The awed state of mind collapses between them and first Leonardo's face warms, then his hand (it's a ghost of a memory really, the feeling of Usagi's in his) then his heart. It must have five years since he's heard that voice. Maybe? It's hard to say. There was no shouting or broken hearts between them, more like faded words. The cyclone of time swept them away into the center of their own lives, and they no longer had time for a friend on the other side of the world. It happened. Neither of them held any bitter feelings about it, or Leo hoped not, but then again Usagi had immediately gone with the most casual name he could have. 'Leo-chan.' Most people in America just went with Leo. The addition made it infinitely more intimate in his mind.
He sat. The same table they used to hog for hours when they were younger. They'd rarely ever order anything, unless one of their fathers was generous with pocket money that day. Then they'd actually buy the biscuits instead of just looking up at the worker behind the counter with big, begging eyes. Still they didn't waste all their time there. The owner was a good friend of Leonardo's father, and would report to him about their work. Splinter would then in turn tell Usagi's father. There were always reprecussions if they didn't finish their assignments, and neither of them were the type to slack.
Still, Leonardo remembered the rush. The hurridely copied Kanji and the math that he'd shove into Usagi's face because he was already dealing with way harder problems. "C'moooon... didn't you once say you could do this baby stuff in your sleep. Just help me. You don't have to do it for me."
Usagi would laugh and tell him the best way to learn was to struggle through the problem. Then go back to his own work. Leo would grumble, but the matter was closed, so he'd return to his own paper too.
A pot materialized in front of him, full of steaming tea. He recognizes the scent of lavender as soon as Usagi asks if it's still his favorite. The smell is welcome of course, but in a way it's strangely foreign. His mind is flooding with nostalgia at the moment, yet he drinks lavender tea every morning with breakfast. Something so of the present throws him, especially since as children neither of them liked tea much. They came here for the biscuits after all.
Leo pushes the memory down. The nostalgia is making him all reverie and no prescene, and he picks up the pot and begins pouring cups for both of them. "Hai, Usagi-nii. Thank you for remembering."
"Of course Leo-chan. How could I forget?"
They smile at eachother, a playful sort of banter laced within their honrifics, as well as a comfortable welcome. Usagi already said it, but it's only when he's looking at him now that he feels truly welcomed home.
They don't say much more after that, content to sip their tea and enjoy a comfortable silence. Leo is almost surprised to see Usagi shirking on his responsibilties, but then again they haven't seen or spoken to each other in so long, and the only other customer is an old fox lady sipping tea in the corner of the shop. She doesn't seem too concerned when Usagi sits down to drink a glass of his own, and honestly Leo would be surprised if she didn't come here regularly. The place they grew up is more developed now, but it isn't somewhere like Tokyo.
He takes another drink of his tea, gazing over the cup at his old friend and noticing all the features he admired as a small child. Back then, Usagi was much more angular than him. Older, tougher, and more defined into a man, or at least that's how Leo saw it. Now though, the rabbit seems more lean than muscled and Leonardo notices with a bit of a start that he's the one with the broader shoulders. Usagi seemed so strong back then, and the power of his body is still there, but with his new eyes, Leo notices it's subtler, etched into secret angles of his shoulders, arms, and chest. Perhaps that's how it was before too, but back then he was either too unsure of his own strength, or too dead set in his best friend being the pinnacle of the word 'strong'. Usagi was always the first one to come to mind when the word came up in coversation anyway.
The way he can't stop beaming really does make him seem softer. He'll shake his head from time to time too, a sign that he's unwilling to believe someone from so long ago is back in his life. A drop of guilt burns it's way down Leo's throat at seeing how happy Usagi is. There was never any bad blood between them, but not sending a letter, or e-mail, or calling just became easier as his life ticked on. Now though, he's remembering how much he missed this man. Missed his smile and his quiet laugh and his secret angles and the old nicknames and the way he made a younger, smaller version of himself feel like everyday was a new different adventure. He wants to apologize, but he feels that Usagi will have none of that. There's technically not really much to say sorry for. It happened. This is happening now. He should enjoy the moment.
