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"You'll catch a cold, you know." Luis shivered, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
The two had sought shelter from the pouring rain in an old beat down cabin in the woods. This wouldn't be the first time Leon's done this kind of thing in the past few hours. Finding shelter wherever he could with this horrible rainstorm. That lakeside cabin...he was grateful he hadn't died there.
"I'll take my chances." He muttered from the doorway, trying to see a way out of this mess through all the rain and fog.
"You're really good at that lone wolf thing. Is that why they sent you out here all alone?" Luis pulled out a spare cigarette he'd foraged out of some ganado's kitchen.
Leon turned back only to glare.
Harsh, Luis must have struck a nerve. It wasn't like he was doing it on purpose, he just wanted to figure out what Leon's deal was. Why he was such a loner all the time. Why he was so hesitant to accept Luis' help. He was trying here! Trying to warm him up in this never ending storm, both physically and emotionally.
Perhaps it had to do with his past, and Luis will at least give him that privacy. He wouldn't go and tell some stranger all about his family's deaths after a few days of meeting them. But they were stuck here for what looked like a while, and Luis wanted to give him some space to talk things out. Having a clear head on these kinds of missions was a good thing.
Even if Luis didn't have one himself. No, he preferred the age old way of burying these things deep until he couldn't feel them anymore. Maybe he was a hypocrite for expecting that much from Leon. Maybe he needed to share about himself first before he went and asked Leon about his life. There he went expecting so much from others without doing anything in return. He was a researcher after all, always wanting answers, always forgetting that other people were secretive for a reason. He had to get out of that habit.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I'll rephrase that. I'm offering help, and I just don't know why you still refuse to take it. Relax, amigo. I'm not gonna bite you. At least, not unless you ask me to." He winks, smiling at the way Leon rolled his eyes.
Slowly but surely, the agent sulks his way deeper into the cabin, sitting on the rotting bed next to Luis.
Now that's the spirit! Luis was finally getting to him! So this was the right direction he needed to take. He'd have Leon trusting him in no time at this rate.
Leon sighed, rolling his neck as if he was in desperate need of a massage. Luis was sure that all the recoil from his guns and all that running around must have made him tired. Perhaps in another life maybe Leon could have just lied down and slept here. He sure looked like he needed it.
"I'm just not used to people protecting me, that's all. And I'm allowed to doubt your loyalty. We only just met a few days ago." Leon admitted, sheepishly avoiding eye contact as he spoke.
Luis thought it was cute, the way he looked ashamed to admit that. Like it was some big secret and not something Luis also had struggled with. That pretty much everyone had struggled with. It wasn't embarrassing at all to admit things like that. Especially in a place like this. Luis was always hesitant to trust people at first. And sometimes, his ignorance got him hurt even more in the end. It was no surprise Leon probably felt the same way.
Luis didn't exactly know what Leon had been through, or what brought him to this place. But if his upbringing was anything like his, he definitely had trust issues.
"Fine, I'll take that. But, I know the look in someone's eyes when they've been left to fend for themselves all alone." Luis nudged his shoulder, "I want things to be different for you, amigo. Don't want you to fight Los Illuminados all alone like I had to."
Leon smiled at the contact, soaking it in like he was the only source of warmth here right now. Against his will, Leon even shivered for a moment. Wishing he hadn't, just so that Luis couldn't hold it against him later. Of course he thought things like that. With how Ada used him for her advantage. With how so many other past partners always held something personal against him, blackmailing him into staying one way or another. He couldn't help but feel paranoid after all that had happened to him.
But Luis wasn't that kind of person. Instead, he took his jacket off and draped it around Leon's shoulders. A warm smile on his face at the notion.
For the first time in a long time, Leon felt loved. It was like he was 21 again, kissing Ada in that lab deep underground, the promise of something better against his lips. It was like he was 15 again, getting his first kiss from his crush of three years. A jolt of warmth sparked through him like the lightning crackling in the distance.
Love was strange, with the way it'd hide in places like that. Hide underneath the sharing of jackets. Hide underneath hands brushing against one another. Hide underneath the gentle touch of Luis' fingertips against his jawline. With the way it would make his heart race, beating ever faster as Luis inched closer and closer.
Leon wasn't one to believe in God or fate or anything supernatural like that. Not after all those years of Catholic school had been put behind him. But something in the back of his mind thanked God for allowing Luis to meet him like this. As if he'd reverted back to his younger self before all of those horrible things had happened to him. It was like love brought out the happiest version of himself he could remember, deep underneath all those layers of pain.
Luis had no idea the power and effect he held on him. And maybe he never will. Perhaps Leon would keep that a secret too. Or maybe some day he'll gain the courage to admit that. Some day long from now where Leon won't have to worry about parasites and cults and umbrella and all the evil organizations after them. A day where he can just rest and truly feel safe.
But for now, Luis just gave him a small glimpse into that world. With his arm around his waist, jacket warm against his shoulders. Leon grinning into his shoulder as he tried to hide his embarrassing blush.
“You’re warm.” Leon mumbled, voice muffled by Luis’ shirt sleeve.
It felt…nice. To be loved like this. Cared for like this. How funny it was Luis looking out for his well being when on the battle field it was the opposite. Leon would always be the one to call out to Luis, telling him to watch out, saying he was doing good. It was a nice change of pace.
“And you’re cold. See? I’m only trying to help.” Luis smiled down at him.
“Okay, I get it. I’ll listen to you more.” Leon rolled his eyes.