He then turned and headed back to the hellicopter to 'babysit'.
"Just remember—" he said loudly, "if that place starts looking anything like the hell you think it won't... call me."
Chris watched Leon's hand slip away, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he exhaled, a quiet breath through his nose.
"You're welcome."
Chris could see the conflict behind Leon's eyes well enough without forcing him to put it into words. +
Upon second thought, that was probably a slip of the tongue. He was getting ahead of himself, caught between his pride and the much needed support. He recognized, he (knew*) Chris had just as much, if not more, experience than he did. But something about the older man’s (+)
The shift to '𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥' hadn't gone unnoticed. Neither had the hesitation that followed it. Leon had nearly said something else—something that mattered—and then swallowed it down.
"Don't get yourself killed in there."
+
being worried means I don't trust you."
He scoffed, turning to walk off.
"Suit yourself. But after this... we are 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 working together again. I'm not your helicopter babysitter, I have my own team to worry about, not some stubborn government agent who won't accept help."
'...𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵'?
"I'm gonna pretend that you just didn't say that," he pointed out firmly.
There was a tense silence that followed. He knew that look in Leon's eyes—the stubbornness, the pride, the quiet insistence that he'd already considered every possible +
A frustrated sigh left Leon’s lips, brows stagnant in their lowered position. “There’s still people out there. If I can get in, anybody can. Who knows how many of the people infected are still there, wandering about?” Chris has a point, but Leon trusts his gut. And his (+)
I've seen you walk into situations that would've made most people turn around and run. Hell, I've watched you come back from things you shouldn't have survived."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the area ahead.
"But that's also why I don't understand why you're acting like me +
one before. Usually right before things go to hell." Chris paused, studying Leon for a moment before his voice lowered. "No extra bodies. Fine. I'm still coming with you."
He crossed his arms, his expression making it clear there wasn't much room for argument.
"If this is just a recon job, then why the hell am I here to sit on a roof and babysit a helicopter?" He frowned. "You don't need me for that. You barely need anyone for that." Chris tapped a finger against the edge of the desk. "They're sending you into an +
[CLOSED STARTER;
for @TheCallousWolf]
"It's supposed to be simple," Leon rumbled out, aged eyes focusing on the computer screen in front of him. "Sherry sent me the map. I go, I look at the," pausing, trying to recall . . . he knows this, he does! He just needs a (+)
abandoned orphanage because they suspect underground research, but somehow the priority is making sure someone 'stays with the helicopter'?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't add up."
His gaze settled firmly on Leon. "And I'm not buying the 'in and out' line either. I've heard that +