Chapter Text
You teetered on your chair, trying your best to hang the cheap paper letters. The chief had you pick them up before heading in. The call disrupting your morning coffee. You stood in your pajamas, a big tee shirt and panties. The cold floor stinging your skin.
“Detective, I need you to go pick up some things for the fresh meat coming in. You don’t mind, right?” It was way below your pay grade. You didn’t understand why the secretary or the intern could do it.
“Okay, but why me? I have some important case files to be looking over.”
“Because you’ll like the guy. They’ve been talking about you at the academy. Said he should look to someone like you for guidance.”
“I didn’t consent to this. And what’d I say about you trying to get me partnered up?” He cackled his thick tone. You could hear the decades of cigarette smoke scratching through the speaker.
“We’re a family, you know that. You’re like my daughter in a weird, unprofessional, unethical way.” The guy was a total creep sometimes. He’d tried to flirt, poorly at that. He never went too far. Always bordering the line between average male and criminal offense.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t be surprised when you get an email from HR. Anyways, what’s this kid’s name?”
“Leon Kennedy. He’s only about a year younger than you. Don’t get your panties in a twist. Get something that says welcome, I don’t care.”
“Whatever boss.”
“And another thing-“ You cut him off before he could say anything else. The uniform laying out on your bed wouldn’t put itself on. You slunk the black thermal on, adjusting your breasts to sit up and secure. The black collared shirt being buttoned overtop. Your tie wrapping around your neck, tightening comfortably. Slacks and boots came after. You always felt put together in your uniform, like you could take on anything.
With your hair pulled back into a ponytail and your everyday makeup, you were set. This welcome party would set you back a little, but you don’t think anyone would mind.
The store was like any other day. Call in the mornings, slowly picking up as time went on. You went to the party section, looking over the various letters. Welcome. W, E, L… You grabbed them all, finally coming to his name. L, E, O, N. Real stoic name. You wondered what type of guy he was like. The open desk next to yours seemed like the perfect place to put him. You got yourself another coffee from the fridge, canned. You thought it was fancy that it was labeled, “nitro infused.” You got him one too, hoping he was a coffee guy. It’d be a nice gesture for the first day.
The drive to the station was hectic. You witnessed a wreck happen, calling it in out of courtesy. Another officer taking over so you could go clock in. The person who crashed, looking like they were having a seizure. Their face sickly. You couldn’t get it out of your head. The rotting look to it. Maybe it was drugs? You’d tell your idea to the narcotics division.
“Hey, detective!”
“Hi, Y/n.”
“Good morning!” They greeted you as they always did. The scent of warm copy paper and and ground beans filling the air.
You dropped the plastic bag on your desk, sifting through to get your things out. You left the can in center of his desk, pulling yours out and breaking open the seal. A few sips, you liked it. Nitrous tasted just as you thought it would. Your chair was pulled to the middle of the floor. The overarch would be the perfect spot to place the words. You stood on top, grabbing the attention of some wandering eyes.
W, E, L, L, C, O, M, E. Your arms were beginning to get tired. Needing another sip of your coffee. Caffeine was a gift sent from the great beyond. You needed nothing more.
“Hey, Branagh. Could you get me my coffee?”
“Yeah, yeah.” L, E, O, N.
“Uh, L/n…” You grabbed the can appreciatively. The sip refreshing your senses.
“Did you become a cop cause you don’t know how to spell?”
“Wha-?” You added an extra L in the Welcome.
“Fuck me.” You tore it down, an empty space being left behind.
“This is why I need my coffee. I can’t think without it.”
“I swear, they only keep that machine running for you. All that sugary crap on the side comes out your paycheck.”
“I’m sure it does, Marv. You mad your wife goes on coffee dates with me and not you?” Some of your colleagues tried to hide away their chuckles. A few brandishing it on their sleeve.
“Shut it, Detective.”
“Beat it, Lieutenant.” You both smiled at each other. It was your thing to pick on these guys. They needed to stay in place somehow. You stuck the extra letter onto your desk. Hiding it under some papers the way you were hiding your embarrassment.
Work was busy today. Busier than usual. Calls coming in one by one. Officer after officer rolling out. It was odd. All these attacks sprouting up like weeds. It left an eerie feeling over the station.
First it was an hour, then two, then four. The guy was officially not coming into work. How could someone miss their first day? You eyed the ring of condensation spreading out under the can. It took everything in you not to snatch it for yourself.
A sudden scream rang out from the front. Everyone shot up, your leather folder being strewn aside. A few ran, others stayed back. The screams got closer, even closer. Shots firing, silence, then more shots. You could hear an animalistic growl. You took the safety off your pistol, terrified of what was to come. Creeping towards the door, all sound went blank. Not a breath was whispered in the entire precinct.
It burst open, slamming into your face. The door knocked you back into the wall, shots and screams echoing through the room. You had no idea what was happening till the door finally swung shut. You were pulled up, and out of the way. One of those things coming for you. It had fresh blood staining its mouth. You snapped its head down to the floor with your boot, pulling your pistol and firing. It shot straight through the head. You felt nauseous, the monster smelling like rotting flesh. It began to push itself up. You screamed, firing more shots. You couldn’t even count how many. It just wouldn’t go down. You emptied out the mag, your hands shaking with the hollow sound of the hammer pounding.
“Hey, hey it’s dead. Y/n, it’s dead.”
“Huh? Oh…” You wiped what you now realized was a bloody nose, just thinking it was snot.
“We need to gather all personnel. Send out disaster relief squads. I need to get the Chief on the phone. You call that kid and tell him to stay the hell away from here.” You shuffled to the phone, holding your aching nose. His number was newly scrawled into the address book. You dialed it in, the ringing leaving your anxiety unquenched. It went to voicemail, because of course it did. The tone beeping, signaling you to leave your message.
“L-Leon Kennedy? This is Raccoon PD. Don’t come. Stay as far away from this god damned city as you can. Please, for your sake. Don’t come.” You hooked it back onto the receiver, turning back to the pool of blood. You had no idea for the hell you were about to endure.
One week later…
The National Guard set a quarantine on the entire city. No one was getting in or out. The operation was a bust. More people died than what had too. You would’ve been one of them if you weren’t stuck playing executioner at the station. It was used as a shelter for survivors. The blue curtains hoping to give some semblance of privacy.
It slowly took over them. Whatever thing sent from whoever, wherever to punish the human race took them all out. They turned right before your eyes. You and your fellow officers tried to contain them. It only dispersed survivors into smaller groups. Those groups getting picked off, one by one.
Even when trying to escape, that was futile. Only so few got away, some perishing, some turning. Marv and you were, what you presumed, to be the only ones left. There was no water to drink. Barely any food. Sitting in a confined room with an infected man was only going to last so long. You accepted the fact that you would eventually turn. Maybe, take yourself out before that even happens.
“I don’t want to die.”
“I don’t either. But we don’t get to chose that.” He clutched his oozing side. Your black button up tied around his waist to keep constant pressure. The blood spreading farther now. You don’t know why you agreed to stay behind. Maybe, it was guilt. Maybe a yearning to let this all end. To take the easy way out.
“Why did you decide to stay?”
“I was just thinking about that actually… Maybe it’s because I’m a coward. I’m tired of fighting. Or maybe it’s just cause I know I would’ve missed your stupid jokes.” He cracked a smile for the first time in days.
“Just cause you can’t spell, that isn’t my fault.”
“Yeah, and just cause your wife likes me more, that isn’t my fault either.” He scoffed, not even wanting to think about her.
“You’re a good friend, L/n.”
“I know. Just one of my many talents.” You shook your hands around. “Giving you the ol’ razzle dazzle.” He laughed at you, clutching his side as the sudden muscle contractions hurt. He stopped himself, quiet at he heard something in the distance.
Shots could be heard from somewhere. You couldn’t tell where. You found some stray bullets, filling your own gun back up. You could hear shouting. The guttural screech of a best.
“Jesus, they’re everywhere!” You just hoped whoever this was was a friendly. Putting down the dead was different, but the living? You gagged at the thought. You were both alerted to the sound of sliding metal. That stupid gate would never lock right. He ran ahead of you, the arms of your shirt flowing behind him. You tried to hold him back to no avail.
Dirty blonde hair crept from under the gate. There was something after him, that was for sure. His terrified, desperate whines alerting you to that. You grabbed him, trying to help him up. He fought to be out of your grip, thrashing under the gate.
“Friendly! Friendly!!” A gray, melting corpse grabbing onto his ankle. It climbed up to his shoulder, ready to take a bite.
“God damn it!” You tried to keep pulling him away, Branagh kicking the zombie back.
“Watch out!” Marv slammed the gate on its head. Blood erupting in a terrible splash. The sound of the skull breaking was nauseating, second to the smell. The guy on the floor panted, looking between you two.
“You’re safe…for now.” He clutched his side, pain debilitating him enough to fall back into the metal.
“Marv!” You ran to his side, tying your shirt tighter. It was gnarly, the blood still pooling. He was paler than before, his blood pressure steadily dropping over the hours.
“Thanks…”
“Marvin Branagh. Y/n L/n.” He gestured to you. You looked back to him, the bruise on your nose looking deeper than before. Dry, black blood crusting around your nostrils.
“Leon Kennedy…There was another officer…I-I couldn’t…I couldn’t…” His words looked pained. You understood the feeling entirely. That anguish in his face.
“You’re the guy…”
“The guy?” He looked up to you questioningly.
“Here…” Marv stuck his hand out. Waiting to help Leon up.
“Are you stupid? Save your energy. Come on.” Leon went to grab your hand instead, yours just as bloody as the Lieutenant’s. He was taller than you expected. Handsomer than you expected. He had a baby face, steely blue eyes and plump lips. His hair falling over in a side part, the underneath buzzed. He was like a Greek god. You were always too stunned to keep going.
“I’m sure you did what you could, Leon.”
“We should get to the front. Think it’s time to get out of here.” Leon took the chance to go under Marv’s arm and get him situated to move.
“Uh, how’s your nose?” The thick bruised banding over your nose was more than obvious. You didn’t see why he felt the need to point it out.
“You should be worried about him, not me.” You cocked your gun, looking around the corners. It was clear the entire way surprisingly. Not even a single gurgle. You walked past the employee lounge, whining to yourself. That perfect coffee maker going to waste. All those syrups and drizzles.
“I heard that.” You could hear Marv laugh behind you. It sounded painful.
“Don’t be a dick. Not in front of the new guy. Not right now.”
“The detective here loves her coffee. Cant get enough of it. Think she even bought you some as a welcome gift.”
“Oh, thank you, Y/n.” You blushed, realizing how this probably looked.
“Shut your trap. I was just trying to be nice to be new desk buddy…What was it like out there, Leon?”
“Hell. Actual hell.” You sighed, looking back over your shoulder. Your bun had fallen hours ago. You caught his eye through the grapevine of your locks.
“We should get you some gear. You’re caked in blood and I don’t like you walking around without a vest.”
“L/n, you’re not wearing a vest.”
“That’s different, he’s a rookie.” You adjusted the badge on your belt, looking them both up and down.
“Come on, man. You don’t wanna be at the end of her gun. And you, put in a damn vest.”
“It would be nice to break the uniform in. First day and all…”
“Pretty shit first day if you ask me.” Branagh laughing at his own teasing. You sighed, motioned them to follow you. The locker rooms were easily found, walking up to the men’s.
“There should be some extra uniforms in there. Might even have a locker picked out for you. All the codes are 0000 at first so…”
“Right, thank you. And uh…”
“She’s got me, go change.” Marv stood against the wall, trying to ignore the pain. You and Leon went into your respective rooms. You slipped a spare vest over your head, tightening it in a way that’d usually get you written up. Just a bit tighter on the waist. No one had to know. You had a sudden idea, trying to be endearing at a time like this. You couldn’t help it. You tore the Velcro badge off an old vest, jogging back out in time to see him slip out.
You had to say, he looked good in blue. The gloves lining his hands nicely. It was as if the uniform was made for him. He even put on the elbow pads. It was so cute, like he was trying to please your anxiousness. He caught you staring, the tips of his ears flushing pink.
“I know it’s late, and this all really, really, really sucks but…” You slapped his chest. He jumped at your touch, his whole face now flushing. You rubbed it out, wishing you could actually feel him and not this stupid padding. R.P.D. was now branding him. He looked stupidly proud, like a kid with a gold star.
“Welcome to the team, from whatever’s left of the RPD.” Marv gave him a reassuring smile. It was happy for a moment, but only for a moment. You remembered the task at hand, pulling your gun back from its holster.
“Sorry, but we have to keep moving.” That puppy dog like grin morphed back into the grief stricken man standing before you. You finally made it to the front, Leon setting Marv down.
“Does anyone know what started this?” You brought a laptop from the desk over to the lieutenant. Searching around for anymore supplies. You were desperate to make this work. The haunting realization that you were truly all that was left of the RPD was sinking in.
“Not a clue. But honestly, all you need to know is that this place will eat you alive If you aren’t careful.”
“Here, Leon.” You found a gun from the armory, handing it to him barrel side. He nodded to you, holding eye contact briefly.
“Yeah…well, I was supposed to start last week and I got a call to stay away. I wish I’d come here sooner.” You released an audible sigh. Him coming sooner would’ve been helpful, definitely. He checked the magazine, sticking it back into the holster.
“You’re here now, Leon. That’s all that matters.” Marv pulled out a pocket book, sketching a path onto it. You didn’t like the implications.
“Okay, Lieutenant. I’m ready.”
“Hopefully, you’ll both be able to find a way out of this station. That officer you met earlier-Elliot, he thought this secret passage way might do the trick.” He showed Leon the makeshift map, groaning to himself over his side.
“This is good news. We can get you to a hospital.”
“No, no. I’m not the priority here.”
“Wait, you’re not expecting me to just leave you, right? I thought you knew me better than that.” You laughed through your words, baffled.
“Lieutenant, I’m not just gonna leave you here-“
“I’m giving you both an order! You save yourselves first. I’d come with you but I’d just slow you down…” You scoffed, turning on your heels to pace.
“God damn it, Marvin…You cant- you just-“
“I can and will do as I please, Detective…Now, you’ll need this.” He took his knife off his belt. You swallowed hard. He’d be dead in the hour at this rate. Seeing him give up so fully tore you to pieces. Leon looked back to you, becoming more uncomfortable than he was, looking at your state.
“I can’t take-“
“Stop.” Leon gripped the handle, Marv pulling him closer. His voice dipping lower, but you could still hear.
“And don’t make my mistake. If you see one of those things, uniform or not, you do not hesitate. You take it out…or you run. Got it?” He nodded.
“Yes, sir.” He grimaced, falling back into the couch. You ran over, helping him at least get comfortable. He tried to keep himself composed, but you knew better.
“And L/n, you two watch each other’s backs. I was going to assign you two to be partners before, all of this. I need you to show him the ropes, I need you to keep her together.”
“Yeah, yeah…” You tried to swallow back your tears. Your gloved hands running through your hair, pulling it back.
“Kennedy, on me…” You gave one last look to your Lieutenant. He didn’t want to look to you. It’d hurt too much.
“Y/n…” Leon’s hand laid over your shoulder. It caught you off guard, bringing you back to the situation at hand.
“I’m fine.” You walked ahead, pushing his hand off. Being touched right now wasn’t a good idea. You went ahead to the breaker box, slicing the tape off to open the gate.
“This is not how I imagined my first day.”
“Yeah, it was supposed to be good…I’m sorry it didn’t work out that way.” You lead the way, entering into the darkened corridor. You could just barely see a slumped over body near the turn.
“I think we’re about to see more of those things. I wanna see what you can do, rookie.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t say that. I’m only a year older than you. Making me feel old.” The floor was splattered with blood. The stench sticking to your clothes. The speaker on another officer went off, its static tone lining the walls.
“This is 73-Bird-for rescue.” It fizzled out. The wounds practically wrapping around his head continued to ooze blood. Leon slowly went to pull his head up. His eyes were lacking all life, a stone gray. The mouth ripped into the cheek, the ear.
“Oh… Oh, what the fuck?” His neck was ripped open. It was like strings. Nothing you’d ever seen before. A think of metal catching your attention.
“Ha… haha… Oh my god…” You shuffled past the hanging body. It was completely impaled on a pipe.
“How does that even happen?”
“Don’t ask me. Down here.” An open window blew in a chilling breeze. You wished you would’ve had some type of jacket. The long sleeves you had still weren’t enough. At the end of the hall, a sudden pounding made you both jump. A zombie trying to break through the glass.
You kept your aim steady, taking deep breaths. Cracks began to form one by one. When it finally broke, you sent a shot between its eyes. Then another. Another. One more for good measure. It tumbled to the floor, reanimating back up.
“Just fucking die already.” One last shot and it was down. You didn’t even want to know who it was, just keep on walking.
“Right in here…” The break room was torn apart. Papers were scattered everywhere, chairs overturned.
“So uh, how’d you get into the force?”
“What?”
“Im just trying to get to know you…partner.”
“We’re not exactly on duty, Kennedy.”
“Then why call me by my last name? Leon is fine.”
“Listen, Leon. I’m just trying to get us out of this. We can go out separate ways when all of this is over.”
“But it’s dangerous to be out there alone.”
“What are you, drunk? I’m more than capable of taking these things out.”
“Hungover, so…” You dropped your guard, baffled at how honest he was.
“So, you’re late for work cause you were drinking and you plan to come to work hungover. But now, there’s a fucking apocalypse and you’re hungover, in an apocalypse?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Fucking lunatic.” You tried pushing the door open. It was jammed, maybe something blocking it on the other side. You looked around for another possible exit.
“You think you can fit through the window? I know I can.”
“Wait, you’ve gone through the windows before?”
“Yeah, when Chief Jackass tries to talk to me. Honestly, I hope that guy is dead.” Leon looked stunned at your words, twiddling the knife in his fingers.
“Is he- really awful or something?” You climbed up, positioning yourself to jump up.
“He harasses all the female staff. Not much we can really do about it. God, I’d love to see him turn into a corpse and blow his top off.” You tried to get up, losing your footing and ending up in the same place as before.
“Think you could boost me a bit? It’s slipperier than usual.”
“Uh, yeah. Just uh-“ His hands came under your boot, the other your outer knee.
“Yup, okay. Okay. Come on, Leon. You’re acting as if you’ve never touched a girl before.” He shoved you in by the backs of your thighs with an embarrassing strength. You caught yourself, trying to kick back at him.
“I have touched a girl. I get a lot of girls.”
“With that baby face, I’m sure.” He could hear you echoing from the other side of the wall. He felt his own face, pressing on his pudgy cheeks. The flush was still there, no matter how hard he tried to rub it off. He came out with you, a finger instantly on his mouth. You shushed, pointing to the zombie in front of you.
“Go for it. Show me what you got.” He took a deep breath, slinking over to the fat bastard. He kept his gun ready, trying to take it out without it even knowing. He got one good shot in before it slugged around at him. He pulled Marv’s knife impaling the zombie. He ripped open at the seams before finally falling down. His boot pressed to his chest as he yanked the knife out, wiping it on his pants.
“Ha, how’d I do?” He really was like a puppy. Listening to his commands waiting for a treat.
“You did great, really.” You walked ahead, rounding the corner to the first door on the right. That shitty sign still hanging like a big “Fuck you.”
“Was there gonna be a party…?”
“Yeah…I had everything set up. I think someone even got cupcakes.” Your hand began to glide over the desks, papers getting caught on them. You stopped over your thrown aside work. Sprinkles of now dried blood misting over.
“It’s funny. I spelled welcome wrong, two L’s. Marv told me no wonder I was a cop cause I couldn’t spell.” He examined the extra L, looking over to the empty desk next to yours. The lone can of coffee being spoiled by now. A dark ring dried into the wood.
“Thanks anyway. Means a lot.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking over the coffee. He’d try to remember it. Hopefully be able to buy you one when this was all over.
“We uh, had this little game. For you to remember our names to unlock your desk. I can do it.” He held a hand in front of you, reading the note set out.
“No, I wanna remember their names.” He walked around, looking over the golden plaques. You couldn’t help but shutter into yourself reading over them. Knowing they were probably all dead. It was like looking at tombstones.
He entered in the codes seamlessly, pushing it open. A small smirk lining his lips at the sight of his own name.
“What’s the S stand for?”
“Scott.”
“I like that. Leon Scott Kennedy. Feels good in my mouth.”
“Huh?” He picked up the placard, laughing at your antics. He couldn’t tell yet if you were flirting with him, or this was just your personality. Maybe you were oblivious to it all.
“You must be really proud to be a cop.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Saving people is all I want to do with my life.” He picked up the high capacity magazine that was left as a gift.
“To answer your question before, I joined the force cause of my brother. He got into some real dirty high crime stuff and brought it home. Drugs and shit…I watched him OD on our bathroom floor. He was my guardian, so I got put into the system as a teen, got passed around. Met a few Chief Irons’. Got some sense beat into me. I realized I wanted to protect families like mine, so I became a detective.”
“You’re really admirable, Y/n. I have something like that going on too, but uh…”
“You don’t have to say anything. Whenever you’re ready.” He nodded with a smile, thankful for your understanding. Trauma was always a sensitive subject. You’d gone through the work and healed, even if it comes behind you and strikes some days. You recognized many others weren’t in that stage yet.
“I wanna be like you when I grow up.”
“Oh, shut up. There’s this key we gotta get, to get back to Marv.”
“But he said-“
“I don’t care what he said.” You forced your way out, taking down the stray zombie or two. It was like civilian zombies were crawling in through the broken walls and windows. Leon would cover you, more so watching how you did things. He wanted to pick up as much technique as he could. Positioning his footing a little, his hold on his gear.
“Just up here.” Your hair bounced as you made your way up.
“Shouldn’t everyone have keys to every door here?”
“You’d think so, right? Not so smart on Irons’ part.” He tried to keep his eyes up. You were only so many steps in front of him. The leather belt sitting low on your hips. Curves being directly in his line of sight wasn’t his fault, it just happened like that.
“Here, you hold it.” You placed the cerulean key in his palm, getting ready to head back down.
“Why me?”
“You’re good at combat, sure. But I wanna see if I can trust you with holding things and intel.”
“Have you been quizzing me this whole time?”
“I knew you’d figure it out. You’re a smart boy.” You patted his shoulder gingerly. He didn’t realize how strong you could be till you did.
“Smart boy, huh?”
“Do you prefer Scottie boy?” You readjusted your ponytail. Getting annoyed and opting to keep it down. You just had to be more careful with
the grabby hands those monsters had.
“Anything you call me is fine.” He went ahead of you, taking the initiative this time. You could see his confidence growing more and more. It was cute watching his hair bounce down the stairs. His bangs being swept back and forth. Maybe you could get used to this partner thing.
“Okay rookie, up there.” You’d made it back to the office, pointing down to the far end. He made his way, sticking the key into the matching lock. You never understood why there was such an ornate key and handle in the first place.
“Marv!” You almost tripped on your own legs seeing he was still alive. The blood was spreading though. It’s reached his chest in the time you’d left. He was still fiddling with the computer, looking up at you.
“There you are…Come here, take a look.” You looked at the monitor, Leon looking over your shoulder. There was a girl at the gate. You’d never seen her before.
“Yes! I knew she’d make it?”
“Who…?”
“You know her?”
“Yeah, name’s Claire. I came into town with her.” You didn’t understand what you were feeling. It clawed up from your stomach to your throat. Like it was trying to come out your mouth. You tried to push it down, but it just wouldn’t. You’d only known the guy a couple hours. Why feel like this?
“You can get to that courtyard through the second floor…east side.” He seethed, gritting his teeth.
“Maybe I should stay here…” Your ass barely met the seat when his authoritative tone rang out.
“No, you watch each other, remember?”
“I’m on it. Thanks, Lieutenant. Come on.” It was easy to look between the two men like a lost child. You didn’t know which responsibility to fill. Leon stuck his hand out towards you. You felt the warmth before you even realized you took it. The leather had gotten hotter than he felt, making your grasp stick closer. He practically dragged you up the stairs. Your grip not leaving each others.
“So, to the left is the law library, to the right is more hallways and shit.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask, why does a police department have such ornate stuff?”
“This place used to be an art museum. So, it’s always had weird statues and fixtures. I remember it being like this since taking field trips in elementary school.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not from here.”
“Oh, where you from? Also, we should probably head to the Library if what I’m thinking is right.”
“My parents were from Italy. I moved here when I was a kid and have just been around since.” He changed course, letting you stew in your thoughts.
“So, let me get this straight. You’re basically from nowhere. You get super drunk for god knows why, and come here of all places…Why here?” He pushed the door open to the Library. The forest green walls always made you feel nauseous. The zombie near the door running after you both, you held her by the forehead, sending a bullet into her eye. The others hadn’t seemed to notice you yet.
You motioned him to follow with, tiptoeing past the monsters. A room on the side was built completely of marble and gold.
“Is this where all the funding goes to??”
“I don’t even know. There’s more of these things too. It’s a long shot, but our only shot.” You snapped your fingers, trying to figure out an idea.
“Do you still have that notebook Marv gave you? With the map?”
“Uh, yeah. Here.” You took it from his hand, flipping through the pages.
“Right here, look. There’s three of these things. We can take these all out together, easy.” He walked close enough to you for the fabrics of your shirts to be touching. The codes being engraved into his memory.
“Okay, so just like…” He rolled the dial till it read what was in the notebook. It made a satisfying clink with each turn. Its lock finally released. The unicorn encrusted medallion feeling cold in your hand. You both snuck back out of the library, eyes glued to the monsters.
“That was fucking ridiculous. You were saying, Scottie boy?” He groaned with embarrassment at the name you’d given him. Thinking on where he might’ve left off.
“I got drunk cause I broke up with my girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend. I just decided to drive over here cause it’d been a week. My fault for being impulsive. I chose the RPD cause of those bizarre murders that got covered on the news. From those mountains?”
“Yeah, the Arklay’s. And were you drinking before, or after driving?”
“Is this another test?” You shrugged your shoulders. A playful look dancing on your face.
“After. I’m not stupid.”
“Smart boy.” You put in the code for the lion medallion. It tinked against the other as you dropped them both into one of Leon’s empty pockets. The Velcro ripping open and being rubbed shut.
You couldn’t quite tell why he was so comfortable with you touching him so much. Why you were so comfortable with him touching you. Maybe you were just lonely. He definitely was…
The next place you needed to head to was just on the other side of the staircase. More dark hallways hidden by cheery and warm waiting rooms. He used the key once more. The smell of death returned. You enjoyed your time apart from the retched thing.
“If we keep going this way, we can get to Claire, right?”
“Uh, yeah. Just down there.” He continued ahead of you, eager to see her. You huffed, not excited about this at all. Especially when you found out he just broke up with a girlfriend.
“Hey, you hear something?”
“No, what-“ You paused, hearing the droning of a helicopter. It suddenly got closer, and closer. A light shined through the glass. You pulled him back by his waist without a second thought. He backed up with you, causing you to stumble back just as the helicopter collided with the building.
“Oh fuck, what the hell.” You tried to sit up, your vision finding it’s stability. All you could hear was the sound of stone and glass falling. A weight held you down. He flipped over, his face suddenly meeting yours. Neither of your realized how close you were till he could smell the coffee on your breath, the mint on his.
“You okay? Did you hit your head?” The gloved hand rubbed your crown, the throbbing being washed away like sea foam.
“I’m okay. Are you?” His eyes looked down on you heavy. As if it was a difficult task to just stand.
“Mhm.” He kneeled, pulling you up along with him. He dusted your arms off till he was satisfied. Giving you a nod before turning back to whatever happened outside. You were still shocked by what just happened.
“Hope I didn’t throw the detective off her game.” He looked back at you through the open door, laughing to himself.
“Let’s just see what happened, yeah?” You shoved past him, not even meaning to push him. You didn’t want him to see the effect he was having on you. The blushing, the morning dew eyes. The clenching thighs.
“Is that one of ours?”
“I’m not even sure…”
“Hey! Leon?” You both shined your lights down to the noise. The rain making it even harder to see through the night.
“Claire! Hold on! I’ll be right there!” You looked over the railing with him. Your eyes catching hers. Her shoulders perked, jaw slightly dropping. Was she surprised to see him with another woman?
“Okay!” You followed him down, hearing flames burst.
“Keep moving. I don’t wanna be blown to bits.” You finally made it down, Claire pulling against the chain link.
“Claire…it’s so nice to see you.” His fingers found their way into the fencing, you wanted to gag right there.
“Hi, I’m Claire.” Her eyes looked you up and down, just barely staying on your exposed cleavage the thermal left.
“Detective Y/n L/n.”
“A detective? Wow Leon, you have some impressive friends. How you both doing? That helicopter just came out of nowhere…”
“Yeah, we’re in one piece.” He waved it off as if it was nothing. You kept note of his strange behavior.
“I’m guessing you don’t have a key in one of those fancy pockets?”
“Unfortunately, no…But, how are you doing?” You winced at how awkward this was. The girl constantly staring at you. This hungover buffoon trying to flirt with her.
“Real smooth, Kennedy.”
“What?” He was completely unaware of how bad this looked. It almost hurt him when you spoke in such a professional time. He was liking your nicknames and friendly demeanor.
“You know, just surviving.” She leaned against the post.
“And you, detective? I didn’t get how you’re doing?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Just a broken nose. And major secondhand embarrassment.” You spoke the last sentence under your breath.
“Any luck with your brother?”
“Brother?”
“Yeah, I’m looking for my brother, Chris. But, no, not yet.” You thought about it. How familiar that name really was.
“Claire, don’t lose hope…I’m sure we’re gonna find him-“ The helicopter finally blew behind you. The embers falling with the rain. It echoed through the clouds, past the fences.
“I fucking told you. We all need to move.” You swatted at his side, annoyed with this entire encounter.
“Dammit. You know what that means…”
“Yeah. Dinner time.” A zombie began to convulse and rise back behind her. You could feel your heart rate begin to pick back up.
“Claire…” Her eyes shined towards you. As if she’d been waiting for you to say that.
“Claire, I think you should go.”
“Don’t worry about me, Leon. You two take care of yourselves.” A hoard began to build against the perimeter gate. You and Leon both clung to the inner gate, anxious for her safety.
“Claire, you need to go now!“
“Hey, let’s get through this. All of us.” She began to walk off, looking towards Leon then to you. Keeping an eye on you a second longer than him.
“Hey, call it in.” You found some stray bolt cutters, scoffing how unobservant you just were. Those would’ve been helpful five seconds ago.
“Uh, Marvin. I’ve got a situation here…I’m surrounded by zombies! Marvin do you copy? Marvin?! Dammit.” You cut open the chain around the door, getting anxious for his reply. You’d only been gone for a few minutes.
You both hurried in, cutting open another door before taking another zombie out. He covered your back as you went forward. You walked through the doorway when one of them grabbed you. You kneed him in the stomach, pulling the knife from your hip and stabbing into his throat.
“What the-“
“Fuck off!” You pushed past, the door you needed being barricaded by a chair and books. It tumbled over and you jogged out, Leon staying on your heels.
“What on god’s green earth…I swear to all fuck. If you’re dead, it’ll be your ass sitting on my blade! God damn it, Kennedy. We’re backtracking.” You snatched up a red wheel. You knew exactly where this went, where the last medallion was.
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“That’s your name, isn’t it?”
“Go back to the nicknames…” You made it back to the main hall, turning back to him, walking backwards.
“You sound like some whining puppy. What’s up with that?”
“I just don’t like how serious you got, that’s all…” Your shoulders slumped. Maybe you were being a dick. This guy you met only a few hours ago doesn’t have to like you. It’s unrealistic to expect something like that. You felt the need to pull back, ground yourself.
“Sorry…” The same hall you first dragged him through was back. You both brought down a zombie or two, focused on reaching your location.
“Wait, wait. How do you know that wheel goes in the men’s restroom?”
“…Do as I say, not as I do.” He was left baffled as you walked in, knowing your way around. The wheel was placed and cranked, tightening the valves.
“So…who was the guy?”
“Leon- Jesus Christ. Some guy who used to work here. He doesn’t anymore. He moved over a couple county’s to another PD. Not a big deal.”
“Having sex on the job is kind of a big deal.”
“Zip it! I don’t wanna hear it.”
“You’re a pretty risky person, aren’t you?”
“It’s a bad habit of mine.” The wood creaked under your boots as you continued on. A groaning could be heard down the corridor. You shined your light in it’s direction. A sudden burst of blood splashed onto the walls. Something was eating a zombie…
“What in god’s name…”
Its flesh was missing, muscle exposed. A long, veiny tongue catching on the zombie. Parts of its spine could even be seen. You felt like you could faint at the sight of it. Leon released fire before you, straight headshots. It dropped down, hopping towards you like something between a frog and a cheetah. You fired with him. It sprung towards you, arms waving out for a sadistic hug. The multiple shots at once taking the thing out. Its body tumbled to your feet. Bullet holes riddling the meat.
“I feel like I’m gonna puke.”
“Shit, you okay?” You walked past to the next office. The image wouldn’t leave your mind. You crumbled to the floor, eyes shut.
“Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew. That was so fucking disgusting.” Your fists were glued to your temples. The hood you had over your nerves was slipping. Its slimy tongue, it’s grabbing hands. Those petrifying eyes and oozing skin.
“Shhh. Here, it’s okay.” He handed you a plastic trashcan. It sat between your quivering thighs. Nothing coming up. He sat beside you, rubbing your back.
“Let’s pull this back, yeah?” You stared into the plastic bucket as the hairtie was pulled off your wrist. He situated your hair back as best he could. Guys could never do hair right. It was cute to feel him try. He reverted to rubbing your back, eventually his thumb guiding over your nape. You chucked the can aside, falling into his touch. His arm wrapped around you, securing you to his chest.
“Do you feel better now?” He smelled woody, amber, sweet. The smell of rain still staining his clothes mixing with sweat. You swallowed hard, looking up into those eyes. He looked back, unknowing of the storm brewing inside you. Something urged you to plant a kiss against his jaw. Like a princess thanking her prince for saving her.
“Thanks, Leon.” It felt like he’d just shaved this morning. He seemed the type to never let it get long at all.
“I can go get the last medallion if you want. You can stay here-“
“No! No- I wanna stay with you. It’s safer if we can cover each other.”
“Okay.” He still had those puppy dog eyes. A friendly smile. Somehow, he was still optimistic. He helped you up, hands resting on your waist.
“Are you ready to go back out there?”
“I’m gonna have to be.” You grabbed a battery from the cubicle next to you. Journeying all this way for a single battery was ridiculous. Back into the dank hallways, the smell of blood was even stronger. You could see the door you think you needed, finally making it through.
“Back in the library?”
“Yeah, back up here. Needed this battery for his little thing right here.” You waved around the C4 you had stashed in your belt.
“Why do you just have a bomb on you??”
“Why don’t you?” You threw it back to him while halfway up the steps. It tumbled through his hands before he eventually caught it. You tried to stifling your giggles. Running up ahead to the next room. He chased after you, the giggles finally releasing.
“Okay, okay. Back over here.” He saw the sign reading “C4,” placing it down for you. You fixed the battery inside, backing up and pulling on him.
“Cover your ears. This room is too small to not get tinnitus.” He stared into your eyes while plugging his ears. Neither of you could hear the beeping, only your own breathing. It blew, the sparks flying towards you. You watched each other flinch, finally looking towards the open cavity. A shrill scream could be heard. That blast definitely attracted more zombies.
“So, the lady, the bow and arrow, then the snake.” He dialed it in, the statue releasing your prize.
“Now we get back to Marvin?”
“Yeah…let’s get going…” He only took one step out the cage before another one of those frog like freaks hopped out. Leon pushed you ahead of him while he shot towards it. You ran into your own problem, blowing the zombie’s brain out. It felt like the door could’ve broken off with how much force you used to open it.
“Come on!” He ran out, shutting it for you. You felt his eyes look you over for any injuries.
“I’m okay. You’re okay. Let’s get out of here.”
“Right.” Going down the stairs and the zombies still chewing on flesh, the warm glow of the main hall emerged. You could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was all finally going to be over.
“Marv?” His groans just barely echoed through the building.
“I’ll put those medallions in.” Leon elected himself to open the passageway. You found yourself at the Lieutenant’s side, anxious to even speak to him.
“So it goes underground…Huh. That’s it- that’s our way out. Lieutenant Branagh! Y/n!” Your hands trembled over his body. He was laying back, still clutching his side.
“Marv? Lt…?”
“It’s time to go. Marvin.” Leon went to touch him. Animalistic growls breaching his throat. You could see it in his eyes, he was clawing at whatever humanity he had left.
“We need to get you to a hospital right now.”
“No, no… I… Save yourself…”
“Come on, I’ve got you-“ Marv shoved Leon away. His face scrunching with the growing pain.
“Go!”
“Look, we can still make it out of here together, if you just gimme-“ He looked back to you both, pointing his gun at Leon. His skin graying, almost green. He was turning right before your eyes.
“It’s too late. I tried Leon… But I couldn’t stop it. We can’t let this thing spread. It’s on you now. Just go…” He directed his words between you both, displaying an equal responsibility. His teeth were begging to sneer, like he wanted to bite. He resisted with all he had, but you knew. In a few moments, your friend would be gone.
“I understand.” Leon began to walk off as you stayed in your place.
“Marvin, do you… do you want me, need me to…” His breath was labored. The fear in his eyes was palpable. He didn’t want to become one of those things.
“I need you to leave.”
“You’ll become a monster. I know you know that. I can…make this easier, for you…if that’s what you want.” He sighed, trying to appreciate his last breath.
“You do not get to inflict that pain on yourself for my own selfish desires.”
“But I can take this away from you…” You took a step forward, his gun cocking, stopping you.
“All I need you to do is survive. Not ruin whatever chance of living after this you have left.” You stood there shocked. The thick tears of your desperation running down your face.
“…Let’s go, Leon.”
“…Yeah.” You couldn’t look back. You felt like a coward. You were a coward. He was going to turn and no one would be able to put him down. Even if it saved you from seeing a hole in his skull. It would never save your sanity. The machinery shut behind you, sealing you both inside. It was as if a part of you had been severed.
“I won’t let you down, Marvin.” He said it under his breath, even smaller than a whisper.