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bigtittybitch514 · 1 year

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Something in the Way

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Hi, there! Read the first part Here

a little fluff ❤️

5.2k words

TW mentions of blood, gore, and violence.

The Misadventures of Flapjack Leon // Chap. 2

Leon offered his hand, and with a gentle tug, pulled you up onto your feet. The sudden change in position made you feel a little lightheaded, but a quick shake of your head cleared it away. You grinned at him and introduced yourself, thanking him for his help. You were ecstatic just seeing anyone in the wretched city alive, how ironic considering you were somewhat of a loner before this shitshow of a city.

"How did you even get in here? It's not safe for civilians, and I know you sure as hell didn’t come in through the front door." he asked, placing a hand on his hip like a stern parent scolding their child. You felt a twinge of embarrassment at being caught sneaking around, scavenging like a little squirrel.

"If you've been here this whole time without me noticing, then you're a real stealth expert," he chuckled, and the sound was like a balm to your frayed nerves. You admired how he managed to stay upbeat despite all the death around you.

"I know this might sound unbelievable, but," you glanced down at your battered hands, still stained and split from scaling the tree trunk, "I actually climbed up a tree, leaped to a fire escape on the second floor, and snuck in through a window. I was only here for about 20 minutes before you caught me." As the words left your mouth, you realized how absurd it must sound, like something out of a cartoon or action movie. Leon blinked a few times before responding.

"I actually believe you. After everything I've witnessed tonight, I'm ready to believe anything is possible." You nodded, understanding all too well what he meant.

"So, the main hall is relatively safe, and Lieutenant Branagh wouldn't mind having company. I can escort you there to ensure your safety on the way. I'm working on finding a way out of here," Leon said, exhaling heavily. "This place used to be a museum, and we think there's an underground exit, but we need to find these emblems first. There are a lot of strange puzzles, and I can't seem to catch a fucking break, but we're making progress." A strained smile appeared on his lips, revealing his growing frustration.

While you were slightly offended by his assumption that you were a damsel in distress, you understood his intentions. As a police officer he wanted to help people in any way possible. You respected him for that, but you also needed to let him know that you were not helpless.

"Well, Officer Kennedy, I'm flattered by the concern, but trust me, I'm far from useless," you stated, with a determined tone. "I'm actually here looking for my mom, and I'd rather lend a hand in finding these emblems than sit idly by in the main hall. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, and I can handle a gun like a pro. Plus, I've got enough herbs and bullets to last us a while." You flashed a cheeky grin, despite feeling dead inside. Leon raised an eyebrow, taking notice of your black backpack with curiosity.

"I see," he was considering your offer, "But I still encourage you to stay where it's safe. If you stay in the main lobby, I can search for your mother if you give me a description. If we make it out, we can check the surrounding areas--" As he spoke, you raised a finger to your lips, motioning for him to be quiet.

"I can be your personal pack mule, or your confident and cocky sidekick, whatever floats your boat," you chimed in, interrupting him mid-sentence. "But once I'm with you, Mr. Leon, you're stuck with me. Sorry, it's now a fact of life." You playfully brought your shushing finger closer to his face, watching as he shrugged his shoulders up to his ears in amusement.

"Well, I can't argue with facts, can I?" he replied, his lips quirking up into a sly grin.

"But if it comes down to it, you need to run. I'll be fine on my own. Protect yourself first," he added, his voice suddenly serious. You hummed in agreement.

---

You and Leon made it to the main hall in record time. Descending the grandiose stairs, you were greeted by a breathtaking statue of a goddess that provided a sharp contrast to the gruesome scene you had just witnessed on the upper floor. Discarded medical equipment, including stretchers and cubicle curtains, lay scattered around like abandoned toys. Files and papers littered the floor in collages.

In the center of the hall sat a couch, a front desk, and a storage container, all enclosed by a makeshift barrier. An idle monitor sat on the desk, a lifeless eye staring out into the chaos. As you approached the couch, you saw a man in a bloodied cop uniform lying on it, his hand pressed tightly against his side where a chunk of flesh had been savagely bitten off. His shirt was stained dark red, and his skin looked slick with sweat and gray from blood loss. You assumed that this must be Lieutenant Branagh.

You wondered why Leon hadn't mentioned the lieutenant's critical condition. But then again, you would have seen it for yourself soon enough.

"Marvin, I'd like you to meet someone I found on the second floor," Leon said, gesturing towards you as if passing the spotlight. You gave a small wave and introduced yourself politely. Marvin managed to lift the corners of his mouth into a smile, nodding in acknowledgement, though it was clear that he was in a lot of pain. You felt terribly sorry for him, knowing he would be taken by the virus soon.

“Leon, come here, take a look,” Marvin breathed heavily, struggling to push out the words. He awakened the screen of the laptop, which showed camera footage of a woman nearby a gate.

“Yes! I knew she’d make it!” Leon exclaimed.

“You know her?” You also wondered that.

“Yeah, name’s Claire, I came into town with her.”

“You can get to that courtyard through the second floor…east side.” Marvin’s breathing becomes more labored with each word.

“I’m on it…thanks Lieutenant.” Leon gave you a curt nod, signaling to head out.

"Before we head out," Leon interrupted, "you said you can handle a gun, right?" You gave him a confident nod in response. "Well, you can use my handgun, Matilda. I've found more and she's pretty easy to handle, so I'll lend it to you. Just make sure she comes back in one piece." Leon's wry smile returned as he handed you the gun.

As he hands you the weapon, your fingers brush against his, sending a rush of electricity up your arm. His hands, partially covered by fingerless gloves, are strong and rough with calluses. You glance up his arm, revealing a toned physique and broad shoulders, unfortunately concealed by his clothing. The faint amount of light on the second floor had concealed his strikingly handsome facial features, but now they're on full display, and you can't help but be captivated. In all honesty, he was breathtaking - with dirty blond hair styled in a trendy cut, exuding boyish charm. Despite his exhaustion, his expression reminded you of a tired yet adorable puppy.

Your face flushed as you quickly averted your gaze back down to the floor, hoping he hadn't caught you checking him out. You cleared your throat and managed to compose yourself enough to say, "Thanks." Without missing a beat, you turned around your backpack and grabbed some ammo to reload Matilda.

“Don’t worry, I got you covered already,” Leon cooed in a sweet tone.

Was he doing this shit on purpose? Because it’s working.

You studied the gun in your hands, following closely behind him, positioning yourself in a familiar military-trained stance, testing it out. “Two hands on it at all times” your father's voice rang in your mind. Using your reasoning, you deduced that the journey from the main hall to the courtyard wouldn't be too difficult.

“How far have you gotten in figuring out how to escape from this place?” you asked, hoping to gain a better understanding of their progress. You both began your move.

Upon exiting the main hall, Leon surveyed the area before answering, his gun and flashlight entering rooms before he did. Once he was sure it was clear, he spoke, “I've managed to find two of the three emblems we need to get out of here - one depicting a lion and the other a unicorn. There's also a shotgun I haven't been able to obtain yet because I haven't found the right keycard. We believe that there's an elevator beneath the goddess statue that leads to a possible exit. Marvin and I think that's our best bet.”

As you trailed behind him, he began to recount the last hour of his frustrating journey, complete with colorful language and exaggerated hand gestures. His tale included the trials and tribulations of finding the perfect item to solve a particular puzzle, the endless running around from one end of the station to the other, and the unbearable annoyance of opening the portable safe, which apparently had a randomized sequence that required him to start from scratch every time. To make matters worse, he lamented about the abundance of shotgun shells he had come across, only to find the weapon itself still out of reach in the sealed weapons locker. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, you were sympathetic and amused all at once.

“I did NOT think this was how my first day would be.”

Within a few minutes, you arrive at the hallway that should lead you to the courtyard. As soon as you turn the corner, Leon abruptly stops you by placing his arm out. “The hell is that?” You both hear the whir of what sounds like chopper blades, followed by a loud crash that shakes the east wing. You exchange a worried glance with Leon before cautiously continuing onward.

As soon as he opens the door to the foyer, you see a helicopter engulfed in flames, and the pilot already dead or unconscious in the front seat. You and Leon quickly survey the scene before a feminine voice interrupts with a shout, "Leon!"

“Claire!” he calls back out to her, “Hold on I’ll be right there.” He rushes down the stairwell, urging you to stay close to him.

He grasps onto the metal linked fence, “Claire, it's so nice to see you.”

“How're you doing? That helicopter just came outta nowhere…” her eyes fall onto you, “Leon, you found another survivor? That’s great! I’m Claire.” She has a pure, genuine smile that reaches up to her eyes.

After you tell her your name, you compliment her jacket. “Aw thanks, my brother got it for me.” Her expression turns distant as she looks down at the soaking wet crimson leather coat.

“We’re doing okay,” Leon interjects. “All in one piece.”

“Guessing you don’t have a key in one of those fancy pockets?” Claire looks towards his vest with many, many pockets.

“Unfortunately, no… but, how are you doing?”

“Y’know, just surviving,” she leans up against the brick wall with a hand on her hip dramatically.

Claire and Leon have little time to chat before the smoking helicopter behind all of you combusts into a fiery explosion, alerting all the zombies nearby of Claire’s presence. Leon urges her to go, and you all make your goodbyes.

“You guys don’t worry about me, take care of yourselves.” she said, now speaking seriously. “Let’s get through this… all of us.”

The brunette disappears from your view as she jogs away, allowing you to appreciate the graphic design on her jacket. You hoped that you would have another chance to cross paths before leaving Raccoon City.

"She's also searching for someone, her brother," he said, turning his eyes over to you. "We met at a Mizoil gas station just as everything started to go downhill." You remember your own stop before entering Raccoon City, you think of the terrifying encounter you had at the gas station. Could it have been the same one?

"Let's move out before we become the main course." Leon’s voice interjects your thoughts.

The two of you make a hasty exit, snagging bolt cutters and more wood boards on the way out. As you navigate through several rooms and activate the fuses to unlock the rolling doors leading to the main hall, Leon stops abruptly and rummages through his stash behind the front desk. You can't help but notice the array of items in there. It appears he has a bit of a hoarding problem. He grasps a key with a metal spade attached to the end, and a red book.

"Alright," he exhales in relief. "With this key and book in hand, we need to head towards the upper East hall. There's another statue waiting for us that needs this book," he says while raising an eyebrow and wiggling the book in his hand, clearly excited to move forward.

His excitement was contagious, you couldn’t do anything besides grin in response.

As you and Leon made your way to the East hall, your footsteps echoed in the silent corridor, and after a few minutes you arrived at your destination. The art room was adorned with art pieces, including draped statues that seemed to come alive in the dim light.

Your eyes fell on the statue that Leon had mentioned earlier, depicting a regal figure that appeared to be a king or prince. As Leon made his way over to the statue, you took the opportunity to explore the room further. Your gaze fell upon a copy of Raccoon Magazine, its pages detailing the history of the city and the mysterious "Red Stone".

But that wasn't all. As you walked around, your eyes landed on an end table where a keycard to the weapons locker was lying. You smirk, knowing that Leon would be thrilled to see it.

You glanced behind you to see the blond holding a scepter adorned with the largest ruby stone you had ever seen. "Uh, did you get that from the statue?" you questioned him, eyebrows raised in surprise. He simply nodded back, examining the scepter further. As he turned it over, you heard a faint “click” and suddenly the sparkling ruby stone fell into his hands. He tossed the now-useless scepter onto the ground with a clatter, saying, “Won't be needing that part.” You were astonished that he didn’t take it with him, considering his addiction to storing things, it would’ve made a great club.

You trudge back to the main hall, feeling a sense of deja vu as you pass through the familiar corridors. You let out a heavy sigh, wondering if this never-ending search for keys and items will ever come to an end.

“Welcome to my world,” Leon snickers, and you shoot him a fake glare.

As he spoke, his hair whipped around his face, and he glanced over towards you, his torso bent over as he organized his storage bin. "You know, I feel like I've been doing all the talking. I haven't learned anything about you yet. Are you from around here?" His incessant plopping of items into the large metal box only confirmed his hoarding tendencies, but at least he was making an effort to engage in a conversation.

"Oh. Well," you begin, "I'm actually from a different state. I received a vague email from my mom, and I came here to search for her. Even if she might be..." you pause briefly before continuing, "I need to find her. I just have to know what happened here.”

"I'll help you find her," he said, stopping what he was doing and giving you an intense look. "I promise." You shy away from his stare.

“Maybe it’d help if you talked about her a bit more. How was your relationship with her? What did her email say?” Nope. Touchy subject.

"I mean, we were okay," you said with a sardonic smile, hoping he'd pick up on the hint and drop the subject. "But let's talk about something else, yeah? Like maybe you telling me how amazing I am." You gave him a playful nudge, forcing a chuckle to break the tension.

He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, giving you a lopsided grin. "You're right, that was a pretty deep question. But hey, I'm all about getting to know you better."

You couldn't help but laugh at his charming demeanor, finding his quirky personality endearing. Throughout your misadventures together, your conversations often veered towards the mundane, but his adorably curious nature always kept things interesting. You found yourself rolling your eyes at his incessant quips, but his contagious laughter never failed to put a smile on your face. Despite the harrowing situation you both were in, he had a way of making you forget about the danger and just enjoy the moment. Sure, he could be a bit nosy at times, but you didn't mind - it was all part of his charm.

---

Leon surveyed the newly acquired shotgun in his hands, raising it to his shoulders as if preparing to fire. He hummed in satisfaction, admiring the weight and balance of the weapon.

"Hey, let me lighten your load a bit," you playfully commented while gesturing at the weapon in his hands.

As you reached out to touch the shiny new gadget, he gently slapped your hand away with a grin. "Nope, not gonna happen, my friend," he said. "That beauty is mine, and she's not going anywhere. We're in this for the long haul."

You raised your hands up in a dramatic fashion, wearing a frown on your face as you apologized. "Oops, my mistake," you said, emphasizing each word for effect.

"Okay, now that we have our secret weapon, it's time to find that last emblem," Leon declared confidently. "I've got a feeling it's on the third floor, but we've got a little problem. Some nutjob barricaded the way up there with C4 and left a creepy note as a warning."

"Well, that's just great," you grumbled in frustration. "Zombies, puzzles, and now we've got to deal with some psycho with explosives. As if things weren't difficult enough already."

As you veer left from the main hall and make your way through the waiting room, a sudden chill runs down your spine. The door creaks open to reveal an eerie darkness that envelops you, with only a few flickering fluorescent lights and moonlight streaming through the boarded-up windows to guide your way. The floor is stained with dark crimson blood, and you can't shake the feeling that something is watching you from the shadows beyond. The wooden planks blocking the open window panes only add to the sense of foreboding and dread that fills the air.

As you ventured deeper down the hallway, you caught sight of those creatures pounding on the boards, desperate to break through. The wooden boards seem to be holding up for the time being. Witnessing their lifeless eyes and gaping jaws sent shivers down your spine.

"Hey, focus on me. Fear is natural in this situation, but we're in this together. Stay calm, we'll find a way out," Leon reassured you, his voice steady and calming.

You believe him.

In an instant, a zombie bursts through one of the boards with a sickening crack, tumbling onto the tiled floor like a lifeless puppet, the now open window inviting more in.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, why did this have to happen RIGHT after he gave you a pep talk?!

"Stay behind me!" Leon shouts, raising his pistol to shoulder height and taking aim at the approaching undead. Crack, crack, crack—the sound of the pistol reverberates loudly in the hallway, sparks flying as bullets hit their mark. So intent on watching Leon, you fail to notice the creature sneaking up behind you. It latches onto you, its grotesque nails digging into your flesh. You twist and turn, finally breaking free and flinging your backpack to the ground. With lightning speed, you retrieve Matilda from your bag and shoot the creature at point-blank range—two quick shots to its brain, reducing it to a gory mess of matter and bone fragments.

You turn back around to see Leon thrusting his combat knife into a zombie's chest, but even that doesn't take it down. "I'm out of ammo!" he shouts, panic creeping into his voice. You count to four in your head, trying to steady your breathing. Raising your pistol, you peer through the minuscule scope and take careful aim at the zombie's head. With one eye closed and the other focused, you pull the trigger. The zombie's head explodes upon impact, and it drops to its knees, finally laid to rest.

"That was a close one," Leon says, managing a smile. "You really know how to handle that thing." You puff out your chest in triumph, feeling a sense of pride at the compliment.

“Well, I told you, didn't I?”, a cocky smirk erupting on your face. Now he was your little damsel in distress.

"Don't get too excited now," Leon says as he glides over to your side and locks his eyes with yours. "I'll actually be impressed when you surpass me in kills." He reaches for your backpack on the ground, and his proximity leaves you with a fluttery feeling in your stomach.

“I’ll be taking some of this ammo now.” He takes a box of bullets for a 9mm and shoves it in one of his bountiful amounts of pockets.

After a scoff you say, “You don't think I can beat you?" placing your hands on your hips and giving your thigh a confident pat. "I can hulk out, just watch. You have no idea what these legs can do."

After a snort, the blond crosses his arms over each other, eyeing you up and down.

Your face and ears heat up, you see where this conversation could get a little risqué. Too frazzled to take any leads, you just try to deflect the conversation elsewhere.

Oh look, that blood smear looks way different than the other ones!!!

After tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, you quickly retrieve your bag from him and slide Matilda back inside. Despite the zombie's grip, the bag appears to be mostly undamaged. When you glance back at Leon, he still has a smug expression on his face, but he refrains from making any further comments. You secretly hope he doesn't stop teasing you altogether.

You continued down the eerie hallways, passing by a hanging dead body without a second glance, until you arrived at an office door that was secured with a thick chain. As far as you knew, anything locked up with chains was off-limits, but Leon seemed undeterred by the obstacle and was set on doing what needed to be done. As soon as you entered the room, you saw a workstation with a peculiar gadget sitting on the desk. Leon picked it up and examined it carefully, before stowing it away in his pocket. You gave him a perplexed look.

"Is there a reason why you're keeping that?" you inquired.

"I have a feeling this is the detonator we're after, but it's useless without batteries," he explained. "Before we start scavenging for them, let's have a thorough search of the area. There might be other crucial items we're overlooking."

Although you found his stash of stuff excessive at times, he was usually right. The things he collected often had a use later on. Most of the areas in the police station had avoidable zombies, they were slow and didn't follow you for long. If you quickly searched and grabbed what you needed, you didn't have to waste time shooting them. With his help, you quickly located a valve that would help with the steam blocking your path in the showers. With a screeching noise, you turned the valve, shutting off the hissing steam. With the way now clear, you made your way through the eerie showers, grabbing extra herbs and gunpowder on your way out. Once satisfied with your progress, you both ventured deeper into unknown territories.

As you exited the women's locker room, you stepped into a dimly lit hallway that seemed unnaturally silent. The floor was littered with more corpses, and a single light shone ominously, casting eerie shadows on the walls. As you cautiously made your way down the hall, a grotesque creature suddenly emerged from the darkness. Its long, sinewy tongue snaked out and snatched a nearby corpse, dragging it into its gaping, distorted mouth with twisted limbs. The sight made your stomach churn with revulsion and fear.

Your eyes widen in terror, and you feel a scream building up in your chest. But before you can let it out, Leon's hand clamps over your mouth, silencing you. "Not a sound," he whispers urgently in your ear, his breath hot on your skin. "It can't see us, but it can hear us." You nod, your heart pounding in your chest as you stare at the creature before you. It's like nothing you've ever seen before, with twisted limbs and a gaping maw that seems to stretch impossibly wide. Leon reaches out a hand to you, gesturing for you to take hold. You grab on, clinging to him like a lifeline as he slowly leads you past the monster. His other hand grips his shotgun, ready to fire at a moment's notice. You press your other hand over your mouth, trying to muffle your ragged breaths as you tiptoe past the creature, praying that it won't hear you.

As you move closer, the creature comes into focus. Its skinless body is contorted, with elongated fingers that resemble razor-sharp claws. It's much larger than the relatively humanoid zombies that roam the other areas, and it's not confined to the ground. This creature crawls effortlessly on the ceiling and walls, its movements disturbingly agile and unnatural.

Without a word, Leon gestures towards the door to your left and you both slip inside without making a sound. The room is well-lit, but in shambles with overturned furniture and broken equipment. It's a welcome respite from the monster lurking just outside. You finally release the breath you didn't realize you were holding, and your eyes moisten with unwanted tears, but you quickly blink them away.

"You okay?" he whispers, his hand squeezing yours reassuringly. "We'll make it through this. I'll keep you safe. You're brave."

Warmth spreads all throughout your body upon hearing his caring words. You feel overwhelmed and unable to respond, you just simply rest your forehead against his bulky vest, seeking comfort. Leon understands and allows you to stay there for a moment, leaning his chin on your head and placing his gloved hand gently between your shoulder blades. Can you just stay like that forever?

"After you catch your breath, let's take a look around," he muttered, breaking the comfortable silence with a gentle tone.

You and Leon let go of each other's hands, reluctantly breaking the physical connection that had provided a momentary sense of safety and comfort. Leon headed towards the main area of the room, while you made your way towards the office on the left, a hunch telling you that this area might be the S.T.A.R.S office. Investigating the office left you with some batteries for the detonator and a code for a safe. Just as you were about to leave, Leon called out to you.

You joined him at the gated area filled with weapons and equipment. "It's an armory," he said, disappointment evident in his voice, "but I wasn't authorized to access it. We'll need to find a dongle." Greaaaaat, another setback.

You take Matilda out of your backpack, gripping her tightly with both of your hands. “I’m ready whenever you are, Leon.”

He gave a curt nod, “Let’s head out,”

Crouching once more, you cautiously exit the room and enter the dim hallway. You look around with intense focus, scanning for any signs of movement or danger. Worriedly, you glance at Leon, who puts his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. He motions for you to stay put, and you freeze in place. As he slowly stands up and moves forward, you silently protest in your mind, wondering what he could possibly be thinking.

He disappears around the corner, the sound of his footsteps gradually fading away. You're left alone in the hallway, your heart pounding in your chest. Your eyes dart around, trying to concentrate . A few minutes pass, and you start to wonder what could be taking him so long. Suddenly, you see a bright flash of light that illuminates the wall in front of you, followed by a loud thud, and a ringing in your ears. He used a damn flash grenade. Your body tenses up as a roar bellows from the opposite end of you, quickly followed by the sound of a shotgun blast.

What the fuck was he doing?!

You sprint down the hallway, Matilda clutched tightly to your chest as you rush to Leon's aid. You arrive just in time to see him deftly dodge the monster's powerful claws, his shotgun at the ready. Without hesitation, you take aim and begin firing at the creature, your hands shaking with adrenaline. The monster turns its attention towards you, its massive frame hurtling at you with frightening speed. With lightning-fast reflexes, you deliver a powerful roundhouse kick to its midsection, sending its body crashing into the wall with a resounding smack. For a moment, the creature lies stunned on the ground, but it quickly rises to its feet and whips back to the ceiling, preparing for its next attack.

Leon shouts in frustration as he reloads his shotgun and looks behind him. His worried gaze meets yours, and he exclaims, "Jesus Christ! Didn't I tell you to stay put?"

“If you think I’m gonna stand back and let you take all the action, you’re crazy,” you say with conviction, committing to not letting Leon face the danger alone. Internally, a sick feeling churns in your stomach as you contemplate the possibility of him getting hurt. You resolve to do everything in your power to protect him.

Leon quickly aims his gun at the creature once more, determined to finish the job. "This ends now," he says through gritted teeth, his finger tight on the trigger. The creature lets out a blood curdling screech as the shot tears through its body, causing it to collapse onto the ground. You feel a sense of relief wash over you as you both stand there, catching your breath and watching as the creature twitches and gasps for its last breaths. You shoot at it a few more times, finally putting it out of it’s misery. It doesn't get back up.

Leon slowly turns to face towards you, breathing heavily, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips, "Damn, remind me to never get on your bad side. You've got some impressive moves there." he gestures towards your legs, “you have to teach me that kick one day.”

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