capitis-venator:

Though Leo was not related to him by blood (nor was he adopted like Gilbert and Vincent had been), Elliot did not see why Leo could not be considered family. To the Nightray boy, his best friend was as much family as his own siblings were. When it came down to it, Elliot would never be able to cast Leo aside for his family; he thought that was already apparent by the way he would stick up for Leo as much as he did.

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“So? What’s your point?” Elliot asked. “Being my best friend might as well be the same as being my family. You’re important to me as they are and that’ll never change no matter what.”

Even if his brothers and sister did not feel the same way about Leo, they could never persuade Elliot to share those feelings; he was far too stubborn and steadfast in his own ideals to let that happen (not to mention he actually liked his valet unlike them). The only thing Leo could do was learn to accept the fact, even if it did take some time for him to do so.

To the rest of the Nightray family, the orphan was merely a slight hinderance in the youngest heir’s life, something that could simply be cast aside if only he’d see reason and look for a valet with more social credibility. As if they’d see Elliot’s reason that he couldn’t give a shit less about something like that; that he looked past Leo’s exterior and learned that the teen was exactly what he needed, in more ways than one. But they didn’t care, and they’d never be persuaded to see the reason that his servant made him happy, and at the end of the day that should be what really mattered. Truly a catch twenty two for both sides.

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“Still never be accepted by any one of them but you. If it was up to them I’d be back at the House of Fianna right now. I know you think of me as part of it, but it’s harder to believe it when everyone else in the manor despises me.”

None of Leo’s words were self-berating or self-loathing. He knew that his parent’s deaths were out of his control, circumstances just weren’t in his favor to make anything good come from the situation, not until Elliot came along. Now he was able to hold a job, and a decent-paying one at that, working for one of the four Dukedom’s had its perks. All of what Leo said was just with a resigned sigh and leaning on his side on his bed again. Like his parent’s death, the Nightray’s opinion towards him was something out of his control. Both the boys would just have to make do with the situation as long as Leo continued working for Elliot. 

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