( ... reluctantly, he takes a step closer. )

an agent. ( the words came out like a shot — rehearsed, automatic. said a million and one times, an answer that didn't tell too much but yet just enough. ) but i guess you could say i had army training.

( pretends to be shocked, dramatically gripping the space above his heart at being splashed with water himself. ) i was playing a fair game. just accept that you lost.

leon smiles, one brow raised as he leaned further in. "that's my name."

yeah, he gets that. but does it feel more like an arm? a leg? that's what he wonders.

( leon fell into step beside him, one hand tucked into his jacket where his fingers brushed absently over the envelope. ) once or twice. ( the reply came soft, reminiscing about the last time he'd been there — running away from zombies and all. )

📱: i can't wait to get my hands on it. 📱: been dying all day to get one.

belated mother's day, mama. ( i don't know if i miss you. )

* flaring up rlly bad. i'll be back

󠀠 Played bingo today , can underatand why Leon is so obsessed with it . 󠀠󠀠

ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ

* that's my daughter!!! 😭🥹

( yeah, that does it. not the insults. not the narcissist comment. not even the accusation of being a drunk piece of shit. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘮𝘦. something in leon snaps so violently he feels it in his chest. for one awful moment, all he can hear is the rush of blood in his ears, his heart beating so +

* oh wow.

ismere orpheus core

look who finally managed to open his fucking mouth after all this time. good job, i'm 𝙨𝙤 proud of you. took you long enough.

get the stick out of our ass if you're gonna insult me into the open.

i don't think hapiness is made for guys like us, clary.

( leon laughs. it comes out as a short burst, gone as quickly as it had arrived, but he laughs 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰. if he didn't, he might've jumped him right then and there, a fist straight to the face. ) should i tattoo the answer on my face? ( the question almost spat. )

( so is leon. he sits up, looking at luis — and oh, he wishes that his face would be calm and collected, but he knew luis could 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 the anger oozing out of him. ) why do you treat me like a fucking toy?

( he stays true to his words: he doesn't move a single inch. he might even make it harder by tensing up every single muscle. ) you didn't have to, y'know.

i'm content out here, thank you. send a strand to grace and co, though.

dreamland.

i'm not mad. i'm tired. now leave me alone, thanks.

depends. some guys seem happy.

the truth hurts.

send my corpse off to be tested on.

he has issues.

🧍‍♂️ ok.

( is dead. someone tell orpheus. )

( drowns and finally fucking dies. ) peace... at last.

yes. and i would've added another sixteen times if it didn't... already happen.

... yeah.

what is wrong with you.

( sighs once again, shaking his head. ) no, sorry. it's all good, i don't know what's gotten into me. maybe i didn't sleep that well. ( he tries to smile, watching orpheus open the box. truth be told, he doesn't even know what they taste like. the last time he had them, +

i wouldn't say all hope is lost, but... be careful, and who knows? he might.

... right. yeah. that sounds wrong coming from your mouth. stop joking around.

neither can i, but i'm taking it. you don't want to know how often i asked him to marry me just to get a no, it's embarassing.

even when everything goes bad, hope is the one thing we have left.

you... 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 them? but you're right, i would have loved to see their faces.

i would've reacted very differently a few years ago, but we live and learn!

( leon sets the cup down on the table before lowering himself into a chair, leaning back, his gaze only leaving orpheus after a second of too much staring. ) thank you.

i guess you're right, i never looked at it this way... we guys never have to be that careful. there's a lot i can learn from you, alice.

i like the sound of serra.

that's... nice. very nice. ... what is my name now.

the mind is a fickle thing. it can betray you as much as a stranger can, and in that case you need those you trust around to catch you. it's a double-edged sword.