And so the OOCness sets in and we can aaaaall see it...
I honestly wanted to be more detailed and fluid with this fic but I'm too damn time-skipping for that. Ah, well.
I regret nothing. I regret nothing. I regret nothing. Leon repeated to himself as he mounted the stairs to the second floor of the precinct. He had stayed out informing residents until eleven and even after being sent home to clean up he was thinking about what they could do until two in the morning. Now he was feeling the four hour nap he called sleep as he passed through the tasteful corridor Chief Irons was throwing money into. He had to stop at the door to the S.T.A.R.S. office and commit himself to the day. Groggy would not work for some kind of questioning he was in for.
He pulled in a steady deep breath and stood tall before knocking on the worn wooden door. "Enter." Resounded softly from the other side. He turned the knob and headed inside one of the two rooms Marvin hadn't shown him yesterday. Desks meant to have two people on either side of them were posted up across from the doorway. Leon got a very lived in feel from all the objects intermingled with the paperwork and binders. Movement from his left drew his attention to the desk set away from the dual desks and the one with a fax machine on it to the left of the door.
Wesker's gloved hand was summoning him forward. " 'Morning Captain Wesker." Leon greeted as he stopped near the team lead's work station.
"You look tired." Wesker responded, those shades turning upward from his neatly stacked forms.
Leon smiled with a grab to the left side of his neck. "Yeah, too much excitement for my first day, spent most of the night awake. What did you want to ask me?" Leon responded as his hand dropped. The stoic man rest his jaw in his palm as his hidden stare took Leon's well padded form in.
"Are you single?"
The question earned him a confused expression.
Leon had to go over why this clearly well off man he had just met would ask him that. Was it job related? Was he just a prying type? He shifted away from personal interest by the look on Wesker's face. "I... am?" Leon took a moment to check the door was shut and they were alone, coming in to this could mean both their jobs.
"Do you care for cinema?" Wesker pressed.
"The movies?"
"Yes." He affirmed.
Leon's hand reached up to his neck again. "Uhh. Yeah, I guess? Haven't been in a couple months." He replied as his hand nervously stroked the bend between neck and shoulder.
Wesker sat up fully. "Would you like to do dinner and a movie then?" Leon was very happy he was standing at the moment as he would be if he had been sitting.
"Excuse me?" He said defensively.
Leon had dealt with another man out to cop a feel once before but he had never had someone ask him on such a blatant date. Wesker didn't answer immediately and as the silence stretched on Leon felt his face heat as his mind lingered on the idea of going to dinner with this beautiful man. If he was truthful he wasn't against spending time with this forward stranger.
"Would you like to go to dinner with me?" The other man offered once more.
Leon's lips opened to speak only there were no words ready yet. He looked away, shut his mouth and crossed his arms. Albert sat quietly while Leon came to an answer which ended up as another question.
"Did you seriously call me in here just to ask this?" Blue eyes returned to those shades that hide his companion's gaze. Leon frowned slightly at the idea he didn't know what color Wesker's eyes might be.
That stony expression remained put, "Yes." The frown eased just hearing the other man's simple one-word reply.
"I don't know what you're playing at Wesker but second day on the job isn't a good time to risk my job-" The other man lift his head from his palm and put that hand out to stop Leon's train of thinking. "One moment Leon, your secret is my secret in this. There is no play. I simply know what I want." He explained as he pushed himself away from his desk. The space between Leon's shoulder blades twitched as Wesker came around the desk.
The taller man came to a stop inches from him making the air warm with their shared breath. Leon knew he should retreat, deny the request and leave but he stayed rooted to the spot, arms still crossed while that sculpted face loomed close.
"And that's me?" Leon stated in a show of determination not to back down.
A hand clad in fingerless glove neared his side which he elbowed with a wary glance back at the door.
"Not to worry, Enrico is often late to relieve me. You did well coming early, but, yes, I want to know you." Wesker said as they both eyed the door. That questing hand dropped away in respect for Leon's denial yet the moment seemed just as intimate.
"I shouldn't say yes."
"But you haven't said no."
"This is seriously unprofessional."
"I have a feeling you are fine with my show of unprofessionalism." Leon had to admit that was true.
"Grill 13 on Main Street, 7pm, tomorrow night?" Albert murmured between them. Leon searched every detail of that calm face so close to his own. "Just this once. It's not a date. And you will drop it if I say no." Leon stated curtly. Wesker's face perked up in a pleased expression. "Of course." He side stepped his younger companion and stopped by the door. "I appreciate this chance, I knew you would be interesting from the moment I saw you." He hummed as he opened the door for Leon.
Leon drifted close to the door, his arms uncoiling from his chest. "While I can't say this wasn't creepy to a point, you definitely fit in the 'interesting' category." Wesker didn't show if he was bothered by the jab. "I will have to change your mind about that and let you see for yourself how 'interesting' I am." Wesker said in just the right way that Leon heard a promise in his words. A hint of arousal ran through him as he left the S.T.A.R.S. office at the idea of that promise. The whole experience reminded him of his senior year of high school and his body remembered those days well. The door clicked shut behind him and Leon wondered what to do with himself now that he was alone in the hall.
'Wait. I'm off tomorrow. How does he know that?' Leon realized and rounded on the shut door. The solid surface offered him no answers while he bit back more creeper vibes. He decided to shelve this whole Wesker business for later, with a sigh and carding of his hand through his hair Leon headed down and around the corner back towards the Main hall.
-b-n-e-
Looking up at the restaurant sign as it dangled out from the building and the marquee next door had Leon understanding why he had been called out to dinner and a movie. Grill 13 was seated in the center of Downtown next to the larger of the two theaters in the city. He glanced down into the large viewing windows at the front desk inside and the booths lining the pane he was peering through.
His reflection stared back at him over the background images with nervous optimism.
Leon was used to the only clothing option for him being a uniform that he had needed to actually think of what to wear for a night out. He told himself he wasn't out to impress the other man even if he was wearing a black button down and tan slacks. One of his favorite jackets hid the dress shirt under a layer of dark leather, pockets and two bands of white on either arm.
"Leon? Hey, Wesker said we might find you here!" A feminine voice called.
He turned away from the restaurant to see a group of three approaching him. The man in a green button down and jeans was familiar while the burly man behind the woman who spoke were both new faces. "Hey Chris." He greeted. "Well, you know me, can I know who you are?" Leon followed up as he took in the woman. Her brown hair was cut in a fashionable bob at her jaw that framed a face with both Eastern and European features. Her blue eyes matched the shoulder-less top that had a white jacket tied in a loop over a black skirt on her hips.
"Sorry." Her hand was offered and he shook it. "I'm Jill Valentine, Chris told Barry and I who you were on the ride over." She explained as he shook her surprisingly well-worn hand. Her grip was firm unlike her pleasant smile that had the edge of some date falling off his shoulders. The older man named Barry stepped up after she let go of his hand. "Nice to meet you Leon, like Jill said my name is Barry, if you don't know yet we're on the alpha team with Chris." Barry explained.
Understanding dawned in Leon's eyes. "Nice to meet you both, you guys having a night out together?"
Chris was the one to answer this time. "Yeah, Captain thought we needed a night of bonding after what Brad did. Not that any of us would pass up a fun night on the town." Leon nodded but wondered what it was 'Brad' had done. "Speaking of Wesker..." Chris looked behind them at the filled sidewalk. Leon looked passed them all as well but those passing by weren't the forward blond they were searching for. "Is he on the way?" Leon wondered.
Barry and Chris shared a look.
"That was the idea, we all parked in the same lot so he should be here." Chris said with a frown. Jill covered her arms to which Barry cupped her far shoulder with a bear sized hand. "We should head inside, Captain Wesker can find us once he gets in." He said with a glance at the doors. "You guys head in and find a place to sit, I'll wait for him." Leon offered.
"Alright."
"See you inside." Chris and Jill chimed in respectively as they opened the double doors and entered the establishment.
Leon hadn't waited more than a couple minutes before a taller figure loomed in front of him. He blinked and looked up to find Albert standing inches from him. Those sleek shades met his gaze.
"Waiting out front for me? How gentlemanly." That rich voice drawled.
Leon felt his face heat at the implications.
"The other's worried you might have gotten lost." He fired back. A smile tipped Albert's lips up. "An old friend stopped me, come, let us join the others." He stated, drawing Leon from the wall and up to the door with an arm on his waist. Leon stepped out of the embrace and grabbed the exit door for two men leaving the grill. They uttered a quick thanks as Wesker stepped aside for them. Leon looked expectantly at his companion dressed in black from head to toe until the blond man conceded and entered first.
Barry waved them over from the booth behind the register meant for a large party. Wesker lead them around the left of the front desk to their booth before offering Leon to enter it first. Leon glanced at the booth, Wesker and then the empty seat next to Barry, back to Wesker before he slid into the red upholstered seat. Wesker slid in next to him and made himself comfortable with an arm over the back of the booth below the brass rail that was posted over each booth's back.
"What happened to you Wesker?" Chris asked from the other side of the table. The S.T.A.R.S. captain shrugged, "I ran into someone I hadn't seen in some time, she wanted to catch up." Jill pipped up, "Why not invite her?" She asked. Wesker tipped his head towards her. "I offered, she declined however so I joined you all after speaking with her." Everyone seemed pleased enough with the response.
"Wesker," Barry called, "Nothing against you Leon," He followed up with a glance to their one member of the group that wasn't S.T.A.R.S. "But why did you call Leon out tonight?" Leon sat up straight as they all looked to Albert after that question.
He chuckled, a low maniacal laugh that sounded a bit on the evil side. "I'm glad you asked." Leon fisted his hands in his lap as the older man turned his attention on him.
"I have one last question for you Leon. If you would be so inclined to a promotion I need a new pilot for the team." Leon barely registered the grin and shoulder smack Jill gave Chris or the, "Told you!" as he looked at Albert with round eyes.
"You want me in S.T.A.R.S.?" He nearly whispered.
As active as his two days of work had been he had built up this image that Wesker and his team went into crazy stunt-like missions everyday, risking their lives to take down drug rings and serial killers. He knew this visualization was nonsense, Raccoon wasn't that infested but something in him squirmed at the idea of joining Alpha team. "Wow, Wesker, maybe you should shelve the whole surprise angle on these requests." Chris hummed as he looked over how not-serious Leon's expression was for once.
Leon looked over at Chris, then Jill, then Barry and then back to Wesker.
"Perhaps." Albert hummed as well. That arm over the back of the booth descended on to Leon's shoulders. "This has had more of an impact than I expected. What do you say Leon? I have two spots on my team to fill, we could do with a new pilot." He explained with a gentle squeeze. Leon shut his mouth and put his mind on the here and now instead of his imagination. A woman wearing a casual uniform for the grill came up on their table. "Hi guys, sorry about that wait, my name is Amberly. Do we know what we want to drink?" She said with an introduction.
"Water." Was stated by Jill and Barry while Chris tipped two fingers in the air towards their waitress. "Another one of those new house ales." She jotted each request down, "And for you two?" She prompted Wesker and Leon. "A second ale." Wesker supplied. "I... a-a water." He said after a glance at the triangle shaped menu still sat at the front of the middle of the table. "Will do!" Amberly stepped over to the open window behind Barry and handed the ticket off to the manager keeping things going out before nabbing an order for another table and walking away.
"How do you know I can fly?" Leon asked instead of an answer once she was gone. Albert smirked, "After Joseph's... passing I had been looking for an acceptable replacement both through the police force and the near by military. As you can put together; I ran a background check on you prior to your arrival. I was not disappointed." The sheer lack of privacy felt uncalled for but Leon told himself he could look passed it.
Leon looked back at his now possible teammates and soaked in the approving looks on Jill and Chris' faces. Barry was smiling as well but he gave off a certain Dad feeling to Leon that was more than just acceptance. "What would I be in for if I said yes?" Leon asked. Chris leaned forward, ever on point. "If you're our new pilot then probably Rear security." Jill nodded at the statement. "It's just like it sounds, you'll be back-up and stay with the helicopter unless your other skills match up with our mission." Jill added on for Leon's better understanding.
"Do you guys get dispatched often?" Both of them shook their heads. "I'm afraid without two members of our team we cannot be dispatched which has forced Delta to pick up the slack." Albert admitted. Chris sighed and leaned back into the booth, "We've been reduced to paper-pushers!" He groaned. Barry and Jill had matching unhappy emotions on their faces at the notion. "And once you get the team together?" Leon pushed. "We will return to duty. Raccoon City isn't as clean as we portray it to be and we need to resolve these acts of terrorism before the full force of the American government moves to do so themselves." Wesker stated.
That was true, the CDC were in the state now but they weren't here to take out the terrorist threat, only deal with the spillover event.
"Can I ask what Brad did?" Leon said after the serious note left the air. Amberly returned then with their drinks and passed them out around the table. "Everyone ready to order or do we need a few more minutes?" She asked. Leon bit his lower lip, he hadn't so much as touched the menu yet. "A few more minutes." Barry confirmed before Chris had finished opening his mouth. Their waitress nodded and stepped back over to the kitchen to repeat her rounds. They all turned back to Leon after that.
"Mister Vickers saw fit to leave us after Joseph's sacrifice. It would appear he simply couldn't handle the stress."
Chris glared at the table. "Don't sugar coat it Wesker, he was a chicken-hearted coward, hated every mission we went on." He spat. Albert let a breath out through his nostrils. "Crude interpretation Chris, it is a shame about Vickers... he may have resigned but fear will be his nemesis wherever he may go." Barry nodded to that. Leon took that in, Chris clearly hadn't gotten along with Brad.
"Enough about work, take a moment to look over the menu. I'll look forward to your answer tomorrow morning." Albert stated as he returned his arm to the back of the booth. Leon nodded, leaned forward and snagged the menu while they waited for Amberly to return. Chris took the reigns on their conversation and steered it towards something lighter which really seemed to bring the table to life for the evening. They ordered, ate and after dinner said good evening to each other to continue their night separately.
Albert drew Leon down the street to the theater. "I would say you had a fine time, your face is flushed from all the laughter." He said with a brush of fingers along Leon's cheek. Leon stepped back from the intimate touch with a glance at the few bodies walking nearby. "Yeah, not what I thought it would be from how you put it yesterday." Leon said as he looked back at his anti-personal-space companion. Wesker smirked, "Yes, you seemed dead set on an impromptu date."
"And the movie?" Leon asked.
"This is the date." The other man conceded.
Leon peered up at the marquee. "Well, you've buttered me up, what are we here to see?" He regretted the words the second he had said them as he could almost hear the words Wesker had on the tip of his tongue. His companion looked up at the movie titles as well. "...Whatever you wish, if you don't know any of the movies I will tell you about them." He stated. Four movie posters lined the sides of the building next to the marquee. One had a clawed foot of something huge in the middle of a city street. Helicopters were spaced around it with the whole theme being set for night. The one next to it was of an animated Asian individual dressed in armor on horse back. Both the horse and rider were looking left as if staring down the monster poster and ready for battle.
Despite the seriousness of the all red poster Leon had the feeling it was a children's movie.
On the far side there was a black and white selection of people lined up in a way to show everyone's faces, a list of the actor's names while the bottom was streaked red with the movie title in bold. The last poster had semi-transparent soldiers overlaid on a horizon scene of a single solider's silhouette.
"Is Blade that one about vampires?" Leon asked. "Yes." Leon hummed dismissively before pointing at another title.
"What about Deep impact?"
"Doomsday movie."
"So basically Armageddon." Leon huffed while his companion nodded.
"Alright, well, let's go see the showtimes so I know what we have to choose from." Wesker opened the door this time for Leon and they both entered the establishment before stopping a few feet from the box office. The choices whittled down to two options unless they wanted to wait an hour for other options so Leon settled on the serious faced kids movie he had seen the poster for. It turned out to be both funny and good having both men leave without disappointment.
Wesker trailed along back to Leon's jeep despite it being the other way from his own vehicle and stopped as uncomfortably close as always. "Have I quelled your initial fears?" Leon chuffed and helped the other man find a step farther back with a hand to his chest. "You pass for now, can't imagine my next potential boss being a creep if he makes it thorough a movie like that." He teased.
"Despite several inconsistencies I enjoyed it and by your playful demeanor I can see you did as well." Albert said as he grabbed the hand planted on his chest. Leon looked down at their hands as the older man held it.
"It was nice..."
"Then we should do it again soon." Albert stated.
Leon wasn't against this idea though he was alright with exchanging the kids movie for something different. Albert returned to his former spot, having mere inches separate them. "I want you to say yes. Tonight and tomorrow as well." He murmured as his blue-eyed beauty looked up at him. Leon scoffed between them, "I think Shang rubbed off on you, that was beyond sappy." Though he was playing it off, Leon smiled at that face he admitted was nice to look at. Wesker scoffed himself, "You will never take me seriously, will you?" He said with mock hurt. Leon's hand tightened on his as the younger man sobered. "I can and I will." Leon reached up and brushed the edge of the sunglasses still on Wesker's face.
"I'll do this again, at least until you tell the story behind these." The words had that pleased smile coming on again. "But no one can figure us out, I get fired for this and I will have your ass." He threatened though the good natured look in his eyes betrayed their meaning. His older companion leaned in so that inches became inch, "You may have my ass far before that ever happens dearheart..." Those cunning lips sealed over Leon's after the pointed innuendo.
Heat blossomed in Leon's face at the idea of being so intimate with the strong body nearly pressed against his own. His eyes slipped shut and his lips opened as Wesker lapped at his low lip and all innocence receded. It became all lips, teeth and tongue, the other man's hand carding through the hair at the nape of his neck and guiding his head to the side for better access.
Albert had the faint taste of his prior meal, of smokey and sweet, meat and warmth. Their kiss brought his body to life and he fisted his hand in the black shirt Albert wore as his cock tented against his slacks. Leon had to end it as Albert let his hand go in favor of pushing up against him.
Leon laughed as he shoved the taller man back a few inches. "Down Killer, down, that's quite the bone I felt. In public isn't the place, I'll see you tomorrow before you leave." He promised with slick reddened lips. Wesker's eyes feasted on his work in the low lighting of the parking lot. "You are right, arrive early, I will propose the offer to Irons when he arrives for the day." Leon curbed the desire to clutch that shirt again as Wesker withdrew. His body beat for more but his morals told him to wait, if this man was worth it he could get his hopes up.
"Goodnight Leon." Wesker purred before turning away. Leon watched his new partner stride away, shamelessly watching that sculpted rear as it left for the night. His pulse quickened just thinking about what Wesker had said, he was a little nervous too as his old partner hadn't offered to receive. It spoke of the S.T.A.R.S captain's experience and Leon's hands fisted at his sides knowing he had so little. He only hoped these engagements were fueled by feelings instead of lust, he wasn't ready to be another conquest.
I can't really tell if Leon knows how to fly since he survived a helicopter crash followed by a plane crash in the same game. (and a bus crash too!) Buuut he does now!
Anna, I hope you noticed what I tagged this as. Swearsies no character death this time. ;)