Chapter Text
'Wherever you go I follow, my prince charming'. 'My prince charming'. 'My prince charming'.
Luis' words stuck to Leon like glue. Or more accurately, honey. He mouthed the words over and over again. The whole walk he felt almost embarrassed. Luis by him, like his knight. His knight... He almost couldn't help but softly smile. His face was usually hard to read, as he struggled to hide the smile. People must've been looking at him strangely, as his face slightly twitched from a smile to a straight face. Struggling to keep a non flustered look.
The embarrassment was really starting to overcast. His self awareness was growing. Leon was acting like some hopeless romantic teenage girl, who squealed at the touch, at the slightest brush, of their crushes hand against her own.
His nerves eventually calmed. The weather calms his nerves. They walked the streets, which were wet with the passing of rain. The clouds were still gray, but there were cracks of slight blue.
With that, Leon's reason flooded his mind. Luis was just joking, he did this to everyone. Leon was nothing special, nothing really worthy. Shit, what was he thinking, he was a fully grown man. Leon never acted this desperate, maybe with Ada once... But there wasn't any point in bringing her up, he'll only get crushed some more. Obviously by his own stupidity and naiveness. When will he get a grip?
The weather abruptly ended with their entrance into the old diner. Still noticeable, through windows. The bell rang, with the opening of the door. Then the smell of food grew, which was food off a menu that hadn't changed since the opening of the diner. Though the oldness really soothed him. It was quiet and the food wasn't half bad. Though sometimes he didn't even come for the food, just some peace other than being in his room. Luis didn't know that though, he usually came before heading home. Unless he was in urgent need of rest, with pain from freshly made scars. Which he sometimes allowed Luis to tend to. He never admitted that he was indeed allowing him though, but Luis with his need of getting into people's personal space, didn't mind. In fact sometimes he could see right through Leon's facade. Always trying to stay strong. For what reasons, Luis never understood. Most likely for the sake of his dignity, is an educated guess.
Again, Leon has been to the same diner plenty of times. He is seen as a casual regular. Usually going to the same booth everytime. In the corner, tucked away from everyone. Almost everyone, still seeable through the window. There they sit, Luis sitting in front of him, so Leon can keep a keen eye on the entire diner, which was all behind Luis. It gave a good distraction too, not always having to look directly at Luis. He has gotten better at keeping eye contact with people, though sometimes it is still an issue.
Luis finally spoke up, his quietness being unusual. "Do you come here often?". Leon being slightly caught off guard, quickly recouping himself, unnoticeably. "Yeah, it's quiet". Before Luis could say anything else, the waitress stood by the table and caught them both off guard now.
"May I take your order?" She was a slim woman, her age being noticeable. You could tell she probably had an unhealthy habit of smoking, with a pen and a pack of cigarettes in her uniform pocket. She's probably been working here for quite some time now. She held her checklist with a tight grip, the back of her hands being at display, in front of her stomach area. Her uniform was a plain, collared blouse and skirt, the uniform being white and red. It matched the simplicity of the place. Tiles being covered with black and white checkers, the walls were white with red stripes near the floor. The seats they sat in were leathery and red, quite comfortable honestly. It wasn't much to look at, that's the way Leon liked it.
Luis, being cut off, could only say a quiet, "uh...". With eyes looking for Leon's, maybe asking 'what should I get?'. Luis didn't look at the menu, nor did Leon, but that's because he gets the same thing everytime. Leon answered with a simple "the usual, please". He said it so nonchalantly, he was honestly impressed with himself. Usually he added an uh before starting. Luis quickly recovered, with a quiet "same thing as the senor, please and thank you". The woman raised an eyebrow, as she looked down at him. It wasn't the best recovery, being that Luis doesn't know what 'the usual' even is, but it did the job, as the woman finished writing their order in her checklist. Now beginning to leave the table’s side.
Luis repeated "the usual" with a questioning tone. As if Leon couldn't tell he was asking, he then repeated in more of an obvious way. "The usual?". Leon blinked, replying with a mysterious "you'll see, it's an old simple diner, you can already probably guess". Luis looked at him, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, "like... burger and fries classic?". Leon nodded. Luis grinning, stating an observation he made, "you really do like the simple things in life, sancho". Leon quickly and defensively replied "are you calling me boring?" Luis let out a chuckle, almost sounding like a 'teehee'. All he could do was grin at Leon. "If that's the way you see yourself, sancho, then maybe so" a grin still plastered across his face. Now all Leon could do was slightly glare at him. "What am I gonna do with you, Luis". He softly sighed at that. Luis just hummed as a response.
Luis knew exactly what Leon could do with him. Kick him out of the apartment. Luis still holds guilt, thinking he doesn't deserve Leon. Ironic enough, Leon thought he didn't deserve Luis. Leon was a good guy when ordered to, but Luis was a natural. He had charm and all. Leon was just an obedient dog, maybe even a sheep. Yeah, a sheep is what he was. In a herd, whilst some dog barks orders, protecting the sheep herd of course, but only if the sheep follow and listen. Thoughts like those crossed Leon's mind whenever he allowed them to, especially when it came to moral goodness, Luis had it covered. Luis actually tried to be a good person, even if it came naturally. Leon tried hard too, trying to do what he thought was best, or better yet, what other people might think is best.
Luis also thought of other things Leon could do, but he swiftly just looked away, towards the window. As if turning his head fast enough would mean the thoughts will disappear. His face turning slightly red, luckily Leon was oblivious to this.
Luis leaning in a bit, with his head laying on his hand. Leon stood up straight, his eyes constantly darting across the room, or just absent minded, staring somewhere. Luis kept quiet with embarrassment until their food came, which was shortly afterward, being that there weren't a lot of people there.
It really was that stereotypical diner food that Luis suspected. Though, Luis doesn't mind. He hadn't eaten much besides cigarette smoke, which he may or may not get sick from. If he does, Leon will just be even more of a smart ass, which Luis wouldn't mind that either. It's sorta how Leon shows affection sometimes. An "I told you to stop smoking" will be right there smacked against his face. But that's if he gets sick, right now all he has to worry about is the food, now laying on the table. There was an accompanied mystery drink, only a mystery to Luis of course. Once the waitress walked away, he was quick to ask. But stopped himself in his tracks, it was a surprise, so he would treat it as one. Sipping it to see if he could guess what is based only on flavor. It was in a paper cup with a straw, so he couldn't go off on color. Leon just stared as he watched, almost like how a cat sniffs the object in front of them, to then possibly lick at it. After sipping through the straw and through scientific calculations, he had discovered that it was indeed a cup of Coca-Cola. As if Leon knew what Luis was about to ask, he plainly exclaimed that it was indeed Coca-Cola "It's coke". Leon watched Luis take his first bite, then shortly did the same afterwards. Wanting to keep some mannerisms, as if they weren't at some old, tad bit rundown, diner.
Whilst Leon was drinking out of his cup, Luis had begun to mischievously grin. Giving him some look, that he may have or may not, have seen in Spain, back when he watched him, sitting slightly on the barrel, giving the same look he is now, but at a diner, not in Spain. Leon tried to stay oblivious to the look, like he did back then. It was harder, so much harder now. Especially when Luis abruptly asked, using his name now, "Leon,"... "Leon, is this a date?". He asked so innocently, like he didn't know what sort of reaction he was going to get out of Leon, but he definitely did indeed know. Leon immediately tried to hide his face, removing his lips from the straw, to hide his face with his hand. Leon had no idea, absolutely no clue, on how he was supposed to reply to that. Though, He eventually gave a simple reply, one that wouldn't suggest anything. "What makes you think that, Luis". Pulling himself together, removing his hands, sitting up as straight as possible. Luis was ready for anything, again, using his actual name, "Well, Leon, you invited me out to eat, here we are." 'Here. We. Are’. He repeated in his head. Leon was oblivious, of course Luis would see this as a date. Sadly the idea never even crossed his mind. Though Leon never straightforwardly asked Luis, he only asked if Luis wanted to come walk with him, the diner part came after Luis agreed. Also, it was more like a 'are you coming?'. But still... Leon could clearly see why Luis would assume that this was a 'date', I mean 'are you coming' could be taken as a 'do you wanna go out with me?'
Luis could see what he had done to Leon, feeling almost guilty. "Ah... Leon... I" is what he muttered under his breath. He reached his hand out for Leon's hand, which was on the table. He patted it gently, continuing, but no longer muttering, "Lo Siento, I'm sorry, Leon". "I was just kidding you". He has an apologetic smile on his face now. After that Leon quickly retrieved his hand, then put it back on his face, really rubbing the bridge of his nose. Then as removing it again, "s'fine Luis".
It wasn't fine at all. Leon would be thinking of this, no matter how hard he tried not to, all leave. But Leon didn't want to say that, clearly seeing how much he made Luis worry so quickly. God he really didn't deserve to even be on what may seem a 'date' with Luis. As to make sure Luis stops worrying, he doubles down "I mean it, I'm fine, Luis" to put the cherry on top, he let out a little 'heh' to really convey that he is fine and even thinks the joke is a little funny. What he really thinks is funny though, is how easy Luis can fuck with his emotions like that. Only with a joke and one simple apology. He really needs to find that grip and get it. It shouldn't be that easy, right? Leon shouldn't immediately fall to his knees, with only the mere thought of dating Luis, or making their relationship, friendship, whatever-ship, more than whatever it was currently.
After that Luis kept quiet, trying not to poke the flustered bear any further. They now just sat there and ate what they had left. Soon they would eventually need to actually go shopping for food to bring home. Future Leon will deal with that later, or Luis, probably Luis, but maybe... Leon.
Once they finished eating and paid. Leon being the one who paid, even though Luis practically begged him not to, Luis would gladly pay for him. Probably because of that guilt that has Luis in a stronghold. Unfortunately, his guilt complex will live on. They left, the sun was almost ready to set. The weather had slightly cleared up to. Still the clouds remain, they always were there in the state up north. Leon led the way, Luis followed behind him, slightly staring at the back of his head, probably still worrying a little.
Luis' words from earlier would linger in his head, just as he had suspected.