Under the Shining Lights

Sweet Dreams

"...Are you good?" Aurora asked, eyeing Leo as he was slumped over his table.

"...Don't ask," Leo grumbled, face still flush. 

Muriel had returned to Leo curled up on the booth beside the apparition, practically burning up from his embarrassment. Leo convinced her that he could keep on with the training (and that he was embarrassed for an unrelated reason) so they did. Leo tried his best to focus, but his broken brain wouldn't let him.

"Rough night?" Aurora prodded, lending Leo a make-up wipe.

"You could say that," Leo sighed, accepting the wipe, "I've learned things about myself that I'm not sure I want to know,"

"Yeah, private showings will do that to ya," Aries giggled, "Do you like it, though? I didn't like dancing on those stages,"

"...It's not bad," Leo chewed his thumbnail, "I mean, no matter what, I'm in control of the situation, so it looks like it could be pretty fun!"

"Oh~ Usually rookies are worried about the privacy of the private rooms," Aurora hummed, slipping on a fur coat. 

"Why would I be worried?" 

"Well, it's a private room, you know, away from the rest of the bar and the bouncers?" Aurora raised an eyebrow at Leo, "You seriously aren't bothered by that?"

"No? I mean, I guess I can see why some people wouldn't like that," Leo mumbled, shouldering his duffel bag, "But like, it's private for a reason,"

"When are you free for the weekend?" Aries asked, "I really wanna take you to shop!"

"Right, the piercing shop!" Leo shuffled toward the door with the rest of the dancers, "Is getting a piercing really a tradition?"

"Duh, we've all got one," Aurora said, sticking out their tongue, "And you've been here a while, so you've gotta get one!"

"Yup!"

"Okay, okay! I should be free..." Leo laughed, shivering as the cool night air hit him, the dark alley empty as always. That was until a few figures appeared in front of the group. 

Leo was alert immediately, a tingling in his bones settling into a bad feeling. He stood in front of his coworkers, staring down the group of drunks that stumbled their way. Leo recognized one of the Yokai as the one that was kicked out earlier, all huffy and angry. Taurus squeaked behind him.

"S'you!" The Yokai slurred, pointing to the poor dancer, "That bitch got me kicked out! And you!" The wolf rounded on Leo, nearly losing his balance and angrily gesturing at him, "Y-you fuckin' did somethin'! Knocked me out an' got me banned!"

"You did that to yourself, bub," Leo growled, standing defensively in front of the dancers, "Get outta here before you regret it,"

"Aoi! What are you doing!?" Aurora hissed, trying to tug Leo back. Leo just gave them a reassuring look, gently brushing their hand away.

"Listen, you leave now, you and your friends won't get hurt," Leo pulled out a spade (a gift from Todd) from his duffel bag, gesturing at the aggressors with it, "Your choice,"

"Hah! And what are you gonna do?" The yokai laughed, baring his claws, "Plant a garden for me?"

"Suit yourself," Leo said, spinning the spade around. A familiar blue shone from the object, and the turtle felt the mystic energy running through him. The spade elongated, an elegant sword manifesting in Leo's hand, the familiar weapon glinting in the dark. "I was thinking about getting Mama a gift anyhow,"

The fight went quickly, it was only four people. A quick few jabs in the right places and they were all a heap on the ground. He didn't even have to use his sword. Once they were all down and out, Leo took a notepad and scribbled a note for Big Mama on it (Drunks who can't handle themselves -Leo) and slapped it on the forehead of one of the yokai. Then, without further adieu, he opened a portal underneath the pile, sending them away.