AN: So, this popped into my head and I figured, why not post it. The chapters will vary in length. They're kind of like connected drabbles.
Disclaimer: Kaleido Star is not mine. I'm just interested in exploring the characters.
SL
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There was just something incredible about watching Leon perform.
He glided through the air, silver strands floating behind him. She could have mistaken it for star dust.
He let go of the trapeze and twisted his lithe body to the next one.
She hadn't known he would be in the main practice room, but instead of leaving she found herself climbing up the ladder to the other side of the practice area.
Now she stood by the pole, waiting for the right moment to join in.
This wasn't the first time she walked into the middle of his practice. In fact, he's walked into the middle of hers as well.
As partners, they've reached a sort of understanding and better comfort level with one another. If they ever caught the other in motion, the newcomer was voicelessly welcomed to come up.
It really wasn't a choice for either party involved. He drew her in as she drew him in.
It was a strange phenomenon.
She recalled the first time he walked into the middle of her practice. It had been a little aggravating for her partner stood there watching for a few moments and then climbed up without her consent. She had not noticed him there so when she did a backflip to the next trapeze she most certainly hadn't counted on someone grabbing her hands.
She remembered having to hold back a very loud shriek when she caught the sight of his amused grey eyes.
She let out a pout at the recollection. 'The jerk.'
After that incident, he made sure that she saw him there before jumping in. Although, some of the times she only saw him for a scant two seconds before he decided to practice with her.
'At least he gives me some sort of warning.' She lightly shook her head at his antics.
As of late, she just assumes that he will be there and it saves her from having mini heart attacks. She even playfully berates him for missing practice if he doesn't show up—which doesn't happen often.
They tend to practice together more often than not.
She never would have expected to have such a partnership with a man like Leon.
He was quiet and enjoyed his personal space. She almost always found him reading during Kalos' pep talks and show breakdowns; yet, he knows what's going on despite the appearance of not paying attention.
A few times, she's found him walking along the rafters far above the stage. Yuri told her that he likes to check on the stage equipment before each performance.
It felt kind of nice that he did that.
Secretly, she suspected that he did it for all of them, whether he wanted to acknowledge that or not.
Once, she had nonchalantly mentioned that she saw him up there. He shrugged and said that taking a look never hurt anyone.
When he said that, she noticed that his eyes were slightly glazed over as if lost in a memory.
She wondered if he had seen a terrible accident caused by faulty equipment. From what she learned of his past, Leon and his sister went through a lot of harsh experiences from all sorts of circuses and shows.
She was sure that, despite the star that he was now, he had performed in low quality places that weren't the safest or the most welcoming.
She felt blessed to have found the Kaleido Stage so early in her career.
Her eyes snapped back to the trapezes.
'Oh, he's heading in my direction.' She unhooked the trapeze on her end and waited.
When he was close by, she jumped off of the platform to meet him.
SL
He watched as she made her way over.
She flipped, tucked herself into a ball in mid-air, and then stretched her limbs out. Her head was thrown back as she enjoyed the moment.
He recognized the move.
It was from the first show they performed when the two main characters met in the beginning scene of Saiyuki.
Well, technically, they didn't perform that first show together.
He had seen that ridiculous pink monstrosity she was wearing and high tailed it out of there.
After suffering through humiliating performances in his younger years, he just couldn't stomach the idea of revisiting those times, especially now when he was a topnotch performer.
He could afford to walk off the stage.
'Did she do that move on purpose?' He adjusted himself to swing from his bent knees.
His hands grabbed hers. Grey eyes peered at her expression.
She smiled at him, unaware of his thoughts.
He gave a mental shrug. 'She probably just likes doing that move.'
It was strange that she took as much delight from the simple moves as she did the high risk ones.
He felt her loosen the grip of her left hand. In response, he released his hold on the left and slightly tightened his grip on the right.
Her free left hand artfully curved upwards as they swung across the practice room. She pointed her toes and then bent one of her legs. He watched as she closed her eyes with a relaxed smile on her face.
'It must be the feeling of motion that she relishes.'
He could relate to that.
When they neared a trapeze, she looked up at him.
Catching the signal, he swung her in that direction and released her hand.
As he looked upon her, he wondered why they continued to practice together—why he had no issue with the intrusion of his personal space.
The first time he voluntarily practiced with her, the first time that he didn't come into the same room because Kalos or Mia requested it, he came to ask her something regarding their next show.
However, the words stayed in his mouth.
Her twists and curls, the liveliness expressed in every motion and gesture, even to the tips of her fingers and the ends of her feet, all of it reminded him of the emotions he experienced in their first show of Swan Lake.
He remembered the energy, the anticipation and the sense of timelessness as they performed. It felt like they could go on and on and he wouldn't grow tired of it.
Most importantly, he remembered the peace.
Inside, the bitterness, the despair and regret settled like calm waters after a storm. A foreign serenity entered his heart and mind.
He felt rejuvenated and refreshed, as if he had been a thirsty wanderer who finally found a well in a barren land.
After that show, a piece of that energy stayed with him.
He had wondered, as Sora continued practicing, if she was the source of it. It was hard for him to tell if it was just the fact that they performed the very act that his sister longed to do or if it was a result of Sora herself.
Or even a mixture of both.
Leon, always one to act as he saw fit, climbed up the ladder.
To this day, he will never forget the size of her shocked brown doe eyes as he grasped her hands. He even recalled her tightly clamped lips as she undoubtedly held in a loud exclamation.
He held back a smirk at the memory.
That piece of energy came alive when they practiced; leading him to confirm that it was a result of Sora.
He found that he could live with that.
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End of this drabble.