Work Text:
You step out of the elevator as quickly as you can, gripping tightly the coffee you bought before arriving at the office. You take a sip, trying not to spill it all over your shirt, while you hurry toward your desk, praying no one sees you… until you see Ada.
She’s leaning against the reception desk on your floor, chatting happily with the receptionist. She looks… God, she looks incredible.
She’s wearing a black dress that fits her perfectly. Her legs are crossed so naturally, and the smile on her face looks exactly the same. Even the way she’s holding her tablet seems effortless… as if she wasn’t really working and there wasn’t a stressful day clearly waiting for her.
You sigh, forcing your gaze away from her and head back toward your desk.
“Morning!”
You look up while setting your bag and coffee on the desk and sitting down.
You don’t need to look to know whose voice that is. You know it perfectly well.
After all, you’d known it since you were just a kid.
“Morning…” you murmur without much enthusiasm as you turn on your computer.
Even though you’ve been acting like this with him for a couple of weeks now, Leon can’t help but feel bad about it.
He doesn’t know how it happened or why, but he didn’t want to ask you in case you didn’t want to talk about it… which, honestly, was probably true. At first, he thought it was the stress from the deadlines that had suddenly been dumped on you, those endless meetings you had to attend, all the reports you had to finish…
Leon adores Chris, just like the rest of you do, but he knows the stress at Redfield Industries can sometimes be… overwhelming, to say the least. Still, going from that to you barely talking to him, or even looking at him lately… And not to mention that, when you did, it felt like you were talking to a regular coworker instead of your best friend.
Ada watches the two of you from the reception desk and can’t help letting out a quiet laugh.
She keeps looking between you and thinking about how stupid the two of you are. She’s known way too long that there’s something more between you and Leon, and she also knows you’re both too stupid to actually admit it to each other…
She smiles slightly and, decisively, walks toward Leon’s desk.
“Morning, Kennedy.”
“Morning.”
Ada glances at you, then back at Leon.
“Did you two have a fight or something?” she asks bluntly.
“What?”
“You two,” she says, pointing at you and Leon without any shame. “She’s been avoiding you for two weeks now. Did you fight?” she presses. “Did something else happen apart from what we talked about?”
Leon turns to look at you as well. You’re completely absorbed in your screen, sitting too close to it while writing down something in your planner.
He can’t help it. He smiles way too much… like an obvious idiot in love he is.
“No,” he answers. “At least… I don’t think so.”
“Well… if I were you, I’d think again about what we talked about, you know,” Ada says, tapping her tablet. “Whatever it’s going on in her head… I think you should talk to her about about it. She looks like absolute shit.”
He turns toward you again.
He doesn’t really need to look at you. He’s already seen it during these past days, when you’ve barely exchanged a few glances and that occasional “morning.”
Yeah… you really look like shit.
Leon stands up and, without even thinking, starts walking toward your desk until Ada grabs his arm, forcing him to stop.
“What are you going to do?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“What you said: fix whatever is happening, and talk to her about it.”
Ada smiles. She pats him on the back before letting him go, and he walks quickly toward you until he stops in front of your desk.
You don’t even need to look up to know he’s there.
You stop typing, nervous, not not quite sure about what to do or say.
“Hi,” Leon says quietly.
“Hi,” you reply shyly, not daring to take your eyes off the screen.
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Leon moving beside you, sitting on the edge of your desk.
“Okay… I just want to ask you this because, well… I’m a little uncomfortable with this situation…”
You sigh quietly, knowing perfectly well what he means.
“And what exactly are you uncomfortable about?” you ask quickly, mentally cursing yourself because you know exactly what he’s talking about.
“Why are you ignoring me?”
You blink a couple of times, as if processing something you’re already fully aware of.
Of course it was that.
“I’m not ignoring you,” you reply quickly, even more nervous.
Leon exhales sharply, rolling his eyes.
“You haven’t had lunch with me in two weeks. We always have lunch together. Since middle school, by the way. Even in university, when we studied different degreest.”
“You know I’ve been busy with meetings…”
“You always leave them before I can even say goodbye.”
“You also know I have to work on all those reports Chris gave me. And I think you also know there are far too many.”
“I don’t think a few reports stop you from, at least, answering me when I say goodbye.”
You feel a knot form in your stomach.
“I didn’t hear you.”
Leon crosses his arms and lets out a quiet, disappointed laugh.
“I hope you know that you don’t know how to lie. Thought you’d do, at least, a bit better.”
After those words leave his mouth, you finally dare to look at him for the first time all day… and, probably, for the first time in two weeks.
You feel bad when Leon’s eyes meet yours. His gaze doesn’t show anger… it’s more like he’s hurt not only about the situation, but about you too.
“I’m not lying to you, Leon,” you reply quietly.
Leon doesn’t bother trying to pull the truth out of you anymore. He tries to calm his nerves, the frustration building inside him because he hates when you’re that stubborn.
He runs a hand through his hair, sighs, and asks again:
“Did I do something wrong?”
“What? No, of course not.”
“Did I say something that upset you? You know you can tell me if I did—”
“No! Of course not!”
“Then what’s wrong?” Leon insists, his tone now clearly worried.
You quickly look away from him.
No. You couldn’t tell him. Not a chance. And, especially, not now that he seems a bit closer with Ada.
Speaking of the devil, you hear Ada walking right behind the two of you at that exact moment, moving with that unmistakable confidence of hers. You focus on the sharp click of her heels, but you can’t help looking her up and down as she passes.
Leon doesn’t even bother following your gaze. He knows perfectly well who you’re looking at.
Instead, he keeps looking at you, just as he’s been doing for longer than he’s willing to admit.
And in that moment, something seems to click in his head about what’s really going on.
“Is it Ada?”
His question catches you completely off guard, especially taking into account… that, maybe, he’s not entirely wrong.
You immediately shake your head.
“No. Of course not.”
And with that answer, and also with how nervous you’re acting, Leon realizes his suspicion is probably right.
“What about Ada?” he presses, trying to get you to say what’s actually bothering you.
“Nothing,” you answer quickly.
“Then why—?”
“Leon, it’s nothing. Really, don’t overthink this… or whatever you think is happening between us… or whatever you’re imagining. Everything’s fine. I don’t have any problem with you.”
Leon goes quiet.
Too quiet.
“Is it because Chris put me to work with her on the new project?”
Your best friend’s voice is soft and sincere. His eyes remain on you, and now you’d swear they’re even gentler. You also feel like he’s a bit closer, but maybe that’s just your imagination.
Was it really that obvious? Because ever since Leon and Ada actually started working together on that new project, you’ve tried very hard not to let it show… that.
You never wanted it to show.
It was stupid. Really stupid.
Besides, Leon was your best friend. If he started a relationship with Ada for whatever reason… you should be happy for him. Wong was brilliant, confident, and everyone liked her because she had a way of lightning up every room she entered. Not to mention she was beautiful.
And you…
Well… you were just you. Nothing more than that.
“You and Ada make a very good team,” you say quietly, staring at the crooked little clay figurine your niece made for you.
“That’s it? You and Ada make a very good team?” Leon repeats, crossing his arms.
You shrug.
“What else do you want me to say? She’s one of the best employees in the company. Her results speak for themselves. If Chris chose her to work with you, there must be a reason.”
Leon looks at you for a moment, especially after the tone you used with that last remark.
If you’re thinking what he thinks you’re thinking about…
He shakes his head. He tries not to, but… a smile slips onto his lips.
You’re so wrong.
“You know Ada tried to turn the project down, right?”
You snap your head up and look at him.
“What?”
“In fact, when Chris offered us the project, the first thing she said was that she wanted to decline it and that you should work on it with me instead,” he explains. “Chris told her he had another project in mind and wanted you and Jill to handle that one. And, besides, you already had way too many reports and he thought you were too stressed to give you even more work.”
“Yeah, right. That’s nonsense. When would Chris ever say that? And Ada…” you mutter under your breath, though Leon still hears you.
“I’m serious. Chris didn’t want to overwhelm you more, really. And Ada insisted quite a bit… and you know how she is when she insists.”
You open your mouth to argue again, but it’s pointless.
Especially when, for you, the problem was never the work.
It was the way Leon laughed with Ada.
How relaxed he looked every time he was with her.
The confidence she had talking to him about anything.
Basically, the confidence Ada had to do all the things you’ve wanted to do with Leon since you fell in love with him during your senior year of high school.
You feel the desk shift slightly and see Leon getting down from it to stand beside you, slipping an arm around you as he bends a little to your level.
“Hey… You know you’re my best friend, right?”
“Yeah.”
He straightens up and grabs the chair from the desk next to you, dragging it over until he’s sitting right beside you. Then, he takes your chair and turns it so you’re facing him… pulling it closer as well until you end up way too close to him.
When you look away, Leon gently takes your chin, making you look at him while he gives you a small and shy smile.
“Why is it that, if you’re my best friend, I feel like you’re pushing me away from you?” he asks, shifting slightly in his seat. “Why does it feel like you don’t trust me anymore? You know you can tell me anything… right?”
You nod timidly, because it’s true… even you can’t tell him everything.
You know that, if you confessed to him your real feelings… if you told him you love him as more than a friend…
You can’t help but laugh. You shake your head, pushing away the thousand thoughts starting to form in your mind because this is real life, not some stupid rom-com.
You can’t tell Leon you’re in love with him.
“Of course I can tell you anything. That’s what I do, after all,” you finally say.
Leon stares at you intently. He knows you far too well to miss the fact that, just like you were doing before, you’re still lying.
That’s the damn problem, and what you hate most of all: Leon Kennedy knows you too well.
“Do you think I like Ada?”
His gaze softens slightly when he asks that. You, however, don’t answer, which only seems to make Leon relax even more. Not to mention he looks a little amused by all of this when you see the corners of his lips curl up.
He widens his eyes, waiting for an answer that never comes and which, deep down, is confirmation enough for him.
“Oh my God…” he groans softly, even letting out a small laugh.
“What?” you snap defensively right away.
“Do you really think I like Ada?” he repeats, this time much calmer.
“Did I say that?” you cross your arms. “Because I’m pretty sure I didn’t, Leon. Maybe you need to get your ears checked or something, because—”
“You don’t have to say it. It’s written all over your face.”
You feel bad when he says that, especially the way he says it.
Leon doesn’t sound angry, but more like… disappointed? Worried, maybe?
“You’re jealous.”
You feel your cheeks grow hot instantly.
“Me? Not a chance.”
“Yes, you definitely are,” he insists.
“I’m not jealous, Leon.”
“Oh, come on. You stopped talking to me the moment Ada and I started working on that project together.”
“I didn’t stop talking to you because of that.”
“Oh, so you admit you stopped talking to me because of something? Then, what is it?”
You wave your hands nervously, trying to find the right words so he’ll understand… or, at least, believes something of what you’re saying.
“Come on, Leon… It’s obvious!”
“What’s obvious?”
You glance away and timidly point toward Ada’s cubicle, where she’s working… until she looks over and waves at you both.
You immediately turn back to Leon, your cheeks even redder now… and you’re far more nervous.
“It’s just… It’s Ada,” you finally admit, much to your own dismay.
“And? What about Ada?”
“Well… She’s confident, intelligent, incredibly beautiful, everyone likes her…” you sigh, trying not to overthink it and, especially, not to compare yourself to her. “In fact, I’m sure you two should probably be working together right now and—”
“She’s the one who encouraged me to come talk to you.”
Leon’s confession catches you completely off guard.
He glances briefly toward Ada… and sees her smiling widely, leaning on her desk, clearly more than interested in the conversation the two of you are having, especially since you’re being anything but subtle.
“What?” you squeak. “But… I mean… I don’t know… It just feels like she actually gets along with you, and like the two of you fit quite well together, which you and I don’t—”
“Wait, what do you mean with that thing you were going to say? That you and I don’t fit together?” Leon asks, staring at you in disbelief.
You shake your head, but he already knows what you were about to say.
“Seriously, why would you say that? Don’t you think we get along? I thought we did… after all these years.”
“I didn’t mean it like that… I didn’t mean it as friends, Leon.”
“Then what way did you mean it?”
You look away from him.
No way.
You can’t tell him. The thought doesn’t even cross your mind.
How could you possibly tell him you’ve been in love with him… for years?
Leon doesn’t say anything for a moment, but he does laugh quietly again, with that fucking and stupid laugh of his.
You immediately look up, hurt, and can’t help snapping at him because of the situation:
“What the fuck do you find so funny?”
He simply shakes his head, that stupid smile of his widening again.
“You’re unbelievable, seriously…”
“No, excuse me, you’re the unbelievable one. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have said anything, and—”
“Do you seriously think I’d choose Ada over you? A coworker I only have a professional relationship with, even if we get along well, over my best friend?”
“I didn’t say that.”
A lie. Of course you did.
“Do you want to know what Ada told me the other day?” Leon asks, leaning closer to you again. “That if I didn’t ask you out soon, she was going to lose patience and tell you herself.”
You freeze in complete shock.
No…
Impossible.
“What?”
“Yeah… that,” Leon says. Now he’s the one who looks completely embarrassed. He rubs the back of his neck nervously, and you even notice how he tries to lower his gaze, though he stops himself.
“What do you mean ask me out? Go out as… friends, right?”
“I meant something else… Going out as in a relationship… a couple… giving it a try to be something more than just friends… basically.”
Your heart skips a beat.
He must have lost his mind.
Leon probably had a fever and was delirious… Or maybe it was some bet he’d made with Chris, like in those movies where the girl ends up with a broken heart.
Yeah, that had to be something like that.
“You’re joking.”
“Actually, I’m not,” Leon says. Finally, he looks at you again, and now… “It’s the exact opposite.”
“But, you and Ada…”
“We’re just coworkers.”
“But, you two…”
“Do you seriously think I’m going to tell you right now that I’m in love with Ada when the person I’ve actually been in love with for two years now is my best friend? Do you really think I’d say that? Do you really think I’d lie to you the same way you’ve lied to me?”
You feel a knot forming in your stomach… one that feels much more like the butterflies you had as a teenager when you first started liking Leon.
“What do you mean you’re in love with your best friend?”
Leon looks at you steadily and says nothing.
You process his words and—
“Holy fuck,” you blurt out. “But—”
“It’s not how I would’ve liked to confess my feelings, but…” Leon groans, rubbing his hands over his eyes. “Yeah. I’m in love with my best friend.”
“But… that… that’s me,” you stammer. “Are you sure you don’t have another best friend that—?”
“It’s you. It’s always been you.”
“Oh…”
“That’s all you’re going to say? Nothing like “Oh, Leon, I’ve been in love with you for a while too, and I told Claire, and—”?”
“How do you know I told Claire?”
You curse quietly.
“Ada overheard you two talking in the bathroom,” he explains. “She told me when I said I liked you… because she assumed neither of us would ever actually say anything to the other. But she didn’t mean to cause any problems, I swear!”
You cover your face with your hands, completely mortified.
Leon gently takes your hands and pulls them away, kissing them while he keeps looking at you.
“Are you still jealous of Ada?”
“Well… a little,” you admit.
“You’re stubborn… but I’m also kind of glad you acted like this with me these past few weeks.”
“Oh, really?”
“Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have told you any of this,” Leon assures you.
You smile shyly, lowering your head.
Leon stands up from his chair and offers you his hand.
For the first time in a long time… you take it, feeling far more confident than you have in weeks.
“So… can I take my best friend out?” he asks. “You know… dinner, bowling, a movie… whatever you want.”
“You want us to go on a date?”
“Of course I do.”
You walk together toward the elevator, hand in hand. You pass by Ada’s desk, and both you and Leon glance at her.
She’s looking up from her tablet, grinning from ear to ear.
“About time you two stopped being idiots.”