To Save, Rule or Destroy (PAFP)

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    Perhaps he had been tired. He slept for a fair amount of time, not waking up till the next day as the sun rose.


    Leo slowly opened his eyes to stare up at an unfamiliar ceiling. He took a deep breath in and a familiar scent entered letting him know he had no need to worry.


    He wondered if he had fallen asleep as he got out of the bed which smelled just like Celeste. He made a guess that it was her bed before making his way through the entrance to the room then went around the house in search of her. His bare feet lightly padding against the ground as he slightly ran around the house.


    Once he found her he went over and stared at her quietly. Not greeting or making himself known like most would.

    Celeste had ended up crashing in her guest room since the guy who was renting it didn’t come home last night. She might have been worried if it wasn’t for the fact he was probably just staying in town or something. The next morning she was up early having gone outside to get some water from the well hauling it up.


    She brought the bucket in and was quietly pouring some on each plant as she passed it. She thought she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “Morning.” She said ideally not looking up as she finished her watering shuffling from one potted plant to another. She set the bucket down and was getting ready to turn around to see where Leo was.


    She nearly jumped when she turned to see him just staring at her. Clutching her chest she sighed picking up the water. “Do you want something to eat?” She asked as she started to put the bucket of water back off to the side.

    Leo nodded. Looking at her a bit longer before glancing to a window. “What are your plans for today?” He asked her. He wondered what things she would be doing today. Be it she did nothing or walked around in a rush all day, he would follow.


    He headed over to the table and took a seat. Easily seeing over the edge compared to last time. His nose peaking just a bit above the table which was a inch or so more then when his eyes could barely look over. It was rather subtle and only one very observant would take any notice to it.

    Taking the nod as his answer she began looking around for a minute deciding what to make while he went to the table. “Well I have to make a trip to town to get some things.” She said with a slight shrug, she had still tried to puzzle out what he meant by a wooden box. She shook her head buzzing here and there around the kitchen.


    When she glanced over it at him she realized he could see over the table a little easier although he didn’t see differnet otherwise. It was very possible she was simply seeing things. Shaking her head she went back to what she was doing. A couple minutes later she set a plate of toast with honey and fruit on the side. “I hope this is okay.” She hummed as she went back into the kitchen to clean up.


    After wiping the counters down she nibbled on an apple while looking through what she had and what they might need to get.

    He nodded, giving his thanks before getting started on the food. He happily took a bite of toast, quietly kicking his legs back and forth while his free and gripped onto the seat of the chair. Once he was finished eating he put away his dishes then walked over to her. He looked to her a bit curiously, he really was a silent kid and didn't seem like one as hyper as others.


    Leo didn't break his staring, moving when ever she moved. He took a glance at the shoes from yesterday and wondered why people wore shoes. He didn't really understand the point to them. Though he had pretty tough feet compared to the majority of people, rarely ever getting something stuck in his foot.

    Once he was finished and came over to start staring at her she took it as a sign it was time to go. Celeste grabbed up her basket and started walking towards the door noticing he was staring at the shoes by the door. She looked down at his feet seeing that he was barefoot. She tipped her head to the side. "Maybe we can find you some shoes or something." She shrugged since she knew she didn't have any shoes small enough to fit his feet around. Slipping on her own shoes she took the basket starting to pull the heavy wooden door open.


    Grunting when she finally got it open she motioned for him to follow before hauling the door shut after him. "Can you think of anything you might need any town?" She asked ideally starting down the path towards town hoping she could get there without any trouble today.

    “I don’t need shoes” he responded. Perhaps it did seem like he may have wanted them, perhaps they would be good for blending in. But he preferred bare feet and felt it would be a bit of time before shoes would last long on his feet.


    He followed her to the door, watching as she got it open and he wondered if a thinner door would be easier to use. He easily kept up with her larger steps and walked a bit to her side instead of behind her.


    It was nice to be back out again. What did she need at the village anyway? He couldn’t help but have curiousity.


    “Sweets?” He wasn’t the best person to ask for what he would want or need since as far as he was concerned; sweets was a major thing. Though he could probably go for years without consuming anything, my that even he was aware of that.

    The Elf stared at him for a moment clearly finding the fact he didn’t want shoes a bit odd. Shaking her head continued the path she was one occasionally looking to her side to see Leo there keeping pace with her the whole way. She pursed her lips at his question thinking it over.


    Although sweets weren’t necessary to her in the slightest he seemed to absolutely adore them so maybe a little something would be alright. “I think we can get something sweet.” She decided as the dirt path gave way to the cobble stone. There were people walking this way and that way across the street. “Stay close.” She cautioned as her feet the cobblestone.


    There were a few vendors calling about what they were selling. She moved past them without a second glance heading further into the town. She would cast uneasy glances making sure that he was still following.

    Leo looked around when they made their way to a street with people shouting from stalls of food an accessories trying to lure people over.


    Though the amount was not large, their was a fair amount of people. He was not one to factor being around many people so he stuck very close to her while she walked.


    As they walked he noticed a young child holding her mothers hand. He looked over at Celeste and at her hand. He then reached out while they were moving to grab at it.

    Celeste walked along keeping her eyes scanning the shops as they passed trying to find where she needed to go. She would occasionally look over at Leo to make sure he was keeping up although he seemed to be sticking very close by, so she didn't worry too much as they made their way along. Her head was looking this way and that when she felt something grab her hand. This made her jump a little and she turned to look down at her hand and Leo's hand holding it.


    She looked at his face for a moment before squeezing his hand with her's and started to walk again. She didn't seem to mind him holding her hand that much. It kept him from getting too far off from her in case something happened although she did have a few people turn and glance her way as she walked along.


    Finding where she needed to go she turned and walked into a shop with tailored dresses in the window. She walked in looking around as she went to the shelves where there were rolls of fabric stacked up. She started to look through them letting go of his hand so could look.

    When she let go of his hand Leo looked curiously at what she was going through. His eyes then locked on to a person shuffling around the other part of the store. He noticed something off about the person and gripped onto her dress skirt. Glancing up at her while keeping an eye on the suspicious person. The direction he was looking in was by a certain designed outfit for young boys. Though his focus was more on the person behind the shelfs.

    Celeste pulled out a roll of fabric and was carefully studying it. She turned her head when she felt a sharp tug on her skirts. Looking down at Leo for a moment she then looked over to where he was motioning missing the other person at first and instead was looking at the outfit. Inclining her head to the side she didn't know if she was a big fan of it, but if he wanted it she wasn't going to tell him no. She looked back at him and opened her mouth to ask if that is what he wanted before pausing when she saw he wasn't looking right at the outfit. "Is something wrong?" She asked quietly catching sight of the person across the store. She set the fabric she had aside looking Leo while she waited for an answer although did occasionally glance over at the person pretending to be looking at the outfit instead.

    “We should not stay here to long...” Leo told her softly. He didn’t want to be around the person, he felt it important to go.


    He looked over to the fabrics she had been looking at then at the door. Before looking to her once again. Something about the person, perhaps bloodlust coming from then in waves, was why he was rather concerned.

    Celeste didn't get the same impression of the man as Leo did instead only nodding ideally. "Alright it shouldn't take me more then a couple minutes." She mumbled keeping her eye on the man as she looked through the different fabrics. She picked out a couple rolls trying not to take too long, but also was probably not moving with as much urgency as she should have been. Walking up the front counter she had to ring the bell to get the attention of the owner. It took a couple more moments before an older woman came bumbling out and began chatting up the Elf. "How are you dear? Is Maxwell still staying with you?" She asked as she began to unfold the fabric not seeming in much hurry herself.


    Celeste smiled and nodded. "I am doing alright and yes he is." She confirmed as she waited for her to finish. The woman was almost done measuring out and cutting out the fabric. "Who is this little cutie?" The older woman suddenly peered over the counter at Leo trying to get a good look at him. Celeste lightly shrugged, "One of my cousins that came to visit." The Elf didn't actually say who he was since she figured there still might be some men looking for him. "Well you should bring him around again." The store owner ideally folded the fabric up and exchanged it with Celeste for money. Taking the fabric she offered one hand to Leo before starting to walk out.

    Leo never once let go of her skirt even when she moved to the front counter to make payment. He kept a sharp eye on the man. Though he wanted them to leave as quickly as possible, he did not seem impatient. Though this was due to if things got bad he could easily take care of it. Though that did not mean he enjoyed being close to something that felt dangerous.


    Leos eyes broke away from the strange man then up at the counter lady who seemed to be trying to look at him. Well, he guessed he was rather short. Not even the top of his head over the counter. He looked over to Celeste in wonder of why she lied but guessed it was for safety precaution. He remained quiet during the exchange before happily grabbing her hand when offered and walked out along side her. It wasn't until they were a fair amount away from the store.


    So for during their journey he noticed something. Everyone here had an aura and scent of misfortune. Something bad would happen to the village within ten days, he wondered what that was. He glanced up at her and noticed it faintly on her, his eyes slightly widened before he looked down to the ground while walking. It wasn't as bad on her as when they fist met which meant...perhaps the worst case was avoidable. The scent was defiantly lessening the more time he was with her.

    Celeste held the fabric close to her chest trying to think if there was much else she couldn't live without. Seeing Leo so spooked was making her want to leave town sooner, even though they seemed to have left the man behind. As she was walking she looked at the different vendors before motioning towards a bakery that had various things displayed in the window. "Do you want to go get something sweet?" She offer noticing he still seemed a little on edge, although it was hard to tell with how expressionless his face could be.


    As she started to walk towards the bakery she heard a loud slam and glanced towards the sound. She sighed when she realized she recognized who it was stumbling drunkenly out of the bar. "Maxwell are you alright?" She asked letting go of Leo's hand to go help the young man stand up. The man blinked not seeming to recognize who had come to support him until he looked at her for a second. "Oh..hey Celeste..." He mumbled seeming to barely be standing at this point. Grunting the Elf was having trouble supporting the man who was basically dead weight leaning against her. "You were drinking again." She muttered rolling her gold eyes as she moved him to the side of the building so he could lean against it.


    Instead he stumbled after her and once she let go he slumped down against the wall. Celeste shook her head glancing around briefly realizing she had forgotten Leo for a moment. She rubbed her temple wondering what to do with him in the moment. His head slumped forwards and he seemed to be falling asleep. The Elf snapped her fingers in his face to wake him up putting her hands on her hips.

    Leo took in this new appearance. This man had an unpleasant scent of alcohol, sweat and faint cigar smoke. Though Leo quickly noticed a faint trace of the clear scent of Celeste's house. So this is the man those shoes belonged to? Leo watched quietly as Celeste helped and spoke to the man. Her attention on Leo seeming to disappear completely as she addressed the man. Although she seemed to remember Leo as she took a glance and only looked back to Maxwell after he saw her eyes land on him.


    Leo was not sure why, but he did not really enjoy seeing her be nice to the other man. He walked over to stand by her side, giving the man a cold look. Was this man important? He noticed the scent of death looming thickly on him an decided not to bother to much, he would be gone soon anyway.

    Celeste sighed looking down at the man who now seemed almost passed out right now. She bit her lip trying to decide what to do. She could just leave him here without much consequence, but she was a little worried about him all the same. "Looks like our trip has to be cut short." She mumbled glancing at Leo. She raised a brow catching the cold look he was giving Maxwell. Shrugging it off for now she bent down and started to shake his shoulder in an effort to wake him up. A loud groan came from him as his eyes opened to look at Celeste still not seeming to really see her all that clearly. "Max come on we need to take you home." She insisted with a sigh taking one of his arms to try and pull him to his feet. Maxwell grumbled under his breath blinking as he saw Leo looking at him. "What are you looking at?" He sputtered at the boy before being hauled up to his feet. "He's looking at a drunkard." Celeste muttered helping him lurch forwards.


    Considering just how drunk he was Max had to rely almost entirely on Celeste for support. Grunting from the effort of holding him up she looked at Leo with an apologetic smile. "Come on I'll make us something sweet at home." She tried to compromise offering him her free hand again while still struggling to help support the man.

    (I really like Celeste lol. Even when carrying a heavy drunken man she still reached out a hand for Leo)


    Leo let his expression fall back to a neutral one while he watched Celeste help the man up. Wondering why she was being so kind, perhaps it really was just her nature. He didn't enjoy how the man was touching her, he didn't want the scent to rub off onto her. He kept his thoughts to himself as he heard her speak to him that they could instead make some sweets at home.


    He was taken by surprise when she offered him a hand, despite how she struggled with the man she still ha Leo in her thoughts. This made him happy and a smile broke out on his face as he took her hand with his soft smaller one and looked up to her. "I can carry him if you want" He offered. Though their was no way a child could support another especially a man four times their height. Leo did have the ability to, though his height was still an inconvenience.

    (Lol :3)


    As she started the slow progress back to the house with a drunken man on one side and a small child on the other they really did make quite the odd sight walking through the street. She glanced over at Leo and smiled at his offer, but shook her head. "It's alright, this isn't the first time I have taken him home like this." Celeste went back to focusing on making sure Maxwell didn't topple over. Luckily it didn't take too terribly long to get out of town although it felt like it to her with how heavy the man was. He didn't really say much besides the occasional grunt and grumble. It was really a miracle she made it still holding Leo's hand the whole way.


    "Can you get the door for me?" She asked Leo as she stopped to catch her breath in front of the house. "Careful the door is pretty heavy." She cautioned thinking he would probably struggle with the door like she always did. "Max come on snap out of it." She insisted turning her attention back to the man trying to get him to sober up a little bit, but it didn't seem to be doing much at all.