Leon Kennedy is going to die.
That's the first thought that runs through my head as I watch as the zombie launches itself behind Leon and bites his shoulder, he grunts in pain and shoots the zombie he was tackling with, then spins around and punches the other. Its head swings to the side as Leon aims his gun and pulls the trigger, brain matter splatters all over him.
I sprint as fast as I can to him, my satchel feeling heavier than it did half an hour ago when it didn't have the very thing that could save Leon's life. The plan was for us to split up, it'd be quicker if we both looked for the vaccine since both labs were opposite each other and the facility was already swarmed with the undead and other Umbrella creations. I was the lucky one, I found the vaccine as well as a computer that had the exact instructions on how to recreate the cure to all of this, but I didn't have time to read it all.
Leon turns to me, a look of complete and utter shock in his eyes as I finally make it to him, immediately he grabs his shoulder and steps away from me, just as the self-destruct sequence begins. "You've gotta leave me, get out of here!" Leon frantically says, already he's looking pale, he stumbles backwards and catches himself on the wall, slowly his legs collapse and I manage to catch him before he falls.
He's too heavy, so I let him down slowly, internally I panic as blood gushes from his bite, his head lolls to the side as he grows weaker and weaker. I kneel in front of him, tearing at his police uniform to get to the wound, my eyes glance to the satchel, and Leon shakes his head.
"N-no, don't." He weakly says, his eyes pleading with me. I hesitate, if I do this the world could suffer, but if I don't...
There's no other option I can live with. I rip open the satchel and grab the vibrant purple vaccine, popping off the cap as Leon's breathing slows. "No..." Leon whispers, his eyes closing. Fuck, I jam the needle into the bite, pressing the syringe down as the vaccine makes its way into Leon's bloodstream. Leon lets out a final sound of pain before going quiet.
I sit back and wait, tears lining my eyes as the ground rumbles. Minutes pass but it feels like eternity, I grip Leon's cold hand in mine, staring and staring as I will him to come back to me.
His eyes open, he groans and moves, his eyes meet mine but they're not the same. He looks like...he hates me.
"Why did you do that? I don't know if I'll ever forgive you for this." He angrily says, forcing himself to stand. I go to help him as he almost collapses but he pushes me away, his brows knitted together as he grabs his gun and drags himself to the main elevator shaft. I follow, the weight of what I've done is heavy on my shoulders, but not as heavy as the betrayal I feel.
"I'd do it again." I whisper but he's already gone.
Leon waits for me, but ignores me as he presses the button to go up to the surface. His eyes never meet mine again, even as we get to safety outside of Raccoon City.
*********5 Years Later***********
I type away on my laptop until a faint noise captures my attention, I take out my headphones and listen again, only hearing the usual humming of my lab. I frown and stand up, but suddenly the noise comes again, this time closer.
Gunshots.
I immediately spring into action, locking the door and grabbing my own gun then begin packing up the most important things; my laptop and my journal.
I head for the door but gunshots sound from just outside, I panic, running to the main computer and wiping everything on there, now all my years worth of successful research for the cure of the zombie virus rests in my head, and some on my laptop, but not a single person will be able to decipher it aside from myself.
My hands shake as I aim my gun at the door, expecting the intruder any second now...a new gunshot rings out, from a new gun, it has a distinctly different sound.
I frown and keep mine steady. The door thumps as if someone's trying to open it. I take deep breaths, it thumps again, and again, until a voice from the other side calls out. "Dr Y/L/N, it's alright now, we're here to escort you out."
I huff a laugh, yeah as if I'm falling for that. "Prove it!" I childishly shout back, cursing myself after for responding, if I'd have kept quiet they'd never know I was in here.
"It's-" a voice responds, the man sounds slightly familiar as he breaks off with a sigh, "It's Leon."
My world tilts but somehow I keep it together. Hesitantly I go to the door and unlock it, and low and behold, there stands the man I'd never thought I'd see again, Leon Kennedy, aged like fine wine.
My mouth parts as he stares down at me, he absent mindedly rubs his shoulder where he was bit all those years ago, his eyes soften for a bit until others barge their way in, guns raised as they inspect the area.
"Is anyone else in here with you?" He asks, I shake my head, unable to form words. "Are you hurt?" He murmurs, his eyes scan me from head to toe. I shake my head, then clear my throat.
"I'm fine, I- I've deleted all the research for safety, I'm the only one who has access to the cure now." I mumble. Leon's eyes flash.
"You made a cure?" He asks sounding surprised. I narrow my eyes, it doesn't take me long to figure out that he's some kind of security or agent, maybe some form of S.T.A.R.S or maybe just some government specialist.
"I've been working on it for a few months, it's been tested and works." I finally answer as Leon signals something to the rest of his team. He grabs my arm and begins pulling me down the university corridors, avoiding dead bodies.
"Did the guilt finally set in?" Leon huffs sarcastically as we get outside. I'm so shocked I've yet to realise where we're going.
"What are you doing?" I ask as Leon gestures for me to get into some fancy SUV. He sighs in annoyance so I just climb in with my bag, Leon joins me and starts the engine, reaching over to pull my seat belt on before he speeds away.
"I'm taking you to a secure location, you're a valuable asset to the government and contain important information that could save the lives of millions."
I raise my eyebrows, "Since when did you get so fancy?"
"Since when did you become a scientist." He argues, a small smile tilts his lips as our old playfulness comes back.
"Doctor." I correct. Leon rolls his eyes as his smile grows, but then he suddenly drops it and goes back to being cold.
Ouch.
We arrive at some small apartment the other side of the city, Leon checks it all out before letting me in, then explains he's been assigned to keep me alive and protected. I nod, as expected in this kind of emergency anyway, I just never thought it'd be Leon.
Later that night I can't sleep, I toss and turn until I finally give up and climb out of bed. I head into the living room and see Leon sitting at a table that overlooks the city, a mug of coffee steaming in front of him.
Silently I take the seat next to him, I stare at him from the corner of my eyes, and I notice he's still got the scar of the bitemark that should've killed him, it peeks just from his tee.
"I was wrong," Leon softly murmurs breaking the silence, "all those years ago when I said I'll never forgive you." I remember the words and moment vividly. "Because of you I'm alive, and I've helped save so many people, even though it doesn't feel like it at times."
My eyes widen as he turns to look at me, I look away, my fingers toy with my pyjamas as I mutter "Are you only saying this because there's another cure now, so it's not that big of a deal anymore."
Leon frowns, his hand reaches out to touch me but he stops halfway. "No, well yes, but...." He sighs, "I'd always forgive you, no matter what, but I guess it makes it easier knowing you've made up for your mistake."
Anger flares through me as I stand up and cross my arms. "Mistake?" I angrily say, "What I did wasn't a mistake, I knew what I was doing and I didn't care, I still don't regardless of cure or no cure, I'd do it all over again of it means your heart's still beating!" I'm shouting now.
Leon stands, we're toe to toe as we both breathe heavy. "Why's that so fucking important to you?" He snaps.
"Because I fucking love you!" I shout back, tears line my eyes as my shoulders slump, I look away but Leon's hands reach out and and cup either side of my face, I gasp as he leans down and brushes his nose against mine.
"I love you too. You don't know how long I've been regretting everything I said to you, I was stupid and thought the world meant more to me, but I was so wrong, when I lost you I realised you're the only thing that truly matters." Leon murmurs before kissing me deeply.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as he deepens the kiss, his hand reaches under my thigh and hooks my leg over his waist as he pushes me into the table, groaning as I whimper.
We kiss and kiss, telling each other truths until our we're desperate for air, even then Leon's hands linger on my waist.
"So we're good?" I ask, biting my lip to hold back a grin.
Leon chuckles, "We're good, but I do have one request?"
I raise a single brow. "Hmmm?"
"Please never stab me with a needle again, that shit hurts."
I burst out laughing as Leon purses his lips to keep from laughing with me, then he picks me up and carries me to bed, where we snuggle and talk about our own individual adventures within the last five years, and promise to never leave each other again.