Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ashley let herself jump off the ledge, falling into the strong armors of her savior.  When he had first asked her to risk breaking a leg under the guise “I’ll catch you,” Ashley thought the man was insane.  Now, she could jump off something without a second thought knowing she would be safe.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt? You’re not burned, are you?” Leon gingerly placed her onto the ground and Ashley let go of his shoulders.  She followed him with a concerned expression as he walked around the room to gather any supplies before they left.

“Nah, thanks for your help. That really did the trick,” He shot her a confident smirk before returning to what he was doing.  Ashley smiled back and let out a little giggle, relieved he was okay.  There was something about the way he always managed to make jokes that disarmed her and made her feel like it was all okay.  Even if they were infected by “Las Plagas” and fighting for their lives against a horde of infected cultists…

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said softly as they made their way to the centaur knights.  Leon was caught off guard for a moment, shooting Ashley a surprised look before cooling himself and rolling his arm to give her a cocky look.

“Looks like the armor wouldn’t be very good body armor,” He joked about her comment from just a few minutes prior.  Ashley let out a small laugh, cheeks turning red as she remembered what she had said.  How embarrassing.  It was an incredibly unfortunate flirting attempt on her part considering they were attacked by suits of armor just moments later.

“Here, help me with this.” Leon stood at one of the centaurs, grabbing the tail and looking at Ashley to follow suit.  She nodded and took hold which let the gate pull itself back up.  Leon took the lead with his pistol once more, glancing side to side as if to see if any more of the knights would wake up.

“So… a dashing knight in armor,” Leon’s eyes momentarily flashed behind him to get a peek at Ashley as she followed without her noticing.  “Would that make you the princess in distress?” He forced his eyes to face forward.  He tried to make his tone joking, just like the dining hall, but he couldn’t help but feel his heart pound.

What was he doing?  She was the president’s daughter.  He was sent here to save her.  He had no place to be flirting with her during this.  How could he help himself?  She was an incredibly brave and strong girl considering her situation and she always reciprocated… even if sometimes she didn’t catch on.  Leon almost winced thinking back to the fight he had with those two crazy chainsaw women.  He tried to compliment Ashley but instead said something as stupid as, “not your first time running from creeps.”

“Princess?” Ashley repeated dumbly, still processing his words.  After a few seconds she broke out into a grin.  “Are you saying you’re my daring knight coming to save me?” She picked up her pace to walk closer to him and try to steal a glance at his expression.

“Well, I mean..” Leon’s blue eyes met her green ones before he quickly focused ahead of them again.  “I am saving you.”

As Leon said those words, he felt his pulse pick up.  He was saving her, wasn’t he?  He was making sure he was okay and like hell he was gonna let her turn into one of those cultists.  Ashley was with him and safe.  He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.  He was going to save her.  This time, things were different.

“Okay… Then, my gallant knight, I suppose I should give you a reward?” At Ashley’s words, Leon perked up.  He didn’t face her yet, but he was clearly intent on whatever she had to offer.  

“Reward? What kind?” He couldn’t hide the tinge of hope in his voice.

“Um…” Ashley paused as she considered, pursing her lip.  Was she really going to do this?  If it went wrong then things would really be awkward between them but she was pretty sure, like 99% sure, that Leon was flirting with her back.  Well, she could die at any moment, so what was the harm in living a little?

“...A kiss?”

Ashley’s voice was high-pitched and quiet, betraying her nerves.  She tugged at the hem of her jacket’s sleeve, eyes glancing between Leon and the ground nervously while she waited for his response.

Leon stopped dead in his tracks.  Ashley shrunk in on herself.  Okay, maybe it didn’t go over well.

“Um… Leon? You know it was a-” Ashley was caught off by Leon pivoting to face her, grasping her wrist.  He was still gentle as always, but it was clear he was restraining himself as his blue eyes pierced her own.

Leon’s cheeks were... pink? He was usually so composed but looking at him, really looking at him, Ashley realized he was as much of a bundle of nerves as she was.  Oh.

“Are you serious?”

Ashley gulped, her wide green eyes looking up at him with something akin to guilt.  Despite it, she slowly nodded.  “I-I mean if you’re… okay with it.”

“I’m okay with it,” Leon spoke a little quicker than necessary before catching himself.  “But it’s.. Unprofessional.”

Ah.

Ashley sucked in a breath, nodding.  It was very unprofessional.  Despite it, she found herself lifting herself up onto her tip toes to place a quick kiss to his cheek.

Leon went rigid, grip tightening on her wrist as she did.  He didn’t pull away though.  That was a good sign, right?

Once Ashley landed back flat onto her feet, she looked up at Leon with a shy smile.  “Was that… okay?”

Leon continued to give her a dumbfounded expression for a moment before that tiny, crooked smile of his appeared.  “Yeah… Yeah it was fine,” He stood up straight and covered his face slightly with the back of his hand.  “Nice reward.  Guess I’ll have to keep the good work up.”

Ashley laughed, feeling the anxiousness leave her body at his usual jokes.  “Guess you will,” She tilted her head as she smiled back warmly.  Leon had a tiny grin as he looked down at her fondly.  They maintained this for several moments before finally remembering they should probably continue if they wanted to meet up with Luis.

“Come on,” Leon nodded for Ashley to follow him, but she caught the way his eyes glanced at her hand and his own twitch.  Without a second thought, she quickly grabbed his own and fell into pace with him.

“You know… maybe next time I’ll give you a real kiss.”

“I’ll be keeping you to that.”

Chapter Text

Ashley’s eyes fluttered open as she quickly looked around to take in her surroundings.  She was blinded by the ceiling light for a moment, but her eyes adjusted as she spotted Leon sitting next to the bed.

“Leon?”  He was here?  He’d made it to her?  She began sitting up as Leon turned around to face her.

“Sorry I’m late,” He smiled and moved to kneel against the bed as he watched her.

“No, thank you….” Ashley looked down at her wrists.  “You brought the medicine just in time,” She then looked around the room once she sat up fully.

“Can you stand?”

Ashley decided to try, shifting herself to get off the bed.  “Where’s Luis?”  She looked around but didn’t see the Spaniard.  He made the medicine, right?  He should be here.

“He was worried about you… until the end,” Leon looked down solemnly.  Ashley felt her heart drop and stopped getting up, just falling back onto the bed.  The end?  Luis was dead? He died… for her?

Why?  Why would they do that?  First Leon constantly went out of his way to put himself in danger for her sake and now Luis was gone because of it too?  Why did they care so much?  Because she was just the president’s daughter?  Their lives mattered too!  They were just as important as hers.

Ashley’s mouth went into a tense frown as she looked down at her hands.  She wouldn’t cry.  She couldn’t.  She had to be strong.

“Come on.  We don’t have much time,” Leon stood, holding his hand out for her.  His voice was soft despite the situation.  “Let’s get rid of these things.”

Ashley grasped Leon’s hand, firmly nodding as she looked up at him with a determined expression. “For Luis.”

Leon helped her up, turning around to examine the room before they left.  As he did, he turned on his radio to call someone.  When the person answered it was… a woman’s voice.   Leon was asking her where the lab was.  It seemed like he knew her too from the way they bantered.

Ashley couldn’t help the ugly feeling bubbling in her chest.  What was it?  Jealousy?  She didn’t know the girl or their relationship, she shouldn’t feel that way.  And it’s not like Leon and her were anything.

She was just his mission.

Ashley felt her throat burn at that thought.  No.  No crying.  If she could make it through all of this, she was not going to cry now over something so… childish!  But, even when Ashley asked who she was, Leon only gave a vague answer.  It must have been something he didn’t want to talk about.

Did he not trust her?  After everything?  It had seemed like they had finally started to get somewhere.  Ashley took in a deep breath and steeled herself.  First things first, they needed to get to that lab and remove these things.

Ashley climbed onto Leon and through the hole in the wall, jumping down to open the gate.  “I’m kinda a master of unlocking stuff,” She joked with a smile as she undid the lock and opened it for him.  Leon didn’t respond though, just making his way forward to look around.

Ashley bit her lip, not sure what to say now.  She was trying to make light of things because she wanted Leon to cheer up too.  He must have been hurting after everything…

She didn’t know what to do.  She tried racking her brain for anything, anything at all.  Then she remembered a conversation prior.

It was a long-shot, and probably really ill-timed.  It could easily blow up in her face and make her look like an idiot but you know what?  She didn’t care right now.  If it even had a chance to cheer Leon up then she wanted to do it.

“So… you saved me again,” Ashley tentatively trailed after Leon through the facility.  He was looking around a corner, gun at the ready before he turned back to her.

“All in a day’s work,” He shot her that crooked smile but it was lacking.

Just him trying to comfort her?  No.  Ashley had started to notice something about Leon.  He was definitely using all that humor as a way to deflect the reality of the situation.  He was just as scared as her, but much, much better at hiding it.  She wanted to know what he had to go through to end up like that but she figured it was something deeply personal that he wouldn’t appreciate her inquiring about.

Ashley tried to smile back, but it was only half of one.  She moved her mouth to the side, chewing the inside of it as she prepared herself.  Only live once.

“So… I guess I should give you that reward, huh?” She rubbed her wrist as she stood next to him against the wall.

Leon froze in place.  His eyes slowly crept back to peek at Ashley from where he was positioned without her noticing.  Did he want it?  Hell yes.  But he wasn’t in a good position to accept right now.  None of this is a good time to accept. Well, this was worse.

“You don’t have to,” Leon managed out, finally turning his whole head to meet her.  “I didn’t do it for any reward.  I just…” He paused as he watched her eyes slowly meet his own. “I just wanted you safe.”

Ashley felt a blush creep up her cheeks, letting go of where she held her wrist as she averted her eyes.  “Thank you, Leon…” She spoke softly.  He had no idea how much she really needed to hear that.

“I-I do want to though…” She stammered, lips quivering as she felt jittery again.  “Not just cause I feel obligated to or anything.”  Her mouth quirked up into a shy smile.  “I’d like to do it.”

Leon felt his heart skip several beats at her words.  He shouldn’t.  He really shouldn’t.  But he’d already crossed that line back in the castle.  There was no going back for him now.

He wasted no time dipping his head down, snatching her lips up with his own.  It felt amazing.  They were so soft.  He didn’t know what to do with his hands, so they just twitched in place.  He wanted to hold her but was that too much?  She said she wanted to… She did like him, right?  As much as he liked her?

Woah.  Without realizing it, Leon had fallen completely for this girl.  It was completely irresponsible of him but he couldn’t find it in himself to care in the slightest.  She was amazing.  And she liked him back?  

It was selfish.  Impossible.  But he wanted nothing more than to latch on and never let go.

Ashley moved her hands to wrap around his neck, pulling him down as Leon’s hands finally found their place around her waist to pick her up so it would be an easier angle.  They pulled away, gasping for breath as he looked down at her.  She was smiling.

“Thanks… again,” She let out a small laugh.  “For everything.”  Leon found himself smiling back at her words.

“As I said, it’s no sweat,” he dipped his head back down to steal a chaste kiss.  “For good luck,” he joked once he pulled away again.  Ashley grinned wider at his words before pressing a small kiss to the side of his mouth and finally slipping out of his grasp.

“Just for doing such a good job, my gallant knight,” She teased back as Leon rolled his eyes humorously.

“Sure thing…” He shot her a cheeky look, “princess,” he added.

Yeah, this time was going to be different.

Chapter Text

Ashley ran to the edge of the cliff as soon as she spotted the woman.  It was that girl!  The one Leon knew.

 “Leon, look it’s-!” Ashley gripped the crumbling rock in her fingers.  It’s that woman… She turned her head to look at Leon as he walked over and pulled out his binoculars.

“Ada…” His voice was soft and quiet, as if talking to himself.  “So he thinks he can lure me out,” He stood up straight and peered toward Ashley.

Ashley wanted to say something; anything. Go help her? Clearly he was already going to do that, he didn’t need her permission. She was someone he seemed to know quite well, and she even risked herself to save them. Why? Who was she? How did she know Leon? Did Leon…

“You stay here. I’ll be quick,” Leon assured Ashley as he walked to the elevator shaft.  Ashley had to hold herself back from protesting.  He was going right into a trap! But still, that woman (Ada?) helped them. It was the least that could be done to repay her.  “Okay,” Ashley nodded, rubbing her wrist anxiously as she watched him board.

But before Leon pressed to go down he turned to look at Ashley.  There was a promise in his eyes, a promise that he’d come back.  His thumb jabbed the red switch as he watched her, that determined expression shifting slightly into something Ashley wasn’t sure how to describe.  Something she was nervous to describe.

She held her breath as her nails sunk into her skin, grounding herself.  He’d be okay.  He had to be.  They were so close, he couldn’t die now.

Leon’s eyes remained fixed on Ashley as the elevator rumbled, slowly beginning to descend.  They darted from her face, to her hands, back to her and he gripped his pistol tightly.  She was dirty and battered from their journey, but the way her eyes looked at him with worry despite her best attempts to hide it.  God, she looked so beautiful.  Leon swore to himself that it didn’t matter what came next, he’d make it back to her and they’d go home. Together. 

—

Ashley held herself as she watched over the ledge as Leon fought that giant monster.  The cultist who had kidnapped her transformed into something so grotesque, it wasn’t even vaguely human anymore.  It was as if it morphed with some type of spider, but it had a winding tail, and was so huge that if it got one good strike onto Leon she feared the worst.  The most disturbing part was its eyes… huge eyes littering its body with one in its mouth.  They appeared to be weak points, but they were just so disgusting.

The blonde girl stood there trembling in fear.  Not of the monster, but for Leon.  She couldn’t do anything to help him.  No lanterns to throw.  No bulldozers.  There was nothing she could use and it wasn’t as if she was strong enough to join in the fight.

Suddenly, Ashley heard a noise from behind her.  Please no!  She couldn’t get kidnapped again while Leon was busy!  Ashley turned, but was greeted with the woman in red.  She could do something!

“Please! Help Leon!”  Ashley cried as she clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.  The woman only gave her a disgruntled look, almost one of irritation.  “Please!” Ashley urged again.  Why wasn’t she doing anything?  She helped them before!

Maybe the woman hated her.  Ashley had no idea as to why… Well, maybe she had a hunch, but she wasn’t pushing it right now.  Regardless, Leon was in trouble!

“Listen, you care about him too, right? I-I know can’t help but if you can then please I’ll do anything… Just don’t let Leon get hurt.”

The woman’s annoyance waved for a moment, as if surprised by Ashley’s words, but she obliged without responding as she ran off onto the edge, carrying a rocket launcher in tow.

—

“We need to go, the island’s about to blow.”

“It’s about to what?!”

Leon was already grabbing Ashley’s wrist and tugging her along to the elevator before she could even finish her sentence.  Even despite their rush, he made sure not to grab her roughly as he pulled her next to him.

Ashley was trying to ask Leon if he was okay, he just fought that huge monster! But nope, the island is about to blow up apparently!

The pair rushed through the island’s caverns as the rocks began to crumble, one particular tremor causing the ground to break up beneath their feet.  Leon backed up, his hand placed over Ashley’s chest as he made sure they were a safe distance before he ran and jumped over it, turning around as Ashley did the same so he could help her step across.  Thankfully, it wasn’t too far.

“Thanks,” Ashley got out weakly before they had to dart again, Leon still holding her hand.  But just as they got to the next door, a crazed man burst out and went for Leon’s throat.  Before Ashley could even react, Leon caught the man and shoved him off, the cultist tumbling and falling to the ground weakly.  To both of their surprise, he didn’t even try fighting back, just beginning to writhe in pain on the floor.

As they ran through the door, Ashley saw all the men reacting just the same.

“They’re not attacking! What’s going on?” She shouted as she kept behind Leon to match his pace.

“They’re nothing now, their master’s gone. It’s over for them,” Leon reached his hand behind him again as they ran so she could grasp onto it.  She obliged instantaneously, not wanting to miss a chance even if they were running for their lives.  Besides, running for their lives has become the norm for them right now.  She’d take what she could get.

But their moment was interrupted again.  This time, it was a file cabinet that had been knocked over.  Leon let out an irritated sound, barely noticeable, but released her hand from his own to grab onto it and begin heaving.  He strained for a moment, flexing muscles visible through the thin fabric of his shirt and arms as he shoved the heavy item.  Well, Ashley supposed there were worse things to be interrupted by as she stared a little too blatantly.

“Come on,” Leon didn’t waste time grabbing her hand again after he moved it aside, pulling along without much warning as Ashley stumbled for a moment but caught up with him.  Now wasn’t the time to be ogling!  Even if he was the hottest agent her father could have sent.

Once they rushed down the stairs, Ashley spotted a jetski in the water.  Leon noticed it too, running over and quickly pulling out a key from his pocket.  It had a little bear on it.  Where’d he get that?

“You like thrill rides?” Leon put the key in, starting the engine and getting on before turning to help Ashley as she slid in behind him.

“I love them!” She beamed, happily wrapping her hands around his waist as Leon shot her that stupidly attractive crooked smile of his.

“Then you’re gonna love this!”  Revving into full throttle, the jetski took off leaving a huge splash of water behind them.  Ashley let out a surprised laugh, her grip on him tightening as they swerved through the tunnel.

Leon’s smile widened as he heard Ashley, wanting to look at her reaction but he had to stay focused on the path ahead.  The island was collapsing around them.  Explosions erupted everywhere as boulders began to fall into the water.  He saw a ramp, smirking before speeding up once more to go soaring off as Ashley let out an excited squeal.

Even with the island exploding around them, even with all the horrors they had just gone through, Leon had never felt so free before.  The girl that changed everything for him… The girl that, dare he say, he fell in love with was right behind him, holding him as if he was the safest thing in the world.  She made things different; she survived.  And despite it all, here she was hugging him and laughing as if nothing was wrong.  As if they weren’t still in danger.

With adrenaline in his veins, Leon swerved around one boulder as another began to collapse, narrowly missing them as it was held up by the other formations and they rocketed straight under.  Leon could see sunlight now! Just one more ramp and they were home free.

They flew through the sky as the island rumbled behind them, crashing into the water before Leon drifted to a stop before focusing on Ashley.

“Are you alright?”

Ashley untucked her head from his shoulder, pulling back to gaze at the fires on the island.  “I-I’m not sure… That was insane!” She let out a small laugh at the end, turning her head toward Leon as she spoke before the explosions of the island caught their attention.

There were a few loud booms before finally the largest explosion, erupting into a ball of light as it sent water flying around them.

Leon’s eyes trailed over to Ashley, her being awe-struck by the sight and slowly reaching her hand out to feel the droplets against her palms.  Leon’s breath hitched as he watched her.  She looked perfect with the sun’s lowering light shining off her golden hair.  He had to almost physically hold himself back from pulling her into his arms and smothering her in hot kisses.

He finally focused his attention elsewhere, deciding to look toward the sunset instead as Ashley seemed to be pulled out of her trance.  She glanced at him once, then twice, shrugging her shoulders a bit as she decided what to say next.

“Mission accomplished, right?”  Her eyes focused on the sunset, trying to stay off Leon.  Her voice was even, but there was a hint of longing.

That’s right.  This was ‘just’ a mission.  Leon was sent here to save Ashley.  But she had become so much more than a mission to him… How could he even begin to explain it?  Where could they go from here?  Once they got home, they would have to go their separate ways.  Leon knew that yet… they still had time.

“Mission accomplished…” Leon paused for just a second, before focusing his gaze onto Ashley with his small, crooked grin, “when you’re home safe.”  His grin fell into a soft smile as his eyes fluttered away from her, it all feeling like so much right now.

“Thank you for saving me,” Ashley smiled back warmly, her voice filled with nothing but fondness.

“Don’t mention it,” He smirked and faced the front of the jetski again, heart pounding.  She always looked at him like he was the most amazing thing in the world, Leon didn’t even know how to handle it.

“You know…” Ashley started and Leon whipped his head around to see her again,  “I could put a word in with my dad.  Have you assigned to my detail, if you’re interested?” She offered with a little nod of her head and a tiny smile.

Leon’s heart skipped a beat, he had to look forward again to think.  He couldn’t focus with her looking at him like that.  She was asking him to stay, to be with her, but…

“You don’t need me,” He admitted, finally braving to meet her eyes once more.  “You proved you could handle yourself,” He tried for a smile, but it was a little lacking compared to the previous ones.  “Even if you could use a weapon in knife safety,” Leon decided to use a joke to try and soften the blow; the weight of it all.

No matter how badly he wanted to stay with her, they just weren’t meant to be.  She was in a whole different world than him.  Just because the star had fallen into his once didn’t mean it would happen again.  It shouldn’t happen again.  The star should be back in the sky with all the others.

She was too beautiful and sweet to deal with this on the daily.  Too beautiful for him.  She was still able to smile so brightly despite it all.  He would just ruin that with his years of baggage.  Ashley didn’t deserve that.  She deserved a guy who could always be there to love and cherish her for how amazing she was.  A guy who wasn’t risking his life on the daily.  A guy without so many scars.

“That’s not true,” Ashley’s voice broke Leon out of his thoughts.  His blue eyes snapped to her, wide and shocked as if she had heard his internal monologue.  “I-I mean… I do need you, Leon,” she shifted, her cheeks reddening ever so slightly.  “I wouldn’t have made it out of here if it weren’t for you.  I mean it.  You helped me stand on my own two feet… Thank you,” Ashley looked at him again with that look.  That look as if he was the most precious thing in the world.  As if he didn’t carry so much trauma that it would give his therapist trauma.  As if he was truly something beautiful and worth keeping.

“At the very least, I want you to stay around,” Ashley admitted and her hands reached to cup one of his own.  “It doesn’t have to be… you know…” She bit her lip.  “I mean you probably already have that woman and I don’t mean to intrude-”

“No,” Leon blurted out before she could finish.  Was she… jealous?  Jealous of Ada?  “You’re not getting in the way of anything.  That ship sailed a long time ago,” Leon assured and squeezed Ashley’s hands with the one she was holding.  He wasn’t the type to open up, especially not now, but he didn’t want her thinking she was inferior.  Ever.

Leon took a shaky breath at the silence, his lip trembling slightly as his thumb brushed over her soft skin once more.  “If you really want to thank me then… how about that reward?” He smirked, eyes focused on the fires in the distance as he felt flustered by his own words.

Ashley let out a soft laugh, removing her hand from his own which almost led to a protest from Leon before she cupped his cheeks and pulled him in for a passionate yet gentle kiss.  Leon responded instantly, wrapping his hands around her like a vice as he returned the kiss with full force.

Kissing her was worth fighting a thousand hordes.  He’d happily go through this all again if it meant he could just be around Ashley more.  He didn’t even know when, but he’d become completely insane for this girl.  Her lips were so soft and sweet he could feel himself becoming addicted.  There was no way he’d be able to just move on from this.

Once they pulled away, Ashley looked up at him with a smile.  “For my brave knight who saved me from the evil warlock,” She joked, pressing another smack to his nose before pulling back enough just to look at him.  Leon didn’t try to remove himself and instead just basked in her touch, feeling as if he was melting under the warmth.  

“Come on, let’s go home,” Leon finally sat up straight to grab the handles again.  “We can figure things out from there.”

Ashley nodded, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling herself against his back.  They still had time.  They were together.