Leon studied the handsome blonde before him, smirking just a little. He was quite a fighter, having taken out far too many heartless to count (they'd tried, actually, mimicking two certain characters out of a series they both adored) and was now sitting down with Cid, eating a hearty meal served up by Aeris. He'd never had the opportunity to spend much time outside of fighting with Cloud...and it showed in the wariness the soldier showed towards any male, save for the pilot. In fact, they'd come from the same world, and had at least known one another, talking about old friends lost in the darkness...
"You know, he's interested in you, Leon." Yuffie's voice was laughing, in spite of how quietly she'd snuck up on the warrior, and he huffed out a laugh himself.
"Perhaps, but I'm still a stranger, Yuff."
"Mmm...not as much a stranger as you'd think..." He turned, curious now, and raised an eyebrow at her from where she perched on the balcony above him.
"And I take it you know the reason why that might be?" She grinned at Leon and made a heart with her hands.
"Oh, I might...But it'll cost ya." He rolled his eyes, turning attention back on the blonde.
"It always does. Not interested." Leon could almost feel her pout, and hid a grin behind one hand.
"C'mon! It almost cost me an arm and a leg to find this out!" He sighed, shaking his head. "Please? I know you want to 'get with him'..." He sent a glare over one shoulder and held up a finger.
"Just one reason, Yuffie. Give me one reason to throw you out the gates for the next two weeks." She pouted again, and finally sighed.
"Cloud likes to dance like you." That made him turn and stare at her, dark eyes wide. "I'm so not joking about this. You remember how you and Aerith and me danced when we first got home? He's better than us. By a lot. Go ask him to dance. Trust me, he'll say yes." She mused for a moment, contemplating telling him the rest. "And...he likes you, Leon. He wouldn't joke with you if he didn't, like during that counting game with the Heartless. Go ask him." He still stared, nonplussed, until Yuffie finally huffed, jumped down, and pushed him towards the table outside the hotel, where Cloud was now sitting alone, drinking the last of his coffee.
Leon found himself pushed almost to the blonde's seat, and suddenly, there was an empty space behind him. Dammit, Yuffie...Cloud was watching him, though, and Leon tried to school his face into an expression of friendliness; no easy task for the solemn fighter.
"Yes, Leon?" Cloud's voice was calm, curious, his soft blue eyes a touch warmer than usual.
"Ah...would you...dancewithme?" It came out as one word, and he winced, wondering if those six blades were going to try and cleave him in two now...Instead a chuckle sounded between them, and Leon glanced at him, confused. Cloud was holding back his laughter with one hand, eyes betraying him far too easily.
"I'd love to." Shock made Leon a puppet, one guided carefully away from the table by the blonde soldier, who took his hand and set it on his waist, smirking a touch as he interlaced their fingers and leaned forward, eyes half-closed above a knowing smile. "I was wondering when you'd ask."
