the road ahead
Jan. 13th, 2026 03:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Buffy/Devil May Cry/Resident Evil/Background NCIS Crossover (Hold My Heart)
Chapter Summary: Leon and Xander discuss something important.
Word Count: 615
Rating: Teen
He’s still uncharacteristically quiet. Leon doesn’t have to guess the thoughts going through his head, though, because he’s seen those thoughts in a mirror. “Look, I’m sure you did your best, because not doing your best isn’t in your DNA.”
“Ah, I see, using my words against me now.” Xander’s smile is mirthless.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to stop beating yourself up about this, absolutely. You walk away from a fight looking like that, it’s not like you took it easy.” Something occurs to him, something that would be ludicrous coming from someone else essentially in the same job (if monster hunter is a job description), but from the way Xander’s shaking and slightly unfocused now, it’s another hard conversation they’re going to have to have. And maybe now isn’t the best time, while Xander’s still vulnerable, but there’s not a good time for this really. “I’m going to get hurt.”
Xander stiffens, even with Leon running reassuring hands down his arms and back up again.
“You do know I’d had that time off when we first met because I was shot, right? Without the little present from Los Illuminados I wouldn’t probably have been able to dodge, and I wouldn’t have healed as fast, but I do get wounded.” His tone is as gentle as he can make it, and Xander shivers.
“I’ve been trying not to think about that,” he mutters, shrinking a little into the couch.
“Will you be able to handle it?” It’d hurt, definitely, but he’d rather not put his boyfriend through the pain if he can’t.
Xander leans a little further into Leon’s touch, silent as he thinks it over. “Yeah, but I’ll still be a nervous wreck. You are absolutely worth it and you can handle yourself, but. I’ll definitely need backup.”
“As long as you’ve got a plan.” Leon pulls him in and kisses his hair, and Xander sighs, trembling easing just slightly.
“It’ll probably be my usual-type plan, where I call the girls and just veg. Except today, Willow was on a different mission, and Abby’s off and I could’ve called her, but. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He probably wasn’t, going by the state of panic he’s in, but Leon’s not going to say that.
“Hey, I’d usually call you to check-in after a mission, so it’s not all that weird.” Xander’s eyelid’s starting to droop, and while Leon could just carry him to the bedroom he’d rather his boyfriend just get the rest he needs now. There’s a token protest about the bed when Leon pulls him in, but from the way Xander snuggles into his collarbone it’s more for Leon’s sake than his own, and today Leon’s willing to make the sacrifice.
“Shh. Just sleep. I’ve got you,” he murmurs, running his fingers through white strands, and as usual that helps his boyfriend relax.
“Figured…’cause’a…” Xander yawns, cute as a kitten. “…when.” Oh, right, talking about the calls. And then he’s out, and, well...it’s not like today was good, exactly, but it wasn’t bad either. Xander isn’t okay, but he’s better, and the city is fine, and maybe Leon will get to sleep today after all. Neither of them deserve to be stuck with their thoughts and insomnia.
Buffy/Devil May Cry/Resident Evil/Background NCIS Crossover (Hold My Heart)
Chapter Summary: Leon and Xander discuss something important.
Word Count: 615
Rating: Teen
After a long while, Xander stirs again. He still looks a little ashamed when Leon grabs a washcloth so he can clean his face and some of the blood off his arm and torso and then lead him out across the hall to the ‘living room’, where they can squeeze onto the small if comfortable sofa. Xander needs the physical comfort now, even if he’s reluctant to receive it.
He’s still uncharacteristically quiet. Leon doesn’t have to guess the thoughts going through his head, though, because he’s seen those thoughts in a mirror. “Look, I’m sure you did your best, because not doing your best isn’t in your DNA.”
“Ah, I see, using my words against me now.” Xander’s smile is mirthless.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to stop beating yourself up about this, absolutely. You walk away from a fight looking like that, it’s not like you took it easy.” Something occurs to him, something that would be ludicrous coming from someone else essentially in the same job (if monster hunter is a job description), but from the way Xander’s shaking and slightly unfocused now, it’s another hard conversation they’re going to have to have. And maybe now isn’t the best time, while Xander’s still vulnerable, but there’s not a good time for this really. “I’m going to get hurt.”
Xander stiffens, even with Leon running reassuring hands down his arms and back up again.
“You do know I’d had that time off when we first met because I was shot, right? Without the little present from Los Illuminados I wouldn’t probably have been able to dodge, and I wouldn’t have healed as fast, but I do get wounded.” His tone is as gentle as he can make it, and Xander shivers.
“I’ve been trying not to think about that,” he mutters, shrinking a little into the couch.
“Will you be able to handle it?” It’d hurt, definitely, but he’d rather not put his boyfriend through the pain if he can’t.
Xander leans a little further into Leon’s touch, silent as he thinks it over. “Yeah, but I’ll still be a nervous wreck. You are absolutely worth it and you can handle yourself, but. I’ll definitely need backup.”
“As long as you’ve got a plan.” Leon pulls him in and kisses his hair, and Xander sighs, trembling easing just slightly.
“It’ll probably be my usual-type plan, where I call the girls and just veg. Except today, Willow was on a different mission, and Abby’s off and I could’ve called her, but. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He probably wasn’t, going by the state of panic he’s in, but Leon’s not going to say that.
“Hey, I’d usually call you to check-in after a mission, so it’s not all that weird.” Xander’s eyelid’s starting to droop, and while Leon could just carry him to the bedroom he’d rather his boyfriend just get the rest he needs now. There’s a token protest about the bed when Leon pulls him in, but from the way Xander snuggles into his collarbone it’s more for Leon’s sake than his own, and today Leon’s willing to make the sacrifice.
“Shh. Just sleep. I’ve got you,” he murmurs, running his fingers through white strands, and as usual that helps his boyfriend relax.
“Figured…’cause’a…” Xander yawns, cute as a kitten. “…when.” Oh, right, talking about the calls. And then he’s out, and, well...it’s not like today was good, exactly, but it wasn’t bad either. Xander isn’t okay, but he’s better, and the city is fine, and maybe Leon will get to sleep today after all. Neither of them deserve to be stuck with their thoughts and insomnia.
