𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

Following My Heart With You| Request

AN: In this one the Reader takes the place of Ashley, and it opens with the scene on the lift where they discuss/ flirt about being agents together. There's then a time skip of a few years where Reader is an agent and is working with Leon, both of them have grown close to each other but will it lead to anything?

----------------------------------------------------

I walk towards the broken wall, feeling proud of myself for actually being useful for the first time in a while, especially since Leon really needed my help with this. Leon gives me a smile, nodding at me as he takes my side. "You really showed that wall who's boss." He jokes, earning a laugh from me. I've come to appreciate his quirky comments and silly jokes since meeting him earlier today, it's truly made the difference between panicking and staying calm. 

"Yeah, that was actually kind of fun." I reply, following Leon to some kind of lift. I settle in the corner, leaning against the railing as I look around the lit up area, briefly hearing the crashing of the waves in the distance. I tilt my head back, basking in the temporary peace as Leon pulls a lever, sealing a security gate shut, then the lift hums to life. I sneak a look at Leon, who's reloading his gun and checking that his fighting knife is still where it should be. I swallow back the urge to hug him, I've built an attachment to him and feel so grateful for him saving my life so far, but there's something deeper there too. 

Leon looks to me, and for some reason I divert my eyes, feeling a small blush creep up onto my cheeks. Now isn't the time to be swooning over my saviour, but then again, maybe there's other ways to let out a trickle of my feelings. "Everything okay?" Leon asks, eyes searching my face as I narrow my eyes for a second. 

I nod, shrugging up a shoulder casually. "I've just been thinking...we work pretty well together, don't you think?" I ask, hoping Leon won't dismiss me or give me some basic response that essentially says 'I've done more work than you'. Thankfully Leon's eyes soften now that he knows not to be worried about me. He nods, waving a hand up as he holds his gun. 

"Yeah, I'd say we make a good team." Leon replies, arching a brow as if to question where this is all going. I bite my lip, then think 'fuck it' and I keep talking.

"Absolutely! Maybe one day I'll become an agent like you? Wouldn't that be great? We could protect the US from any and all threats." I say with a small laugh, deep down this idea sprouts, and it doesn't sound too bad. It isn't how I imagined my life going, but seeing Leon be a total badass and fight for me has taught me that whilst it isn't easy to save someone's life, it's worth it knowing that the person will be able to live the rest of their life like they should. 

Leon's brows furrow, as if he genuinely hasn't thought of me as an agent. For a second I get worried again, but then his lips quirk up just as the lift reaches the top. He walks past me, gently patting my shoulder. "Is that right? Well, I think with enough training you'd be an amazing agent, but first lets get out of here."

I watch as Leon walks away, my determination fierce from this moment on. Regardless of what happens between Leon and I, I'm positive that I'll stick close to him, not letting him go so easily.

4 Years Later

An Abandoned Mansion...

My footsteps are loud against the plush carpet, a massive contrast to Leon who's got the stealth of a cat. I stifle a sigh, hating that how even after years of constant training and honing the skills I developed from Spain I'm still not as good as him. Every shadow seems ominous, reminding me of the dark shadows of my past, but I shove my fear down, we've got a mission to accomplish. We're here to save a young teenage girl from some kind of cult. As soon as I'd heard about the mission I knew I had to be sent, along with Leon of course. Nobody could empathise more with the girl than myself, and Leon had already done this kind of mission once before. We were the perfect team. 

I look to Leon when we reach a crossroads in one of the many corridors, with me trusting my instincts to take the left, however Leon takes the right. I glance back, both of us giving each other pointed looks, until he purses his lips and turns on his heel, deciding to follow me. "Why this way?" He whispers into the darkness. 

I point down at a small brooch, it's feminine and has got to be the young girls. Leon nods, giving me a small smile. "Nice work, I'm glad I've got you here." We walk down the long hallway, which seems to stretch on forever, until finally I straighten, not sensing any danger as the moonlight is uncovered by the clouds outside, giving us enough light to be safe in. Leon stands taller too, eyes finding mine as we walk side by side. "I'm proud of you for following your heart since those few years ago." He mumbles. 

I slow down, heart racing at the revelation. Leon and I have grown close throughout the years, often spending time together at the cinema or on days out, and we're usually assigned together since my dad, the president, still wants Leon to protect me even with the circumstances of my job. I've become accustomed to my unrequited love, but maybe I shouldn't have, maybe I've left it lingering too long. It feels right to be open, especially with the feeling of Deja vu. 

I swallow thickly, then stop, turning to him. "I did follow my heart," I nod, "but it wasn't to intentionally become an agent. I love the job, but...I love my partner more. I only did all this to stay with you Leon." I confess, heart jackhammering until it begins to crack bit by bit as Leon's face falls. He stares at me, lips parted, and I don't want to see anymore.

I walk away, head held high as I focus on the mission and not the man who's breaking my heart, but I don't get far. Leon rushes forwards, grabbing my wrist with a strength that has me turning to him, then suddenly his lips are on mine, kissing me with such a passion I know that my feelings are returned. I lift onto my toes, savouring this first taste of him and the warmth he has. His arm wraps around my back, pulling me closer until we finally have to break away. We're panting, but both of us wear smiles, until a girlish scream echoes through the night. 

We follow the sound of it, sprinting until we finally reach some kind of medieval dungeon beneath the mansion. The blonde girl is crouched in the corner, tears streaming down her face and a nasty cut on her cheek. I frown, slowly creeping towards her as Leon guards the stairs. I hold my hands up in a surrender, then finally I stop just a short distance away from her, but all of a sudden Leon gives me an urgent look, and I know I've not got time for pleasantries. I grab the girls arm, hefting her up as she sobs and tries to weakly break free. The cultists begin storming down the steps, so Leon takes them out as I pull the girl behind me, guiding her to the exit as Leon defends us. 

"W-Who are you?" The girl cries, falling to the floor when we've temporarily lost the cultists. I crouch down, setting my hand on her shoulder. 

"We're here to rescue you. We're agents sent by the government." 

Her eyes widen as she looks at me, then to Leon who's looking around for danger, his shoulders tense in a sign that means we need to keep moving. "Okay." She mumbles, standing up with my help. "I'm glad you're here, even if your job is terrifying." I smile at her, knowing that only a few years ago I thought the exact same thing about Leon's profession. As if knowing what I'm thinking, Leon looks to me and winks, but then footsteps interrupt his lighthearted reprieve. I grab my own gun this time, fighting anyone who tries to stop us as we all move to the exit of this creepy mansion. 

We make our escape with flourish, a final showdown happens in the main hall, but by then I'm focused and strong, Leon and I defeat the enemies and get the girl out, then it's just a matter of waiting for pickup to come and take us home. We all walk down the dirt path away from the mansion, eyes peeled for danger lurking in the wooded area around us. "What you said earlier," I softly say to break the silence, "about our job being scary? It is, trust me, but it isn't all death and gore." I smile, looking to Leon and think about how he's brought me hope and happiness. He reaches out, taking my hand briefly then presses a kiss to the back of it, before letting it go and continuing with keeping a lookout, but I still observe the way he continues to silently check on me, no doubt searching for invisible injuries. 

The young girl's head swivels between us, her brows raised. "If there's men like him around, there's no wonder you joined." She muses, earning a chuckle from Leon, who by now has more confidence and joy to open up and share his feelings with strangers. 

I laugh with her, my lips tilting up more at the truthfulness of it. I don't regret my choice, and I'm so thankful that something good came out of something so terrifying to me, and now I get to save others like Leon did with me.