A/N: this was inspired by a picture a friend of mine posted on Facebook and the conversation born of it. this is a cross ship one-shot of Rita Mordio (from Tales of Vesperia) and Leon Magnus (from Tales of Destiny). Takes place after the ending of Vesperia. Enjoy!

Rita frowned, obviously frustrated. She was working on some complicated equation, but something was wrong everytime, yet that "something" continued to elude her.

"Rita?" a voice said from the doorway of her lab.

"Who is it?" she yelled, not bothering to look.

"Leon," was the response. "What're you doing?" he asked as he crossed the threshold. He approached her slowly, not wanting to incur her wrath. He knew it wouldn't be wise to make her angry. Even without blastia and fire artes she was dangerous.

Rita still didn't look up. "None of your business, Pink Plague." she grumbled.

Leon looked confused. Pink Plague? he then looked down at his flowing cape. Of course. she was referring to the color of his cape.

Leon looked over her shoulder at her work. That....looks complicated. he frowned.

Rita scratched her head furiously and slammed down her pencil. "Stupid math!" she screamed, crumpling up the paper and throwing it off to the side.

"What's the problem?" Leon asked politely.

Seething, Rita responded, "I can't solve some ridiculous equation. And you know what? I'm done. I need some air." she shoved her way past him in a rage, and stormed her way out the house. She slammed the door behind her.

Leon flinched at the loud bang. Should I follow her? He shrugged. I should calm her down at least.

He left the house.

It wasn't hard to find Rita. Everyone knew of her and her famous tantrums, so all Leon had to do was ask a civilian to find out where she went.

"Rita? She went to the library. She looked pissed, so I'd stay away from her if you know what's best for you."

"Thanks," Leon said, nodding his head slightly. He left in the direction of the afore said library.

He found Rita towards the back, standing atop a ladder pulling books off of a high shelf.

"Rita!" he called to her.

She started to turn around, but her foot slipped and she started to fall. Leon sprang forward and caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. A stray book fell and hit Leon on the head, falling into Rita's hands. She looked through the pages and smiled triumphantly. "Just what I was looking for," she said.

She then seemed to notice that sh was in Leon's arms. Her face flushed deep crimson. Leon blushed a bit too.

Rita smacked the book against his face. "P-Put me down, pervert!" she stammered.

He did as he was told, gently setting her down on her feet. She withdrew the book from his face and spun awsy from him before she could see her face, which was still burning.

Rita then advanced to her pile of books, which had been scattered when she fell. She organized them into piles and sat criss crossed on the floor, opening the book that had fallen into her hands before.

She grinned. "This will help me solve that annoying problem."

Leon watched her silently, intruiged by her behavior. She's.....cute when she focuses like that... he blushed, and turned away, exploring a nearby bookshelf.

A book caught his eye. He pulled it from the shelf. It was entitled, Brave Vesperia.

He read through it, and the pages were new. He then saw Rita's name. Curious, he read through the entire book, beginning to end. From it, he learned of the many things that Rita and company had endured and sacrificed to save everyone from the Adephagos.

When Leon finally finished sometime later, he returned the book to the shelf and went to check on Rita.

She was still at her pile of books, and it appeared that she had read through all of them. She had her head in her arms, sleeping on the books.

Leon smiled, approaching her quietly so as not to awaken her. He gently gathered the sleeping girl in his arms and left the library, taking her back to her lab house.

Upon arrival, he took her to her bed, which was mostly covered in books. He set her down in a free spot, and tenatively removed the books from her bead.

Leon watched her sleep for a little while, then he leaned down a softly kissed her forhead. "Sweet dreams, brave mage." he went outside.

Rita was vaguely aware of lips brushing against her head and the whispered goodnight from Leon. She opened her eyes, her cheeks beginning to burn again. "That pervert..."

She sprang from the bed, noticing him just as he walked outside. She followed behind.

She glimpsed Leon leaning against the railing a little ways ahead of her. She walked up to him and punched his arm, but she held back her strength and only touched him lightly. "You're a real pervert...." she didn't look at him as she spoke.

Leon only smiled and pulled her into a hug. "You're adorable," he whipered into her ear.

Rita turned dark red, punching Leon in the gut. "Don't tease me!"

Leon let go, a playful smile crossing his features. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease you. You're really are cute though." he said the last sentence with all seriousness.

A cold breeze filled the air, and Rita shivered.

Leon pulled his cape off without hesitation and drapped it over her shoulders, wrapping it around her. "There. That'll keep you warm."

Rita looked at her feet. She considered throwing it back at him, but decided against it. He was only being nice after all. she pulled the cape tighter, muttering, "Only because it's cold..."

"Huh?" Leon asked.

"Nothing," she responded.

Leon observed her shift from tsundere to timid with great interest.

She really is cute.

Leon hugged her tightly, and Rita gasped in surprise, but didn't attempt to push him away. Instead, she buried her head in his chest.

Leon pulled away slightly, gazing down at her face. He placed a hand under her chin, tilting her head upwards. He then leaned down and kissed her.

Rita was surprised, but remained still. She then closed her eyes and kissed him back.

Leon finally broke the kiss, resting his head atop Rita's. "I guess this means... we're a couple now?"

Rita smiled. "I guess so."

Rita slipped one hand out of the cape, slipping it into Leon's. He blushed slightly and smiled, intertwining their fingers together.

It was warm.