Firstly, I’d like to start out by saying I do not give minors consent to be on my page. I write and post 18+ content. If you follow me and you do not have your age stated I’m going to assume you’re underage and will be blocking you.
Now, onto the writing:
Masterlist:
Despite not planning to use this blog for fanfic, I can’t help myself; so here’s a collection of fics I’ve written!
Campaign 4 has done something I’ve been wishing for since Calamity and that’s Luis and Liam in a campaign together! They both become their characters in such a detailed and effective way and having them together is such a gift!
summary: Affection and attachment. Strange things that Leon saw as great values, yet ones he couldn’t afford because of his job. He didn’t know if it was a sense of responsibility or fear of disappointment that made him so reluctant… Well, good thing that the famous ‘cat distribution system’ doesn’t care. Nor his luck for incredibly charming neighbours.
tags: fem!reader, older!leon, no age gap specified, there's a cat and she's a queen, cat dad leon, reader got adopted by the cat as the mother, leon is lonely and awkward, this is a... melancholic fluff, have mercy over my English
word count: 7,1k+
My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski
It would be so much easier if Leon could be heartless.
Or at least an idiot. Then he would easily ignore some things and simply move on…
But now? He was bid to recall all the things that he had seen, unable to detach his private life from the job. It was all one big cruel joke of fate. His good memory for faces didn’t make it any better – he remembered every single person he ever hurt, forced to do it or not.
Somehow, he found comfort in people who didn’t know him as the agent Kennedy. Ever since he moved to this area, he has liked chatting with strangers if there was an occasion. He feared he appeared too weird, but eventually he found a few faces that quickly turned familiar and always brightened up when they saw him. He must have looked the same.
Still, he found making friends rather challenging. Whenever the simple questions started – “So where do you work, actually?” “Wife or girlfriend, Mrs. Leon?” or simply “Did you grow up around here?” – that's when he drew away without even meaning to do so.
After some time he decided his behavior wasn’t actually so crazy. He had reasons to be afraid and reasons to be alone. He didn’t mind that much, after all, did he? When he felt uncomfortable during the conversations, he excused himself just to think about it for the rest of the day. Eventually he gave himself silent permission and stopped feeling so damn bad.
Yet, the lingering loneliness was still there.
The starving, bony animal that showed up on Leon’s doorstep must have sensed his rejection of company and decided to save him. Leon barely opened the door, and the poor thing stuck its head inside, shaking and raising its head to look up at him. Scared, half-empty eyes.
Leon knew that look.
He crouched down to let the cat smell his hand or… whatever he was supposed to do. Well, the animal apparently didn’t know either, because it settled on hissing and roughly biting his finger. Still, it refused to leave the apartment, and Leon had to accept a strange animal walking around, while he looked outside the door again. Maybe it ran away from someone? But it looked too poor to belong to someone… How did it even get inside the building?
The only certain thing was there was no one else in the hallway nor on the staircase. Just Leon and the cat. He cursed under his breath, took his shoes off again to stay inside, and sat on the floor to watch the animal carefully.
A few days later, the cat was eating straight from his plate and sleeping in his bed, despite still being a bit conscious about Leon's presence. He felt like he found a purpose in life once again… and it was just a piece of skin and bones. His piece of skin and bones, and now he would turn his whole life upside down to care for it properly. Her, actually.
She turned out to be a girl and ended up with the name Felicity. A strange story for later that involved running away and the upstairs neighbor. Leon liked the name enough, so it stayed that way. He was lucky, actually. If he were to pick it on his own, it would take weeks. His girl deserved a thoughtful name, after all.
“What did you do to my other sock, huh, Fel?” He muttered while pacing around the flat, already late for a meeting.
The cat watched him from the couch, too occupied with cleaning its paws. Truth be told, Leon could spend all his days just watching her like that. He never thought much of cats and didn’t know they were so fascinating.
Today he was slightly nervous, though. Felicity was fine with staying alone when he was at his office job. She greeted him happily and never appeared too bothered by his absence.
He knew what a suddenly called meeting meant, though. There was a mission coming, and he had to figure it all out. A whole day and night… maybe even more. What was he supposed to do, hm? He felt like a single father in a situation like that.
It made him spiral into his thoughts again. Felicity made the most disgusted face a cat could when he stopped petting her, too lost in his own mind. She scratched him to mark her presence, and he quickly apologized. She had him around her little cat feet and made him worry all over again.
She was enough for him, but wasn’t he miserable? Shouldn’t a man like him have at least a few people to ask to watch his cat while he’s gone? That’s the worst scenario. In any better case, he would have a spouse, someone to share his space with. Someone to share Fel with…
Leon was officially out of making new friends, let alone dating, though. He had a few close people, mostly from work. He kept in touch with his pal from the police academy; hell, he was even a godfather to the man’s kid. Still, he kept his distance and was that weirdly lonely uncle everyone except the kid whispered about.
He liked his neighbors – he was good friends with the elderly lady on the first floor and the married couple from number 5. He had something for older people, clearly… But you know what’s bad in it? Asking an elderly person to climb four floors just to feed and pet his cat felt awful. Bothering them in general felt awful.
Then he thought about you, the newest addition to the weird group of people in this building. You lived almost door-to-door, so it wouldn’t be such a problem. Also, you seemed nice enough… And Leon thought that he managed to make a rather good first impression himself, which could make things easier.
In fact, he helped you out a bit when you first moved in a few weeks before. You struggled with all your boxes, and the driver from the moving team said it’s not his problem if you can’t carry them upstairs on your own. Guess what – that’s where your rather charming and very selfless neighbor showed up like a knight on a white horse.
It was so natural to Leon that he didn’t even think much of it. He remembered, of course (you don’t forget a smile like yours, after all), but that was all. He was still in some after-mission adrenaline back then, and he was too preoccupied with his own mind to strike up a real conversation. You stuck to basics like where did you live before, how’s the neighborhood, and stuff like that…
You thought he didn’t really listen. He not only did, but also remembered all of it. And the best thing about it? He remembered you mentioning being a babysitter from time to time. Wasn’t that perfect?
Now he had to approach you about it somehow.
Good thing he still had a few days before the mission.
At this point in his life, Leon could sleep in a bunker ten feet underground and still be woken up by the slightest rushing outside. Sadly, that meant when the sounds coming from the apartment upstairs started, he was immediately yanked out of his comfortable slump. He liked that weird state between true sleep and simple warm unconsciousness.
His eyes shut open, and his body went stiff. For quite a while the moans rang in his head as ones of hurt, let out by the throats of the indeed that plagued most of his dreams. It took him a moment to calm his breath properly again. Then he looked to his side, which was a bit pathetic since he hadn't shared his own bed with anyone in years– and why the hell would he search for the source here?
Well, sleep did strange things with people’s minds, and he wasn’t immune.
The air finally hit his brain, and he could think properly. The newlyweds upstairs, obviously.
Felicity seemed unbothered and continued sleeping on her pillow next to Leon, but then a particularly loud moan was followed by something he registered as the bedframe hitting the wall. The cat raised its head and looked at Leon like it was his fault. Nonetheless, she followed him when he decided to get out of bed.
Who the hell built those walls? He wondered if others also struggle right now, or if it’s only his flat that is unlucky and perhaps somehow connected to the higher condignation…
He didn’t know what truly led him outside, but after forcing himself to drink a few glasses of water, he opened the door to peek. He saw nothing, just the dim light that signaled that someone had moved on the staircase a few moments before.
He sighed and looked out more, just to be met with you standing on your doorstep. Well, standing wasn’t maybe the best word. You were leaning on the wall, arms crossed over your chest and head thrown back. You looked like you stood there for quite a while, but somehow on your face the annoyance mixed with… calmness. That’s at least what Leon saw.
His door cracked, and he was glad because at least he wouldn’t scare you by staring without a word. He could see your vague smile in the light.
“Hey there, neighbor,” you greeted, fixing your posture to save your back from suffering later. “Mr. Kennedy, right?”
“Leon, please.”
“Leon.” You nodded, and he couldn’t help but return the smile and look at you a bit too fatuously. “Don’t know if you remember helping me out a few weeks ago. I’m–”
“Y/n. I remember.”
It seemed to brighten your mood even more, but then some sounds were hearable even in the hallway where you stood, and you both grimaced.
“So you, uh…” Leon tried, but the words died on his tongue. He told himself it was because of his sleepy state, of course.
“Can't sleep too, sure. At least they have a good night,” you sounded like you wanted to giggle but were too tired. “Shame I have to go to work tomorrow.”
“That’s a generous approach, honestly,” he admitted and nodded upstairs with his finger. “Should I…”
Pathetic. He was a grown man, and a normal sentence couldn't come out of his mouth. He cleared his throat, bracing himself. He didn’t let himself wonder for too long but… Was it you? Or was it that he had a kind of deal for you?
“Sorry, I’m half asleep,” he explained his hesitation. “Should I go ask them to be quieter? For the sake of a whole building.”
“You’d be a hero for all of us,” you joked, but he still stood on his own doorstep. You quickly livened up, frowning and throwing him a questioning look. “Was that a rhetorical question, actually? Did you mean to ask me if I want to do the honors of being their least favorite neighbor? Because no, not necessarily, yet…”
You looked straight at him, and he must have taken it as judgment. He opened his mouth to explain again, but you brushed it off.
He was a fine man – now you had a chance to look. A few days stubble marked his face, and he was wearing a long sleeve and pajama pants. He had some strange seriousness to himself. The kind of guy that could be your boss that you could never imagine sleeping, eating, or doing something too human.
He seemed awfully awkward too, which made him much more approachable.
“I'll go,” you decided, pushing yourself away from the door. “They probably won't shut up anyway.”
“Think so?”
“I’m sure,” you claimed, yet continued to climb the stairs lazily. Suddenly you stopped to look at him again. “Actually, the last time something like this happened to me at my previous place, I learned that it only bothers me because ‘I'm jealous.’”
“You don’t look like the jealous type,” he joked and shrugged, already deciding to wait till you come back.
You let out a pretty laugh.
“I know, right? But you never know… And a man who was interrupted always knows everything about you.”
He didn’t hear much more than your fist banging on the door, but the sound stopped a few minutes later.
When you walked down, Leon stood in the same place, now with Fel in his arms. She wanted to look outside and seemed extremely interested in everything. He could already sense that he would spend the rest of the night playing with her.
You rubbed your tired face and eyes, jumping down the final step, then looked at your next-door neighbor.
“They said– oh my, you’ve got a cat!” You cheered, immediately waking up. “Gosh, what a beauty!”
He rocked Felicity in his arms like a proud parent, and honestly, you smiled like that’s what he was.
“Yeahh, she likes to run away, so I have to hold her,” he explained.
“She seems delighted about it,” you noticed, letting the cat smell your hand before petting her gently.”
“Think so?” Leon asked with some hope, and it sounded ridiculous. That animal clearly adored him, but he still sometimes wasn’t sure.
“Oh, trust me. She loves it,” you assured.
It looked like you knew what you were saying, and Leon let out a loud breath.
“Otherwise she would just scratch and run, right? I don't know much about cats, but I'm trying…”
You nodded like you understood his struggles.
“Yes, absolutely! If she allows you to pick her up, then you have nothing to worry about.”
“It all stresses me a lot… “
“That says you care! That's the best thing you can do for her. She will know. And you know… if you ever need something, then I’m happy to help.”
“You know a lot about cats, don’t you?”
It was easy to assume after how confidently you’ve spoken.
“I want to believe so. I certainly understand them better than humans, most of the time.”
“I think I know the feeling… Still, I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
“Not at all. Even now, I don’t think I will sleep anyway.” You said it so lightly that if he had less composure, he would immediately move to let you inside, make you some tea, and start some silly, meaningless chat. You probably realized that the offer was strange. “I mean… if you…”
“Are you sure?” He asked, and Felicity started purring when you scratched her chin.
“Are you?”
“Yeah. I surely do need some help… It would be amazing. Great, yes.”
He stumbled a bit, at which you only smiled.
When he finally asked you in, you fixed your attention on his little, furry girl. It was mutual, honestly, because she almost instantly fell on her back and demanded more scratches.
“So what’s this lady’s name, hm?” You babbled to her.
“Felicity.”
“Adorable.”
It was, actually, Leon agreed. The thought put a smile on his face.
On her second day with me, she got spooked by a trash can and managed to run up to our neighbor. That older lady at 12, I don't know if you…”
Mrs. Spencer, yes.”
“Exactly her. She watched over her before I figured everything out. When I went to collect her, Mrs. Spencer talked about her first granddaughter being born and that we have to honor it… So I ended up naming my cat after some woman’s granddaughter.”
He didn’t know why he was telling you all of that at once, but you surely didn’t mind.
“That makes it even more adorable.”
Finally you stood up from your knees, and Leon offered you something to drink. With two steaming cups of herbal tea, you sat in his flat absolutely preoccupied with a cat. Funny, Fel probably didn’t even know that she shook Leon’s world.
“So, anything in particular you’d like to ask?”
“I’m looking for someone, actually,” he admitted, but decided to keep it to himself that he essentially picked you for the job. “To watch over her. She's already a bit unhappy when I'm in the office, and now… well, I have a demanding job, you know. It might be necessary for someone to take her in for a few days, even if that wasn't planned.”
You hummed, nodding your head but more like it was to yourself, not him. Then you looked up, and he found himself more mesmerized than he expected.
“And you are what? A Spanish inquisitor?”
He frowned and scratched his chin.
“…sort of,” he muttered. There was a strange truth to it.
You didn’t mind the mystery, though. He clearly wanted to start apologizing, but you sent him a smile.
“Well, it’s usually human children I look after. But I suppose it’ll be fine. Less chemistry homework and complaining, right?” You joked.
“Don’t get me wrong, but I need to find a proper person for her… I-I don’t mean that something’s wrong with you, but…”
“I get it. You want someone who will take good care of her. It’s understandable.”
“Okay… good. So…”
Now he noticed that your warm spirit was also stained with some melancholy. He understood it now. The fondness with which you looked at Felicity… it was longing too.
“I have had cats since I was little and… Oh god, you’re going to make me cry. I loved each one of them. The sick ones, the mean ones, ones without legs and eyes, smart, dumb as a brick… They all mattered to me the same.”
“How many do you have now?”
He didn’t notice you with any carriers or cat stuff.
“None. I get too attached, and then… you know.” You sent him a sad look but laughed when Fel tried to climb on your lap.
“Well, now it seems like you have one,” he muttered, looking at the cat, who was feeling even too comfortable. You rolled your eyes playfully. “Sorry, I don’t make the rules. It’s all on her.”
“I suppose I can live with it… So when are you leaving?”
“Wednesday. Does it mean you agree?” He asked with hope.
“Sure. I’ll come.”
He expected it to be tougher. You didn’t even talk about payment yet. It felt weird to speak of it now, but he felt bad.
“Oh, no, it’s alright. I can just bring her to you.”
“Don’t,” you instructed firmly. “Cats don’t like the change of environment.”
“She sure doesn’t mind it every time she tries to run away…” he jested with forced frustration.
Fel looked at him with her sharp green eyes.
“Is he lying, Felicity? You are a good girl, right? No running away…” You spoke to the cat, and Leon could already feel his mistake. You were already pairing up with his cat against him…
“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”
“That’s your problem now. I will spend some time with my new bestie anyway.”
Leon had to give you a spare key earlier that day instead of simply waiting for you because your working hours collided. You were ending your shift half an hour after he had to leave, so the only option was to give you the key. Not that you gave him any reasons to be concerned, but it was his professional hint of distrust. Still, you were his neighbor, right? It’s not like you’re gonna rob him and run. That was enough to calm him.
Damn all his material property, though. Fel was what he was concerned about. You proved that you were good with cats and that the girl loved you, but would she be okay? Would she miss him? Ever since he took her in, she had little contact with other people, and he only hoped it would be fine…
He certainly didn’t expect the sight he saw late in the night when he got back.
He turned the key in the door slowly, carefully, to not make much noise. He stepped in like a father aware of the sleeping children inside… Sometimes he thought it was hilarious, but he genuinely felt something warm in his heart.
Stopping by the living room, he stood in the doorway and watched with amusement.
You were comfortably half-lying on the couch, your ankles crossed, while Felicity climbed on your chest and drifted off to sleep. The late hour must have gotten to you too, because you were clearly napping yourself.
Leon couldn’t blame you. He would gladly curl up on the other side of the couch, steal some of the blanket you were tangled in, and stay like that since morning.
For a short second he felt awkward about a strange woman being so domestic in his place, sleeping on his couch, but it was a nice kind of awkwardness. He would consider himself cruel if he woke you up, so he truly thought about just lying nearby (respectfully far, obviously) like he wanted.
But then one of your eyes slightly opened, and you yawned.
“You’re back,” you noticed, but had to take a break to wipe the sleep out of your face and stretch your arms. Finally, you looked at him with a fully conscious gaze, and rubbed Fel’s back. “Hi there.”
“Hi,” he greeted and scratched his neck before moving to sit on the couch.
“How was work, inquisitor?”
He was trying to think of something suitable to say. Something between not having to lie and not seeming too gruff. Before he could figure something out, you spoke up again. “Ohh, I know that look. You don’t have to say anything… You can if you like, but don’t force yourself for my sake.”
“Okay. I’m just glad to be back.” You nodded and smiled in response. “Thank you… For everything, really.”
“Of course. It’s a pleasure.”
He watched you pet Felicity’s fur, and he was shocked by how comfortable she seemed. She adored his touch as well, but she rarely slept on him.
“She never does that to me…” he muttered before he could stop the words from coming out.
You chuckled, trying not to shake too much so as not to bother the animal.
“Cats like to cuddle with soft things.”
“Like–”
“Like tits, yeah.”
That was unexpected, and it made Leon crack a smile.
“Bold,” he said, draping his hand on the backrest of the sofa.
“Is it? Then you are not bold enough for a man your age.”
“Woah, alright… Are you trying to offend me?”
“No, I’m judging.”
Only now he realized you were making fun of him. You wanted to laugh at his slightly bashful face, but you were interrupted by another yawn.
“Sorry,” you mumbled, either for joking or yawning. Then Felicity stirred and started shifting on your chest. “Oh, sorry, sorry… I won’t move anymore.”
Your promise wasn’t enough, because she looked up, blinking slowly. When her green eyes landed on Leon she was on her feet immediately. With a happy meow she jumped off you and run over the couch to cuddle with him.
“So you did miss me,” he noticed, no less happy than she was.
“Obviously she did. She checked all the corners before she agreed to come sit with me,” you explained, while moving to sit up and watched them with some fondness. “How do you feel as a mother, Leon?”
Felicity made her way to his lap and snuggled his arm with her head.
“A mother?”
“She must consider you her mother at this point. She really loves you.”
“That’s mutual then,” he admitted and the corners of his lips moved up when he looked at the cat. Then he looked up at you. “Thank you again. It really means a lot to me to know that she’s safe and happy when I’m not here.”
“I imagine… And I guess we get on well. Like girls do, you know.”
He laughed warmly.
“Yeah, no doubt.”
Your relationship with your next-door neighbor went that path and was based mostly on watching over Felicity. Leon often stopped by your place to ask a question or two, and you accompanied him a few times on shopping for cat food. Whenever he saw you with your groceries, you were given no chance to protest against him moving the bags to your door.
Still, it was mostly casual, due to Leon’s restraint. He would love to know you better, but feared bothering you too much or even worse, boring you.
That was until you were forced to knock at his door on some afternoon for a reason that didn’t concern his cat at all.
“Heyy,” you said in a voice too forcefully happy to be true. You could take a guess that your miserable face explained everything anyway. “Sorry to bother you, Leon. I wanted to ask if you have painkillers by any chance?
He almost froze, still holding onto the door and staring at you with widely opened eyes. If you watched it from afar you would say the guy was looking at an astonishing painting that he liked but didn’t understand at all.
“Sure, yeah!” He finally broke out of his state.
“I just… I have such an awful headache I'm not sure that I can survive going out and facing the sun.”
“Absolutely, do you want to just, em–” he spoke, pretending that Felicity wasn’t currently biting his feet while he tried to push her back from the door with his other leg.
Luckily you understood and moved inside.
“Come on, I'll look around for some pills. I definitely have some.”
“Thanks, you’re saving my life,” you offered weakly.
“Call me whenever you need that again,” he brushed it off almost nonchalantly, which was comical considering his previous stare.
Moving inside, you noticed the pans and plates in the kitchen.
“Oh, you're cooking.”
You took a seat nearby when he crouched to go through a locker with some bandages, drugs, and antiseptics.
“Trying to cook,” he corrected.
You smiled softly, and that made him realize you truly must feel awful. You looked thinner than usual, even if he saw you only yesterday. Your skin was not so glowy, and your eyes were tired over the means.
He quickly found what he was looking for and offered you a whole box. You didn’t even have to ask for some water, because it was placed in front of you.
“Actually, do me a favor,” he said after you thanked him again.
“Oh. A favor of what kind?”
He nodded at the prepared food.
“Take some of it for yourself. It’s nothing fancy, not the best, but I promise it’s edible,” he promised with a concerned face, like you were already questioning his skills. “I’m still… you know, figuring it out. It’s embarrassing, but whenever I try to cook, it turns out to be a meal for a whole military unit. I was always more of a takeout person since… recently.”
Looking at your pained expression made his heart clench a little. He only hoped the painkiller would work fast and give you some relief. It was adorable that you still tried to keep the conversation going and told him to “shut up” when he mentioned that he probably talks too much. “Shut up, as in like… Do not actually shut up,” you corrected.
“Trying to set healthier habits?” You asked.
“Something like that,” he agreed.
“I imagine you must be busy in your big grown-up job of saving the world from heretics,” you said, making him smile and roll his eyes.
“Is it still this ‘Spanish inquisitor’ thing?”
“Mhm.”
It was good to know, though, that you understood, and didn’t think of him as a disaster because he was a grown man who struggled with a basic thing like cooking.
But he didn't really struggle; he just used wrong proportions, and he wasn't a disaster at all. His flat was clean and taken care of, his clothes washed and ironed, damn, he even had pillows for different seasons – red for winter and light blue for spring. He was far from miserable, but Leon had the tendency of being overly critical about himself.
“And I was, yes. Pretty busy.”
“Was? You're a retired inquisitor then?”
“As long as I'm not needed.”
Oh, I get it. But I shouldn't take your food away. If you have too much, it means you can save it for longer, and you don't have to worry about cooking.”
He literally had to fight to not stare at you the way he stared at Fel when she did something cute.
“Y/n. Please, save me from the fate of eating the same pasta for the rest of the week,” he pleaded. “I won’t even mention that I have too much sauce, and I'll have to cook more pasta, then I’ll have too much pasta, and…”
“And you will have to make more sauce. I know it. The never ending story.”
He offered that you should stay if his company doesn’t make your headache worse. Little did he know that it was actually like the best cure.
After fifteen minutes you looked much better, and he relaxed himself.
“We should become business partners,” you said suddenly with a smart smug. “Do you want to trade?”
“What do you propose, m’am?”
“I hate cooking, but I’m a hella good baker.”
“Sounds tempting.” He had to admit that it was indeed a deal he couldn’t turn down. Especially since it came from you. “I can give away some of my dinners for your baked goods.
“Lovely.” You clapped your hands, then offered him one like you were just buying some joint investment. “We have a deal.”
After that day, everything started shifting. Slowly and comfortably for both sides, but it did.
You felt the silent permission to strike up more personal conversations. Leon was a private guy, and you wanted to respect that. You started mentioning books and CDs you saw around his flat. You never did that before to not make him feel like you were getting into his space too much, but now he seemed glad that you noticed things.
And truth be told, you noticed everything. Or at least a lot.
You could recognize when he thought too hard about an answer or when he shifted nervously, not knowing if he should offer you his arm, hug you goodbye, or just nod his head. You saw when he watched you, and well… you watched him too.
You talked about music, and favorite movies. After sharing a few evenings spent over the best title, he came to your flat a few times to play a video game. The whole arrangement of sharing food quickly turned into hanging out together when one of you cooked or baked, whenever possible.
And when it was not and Leon was away on a job, you stayed with Felicity, who grew to love you almost as much as she loved Leon.
“I'm having a free day tomorrow. Can I come sit with her?” – It was a common question that quickly turned into coming over without asking, because it was so obvious.
It was a custom; after some time he stopped dropping the spare key at your place and simply gave you one for good. That was enough of an invitation.
He would be a liar if he said he enjoyed it any less. He loved coming back home now. He loved it before too, when it was just Fel, of course, but now he knew his girl… both of his girls were happy together. It made the missions more bearable.
Sometimes he just stood there on the doorstep, a jacket still on his shoulders, and watched. He took in the simplicity. The adorable simplicity… Abandoned puzzles somewhere on the floor, toy mice, and in the middle of it you, playing with Felicity, who tried to hunt your hand.
“Nice smell,” he noticed one day, thinking that you got out of your comfort zone and tried cooking for once.
“It’s for her,” you said immediately, and Fel used your lack of focus to catch you off guard. She jumped at your back, and you squealed in surprise.
The little beast lightly bit your ear, but despite the playful nature of it, Leon moved to take her off your back.
“Cooking for the cat?” He dared.
“Yeah, I found this old recipe in my notes. My mum was doing it for our first cat!”
“And I thought I was crazy about her…”
All of it felt… Well, heavenly. For a long time in his life, Leon thought that a miracle would have to happen so he could be happy. If that was the case, the miracle had four legs, a few scars on her belly, and a torn ear from a rough life on the street. The miracle also now enjoyed sleeping on his favorite chair but liked your lap much better.
Then he noticed something was off with his cat… He was probably too serious about all of it, but how could he just brush it off?
“Do you think she… I mean, is she breathing properly?”
He looked to the side to try to read something out of your serious face. You were both bent over Felicity, who lied on the sofa and looked rather fine, despite her annoyance about the unwanted attention she was getting.
“It’s… better than yesterday,” you admitted, only worsening his worries.
“Better? But it’s not perfect, right? I knew that I shouldn’t have taken her… God, I just wanted… I’m such a fool.”
You quickly gripped his forearm to stop him from spiraling into guilt.
“Hey, come on. It’s not on you. It’s probably some sort of infection. It will be fine.”
“I’ll take her to the vet… Shit, but I'm working tomorrow.”
He felt bad asking, but it was Felicity’s health on the line, alright?
“Do you…”
You shook your head like you were offended he even had to ask.
“Of course I’ll take her.”
He breathed out the air he didn’t even notice he was holding.
“You are an angel, you know that?”
“And you’re a good person, Leon. Never forget that… Fel is lucky to have you.”
He didn’t feel that way, though, when he sat on the plane, knowing that you and Felicity were at the vet right now. You both probably struggled because you were worried too, and the cat… to put it lightly, she wasn’t a fan of strangers in white kits.
You texted him right away when you got home that she was mostly fine; the doc prescribed her some medication and said it was nothing to worry about. She was annoyed with the trip, though, and looked for him around the flat.
He warned you that he could be unreachable for a longer time, but it didn’t make you any less worried. He never talked about his work much, and you could see the idea of doing that pained him. It wasn’t difficult to guess that it was of a dangerous nature, though.
You kept your phone charged and never abandoned it when he was away (despite having the habit of always losing it in his flat). Waiting for any sign from him was tough. Sometimes it felt like you already knew how military wives felt… and you were just a neighbor. A cat sitter, if you will.
You didn’t give it a name, not even in your own head, to not rush it, but Leon was so much more to you.
He called you late at night, and he actually wondered if he should do that for a longer while. Eventually he decided that he didn’t know when the next considerably safe moment would happen, if it would, and it would be a shame to let the opportunity go.
You picked up almost immediately, like you were waiting. You quickly admitted that you, in fact, were.
Leon’s heart beat faster when you showed him the adorable view of Fel curled up on your stomach while you lay on his couch.
“I wish I could be there with you. How is she doing?”
“Much better. She was very brave at the vet’s. Got snacks and praise.”
He chuckled. Of course she was bribed with snacks.
“Hey, um… “Your soft voice almost made him panic that something happened, but you forced a smile for him. “Do you maybe know when you will be back?”
You never asked him that before. In general, you didn’t ask about his job, and he appreciated it a lot. Somehow you both knew that he couldn’t answer most questions and didn’t want to answer the other half. You were fine that way… But now you must have felt truly awful if you tried to ask.
He was unable to say when he would be back. Damn him if he knew.
The silence placed a sad expression on your face, and suddenly Leon could feel something tightening in his chest. For a moment he feared that he wouldn't be able to take a breath, but he forced himself to calm down.
Thousands of thoughts went through his head, but he cared only about one of them. Only one was worth the bother – it was all you needed to know. Well, for now at least, he hoped.
“Hey, you know that it means a lot to me? I said it before, I know, but…”
“Taking care of Fel?”
He gave himself a moment to think, but there was nothing to wonder about. Didn’t he make up his mind a long time before, after all?
“Yeah, and… just you hanging around. Y-you. You mean a lot to me. Your presence. You know?” He felt like a fool hearing his hesitant voice despite knowing what he wanted to say. He laughed at himself, but you were only shaking your head slowly. “I’m making no sense-”
If you could be there with him, you would take his hand in yours. Staring at the screen of your phone suddenly wasn’t enough.
“It's perfectly fine, Leon. I get it.”
You wanted to add something, say it all back, but the call was cut, making your breath stop. Without a single rational thought, you could feel your eyes tearing up.
Only then did the spiral start. What if he was hurt? If something happened and he won’t be back. Or that he will be back but very injured…
Felicity felt your nerves building up and stirred.
“It will be okay,” you said to the sleeping cat.
Or to yourself.
All you could do for now was shamelessly curl up in a blanket that smelled like Leon and not disturb the cat. You could always try calling him again in the morning. You agreed that then – if he wouldn’t pick up – then you could panic, and it would be justified.
And you did.
He didn’t pick up in the morning nor later, and after the third attempt, you stopped trying in case you were interrupting him or something.
You called your employer to say you were sick, which wasn’t much of a lie. You felt sick, and staying in with Felicity was the only thing that could make it at least a bit more bearable.
You cleaned the flat, made something to eat, then left it untouched, and eventually ended up sitting without any occupation anyway. Putting your mind on something would help, you knew that, but you couldn’t force yourself…
Time was your enemy. Not only because of how slowly it passed, but also when you lost track of it. The sun set down, and you still sat there like the shaking bundle of nerves that you were.
You didn’t allow the tears to flow again, though.
Well, at least until you heard the door opening and rushing in the hall. Then you couldn’t control any of it anymore.
You stood up, almost kicking the chair back and startling Felicity. Your head was spinning, and your sight was fuzzy, but you made your way to Leon, only stopping for a few seconds in front of him.
You didn’t notice the bouquet that he was holding, and he almost dropped it when he saw the wet traces on your cheeks.
“Hey,” you said, like a sob wasn’t just trying to break out of your throat.
“Hey… Darling, wha–”
“You mean a lot to me too, you know?”
He stopped with his mouth open and blinked a few times.
“What?”
You tried wiping the tears away so you could focus better, but they were winning. Before you could notice, Leon shifted closer, the flowers long abandoned on a shelf, and he cupped your face in his hands.
“When the call was cut–” you tried to explain but had to focus on steadying your breath. Leon nodded his head like he wanted to encourage you. “Before that you said I mean a lot to you. I don't know if I catch what you meant, but it's only fair if I say it back. Because it's true. You mean a lot to me, Leon.”
“I did mean it… and you know me well enough to understand how I mean it.”
The corners of your lips twitched when he brushed your cheeks gently with his thumbs.
“I missed you…”
“I missed you too, darling, trust me,” he let out quietly, yet firmly.
A fuzzy presence made itself noticeable with a loud meow and rubbing on Leon’s legs.
“Oh, right. She missed you too, obviously,” you added with a chuckle, trying to break away from his embrace, but he didn’t allow you.
He kept you close but did it gently, leaving you space if you truly wanted to step away from him. You didn’t.
Leon’s affection wasn't quick or sudden. The wall he has built around himself over the years wasn't easy to break through, even for himself. He wanted, yearned, to pull you into him, crash his lips to yours and cradle your hair with his hand.
It felt too bold, though. Perhaps you were right when you were joking a few weeks ago. He wasn’t bold enough for a man like him. But that’s who he was, and he liked the idea that you cared for him despite his flaws…
Thankfully, you cuddled into his chest yourself, and his embrace on your body tightened. He kissed the top of your head and your temples when you finally looked up at him.
“Stay with us?” He asked unsurely.
Just like he was still hesitant if you even wanted to be here.
You couldn’t help but laugh before pulling him closer by the collar of his shirt.
a/n: this fic came from the influence of mitski, my overwhelming love for my boy cat and the liking for neighbours au
I’ve always wondered what Abby would have done if Ellie had slipped up and called Joel dad at the end.
How would that have affected Abby? Would she have taken the final blow? Or would it have gut punched her to realize that she was taking another girl’s father away?
