Work Text:
Somehow, your life had started to revolve around waiting. Mostly for phone calls. Like today, where you spent your workday waiting for your little Nokia to start buzzing. When the device was notably silent into the afternoon, part of you started to wonder if maybe the date was off. And even though you knew it wasn’t his fault, you still felt a twinge of disappointment as the end of the work day drew closer. Then it was time to leave and you drove home with no confirmation phone call to get ready for a date that was now in all likelihood not going to happen.
Still, you clung to the hope that you weren’t donning the dress and doing your hair for no reason.
If he didn’t call by five, you would have to take a rain check on your plans for the night.
The minutes ticked by, the minute hand on the clock on the far wall in your living room daring to inch its way closer and closer to the twelve. By then, you were sitting on the couch with the phone cradled between your hands as if you were praying. Whether it made any sense or not, you had convinced yourself that if you stared at the analog clock on the wall instead of the digital display in your hand that it would make him call.
He had been called out of town for last minute business a couple days before your date. And while he had expected to be back in time, it again wouldn’t have been the first time that his job got in the way of your relationship.
Wouldn’t be the last, either.
Evidently this was your fate when you decided to keep dating someone who “worked for the government.” Whatever that meant. You still didn’t quite know. What you did know was that he was kind and forthright. He was thoughtful. He had your kind of humor. And despite the fact that sometimes he was out of touch for a week or so at a time, he displayed a tenacious degree of loyalty and passion when it came to you.
So somehow you had become mostly accustomed to waiting for him. He always came back around eventually and somehow made it feel like he’d never been gone at all.
This time, though…
You had a couple items on your to-do list that day that involved him and despite all reason you really wanted to get them done today.
And go on a date with him, but that was a given.
4:45
4:50
4:53
When the phone in your hand started to vibrate, you nearly dropped it. Something between a squeal of surprise and shriek of delight passed your lips.
Sure enough, the name you were waiting for shone on the screen.
Incoming call… Leon.
You placed a hand on your suddenly hammering heart, taking two calming breaths.. Who knew that one man’s phone calls could send your heart on a marathon run?
You picked up, trying your best to sound as casual as possible. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me. I’m so sorry, the plane got in a little later than expected. I’ll be there in less than thirty to pick you up.”
Leon Kennedy’s voice vacillated between apologetic and eager. And so genuine that it made your heart do a little flip.
“You don’t need to go home first?” you asked.
“No, I’m good. Got everything I need at your place anyway, don’t I?”
You glanced down the hall to the bedroom, where you remembered anew that a dark blue suit and white button-up were hanging on your door. A smile tugged at your lips.
“Seems like you were right to leave that here,” you remarked.
“I like to be prepared.” Leon then grumbled something unflattering about another driver on the road. To you, he said warmly, “I’ll see you soon.”
At the knock on your door, you leapt off the couch, only remembering at the last minute to maybe not be overly eager. He might suspect something if you did. That said, you couldn’t help but enjoy that perhaps juvenile thought that your boyfriend was knocking on your door to pick you up. As he had been for the last year and half, but still. Something about him kept a seemingly regular occurrence from losing its special spark.
May or may not have had anything to do with one of your to-do items.
You paused, smoothing your hands over your skirt and ghosting a hand over your hair.
Two heartbeats later, you opened the door.
Leon’s handsome face greeted you on the other side and for a second, you thought you heart was going to stop.
For a guy who had just been on a plane not that long ago and probably had just gone through several long, tiring days, he sure seemed surprisingly bright eyed and bushy-tailed. He grinned at the sight of you, those deep blue eyes of his drinking you in slowly from head to toe.
“Hello there, gorgeous,” he greeted.
“Hello there yourself, hand—”
You didn’t get to finish as a hand grabbed you by the jaw and tilted your face up for a kiss. His lips were slightly dry and yet he managed to make up for it with sheer passion. He kissed you like he hadn’t seen you in weeks instead of just days.
If it weren’t for the fact that you had plans and places to be, you might have thrown your arms around him and dragged him to the bedroom.
All in good time, you told yourself.
Regardless, the kiss left you mildly dazed when he pulled back.
“You look amazing,” he told you, eyes intense.
“Thank you,” you heard yourself say, cheeks flushing.
How was it he could tell you that at least once a week and it still set your heart fluttering and your cheeks aflame?
You stepped aside to let him in.
“Your stuff’s in the bedroom,” you reminded him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He disappeared into the bedroom. You lingered outside the door, letting him have some privacy.
Well, that was your intent. For about sixty seconds, you merely leaned against the wall, hands folded behind you. When your eyes wandered, you realized you had a mirror within your line of sight that was perfectly positioned to give you a glimpse of Leon from the back as he shed the dark jeans and charcoal henley top he had been wearing.
Your breath caught as you watched the bare muscles in his back flex, your mouth suddenly dry. You knew you should look away but in your defense, it wasn’t as though you hadn’t seen it before. In fact, you were familiar with a whole lot more of him than just the rippling muscles of his back.
Still…
Probably should do something other than just ogle your boyfriend in silence.
“How was your flight?” you asked innocuously, averting your eyes. With your luck, he either already knew or highly suspected you were spying on him.
Knowing him, he might’ve chosen that exact spot to change on purpose.
“Apart from the fact that it was delayed, fine,” he replied.
Now that you weren’t looking, you could only hear the whisper of fabric.
“And the rest of it? All that work stuff went okay?”
“All smooth sailing,” he answered simply.
It was really the closest you ever got to hearing what he did at work. Vague as all those conversations went, he reportedly enjoyed that you asked anyway.
“What about you?” he asked.
“Work’s been fine.”
“How did your presentation go?”
Your chest warmed at the thought that somehow he always surprised you when he remembered these little things. “Surprisingly well, thankfully. Now I can breathe again,” you said with a breathy laugh.
“I’m sure it went more than just well.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
Footsteps drew towards you.
“How do I look?”
What started off as a quick assessment turned into a prolonged gander. There was nothing particularly special about the navy suit and white shirt. The jacket was cut well, emphasizing his full shoulders and tapering to accentuate his slim waist. The button-up had only the first button undone, providing an enticing view of his neck.
Unable to help yourself, you stepped closer, running your hands on his lapels and making meaningless adjustments as a smile tugged at your lips. “You look like I’m going to go have a problem leaving my apartment.”
“I’m not going to say no if you’d rather have a night in,” he said and of all things, winked at you. Taking up your hand, he pressed his lips to your knuckles.
Rather tempting, truth be told.
That said, he had spent money on those tickets and was refusing to even let you pay him back for your half. He had reasoned (as he always did) that if the plans fell through, he’d rather have wasted just his own money than yours.
That thought had you reaching up with your free hand to brush at his blond hair, which always managed to look nice and framed his face so well. “Tempting, but maybe next time.” You glanced at your watch. “We should go before we run out of time for dinner.”
Still holding your hand close, he kissed it again, lips lingering. “As you wish, my lady. Your chariot awaits downstairs.”
Hand in hand, you descended and headed out in Leon’s luxury sedan. When he wasn’t shifting gears, he laid his hand just above your knee. You couldn’t help but admire him as you wove your way through downtown to the (perhaps ironically named) Kennedy Center. Granted, this was the John F. Kennedy Center, but the thought still left an amused smile on your lips.
But more importantly, the way this man drove…
You had ridden in the car with him enough times to get the feeling that Leon knew how to drive extremely well. As in, maybe even the kind of tactical driving you’d see in a spy movie or something. For the most part, he seemed to suppress it when driving with you. Every once in a while, though, a driver tested him just enough that you felt like you were getting a glimpse behind the curtain. When you did, you saw his eyes sharpen, his features settling into a serious mask of concentration.
In anyone else, it would probably come off like road rage. Or like some guy who just thought he could be a race car driver in another life. With Leon, though, he handled with such natural grace that it made you want to ask him exactly what he did for work. Because with the way he operated, it looked a whole lot to you like there was some training deeply ingrained in him.
All in good time, you told yourself yet again.
When you arrived at your destination, your first stop was to a restaurant just down the street. It was a swanky sort of place with subdued lighting that you had only started going to thanks to Leon for occasions like your anniversary, birthday, or Valentine’s Day.
A bit funny given that when it was his most recent birthday, he had just wanted a pizza at home.
The interior of the restaurant itself gave you the impression that for a classy place, it was packed. Maybe you’d have to come up with some emergency food plans or else just eat later.
Before you had time to so much as suggest anything, Leon leaned into the man at the host stand and said something you had no hopes of hearing. The man’s countenance brightened.
“Ah, of course. One moment, please.”
And with that, you were immediately seated by a window that gave you a view onto the nearby Potomac River.
“This is a nice table,” you noted, taking in the nighttime view outside. All those twinkling lights in the distance across the river and the fainter, undulating ones dancing along the surface of the river.
“What can I say? I know a guy.”
You snorted, turning back to find that his version of taking in the view was to apparently stare at you over the table. Mildly flustered at the intensity of his gaze, you almost couldn’t find your voice to ask, “Perks of your government job?”
The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. “You could say that.”
It was halfway through dinner that you took note of the heaviness settling into his shoulders and eyes. Guilt started to niggle its way into your gut. Here you were making him go out after what must’ve been a long, tiring week. Hell, he had just gotten off a plane not that long ago. Maybe staying in would’ve been a better idea. At least that way, he could’ve just dozed off on the couch with you instead of using whatever energy he had left to take you out.
It must’ve shown on your face because his hand came across the table, fingers brushing against your knife-holding hand and his head cocked. “What’s that look for?”
You swallowed back a lump that was forming in your throat. “I…are you sure you want to still go after dinner? You’re looking a little tired.”
Realizing you could see the fatigue, he dredged up a few more iotas of energy. The lively sparkle returned to his eyes, his smile warmer. “I’m okay. I’ll even try not to fall asleep.”
That had your lips twitching into a smile. “Leon, I’m pretty sure most people fall asleep at the symphony. It’s kind of a thing there.”
“I’m still going to try,” he said, that smile curling into a smirk.
“We’ll see.”
He had talked a big game over dinner, but you knew he was going to be a goner shortly after you were later seated and the lights in the hall dimmed. Something about the way he sat, quickly assuming a relaxed position against the velvet cushioning with a sigh of…relief?
That said, he lasted quite a while, much to your surprise. It took several song before he started shifting in his seat, getting comfortable in such a way that he was leaning towards you, his head supported more and more by the seat. Your first real hint that he was falling asleep was how his hand went gradually limp in yours.
Then you felt his cheek pressing into the top of your head followed by the entire weight of his head.
At first, you thought he would quickly wake up. When he didn’t for a good fifteen minutes, you smiled to yourself. Instead, you enjoyed the warmth atop your head and tried to ignore how your neck was smarting at the added weight and angle. It seemed the least you could do for making him to you out like this.
Your first sign that he woke up was how his hand tensed slightly. Then he breathed in deeply.
“You smell good,” he whispered, voice raspy with sleep.
“Enjoy your nap?” you replied on a breath.
“Feeling like a million bucks now,” he replied, reaffirming his hold on your hand. Then, with a touch of remorse, he lifted his head and said, “Sorry for falling asleep.”
You turned to look at him the near dark of the hall, smiling up at him. “It’s okay. I’m the one who dragged you out after a long week. As long as you’re having a good time, I don’t mind if you catch a few blinks.”
He gave your hand a squeeze and smiled.
He dozed off at least once more before the end. Maybe twice.
By the time you were approaching your apartment door, a fresh wave of nerves had you nearly jittery. Maybe you should have started with your to-do items earlier in the evening to spare yourself the anxiety.
At the same time, the moment was perfect as you drew near the door.
You started by slipping your hand out of the crook of his arm and blurting, “I want to give you something.”
“Okay,” he replied, one word that embodied a surprising amount of curiosity. Chances were that the hallway outside your apartment seemed like a strange backdrop for some spontaneous gift-giving.
Reaching into your purse, you fished around until you pulled out a single key on a ring.
Leon stared at that key, his jaw ticking.
“Is that…?”
“A key to my apartment? Yes. You’re over so much that at this point I just thought maybe you should have your own key.” The practiced words somehow still felt clunky as they rolled off your tongue.
You glimpsed his throat bobbing. He took the key from you, eyes rising to meet yours with unabashed wonder in them. His fingers brushed yours as he did so, revealing a slight tremor in them. A nearly painfully wide smile formed on his face.
“You’re really giving this to me?” he asked incredulously.
The fact that he had to ask made your chest hurt. He might not realize this, but it was moments like this that reminded you that Leon bore pain and loneliness in his heart that you were only gradually beginning to understand. You knew he had no family and very few people he considered friends. Some past girlfriends but apparently nothing this long-lasting or serious.
This step was new for you, too, but somehow you could easily imagine it was both new and monumental for him.
He looked at the key in his hand as though he held some fragile relic.
You gestured at the door, “Why don’t you do the honors?”
You etched the memory of Leon unlocking your door into your brain.
Well, that’s one task done.
You both stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind you. As you slipped out of your heels and hung up your purse on a nearby hook, you felt a hand grab your hip, another cradling the side of your head. The final touch was a lingering one of lips to the other side on your forehead.
“I love you,” he whispered against your skin, finishing the statement off with another kiss.
The words shot straight down your spine in a tingling wave, your heart swelling with warmth.
“I love you too,” you said quietly.
You turned around to face him. He took this as an opportunity to pull you flush against him with one arm, holding your cheek tenderly in his other hand.
He leaned in and you almost gave in. That burning look in his eyes you glimpsed then was the path straight to the bedroom.
Not that you were opposed to it. You just wanted to get your second to-do item checked off.
You leaned your head back, using the leverage of your hands on his chest to create some distance.
“Leon, wait, there was a second thing.” Unable to help yourself, you added with a grin, “You might even love me more afterwards.”
That had his brows shooting up. “Oh? Now you’ve got me curious.”
For someone who had just given her boyfriend the key to her apartment, somehow this next item had you biting your lip. “Do you want to just…stay?”
Those brows drew together. “Stay…tonight? I was already planning to if you’ll have me.”
“Yes. Well, no, not exactly. Not just tonight. I mean the whole weekend. Every weekend even, if you want.”
Asking him to move in seemed like maybe a step too far. But weekends, that seemed like a reasonable next step. He usually stayed over at least one night every weekend anyway when he was in town.
By the end of your little ramble, your chest was tight, body torn between tension and the simmering heat of desire his proximity always inspired in you. The latter grew in intensity as his expression shifted. He might have said the words not that long ago, but it was another thing entirely to be able to read the affection emblazoned in his eyes and in the soft curve of his lips.
“I’d like that,” he said, voice surprisingly gruff. So gruff, in fact, that it stoked that heat building in you immediately hotter.
“Good,” you said with a smile, trying to sound casual when it felt like you were in the eye of a storm and just waiting for the storm wall to crash into you.
To consume you.
When he kissed you then, the storm hit and you were willingly swept up into it.