Shifts in the Days

by Synergetic Prose

Connected drabbles set about two years after the series: There's something changing between them. Leon isn't as enclosed in his own fortress of ice and Sora's finding it easier to approach him, especially now that they're partners. "I wonder why he's loosened up," Sora wondered aloud. May wanted to strangle her naive friend. "You idiot. He's like that around you!"

21. Chapter 21

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Sora eased up when their drinks and appetizers came.

Her earlier embarrassment disappeared rather quickly with the interactions with those at their table. Light laughter made a relaxing atmosphere.

While Leon was not particularly fond of socializing, he found that the comfortable air Sora created made it very natural and easy to do.

It began with a few comments with the couple that asked for an autograph.

Most of the questions were directed at Sora, but gradually, as they chatted, the husband threw out a question towards Leon, which he did not deem too personal or ridiculous and so Leon felt no trouble responding to it.

Then, a small family joined their table.

At first, the boy had been loud. He obviously recognized the duo from a field trip with his school. They were well known in the area, so it was not a surprise.

Though, this time, the boy was a fan of Leon's.

Sora had been quite amused at the sight of a seven year old describing Leon's moves that were "awesome" with enthusiastic hand motions and sound effects.

"And then, when you threw her up super high and then did this awesome, super-fast spinning and twisting to the next swing and then you caught her with one hand and then you both did an awesome backflip…" His parents eventually sat him down and apologized for the disturbance.

To her surprise, Leon shrugged the apology off. He even signed an autograph the boy asked for without any wheedling or convincing from her end. 'That was a shocker.'

Leon turned back to see Sora giving him a secretive smile over her cup.

"Don't even start," he warned.

"Start what?" She innocently tilted her head. "All I see is a growth."

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AN: I'm basing the setup of the table on my experience at one of these restaurant grills. They've been referred to as (at least in the US) Habachi grills/steakhouses, but I did a little research and habachi and teppanyaki seem to refer to two different types of grills/cooking methods. Teppanyaki is also a sort of cuisine or certain type of foods are made on this kind of grill, so I read that you can go to a habachi grill and they may have teppanyaki foods offered.

I don't recall the name of the place I went to. :P Opps. But I do know it looked like a teppanyaki grill.