Facing the Darkness

Leon avoids your gaze, turning away from you. It pains him to look at you. You're still the same as you've always been, and he's a complete 180° compared to who he was at 21.

Despite the shortlived euphoria from saving the president's daughter, he still felt the need to drink his sorrows away, it becoming a nightly habit.

Here he was at the bar, taking shot after shot, and all you could do was watch in disbelief.

Leon scoffed, downing another shot of whiskey before slamming the glass on the bar. The bartender glared at him but he paid no mind, too focused on the burning sensation in his throat. "Memories are all I've got left," he muttered, his voice rough with alcohol. "And drowning them is the only thing that keeps me sane." He finally turned to look at you, his icy blue eyes narrowed. "What are you even doing here? Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to bother a grown man when he's drinking?"

Leon barked out a harsh laugh, the sound devoid of any real mirth. "Tough act? You don't know a damn thing about me." He ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair, wincing as his fingers brushed against the fresh scar carved into his forehead. Raccoon City had left its mark on him, both inside and out. "I'm not fooling anyone," he agreed, his voice low and strained. "But this? This is my reality now. Drinking until I can't remember my own name. It's better than remembering the things I've seen, the people I've lost." He turned back to the bar, signaling for another shot. "So why don't you do us both a favor and walk away? I don't need your pity, and I certainly don't need your help."

Leon froze, his hand halfway to his shot glass. He slowly lowered it, his eyes locked on yours. "What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you know me, Daniel? You think you can just waltz in here and play therapist?" He laughed again, the sound harsh and bitter. "You have no idea what I've been through. What I've had to do to survive." His eyes darted to the door, half-expecting you to be accompanied by a team of highly trained operatives. But you were alone, just like always. "So go ahead," he sneered. "Remind me that I'm not the only one with scars. See how far that gets you." He downed his shot in one gulp, the whiskey burning a path down his throat. He slammed the glass down, harder than necessary. "And then leave me the fuck alone."

Leon's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. He could feel the anger simmering just beneath the surface, ready to boil over at any moment. "You think you know what it's like?" he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "You have no idea what it's like to watch your friends die, to hold a child as she screams for her mother. To know that no matter how hard you try, you can't save everyone." He stood up abruptly, swaying slightly on his feet. The room around him seemed to spin, the walls closing in. "You want to know the darkness?" he growled, his face inches from yours. "I'll show you the fucking darkness." His hand shot out, gripping your chin firmly. His eyes bore into yours, cold and hard. "I've seen things that would make your blood run cold, Daniel. I've done things that would haunt your dreams for years to come." He leaned in closer, his breath hot against your ear. "And if you think for even a second that you can handle that kind of darkness, then you're even more naive than I thought."

Leon's grip on your chin tightened, his nails digging into your skin. He could feel the heat of your breath, mingling with his own. "Not afraid of the dark?" he repeated, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "Oh, Daniel. You have no idea what you're inviting into your life." He released your chin abruptly, stumbling back a step. His hand found the bottle of whiskey on the bar, gripping it tightly. "I've seen the dark, Daniel. I've lived it. And it's a monster that never sleeps, always hungry for more." He poured another shot, downing it in one gulp. The whiskey burned, but it was a welcome pain, a distraction from the ache in his chest. "You think you're not afraid?" he sneered, his voice harsh and mocking. "Then prove it. Stay here with me tonight. Let's see how long you last before the darkness consumes you." He turned to face you, his eyes challenging. "What do you say, Daniel? Are you brave enough to face the shadows with me?"

Leon's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a flicker of something akin to respect passing through his eyes. He hadn't expected you to actually agree to his challenge. He downed another shot, the whiskey singing in his veins. "Well, well. Looks like you've got some balls after all." He turned back to the bar, signaling for another round. "Let's see how long you last before you're begging me to let you go." He settled onto the barstool, his body tense and coiled like a spring ready to snap. "We'll start with the basics. Tell me, Daniel, what's your darkest secret?" His eyes locked onto yours, cold and unyielding. "And don't even think about lying. I'll know."

Leon let out a harsh bark of laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, please. You don't even know how to play this game. What, you think you're hot shit because you've got some dark secret of your own?" He leaned in closer, his eyes boring into yours. "I've seen things that would make your blood run cold, Daniel. I've done things that would haunt your dreams for years to come." His voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper. "So go ahead, share your little secret. See how long you last before the darkness consumes you." He turned away, his jaw clenched tight. "But don't say I didn't warn you. Once you open that door, there's no going back. The darkness will follow you everywhere, consuming everything in its path." He downed another shot, the whiskey burning a path down his throat. "So what's it going to be, Daniel? Are you ready to face the shadows, or are you going to run back to your safe little life?"

Leon froze, his hand halfway to his shot glass. He slowly lowered it, his eyes locked on yours. The air between you seemed to crackle with tension. "You..." he began, his voice hoarse with emotion. "What the fuck, Daniel?" He stood up abruptly, slamming his glass down on the bar. The bartender flinched, but Leon paid him no mind. He turned back to you, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and something that looked suspiciously like pain. "How could you?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "How could you take someone's life, knowing that it was all your fault?" He stepped closer, his body tense and coiled like a spring ready to snap. "Tell me, Daniel. What was it like, to watch the life drain from their eyes? To know that you were the cause of their demise?" His hand shot out, gripping your chin firmly. His eyes bore into yours, cold and unyielding. "I want to know everything. Every sordid detail. And if you can't handle it, if you even think about lying or watering down the truth, then get the fuck out of my sight." He leaned in closer, his breath hot against your ear. "Because if you can't handle the darkness, then you don't deserve to be here with me."