The two men paused, uncertainty flickering in their eyes for a split second.
Leon didn't wait. He tugged his shirt up just enough to reveal a concealed pistol tucked into the waistband of his jeans. The cold steel gleamed under the streetlights, catching the eyes of both men.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The knife-wielder's eyes widened, taking half a step back.
"You… you think you can just pull a gun on us?" the second man, a bulkier figure with tattoos stretching across his arms, growled. His voice had lost some of its edge, now tinged with a nervous rasp.
Leon's grip tightened on the gun. "I don't want trouble," he said, his voice low and controlled. "You're the ones who made it. Now, take your knives and leave. Before things get worse."
The two men exchanged a long, silent look, sizing each other up.
Finally, the man with the knife took a step back, his fingers loosening their grip on the weapon. The other man, the bulky one, jerked his head toward his partner, and without another word, they turned and started walking away. Their footsteps echoed in the empty street, fading with each step until they disappeared around the corner.
Leon exhaled slowly, watching them go, his hand still hovering near the pistol until they were out of sight. Then, with a quiet click, the gun slid back into its holster.
He turned to Emily.
"Are you okay?" His voice had softened, genuine concern replacing the tension from moments before.
Emily stood frozen for a beat, her wide eyes betraying the fear that still lingered. She nodded quickly, though her hands were trembling slightly. "Yeah... thank you. I... I didn't know what to do. I thought—"
"You don't need to explain," Leon interrupted, his tone warm yet matter-of-fact. "Just be careful next time, alright?"
She nodded, the shaking in her hands gradually subsiding. "I will. I—I don't know how to thank you enough."
Leon gave a small, reassuring smile. "It's nothing. Just glad you're safe." He paused before adding, "But you still haven't told me what's going on. Why were they after you?"
Emily's gaze dropped to the ground for a moment, her fingers tightening around the grocery bags she was holding. "I... I don't know who they are. They just started following me, out of nowhere. I was just picking up groceries, and then they appeared... kept following me no matter where I went. I tried losing them, but—"
Leon's eyes softened as he glanced down at the bags she was carrying, noticing the disarray. "Sounds like they were watching you for a while," he said, his voice quieter now. "Good thing you got out of it."
Emily sighed, her shoulders slumping as she let out a breath she'd been holding. "Yeah... but I'm still a little shaken."
Leon looked around, his gaze drifting across the darkened street.
"Hey," he said after a moment, "I'm heading the same way. I can walk you home, if you want. It's no trouble."
Emily blinked, surprised, but a grateful smile slowly spread across her face. "You'd do that for me?"
Leon shrugged lightly, trying to make light of it. "Yeah. I mean, it's not like I have anywhere else to be now. Lost all my money tonight." He tried to sound casual.
"Okay," Emily said, her smile widening. "I'd appreciate it."
They began walking side by side, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the quiet street. The tension between them slowly faded, and for the first time that night, Emily seemed to relax. She glanced up at Leon, her curiosity piqued.
"So... about that gun," she said, breaking the silence. "How do you have one? I mean, you don't exactly seem like the type to carry one around."
Leon sighed, his gaze drifting to the ground for a moment. He wasn't one for talking about his past, but something about the calm in her voice made him feel like he could be honest.
"When I was 16," he began, his voice low, "I joined the army at 17. Served for two years at. I'm 19 now." He paused, glancing at her. "It wasn't easy, but it was a good experience."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "When I left, I figured... wouldn't hurt to have something for self-defense. You know how things are these days."
Emily was quiet for a moment, processing what he'd said. She didn't offer any judgment, just took it in. "I didn't realize you were ex-military. That makes sense now... I mean, you handled those guys pretty calmly."
Leon gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Comes with the job."
Emily nodded, clearly impressed but still processing the gravity of what he'd said. "I never would've guessed you had a military background. You just seem… so normal."
Leon chuckled softly. "That's because I try to be. I don't like drawing attention to myself."
They walked in silence for a few moments, Emily then spoke up again, her voice quieter, almost hesitant.
"If you'd like, you could stay at my place tonight…" Emily said, her tone hesitant, but genuine. She remembered him mentioning earlier that he had nowhere to go. "I mean… it's the least I can do after everything. You've helped me out a lot, Leon."
Leon raised an eyebrow, surprised by the offer, but the idea wasn't unwelcome. He looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment.
He had no money, no plans, and nowhere to go. The thought of spending the night in some unfamiliar place felt less like a burden now and more like a small relief from the tension that had built up throughout the evening.
"Yeah, sure. I don't mind," he said, his voice a little lighter now, accompanied by a small, reassuring smile. "I'd appreciate that."