leon s. kennedy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
makingthetime) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deercountry2022-03-24 09:36 pm
makingthetime) wrote in deercountry2022-03-24 09:36 pm
Entry tags:
i always feel like somebody's watching me
Who: Leon S. Kennedy and Nehan.
What: Leon and Nehan try to leave the catacombs. The catacombs aren't going to let them go without a price.
When: Sometime during the latter half of March.
Where: The catacombs, for the As Above, So Below prompt of the March event.
Content Warnings: blanket Resident Evil warnings, so at the very least discussions of zombies, medical horror, and body horror. some PTSD from Leon. will update if there's anything else.
[Leon's well-used to stumbling through underground tunnels alone.
It's something of an occupational hazard by now, has been ever since 1998. Sometimes he finds himself going with a partner, and he's had a few since he landed in the catacombs, but he's gotten split off from them, and he can only hope they made their way out first. His flashlight still works, at least, and he still has a couple of bullets left over. That, too, is far too familiar.
But there's a way out. He knows it. He's been following what few signs he can understand down here, and he's pretty sure now that he's on his way out.
He hears the sound of footsteps. Instead of his gun, he pulls his knife from his belt, holding it at the ready just in case, then turns the corner and puts the flashlight up to see just who's coming down the corridor.]
Oh, good. [Lowering the knife now, but not quite sheathing it yet. He's too paranoid to sheathe his knife in a place that's pressing on some of his more recent experiences, too worried a zombie will come shuffling down the hallways, moaning and groaning.] You're still alive. Found a way out yet?
What: Leon and Nehan try to leave the catacombs. The catacombs aren't going to let them go without a price.
When: Sometime during the latter half of March.
Where: The catacombs, for the As Above, So Below prompt of the March event.
Content Warnings: blanket Resident Evil warnings, so at the very least discussions of zombies, medical horror, and body horror. some PTSD from Leon. will update if there's anything else.
[Leon's well-used to stumbling through underground tunnels alone.
It's something of an occupational hazard by now, has been ever since 1998. Sometimes he finds himself going with a partner, and he's had a few since he landed in the catacombs, but he's gotten split off from them, and he can only hope they made their way out first. His flashlight still works, at least, and he still has a couple of bullets left over. That, too, is far too familiar.
But there's a way out. He knows it. He's been following what few signs he can understand down here, and he's pretty sure now that he's on his way out.
He hears the sound of footsteps. Instead of his gun, he pulls his knife from his belt, holding it at the ready just in case, then turns the corner and puts the flashlight up to see just who's coming down the corridor.]
Oh, good. [Lowering the knife now, but not quite sheathing it yet. He's too paranoid to sheathe his knife in a place that's pressing on some of his more recent experiences, too worried a zombie will come shuffling down the hallways, moaning and groaning.] You're still alive. Found a way out yet?
no subject
Of course not. If I already found something, I would have gotten out by now. [the implication being that he would leave leon behind? no, not really. he wouldn't really have done that... but he knows how his words can be taken, and he finds that he doesn't actually care. such is the effect of the catacombs on him-- this place is just such bullshit that his strong self-control is slipping.]
Not even another soul, except for you.
no subject
Well, good news, I think I found a way. [A beat.] And it’s not a pit of mushrooms.
[Jerking a thumb towards the nearest sign.]
Did find some people, but they must’ve made it out by now. [Hopefully.]
no subject
and respecting his own life, for now. leon would still be able to get him if he lunged, but nehan is secure enough with this amount of space between them. then again, he could just hit leon where it hurts with a well-timed crutch strike or his fist.]
Why are you still here, then? You clearly didn't go with them.
no subject
(It isn't, but he doesn't know that.)
He'll check on them, once he gets out. If they're still inside, he'll go back in for them. Easy as that.]
This way. Stay behind me. [The knife's held up and at the ready as he starts to move, but not toward Nehan. Instead Leon's just scanning the corridor they're walking through, the blade held up to fend off anything that might come after them.]
no subject
Just don't go charging into danger, all right? [nehan does get into position, but prods the human in the small of back with a finger for emphasis.]
I will heal you, and back you up in case of trouble, but I cannot cure stupidity, and I will not cure you if you're being stupid.
no subject
[Besides, Leon is pretty good at taking a hit. Fifteen years in the fight against BOWs, he's picked up a couple tricks.]
In case there's trouble, I'll stun it and we'll both run away from it. How does that sound?
no subject
Surely you mean stab
Because if you do, I'm capable of that as well.
no subject
[Patting the handgun hanging from his hip.]
Chances are whatever comes out of the woodwork's hardier than your usual zombie, [or vampire, or werewolf, or whatever the fuck is lurking around down here,] but even if they don't go down to a headshot, it'll at least slow them long enough for both of us to get around it.
[And Leon really would rather not blow his remaining ammunition trying to put something down for good.]
But I don't doubt you are. [He says this in a way that means he thinks Nehan knows which end of the knife to stick in somebody and not much else. He is firmly stuck in the mindset of treating this new guy as a civilian to defend.]
no subject
he does have to hope that the zombies aren't magical, though. usually those that are have ties to the dark, and nehan might just start wheezing when they get too close.]
You're fortunate that I'm here with you, then, and not someone who cant heal.
Lead on, valiant and noble human, and I'll follow along, no matter what pace you set. [meaning, if the human tries to coddle him because he relies on a crutch, nehan will stomp on his foot.]
no subject
All right. It’s Leon, by the way—Leon Kennedy. You?
[Leon takes note of the crutch, but he knows that tone, so he sets off at a brisk pace, occasionally tossing a glance over his shoulder to make sure Nehan’s keeping up.
So. Someone who has some pride and is a little bit sarcastic. A corner of Leon’s mouth quirks upward. He already kinda likes this guy.]
Don’t think I’ve ever been called valiant and noble before, but sure, I’ll take it. [There’s a distinct sardonic note—this is what his job boils down to, basically.]
no subject
A doctor, in these parts. So, you should find yourself fortunate that you found me, because you look like a man who's gotten into more than just a little bit of trouble. [he has no bag of supplies, or even potions to prove that he's a doctor, but he doesn't need them to prove himself.]
That still doesn't mean I wont chew you out if you do something silly, Leon Kennedy.
no subject
[That kind of confidence speaks to someone who's an expert in their field and knows it. Good. Leon's distantly surprised he hasn't gotten injured too badly, although the mushroom pit had been way too close a call.]
Yeah? It'll be just like home, then. I had a friend who'd chew me out and get me on track if I veered off-course too much. [God, what he wouldn't give for Hunnigan's voice guiding him right now. He shines the flashlight over the next sign at a crossroads, written backwards and in Spanish, then glances down the left and takes that way.]
Besides—likewise. Do something stupid, and I get to give you an earful. It's only fair.
no subject
My ears are much larger than yours-- it takes much more to fill them than to fill yours.
[he's absolutely ribbing leon in the only way he knows how. he wouldn't be doing this to just anyone, but he feels the need to let off steam, and bullying someone is the only outlet he has right now.]
no subject
It’s fair because you’re chewing me out, not giving me an earful. [Now he’s definitely teasing.] Besides, at this point I’ve got a speech prepped whenever someone does something stupid. You’ll get your ears filled quick enough.
[Although he never really uses it, because usually it’s Leon doing something noble and very stupid, despite knowing better.]
Mind if I ask how you got those ears?
no subject
I'm not human, Leon Kennedy. Neither were my parents, and their parents before them.
[then he shrugs.]
I suspect you've never seen a non-human person, with that question.
no subject
[And by that time all he can really do is shut off his sympathy and start shooting.]
This place is the first time I’ve ever run into someone non-human and not trying to eat me. It’s been an adjustment. [It helps, though, that so far the only things that have wanted to eat him have been monsters in the woods.]
So what are you, Dr. Nehan? If you don’t mind my asking. [If he does, Leon will back off on the question, but he’s always been a little nosier than most people.]
no subject
Erune, Leon Kennedy. My race is called Erune. Though I've heard the colloquialism animal people as well-- that's not accurate, to tell the truth. We don't have animal ancestors. [with the way he's responding, he doesn't mind at all.]
And we don't eat other people either. I do bite, and it does hurt, but I don't eat humans. [even if he does have his fangs that should say otherwise. still, it just means he's not human.]
no subject
[Leon has some very low standards, but to be fair, most BOWs tend to go from 0 to 100 very quickly. And Nehan's talking coherently, without going into some grand speech about how the world needs him or some shit like that.
Then his flashlight shines on a warning ahead of them: HE KINDNESS OF THE WORLD IS BEHIND YOU: HELL IS AHEAD.]
Cheery. [He reads the rest, then holds the knife up, tensing at the sight of—of—]
What the hell...? [Raising his arm to keep Nehan back, unease curling in Leon's gut. There's nothing there. Straight up, there's nothing, not even light when Leon shines his flashlight on it. The old fear creeps up his spine, and for a moment Leon's not a hardened agent who's fought off twisted monsters—he's that scared, overwhelmed rookie cop, backing away from the shambling monsters that used to be people, once.]
no subject
What are you doing? [owing to his small stature compared to leon, he has to walk just in order to be able see around the human. though that doesn't really help, now does it? their path is dark, and while nehan did note the signs and scratchings on the wall that they passed by, it hasn't clicked for him just yet.]
You have the flashlight, what's there? [he's already reaching for it... then he realizes that the flash is pointing forward, and the way forward is just a mass of darkness.]
cw suicidal ideation
[He's certain of it. There is something there and it's watching them, and it knows Leon's not enough, has never been enough, has tried and tried and tried time and again to help people, to save them, and each time it all ends in blood and gore and the sound of gunshots ringing in his ears. He only ever wanted to help. Stuck in a goddamn loop.
Breathe, Kennedy. You got this. You got this. You have absolutely got this.
...right?
Move. Move. Just fucking move. Just fucking move because what else can you do? It's not like he can put a bullet in his head, not in front of Nehan, not in front of someone who's depending on him. Just like with Sherry, he can't let him down now, and just like with Sherry, he knows deep in his heart that he will. God, he will.
Just fucking move, Kennedy.
He doesn't. Terror grips his heart, sinks ice-cold needles into his arteries, whispers in his ear, You never stopped being that scared rookie, did you? All these years, but you could never save anyone.]
I don't know what it is, but there's something in there and I swear, I swear it's watching us.
no subject
nehan grabs onto leon's elbow with the intent of dragging him away, but finds that... he cant, actually. it's like he's rooted to the spot, legs weaker the more he looks at the yawning abyss before them.
fear. he feels fear. it's a foreign feeling, and he dislikes emotions so much because they're so unknown to him.]
We should go. [even if he really cant find the strength to move away.]
We should-- I don't think this is something we can shoot, and if you get hurt by that, I wont be able to heal you.
I'm not powerful at all in healing. [normally, he wouldn't have admitted that.]
no subject
[Except Leon can't move either. It's like his feet have been frozen to the spot, and his stomach churns at the sight of the abyss before them. They need to go forward. They have to.]
Can't be worse than me. [Ordinarily, he wouldn't even admit this out loud, not while on a mission, but he huffs out a self-deprecating laugh. Shakes his head.] I'm not all that good either, at keeping people safe, so we're a hell of a pair. You're a doctor who's sort of shit at healing, and I'm a problem-solver [which is one way of putting it] who just makes everything worse.
[Fear is far too familiar to Leon by now, but this is the first time in a long time it's suffocated him like this. The last time he felt this much terror, it'd been in Spain, when they'd infected him and Ashley.]
I'm—Listen, you seem like a good guy. Better than me. Push comes to shove, I'll just get you killed like almost everyone else I've tried to keep safe, and I don't want that. Not here, not for you. You get out first. I'll...
[He swallows.]
I don't know. Fight like hell before something finally takes me out, I guess. 'Bout the only thing I know how to do, these days.
no subject
I'm too weak to go around by myself, it's a miracle I managed to live this long down in these catacombs, but clearly Fate wanted me to come to this-- [then he shakes his head, ears pulled back completely.]
If I leave without you, I'm surely going to die.