𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

Lipstick Kisses To Keep

Leon usually packs for his missions quietly, I'm usually out of the way as he prepares to leave and reaches within himself to find that 'Agent Kennedy' mindset rather than my loving and kind Leon. Today's different though, as he paces around the house grabbing the things he needs whilst cleaning up after himself, he keeps stopping to come to me, giving me a kiss or a quick hug. A few times he asks what I'm up to and if I'm okay. It's peculiar, and I wonder if this time he really doesn't want to leave me.

I search his face as he sits next to me on the sofa after finally getting his bags ready, a look of apprehension crosses his face as he glances at his watch. His knee bounces as some trash TV plays in the background, Leon's far from focused like he usually is by now, and I know something is bothering him. I clear my throat, gaining his attention. His eyes flick to mine, and a defeated sigh comes from his mouth. 

"I'm not being very discreet about it, am I?" Leon huffs, adding a small smile to let me know it's nothing serious. I shake my head, scooting closer to him as his arm wraps around my shoulders, I watch the look of uncertainty flicker in his eyes, a small blush covers his cheeks as he hesitates to spit it out, but when I cover his hand with my own in a silent reassurance, Leon talks. "It's just...when I'm with a team I always see that they've got reminders of their loved ones, and I feel like I should have something too. I miss you a lot when I'm gone, in a way I guess I feel left out." He adds a little self-condescending laugh at the end of it, but I don't agree at all. 

I frown, shaking my head as he listens to me. "That's nothing to be ashamed or sad about Leon, I wish we'd thought of the idea sooner, especially since I'm surrounded by your things," I smile, waving a hand around our house as if to exaggerate the point. I pinch my lips together as I try to think of something I could give Leon that would remind him of me. "A photo? One of my rings?" 

Leon shakes his head, eyes widening. "It can't be anything like that, nothing that has obvious links to who you are, you know, just in case." I don't even want to think of what he means when he says that, but regardless this man has tugged at my heartstrings and now he's not leaving until I've given him something. I grab my everyday bag, rifling through the various papers, scrunchies and my purse, I find some old gum but I don't think that's a decent reminder. My eyes snag on a tube of lipstick, but then another idea comes to mind. 

I grab the lipstick, it's one of my many I own since it's my favourite, then I carefully apply it as Leon arches a brow, but his eyes dart to my lips, mind clearly drifting to other places and sweet gestures are forgotten. I glance at him, a knowing smile curves my mouth, then I rip a piece of paper from one of my notebooks, then with vigour I kiss it, leaving a perfect imprint of my lips. For extra measure I spray a few spritzes of my perfume onto it too, then pass it to Leon who's admiring my work. 

"What's this supposed to mean?" He asks, looking so cutely confused. I feel a small blush creep on my cheeks from the intimate gesture, but nonetheless I explain.

"It's a kiss from me," I softly murmur, "so you'll always have a piece of me, wherever you go." Leon's mouth tugs up as he nods, then he grabs his wallet and carefully places the 'kiss' inside of the clear plastic part where a picture would usually rest. He stares at it with a fond look, then he finally sets it down and pulls me in for a hug. 

"It's perfect, thank you so much." He mumbles, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. We stay like that until Leon pulls back, a playful look on his face now. "Any chance I can get another kiss before I leave?" He grins. I roll my eyes, but lean in and peck his lips anyway in a sweet and lingering goodbye kiss. It lasts nowhere near as long as I want it to, but Leon has places to be and people to save. 

Leon's POV: 

There's something off about this mission, and the crew around me, but I can't exactly jump out of the submarine and swim all the way up to the surface. I sit in the break room, the humming of the engines and electrics filling the empty room, and now more than ever do I just want to go home and be back in the arms of my woman. The door opens and Jason walks in, taking the seat opposite me as my wallet rests in my fingers, my eyes are glued to the 'kiss' Y/N gave me. Jason looks over, leaning over the table as he observes the cut out piece of paper. 

"Huh, so you've got a girl waiting for you back home?" He muses, tone laced with curiosity. I let my gaze linger on the kiss for a beat longer before looking up, seeing the bigger man wait for my reply. I nod, my thumb brushing over the lipstick stained onto the paper.

"Yeah," I reply with pride, I feel my heart swell with love for her, and I realise now how much I fucking adore her. "She doesn't know it yet, but one day she's gonna be my wife. If she'll have me." I add, wanting the world to know that I'm the luckiest man alive, and even if one other knows it's enough for me. 

Jason smiles at me, a silent understanding passing between us as he nods and glances away, I wonder if he's got someone who loves him too, or whether there's something going on between him and Shen Mai, they seem pretty close. "Glad to hear it Leon. Love is a strong and powerful feeling, but you know what else has power? Fear. I bet you get pretty scared of losing her."

My head rings out warning bells at his sudden dark tone. My brows knit together as I slip my wallet back into my jeans, somehow hiding the 'kiss' away as if the darkness lingering around will taint it. "I do, but then I remember how I'd die protecting her, and that nothing will stop me from ever getting back to her." I say with determination, feeling protective and defensive. "In cases like that, love trumps fear, I'm not afraid to die if it's for her."

Jason's eyes linger on mine for a beat longer, then he nods, leaning back in his chair as if observing me. I stare back, then decide I've had enough of playing 'who's got the better philosophy', so I mumble a "I'm gonna go" as I stand and head out of there.