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Life was going so good for Leon. He moved to a new city, got a new job, he loved it, and even though his apartment was kind of small and dingy… It didn’t even bother him. He was out of the bad place he used to be and everything new and wonderful rolled out in front of him.
He turned twenty two and even though he was still pretty new at work, everyone had chipped in to throw a special surprise party with ice cream and cake in the break room. The gesture seriously touched him because he didn’t even tell anyone it was his birthday… Someone must have seen it on his file and made note to celebrate.
Leon leaned against the balcony on the roof top where the smokers hung out, looking out over the night time city. His city. He was alone right now and enjoying the solitude. He snuck away from the party to go outside and get some fresh air and just sit alone with this feeling… It was rare.
He’d never felt anything like this before. He wanted to remember it.
“Um- Ahem-” A voice behind him cleared his throat and Leon stood up a little straighter, turning around to face the person. “Just me- Sorry-” A sort of shy looking Chris Redfield stepped out of the darkness, waving a nervous greeting. “Sorry if I scared you.” He tried to say “hi” but he choked on the word and just coughed instead. It was so awkward but Leon smiled and waved back.
“Hey, Chris.” Chris’s dark eyes shimmered when Leon said his name like that. So easy and friendly, like they had always known each other even though in reality it had been a couple of weeks.
“Smoke break?” Leon guessed but Chris shook his head. “Was… Looking for you.” He scratched the back of his neck. He hoped he didn’t sound creepy or like he was stalking him. “Me?” Leon leaned back on the railing and Chris walked up next to him. The sounds of night time city filled the air. It was dark except for all the lights that illuminated, keeping the city alive.
Chris cleared his throat a little again, looking into Leon’s stunning blue eyes. “Yeah- I-If that’s okay.”
Leon laughed a little, his nose scrunching up the way it always did, how Chris started to take notice. “Yeah, it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be?” Chris sighed and leaned back against the balcony next to him. Their arms were touching but Leon didn’t move away. The night air was cool but their skin felt so warm.
“Because… I wouldn’t want to be weird.” Chris shoved his hands in his pockets and gave Leon a sort of kicked puppy look. Leon laughed again, covering his mouth with his hand out of habit. “You’re not weird. I don’t think that. What makes it weird?”
Chris blushed but it was dark enough that he thought maybe wouldn’t see. But the glow of the night city hit Chris just right and Leon could see. He was enamored by it and his heart skipped a beat. They both swallowed deeply, a sort of moment of tension falling between them. Chris couldn’t answer Leon’s question without it sounding weird.
Leon wanted Chris to tell him, and he wouldn’t think it was weird. He glanced up at him, breaking the silence. “So… You found me.” He bit his lip a little out of another habit of his. He rubbed his ankle against his own leg, scratching it nervously. He dared to try and push things further.
“Ah-” Chris gasped under his breath and the sound made Leon’s stomach do dips. Chris suddenly turned to face him. “Leon-!” Leon’s eyes widened and he stood up straighter. Chris took his hand.
“I know that this may seem sudden or random or weird or- God, I hope you don’t think this is weird!!” Chris’s face worried desperately and Leon shook his head quickly, trying to signal that he didn’t think that at all. “It’s just I… I- I…!” Chris tried to work up the words. His hand was shaking in Leon’s and he realized his palm was getting sweaty.
“Fuck! I’m sorry!” He pulled his hand away. “Nevermind! Forget I said anything, it’s stupid! Sorry, I’ll just leave you alone, forget about- Mh! Mmm!!” Chris gasped, eyes wide. Leon was pressed up against him, hands on his arms, right under his shoulders, holding him tight and standing up on his tip toes. He wobbled up against Chris, kissing him.
“Mmh!!” Chris grabbed Leon’s waist to steady him. They both almost fell off balance for a second. “Mhnn!!” Once Chris realized what was happening he closed his eyes and kissed Leon back, wrapping his arms around him.
It was everything he had ever dreamed of happening when he confessed his feelings to him- But he didn’t! He fumbled the entire speech he had prepared!! His eyebrows pushed together in worry as the rookie of his dreams clung to him and kissed him like Chris was the man of his dreams as well and not some loser weirdo.
“Ah… hah…” Leon softly broke the kiss, barely moving his lips apart. They both panted faintly, lips damp and tingly, tasting of birthday cake and ice cream.
It was their first kiss. Chris mumbled under his breath, “Wh- What…? Leon..?” It was everything he wanted but he didn’t earn it. He didn’t know why Leon was falling into his arms and gazing up at him like that.
“Chris…” Leon whispered, standing up on his toes again and slowly wrapping his arms around his neck. “L-Leon….” Chris held him closer. They were pressed up against each other, foreheads and noses touching. It was the most intimate moment of either of their lives.
“Do you know what I wanted… For my birthday… This most… This whole time..?” Leon’s blue eyes were half lidded and looked desperate, like it might break his heart if Chris didn’t return his feelings.
Chris blushed hard, unable to hide it. “What- What’s that? What did you want?” He sounded worried like he was still convinced he was fucking it up.
Leon closed his eyes and tilted his head, whispering against his lips. “You…”
Chris kissed Leon and held him tighter, hugging him like he was all his because from then on out and forever, he was.