Oh, Leon...

Tea and Wikipedia.

Leon slumped in the door frame, dirt and blood caking his entire form. As much as you wanted to joke about him taking off his shoes before coming in, he looked exhausted.

"Why don't you take a shower, and I can take it from there?" You nodded as you handed him a towel.

Going through college, you had bumped into Leon every now and again. Eventually, as your majors started branching together, you became study partners. A.K.A can I copy your homework partners. There was always a homey feeling shared between you two, relaxed and laid back. The common time to see each other was after eight, so his visit tonight reminded you of those times not too long ago.

Your friend started his new job as a police officer about a week ago, it was his dream, and he seemed to love it. Though, you had never seen him so roughed up. He had called just as he was leaving work, asking if he could stay at your house for the night since you were much closer to town than his own place. Of course, you let him, but now that you thought about it you weren't sure if you had a change of clothes for him.

Watching him hovel on his injured leg was painful, so you slipped under his arm acting as a crutch.

"I'm fine, ___. You're always worrying about me, I'm supposed to protect you, remember?" He chuckled weakly as he pointed to his uniform.

"Oh, just hush up rookie." You shake your head at him, standing up to his resilience.

"Well, there's no breaking you." With a smirk, he ruffled your hair. The two of you turned the corner in your hallway to the bathroom, you allowed him to lean on the sink as he started unstrapping his vest.

"Do you need help?" Your eyes followed his hands. Apparently your gaze was too admirable because Leon stopped what he was doing. He tipped his head to the side, thinking about letting you help, but he stepped down from that.

"You can go to sleep, I'll be fine. I'll just take a shower and crash on your couch." Finally, he removed the vest and put it on the counter.

"Alright. Take it easy." A smile ebbed onto your face before you closed the door behind you. Had your worry not been so prominent, maybe he would have allowed you to help him. Instead of going to bed, you kicked around the kitchen, serving yourself one more half-plate of dinner. As you stood at the counter, you couldn't help but think about Leon in the shower. His tender leg looked like it needed attention, and the bulky padding probably didn't aid it. Then you thought about what was under all of that. Quickly you pulled yourself from your fantasy and cleaned your dish. It was weird to think about your friend like that, especially while they are so vulnerable. You sighed and ran your fingers through your hair to change up your mindset.

"Hey ___, do you have any sweats I can borrow?" Leon's goofy whisper cut through your turmoil as it bounced through the hall.

"Yeah yeah, sorry I'll go get them." You replied. It wasn't too far fetched for you to have some sweats that much bigger than you. They were your sick clothes, but by Leon's appearance, he probably needs them as so. You knocked on the bathroom door and his hand slid out to take the clothes. It made you laugh as you yanked it away, making him swing his hand around looking for the promised clothes.

"Pleaaase, I'm getting cold!" He whined.

"Fine fine, hotshot." You handed them to him.

After a few moments of audible struggling, Leon came out of the bathroom. He imagined you had given up and gone to your room to sleep, So he stumbled to the living room. There you sat propped up against the arm of the couch, waiting.

"Waiting to be tucked in or what?" He crossed his arms and shook his head at you. "Go on, go to bed!" With a shoeing motion, his face screwed into fake disappointment.

"No! It's gonna take a lot more than that to make me go to bed!" You shouted, not even caring about your volume. You tossed the blanket around Leon, pulling him to the couch to sit.

"Ahh, alright alright, I'm comin'." He sighed as he collapsed on the couch. "Are you gonna go to bed now?"
"Not until I know you are okay. I got you some Advil, ice, tea, and Nyquil." You pointed at each item as you listed them off. Leon nodded slowly then looked at you.

"Not too far off from school, huh? Staying up late, drinking tea..." He reminisced. "You're always so crazy about tea."

"Except for the fact that you are all beat up? " Raising your eyebrows, you gave him an unimpressed expression.

"I was just doing my duty." He said sleepily, starting to make himself comfortable. His eyelids grew heavy, lulling his head to the side to return that same gaze.

"How did we stay up so late?"
"Didn't have real jobs."

"Yeah... that's true. But you're still so nice to me."

At that moment it was almost too easy to admit your love for him. Like every fool who spent more than ten minutes with the baby faced jock, you found him so loveable. Seeing him so tired as now didn't fluctuate that feeling, besides stoke the fire. He acknowledged your silence, watching your brow furrow as you battled internally to rebuttal his statement.

"I can see the gears turning, what's on your mind?"

"I can't explain it."
"For an interrogator, you don't hide your feelings well." He jabbed at you playfully.

"What's that supposed to mean...?" Had you really been that clear, that oblivious Leon could tell that your feelings for him?

"You... are feeling really tired." He tapped your cheek gently. Of course, he couldn't tell. Hopefully, that flying fear didn't telegraph across your face.

"Yeah, yeah. That's it." You rubbed your eye with the back of your hand. Not so smoothly, Leon wrapped his arm around your shoulder, and by the gentle suggestion, you leaned onto him.

"Can I say something, and for you to forget it." You asked, eyes reflecting the gentle glow of the tv.

"Hm, maybe." He shrugged, his hand moving to touch your hair.

"I love you, more than just friends, or colleges." You sighed, covering your face with your hands and leaning forward, looking a little ill. Leon's silence made you more anxious, he wasn't smart enough to make up an excuse.

"___? Hey, common. It's okay." He finally muttered, patting you on the back.

"Now forget it." You turned your head to him and bear a fake smile. As much as you wanted to be accepted, you didn't want him to feel bad for not doing so.

"...No."
"Leon, come on, you wanted to know. I should have just shut up..." you moved to stand up but he grabbed the inside of your arm. Easy to break from, but tender enough to warrant a reaction.
"No, it's okay. I understand how you feel."