As they finally left the crumbling ruins of Ein Soldat behind, the oppressive weight of the place seemed to lift. The barren landscape outside stretched before them, desolate and empty, but at least they weren't dealing with scavengers or traps anymore. The storm clouds on the horizon promised bad weather, though, and Leon knew they couldn't stay out in the open for long.
He cast a glance over at Raziel, who was still limping slightly, her mechanical parts glinting faintly beneath the charred remains of her skin. She was clearly drained, her powers no longer sparking up, but she hadn't once asked for help. Stubborn as hell, he thought to himself.
"We're heading to my hideout," Leon said, breaking the silence. "It's a few miles out. Should be safe enough for now."
Raziel barely responded, her expression distant. She was too tired to argue, too worn down to even care where they were going. Her mind was somewhere else entirely—back to the events that had led her here. The memories were fragmented, disjointed, but they all carried the same weight of betrayal, pain, and survival. House Infinite. Her mentor. The flames. Her escape. Every thought felt heavy, like it was dragging her deeper into the exhaustion.
Leon noticed her silence, glancing at her again. "You still with me, or did you check out?"
Raziel blinked, pulled from her thoughts by his voice. "I'm here."
"Doesn't sound like it," Leon muttered, his patience starting to wear thin. "You've been zoned out since we left. You planning on sharing what's on your mind, or are you just gonna keep brooding until you pass out?"
Raziel shot him a look, though it lacked her usual fire. "Not that it's any of your business."
Leon stopped in his tracks, turning to face her. "You know, you've got a real attitude problem."
Raziel rolled her eyes, clearly too exhausted to engage. "I'm too tired for this."
"Yeah, well, so am I," Leon snapped, frustration bubbling up now that they weren't in immediate danger. "But that doesn't mean you get to act like a brat. You've been rude since the second I pulled you out of that trap, and I'm sick of it."
Raziel narrowed her eyes at him, but she didn't have the energy to fight back like she normally would. "I didn't ask for your help."
"No, you didn't. But you sure as hell needed it," Leon shot back, his voice rising. "And now we're stuck out here, heading to my place, and you can't even say thanks or act like a normal person for five seconds."
Raziel huffed, crossing her arms defensively. "Maybe if you weren't so annoying, I'd be nicer."
Leon's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Me? I'm the annoying one? You're the one who's been complaining non-stop, acting like I'm the bad guy for trying to keep us alive!"
Raziel, in her exhaustion, took a step closer to him, her guard dropping. "I never asked you to do that!"
The sibling-like banter peaked as they squared off, Leon shaking his head in disbelief. "No, you didn't. But you're stuck with me now, so maybe—just maybe—try acting like a human being for once!"
Raziel opened her mouth to fire back, but no words came. She was too tired, too drained, and her powers—normally flaring up with her temper—remained dormant. The fire inside her had burned out for the moment, leaving her feeling more vulnerable than she liked.
Leon, seeing her falter, softened his tone slightly, though his frustration still lingered. "Look, I get it. You've been through some shit. But I'm not the enemy here. I'm just trying to make sure we don't both end up dead in a ditch."
Raziel sighed, rubbing her temple with one hand. "I'm not used to... people," she admitted quietly, her voice losing its usual bite. "I don't... I don't know how to do this."
Leon blinked, caught off guard by the sudden honesty. "Do what?"
"This," Raziel gestured vaguely between them. "Talking. Dealing with people. It's... hard."
Leon stared at her for a moment, then let out a long breath. "Yeah, well, you're not the only one. I'm not exactly a social butterfly myself."
They stood there for a beat, the tension between them easing slightly. Raziel's exhaustion was catching up to her fast, and Leon could see that whatever walls she'd built up were starting to crumble, at least for now.
"Look," Leon said, his voice more even, "we'll get to my hideout, you'll get some rest, and then... I dunno, we'll figure it out from there."
Raziel didn't respond, but she nodded faintly, her eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.
"And maybe—just maybe—try not to bite my head off every time I say something," Leon added, his tone lightening as he resumed walking. "It's not that hard."
Raziel huffed but didn't argue. She was too tired to keep up the banter, and besides, something about Leon's persistence—his refusal to just leave her alone—was oddly... comforting. Not that she'd ever admit it.
The walk to Leon's hideout stretched on in relative silence, the barren landscape offering little in the way of comfort. With each step, Leon's mind wandered, thinking about the strange turn of events that had led him here. He hadn't planned on picking up a chaotic, fire-spewing splicer priestess today. But then again, nothing about this scavenger life ever went as planned.
He glanced over at Raziel, who was still trudging along, her steps slower now but steady. The exhaustion was obvious, but she was pushing through it with that same stubbornness that had nearly gotten them both killed more than once already. She hadn't said much since their argument, but Leon knew it was only a matter of time before she fired off another snappy remark or a complaint. That seemed to be her specialty.
He smirked to himself, shaking his head. Gotta teach her some manners, he thought. She's like a kid who never learned how to act around people... or maybe she did and just doesn't care.
The idea of trying to teach Raziel how to interact with others—how to not piss him off 25/8—was both laughable and oddly appealing. Leon wasn't much for social niceties himself, but he knew enough to get by without driving everyone around him insane. And as reckless, rude, and downright irritating as she could be, there was something... refreshing about her. At least she wasn't boring.
Still, Leon thought, if we're gonna be stuck together for a while, I need to teach her some basic etiquette. It wasn't just for her sake—it was for his own sanity. If she kept acting like this, they'd end up at each other's throats before long. But the truth, which Leon wasn't quite ready to admit even to himself, was that he didn't mind the company. As much as she annoyed him, there was something about having someone around—even someone as chaotic as Raziel—that made the silence feel a little less heavy.
Leon wasn't the type to get lonely, or at least, that's what he always told himself. But ever since he'd started scavenging on his own, moving from one ruin to the next, there had been this creeping sense of isolation. He'd grown used to the quiet, the emptiness. And yet, having Raziel here, even with all her fire (literal and figurative), made him realize how long it had been since he'd had someone to talk to.
"Hey," Leon said suddenly, breaking the silence as they neared the rocky ridge that concealed his hideout. "You ever think about... not being rude all the time?"
Raziel shot him a glare, her expression caught somewhere between confusion and annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Leon smirked, unbothered by her reaction. "I mean, you've got a real talent for driving people crazy, and I don't think it's intentional... well, maybe sometimes. But maybe, just maybe, you could tone it down a little?"
Raziel raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed. "You're not exactly a people person yourself, scavenger."
Leon chuckled. "Yeah, fair enough. But I can at least fake it when I have to. You, on the other hand, seem to be missing a few lessons in basic social etiquette."
Raziel scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I don't need lessons."
Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly disagreeing. "Oh, you definitely do. Trust me, if we're gonna be stuck together for a bit, you're gonna need to learn how to not piss me off every five minutes. It's for your own good."
"My good?" Raziel shot back, incredulous. "Sounds like it's more for your good."
Leon shrugged, grinning. "Yeah, maybe it is. But you'll thank me later when you meet someone who won't tolerate your attitude and decides to blast you instead of saving your ass."
Raziel huffed but didn't argue. The truth was, she wasn't used to being around people, let alone someone like Leon who seemed to tolerate her nonsense without losing his temper. Well, not entirely. But deep down, she knew he had a point—she didn't know how to talk to people, and her rough edges hadn't done her any favors so far.
"Fine," Raziel muttered, though her tone was begrudging. "But don't expect me to change overnight."
Leon grinned, satisfied. "Wouldn't dream of it."
They reached the ridge, and Leon gestured toward the jagged rocks. "My place is just up ahead. It's not much, but it's safe."
Raziel glanced around, her exhaustion evident in the way she leaned slightly against the rocky outcrop. "As long as it's not some damp cave."
Leon laughed. "It's not, don't worry. Got some decent salvage to make it cozy enough. Just... don't set it on fire."
Raziel shot him a look, half-amused and half-annoyed. "No promises."
As they climbed the ridge, Leon's mind drifted again. Maybe this isn't so bad, he thought, though he'd never say it out loud. Having someone around, even if that someone was a flame-wielding, foul-mouthed splicer priestess, was... different. In a good way, maybe. At least he wasn't alone anymore.
As they crested the ridge, Raziel's eyes narrowed at the sight before her. The entrance to Leon's so-called "hideout" was... a cave. A dark, damp, uninviting cave.
"You've got to be kidding me," Raziel muttered, glaring at Leon.
Leon couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face. "What? You didn't actually think I lived in some fancy house, did you?"
Raziel crossed her arms, clearly not impressed. "You said it wasn't a cave."
"No," Leon corrected, grinning, "I said it wasn't just some damp cave. There's more to it than that. Trust me."
Raziel huffed, her shoulders slumping. "You're the worst."
Leon chuckled, enjoying the small victory. "Come on, don't give up on me just yet. You're gonna like the rest of it. Promise."
Raziel cast a skeptical glance at him but followed him inside nonetheless, her exhaustion overriding any further arguments. The cave was exactly what she expected—dark, musty, and littered with bits of rock and debris. Her mood soured with every step, but Leon, seemingly unfazed, led her deeper in.
"You've got a real talent for making things sound better than they are," Raziel muttered, ducking under a low-hanging stalactite.
Leon snorted. "Oh, just wait. You haven't seen the best part yet."
They ventured further into the cave, the rough stone walls closing in around them as they descended deeper. Raziel's unease grew with every step, but just as she was about to voice her frustrations again, the passage widened. And there, in front of them, was a large, reinforced metal door embedded into the cave wall.
Leon flashed her a smug grin. "Told you it wasn't just a cave."
Raziel blinked, her annoyance momentarily forgotten as she stared at the door. "What... is this?"
"Welcome to my real hideout," Leon said, stepping forward and inputting a code into the keypad. The door gave a soft beep before sliding open with a hiss, revealing a long hallway that stretched beyond into the darkness.
Raziel followed him through the doorway, her irritation giving way to curiosity. The air inside was cooler, cleaner, and the walls were lined with old tech—remnants of something much bigger than just a scavenger hideout. "This... isn't just a hideout," she muttered, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
Leon grinned, clearly proud of himself. "Found it years ago. Abandoned House—kinda like House Infinite, but no one's claimed it in decades. I was the first one here, so it's mine now. Legally, no one else can raid it."
Raziel raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "An abandoned House?"
"Yep. No scavengers, no government, no other Houses can touch this place. It's completely off the radar."
Raziel gave him a sideways glance. "You've been holding out on me, scavenger."
Leon chuckled, leading her down the hallway. "Had to keep some surprises, didn't I?"
They walked deeper into the hideout, and Raziel's earlier irritation melted away as she took in the scope of the place. It wasn't huge, but it was well-stocked—salvaged tech, makeshift furniture, and enough supplies to last for a while. The walls still bore the insignia of whatever House had once claimed this place, though it had faded with time.
Leon dropped his pack onto a nearby table, turning to Raziel with a smirk. "So, still mad about the cave?"
Raziel rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the hint of a smile. "Maybe a little less."
Leon grinned. "Thought so. You can take the room down the hall. I'll get a fire going, and we'll sort out food and supplies in a bit."
Raziel nodded, her exhaustion catching up to her again. She turned to head down the hallway but paused, glancing back at Leon. "You know... you're not as bad as I thought."
Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Is that your way of saying thanks?"
Raziel smirked. "Don't push it."
Leon watched her disappear down the hall, the faint smile still tugging at his lips. Not as bad as she thought, he mused to himself. I'll take it.