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In your line of work, vacations were sadly very uncommon, particularly for someone with the status and experience of Leon S. Kennedy. Proper vacations that is. Ones that lasted for a straight week or even more with no interruptions or reminders of the responsibilities awaiting him at home.
Even you didn't have it quite as bad, despite your own status as a capable senior agent who could easily give him a run for his money. Needless to say, he was as excited as a ten year old on Christmas Eve when he finally received his well deserved full week of leave, and who were you to decline a spontaneous getaway with your overly enthusiastic husband? Extreme heat and tourist traps weren't really your ideal idea of relaxation, but if you got to see him smiling and having fun with no care in the world for once, you were ready to handle some sweating and crowding.
Though, judging by the irritated huff you heard from him as he checked his phone for all the ambitious plans he's laid out for you two for the week ahead, it seemed like something didn't go quite right after all. He tsked.
"-Story of my life. Finally out on a vacation with my beautiful spouse and the weather forecast shows nothing but rain for three whole days? Ever had a romantic getaway through a thunderstorm before, sweetheart?" Leon nudged your foot under the cool water, putting his phone right back onto the beach blanket, screen down, notifications turned off for the first time in a long, long while. You could hear his disappointment, frustration even. For as long as you knew him, he was never really fond of rainy weather, and he has been very eagerly anticipating his week of pure relaxation on the beach, complete with sunny skies, your warm touches, and a glass of iced, expensive alcohol to boot.
Not exactly possible with a thunderstorm on the horizon. You and he were sitting comfortably on a wooden dock just a few feet away from the main beach area. It was more your idea than his own. Crowded beaches could get a bit too overwhelmingly loud and stifling for your liking, but here, with nobody but him pressed snugly to your side with one arm draped lazily over your shoulders and a peaceful view of the ocean ahead of you, you could fully indulge in this little vacation of yours. You hadn't gone swimming with him just yet, satisfied to simply let your toes dip into the glistening, cool water below. However, on two occasions Leon did nearly drag you under with a sinister grin that could kill and a deceptively tight grip on your ankle.
You loved seeing him be his mischievous self with you, loved watching him enjoy the water and relax under the sun - only after you studiously applied a generous layer of sunscreen, of course. It wouldn't be long before you joined him properly, but for the time being, all you wanted was to simply take in these tranquil moments.
Although it looked like your plans would have to be shifted around a little.
"Can't say that I have. But hey, I never had any romantic getaways before, so I don't think a rainstorm or two will ruin your chances to impress me," you said, returning the nudge of his foot with your own, watching you two playing footsies in the water for a bit, a carefree smile pulling at your lips. You didn't need perfect weather or fancy plans to forget your problems. All you needed was him by your side. "-Besides, isn't my company enough to brighten up even the rainiest of days?"
After all, he wasn't the only one who could be cheeky. You weren't about to let him fuss and grumble his long awaited vacation away because of a few not-so perfect days ahead. And he was easy to please. A flirty comment or two and a kiss on the cheek were far more effective than one may think.
And just like clockwork, the subtle crease in his brows vanished immediately upon the contact of your lips with his freshly shaven jaw. He was always a sucker for your touch, you'd tease him about it if it wasn't so sweet to see the grumpiness all but melting out of him with just a little bit of affection. He moved his head towards you to chase after you before you could pull back completely, catching your mouth for a lingering, warm kiss that you had no qualms with reciprocating, a smile pulling at the corners of your lips into the soft exchange.
"Well... I did book this trip for dips in the ocean and drinking beers on a floatie, but if I can't have either? I'd say spending it tangled up in bed with you is pretty good compromise," he murmured quietly against your lips, your smile reflecting in his own. The ocean extended ahead endlessly in serene golden ripples beneath the overcast sunset, but the only view you needed was each other, regardless of how corny that may have sounded. Your lives were chaotic enough to justify indulging in the corniest of things as far as you were concerned. Leon leaned back and sighed, but not before giving you a peck on the nose for good measure. "...Still not my idea of a romantic getaway though."
With a lighthearted roll of your eyes, you pulled your feet up from the water, shifting to drape them over his lap in a relaxed, casual fashion you'd usually do back at home on your couch. You could feel his disappointment - and you couldn't say you blamed him for it - but you also didn't want him to spend all week moping about when he was supposed to be relaxing. And if you needed to come up with creative ways to pull him out of that? Well, you were prepared to utilize every weapon in your armory. Metaphorically speaking, of course. You wriggled your toes: "Well hey, I heard even storms can be romantic when you're near the ocean. ...Mostly."
"You're a bad motivational speaker, honey," Leon exhaled with a soft, fond laugh, his hands immediately going to caress and massage at your feet the way he always did whenever you put them there. Even as he entered his late thirties, he remained a massive lover boy. You've learned to appreciate that about him over the years and to reciprocate it in kind. For now, though, you just let him work his magic on your feet while you sighed contentedly with the sun setting and the ocean air caressing over your cheeks, dispelling any extra heat the sun may have brought.
You didn't have to look over to know that Leon wasn't exactly enjoying the view of the ocean the same way you did. But that's okay. After all, you ogled him more than enough for today while he was enjoying his time the water, wet hair slicked back and shimmering droplets of sea water clinging to his chiseled physique and all. You were even.
"...But I know you're smiling."
The first distant rumble of thunder far over the horizon was accompanied by shared laughter instead of groans of disappointment, and that's all the accomplishment you needed for today.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
The first raindrops fell as you two were having an overpriced meal at a beachside restaurant. Some highly acclaimed Michelin star establishment with a name you two had way too much fun trying to pronounce in increasingly ridiculous ways on your way there. Even if you had all the money to compete, you most definitely didn't look like a high-end couple on an expensive outing amid all the well-dressed guests. Granted, you never really needed anything pricy to feel fulfilled, but Leon sure loved putting his hefty paycheck to good use, and that included going all out on his vacation. You couldn't call him an outright snob, though, unless it was about his precious motorcycles or firearms. Not when half the fun of picking out your meal options for the night consisted of you two snickering like children over stupid food puns.
But that's why you adored this silly, wonderful man. No one could make you feel as at ease as he did, and nobody could make you smile and laugh as easily as he did. He made life appear so simple just by being himself.
The dark, heavy stormclouds came on so quickly, it felt like a second ago they weren't even there, the large french windows stretching from floor to ceiling giving you the perfect view of the upcoming dark shape cloaking the last remaining rays of the setting sun that were still there, reminding you of the peace just from a mere hour ago. The wind had also intensified significantly, causing the row of palm trees that provided refreshing shade under the summer sun for the main path to sway beneath its might. For now, you were lucky to be inside, with fancy food and no rain. But you'd eventually have to leave. And something told you that you weren't coming back to your rented out cottage dry.
However, for the time being, you dismissed that forthcoming thought and instead concentrated on the pleasant and tranquil ambiance that was cultivated by the gentle pitter-patter of the first heavy raindrops against the windows. This atmosphere has only really added to your intimate dinner date. Leon swirled his glass of expensive whiskey - actual alcohol - not the cheap beach-bar swill from earlier. It felt cozy. In a weirdly luxurious way that you honestly never thought you’d enjoy. And seeing Leon genuinely having fun for a change was a relief in and of itself. You knew that his personal dislike for rainy weather went far beyond a simple preference for warmth and sunshine. You couldn't really blame him for connecting rainstorms with chaos: hurried evacuations, emergency calls back to the DSO whenever another crisis strikes, groans and explosions in Raccoon City's flooded streets, and so on.
But this? This was just… peaceful. And it was your pleasure to give him this peace.
He took a slow sip and glanced at you across the candlelit table. Soft amber light reflected in his gray-blues, his hair looking more mussed and puffed up than usual from his ocean dip an hour earlier. That, and his casually unbuttoned shirt, which gave you a brief view of his collarbones, made him a sight to behold. Though, you willfully reminded yourself to behave, at least until you got back to your cottage. Leon didn't need much to fly off the handle when it came to you, and you knew your resolve to act like a responsible citizen would fray the moment he caught on to you getting excited.
"I still can’t believe we're actually eating at this place without getting kicked out for being 'too casual.' I mean… look at me." He gestured vaguely to himself - his signature pair of dark jeans and a simple blue button-down with rolled up sleeves that also gave you a nice view of his corded forearms. No tie. Not even close to formal wear by five-star standards. Neither of you had the opportunity to put on formal attire.
You snorted fondly, reaching over the table to tap him on the nose. Although you would have preferred to kiss him properly, you still wanted to maintain at least a somewhat respectful demeanor toward the other guests enjoying their dinner. For now.
"That's because you're gorgeous enough to charm even the snobbiest of staff with just one signature Kennedy smile. Lucky me."
It was clear that you were just flirting, but you did also mean it with all your heart. Leon was one stunning man, in looks and heart alike. You must have been a saint in a previous life, because you had no idea what you did to deserve his company by your side for the rest of your days.
Leon chuckled softly, his gaze ducking a little the way it always did whenever you flattered him in one way or another. It was adorable how shy he could become after just a bit of sweet talk from you, just to turn into an absolute menace the next minute. He gently grabbed at your wrist before you could pull your hand back, bringing it up to his lips to press a soft kiss to your knuckles, his breath scattering over the simple silver band adorning your ring finger.
"Well... My Kennedy charm is a powerful weapon of mass seduction I only ever use on my very hot spouse," he said all too proudly, making you chuckle in return before returning to your menu. You didn't want to keep the poor waiter waiting on you any longer for no better reason than your husband making you swoon and lose your concentration. Again. Nevertheless, Leon cleared his throat to catch your attention once more: "I say, if we're wining and dining in the rain, at least I get to do it with an iced glass of Ardbeg Traigh Bhan."
You raised your brows as you looked up at him, catching him grinning at you with a raised toast. He's cut back on his drinking significantly in recent months, which was a very good sign, but it was also lovely to see him enjoying a glass of whiskey for leisure rather than to block out the pain for once.
"...I have no idea what the hell you just said, and I can't even tell if you butchered that name or not," you deadpanned, trying not to make your amusement too obvious. Watching him pretend to be some whiskey connoisseur was sort of comical because you knew full well that he would prefer a greasy burger and a can of beer to dry aged steak and a glass of wine on any given day of the week.
Leon huffed.
"Oh c'mon now, I know a damn good whiskey when I see it," he protested playfully, swirling the rich, amber liquid in his iced glass before tilting his head at you. "Try and rate it out of ten. If I get a score higher than a seven, I'm putting whiskey specialist on my resume."
"A vital qualification indeed," you hummed, playing along with this charade of his. Acting like idiots was half the fun of being with him, after all. Granted, whiskey was never quite your choice of beverage, but a sip or two wouldn't kill you. Besides, even though you teased him, he was undoubtedly more knowledgeable about fine liquor than you were. "-But y'know I'll be biased, I'll always trust your judgement when it comes to drinks."
You took a measured sip out of his glass tasting the rich, smoky flavor that, while certainly not fitting for your own palate, was definitely far more intricate and complex than your average cocktail or a can of beer. At the very least, it didn't taste like cat piss, so you accepted that as proof of its quality alone. Somewhere in the distance, a rumble of thunder rattled through your chest, making you glance back out the window, licking your lips. It appeared that your hopes for a lighter downpour were not fulfilled after all.
"...Really is a shame about the weather," you murmured, more to yourself than to him, really, returning his glass. "Okay, I'll rate it... Eight point five out of ten. Just for that resume update."
"Cheers to my promotion then. Productive even on my vacation. Hunnigan will love it." He raised his glass again in a lighthearted toast, the ice cubes clinking as another rumbling of thunder shook the window. The sky has now gone completely dark from the looks of it, the ocean that has looked so clear to you back on the dock now seeming more like an endless black void. However, Leon was still grinning and concentrating on you rather than the raging downpour outside. You couldn't help but feel proud of him for that, especially considering how hard things have been for him just in the past few years.
It was always reassuring to know that he could still find joy in the smallest of things, even if he did occasionally need your assistance in reminding him how to do that.
You felt his foot lightly nudging yours underneath the table, pulling you away from your little sentimental reminiscing. However, the dim lighting in the restaurant made it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying because the sparkle in his eyes was so much more noticeable than usual.
"-Hey, for the record, I really don't give a damn if it rains for the whole week for all I care. I would still rather be here with you than anywhere else."
Your heart swelled in your chest.
Now who is a sweet talker?
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
As expected, the food and accompanied conversation about this and that were delightful, so much so that you could easily forget about the storm outside, the muffled sounds of it lost between the exchanged laughs and the soft live jazz music flowing through the restaurant. You both enjoyed a few more plates than you had intended, especially for dessert, and may have had one or two too many glasses to drink. For someone who proudly declared himself not a sweet tooth, Leon sure was eager to steal half of the fancy cheesecake you ordered for yourself. And given the small servings, that only meant one thing. More cheesecake.
It's not like you could stay here all night, protected from the rain, though. Eventually, you had to pay the bill and actually get ready to leave, pouring rain or not. Still, Leon's grin remained unwavering as he signed the bill, leaving a substantial tip in the small black folder to boot. And as he spoke with one of the waiters to hopefully negotiate an umbrella, you were left staring out at the dark clouds overhead. You were appreciative that he used his charisma to get you two an umbrella at the very least, and his proud smile was far too cute for such a little thing, but you weren't sure if it would be of any use to you at all or if it would even withstand the fierce sea wind. Granted, neither of you were strangers to getting drenched. Simple rainwater was far superior to pure sewage water or B.O.W. blood and guts; you'd be alright even if you returned home soaked to the bone. But that didn't mean you had to like it, either.
"...You think we might get lucky enough for the rain to magically stop once we go out?" You asked, a rhetorical question at best.
"Don't you worry, sweetheart, I'll hold you real close so you won't get cold. Your own personal heater. Handy, no?" He teased, all too eagerly offering you his arm in a way that was impossible not to chuckle at. When he was tipsy, he did always become a little more doting.
You gently shook your head and pressed a kiss to his cheek: "You're only saying that as an excuse to get all nice and cozy with me."
"You got me," Leon grinned, readying his umbrella in one hand and slinging his other arm over your shoulders, pulling you in close. He smelled strongly of his citrusy cologne and smokey whiskey, which made you smile subtly against his neck. It was a fresh change of pace for him to not smell of gunpowder and copper. You sensed him place a quick kiss on the top of your head, urging you forward with a small nudge: "C'mon."
Well, here goes nothing.
You stepped outside in unison, the cool sea air hitting you like a wall almost instantly. The rain was indeed still coming down in thick sheets, instantly pitter-pattering against the poor umbrella that did its best to keep up its defense against the relentless assault. A genuine trooper. Still, no magic love spells to save you tonight, you supposed. Leon moved the umbrella further over you, letting the rain hit his now exposed shoulder. You wished you could say you were surprised by the selfless gesture, but it merely made you let out a fond, knowing sigh and shake your head. This stubborn man has always prioritized you first, for better and for worse. By now, you knew better than to argue with him about this, unless you wanted to stand here for twenty whole minutes until his resolve would finally give way a little.
Besides, the cab that he called in would arrive in a matter of minutes.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
As the car steadily approached the cottage, you pursed your lips into a thin line, the little coastal house steadily coming into view through the gray haze: cozy, white and blue shutters tucked between palm trees swaying violently in the wind.
"...We're gonna have to make a run for it."
Leon raised an eyebrow at you. You felt his hand that was faithfully resting on your thigh for the entirety of the ride give you a little squeeze. "You forgot about our little umbrella friend or are you just in it for the thrill of it?"
You huffed a little when you met his gaze: "It's barely a two minute run, what's the point of bothering with an umbrella arrangement?"
"-Yeah, two minutes of getting soaked. And that white shirt of yours is gonna be transparent by the time we get there. Unless that's your goal, in which case, hey, I'm not complaining."
You playfully slapped at his bicep, trying in vain to shush him, if not for decency sake - he certainly didn't have that when it came to you - then for the poor driver up in the front who had to patiently deal with you two being sickeningly flirty for a couple that was supposed to be mature enough to know better. But you knew you couldn't hide the smile on your lips, which was like adding more fuel to the fire when it came to him. He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender: "Look, I'm just saying, you mean we grabbed that fancy umbrella for nothing?"
You tilted your chin up: "Of course not, it'll be useful for any future client who might be just like us. Good karma never hurts."
Now it was Leon's turn to affectionately roll his eyes at you, but you could see that he was not going to argue any further on this. "Such a martyr you are."
Once the vehicle has stopped at the front of the cottage and the driver was paid off for all your troubles, he leaned over to plant a totally unnecessarily dramatic kiss to your cheek, quite clearly exaggerating the prolonged 'mwah!' sound for no other reason than to annoy you. But before you could get back at him, he was already throwing open the car door, the wall of rain instantly lashing in, cold and sharp, but still smelling of that sea freshness that served as a reminder that you were here for leisure, not life-or-death.
He had to raise his voice to be heard over the sound of the rainfall, shooting you a grin over his shoulder.
"-Alright fellow agent Kennedy! Operation: Dry Shirt is a go!" If there were still any chances remaining of you two maintaining a respectable image in front of the poor driver, they were officially shattered into pieces by your tipsy goofball of a husband. You didn't mind, though. His grin reflected your own as he tugged you out of your seat and quickly nudged you ahead with a completely unnecessary pat on the butt. "Go, go! I'll cover your six!"
You could've briskly made your way along the pebbled path without any needless fanfare. Perhaps even make it all sweet and romantic: hands clasped together, maybe even a jacket draped over you both to try and stay dry. Instead, you started running at full speed while laughing like nobody was watching, and in a way, it was accurate. It was hard to stop when you could hear his own laughter join you in the roaring downpour of rain coming down around you. Water splashed unceremoniously up your feet with each heavy step, and some of the cold water came from his feet pounding on the puddles beside you, too.
You've run alongside him many times over the years, in the rain or even heavy snowstorm included. However, it was never like this. Never feeling this free and careless in such a pure and childlike way.
Needless to say, you were both, indeed, soaked by the time you arrived at the front door, grinning like fools and breathing heavily despite the fact that this was one of the shortest sprints you had ever done. It was nice for your lungs to struggle for air because of laughter for once, not genuine physical exertion or pain. He unlocked the door and was ready to open it when you placed a hand on his arm. Lightning flashed somewhere overhead. Perhaps it was the alcohol, just enough to get you feeling free and tipsy, bolder than you'd otherwise be. Perhaps it was the warm sensation of delight that grew within you after witnessing so many smiles by his side today with no worries in the world. Or perhaps it was the realization that, for once, the rain did nothing to squander his good mood, that he could appreciate it for what it is, instead of what it was to him on many much darker nights before this one.
In any case, the next words that came out of your mouth were completely spontaneous and didn't require any thought on your part.
"-Hey, dance with me."
Leon paused, his hand still on the doorknob and a carefree grin still on his lips, his brows raising at you from under a mess of his windblown hair that completely decimated his usually perfectly styled bangs. You reached up to brush some of the long strands away, partly just as an excuse to touch him. His shirt was now clinging to his sculpted form, giving you a perfect excuse to appreciate some of the lines and dips you've known by heart for years now. However, you would never grow tired of appreciating him, whether he was disheveled and soaked or impeccably dressed up. And you knew the sentiment was mutual, his own gaze flickering over your drenched form with the same appreciative glint.
"...Dance with you," he reiterated, almost bemused. You couldn't blame him. That was rather cliche and sappy of you. However, he was never modest when it came to being shamelessly sappy with you before. His hand left the keys dangling in the door, finding its perchance on your hip instead and pulling you in close, wet clothes pressed together. "What, here?"
A low rumble of thunder could be heard again in the distance. It was the kind of sound that keeps on going and echoing for a while. Then there was a flash over the palm trees, and another booming sound followed. Leon didn't seem interested, though, his eyes solely fixed on you with that awaiting smile that made you feel young again. You rested your hands on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat under one palm through the thin, wet cloth and grinning to yourself.
"Yup," you said simply, one single word that was still purely affectionate in a way that even the most ferocious of storms couldn't dare to interrupt.
Leon caressed your cheek with his other hand, and as he leaned towards you in a stupidly handsome manner that only he could pull off so effortlessly, some of the rainfall dripped from the ends of his bangs.
"I know I'm the last person who should be saying this to you, but... It would be kinda reckless, no? I don't want you catching a cold on our vacation," he murmured, voice warm and teasing despite the responsible words.
You raised a brow: "We're already soaking wet."
To further drive your point home, you flicked some of the wet bangs off of his forehead, stifling a snicker when the strand stuck right back to his face. He let out a loud sigh, obviously giving in without making much of an effort to put up a fight. Not that his heart was ever even in it, evidently.
"Sometimes you give me a run for my money when it comes to being a smartass, hun. Alright, fine. One dance, you hear?" He grinned and leaned forward to nuzzle your neck, causing you to shiver against his chest. In a typical Leon fashion, he was absolutely shameless in the way his nose dragged down the curve of your neck, soon replaced by his lips as he pressed a warm kiss to your collarbone that contrasted wildly with the coldness of the rain. That was one way to maintain your warmth, you supposed. He glanced up at you, mischief in his eyes. "...But I get a reward, too."
You felt his hand that was grasping your hip slip upwards, his fingers sliding beneath your damp shirt and leisurely tracing up and down your spine. You didn't mind the attention, grinning to yourself as you nudged his head back up, not wanting him to get too distracted. At least not yet. "Deal."
And so, you took a step back, but only to chuckle and pull him along as you abandoned the safe threshold you ran so carelessly to get to, stepping back under the pouring rain with him in tow. You squealed and laughed again when the cold water hit you, and this time you resisted the urge to hide yourself from it, instead welcoming it with open arms. You weren't sure if you could call it a dance per se. To be fair, dancing was never really your thing, and even during your wedding ceremony, you likely looked pretty awkward despite all your preparation in advance. But it's not like anyone was insane enough to be outside in this downpour to see you two laughing and twirling around like preschoolers. However, Leon made it clear that he was intent to always have at least one hand on you, and if he had his way, you would most likely be pressed up flush against him. But for now, he was content with simply having his hand on the small of your back, doing his best goofy impression of a waltzing gentleman.
The initial burst of energy was brief, but it was still more than enough. And as you two slowed down for a more intimate and tender moment, you couldn't help but feel your heart skip a beat at the way the soft orange light from the night lamps on your front porch danced across his features. Sometimes you could swear he was a living marble sculpture or something. Carefully crafted and molded for many tiring hours to achieve that impossible level of perfection for many generations to admire. But he was no timeless statue; he was alive and warm, there for you to touch, and he chose you as his sole admirer on his own accord. So you touched him, swiping yet another stubborn wet strand of hair away from his eye, your thumb brushing over the apple of his cheek in a way that was utterly unnecessary. Despite being a drenched mess, he was still cheerful and grinning. You felt yourself grin, too, draping your arms over his broad shoulders and pulling him in close. You couldn't help but laugh when you watched his nose scrunch up from a droplet of rainwater slowly rolling down the slope, most likely tickling him. You solved his plight by leaning forward to nuzzle your noses together.
It was a fairly awkward approach, but you appeared to favor awkward decisions today.
"God you're cute," he murmured with a soft laugh, his own arms tightening their hold around your middle in that affectionate way he always did whenever he just couldn't get enough of you. "I must say, your idea of a 'romantic getaway' is pretty chaotic. I should up my game"
You shrugged.
"Maybe. But I made you smile, didn't I?"
Another lightning flashed somewhere behind the stormclouds as he gently nudged you back one careful step at a time until you found yourself leaning back against one of the pillars with a cold shiver. Despite the frigid, wet stone pressing to your back, his swift positioning in front of you, with one thigh pressing between your knees and his chest all but pushed up against you, elicited a shiver for a different reason altogether. The cold was quickly replaced by warmth, even as his cold lips pressed to the underside of your jawline. You exhaled a gentle laugh, one hand moving up his back to bury itself into the damp mess of hair on the back of his head.
"Yeah... You make me smile like the biggest, happiest fool alive," he murmured, softer now, lacking the usual playfulness his words were laced with on the regular. He meant it, you could tell. You sighed as you felt him travel down again, lingering at your shoulder with a trail of warm kisses. He hummed, low: "...Thank you. For always making me smile. Even in a literal shitstorm."
It made your heart melt a little. You knew his gratitude ran deeper than a simple ruined vacation day fixed with a couple of laughs and kisses. The rain had once flipped his life upside down in the worst way. He was thanking you for making him smile despite it. With you, he didn't have to think about the past, or even the approaching future. He had the ability to concentrate on the here and now, regardless of the time or the weather.
"You make me smile every day that you're with me," you returned, your fingers clumsily combing through his wet hair. It was your best attempt at affection at your current soaked state of things. His low hum on your shoulder said he appreciated it nonetheless. Cheesy or not, sometimes it was worth saying what was on your heart regardless. And he was the one person in the entire universe you could be your cheesiest self with with no second thoughts. "It's only fair I return the favor."
You felt him chuckle against your neck, his breath tickling you in the best of ways. When it came to being corny, as long as you could see that warm, almost boyish smile light up his entire face as he pulled back to look you in the eyes, you knew you'd never try to hide it away from him.
"I don't know about fair, sweetheart," he said, one hand traveling upwards to cup your cheek, making pleasant warmth from his palm seep into your chilled, wet skin. You placed a kiss on his wrist, sensing his thumb graze the skin beneath your eye. "...You give me everything and more."
At that, you couldn't help but huff, giving him a look. This again? You swore, you could be old and wrinkly sitting on your back porch in your rocking chairs, watching your grandkids playing in the pool, and he'd still find ways to bring himself down. Then again... you supposed, you also tended to put him up on a pedestal. Guess you were two peas in a pod when it came to that. Either way, you weren't going to let it slide. Not now, not ever.
"-And you don't? Cooking up my favorite meals on my bad days when I don't even say a peep to you, bringing me coffee just the way I like it even when I'm being a morning grouch, sharing your precious hair products when I forget to order mine again?" All of these things were so small in the grand scheme of things, inconsequential even, and you were being playful with him in big part. Nonetheless, they conveyed just how much he cared. Still cared, just as strongly as he did in your first crazy weeks together. It was just not as loud or flashy. Instead, it was a quiet routine built on respect and comfort between you two that has helped you both grow strong and steady together, like a sturdy foundation keeping the rest of the house standing strong through the seasons. You lifted your finger: "-And that's me purposefully ignoring the obvious 'gonna lay down my life for you' shtick we both agree on."
Thunder rumbled again and the echo followed suit. Leon didn't say anything in response, but when he eventually moved in to give you a proper heated kiss on the lips, you met him halfway and laughed against him as you tasted the cheesecake he had stolen from your plate on him. When he pulled back, he didn't try to hide his clear desire for more than just that, a way to show you the same kind of unconditional love and warmth you've shown him today. You'd let him, of course. You'd welcome it, even.
His tender touch contrasted sharply with the desire blossoming in his eyes as he rubbed your arms, adding warmth to your soaking body.
"Well, if we're even, then I better get my reward now, yeah? First order of business... Get you inside and out of these clothes," he placed a peck to your cheek, smirking warmly. "How's that sound?"
You grinned as you nudged him back towards the front entrance, hand on his chest: "What a coincidence... I was thinking the same thing."