a/n: I'm so sorry! I had to do this. Screwing things up and putting the wrong people together is just too irresistable. Please forgive me! I haven't given up on New Home.
A party, one held by Mr. Richard Hamilton himself. Layla's father had wanted to throw a celebratory get together, celebrating his daughter's tenth successful play in a row. Everyone she knew was invited, Sora, Sarah, Kalos, the rest of Sora's gang, even Leon was invited and had come.
The event had been held at the Hamilton estate, the one of which Layla used to reside in before moving to New York. This made it especially easy for the stars to be able to attend. Mr. Hamilton had apparently taken this into consideration.
Layla had to admire her father's new found thoughtfulness towards her feelings... Sora really was a miracle worker.
speaking of the plum haired little angel, Layla had lost track of her a while ago. The girl had run off, murmuring something about Ken and that she'd be right back. Layla supposed she had either forgotten or lost her like she had lost Sora.
Just as well, after quickly scanning the room on he tiptoes and finding no trace of the true star, Layla dropped back to a relaxed standing position and shrugged.
'Ever the popular one, that Sora' Layla thought to herself. She smiled and leaned back against the bar. The Hamilton residence really was big, and the ballroom with the huge bar at the left end was a very nice touch, anyone could admit. But Layla still thought it was a little much... Though it did serve well for throwing these sorts of parties, and in a business like her father's that really came in handy.
her father... Right. That's what she needed to do. She had yet to greet his business partners. He had asked her to do so, since they HAD flown all the way down just for HER celebration.
Layla smoothly manouvered her way through the crowd with practiced ease, in search of her father's little group. Many years of these business parties had left her with a talent for avoiding and not avoiding the right and wrong people, plus allowed her to meet who she was looking for many times, so it was a simple task which took little time. After elegantly making her way over, she greeted the men and her father.
"Father, gentlemen. I bid you a good evening" Layla spoke With a nod in the direction of the addressed personnel.
"Ahh, Layla, and don't we look lovely tonight" one rather plump man complimented. Layla let out a small giggle and covered her mouth with her hand. The dress code for the party was only semi- formal, and so she has chosen not to wear any gloves or multiple accessories. Instead she settle for some stud earrings and very little makeup. that being some red lipstick and black eyeliner. her red dress was slightly low cut, but not untastefully so. It complimented her form without being too snug, nor too loose, and hung at about her knees. The shoulder straps crossed in the back, but other than this it was rather plain in detail.
"Why thank you George, might I compliment you on your suit tonight as well?"
Layla continued talking with practiced courtisey. After all, this was how she was raised. But when the conversation came to a lulling point she bid the men goodnight and carried on about mingleing with the other guests.
She couldn't help but have her attention drawn back to the bar at the sight of a very tall, very lean French man with long silver hair, leaning against the bar like she had not too long ago. Smiling and making her way over she caught his attention with a smirk and a coy little greeting.
"Well, if it isn't the ice demon. Still not very social, are you? Even when surrounded by all this warmth"
Leon scoffed, but smirked in good nature "There are not many people here worth communicating with... Sora ran off, and I haven't found the will to start a conversation with people I barely know"
Layla laughed slightly and looked off somewhere with a grin "she ran off on you too huh?... Somebody should put a tracker on that girl"
They shared a laugh at that.
"But" Leon started again once the laughter had died down "I do wish to congradulate you on a job well done"
"so the ice demon does have warmth in him" Layla joked "but you don't need to do that"
Leon scoffed softly and replied "I do, actually... I also need to apologise to your face for misjudging you before"
"Pardon?" Layla asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"A long while ago, I had misjudged you for the worse. Sora was the one who came to your defense, and demanded I apologise. It was only before the Angel's Act that I actually apologised... But only to Sora... Not to you"
"oh..." Layla was silent for a moment. She hadn't been expecting this.
"It's quite alright... I'll admit I had my assumtions about you as well before recently"
A nod came from Leon as he looked off into the distance. Slowly he began to smile. Layla followed his gaze and smiled as well as she peered out onto the dancefloor.
There, in the middle of almost the entire male population of the party, was Sora. She was trying to have a dance with Ken, who looked troubled, and it could be assumed why. Sora was constantly being pulled away by some other boy who wanted to dance with her. And Sora being Sora, couldn't find the heart to tell them no.
"Well... We found her" stated Layla with no little amusement.
"And it is obvious why she is not with us... Let's just hope those boys keep it in their pants. I don't want to be knocking any heads tonight"
"Hey now" Layla played "Sora is MY little sister, I called first dibs, and you can't have her. So if anybody is being defensive tonight, it's me"
To her surprise, Leon let out a rumbling laugh. It was shocking to hear, but not at all unenjoyable... Dare she say, it was even Attractive.
Yes, even the great and gorgeous Layla Hamilton had to admit, that Leon Oswald was a beautiful, attractive creature. Although anyone could admit to someone's attractiveness and still not have it mean anything more than just that. So she wouldn't really think much of it.
A sudden throbbing in her head brought Layla's hand up to caress it gently. Leon raised an eyebrow and then looked at the epty wine glass in her hand and smiled softly.
"Had a little too much to drink?"
Layla's eyes snapped open and she looked at him in shock before her expression softened and she nodded slightly.
"I'd like to get out of here and to a more quiet area. But I was enjoying our conversation. It's rare we have a civil chat... Would you like to follow me to the back garden, perhaps?"
Leon smiled and gave a curt nod, turning on his heel and showing he was ready to follow. Layla took the hint and began walking toward the back of the house and out into the lush green garden, Leon in tow.
The garden was big, perfect for a private Chat while they walked. Layla prefered a calm quiet atmosphere among bushes of roses and lillies, small trees and shrubbery. And she had a feeling Leon was one to appreciate it as well.
She watched his calm face as he breathed in the cool night air while they walked towards the back of the garden. Softly, she grinned to herself. She hadn't known Leon could be like this... He looked serene.
they could still hear the music playing from inside. Though it wasn't loud enough to be a disturbance, the soft sound of a slow song in the background was nice accompanyment to the atmosphere around them.
"You don't find my silence awkward?" Leon asked, his voice a low, rumbling murmur.
"No. Not at all actually... It's quite nice. To be able to walk with someone and not feel the pressure of needing to find something to say"
Leon hummed at that, his voice rumbling in his chest. He really did seem calm. He even seemed comfotable in her presence.
their walking slowed to a stop. Both of them looked at each other in silence for a moment. Leon seemed to be considering something, even inspecting her if she could say. Then, with a deep bow and a soft grin splayed across his face, Leon asked "May I have this dance?"
Layla blinked and stood there for a long moment, then raised a hand to her lips and giggled. Once her giggling ceased, and not without noticing the amusement in Leon's eyes, she replied "Why yes my dear gentleman, you may" and she took his hand.
Leon straightened up and pulled Layla to his chest gently, but forcefully. Layla blushed slightly at the gesture. Though what had her gaze pinned was the way his hair and eyes shone in the moonlight. It was a phenomenon worth inspecting, as it's radiance was captivating and alluring.
Most females would find themselves blushing at this realization, but Layla found herself smiling and giggling. Her mood now turning playful, she took the lead in the dance, making Leon practically chase her to keep up with her footing.
Both of them laughed as it became a sort of competition between them, to see who could keep up without tripping, and who could keep the lead for longest.
Leon had apparently decided it would be funny to quickly pull Layla closer to him, making her falter in her footing and tumble into his chest. She could hear his low chuckles as their dance stopped and she stood there, ear to his chest and leaning against him. She didn't know whether to be angry or amused at his antics, but when she looked up, it was obvious she could be neither.
Layla's face was blank, but still beautiful. Her lips, coloured in red for the night, hung slightly ajar. Her eyes sparkled with a blue to match the moon itself, glistening in it's light. Although Leon didn't care for makeup, let alone the black lining her eyes, he had to admit that it DID make them stand out just that much more. Truly, she was dazzling, and he found himself looking down at her passionately.
What was this feeling overtaking him? This feeling for the woman he could not bring himself to admire only about a year ago. Now he was, all of a sudden, short of breath at the sight of her?
He had no further time to examine it. For what happened next, the reasons could not be explained.
In one swift movement his lips descended unto hers.
blue eyes widened in ultimate shock. The only thing was, she couldn't find it in her to pull away. And so, she closed her eyes and eased into the kiss.
A sensational kiss, filled with passion. Their lips moved in syncronization, eyes fluttering open every once in a while only to shut again as they crushed their lips closer. Slowly, tongues made their way into the oposite mouths and danced like their bobies had before.
It was with great reluctance that Leon pulled away, but he felt he had to before something happened out of his control.
Arms pressed to his chest and body tight to his, Layla looked up at the man holding her with lust in her eyes... Leon could have sworn he saw a hint of something else as well. Her eyes were too calm to be completely lustful.
He had very little time to think about it however, as he let out a grunt as Layla pressed her lower body onto his groin.
"I thought I felt something" Layla whispered with satisfaction, holding back a chuckle "What do you say we take this to my room?"
Leon didn't answer directly, only crushed his lips to hers once more and gave a slight buck of his hips... Layla took it as a yes.