Bad Weather, Good Company

He wondered if he'd unknowingly backed himself into a corner by trailing off like he did. She would surely question him - even innocently - about his hidden meaning, the real problem was.. what was his response? Could he open himself up enough to her to tell her his innermost aspirations and goals for life? Could he trust her with such blatant honesty? Leon almost questioned it for a moment, but then assured himself that if anyone was trustworthy enough for such information.. it would be her. Ashtoreth was probably his truest and most genuine friend in all of Valhalla, even if they didn't talk much. He wondered if she thought the same of him, or if she merely had placed him in some vague friend zone, or even just acknowledged him for the sake of being polite. The latter would surely crush him. He wanted to be more than a wolf to be acknowledged, someone who hung amongst the crowd and was only noticed out of the necessity to be polite and kind. Leon wanted to earn the right to be noticed, and so far he felt as if he might have failed. Still, she was here.. wasn't she? That had to mean something, right?

Foolish, she's here because it's raining. She's here because this is where you led her, because it's dry and warm and offers someone to talk to for the time being. A silence fell between them, and momentarily he thought she might have let his comment fall without a response. He wouldn't blame her for not wondering about his aspirations, why would she? But to his surprise, she offered a querying question, the tone in her voice saying she would like to hear more. She wasn't demanding it, however, just asking. He would lift his head slightly, with a smile with a sparkle of nervousness in it. "Ranks and all that are interesting, and good things to drive you forward in life.. but they aren't quite as inspiring for me as they are for others. Oh, granted, I like being Lead Warrior, but I'd go back to a general civilian if it meant I could have what I really want..." He trailed off - whether to allow the suspense or confidence to build he wasn't yet sure - and then continued. "What I really want is a family. I've dreamt of a wife and pups longer than I can remember, but for some reason that dream has always eluded me." He thought to continue, but quickly cut his own self off. "Forgive me, I'm sure you don't want to hear an eternal bachelor drone on about his lack of a wife and children." He would lay his head back down, eyes unwilling to look at her. He was almost certain there would be sympathy in her bi-colored optics, or even empathy. He loathed the both of them. Leon didn't want her sympathy, he didn't know what he wanted.

"speeeeech"