Stalemate | LEON S. KENNEDY

2 - The Shopkeeper

A knock sounded on your door, and you groaned. Training had been brutal. Like hell. You let out a sigh, pushing yourself out of your bed and wobbling to your door.

"Can I help — Oh, Leon," you gave him a smile.

A few months into training, and he was falling apart. His hair was due for a cut, and he had deep circles under his eyes. His baby faced cheeks pulled up into a smile.

"Hi... Can I come in?"

"Of course."

You stepped aside, and he quickly shuffled in, you closing the door behind him. You turned to ask him if he wanted to take a nap with you, but he cut you off with a deep and passionate kiss. It was rushed and innocent, fingers brushing against your cheekbones. When he pulled away, his eyes were wide and his cheeks were flushed.

You let out a chuckle, and reached for the hem of your shirt. Who were you to deny him? You let the fabric fall to the ground, and Leon let out a shudder, pulling you closer.

And you stayed like that for a bit.

It amazed you that he had come here for one thing, and yet he still took the time to just... hold you, and let you know how safe you were with him.

"I think I love you," he whispered into your neck.

"What?"

"I love you," he pulled back, his face serious.

You looked him up and down, before nodding.

"I love you too. But, there's something we need to talk about."

Leon gave you a confused glance, and you motioned for him to sit on the bed. He looked so innocent like this, eyes wide and lips parted as he looked up at you. You could barely resist.

And you didn't.

What you had to say could wait, you thought as you pounced on him.

<•>

The door opened to a dimly lit platform, which you walked down. At one corner, there was a corpse. Leon pulled a kitchen knife from it, and you turned past him.

"We need to hurry to the church," you urged him, and he nodded.

He took the lead, seeing as though he had the only weapon. He jogged up the stairs, which led to a gate. You could hear angry Spanish conversation on the other side. Leon pushed the door open, and tiptoed towards the angry villager. He threw his hand over his mouth, and stabbed him from behind. The grate that the villager had been angrily guarding made you pissed.

"Our gear's behind there," you muttered, jabbing a thumb at the room behind the grate.

You could hear another villager, and exited the room. He heard the door open, screaming some not-so-nice words at you as Leon charged forward, taking him out. You hopped through the broken window, and you heard another. You ducked, before charging after him. Leon opened his mouth to advise against it — since, you know, you were unarmed — but didn't have time.

With your running start, you leaped, slamming your foot into the villagers face. When he hit the ground, the sole of your boot still pressed on his nose, you let gravity do the rest, smashing his skull in with a grotesque CRACK.

You wiped some blood from your cheek, and Leon walked up to meet you. He stared at you, seemingly in shock, before nodding, and taking the lead again. The door that led directly into the room where your gear was stored was locked, but there was a wheel on your side. Leon turned it, and the door on the other side opened.

Now all you had to do was go back around...

You made it with plenty of time to spare, narrowly avoiding a bear trap as the door slowly creaked to a shut. You located your gear, you and Leon going through to make sure nothing had been taken, before mixing herbs to save space. You unlocked the gated door, pushing it open and jogging to the exit. There was someone on the other side.