I was hired to capture her, nothing more. She was just another job-another fugitive to bring in. But the deeper I dug, the more I realized she wasn't the criminal they claimed. She was running from something far bigger, and now, so was I. Protecting her wasn't part of the plan, but watching her fight for her life, for the truth, forced me to face my own ghosts. The ones I thought I'd buried. With every step, the shadows around us grew darker, and the danger more real. But one thing became clear: I'd burn it all down before I let anyone touch her. [LEON X READER] . . NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS AND STORY ARE TRUE. PLEASE BE ADVISED OF TIGGER WARNINGS AND CONTENT THAT YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH.

"You weren't in your room." Her voice is hoarse, low with leftover tears. "Needed a shower. Sorry, princess." I run my thumb along the back of her hand, soft, delicate under my rough skin. She sighs, her body heaving against me, the sound tired. " 'S okay. I shouldn't have come, anyways." Guilt pulls at my insides, the uncomfortable feeling making me sick to my stomach. "Always come." "You didn't" She knows. She takes on my pain without my permission, needlessly curing me of whatever negative emotion bothers me time and time again, not caring at all what it does to her. "I know." I don't have to explain it, she's thinking the exact same thing as me, she knows how I feel, how sick it makes me to let her in my head. "From now on." It's a quiet promise, I can't keep it from her now, so the best I can do is return her comfort when she needs it, help her forget everything, for a little while. "From now on." In which You and Leon are training for STRATCOM, trying your bests to not crack under the pressure, getting beat to a pulp pretty much daily, and dealing with an overly hateful Major, all while trying to navigate your own unusual relationship. Reading the first book isn't essential, the first few chapters fill you in for the most part. Enjoy!