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Leon S. Kennedy, a D.S.O. agent, quite attractive, if you were being honest, and a bit older than you. He was someone who came to the cantina where you worked after classes very often, way too often, actually. By now, you already knew his usual order—first a glass of whiskey with ice, and then the entire bottle. You thought he was a peculiar man. He drank every last drop of the bottle and you had never seen him drunk.
One day, like any other, you were cleaning a table when you noticed how that blond man caught your attention.
“Mind if I buy you a drink?”- Leon asked.
“Oh, sorry, but I don't drink. Thanks, though” -you politely declined.
Leon looked at you somewhat surprised- “Seriously? My bad. Then can I get you some juice?”
“Really? You're so nice!”
You smiled softly, and he simply let out a small laugh. You couldn't remember seeing him smile, much less laugh, since the first time you'd seen him in this cantina.
“I don't think ‘nice’ is the best word to describe me…”
That happened on an ordinary summer afternoon. Your first conversation happened.
You never expected to become so close to a regular customer, although you soon realized Leon wasn't just a regular customer. You got to know each other better, and you realized that he was just a man who had lived through a lot and lost everything he cared about in a short amount of time, and his only way of drowning his sorrows was through the expensive whiskey at bars.
The rest of the days and weeks passed with conversations until your shift ended, little treats between the two of you, and months later, those little moments turned into something less casual and more loving. Real dates, driving around the city in his Porsche, going to restaurants you had never imagined you would ever set foot in, and even nights at his apartment.
You never told anyone about Leon, not even your closest friends or your own parents. You didn't want them to start saying things like, “You're too young for him,” or anything like that. You loved Leon, and he loved you, and you didn't want anyone interfering with that.
One day, during one of the dates you usually had with Leon on weekends, the restaurant was putting on a little performance, one of those moments when someone was about to propose. You looked at Leon excitedly and started clapping.
“Wow, look! I wonder which lovely couple is getting married”
Suddenly, Leon pulled a small red box from his pocket and handed it to you, revealing an elegant silver ring with three diamonds. You were stunned, tears filling your eyes, and without thinking it twice, you said yes.
Your wedding wasn't anything particularly incredible. You got married at the courthouse, writing vows in a rush and kissing before the judge. Even though America was supposed to be the ‘home of the brave’ and the ‘land of the free’, your parents still didn't know.
You had an American wedding. Maybe they didn't mean too much, but you were so in love.
Mrs. Kennedy
You signed your name in pen, in the fancy, fancy cursive.
“Now what's mine is yours”
That was the last thing Leon said before kissing you. Even though he had kissed you before, this one felt warmer, more genuine… It was an official kiss.
Leon hung your wedding photo on a shelf in his bedroom. Whenever he looked at it, he smiled and said “My pretty woman in a ballgown.”
Ever since you married Leon, you smiled much more. Yes, you couldn’t deny that his job was exhausting for both of you, and he wasn't always home or able to answer your calls… But whenever he was there, he really made up for all the time he was away.
Present, 6 months after the wedding
You left class feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and as usual, Leon's black Porsche was parked there. At least that cheered you up a little and made you run to him. He was already smiling warmly at you.
“Hey, babe” -Leon greeted you, but immediately noticed the way you avoided looking at him, seeing the stress and serenity on your face- “Everything okay, sweetheart?”
“Not really…” -you answered as you buckled your seatbelt while Leon started the car again.
“Aw, baby. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?” -Leon said, bringing his hand to your thigh and gently stroking it. It was a small gesture he always made whenever he saw you overwhelmed, and it usually helped you relax,but this time, seeing his ring—the ring you had shared for the past few months, it didn't help you relax at all.
You sighed, still unable to look at him, you really couldn't.
“I've had a hell of a summer. I was thinking, and I realized that… I feel like it's too soon for this marriage. Baby, don't take this hard, but maybe we should get an annulment before this goes too far.”
Leon’s expression became completely serious, though there was a slight hint of vulnerability in it. He let out a small and nervous, shaky laugh.
“You're joking, right? Tell me you're not serious.”
You remained completely silent, staring at the diamond ring Leon had proposed to you with. You wish it was a joke.
“I know we've been distant these past few weeks. I've had a lot of work and I know I haven't handled it very well, I'm really sor-”
“It's not because of your work, Leon,” -you cut him
“Then what is it?” -Leon's deep voice became more intense and agitated, and you noticed his composure beginning to crack.
“I already told you that I don't feel ready” -Your voice trembled, almost crying despite trying to keep it steady.
“You didn't say that when I gave you the ring!”- Leon claimed you, this time more broken- “A month ago we were fine, why did you suddenly change your mind?!”
“Why are we yelling?!”
Your composure finally broke, and a few tears escaped your eyes. Leon looked away from you and let out a long, deep sigh. Seeing you cry was worse than seeing a B.O.W. or a Licker. It genuinely hurt him.
When he noticed you had calmed down a bit, he spoke to you again, still not looking at you.
“Are you sure? I understand that you need space, but I thi-”
“Leon.”
You said his name, trying not to make it sound like the plea it really was, trying not to show the pain you were feeling. He simply stayed silent.
He knew your reasons, he knew that once you went back to classes, you'd be more stressed, he knew that maybe something could change in you. But he hadn't expected you to want to end the contract. Not just any contract, the contract that promised you'd be there for each other through good times and bad, that promised you would share the same last name and the same ring, that what was his was yours too…
Neither Leon nor you expected this marriage to end so soon. A marriage that shouldn't have existed in the first place, no matter how much you loved each other or how stupid you had been. A D.S.O. agent shouldn't have been with a student, and a student shouldn't have been with a D.S.O. agent. You two came from two completely different worlds that were never supposed to cross, yet Leon and you had done everything you could to make it work.
Everything you could, until now
“When do you want to go to the courthouse?” -Leon asked, staring blankly at the road with both hands on the steering wheel.
The happy eyes he'd had only minutes ago when he saw you were completely gone. All you could see was the blue of his eyes, filled with complete serenity.
“Whenever it works for you…” -you said, with the same look in your eyes as him, but more vulnerable.
“Next week, when I pick you up?” -Leon asked again. Honestly, no hour and no day would ever be convenient for him.
You simply nodded.
In exactly one week, you would stop being Mrs. Kennedy. You would stop wearing that ring. But you would never leave those memories behind—the laughter, the touches on your thigh that helped you relax whenever you were stressed, those nights talking to him over video calls, those walks beneath the palm trees as the daylight fell, or all those times he comforted you while you cleaned his wounds, worried about him…
Did you really want to put an end to all of that?
6 days later . . .
It was almost time.
You hadn't seen Leon since the talk in his car. You hadn't even seen him at the cantina where you worked. Maybe he was angry, or maybe he didn't want to see you anymore, maybe it was probably the best option.
The first thing you did when you got home from work was throw your shoes and bag by the entrance and spend the entire afternoon lying on your bed without even changing your clothes.
The hours passed, and passed. You couldn't sleep, and you couldn't forget the ‘little argument’ you'd had with Leon a few days ago
Did you really want to leave everything behind?
Yes, this summer has been horrible. Yes, you were too young. Yes, hiding a marriage wasn't easy…
But Leon wasn't wrong about one thing, you hadn't said or thought about any of that when he gave you the ring, or when you signed the documents with his last name, nor during the first few months together.
So why were you overwhelmed now?
You tried to sleep, but everything in your bedroom reminded you of him. The ring on your finger that you hadn’t been able to take off. One of his coats hanging up that he had lent you and you never gave back, still carrying a faint scent of whiskey and gunpowder, and the framed photo of your wedding sitting beside your desk.
With a lot of effort, you managed to get some rest, but as soon as the first rays of sunlight appeared, you woke up.
You tried to pull yourself together, although you almost fell over when you got out of bed. You took a quick shower and changed your clothes, trying to hide your dark circles and miserable face with makeup, though it didn't help much.
In class, you tried to pay attention, but thoughts of what would happen when Leon came to pick you up, and then you'd have to sign the annulment papers, consumed you so much that you didn't even know whether you were in your class or any other.
The end of class finally came. It was the thing you had been dreading the most.
You were the one who had made the decision, so why did you feel so terrible?
When you got into Leon's car, you glanced at him. The car smelled like alcohol, which didn't surprise you, but for some reason there was also a faint smell of cigarettes, it was strange. Leon never smoked. Maybe they were Chris’s.
“You look like you haven't slept at all” -Leon said, breaking the tense silence between you as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“Look who's talking…” -you murmured, perhaps more to yourself than to him.
When you arrived at the courthouse entrance, Leon sighed and nervously pushed his blonde hair back.
“Why didn't you tell me before?” -Leon asked. Neither of you dared to make eye contact.
“Tell you what?” -you answered with another question.
“That you weren't ready. Why so suddenly? You don't love me anymore?”
“I do love you…” -You didn't want Leon to think that, of course you loved him, he had always been there when nobody else could be, and he had given you the best days of your life.
“Then why are you asking for an annulment? Don't you think that's a little too much?”
You fell completely silent. Leon was confused, and you didn't know how to answer him.
He simply let out a long sigh and unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Whatever, even if I ask you to stay, you'll leave later anyway. That's how love is made in the USA.”
Before Leon could open the door of the Chayanne, you grabbed his hand.
The panic and anxiety were rising into your throat.
No. You couldn't.
You couldn't make those blue eyes become empty again.
You had promised to stay by his side. You had promised to help him with anything. Maybe they were stupid promises made by people in love, but you couldn't let him go, not after everything you'd lived through and all the promises you still had left to keep.
You were so overwhelmed and regretful that you started crying uncontrollably.
When Leon saw you like that, his eyes widened and his eyebrows lifted. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling your face against his chest while gently patting your back without saying anything, simply waiting for you to calm down.
“Hey, hey. It's okay.”
Leon moved his hands into your hair and began stroking it.
“I do love you. I don't want the annulment. I'm so sorry…” -you said, still sobbing against his chest, soaking his fitted navy shirt with your tears.
Leon continued stroking your hair and let out a small, relieved smile.
“I'm glad to hear that.”
When you finally calmed down enough to breathe properly, you pulled away a few inches from Leon so you could look into his eyes. You could see the relief in his expression.
“You scared me, you know?”
You sniffled- “I'm sorry…”
“You’re such a crybaby” -he said, stroking your thigh before giving you a gentle eskimo kiss and then bringing his lips to yours. The cherry lipstick on your lips mixed with the taste of alcohol and tobacco on his. You had missed him, you really had. Even if it was rough, it felt like your wedding kiss.
When your lips parted, Leon let a half-smile appear on his face.
“But don't do that again. You have no idea how bad whiskey tastes when you're not the one serving it.”
You let out a small, trembling but soft laugh, your nose still red and a few tears remaining on your face.
He always knew how to make your day better, even after all that mess.