The castle rooftop was a disaster. Ganados everywhere, crossbows firing, and one of those hooded cult leaders chanting like he’s in a dramatic opera. Ashley was ducking behind a statue while you stood back-to-back with Leon, both of you reloading at the same time.

“Left,” he said.

“Already saw it,” you shot back, kicking a cultist off the ledge.

He smirked. “You getting faster?”

“Keeping up with you is exhausting.”

“Oh? You watching me that closely?”

You didn’t answer—because a cultist with a scythe lunged straight at you. Leon saw it before you did.

“HEY—”

He grabbed your waist, spun you behind him, and roundhouse-kicked the guy off the rooftop. Smooth. Effortless.

You blinked. “…Show off.”

He glanced down at you. “You like it.”

Before you could respond, a crossbow bolt flew straight toward him. You reacted on instinct—shoving him aside. The bolt scraped your shoulder instead.

Leon froze. Actually froze.

“Did you just—”

“I had it.”

“You got hit.”

“It’s barely—”

Another cultist charged. Leon didn’t even look. He grabbed the guy mid-run and suplexed him off the rooftop without breaking eye contact with you.

Ashley screamed in the background. “OH MY GOD THAT WAS SO COOL— WAIT IS SHE BLEEDING?!”

Leon stepped closer. Too close. His hand was already on your shoulder, checking the wound. His jaw tightened.

“That wasn’t part of the plan.”

“You didn’t have a plan.”

“I always have a plan.”

“Your plan was backflipping.”

He leaned in, lower, voice quieter. “You shoved me.”

“You would’ve gotten shot.”

He stared at you, and for a split second the teasing dropped. “…Don’t do that.”

Your heartbeat picked up. “Do what?”

“Get hurt for me.”

Ashley, still crouched behind a statue, muttered, “I feel like I shouldn’t be here.”

A cultist yelled something dramatic in Spanish and charged. Leon didn’t even look. He pulled you behind him, shot once, and the guy dropped. Then—because of course—he vaulted off a broken gargoyle, backflipped, shot two more enemies mid-air, and landed in front of you again, breathing slightly heavier now.

You crossed your arms despite the chaos. “…Unnecessary.”

He stepped closer again, rain starting to fall lightly. “You almost got shot.”