A Little Treat: Overtime
This diner wasn't exactly the cleanliest of places. It wasn't BK or McDonald's bad, but it was close enough.
The crispy oiled smell of fried food, and grilled hamburger meat coated the air and actually wasn't too bad if you were hungry enough, which of course he wasn't. And after a particular little trip to Spain he'd taken this year, he hadn't been able to look at any form of meat in a casual way since. Especially raw…
Adding to his discomfort, two times now he could've sworn something had scurried in the back corner of the diner, near the bathrooms.
Special Agent Leon Scott Kennedy shook his head.
It couldn't be helped. Given his circumstances, deciding to meet at a fancier, more renowned place would've been incredibly detrimental, not to mention down right stupid.
Who am I kidding? This whole thing is stupid! Just what the hell am I thinking?
Too late to start getting second thoughts now though, he'd already agreed, and he was already here. Now wasn't the time to be getting cold feet.
Sighing, the elite government agent combed a hand through his long, russet bangs.
Just how did he manage to find himself in such FUMTU'd situations anyway?
He'd been sitting here, at one of four tables near the windows outlooking the expanse of the city, for ten minutes, thinking of how much of a rut he was in when he was finally approached by a waiter.
Aside from being slightly overweight, maybe a good 185lbs, she was alright, but thankfully was not the nasally voiced, hairnet wearing haggard that were the staples of retro places like this.
"Hello there sir," she greeted in that all too polite, almost robotic voice, "What will you be ordering?"
"Uh…I'll just have soda for right now, a Coke. Thanks."
She nodded, writing his order down on the little yellow notepad she had in her hand.
"Waiting for someone?" she asked him abruptly.
Leon almost shook head but realized there really was no reason why else he'd be here.
"Yeah…" he answered, hoping that she wouldn't—
"A date?"
Damn it.
"Yep." he replied quickly, and she must've taken his eagerness to drop the conversation as a sign of nervousness. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry hon, I'm sure she won't bite."
This actually made Leon grin. "It's her father who I'm really worried about, but thanks for the support."
The waitress nodded and went to get him his drink.
Leon breathed a sigh of relief just as the bell above the door rung, signifying someone had just come in. Without thinking, he turned around, his training getting the better of him.
Just in time to see her enter, and his gut tightened up instantly.
His date was here… and what date she was.
She had a tight, lithe frame; she'd definitely been taking his advice about working out.
Her vivid blonde hair, normally curled perfectly around her face, was tied into small ponytail to avoid being recognized, but even so, she still looked gorgeous.
But her clothes…jeez when he'd said be inconspicuous, he meant not to look at all like she really was the United States President's daughter… but apparently an extravagant pop star look was as low as she could go. The taut white jeans she wore showed off her sweet curves greatly and were paired with a silky white crop top that revealed a truly generous amount of her firm, well toned body.
Ashley Graham, the President's daughter… one of Leon's most important priorities, second, only to the actual president himself.
And his date for tonight…
She noticed him as soon as she walked in. "Leon! Hey!"
He stood up as she approached his table and unconciously, trying not alert anyone who would recognize her, he offered her his hand, but they were beyond such a formal greeting. She ignored his hand and threw her arms around him, hugging him as tight as she could.
Leon fought back a blush, before actually returning the hug.
Ah what the hell, you're already here… besides it's not like the first time you both have done this…
When he released her, she was smiling up at him.
"You look nice, especially in that jacket."
Leon snorted.
He was wearing a brown bomber jacket, and under that, a black t-shirt with matching dark jeans. Leon was always surprised by how much people liked the jacket; he honestly did to and was a little pissed when he'd had it stolen from him by one of those damn Ganados during the events back in Spain.
He'd surely thought it lost forever, but just a week ago he'd gotten in the mail, a package delivered to him by "an unknown party".
When he opened it, not only did he find the jacket inside, there was also a letter.
It had read: "Found this back in that hell-hole. Some guy had lifted it off you when you and Luis had been captured. Lucky for you…I just love the way you look when you wear it."
The sender had the kissed it with a familiar shade of lipstick…
"Yeah, you aren't the only one who thinks that." he replied, "You look great to Ashley."
Ashley smiled, but then looked around. Her smile faltered a little bit. "Was this really the best… well worst best place you could find?"
Leon shrugged, "Well I wanted us to at least be able to sit somewhere and not worry about nasty stains on our clothes, or 'little friends' crawling into our laps for table scraps. Trust me, this place is paradise compared to some of our other options."
Nodding, Ashley moved past him and sat down at the table.
"Oh well, it's not like you and I could've gone to somewhere a little more five-star."
She was definitely right about that. Knowledge that the President's daughter was on a date would draw enough attention, the fact she was dating one of her bodyguards would've really just been too much to handle, and would result in an absolute media frenzy. Not to mention the chewing out and or severe reprimand said bodyguard would get if they were to ever get found out.
Leon sat down across from her.
"Exactly." he said, "So, how'd you manage to convince your dad to let you out this time?"
Her mood brightened and she smiled cheekily, "Wasn't really too hard, I just told him that I really needed to go shopping and he had Secret Service drop me off after I told him I'd be coming straight home after I was done."
Leon gave her an incredulous stare. "He of course didn't let you leave the House with that on did it?" he asked.
She laughed.
"Heck no! I didn't want to make it seem like I was completely lying to him so I figured I'd just pick out something nice for me to wear. Besides I doubt anyone would think the 'precious, sweet, and wholesome' President's daughter would wear something so revealing."
"Well I guess that makes sense." Leon chuckled, "And I can't say I don't appreciate your honesty"
The waitress was back then, Leon's drink on a small silver tray in her hands, and when she noticed Ashley she immediately smiled at him.
"My goodness, is this your date?!" she asked him jubilantly, "Why she's gorgeous hon! What on earth were you so nervous about!?"
Leon put a hand to his forehead, "Well I told you it wasn't her I was nervous about." but he said this to himself and pretended not hear the waitress quickly whisper to Ashley, "Trust me sister, stick with shy ones."
Ashley grinned, a light blush coloring her cheeks, "Don't worry," she said, and Leon suddenly felt something brush against his leg and for an awful moment he thought he might have given this diner a little bit too much credit.
But a slight glance under the table revealed Ashley's leg gently pressed against his.
"I intend to."
Leon smiled, and tried for the hundredth time not to remind himself that he was an idiot for this… for ignoring the punishment he could face if they got caught.
"Good then." the waitress said, satisfied, "Shall I have your orders now?"
They both ordered their food; Leon played it safe with simply a hamburger, while Ashley, evading Secret Service, even with years of experience, still being quite the draining task, ordered a healthy sized rib half-rack.
Having long finished his own meal, Leon sat there for fifteen minutes wondering exactly what the hell you were fed, or lack thereof, in the White House, before Ashley seemed to almost be done, finishing the last rib.
"Well I see Spain hasn't damaged your appetite."
The second those words left his lips, he wished he hadn't said anything.
Ashley suddenly gagged, covering mouth.
Oops…
***
"Ashley, I said I was sorry." Leon said calmly, though on the inside he was definitely having a very good laugh about this.
"Yeah right! You did that on purpose!" she said breathlessly, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
They'd had to make a quick run to the ladies room—both ignoring the shocked and appalled glances they got from others who had figured their reasons for hurrying so quickly inside not at all innocent— when it seemed Ashley was going to loose quite a bit of what she'd taken in from her meal, though thankfully Leon was kindly surprised by her digestional fortitude, though considering that she'd seen more heads blown open then any woman three times her age, he really shouldn't have been.
"I wouldn't exactly call that debacle nice dinner conversation Leon!" she snapped as they sat back down at their table.
Leon smirked, "Well there was this lovely evening I spent at Raccoon City I could tell you about instead…" he replied slyly.
Ashley rolled her eyes, "Ha, Ha, very funny." she pouted.
"Aww come on. Don't be mad, I just thought you'd gotten over that little venture of ours a lot faster then I have."
At that Ashley became slightly more complacent. "As if… I'm still surprised you came back for me all those times…"
"Don't know why it's surprising. It was my duty to protect you Ashley, still is, no matter what."
"But Leon…"
Leon shook his head to stop her, smiling reassuringly, "Besides, I don't regret it. Any of it. Well then again, something more then a single handgun to start with would have been nice to."
Finally she laughed and it made Leon feel a lot better.
"Leon…" she said.
"Yeah?"
"So... how about that overtime I offered awhile back….?"
Leon chuckled. "I figured you'd bring that up…"
"And?"
"Motel's about four blocks down the street."
Ashley giggled, "You thought this out."
"All things considered, a lot of this is going to have to be."
The bell on the door rung, and again out of habit Leon looked at the door.
Three men entered.
They were all dressed in black executive suits, complete with sunglasses.
Whether by sheer trained paranoia or simply because he knew better, alarms were already going off in Leon's head.
Ashley noticed them to and she suddenly looked worried.
He didn't blame her, after all that had happened to her, last thing she would possibly do is ignore shady characters.
"You weren't followed were you?" he asked her quietly, being sure not stare directly at the men as they walked passed by their table, one of the men giving Ashley a kindly smile, and sat down at the last table at the end of the row and began chattering.
Ashley shook her head. "No, at least I didn't see anyone. But that's definitely not Secret Service."
This wasn't good.
She'd been made.
Leon abruptly became aware of the 9mm Blacktail hidden under his shirt, a little souvenir he'd bought off a rather helpful individual he found himself constantly running into during the Los Illuminados incident.
Leon called for the check, paid, and left quite a generous tip for the waitress.
"Ashley, let's go." he said.
She nodded, and they both stood up, and walked towards the door.
Leon gave the waitress a wave of goodbye as she went to pick up the payment and she waved back, grinning knowingly, and mouthed, "Have fun."
"Unfortunately, that part of our evening has run into a little snag…" he thought somewhat bitterly.