too tired to move, too tired to leave
bf!leon kennedy, after the events of re2 aka modern au where world is fixed, fem!reader, hurt comfort, comfort, no angst, soft!leon, sfw, vulnerability, partially inspired by hard times by ethel cain/hayden, a/nβjust finished re7
leon knew you were utterly and completely exhausted before you said so or had a meltdown.
he could tell. maybe it was the way your keys clattered too loud against the counter, or how your shoulders didn't drop even after you kicked off your shoes, or how you hovered in the doorway of his apartment like you weren't sure you were allowed to take up space tonight and rest was something you needed permission forβ
but whatever it was, he knew.
"hey, come sit down with me."
you met his eyes and were met with matching concerned seas of blue, a tinge of worry in them. you started to shake your head at first, then stopped. there was always something else to do, and you had to get it all done. needed to.
you really, really didn't, and leon also knew that, so he didn't argue. he just waited for you to realize, opened his arms, and stayed right where he was.
eventually you did, and the moment your forehead touched his chest you finally let go of everything for the first time in days. he wrapped his arms around you slowly to avoid startling you and rested his chin atop your head.
"see? that wasn't so hard. nobody needs you right now," he murmured.
his left hand moved up and down your back in a slow rhythm and the right threw a blanket over you both.
"I'm so tired."
even as it all rolled off of you, you didn't cry. being like how you were didn't always come with tears, but you were so tired it felt like your brain was a computer with too many apps loading and tasks open.
"I know, but you can rest now. you don't have to talk and explain yourself to me. well, unless you wanna," he said.
that was the thing about leon. after all he'd been through, he never said everything would all be okay or minimized things. he recognized them, treated them like the injuries they were, and fixed them.
"phone?" he asked.
you hesitated but then handed it over. he set it face down on the table and your shoulders dropped with it, a bit of weight lifting off of you.
it buzzed with a notification before he set it to silent.
"wait, I need tβ"
"the world won't end if you don't answer anyone for a night. trust me, I'd know more than anyone." leon pressed a kiss to your temple.
your head tipped against his shoulder and you relaxed again, relishing in your peaceful and much needed defeat.
"I feel stupid. I didn't even do that much today and I'm wrecked." you whispered.
"yeah, but you've been doing so much other work for weeks. also, burnout doesn't care how productive you were, It's just what happens when you've been productive for too long without any breaks." leon turned his head, forehead touching yours.
your chest ached at that and you curled closer, fingers fisting into his shirt again. he adjusted so you were more comfortable and traced slow patterns along your arm.
minutes passed or maybe longer. the living room was completely quiet except for your bodies breathing and the sounds of the city outside.
"wanna do nothing or do you need a gentle distraction?"
you thought for a second.
"... nothing... but, nothing with you."
"right answer." leon said, the smile audible in his voice even though you couldn't see it.
he shifted so you were fully in his lap, your cheek against his chest. his hand slid into your hair after a while and scratched at your scalp.
your eyes fluttered closed, but leon stayed awake even as you started to drift. he kept holding you like it was the most natural thing in the world and you were exactly where you were meant to be.
and even though things felt too good to be true and you still felt like your work was trying to chase you into your dreams, for the first time in weeks it felt like you were.
