Leon opened his eyes, and then closed them.
"I died. I swear this time I actually died. I'm dead. And I'm in hell."
"For a dead man, you're really chatty." Chase remarked from where they sat. Leon would have pressed his hands against his eyes except currently they were made of metal. And he was in a Polity transport being used as a table of all things. He could see Sinclair on the second 'story' of the transport, the other man waved.
"Oh so I'm going to attack, reckless- great weapon master, and … that's ahhh five." Jodie winced at the table. The others; Migas, Chase, Cammie, Yaz and Miranda winced.
"Oh I'm so sorry man." Migas reached out and patted Jodie on the shoulder.
"It's ok, even if Percy dies I still love you." Chase also reached out and patted Jodie on the shoulder, though his hand phased through. "Even though Percy has all our money and gear." Miranda asked pained.
"Wait he has what?!" Cammie yelled and pointed at Jodie. "Don't you dare-" She reached out and Miranda and Yaz had to restrain her from attacking Jodie herself.
" Kill. Me." he looked over to where Kazu and Val/entina were perched.
"Welcome back Leon." Val/entina patted his Holon's shoulder from the floor. Sinclair smiled warmly from his perch and Kazu gave him a thumbs up and Leon's head fell back down with a thud.
"So you're sure you want to stay with the Vanguard?" Chase asked.
"Yeah it's… home. Not that I'm not down with working with you guys anytime. I just- I'm really tired of dying every time we go out." Leon snorted; pulling away from the Gen:lock team was going to be hard. But he belonged, here, belonged in a Strider just as much as he belonged in his Holon. Also it kept him humble, and away from any potential technopaths that wanted to take what he had.
What he had was a good job, good friends and an even greater family.
"Thanks man." Chase hugged Leon, laughing, and Leon patted his back. While normally Chase's form was holographic. Leon would always be able to touch and to make him solid as often as he wanted.
He really didn't need to know what Chase, Miranda and Jodie were up to. Ever. He wasn't asking and every time they were here he was sleeping in his Holon. Nope. Not thinking about it. At all, ever.
Sinclair sidled up to him and Chase mixed out with a wave.
"So you sure you're staying?" Sinclair echoed the other Holon pilot and Leon snorted; everyone had asked him the same question today.
"Yeah. I belong here; this is home for me. I missed it. Besides we'll work together again." Leon smiled at Robert. He would be sad to see the other man go, but he would see him again; this war guaranteed it. Hell being able to use a Holon would guarantee it.
"Ok."
They stood in silence for a moment before Leon pushed Sinclair towards the ship. "We'll see each other next week. Yeah?"
"Yeah for sure. Uh- bye." He started walking up the platform and Leon began to walk away before he felt something static behind him. He turned and then Sinclair was in his face having teleported to Leon.
He reached up to grab Leon's shirt and mash their faces together before disappearing into the ship. As far as kissing went it was the worst one he'd ever had. All teeth and no warmth of actual affection. Leon had no idea where this had come from, his brain short circuiting too much to reciprocate.
Leon blinked dumbly at Sinclair who pulled away and then the Ranger dropped him practically running up the ramp. The Renegade lifted off leaving Leon in the dust staring out at the sunset unable to process.
On the transport Cammie and Migas groaned as Sinclair held out his hand for the money they transferred him. He stalked away from them red faced; finding a quiet corner where he could sit and think about the warmth in his chest.