#leonnie

It was relatively quiet at the bar, except for the constant murmuring of the other customers. Dim warm lights gave the place an almost cozy and welcoming feel, despite the weight in the air. Leon’s chest felt heavy with guilt and sorrow as he gently swayed the rest of the amber liquid left in his glass before downing it in one gulp.

“Bring me another one,” he asked the bartender.

“And some orange juice for me, please. No ice.”

Leon scoffed, low, bitter. He didn't need to turn; he knew that sweet voice well. “Helluva drink choice for a place like this.”

The stool next to him creaked as she sat down. “Someone's gotta keep a clear head. Might as well be me.” He could picture her cheeky smirk without even having to glance her way.

“It's always you. Never seen you have a real drink.”

She shrugged. “Orange juice seems like a real drink to me.”

He snorted humorlessly. “Right. So, what brings Miss Juice Box to a place like this?”

“Can't a girl have alcohol-free fun?”

“Funny. I didn’t know this was your definition of fun. Especially not when you could spend the night playing your video games.”

She opened her mouth to retort when his words sank in. “It makes me feel special that you know my working schedule.”

Leon rolled his eyes, murmuring: “Don’t let it get to your head.”

“Yes, I do have the day off tomorrow,” she proceeded. “But I thought… what could be more fun than Gaming Night?” She snapped her fingers as she continued: “And then it clicked: annoying my parter, Leon!”

“You’ve chosen the wrong night, Sunshine.”

“Hm. Have I?”

The two of them fall into comfortable silence, enjoying the company and the drinks they ordered. The jukebox coughed up an old, catchy rock song. Ronnie vibed with the song, despite not having heard it before. She swayed in her seat, foot tapping to the beat. Leon, on the other hand, remained quiet, brooding, thinking about the people he lost, his unit. She let him sit with it for a while. In the meantime, she sipped her juice as if it were fine wine, browsed the bar’s menu, and listened to the song.

There's a place a Gemini dream There's no escaping from the love we have seen So come with me, turn night to day You gonna wake up You know you gonna wake up in a Gemini dream

Then, she casually mumbled, “The food here doesn’t sound appetizing at all.”

“We’re in a bar, not a diner.”

“Speaking of diners, I’m a bit hungry. Wanna go grab some food at that dinner you took me to last time?”

“Rikki’s?”

“Yeah! I’m in the mood for a burger. Maybe some onion rings. And chocolate cake with milk tea afterwards.” She squealed in delight at the mere thought. “My treat, of course.”

He fell quiet for a moment, then he spoke in a low tone, weary, barely restraining the sorrow he had been drowning in till she arrived, “I’m so damn tired of being the only one left standing.”

She drank the last of her juice and set it down with a soft knock. “Yeah…I know that feeling,” she made a short pause. “But you’re not alone, Leon. You’ve got people who care about you. Me included. That counts for something, right?”

He heaved a long, tired sigh. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I don’t have to, or you don’t want me to?”

He hesitated. “You don’t have to.”

“Well, I want to.” She smiled.

“You shouldn’t waste your time on me.”

“I don’t waste my time, Leon. I spend it on whoever I want. And that happens to be you. Got a problem with that, Black Parade?”

That made him look at her–really look–for the first time since she arrived. His ocean blue eyes flickered with gratitude, mixed with something heavier, deeper: something he couldn’t name–not yet. “...Fine.”

“Good,” she said with a satisfied little smirk when he didn’t argue. “Now, let’s go. Your stomach’s been growling so loud I thought I was sitting next to a bear.”

“No, it wasn’t.” He grumbled, feeling his ears turn pink despite knowing quite well she couldn’t have heard it over the music and murmuring.

Only when Ronnie turned to pay did the heaviness in his chest ease just enough for a ghost of a smile to slip past his guard—safe from the warmth of her lovely chocolate eyes.

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