Another first day

Ch.2.Night.Out.

"So, you guys still up for drinks?" Chris seems unaffected by the evaluation, turning with a hand on the back of his neck to look my partner and I over, an uncharacteristically bashful look on his face. I scramble to think of a lie, knowing Leon definitely is not still up for drinks, but he speaks before I even get the chance to conjure one up.

"Yeah, let's get going, it's fucking freezing." Chris nods happily, looping his arm through mine and dragging me toward the barrack building, Leon following along on my other side, an incredibly evil glare pointed at the arm linked with mine. I give him a questioning look, wondering why he changed his mind about going out tonight, and he shrugs, continuing to move along without a word. I don't pay much attention to Chris' chattering, breaking his hold on me to head up the stairs, ready to change out of my government issued training clothes, dirty after the hard work I put in today. Chris waves us off, entering the first floor door as we make our way up the stairs.

"Alright, tell me what the hell's going on." I turn to him, crossing my arms and looking up at him, eager to find out what he's thinking.

"We both deserve a drink, after everything. Thing is, I have no idea where a bar's at around here." He shrugs, his casual demeanor seeming forced, my suspicion growing as he grabs onto my hand, pulling me lightly up the stairs.

"You hated Chris not even an hour ago, Leon. You're lying." I yank him back by our clasped hands as we near the door, forcing him to stop and look at me. "Tell me."

"Do you wanna go?" I nod, brows furrowed, and he reaches up to run his hand over my hair, smiling in what I think is meant to be a reassuring way. "Then we're going." He turns back, dragging me along and back toward my new home, a small, dreary room with only the barest necessities inside.

"We don't have to, Leon-"

"Get dressed, princess. I'll be waiting, okay?" He releases me in front of my door, heading a few further down the hall before entering his own, leaving me standing alone in my doorway, confused. I hum annoyedly, wishing he would just tell me exactly what's going on, but enter my room anyway, deciding to just go along with it instead of arguing, since he seems to be in higher spirits than he has the majority of the day.

I close the door lightly behind me, taking the couple steps to my dresser, pulling a pair of black cargos and a white tee from my neatly arranged drawers. The clothes were here when I arrived last night, the government issued clothing the only option I have currently, not having had the time or money to shop since that night in Raccoon city. My current wardrobe is trapped in my apartment, inaccessible due to the lockdown placed on the area following the bombing. It's annoying not to have any of my items, when Leon's request to gather his was granted immediately, his entire apartment boxed and brought here before we even arrived without him even having to lift a finger.

I pull my dirt and sweat ridden shirt over my head, tossing it into the flimsy laundry basket tucked beside the dresser. I pick up my unbranded deodorant, frowning at it before applying my second coat of the day, hoping to god it's able to do its job. A light knock sounds on my door, and I move to open it, my eyes falling on Chris, his falling on my half-naked torso.

"My god-" The door slams back on his face, rushed pounding on the door making me huff out a laugh, his unabashed behavior quite entertaining and relatively harmless. I hear a muffled "What the-?" from behind the thin wood, my partner's trademark words causing a smile to pull at my lips as I yank my new shirt over my head, the material tight, and thankfully not see-through against my skin.

"What the hell 're you doing on the floor?" Chris must've been so distraught he fell to his knees, I guess, and I shake my head lightly, dropping my pants and kicking them off my feet before grabbing my fresh pair.