I politely half listen to the agents talk about random shit I have no interest in, leaning my elbow against the hotel bar as I nod every so often just so they'll think I'm paying attention. In reality I'm just waiting for them all to piss off so I can have the bar to myself and drink enough alcohol to keep the nightmares away but not too much to give me a hangover, I mean we are all here for mission purposes so I've got to be up and ready tomorrow morning when we set off.
Eventually they all laugh and grab hold of each other, still talking as they say their goodbyes and split off in different directions to go to their own rooms, I notice a few go with each other though, but that's not my problem.
I let out a long relieved sigh and finally my shoulders slump down, until a throat clears from behind me and a person takes the stool beside me, even though there are plenty other empty ones. I turn to give a piece of my mind, but pause when I see agent Leon Kennedy waving over the bartender, he orders a bottle of whiskey before glancing at me out of the corner of his eyes. "Wanna share? You look like you need one." He gruffly says, and I'm glad for his honesty.
"Sure," I drawl, reaching over the bar to grab an extra glass. The bartender comes back with the bottle then Leon pours us both a drink, I watch the amber liquid fill to the top of Leon's glass before he screws the cap back on.
"Damn, what's haunting you?" I sarcastically joke, grabbing my own glass and swishing the drink around before I down most of it in one go. Leon watches me curiously before doing the same, he huffs as his finger traces the rim of the glass, his eyes focused downwards.
"You have no idea." He finally mumbles after a minute or so. I raise an eyebrow and finish my drink, then turn towards him and clap my hands together.
"Try me." I force a smile, for some reason Leon's company isn't exactly unwelcome despite my want to be alone. Leon gives me a pointed look then fill his glass again, sliding the bottle to me after, but I don't pour any more.
"You heard of Raccoon City? I was there, and I saw and heard some things that I'll never forget. Nevermind about hautning, these memories are my fucking shadow." He murmurs, his demeanour changes cold but the goosebumps on my arms prove I'm more shaken by the revelation.
"Ironically enough, you're not the only traumatised one here, I was there too." I breathe out, feeling somewhat relief and fear from confessing. Leon's eyes widen as he swivels his head to me.
"Bullshit." He frowns.
I cross my arms defensively, it's not like I enjoy talking about this at the best of times, yet alone when I'm practically being questioned about it. I nod and take a deep breath before beginning. "September 1998, I was a new journalist working for the paper, I was at RPD trying to dig up dirt on police chief Brian Irons, apparently he was doing some shady shit and I wanted to know what, anyway I was in the station when it got overrun. Cops were shooting, people were screaming, until they weren't..." I lead off, shuddering at the memories.
Leon surpringly reaches out to put his hand on my arm, but I flinch away and scowl at him. "I don't need your pity." I snap.
Leon leans back, holding his hands up in a surrender. "Fair enough, but it seems like you need a friend."
I scoff and stand up, my legs wobble but I catch myself on the bar, Leon stands too as if to follow me. "Don't fucking judge me, I don't need anyone."
"I'm not, I just know how lonely life can be when nobody truly understands what you've been through, they say they get it but how could they if they haven't seen what we have?" Leon calmly says. I slump at his true words, they're more relatable then anything I've heard for a long time.
I stare at Leon as he stares at me back, both of us waiting for the other to do something, when I finally sit back at the bar Leon follows. I pour another drink as Leon watches, then we begin to open up slowly about that dreadful night in Raccoon, drinking and telling scary stories, if only they were scary stories and not an actual part of my past.
By time we're done the bottle is long gone and it's late, Leon and I stumble our way to the elevator, laughing as I try to press the button but I'm touching thin air, my vision blurry as I lean on Leon's arm that's wrapped around me.
"It feels good to get it all out," I slur as Leon gazes down at me, his eyes are still fairly clear and I can't work out if it's because of his tolerance to alcohol or the fact I drank more than him, "you and I are the same," Leon tilts his head as we wait for the elevator, "we're so fucked up." I burst into laughter as we step in and head up to my floor, Leon practically drags me at this point.
Somehow we reach my room and I grab the key card, but I'm too dizzy to stand and swipe. Leon sets me against the wall then unlocks the door, after he comes back for me and tries to pull me up, but my eyes are dropping and I think I'm passing out.
"Not on the floor you don't." Leon sighs, scooping me up and carrying me into my room, closing the door behind him. I groan as a headache begins to form, and nausea takes over.
"Ah shit." I mumble, putting my hand over my mouth. Leon gets the idea and carefully carries me to the bathroom just seconds before I'm sick, he kneels behind me and holds my hair as I throw up, my eyes water and I curse myself for drinking too much.
"It's alright," Leon softly coos as I sweat and slump back against him once done, "think you're gonna be sick again?"
I shake my head, just feeling sleepy now. Leon nods and scoops me up again, an action I'm beginning to enjoy. He sets me on the bed and gently takes my shoes off and empties my pockets before wrapping the duvet around me, I snuggle into the warmth and close my eyes.
"I'm just gonna quickly go grab my bag from my room then I'll be back, alright?" He asks.
I nod though I can't see him, then I briefly hear the door close. Before he comes back I'm already unconscious.
********The Next Morning********
I groan as I wake up, my head aching as my muscles feel stiff. My eyes squint against the light as I look around the room, trying to remember how I got here. Brief memories come back to me until I sit up and spy a dozing Leon sitting in a chair opposite me, his head propped up on his hand as he snores lightly. Fuck, now I remember.
I check my phone to see it's around five in the morning, we only have a couple hours until we're heading out on our mission. There's a glass of water and some pills on the bedside table so I take them just as Leon wakes up, for a split second he looks panicked until his eyes land on me.
"Well don't you look beautiful in the morning?" He mumbles deeply, a smile tilts his lips as I flip him off playfully. It seems I'm still comfortable around him. "Before you say anything about last night, I just want you to know that I've been in your place. The drink helps for a while until it doesn't."
I chew on my lip and nod, then feeling awkward I change the subject. "I'm hungry, and desperately need a bacon roll. Or eggs. Or both."
Leon chuckles as he stretches and stands up, he leans towards the bed and sniffs. "And a shower apparently." He teases, I laugh and get out of bed, whacking him in the chest as I begin to rummage through my bag for essentials and my clothes.
"I'll order the food." Leon mumbles as I go have a shower. When I come out there's an array of food set on the table, eagerly I sit down and eat with Leon, both of us talking about random things throughout until we're done.
"Mind if I borrow the shower? I can go back to my room if it's-" I interrupt him with a sharp nod, so he grabs his things and disappears for a few minutes.
When he comes out he's dressed but his wet hair drips down his forehead, I stand up and head over to him, instinctively reaching up and brushing it away as he just watches me with a mix of shock and wonder. "Sorry, I-" I begin, but Leon grabs my arm and pulls me closer, our lips are inches apart as his nose brushes mine, as if asking for permission.
I grant it by leaning up and kissing him hesitantly, at first we're gentle until I wrap my arms around his neck, he deepens the kiss as he snakes an arm around my back, pressing me to him. Before things get too heated a knock on the door breaks the mood. Leon and I pull away from each other, but we're not awkward, if anything this all feels natural, as if we've done this a million times before.
"Hey Y/N, the briefing begins soon." One agent shoots. I call out that I'll be there soon and run a hand through my hair, cursing the universe for terrible timing. Leon smiles at me as I let out a breath as the footsteps outside fade away.
"So, after all this do you wanna grab dinner, I could take you out on a real date?" Leon smoothly asks, waggling his eyebrows.
I press a hand over my mouth to smother my laugh. "Sure, that'd be nice."
Leon lets out a breath of relief and carefully grabs my hand, his eyes meet mine as he softly murmurs "I think we're onto something here."
I grin feeling the same connection, and I realise for the first time in years I don't actually feel completely alone, nor do I want to be.