#deadaim

" babe , i already bought the ring . don't do this to me right now . "

smile falters when line of sight gets rudely obstructed by a small crowd of men in black tux, few handshakes and pats on leon's shoulders happening before her eyes along with idle chatter about something she can't quite make up. attention shifts for a moment on the waiter walking past her with a trail of glasses, claire taking one for herself and another for the man standing by her side. one generous gulp is taken before passing the other glass along with a uttered 'be right back'.

"thought i saw a familiar face!" she greets in the chirpiest tone whe can muster, all focus on leon as arm loops around his. "gentlemen, hope you won't mind me stealing mr. kennedy from you just a second." claire announces in a forced polite tone, not paying them more attention than her words already do. empty glass is left on a trail moving past her as she leads leon in a less crowded area of the room. HOW IS IT YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHAT I NEED, HUH? he asks her, and claire can't help but snort at the question.

"i know you too well." she counters with confidence, though these days the moments they've spent together could actually be counted on all ten fingers... or less. "it's been a minute, uh?" slips out once they're in the balcony, glass doors closed behind her so that music and chatter is a little more blocked out. it's been months - almost six months but it's not like she's counting anyway. a part of her wants to let leon know that she's missed him, a whole lot more than words can explain, yet they fail her, dying in her throat as the voice in the back of her head shoots down any attempt at getting close to him in any way.

"guess you've turned into the man of the hour," she attempts to joke, hand vaguely gesturing at the men who were crowded around him just a few minutes prior. it makes claire wonder who they are to him, if she's actually gotten it all wrong and interrupted something he was comfortable being around in. "hope your date won't mind that i've snatched you away from her?" head tilts slightly to search for leon's gaze, too much of a coward to actually ask who the blonde girl is, but knowing that he'll fill in the blanks for her if he want to.

there's something claire obviously hasn't taken into consideration after the last time she had met leon, which would be how walking away from a situation you don't like doesn't help much if you end up seeing that person every day for the next week one way or another.

so, she walks her way to the office - brand new burgundy suit and fresh haircut to give the impression that she knows what she's doing and is not just some final girl used as a brand for humanitarian purposes. the goal of this meeting is to finally talk about those schools and hospitals that are supposed to be built in penamstan - that with graham's words come actions too otherwise he's just another secretary wilson in her way while she's trying to do something good and actually helpful.

leon's presence is unexpected despite the awareness that this is his workplace and she is the one walking in and out every day - always the outsider in these sort of situations, and although his face among a sea of dark suits is supposed to bring her relief, claire can't help but think over and over about the last time they spoke to each other.

that outfit doesn't suit you - that's what she had told him back then and there surely is some irony now, with her matching him in his own territory ( albeit with a few changes of her own ), a fierce look in her eyes when she finally dares to meet his gaze and only one question that she's dying to ask: can you see me as your equal now?

He couldn't quite remember the last time he felt this free. It was a change of pace, of scenery and a little solace from the hectic life of a soldier. The overcast sky was still warm enough to allow the sunroof of his jeep stay open as he drove down the backroads, far from the hustle and bustle of the interstate. Every sharp inhale of air reminded Chris that he was still breathing and for a few fleeting days he could escape from his usual life, the slightly cooled breeze from the sunroof rejuvenated him every time his short brown waves blew across his forehead. Peeking a cobalt eye over at his passenger, a lopsided smile spreads across his lips, as he makes a slight sharp turn before straightening back out, all to get Leon's attention.

ellie sending him this captioned hahah you lol: 

     "     𝐨𝐡 , 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧     --- 𝐧𝐨 .     "     he tells him , reaching behind him for the half drunk bottle of water he’d nearly forgotten had been left nearby .     “     i’m not here to get involved . you just caught me passing through .     “ 

"if tomatoes are fruit, then ketchup is technically a jam."

THE WIND BLOWS WITH CATION , AS SILENT AS GOD THE ROLLING OVERCAST . A blackness shrouding the sky with ever darkening shades of grey . The breath of the air was held for in this very moment , one hundred different realities could be made or destroyed .

❝ Popular does not even begin to describe it . ❞

He stands tall and sharp as a DAGGER , dangerous as one too yet his hands stay bare of any weapon . Confident , only drawing to take aim in the moment for he was still deciding on the grounds they stood on .

Never moving and always watching , despite the barrier that was apart of him , those reflective glasses , he still BORES HOLES into Leon's skull and into his heart where not even his arms of ribs could wall off what he truly feels . Of a story warning of the buck and rabbit where both are aware of what they are . Even when in the reflection of their eyes , it only mirrors a WOLF .

❝ They want me so they can stop me , but everyone wants you to break you . ❞

Looking past Leon to old rusted iron gates , a step in his story he was EAGER to take without seeing the rest of it , anything other than what was at hand .