Leon slammed his fist against the table, the cute Sanrio characters bouncing around.
"I asked you to run!!! I begged you to," Leon's voice cracked.
Claire leaned back against the wall, arms crossed waiting for Leon to finish.
"When have I ever run from anything?"
Leon squeezed his fist until the nails bit into his palm. He wasn't mad, not really. Claire had never been able to make him angry. But damn, she knew how to get under his skin.
"When we agreed to do this. To be together you told me you were out. Done with fighting on the front lines. You promised."
Leon turned in time to see Claire's defiance waver, then break.
"I promised I was out of the fight. But when it comes to me, do you really expect me to run? To not have your back? Because if you think thats what I was promising, you've lost your fucking mind, Rookie."
Leon cut the distance between them, his scarred hands cupping her face. Claire felt the way he shook, her heart bleeding for him.
"I need you to come back to. You are home for me. You are MY home, Red. I have to be selfish on this."
Claire wiped away the single tear that slid down his cheek. It didn't matter how she felt because all she wanted was to protect the pieces that were left of her Rookie.
"It's not selfish, but I won't ever run if its you and me against whatever hell comes for us. Got it."
Leon nodded before resting his head against her collarbone.
"Got it, ma'am. Now, I'd like to take my wife to bed."
Claire laughed as Leon swung her up in his arms carrying her to their bedroom.