Work Text:
Leon had mentioned it in passing after they got Emily.
“I want to go back to Raccoon and collect some stuff.”
Grace had turned to eye him confused, why would he want to go back again? It had been bad enough the last two times for him.
“Why?” She asked softly.
He just sighed as he leaned against the wall. “I think a lot of my friends wouldn't be against getting some of their stuff back.”
She blinked oh, well she hadn't thought of it from that angle. Well, if the place was well and clear now…
“I w-want to come with you.”
One of his eyebrows went up as he looked down at her, “Yeah?”
She nodded, “Yes I-I don't want you to go alone.”
He chuckled lightly and nodded, “Deal.”
And like that a week later they were flown into the city center. Leon hopped off the helicopter and offered her a hand as she joined him.
They walked in silence and she tried not to focus on the pressing weight of everything she couldn't even place. The whole city felt oppressing like the weight of its tragedy was something palpable.
Leon…he looked much worse. There was such sadness in his eyes as he looked at everything. It brought her back to the conversation they had before trying to make their way back to Pandora. He'd sounded so heartbroken about everything with this city. About how he'd failed at stopping something he had no chance of actually changing.
That same helplessness was back as they made their way to wherever they were headed. She hadn't actually asked where they were going, but he seemed to know.
They had just exited a little dipped down alley when she saw it. The RPD, she looked back at Leon confused and slightly alarmed. He didn't glance her way though his eyes locked onto the open gate. He took a steadying breath before continuing on, and she followed behind him closer than before.
They walked inside, and she had to admit there was something beautifully haunting about it, the light filtering in down the stairs and behind the statue. She had been to out of it when she'd first been dragged here to really appreciate any of it. Leon didn't move and she looked closer to see him shaking slightly. He however, after a moment, continued walking past the front desk and circling around it. She eyed the dusty typewriter as they went.
There were boxes and a board set up with a map on it. But that wasn't the thing that caught her attention, no it was the banner that was laid across everything and curled on the floor.
Welcome Leon.
She turned to the man in question who just stared at it for a moment before turning to go right. She followed like she always did and bit back the mantra of questions she now had.
They entered the West office, Leon turning on his flashlight as they stepped inside. She felt her breath catch as his light landed squarely on the first desk in the room. Grace felt sick as the plaque reflected a familiar name back at her.
‘Leon S. Kennedy’
Everything came into sharp horrifying focus as the reality of everything finally sunk in. The pieces slot together with horrifying ease. He'd been a cop, a new one at that, when this had all gone down originally. No wonder he felt so responsible…
She looked back at him and saw his blank unreadable expression. Though the deep sadness in his eyes was striking. After a long moment he stepped further inside, going to a desk next to his own. He picked up its plaque and pocketed it before moving on. Grace took a second to read the note however and felt her heart drop. It had been Leon's first day, and they'd all been so happy to have him.
She took a second to breathe before looking back at Leon who was currently making his way out the door. She joined him as she looked around the rest of the room.
He brought her around to a ladder and they made their way to the second floor. He led the way to another room, and Grace blinked wide eyes at the sign that labeled it. The STARS office, she'd only read about the team, so being in the office was surreal.
Leon moved around the place with ease as he picked up items. A picture frame and beret here, a jacket and a guitar there. Grace wanted to ask so many questions but refrained from saying anything. The idea that he knew these people that some of them were still alive...
Once he'd picked up an assortment of items he turned and eyed the office. He warred with himself for a long moment before with a sigh he marched in. She dutifully waited by the entrance as she looked inside. The place was just as destroyed as the rest of the room.
Leon grabbed a picture frame at the back and on his way back out handed it to her.
"I'm running out of hands." He said simply.
He definitely was so she took and squinted at the blackened frame one man looked horrifyingly like Zeno, but she didn't comment on it. Just tried to recall the research she'd done wondering if she could identify anyone in it.
Eventually Leon seemed pleased enough with what they grabbed, only taking a few more things as he did another round of the office. They also stopped by the library as he snatched up a book with a smirk.
Without much more preamble Leon brought them out the back of the RPD and then took a left. They started heading down into what must have once been a parking garage. He didn't seem to be looking for anything in particular, just soaking it all in.
One car slammed into a wall was his main focus, and Grace truly had to wonder about the story behind it. It couldn't be nothing, not with the way he couldn't take his eyes off of it. Her pondering was cut short when Leon seemed to spot something on the ground next to it.
He walked over and picked up...a bear? Leon laughed then shocked and bright. Grace jolted, surprised as she turned to look at him. He quieted down a moment later though a smile still adorned his face. He turned the bear around in his hand to find a zipper. Leon opened it and dug around for a second, but with a small shake of his head he zipped it back up.
"Shame no special message for me this time."
Grace had so very many questions, but again she said nothing as he clipped the bear onto his belt. He turned and started walking back out before leading her further down the street.
They came to a shop that had Leon taking a steadying breath before entering. The place looks trashed and utterly empty as they walk through and out the back of it. She has to wonder what it used to be and decides to ask later. There was another door out the back that was already open, and the skeletal remains sat inside had Grace's hair stand on end.
Leon's breath hitched as he kneeled down and bowed his head before them.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything that night. But please know your father made it out safely, and I avenged you. Umbrella is dead and gone no one else will be hurt by them again. I made sure of it."
Grace felt like she was intruding even if Leon hadn't asked her to give him privacy. After a moment Leon stood up once more and the shine to his eyes had Grace looking away. Clearly this is something very important to him something she couldn't understand and hoped she never would. But she was happy that he got some closure.
He directed her out the back and she carefully made her way through unwilling to upset this tomb. Leon called in their coordinates and asked them to land in the nearby basketball court.
They made their way inside it as they waited. As they walked to the back corner, Grace gawked openly at the behemoth lying dead in the middle.
Leon had kicked it with his boot as he walked by cursing it lowly.
“Friend of yours?” She asked, unable to help but say something.
“An old pain in the ass.” He corrected with a sneer.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long before the helicopter touched down. They climbed inside and Leon started laying out everything he'd picked up. She just watched on content with the silence. Below them the city was getting smaller and smaller, and she was happy to finally be rid of it.
Leon she noticed, had a lightness to him she hadn't seen before. His shoulders were less hunched, his scowl gone, and she hoped this had settled something in him. He looks similar to how he had right after everything in Ark. Maybe now he can be even more peace with what had happened.
She hoped he was at the least God only knew he didn't deserve the guilt he carried.