Chapter Text
The early afternoon sun was already so hot that Leon was kind of regretting ever agreeing to this. Even though he was wearing his sunglasses, the sun always found a way to shine right into his eye, and grumpily he shielded his eyes with his hand to squint forward. The beach was pretty busy – of course, it was a beautiful summer day – with people, children running around, some people playing beach volley ball, some swimming, some just lounging around. Leon wasn’t exactly an avid beachgoer under any circumstances, but with his arm in a sling and unable to even swim, he was feeling even grumpier about it.
“C’mon, grumpy,” Claire said, hooking her arm with his as soon as he lowered it. “You need to stop moping around and glaring at the sun like it personally murdered your family and kicked your puppy.” She was in a great mood, had gone all out with her crop top and booty shorts, hair up in a high ponytail and her big sunglasses making her look like a celebrity. She looked great, and had already turned some heads as they’d made their way down here.
Leon bit back the automatic annoyed response. He didn’t want to ruin her mood, and it wasn’t her fault that the newest big bad BOW he’d faced had grabbed his arm and thrown him so hard it had torn his rotator cuff. Now he was in the sling for four weeks, per doctor’s orders. It was, however, her fault that he had to be here, so he couldn’t stop himself from whining a little. “I could be home in my perfectly cool apartment, sitting on my perfectly fine couch, reading a book and having a beer. Remind me again why I needed to come here?”
“To be sociable, Leon,” Claire explained to him as if he was three years old. “I swear, you were never socialized as a puppy.”
At that, Leon snorted. “What’s with the puppy references all of a sudden?”
“My point is,” Claire said, ignoring him, “that human beings need actual social interaction. You spend weeks away at work, and then you coop up in your apartment on your own. It can’t be healthy for you.” She looked at him over her sunglasses, lifting her eyebrows. “I’m doing you a favor, okay. Besides, you haven’t seen Sherry in ages!”
That now was at least something Leon could get behind. “Fine,” he said, although she already knew she’d won. “Let’s go find her.”
They walked down the beach, enjoying the slight breeze from the lake, and Leon idly watched the people around them. He hadn’t been here more than a handful of times although he sort of knew Claire’s brother, Chris, and Jill Valentine, the two round-the-year lifeguards, also apparently involved in the preservation of the lake and the surrounding area. Leon had truly been listening when Claire talked about the work she did, with the organization that employed her and with her brother, but he still couldn’t quite remember all the details.
There were multiple lifeguards at their posts or scattered across the beach, but Leon didn’t recognize any of them. Not until he spotted Sherry in her bright red swimsuit and visor, waving at them. She said something to the guy she’d been talking with, another lifeguard judging by his gear, and then quickly jogged up to where Claire and Leon were. “Hey!” she greeted them, but didn’t slow down at all, practically throwing herself at Claire for a hug. “It’s so nice to see you!”
She detached from Claire, and when she hugged Leon she was a lot more careful, obviously mindful of his sling. “How did she drag you out of your lair?” she asked teasingly as she hugged him as tight as she dared. “Bribery?”
“Threats of dismemberment,” Leon said dryly, giving Claire a look that she just brushed off with an amused eyeroll.
“She’s right, though,” Sherry said, giving Leon a look. “Going outside is good for you.” She talked to him as if she was his mother and not almost ten years younger than he was. Leon still remembered how she’d been a scared twelve-year-old hanging onto his arm as they’d watched her parents’ life’s work go down in flames. He might’ve saved her life, almost two decades ago, but she’d saved him in so many other ways by refusing to leave and being his friend. Still, watching how she’d grown up, made Leon feel like a proud big brother.
“You two keep ganging up on me,” Leon complained, but he didn’t really manage to put any real heat into it. They both knew he loved them and would do anything for them. “Can I at least get some ice cream or a fancy drink?”
“Now this once, since you’re injured,” Claire said, patting his good shoulder. “I’m going to go see what they have. You go find us a nice spot to worship the sun.” She handed him the bag she’d been carrying, with her towel and sunscreen and whatever she’d deemed essential for the beach trip. He didn’t really know, he’d only grabbed a book, along with the usual keys-wallet-phone combo. Then she was already off, headed towards the stalls selling overpriced refreshments.
As Leon continued forward, Sherry easily fell in step with him. “Was it rough?” she asked, eyeing his hurt shoulder.
“I’ve had worse,” Leon said, honestly. “That thing was as big as a building but went down really easily. And I caught it in time before it managed to hurt people.” As vague as he was, he really enjoyed how he could be honest with Sherry about the things that lurked in the dark. She’d seen them, she’d seen her parents develop them and become them, and although she’d left that life behind when Simmons had keeled over, she was very much aware. Claire knew some of it, through her work, but she’d never seen the worst of it. And Leon didn’t want to change that.
Sherry frowned a bit, but nodded anyway, accepting the answer. “At least now you’ll get some time off.” She gave him a wink. “Milk it for all it’s worth. You deserve a proper vacation.”
That drew a laugh from Leon. “You sound like Hunnigan,” he said, smiling fondly as he thought back to being sternly told to rest for once, “I think she’s ready to forge a doctor’s note to keep me away longer.”
“Oh, she’s perfect,” Sherry said immediately. “Remind me to send her flowers or something.”
They kept chatting as they walked, until Sherry pointed at a slightly secluded spot that honestly looked like any other to Leon. “That’s perfect. You set up there, I’m going to grab you one of those giant umbrellas. So you won’t burn your milky skin,” she added teasingly, but was already jogging off before Leon could really even say anything. He stood there for a second, shaking his head at her, but did as he’d been told anyway.
Soon Claire was back with a bag of mini pretzels and two big and bright orange drinks. She helped Leon spread out the picnic blanket she’d brought, and once Sherry set up the shade for them they were all good. Sherry only stayed for a minute to chat, before she had to actually get back to work, but she promised to catch them again before they left.
Eventually Leon started to actually enjoy himself, although he wasn’t going to admit that out loud anytime soon. He and Claire spent the day chatting and napping, and Claire took multiple dips in the lake too while Leon mostly watched her enjoy herself or focused on the book he’d brought.
At one point Leon spotted Chris talking with another lifeguard, and raised his hand to wave as a greeting. Chris didn’t notice him at first, but the man he was chatting with did, motioning for Chris to turn his attention towards Leon. Immediately Chris waved back, then, giving Leon a friendly smile. They’d known each other very briefly when Leon first started at the RPD, because Chris had been a part of the elite STARS team then. Chris had quit less than two weeks after they’d met, though, and after that Leon had only met him occasionally through Claire.
The man standing with Chris was someone Leon didn’t recognize, though. He was clearly a lifeguard, too, in his bright red shorts and tanktop. He also looked really good, Leon thought, feeling a distinct spark of interest. He’d always been partial to lean muscles, and that guy fit the bill exactly. Next to Chris he looked almost skinny but that was just because Chris had bulk that put anyone to shame. Add to that long fingers, cute curved nose, bright eyes, and honestly really kissable lips—Leon cut his thoughts off, he didn’t want to perv on a stranger, damnit.
For a brief second Leon entertained the thought of going over there and joining the conversation, to see if that smile looked as good up close as it did from where he was watching.
“It’s a damn pity you can’t get into the water!” Claire exclaimed, startling Leon from his thoughts. She was glistening wet from her swim, and grabbed her fluffy towel to first bury her face into it and then started dabbing her arms dry. “It’s really nice out there.”
“It’s really nice here, too,” Leon answered, and while he’d aimed for joking it came out kind of distracted, as he was watching The Hot Lifeguard laughing at something Chris had said. The guy had a really nice laugh, too.
“What are you staring at?” Claire asked, frowning as she followed the line of Leon’s sight. “Ah, did Chris even come say hi?” She plopped down to sit next to Leon again, nudging him with her elbow. “You could also do it, though. Your legs aren’t broken.”
Leon didn’t mean to say anything at all, except maybe argue back, or distract her by changing the subject entirely, but the words were out before he managed to bite them back. “Do you know who that guy is?”
“Who?” Claire frowned, but then looked again, her expression smoothing into understanding. “Oh, it’s Piers. He’s been working summers here for… two years now? Maybe three? Honestly could be four too, I don’t know. He’s really nice.” Only then she seemed to realize that Leon had been watching the two, and something changed in her expression. “Why?”
“No reason,” Leon immediately brushed it aside. “Just curious.” He tore his gaze away, then, fully aware that he was being way too obvious. Besides this was nothing. Only some mild interest as he’d spotted someone good looking. It was completely natural for him to notice good looking people! Besides he hadn’t been on a single date in …well, longer than Piers had been working here, apparently. He genuinely had no intentions to take it anywhere from here, not even though he stole another quick glance before turning towards Claire properly.
Claire wasn’t easily fooled. “Did you manage to develop a wee little crush while I was away?” she asked, looking positively delighted by that.
Truthfully, Leon knew her well enough that he could see where this was going. “Claire, no—”
His warning was promptly ignored, as Claire raised her hand and her voice to call out. “Chris! Piers! Jog over here for a second!”
Leon gave Claire a look he hoped conveyed how very displeased he was with her right now. “What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, trying to keep it down so that no one else would hear.
“Introducing you,” Claire said brightly.
There was no time to run or come up with any kind of an exit strategy, so Leon resigned himself to his fate, somehow managing to summon up a friendly smile as Chris and Piers got there and stopped in front of them. “What’s up?” Chris asked. “Did you need something?”
“Just wanted to say hi,” Claire said brightly. “Leon here hasn’t been outside his apartment except for work ever since two thousand ten, so I figured he could practice his people skills.”
“Claire,” Chris said, a playful warning in his tone. “Be nice.” He gave Leon a grin, then, and Leon truly appreciated him taking his side in this. “Besides he came to your birthday party two months ago, so you’re just flat out lying.”
“Fine,” Claire gave in, not too bothered by it. “Hey, Piers, meet Leon. He’s my bestest buddy but he’s so busy with work he’s not really a regular beachgoer.”
Piers laughed, not unkindly at all, and when he looked at Leon he seemed genuinely friendly. “I can see that. Not many people choose button-ups for beach attire.” He eyed Leon up and down, and it was probably only Leon’s imagination that told him that the gaze lingered. Piers reached out his hand, then, and automatically Leon took it. “Piers Nivans. Nice to meet you.”
“Leon,” Leon repeated his name, although Claire had already said it, but he was just too busy looking into those bright green eyes and marveling in the warm, firm handshake to really come up with anything wittier. Okay so maybe Claire was right, maybe he didn’t get out enough, and maybe he was developing a tiny little crush on this guy he’d literally just met. But Piers had dimples! How could Leon not be charmed?
“Oh, Chris, I need your help,” Claire said abruptly, standing up and already grabbing her brother’s arm to drag him along. Chris only managed half a word to question her, before she cut in. “I’m getting snacks and you’re carrying them,” she announced, as if that explained everything. In a way it did, and Chris was way too used to his sister’s antics to really even resist before obediently going along.
That left Piers and Leon alone, after the most obvious We Will Give You a Moment in the history of ever. Leon could feel his ears burning in embarrassment, and he couldn’t hold back the grimace. “I’m sorry about that,” he said, avoiding looking at Piers. “I don’t know what she was thinking.”
“Don’t worry,” Piers said, amusement dancing in his tone. “I’ve known her for a while. This isn’t even the wildest thing she’s done.”
Leon chanced a look up, and Piers genuinely didn’t seem to mind the situation at all, which immediately made something in Leon’s gut ease up. “Yeah,” he said, dumbly. She’d given him a chance to actually chat Piers up, but then he wasted it by being the dumbest conversationalist known to man. He tried to salvage it, but honestly he just put his foot even further into his mouth. “Was really nice meeting you,” he said, before he realized that came across as clear dismissal.
“You too,” Piers said, giving Leon one of those dimpled smiles. He already turned to leave, but then stopped after a couple of steps, looking at Leon over his shoulder. “And the button-up?” he said, pausing for a second for emphasis. “Looks really good on you.”
Long after Piers was gone, Leon sat there feeling all warm, and the warmth had nothing to do with the sun.
*
The following day after Claire had dragged Leon out to the beach was a rainy one. Usually Leon enjoyed rainy days when he was off duty, as they gave him the perfect excuse to stay indoors and not do much of anything. This time around, no matter what he tried to focus on, he found his thoughts kept drifting back to the previous day and his quick encounter with Piers. He knew it was a dumb crush, and that it would likely go nowhere at all, but he couldn’t help his thoughts wandering.
Eventually Leon ended up sitting on his wide windowsill, a mugful of coffee between his palms, his legs pulled up as he rested his head against the glass and watched the rain outside. He had turned into a brooding heroine from some trashy romance novel, he thought, but even then didn’t actually do anything to change things. He was allowed a broody day.
Besides Claire was right. Leon didn’t get out much, and he didn’t have a lot of friends. The only people he regularly spent time with outside work were Claire and Sherry, and although he liked to consider Hunnigan a friend she was still only a part of his work life. He was friendly with Chris and Jill, and a bunch of Claire’s friends who he’d met at her place a few times, but that was about it. Sherry had brought her new boyfriend around a few times but Leon didn’t know him at all yet. He did get a Christmas card from Ashley Graham still every single year.
Having his social life summed up like that sounded really depressing, Leon thought. Briefly he tried to decide if he could consider Ada a friend but their relationship was… yeah, not that.
So maybe Claire was onto something saying Leon should get out more. He could use a new friend or two, or maybe get to know the people he was kinda-sorta friends with better.
At least it wouldn’t hurt to try.
*
This had been the stupidest plan in the long stupid history of stupid plans, Leon thought to himself as he tried not to curse at the stupid foldable beach chair that he’d rented. Apparently something as easy as unfolding a chair became a hassle when he couldn’t use his left hand at all, and Leon was sorely tempted to just say ‘fuck it’ to the doctor’s orders and use both hands anyway. Frustrated, he tried to prop the chair against his knee, trying to get it to—
“You need help?”
The voice startled Leon and this time he did curse, as it wasn’t normal for anyone to be able to sneak up on him. He looked up, and immediately felt even dumber, as of course it had to be Piers who noticed his struggling. Leon already opened his mouth to say no, he was fine, but then he remembered the whole ‘make new friends’ resolution he’d come to, and instead he took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. Please.”
Easily Piers grabbed the chair and it took him maybe three seconds to set it up. If Leon spent that time watching Piers’ arms flexing, well, he was only human. “It’s Leon, right?” Piers asked as he was done, motioning for Leon to have a seat in his now actually usable chair. “We met the other day.”
Leon couldn’t help but feel a little warm at the thought that Piers actually remembered him, even though they’d only exchanged a couple of words. “Yeah, I remember,” he said. “Claire introduced us.” It sounded so damn awkward when he said it out loud but he didn’t really know what else to say, either. Holy hell, how did people make friends again?
“I remember,” Piers echoed Leon’s words, and damnit his smile was really something up close. “The button-up was different,” he said, nodding towards it. “I think I like this one even more. Brings out your eyes.”
That made Leon glance down at his shirt, a blue one this time, and he just knew he was blushing with the compliment. “I really need a wardrobe change, don’t I,” he joked lamely, carefully taking a seat and leaning back, trying not to jostle his shoulder too much. “I basically live at work,” he explained, a little ashamed, “so it’s all I’ve got. Claire keeps mocking me, maybe she’d relent a bit if I got some actual beach attire.”
“Nothing wrong with your style if that’s what you like,” Piers said with a shrug. He watched Leon for a moment, before he went on. “You want something else? Maybe a snack? A drink? They’re selling some really good mango smoothies this summer.”
Leon was really, really tempted to say yes, not because he wanted the damn smoothie but because he would’ve loved to spend a little more time with Piers. He felt awkward enough as it was, though, and he didn’t want to be a burden. That certainly wouldn’t net him a friend, or anything else for that matter. “No, I’m good,” he said with a smile, going on with another lame joke. “You’re here to guard lives, not do snack runs.”
“Nothing says I can’t do both,” Piers said, but relented anyway. He turned to leave, raising his hand in half a wave. “See you around, Leon.”
“See you,” Leon said, already sad to see Piers go. At least they’d talked a little bit, he thought, maybe in a decade or two they’d actually be friends. Or not, he sighed as he brought his arm over his eyes – less to shield them from the sun and more to shield himself from this embarrassment. He really, really sucked at this. He’d been so good at approaching people, back in the day, back when he had actually had a normal life and didn’t spend most of his time alone or on a job.
But Piers was nice. Maybe he would stick around.
Much, much later, Leon suddenly realized Piers might’ve been trying to flirt with him. Then he dismissed the thought as preposterous.
*
The next day at the beach Leon didn’t even see Piers once. He tried to subtly ask Chris about it, and thankfully Chris was as oblivious as Leon when it came to anything to do with feelings, so he just shrugged and told Leon Piers was off for the next two days.
Leon went home early. If he sulked a little, that was his own business. He didn’t go to the beach the next day either.
*
“I’m actually surprised you ended up enjoying the beach this much,” Sherry said, propping her chin on her palm so she could tilt her head towards Leon from where she was lying on her front on the big beach towel. She had a day off, and somehow wasn’t tired of the beach despite working there daily, and so she’d asked Leon to come spend time with her and Leon had immediately agreed.
Leon couldn’t worship the sun like she did, not with his arm still in the sling, but honestly he didn’t really even want to. He was lying in one of the comfy beach chairs again, and had been sort of napping in the sun before Sherry had spoken up. “It’s not like I have much else to do,” he said, brushing it off. “I can as well read and nap here. Get some fresh air so Claire stops nagging at me.”
“C’mon,” Sherry laughed. “She’s been on a work trip for a week, it’s not like she’s here to monitor you.”
“Fine,” Leon relented. “I kind of like being outside.” He truthfully had sort of forgotten how nice summers could be, with how he’d spent most of them in the past two decades working or trying to recover from whatever injury he’d gotten that time around. But he was enjoying the sun in his face, the soft breeze in his hair, even the chatter of people a bit further and the occasional shrieks from excited kids playing. Being surrounded by something so mundane made him feel more human, for the lack of better words.
“It’s nice to see you more,” Sherry said, and from her smile one could tell how genuine it was. “We should keep this up.”
“Yeah, we should,” Leon agreed. For the past week and a half, he’d been coming to the beach almost daily, and most days Sherry had spent at least one of her breaks with Leon, just chatting and hanging out. It was the most time they’d ever spent together, really, and Leon couldn’t deny he enjoyed it a lot.
He also enjoyed how whenever Sherry wasn’t around, Piers often stopped by for a chat. Mostly it was just a remark about the weather, or Piers mentioning Leon’s button-up of the day, maybe asking him if he’d already tried those apparently famous mango smoothies, but sometimes they had actual conversations too. Slowly things were getting less awkward, and Leon felt less like he was a bumbling idiot and more like he was actually making a friend. Spending hours at the beach for the fifteen minutes he got to chat with Piers was already worth it.
A part of Leon wished that his shoulder would just never heal, but he knew it was a childish thing to hope for.
“You know, when Claire is back, we should grab dinner in that new Thai place,” Sherry said, squinting at Leon as the sun was behind him.
Leon was just about to respond when he saw someone approach them from the corner of his eye, and he turned his head just in time to see Piers hand a large plastic cup to him. Automatically he grabbed it, but the confusion must’ve been evident as Piers immediately explained. “The mango smoothie I mentioned?” he said, a gorgeous hint of a flush coloring his cheeks. Then he seemed to notice Sherry, and grimaced as he went on. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were off duty, I could’ve gotten you one too.”
“Don’t worry!” Sherry immediately waved aside. “Pretend like I’m not here!”
“Thank you,” Leon said, unsure how to proceed. “How much do I—”
“No, it’s on me,” Piers cut him off immediately. “I’m the one who was hyping it up. So it’s my treat.” He looked like he wanted to say something more, but he glanced at Sherry and faltered, and then just smiled again. “I hope you’ll like it!”
Leon got kind of distracted watching Piers jog off once again, until Sherry cleared her throat. Leon turned to her, and she had sat up, looking at him like she knew all his secrets. “Oh, so that’s what’s going on.”
“Shut up,” Leon muttered petulantly. He took a sip of the smoothie and wow, it really was as good as advertised. He would have to find Piers later to thank him again, and honestly it didn’t sound like a hardship at all. Sherry was still staring at him knowingly, though, and he sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “He’s nice. You always tell me to make friends!”
“Uh-huh,” Sherry said. “Friends.”
Leon chose not to argue when he knew it was one he couldn’t win. Instead he tried to change the subject, and graciously Sherry let him.
It was stupid and sentimental, but when Leon headed home, he put the smoothie cup in his bag to wash it when he got home. It was a good size and he could keep using it, he tried to tell himself, although he was fully aware that wasn’t the actual reason.
Maybe he wasn’t that bad at this whole making friends thing, after all.