Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The March weather in Germany had been unusually warm. Not terrible enough to warrant complaining, and if anything, for the two of you, it’d been a blessing as an excuse to take frequent trips to the various lakes and rivers of the countryside. Ashley and you had made it to your senior year of college that year, and since Ashley’s run-in with some terrifying and traumatizing zombie cult her freshman year, she had been too traumatized to travel abroad since.

So as a gift for senior year, you had agreed to join her abroad backpacking through the German countryside on your spring break. Ashley’s father, now 2 years into his presidential retirement, had been apprehensive but conceded once you two had shown him your plans for remaining in touch and safe, and plenty of begging.

You had headed out with 2 satellite phones, a GPS, a lot of hiking/camping equipment, and one of the Secret Service men you’d begrudgingly allowed to join. 8 days later, the trip was over, and you were headed back to Hamburg, where you had originally flown into. The two of you had spent the last 8 days doing a copious amount of walking, train riding, enjoying good local food, and taking in the beauties offered up by the countryside and its people, with Tod the Secret Service Man in tow. So, lounging in the train compartment was a welcome relaxation for your sore feet and legs.

Your group had hopped on a train from Bremen on a direct route to Hamburg. The ride over had been mundane, quiet mostly. Little to no one was on the train, besides a few people who remained seated in their sections, content with their own company. Ashley and you had picked the 2 window seats and let Tod guard the aisle from a seat next to Ashley. As the hour ticked by about 30 minutes, Ashley had fallen asleep, which left Tod and yourself to wake her up once you made it.

You had been the first to notice anything unsettling. Unable to sleep like Ashley, you’d been gazing out of the window, watching the land go by, when slivers of smoke rising from various buildings around the approaching Hamburg skyline caught your focus. Tod was busy using the restroom, and with Ashley asleep, you hadn’t wanted to wake her in case it was nothing, maybe just a few oddly colored rain clouds.

You kept a focused gaze on the skyline, a feeling of dread and foreboding steadily gathered, almost settling into your bones, as you looked onward. The sound of Tod plopping back into the seat broke your anxious trance, and you turned to face him. “Hey, uh Tod? I don’t want to raise any alarm bells here, but do you see that too?” You nodded your head towards the window. “Are those buildings on fire?” Tod leaned around Ashley to look out to where you had spotted the dark columns. The once small slivers had now risen into billowing blankets of grey ash above the city. The sun was already set to go over the horizon in a matter of a few hours. The fires were now slightly more visible against the progressively dimming sky. “Holy shit” was Tod’s response as he sat back into his seat. Gritting his teeth whilst he thought, you kept looking, catching glimpses of helicopters amid the flaming skyline.

Chapter Text

The automated voice had announced “Zehn minuten” before Tod had any response on the satellite phone he’d borrowed from Ashley’s pack. From the very limited intel that American intelligence had, Hamburg had been one of 6 major European cities to be hit with bioterrorist attacks within the past week. Only Hamburg had just been hit within the last 3 hours and had gone almost silent from communication networks. The German government and news were working hard to establish a connection and situation analysis, but so far, the emergency was overwhelming them. A few social media clips had managed to give a vague idea of the situation, and it was grotesque. A few were able to be sent to Tod, and it was vile to view.

*Gore Warning*

The first clip had been from Facebook, an American tourist uploaded it about an hour ago. The video was clearly shot from shaking hands as it started. The camera was motion-blurred briefly as it was whipped out to quickly focus on a man several feet away. The background was filled with petrifying screams and yelling from others, the occasional explosion sounding off as well. As the video rolled, the man the camera was focused on sat hunched over, obscuring the upper half of a woman lying flat on the ground below him. Her foot twitched as if pulled by a string, despite the rest of her being still on the pavement. The man, only visible from the back, seemed to be convulsing over her, his back undulated and flexed as he moved about. The man operating the camera cried out for him to “get away from her” as he kept his phone trained on the odd-looking man. The man turned his head at the sound of the recorder's demand. The turn revealed that his jaw was painted in fresh dripping crimson, evidence of sinew and flesh caught between his bared teeth. The captured moment was over mere seconds after the monster turned around, hopefully it meant the fool recording had shut the damned thing off and made a clean get away. However, what the camera had managed to capture was a surreal and nauseating scene.

The man's eyes were crazed, his irises a clouded milky grey. His skin had a complementary complexion of pale with an almost bluish hue. The veins of his skin were visible to a grotesque extent and an unnatural shade of black as they spread across in spiderweb-like patches. Even his movements were unnerving as he moved. Each attempt was quick but lacked coordination, from the way he turned around, to the way he lunged at the camera before the it stopped. Like his body was made of sand, each limb heavy and loose, but still able to move quickly in spite of the clambering. Below him was an elderly woman with her mouth agape as if caught forever in a scream, her eyes opened to the dark sky above. Blood spilling into a large pool around her, from a softball-sized gash in her neck. Bite marks along its edges and her wind column almost completely missing.

Tod watched the second video they’d sent him, a similar scene to the previous. Only this time, it had been a pack of rabid people tearing a teenage boy apart as he screamed for his mother. His screams slowly filled with gargles as the blood filled his throat, eventually, the light left his eyes as he went silent, and his body no longer fought, surrendering itself to the maws of its attackers.
You could feel the shift in the compartment as Tod watched whatever the Secret Service had sent him over the phone. His face paled even as he held a firm and emotionless expression. Cautiously, you tapped him to get his attention before speaking. “How bad is it? What’s going on?”

Tod tucked the phone into one of his pockets and sighed. “I’ll be honest kid, this is bad on a level I can’t even describe.” Taking a moment to pass a serious glance your way he continued. “Look, my job is to protect Ashley but I’m going to do my best to get both of you girls home. They’re sending in an extraction team of a few operatives to meet us inside the city. However, Hamburg right now is as far as we can tell a shit show. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Racoon city, but it’s like that on a larger scale.”

Your face twisted in confusion as you tried to revoke any knowledge about a Raccoon City. You recall having heard something about some sort of conspiracy about a city getting wiped off the maps by a nuke years ago, but nothing more than that. “No, I don’t know about Racoon City. Thought that was just some web forum conspiracy junk people pushed to warn against the government.” Tod chuckled as he shook his head patronizingly. “Wish it was that easy kiddo. But to start there really was a Racoon City. It’s not some made up place, but the government sure did try to wipe it under the rug best they could. I’m not really supposed to divulge this, but honestly, you deserve to have some idea of the hell we’re on course for, Ashley already has some idea, at least given her last adventure in Spain. So to start, Racoon city started to have these incidents of people getting sick. It started with some hikers going missing, strange dog attacks, and eventually people getting sick and then…. eating other people.”

You had been nervous before about the city being in flames but as Tod kept speaking those uneasy nerves of yours became true fear. “Turns out Umbrella, this pharma company that’d helped build the city, had been getting into the bioweapons and bio-genetic engineering world for the past decade without anyone knowing. The whole company had various bases around the city and its outskirts. The initial virus outbreak was from their dogs that escaped a lab up in the mountains. Hence the missing hikers and dog attacks. But somehow the virus that caused people to yeah know, basically turn into zombies, was introduced into the lake that supplied the city's drinking water. Overnight, what had been only a few random cases turned into tens of thousands of people infected. Martial law was implemented, but that didn’t last very long. So the Army and National Guard were deployed to help the few remaining survivors and keep the infected contained to the city limits. These zombies were just to damn hard to kill though. Some took multiple shots to the head to kill to the point they weren’t dead till the whole damn head exploded. So, after what were deemed to be the only survivors made it out, a thermobaric missile was launched by the president at the city. It killed everything supposedly and kept the infection from spreading. Granted, there’s a lot that’s still kept hidden under red tape, top-secret classified archives, and research data. Point of telling you all this is to warn you. These…infected, look just like the fuckers from Racoon city.”

You felt nauseous and almost vomited from the fear and anxiety settling like heavy stone into your core. Tod reached across the aisle and patted your back to help a little. “So here’s the plan. I’ve only got 2 guns and limited ammo, I know you took some lessons with your Pop back home, so I’ll give you the extra 9mm I carry as backup.” He reached behind his back and pulled the slim black Ruger out of its concealed carry holster before passing it to you. As you swallowed the bile that had risen in your throat, you gingerly took the gun, gripping its base firmly. Tod continued, “Like I said, there’s an extraction team on the way to meet us. We can’t stop this train from reaching the station, and I have no idea what is waiting there for us. So if it’s empty, we get off and find a secure place to bunker down, probably closer to the edge of the city. If it’s full of people trying to escape, we stay on the train only if I can vet them before they enter, or we can commandeer a section for ourselves. If it’s swarming with undead, I’ll try to keep them off the train, and you two stay on so it can at least get you out of the city, granted they don’t blow up the tracks or stop the train remotely.” You nodded along with Ashley, who Tod had woken up before he explained the plan.

“I can't believe this. Seriously! I just want to take a nice trip, but noooo, have to end up dealing with undead freaks again. I’m investing in some shooting lessons if we get back home in one piece,” Ashley lamented from her seat. You smiled at your friend's complaint; Ashley’s annoyed commentary was a staple of her charm. The smile was wiped from your face however, the moment the train was finally within the city’s center.

The roads were lined with abandoned cars with doors flung open, some empty, others with decaying corpses flopped over their doors and hoods. Sidewalks a mess of random objects like discarded shopping bags and food, and pools of blood, both dried and fresh. It didn’t matter where you looked, there was a corpse or what looked like one somewhere. The most paralyzing part were the bodies that stood still in the streets, pale, unmoving, bloodied upright bodies. As you watched the massacre outside, one of them turned its head, seemingly watching you back through its milky eyes. Goosebumps erupted across your skin and every nerve screamed for you to listen to instinct and run, to get as far from those eyes as you could, but instincts didn't matter here at least not right now. Nowhere to run to and no way off. Best you could do was observe the burning hell scape below and hope this extraction team found you soon, before these things did at least.

Chapter Text

The Train pulled into the station, its wheels screeching as it halted to a stop along the loading bay. Tod was the first to stand and leave the compartment. He left, leaving you and Ashley to hunker down inside till he returned several minutes later. “So, here is the deal. The station is empty, at least this portion of it. I was able to make contact with the extraction team's leader. He said for us to wait here and they’ll come to us, however, we are to be ready to move if needed. Also here,” Tod tossed a plastic bag onto the table between the seats. Various bags of chips, cardboard juice boxes, premade sandwiches, and other vending machine goodies spilled out as it hit the table. “I raided a vending machine near the platform since we won’t be getting any dinner. Eat while we can.” “Only if you come sit and eat too,” Ashley demanded. Tod smirked and obliged, taking a seat next to her and across from you as you ate together. The small moment was deceivingly peaceful as you snacked away on prepackaged foods. The group was the only noise in the otherwise silent train and station, it lasted like that for a bit.

Ashley was shaking you as your eyes peeked open. You’d been taking a quick rest while Tod had been on watch duty, “You ladies get your beauty rest” he’d told you two before leaving to guard the entrance to the train compartment. Who knew how long ago that had been, maybe an hour or two?

*Gore Warning*

Ashley’s eyes bore into yours as she kept shaking you. Her breaths were coming out in quick, panicked bursts. She was clearly alarmed. “Wake up. Please wake up,” her tone harsh but stifled as she whispered, a crash that sounded like glass echoed down the hall. “Tod’s holding them off, but we need to go. Now.” You blinked away some sleep from your eyes as a bang rang out, a gunshot, that startled you enough to wake up fully. Adrenaline started to flood your system as the current situation came rushing back into your foremind. Once you stood, Ashley helped you to throw on your backpack, she already had hers on, and she was pulling you behind her as she opened the door to the hallway.

Stumbling in the dark for a moment before your eyes adjusted all you could do was hold onto Ashley’s hand as she pulled you, blind in the nighttime darkness. However, while your sight needed a moment to catch up, your ears needed no such time to adjust. The sounds that greeted them sent a wave of cold goosebumps crawling across your skin.

From the dark deep hissing gargles reminiscent of dying elderly on their last breaths, blood curdling pained broken moaning, and wet crunches beckoned. As Ashley pulled you quickly past them as the horde gathered and knocked against the windows, your face cringed and stomach lurched as the smell invaded your space. You’d smelled death before, that metallic sickly sweet perfume, but this was so much worse. It resembled that familiar smell of decay, but this time it was thick and greasy. It coated and clung to your throat as you breathed, that overwhelming sickly sweetness and metallic tang accompanied by rancid spoiling rot. You could taste the decomposing infected flesh almost as if you’d bitten into one of them yourself. The only thing that helped was the acidic bile that rose from your stomach and seared the back of your throat.

Coughing and gagging, you covered your nose with your spare arm as you kept up with Ashley, who seemed unfazed by the sounds or scents of the undead. Her face, now that your eyes adjusted, was set and determined. “Don’t let go of my hand. Tod is just up ahead.” Ashley instructed. Shaking your head and steadying yourself, you focused. You’d seen a lot, sure not like this, but you had spent a semester overseas volunteering in war-stricken Afghanistan. ‘Just think of this like there. It’s another warzone’ you told yourself as you hardened yourself in preparation for whatever awaited you two.

Soon, in front of you and Ashley was Tod. He was covered in gore, but seemed unharmed himself as he rushed to meet you two. He grabbed Ashley by the arms as he spoke sternly. “You are going to follow me, silently and quickly. Do not get ahead of me and do not leave my side unless I tell you to. We’re making a break for the surface, the extraction team gave us a meeting point at the city park nearby. It’s not far, but we need to move.” Ashley nodded fiercely and so did you.

Tucked behind Tod as you followed his squatted form, you moved out of the train and into the open station. There were a few flickering lights that helped to illuminate the station platform slightly, the rest lay in broken, busted piles of glass on the floor. Glancing behind as you followed Tod and Ashley you watched as the horde of maybe about 10 zombies feasted.

Apparently, your escape had been thanks to them discovering the other passengers. The sound of the masticating from the poor victums flesh between their teeth was abhorrent and scarring. It was a moment that would forever haunt your memories as you glimpsed into the empty eyes of one man, which, despite being dead, still conveyed a petrifying fear through their features. Maybe this had been what the Greeks were trying to emulate with Medusa, the power that a truly terrified person's gaze held. How their fear was so true and raw that you could feel your own heart quicken and skin grow cold as your eyes locked onto theirs, even after death.

Ashley's firm grip on your hand helped pull you out of the terrified trance and pulled you forward again. Keeping your head down, you decided not to look back again, at least not until you’d made it out of the train station.

Chapter Text

Each hallway was similar in its eerie abandoned silence. As Tod crept along with Ashley right behind him, and you behind her, as you did your best to follow in their footsteps. Softly stepping over piles of broken glass, loose papers, blood, upturned furniture like benches and chairs, and other forgotten evidence that living humans had once been inside these halls.

The three of you had made it down two hallways without issue. Besides when you had almost fallen face first on the ground after tripping over a ticket kiosk that’d been ripped from the wall and partially blocked the hallway. Ashley had been quick to catch you, and you both sighed a breath of relief that you hadn’t created a sound louder than a small stumble.

The small flashlight Tod kept on in the front as you ventured forth illuminated a small circle of the space, dust particles dancing as they flittered into its view. Partly why you had tripped was the lack of illumination. However, the small available light offered by the flashlight was a comfort amongst all the chaotic mess of the station, only slightly hidden within the dim setting. As he shifted the circle of light about the scenes, it would land on what was clearly left behind from when people had been there. As furniture shoved over and pushed out of the way came into view, it was easy to imagine how the people who’d been here had left in a hurry and with reckless abandon.

The quiet around you offered both the comfort and acknowledgment that you three were alone, but the longer it persisted the more tension built and compounded within you. As much as it gave the promise of safety, it also grew suspicious as you anxiously waited for any noise to signal that the false safety was gone. After seeing those things, not seeing any felt like a trap waiting to snap shut and eat you alive.

Funny enough, you didn’t need to be reminded to be aware because that stench from before had followed you along like a ghost. It felt like it clung to the walls and floors, seeping into the air, making it feel thick and stagnant, perhaps it was. At least it was less pungent than when you’d been mere feet from the undead. Now it was just a remnant, floating about like the dust settling and collecting onto everything it could cling to.

Ashley’s hand had grown a little sweaty in yours, your own a little sweaty as well, but the two of you were too terrified to let go. The touch of a warm breathing person grounded both of you into remembering that you were completely alone with the undead. That this wasn’t your crypt, yet. You had even started to count Ashley’s pulses that you could feel strongly within her palm too, to help yourself keep as calm as she was, or that she at least appeared to be.

Neither of you dared to say anything aloud as you walked. So the only communication you two shared were the small squeezes you’d send each other. Small little tugs to “check in” with each other. Ashley would squeeze twice and you’d squeeze once, a short silent call and response.

It was like this, the three of you in a silent train, until you reached the doors to the outside. It started small, a faint thudding sound that could’ve been rain on the roof, but as you emerged into the main station space, it’d grown in volume. Finally, you had an answer as to why the station had been so silent.
Across the big glass doors that lined the main entrance was a makeshift barricade of metal benches, suitcases, chairs, desks, random storage racks, and things like mops and brooms shoved through the handles.

On the other side a wall of undead were lumbering as they slowly beat against the glass, the source of the thudding sound. Their grey clouded eyes stared unblinking and unfocused into the empty station foyer. They seemed to be lazily looking about unsure of what to do, but as soon as your group entered all of those wondering eyes whipped to watch you.

The pounding on the glass stopped for a moment as the horde watched you. Ashley and Tod frozen just like you as you three stood like deer caught in headlights. The pause was brief however as one of the zombies, a middle-aged man who looked dressed as if he’d been on his way to work in a fitted grey, now torn and blood-stained, suit, raised his fist,….and screamed.

The scream was low and cut out by small bouts of gurgling, but its shrillness was sharp. It was so unexpected and sudden you jumped in your skin, as did Ashley and Tod. The others soon started to slam their fists into the glass wall, much harder than what they had been doing before. Seemingly filled with new vigor now that they had a meal in their sights.

“Fuck, the glass.” Ashley pointed at one of the glass doors, its pane strength waning as it started to splinter into small cracks as it held off the berating fists. “Come on there’s another exit to the east. Move move move.” Tod waved Ashley to move as panic took over.

Ashley ran quickly as she hurdled and vaulted over obstacles, as you followed on her heels. Tod shouted directions from behind as he took over the rear, putting himself between you two and the horde.
During your sprint you passed by a few undead, their forms too slow to catch up to you as you ran past. But knowing they were following you now as you kept going through the desecrated halls was just all the more motivation to not stop, even as your mouth tasted of copper and lungs burned.

Ashley kept you going with cries of encouragement to “Keep going, it’ll be okay.” You thought to yourself about how thankfully all the hiking and walking you two had been up to was paying off with the strength it gave your legs, normally you weren’t much of a long-distance runner.

Eventually, you reached the east exit. It was on a small metal door with ‘Nur Notausgang’ (Emergency Exit Only) written across it in German. Ashley and you passed as Tod braced himself against the door. The sounds of shuffling and thudding echoed as the zombies slowly encroached.

Tod popped open the door with his arms outstretched and gun drawn in a prepared stance. You and Ashley held your breaths as he inspected the outside. Slowly and with caution you followed behind Tod after he gave a nod. As he cleared the way, you all exited out into an alleyway blocked in on both ends with chainlink about 7 ft high. Ashley looks between both ends, the one that exited out to the main street and the one that looked like it let out into an employee parking lot. “What now?” She asked Tod as he thought. “Parking lots, side roads, and back alleys are our best bets. They’re the least traveled by people and therefore should be the least likely to have zombies hanging about. We need to get going though. Who knows how long before they come after us through the door or the gate.”

Careful to make sure each tip of your feet was slotted into the gaps in the chain link before hoisting yourself up to the next spot, you followed after Ashley as she climbed. You two made quick work of the fence as Tod stood guard. Only once you were over the top did he start climbing. It was good timing, as a zombie had started down the alley from the main street facing gate. Its decaying body hindered it’s ability to fulfill its directive to chase, it was sad as the thing bumped aimlessly into the gate, rattling the metal.

It was able to gape its mouth open and chew at the metal chains, as it watched you turn your backs on it. With no arms, only stumps covered in black dried blood and dangling dead skin, all it could do was slowly chew at the chain. A slow rhythmic chomp-clink, chomp-clink, chomp-clink, chomp-clink followed you as you walked away, slowly fading away as the distance between you and the thing widened.
The parking lot was empty except for a few cars and more random belongings people had dropped in their frantic attempts to get away, just like inside the station. Finally gaining some courage, you reached into your waistband and unholstered the Ruger Tod had given you. Its black metal felt like ice within your hold, but you gripped it firmly. Fingers cupped one over another around the handle, palms squeezing the grip, focusing with both eyes, and thumbs tucked parallel against the left side below the barrel, just like your Dad had shown you.

It was small, but having the familiar sensation of a gun in your hand and being outside instead of trapped in a building kicked your survival brain on and settled your heart. You could actually think now and not just cower behind Ashley and Tod. You’d been through hell before, Ashley too, you two were gonna make it out.

Chapter Text

By some small miracle, you had managed to make it out of the creepy parking lot, doge only a few stray undead, and make it to within eyes' view of the park. All by just keeping quiet and avoiding any of the main roads. So far, the worst of it had been when one had managed to grab you through a broken window you were passing by.
It was going fine, as you traveled over piles of trash and rubble, when seemingly out of nowhere you’d been forcefully halted in your steps by a strong, almost bruising pressure on your upper arm. The alley was too narrow to have tried and aim your gun at the thing, and its hold on you had kept you from turning around.

Quickly, you had twisted underneath it, right as Ashley kicked at the outstretched arm. The forces were enough to break the brittle dead bones of the arm, and it snapped off, dislodging you with the zombie hand still gripping on tight. “Ewwww, that’s so gross. Get it off.” Ashley commented as she rushed over to peel off the dead hand from your arm like she was plucking a tick. Thankfully you and her both had traveled with thicker jackets, yours a canvas army green and hers a dull orange leather one, that you’d paused earlier in the parking lot to put on. It was hot out but the materials at least gave the two of you some extra protection. In this case, it had kept your skin safe from the jagged nails on the zombie's hand, and instead, the most you’d suffer might be a bruise. Tod just had on a plain white long-sleeved collared button-up shirt.

“Good job not screaming or firing,” Tod added as he waited for you two to be ready to move again. “We need to conserve ammo and avoid firing at all costs. Any sound as loud as that is sure to draw in a horde, and in these alleys we’d be boxed in before we could say fuck.” “Let’s just get to the park, I hate being stuck between buildings like we're sardines who got canned alive.” You commented as the group moved on, leaving your new dead hand friend behind for the raccoons to find.
As you reached the end of the Alley, all that was left was the main road that separated you from the fence surrounding the park. You could either waste time walking on a main road sidewalk exposed or jump the fence, and since everyone had done that once today why not double it.

Tod made sure the cost was clear first before waving you and Ashley across. Hurriedly running across the street, you holstered your gun into the back of your jeans and made a leaping dash towards the fence. The fence was bronze, cold, and made up of long posts with a solid bar across the top. Decorative ornaments adorned the main polls that separated the chunks of fence; the spaces between were bare, which was good since spikes and hands don’t mix well. However, the fence was only a little taller than you two, so with a running start and a leap, both of you were able to grab onto the smooth section of top bar and pull up, with your feet pressed against the rods as boosted support. Once you and Ashley had hoisted yourselves over the top, just as before, Tod followed suit.
Landing with harsh thuds into the grass everyone was safely over the fence. Taking out a handheld gps, Tod took a moment to compare your current position to the location of the extraction point. “This way,” Tod his head vaguely toward the right and started toward the spot. Unholstering your gun, you and Ashley followed in tandem.

“I hope these agents are as hot as the last one who rescued me.” Ashley joked as you lightly jogged behind Tod. “Seriously, Ashley that’s where your head's at?” You joke in a playfully teasing way. “If you’d been there, you’d be curious too. When I tell you Leon was hoooooot, shame he refused to give me his number.” You light-heartedly laughed at Ashley's unabashed schoolgirl pining. “You’re lucky I’m such a good friend that I won't mention Leon to Michael. I doubt he could handle being compared to a special agent. Remember how he acted when you said Tom Holland was cute.” “Don’t remind me,” Ashley giggled, “I had to listen to him grumble about it for a month. Still, you never know, could be some stud muffins more our age. Sorry Tod.” Tod let out a huff of a laugh as he commented, “Don’t worry, at my age I see you two more like my own daughters. They're in their 20s themselves.” “Well, you’re doing fantastic for 45 Tod,” Ashley added.

As you three got closer to the meeting point, a clearing in the trees came into view. The park offered plenty of trees and shrubs, so you had opted to stay within the parts off the main pavement trail, just in case any zombies had decided on a late-night stroll.

The sky had filled with stars as the time approached roughly around 10 o’clock. Spotted across the sky were blankets of smoke from various fires across the city, and every once in a while, you’d watch as a helicopter would fly high above between the skyscrapers, never landing. You had made it to the extraction point about half an hour ago and as Tod instructed, you and Ashley had climbed up into the nearby trees just so you wouldn’t be snuck up on. Tod patrolled the ground below as the three of you waited. Every few minutes Tod would pause his pacing to answer the sat phone as the leader of the extraction team updated him. From what you and Ashley could pick up they were close.

Sat beside Ashley, you swung your legs lazily as you two shot the breeze, trying to pass the time waiting to be rescued. “Is this anything like Spain? You’ve never really talked about it.” You asked, Ashley sighed before she sheepishly answered, “Sort of. In Spain, the undead were infected with this weird parasite, not a virus. They weren’t quite so….rotten. Most of them could even talk and seemed more like crazy people rather than true undead. Well, except a few, but I'd rather not talk about that. I’d barely made it out of there, and honestly, I still have night terrors of ending up back there. Compared to that, this hasn’t been as bad, sorta. Like seeing rotting bodies that are actively falling apart is worse, but the smell is almost the same. And this time, there’s not some weird cult trying to inject me with a mind-controlling parasite. Just walking corpses who want to eat me. Not sure which is really worse, but we have been lucky to not run into that many, so Spain is worse….for now.” You gave Ashley a quick side hug as she finished speaking. “Hey, you made it then and you’re going to make it now too. I’d told you we’d make it out, didn’t I?” You offered up as you tried to lighten the mood again.
“Hey girls, get down. The team is less than 5 mins out, and from the sound of it, they want to hit the ground running as soon as they get here,” Tod yelled up into the tree. You gave Ashley a small smile before you started on the way down. Ashley waited, then followed you down.

As you both reached the ground lights shone through the tree line. 4 figures appeared from behind the lights, and you armed yourself on instinct. Tod stuck his hand out and gripped the barrel of the gun as you whipped it up and aimed it at the center figure. A sass-laced, patronizing baritone voice called out before Tod could speak. “Put it down, pipsqueak. We’re the cavalry, custom ordered.” You looked to Tod for reassurance before you begrudgingly lowered the handgun. Ashley was squinting behind you, trying to see their faces behind the bright flashlights.

You had side-eyed Ashley as she kept a steady eye on the group approaching you. “Seriously Ashley, they’re hotness does not matter right no…” Before you could finish, and just as the group came within a few feet, Ashley’s eyes widened and she interrupted you with a “LEON!?” That caught your attention as your head moved at whiplash speeds. You were going to finally get to see the Leon.

Scanning the crew, only one fit the description Ashley had given you in the past. Tall, impressive built body, dirty blonde hair that swept sideways across his forehead, stern serious eyes that somehow also seemed soft, a chiseled jaw, a tiny bit of baby fat on his cheeks, gorgeous blue eyes, and lips that were currently smirking. Something that Ashley had said was incredibly hot to witness, and now that you were standing in the presence of it, she hadn't been wrong. Maybe all her talk really had been warranted. The only difference from the way she’d recalled him was that he seemed a little older and had some light stubble going on.

“Hey Ashley, been a while huh. They said they needed the best so here I am, no vacation for me….again.” Ashley ran out and hugged the man with enthusiasm while you stood with your arms crossed. “Not good enough to send solo I see. Care to introduce the pose,” You quipped and nodded to the 3 others with Leon. He finished giving Ashley a quick hug before giving you an inquisitive look with a raised brow. “Well, this is Scot, Amanda, and Leroy. I’m guessing you’re the friend the dossier mentioned,” Leon stated while he eyed you, sizing you up. You ignored the shivers that the look over erupted over your skin as you answered, “Yeah, been Ashley’s best friend for a few years now.” Leon hummed in acknowledgment before turning to start speaking with Tod about the plan.

Ashley rushed back over to your side while they spoke, she cupped a hand you your ear as she whispered. “Seeeeeee isn’t he hot?” You rolled your eyes, briefly catching Leon glance at you while he talked to Tod. “I plead the fifth to preserve my dignity.” Ashley giggled, “Too bad jury says you’re guilty.” You gave Ashley a playful slap on her arm as she bothered you. Things looked like they were going to be easy from here on out. What a stupid thought.

Chapter Text

Once Leon had finished speaking with Tod the group had headed out at his instruction, leaving the quiet safety of the park behind. You and Ashley were in the middle of the new group, Leon headed the front, the others along the flanks, and Tod watched the back. This was the “safest” way, according to Leon. Mostly, it was all maneuvered so Ashley remained in the middle; you, however, had more freedom to walk about without being yelled at to get back in the middle.

You’d fallen back shortly after you had all hit the streets again to speak with Tod. “So, what’s the plan?” Tod rolled his eyes and grinned as you poked at his side. “You’re too smart for yah own good kiddo. I suppose I can tell you, it be better to keep you informed anyways. ‘Case anything happens.” After he waved for you to follow him, you and Tod fell back enough to speak freely but still keep up with the others. He continued, “So, this uh Leon guy Ashley knows said they got an armored van waiting on the outskirts of the city. Their original plan had been too come get us in that, but the outbreak caused people to abandon their cars on the roads, and that blocked their way in. It’s why they took longer to get to us because they had to leave the van behind. So the plan is get to the van and to get the hell outta here. They said it’s not too far, maybe a 2 hour walk.”

You side eye Tod with inquisition as he finished. “That’s it? Just walk to a car and go? They could’ve told us that.” You commented. Tod shrugged, “Dunno why they didn’t. But now you know, why don’t you go tell Ash, so she knows too.” “Good idea. Thanks Tod.” You briefly gave Tod a side hug and rushed ahead to join back up with Ashley, he chuckled as you did so.

Once you’d jogged up to Ashley’s side you linked arms with her. “So,” you had started to speak but Ashley interrupted and leaned over to whisper into your ear. “Someone didn’t like you getting out of formation.” She whispered in a singsong manner. With a nudge of her head towards Leon to indicate, your eyes followed. As you looked you caught Leon as he’d looked back briefly, those crystalline irises lining up with yours.

You quickly glanced away as soon as he dared to keep his gaze firm and steady, just like the rest of him. A light blush crept up on your cheeks despite your will to shove it away. When you’d glanced back to check that he really had been looking, Leon had already turned his head forward again, as if that little moment had just been in your imagination.

Ashley was grinning like kid in a candy store as she shook the arm you had hooked in hers. “Seeeeee, I’m telling you he likes you.” “Come on Ash,” you rolled your eyes at your friends attempt to play cupid. “He’s known me for like an hour. That’s a stretch even for you.” She simply smiled cheerfully as she poked at your arm. “Never say never. I say you should shoot your shot. I might’ve not landed the hunk but,” Ashley wiggled her eyebrows as she teased, “maybe you caaaaaan.” You huffed and shook your head as Ashley waited for you to respond. “I’d rather focus on getting out of here before worrying about “shooting my shot.”” You suggested, utilizing air quotes on the last part. She seemed to surrender the subject for the time as Ashley shrugged and looked away, leaving you to think to yourself.

The group had kept a steady pace and was making good progress towards the van, having now made it past the on-ramp to the highway. You had been enjoying the silence, well, besides the weird thumming sound that had started up a bit ago in the background 10 minutes back. Every now and again you’d look at a random car on fire or the things people had left behind to litter the street to occupy the time. That was until Ashley broke the silence as she tapped Leon on the shoulder.

“Leon, do you think you could teach me to shoot sometime? Maybe give me and friend here a private lesson?” You caught Tod chuckling behind you and one of the other guards, Ammanda, you think her name was, joining in.

Leon smirked as he took a second to think on the suggestion, “I might need to. Seeing as how you can’t stay out of trouble. I can’t come rescue you every time baby eagle.” Ashley laughed at his nickname for her, some inside joke of theirs, and you let out a tisk at his quip. That caused Leon to raise a brow, “What, got something to say princess?”

After you crossed your arms, you spoke in annoyance, “Despite what Ashley says, I’m good.” Ashley glared at you and silently mouthed, “What are you doing!?” You ignored her protest and kept going. “I can shoot just fine, without any help from a Decaprio wannabe.” That comment earned a snort from Tod and Amanda, with Leroy and Scot struggling to hold in their laughter. Leon, on the other hand, looked taken aback at first before he smirked and chuckled a little. “Damn, well if that’s the case maybe I should take you for a one on one shoot out. Test your skills for myself.” Leon’s voice was smooth as he spoke, an underlying tone of what could be flirting lacing his words. “Only if you want your ass kicked by a girl.” Leon stopped and turned on his heel at that. He faced you head on, with that damn smirk, as he spoke, “Yeah? You’ve got a date then princess.”

You were thanking the universe that Leon had turned around before he could see your face turn into a tomato. Ashley had, however, turned and looked at you with her mouth gaping and eyes wide. Clearly, that had made her whole week, knowing her Ashley would have squealed if she could have. Amanda, Leroy, and Scot also looked as if they’d been punched in their stomachs as they processed what’d just happened. Tod was just chuckling to himself as he followed. The fun was short lived however.

It had started with Scot pointing out how that thumming sound seemed to be getting louder and him whispering, pretty nondiscreetly, about it to Leon who agreed. Both of them agreed that the group should move a little faster towards the Van, which was about a mile away. What had started out as just a small background noise started to crescendo into a noticeable thudding. As the ground started to vibrate, the abandoned cars you had passed earlier had their alarms start blaring behind the group. You felt the tone shift as everyone seemed to grow concerned, as the anxious tension filled the air with static.

Familiar groans reached your ears and you felt your blood run cold. Beside you Ashley went just as still. The group paused to look behind as a symphony of screams and moaning emerged.
You stared in horror at the scene, too entranced by terror to look away. A group of survivors were running from what appeared to be hundreds of undead. A girl, maybe 28, tripped over concrete rubble and, like fresh meat being dropped into a pool of pariahs, the poor soul was descended upon by zombies. Her terrified eyes pleading for one of the others to stop as she screamed for help, which no one did. Before the other survivors reached you, Leon shouted “RUN!”

With a heart beating like a drum in your ears, feet slamming into the pavement, and sharp pained breathing you ran, everyone did. To your right was Ashley as she kept pace with you and to her right was Leroy. In front of Ashley was Amanda and in front of Amanda was Scot who was keeping pace with Leon, who was in front of you. Tod was still behind bringing up the back. A group of about 4 survivors were on your trail too. It had started as 10 when you had first looked at the onslaught behind you. However, you counted each scream, so far 6 had lost. Each time you cried a little, your heart begged you to stop and help them as they screamed and pleaded to be saved. Their cries like a lasso to your humanity, pulling and tugging for you to turn around. Tod yelled at you to keep moving, and you did, you kept going.

You ran, and ran, and ran, and it felt as if your lungs were going to give as they burned from the inside out. The group had managed to make it within eyesight of the black, very military-looking van. “THERE IT IS GO GO GO GO.” Amanda hurriedly shouted. Just as you had felt a trickle of hope and Ashley smiled a tad at the promise of rescue, a thud behind you caused your heart to stop.
Tod, with fierce authority, yelled like a soccer coach, “KEEP GOING.” You and Ashley had whipped around, fear whispering in the back of your mind at what you were about to see, already holding your breaths captive. As your eyes landed on Tod, you screamed from the bottom of your chest with agony that shredded at your vocal cords.

A stray undead who’d been lying dormant inside a car had lunged out and grappled Tod to the ground, its teeth already sinking into him. Tod yelped in pain as the zombie bit down and tore out a chunk of his side. Blood squirting out into a pool on the asphalt beside him. You screamed again in rage and concern as you went to run to Tod, determined to help him.
Ashley called out after you as you flew towards him. You were only a few feet away as a firm arm wrapped around your waist and yanked you back. Your breath pressed out of you, while tears clouded your vision as you fought for the arm to release you.

Tod had shoved the undead off and shot it. Now, staggering to stand, he held his side tightly, slowing the bleeding that was spreading across his shirt in an expanding stain. With the soft caring face of a father, Tod looked to you and then Ashley, who had been thrown over Scott’s shoulder and was pounding against his back for him to go back as the others ran on, and sighed before he smiled at you.
“Tell my girls I love them, alright. And please stay safe, it’s been an honor to watch Ashley grow up from a little girl, and for her to meet such an amazing friend like you. Now go, get her out of here Leon.” Content with his final words, Tod turned to face the horde that was now mere feet away and started shooting, each shot helping the other survivors to get a little further towards safety. “NO TOD DON’T.” You cried out as Leon tore you away, Ashley crying for him to stop behind you. Reluctantly, your legs started to run to keep up with Leon as he kept an iron grip on your wrist and tugged you onwards.

The others had managed to get to the Van, and you watched through tear-blurred vision as Scott jumped in with Ashley as Amanda opened the sliding door and Leroy hopped in front, starting the engine. Shots behind you rang out as you raced with Leon past car after car, the van getting closer. 2 of the random survivors had even managed to get ahead and joined Ashley, Amanda, and Scot in the van.

Ashley had stretched an arm out as she strained against Scott, he had kept his arms around her waist, keeping her from jumping out of the van. It all seemed to slow down as you heard Tod’s scream. Then wet crunching, tearing of flesh, yelling, and you froze. In front of you, you watched as Ashley’s face, covered in rolling tears and fear, screamed for you and Leon. But you couldn’t hear her, it felt like the world had gone silent. Leon, the moment you stopped moving, had turned to pick you up, but at the exact same time, a force knocked him into you. And, just like that, you both were flying.
Everything seemed to speed up as if time was catching up for its slow manner earlier, like when you snap a rubber band and the back flings forward to meet the front. It started with a bang, Leon being shoved into you, sudden heat, Ashley screaming your name, her scream fading away as wind rushed by, a brief glimpse of Ashley’s horrified face behind a wall of fire and the van door shutting, Leon pulling you close in a tight hold, a harsh slam, then the feeling of rushing cold all around, and the quiet sound of being underwater.

Chapter Text

Everything was cold, except for the hard mass that was holding onto you. As your senses came back, so did the flashback of what just happened. With the running, the screams, Ashley’s terrified face, Leon grabbing onto you, then a boom, the feeling of flight, and now here, somewhere cold and wet?

As you felt Leon shift in front of you, and as he kicked his feet, your clouded mind rang alarms as you realized you hadn’t breathed in a few moments. Quickly, the adrenaline helped you to snap back into reality long enough to process that you were currently underwater, and Leon was trying to lug your limp body up to the surface. Survival instincts drove you as you started to kick fiercely, Leon letting go once you started moving so you could use your arms.

As you breached the surface, you gasped for the cool night air, pulling it into your oxygen-starved lungs; the sound of splashes nearby indicated Leon had just made it too. You looked towards the sounds, and sure enough, he was treading water a few feet away.

While you looked around, as you tried to get your bearings, a bright light caught your attention overhead. Above, about 30ft or so, was a fire along the overpass you had been on. As you watched, you caught a glimpse of the van driving away on the other side of the bridge, a long way away, the only movement in the still night besides the fire.

You turned to look at Leon, “THEY LEFT US?” Your voice course as you fought back tears of frustration. Leon shook his head and started to swim towards the riverbank. With annoyance, you begrudgingly followed behind him. “Getting Ashley was the priority. Plus they saved some of the other survivors, you can’t expect them to put everyone at risk for just 2 people who might be alive. After getting thrown off a bridge by a car exploding, it’d be safe to assume we died,” Leon responded, his tone lacking emotion. “I’d expect them to at least check to see we were dead first.” Leon rolled his eyes at your response, clearly, you weren’t the only one who was a tad annoyed.

As you made it to the bank, you and Leon hoisted your soaked forms up and onto the small concrete lip. “Worst fucking day ever.” You moaned as you both sat for a moment to catch your breaths. Leon looked at you with a face that read as ‘seriously’. “Don’t worry, there are way worse days to have. Plus, you got me at least. So maybe you won’t die.” A huff of laughter escaped you as you leaned back onto your arms, which helped you to line up perfectly to gaze into the night sky, the stars visible through a hole in the smoke-induced smog screen. “Yeah, I think you’re smugness will suffocate me first before the zombies anyhow,” Leon smirked as he stood, finding some humor in your comment. After a moment, he reached a hand out your way in a silent offer. You looked at his hand, then back to the sky for a second, getting one last look before the clouds of smoke shifted and covered the stars again. You took his hand and let him pull you up. Leon looked you in your eyes once you stood, “Don’t worry, princess, I’ve got you. And that means you’re getting home, that’s a Kennedy promise.” You felt a blush creep up as he looked into your eyes with such assuredness and firm determination. “That come with a survive or get your money back warranty by chance?” You joked in an attempt to stifle the feelings boiling and churning in your stomach. He chuckled before turning, leaving you to follow. “Nah, it’s a once in a life time deal for this ticket to ride princess,” he called over his shoulder. Lucky for you, Leon turned forward before you exploded from the way his eyes were burning into you.

You and Leon had been walking for a while. You’d managed to find a ladder out of the river embankment, but now you two were walking the city, following the street signs and going towards the vague direction the van had been heading. The water had probably ruined your guns, but Leon at least had his radio, which was conveniently water resistant, but so far he hadn’t gotten a response from when he had tried to call in earlier.

As you walked past abandoned building after abandoned building, weaponless and exhausted, weariness started to settle in. “Leon,” you cautioned, “I think we need to rest. We don’t have the energy to keep going, and I’ve been awake since 5 today.” He seemed to think about it for a moment. As he thought in silence, your ears picked up on sounds you were getting too familiar with. You turned around to confirm your fears. Apparently, the blast or fire, whichever had worked as a deterrent and shepherded the undead back down the highway. There weren’t many, but without guns any number was a risk. “Leon,” you rushed to grab his hand as you started running. “They found us again.” Leon looked over his shoulder as you two ran and gritted his teeth as he saw the group forming behind you two. He sped up, overtaking you in the lead, not letting go of your hand. “We need to find somewhere to hunker down long enough for them to pass. They’re not moving fast enough to have seen us, but if we stay out here, they will, and we have nothing to beat them off with.”

As you and Leon looked frantically for somewhere to hide, you spotted a brick restaurant. Its windows had tables boarding it up from the inside and what looked to be a second floor above it. “There, Leon.” You tugged him in the direction of the building's door and tugged at it to, which by a miracle, opened. Leon followed you inside and quickly grabbed a chair that’d been knocked over on the floor. He stomped on a leg and broke it off, then shoved it inside the door handle and over the doorframe to work as a door jam. While he did, you had run across the mess of the dining room and dragged another table over. Leon helped you to heave the heavy wooden table upright and lean it against the door.

Taking a step back, you looked to Leon, “Think that’ll work?” “I hope, but in case it doesn’t, let's raid the kitchen, then find a way upstairs.” You nodded and followed as you two made your way to the back.

You and Leon walked quietly into the kitchen area. It was dark, but compared to the dining hall, it was still organized and not a total mess. “Let’s spread out. It’ll be quicker if we cover ground quicker,” You suggested. Leon nodded in agreement and you two split. As you searched, you opened the cabinets, the pantry, the fridge, and any spot you could to look for food. After rummaging around, you two had managed to find a couple of premade pasta meals in the still semi-cold walk-in fridge and some bread in the dry storage. Taking them, some fruit cups, and bottled water Leon had found, you headed up the stairs. Leon had found the staircase in the back behind a door while he’d been looking around.

As you entered the stairway, Leon waved an arm behind him in order to grab onto your arm. Once he’d found you in the dark, he squeezed you a little before he spoke, “Stay behind me and stay quiet, we don’t know what's up here.” “Relax Leon, I can handle myself,” you responded. “I just want to make sure,” Leon added.

You allowed Leon to keep a grasp on you as you two climbed the stairs in the darkness. As you two walked into the upstairs, you exited into an empty foyer/living room. Apparently there had been an apartment above the restaurant, as you’d predicted. You followed quietly as Leon stalked about the apartment room by room. First down the hallway, then the first bedroom, then the second, then the bathroom, again the foyer, and finally the kitchen/dining room.

You watched as Leon holstered his gun and stood straight instead of crouching. “You wanna find us some silverware and I’ll get some blankets from the bedrooms?” Leon asked you as you plopped the food you’d gathered downstairs onto a small kitchen table that was pushed up against the wall. “Sure I can get the silverware but why bother getting the blankets? We could just sleep in the beds.” Leon looked at you with slight annoyance as you questioned him. “Because it’s safer if we sleep together. One of us will need to keep guard and if something happens being in separate rooms that are situated opposite the only exit is a shitty situation to put ourselves in.” You huffed, “Okay okay damn, don’t throw a fit. I’m just asking.” Leon left without another word, leaving you to look for silverware alone.

You’d found some forks and spoons neatly tucked away in a drawer, down the hall the sounds of Leon’s footsteps assured you he was nearby. As you stood in the kitchen and looked at the hard tile below you decided that you did not feel like sleeping on the cold floor. You grabbed the food and silverware, then headed toward the living room.

By the time you’d set everything up on the coffee table, you watched as Leon returned, his arms carrying pillows and blankets. “Ready to eat?” You asked, Leon mumbled a nonchalant “Nope” as he tossed the bedding onto the couch before disappearing back down the hall. “Whatever,” you mumbled to yourself before getting up to search around for spare clothes.

You searched around the bedroom Leon wasn’t occupying, and pulled open the drawers of the dresser. The room was decorated in various teen aged décor, like band posters, stuffed animals, tv-show merch, and the clothes inside the dresser further solidified that this was a teenager's room. Thankfully, you were able to find a plain grey, worn-in band t-shirt and oversized, fuzzy PJs that fit you amongst the short shorts and frilly tank tops.

Once you had changed and left the room, wet dirty clothes in hand, you went to the living room to find Leon setting up a mattress. “What exactly are you doing?” Leon looked up at you from where he’d been squatting on the ground, trying to put on a fitted sheet. He eyed you in your newfound PJ’s and grinned. “Well, I figured since a princess such as yourself isn’t used to rough’n it, I’d make it a little more manageable,” Leon smirked as he stood up and crossed his arms. “Although I could always put this back if it’s not nice enough.” A playful mockery laden in his tone. “Don’t you dare,” you lightheartedly warned, “I’ll toss you out the window if you try.” Leon softly laughed as you berated him. “Don’t worry it’s all yours. Now let's eat, then get some sleep.”

You sat on the now-made bed and ate your premade pasta meal. Leon sat across on the couch and ate his while you two relaxed. As you ate, you and Leon took the chance to just enjoy the quiet; the shared exhaustion probably played a part in that. Leon finished before you did, setting his now dirtied plastic to the side. Leon stood from the couch “I’ll be back. I’m going to get some PJs myself if I can find some.” You gave a thumbs up since your mouth was full of food and Leon chuckled at the sight of you. All curled up under a blanket, cozy PJs, leftover pasta, but still seemingly at least a little happy.

You had finished eating and were putting the trash in the kitchen as Leon came back down the hall. Since you heard him return, you left the kitchen and the sight in the living room almost knocked you over. Leon had managed to find … some PJs to wear, but whatever shirts he had found, he hadn’t felt like wearing for whatever reason.

So as you tried not to gawk like a schoolgirl, you used all your will to avoid staring unabashedly at those pristine, lickable washboard abs. “Don’t you feel a draft there Kennedy?” Leon looked over from the couch and grinned. “I don’t usually sleep with a shirt when it’s warmer than 60. I also usually don’t have any complaints when I do, not enjoying the show princess?” You blushed again at that dammed nickname, too bad it sounded too good from his lips to tell him to stop using it. So you walked as quickly as you could to the bed and snuggled up with your back turned to the apparent Greek god behind you. “I’m not having a part in helping you make that head of yours even bigger. You can take watch first then, since you’re so confident.” “Well sleep easy then princess, I’ll make sure to keep that pretty head of yours safe.” You tugged the blankets closer as you started to feel exhaustion lull you into slumber. “Good, if you let me get eaten, I’ll make sure you’re my first undead meal.” Leon laughed, the cheery wholesome sound the last you hear as all sound fades and you fall asleep.

Chapter Text

You were asleep for a few hours, enough to dream at least. Leon watched from his seat on the couch as you tossed and turned in your sleep. You had turned around at some point, your sleeping face now facing him. He tried to watch out the window, to mind his own business, but every time you’d toss or whimper in your sleep, he’d go right back to watching you to make sure you were okay. Your sleeping form pulled the blankets taut as you wrapped your fists in the bunched-up fabric. Leon pondered waking you, but as you calmed down and your body went lax, he left you to sleep for just a little longer.

As Leon felt like you were calm enough to not be watched over, he felt a buzz within his pocket. Careful to not wake you, Leon stood and quietly walked to the kitchen area as he took out his radio. It buzzed gently as a barely audible and fuzzy voice spoke over the wavelengths. Leon turned the small dials along the side of the device to increase the volume and to start thumbing through different frequencies. As the voice came into enough focus to have some clarity to it he stopped and tried to listen. “*background static* Leon, this is Amanda. We made it to a safe point, everyone is safe. If you are alive still and can hear this, use channel 83 to contact us.” The message cut out with a beep. “This is an automated message. Repeating in 2 minutes. *background static*”

Leon switched the radio over to channel 83 as Amanda instructed and pressed the input button on his radio. He spoke evenly into it “This is Lima Echo Oscar November. Is anyone operating on this frequency copy?” Leon waited for a response, static crackling over the speakers as he waited. After a few moments, he spoke again. “This is Leon S. Kennedy. Amanda, do you copy?”
Leon waited again for a reply, just him alone in the kitchen, anxiously waiting for a break in the static. Before he could call again, Amanda spoke, “Roger that Leon, I hear you. Are you and the other girl still alive? What’s your 20? Over.” Leon replied, “We’re both still alive. Right now we’re held up in this dingy abandoned restaurant, maybe 3 miles from where we got separated. Should we expect an evac? Over.”

The line went silent for a moment before Amanda spoke again. “I’m sorry Leon, I’ve been told that sending a rescue is a negative. I’m lucky I got them to let me establish a radio beacon. While I have you, you need to listen.” “I’m all ears Amanda, what’s going on?”

Leon listened intently to the radio as Amanda sighed before speaking. “Hamburg has been deemed as nonrecoverable, by Germany and the UN. The plan, which was supposed to be classified, is to go through with plan Firebird. It’s going to be another Raccoon City Leon. Launch is set for o’2 hundred tomorrow night. They’re giving survivors a day to get 15 miles out of the city limits and for the military to pull out……I’m sorry I can't do more. Over.” Leon was shocked for only a moment, it really wasn’t a huge surprise, but still it was news that needed a second to digest.

Exhausted from every part of this operation blowing up in his face, Leon tried to soothe the tension forming in his mind by rubbing the bridge of his nose. Dejected and aching for some sleep Leon finished the radio call, “Roger that. We’ll try to get out. If we make it, I’ll call HQ once I get a working phone. Just….Let Ashley know if anything happens, it wasn’t her fault and to stay strong. If we don’t make it out make sure to tell them, Tod’s family, his girls, know what happened. How their Dad was a hero. Wish us Luck, Amanda. Leon S. Kennedy, out.” Amanda’s voice was sullen as she spoke for the last time. “10-4 Kennedy, God speed and good luck. Amanda Jennings out.”

Leon lumbered out to the living room, running his hand through his hair as he repressed his frustrations. As you came back into view, he sighed. He tiredly walked over to you and sat on the floor beside the couch, and the bed he’d dragged out for you. Leon crossed his arms over his knees as he sat and watched you sleep.

You seemed to have found some peace in your dreams, enough to stop tossing and seem relaxed within your mind. Careful to not wake you Leon brushed a hair from your face that’d gotten caught on your lips. “Yah know princess,” he whispered in a secret confession to an unknowing you. “I’m so tired of this, of who I am now. I never wanted to be an agent; I just wanted to be a cop…. And I’ve done some really fucked up stuff, because of it all I’m stuck in this limbo hoping that all the good things I’ve done might weigh that out. That maybe, I get to leave this place better than I found it. Like how I used to try to do. I used to at least feel like a decent man then, now I just stare at this stranger in the mirror who I let drown that man.” Leon chuckled lightly. “Does that count as murder? Granted, at this point it just be another notch to add to a long list. To be honest princess, if I didn’t have you, someone to save, I think that voice telling me to stop running might’ve won. That maybe, this is where I let myself meet death after running from them for so long. Don’t worry tho, I made a promise to you and I’m getting you out, one way or another.”

As Leon finished, you absently reached out for him, most likely seeking the comfort of heat in your sleep. As your hand grabbed his, he smiled, the moment seemingly finalized to Leon his decision to keep going. Before he could withdraw his hand, your hand tightened around his as Leon tried to pull away. Too exhausted to fight, Leon surrendered to your unconscious want and laid down on the floor next to the bed. “Got to have everything you want huh Princess. Who the hell am I to tell you no.” Leon muttered affectionately as he laid down. Sleep fast to claim another as he closed his eyes.

In the morning, you woke to the sun just cresting over the horizon, and to your head resting on a firm, warm, rhythmically beating pillow. Groggy from sleep and confused you opened your eyes. As you looked up to see Leon’s face, still resting in sound sleep, your own face started flushing. In your sleep and his, you and Leon had cuddled together at some point. His right arm was draped around you, it trailed from under you to across your waist, and was holding you snuggly against his side. Your own leg had been hiked up and thrown over Leon’s waist as you clung onto him like a freaky koala.

Your mind raced, on one hand this was comfy and who knew when you’d get to snuggle a hottie like this again. On the other hand, the thought of Leon catching you this intertwined was so embarrassing you might just let the zombies have you. It felt as if you could even see Ashley’s face grinning like a manic at you. You shooed the thoughts away and very carefully tried to untangle yourself from Leon, unsuccessfully.

He groaned as he started to wake. The sound of him groaning was enough to send a pulse to your pussy, reminding you just how badly you liked him. As you froze in horror, he stirred. ‘Fuck’ was all you though to yourself as Leon blinked slowly and rubbed his eyes before looking down at you, you probably looked like a fox caught in a leg trap. Leon grinned like the cat that caught the canary as he eyed you.

“Seems like you got cozy last night huh princess?” “Shut it Kennedy.” You deflected as he kept grinning like an idiot. “I’m not hearing a no.” You rolled your eyes at Leon’s schoolboy antics, regardless of how cute you might find his more boyish characteristics. “Could ask you the same thing.”

Leon’s face shifted as you kept the back and forth going, his playful grin slipping into a devilish smirk. “Is it really that hard to admit you like me even a little bit.” You pushed yourself up onto your arms, face leaning slightly over Leon’s as you spoke. “Is it hard to imagine that not every girl falls for your flirting. Besides, I’m not into casanovas who slink away once they get in your pants.”

Leon shrugged as he stared up at you, his hair disheveled and messy from his sleep. “I’m not like that. Maybe if you gave me a chance, I could show you how a man is supposed to treat a woman.” You felt yourself blush as Leon remained a cocky motherfucker beneath you. “But for now,” Leon purred as he leaned forward into your ear. “Let’s get dressed, I’ve got news from last night and we need to get moving.”

You needed no further instruction as you jolted up and away from Leon. Leon subtly smirked as he watched you hurriedly grab your clothes and rush off down the hall to the bathroom. He got up and started to get changed himself.

Safely hidden behind the privacy of a closed bathroom door, you breathed in heavily before letting out a heavy relieved sigh. “Some nerve, idoit can’t just be pretty he’s got to be a flirt too. Damn it, get it together.” You slapped your cheeks, trying to snap yourself back to reality. “You can not get feelings for some hot…really hot… agent in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.” You shook your head and focused.

As you left the bathroom after changing, you joined Leon in the living room. He had gotten changed and was leaning back on the couch. You leaned on the hallway entrance as he looked at you from over his shoulder. “So what’s this news?”

Leon glanced away and looked almost anxious before he responded. “I got in touch with Amanda last night while you were sleeping.” “Oh, yeah?” You felt your heart beat a little faster, anticipation filling your veins. “Well, did they make it out? Is Ashley okay? Are they coming to get us?” With a weary, exasperated sigh, Leon rubbed his neck while he spoke. “Yes, they made it out and yes Ashley is safe along with everyone else. However, that’s where the good news ends.”

You furrowed your eyes in uneasy concern, “What’s going on Leon?” “They can’t come get us because it’d be too risky.” “Risky why?” You interrupted, and Leon seemed to grow even more anxious in his seat. “Besides the zombie hordes.” Leon snapped out in frustration. He looked down and rubbed his temples. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Just, do you know about Racoon city?” Recalling what Tod had told you, you nodded. “A little why?” “The suits in charge have decided that Hamburg is a lost cause. So, it’s first in line for the Raccoon City patented extermination treatment.” “So you mean…” “Yeah, at 2 am the whole city is set to get flambéed.”

You felt dizzy as you reeled from the news. Leon jumped up and gently grabbed your arm. “Take it easy. Here,” He guided you to the couch as you tried to keep your knees from giving out. “What….what are we gonna do?” Leon rubbed your arms up and down as he tried to soothe you. He noticed your breaths as you started to hyperventilate and softly placed a hand under your chin, lifting your head and forcing you to look at him. “Hey, hey hey,” Leon cooed softly “It’s terrifying and shitty I know. I….I actually was one of the unlucky ones who's been through this before.” “Huh?” You asked. “Racoon city, I was there. So, I guess if anyone has the odds or skills to get us out of here, I’m one of a handful of unlucky fuckers who’d qualify for that list. Now listen, I’ve got a plan okay, but you need to calm down before we do anything. I know you’re strong and can do this, but I need you at your best and focused.”

You listened intently to Leon and started to count your breaths to help ground yourself. “Do you,” you started as you calmed down, “do you think we have a shot at making it?” Leon grinned with that familiar unshaking confidence. “I said I’d get you home didn’t I? Have some faith princess. Now you ready to get the fuck outta here finally?”

Leon’s optimism was contagious as you smiled through anxious tears and laughed. “Yeah, lets get out of here. I’ll be happy as long as I never see one of those disgusting undead fuckers again.” “That’s my girl.” Leon laughed and stood, his words once again causing your heart to flutter. “Like I told you Kennedy, mess this up and I’ll eat you.” Leon laughed again, his smile sweet and bright. “Don’t worry I know, I know, but you really should pick a different threat other than biting. There’s a lot of things you could do to threaten me, but with a good time isn’t one of them.” You threw a spare pillow from the couch at him as he raised his arms to block it while he laughed. “You’re hopeless Kennedy.”

He grinned before standing to speak, “For what, flirting with a pretty girl?” “Hey,” you yelped at him flustered. “Quit being such a jackass and get us home first. Maybe then you’ll have a leg to stand on.” “Ouch,” Leon sarcastically whined as he fake winced with a smile. “Drama queen.” You muttered playfully as you stood. “Now come on let’s get some supplies and get going. You can tell me your plan on the way.” You instructed. “Yes ma'am.” Leon saluted with a smirk before following your lead in gathering up supplies.

You rolled your eyes at his playful dramatics and sass. ‘He’s like a puppy dog,’ you thought to yourself. ‘Like one that needs some tlc after you find it all curled up and sad after being abused. But then comes out of its shell.’ You snuck a glance at him as you thought and smiled to yourself. ‘Like a cute sassy German shepherd.’ As you snorted at the image and Leon raised a brow at you. You stifled your laughter before he could say anything and went back to packing. Maybe there was some hope still in you after all.