Angst Prompts - Isolation

[chaotically_rem]

Isolation.

The hardest part about coming home from a mission was the part where Leon actually arrived home. He stepped into his minimalist apartment, and flipped on the light by the door, sighing heavily as he dropped his work bag from his shoulder onto the floor. His first stop was always to the thermostat to turn the heat back on, his second stop always to the liquor cabinet in his kitchen; his only stocked cabinet.

Minutes later with a nice glass of whiskey that he promised he wouldn’t slam back, he dropped onto his couch, sinking into the cushions while he took the first sip. He closed his eyes, grenades and flash-bangs still ringing through his skull, reminding him that it would take a few days before the ringing in his ears completely went away.

But when he closed his eyes, the events of the last mission flickered through his brain like an old film reel, reminding him of those he had lost, those he hadn’t been able to save. His own misfortune and his own bad luck, his mistakes and shortcomings. The mission could have gone smoother. It could always go smoother.

It would take a few days before the ringing in his ears completely went away, but it would take weeks before he could look anyone in the eye again, let alone admit his own failures out loud.

He slammed back the whiskey so he could get his second glass.