titles are too hard

She should be used to it by now, Yanna thinks. Still, no matter how how many times Leo gets this way, she's never any less surprised. Who would have thought that overconfident loud-mouthed Leo has days where he practically shuts down and gets so hard on himself -- where he can't stop telling her he feels like a burden. It's always jarring, that's what it is. One day going from watching him proclaim that no one stands a chance against him; that he knows what he's doing, that not a soul will ever take his crown, all while wearing the biggest more insufferable shit-eating grin she's ever seen... to whatever this is. Sulking, hugging himself like he's never been fucking hugged before (a lie, absolutely), crying for goodness sake and surely forgetting to eat (a surprise, given it's a wonder how he didn't end up a Gluttony bun what with his appetite..)

It should be satisfying watching someone as smug and as obnoxious as him fall. If it were anyone else, perhaps Yanna would would be delighted, even. But she isn't heartless, and despite all odds, that's her friend. Somehow.

Okay, 'somehow' is a bit harsh.
Sure, there are times where she does find him rather over the top, but she knows that's not all there is to his character. He can be kind and caring! Not just any bun is willing to put their own life at risk to save others, you know.
Should any of their friends fall ill, she knows very well Leo is always the first to show up with soup and medicine and stay at their side until they recover. There's more to him than what she sees when his competitive nature takes the metaphorical wheel. Their friendship is so fundamentally based on that rivalry between them; of course that's the side she sees the most and not the one he parades around the fire station with.

Yanna sighs, pushing aside the tangent her thoughts have gone off on. Not now, Yanna. He needs you. Or maybe not you necessarily, but someone; anyone.
Whether he's realized it yet or not, his heart has far too obviously been yearning for a particular someone he claims to hate. She's not blind, none of them are! They've all seen and heard the way he rambles like a bun caught so deep yet so very... in denial. Leo can claim he hates him as much as he'd like, but they all know him better than that. But the point, Yanna thinks, is that perhaps someday it's that someone who will tend to him in these vulnerable moments in her stead. (Is that wishful thinking?)

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Yanna asks at last, reaching to place a tentative hand on his shoulder. She hesitates for a moment, contemplating returning her hand to her side, but she decides to leave it there in some form of comfort and reassurance that she's here for him.

The gears visibly turn in Leo's head as he contemplates opening up. Eventually, he shakes his head and hugs his legs a little closer. He looks and feels pathetic, no doubt. "Same shit as always." he mumbles into his knees. He's aware he's a nuissance and even more so that he's done this before again and again and again. She doesn't need to hear the same sob story for the millionth time, she knows it, and surely she has better things she wants to be doing with her time. But it's unfortunate how uncontrollable emotions can be sometimes.

Yanna can't help but roll her eyes. She doesn't quite mean to, but it's such a habit built into her. She'll never get used to playing caregiver or what have you -- not for Leo. They should be bantering; they should be racing, goddammit. "I don't care if it's the same shit, tell me again." she encourages with a firm squeeze of his shoulder.

Talking about it doesn't help. It should, but it doesn't. Leo knows Yanna cares, but he's not stupid; he knows she would rather do anything else if she could. This isn't her burden to shoulder, it's his alone.

On a complete whim, Leo pushes himself up onto his hooves to stand. Maybe a ride will help clear his head anyways, it always does!

"Leo--" Yanna doesn't move from where she sits, watching as the other doll rises. But Leo makes no attempt to sit back down. He holds out a hand and forces out a smile and for a moment, her heart hurts. He wants to talk about it. He needs to talk about it. But he can't. Not with her.
If there's one thing she knows about the fiery bun, it's that he's stubborn. If he's decided in his mind that he's going to pretend this never happened, then he'll stand by that until she plays along with him.

Yanna sighs louder than she means to.

"Wanna race?" Leo asks all-too-casually. As if moments ago he hadn't been crying and begging her to forget about him and leave him and-- "Just don't cry when I beat your ass."

Yanna snaps out of her thoughts, letting out a small snort. It's hard to turn him down when her pride is at stake here. If anyone's ass is about to be beat, it's his! Fine, if he wants to, then so be it. Who is she to deny him of a damn good race?

"You're on." Yanna agrees. In a matter of seconds, she's springing up onto her feet all the same, slapping her hand into his and giving it a firm shake of confirmation. "Can't wait to watch you break your face again." she adds in taunt, and she really, truly can't help the way she grins as she says it.

For a moment, she's certain that forced smile of his turns into a genuine grin. That's more like it.

"Only after I cross that finish line. It'll be worth it though if it means you don't win." Leo challenges on some more. There's that confidence she hates (or does she hate it? She sure is relieved to see it right now, isn't she..)

"Shut up." Yanna retorts simply.
She knows the only one eating dirt today is Leo. ...Probably literally, too.