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Sir Leon Kennedy was ready to leave this wretched village and return home to his kingdom. Leon had been tasked with retrieving the princess of his kingdom who had been kidnapped and brought to another kingdom many days sail away.
The years had hardened him in ways he never thought would have, but he took it in as much composed stride as he could. He had arrived in this kingdom's village but two evenings ago, and it had been extremely unpleasant. The villagers were weary of outsiders, so his presence at all, even in his common clothes, was less than welcome. So with his sword sheathed at his hip, on the back of a large Andalusian horse,he stayed out of their way and focused on his task.
But it couldn't just be that simple. Of course it couldn't. One of the villagers didn't mind him at all. In fact, he seemed to search Sir Kennedy out. That man grated on him. He was eccentric, and nosy, and-
“Aye, Sancho, where are you riding off to today?” The sound of hooves trotting on stone and gravel made Sir Kennedy cringe a little. Luis Serra. The only one in the village who didn't want him gone or dead. Leon sighed and begrudgingly brought the white and grey horse to a stop as Luis on his mount, a dark chestnut-colored Lusitano, came up beside him with that stupid smirk of a smile he always had.
“What do you think I'm doing, Luis.”
“Ahh, still searching for lost Princess Dulcinela, aye?”
“I wouldn't still be here if I had found her.” Leon's grasp tightened on the reins in his hands, before he forced himself to take a breath.
“Yeesh, you're tense, Sancho. How you live like that, I'll never understand.”
Leon started to attempt to ride away from Luis, but the man kept up, sticking by his side. Luis's expression seemed to go more serious for once. “Do you have any true ideas where she might be, Sir Kennedy?”
“Nothing. And of course, no one is willing to help me, so I've just had to search and guess. Clearly, that's not been going well.”
The two men rode in silence for a long moment before Luis spoke up again. “Let me help, Sancho. I know this place better than most, and I don't think anyone else is going to be willing to help.”
Leon looked over at him, brows furrowed. Frankly, to Luis, he looked angry. Luis's brows shot up and he put his hands up in surrender. “Hey, hey, just a suggestion, Sancho!”
Leon's brows furrowed more. “And it's a helpful one, I'm just thinking over why I should trust you to help. That's all.’
“Oh.” Luis let his hands drop and he grabbed hold of his reins again. “You look infuriated when you think.”
“I do?”
“Oh yeah, like, rip someone's head off sort of mad.” Luis was smiling again. Leon huffed, but didn't retort back.
“So. Uhm. You truly wish to help with my task?”
Luis smiled more. “Ay, sí Sancho. Together, we can find Princess Dulcinela-”
“Princess Ashley.”
“Oh, so you can be Sancho, but she can't be Dulcinela? Whatever you say. But regardless, we can work together, find her, and save her.”
“I let you do it because I don't care what the hell you call me. But she's a princess, so her name should have the respect it deserves.” Leon said resolutely. “But, if you're serious about helping me, then we don't have time to lose. Let's find the princess.”
—-------------------------------------------------------—
The two men traveled together for a good few hours before Luis stopped his stallion by the kingdom's church, brows furrowing slightly. Leon, noticing the man stop, stopped as well.
“What is it, Luis?”
“The church has been weirdly silent the past few days. There's always been constant activity. Not since Princess Ashley would've been taken from her kingdom.” Luis dismounted with ease, and Leon followed suit. Luis grabbed rope and tied his own horse and Leon's to a fence post. “Let's explore, sí Sancho?”
“Sounds like a good start.”
Leon put a hand on the grip of his sword and glanced at Luis, who was visibly unarmed. He hesitated for a moment before sighing, going to his horse and unsheathing a lance he had carefully had sheathed to his saddlebag. Leon walked over and offered the lance to Luis.
“It isn't much, but I don't want you going in unarmed, lest things go poorly.”
Luis lit up at the prospect of possibly getting to use this weapon, but he just nodded. “Makes sense. Let's go find your missing princess.”
The two men quietly slipped into the empty church and looked around.
“Princess Ashley! This is Sir Kennedy, I've come to rescue you!” Leon called out as he walked around. The church remained silent and his rows furrowed.
“Oi, Sancho, ven aquí un momento.” Luis beckoned Leon over, and he complied. A hidden ladder, missing a good majority of the bottom half of it led up higher into the church.
“Good eye, Luis.”
“Why thank you, Sancho.” The man winked and gave an exaggerated bow.
“Let me boost you up to the rungs that are still there.” Leon offered, already going over and crouching a bit.
“Such a gentleman.” Luis walked over with his usual, casual confidence, the kind that Leon never understood, and got on Leon's shoulders and grabbed the closest still-there rung and started climbing up. When he was almost to the top, he hooked his foot around the side of the ladder and leaned down, holding his hand out for the knight.
Leon jumped up and grabbed Luis's hand, which allowed him to reach the closest rung, which he climbed up after Luis reached the top. Upon reaching the top, what remained of the ladder gave out under Leon and he started to fall, making him curse and try to grab for something.
Luis noticed quickly and grabbed Leon's hands tight. “Hold on Sancho.” His voice was serious, not jesting for once. Sure, he knew theoretically, Leon could take the fall and be fine, but they didn't have another way up. Luis heaved, pulling the heavier man up best he could. After a bit of pulling, Leon was high enough to reach the edge and he grabbed that, hoisting himself up the rest of the way, tumbling into Luis who hadn't had the chance to back up. Luis landed on his back, Leon above him. They stayed like that for a minute, both men catching their breath.
Luis seemed flustered for but a moment before getting his usual cocky smile. “Well aren't you forward, Sancho.” He winked and Leon groaned, getting up and offering a hand to help Luis up, which the man on the ground took.
Now that they were both safely on the previously-hidden second floor, they began looking around. Leon heard movement within a room they came upon and he gestured for Luis to stand back. He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword and carefully went in.
“Princess?” He looked around before he was suddenly lunged at, Leon quickly dodging and drawing his sword. Upon seeing who dodged at him, he saw it was the princess, and she held a sword that was way too big for her, as well as too heavy. She was clearly terrified, and swung again, and again Leon dodged. “Princess Ashley, please, I'm here to help you-”
Ashley, still scared of the strange man, dropped her weapon and went to run out of the room, only to run into Luis, who gently caught her before she could fall. He kept a gentle but firm hold of her so she wouldn't go running into danger.
“Princesa, por favor. Sir Kennedy is from your kingdom.”
Ashley looked at Leon nervously. “Did my father send you.?”
Leon nodded once. “Yes, your highness.”
Ashley straightened up a little. “Just Ashley.”
Leon shrugged. “Alright then, Ashley.”
“So uhm, do we just leave?.” Ashley looked between the two men. Leon was about to respond before the three heard the town crier outside the church.
“Lord Saddler's princess is escaping with the outsider! Lord Saddler requires their capture!”
Leon scowled and his grip on his sword tightened. “We've gotta go.”
Luis nodded in agreement. “There's a window out the back of the church. We'll have to jump, but it's an escape.”
“Lead the way, Luis.”
The three raced to get to the window as villagers began trying to fill the church and its yard. Escaping the church yard was tough, but Leon and Luis fought, keeping Ashley close and safe. The two men got to their horses, and Leon helped Ashley onto his.
“Hope you're as good a rider as your father says, Ashley.” Leon quipped.
“I'm pretty good, if I do say so myself.” Ashley smiled nervously, but sat with confidence.
“Well then I'll let you ride on your own. That sound okay?”
“But what about you, Sir Kennedy?’
“If we're sticking with first names, Leon is fine. As for what I'll do-”
“You could ride with me, Rocinante can handle two people since we don't have too far to go.” Luis offered as he mounted his horse.
“Sure, alright.” Leon mounted behind him. “Ashley, just stick close, and hopefully Luis can lead us out.” Leon sounded like he was almost teasing.
“So little faith, Sancho, you wound me!” Luis chuckled and began going, Ashley quickly following. The villagers were starting to go after them again, so both Luis and Ashley began to urge the horses into a canter. Leon kept his hands gently on Luis's waist to keep himself steady as the horse began to rush.
“These guys just don't quit, do they?” Leon practically growled with annoyance.
Luis shook his head and veered Rocinante into a more hidden cutoff and Ashley followed. “Not when Lord Saddler has a command to give.” Luis's voice was quieter, but Leon didn't push, despite noticing it.
Ashley kept an eye on where they came from. “Where now..? We can't get to the main gate with them swarming..”
Luis nodded. “Right you are, Dulcinela. So, we find a different way.”
“As long as ‘a different way' is still safe, by all means, Luis.” Leon said, adjusting his grip on Luis's waist a bit, making Luis adjust a bit in his saddle. Leon noticed and smiled very faintly, but said nothing, feigning ignorance.
“Lead the way, Don Quixote” Ashley urged and smiled.
Luis got a stupid big grin on his face before he did exactly that.
—-------------------------------------------------------—
Everything went to shit.
The three had to start going on foot because of where they were, and Ashley was taken, again. Leon was beating himself up about it, Luis could tell. Currently, the two men were covered in the blood of the villagers they'd had to fight.
Leon was breathing heavy, watching the way Ashley had been taken.
“Sacho, hey, HEY!” Luis needed Leon to calm down. He was out of it, and Luis could tell that Leon was angry, and almost panicked, not that he showed that bit. “Damnit, Leon.” Luis grabbed Leon's face and forced him to meet his gaze. “Come on, damnit, come back to me.”
Leon's breath seemed to catch, and he seemed to snap out of the daze he'd been in. But he didn't move away from Luis's hands. He just looked at him. Luis's thumb subconsciously rubbed small circles into the knight's cheek.
“Calm now, Leon? We'll get Ashley back, but you need a clear head first.”
Leon nodded. “Yeah.. yeah I'm calm.” He looked at Luis a little longer. Quickly, he snapped out of it and backed off, turning away. Luis looked at him and smiled a bit, seeing that the man was flustered.
“Yknow, after we save Ashley from this place, you owe me a trip to the tavern, Sancho.”
“Oh do I now?”
“Oh yes. Now, let's go re-save the princess.” Luis smiled, keeping spirits high despite the circumstances.
—-------------------------------------------------------—
Both Luis and Leon wandered for a while, dealing with the occasional villagers and other miscellaneous obstacles, but they were almost at the castle, so they were just talking.
“So, Luis. Why exactly did you want to help me?” Leon asked almost tentatively.
Luis walked quietly beside Leon, not answering right away. When he did answer, his expression was somber, and he sighed “It.. makes me feel better. I've done things with my life that I'm not proud of.”
Leon raised a brow and said nothing. Luis took that as a cue to continue.
“You've heard of the apothecary company, Parasol, sí? I uhm, I worked with them for a while. I had lost my grandfather, and I had no purpose, especially not in this village. I finally left a few years ago, and I've spent years trying to find some way to make myself feel better for the things I've done.” Luis brushed off his vest, needing to busy his hands.
Leon nodded. “I see.”
He and Luis finally entered, finding themselves in a large, open area, ladder with unopened crates.
“How fancy” Luis quipped dryly as he walked the space, observing. As he walked though, he suddenly stopped, and Leon noticed.
“Luis?”
Luis coughed a spout of blood before collapsing.
Leon's eyes shot open. “Luis!” He went to run to him, but got shoved back by an armored man, helm covering his face, bloodied Longshore in hand. But Leon recognized the armor. Recognized the specific hand gauntlets.
“Sir Krauser?!” Leon coughed and forced himself to gain his footing.
The armored man, Krauser, stood tall and imposing. “Hello, Squire.” He might have quipped back with something else, but Luis had found a chinked, open spot in Krauser's Armour and stabbed the lance Leon lent him in.
Krauser bellowed in anger and pain and kicked Luis's bloodied body against a crate. Leon, enraged, lunged first and their battle began. After a bit, Leon was bloody, and Krauser ran of. Leon limped, but ran over to Luis, who had weakly propped himself up against the crate. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes kept fluttering shut.
“Hey, hey, stay awake, Luis, please..” Leon knelt by him, gently checking his wound, making Luis hiss. It was bad. There was no way he would survive. Luis laughed weakly before coughing.
“Damn.. never thought I'd get to play knight.. what'd you think, Sancho, I do good..?” Luis asked weakly. Leon gently grabbed his face, trying to hold Luis's focus, like Luis had done for him.
“You did really well.. you caught him off guard, it helped..” Leon's expression was gentle for once, and his tone was too.
“Good, good.. I didn't know what I was doing, I just hoped it did something..” Luis huffed. His eyes began to flutter shut again.
“Damnit Luis, stay awake. I-I have some herbs in my bag, I can-”
“Leon. You know as well as I do I'm not making it to your Princess Dulcinela..” Luis gently put his weak, shaky hands over Leon's.
Leon's chin quivered and he leaned his forehead on Luis's. “I'm sorry.. you were supposed to leave with us, this was supposed to be different..”
Luis didn't respond for a long time. “Tell me, Leon.. people can change, right?.”
Leon looked at him and nodded. “Of course they can.”
Luis smiled tiredly. “Let's hope I did then..” Luis's eyes slowly fell closed. His hands fell from over Leon's, and his body slumped against Leon.
Leon fought tears, forcing himself to take a deep, sharp breath. He didn't have time to mourn. He needed to save the princess. but damnit it all, if this didn't hurt. He carefully took the lance and laid it across Luis's lap. “You did well, Don Quixote… Rest now..”
Leon forced himself to get up, sparing Luis one last glance as rage filled him. “Okay Sir Krauser. Okay Lord Saddler. I'm coming for both of you.”