Lennox, Alexis and Day first met Leanne 2 years ago, when they first came to the base. She was introduced as Alexis's roommate, just another member of the base. She was almost a year older than Lennox, 17 when they first met. However, something about her struck differently.

She had jaw-length, smooth brown hair, clipped at the left with a purple clip, and small but bright eyes. They could never truly make out her eye colour because of that. She also had long legs, which made her seem taller than she really was. At first, she seemed to be mature and someone who looked down on them, much to Day's dismay. However, they later found out that she was someone who got nervous easily and stressed too much over making a good impression, therefore she often came out as over-the-top.

Back then, the three of them were much more different than they were now. Day wasn't as refined, and had the attitude of a 13-year-old boy in his rebellious stage. Lennox extremely lacked confidence, and found it difficult to be straightforward. Alexis was downright awkward and very nervous all the time, and found it difficult to assert herself.

Despite all this, with Leanne, they found themselves growing and changing. And the most prized character of hers was that no matter how special she seemed, she was just an ordinary, 17-year-old girl.

But the hopeful feeling and sense of security was something unique to Leanne. Nobody could make them feel reassured like she could. Lennox felt that as soon as he first trained with her.

***

"You know," Leanne said to Leanne, as they locked spears. "You're actually pretty good, aren't you?"

"Of course!" the older girl grunted, grinning. "But you're not bad yourself."

"Is that so?" Leanne smirked, and Lennox felt a sudden increase of force from Leanne's side. His knee buckled momentarily, but then he dodged out of the way, and slammed the back of his spear against her back, pinning her to the ground face-down.

Day, who was watching, started chuckling, and Leanne lifted her face out of the dirt.

"That's too much force." Leanne grinded her teeth, and Lennox gasped and apologized. Day continued laughing, clutching his stomach and stamping his foot.

"S-sorry!" Day said breathlessly. "But I believe in gender equality." He set off again.

"It's not that funny, Day," Lennox said, helping Leanne up.

Day seemed to have touched a nerve. "Why don't you show me your gender equality then, dear Day?"

"Ah, wait-" was all Day could say before Leanne started going at him with all she had. Lennox watched, smiling, but then his eyes shifted to Alexis, who was staring at the dirt while Jake sat thoughtfully on the ground.

"What's the problem?" Lennox asked, coming over.

"Ah, nothing, nothing!" Jake told him cheerily. "I just can't seem to figure Alexis out, but it'll be fine! Ah, since it's you, I'll ask. What are the things Alexis here is best at?"

"Best at?" Lennox asked. He started thinking. What was Alexis best at?

"Al's good at taking care of people."

Lennox, Alexis and Jake looked around at Leanne, who was standing with a defeated Day behind her. She grinned, and continued, "Honestly, I thought I'd be taking care of her, but it ended up the other way around!"

"LEANNE!!" Day bellowed, finally catching his breath. He pointed his spear at her, challenging her. "One more!!"

Leanne smiled, and added, "Al, you know? Strong people are the ones who stand up. That's all."

She turned around and went back to Day. Alexis blinked, then turned to Jake. She slowly raised her spear as well, and said softly, "One more, Jake."

Jake smiled, and got up. "You got it."

Lennox smiled as well, and turned back to Day and Leanne. Leanne truly was someone who could get someone to stand up and move. She could find the best words even in the darkest of times.

"Lennox!" Day shouted across the training ground. "Come here and bear witness to my greatness!"

Lennox looked over his shoulder, and saw Leanne smiling invitingly at him. He couldn't help but smile himself, and dashed over to them. Leanne reminded him of someone very dear to him.

"Okay, start!" Lennox called once he arrived, and Day and Leanne proceeded to their ferocious spar.

Day won this time.

***

Slowly, everyone grew. Lennox grew out of his lack of confidence, Alexis grew out of her nervousness, and Day grew out of his immaturity. Somewhat.

However, Lennox also grew closer to Leanne, closer than he had ever been with either Day or Alexis. He could soon just feel himself automatically gravitating towards her, craving for her warm company.

It had been an ideal that was ingrained into his head by his father to never lose face. If he ever lost face, he felt that everything would crumble. In other words, if he lost face, everyone would lose their humanity. He knew that. He knew he had the responsibility to support everyone. He had to hold everyone up. He had to be their beacon of hope.

But she was different. Leanne was very charismatic and calm, had her own insecurities and worries, but was fun-loving at the same time. She never hid anything, nor did she cover anything up. There is no smoke and mirrors when it comes to her. And that is why Lennox felt that even he shouldn't hide anything from her. Therefore, she was the only person he could show all his faces to. Someone he who could support him when he couldn't support others.

They ended up often spending time together, mostly fishing. Lennox loved those times, where he could just forget everything and while away peaceful hours in her company. Very soon his heart rate quickened around her, and his face would grow hot. This had now passed the point of admiration, and he knew that not only Alexis could tell by now, based off the looks he was getting.

And so came another day of fishing and food-gathering. On their way to the lake, Leanne managed to trip into a pond, and everybody laughed themselves silly at her. The rest of the group moved ahead, leaving her to Lennox. They didn't go too far, though. Just far enough.

Lennox tried pulling her out of the pond, while Leanne splashed him.

"Stop! I'm trying to help you!" Lennox shouted, but Leanne sent another face full of pond water at him. Lennox let go of her arm, and Leanne splashed back into the pond. Lennox wiped the water out of his face, and when he peeked at Leanne, he saw her looking at him upside down, and he found himself chuckling again.

Leanne stared at him, then smiled herself. "Lennox?"

"Hm?"

"I love that idiot smile of yours!" Leanne said, smiling brightly herself.

Lennox stared, and felt his face grow hot. He covered his face with his hands again, pretending to rub the water out of his eyes. "Alexis calls it 'pure'," he said randomly.

"Oh, it's supposed to be pure?" Leanne asked. "My mistake! Well then, I love that pure smile of yours!"

Lennox felt himself smiling under his hands. Shit, I'm too happy.

Finally, he slapped his face with his hands, and looked at Leanne head-on. "I love your smile too!" he told her forcefully.

It took Leanne by surprise. "Ah, thanks."

"I love your eyes too!" Lennox continued. "And your hair! And your personality! I love everything about you!" Then he turned away from her and buried his face in his hands again. He could already imagine Alexis starting her dictatorship if and when he told her about this.

Leanne stared, and then looked straight ahead. "Lennox."

"Yes!" Lennox replied, not removing his hands.

"I'm in a pond," Leanne said. Her tone was unreadable.

"I know."

"And we're outside."

"I know."

"In the middle of who-knows-how-many Inhumans."

"I know."

"Not the best time for a confession."

Lennox pushed his face into the dirt. "I know! Don't embarrass me any more!"

Leanne giggled, and Lennox finally looked up. Leanne looked at him upside down again and held out her hands. "Help me out."

Lennox stared, blushing, then begrudgingly pulled her out. Leanne rummaged through the bag she had been carrying and brought out a towel to dry herself somewhat. She left the towel on her head, and picked up the bag.

"Let's go back," she said. "It's not far."

Lennox looked down, and nodded. He picked up his own bag and fell into the step beside her.

They walked in silence up until they entered the gate of the base. Then Leanne said, "After this whole thing is over."

"Huh?" Lennox looked around at her.

"We're definitely not going to live like this forever, are we?" Leanne smiled. "Someday you're going to put an end to this, aren't you?"

"Me?" Lennox asked, shocked.

"But, you're amazing, aren't you?" Leanne said, eyes wide. "Only 17 and already handling an entire base himself. Pedro's slacking off thanks to you." Leanne suddenly stopped walking. "Even so, I just have a feeling, you know?"

"Hm," Lennox stopped walking as well, contemplating her words. Leanne chose that moment to start dashing away. "Oy!" Lennox yelled, chasing after her.

"First let's end this!" Leanne laughed. "After that. Because, Lennox," she stopped running again, and Lennox stopped as well. "I love everything about you as well!"

Lennox blushed, but there silence was interrupted.

"ONE MORE, JAKEY!!"

Lennox and Leanne looked around to see Alexis pointing her spear at an exhausted Jake, even though she seems pretty exhausted herself. They didn't notice that they had stopped in front of the training grounds.

"No...more..." Jake panted, flopping on the floor.

"Get up, you lazy scum!" Alexis scolded, jabbing him with the butt of her spear.

"I'll die if you push me any further!" Jake insisted.

"You can die after one more!" Alexis said, adapting a fighting stance. "Now bring it!"

"You really don't care about my well-being, do you..." Jake sniffed, shakily getting to his feet. "I'm an old man, you know..."

"SILENCE!"

"'Silence!'" Jake imitated her under his breath.

"I heard that, old man!"

Lennox was about to speak up, but Leanne suddenly giggled. He glanced at her, and she put up a straight face again.

"We're gonna fight our way out of this," she said. "You, me, Al, Day, Jake, and everyone else. We're gonna end this. Plus," she added. "You know how much Day hates any romance, right?"

Lennox couldn't help his face going red, and nodded somewhat. Leanne grinned, then leaned over and gave him a small kiss.

"See ya."

***

Not long after that, a group from the food-gathering division were swamped by a small Raid. The group included Leanne, and all that came back was a man and news that she along with others, had been Converted.

And now, the eyes that were once so bright were now lightless, boring down on him. The hands that were once so soft and caring were now grey and twisted. The hair that was once so smooth was laying flat and gaunt around the face he loved.