Work Text:
Data is like, Grace’s thing. Her career depends on her using and uncovering information like puzzle pieces and then putting the puzzle together and the point is—she’s, she’s good at connecting things.
That’s why Grace is maybe 85% sure that Leon is slowly trying to herd her towards people who are his friends but could maybe also be her friends?
Grace hasn’t figured out how to ask. She probably isn’t going to. She just needs to not frame them as adult playdates (fuck, task failed, that sounds weird doesn’t it) and try her damn hardest to form complete sentences when Leon gently pushes her towards another person with biceps bigger than her head.
Her phone pings from an unknown number and instead of telemarketer dread Grace’s curiosity piques over who Leon gave her number to this time.
You have been added to Blonde Daughter Club (that’s a boring fucking name) (come up with something better and then we can talk, Rose!).
Oh, not Leon. Sherry, this time.
(gun & info) Sherry
I completely forgot! We’ve gained another. :) Everyone introduce yourself or I’ll do it for you and you won’t have any choice about what details I share. <3
The nice thing about texting is she didn’t have to worry about stuttering. Or eye-contact.
Hello! I’m Grace.
Unknown
why does leon do this????
people don’t just. shove children at Chris????
Okay: Unknown #1 knows Chris. And is, presumably, blonde. She’s seen photos of a teenager in jacket that almost swallowed her frame, so maybe…? Some kind of nature name…?
(gun & info) Sherry
‘why does Leon do this’ is an interesting choice for a name, honestly!
Unknown
u should hang out with Leon less it makes ur jokes worse
hello new person. Im rose.
She was right! Nice.
Oh! I think Captain Redfield mentioned you?
Rose
ignore him he lies
Unknown
^ says the child that got shoved at Chris
Rose
SHUT
Unknown
Hiya! I’m Ashley. :) Welcome to the club! We get drinks sometimes and laugh when Rose is stuck with soda.
Ashley! Leon’s mentioned an Ashely before, mostly to grumble about her husband and how she deserved better.
Rose
its DUMB im MOLD waiting till 21 WONT MAKE A DIFFERENXE
The Grace who spent hours and hours combing the internet for mold-based theories and Baker family articles rattles the bars of her fucking cage.
Grace takes a calming breath, she needed to find a semblance of chill.
Ashley
Mia would kill us
Mia and in Mia WINTERS? Jesus Christ does that mean—
Nope. No. She doesn’t want to get kicked out of this club.
Deep breaths.
(gun & info) Sherry
^
Rose
u 2 have faced zombie hordes
HORDES
PLURAL
Ashley (…former First Daughter?)
yeah and Mia is scarier
(gun & info) Sherry
^^
Rose (Winters?)
whats the point of knowing secret agents if they dont help u engage in teenage rebellion :/
It’s nice to meet you all! Sherry really helped me out with a…whole situation.
Ashley (…former First Daughter?)
she’s cool like that :)
Rose (Winters? Louisiana?)
welcome to the clusterfuck!!! dont let chris scare u he’s not scary claire is the scary one
Grace knew that one. She’s got two superiors who dodge meeting requests with Claire Redfield like they’ll get awards if they manage it for months at a time. (She considered them both cowards before finding out this piece of information.) There’s several YouTube compilations of watch-Claire-Redfield-make-politicians-shit-themselves (variations on the name, but the point remains the same) and Grace will never ever ever tell her that she’s got a playlist of them in rotation for her insomnia and nightmare nights.
Another message direct from Sherry pops up.
You’re being kidnapped for minigolf.
“Grace.”
She only jumps a little, and she keeps her surprised yelp locked firmly behind her teeth so that’s a win.
“L-leon,” Grace says, straightening some of her files, “please m-make a little more sound when you walk.”
Leon runs a sheepish hand through his hair. “Would you believe I get told that a lot?”
Yes she would.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he adds on, quietly sincere.
And isn’t that neat, because she knows he’s being honest. Isn’t like the other numerous individuals who poke at her anxiety like a particularly interesting bubble they wanted to pop.
“I’ve been told you’re here to kidnap me?”
Leon’s scowl is offset by the way his crow’s feet curve, smiling without smiling. “Sherry needs to stop snitching.”
Leon’s presence in the office is always an interesting data point, because she gets to see other people react to him. She’s watched six people try to get his attention and be absolutely floored at his short, clipped responses—and that’s before they realize he managed to squeeze an insulting pun or two into the dismissal.
He’s kind of Grace’s hero, ok?
She stuffs the few work files she needs into her bag. “Can we swing by and visit Emily after? S-she likes company after her physical therapy sessions.”
“Of course,” Leon says.
And maybe it’s still novel, to walk out of work with someone and have her excitement out-level her worries. Except.
“I’ve never mini-golfed before,” she admits.
Leon presses a hand over his heart. “I’m honored to introduce you.” He smirks. “It’s one of the activities we’ve found where being a good shot,” he mimes a gun with his fingers, “doesn’t help.”
Grace mulls that over. “Rose has beaten you all at this, hasn’t she?”
“Yeah,” Leon says, “she likes to bring that one up. Usually in front of Chris’s squad.”
Grace smiles. “Well, then. Lead the way?”
Leon raises and arm, which Grace is quick to duck under (he’s always so warm) and steers them towards their next hopefully non-lethal adventure.
(She thinks, with not as much hurt as it used to carry, that her mom would be proud.)