Alex looked at the wordless Leon, but before he could ask him anything, he used a gadget to show some kind of recording from the past. In those images he could see a younger Leon, but that wasn't the only different thing on him. The Leon of the images looked happier than ever, sure, he had his attitude, but his smiles were honest, full, never a hint of doubt or rejection in them. Alex couldn't see who was the one recording for a while, until Leon pulled him into sight, making Alex stifle a gasp. They didn't look like each other that much, the skin being the most notorious difference, but the boy in the images and him still shared age and hair color. That young Leon teased him, forced him to blush and made clear that they shared more than a mission or a friendship.
Once the images were cut, Alex's eyes returned to the present Leon, never seen him so sad, so defeated, so empty. He talked about the things Nero and him had in common, making clear that he was dead, something that heavily weighted in Leon, making him cry his eyes out something Alex thought he would never see. It was understandable, of course, what would happen to him if he lost Leon, if he lost Alyssa? Just the thought of it made a knot in his throat. Leon having those feelings, that pain bottled inside, hidden from them... he ended up exploding.
As Leon started to talk about how their past caught up with them, how he tried to pull himself out of the world after the pain suffered, Alex couldn't help but remember his own father, confining himself to that small lighthouse after Alex's mother died. What wonders did he see before that? Where had he found mother? What did he miss by isolating himself to the day of his death? Alex just shook his head, sat besides Leon on the bed and hugged him from the side tightly, without a word during minutes.
"I'm sure that I'd have liked Nero, he seemed to be a nice guy" Alex started saying. "And you say he had a lot in common with me, so listen" he broke the embrace, looking at Leon straight at the face. "I can't completely understand how you feel, but I have lived in a small lighthouse alone with my father for all my life until he died and then I met Alyssa and you" Alex started. "For all the books on that place, I never thought the world could be such a big and interesting place, full of wonderful people to met, full of laughter, awe and love" Alex continued. "Now that I have Alyssa, now that I have you, I can understand the fear of losing someone you love so much but..." he paused. "Would have Nero wanted for you to isolate yourself in the Azuria forever? Would have he wanted you to be alone in fear of meeting someone you could lose?" he asked, knowing what Nero's answer would be if it was anything like him.
"You can mourn his loss, you should cry him to your hearts content and curse the day that took him from you. Don't keep it hidden" Alex continued. "But please, don't grow cold and distant. Don't hide. Don't push us away" Alex was starting to cry as well, seeing his friend in pain. "You two were happy, treasure that and allow yourself to be happy again" he begged with crying eyes. "We'll fight past, present and future. We'll struggle by your side. And when the day ends and we are back here, back home, we'll smile, laugh and love" he promised, sinking himself into another hug with the taller more muscular man.
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