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Leon is writing out a report, his mind drifting off elsewhere. The sound of his keyboard clicking filled his ears.
“Agent Kennedy.” Hunnigan’s voice interrupts, he raises an eyebrow and looks at the woman. “We’ve got a problem, and the president thinks your best to handle it. I agree with that.” The blonde stood and followed the woman. “Ashley ran off and no one can find her.”
“What!?” He immediately snaps.
“Shh, you’re going to let the entire office know.” Hunnigan hisses at the man.
“What happened?” Leon asks, his blue eyes full of worry.
“Apparently, she might’ve had a panic attack or something of that nature. She ran off and her guards haven’t been able to find her since.”
“Shit… did they check her apartment? Call her roommate?”
“The first things they did Leon, they thought you might know. You apparently spend the most time with her.” The man is quiet and nods.
“That report is going to be late.” He simply says as he rushes out of the office, pulling out his phone. He dials a familiar number and places the phone to his ear.
“Hey, this is Ashley! Sorry I missed you! Leave a message!” Ashley’s cheerful voice recording enters his ear. He huffs out annoyed as he heads into his car.
“Ashley, where are you?” He simply says into the phone before ending the message. He sits down and thinks if she isn’t at the school or in her apartment where the hell would she be? They didn’t hang out that frequently, but they talked a bit. He couldn’t think of anywhere that she would feel safer than her own home. “Come on! Think!” He shouts at himself, his forehead hitting the wheel of his car. His eyes suddenly snap open in realization, he turns on his car and drives to his apartment.
Leon checks his front door to find it unlocked, confirming his suspicions. What also confirmed it was his dog not barreling to the front door as soon as he opened it.
“Ashley?” He calls out into the apartment. “Come on, I’m not mad.” He tries to reassure her and locks the front door behind him. He opens the guest room to see Ashley sitting on the floor in the corner of the room, a large Bernese mountain dog’s head in her lap. “Ashley…”
“I’m sorry…” She looks away ashamed, petting Poppy’s head as the dog seemingly pouts with her. Leon says nothing but sits beside her on the floor grunting as he takes a seat.
“You okay?”
“I…” She bites her bottom lip and looks down.
“Hey, we’ve been through hell together. You can tell me anything.” He places a hand on her shoulder.
“I just thought I’d be over it by now.” She says frustrated, getting a raised eyebrow from the man. “It’s almost been two years.”
“That stuff doesn’t go away easily, you were kidnapped and then infected with a parasite. No one blames you for not just getting over it.” He points out.
“But you’re over it! You don’t have random breakdowns when someone mentions something about parasites or the holy body!” She shouts upset, but the man knows it’s not him who she’s mad at. “I thought I could just forget it.” She hides her face in the dog’s ear. Leon takes a deep breath, he hesitates before he huffs out a sigh.
“I still get nervous when I hear heavy footsteps I can’t identify.” He admits, getting a confused look from her. “During Raccoon City I was chased around by what I now know was a tyrant, and I could hear his footsteps almost everywhere I went.” He explains looking down at his hands. “Raccoon City is almost eight years ago and I still have nightmares about that night. Hell, I still think about Spain a lot. Getting sick is something that makes me nervous now.” His blue eyes meet Ashley’s, he grabs her hand squeezing it. “If being unable to forget things makes someone weak, then I’m weak too.”
“Sometimes… I get scared that the plagas came back. That we really didn’t get rid of it.” She admits to him. He nods with a serious expression which oddly brings her some comfort. “Sorry, I hid out in your apartment.”
“I said that key was for emergencies, I think this is an emergency.” He smiles at her, squeezing her hand. “Look bottling all that shit up is only going to make it worse.” He flicks her forehead gently. “I know you can’t just talk to anyone about it, but I’m literally only a phone call away.”
“Thanks… and Leon the same applies to you.”
“Just promise you aren’t going to run off again and cause mass panic.” He jokes, causing her to look a little embarrassed. “Only kidding, but call me next time.”
“So how bad was it?”
“I mean they called me so that’s up to your thoughts on it.”
“Ugh, my dad has better things to be worrying about.”
“Your his daughter, I’d be more pissed if he didn’t care this much,” Leon admits getting a chuckle from the blonde young woman.
“I guess I need to go back now…”
“Hold that thought.” He pulls out his phone dialing a number, Ashley looks at him curiously. “Yeah, she’s fine. Tell the president not to worry about it, also don’t expect that report at all today.” He shuts his phone not long after that. “We’ll worry about normal life tomorrow.” She just hugs him after, shocking the man. He says nothing just hugging her back. “Come on, I think we should do something fun for the rest of the day like… a walk to the park.” Poppy’s head perks up, her tail beginning to wag at the word. “I know that big head of yours heard me, don’t try to hide it.” He jokes but the dog is already up.
“I think she’s ready Leon.”
“So demanding, I tell you. I don’t know how you babysit her all the time.” The blonde man jokes. Ashley stands and offers a hand to Leon to help him up. Poppy ran out to the living room ahead of them. Leon like always has to fight the large dog so he can latch the leash onto her collar. As they talk and walk to the dog park a smile is easy on Ashley’s face.