[Drabbles] OLD - 2009: Twirl me, Spin me, Dance with me?

[nathanialroyale]

Rating: PG-13 for slight violence and swearing.
Pairing: Mallie(OC)/Leon
Disclaimer: Leon and Radiant Garden are not mine.
Extras: This is from a skit I dreamed of that took place while Leon and my OC Mallie were dating before they married and had their daughter. Timeline; it's about a year after KH2. Final Fantasy 8 background included in Leon's past, so he did have a relationship with Rinoa, she died but he did love her. This is a skit that would take place during an RP I am doing with a friend. It's quite cute ^^

In effort to not lose everything I have on LJ after they changed hands I am reposting old works on Dreamwidth.
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The lanterns cast a soft glow over the festival in the marketplace. It had become a tradition that was held on the longest night of the summer, that a dance and market festival was held in the marketplace. Radiant Garden was safer, and the people celebrated this. Skirts twirled as women danced with their partners, laughter and merrymaking happening all around. 

Mallie gently tugged Leon’s hand, her eyes sparkling as she took in the area that had been set aside for dancing.
“Dance with me Leon?” she asked, emerald green eyes looking back to her boyfriend. It was nearly 2 months they were together now. 

Leon eyed those dancing and shook his head though he gave her a small twitching of his lips, his attempt for her of a smile.
“Go enjoy yourself.”
She sighed, though she had expected something of the sort from such a reserved man and nodded, her black curls being thrown back over her shoulders. She picked up the red silk skirts with her hand and moved away toward the dance floor. Leon stepped back leaning against the wall, just watching the going ons. 

It did not take long before Mallie was being twirled by another man, soft laughter leaving her, she seemed so vibrant. His brow furrowed, he knew he was happy to see her happy, yet part of him wanted to be the one making her laugh like that. But… A sigh left Leon and he stayed where he stood.

Four dances and she was breathing a little harder, though she was still enjoying herself. The dance had ended, another beginning and she was catching her breath. A hand pulled her close, it finding purchase on her rear end. Pulling her flush to a foreign chest, and a chuckle, a voice she did not know. She stiffened, her hand moving down to unsheathe the rapier she had at her waist on her belt, but her hand was grabbed.
Be damned!
She did not have the strength to get out of his grasp. Her heated, emerald eyes looked up to the man who clasped her closer, she could feel his breath in her hair. Her hand grasped his hard and she pulled back just enough to get a look into his eyes. Her heel came down hard on his foot, the spit leaving her lips to land in his eye. She was not going to man handled ever again! The nameless man swore angrily in response, his hand raising to backhand the woman he held.

Leon had stood up as he saw the man grab Mallie in such a way, pulling her flush to the stranger. His brows furrowed deeper, his eyes slitting. Stepping away from the wall he moved onto the makeshift dance floor, around couples. His steel grays burned with a quiet rage, and his hand managed to grab the arm of the other before it could strike. Mallie was trying to pull away to get out of range of the incoming blow, but the stranger held her arm hard. Hard enough to bruise. Leon grabbed the man’s arm in his left hand, his right flying forward in a fist, connecting with the man’s face. Landing a solid punch that caused his own hand to go numb, the other man stumbled away. 

“Get the hell away from her,” Leon growled out and he took in a deep breath to calm himself. It had been natural instinct, he had not even thought about the path of his feet or his defensive actions. Pure instinct. 

Mallie watched the foul man stumble back and her lips dipped into a grin, though she grimaced at the pain in her wrist. Oh, that was definitely bruising, look at the pretty colors. But her arm is picked up, but far gentler this time by leather-clad hands.

“That son of a bitch,” Leon mumbled and suddenly she was in her boyfriend’s arms. 
She smiled hugging him back, “I’m fine Leon, though thank you.”
Leon nodded stiffly still holding her close and she shook her head, “Well you? Now?”
Her fingers clutch his white shirt and she pulls back a little to look into steel gray eyes.
“Dance with me?” 
Leon’s brow’s furrow again and she sighs giving into begging, “Please?”
The brunet gives in at last and concedes, nodding his head. Shifting hands so he is in a position to dance with her. The next few moments are of silence as they dance, and she shakes her head, “Why were you so unwilling? You dance fine.” 
Leon shakes his head once more, “It’s not that. I do know how to dance. But I have not in a long time.”
Mallie is twirled away, and twirling back into his arms she cocks her head, “How long is a long time?”
“9 years.”
“Oh…is it a good memory?”
It does not take as long as she had supposed for him to answer, “Yes.” 
Mallie’s lips dip into a smile and she leans to him, whispering in his ear.
“So then you loved?”
The question was oddly put but he understands what she implies, his eyes close, and he wraps his arm around her pulling her gently, flush to him.
“Yes.”

Mallie nods, it was enough, he spoke so little on his past. It was enough. Maybe someday she would learn this other woman’s name. Perhaps not, but it didn’t matter. 
“This shall be a good memory too, with its bumps along the run.”
Leon’s lips raise into a soft, real smile.
“It will be.”