A Small Gesture
Leon's fork hovered above his plate as he became acutely aware of the cold, hostile stares directed at him from every corner of the dining table. He tried to focus on the meal in front of him, but the tension was suffocating.
The twin sisters, Selene and Cristine, whispered amongst themselves, their glances cutting through him like daggers. Urd, seated a few places away, observed Leon with a mix of disdain and suspicion. Even the younger children exchanged wary looks. It was painfully obvious—no one here wanted him.
Leon suppressed a sigh, keeping his gaze low. It's not surprising, he thought. The old Leon must've burned every bridge he had with this family. Still, their resentment weighed heavily on him.
The sound of clattering broke through the awkward silence. Leon turned to see Aliya, the little girl with dragon-like features, staring at her overturned plate, her golden eyes brimming with tears. Food had spilled onto her dress and Leon's sleeve.
The room fell silent, all eyes locking onto the scene. Aliya's small frame trembled as she looked at the mess, her lips quivering. Fear took over her innocent face as she glanced up at Leon.
Leon froze. Why does she look so scared? he wondered. Then it hit him. The old Leon must have been cruel to her, just as he had been to everyone else.
Aliya began to cry, her tiny hands clutching at her stained dress. The sound of her sobs cut through Leon's heart like a blade.
The room remained tense, everyone expecting Leon to lash out. Instead, he stood up slowly, drawing startled looks from around the table.
"Hey, it's okay," Leon said softly, crouching beside Aliya. He picked up a napkin and gently dabbed at her dress, his movements careful and deliberate. "It's just a little spill. Nothing to cry over."
Aliya hiccupped, her wide eyes darting between Leon and the others. Her tears slowed, confusion replacing fear.
Leon continued to clean her up, his voice calm. "See? All better now. No need to worry." Once he finished with her clothes, he wiped the food off his own sleeve without a hint of irritation.
The silence in the room was deafening. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Leon, disbelief etched across their faces.
"Here," Leon said, taking Aliya's plate. He refilled it with a portion of food from a nearby dish, then returned it to her. "Let me help you."
Aliya hesitated, her small hands clutching the edge of the table. Leon picked up a spoonful of food and held it out to her. "Try it. It's good."
Her golden eyes flickered with uncertainty, but Leon's gentle smile reassured her. Slowly, she leaned forward and took a bite.
"See?" Leon said with a chuckle. "Not bad, right?"
Aliya nodded shyly, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. Leon continued feeding her, his voice soothing as he encouraged her to eat.
The rest of the table remained frozen, stunned by the scene unfolding before them. This wasn't the Leon they knew—the arrogant, cruel, and self-absorbed scumbag who terrorized everyone around him. This was someone entirely different.
When Aliya finally relaxed and began eating on her own, Leon returned to his seat, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. He glanced around the table, catching the bewildered expressions on his siblings' faces.
Well, that probably just made things more confusing for them, Leon thought with an inward sigh. But for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he had done something right.