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Most employees wanted to strangle anyone who came in five minutes before closing and ordered a pizza. Technically, they had to stay open until the pizza was done, which meant anyone else who wandered in up until the point where they were able to usher that last customer out could also come in and order something, so having those late-night visits tended to make the entire crew a little grumpy. Toward the end of the night, everyone was winding down and getting things cleaned so that they could go home, and no one looked forward to that more than Grayson Graves. He was exhausted.

Between work and fire academy, he was lucky he had the energy to keep his eyelids open on his own. Had the late-night customer not been Xavier, Grayson might have even roused himself to be a little annoyed, but he was glad to see his friend and even more excited by the prospect of getting a ride home instead of walking. (It had been a nice day, so he hadn't taken his bike to work, which in retrospect had been a really bad idea.) Even better than that, he'd been cut from closing, so he was foot loose and fancy free as soon as Xavier's pizza slid out of the oven.

And oh, slid was the right word. It was absolutely beautiful. Okay, well, half of it belonged to Grayson by the simple virtue that he'd used his employee discount and footed half the bill, but even if it hadn't been his own creation he would have thought its appeal was beyond comparison. It was hot, loaded, and absolutely stuffed to bursting.

"Xavier," he said, passing the pizza box from hand to hand to avoid burning his palms, "you will have never beheld anything more beautiful than this pizza once you feast your eyes on it."

It was worth a man burning his tongue just to get a bite. Grayson was actually considering eating a slice in the car, but he didn't know if Xavier would appreciate that or not. Hmmm.

"I was supposed to close tonight," Grayson said thoughtfully, sliding his gaze back to his coworkers as he retreated. "But we had an extra person and I have to be up early tomorrow, so they cut me."

He didn't envy Xavier his job one bit, though he did like the perks of having a friend who worked in the gaming industry. It meant he knew when new games were coming out and he sometimes got some pretty sweet deals on used games, but he didn't exploit it or anything. Nevermind the fact that he barely had any time to play video games, it just didn't really cross Grayson's mind to milk his acquaintances for all they were worth. Having someone to share pizza with and occasionally go a round on Mortal Kombat was enough for him.

"I was supposed to put together boxes for tomorrow, but I didn't." He made a face, sliding his hands around so that he could pinch the sides of the pizza container. "Someone else can catch it, though. Morning shift is notoriously lazy."

Pot, kettle, black.

"So anything good coming out anytime soon? Not that I have spare time or anything, just wondering." Unintentionally, he emphasized his own remark with a yawn, pausing a moment where he stood. From behind the pizza parlor, there were a couple of loud crashes.

Raising his eyebrows, Grayson said, "Somebody's getting enthusiastic with the trash."

"Oh, it can," Grayson said, violet eyes going a little wide. He couldn't count the number of times the trash bags had somehow gotten holes in them and unquestionably disgusting material had ended up all over the legs of his pants. Needless to say, taking out the trash was one of his least favorite activities. "But it has to be done. Still, you don't have to be so noisy about it."

He debated a moment, setting the pizza atop Xavier's car. "You bought either of them? We can have game night or something."

There were a few more crashes from the back, and his brow creased. "You know, that's not normal. They might be having some trouble, I think I'll go che--"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, however. The words died on his lips as several large trash bags flew up in the air, exploding and sending garbage raining down over the parking lot. A) Really gross. B) Not normal at all.

Eyes wide, Grayson reacted instinctively, flinging his arms up over his head. Something -- maybe old, soggy lettuce, or days-old pizza -- flew over and landed on his elbow, making him grimace. Great, trash. What the hell?

Moments later, a huge, winged creature rose over the top of Pizza Hut, spade tail flicking back and forth behind it, and dread filled him. A youma? Really?

... Really?

He glanced to Xavier, expression suddenly serious and a little pinched. "You should get in the car."

If he could help it, Grayson didn't like to henshin in front of civilians. He didn't really have much of a choice in the matter, though; he was a senshi, there was a youma hovering over Pizza Hut, and people were going to get hurt if he didn't.

So, he pulled out his henshin pen and said solemnly, "Leo Zodiac Power, Make-Up," prompting a brilliant light to swirl around him and envelope him.

It only took Grayson a moment after the lights faded from his own henshin to realize that beside him Xavier was doing much the same. He allowed himself a couple of seconds to marvel at that -- really? Everyone he knew? Well, except Paul -- before he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. There was a youma, and if they didn't take care of it, it was going to hurt someone.

And if they didn't do it fast, well. His pizza would get cold.

He spared Xavier a very brief smile -- "Leo," he said, pointing to his chest with a thumb -- and then pushed off the pavement, vaulting up and on top of the building. The youma, lips peeling back against dark teeth, let out a low, rattly noise and inched back a bit, beating its wings against the sky.

He really didn't have time for a shy youma.