Ru

Being a royal knight is of grave responsibility.

It is something Kyle's father warned him when he too wished to join the Kingsguard. At first, it wasn't easy to ease his mother's worries for his safety. But after an ambush in the castle, one where Kyle was there with his father and the oldest prince, he was given his first-ever mission.

Protect Prince Kole.

He did just that. Through the mini hallways, the Prince showed him since they were much younger than that moment. Kyle and the Prince were one of the best of friends. And as his friend, he wouldn't let anything happen to him.

Unfortunately, to get Prince Kole away, Kyle's father stayed behind to provide a distraction. Sacrificing his life in the line of duty.

He was given a knight's funeral, along with a few others. The kingdom was barely able to recover, for the ambush led to a war. Gaz rose amongst his ranks, high enough to fight alongside Commander John Price. He and two others were chosen for the front lines. One was Sir Simon Riley, a quiet and deadly soul. Skilled in archery but a unit with his brute strength. The other was Sir John MacTavish. He wields his clan's sword, his colors threaded into the inside of his cape. A danger to dance with.

Between the time of the attack and the war, Kyle was 12-17. The painstakingly long war was harsh on him. On his body, and his thoughts. But he exceeded in his duty nonetheless.

When he turned 19, his brothers-in-arms celebrated while they could. Helped themselves to a lovely round of the king's wine (donated by Prince Kole and some of his siblings). It wasn't until Kyle stumbled with a laugh towards the knight's quarters that he realized someone was standing at the entrance.

Oh, were you memorizing. Your eyes captivated the tipsy knight, who suddenly straightened himself upwards at your presence.

You're hands gripped at your grey skirt, a uniform of sorts. Yet you looked so well put together. You couldn't have been of one of the nobles visiting. You wore the castle's crest on a necklace that hung from your neck...

The two of you stayed there, watching each other. Stuck.

It wasn't until MacTavish, with a boisterous laughter, snapped you both out of your haze. "There's the beauty of the night!"

You're shy smile wipes away with a scowl. "Sir MacTavish. Are you aware of where your cape is?" Your tone is loud enough to catch everyone else's attention. Snickers sound from the group of men on the benches.

Sir Riley amusingly leaned back to watch the show.

"Erm...Well, I-"

"You wouldn't have perhaps left it where the children can get their hands on it?!"

MacTavish coughs, waving away the men, hoping to get them to stop their laughter. ""s not like their messin' with a weapon-"

"Oh!" You're accusing gasp has both Johnny and Kyle wince at you. And Kyle didn't even do anything. "Then you won't mind that I burn it since one of the princes nearly chipped a tooth tripping over it."

The Commander's voice booms out MacTavish's name, but that does nothing to falter your heated gaze.

"Come with me at once. Or you'll never see that thing again!"

Oh, what a woman.

After that, it was rare to see you around. Which was to be expected since Kyle was never really appointed to Princess duties.

Sometimes the Prince would call him to his study times. Usually to take him to the library, to the garden, to his quarters.

One of those summons was different, however. He wasn't focused. That could be dangerous. He didn't even realize they were walking around the castle aimlessly until he realized he was passing the giant oak tree leading to the gardens for maybe the fourth time. "Prince Kole, where-?"

"Oh, so you've finally noticed?"

How embarrassing. Being scolded by his mother was one thing. Scolded by his commander was another. But his best friend?

Oh, he'd never live it down. "What's gotten your head in the clouds, my friend?" The prince tries to pry.

At first, he doesn’t respond. The knight thinks of a way to explain his feelings, to a woman he doesn’t even know how she’s involved with the palace.

Knights weren’t allowed to marry commoners. But if she was a member here then perhaps…

“There’s…a girl…”

“Fucking finally.”

Kyle blinks up in shock, nervously laughing as he looks around. The prince wraps his arm around the knight, pointing a finger at his leather-clad chest. "Who's the lucky gal? One of the ladies in waiting? Maybe one of the nobles you've met while traveling with-"

"No-" Kyle interrupts. "She's actually here in the castle I just..."

Prince Kole's eyes widen with joy. "Ah, so one of the fine ladies here then! Who is it? You know most of them come and go on their parent's command so it's best if you make quick with your romance, Sir Garrick."

Kyle again, looks around before lowering his voice. "I don't think she's a noble."

The pitiful stare the prince gives his friend is almost infuriating. As if the knight didn't already know knights weren't permitted to marry commoners. It wasn't illegal but most definitely frowned upon.

Your name wasn't even mentioned that night. He doesn't know how to get away with searching for you. He could ask Johnny, but then he'd never hear the end of it.

Instead, Kyle does his best to describe you to the prince. His description is clear in striking detail as he mentions the features of your face, your necklace, and your clothing.

"We know who she is!" Tiny voices sound from behind the two men. The two youngest of the royal siblings, the twins. "That's Miss-" the sound of your name has Kole muttering a humourous swear.

Ah yes. Kyle had heard about you. You were taken in by the eldest princess. Your father was the horse handler of the castle. If he remembers correctly, Kole mentioned you teaching them how to ride horses and you befriended Princess Lyla immediately. Due to the war and the sudden need for horses, your father had none to care for anymore. And was out of a job.

Princess Lyla however took you in. You were her handmaiden.

Though the facts were there, laid upon a metaphorical table, that didn't stop Kyle from trying to pursue you.

He ended up giving into his desires and asking Sir MacTavish about you. That's how he found out you liked to sneak into the stables at night to sneak treats to the horses at night.

So while the family was eating, and the King asked for a private moment with the Commander and his family, he took that chance to slip away to the stables.

It wasn't totally dark, the moonlight giving the perfect amount of visibility to maneuver around. Also helped that he had some muscle memory to through the gardens and the quad. Eventually, he found his way to the entrance of the stables, where a beautiful humming was heard among the thumping of horseshoes.

Poking his head in, Kyle notices you with a black cloak upon your shoulders. One of your hands was reached in front of you to the brown and white horse at the end of the stall. Kyle's horse.

That thing was a monster to strangers. Out of pure instinct, he called out to you...with his usual booming voice.

"Who's there?!"

With a gasp you snatch your hand back, spooking the horse as well. You reach up, shushing the creature as Kyle walks further into the stall.

Perfect, he thinks. He can swoop in to save you and maybe you'd thank him with your beautiful eyes. But that's not what happens.

No, instead the horse calms itself instantly. And you snap your head towards him with the same fire you showed Johnny that first night you met. "Are you crazy?!" You whisper-shout at him. "Honestly, what kind of knight are you?! Sneaking up on a girl at night?!"

Kyle can't help but scoff. "Sneaking? Woman, you shouldn't be out here. If anyone is sneaking around the royal grounds, it's you."

"I work here." You snap.

"Well so do I." He returns. A smirk finds its way onto his face but it's not malicious nor cocky. You found it a little...cute.

It's not until you finish giving the horse a small peppermint with a coo and a pat on the snout that you finally get a good look at him. Recognition glazes over your eyes and you feel your cheeks warm.

"Oh-!" You're quick to take a step back, much to Kyle's displeasure. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize the personal royal knights were away from the dining hall. I have to go-"

'Shit' Kyle curses in his head. You must think the princess is waiting for you, that they finished eating.

"W-Wait!" He reaches you to grab your arm before you can flee. Your wince has him releasing you with a hiss of his own. "I'm sorry, please did I hurt you?"

You hold up your arm to show an angry red splotch on it. "No, no. I burned myself with the water I was heating up for the princess. I was letting it cool down so I came here to see this fella." You motion to his horse again. "I really have to go. If you're here that means they finished and I have duties-"

"Let me walk you back?" He asks. Mentally he's swearing at his desperation. "Please, it's the least I can do. For scaring you." Kyle watches you ponder the offer in your head as if he can see the gears turning. "We just...a code of chivalry is all..."

To his happy surprise, you take his offer. And after that, he just couldn't stop 'running' into you. Call it creepy, but he finds himself lingering around areas he would think you'd be, and if you weren't showing yourself for a few minutes he would search elsewhere. Kyle always found you in the horse stables though.

You had changed your schedule to after Princess Lyla went to bed, hoping to catch your knight once more.

Each night you two met under the wooden roof of that barn, you grew attached more and more.

One night in particular he noticed you weren't there but decided to wait for you. Walking into the stables, he hummed that same song he heard you sing all those nights ago. Everything was calm. The horses weren't making much noise, nor were they peeking all the way to see if it was you there to give them a treat.

Then, a deep yet light voice called out from above him. "Who's there?!"

Kyle jumps in his skin, eyes snapping up to meet yours as you cackle and wheeze at his reaction.

He lets out a deep breath, a shocked smile spreading across his cheeks as he groans. "Fucking hell, love. You can't scare me like that."

"Awww. Poor little knight spooked by a handmaiden." You giggle as Kyle locates just how you got up to the hayloft. As he climbs you continue your teasing. "How the mighty have fallen. Sir Garrick,"

He grins as you wave your arms as if you're slashing a sword while he walks closer.

"The mightiest sword wielder."

He kneels beside the little comfort area you've created for years upon years as you were growing up and living on the castle grounds.

"The bravest to join the King's Guard."

His lips plant over yours just before you announce some other title you completely made up. You giggle into the kiss, your hand gliding up his leather-covered shoulder, curling around his neck to pull him closer.

His lips trailed over to your cheek, peppering kisses everywhere with exaggerated noises of ravishment. You squeal, trying to keep yourself together. "Kyle! That tickles! Stop!!"

This was how you loved it. Just the time you spent with one another. The time you spent in each other's presence. You loved your knight. And he loved you. But you felt this couldn't last.

That's what brought him to ask you that magical question. That wonderful night of passion you shared.

It wasn't meant to go that far. You weren't supposed to just give yourself up like this. You shouldn't have. He had you in his lap, his soft groans wrapped around your head and all you could think was how good it felt.

And how much you loved him.

How much you wanted him. Kyle wanted you all the same. All of you. It was almost perfect. Only for you to wake up sobbing into your hands.

"We shouldn't have done this." You sniffed, hurrying to dress yourself.

"What are you saying?" Your lover responds angrily. "That what we did was a mistake?"

"Sir Garrick-"

"Don't." He pleads. "Please, love. Don't do this. Don't throw this away."

You watched him kneel before you as you sat on a hay bale, fastening your dress together. "You are a knight. I am nobody, Kyle. This cannot continue-"

"Marry me."

The air in the stables still. Even the horses haven't made a single noise during that moment. You're silently staring at him, trails of tears falling down your face.

"Marry me. We can be together. Have a reason to be together-"

You cut him off with a shocked laugh. "And then what? Watch you lose everything? Watch everything you worked so hard for be thrown away like garbage? No, Kyle."

"We can marry in secret." He suggests. His desperation was apparent in his eyes. "Please, my love." He takes your hand in his, bringing it up to his cheek. "Please, marry me. Please, become my wife."

Who were you to say no?

With caution, the two of you snuck away to a beautiful part of the forest, married by Prince Kole himself. It wasn't easy. This whole thing was risky. Especially since Princess Lyla wanted to be a part if it. Two royals away from castle grounds with a handmaiden and a knight? Oh, the dangers were extreme.

But everything went perfectly. Your best friend gifted you a beautiful white dress. Nothing extravagant per your tastes, but it made you feel like a proper bride. Price joined as well, giving the group a piece of mind about the risk.

The kiss that sealed your love was one you would never ever forget.

Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. 3 years to be exact.

At this point, the two of you were being less careful with each other, which wasn't ideal. Luckily enough, the princess had the perfect tea to avoid any unplanned bumps in the road after your rare nightly activities with your husband. Though over time you've thought about having that conversation with Kyle.

That would have to wait some more. Given that this year a huge ball was planned to find partners for the Princess and Prince. The entire castle was bustling with people trying to complete their chores before the time came. Which unfortunately left you to be without your husband for some time.

Then they showed up. The neighboring royals. Lord Phillip was a name rumored all over the castle as an arrogant, despicable, pig. Often finding himself upon the discomfort of not just the Princess, but any of the women in the castle.

Oh, you were not looking forward to this. Now you and the others have a new job. Get that man as far away as possible from the Princess.

The night of the ball, you and the other girls wore similar style dresses, all in one color as if to identify you to her. Suitors asked to dance and so she did, which gave you only a bit of time to slip away to Kyle's side. Luckily, the girls were blind to you wanting to be next to the knight, as they were too busy mingling with each other.

When the Princess returned, you would go back to your duties. "Are you feeling alright, Princess?"

"Dearest friend I wish you would stop this proper nonsense tone you've included in your voice." She giggles a heavy and posh accent adorning her usual formal one.

"I-" You gasp, looking at the others snickering at the banter they knew was coming. "I am trying to do my job, Lyla-"

"ah see? much better. None of that 'Princess' business."

"Princess." You warn. "I hate to break it to you but referring to you without your title isn't seen very kindly."

From a distance, Kyle can see you hissing at the Princess, her laughing at your flushed and embarrassed state.

"My, my. What a sight to behold."

The small smile that adorned your husband's face was wiped away by the voice beside him. Lord Phillip leans against the wall, arms crossed over each other. "Truly a beauty. Would love to find my way into her arms."

Kyle sighs, side-eyeing the lord. "If you mean the Princess, I'm sorry to say you'd be much too far from her standards and also-" He turns his head to stare him down with a cold and deadly stare. "-have some bloody respect."

Lord Phillip uncrosses his arms, holding them beside his head. "Hey now, I know better than to pursue the Princess." He lets out a sarcastic chuckle, ending it with a deadpanned sigh. "You get rejected enough times you begin to take the hint."

Kyle tried to ignore him, moving on to keeping his eyes on you. Your eyes were wide, mouth agape as you looked over your dress and began to smooth it out. You wipe your head around, nervously looking around before your eyes land on your husband and you sheepishly turn away.

"Yeah...she's a beauty alright. Would love to know what she's hiding in that skirt."

Just like that, Kyle knows what he's referring to. As much as he'd like to wipe that smirk off his face he knew he couldn't just attack a Lord. Not in a room full of people anyways.

Before another word is spoken, the King makes a surprising announcement. "Guards! You have proven your bravery, and your utter devotion to this castle, to the crown. As my token of gratitude, though small token indeed, I offer you a moment of peace."

Kyle can see Commander Price being approached by a Lady, smiling down at her and offering his arm.

"Regardless if you chose to accept or not,"

Another Lady approaches Sir MacTavish, the same outcome with his teasing smile.

"This dance is in your name and your honor. Dance. Drink. Be merry for once in your lives."

Sir Riley, silently, as usual, elbows Kyle and nods in your direction. "I'll keep watch. Go on then."

At first, it's a bit of a shock. Because how would he know your relationship...and wonders if Price had told him. His thoughts are put to ease only a second later, probably because your husband's face was in full shock. "We all know you like 'er, Garrick. Make your move before that imbecile does."

You watched him approach you and the Princess, still in small banter as Lyla squealed and tapped your side repeatedly. "Here he comes!"

"They think he's here for you-!"

"Then I'll decline he can ask you!"

"Lyla!"

You glance up seeing him standing in front of you both now, forgetting to bow before the Princess before opening his mouth and asking you to dance with his hand outstretched. Unknowing of the eyes that glared in your direction.

"Sir Garrick," You nervously speak, eyes darting to the few faces that land on the two of you. "For everyone's sake, it might be best to ask-"

"I decline. My friend, however," Princess Lyla interrupts, placing a hand behind your back and, with the help of the other maidens, pushes you towards him. "is an excellent dancer."

With a laugh, he pulls you away from your group, twirling you into the sea of people dancing with each other. Knights in proper armor made it only slightly difficult to dance with. But with you, Kyle made do.

He could tell you were happy. He could tell you were content. The love in your eyes would forever put his doubts at ease. Like the first time you met.

The night once more ends with the two of you in the hayloft, bodies against one another, and Kyle leaving his marks upon your skin. "I love you." He would whisper.

"I love you, too. Please, Kyle. More!"

Oh, your sweet moans had to be muffled with his own mouth over yours. A searing kiss you couldn't even dream of getting away from. He pulled away and gazed into your eyes, your loving eyes. He could get lost in those forever. A lifetime of floating in front of the windows of your soul.

So for those eyes to be replaced with true and utter fear. It sank a knife in his heart. You stood in front of the royal court, chains upon your wrist, uniform torn from where you were found in a scuffle, with Lord Phillip of all people found to be throwing you around like a ragdoll.

The guards were reprimanded for the overkill that was them protecting you. They know nothing of your relationship but they know you far better than the snake that tried to kill you.

Kyle only had a few day's notice before the trial and raced to find you in the cells. Only to find out the Princess had you locked in a room instead. Prince Kole was the one leading him there.

"She's being tried for theft."

"What the fuck are you saying? The king truly thinks she stole something from-"

Prince Kole paused, stepping back away from the hallway entrance before he turned to stare at him with a cold gaze. "I don't know what my father thinks, Sir Garrick." Formalities. Someone is in the hallway. "What I do know is there is a thief in the castle. And lord knows who it might be."

He takes Kyle's hand, presumingly shaking it. "I will do my best to find the truth." He says as he lets go. In your husband's hand was a small, bronze key.

Kole couldn't lead him down the hallway, but the hint was there. He couldn't be seen seeing you in that room. He has to wait.

By nightfall, he snuck away again, this time in his casual training armor, leather straps, and a sword at his side. The sound of the lock rattling spooked you. You thought it was the Princess but when your eyes landed on Kyle, the waterworks arose.

Rage filled his senses as he saw the bruising upon your eye, the cut on your cheek. "Kyle..." You sob, hurrying around the small table in the center of the room and melting into his arms as he shuts the door. "What's happening? I don't understand why-"

He shushes you, talking you through your words and your tears. "It's alright. It's going to be fine. I'm getting you out of here-"

"What?"

"We have to leave, now. The guards won't try and stop you-"

"No. Kyle, why would I leave?"

Kyle frowns and holds your face in his hands. "Love, this is a trial of theft. In the castle. This isn't something they will just take your word for."

"But," you begin, shaking your head and taking a step back. "If I leave, then they will surely believe I am guilty. And I'm not! I didn't take anything!"

He shushes you again, his hand gently covering your mouth as the sound of footsteps outside catches his attention. The two of you wait as it passes, the steps continuing all the way down the hallways before it fades away.

"I believe you." He whispers, "But they won't."

"The Princess-"

"Has no power over what the King or Queen decides to rule," Kyle states. "Prince Kole nor Princess Lyla can save you. Only you can. And if don't come with me then I can't..." His voice dies off as he takes a deep, shaking breath. "I can't save you..."

The admission brings another wave of tears to your eyes. And the look you give him tells him everything. You don't plan on leaving.

"This is all a misunderstanding. They will listen."

Kyle is desperately shaking his head. "Love, you're not listening to me. They do not care that you're their daughter's friend. Or how much time your father has given them. Or how long you have worked for them. They won't care. You do not matter to the crown-"

"I have to try. If I don't, then that tells them I did something I did not do!"

Your husband walked away from you, hands rubbing circles over his eyelids. "What do they think you stole?"

"A diamond."

Dread flows through his blood, a new wave of despair. "A pink one?"

You nodded, confused. "Y-Yes...how did you-?"

"Who was the one that confronted you. Do you know who it was?" He pushes you towards the bed, sitting you down and kneeling all while asking you his questions.

"It was Lord Phillip...He was...he was waiting for me in the maiden's quarters."

That bastard was in your room. The look on your face and the way you close off entirely to him, says a story he never wishes to hear.

"Love," He begs again. "Please, come with me. Please, we can run away together." You shake your head, covering your mouth to stop your sobs from escaping. "We can run away and live our lives together. We can have as many little ones as you desire. A family. Please."

You rip your hands away from him. "In secret? Do you want to do that in secret as well? I'll never see my parents again, Kyle. I'll never see Lyla or the twins or...or..."

"I can't bear to see you interrogated like that," He says your name. "Wouldn't you try at least to survive an accusation like this?!"

"Yes!" You whisper shout. "That is exactly what this is. An accusation. Do you know what he said to me, oh dear husband?" Your voice seethes with hot venom. "He tried to get me to lay with him. And I couldn't even tell him who my husband was. I couldn't say proudly that I am a married woman. Maybe if he saw we were together he would have kept away-"

"You're blaming me?" He asks angrily. "I am to blame for that man pursuing you?!"

"You are to blame for putting me here in the first place." You openly sob. "You are the one who wanted to keep this hidden. You are the one who chose not to tell anyone. I cannot tell my mother about you, or my father, or talk to you in the open." You wipe your tears from your face, pacing on the other side of the room. "We have to constantly hide around. Like we're doing something wrong!"

Kyle stares at you as you breathe in deep, controlling your anger. With a solemn face, he only whispers. "You know why we do this..."

You ask (demand) him to leave. Even though he put up another fight, he finally left with a promise that he would come back before the trial.

Except he couldn't. Since the people affected were leaving so soon, the traditional 4-day period before the trial was limited to one day.

Before anyone knew it, you were being led to the center of the throne room, in front of nobles and more people you didn't know, being cursed at, spit at, and more. Sir MacTavish was one of the ones escorting you. Helping you up the podium with an apologetic stare before walking back to his place next to the others. Commander Price tried to help delay it all. But it proved to be unsuccessful.

Kyle wished he told you what to say. He wished he could be up there to hold you in his arms, to comfort you.

You retold your part of the night you were arrested. How Lord Phillip was waiting in your room, how he tried to hurt you, how he randomly accused you of theft after the guards found you alone with him.

Lord Phillip told a different story apparently.

"You did not seduce the lord to steal the Princess's birth jewels?"

So that's why it was so important. When royalty is born within this country, they are given a birthstone that is meant to be used in whatever symbol they use when they are of age. Would that be a crown, a sword, or even another piece of jewelry. It was priceless.

"No, I would never! I-" You stopped your sentence, sighing in defeat. "I would never..."

"Perhaps you would like to explain why Lord Phillip was even able to get into the maid's room without the key. We lock all rooms for big events like so. Only you handmaidens are given a key." The Queen carries on.

From beside Kyle, there is a small squeak, from the Princess's group of handmaidens. A blush covers her face as she bows her head in shame. Kyle mentally swears to himself.

"I don't know, I just remember the door being unlocked-"

"So you're implying he was already there again?"

"My Queen, it's the truth!" You plead. "I didn't take anything I'm being framed-"

"You stand here, bruised like a whore and crying like a child. Is this truly how you plan to convince any of them nothing happened?" Lord Phillip responds.

"Someone has stolen my daughter's stone. If we will not have it back then she must pay for her crimes!" A voice shouts, you can only presume it's another king.

The room bursts into cheers of agreement.

"Theif!"

"Kill her!"

"Lock her up and throw away the key!"

This was madness. You thought it, Kyle thought it, the knights thought it. Even the siblings thought this had gone way out of hand.

Kyle steps forward, ready to give a piece of his mind before Price holds him back. "What're you doing-"

"That's my wife, Commander-"

Price clicks his tongue, and Sir Riley is at Kyle's other side, also pushing him back. "Easy now."

"That's my wife," Kyle mutters again. "Let me through-"

"Garrick this is an order-"

"It is my grave decision," The King begins, grabbing everyone's attention. "that the punishment for such a crime will be a lifetime imprisonment."

The knights still, hearing you sob and plead with His Majesty. Lyla and Kole both argue from their spots before the throne, shocking the rulers with a new rage.

"Where is your loyalty?!" Kyle screams.

You don't turn but everyone's attention is on your husband. "She has given you her whole life of devotion, of respect. And this is how you choose to repay her!"

"Sir Garrick's right, your majesty." Princess Lyla adds. "She did nothing wrong she was with me-"

Lord Phillip slams his fist on his stand, silencing her. "Don't you dare lie for this thief. Look at her!"

Your head is bowed with shame, shoulders shaking with every muffled sob from what Kyle can see.

"She's covered in markings. You've given her everything she has and this is how she shows her loyalty. By stealing."

"Her loyalty is still to the crown, Your Majesty." Prince Kole grits. "You'll truly believe a lord who constantly harrases your own daughter than the girl who has given her life to serve this castle?!"

"Do you truly believe anyone would take a whore's word over mine-"

"She isn't a whore!"

The castle echoes your husband's shout, silencing everyone. The Commander and Sir Riley tense their arms around him as he breaks forward, quickly being held back once more. "She was with me."

The hall gasps, mutters bursting from person to person. Prince Kole sighs and rubs his fingers on his forehead. His sister covered her mouth in shock.

"She was with me. I was the one to bed her. I was the one who did that."

You finally turn, and meet his gaze. The heartbreak the two of you shared in that moment was enough to knock the wind out of any onlooker. He finally rips away from the two but makes no move to run towards you. Even if he knows the guards would let him.

Unbeknownst to the two of you, the knights had the idea something was going on. Just never knew how far it went.

"She wasn't with Lord Phillip. But he attacked her in the room."

Two knights from the sidelines step out of their position. "Aye, he's true."

"We walked in when we heard her screaming."

The maiden from your group takes a step forward as well. "He cornered me in the ballroom." She sobs. The Princess gasps in rage. "Lord-Lord Phillip must've taken the key from my skirt. I'm so sorry, Princess..."

Few voices echo more witnessed actions, eventually, the King had enough. "Silence!" The sudden clamor of voices dies down, only enough for the King to be heard.

"All of you. Your loyalty to each other must mean so much to deny my ruling."

"Your majesty," Kyle responds. "As a knight I am forever loyal to the crown. But we chose who we are loyal to in the end. To those who have shown their devotion."

The King doesn't exactly glare at him, but he feels the cold stare from across the room. His eyes feel like they're burning holes through Kyle's clothing.

"And where do your loyalties lie?" The King asks.

The question rings the air. As if time stops. All his life, he's only been loyal to one person. And in addition to that, he was loyal to that person's family. But the King was not the one he was devoted to. It was his son. And he had given him the greatest gift as a thank you.

You.

"They lie with my wife."

You sob out his name, trying to run to him. The chains they put on you keep you connected to your stand.

"We have been married for the past three years now. And I would do it all again. Behind everyone's back." Kyle admits, never tearing his eyes away from the King. "I would do it a million times over if it meant I get to see her for the first time every single time."

"It's true." Prince Kole announces. "I was the one to marry the two."

"Kole." the Queen gasps. "Without the permission of-"

"Sir Garrick saved my life you know." He hisses. "While everyone was together and everyone worried for my safety, he was the one to make sure I survived. He wasn't even knighted yet and lost his father. A sacrifice that allowed me to be here."

His eyes meet yours, softening. "If all I had to do to repay his bravery was to marry him off to our most devoted friend then I thought it a fair deal."

The court was bustling with noises. Some shouting to spare you, some to banish your husband, some just shouting anything. But the problem was still afloat. A precious stone was missing.

And there was no proof that you did or did not take it. Since Lord Phillip's story began to unravel, the same idea crossed everyone's mind. If you were telling the truth then where was the stone.

It was then you realized the twins were nowhere to be found. It wasn't like them to not be nearby. However, given the circumstances, you would understand why.

That is, until the large oak doors creak open, two panting royals huffing in and crouching on their knees. The young Prince, now old enough to hold his head up with pride, held his fist up, and in the clutches of his fingers, was the royal pink diamond.

For the hundredth time that day, gasps filled the room. The young Prince took his sister's hand and walked towards the neighboring King, showing him the diamond.

"Is this the missing stone?"

The king, flabbergasted, nods his head. "Y-yes it is-"

"Good. Take it. We don't fucking want it."

You gasp, scolding out of pure instinct before they both race over to hug you. "We didn't want you to go away." The young Princess cries into your skirt. "We just wanted to help."

The King and Queen stand in awe, watching as the neighboring King nods his head at them. "This is indeed my daughter's diamond."

"Where did you two find it?" The Queen demands, quickly stepping down the stairs but stopping midway.

The twins pull away from you, the young prince pointing a finger over at Lord Phillip. "It was in his bed."

You gasp, whirling around with rage. "You pig." both you and Princess Lyla swear.

The entire room erupts in a riot, shouting louder than ever before. Lord Phillip looks around, shocked and unsure of what to do. It isn't until the guards walk up to seize him that they remove him from the courtroom, taking him to the cells presumingly.

Sir MacTavish is quick to undo your restraints, hoisting you down and safely onto the ground. Without any more hesitation, you spin around and run towards your husband. With his arms outstretched, he wraps you up and holds you close to him. His hand finds the back of your neck as he leans to your ear and whispers apologies.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have never let you do this. I should have taken the fucking blame."

With a wet smile, you push back and rub your thumb upon his cheek, leaning up to kiss him quickly before the King clears his throat.

You turned, Kyle still holding you against his chest, with protectiveness flowing through his blood.

"Sir Garrick. Is what my son says of your marriage truth?"

You swallow, eyes travel down again to avoid eye contact. You hear Kyle take a deep breath. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"And...my son was the one to officiate it?"

"Yes, father." Prince Kole confirms.

The King hums, sitting back down, a small chortle escaping his lips.

No one knows what to do in this instance. Their hands are sweating, they still at every movement His Majesty makes. They prepare for the worst. But it never shows.

"And...you are content with this, Sir Garrick?"

Kyle looks down at you, love-adorned eyes studying your own as you wait for his response. He gives you a smile that, at the same time, answers your worries.

"More than content."

"She is not of any title, Sir Garrick." The Queen reminds him.

Kyle shakes his head. "With all due respect my Queen," He begins. "She earned a title when she married me."

Hearing the King address your name after 'Lady' felt off. But this was your heaven. And you got what you wanted.

You were free to be openly in love with your husband. And Kyle couldn't wait to treat you like a wife should be treated.

The court dispersed, and you were surprised to receive an apology. You felt you didn't need it but the Queen was the one to insist. Truly, it was heartfelt. The mentions of your sacrificed livelihood, the work of your father, it didn't go unnoticed.

The trial had everyone on the edge of another war. You wouldn't know how to live with yourself if Kyle had to leave for war again. Nonetheless, the two of you got to be together, meeting in the hayloft, and living in a manor as a belated wedding gift from Sir Riley and MacTavish.

You get to live with your husband. Together.

Husband and Wife.

Please comment and reblog, I'd appreciate it! Requests are open: ask me anything!

Strange, wasn’t he always so effortlessly cheerful? You expected him to be bidding farewell to his fellow knight. Why was he so far away?

You steadied your breath and walked closer, descending the steps until you reached his side. 

“Good morning, my lord,” you said, curtsying.

At the sound of your voice, his back straightened immediately, and he turned to you.

“Good morning!” he greeted brightly—ah, there it is. “Did you rest well?”

“…Yes…” you nodded, then glanced toward Alex.

Kyle followed your gaze. “You made it in time, Farah's been holding him back for quite some time now,” he explained, leaning back against the stairs once more.

“Are you not going?” you asked, confused.

“No,” he said simply. “Nothing for me to mope about. He’ll be back. He’s not on death’s door.”

“Didn’t you say we were close to war?” 

“It’s metaphorical,” he said, arms still crossed. “More of a battle of wit between my father and the duke.” 

Little interactions like this gave you pieces of the kingdom’s political state.

The duke was just a looming force, a symbol of resistance against the current king.

They had caught spies. Alex didn’t go into detail about how they got information out of them, but it was implied. That thought sent a chill down your spine.

But you'd be fine, you just had to be careful not to raise too much suspicion. You were doing good so far. 

“I don't know what happened, but he's been glued to her for days now," Kyle sighed, looking toward the two knights. "How does she deal with that?”

Your eyes remained on him. A smile tickled the corner of your lips as you battled the urge to respond. Wasn't this the pot calling the kettle black? He was much more clingy with you than Alex was with Farah.

Just the last few days alone, Farah would come to you looking for him, and without fail, she found him.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was only here because he knew you would be too. But that would be absurd. He wouldn’t possibly be standing here in the chilly morning air just to see you.

“It doesn’t look like she minds,” you said with a shrug, turning your attention back to the knights.

They were lost in their own conversation. The way their hands brushed. The tenderness in their exchanged glances.

“It’s a bit much, if you ask me,” Kyle smiled, turning back to you. “Well, it matters little now as I’m not here for him.” He shrugged.

“I see. But Lady Farah seems well—then again, I suppose you would know if she wasn’t,” you replied. What were you playing at? You knew what he was saying, didn’t you?

He scoffed, nodding to himself before jerking his head toward the carriage. “Looks like he’s waiting. Go on, hurry so he can leave,” he said, though he failed to suppress a smile. 

Your pocket felt heavier as you looked at him, but you bowed your head and walked to the carriage.

You quickened your step, making sure to salute them both.

“You’re up early,” Farah said, crossing her arms. 

“I couldn’t miss Sir Keller’s departure!” you said looking at her a little long. Farah exchanged a look with Alex before smiling and stepping away. 

“I told you to rest, didn't I?” Alex asked with a pointed look.

“But am I not allowed a proper goodbye?” you replied, lifting your shoulder. “My teacher is leaving”

“The sooner this is over, the sooner I can have leisure time. I could even bring you to my village,” 

"I believe I am not allowed out without Lord Garrick,” you chuckled. “Especially not with you.”

He peeked behind you before leaning in. “I'll sneak you out,” He grinned,

“Promise?” you whispered back.

“It's a promise” he nodded. He hesitated for a moment, “You already told me goodbye last night…yet here you are” he squinted, “I hope you are not planning to give me an unwanted gift again?” 

“No,” you said, feeling heat creep on his ear. I had things to do. I thought I could see you one last time?” you said.

“Is this a statement or are you asking me?” he questioned, you looked back.

“Your lady has been keeping him locked away…” you whispered, another excuse.

“Don’t make me laugh, I’ve got reports of a lord missing from duty almost every day.” 

“Yes, I see him in passing, but I have no time to prepare.” 

“Prepare for what? It's a simple gesture is it not?” he tilted his head. “Unless it means something to you?” 

“It doesn't,” you quickly replied.

“Then I shall leave you, to it” he said, turning away.

“You leave me with my lament?” you teased. 

“I already got rid of mine, why would I take on yours?” he winked walking inside his carriage. 

You watched as the carriage rolled away with a heavy heart. You were already counting the days until their return. Your days were about to be a whole lot different. You stopped yourself from glancing Kyle’s way.

“What were you two plotting?” Farah asked

“Nothing, my lady, I was simply bidding him farewell,” you said.

She nodded, glancing back at you. “We haven’t talked in a while,” she said. That's true, you also only saw her in passing too!

What an opportunity!

“That is right my lady, shall I bring you tea and we could chat about?” Hopefully she would say yes. The thing you have to do can wait.

“You seem to have prior engagements” she chuckled.

“I’ll walk you back,” Lord Garrick proposed, stepping closer. You didn’t even flinch at his sudden appearance.

You hesitated, but Farah smiled. “I won’t take it personally,” she said. “It’s still dark, who knows what might happen in the ten steps it takes to go back inside?” She chuckled. Though she meant to sound condescending, her voice carried a warmth that betrayed her true feelings.

You nodded before starting the walk. It wasn’t as dark as she said. The sky was just starting to turn a lighter blue. The air was still a bit damp as you walked through the yard. You glanced back at Kyle. 

“So you weren't there for Lady Karim, my Lord?”

He chuckled, “No, I thought a certain someone would be here too this morning,” he stated, “Though they love playing oblivious, now that I’ve seen them, it is a good morning.” He grinned, you felt your heart stirred.

“I hope you didn’t get too much of a scolding from Lady Karim,” 

“Quite a lot to be honest,” he chuckled, "but I got used to it, she got tired of it, eventually I got to walk you back to your quarters" he shrugged.

“I apologize, it was my fault, you wasted as much time” 

“It wasn’t,” he said softly. “The only thing you are guilty of is invading my mind” he muttered.

You're trying really fervently to invade mine. 

“I apologize for this as well, it was never my intention,” 

Your feet stopped as the brown door of the maids' quarters loomed over you. Was the walk through the courtyard always this short?

“Here you are,” Kyle said.

You hesitated this was the moment, now or never. It was nothing to make a fuss about.

Your hand slipped into your pocket, playing with the jar. He sighed and spoke again 

“Alex comes and goes in this manor. He will come back eventually. You can send him letters,” he continued, voice soft.

You should go back inside, and start your daily chores, not linger here. 

It was a small gesture, but that would be over stepping. 

You were deep in your thoughts, not realising that to anyone else's perspective you were eerily quiet.

“Is your heart that heavy?” He asked as he stepped closer. 

You finally pulled it out, almost hiding it in the skirt of your dress. Your heart was beating with volume and your hand was sweating a little.

It was just a kind gesture. So why were you so nervous?

Maybe because his gift had been thoughtful—an intricate box with fine details—while all you had was this, looking embarrassingly bland.

Moreover… you had never given anyone a gift before.

Especially not someone you—

You what?

God. Maybe you should just shove it back in. There would be other occasions. He didn’t see it, did he?

“What is that?” his voice echoed in the corridors of your mind, finding your senses pulling you back.

Hell.

He looked at your hand and back to your face, you gently held it out to him. The knot holding the fabric lid of the pot tickling your forefinger. 

“It’s a little late. But I got your box the other day…It was only normal that I thanked my Lord for being so thoughtful.” You explained, though he looked confused, a smile still adorned his lips. 

He was smiling at you. He always did, no matter what. And that consoled your nervous heart.

“Did you get it at the market? You shouldn’t have, the coins were for you to spend on yourself.” He explained with an amused look on his face, taking it from your hand and inspecting it.

“I made it with the berries we got that day…I had more than enough, so please keep this one, my lord.” 

His grip suddenly tightened around the little pot pulling it back towards himself. His smile faltered for a second.

“You made it?” He asked, “and you're giving it…to me?”

You felt suddenly flustered. “To be honest, I only helped. The cook did most of it, the spices and other ingredients were his idea, really.” You rambled, nervously looking at his reaction. He didn’t respond.

Did he hate it, you thought you could read him, but right now he was quiet and that pot in his hand was starting to look uglier to you, the cover was barely presentable, the knot a bit messy. Adopted or not he was royalty, he was raised with standards and this was subpar.

You pressed your lips together, and you held your hand out desperate to take it for him, before it got more embarrassing.

“M-my apology, I shouldn’t disrespect you with such a gift, my lord, I-I’ll take it back,” 

He retreated from you with the brightest smile on his lips. Stirring your heart even further.

“No! I’m sorry…it’s just...you thought of me,” He trailed looking at your face for a second, his eyes went to your lips, and he bit his own, thinking. “Do you want to share some with me?” He asked with excitement filling his voice, he was almost giggling. 

Your chest warmed. He liked it. You didn’t have much to offer, yet he accepted that small gesture as if it meant everything.

And as it seemed to happen a lot lately. You smiled. You were scared for nothing.

Of course he would react this way. You shook your head. Why were you feeling bashful all of the sudden?

“I took enough of my lord's time today, and I have to start with my duties and you should get back to yours.” you said, chuckling looking at the small jar in his hand.

His grip seemed a bit tight though. It was just jam. 

You raised your head to meet his eyes. Your smile dimmed. He was staring at you in awe, or was he upset. You weren’t sure. There was nothing to be shocked about so he must be angry. Oh did you forget yourself? You did reject his offer just now.

“Can I ask for a favor?” He started, you waited for him to elaborate. “Alex is gone, you won’t be going to the stables so often. You’ll have free time.” 

You nodded, was he going to punish you?

“That time, give it to me” he asked 

You paused, did he have to add work to fill the gap. Well you had nothing else to do, so why not. He was the master after all, you should do as he says.

“Very well,” you said nodding, “I will tend to my lord, if that is what you wish.” You bowed. 

He chuckled, “No, that's not what I asked.” 

“Then I don’t–”

“Come find me, like you went to him.” He explained “If there is something you want to learn I'll teach you, if you need to talk, I’ll listen.” He breathed out. “What I’m asking is for you to spend time with me,”

Spending more time with him. More than the sparse glances and greetings you received lately. Strangely, the idea of more wasn’t as distasteful as it was before. Your heart should hate it. 

So why was it screaming for you to say yes?

Your eyes darted to the yard where a few maids were already carrying buckets of water.

Right, you couldn’t. There were so many reasons why you couldn’t. Boundaries you set. Rules that prevent them. Not only for you but also for him. 

Spending time with him would only make things complicated. 

“I’m afraid I must refuse, my lord, it is simply not proper, for a man of your stature to spend leisure time with me, even in friendship,” you stated.

“Friendship?” He echoed you.

“Isn’t it what you seek, for us to be friends, similar to Sir Kelker and I?” 

The maids already have their idea, it would only disrupt the calm of the manor. You couldn’t risk—

“No.” he said, getting close. “I want something for us,” he said. “Just the two of us,” 

You swallowed, you don't know what he is talking about, no you don’t understand, you don’t want to understand.

“My lord I don’t–”

“It's not me you fear anymore, is it?” he asked softly, seemingly already knowing the answer.

“I simply can’t spend my leisure time with you.” You unconsciously glance at the yard again. He understood.

“Very well then, don’t come in your free time.” He said, "I’ll just take you as my personal servant. Is that alright with you?” 

“If that's what my lords—” 

“No, I'm asking you. Does my pathetic excuse to see you, suit you?” He asked above a whisper.

You nodded slowly. His gaze lingered on yours for a moment before he nodded also.

"And let me be clear," he said, voice softer, "I have no desire to be Alex for you. And if I’m not mistaken—" he tilted his head slightly, eyes sharp "—neither do you."

He smiled but you couldn't find yourself to reply. “I’ll inform the head maid.”

He was already gone. You walked inside, eyes already on you.

"Great." you cleared your throat. 

You pretended it was a hassle, but your heart pounded in your chest.

You would see him every day, for longer now. 

How…

Exciting?

That was the problem, wasn’t it?

Masterlist - Next

He tried going on a few dates… one he accidentally called her your name as they were making out in his car. The other looked like you but lacked personality. Needless to say karma was biting Kyle in the ass.

“So you blocked her, after you took her to the fanciest steakhouse, wine back at her place while sharing secrets… and had the best shag of your life” soap says from the other side of the aircraft. “And let’s not forget all the cute couple shit you two had been doing”

“Who we talking about” ghost questions.

“Lass that Gaz was seeing months ago, and bloody blew it after a quick shag from the sound of it” soap snickers.

“I thought you were still seeing her” ghost questions.

“I didn’t think I’d actually sleep with her, that wasn’t my goal. And no, it’s been a while” gaz defensively replied.

Soap pinches the bridge of his nose “so your original plan was essentially a break off date”.

Gaz shrugs “I didn’t want her last memory of me to be me saying see you later after our usual Sunday walk. Plus we were never technically together”.

Prices eyebrows raised “So you just strung her along for a month and you were going to ghost her regardless of how the night ended”.

“Well… yeah and it was actually more like five months” gaz sheepishly replied.

The men went silent as they gathered their thoughts. Price being the first to speak up after a painful awkward silence “five months, you bastard she probably was falling in love with you, then you decided to pull the shittiest move a man can make”

“I panicked” Gaz shrugs and diverts his eyes from his captains burning gaze.

Ghost chuckles “wrong, you premeditated disappearing from her life. Sounds like you got a fear of commitment”.

Gaz defensive responds “I do not, it’s just with what we do it’s not worth the risk. I mean what if something happens”

“Sounds exactly like something a person with commitment issues would say” ghost quickly replied.

Soap decides to add fuel to the fire “Aye didn’t you do the same thing with the last gal you liked. Maybe it’s the chase you like. Love ‘em and leave ‘em“.

“Fuck off soap” Gaz responds trying to control his irritation.

Price sighs “I didn’t realize how much of my life I wasted having that mentality when I was your age. Had some fun one night stands but the loneliness catches up real quick. Granted things are turning up for me but boy do I feel like I missed out on that young love”.

Gaz starts to think about what price said. After a plane ride home in deep thought he asks price one last question before departing base “So what should I do to get her back”

Prices brows furrowed “You want something optimistic or something realistic”

“Fuck, realistic I guess” gaz leans against the doorframe of prices base office.

Price stands next to a filing cabinet and shakes his head “Honestly I’ll be amazed if she gives you as much as a moment to explain. But if she’s does let you, be honest about why you left and apologize. No point in lying when you have everything to gain and you can’t lose what you’ve already lost Sargent” price gives him a sincere look “regardless of how it turns out you need to let this be a teaching moment. Because maybe she doesn’t take you back, maybe life sends someone else your way. But if you get that lucky you know better than to fuck it up like this ever again”.

Gaz nods “Would flowers be a nice addition to the apology”.

Price smirks “I don’t think flowers will help your cause much, but maybe it’s sweeten her up”.

Gaz nods “thanks, see you later captain”

Gaz needs a plan to get you back, forever hopefully.

*the next day*

She wasn’t even home. So Gaz decides on waiting to see if you’ll come home anytime soon by sitting on your front door steps for two hours. He has no plans to leave until he sees your pretty face.

Gaz scrolls endlessly on his phone when the sound of heels awaken his senses, only to actually look up when he hears your voice “What are you doing here” you very clearly are not happy to see him.

Gaz stands up with flowers in his hand, clearing his voice he carefully starts his plan “I came to explain, but more importantly apologize”. Gaz sheepishly said.

Your eyes look down at the flowers in his hand, appalled. “No need honestly, I’ve moved on and I think you should to”.

Shit this isn’t going well Gaz thinks. Time to take the soft puppy dog approach. He takes a step forward to you and his eyes fill with hurt “Would you at least let me explain, if you don’t want to hear it I’ll leave now but at least let me be honest as to why I ran off”

You huff defeated, hard to say no when he’s looking at you like that but you can’t give in. “Nothing you can say will change my mind”.

“My job. It’s dangerous and I was worried that it wouldn’t work out because of the demands. And I didn’t plan on sleeping with you. Honestly I just wanted you to have a nice night before I disappeared” gaz trying to reach for your hand, you move back.

“That’s great Gaz. Well my boyfriend just left his office and I’m making dinner, so I really don’t have time for this” you fumble with your keys, as they slip to the ground Gaz picks them up and unlocks to door for you.

“At least let me help carry all this in for you and I’ll be on my way” he politely asked. Praying you’ll let him in.

You sigh a defeated “Fine”. You walk in the door first as Gaz grabs the rest of the bags on the porch. He watches as your hips sway, he can feel the blood in body start to boil. Stay calm, stay fucking calm.

Your home still smells like fresh cotton and lavender. Still perfectly tidy and comfortable. He looks over at that corner sofa where you two made out. He closes the front door and walks to the kitchen and sets the groceries on the counter, he notices a silver watch with a rather large band. Must be a big fella. That’s when he hears the front door open and close. A heavy set of footsteps approaches silently.

“I think you should get going now” you say plainly avoiding Kyle’s burning gaze. He hurt you too much for you to have a moment of doubt.

A deep voice speaks as the footsteps stop at the kitchen “Sargent”.

Gaz turns around to the voice in the room and swallows hard.

"You're leaving?" You raise a brow, watching as Leon, sweet 21-year-old Leon, pulls his suitcases to the door with all the boxes of his things.

"I have to." He frowns. "You won't move to Raccoon with me, and it's—"

"Landlines cost a fortune to use. I know." You close your eyes. "Will you write to me?"

"I can try." He doesn't dare to look you in the eye. You know he doesn't want to leave. He knows he shouldn't just break up with you like this. Is this the end of your relationship? All because the two of you refuse to do things to stay together? Is this selfishness... or is it something else? Did Leon ever really truly love you?

"Trying is too much. If we're truly meant to be, may we cross paths in the future once more." You hum. "I'll help you move the boxes."

"Will you visit?"

"Depends if you invite me." You crack only the lightest of jokes, boxes put into the back of his car as he closes the trunk with a thud, fiddling with his fingers as he looks at you.

"I guess this is goodbye?"

"May our paths cross again." You hold your hand out, and Leon pulls you in instead, arms wrapped around your waist as he squeezes, heart racing painfully against his chest.

He doesn't like that he has to make this decision.

"I'll see you again, I promise." He mumbles.

You watch Leon Kennedy drive into the sunset, stuck staring from your place in the suburbs as his car eventually loses itself in the light. You wonder if that is a sign of something. Is it possible to blind yourself from the light? Is it dooming to force oneself into the sun? May his wings not burn off, you decide. No matter how far, you hope that he will be kept safe. That is all that matters to you. And when he is inevitably too close to the sun one day, may the embrace of the stars catch him and hold him close. The sun is a star, after all.

Yet, the sun gives warmth to life, and when you're stuck staring at the two lines on the test, you think the sun has burned you for getting too close.

You only ever receive one letter from Leon the entire time the two of you are apart.

Signed two days after his new beginning, delivered five days after the destruction of Raccoon City, you are given all of the details of what had occurred during the time that Leon had been in that place.

Don't come find me, as I no longer hope our paths cross ever again

Heed my words, LSK

You decide to do what Leon knew you did best. The story of Raccoon City is turned into a bestseller, people crowding to read more about what your mind could conjure about the mystery of Raccoon City on the news, desperate to get some sort of twisted release. You do not heed Leon's words. You do not answer to the desperate public. Instead, you disappear after the release of the novel. You're sure that Leon's more than happy to see you disappear from the public as he had instructed you to do so. You would become a thorn in his side— or something. You're not quite sure. Do you care all that much? You wish you could say no. You know nothing more than the fact that Leon survived. However, from the fact that he knew so much, you can only assume that he ended up working somewhere in the twisted political system. Perhaps not politics... perhaps government.

Your daughter is born, a sweet girl that you decide should take your last name instead of his. It is a curse, that last name of his. His sweet girl should not have to deal with everything that comes with being of his blood. Your sweet girl belongs to you rather than to him. She will be raised and loved and cherished until she knows that it is not worth it to throw your life away simply because you have fallen in love with someone. She will be the new light in your life, and you will choose to bring joy to her life to the best of your ability.

When you catch Leon at 27 on the news after saving the president's daughter from Spain, you do not feel anything.

You hope not to feel something. Are you supposed to feel something? Is there anything left to feel for a man who has not been part of your life for over 6 years? It would be pathetic to mourn over what could have been. It is truly not your problem. You do not get the luxury of being in his life anymore. Perhaps, he did not want the luxury of being in yours. "I no longer hope our paths cross ever again." Are you supposed to just move on? Leon, the man that you are.

Your daughter asks you how work was when you pick her up from elementary school, and you tell her that you had caught a government agent returning home after a particularly hard mission. She asks you if you have a story to tell her, so you tell her the story of how you met Leon, his youth and yours entwined as you promised to stay together until the stars in the sky burned out, but you don't tell her that it was her dad. You tell her that it was a story you heard from a friend because you would rather bear the guilt of lying to her than let her know that her parents were cowards — that you were a coward.

At 28, you catch a glance of Leon in the window of a coffee shop in the capital, eyes meeting his for a second before he turns away first and decides that you are not worth the time.

It hurts more than you'd like to admit.

Instead, you continue on your way to your interview, wondering if you should just ditch now that you are aware that your blind guess had been correct. Leon Scott Kennedy was in the capital of the country, and you would be stuck in the vicinity of him at all times if you took the job. Though, you really can't pass up on such good pay. What right do you have to complain if you receive a pay far better than anything else? Who are you in a capitalistic system that will inevitably drive you to ruin one day?

You wonder why there are so many rhetorical questions that spin in your mind.

Yet, you stay in the capital because you know it is better to move on face to face than to mull over the shadow of what it could have been.

What use is a hypothetical in the face of reality?

Besides, it mattered more than you had a child to feed.

When Leon is 35 (you're still counting), the two of you meet at a press conference. You stare at him and he stares at you, and the two of you exchange a nod before you both go your own ways. You are here to help someone just as he is — only in different ways. Leon is to serve with his body, and you are to serve with your mind. What difference does it make if you both are serving someone in the end? What difference does it make if it's the body or the mind? Can you truly say that the two of you are different at all?

You wonder if Leon is truly healing when he looks so distraught over something. Perhaps he's busy with whatever the government is tasking him with. If he's by the president's side, then surely he's someone of higher ranking now. You think it's been a long time since you've seen his face properly. Age has wrecked through his body, fine lines in the corners of his eyes and lips, facial hair so much more defined than when you had first met him. Time is ticking, yet you are stuck in place.

Your daughter moves quickly, high school starting as she gets to tell everyone that her mom is a major journalist, at the frontier of covering big issues regarding the rumors that spread around. She treats you like her hero, and for the first time in a while, you let out a sigh in relief that makes your whole body relax. It is as if the tension that you would accidentally let the frustration of raising her alone ruin her life has finally been lifted from your shoulders. You will be alright. No matter how much the two of you would fight, you will be fine because you have survived for so long and you will continue to.

At 38, you watch Leon return after a mission abroad with the rest of the press, staring at the bandages on his cheek, watching as he passes you with a glance, movements never stopping once. You are stuck in place, you think. You are moving at the same pace as Leon when you could be running ahead, and it will inevitably come back to destroy you. What use is there in matching someone's pace when they do not think of you? Are you stuck in place? Will you be stuck here forever? You thought moving to the capital could change things, yet you are back where you began.

The world is moving too fast for you to keep up.

At least someone grounds you.

One day, your flip phone becomes a smartphone, and your cents charged for the landline become a monthly phone plan that you pay at the beginning of the month with your rent and just about everything else. The world is moving on, so why are you stuck in place? Maybe it was you who needed to be caught in the stars and not Leon. Who will catch the moon when it collapses from the sky? What chasing is there if the moon will never see the sun?

What does it take to break a cycle of destruction?

Not much, apparently.

When Leon himself is banging at your door at the crack of midnight, you know better than to open the door, but you do it anyway. If you are to die, then you might as well let it be at his hands.

"I'm sorry." He's gasping for air, on his knees.

Leon Kennedy, a grown man in his forties, kneeling at your open front door.

You wonder if you should just cut it right here.

"Do I—"

"You don't need to." He heaves, breathing heavy as he dares not to look at you. "I'm sorry."

You stare down at him, and you wonder if this is the universe's way of apologizing to you.

"You can crash the couch. If you leave tomorrow morning, then I'll take all of this as a mistake you're making while drunk." You let him in, and you know he'll be gone in the morning.

Leon was not one to go against his own words.

Yet, in the morning, you find yourself staring at Leon as he serves you breakfast, terrified of talking to you or something. It makes you raise a brow, but you thank him as you start on breakfast. He wants to say something. You wonder if he hasn't changed at all since you've last seen him. Maybe somewhere deep down, he's still that rookie who had his first day in a zombie-infested city.

"I really am sorry."

"There's no way you're deciding this now." You don't bother looking at him, sitting down as he hands you a plate of food for breakfast instead. Always an action. Always an act of service in order to remind you that he loves you instead of speaking up. You wonder if you're the one being stubborn in that case. Maybe the reason your relationship went downhill was all because of you. It is always you, you find.

Yet, despite all odds, your daughter is in college now.

"I heard you have a daughter." He laughs dryly, leaning against the kitchen marble as you raise a brow at him.

"Yes. I do."

You stare at Leon as he sucks in a breath, and you refuse to tell him. Even if he asks, you will lie through your teeth to make sure that the wound in your relationship would be severed. You do not understand why he still insists on checking in on you, but as you start eating, you do not complain. If he wishes to drag your severed limbs through the mud, then let him do so. If he would have to exist in your life only to wound you over and over again, then let him do so. If you should exist only to be hurt back because you had hurt him first, then let it be so.

"Is she mine?"

You stare at Leon, and then shake your head.

"Who's the... father?"

"Hookup. I forgot to take the morning after pill." You start at the breakfast, humming quietly as Leon stares at you apprehensively. "You didn't burn the bacon this time."

"That was once." He points.

Yet, you finish the food, watching as Leon still lingers. He stays. You don't know what prompts him to stay, and quite frankly, you're too scared to ask how he managed to get your address, but you keep quiet. You do not want to know. You should not want to know. You aren't someone in his life anymore, so does it really matter if you know or not. Maybe you should let your daughter know that her biological father has decided to crash at your apartment door at two am on a Monday all in the name of apologizing. You're sure that she'd be disappointed after you had told her to never take a man back unless he groveled.

"Why are you really here?" You stare up at Leon as he slides you a mug of tea, and he sighs.

"Wanted to know if Leona was mine. She..."

"Don't delude yourself." You press the mug to your lips, and Leon exhales.

"Do you want the truth?"

"Should've started with that."

"You're on a wanted list of potential conspiracy theorists."

"What the hell?"

"Leaking government secrets... or something. That book you published."

"Ah." You mumble. "All over the book?"

"Too accurate of a retelling. The government didn't cover up the nuking, but they did cover up the zombies, so—"

"So they think I somehow am convincing the masses with the book that there were zombies."

"It's a national security concern."

"Which involves you? I thought the CIA covered that."

"I asked the president personally to be put on the case... didn't wanna fly international again. Also, it was you." He swallows slowly.

"So, if I get caught, you go down with the ship too, huh?" You laugh dryly, sliding him the half of breakfast you didn't touch. "You need to eat too."

You wonder if it mirrors all the times that Leon had been too tired after a day of drills to even respond to you when the two of you had been together, but even then, he had threaded his fingers between yours, telling you to sleep well before he headed off to bed himself. Age or PTSD? You can not imagine the trauma that goes into shaping Leon into who you see before you now. The blonde he used to dye his hair has faded out into a darker color — damaged hair making it a lighter brown rather than the one you had been used to when you first met him. Are you overstepping your boundaries? Is he overstepping your boundaries? You can not tell.

"Old habits die hard, huh?"

"It's been nearly twenty years." You mumble. "They shouldn't be habits anymore."

"Trust me. Some of them are just embedded into your soul." He glances at the door as it rattles, and you pinch the bridge of your nose.

"I'm home." Your daughter, Leona, pauses when she notices the man in the kitchen. "Who's this?"

"Leon Kennedy." You don't give her any more details beyond that, exhaustion written all over your face enough to tell her to save the question for another time. "How was the trip?"

"It was fun. I'll show you photos after I unpack. Hi, Mr. Kennedy."

Leon nods in response.

"Of course, baby. Did you eat yet?"

"I had a bagel in the morning, but I'll need lunch. Did the stuff in the fridge go bad?"

"No. I'll make lunch for us today."

"Thank you, ma."

You smile, waving as she tugs her luggage with her into her room.

"She's the spitting image of me." Leon stares down at you, brows furrowed. "How can she not be mine? Everything matches up."

"I cheated on you with a blonde man with blue eyes before you moved, or something." You half-ass it, standing up as you close your eyes and watch him eat. "What's next? I go to the town hall? I turn myself into the CIA?"

"No, I just need to monitor you regularly. That's it. You've been inactive in terms of writing for years. They just want me to keep you in check." He hums. "They moved me in next door. Let me know if you need anything."

"For how long?"

"Only a couple of months." He nods. "Can I meet Leona sometime?"

You glance at her open door, wondering if you should treat this a little more seriously.

"Make us lunch."

"Hm?"

"Lunch. We can talk about this over lunch. Dinner is too formal." You sigh. "Are you trying to be back in her life?"

"So she is mine." He mumbles. "I had a daughter all this time and you never bothered to tell me?"

"Didn't feel necessary. It would have stirred up too much press. Can you imagine me yelling at you that you have a daughter? The government would go insane. Now, answer my question. Are you trying to involve yourself in her life, or do you just want to introduce yourself to her?"

"You'll let me co-parent her?"

"Leon Scott Kennedy." You seethe. "Answer the fucking question."

"I don't know, but I think introducing myself would be a good start."

You pinch the bridge of your nose. "Shakshuka for brunch."

"Shakshuka?"

"We have the ingredients for it. You're on cooking duty. I trust that you haven't just been living off of store-bought food this whole time."

"No, I picked up cooking recently." He looks up a recipe on his phone, searching for the ingredients in your pantry as you knock on your daughter's door.

"Hm?"

"Leon will join us for brunch. Is that alright?"

"It's fine, ma." She smiles. "I have an idea on what's going to come out just... based off of his face."

"It wasn't to hurt you."

"I know." She nods. "I'll mull over it later when my insomnia hits, but I'll mull over it. I know you didn't do it to hurt me."

You glance at the souvenir she's decided to bring back and raise a brow. "Is that a mug?"

"Isn't it cute?" She grins. "Found it at a local potter's place while there."

"It is." You take it from her, tilting it to get a good look at the colors as she starts explaining the rest of her little trinkets.

"This one's for you." She hands you a mug that looks the same, and you raise a brow at the design.

"XOXO Gossip girl?" You raise a brow. "My coworkers are going to love this."

"Did you call off work today?"

"Yeah. Leon crashed last night, and I told the team that I wasn't able to make it."

"PTO?"

"PTO." You hum. "Thank you for the mug, baby. Did you see anything fun?"

"Met the president's daughter."

"On the trip?"

"Yeah. Our sorority was introducing ex-members, and she was one of them. She brought up how I reminded her of the dude who saved her that one time she got kidnapped... said we shared a name too."

"Ah, is that how?"

"Felt like a strange coincidence more than anything." She places her two bags of trinkets on her desk, and she hands you her mug. "Did you name me after him?"

"Partially. I just wanted you to be brave like your name." You listen to the way that the kitchen hood turns off. "Brunch is ready."

"How long did you date?"

"I'll tell you that after I've had my first glass." You hum. "I need one if you're going to ask me all of these questions."

Leona laughs, lips curled upwards as you take her out with you. She's taller than you, yet she is still your baby. Your sweet child whom you adored so much has grown up so much. The spitting image of her father that you had grown to be thankful for rather than get haunted by in the narrative. Your sweet daughter that you adored.

"Brunch is— oh, you both are already here. Your mother requested shakshuka."

"Oh... it's been all over my Tiktok lately." Your daughter mumbles.

"And I saw some bread, so I toasted some slices." Leon nods. "I figured I should introduce myself. I'm Leon—"

"My father." Your daughter is curt, nodding as Leon takes her hand. "Nice to finally know who you are."

"Trust me, had I known earlier, I would have come running. Your mother is insanely good at keeping secrets."

"Yes, ma has always been like that." Your daughter sits back down to start eating. "What do you work in?"

"Government."

"Like administrative or politics?"

"Security."

"Like FBI or internet?"

"I'd say it's closer to FBI, though, we don't do the same missions. I've been protecting the president lately."

"So like... bodyguard."

"Something like that."

You plate your daughter's food first and then Leon's, and yours last. You watch as your daughter makes small talk with him, surprisingly unbothered by the sudden intrusion of her biological father in her life, getting to know him over brunch. Though, you know your daughter better than anyone. She's not getting to know Leon, she's just making small talk so that Leon lets his guard down around her. You can't say you blame her. It's hard to accept a man who's been missing all of your life as soon as he comes back.

Your daughter turns to you as you hand her the plate. "Can I drink?"

"Careful, Leon can arrest you for that." You bite into your slice of toast, giving her no other answer.

"You let her drink?"

"It's safer to know what her tolerance is than to have her find out on her own. The answer is no, though. Not today, at least. Maybe when Leon isn't here."

"Tough luck, I'll be here pretty often from now on."

"What?" Your daughter raises a brow at you, and you give her a look that can only mean you'll tell her later.

"There won't be a later." Leon hums.

"If you write this in the report I'm going to burn you alive." You grumble. "Mom's under suspicion from the government because of a book I published years ago. A fiction book."

Your daughter raises a brow, and realization strikes her.

"Oh my god, it was true?"

"Leon wrote all of it in a letter to me." You hum. "And yes, it's what Leon does."

"You eradicate zombies? Like The Walking Dead?"

"Well, not as dramatic—" He pauses. "Alright. Sometimes it gets that dramatic, but it's nothing super big. They're moreso mutated biological weapons than zombies—"

"You fight bioweapons for a living. That's huge." Your daughter mumbles. "Do you know the biology behind it all? What are the—"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you. The government would suspect you next."

Your daughter huffs, going back to her egg instead.

"Are you in college? What are you majoring in?"

"Biology. I'm specializing in bioweapons"

"What."

You hold back the laugh that threatens to break onto your face, eating quietly as you watch Leon blink at your daughter twice.

"Biological weapons?"

"More specifically, I study gene mutation. I study how they come to be."

Leon turns to look at you, and you shrug. "Her choice. Whether she uses it for good or bad ultimately depends on her."

"They teach that?"

"GWU does." Your daughter shrugs. "Can I continue unpacking?"

"Of course, baby." You nod. "I'll keep chatting with Leon."

"Thank you for brunch." She nods, heading off.

"You're letting her study something that dangerous?"

"It's not dangerous unless she decides it is." You wipe your mouth, staring at the last egg. "What am I expected to do?"

"Not much." Leon hums. "I just need to report your day-to-day."

"Alright. I'm gonna rot on the couch all day, so you'll have nothing much to do. Is this your job for the next couple of months?"

"Don't worry, you'll have me all—"

"If you say another word, I'm going to shoot myself."

Leon laughs in response.

You find that having Leon around isn't the end of the world. You still exist in your day-to-day life, Leon hanging around your apartment while you're at work and your daughter is in class, and it makes for an interesting icebreaker when people ask how your weekend went. (It isn't "my ex moved next door to me", no, it's "a government agent paid me a visit over the weekend"). Yet, life goes on, and you find that despite your brooding over how the end of the world was coming because Leon had slipped back into your life, it's very much not the case. If anything, Leon sort of just exists in your life.

At the very least, someone cooks for both you and your daughter when you return home.

"What's the menu tonight?" You raise a brow, your daughter coming in after you as she kicks off her slippers.

"Beef stew."

"I'm surprised he knows how to season his food."

You hold back a laugh, sliding your heels off as Leon feigns a look of offense. Your daughter peels her tablet out, settling on the couch as you sit next to her, yawning.

"How was work?"

"Leon, stop acting like we're married." You grumble.

"Yeah, but you like coming home to a home-cooked meal, no?"

"Caught red-handed." You put both your hands up, watching as your daughter does some sort of witchery with her ochem homework. You don't wish it upon anyone, ever. Though, the idea of Leon trying to figure it out does amuse you just a little bit. You decide a short nap would work in your favor, telling the two to wake you up when dinner is ready, eyes closing as your daughter tells you good night.

Good night means you wake up at two am in bed, Leon knocked out on the couch, and just about a hundred question marks floating over your head. You glance at the pot of stew that sits in the fridge and a smaller bowl portioned out for you, and you jump in your skin when you hear Leon move.

"Awake?"

"Yeah." You reach for a can of beer, cracking it open as you sit back on the couch. "Why are you still here?"

"I was going to take you to bed, but I remembered you don't like your outside clothes on in your bed. I can't change you anymore since... yeah." He pauses at the beer. "Drinking on an empty stomach isn't going to feel so good in the morning."

"Wow, how kind of you."

Leon has not forgotten you. You're made aware of that at the very least, eyes still full of a sincerity and warmth that you had grown used to decades ago. It makes you sick to the stomach that you had such an effect on him despite the two of you ending on good terms. It was not good terms. It was surface-level good terms, but both of you had secretly wished the other would say something about sticking together. Both of you are cowards, now that you think about it. He probably would have stayed had you let him know that you were pregnant, but you didn't wish to hold him back. Maybe it was selfish of you.

Yet, you do not regret all that you have done for your daughter.

"I never moved on." Leon speaks slowly, light in the living room dim as you raise a brow at him. "I... I thought about you all these years, and—"

"If you're staying back to tell me all of this useless stuff, I don't see a point in you staying back."

"You're not ready for this conversation?"

"Leon," You glare at him. "This isn't a conversation we should be having at all. Our feelings mean nothing now. You're here to monitor me casually, nothing else. Imagine if the government found out that you were being so lacking on the job."

You watch as Leon's voice gets caught in his throat.

"We're too old for this."

"We aren't." He tries.

"We are." You leave it at that, shaking your bottle as you realize it's half empty. "Leon, we're in our forties and both have jobs—"

"You can't just say shit like that to hurt me!"

"Keep your voice down. Leona's a light sleeper." You grumble. "It's fine. Let's just end it at that."

Leon stays quiet, and the look behind his eyes tells you more than enough that he wants to continue the conversation, but he learns to keep quiet. It feels the same as before. It was always petty squabbles that could be fixed the morning after once you've cooled down, but you don't want to. It's a conversation you refuse to have with Leon. It's a conversation that's been rotting in the display case of your heart — something you refuse to let go of all because it would feel foreign. You're selfish, you find. You used to care for Leon's heart as your own, but the rotting has consumed your heart and mind. Maybe you will only hurt him if you stay close.

"Morning." Leon hands you your cup of tea and your daughter her flask of water, waving to her as she rushes off for her 8am.

"Morning." You press the mug to your lips.

"Ready to talk about it?"

"I told you the conversation was over." You hum, turning to stare at the clock. "I have work in an hour and a half."

"We should get breakfast by your workplace."

"Sure, mister bodyguard." You mumble. "Didn't feel like cooking?"

"You need to diffuse."

"I'm very good at separating personal life and my work life." You hum. "You're paying."

"Yeah, yeah." He grabs his jacket from the rack as you hit the button to lock the door, clicking on your phone as you start the security system.

"You driving?"

"I'd have to pick you up from work, no?"

"Leon... I take public transport to work. Leona uses the car."

"Oh." He pauses. "... I have a bike?"

You raise a brow.

When Leon said bike, you were expecting more of a... bike bike rather than a motorbike, and as Leon steps on the gas and you're chanting quiet prayers in your mind to stay alive, something feels all too foreign yet familiar. Leon wanted to get a motorbike when the two of you had first started dating years ago, so to be able to see Leon have his own and drive safely was interesting. You are watching him grow. He has changed in little parts of his life. It is comforting to know that the pace you had been matching was moving at the very least. Perhaps you can not see how far you've come if no one can show you how far you've gone.

"Ugh, my hair." You huff, fixing your hair as Leon pays for parking.

"Is this a date?"

"If you somehow remember my order." You brush at the loose strands, following behind Leon as he guides you around the uneven pavement. You wonder if you'll bump into someone you know. It's a popular brunch place even for government workers. You follow Leon in, blinking as somehow a table clears up and the two of you are seated. It makes you raise a brow, but you don't think too much, looking at your emails as he orders for the two of you. You wonder how much of you he does remember.

When one of your coworkers comes up and asks you who you're with, you glance at Leon and tell the guy that it's your neighbor. He was plenty of trouble already, and as Leon raises a brow at the man that only means trouble, you worry for the poor guy's health. Leon's going to decimate this guy, even if it's unintentional. You can only hope he doesn't go around telling everyone you're hooking up with your ex again. Though, it's not like they knew you had an ex. You could play everything off. Perhaps this was the curse of working in journalism with men whose temper breaks at the slightest aggravation.

"If you're just neighbors, then this should be fine, right? What, you won't date me because your daughter's still young? She's an adult now. You should be honored that—"

"Hey, man, I wouldn't go that way if I was you." Leon raises a brow at the man, and your coworker raises a brow.

"Shut it, neighbor."

"The father of her child begs to differ."

That's all it takes to shut up your coworker, his face red as he storms off, and you grin into your palm, eyes meeting Leon's as he hums.

"Didn't even need to pull out the badge."

"Now, that would have been a power move." You thank the waiter as the food comes and eat. "You keep it on you?"

"Required at all times. It's helpful when out, definitely." He glances at the food. "Will you have leftovers?"

"Definitely. Can you take them back for me?"

"Of course."

When you arrive at the company, you're bombarded with questions — unsurprising considering everyone here is an investigative journalist of some kind, and you wave all of them off. You don't want to talk about it. He is the father of your daughter. That's all. He's not someone you're allowed to love anymore, and you should leave it at that. It won't just take a handful of months for him to somehow get you back. It would have to take more than that. No one pries further when they notice you refuse to budge. Perhaps time would tell.

When you return, you note your daughter's text about staying over at a friend's place and step home.

"Where's Leona?"

"Out with her best friend." You hum. "House is just me for the week. Don't try anything funny, though."

"Do you still have the old photobook?"

"Of before we broke up?" You raise a brow, pulling out another can from the fridge.

"Can I get one?" He thanks you as he catches it, nodding to your question.

"Yeah. It's somewhere in the study's cardboard boxes. Why?"

"Wanted to look over them."

"Well, haven't you grown sentimental?" You crack open the bottle, holding it out to clink bottles with him, pressing the drink to your lips as you hum.

"Maybe I just miss you."

"I'm right here."

"Sometimes I worry you aren't."

You laugh in response, brows knitting and resembling a sneer, but it isn't malicious. It's the same smile that Leon knew you put on when you were annoyed that someone had read you like an open book. It wasn't fair. Leon hadn't moved either, and the two of you had been stuck matching pacing in life only to stay exactly where the two of you had started. It wasn't fair. It was never fair. Were you stuck where you began all because you had been fixated on your past? Unfair. It was unfair.

Leon stares at the can in his hand, sighing.

"What's wrong now?"

"I should have looked for you earlier." He mumbles, grimacing at the taste of the alcohol on his tongue. "I should have known."

"I didn't expect you to."

"You had been nauseous the days leading up to my departure."

"And? I kept her from you."

"It was not your fault. I left you with no way to contact me." He mumbles. "I should've... worried about her instead of someone else."

"It's not your fault. You didn't start the outbreak, and you didn't choose to join the government."

"How did you know that?" He turns to look at you, and you hum. "Despite our cutting news, we also take bribes. One of the first archival information I was given was that you had been forced into your position because of your stellar behavior in Raccoon City. They threatened you with that other girl.,, Sherry, was it?"

Leon grimaces. "I ended up seeing her so little because of my position."

"It wasn't your fault." You tap the rim of the can, blinking slowly as Leon meets eyes with you.

"You haunt my world."

"Good to know." You swallow slowly, staring at Leon as he meets eyes with you. You wonder if he's actually drunk or just taking the opportunity to be honest with you. Regardless, you appreciate the attempted honesty. Shall you bait him? Tear your soul bare all for him to look at you and touch your heart all over again? Shall you present yourself bare to the bone to Leon so he could feel that you were finally being honest with him? How unkind of you — to think that way.

"Leon, did you love me?"

"I don't think love could even begin to describe how much I adored you." He runs his hand through his hair, laughing as he takes another drink. "I couldn't sleep without you for months after I left."

"Really?" You think back to all the nights you had woken up in need to empty out your stomach, grimacing at the memory. "But you moved on, no?"

"Hm?" Leon turns to look at you completely now, eyes going half-lidded as you get the idea. "No, sweetheart. I never did."

"I guess those shitty bedroom eyes you give me when you want something hasn't either. Couch is all yours. I'm locking the door tonight."

"I love you." Leon manages, swallowing as he stumbles out of the chair, reaching for your wrist as he ends up on his knees again. "Fuck, I'd rather die than live without you again. I'm already here begging for you — what, what else do I need to do? I'll—"

"Leon." You stare down at him, brows furrowed as you seem to remember this scene all too well. "We're both adults with jobs—"

"With a daughter." He swallows. "We're parents too, you know? We're also our own people. Why do you keep stopping me from making choices to put you first?"

"You work for the government. As much as I despise it, you keep all of us safe." You mumble. "Let's talk in the morning if you remember anything about this conversation at all."

"I'm not drunk." He mumbles, and you drag him back to the ouch, helping him get comfortable as you stare down at his closed eyes.

You've hurt the two of you more than enough, you think.

You check your daughter's location, fingers clicking on your keyboard as you wonder if you should take a trip out too. It had been a while since you've actually taken paid vacations and not sick days. You wonder if you'd get your ass kicked if you just decided to take PTO off a day in advance, but considering the lack of news going around lately, it wouldn't be impossible.

A break. You need a break to collect yourself.

So, you leave Leon a note, refusing to diffuse too quickly out of a fear that you'll snap, and you call the head office right first thing in the morning to let them know that you'll be taking two weeks off for personal reasons. You assure them anything left to you will be handed in on time, just... you wouldn't be able to make it to the office. It's not PTO, the more that you think about it. You're really just working remotely.

You leave in the morning with a suitcase, ticket booked for the middle of nowhere. Anywhere but home, you decide. It is not that home is where your belongings are. Your home is where your heart is, and for a long, long time, it has been with Leon. You can not recall a moment in which he hasn't been the place your heart was, but you wonder if it was possible that at some point, your heart had just shattered and broke in your chest instead of staying with him.

You step out onto the sunny beach houses of your company's private island given as a bribe and think you're in utter bliss. Though, the story that would have sold was worth a couple million dollars, you guess. You don't care at that point. It had been a long time since you had last taken a while off for the sake of your body. You draft things to discuss when you get back. You're sure Leon will probably find you somehow, but it really isn't your problem. Until you're nice and warm from the inside out under the sun, it is not something you'll care about.

You should probably have a talk with Leona once the two of you return as well.

Your days on vacation are nice, sand in your toes and drink in your hand as you abuse company privileges, checking your phone to like your daughter's photos as she sends you updates about her day. You're glad Leon doesn't have your number (though you're sure that he could get it if he really wanted it). You trust that he lacks in nothing when it comes to stalking you down.

Which is inevitably true when Leon finds himself on the same island, texting Ashley a thanks as he steps up to your beach chair, covering you from the sun as you stare up.

"Took you long enough."

"Still haven't changed that awful habit of yours, huh? Running away when you need to have a conversation?" He takes a step back, taking a seat on the beach chair next to you.

"It took you a while this time."

"Yeah, well, it isn't exactly the small town bar we used to visit, no? I can't believe your third place has become a private island only certain government workers can get into."

"Yeah, but you're here, no?" You sit up, taking your sunglasses off. "Let's talk."

"I'm sorry."

"I still don't understand why you're apologizing if there's nothing to apologize for."

"I feel guilty that I left."

"We weren't in a place where we could decide where we wanted to go." You pause. "The child would have slowed you down. Leona's great, but if I told you that you had a daughter, you would have left everything behind just to return. I did not want to tear that away from you."

"I—"

"You couldn't have raised a child with your job." You hum. "I don't despise you for it."

"And then? Did you love me at all? You never let me decide what I wanted and didn't want to do." He grimaces. "I would've put you two first. You know that. I loved you even while I should not have. You should know better than anyone that I would have been hung up over you. You can not replace my first love in my heart and then not tell me about Leona."

"It's unfortunate I did, then."

"I... still love you." He mumbles. "It's fine if it's not mutual, but please don't cut me out of your life again. Let me make the choices this time. We're both at an age where we can."

You finally look at Leon, and you sigh. "I won't stop you, but do not expect anything back from me."

"I won't."

You wonder if you should fear getting used to being taken care of by Leon. You play cards with him by the pool, drink with him at the bar, lie with him under the warm sun, and you wonder if you've gone back in time for a moment. Is this it? Is that it? Is that all there is to this? Is all it took a sincere apology from him? You feel like you should apologize as well, but there's just something stuck in your throat whenever you try and bring it up.

"Hey, Leon, did you ever hate me?" You glance at the wine in your glass, and Leon raises a brow from the hotel room. You wonder when the two of you had become close enough to share a room again. Is this some weird form of being roommates? You're too old for this, you think. You're far too old to be having a moment like this.

"No. Well, I was hurt when you told me to leave, but I never hated you." He hums.

"Good, since I feel like I still owe you an apology and all that." You mumble. "Sorry for forcing choices upon you. I just... I always feel like you can do better."

"Oh, honey, you are better." He mumbles, raising a brow at you from his bed as you frown.

"Sure, but I'm still sorry for being a terrible person." You mutter. "I can't guarantee anything from your efforts, but I appreciate you a lot."

Leon raises a brow at your words, but he doesn't speak up.

"Anyways. Maybe I'm just some control freak who needs to know everything that's going on like some maniac." You tuck your legs under your chin, staring out at the ocean as Leon seems to remember something. You don't know what, but you feel too vulnerable to find out, opting to stay in place and blink instead. The waves crash against the sand gently, and even when the lights are turned off and you're stuck in bed, you wonder if something's wrong. There's always something wrong.

You step out of the room, stepping on the beach as you wrap the robe around you tighter. The waves are higher now, and as you dip your feet in the cold water, you wonder what it'd be like to float off into the distance. Right. right. No, you have a daughter who would ruin her life in order to fix yours. You wonder how you managed to raise her to be the way she is without a father in the house. Maybe you sold your soul in order to do that.

The waves eat at your ankles, night breeze rustling your hair, goosebumps snaking up your calves as you continue staring into the distance. You don't know. You wonder if you could just keep playing stupid and not knowing. It had worked until Leon stumbled back into your life. Well, stumbled would be the wrong word. He kind of... crashed into your life again. You still wonder if his mission was truly a mission. He was always the type to make harmless jokes when it came to you.

It probably isn't. You saw him working on his laptop before you tucked yourself in.

"You're up." Leon's voice emerges from behind you, and you take a step back to turn.

"Yes." You hum.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No." You close your eyes as the wind blows again.

"What's wrong?"

"A lot." You mumble. "Though, not much of it is my choice. I'm wondering if I can just go back to playing stupid."

"You should see a therapist." Leon cracks a smile. "Mine's pretty good."

"No wonder you've changed so much." You sport the same smile, stepping out of the water back into the sand. "Let's go back."

"Will you be able to sleep?"

"Time will tell."

You aren't able to, but at the very least you catch three hours of rest before you emerge from bed with bedhead you hadn't seen since your youth. Leon laughs as he brings you breakfast, and you sigh, raking your hands through your hair.

"How's Leona?"

"I think she went to Amsterdam or something."

"How are you sustaining her lifestyle?"

"I know this is hard to believe, but our company actually pays a livable wage for all of us since we know too much. The government has compensation for our work too. We're basically entangled with the government at this point."

"And you don't pay for your life?"

"No bad sides. I don't know which senators and people of the cabinet decided to bomb the city. I just know it was bombed. It's why you received such a vague order."

Leon puts your breakfast down by your legs.

"Thank you." You hum. "How'd you sleep?"

The look on Leon's face implies something along the lines of getting the best rest in a while.

"That's good." You start at breakfast, staring at the lower tides before glancing at Leon. "Did we ever go on a beach date? I forgot."

"Us and what beach? We were landlocked."

"True, huh." You think to yourself, eating absentmindedly as Leon changes in the bathroom. You glance at the robe on yourself, and you wonder if you should just go naked or something. No, you'd probably get sniped or something. Shorts it is.

You place the tray on the table as you finish, wiping your mouth when Leon steps out of the bathroom.

"Wowwwww..." You grin. "Stay in shape, Agent Kennedy?"

"Government-mandated." He chuckles. "When do you go back?"

"In like, two days. You gonna catch a flight back with me?"

"How else am I going to get back?"

"Not sure." You hum. "Maybe swimming?"

"On an island in the middle of the Atlantic? Tough luck." He hums.

Leon settles back into your life after that. You wonder if this would categorize as co-parenting or being roommates, but you don't put a label to anything. It's not worth the time and effort. The PTO was good for your soul, but you return to being a corporate slave in the end anyway. Only, you wish Leon would stop stirring up more trouble when picking you up downstairs at your office each day. Would it kill him to be a little more secretive? Well, not like you told him about it. You used to like it when he did that while dating.

"You got me flowers?" You raise a brow, taking them from him as he nods.

"How was work?"

"It was fine. If you think this is all it takes to win me back, though? Not happening." You glance at the flowers. "Though, thank you for the flowers."

You're sure your coworkers are going insane over this. You don't know how long you had been single when most of your coworkers had gotten married and hitched. It really wasn't something on your mind after having Leona. So, for you to be going through the whole courtship thing again from Leon was a little strange. Well, not that you mind being pampered.

"Are you driving us home?" You raise a brow.

"I promise not to crash." He shows you the car keys, and you sigh. Well, if you die, you die.

You yawn as you get on behind him, arms wrapping around his waist as he takes you home. You wonder if Leona's home by now. She's probably unpacking again. You're not really surprised when you get home and she has her stuff sprawled out in the living room. Well, as long as it's not hurting anyone.

"What's this?" You pick up a keychain with a rabbit. "Miffy?"

"Miffy! The Dutch rabbit that Japan loves." Your daughter hums. "Isn't she cute?"

"Yes, she is." You hum. "Should I..."

"Don't check my credit card statement, please." She mumbles. "I've made some bad decisions."

"As long as you can pay it off." Your brows furrow as you contemplate. "Yeah, as long as you won't end up in debt."

She gives you a thumbs up. "You can have the one you picked up. There should be another one in blue for Leon."

"You got him something?"

"Appreciate it." He picks up the keychain, glancing at the doll. "The agents are about to have a field day when they see this keychain."

"Too out of character?"

"No, last time I had a keychain was in Spain." He hums. "I ended up giving it to Ashley."

"She still uses it." Leona speaks up. "I was out with her this time."

"When the hell did you get so close to the ex-president's daughter?"

"When I went on my sorority trip. She liked me a lot since I look so much like Leon."

"When are you going to start calling me dad?"

"Never." Leona deadpans. "You've been missing all my life. Don't push your luck."

Leon pouts, squeezing the keychain gently to calm himself.

"Yeah, she flew me over. She's great. Saw her texting Leon on the trip, though. You wanna explain that?"

"I was looking for your mom." Leon hums.

"Oh, the flowers." You remember, kicking your shoes off as you rest them on the counter.

"Yeah, I told her you're my biological dad and she told me about some agent you were flirting with in Spain."

"Not a government agent." He clears up. "She's someone I met in Raccoon City."

"Kissed?"

He grimaces as your daughter takes it as a yes. "If you cheat on mom, I'm going to ruin your life."

"How?"

"You'd be surprised how many senator's children go to my uni. Stay keen, and don't be an ass."

Leon settles into a schedule of picking you up after work, a different trinket in hand each time he picks you up, and you always take it, placing it in a box in the living room, the three of you eating together for dinner. You wonder if Leona has ever considered having a dad. Maybe she gave up a long time ago when you explained to her that her dad was someone in your past. Well, that statement sure came to bite you in the ass. He's not so much of someone in the past now, is he? You wonder if Leona would have something to say if you were to start with Leon again.

Yet, you don't tell her what happened on the island for the time being, her busy with her studies before the start of summer. So, instead of calling her and keeping her up, you let her tend to her own watching as she grumbled over all-nighters and classwork that wasn't ending. Despite her running around for her break, she wasn't gonna be able to run from her finals.

"Can you lobby so my professors get fired and I have no exam?"

"Tough luck, baby." You laugh. "I'm not in that line of business."

"I am, though." Leon hums. "Who do you need gone?"

"Leon." You warn. "No."

"His name's—"

You sigh as the two of them get into hypotheticals about taking out her professor with a sniper rifle, and you wonder where Leona had learned all of that. Though, from the stuff you had seen on the shared desktop before she got her own laptop, you think you know. It's whatever... it was probably from Twitter or one of her fanfictions. You wonder if the unrestricted internet access as a teenager was worth it — well, not your problem. She's gotten off boyfriend-free and kid-free so it's fine. There are worse things that could happen.

You wonder how much more help Leon could have been when she was going through that fic writing phase of her in middle school. You're sure all that knowledge of weapons could have helped her a lot. Well, not that you mind it anymore. It's nice to see the two of them get along. She is her father's daughter, after all. It makes you wonder if this could have happened under different circumstances. Well, what point is there in moping over a universe that isn't yours?

"What's for dinner?"

"I made a reservation for a place." Leon hums. "It's pretty basic so you wouldn't need to dress up."

"Well, if anything, you'd be the one who needs to dress up." You raise a brow at Leon as he glances at the two of you, nodding slowly.

"It's just a family restaurant that gets busy around this time." He stares at his t-shirt and jeans.

"You know, Leon." Leona raises a brow. "I'm sure you don't just wear this while on duty. What do you wear normally?"

"It depends on the occasion. Most of the time it's a suit."

"Government agents in suits is crazy." You mumble. "And when you're out on a mission?"

"It's typically some sort of body armor and a compression shirt with cargo pants and combat boots."

"What brand does the government use?"

"There's a variety of suppliers, but the material stays the same. We aren't just sponsored by one."

"Democracy, or something." You hum. "What time is dinner?"

You wonder if Leona has ever entertained the idea of having a dad in her life. She had been adamant about letting you know as a teenager that she didn't care if she had no dad as long as you wouldn't disappear or just die, but you had a feeling that she had just lied at the time to make you feel better. Well, she had grown up without a dad, so it wasn't super surprising that she had ever wondered what it would feel like to have one. You wonder if you should have just dated, but there was no way you'd be able to with such a young child. Maybe you shouldn't have—

"Whatcha thinkin' bout?"

You space back in, striking the hammer one last time as the tent is set up properly. The insulation is set up thanks to Leona, and you start the grill outside in the camping zone. The stars are starting to show, and the moon sits high in the sky as you grill the meat. Leona refreshes for her grades, chewing on her bottom lip as you serve her dinner. She only lets out a sigh in relief when her grades all come back as normal.

"You alright?"

"My GPA will live." She huffs. "Thanks for dinner."

"Of course."

"It's been a while since we've done this." Leona stares up at the stars in the forest as you crack open a can of beer for the two of you. "Is this about Leon?"

"You don't need to call him that." You hum. "I thought I'd get your opinion. I'm your mom just as much as I am my own person."

"I'm fine with it." Leona hums. "You've... I don't know. You've grown softer since he's joined us. Ugh, I'm not good at this like you are."

You laugh, adjusting the blanket on her as you turn to face her.

"You won't be mad?"

"No. It'd be... nice to experience having a dad. officially. I can't lie and say I've never once wondered what it's like to have a dad." Leona huffs. "Though, please let me punch him at least once when he officially asks you out."

"In the face?"

"I might break my fist, but hey, at least I broke his nose."

You wonder what universe you saved in a past life to deserve a daughter like this. Though, not that you complain of it. Leona lets out a sigh in relief when her grades come out unscathed, and you press the can to your lips as she catches you up on what was going on. Sorority drama sounds like a lot to you, but Leona handles it all just fine. She likes it there, and while the people around her have their flaws, you're glad she can see past most of them. At least she knows how to stay sane.

You can tell Leon's trying. He spends less time on his laptop at night, typing less and less details on your day-to-day life before it completely is voided, and when you try and ask, he tells you the mission is over. You wonder if that means he'll go back to his work clothes. Yet, for some reason he stays in the apartment next door, taking you to work each morning as he insists it's "on the way" (it's not). He always takes you back with flowers, your coworkers getting unbearable to a certain degree as they pry into your day-to-day life. You tell them that he's just trying to court you.

"Water," Leon hands Leona her bottle as she waves goodbye, handing you your bag as you follow after her while doing your hair. You stare at the mirror by the door, smoothing it out as you blink at Leon's crooked tie.

"Tie." You don't think, fingers sliding under Leon's tie as you unravel it, tying it properly as he holds his breath, daring not to move as your fingers smooth over the clothes, patting his chest as you turn back around you make sure your hair is fine. Leon tries to calm his racing heart as the two of you step into his car, his heart beating so hard he's sure he could throw up on command. Intimate. Too intimate. You can feel it too. The last time you had done that was when the two of you were young. Much younger. The racing heart makes Leon think that the two of you really haven't changed all that much.

"Have fun at work."

"Thank you." You step out of the car, waving as Leon watches you enter the building before driving off.

You calm your racing heart, ears ringing all the way to your floor as you exhale. Habit. You hadn't done it for Leon in such a long time, but the familiarity of reaching for his crooked tie and fixing it was like second nature to you. Maybe you haven't changed. Maybe neither of you changed, and at the rate that things were going, you think it's fine that neither of you has outpaced the other. The two of you are parallel lines, holding hands all the way as the two of you move through life. It's fine. You're fine. You'll be fine.

Leon picks you up after work like he always does. You stare out the window the whole time, silence pooling in the car as you think. You think too much while you think less and less these days. What are you doing here? Why are you here? Is the only thing stopping you from dating him your own flaws? Why are you letting them get in the way when you could be peeling back your skin and laying bare to him? He won't hurt you, you know that much.

You know what comes next. You have the feeling, you always do. You know that at one point Leon's going to try and confess to you, and you wonder if he could possibly outdo himself from last time. You wonder if he'll show up with flowers and a teddy bear to your apartment like he did the first time. You wonder if you could skip the formality and just confess to him first. It would be funny and catch him off guard, you think. When you spot your favorite for dinner, you think you will.

"Leona's gonna have dinner with friends." You sit down, thanking him as he hands you a plate.

"I know. She texted."

"Mhm." You wait for him to sit down before eating, lips curled upwards as you grin. "Leon, will you go out with me again?"

He's caught off guard, fumbling with his fork as he blinks at you. "Pardon?"

"Will you go out with me again? I have a lot of flaws, but—"

"Yes! Yes. Oh, my god. Yes." Leon blurts. "I was supposed to confess first, my god. I feel like this is our first date all over again— I'm still in love with you despite everything, and I'm begging you for the chance to date you again on a clean slate. This time, we both make our own decisions without regrets, and we talk it out when we have disputes. This time, I won't leave no matter what, and if I need to leave, I bring you with me. Please go out with me— I will kneel and beg."

"There has got to be a better way to say that." You laugh, watching as Leon slides out of his seat to grab something behind the counter for you. "And if I say no?"

"I imitate the meme that Ashley's been sending me with the text messages and fall on my knees and beg."

"Sounds really tempting..." You tap your chin. Leon grabs your hands, frowning at you gently as you reach up instinctually to smooth out the crease between his brows. "I was kidding. Please treat me well."

"I'll make sure you never need to think again." He mumbles, pressing your fingers to his lips as you hum. "Please accept the flowers."

"Will you get me flowers once a week?"

"I'll make sure you never have to lift a finger to do housework. I'll retire for you."

"Are you really sure you'll be allowed to do that?"

"As long as the president orders it." He mumbles. "I'll just say I can't work anymore and fake a doctor's order."

You laugh, raising a brow. "You'll do that for me?"

"And much more." He mumbles, lowering his head into your lap. "As long as you give me the chance."

"Then be sure to hold on."

"Forever and ever, always."

The door to the apartment clicks open, and Leona stares at the second bouquet on the living room table.

"Ma?"

You nod.

"Leon, how sturdy are you?" Leona raises a brow, tossing her backpack to the side and ditching her jacket.

"I'm mostly muscle. Why?"

"Leona's gonna swing at you, give her a second." You take a step back with the flowers, Leona winding up her arm as Leon blinks. "No, you're not allowed to dodge. Think of it as playful fighting. It's to welcome you into the family."

"Please be gentle. I've seen your arm muscles, and there's a high chance it'll bruise or kill me." Leon clenches his jaw, wincing as Leona lands a hit on his cheek, sound making the two of you blink. Leon rubs his jaw, laughing as he winces.

"Sorry, dad. Had to do it." She grins, shaking her hand as the words punch Leon a second time.

"Say that again."

"Hm? Sorry?"

"No, you called me dad."

You hide behind the flowers as you laugh, watching as Leon grabs Leona by the shoulders and beams.

"Say it again."

"Alright, old man. You're pushing your luck now." She rolls her eyes, kicking her shoes off and falling back onto the couch to escape his grasp. "We've got plenty of time. Also, you're paying for my tuition now."

"Oh my god, I'm a dad."

You squat to the ground as you laugh, back shaking as Leon stands there, dazed.

***

White fluffy clouds decorated the sky with hungry birds flying around the beach. Umbrellas had all ready been set up along the sand. Beachgoers had an early start.

Your sights were on something else.

Standing tall and usually unregarded by visitors, the Lifeguard Tower sat securely with an overview of the shoreline. The lifeguard chair looked small in comparison.

“Leon?” You called as you hurried across the soft sand.

A familiar figure poked his head out of the door at the Tower.

“Leon.”

The lifeguard on your mind rushed down the ramp upon hearing the strain in your voice.

“(Y/N), are you okay?” Leon met you by the railing and his gaze did a quick once over your form. A crease between his eyebrows was noticeable.

“Yeah. Well, physically.”

His shoulders, however covered by a white shirt, lowered drastically.

“I’ll just say it,” you huffed, “I forgot that I’m leaving tomorrow and I’m so sorry for not telling you sooner. It’s such a jerk move.”

A small smile framed his lips. His fingers brushed over your arm.

Why’s he smiling? You thought anxiously.

Leon’s expression softened.

“I know you never stay for very long. Last year you were here less than a week.”

“Oh.” You replied, more unsure.

He leaned against the railing, empathic and gentle. “Distance doesn’t have to end anything. I’d rather it didn’t.” Blue eyes gazed at you, unguarded.

“Yeah?”

Leon gave you one of his bright and hopeful smiles.

“Okay,” you said almost to yourself. “Would it… Would it be all right if I gave you my address?”

He perked up.

“For just in case you want to send something,” you said quickly, “like a letter or rock or… I have no idea what I’m saying.”

Chuckling, Leon stepped closer to you and took your hands into his own.

“I’ll have to check if sending shark teeth through the mail is allowed.” He teased. “But I have ideas all ready in mind.”

Relieved you hadn’t ruined anything, you laughed lightly along with him.

“And for the record, you’re not a jerk for forgetting something. I mean,” he smirked, “I forgot how late it was last night when I was with you. Would I be considered a jerk for that?”

“No.”

“Glad we’re on the same page.” He gave your hands a squeeze before taking a brief glance away. “I have to get back to work, but… Can we meet up tonight? Right here?”

“Sure—yes.”

“Perfect.” Leon released your hands, but gave your side a light squeeze. “There’s nothing to stress about. Enjoy your vacation, (Y/N).”

So you did.

***

Daylight hours were spent goofing off in warm water, eating fresh food, and sharing it all with your friend. The last day of vacation did not disappoint in appearance either. Weather without thunderstorms kept you both returning outdoors most of the afternoon.

It was only a matter of time before the sun set and most of your belongings were packed once more.

Butterflies raged in your stomach as you stepped down into the sand. You navigated by the outdoor lighting to reach the Lifeguard Tower as agreed upon.

Be yourself. Have fun. Breathe. You thought and caught sight of a moving beam of light. A flashlight?

To your relief and entertainment, you saw Leon first. It appeared to be a moment of Leon double checking a bundle under his arm.

Before you were nearly ten feet away, Leon spotted you. A smile evident on his face even in semidarkness.

“Hey,” Leon greeted you. Pushing off from the leg of the Tower to reach you, he planted a chaste kiss to your forehead. “Ready?” He pointed the light to the sand ahead of you.

“Yeah.” You gingerly held his bicep, much to both his and your delight.

Then across the cool sand you went together on the unpopulated beach. Stars shone from above, slow waves rolled to shore, and a slight breeze cooled the humid air.

About a minute or so of walking lead the pair of you to the destination. A relatively smooth part of the beach without dug-out sections and trash. Not typically where late night walkers roamed because the water was more than ten feet away.

No walking the beach then? You wondered.

“Just a second.” He said and handed you the flashlight. Leon stepped ahead of you, away from your touch, and shook out the bundle. In another shake, the blanket settled onto the sand. “I thought we could…watch the stars and talk. Or check for shark teeth. Whichever,” Leon offered.

It felt as if your heart doubled in size.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to stargaze yet.” You looked to Leon. Both excitedly nervous and without a doubt happy, you smiled.

“Glad I had the idea.”

Being mindful not to track sand all over the blanket, the two of you clamored onto the fabric unceremoniously. The flashlight was turned off in favor of the stars. Nothing else needed attention.

All of nature’s mysterious night surrounded you. Not in ill will, but as a calm setting for whatever you wished.

Right then, you hoped Leon shared your wish for togetherness. Something sweet and kind and everlasting.

Definitely a sweet idea, you thought as you observed Leon sitting to your left smoothing the blanket from any lumps.

“I think it’s fine.” You criss-crossed your legs. “Unless you’re sitting on a hole.”

Stopping thoughtfully, he pursed his lips and scooted once backward then to the right. Hands patted the space to his left and nodded. Leon peered to you, close enough to see his eyelashes.

“You’re right.”

“Oh?” You raised an eyebrow.

“It’s fine.”

Grinning, you bumped your arm to his.

Leon chuckled like a warm melody to your ears. Keeping close to you, he radiated that warmth and caused butterflies to fly in your stomach for precious seconds until that warmth reached your chest.

What delightful feelings anchored into your being. The beginnings of even more.

Waves crashed against the shore. Their sounds were a rhythm to soothe any minuscule nerves. Even if your thoughts started running away from you.

Do we hold hands? What do we talk about? Not about leaving. Not that. You thought while twisting your fingers and watching stars twinkle in the night sky. I could lean closer or… Oh.

Perhaps you were not the only one flipping through options for the date.

From behind you, you could sense movement. Closer and silent, Leon rested his weight on his right hand that laid flat on the blanket unseen by you. Like putting an arm on the back of the couch or leaning against a wall to be closer.

“I wish I knew more about constellations to point them out,” murmured Leon by your shoulder.

“We can still appreciate them.” You said. “I don’t know every shark species by heart and I still like looking at them and thinking they’re one of the coolest fish.”

He chuckled, “I know. But I think you secretly know them all.”

“I don’t.”

You turned your face and caught his playful smile.

“So secret…you don’t fully know. Not consciously.” Leon added and gave a quick kiss to your forehead.

Surely, you completely melted on the spot. A mass of happy human in the night next to a man you could foresee yourself falling for.

The knowledge of an upcoming distance dampened some future date ideas, but that’s all it was.

That we can handle, you thought confidently. I don’t live in another timezone or anything. And we have phones.

Looking down to your hands on your lap, you wondered how long you’d been smiling.

Enough to be noticed by the handsome Leon.

“Can I ask you something?” He brushed his left hand over yours.

“Sure.”

Your short reply hid the excited, impatience of your heart. A yearning to know Leon’s.

“Is it too soon to ask if we can be exclusive? Steady?”

You were not ready for the sight of bashfulness on his face, but it was endearing to another level.

Steady?

Before you could filter out your words, they slipped out in question. “How long have we been crushing on each other?”

Eyes widening for a second, Leon ducked his head.

“Too long,” Leon answered and gave your hand a squeeze. “All these people at the beach and my mind keeps going back to you. To what you could be doing or when I’ll see you again.” He lifted his head up. “It’s always good to see you.”

“Then we can see each other more than just during summertime.”

“Yeah.” Leon’s grin made a grand appearance.

Happy bubbles of warmth felt as if they’d surface from your body. Pleasant and very welcomed.

“Exclusively,” you added with a delighted laugh.

Meeting and muffling your laugh, Leon kissed you. His lips were soft as happiness seeped from him with a hint of mint. You let your fingers run through his hair. He hummed contently.

You practically giggled, “How’s my boyfriend?”

One last generous peck to your lips and Leon rested his chin on your shoulder.

“This is the best summer I’ve ever had.” Leon confessed with stars in his eyes and fingers intertwined with yours.

The best summer and start of something wonderful.

***

Home. Such odd feelings ran through you being in your personal sanctuary and a habit of walking through hot sand. You were happy to be back home nevertheless. Back to your schedule, your own bed, and familiarity around every corner.

But that was one heck of a vacation, you thought as you tossed clothes from your luggage into a hamper.

Thinking back on the fun and unexpected romance brought a smile to your lips even while preforming a mundane task.

Leon kissed me. We kissed. He bought me little Finn!

How fantastic and unbelievably wonderful your time at the beach and aquarium had been. And, better than early daydreams, it would not stop there. The pair of you wanted a relationship—not some fling or short-lived fantasy.

Leon and yourself had eyes for each other. Smiles too.

It was only a matter of time when you two would find a comfortable routine between learning more of each other’s schedules. There was no bother or annoyance.

In fact, Leon asked you to call when you arrived home, anxious to know you were safe.

He’s very thoughtful. You peered over to Finn, your great white shark plushie, and your face warmed with another smile. And we can do this. Even with changes…we can make it work. I want it to.

***

Cloudy skies and summer heat kept the beach area busy well into the season.

Seas of umbrellas, sunscreen, volleyballs, people, and towels traveled to the sand every day. Rain or shine. Hot or heatwave.

All of those things were present, but not the reason why Leon had a light warmth from his chest down to his toes.

He sighed, “You have it bad.”

Sinking into the driver’s seat, Leon glanced around the interior of his vehicle. One of the cup holders had turned into a small storage. Inside it sat a shark tooth from his first date with you, loose change from the day you helped him find his inner pinball professional, and a folded up pamphlet from the aquarium.

Leon still smiled at how happy you were to gather as many shark teeth as possible. A lucky man indeed to find someone who made him feel like he was enough. He didn’t need to do anything uncomfortable or as other’s expected. Leon could be himself with you. Silliness, knowledgeable, passionate, and all that followed.

The future could be fun to think about.

Blue eyes peered further to the passenger’s seat. A mental image, a memory, of you smiling and singing along with him to a song on the radio.

Having an empty seat beside him was the norm. Pizza box not included. Leon was used to it.

Sure, he could be alone, but he found that he preferred being in your company. To have someone to care for and to care for him in return. To talk about everything and nothing while living; not just going from day to day.

We could do anything. Us against the world.

***

Weeks passed from the end of vacation and your daily routines and schedules were in full swing. Days were still hot, but you had cool air condition to diffuse any flush. Whether a flush was from temperature or speaking with a certain lifeguard, you’d never admit.

It was a comfortable bliss to have ‘phone dates’ with your boyfriend. Perhaps also humorous and a little unpredictable at times. His jokes were something else.

Yet, you did miss him. It wasn’t wrong to want to see him. But alas, Leon was busy.

At least you had a day off. A nice Thursday at home in your apartment. No shoes and a marathon of marine documentaries playing on the television.

I could get an early start on laundry, you thought, not moving an inch from the couch. Your eyes refocused on the underwater scene and thought against productivity for the day.

You definitely needed a day without the push to go straight from one task to another. To go your own pace. To do as you pleased. To relax with your favorite interests all day.

Exhaling slowly, you sank further into the cushions.

The position wasn’t to last.

A short set of knocks sounded on your apartment door.

Fully alert and confused, you tried to remember if you had been expecting any packages. Nothing came to mind.

So, as anyone home alone would, you tiptoed to the door and had a look through the peephole.

You gasped in delightful surprise and unlocked the door as quick as your fingers could.

Door wide open and light trickling through the hall, the doormat had a figure standing in front of you. Leon Kennedy grinned and lifted up a hammerhead shark plushie.

“You wouldn’t believe the cost to ship a shark,” he said.

Joy flooded through you and overloaded your systems. You nearly doubled over from laughter and lingering surprise.

Leon was at your apartment!

“Hi.” You giggled. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Surprise.” Leon sang and stepped forward to wrap his arms around you.

Having your head tucked next to his and being within his embrace struck you with familiarity you’d been longing for. Your fingers’ grip bunched up the fabric of his white button up shirt, but he probably didn’t mind.

“May I come it?” He chuckled next to your ear.

“Yeah,” you didn’t release your hold on him. “Just close it.”

Thump

Door shut and privacy acquired, the pair of you continued hugging to your hearts’ content.

“I thought you were busy. Work or something.”

“Nah. Got the day off and wanted to surprise you.” Leon pressed a kiss to your head. “Hope you don’t mind.”

Leaning back a little to see him better, you moved your hands to cradle his fair face. “Never in a million years would I mind you surprising me with a visit.”

Leon’s face lit up in a wide grin. “So…a year after a million?”

“No.” You kissed his lips briefly, having to lean back as he went for more. “I still wouldn’t mind, but it’d be harder to surprise me.” Again, you kissed him, savoring the pressure of his lips on yours and his arms around your middle.

“I’ll try harder,” Leon murmured, “because I think this is real.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

Kisses were exchanged for attention, loving gazes.

“I meant what I said at the beach.” Leon confessed softly. “Distance doesn’t have to end us. And I’ll do everything I can to commit to us.”

Smiling, you could hardly keep your wits as tears built up in your eyes.

Blue eyes shone with bottomless wealth of hope.

“Distance, who? We waited this long… I’m not giving up now,” you declared. “I care about you too much. This is different than what I’ve ever had or imagined and it feels…right.”

Leon pulled you in close by your waist and kissed your nose.

“Us against the world.”

“Us, Finn, and this little guy,” you added, pointing to your side.

“Our growing school of sharks.”

“I like that.”

“Yeah?”

You pecked his lips, “Thank you. For everything.”

“We’re just getting started.”

Leon’s grin gave you a confidence and spirit-lifting joy, a promise of a bright and fun future. You, your two shark plushies, and loving Leon Kennedy. And each little shark every summertime that would follow.

~~~

Best wishes and happy reading.)

(If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful.

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~~~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: @cubedtriangle

Leon Scott Kennedy Tags: @bumblebeesfromvenus @

. . .

Rumbling and the occasional bounce of the vehicle were unfortunately the only normal occurrences in Leon Kennedy’s day. Passing into the edge of a town, the team of agents were in route to a facility. A science center in appearance, there was nothing in advancement happening that late morning. The Umbrella Corporation made sure of that. An alert of bioweapons sightings came in two hours ago. To make matter complicated, not all civilians had evacuated the building. So saving any civilians was added to the to-do list. If Leon could save someone, he’d at least smile. “ETA: Two minutes.” The driver called out, another agent. Leon glanced out the small window. All geared up, his vest held nearly every weapon and tool he would need. Beside his watch on his left wrist sat a personal item, a metal bracelet. Both sturdy and a comfort on dark days. Its small crystal within darkened into a deep blue, almost purple. A little too close, Leon thought and hoped it would lighten by the time they moved in. The man could only hope.

. . .

“Shit.” Leon grimaced as he reloaded his gun. The lobby was trashed and blood-stained. Broken chairs and other bare furniture was scattered across the floor. Added a freshly eliminated infected. “Hate to see the break room.” Based on the intact entrance doors and windows, the bioweapons’ forced entry was not through the front of the building. Chris peered around and stated, “I’ll take the right side and sweep the first floor. You take the left.” “Got it.” Leon headed down a hallway. Its usually closed door was splintered across the tile. He avoided stepping on any debris that would crunch under his boots. There was no telling how many infected were in the building. Not until the other agents checked in. After taking a quick look at his watch, Leon registered the drastic change in color on the crystal bracelet. “Oh, fuck.” Leon sighed and swallowed the growing lump in his throat. “Not here. Why do they have to be here?” Steadily checking the hall, all his senses were alert for danger. His mind, however, was tumbling with the worst questions. What if you worked for Umbrella making bioweapons? What if you were a bioweapon, infected and doomed? Just make it quick, Leon thought somberly.

. . .

Adjusting yourself quietly off of your half-asleep leg, you leaned against the tile wall. Hunched in the back corner of the largest restroom stall was turning into a new, unwanted activity. I should’ve left as soon as the interview was over, you thought for perhaps the twelfth time in the past two and a half hours.

Over your time hiding, screeches could still be heard every so often. Piercing and making your blood run cold. Always when hope of it being gone rose in you, your heard it. Frightening and disheartening. You counted yourself lucky. For your quick thinking and for having your phone on silent, you were still alive. Too bad the cell signal sucked on the third floor. If only your heartbeat was the loudest sound that morning. How is this evening happening? You wondered as you counted the tile again. Feeling distressed would sure to wreck havoc on your system later. Raising your head, you swore you heard a sound. Please be nothing. The sound grew faintly louder. Soles of shoes out in the hallway. You remained silent. Not knowing who or what rampaged through the building after your interview left you at a disadvantage. One you were well aware of. At first, you had suspected an armed attack to the company, however blood-chilling roars proved otherwise. I wanna go home. You thought, still as stone on the floor. You were not about to meet any creature face to face. Bipedal or not. Small thumps shook the main door of the restroom. Is someone trying to come in? How well could that lock above the main door hold for?

THUMP ping WHAM

You covered your mouth as you nearly jumped out of your skin. “Hello?” A deep voice called out. “Is anyone in here?” Heart beating rapidly, you did not dare to move. Could you trust the stranger? This random man? How long were you intending on hiding in a stall? Bending lower, you observed dark boots slowly making their way into the restroom. A room with five stalls. “Listen, I’m here to help.” Likely, you thought suspiciously. “It’s too dangerous to be in here,” he said three steps closer. “We’re on orders to rescue civilians.” And he totally knows I’m in here. Government or something? “My name’s Leon. I can get you out of here.” Fine. Fine. Okay! “Are those things still out there?” You asked in a broken whisper. Fear and hours of silence effecting you. “Yeah.” “Crap.” “Tell me about it.” Your eyebrows pinched together. Didn’t expect him to say that. Easing yourself up to stand, your body was more than a little relieved to be off of the cold, hard tile. You took a steady breath. As quietly as you could, you unlocked the stall door and peered out. Icy blue eyes regarded you immediately.

“I’m Leon.” Said the man with dirty blond hair. A bulletproof vest covered his torso and overall distracting from his casual clothes. “Are you all right . . . ?” “(Y/N).” You answered, trying really hard not to glance a the gun he held. With all the other ‘tools’ on his person, he seemed pretty legit to you. “Is . . . everyone else hiding too?” Lips pressing together, Leon glanced away for a moment. Oh, no. “We still haven’t done a complete sweep of the building yet, but the team has found others.” He stated. “I’m sure they locked themselves in their offices if they didn’t run out.” “Do you know who’d be in an office now?” “I have no idea.” You said honestly, “I was just here for a job interview.” His eyebrows rose a fraction. “Oh yeah?” His tone was steady. “Guess I’ll keep looking.” You shrugged. “I hope you have better luck next time,” Leon turned back to the open door. “Let’s get going. Stay close.” “Okay.” What choice did you have otherwise but to follow him? You were ill prepared to observe the aftermath of whatever happened. The eerie emptiness and scattered belongings throughout the hall. Maybe this guy was your ticket out, your guarantee of going home. Anything was better than your earlier options.

Leon hadn’t been exaggerating when he said ‘sweep’. With his weapon ready, he checked every open room. Thankfully nothing scary showed itself. “Any chance they gave you a tour?” Leon asked as he glanced up and down a hallway. “No. But they have some pictures on their website.” “Helpful.” “Not really,” you whispered. Glancing over his shoulder, Leon gave you an amused look. Oh. Good sarcasm. You tore your gaze away. An open door down the hall became occupied uncannily fast. So quietly. Someone leaned against the doorframe. Stepping out, their professional attire looked wrong, hanging where it shouldn’t. A gravely, strangled breath carried towards the pair of you. Leon turned with aimed precision. Remaining still, you felt coldness creep up your arms. Something was very wrong. The person hobbled into the hall with unblinking eyes and a strangled screech. Their pace increased as they angled in your direction.

BANG

You covered your ears a second too late. What used to be an employee laid in an unmoving heap on the tile floor. Discolored and inhuman. “What happened to them?” You asked with a shaky voice. “They’re infected,” answered Leon as he turned down the other half of the hall. You kept up without missing a beat. “So a zombie?”

GRRAAAH!

Two more infected raced out from the open room behind you. Jaws slacked and fingers clenched forward like claws, they targeted the pair of you. “Crap,” you exclaimed. Before you could move anywhere, Leon had opened fire on the infected. Aim perfect and practiced. The threats were down before your heart rate raised too high. Grumbling under his breath, Leon went forward to inspect the room. “Stay right there.” He advised as you remained by the hall’s intersection. “Sure.” Freaking zombies, you thought. Out of everything -- anything. Zombies. Briefly, you peered around and thankfully nothing moved. Leon’s handling this well. Maybe zombies aren’t new? And real. You cringed at the thought. Witnessing and knowing what had rampaged through the building earlier wasn’t a comfort. A bit of scary closure maybe. “All clear in there,” Leon announced as he joined you. “We’ll see the rest of the floor and meet back up with the team downstairs.” “Cool.” You breathed out a short reply. “Don’t worry,” Leon assured you, “I’ll get you outta here.” “I appreciate it. Really.” He sent you a small smile. It warmed the hope in your heart.

The rest of the hall held knocked over seating areas and ignored art. Beyond it was a closed set of doors. Unlocked and probably designed with fire safety in mind. Leon paused as he reached one of the doors. Does he hear something? You dared not stand too close. Not that standing near your new acquaintance was disagreeable. Simply, you did not want to be in his way.

WHAM

“Leon!” You jumped back against the wall. On the floor with growling and grunting was a struggle of alarming visuals. Both Leon and an terribly disfigured infected fought for purchase, for an upper-hand. For survival. Frantically watching over Leon with increased anxiety, you didn’t move. You didn’t even scream. Should I kick it? With a frown, Leon hit the infected back to get out one shot. It was enough. Leon scooted back before rising to his feet. “You all right?” He turned to you. “Me? Sure. You?” “I could use some pizza later.” Leon said as he cautiously entered the section of the hallway. “Sounds good,” you added as you followed him and dearly hoped your stomach wouldn’t start vocalizing its agreement. Especially after witnessing that frightful fight.

Glancing around, the plain walls gave a stark contrast to what could be lurking behind every door. Every unexplored corner. “We almost made a full circle,” you announced as you spotted a familiar elevator at the very end of the hall. “Then we’re out of here and --” “What?” Leon’s arm came up to block you from moving forward. A well defined, muscular arm. You didn’t notice anything abnormal. Yet that didn’t make you feel any less hesitant of what lay ahead. So you elected to stand behind Leon. “Show yourself.” Leon called out with his gun raised to a doorway. “If they’re still human.” You whispered.

Steadily with raised hands, two people in business casual attire walked out of an office. They appeared healthy. Definitely unnerved in their situation. But human nonetheless. “We just want safe passage out,” said the taller of the two men. No duh, you thought as you brought yourself to stand beside Leon. “Then stay close.” “Who are you?” Asked the second man wearing glasses. “I’m Leon Kennedy. I’m on orders to --” “Rescue us?” Interrupted the first man. “Let’s not waste time.” “Right.” Leon subtly turned to check on you. Blue eyes giving you a quick once over. You gave a brief, if not tiny, smile of encouragement.

The faster we’re out of here the better. At least those two had each other. You thought as you followed Leon across the echoing tile. “Which department are you from?” You glanced over your shoulder to notice the shorter man directing his question to you. “Oh, I don’t work here,” you answered. Both man shared concerned frowns between themselves. Therefore, you followed up quickly with, “I was here for a job interview. For data entry.” “And you didn’t do it from home?” Asked the taller man. “I . . . didn’t see that option.”

Being as the men asked no more questions, you set your sights straight ahead. Thankfully, stepping around a trashed bulletin board. You kept closer to Leon than your new group members. Definitely not going to work at any place associated with this one, you thought as all of you reached the end of the hall. Stealthily, Leon crept into a stairway and quietly beckoned the three of you onward. “We’re three floors up,” whined the taller man behind you. “I’ve never not taken the elevator.” “Good time to try them out,” commented Leon as he headed down stairs. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Better than ten flights of stairs, you thought to yourself. Even better with Leon leading the way. He probably did the ground floor too. Hope of safety and freedom, you lively took each step. Easily done even with two grumbling men following after you. You’d think they’d be more thankful. They work here! You frowned. Did they call for help? “Uh, Leon?” You inquired. “Yeah?” He paused to look up to you. Patience in his eyes. “Are there any more of those . . . things in the lobby?” “There shouldn’t be.” “That’s not very confident,” sneered the shorter and obnoxious man. You rolled your eyes. “Let’s keep going,” Leon announced and took two steps at a time.

With the door to the lobby in sight, you were anxious to see if the rest of Leon’s team found other survivors. Surely, there were people who weren’t infected. What do we do when we’re out? You wondered. Were other buildings attacked too? You swallowed dryly. Where does Leon go?

SLAM

Yelping, you peered above as a broad shouldered infected burst through the second floor’s door. “RUN!” At Leon’s order, you rushed passed him to the door. In seconds, you were back in the same lobby and surrounded by broken furniture as your heart pounded in your chest. Electing to head towards the reception desk was your first thought. The front entrance was further off and a little too good to be true. “Hey,” you stumbled as the two men pushed passed you. The men did not utter a word to you nor did they let up their speed. They knew where they were going. They knew where to hide. Both heading towards a far door. But what if they run right to a zombie? Fear rushing through you again, you made your way to the tall desk. After checking inside the space, you entered through the unlocked door. You were safe for the time being. Just wait for Leon. That’s all. You thought as you tried calming your breathing. He’ll be fine. We can go home. I can, you corrected yourself. Everything will be fine. Quietly, you sat on the cushioned chair. You’re safe. Just breathe. Besides your breathing and heartbeat, you did not hear anything else. A relief for sure until you immediately considered your new friend. The brave man you left in a stairwell alone with some monster. Your stomach dropped as you remembered him being tackled earlier.

“(Y/N)?” Called out a familiar voice. “Leon,” you exclaimed happily and jumped out of your seat. In another breath and a few echoing footsteps, Leon was in front of the receptionist desk. A smirk soon curving his lips. “Rethinking a job position?” Leon asked with raised eyebrows. “No.” You hastily exited the tiny room. He didn’t appear injured. “Where are the others?” “I think they took the stairs.” Pointing off in the direction they had gone, you asked. “Are they going back up?” A frown creased Leon’s concerned expression. Their actions troubled him. “They could’ve left, right?” You glanced towards the entrance. “Yeah . . . So why go down to the basement?” “There’s a basement?” Icy blue eyes regarded you. “Not that I’m scared of basements,” you said quickly. “We can check it out. Maybe they’re stealing or something.” “We have to get you out of here.” “Them too. Who knows what they’re doing? They might need help. Not with stealing hopefully.” Expression softening, Leon nodded. “Come on. Stay close.” “Will do.” You whispered with a determined nod of your own. “Not too close to step on your heels though.” “Heh. That’s the least of my worries.” “But everything should be good now, right?” “Let’s hope.”

Together, Leon and yourself made a beeline for the basement door. An easy task even with knocked over display cases of assorted business accomplishments and dead infected in your path.

Despite everything, you thought, at least Leon is easy to get along with. The lady who interviewed me was . . . seemed bothered to talk. Oh well. Coming up to the door, Leon raised his left hand to the handle. It was then that you finally noticed his bracelet as you stood mostly behind him. A crystal so dark a shade, you nearly mistook it as onyx. You took a quick glance at your ring. “Oh.” Heat rose to your neck. “Yeah,” murmured Leon over his shoulder. “Some first meeting, huh?” “Yah think?” Of all other things to happen today. My soulmate is rescuing me from zombies? What the heck is going on? You blinked and asked without another thought, “You knew this whole time?” “There was no one else in the restroom.” “Touché.” Stepping back, you observed Leon peek beyond the door. You weren’t quite sure what to make of the indistinctive sounds coming up. Leon did. Grabbing his walkie talkie, he communicated the news to his team. Something about an umbrella and biological weaponry. The others advised a warning regarding the two employees. What is his job exactly? Efficiently and quickly, Leon checked over his gun and remaining supplies. Set for another round of sweeping. “Stay here,” he ordered firmly as he pushed open the door. “But--” “Here.” You sighed and leaned against the wall. “Fine, but come back in one piece. This place has made me nervous all morning.” “Then we’ll have lunch somewhere else.” In a blink of an eye, Leon was out of your sight. Every minuscule sound afterwards made you jump or hurriedly check your surroundings. Being alone again activated the rest of your fear. It was a wonder how being in good company, very capable company, eased your worries. He’s my freaking soulmate, you thought as you attempted keeping your breathing even. And he’s down there with two strangers or fighting off infected like a regular Thursday for him. You sighed again. Tuesdays suck.

. . .

“Damn it,” Leon leapt out of the way. A basement of a science center should had been much quieter and clear than how Leon found it. Somewhere behind a generator, the two men -- scientists -- were terrified and hardly conscious. In the open area beyond, storage containers stood a large infected. Slender with thick legs, the infected had a new target. It lowered to the floor with a deep growl. Just my luck, thought Leon. Thankfully, the experienced agent was more motivated than usual. With Chris and the rest of the team on the way down, they’d be finished in no time, which left good news in regards to his soulmate. You were alive and well. Leon was determined to keep you safe no matter the danger. “Who’s hunting who, pal?”

BANG BANG BANG

. . .

Anxious and heart rate moderately high, you remained close to the basement door. Nothing came in or out of the lobby. All around you had remained silent as chaos erupted beyond the closed door. Half an hour of not knowing what occurred in the basement felt like two hours worth of unnerved twitching. Is the whole basement full of infected? You thought as you fiddled with your ring. What if one comes out? What if Leon doesn’t --? “Ah.” You nearly jumped a foot back as the door opened and a team walked out wearing protective vests. Not one could you recognize. Each armored and live human eyed you before heading to the exit. Even the two men from earlier were dragged out. Weird. You thought, expecting someone to at least converse with you for security reasons. “Uh…” Despite the clear lack of danger, the situation appeared all the more odd. Confusing too. Less odd, thankfully, when a familiar dirty blond haired man stepped out into the lobby. “Leon.” You rushed up to him without a second thought. A little beat-up with red marks, Leon turned in your direction. “How are you not one bruise?” You exclaimed. “Give it time.” Leon smiled. “Are you okay?” You asked. “A little hungry, but fine.” You shook your head. “You’re something else, you know that?” “In a bad way?” “No… Different in a very…unexpectedly impressive way. If that makes sense?” “Heh.” Leon rubbed the back of his neck. He is pretty handsome, you thought off-handedly. “So, if all’s well, what now?” “We get out of here.” He answered simply before adding, “medical checks, debriefs, reports.” “I’ll take that over infected.” “Me too.” Icy blue eyes studied you softly. All seriousness and survival focus faded away. He was Leon Kennedy. A man who probably did not expect to find his soulmate amongst entering chaos. “Leon!” A muscular man called from the entrance. “Let’s go!” Without a word, Leon and yourself headed out of the building. Armored and unmarked vehicles were pulling into the parking lot. An organized sign of clean-up. It was going to be okay. You survived and your soulmate found you when all was terrifying. The rest of the day lay ahead. “So…about lunch?” Leon murmured.

. . .

Music smoothly filled your living room as a movie played with interruption. Something calm and a little nostalgic. Just what you needed. Days had gone by after all the checkups and documenting of the events that had taken place at the science center. You hadn’t even looked at your résumé after that. On a brighter note, the ordeal had placed your soulmate in your life. When each document had been signed and you were free to go, you were able to start getting to know each other in a domestic setting. No infected sightings. No upcoming job interviews. Both of you were completely safe and quite comfortable. Relaxing on the couch, you found solace in being all snuggled into Leon’s side. Cozy and cared for. He had an arm wrapped around you as his other hand played with the soulmate ring on your finger. Together and alive. You counted yourselves lucky. Situations could had been extremely different. Over the past week or so, nightmares plagued your sleep and made days uneasy. So having Leon, your soulmate, who completely understood helped. Life didn’t have to be all scary. Neither of you needed to run from one day to the next. You were able to take things slow or any pace you desired. All would be okay. Leon had promised safety. You had no doubt he meant it.

Nudging your head against Leon, you caught a glimpse of his smile. Like a sunrise. “Leon.” “Hmm?” “We could pretend we met in a grocery store or something.” “Oh, yeah?” He pulled you closer. “Like during a holiday rush. It gets wild…I’ve heard.” “Which aisle?” You snickered, “Toilet paper aisle.” “Nothing says ‘want a date’ like two ply.” “Homemade pizza does.” You kissed his chin and was rewarded another smile from Leon. “You had me at ‘not really’. After I asked if they gave you a tour.” “That’s so random.” “You were just being you. How could I not like you?” You raised an eyebrow. “Is this a soulmate thing?” “As long as we’re together, I don’t care what it’s called.” Gently, Leon leaned in to kiss your forehead. His smile curved against your skin. “I’m just glad I found you.”

~~~

(If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful. coffee Best wishes and happy reading.)

~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: @cubedtriangle

Leon Scott Kennedy Tags: @bumblebeesfromvenus @c4rl40n4 @d333athw1sh

The jiggling sound of the keys opening the door to his apartment woke Leon up after a nap. He sighed heavily before getting up from the bed and adjusting his shirt in place. 

You entered the room holding a bag of fresh groceries. Leon needed something nutritional for him to eat, not the alcohol or the canned salty spaghetti. He gritted his teeth almost unnoticeable, but you knew him too well. You love him too much, even if it was killing you slowly.

"Hey..." you muttered, smiling at him weakly as he stared. Something in your chest was threatening to lose, almost snapping and breaking down. 

Even though it was not something you would like to admit, you knew something was wrong with you and Leon.

Losing him was your end, and you knew he was itching to leave you. You knew he wanted to flee away to another woman. Just looking at his cold, annoyed eyes that make your knees weak, you wanted to run out of the apartment to not face his judgment. 

He continued to stare at you, not even bothering to say a word before taking a look at the brown bag. 

"What's this?" He said coldly as he lifted a bag of beetroot. You nervously looked down, he didn't like you cooking vegetables. 

"I am not eating this shit." He muttered throwing the bag at the coffee table before looking at you up and down. 

"You should eat it yourself. Take care of yourself more. You gained some fat. Maybe it's better if we take a break. " he snickered before slamming the door to the bathroom.

Standing there, in his apartment being humiliated was even more embarrassing to think about the fact you love him. 

You walked to the couch before sitting down slowly. 

Is this what you get for trying to be a good partner? Is this what you deserve because you fell for him even when you knew what kind of a person Leon was? 

Maybe. 

Maybe he didn't deserve you. He didn't deserve such a woman, who is everything but perfect. Leon deserves the best and he knows it. You were not nearly close to the person he should be with. 

Because you're a loser. Nothing more than a huge rock on his path to his rock star destiny.

Leon listened Intently to your wailing for hours before you locked yourself in his guest room. He knew the way you were being treated daily was shitty behavior from him. But in the end, no matter how much you cried and yelled at him, you always came crawling back to his bed.

The autumn breeze helped Leon to come down to earth before he laid down to sleep for the night.

In the morning, he puts on some boxers quickly before walking to the kitchen, expecting you to cook as an apology. Leon suddenly stopped as the kitchen was empty and cold. No sign of you making his favorite breakfast. 

He searched for you through the small apartment before realizing you were gone. Leon felt complicated. He wasn't sure whether to be happy that the only thing that kept him from his freedom was now gone. But at the same time, he felt offended like he never did before. 

Leon never thought you would leave him. After all, you were the only one who was after him all the time. Why would you leave now?

After a while,  he gave up his worry for you and your actions. Sure, having a cooker and a cleaner for yourself was nice, especially after he went on missions, but it wasn't worth the lack of freedom to go out and not having the privilege to do whatever he wanted. 

You were back in your little house, inherited from your mother. It wasn't big, but enough for you. Since the last time you saw Leon, he had broken your heart. He didn't even bother to call you for 4 weeks. 

Going back to work after quitting your job for him was embarrassing. Your coworkers asked you a bunch of things that you would never want to mention again. 

Why would you tell anyone "love of your life" was just embarrassed by and hated you? 

The doorbell rang soon, indicating it was the pizza delivery. For the last few weeks, trying to cook and eat the dinner you made was too hard. It always reminded you of how you cooked Leon everything. His favorite, to the one he hated the most.

Just thinking about it makes you nauseous. 

 When you were going to eat your third slice, everything came right out. Including the pizza. 

What are you supposed to do when you are fine but not well? It has been like this for the past few weeks. Did you love Leon so much, now that your body was declining to function normally? 

You opened the period app on your phone to track your mood when you finally noticed the big words on the screen.

'PERIOD MISSED FOR 9 DAYS' 

What? It was impossible, right? Why? Why were you missing your period? Was it cancer? Was it even possible?

“L-Leon…” you moaned, almost whining when he pulled out mid session. Sitting up a bit to face him and to see what he was doing before Leon smirked at you. 

“Baby. Only this time. Please? C'mon pretty girl. Only this time, I promise” he cooed, slowly rolling off the condom knowing damn well you can't refuse him.

Maybe you were dumb for believing it was the last time or you were just so horny you can’t resist raw sex. Either way, Leon won.

Slipping his cock inside in your tight walls, letting out a loud whimper. He hasn't gone raw in a few weeks since the party where a whore allowed him to even cum inside. 

He was addicted to this feeling. 

You felt like crying. Either way, it was not something you wanted to happen. Pregnant from your emotionally abusive ex or cancer, for which you had no money for treatment. 

You heard stories about happy couples finding out they're pregnant, and then it being cancer. 

What were you supposed to do if you were pregnant? Abortion? Adoption? Or raising the baby? Alone and miserable? 

If it was cancer, you would simply give up rather than go through that hell.

After crying for a few hours, you finally got the courage to dress up. If Leon saw you like this, he would make fun of you. Cry baby.

Maybe testing with an actual test would be best. Maybe it would be negative. Maybe you don't have cancer. Maybe it's just a way your body was reacting to not eating much. It was weird for you to assume it was cancer. But who knows all the possibilities?

You were having a panic attack. Trying to pay for the test with cash made it even harder. Seeing your handshake as an old washing machine earned you a pitiful look from the cashier. 

You were walking faster than a running person to your car in the parking lot, the box of tests clutched in your hand.

Suddenly you bumped into a person and fell on your butt. "I'm sorry" you muttered quickly before jumping up and running to your car. 

The blonde raised his eyebrows at the sight of you after a month. During the few days, he had the fun that was bothering him for months. Even started dating one of the girls that gave him his head in the bathroom of the bar. She was prettier than most of the other girls, and most importantly you.

He walked slowly to you, watching you struggle to open the door like it's a comedy show. He loved it. He fucking loved watching you suffer without him. 

"So... How's it going?" Leon said, eyeing you up and down to see if you took his advice on glow-up. 

You seem to have lost a few pounds to the point he wondered how you would look now on his bed. A few months ago the dark circles under your eyes were almost unnoticeable. Now it looked like you jumped in the streets.

Leon smiled genuinely seeing your new look. Even though you looked like you were minutes away from passing out, he loved your new look. It makes you look like a model if you just fix those ugly eye bags and dull eyes.

You suddenly trembled to see him after a long time. Especially at this time, when you're in the most vulnerable state of all times. 

You struggled to open the car door with your trembling hands when finally Leon pulled it open. 

"What? You decide to ignore me, sweetheart?" Leon muttered trying to get in the car before you locked it.

"What are you doing?? Get out" you yelled, getting defensive suddenly. You were suffering because of one reason, and that was him.

"Woah. Woah. You're getting real ugly here honey. You didn't miss me?" He said getting in completely. 

"Leon. Get out. Or I'll call the-" you yelled when opened the door and put his hand on top of your mouth from the backseat and quickly kissed your cheek despite the fact you were mumbling and kicking the seats.

"My little baby just needs a dick to calm down. Doesn't she?" Leon cooed before one of his hands crept under your pants, slowly circling your clit.

For the first time in months, the pleasure was surreal. But the way you were getting it was not something you wanted at all. Especially from Leon.

But after a few moments, you gave up. It was not like you could fight a trained government agent off your body. 

"Aw... you seem sensitive. I bet no one would touch you other than me was willing to touch you." Leon barked while kissing your neck, leaving wet trails of saliva. 

Despite the fact you knew this was wrong, it was harder than it should be. You didn't know whether to love him or hate him. Whether to feel ashamed or angry. 

You were getting groped, yet you felt like it was your fault and Leon felt sympathy towards you for even looking at your way, let alone touching you. 

Maybe. Just maybe you should be grateful for it. Maybe you were just as ugly as Leon told you. Maybe he was kind and you were a brat. You didn't appreciate his sympathy for you.

"Leon. Please. No. Stop" you whined as he pulled his hands back and exited the backseat before getting in the driver's one, on top of you. 

"Shut up. Will ya?" He muttered before taking off your shirt quickly, latching onto your bud. Somehow every action he seems to be doing felt more pleasing than ever. 

Then it suddenly clicked in your head. There was a possibility you were pregnant, and the rumors that pregnancy makes the pleasure increase didn't seem to be a lie considering how you were reacting to his touch.

"Leon" you whined, almost pushing him off. 

"What are you doing?" He narrowed his eyes, almost ready to yell at you. 

"I don't want it. Get out. Or I'll call the cops" you yelled. You yelled at him. You fucking yelled. 

For you, it was the bravest thing you ever dared to do while you felt like a horrible person. To him, you were getting out of hand. Out of his control.

"What did you say?" Leon reacted quickly, not wanting any outburst again from you.

"Leave me alone. Please. Leon. I d-don't want it. Please. Just leave me alone" you cried before the blonde let out a heavy sign. 

“Fine. If you don't want a good dick, then i'm not gonna force you”

Leon stared at your face a few seconds before jumping out of the car door easily and disappearing a few moments later. 

He left his car, far away from you.

The only thing that was connecting you both was the baby. 

Inside, you will always love him. This baby, even if it came at the wrong time to the wrong parents, you knew you loved it. More than yourself. But life requires you to make hard decisions for the sake of yourself. At least once. You knew what to do, clearer than water. 

Taking a deep breath coming out of the hospital. It was the first day of winter. Mother nature had decided to decorate herself with snow. Glittery white snow. Cold breeze of the fresh snow made your stomach growl. After all, some hot chocolate with a cinnamon bun was the perfect way to start the new day. A new month. A new year. A new life.

If it wasn't for the accident in the parking lot of a grocery store, you weren't sure if you would have dared to get abortion.

After all, Leon was a horrible person and would have let your child suffer. You loved them so much to the point you have decided having you as a mother would give them nothing but pain, so abortion was the right choice.

It was hard to cope with the reality of losing something that came from someone you loved. Then you realized at least once in your life, making this selfish decision will save you and your baby. 

You were not ready or fit to be a mother yet, bringing a baby in this cruel world while being clueless about everything was too overwhelming for you. 

Leon never knew about it. You knew him too well. Even if he didn't want anything to do with them, he would have gotten mad for your decision. He loved collecting things he couldn't take care of. And Leon knew it himself. 

Looking at the sky, to the soft blue clouds and the sun hiding behind them, you smiled softly. Genuinely for the first time in months.

"I'm sorry... I hope you understand it was the right thing to do. Come to momma when we're both ready" a single drop of tear ran down your soft cheek before you wiped it away with your gloved hand. 

Just because you think it's love, doesn't mean it is love you thought before walking to the Cafe. You will always remember.

Chapter 1

Growing up, college had always been a big dream of yours, leaving you fantasizing day in and out about all the possibilities that would open up, along with actually getting to live through the renowned “college experience”.

In reality, college was a lot harder than you were expecting. Your parents had told you to jump right into it after high school, fearing taking a gap year would ruin your good streak. The stress was starting to get to you and it was only a semester into your freshman year. All the tests, projects, and general studying really wore down on your mental health, not to mention you were failing the one math class you had.

You couldn’t tell your parents, no, they’d probably have a heart attack, especially since that math class was a prerequisite to another class that you needed to take. They were already worried enough that you hadn’t picked a major yet, so who knows how they’d take the news that you were failing right off the bat.

It was hard enough that you were feeling homesick. This was the first time you’d ever been this far away from home, studying at a university when you would’ve been perfectly content going to a community college closer to home. Your roommate was nice, but the two of you weren’t growing any closer than mere acquaintances, so it always felt awkward to just exist in your own dorm room.

Your eating habits worsened with the lack of any real food within five miles of campus. Sure there were a couple fast food chains on the campus itself, but they closed incredibly early. By the time you finished studying, which was around six in the evening, it had already closed. Not to mention that when they were open, the lines were comically long. University food was out of the question after you got violently ill from their “chicken nuggets”, so you were left with the little money your parents provided once a week to order takeout or make quick trips to the store to buy a frozen meal. Only one, since the mini fridge in your dorm was almost always occupied by your roommates stuff.

Everything was so exhausting and you were way out of your comfort zone having to use the community bathrooms for all your hygienic routines. Walking in always made you feel like you were interrupting a meeting in the president’s oval office with how many nasty looks you were given when all you were trying to do was brush your teeth.

The first thing you saw whenever you opened up Canvas was a massive F staring you down from the little box that comprised the majority of your math assignments and tests, making you feel less than worthless. This one semester alone helped you understand why so many people dropped out, this was hard.

By now you’d already gone to your math professor multiple times asking for redos or extra credit work. He was probably sick of seeing you since you showed up after almost every single assignment’s grades were submitted.

“Heeeyyy, Mr. Lebovic..” You said after knocking your knuckle against his open door to grab his attention. “Listen, about that last quiz, I-”

He cut you off with a wave of his hand before gesturing towards one of the chairs sitting in front of his desk. You hurried to sit down, watching nervously as he slowly pulled his eyes off his computer and onto you. “I get it, you don’t need to explain yourself.” His relaxed tone and faint smile was enough to ease your nerves a bit, letting your shoulders slump with a sigh. “You’ve been trying really hard, I can easily recognize that.”

You nodded eagerly, licking your dry lips as you opened your mouth to speak, only to be cut off again. “I’ve been looking into studying options that might help you. Resources are scarce for this material, but I think I finally have a tutor to help you out.” 

A wave of relief washed over you at the mention of tutor. Maybe you wouldn’t have to face the wrath of your parent’s disappointment after all! “Oh.. o-okay…” you stuttered, eyebrows furrowing as you silently beckoned him to continue.

“I teach another math class, it’s higher level, but I have a student in there that’s just taken up tutoring the material you’re learning.” Your professor seemed just as happy as you were about the opportunity. “His name is Leon Kennedy, he’s got one of the study rooms in the library from three to five in the afternoon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”

It took you a second to process everything Mr. Lebovic was telling you before you scrambled to pull out a sticky note and a pen to write all the information down on. You heard the older man chuckle softly, looking over at him when he held out a small piece of paper to you. “I wrote it down already for you, don’t worry.” You wished you could’ve thanked him tenfold, but his office hours were closed for the day now, so you said a quick goodbye and hurried back to your dorm, holding onto the piece of paper like a lifeline.

Contrary to what your math professor thinks, you knew the name “Leon Kennedy”. You had a couple friends that you hung out with occasionally out in the grass in front of the science building and they’d brought him up before. The few vague bits of info that you’d heard weren’t flattering, painting this Leon in quite a bad light; the stereotypical jock in a frat flying by on a full-ride scholarship. However, he was your saving grace now and you needed to develop more of an unbiased opinion of him if he was going to help you raise your grade from an F.

“Yeesh, sorry I’m not better at math or I would’ve helped you.” One of your friends, Sky, spoke up as they read the piece of paper your professor gave you yesterday from over your shoulder. “Even if you were better at math, I still wouldn’t trust you.” Ella, your other friend, laughed out.

“Ha ha, yeah, Sky failed math four times. Big whoop.” Sky waved their hands dramatically before walking over to sit down next to Ella in the dead grass. “Seriously though, you’re better off taking a failing grade and dealing with your parents. Kennedy is the devil incarnate.”

“The devil incarnate sounds easier to put up with than my parents, so I’ll take my chances..” You grumbled, taking a seat on a medium-sized rock close to the pair. “Maybe he’s turning a new leaf? Deciding to tutor?” 

Sky crossed her arms and rolled her eyes which made Ella elbow them in the side before giving you a sympathetic smile. “Maybe so, but please just be careful. I don’t want you having to put up with some jackass that has an ego bigger than Texas.” 

You nodded with a slight frown, moving your foot side to side lazily to push the grass blades around. You didn’t even think to consider the repercussions of studying with some random junior. “I’m sure it’ll be alright. Besides, just tell Sky and I if he’s giving you any trouble. I know damn well no man likes to put up with two women yelling in his face.” Sky nodded and pointed to Ella for added dramatics. “Yeah, and I bite. My top six teeth are porcelain so that shit hurts. Trust me.”

Your friends never failed to make you laugh, a slight resolve in a pool full of worries, you suppose. “Don’t worry, you guys’ll be the first to know if Leon is mean.”

“Good. Now, when’re you gonna go see the guy?” Sky rested their arms on their knees before looking up at you. “Uh.. in a couple hours I guess. I already made the appointment.” Your response seemed to surprise both of your friends, giving them a confused look in response to their shocked ones. “Is that.. Is that not a good time?”

“No no, just.. I thought you would’ve maybe taken a little longer to go and see him.” Ella shrugged, reaching a hand up to scratch behind their neck. “Proud of you, taking the initiative like that.” She then looked at her phone before pulling herself off the ground with a small groan. “I got class in a couple minutes. Good luck with the frat boy.” 

She patted your shoulder as she walked off towards the larger building on campus, leaving you and Sky alone for the rest of the time. Part of you wished both of your friends could walk you to the library when the time came, but having Sky was enough. “So.. Leon’s bad bad?” You needed a bit more clarification on the guy you were going to spend one-on-one time with, something to calm you down after running through countless scenarios in your head.

“He’s not all bad, 'least I don't think. I’ve exchanged a few ‘hello’s’ and ‘excuse me’s’ with him here and there since we apparently frequent the same building.” Sky scooted over to the rock you were sitting on, placing the back of their head on your legs. A couple brown leaves blew over from a nearby tree which they grabbed and crunched with their hand. “I haven’t personally experienced any bad happenings around him, but he is part of a pretty notoriously rowdy frat, so you have to promise me that you’ll only study with him on campus and never go to that frat house or any frat house in general, alright?”

Sky pointed up at you, poking the underside of your chin which made you laugh again and swat their hand away. “As much as I rave about wanting to have the stereotypical college experience, going to a frat house was never part of my daydreaming.”

“Good. Keep it that way.” They switched their fingers to give you a quick thumbs up before letting their arm flop down into their lap, eyes closing with a sigh. “Anyways, besides all that, wanna go get some food? I don’t have another class today and you’ve got about an hour and a half to spare, so actually you have no choice. Get up.”

You stood up with a shake of your head once Sky pushed off of your legs who stood up as well with a small stretch. “Don’t burn me at the stake, but I kinda want grocery store sushi. I’m feeling lucky.”

“Please don’t.” You sighed, pocketing the piece of paper before beginning to follow behind Sky as they started to walk across the grass. 

After the two of you shared a sandwich from some random shop not too far off campus, Sky walked with you up to the library, stopping just before the front desk. They agreed to not wander in with you under the condition that you’ll go to their dorm straight after to discuss details.

To say you were nervous was an understatement. Most of what you heard about this guy meant he was bad news, though you really didn’t have much of a choice when it came to seeing him. Like your math professor said, there weren’t a lot of options when it came to studying the material you were learning. Sure you had the internet and other students in the class, but you preferred the idea of a tutor since you’d already exhausted yourself trying to follow along with various youtube videos. You needed the in-person teaching, it just stuck better in your head that way.

Slowly starting to walk, you made your way over to the study rooms lining the back of the library. The rooms seemed pretty private with the only window being on the door, which had glass nearly top to bottom. Thankfully the rooms were numbered and Leon had texted you which room to go to when you made the appointment with him, you had no idea what he looked like and you didn’t want to look like a creep eyeballing people through the door until you hopefully found the right person.

Standing off to the side, you could see the number you were looking for sitting above the door, taking a brief moment to collect yourself and hype yourself up to talk to someone who didn’t have the greatest reputation. Set aside everything you’ve heard and just hope for the best..

You took in a deep breath as you strode over to the door, glancing inside through the window before knocking to let him know you were there. The table was angled off more to the left so you didn’t immediately see him until he leaned over the table to see who had knocked. Confidence left you as soon as you made eye contact with Leon due to the groan you could hear through the door. It took you a couple seconds, but you eventually managed to get your body to work with you, hand turning the handle to let yourself in.

“-the last thing I need..” You caught the end of his little rant to himself as you opened the door. The saying “fake it ‘till you make it” is harder than it sounds since your entire body decided to betray you, deciding that shrinking in was the best move. Quietly, you shuffled over to sit across from him at the table, placing your backpack in your lap in some weird way to provide comfort in this situation.

“You weren’t supposed to show up.” Leon grumbled, sitting far back in the tilted chair as his feet lifted the front end of the chair slightly. His arms were crossed and he was giving you probably the nastiest look you’ve ever seen, next to your parents, of course. All you did was sit there giving him a blank stare. It was obvious what he’d said, yet the sheer forwardness of that snide comment had you more than confused. “What?-”

“You weren’t supposed to show up.” Apparently he felt the need to repeat himself with some added bite, barely letting you get a word in. “No one ever shows up to these shitty tutor- whatever the fucks.”

Wow. Okay. “Uh..” You didn’t even know what to say to that. It completely caught you off guard. You’d run through countless ways this interaction would go in your head, but this wasn’t one of those ways. The two of you sat in a very tense silence with Leon just glaring at you from across the table, continuing to rock back and forth in the chair.

Without uncrossing his arms, Leon lifted a hand and waved it around slightly while shaking his head. “Are you actually still gonna sit here orrr…?” The sound of his voice finally snapped you out of shock, causing you to shoot your gaze down to your backpack, fumbling with its partially broken zipper. “I-.. Mr. Lebovic recommended you..?”

You pulled out a few of your failed assignments from your bag before setting them down on the table with shaky hands, keeping your eyes glued to the papers to avoid that burning stare the man in front of you has. “I need-.. I need help..?”

“Do you?” Leon let the chair fall forward, his sarcastic tone starting to make your whole body tremble. “You don’t sound like you do.” He snatched one of your assignments from the table and held it up, pursing his lips as he studied the various red marks made on it closely. You chose to not respond to that, letting your hands rest on top of your backpack so you had something to squeeze.

He turned the page around, the sound of the paper wobbling the only thing you could hear right after the sound of the central heat blowing through the vent in the room. Suddenly, Leon started chuckling to himself, shaking his head incredulously as he flipped the paper back and forth a couple times before letting it fall back to the table. “This is terrible!” His laugh grew louder as he tilted his body to the side to pull out his phone, taking a picture of the assignments you’d put on the table. 

How on earth were you supposed to react to that other than just sitting quietly? He was actually making fun of you right to your face. Hell, he might as well point and laugh if he’s going to be this brasen. 

The most you could muster up was a quiet yet high-pitched “... huh?” in response to him. This whole ordeal was spiraling a little too fast for you to keep up with. You were expecting to put up with some grown man with a bratty attitude or even just a very uninterested, not all there jock with how Leon’s been described to you, not blatant bullying.

“Huh?” He mocked, taking one last look at his phone while loudly sucking on his teeth before pocketing it again. “Anyways, this is actually sad. How are you managing to fuck simple math up like this?” He roughly grabbed all the papers on the table and stacked them before partially tossing them back at you, some slipping onto the floor. “You’re too far gone, even I can’t fix that.”

You let out a gasp when the papers were tossed at your face, scrambling to catch some of them. Pushing the chair back, you leaned over to grab the few that fell on the floor, desperately holding back tears. “Please, you don’t understand.” You pleaded, voice cracking as you tried your best not to start crying in front of him. “I-I need to pass this class. I’m passing everything else, I just can’t keep up with this one!” You were speed-talking to try and argue your case, sitting back up with the small pile of papers that you struggled to stack properly.

Leon started rocking back in his chair again, arms back across his chest as he watched you with squinted eyes. The corners of his lips soon turned up into a smirk, taking in your sorry state before rolling his eyes with a dramatic groan. “Alright, alright, stop whining, jesus..” He cleared his throat, letting his head fall over the back of the chair. “I’ll help you only because I feel bad for you.” It’s not like he was going to admit that he was being forced to be a tutor, no one needs leverage over him like that

You couldn’t help but give a small smile despite his implication. It was a start. “And I’m not gonna do it today, either.” Well, the sooner the better, but still, it’s a start.

He then stood up from the chair, fixing his jacket with a sigh. “If you show up even a minute late on Friday, I’m not helping” and before you even had a chance to reply, he walked out of the room, the door shutting with a slam which made you flinch. Luckily, you were a very punctual person when it came to this kind of stuff. This was important, so if you had to show up early, so be it. You hurriedly shoved your assignments back into your backpack, not even fully zipping it up before rushing out of the study room, back through the library, and to the dorms.

“He said that?!” Sky yelled, quickly wiping their hand over their mouth to quiet themself once you shushed them. “I don’t really feel comfortable with you going to another ‘study session’ with that guy if he’s just gonna bully you.”

“I wouldn’t call it bullying-”

“He was bullying you.”

“OKAY! So what if he was?!” You fell back onto Sky’s bed with a sigh, arms splayed out with your legs dangling off the side. “I can handle it. As long as I get my grade up, who cares?”

Sky sat down next to you on their bed, giving you a sad look as you sat yourself up with your elbows. “I care. So does Ella. You shouldn’t put up with that just for a grade. I’m sure if you explain to your professor and-”

“And what? Tell him that I’m a grown woman getting bullied over something I should know by now?” You sat yourself up fully now, leaning forward to place your elbows on your thighs as your head rested in your hands. “It’s only until finals are over and we’re already halfway through October. Maybe I won’t even need that much time, maybe I’m just missing one simple… math move and it’ll get the gears in my brain moving again.”

You tilted your head to the side to look at Sky, head now resting only in your right hand as you took in their annoyed look. “Trust me. I can handle this.”

“If you say so.” They ran their fingers through her hair before looking away from you, directing their attention forward to stare off at nothing. “Just remember that I bite and I’m not afraid to use my fake chompers on that no good-”

“I don’t wanna think about escalations right now, but thank you.” You chuckled, playfully nudging Sky with your free hand before moving it back to hold your head up with the other. Though you were trying to convince Sky on this, you were mostly just trying to convince yourself that you could handle this. Handle Leon and his.. alluring charm..