𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

Kisses and Concussions

The air crackles with tension as I square off against my opponent, my fist clenches as I stand straighter, looking over my shoulder to see the last few people of my team exiting the house. I take a breath, feeling the adrenaline surge through my veins, heightening every sense as I prepare to fight and buy my team some time to get to the extraction point. I lunge forward, aiming a punch to the guy's jaw, but he's quick, ducking under my blow and countering with a powerful punch of his own. Pain explodes across my cheek as his fist connects with my skin, sending me staggering backwards.

 I grunt, refusing to back down and move as I get back into position, setting my feet apart like I was taught. Suddenly he lunges at me, this time making the first move, his body collides with mine as he tackles me to the ground, I don't have time to brace for impact, so my head hits the floor with a harsh thud, the impact reverberating through my skull as my vision dances. I struggle to shake off the disorientation, but do so since my life and the survival of my team depends on it. I ignore the throbbing pain in my head, wrapping my legs around the man I somehow flip us over, then land one painful elbow to his throat, cutting off his air supply. It gives me time to grab his head, giving him the same treatment as I slam it against the floor, knocking him out cold. Panting I fall backwards, feeling sick and dizzy, but I need to regroup with my team, I am their leader after all. 

The adrenaline fades as I stumble through empty streets, having to use the walls to support me as I walk in what I hope to be the meeting point. I end up going in circles, frowning as my mind tries to remember the way, then eventually I see a light in one of the abandoned warehouses where we're being picked up from. I uneasily walk to it, hating the way I almost trip and fall before I make it to the door. As soon as I get inside my team of rookies surround me, all checking to see if I'm okay, none of them notice that I'm far from it, and I don't bother correcting them since I'm supposed to be in charge, I can't let them see me weak. More teams come inside, all of us regrouping, but then a familiar voice captures my attention, cutting through my painful haze. 

"Y/N?" Leon says in a frustrated tone, as if he's been calling my name for some time now. I turn, seeing his fuzzy face coming straight for me. I step forwards but then begin to fall, but thankfully his strong arm captures me, pulling me upright as I smile. "Fuck, what happened?" He asks, voice laced with concern. I open my mouth to speak, but instead a small whimper escapes me. Leon's face goes from worried to furious in a matter of seconds. "Who did this to you?" He deeply asks, looking around as if seeing the suspect. I shake my head, grabbing his shoulder to stay on my feet. 

"Some...guy. We went down, and I hit my head." I admit, the agony growing now. I clutch my head, the world getting blurrier by the second. Leon curses again under his breath, wrapping his arm under my shoulders as he lifts me, taking most of my weight. He turns to my team, an authoritative look in his eyes as he glares at the poor rookies. 

"Why wasn't she protected?" Leon demands, brows frowning in anger. They all look to one another, too scared to reply, but I reach out, patting Leon's soft cheek. 

"I told them to run, it's all on me." I whisper, giving my team an apologetic look for bringing them into this. They still look guilty though, and Leon doesn't seem to take my answer. 

"That's bullshit, someone should've had your back and stayed behind. We're all supposed to be a team, and yet you let your leader down when she needed you the most." Leon snaps, at this point he's taking his frustrations out on them rather than the culprit who hurt me. I grab Leon's face harder, forcing him to look at me, and immediately his eyes soften. Shaking his head he begins to help me walk to the corner of the warehouse, where a makeshift medical station is set up. Leon blocks the view with some barriers, then he sets me on the floor, crouching down as he looks deeply into my eyes. 

"You've got a concussion, I think it's minor." He mumbles, running a hand over his face as he sighs. His gruff personality is completely gone now, replaced with tender care and love. He grabs an ice pack, holding it to my head as he passes me some strong painkillers and some water, which I take quickly. I wince at the coolness of the ice, earning an apology from Leon, then when he pulls it away he curses, seeing a bit of blood. 

"Head wounds bleed worse than anything, I'm fine." I mumble, eyes drooping as my head feels heavy. Leon catches my head before it hits the wall behind me, his hand a warm contrast to the ice. 

"Damn it Y/N, you always make me worry." He huffs, grabbing some supplies to clean my wound. I shrug, trying for a smile but it ends up as a wince as he begins to dab at my wound, carefully moving my hair out of the way. He then holds something there to staunch the bleeding, his face inches from mine as he sits between my legs, his arm caging me into the corner so I feel safe yet fuzzy still. The painkillers soon kick in, and the fog in my mind begins to lift a little along with the pain, a sense of clarity comes back, something I've missed the past...however long it's been. 

"Think I'm back to the land on the living now." I weakly say, trying to lighten the mood. Leon's lips curve as he nods, then he removes the cloth, the bleeding slowed for now, I'll probably have to get it checked out by a professional when we're back home soon. "Thank you for helping me."

Leon's hand cups my cheek as he leans in, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I close my eyes. "Anytime. I'll be here for you whenever you need me." His arms wrap around me as I lean into him, savouring the feel of him before we have to break apart and pretend to be nothing more than colleagues again, but for now I allow myself some comfort from him.