pairing: leon kennedy x reader; au in which there are no undead to fight
it was on a mission to the north, where snowfalls were common year-round, that you and leon found a cabin amidst the storm. though hesitant to pause your assignment (for you were both that close to completing it), you and leon both knew the consequence of recklessness.
mother nature knew no boundaries.
as soon as you entered the cabin, the snowstorm intensified until all you could see was white and ice covering the windows.
and it wasn’t like the cabin came equipped with a heater or anything. besides a large cot, there was nothing. the fireplace was empty and you saw a few dirty quilts, too old and dusty to be considered usable.
“the storm’ll settle in a few hours.” leon spoke first, voice still bright and positive. he set his flashlight down on top of the fireplace, making sure it wouldn’t roll away before he turned to face you. “how’re you (name)? you’re not cold or...” he stopped, pale eyes focusing on your shivering form. “right, you’re cold.” he turned his head away, cheeks flushed red from the weather.
you had forgone passivity for pacing around the small cabin interior, hoping the activity will kindle in some kind of warmth underneath your skin.
“a f-few hours, huh?” you mutter, voice shaky and weak. though you were dressed in layers, the sheer coldness penetrated the wool and cotton materials.
you noticed leon was hardly bothered by it, despite him wearing only two layers.
sensing your stare, leon abruptly stood up from his crouching position. “you need something?” his words were quick and his attention sharply focused. even during normal conversations, you could see the rookie cop in him–he was always ready to jump into something, physical or not.
“nothing,” you told him stiffly. then, you placed your palms onto your lips and started breathing into them.
the floorboards creaked as leon made his way towards you, concern etched onto his soft features.
“if you need warmth i can lend you my coat,” he said, already preparing to unzip it.
you caught his hand before he finished. “no, you’ll regret it.” immediately afterward, you started pacing again while mumbling incoherent words.
stopping, you turned your gaze towards him, mildly confused. “wait, w-what?”
taking in a deep breath, leon repeated, “i can hold you.”
at that moment, you thought you saw his cheeks becoming redder. not from the cold but definitely from what he said. you felt your heart beat just a bit harder from his words. you knew exactly what he suggested, but it was still hard to believe it.
“hey leon,” you began with hesitation clouding your words. “holding people is like...really intimate, you know? we’re just–we’re just partners.” the last of your words became softer as you felt immediate regret coursing through.
deep inside, you were aware of the excitement humming through the marrow of your bones. having leon hold you was exactly what you’ve always wanted.
“i-i know that,” leon said abruptly. “but i want to–i want to keep you warm because you’re important to me (name).” his shoulders raised and sagged as if admitting some kind of defeat.
in an attempt to fix your mistake, you slowly walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “you may hold me leon.” a crooked smile crawled onto your face. “i mean, ugh, thank you for thinking of me as important.”
this wasn't turning out how you imagined it to be. first of all, you shouldn’t have said what you’ve said. secondly, you should’ve been more...graceful.
“and leon? you’re important to me too.”
“you...do?” leon’s voice was small, filled with a certain hesitation as if he wasn’t entirely sure of what you just said.
so you nodded and patted his shoulder again, not knowing what else to do with your hands beside that. “of course! you–you are my partner, my best friend, and you’re–”
leon blinked, tipping his head to the side. his eyes were silently asking you to continue, you knew that, but you couldn’t find the right word to end your response with.
shaking your head furiously, you then tugged at his larger hand. “nevermind, just come on.”
leon was the first to sit down on the floor. you watched as he stretched out his arms to you, welcoming you to sit on close to him.
would he object if you sit on his...?
“(name)!” he said, voice pitched as you plopped yourself down onto his lap. a soft gasp came out of leon’s lips as you leaned the side of your head against his chest.
there was a moment of awkward silence before you felt him wrap his arms around you. outside, the wind howled and the snow fell harder. you watched, absentmindedly running your fingers down your knuckles, feeling the old scars there.
“you’re really tense, leon,” you whispered as you settled, content now to feel whatever warmth he gave off.
“you think so? then yeah, i am,” he replied, chuckling. “should i take some clothes off? it’ll be warmer i swear.” he sounded clueless, but you were certain he was right.
“nah, i’m good,” you told him gently.
at that moment, you felt his grip tighten and his body softening. leon set his chin on top of your head as a sigh slipped out of his lips.
“when you’re feeling better, we can share the cot...?”
“on that dirty thing? not even for a million dollars, kennedy.”
