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Zeref started drifting away from him, but it was Mavis who vanished first. In the year X696, Leo the Lion was contracted to a high-ranking noble lord of the highly militaristic Isvan empire. Yao Makoto was a stern man, but he was not unkind. Despite Isvan’s mistrust of magic, his contractor’s position in the Emperor’s ranks was high enough for naysayers to keep silent about Leo.
Still, Makoto-sama treated him well enough, granting him freedom when not in need of Leo’s services. But the fact that Leo was in an entirely different continent meant that meeting up with Zeref was a rare occurrence.
Therefore, he only learned of Mavis’s disappearance six months after she left Fairy Tail. He received a vague remark about Mavis having the potential to walk alongside him from Zeref, before the subject was being dismissed. Whenever Zeref start acting shifty, Leo knew it was a useless endeavour to try to get more information out of him.
Ankhseram held a very tight grip on his old friend’s soul and mind, and sometimes even Leo’s light was not enough to ward away Divine Wrath.
So, despite his apprehension, Leo headed to Fairy Tail Guild.
He might not be as close to the other founders, other than Mavis, but he cared for them all the same. His heart was too soft; Aquarius had claimed. Whether it was a flaw or strength was yet to be seen. The Mermaid Queen has always despised that part about him; his willingness to give the humans a chance. She never seemed to share that feeling about the others, but Leo was always a special case with her.
You cannot help but hate the people that most reflect yourself, after all.
Warrod greeted him enthusiastically, and it was his delight upon seeing him that made Leo felt strange. Precht was far more cautious, but no less warm in his greeting. Yuri was nowhere to be found.
They chatted amicably and updated him about the ongoings of the guild, subtly enquiring about Zeref, and not-so-subtly badgered him about his current contractor and whether he was being treated well.
Neither of them mentioned anything about Mavis. Or Yuri.
Surprisingly, it was Precht that broke first.
“You should visit Yuri.” He said quietly.
Leo stayed silent. His patience could outlast a mountain. Eventually, always, the humans would cave first.
“Rita died six months ago.” Warrod continued. “He hasn’t been out of his house ever since then.”
He attended Yuri and Rita’s wedding, but he barely knew the bride. That was how it usually goes with most humans.
The empty spot between the two men felt pointed. Leo does not know what they wanted from him.
He was just a Celestial Spirit.
“He refused to leave that damn house no matter what we do! I am half a goddamn second from kicking in the door and burning the whole house down!” Precht raged, slamming his fist onto the table.
Leo politely ignored the crack that formed under his fist.
Still, it was alarming to see the usually calm and confident man losing his composure. But Leo also knew that Precht has always been the most passionate of them.
“We can’t exactly barge in because of Mavis’s wards.” Warrod explained. “She set them up as a gift for Yuri’s marriage. I cannot believe it is backfiring on us now.”
“Yuri’s reckless, but he knows how to take care of himself.” Precht cut in. “It’s Makarov we’re worried about!”
“Makarov.” Leo said out loud.
The two men fell silent, blinking at him in surprise.
Oh, it was the first word he spoke since they started talking about Yuri. He had not realized he hadn't said a word since they began their complaints.
“Yes,” Warrod said hesitantly. “Rita’s son.”
A child had not even factored into his thoughts.
Why would Mavis leave and abandoned her grieving friend? Why would Mavis even leave when there is a child here?
Leo never had a child. He witnessed humans commit atrocities and miracles because of their children. Pisces would not even have existed if the Mother had not loved her Son so fiercely, so devotedly, that she had even defied death and captured the eye of a goddess.
Leo could not relate because he has never been a child loved by his parents.
Nevertheless, aside from his own personal feelings, Yuri Dreyar was a friend.
“I will visit the child.” He declared.
Ignoring the two men’s startled glances, he stood up and left the guild hall.
It was a surprise when Yuri actually opened the door.
It was an admittedly beautiful house; a lovely cottage with flowers growing in the backyard, a white pickle fence, which Leo found unnecessary and useless when Mavis’s wards do fine enough as protection, and a fat ginger cat lazing on the porch that eyed him suspiciously as he came up to the door.
“Leo?” Yuri said in confusion, as if he was an illusion.
Looking at the mage’s dishevelled state of clothes, the dark circles under his glazed eyes and the smell of a man who has not bathed in days, Leo would not be shocked if Yuri had actually started hallucinating. He heard that stress and exhaustion do strange things to a human’s mind.
“Yes, that’s me.” He said slowly. “May I come in?”
Yuri blinked again, and then quietly stepped aside.
The moment Leo stepped across the threshold; the wailing of an infant sliced through the air.
“Oh, no!” Yuri yelped, dashing off immediately.
He closed the door behind him and followed the mage at a more sedately pace.
When he walked into the room, he did not expect Yuri to be carrying an infant in his arms, crooning a broken lullaby under his breath as he swayed in the same manner Leo has seen countless parents do to calm their agitated baby.
It seemed that Yuri could take care of himself just fine, like Precht claimed. The exhaustion was not from grief, but from a first-time parent trying to take care of a baby alone.
Leo watched the father and son for a long minute, wondering if it’s his place to step in.
But then the crying refused to stop, Yuri looked seconds away from a meltdown and the wailing was really starting to give him a headache, he sighed and stepped forward.
“Give me the child.” He said in irritation. “Go take a bath, eat a meal and sleep. You do no good to anyone, much less your son, if you collapse.”
“What?” Yuri stuttered.
He merely cocked his brow up in impatience.
“Do you even know how to take care of a baby?” Yuri said dubiously.
“Do you?” He retorted. “I am centuries older than you are. I can definitely take care of a human infant.”
He raised a dragon, and even that dragon’s human spawn. Not to mention how many past contractors treated him like a fucking babysitter. He even had a baby as a contractor once.
He could see that Yuri was too tired to argue, and the man acquiesced easily. He wanted to lecture Yuri on that naivety and trust. He could spirit the child away! He could be an imposter!
It wasn’t as if they were very close friends. Nothing could stop him from regarding the child with malicious intent.
But Yuri had staggered to the bathroom before Leo could utter even a word. He shook his head in exasperation and looked down at the infant.
The infant was cute, at least. Leo could see soft, fine hairs growing from that head, a pale gold like his father’s. He has Rita’s eyes though, dark and searching, staring up at Leo with great interest. It was not like Yuri’s eyes at all, all pretty and wide, like an enthusiastic puppy.
Rita had been the same, always watching Leo with that shrewd, thoughtful gaze.
It was why he had stayed away from her.
He swayed his body gradually, humming a soft tune. When the infant started to quieten, he opened his mouth and sang softly.
“Inside this forest so bright and mild, a fairy lived, her name wonder child—” The trick had always worked with his own dragon child after all. “For all the forest knew of this girl, to which they knew would change the world...”
Yuri must have trusted him immensely, for some reason. Because he actually followed Leo’s orders to shower, eat and sleep.
He came back ten hours later, still looking groggy but more alert than he had looked before. In the time he was gone and gotten his rest, Leo had fed Makarov, changed his diapers three times, and tucked him to sleep in his crib.
The baby had even got at least three hours of nap before his father came back.
“You really took care of Makarov.” Yuri said in disbelief. At least he stopped reeking of baby shit and days-old sweat.
“Just as much as you did.” He said dryly, handing the infant back to his father.
Yuri gaped at him owlishly, securing Makarov in his arms with practiced ease.
“Why have you been avoiding your friends?” Leo decided the direct way was the best method, especially with men like Yuri who hated people beating around the bush.
Yuri flinched, avoiding his gaze instantly.
“They are worried about you. And your son.” Leo was not going to allow Yuri to avoid him. “Wasn’t you the one who once preached to me about relying on your friends more?” And of course, the elephant in the room. The one Leo was here for. “Where is Mavis? Where did she go and why isn’t she here for you?”
He wasn’t sure which part broke Yuri, but the man suddenly let out a sob, ripped from his lips reluctantly. Even so young, Makarov was sensitive to his father’s emotions. At Yuri’s crying, it set off another round of wailing from the infant.
Despite his hearing sensitivity, despite barely being friends with Yuri, Leo did not hesitate pulling him into his arms. The man’s crying was silent at least, but it was more heart-breaking for it.
…
It took Yuri awhile to calm down. As well as the infant.
By the time both father and son finally stopped their crying, Leo’s ears were ringing.
“Sorry,” Yuri muttered. “I-I hadn’t cried since Ri—” For a moment, he looked like he was going to break down again, but he managed to muster up his composure. Leo was slightly impressed. “I do not know where Ma—Mavis disappeared to. I thought she might be grieving as well, but—”
He stopped talking, but Leo understood. Mavis was Yuri’s best friend. Despite their thorny beginning, they became very close and treated each other like siblings.
Losing his wife, left alone with their baby, it must feel like a betrayal when Mavis left without a word. No one knew where she had gone, or whether she was safe.
She was not dead. That, Leo was certain. He would know if Mavis dies.
Just as he would know when Zeref dies, if his curse finally breaks.
His resolve to confront Zeref on Mavis’s whereabouts strengthened at the look of devastation on Yuri’s face. He has a feeling that Zeref knew something about the whole situation.
“But I needed her here.” Yuri’s voice cracked, and oh, how right Aquarius was, to speak and condemn of Leo’s love for humans.
Suddenly, Leo hated Mavis so fiercely it took him aback. She was supposed to be the anchor, the pathway that would always lead Leo and Zeref back home. She created a safe place and vowed that they would always be welcomed under her roof and protection. Leo has not had a home as a physical place for a very long time. And now she was gone.
(Because what was the point of Fairy Tail as home if Mavis wasn't here?)
He knew his co-dependency with Zeref was unhealthy. The both of them were so very broken creatures, twisted by grief and rage that only continued to mount across the decades. Both shattered and warped by their pasts, their respective tragedies that birthed their guilt and self-hatred.
Mavis Vermillion made everything better.
The anger festered out as quickly as it had formed. He was not truly angry with Mavis. He was not even angry with Zeref, despite the increasing secrets over the years. He loved them far too much to even think of hating them.
“I will find her.” He said quietly. “But in the meantime, I will be here for you in her stead.”
Yuri sniffled loudly, rubbing at his eyes. He tightened his arms around Makarov.
“Now, shall I hear why you’re avoiding your friends?” He asked.
“I—I wasn’t—I can’t explain it, but I just didn’t want them to know I’m falling apart.” Yuri admitted in despair. Little Makarov snuggled his head under his father’s chin and miraculously, started to fall asleep. “With Ma—Mavis gone, the guild is in disarray and Precht’s trying to cover as Guild Master and Warrod trying to take over Ri—Rita’s work and everyone’s so busy I—”
“Breathe.” He commanded.
Yuri exhaled nosily, looking almost wild around the eyes.
“I understand what you’re saying but you are not any less important than the guild.” He said, and continued firmly when he saw Yuri trying to object. “And you would do the same for them in any case, so why is it different with you?”
“I just don’t want to be a burden.” Yuri said weakly.
“You’re not, and I would kill anyone who says so.” He said sharply, ignoring Yuri’s startled gaze. “And this is not just about yourself, Yuri. It is also about a baby who just lost his mother. You were on the verge of collapsing before I even came here. What is going to happen to Makarov if you fell here, behind these wards with no way for Warrod and Precht to reach the both of you?”
Yuri dipped his gaze, heavy with guilt. Leo had enough of shouldering anyone’s guilt; he carried enough of his own.
“Call Warrod and Precht here.” He said firmly. “Talk to them. You know they will support you without question or judgement.”
Not to mention, the two men were probably waiting anxiously for news back at the guild, and would most surely come running the moment Yuri called for them.
“Alright.” Yuri said in defeat, but the weight on his shoulders seemed lighter. He hesitated for a moment, watching Leo with a peculiar look that was startlingly reminiscent of Rita Dreyar. It was not surprising they were attracted to each other, with their frustratingly all-knowing glances as if they were wiser beyond their years. Yuri displayed that wisdom less frequently, but that does not make him stupid. Just perhaps less observant than Rita. But in the rare times they appeared, it made Yuri Dreyar as annoying to deal with as his late wife.
“Thank you for coming, Leo.” Yuri murmured. “I know... I know we are not that close. I know you are here because of Mavis, but... still, I’m glad you are here.”
Leo’s stomach felt uncomfortable.
Yuri shifted awkwardly on his feet. Makarov continued to doze peacefully on his chest. “Precht and Warrod are Makarov’s uncles, of course. We might not be related, but I love them as my family. I was an orphan, so I never care much about blood anyway—”
“Get to the point.” He interrupted, but not unkindly.
“Can—Can you be Makarov’s godfather?” Yuri blurted. His voice came out a little louder than usual, and they both paused when the infant stirred in discomfort.
Leo could count the number of times he has ever been blindsided by a human. Usually, he comes to care for these humans deeply.
“It’s just that I will have to return to taking missions in the future to support both of us. I know I can rely on Warrod and Precht’s help but they have their own lives and I’m not saying you don’t, but I know one day I will not be here anymore. I do not know what will happen to me in the future, but I feel safer if I know that you will always look out for Makarov. I’m not saying that you need to babysit for Makarov and all that, just maybe drop by occasionally to say hello and make sure he’s safe.” The fact he said everything in one breath was the only reason Leo did not reject him instantly and walked out through the front doors.
Yuri must have trusted him immensely, for some reason, to ask him to be his son’s godfather, but this was ridiculous.
“Why?” He asked. “You said it. You and I are not close.”
“Because you love Mavis. Because you love Fairy Tail.” Yuri answered, as easily as taking a breath. There was not even a hint of doubt in his eyes. “Because I have seen you take care of Makarov and I know you would do anything to protect this child.”
Gently, he held out his arms and Leo instinctively took the infant into his embrace.
“Because I trust you.” Yuri said sincerely, the determination in his gaze unshakeable. It was unbearable to be the focus of such a gaze.
Leo looked down at the infant in his arms instead.
“...You humans are really ridiculous.” He said quietly.
“But you love us anyway!” Yuri laughed.
“Surprisingly, I do.” He whispered.
Leo was a creature of the stars. He was a Celestial Spirit given life once again by the gods. He was called Leo of the Sun for he alone could bend the will of the sun with a whisper.
A blessing of protection was something only the realm of divinity could touch, but he was special even amongst the Celestial Spirits.
He could feel the infant’s budding magic under his skin, reaching back instantly with the same naïve trust his father had given Leo. He would need to repay that unrelenting trust.
“May the Light be in your favour, Makarov Dreyar.” Leo made his decision by leaning down to kiss Makarov gently between his brows, blessing the infant with his power and made him his.