Skyla got out of the limo and walked up to the entrance where two men opened the doors for her. She nervously entered the large elegantly decorated entry way she pauses momentarily glancing around at the other attendees that currently was around. She sees Hunnigan talking with Leon; his back is to Skyla just off from the base of the stairs at the bar. Skyla takes in a deep breath cursing slightly at the stiletto heels she decided to wear. Hunnigan happens to see Skyla at the top of the stairs and nudges Leon as Skyla descends the stairs. Leon turns and watches her decent when she was about three-quarters of the way down he walks over to the stairs meeting her at the base.
"So this is why you called and told me to meet you here? You wanted to make a grand entrance?" Leon teased.
"No I was honestly running behind, and I didn't want you to have to wait around for me," Skyla replied.
"I can't figure out what was causing you to run behind; this dress leaves very little to the imagination," Leon replied looking her over.
Skyla's dress was a simple yet elegant full-length black silk gown with a snug waist and a slit mid-thigh showing her long legs. The top half of the dress was slit plunging all the way to her waist showing her chest in elegant but prominent manner.
Skyla blushed and glanced at Hunnigan before leaning in and whispering,
"You can thank Hunnigan; it was her suggestion." Skyla pulled back with a smirk.
Leon turned and looked at Hunnigan; he turned and led Skyla over to where he and Hunnigan were originally standing.
"Good evening Hunnigan." Skyla greeted Hunnigan.
"Skyla, I was hoping to meet your mystery boyfriend," Hunnigan replied with a smirk.
Skyla and Leon look at each other for a moment.
"Yeah he was just so busy, it was great that Leon is such a great partner though, sacrificing a date to come with me," Skyla replied looking over at him.
Leon shook his head he then turned to Skyla. Skyla looked over at him curiously, Leon gave her a sly grin before placing his hand under her chin and tilting her head, he leaned down connecting his lips with hers.
"I knew it!" Skyla heard Hunnigan say.
Skyla broke the kiss giving Leon a slight glare before shaking her head.
"Blowing the cover," Skyla whispered to him.
"Johnson owes me $50," Hunnigan muttered.
Leon looked over to Hunnigan for a moment before looking back to Skyla.
"I called in a favor, I know I just blew the cover, but I invited someone so that we don't get in trouble with the higher-ups," Leon whispered in her ear.
Skyla gave him a questioning look. Leon nodded to a dark haired guy talking to a group. Skyla smiled for a half a second before she realized who else he was talking to.
"What is she doing here?" Skyla asked Leon.
"Claire? I think she is dating an agent." Leon replied with a shrug.
Skyla turned to the bar and ordered a drink. She felt like she was going need something strong to get her through the night.
"Is there a problem Sky?" Leon asked her.
"Why would you ask that?" Skyla asked him.
"You don't look thrilled to see Claire," Leon replied with a smirk.
"Oh you know she kind of hates my guts," Skyla replied.
"Is there a history there I need to know about?" Leon asked.
"Not worth mentioning here, but if you think about it, you might figure it out kind of quickly," Skyla replied.
The bartender handed Skyla her drink, Skyla smiled and handed him the payment. She took a sip of her drink. Skyla nodded to Hunnigan and then turned to Leon.
"I am going to go say Hi to Piers, want to join me?" Skyla asked.
"Johnson is waving me over, go say Hi and meet me over there when you're done?" Leon replied.
"Sending me to the wolves alone?" Skyla replied.
"I'll make it up to you." Leon kissed her on the cheek carefully to where it looked like he was whispering something in her ear.
Skyla made her way over to where Piers was taking a deep breath on the way to calm herself; she put on a smile and approached Piers.
"Hey there mister, should you be drinking?" Skyla asked coolly.
"I should be asking you the same thing, especially in that dress." Piers said turning to Skyla.
Piers leaned down and hugged her while leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek. Skyla smirked at him; she then nodded curtly to Claire.
"Claire, it's nice to see you again," Skyla said to her.
"Likewise Skyla, you look nice," Claire replied to her.
"Thanks, so do you," Skyla replied to her.
They all talked for a moment, Skyla feeling super uncomfortable under Claire's gaze.
"Piers I just wanted to come say Hi, I need to meet back up with Leon; will I see you a little later?" Skyla asked him.
"Yeah, can I get a dance later?" He asked.
"Of course, anything for you Piers," Skyla nodded to him before walking off under Claire's intense gaze.
She wandered off into the crowd; she considered heading back to the bar before she noticed Leon waving for her to join him and Johnson; when she reached where they were standing she shook Johnson's hand in greeting, along with a few others.
"You look stunning Skyla," Johnson remarked.
"Thank you; you look handsome yourself sir," Skyla replied.
"Everything go okay?" Leon asked her.
"Sure," Skyla replied.
Leon gave her a cautious look but went back to the conversation that he was carrying with Johnson and the others. Occasionally Skyla would smirk or add to the conversation but otherwise, she would zone out. Soon Leon offered to go sit and chat with another group to which Skyla nodded and said her goodbyes to Johnson.
"Is everything okay?" Leon asked once they were out of earshot.
"Yeah, everything is great. Why?" Skyla asked.
"You don't seem yourself," Leon replied looking her over.
"I'm just out of my element," Skyla replied with a smile.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Leon asked with slight concern.
"I'm fine." Skyla placed her hand on his hand to reassure him.
Leon found a table that was unoccupied, and they sat down.
"You didn't talk to Piers very long," Leon stated.
"We said what needed to be said," Skyla replied.
Leon watched her closely. Skyla had been very distant with him; he was surprised that she had actually shown up to the gala.
"Have they found out what is going on?" Leon asked treading carefully around the subject of her shoulder.
"They have done a lot of tests, but they haven't found what caused it yet," Skyla replied looking down at the table.
Leon looked as though he was about to ask her something but got quiet, Skyla turned to find Piers walking towards them causing Skyla to sigh.
"Hey Leon, Skyla can I get that dance now?" Piers asked as he approached them.
"Sure Piers." Skyla smiled at him.
"You don't mind do you, Leon?" Piers asked.
Leon shook his head and smiled. Skyla gave him a help me look but got up and let Piers lead her to a connecting ballroom. There were a surprising amount of people in the ballroom dancing to current music. Piers grabbed Skyla's hand and led her through the crowd to the center. Skyla let Piers set the rhythm for them to dance. After a song, Skyla leaned in close so she could talk to Piers.
"Have you and Chris talked or made any progress in the relationship department?" Skyla asked Piers wrapping her arms around his neck.
"No, I can't bring myself to make the first move." Piers replied.
"But you already did!" Skyla sighed.
"I was drunk; he doesn't think I meant anything by it." Piers replied.
"I talked to him about it Piers, he knows. Just talk to him." Skyla told him swaying her hips with the rhythm he had set.
"I can't; I know that he still loves you." Piers told her.
Skyla stopped dancing and stared at Piers.
"He needs to move on Piers; plus I want to see both of you happy. I know that you can make him happy Piers." Skyla said picking the rhythm back up.
"What's wrong Skyla, you can't be completely happy unless you know he has moved on? Do you still have feelings for Chris?" Piers pried.
"Is this why you asked me to dance Piers, to tell me this? I am with Leon, and you know this." Skyla glared at him.
"Are you happy with him?" Piers asked her.
"Of course I am. I wouldn't be with him if I wasn't." Skyla snarled.
"So you're saying you feel nothing for Chris?" Piers inquired.
"Piers, just because I am in this dress does not mean I will not kick your scrawny ass," Skyla replied to him.
"Skyla you didn't answer my question." Piers looked down at her.
"Fuck you Piers." Skyla dropped her arms and stood there glaring at him.
"You're still in love with Chris; your struggling with whom you want to be with more, is that why you haven't called me since the mission with Wesker?" Piers pushed more.
Skyla's eyes welled up, tears on the brink of rolling over, she shook her head glaring at Piers. Skyla shoved him as hard as she could causing him to stumble a bit.
"Go fuck yourself, Piers." Skyla snapped.
She turned on her heel and walked off from Piers leaving him completely confused.
Skyla walked out of the ballroom in haste, not seeing Leon watching her while he was talking to someone. He excused himself from the conversation and followed her for a minute.
"Skyla," Leon called.
Skyla stopped and took in a deep breath trying to calm herself before Leon got to her. Skyla heard footsteps coming up behind her.
"I'm fine," Skyla said aloud.
"Okay, then why did you just look like someone ran over your cat?" Leon asked quietly.
"Because Piers kidnapped it, tied it a sack and drowned it," Skyla replied darkly.
"Want me to take you home?" Leon asked her.
"No, stay and enjoy yourself. I am going to go home and deal with this myself." Skyla replied.
"Let me take you, we haven't got to spend any time together the last few weeks," Leon said cupping her cheek.
"You don't want to be a part of this pity party. I am going to drink a few glasses of wine and go to bed." Skyla replied placing her hand on his.
"Skyla what is going on?" Leon asked her.
"What do you mean?" Skyla asked Leon.
"You have been so distant with me for past few weeks," Leon replied.
"I've been going through tests every day after work for the past few weeks to find out what the hell is going on with me Leon." Skyla snarled.
"What has gotten into you?" Leon replied.
"That would probably be my fault." Piers came up on their conversation.
Leon turned around and stared at Piers while Skyla glared at him over Leon's shoulder. Leon turned back to Skyla to find her glaring at him.
"What the hell is going on?" Leon asked.
"He thinks he knows what's going on, making accusations." Skyla snarled at Piers.
"If she would call me and let me know, maybe I wouldn't have to assume." Piers replied.
"Would someone tell me what is going on here?" Leon asked.
"He assumes that because I haven't called him that I am still in love with Chris." Skyla glared at Piers.
Leon turned to look at Piers then back at Skyla.
"You haven't told Piers what has been going on?" Leon asked her quietly.
Skyla shook her head, Leon sighed he walked over to Skyla and pulled back her dress just slightly to show Piers her shoulder. Piers stared hard slightly confused.
"I don't understand." He finally said after a minute.
"After the mission, we discovered her shoulder had completely healed, we don't know what happened, and she has been going under testing," Leon replied.
"Are you infected?" Piers asked.
"Not that they can find, but they don't know what caused it either," Skyla replied turning away from both of them.
"Why didn't you call me? You used to tell me everything Skyla." Piers asked her.
Skyla looked at the floor, shaking her head.
"I didn't want you blabbing to Chris. It's bad enough I put Leon in danger, I didn't need everyone else knowing." She replied.
'Did she really think she put me in danger?' Leon stared at her.
"I'm going to go; I have more testing in the morning," Skyla replied.
"Let me take you home," Leon replied.
"Stay and enjoy the rest of the night," Skyla replied kissing him on the cheek.
"Skyla," Leon said softly grabbing her hand.
"Skyla at least let one of us take you home." Piers chimed in.
Skyla stared at Piers for a moment before nodding.
"Okay," She replied.
"Still want to take me home?" Skyla asked Leon.
Leon smiled and nodded; he looked over to Piers and nodded.
"Skyla, are we still besties?" Piers asked with a small smile.
Skyla looked over to Piers, she let go of Leon's hand and walked over to Piers and hugged him.
"Even when you're an ass, you're still my little brother," Skyla replied.
Skyla walked back over to Leon; he wrapped his arm around her waist and walked towards the main entrance. Leon then guided them to the main staircase and out of the building. Leon handed the valet his ticket, and they waited quietly as the valet brought his car around. The valet pulled up and got out leaving the door open and circled around opening the passenger door for Skyla. Leon guided Skyla to the door, Skyla got in, and Leon shut the door. He gave the valet a tip and circled around and got into the driver seat and drove off towards Skyla's apartment.
"Did Piers have a point?" Leon asked.
"Leon, what are you talking about?" Skyla asked him.
"Are you still in love with Chris?" Leon asked Skyla.
"Leon, how can you even ask me that?" Skyla looked over at Leon.
"Skyla can you just answer the damn question?" Leon asked slightly frustrated.
"This isn't how I wanted to tell you," Skyla replied.
"Tell me what? What do you want to tell me Skyla?" Leon asked her.
"I love you."