Love From The Other Side ☆ Leon S Kennedy X Reader

35 ☆ American Citizen

As we arrive in the USA, Leon kindly gives me the option of staying with him in his apartment for the time-being while I get back on my feet, which is difficult out here. Although, this place might be the richest apartment I've ever set my eyes on! Of course, I eventually agreed. Where else am I supposed to stay until then!? I insist that I sleep on the sofa and he insists that he sleeps on the sofa. I suggest, why don't we both sleep on the sofa? He says, why don't we both sleep on the bed? I say, that's too intimate.

We both decide to sleep on the sofa.

And, finding a job out here was easier than I'd expected, although the healthcare out here isn't free... and super expensive. That's such bullshit!

On that note, I'd been to uni years back - just after Raccoon City - and I'd gotten surprisingly good grades (which I'd ignored to go into my other little business)... so here I am. I'm a nurse for now, and they're looking at promoting me gradually to doctor, they just want to wait a while as I haven't done anything related to health in years. But I'm still experienced, and I hadn't forgotten much! But, holy shit.

I never thought I'd see the day.

Although, it took me a while, obviously. I had to find legal documents online, proof of everything, etc. And Leon was gone, on missions, a lot. So I was at home alone often and while he was gone, I'd sleep on the comfortable, soft mattress of his queen sized bed.

It's January 2006, I've been here for just over a year now, and when I finally scored the job he asked me out on a date. A date that's been due since 1998, realistically.

I, ecstatic (but trying to hide it), say yes. He gives me a few options; dinner date, coffee date, zoo, aquarium, cinema, or whatever else I can think of. I choose the aquarium. Of course I do, who doesn't love fish!?

His warm, large hand envelopes mine, tugging me back to look at a fish with a huge fuckass forehead.
"Heh, look at that fish. It's got a lot on it's mind." He grins, and I squint my eyes out of spite. I wanted to say that, damn it!

Meandering a little, one tank in particular catches my eye; the octopus tank. It's got only one in there, because some octopus can be territorial, I've heard. I could be wrong though.
"I love octopie!" I exclaim, excitedly. I even use that stupid scientific term for multiple of them. Octopie. Why is it octopie? Why isn't it octopussies?

As I watch them in awe, Leon wraps his strong arms around my waist firmly, to which I lean back against him with a warm grin. It's now I realise I've never hated him. Maybe it's time to face my fears of breaking down my walls.

The rest of the date went well, and he drove me back to his apartment on the back of his motorbike, plonking the helmet on my head. He's incredibly fast, and I hold onto him tightly, practically squeezing his guts out.

Back at the apartment, he exhaustedly plops back on his bed and motions for me to crawl into his arms, to which I obey. He closes his eyes for a moment and responds to my observation with, 'no, I'm just resting my eyes'... before falling asleep minutes later.

I'm not very tired by this point, despite it being late. I wiggle out of his grasp, planning on making food for him to awaken to as a thank you gift, especially as he hasn't eaten over his mission that he's been on. Two issues, though. I can't cook very well, and I don't know what he likes.

That's okay, let's see what he's got!

I walk over to his kitchen, flicking through the cook book on the side. Despite all of the tasty recipes, I still have no idea what he likes... so maybe I should check his drawers and cupboards?

Okay!

I open a few, noticing a repetitive stock of pasta. I also spot a small note; I pick it up, just incase it's telling me not to use his emotional support pasta.

Nothing like that. It's a suicide note, a fucking suicide note. You're joking me? Although, it's old. It's about a year old, just before I met up with him again.

It's getting more difficult to hang on recently. I've had more drunken arguments with my pistol than I'd like to admit, and I just don't want to be here. Anywhere. All I want to do is get drunk and numb the pain. The nightmares never end, the ptsd comes back to me everytime I close my eyes, and I can't even look at my weapons anymore.

There's still plenty more to read, but Leon wraps his arms around my waist and gently extracts the paper from my fingers.
"What are you doing there, beautiful?" He folds the paper in half with one hand, making the words face eachother and become invisible.

I gulp, not sure how to react.
"I wanted to make you food."

"...Don't worry about that." He asks, suddenly gripping his fist tightly and scrunching it up into a crumpled cylinder. "Or that. It's stupid."

I turn around to him, which is a slight struggle because of his proximity - but I do - and when I face him, I stare right up into his eyes to try and gauge out as much emotion as possible.
"Don't be stupid, of course it's not."

His eyes immediately soften. He pulls me close, resting his chin on the top of my head. "I've been like it since Raccoon City. I already had a slight issue with handling my alcohol, and when you met me, I was extremely hungover. I just... get nightmares."

"I've noticed." I whisper, barely audible. I wasn't sure if I should say that, just incase he's embarrassed.

"What?" Leon furrows his eyebrows, or at least I can imagine that as his reaction. I can't see his face above me.

"Well, we kinda share the sofa. Sometimes I wake up to your groans, and I notice this... like, special face you pull. Sometimes I can't tell if it's a nightmare of a wet dream." I joke, earning a small chuckle from him.

He pulls away, leading me to sit on the edge of his bed.

"It's always Raccoon City. I wasn't ready for it, I was unguided, it was my first day on the job, and I was so scared. I could've died any second. And you didn't even see the massive alligator in the sewers!" He explains, leaning over to face me.

"I know, and I bet I didn't make it any better by being a right miserable bastard." I huff.

"You were only a shit at the start, but to be fair, your brother had just died. You apologised after and we were good." He shrugs.

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry... again. Thanks for not arresting me. And letting me stay here." I grin sheepishly, glancing away.

"It's my pleasure." Leon smiles, glancing over to the clock. It's 11:40.

He glances over, grinning at my mischievously before tackling me onto the bed properly.

"Fuck the sofa."