Work Text:
30 Days of Prompts, Day 27:
A Lifelong Curse
Leon laughed as Chris twirled him, before pulling him back in close. “You‘ve got some moves. You been holding out on me, Redfield?”
“That’s Mr. Redfield Kennedy to you,” Chris reminded him.
“I suppose it is,” Leon breathed, voice soft as he rested his head on Chris’ shoulder.
For someone who had seemed somewhat nervous and reluctant when they initially discussed their first dance Chris seemed rather good at leading him round the floor. Maybe his husband—
Husband. Just the mere thought of the word had a warmth that had grown more and more familiar to him over the last few years blossoming in his chest.
Leon let his eyes fall closed as Chris continued to move them slowly around the dance floor, swaying slightly, whilst singing the words to the song softly. And Leon couldn’t remember ever being so happy.
The song ended and Chris dipped him, surprised Leon grabbed his husband’s shoulders.
“Give a man a little warning next time,” Leon groused, despite the fact he was clearly laughing.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” Chris grinned.
“Not wh—” Chris kissed him, cutting off the end of the sentence and Leon was vaguely aware of their guests clapping in the background.
“I love you so much,” Leon murmured, as Chris broke the kiss.
“And I, you,” Chris smiled, in that soft way of his, he reserved just for him. Chris put him back on his feet and kissed him one more time as the MC invited their guests to dance, which led to both of them being ambushed. Chris by Claire and Leon by Sherry.
“I didn’t think you could dance,” Leon began as he and Chris walked around the room arm in arm, having finally extracted themselves from the dance floor.
“I might have taken some lessons,” Chris admitted.
“Well, I might have asked Claire for help,” Leon confided.
Chris laughed. He stopped and took Leon's hand in his, bringing it to his lips.
“I swear I fall more and more in love with you every day.”
“I don’t know how you manage to say things like that with a straight face,” Leon complained, blushing, as he hid behind his bangs and shook his head. “But I feel it too,” he admitted softly, leaning up to kiss him tenderly.
As they broke apart and Leon looped his hand through Chris’ arm once more, he could hear the sound of Hunnigan laughing. He glanced over his shoulder to see her sat with Sheva and Jill.
“That can’t be good,” Leon commented, causing Chris to pause.
“What?”
“Sheva, Jill and Hunnigan.”
Chris followed his gaze. “Probably not,” he agreed, clearly thinking what Leon was thinking.
Their partners were no doubt trading embarrassing stories about them.
“Maybe we should go check on them?” Chris suggested, as another peel of laughter reached them. This time it was Jill’s.
“Yeah,” Leon agreed.
As it turned out that was exactly the case and they arrived at the table just in time to catch Sheva recalling the time Chris had punched a boulder to save her during their fight with Wesker.
“You’re probably never going to live that down, dear,” Leon chuckled, patting his arm as his husband tried to prevent Sheva from saying too much, and failed miserably, but it was all in good fun.
Eventually, they both ended up taking a seat at the table and spending some time reminiscing with Leon also trying to prevent Hunnigan from revealing too many embarrassing stories, which would ruin his cool government agent image.
“Don’t worry you’ll always be a cool government agent to me,” Chris reassured him as they eventually took their leave to talk with their other guests.
Leon just squeezed his hand.
Leon leaned back in Chris’ embrace as they stood at the bar together, just watching the room as the party wound down. Leon smiled at the thought that these people were more than just friends. Over the years they’d become his family.
He’d never imagined that his life would turn out the way it had. He’d never thought he’d end up fighting B.O.W.s for a living and for a while it had felt like a curse of sorts. Something he would never be able to shake.
And then he’d met Chris Redfield. A man who’d been in the fight as long as he had, but who somehow still managed to remain positive and strong. A man whose resilience knew no bounds and who never failed to inspire all those who fought alongside him. A man with the warmest of hearts, who had stood up in front of everyone today and promised to love him forever.
And for once in his life Leon didn’t exactly feel lucky, but it was definitely something close. Perhaps thankful was a better way of describing it.
Leon turned in Chris’ arms, causing the other man to look down at him with that same soft smile he’d been wearing all day. Leon lent up slightly and kissed him gently, before snuggling against his chest.
Chris gently kissed him on top of the head.
Leon sighed softly.