Work Text:
It was a late night, the clock read 3 am and Leon sat in a parking lot of a McDonalds. The twenty-five year old man tapped the steering wheel of the car angrily as he looked over to the sixteen year old Sherry who was silently eating her bag of chips Leon bought her. Leon had caught Sherry sneaking out, It wasn't a surprise that she was getting rebellious, but being able to invade many security guards at such a young age...? Leon sighed. If it wasn't for Claire, he wouldn't have known the teen had snuck out. Honestly, he would've let her go have fun if Claire wasn't super busy the next day.
Honestly, Leon wasn't super mad at Sherry, He was mad that his sleep got interrupted, and he found her trying to get drunk at a party she snuck into. Thank God for trackers in phones, right?
"You gonna yell at me?"
Leon's thoughts were interrupted by the teen who was seemingly done with her snack. He could immediately tell she felt guilty, her body slouched a bit and her arms we crossed, it seemed she was picking at her skin and looking out the window. Her hands then moved, picking at the chipped black nail polish on her nails instead. He took this time to fully examine the girl, noticing her "Alternative" style. Was it even Alt? Either way, he just bunched her style up with the term 'Emo.' Something he'd been called a few times.
"No. You gonna stop sneaking out?"
Leon asked, and Sherry finally looked at him. She had a frown, and Leon's heart broke a bit. Even if they weren't related, he had some sort of a soft spot for her.. even though he rarely went to see her..
Sherry sighed "It's not fair.." she muttered and Leon rolled his eyes. "No, What's not fair is that these people took you in. You're givin' them a rough time when they were so nice to take care of you. He said sternly, Sherry obviously didn't like his answer
"Well I never asked them to!"
"Well too bad, Sherry you're too bright and too smart for this." Leon said and Sherry did a sarcastic laugh
"You don't know what I'm going through!" She raised her voice
"Watch your tone." Leon's browns furrowed, but that didn't stop the teen
"No! Who are you to tell me to 'be grateful'!? I'm locked up in a room for hours. I only got this stupid phone!-" She raised the flip phone and Leon gripped the steering wheel. "You are so lucky to have that! When I was younger, I had nothing. We didn't have those little flip phones, some days we were too fucking poor to even get dinner. So yeah, I'm telling you to be grateful, because you have a balanced diet, you have a good education, and you don’t have to worry about getting put out of your own home. You cant just act out because you sit in a room for a few hours and you’re bored!" Leon shot back. Sherry was looking out the window again, arms crossed.
"You think that's really my problem..? Because I’m bored or something?" Sherry asked, Leon could tell she was about to yell.
"You think it's fun being locked up all day? No one to talk to? Heavily monitored? No friends? Just school, eat, sleep. School, eat, sleep! And if I'm unlucky, Off to testing my blood for what, the 400th time!?" She yelled "No one talks to me! And if they do, they treat me like I'm some kid like I'm the same little girl back in raccoon City! Well news flash! I'm sixteen years old! I want to explore the world! I want friends! How the fuck am I suppose to do that in a place like that!?"
There was silence for a few seconds. Leon was trying to process what she said.
"Sherry. You are a goddamn kid. And you will do what you are told--"
"Fuck that-- I wish Claire was here. She'd actually listen to me!"
Leon raised a brow "What do you mean? I am listening to you!"
"As if! Claire actually comes to visit. She teaches me things. You barely visit and I'm lucky to see you on my birthday!" She said angrily
"Well sorrrryyy, I'm a busy man! You know that!" Leon replied
"It's always 'I'm busy!' But you literally work for the people of the building I live in. Guess you're too busy off getting drunk.. you're not my dad!"
That definitely struck a nerve in Leon. He gripped the stick shift and shifted the car into drive.
"And you sure as hell aren't my daughter."
10 minutes passed into the drive. The car was blasting some music until he heard small sniffles coming from the passenger side. Leon instantly looked at Sherry, noticed she was crying, and turned his music down.
"Sherry..?"
He spoke softly and pulled the car over..he immediately put the car into park and he sat there. Okay, she's crying. He's never delt with crying teenage girls.. especially ones he knew. Leon hesitantly placed his hand on her shoulder, and her eyes went to his. They were big, blue, and glossed over. Leon immediately felt bad..
"Look Sherry, I..-"
"I'm sorry.." she interrupted
Leon was shocked at her apology, yeah she was mad and swore at him, but he wasn't mad at her.. she didn't really do anything wrong.
"No, Sherry. I'm sorry for not listening to you." Leon started, his hand gently rubbing her shoulder "I was too busy thinking about what my bosses would think instead of thinking of you. You deserve more attention.." he said as he unbuckled his seat belt. "And I'm sorry that I'm rarely around for you.." he pulled her into an awkward hug.
Sherry's crying stopped and she hugged back.. still quiet.
"I'll start coming around more, and we'll hang out. Okay?" He said gently, Sherry nodded and he pulled back, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry for upsetting you.."
Sherry wiped some of the tears that were still on her cheeks.."I forgive you.." she said softly. Leon then put the car into gear and started driving again.
The car was silent for another 20 minutes before Leon spoke up. "I was thinking.. of convincing the people to allow you to go to school." He said as Sherry gasped "Really!? You're serious!?" She exclaimed and Leon nodded with a smile.
"I'll try my best with convincing.." he said as he pulled up at the building and parked the car. Leon got out and Sherry immediately bolted out the car, Hugging Leon .
"You're the best..Thanks Dad.." she whispered as she hugged him and Leon hugged her back "Dad?" He asked and Sherry smacked her hand on her mouth as she pulled away
"No- I!--"
Leon immediately started laughing out loud
"30 minutes ago, you said I'm not your dad! Now I am?" He asked, teasing her, and she elbowed him "It's not funny!" Sherry pouted. "It slipped!!!"
Leon was still laughing a bit before settling down "It's fine. It's alright Sher. It happens." He used his key card and opened the building "Get some rest for school tomorrow. I'm gonna try to convince them to let you go to a real school, I think you'd thrive more in that environment. " Leon said as he pat her head.
"Okay.. make sure you convince them really good.." she said as she hugged him again "Goodnight, Leon!" She said as she walked inside
"Night Sherry."
As the doors closed, Leon shook his head and got into his car. That girl was going to be the death of him.