Vailed In Shadows || 2012! Leonardo x Kunoichi Reader || COMPLETED ||

Chapter 12: Blazing Curiosities

Today, more than ever, you couldn’t wait to get home and unwind. Gym class had left you feeling more drained than usual, thanks to Casey’s little “incident” with the basketball. Your arm still throbbed, and you were sure it would be sore for days. All you wanted was to collapse onto your bed and let your body recover. Tonight, your inner kunoichi could take a break—ninjutsu could wait for a day or two.

As you strolled along, passing by alleyways and storefronts, a faint but distinct sound caught your attention: quick, deliberate footsteps above you. They echoed faintly from the rooftops, and instinctively, your gaze flicked upward. You squinted, just in time to catch the blur of a dark figure leaping from one building to the next before disappearing into the shadows.

You slowed your pace, a nervous flutter rising in your chest. What was that? You chewed your bottom lip as your eyes darted toward the source of the noise. Curious but cautious, you stopped at the next corner and peered hesitantly into a shadowy alley.

Suddenly, the figure emerged from the darkness, startling you so badly that you nearly jumped out of your skin. Your heart raced until you realized who it was, and relief flooded through you.

“Hey, (Y/N),” Leonardo greeted with a soft smile, his tone calm and reassuring.

“Leo!” you exclaimed, stepping back and letting out a startled yelp. “Don’t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack,” you added, laughing nervously as your heartbeat began to settle.

A faintly guilty expression crossed his face, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about that. I didn’t want anyone else to spot me,” he explained.

You waved it off with a smile. “It’s okay. I forgive you.” Then, tilting your head, you gave him a quizzical look. “But what are you even doing out here? It’s the middle of the day.”

“Well,” he began, glancing around as if to double-check for prying eyes, “I was out on patrol and happened to see you walking. Figured I’d stop by and say hi. You just got out of school, right?”

You nodded, still holding onto a lingering sense of surprise. “Yeah, I just got out. I’m heading home to rest, though. I got a little banged up in gym class today.”

Leonardo’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Banged up? Are you okay?”

You smiled softly, touched by his worry. “I’m fine, really. Just a sore arm. Nothing some rest won’t fix.”

Leo nodded but kept his eyes on you, clearly still a little concerned. His presence, however unexpected, was a comforting one, and you couldn’t help but feel a little lighter as you continued talking.

But then Leo’s smile softened with understanding, though a flicker of nervousness quickly replaced it. His gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before he rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight as though summoning the courage to speak. Finally, he looked up at you, his voice quieter than usual.

“(Y/N), there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

His words piqued your interest, and you tilted your head slightly, a curious smile tugging at your lips. “What is it, Leo?”

He hesitated, his eyes briefly darting away before meeting yours again. “I was wondering if you’d like to… you know… maybe get dinner sometime?”

A teasing smirk spread across your face, and you arched an eyebrow playfully. “Are you asking me out on a date, Leo?”

The question caught him off guard, and his cheeks flushed a deep red. “Yeah… I mean, if you want to, of course. You don’t have to or anything—no pressure.”

You couldn’t help but giggle softly, the butterflies in your stomach stirring wildly. “I’d love to,” you said warmly, doing your best to keep your voice steady despite the excitement threatening to burst from you.

His eyes lit up, and a relieved smile broke across his face. “Really?” His voice was almost a little too hopeful, as if he was waiting for you to change your mind.

You nodded, your grin widening even more. “Really. How does tomorrow night sound?”

His smile grew even bigger, his expression full of both surprise and happiness. “Tomorrow night? That sounds great. I- I mean, I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Perfect,” you said, taking a step back to resume your walk home. “I’ll see you tomorrow night then, Leonardo.”

He gave a small nod, his smile not faltering. “See you then, (Y/N).”

With your goodbyes exchanged, you both began to part ways, but as you walked down the street, your heart was still racing in your chest. You couldn’t help but laugh to yourself. This was really happening. You had always enjoyed spending time with Leo, but now it felt like something more was blossoming between the two of you. You were walking on air, barely able to contain the excitement bubbling inside.

Your thoughts kept racing, replaying every word, every smile, every look he had given you during your conversation. Leonardo had just asked you out—and you hadn’t even expected it. Sure, you had always felt a special connection with him, but this? This was something new, something exciting, and it made your heart flutter in ways you didn’t even know it could.

The day suddenly felt brighter, even with the lingering soreness in your arm from earlier. You couldn’t wait for tomorrow night to come. But at the same time, you knew it was going to feel like forever, the minutes dragging by slowly. You tried to focus on your walk home, but all you could think about was the upcoming dinner date with Leo.

You had no idea what the night would bring, but one thing was for sure: it was going to be a night to remember. And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something even bigger than you had imagined.