated that she’s horny. She’s horny, horrible, and rich. Plus she thinks you got a title bigger than hers from foreign parts but are sadly down on your luck. Think you can do that?” Oggy dropped a heavy satchel on the counter top. “Got some options in there for your outfits, they’re a bit baggy on my own arms but sure to fit you since your last growth spurt. Big lad that you are, she’s liable to be salivating as soon as she sees you all totted up in fancy taffeta. You know what they like”

“And you call me unsanitary after you’ve just confessed to licking the entire bar up and down with your tongue?” Leo made a face at the thought, climbing down off of the bar and sniffing himself over. Oh he definitely needed to wash up. Especially now that he had napped in what he could only imagine being Oggy’s saliva. “Doubt that would stop us, but alright, alright. I’m in,” Leo grumbled, not exactly one to be turning down a job either. 

So just pretend to be Theo? Leo couldn’t help, but think as Oggy explained the target. “Yeah, yeah. Easy enough. And eh- I’m gonna go with my own costume stash. No offense,” Leo said as he riffled through the clothes before moving behind the bar to the backroom Zaynder let him use to store his gear, quickly washing up before popping back out wearing an old outfit of Theo’s the Prince had let him keep. “How’s this?” He asked, looking over at the other with a raised brow. “Think it’s convincing enough?”

-

His retort cause Nora to smile and she hated herself for it. She simply detested the way her heart beat’s normal steady strum seemed to pick up from the moment she’d laid eyes on him. She’d opened her mouth to retort, but stopped herself quickly.

“Not quite, not all of us are mountains. Some of us seemed to have been missed when the gods were determining height,” she joked. It was oddly easy to fall into a back and forth rapport with him. She hadn’t forgotten their interactions, but she had thought that it’d be more difficult. With her heart’s ache and the sad way that she felt as though any moment the sight of him could bring her to unwanted tears, it surprised her at how easily she could joke with him. She also felt herself want to practically melt at his words about her eyes. Nora let out a shaky breath, trying to remind herself that even though part of her wanted to jump into his arms  and let him go that that was over. The swooning over the handsome thief was out of the question. “Avoiding you? I thought that you were done with me?”

The dragon rider shook her head feeling just as confused as he sounded at the moment. She hadn’t been avoiding him, but rather avoiding all the places that held memories of the two of them. After his distance and seemingly pulling away, the last thing she wanted to do was dwell on past memories and what could have been between them.

When he cupped her face in her hands, she closed her eyes against the feel of his skin against hers. A stray tear betrayed her, falling down her cheek at his touch. The absence of such an act, sending her heart into a persistent ache. “W-what?” She asked, her mind feeling foggy with confusion. Her hand moved atop his holding it against her cheek, not wanting to relinquish his touch just yet. “You…came back?” She asked, surprise in her tone. Her tear-filled gaze unwaveringly on his now. “To do what? Break up with me? To tell me I’m not enough?” She supplied. “I only left because you started to disappear on me. You were distant, like you were pushing me away and then you left. I couldn’t bare it, the man that I -“ she shook her head, not wanting to say the word now. “That I cared about, pushing me away. I thought you weren’t coming back.”

- 

The corner of his lips tilted up ever so slightly at the sight of Nora’s smile. Gods, did he miss that smile. His heart annoyingly drumming louder against his chest as he took her in.

“See, that’s where we’d disagree. I’m not sure the gods missed anything when it came to you,” He admitted quietly under his breath. His gaze shifting as he spoke. It was surprisingly easy to slip back into their familiar back and forth rapport. But, with it, came a painful jab in his chest that he had been hoping to forget. “Done with you? Why would I have been done with you?” He asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “I was gone for a week tops and when I came back you had vanished quite like a ghost might I add. I searched everywhere and asked around, but no one seemed to have spotted you or if they had, they didn’t want me to know about it at least and after a while, well, frankly it was getting a little pathetic so... Let’s just say, I got the hint, Nor,” Leo shrugged, shoving his fists into his pockets as he did, despite the pained and slightly humiliated look across his gaze. 

His thumb lightly brushing away her stray tear as he own hand rested lightly a top of his. “Yeah, Gem. I came back,” He whispered once more. His deep voice was almost rough and raw as he spoke. “To do what- No. Fuck,” Leo cursed, shaking his head as he lowered his hand back down to his side.  “I was coming to tell you that I love- loved- it doesn’t even matter. I mean, fuck, Nora. Is that what you really think of me? I mean I get it. I’m a nobody and a thief. Message received,” He mumbled under his breath, starting to turn away on the balls of his feet. Leo knew that was all people saw when they looked at him. That he was a lowlife. The kind of guy you wanted to steer clear of. And maybe they were right. Just another reminder of why Leo didn’t flirt, he didn’t do love and he didn’t do hook ups. It all just seemed fairly worthless these days. “I wasn’t dist- I was nervous. I had never fucking done this before and, to be honest, you can be kind of intimidating,” He shook his head, running his hand through his tangled curls as he did. He had been trying to get his thoughts together and figure out how to explain all that he was feeling in words, but before he even got the chance, she had made the decision for them. “Yeah... well... I guess It doesn’t really matter now... does it?” He asked, quietly under his breath. His eyes glued onto his shoes as every nerve in his body was begging for him to walk away before he made even more of a fool of himself than he already had been- admitting he had fallen for a girl whom seemed to have already made up her mind about him.

-

“If I humor you once, you will inevitably resort to even grander antics.” Theodore summarizes knowingly. Leo’s penchant for trouble making was off-putting at first. A far cry from Theo’s calm and strategic disposition. But within the ranks of the rebellion’s cause, he learned to appreciate the light touch of the Northerner. Or perhaps, he simply clung onto him as a singular companion in the hardship of a rebellion. Either way, his foul mood is visibly lightened by Leo’s anecdotes. With a sigh of deflection, he plops onto the spot beside him, his head resting atop the previously-admired pillow. His breath steadies, with his fingers coming rubbing the space between his eyebrows.

“A couple of days. It will only spark further doubts regarding my fealty to the cause. It is already under question as is.” Theo believed his loyalty proven by the destruction of his home and of his family. But his moment of weakness, in the form of an exchange with Kirian, prompted wider speculation. “That Lord controls the majority of Elysi’s food supply. His removal all but guaranteed our control of the Reach. Now, I must stand idly by as their line their pockets and ration our men.” Puffing his lips, he turns towards the man to his left. “I have yet to tell Cecily of the news. This was her opportunity to align herself within our ranks.”

“Maybe,” Leo chuckled under his breath, amused as to how well his dear friend knew him. “But, in doing so you would make me so immensely happy. I mean don’t you want to make me happy? Just a little bit?” He teased. His signature smirk ever present across his lips as he watched the other plop down on the bed beside him. A pleased glint finding its way to Leo’s eyes as he did. Leo knew that his joking nature could sometimes be off putting, but he found it easier to crack witty retorts than to stress over the twisted thoughts raging on in the back of his head. That and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy lighting someone’s mood now and again.

“Huh. That complicates things. But, at least it buys us enough time to come up with a plan to pitch to them. The basics of thieving- distract them with the temptation of a bigger prize than you originally offered, and then they don’t seem to care as much that it took you a bit longer,” Leo offered up with a shrug. “And as for the Duke, they’ll be another chance and, in the meantime, I mean you have a world class thief right here that you’ve yet to put into play,” He pointed out. His grin twisted into a grimace however at the mention of Cecily. “Oh drats. Was it? Oh well. I mean they’ll be other assassins,” Leo let out a low hum, shooting his friend as innocent of a look as he could muster.

-

Nora thought that she could do this. That she could handle being in his presence, but she felt almost like she could crumble. She thought back to how her heart ached every time she noticed his distance, and then finally his absence. The way her heart felt as though some affliction had caused its agonizing ache. Sure, she’d moved on with her life, and the ache was easier now, but now he wasn’t more than an intangible memory. 

When he called her Gem, her breath hitched, her step faltering as she fought the pain in her gaze. Calling her Gem had made her feel as though she was worth something. She was his Gem a most valuable treasure when in her own life she felt more than worthless in most ways and like she could never measure up. To him, she had felt as though she did. Until she didn’t anymore. Until he was gone and she was left with more questions that she was afraid to ask. Afraid that she wouldn’t be enough for him either. 

As the arrived in the more private corner of the tavern, she looked up at him. “Did you grow?” she huffed, moving to stand in a chair, still not quite right, she moved to stand on the table that just a bit taller. “I didn’t want to give you a way to not meet my eyes,” she explained. “So…you’re not dead. Very alive,” she assessed. “I’d hoped I’d be more angry at you. Oh believe me there were times when I’d pace and let loose my angry rants on Cressida as if she were you just as practice for this moment. I called you every foul name there was. And it’s frustrating that I can’t yell at you. I want to be angry with you. I want to hate you.” Her voice was low, not the usual angry Nora that she often exhibited when she felt heightened emotion. This one was defeated. Broken. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if she needed the comfort to keep herself together. 

“You disappeared..or faded. You came into my life, made yourself as necessary as air. And then you were gone.”  She’d always held the assumption that he’d come to the realization that she was not enough or perhaps she was too much this time, she couldn’t keep up with which she was and to whom. Living in two different worlds, as if there was a middle when there was not. She would be ready for the words this time, to hear them, and she wanted him to look her in the eyes as he confirmed it. She wanted him to drive the figurative dagger into her heart, rather than the slow and silent poison that was unanswered questions. 

Leo inhaled a sharp breath. His head swarming with half-formed thoughts and whispers of regret. He didn’t believe in love. He never had. It was fantasy. A concocted story one would whisper to children to lure them to bed and nothing more. Love was only as meaningful as people fooled themselves into thinking it is and, yet, standing there in front of her once more inexplicable felt like an insatiable fire had burnt all of the oxygen out of his body, leaving him feeling listless... empty. A gentle reminder of the pain that came before a warning not to tempt his own fate.

“Oh yeah. A whole six feet. I was actually pocket sized before,” He quipped. Keeping up his cheeky disposition despite his heart feeling as if his blood had turned to tar, struggling to keep a steady beat.

 “Are you-” Leo narrowed his eyes over at the girl whom was once his as she shifted from the chair to the table. The corner of his lips tilting up ever so slightly in amusement. “The chair didn’t do it for you, huh?” He started to tease. But, his grin faded as quickly as it appeared at the sound of her next words. “Why wouldn’t I meet you the eyes?” He asked with a raised brow as if it was the simplest question in the world. “You have beautiful eyes. Always have. What happened between us doesn’t change that. And... yes? I am alive? Why shouldn’t I be? Wait- you were the one who was avoiding me. Shouldn’t you already know that?” His brows scrunched up in confusion.

“Oh great. Two more members to my fan club, I assume,” He mumbled under his breath, shoving his fists into his pockets as he did. Leo knew fairly well that he rubbed people the wrong way. He was thief, a criminal, and a liar among other things. It would be surprising if he hadn’t ended up on anyone’s shit lists at this point. Especially seeing how much of an instigator he often would be. But, to hear it coming from Nora couldn’t help, but rub him the wrong way. He had cared for girl, more than he’d ever care to admit. Love was a fable nobility encourage to help sell this notion that you will only be complete after you settle down and get married. And yet, the past month he had spent with her back when they were still together, he had caught himself slowly buying into the idea. He didn’t know why he was behaving out of character at first. He tried to ignore it, but as more time past, the less seemed to be able to avoid it. He was even debating about telling her that day. The day he came back from his trip to Glasswater to find the woman he had called his own to have vanished like a ghost.

“I disappeared? Wait- whoa, whoa, whoa,” He looked taken a back. His head tilting slightly to the side as he cupped her face in his hands. His gaze darting back and forth as he scanned her eyes. “What are you talking about?” Leo asked her, honestly confused. “I didn’t disappear. That was- that was you. Wasn’t it? I mean for god sakes, Nora. I went to Glasswater for a week with Theo and by the time I came back, you were gone. I fucking looked everywhere, trying to hunt you down. I was even gonna tell you that I-” Leo cut himself off before he could mutter the three words he’d never let himself believe in again. “But, after a month of searching, I mean... it’s pretty clear when a girl doesn’t want to be found, so... if we’re gonna do this, can you please explain how I’m the bad guy exactly?”

“That’s unsanitary.” Oggy looked down at his human almost-protege. Oggy would call him protege in stories if he’d thought it would impress the listener, the elf wasn’t sure what Leo thought of all this. “And that’s coming from me who’s licked his spilled ale off this counter when I was skint and desperate enough. Get up, I don’t want to picture your dirty feet in my drink-licking area.” His hand clasped around Leo’s shoulder.

“Oi, oi, don’t say tricking so loud, yeah? We’re not tricking, we’re convincing her to care enough about you to part with some of her coin. Just remember you aren’t you, you’re a displaced baron counting on her- Or she’s barren and you’re a count.” He shook his head. “Can’t keep this shit straight, but it’s all in the letters. Either way it’s sunup, you were supposed to meet me already, and you need to stop smelling like the floor of the second worst tavern in the village.”

“You’re one to talk,” Leo chuckled under his breath, rubbing his tired eyes as he sat up. “And you have a drink licking area?” He asked with a raised brow. His eyes scanning the surface of the bar as he did. “Wait- where is it? Is it here? Or maybe over there?” He asked, gesturing to different spots across the bar before he said cheekily, “Just so I know where to stick my feet for next time.”

“Oh. You’re right! What was I thinking? One of the many patrons might overhear,” He chuckled some more. The sarcasm clinging to each word as he motioned to the empty tavern around them. “Uh huh. Got it. I’m some whoop-de-doo noble and she’s horny. And okay, okay, I’m coming. I’m assuming you’ve got some clothes for me to change into? Or should I go dig through my stash to find something that will suffice?” He asked. Siding onto his feet, Leo ran his hands across his face, still trying to will himself awake.

“Take my dignity, but not my money!” Leo lurched awake. His arm jutted out and protectively grasped onto the pouch around his waist. His eyes squinting at the light creeping in through tavern window. “Oh, thank god. It’s you,” The hungover thief mumbled, with a sigh of relief, as he made out Oggy’s features. Leo had made a habit these past few days of passing out on the top of the bar after closing. One of the perks of annoying the owner so much so, that they happily agreed to let him pass out there if it meant he’d stop pestering them. Yet, waking up on the stiff table never stopped being a startling way to come to. 

“I was suppose to meet you, wasn’t I? There was something about tricking some noble? What hour is it anyhow?” He asked with a quirk of his brow, rubbing his tired eyes as he did so.

@thenorthernrose​

12 Years Ago... In the Northlands...

It was about half past noon when the young thief made his way down the corridor. A light whistle filling the air as he went. It had been about a month since the first time Leo had returned to Chateau Mer Sereine after his mother’s disappearance. The handmaiden was all but forgotten in the grand Chateau. A thought that seemed to creep its way into Leo’s mind and torment him in the middle of the night. But, today was not the day to dwell on how expendable people like him seemed to be to the nobility. Today was, instead, the day he had planned to swipe some of the Desrochers family jewels.

“Thank ye, Thank ye! If thou didst enjoy the show please put something in the hat. Any coins will do. We also accept sexual favors, but do us a favor, and don’t put those in the hat. They make the coins all sticky and, on that lovely note, we bid you adieu,” Leo announced in a grandiose and over exaggerated accent. Bowing to the crowd who had gathered around the small group of Thespians, the Charlatan chose to hang back. He lightly bumped into and brushed up against town goers’ pockets as they dropped a few copper pieces into the hat. It was chump change, truly- parading around as a Thespian to nab mere pocket change. But, the sun was setting in East Reach and the the thief was craving a drink.

Spinning around on his heels, Leo separated himself from the cheerful actors he had been performing with and quickly vanished into the dispersing crowd. Waiting until he was far enough away to begin to count his findings. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for a few rounds at the local pub and a warm bed back at the Inn. A pleased grin began to spread across his lips. But, as soon as he glanced up, his feet were skidding to a halt. His smile faltering as he met the gaze of the familiar face whom he quickly realized had been eyeing him since the end of his show. 

“Well isn’t it my favorite siren,” His words were soft as he spoke. Running his fingers through his tangled black curls, Leo’s eyes fell to the ground. “How, um... how much of that did you see?” He asked awkwardly, surprised to see her there of all places, especially not while he was getting up to the same old shit he had been when they had first met all those years ago.