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Leon watched as wiring tore and sparks scattered in the air. He didn’t know how much of the ARK complex was structurally damaged, but the room they were in was collapsing at the edges. If one of the ceiling panels came down, depending on where it landed and what was above them, that could be their way out. Provided it didn't crush them first.
Even in all the noise of the building struggling to not fall apart, he could hear Grace shift behind him — a muffled, aborted noise of pain.
He could carry her. That wouldn’t be an issue. But he didn’t have a path, didn’t know what other monsters might still be around. If he could just figure out a route, one as safe as possible, then they could both get out. His line to Sherry was dead. A building collapsing would be the thing to cut off his support. He could —
“There’s no way out, is there?”
Not fear. Not quite despair.
Resignation.
Leon felt something in him tightened. Resignation was worse, somehow. He turned to look at her; bruised and battered, her hand over her stomach wound shook just a little. She’d cried out in pain at being moved by him, the sound still echoed in his ears. He hated it, but it had woken her from unconsciousness. At least she wasn’t coughing up blood. Small mercies. She held his gaze for a few seconds, before her attention shifted, taking in the destruction around them. He could see the gears in her mind turning. He hadn’t seen much from the files they’d found on Gideons’ computer, but there’d been a picture of Grace along with a performance review — she was an excellent analyst. He knew that though, considering she had put together the pieces making up the mystery of Elpis when neither he nor Sherry had. He owed Grace his life, and Sherrys'.
And now, her mind turned. She saw the same problems with escaping that he had.
But that wasn’t what was on her mind. Not when she looked back at him, iron hidden in those blue bambi eyes. Iron behind exhaustion. She’d been brave in a nightmare for so long, and he could see the way it pulled her down. Knew the way it felt to have that exhaustion creep into your bones. He felt that something inside him twist more.
“Leon…can you make it out? Y-you look like you’re better s-s-so you could make it. Right?”
He knew that look. One that asked for hope, that something good could happen after all the bad. A self-sacrificing type of hope. He’d felt the same way when he saw Zeno lunge for her after she’d entered the password. His memory was foggy of it, but the feeling was clear — he would have done anything he could to get her out. And if the cost was his own life, well…. That was more than fine with him.
They were both alive though, and he wasn’t about to let her go. Not to save his own skin, not even though she was the one asking.
She looked away, taking in the loose wires with sparking ends. Maybe she’d seen his answer in his eyes. He pushed down the tight, sharp and twisting thing in his chest (that felt far too much like something he hadn’t felt in decades) and took a step. “Well, I’m not gonna leave your side.” 3, 4 more steps was all it took for him to be back at her right side.
Grace watched him. Her eyes were wider than before, lips parted in a small ‘o’ shape, confusion and relief warring across her expression. If he looked close enough, he could see that her shoulders were trembling. There were goosebumps on her arms. He thought of his warm, lined jacket — he hadn't found it again after Victors shoddy interrogation — but wished he could give it to Grace.
Shifting from his knee, he kept his voice calm, steady. Whatever it took to reassure her — she wasn’t alone. “I’m gonna sit right here with you.” He didn't miss the way her eyes fluttered, even as she ducked her head, looking down at her stomach wound.
They were lucky that it wasn't much bigger. He had a few medical supplies left, he could —
A sharp sputtering hit the air. Grace flinched, almost imperceptibly if he wasn't focused on her. The lights were going out. He didn't spare them a second glance.
He'd barely been able to get a good look at her the first time he'd found her, too distracted by the dead monster and the feeling that something was about to happen. He'd been right, and more annoyed than truly concerned at the time. Well, until he'd taken more then a couple seconds to focus on her. She had to get out — more than figuring out how Victor was connected to the RCS, he'd wanted to make sure she got out. He had wanted to save her — and when was the last time he'd felt like that?
He shoved down the memory of the nurse who'd greeted him. He could say that he was getting slow with age, but it was a flimsy excuse at best. Especially compared to the stunts he pulled getting to Graces' side at the chapel.
Their brief run ins, separated by grilles or incoming zombies hadn't allowed for much either. Not until they'd reunited here, when he was more than half way in the grave and needed help to walk — help she'd been all too willing to give. He couldn't stop the way the thing inside his chest twisted at the memory. The way she offered him support as easily as breathing, doing what she could to offer him reassurance and comfort in the same way he had back in the burning chapel.
She'd put on a brave face, looping his arm over her shoulders and half dragging him with her all the way back to Elpis. He could feel the way she trembled, right before his leg gave out from under him.
Everything had been done in rush. The only two times they'd been able to slow down was after their first escape from Zeno, and then again in the slow walk back to the chamber. And now, body cured and adrenaline settled, Leon allowed himself a moment to be selfish.
In the last of the flickering, cold industrial lights, Leon looked at Grace. He took in the bags under her eyes, the slight slope to her nose. She had two freckles beneath her right ear, which he only saw when he'd sat down, her platinum blonde hair just long enough to cover them. And her eyes — a pale blue he couldn't compare anything too. Even when she wasn't looking at him, Leon felt that thing inside of him twist. It was persistant in its' sharpness.
He was being selfish. Taking these precious few seconds to just look at her.
Darkness enveloped them.
When was the last time Leon had done something for himself that wasn't half a coping mechanism and half self destructive tendencies? Almost 3 decades he'd spent in service of others, and he doubted DSO would let him retired — not going based off what Sherry had told. So, maybe he should have been hauling himself up through rubble to try and find a path to the surface, leaving Grace behind in the process. That's probably close to what he would have normally.
But he was tired. And he had wanted to look, to take in the little details of one Grace Ashcroft, before the lights went out. He hoped it wouldn't be the last time.
Graces' breathing changed. She shifted towards him, only by a hair. It snapped Leon out of his reverie. He moved closer, turning his flashlight on. From the shakiness of Grace's exhale, he'd made the right call, slowly sweeping the room with light, before pointing it carefully at her stomach. "We're okay. But I want to take a look at that, just in case."
Her gaze snapped to him, whatever fear or panic that had threatened to build halted in place. "O-oh, right." Her hand shook as she pulled it away, partially dried blood peeling from both her palm and her shirt as she did. "It doesn't hurt too much."
He nodded, peeling her shirt up just enough to get a look at the wound. She could still be on an adrenaline high, which would dull the pain in a way medicine couldn't. He had disinfectant, a patch, and a bandage. No painkillers, though he would have hesitated giving her those anyway, uncertain of just exactly how much blood she'd lost over the course of the day.
At that thought, he subtly checked his watch. It still worked, luckily, and confirmed what he had thought. He been caught up in this mess for more than 24 hours. Which meant Grace had an extra hour or two on him in dealing with it all. Glancing up at her, he caught her looking at him. She blinked, immediately looking away to watch his hands as he pulled out the disinfectant and wet a torn, clean cloth with it. Her whole body trembled, a quiet hiss escaping her when he pressed the cloth against the wound.
Leon grimaced a little. "Easy now, Grace." There wasn't much anyone could do to dull the sting, but he still didn't enjoy seeing her in pain.
A sharp inhale, followed by a nod. "S-sorry. I think um, my body won't stop s-s-shaking."
He nodded again. The wound was clean as it was going to get, so he took a moment to rest his hand on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Adrenaline crash. Makes sense, given," he gestured to the surrounding carnage, "This hell of a mess."
Taking her bloodstained hand in his, he gently curled her fingers around the flashlight. "Hold this for me. I need to lift your shirt up for this."
Leon did not miss the way she inhaled, sharply, nor the way her body tensed as he lifted her shirt up to her ribs. He kept his hands steady, placing the bandage above her hand to start. Leaning closer, so as to wrap it around her abdomen, Leon indulged. He still had his gloves on, so he couldn't feel the softness of her body, nor the warmth of it beneath his hands, but he could feel the slight trembling coursing through her. Could smell, beneath all the sweat and iron, something like ecucalyptus, mint, and rain.
"A-are you alright?" She was looking at him again, rather than his hands. Looking for any trace of the black, rot like symptoms he'd been showing just a few minutes ago. It took her mind off the situation they were in, even as she hissed quietly when he tightened the bandage a touch.
With the bandage anchored, he tapped her hand. If it helped her, he didn't mind filling the silence. He smirked, "Me? Feel like a million bucks."
Miraculously, she laughed. A quiet and brief thing, but genuine. Tension eased out of her shoulders as she shook her head. Her smile nearly stole all the breath from his lungs. He'd been mid wrap, Grace held awkwardly between his arms, their faces so close…. Pale, bright blue eyes and soft lips. Her teasing voice ground him to reality, but the hand she briefly rested again his shoulder nearly untethered him again. "I'm glad. I guess you'll be helping me walk this time, hmm?"
Leon snorted at that. "Grace, I'd just carry you." He caught her expression, shyness mixed with surprise and something else he wasn't going to put a name to just yet (oh what a fool he was). He couldn't help but smirk again. God what was she doing to him? He didn't show off, not usually or intentionally. At least not anymore. And yet, here he was, tempted to flex his arms just a little, just to see what her reaction would be.
Whether she could tell that was debatable, considering how she chewed her bottom lip. "W-wouldn't that be…more troublesome? You w-wouldn't be able to hold your gun a-and—"
He really didn't mean to, but Leon couldn't stop the short laugh that left him. The more she spoke, now that the adrenaline had settled and the only danger present was the unstable structure around them, the more Leon felt himself settle, tension falling away. "Grace, the antiviral worked. I feel better than I have in ages. I could probably carry you with one arm, in the right position, and if you helped by holding on to me."
Tying the bandage off, he leaned back just a touch, just so that he could sit down again. As much as he wanted to be close to her, he knew she'd been through one hell of a day and didn't want to overwhelm her.
Grace was looking at him again; eyes wide and lips looking oh so inviting. Leon stayed mostly where he was, watching the gears in her mind turn. He could wait, for as long as she needed.
She was biting her lip now, and he had to keep himself focused on her eyes. He wasn't going to let his mind wander until they were out of this mess. Maybe she'd be willing to get dinner, after all the paperwork and debriefings were over with. Whatever she was thinking about it, Grace lowered her gaze. She shook her head a little, staring at his arm as she passed the flashlight back. "W-well. If only I'd looked for blueprints earlier. We could've had a path out." A laugh followed. Not like the genuine one he'd surprised out of her, but a laugh nontheless.
Leon hummed under his breath. There was something in that laugh, in her voice, a feeling that he knew too well. Regret. She was hiding it as well as she could, but Leon knew he would never forget the sound of her sobs. The way she had clawed at his forearm, begging him to stop firing at Emily, even though the girl had turned into something else and been on the verge of attack. Closing his eyes, Leon breathed deeply.
He hadn't hit any of the girls vitals, aiming for the shoulders, the legs. Trying to slow her down, not kill her. Maybe he'd be able to do things right this time. If they got out of this mess, he'd tell Grace. Not now, not when they were stuck in the dark.
Gently, he rested his hand on her shoulder. Damn it, he really wished he had his coat on hand. She was so cold. "If I'd thought about it, I could've had tech support help us out." Gesturing to his ear, he saw the click in her brain. "But I guess they don't have great bluetooth service down here. Looks like even the Connections cuts corners."
Grace bit her lip, shaking her head as a smile bloomed. "Cutting edge techology paid for by a company that cuts corners for costs. How…unique of them."
There it was. She wasn't fully relaxed, but she seemed more at ease. Enough so that Leon wiggled the flashlight to get her attention a little. "I'm gonna turn this off for now. Don't want to run out of battery just yet." He gave her another once over before he did, "You got any other injuries I can take care of?"
Her expression didn't change much, but he saw the way she tensed up, eyes narrowing with apprehension. The dark hadn't been kind to her, and as much as Leon didn't want to cut off the light that gave her comfort, he did want to find a way out. And they would need the flashlight for that.
Unless Sherry had his location locked before he went dark. That would be the best outcome.
"Th-that's a good point. And I-I'm okay." She met his eyes, her ensuing smile hesitant but there. She steadied under his hand, the tremble of her shoulders subsiding. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and nodded. It was more to herself than to him, but when she opened her eyes and met his, her smile was stronger. "Really Leon, I'll be okay. You're here after all."
She knew that he wanted to double check, without him speaking, and that alone made him feel warm inside. And then she just had to go and make that warmth flood him, near overwhelm him as the thing inside his chest twisted violently. God he wanted to take her in his arms and promise that she'd never have to be alone again. That she'd be safe from nightmares like the one she'd endured.
'Don't be foolish, Kennedy' a voice inside him whispered, 'You can't promise that. Not in your line of work.'
Quelling the voice, Leon focused on the warmth Grace brought to life in him. Smiling, he gave her a nod.
The dark consumed them again.
Flashlight now tucked in his belt again, he had to wait a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dark. He couldn't see her features fully now, but he could at least see shapes decently enough. Grace shuffled a little closer to him, and he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
They stayed that way for some time. Leon's hand on her shoulder, offering Grace whatever silent reassurance and support he could. In the quiet dark, Leon focused on the sound of Grace breathing. If he didn't think about it too much, he could convince himself it was only because that was the best way to make sure her condition didn't worsen.
He didn't know how much time passed, letting his mind drift here and there. He hoped Sherry had a lock on his location. She had a dose of antiviral waiting for her after all. But mostly he thought about Grace. Sherry had mentioned reading through her file while he was busy finding a way to access the old Raccoon City Highway. He should have asked her to share, yet part of him wanted to learn from the woman herself, rather than whatever information Gideon and Zeno had compiled.
He just… couldn't find the words to ask.
In his defense, it had been a long day. Even longer for Grace, and he didn't want to overwhelm her when she had already been pushed past the breaking point for most normal people. Maybe he could learn though, over dinner. Somewhere nice and peaceful, away from all the gore and bioweapons.
"Leon?" Her voice was quiet, hesitant in a way he hadn't heard before. Nervous? Absolutely (though he quietly thought her stutter was charming). Anxious and panicked? Of course, she was only human after all. But hesitant? No.
He hummed, the sound easy to hear in the dark, and moved his hand to her other shoulder, letting his arm rest against her back. Hopefully he could provide her a little warmth. "Yeah? Is the pain getting worse?"
"No. It's alright. I-I just…." Her voice trailed off. In the gloom, he only barely make out that she was moving her hands. Fiddling, no doubt. She seemed like the type.
Maybe she would like a stim toy, something small but enough to keep her from fiddling with her fingers. It wouldn't be too strange a gift, right? He let the seconds tick by. Gave her shoulder another gentle squeeze.
I'm here. I won't leave you.
He would say those words as many as she needed to hear them.
"Nevermind. It was a s-silly thought."
"I doubt it. What's on your mind?" After a few more seconds of quiet, he shifted just a little to be closer to her. Only a few inches separated them now. "You can talk to me, I promise." He'd make a joke about how he wouldn't bite, but even for him, now didn't seem like the time. Not when he knew she had a nasty bitemark on her left arm.
"I just wondered…could we use the flashlight? J-just for a couple seconds, I-I know it's stupid but…just to make sure…."
Before she'd even finished talking he clicked the light on. It wasn't much, but he did the same sweeping path as before, illuminating the rubble surrounding them. He could see her a little better in the dim light. He'd been right that she was fiddling, but it looked partially like she'd been trying to peel the dried blood of her hand. If only they had a water bottle.
She looked his way, a brief smile as she met his eyes. "Thank you. I'm okay now."
He nodded, taking one good look at her before turning the light off. In the moments that passed immediately after, he felt her shoulders sag. She was exhausted. Pushed to her breaking point, past it, and back to the edge again. "Here, lean on me." He gently, slowly pulled her towards him.
"W-what?"
She could stop him if she wanted, and though surprise colored her voice, Grace let herself be pulled by him.
Her head rested against his collarbone, body pulled closer to him, though not fully touching. As much as she leaned into it, Leon wanted to make sure she could still choose how close they were. Wanted to make sure he wouldn't overwhelm her. "It's easier to wait in the dark if you close your eyes. I'm here. I won't let anything hurt you."
Grace stiffened for a moment. And then she was there, pressed against his side fully. She was cold, but the persistent subtle shivering practically vanished once he shifted his arm to hold her more firmly. He didn't squeeze, mindful of her stomach wound, but he made sure to keep his hold on her strong enough that she could relax.
It felt nice. Better than nice, really. Leon couldn’t remember the last time he’d held someone, but he knew it had never felt so right. Grace seemed to tuck perfectly against his side, like she was meant to be there.
Sharp cracking sounds came from above them. Grace jumped at the sound, pulling away from Leon, her hand instinctively reaching for the gun she no longer had. Leon leaned forward, shifting his position into a low crouch. He stayed right by Graces' side, but if there was a threat, he'd be able to move easily to protect her.
Figures with helmet lights descended, illuminating the dark with sweeping lights. The armed soldier who landed directly in front of them looked familiar, but Leon couldn't quite place him. He shifted, keeping Grace partially behind him, his hand hovering over the Requiem.
"Leon S. Kennedy?"
"Depends who's asking."
Apparently, that was enough of an affirmative. The soldier approached, speaking through comms to someone that Leon had a growing suspicion he knew. Chris Redfield had a message for him, and he had sent the Wolves to deliver it. Leon had a feeling he owed Sherry one.
Instead, he turned to Grace. "BSAA. We'll be fine now." He helped her up, letting her lean against as they made their way to the repelling cables. They couldn't use the same one, so Leon sent Grace up first. With a nod to the Wolf nearby, he ascended afterwards. That brief separation was all it took though.
The second he was pulled from the caved in roof, he was pulled aside for a brief summary of what had happened, then the message from Chris was actually delivered. Being above ground, his earpiece flickered back to life, and Sherry immediately called him.
"Leon! There you are! I heard Grace say Elpis was an antiviral before you went dark. Are you okay?"
Now that he would out, Leon actually took note of how he felt. Sitting with Grace, part of what he had said was meant to be a reassurance, but he hadn't really thought about how his body felt until now. He hadn't lied, he just hadn't actually thought through much of what he said. Surveying the operation now occurring around him, he walked through it all with an ease he hadn't felt in ages. There was the constant exhaustion he dealt with, nearly 3 decades of hunting down BOWs left its' mark, but he didn't feel weighed down by it like had before. "I'll be damned. Can't believe that antiviral actually worked. I feel better than I have in ages."
Sherry let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god. I'm glad you're okay."
"Got a dose with your name on it. You'll be back in action in no time."
"Thank you Leon." Her smile could be heard through the line. "I guess it went well this time around, huh?"
Leon scoffed at that. "Would have been a hell of a lot smoother if Chris hadn't been so late to the party."
Sherry laughed at that. The tension that been wearing both of them down the last few months, the last year, was slowly falling away as reality set in. "Where is Chris anyway?"
Shaking his head, Leon shrugged even though she couldn't see it. "I got no idea. I'm sure we'll run into him at some point."
Sweeping the area, Leon caught sight of chopper blades in his peripherial vision. Turning towards it, he stopped in his tracks. Grace sat on the edge of the chopper, a light blue shock blanket around her shoulder. One of the Wolves passed her a cup of something warm — coffee most likely — before walking away.
Grace took the cup with a polite smile, though she dropped her head as soon as he walked away. She stared into the cup, and Leon silently cursed. He had told her he wouldn't leave her side, and yet as soon as they were rescued he did just that.
Sherry noted his silence. "I think we all owe Grace one. Chris too. She pieced the puzzle together before any of us." A hint of admiration in her tone, a touch of irritation that she herself had missed the clues, and gratitude. Sherry was quiet for a second before adding, "I hope I can thank her in person after this. How's she doing?"
"I'm going to go see. I'll call you back." He heard her laughing before he closed the line. She was going to tease him later, but he didn't find it in him to care at the moment. Not when Grace, beautiful and brave despite the grime and horror, looked so alone.
He kept his back straight, which wasn't hard to do anymore, and made sure his footsteps could be heard. "It's over then."
Grace looked up, her features relaxing a little at the sight of him. "Yeah." She was tired, but no longer resigned. It was amazing really, how much she had endured, and how she was still staying strong even she must be exhausted. There were bags under her eyes, but she looked alert as ever.
Leon would take the win where he could find it.
"Elpis really was our last hope." She didn't quite meet his gaze, her eyes darting around, keeping track of all the bodies around them. Maybe she was a little too alert. None of them could blame her.
Rolling his shoulders, he couldn't help the huff that escaped him, "Well, let's pray Umbrella hasn't left us any more nasty surprises." He really, really hoped this was the last that damn defunct company would cause him trouble. But he doubted he was that lucky.
Silence lingered in the air for a moment. "I wish we could've saved Emily." She spoke quickly, like she had to get the words out in one rush of air, her eyes briefly meeting his before she looked down into her cup.
Leon felt regret sink in, moreso than the exhaustion had. Grace no longer sounded angry, the rage probably burned out of her from all the stress, the settled in the dark while wondering about their chances of survival. And from the brief glance he got, she didn't seem to hold any blame against him anymore. Which as more than he deserved. Grace truly lived up to her name, in more ways than one.
He closed the distance between them. He could've rested his hand on her shoulder or thigh, and it was only through force of will that he didn't reach out to her, didn't lean in to feel her against his body once more. He wasn't one to give false hope if he could avoid it, and now that they weren't stuck underground, he couldn't bear to see her carry the guilt over Emily's condition anymore. "Grace," she lifted her head to meet his eyes as he spoke, "I didn't hit any of her vitals. She could still be alive."
Grace's eyes were beautiful. Pale blue, bambi-esc in her surprise. She was closely guarding her hope, and Leon didn't mind sharing what he had left with her. She had been hope. For him, for Sherry, for Emily. Even when she had felt hopeless, she still found a way to gift and inspire hope in others.
Setting the cup aside, she leaned forward. Breathing shakily, a tremor ran through her. "W-what are you saying?" Her expression said more; 'please don't be a lie, please let this work'.
"Maybe we can save her." Just this once, maybe the world would be kind to people like them. Just this once, maybe they didn't have to just be the ones who survived, but the ones who helped save anothers' life.
Grace held his gaze, emotions flickering in her eyes quickly; hope, relief, disbelief. Determination that shifted into something else. Something behind all the hope for Emily's future, and the determinaion to help one little girl have a chance for a normal life after all the nightmares. Grace Ashcroft looked at him, and Leon felt the heavy thing that had first come to life in his chest hours ago, that had settled while they waited in the dark, suddenly ignite.
Grace Ashcroft, he realized, was going to ruin him if he wasn't careful. From the way his heartbeat echoed in his own ears, Leon was almost convinced she already had.
His timing was the worst, but maybe that was for the best. Whatever reassurance he'd been hoping to give her faded away, his lips pulling upwards into a smirk. He held her gaze. Leon Kennedy, a man of service, wanted to be selfish. Just this once. He looked at Grace, and let the something else he had been feeling, hidden in the dark, show through.
The sound of orders called through the air dimly broke through his thoughts. No matter how much he wanted to pull Grace close right now, his mission wasn't quite over. He gave her a little nod, smirk growing when she returned it.
"Mr. Kennedy! Your ride is here."
There was a question in Graces' eyes at that, but she didn't press for an answer. There was a desire in her eyes, and Leon promised he would make good on his own. Even so, he gave her the answer to her easily.
"I've got a dose with Emily's name on it. You'll be safe with the wolves."
"I know. Thank you, Leon."
One more task, and then his mission was over. There was a debrief waiting for him, and a mission report that would need to be written up. But first, there was a little girl who he needed to make amends to, and a safehouse located near Graces' office that he was going to check into. He wouldn't far from her, not if he could help it.
Leon hopped into the chopper as it lifted off. With one last glance to the slowly shrinking figure of Grace, he knew exactly what she had awoken in him. Feelings he had never thought he'd feel again
There was nothing he wouldn't do, if it meant he could stay by Grace's side for as long as she would let him.