No strings attached / Leon s. Kennedy

Chapter 7

Just a moment, I tell myself, just a second to gather myself. But it’s useless—the alcohol has hit me hard, and everything feels like it’s swaying. Even with my eyes shut, the room tilts and spins, and I can’t seem to get a grip on anything solid.

After what feels like ages, I hear his voice behind me—Leon’s voice. Of course.

“All your friends leave you?” he asks, his tone a little too casual, like he’s been watching me.

I can’t help but laugh, the alcohol making everything feel lighter, less serious. I nod, my head still resting on the table. “Yeah, they left,” I mumble, trying to sound unfazed. “But I’m fine.”

He doesn’t buy it. “They just left you here, huh?” There’s something in his voice, almost like concern, but I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to show that I’m too drunk to even stand.

“Guess so,” I say, feeling the room still spinning as I speak. I don't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how out of it I am.

I’m so drunk, everything feels funny. Leon’s voice barely registers as serious when he asks, “How are you planning on getting home?”

I laugh again, like it’s the most ridiculous question in the world. “I’ll obviously just walk,” I slur, giggling at the idea.

He scoffs, crossing his arms. “You’re too drunk to even stand, let alone walk home. You’ll pass out halfway there.”

I wave him off with my hand, dismissing his concern. “Nah, I’m fine,” I say, though I know I’m not fooling anyone—not even myself.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Alright, prove it. Walk in a straight line.”

“Easy,” I say, pushing myself up from the table, wobbling for a second as I try to regain balance. I start walking, or at least I think I am, in what feels like a straight line. Each step is heavy, and the world tilts slightly, but I’m pretty sure I’ve nailed it.

Proud of myself, I turn around with a grin and announce, “See? I did it!”

Leon smirks, shaking his head. “Nope. You definitely did not.”

I stare at him, blinking, trying to process his words through the alcohol haze. “I didn’t?” I mutter.

Leon sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly contemplating whether he should even bother with me at this point. Then he looks at me, something between exasperation and amusement in his eyes. “Alright, I’m accompanying you home. You’re not gonna make it there on your own.”

I roll my eyes and make a face. “Oh, how noble of you. What, you suddenly care about my safety now?” I slur, the sarcasm thick in my voice. “Afraid I’ll trip and embarrass myself in front of the whole city?”

He raises an eyebrow, unimpressed by my attitude. “More like afraid you’ll pass out on the sidewalk and I’ll have to drag your ass to the ER.”

I laugh, waving him off. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Fine, knight in shining armor, if you insist. I’m too drunk to argue.”

“Clearly,” he mutters, stepping closer as I wobble slightly.

I grumble under my breath but ultimately agree. As much as I want to be stubborn, I know I’m not making it home in one piece without some help. And, well, if that help happens to be Leon… so be it.

We leave the bar, and I sling my bag over my shoulder, stumbling out onto the street. The cool air hits me, and I start rambling—about what, I have no idea. Words just keep spilling out of my mouth as we walk through the dimly lit streets. It’s like my brain’s on autopilot, saying whatever comes to mind.

“You know, they say the moon’s closer to the Earth than the sun... that’s why it looks bigger,” I slur, waving my hand toward the sky.

Leon sighs beside me. “No, Amber, that’s not why it looks bigger. It’s just an illusion. The moon’s way smaller than the sun.”

“Pffft, illusion, schmillusion,” I giggle, waving him off. “You’re just making that up to sound smart.”

He gives me a side-eye but doesn’t bother correcting me again. I keep blabbering on, making dumb remarks about random things we pass. I comment on streetlights, how the trees look at night—honestly, anything that pops into my head—and every time I say something absurd, he just shakes his head or mutters some half-hearted correction.

“See, that building? I bet it’s like... three hundred years old,” I say confidently, pointing at a random office building.

“Try thirty years, if that,” Leon replies, his voice dry.

I laugh at his correction but keep going, stumbling over my words as we walk. Every now and then, I trip lightly over the uneven pavement, but I manage to catch myself before anything serious happens.

That is, until I almost lose it completely. My foot catches on a crack, and suddenly, I’m tilting forward, the ground rushing up to meet me. Before I can fall, Leon’s hand shoots out and grabs my arm, pulling me upright.

“Whoa, easy there,” he says, steadying me.

“Thanks,” I mutter, blinking as I try to regain my balance. My heart pounds a little from the near-fall, but I’m too drunk to dwell on it for long.

He glances down at me, his grip still firm on my arm. “Watch it. I’m not carrying you the rest of the way.”

I give him a lopsided grin. “Nah, you wouldn’t. You’d just leave me in a ditch somewhere.”

He rolls his eyes but doesn’t let go of my arm, keeping me steady as we continue walking. The streets are quiet, and I can hear my own footsteps alongside his, the sound of my voice still filling the air with whatever random thought pops into my head.
As we walk toward my place, the drunken chatter shifts into something a little calmer. The streets are quieter, and so am I, though I keep babbling on about how stressful work has been lately.

“Seriously, it’s like... endless. I swear, the research never stops. And don’t even get me started on the paperwork,” I complain, not even sure if Leon’s listening. “Adams, Williams, they’re all fine and all, but it’s just exhausting sometimes. You know what I mean?”

Leon grunts in acknowledgment, not really engaging, but it’s enough to keep me going.

Before I know it, we’re at my apartment building, the walk feeling shorter than usual thanks to the alcohol numbing my sense of time. I fumble for my keys, and after what feels like an eternity, I manage to get the door open. I turn to him, leaning against the doorframe.

“I’m not done talking,” I blurt out, though I have no idea why. “You wanna come in?”

Leon raises an eyebrow. “I think you’ve talked plenty, Amber.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on, just for a minute. I’m not... done yet,” I insist, though even I don’t know what I’m expecting. Maybe I just don’t want to be alone. Maybe it’s the alcohol. Who knows?

He shakes his head, clearly not convinced. “You’re drunk. You should just go to bed.”

I pout a little, playing it up. “You’re no fun, Leon.”

He hesitates, glancing down the hall like he’s weighing his options, but when I ask again, my voice softer this time, he finally sighs and relents. “Alright, fine. But just for a minute.”

I grin and step inside, motioning for him to follow me. God knows why I invited him in, but right now, I’m not thinking about that. Right now, all I want is for the night to keep going, just a little longer.