A GTA Story: Welcome to G-block!!!

"Sigh... The city hasn't changed one bit, has it?" murmured a young man as he dragged his tired self out of the only airport in District 10: the District 10 International Airport.

Having already called a taxi after getting off the plane, he pulled his phone out and checked the Cab app to see how long it would take for his ride to arrive. It was cold outside, and he wasn't patient enough to wait for a long time in this weather.

[Your ride will be here in 8 minutes...]

"Damn... The city truly hasn't changed. I still have to wait forever to get picked up," he muttered, closing the app in frustration and turning off the phone. As he looked at the black screen of his iPhone 16 Pro Max, he could see his reflection.

The man had dark curly hair and a well-groomed beard, his strong jawline adding to his striking features. He wore golden, reflective sunglasses that complemented his brownish skin tone and multiple gold hoop earrings in his ears. Although winter was approaching, he wasn't about to let that stop him from wearing those sunglasses. He still gotta look fly, after all. We could also see a tattoo with floral designs adorning his neck, adding an artistic touch to his look. His overall style suggested a charismatic and extroverted personality, one unafraid to stand out—especially with the sunglasses when winter was getting nearer. 

'I still look good, though...' Leon smiled to himself as he put the phone in his pocket and headed back into the airport's waiting area. The cold was finally getting to him. He had only worn a hoodie, not expecting the city to be this chilly in early October.

'They said the world was getting warmer because of us… So why is it so damn cold?' he thought, shaking his head as he scanned the airport for an empty seat. After a few seconds, he spotted a row of chairs, most of them already occupied by people presumably waiting for arrivals.

Instead of sitting down, Leon's attention drifted to the small dining areas scattered throughout the terminal. That's when he noticed a beautiful woman sitting alone in the corner of a coffee shop, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. Without hesitation and with a warm smile, he decided to approach her. He had nowhere else to sit, anyway—so why not get to know a pretty lady while waiting for his taxi?

"What's up, my heart? Can I sit here?" he asked, pointing at the empty seat across from her.

The woman looked momentarily confused, glancing around as if to check if he was speaking to someone else. Still, she responded.

"Of course, but there are plenty of other empty seats you could choose from," she pointed out, gesturing toward the vacant tables around them.

"Nah… I prefer sitting near familiar faces," Leon said smoothly as he took a seat, maintaining eye contact.

She furrowed her brows. "Familiar? I don't even know you."

"That's why I'm trying to change that. What's your name?" he asked, extending a hand for a handshake.

The woman rolled her eyes at his response but couldn't hide the slight smile tugging at her lips.

"Diamond," she answered, shaking his hand. "And you?"

"Diamond? That's a beautiful name, I ain't gonna lie. I'm Leon, though. Nice to meet you." He said, releasing her hand before leaning back in his chair. "So, what are you doing here alone? Waiting for someone?" He continued asking, hoping to extend the conversation. 

"Yeah, I'm waiting for my sister. It's her first time in District 10, and I don't want her to get lost or overwhelmed." Answered Diamond after taking a sip of her coffee.

"That's sweet of you," Leon said with a genuine smile. "Not everyone would go out of their way like that. Your sister's lucky to have you." He said, his tone holding a faint trace of resentment, but Diamond didn't seem to catch it. It seemed like he was thinking about somebody specific while saying that. 

Hearing his compliment, Diamond simply smiled, relaxing a little. "Well, someone has to look out for her. She's never been in a big city before, and District 10 can be… intense."

Leon chuckled. "That's true. It's not a place for the faint of heart. But hey, once you get the hang of it, it's got its own kind of charm."

Memories of his childhood started flicking through his mind as he said that—mostly moments of struggle in his early childhood. To anyone else, they would have seemed traumatic. To Leon, they were fun. At least, compared to the last five years he had spent away from the city, District 10 felt almost welcoming as if the game difficulty was on easy mode while he was in the city.

Hearing the nostalgia in his voice, Diamond studied his expression before speaking. "You seem pretty confident about that."

"Grew up here. This city's all I know. Chaos and all, it's still home." Said Leon as he grinned.

Diamond nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with that statement. "I guess you can't really appreciate it until you've lived here for a while."

"Exactly," Leon said, snapping his fingers in agreement.

The small gesture made Diamond giggle. She noticed how animated he was when he spoke, his hands and expressions always matching his words. He was clearly an expressive person—something she found unexpectedly charming.

Before they could continue their conversation, a server approached their table and asked if Leon wanted anything to drink. He gave an affirmative nod and ordered a strawberry lemonade. Coffee was out of the question—he planned to sleep soon, after all.

A few minutes later, the server returned with his drink in hand. Leon took a sip, then glanced at Diamond. "So, is your sister moving here permanently or just visiting?"

"She's moving in with me," Diamond replied. "She's starting a new job soon, and I figured it'd be easier for her to settle in with someone she knows."

"Smart move," Leon said, nodding. "Better to have someone show you the ropes. District 10 doesn't play fair."

Hearing the casual way he said that, Diamond couldn't help but giggle softly. "You make it sound like a war zone."

"It can be, depending on where you go," Leon said with a playful smirk. "But I'm not worried about y'all—you seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders."

Diamond smiled at the compliment, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I try. What about you? What brings you here today?"

"Just killing time," Leon shrugged. "Figured I'd grab a drink and relax for a bit."

Diamond tilted her head, surprised. "So, you're not waiting for anyone?"

"Nope," Leon said, his smile widening. "But I'm glad I came—got to meet you, didn't I?"

She rolled her eyes at his smooth words, though her lips betrayed her amusement. "You've got a lot of confidence, I'll give you that."

"I like to think it's well-placed," Leon replied with a playful wink. He leaned back slightly, studying her for a moment before continuing. "I just got back into the city. Been away for a minute."

"Yeah? And how'd you manage that?" Diamond asked, raising an eyebrow. "The angels don't just let people stroll back in once they decide to leave."

Her voice held genuine curiosity. Entering District 10 is an easy thing to do. However, coming back after deciding to leave is harder than anything you can think of. The Angels would never allow something like that to happen under their nose. 

Hearing the curiosity in her voice, Leon's smile grew sharper, his voice lowering slightly, tinged with mystery. "Don't worry about that, my heart. Just know I'm not regular."

Diamond narrowed her eyes, smirking. "Oh, I can tell."

Leon chuckled as his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen before looking back at her. "Looks like my ride's here."

"Already?" Diamond asked her tone light but carrying a trace of curiosity. "Guess that's what I get for meeting someone 'not regular.'"

"Time flies when you're having fun," Leon said as he stood. He hesitated for a moment, then met her gaze. "Before I go, let me get your number. Maybe I'll hit you up sometime—show you and your sister around. Make sure she gets a proper welcome to District 10."

Diamond hesitated briefly before smirking. She took his phone and handed him hers in return. "Alright, but don't hit me up on no dumb shit. I hate when men do that," she said as she typed in her number.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Leon replied, entering his number into her phone before handing it back. "It was nice meeting you, Diamond."

"You too, Leon."

She watched as he made his way toward one of the airport's exits. But before he got too far, he turned back with a quick grin.

"I'll text you. Stay out of trouble, my heart."

Diamond laughed softly, shaking her head. "I'll try."

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Sliding into the backseat of the taxi, Leon leaned back with a deep breath. The night had gone well—a smooth arrival, an interesting conversation, and a step closer to settling back into the city he once called home. After giving the driver the address of the hotel he had scouted earlier, he turned his gaze to the window, watching as District 10's neon lights blurred past.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Leon stepped out and made his way to the front desk. The lobby was sleek and modern, still buzzing with life despite the late hour. He approached the receptionist with his usual confidence.

"Good evening. I'd like to book a room for the week—something comfortable," he said, sliding his ID across the counter.

The receptionist gave him a polite smile. "Of course, sir. Would you like to stay in our executive suite? It's one of the most luxurious options we offer."

Leon considered it for a moment. He wasn't rich—at least, not yet—but he refused to settle for mediocrity. Comfort mattered to him and it was his number one criterion when looking for a place to reside. So, after a brief pause, he nodded. "Yeah, I'll take it."

The receptionist's smile widened as she began processing his check-in. A short while later, Leon took the elevator up to his floor. The suite was exactly what he had hoped for—spacious, with a king-sized bed, plush furnishings, and a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Dropping his bag onto the couch, he stretched his arms and let out a low whistle.

"Not bad," he muttered, stepping toward the window. Below him, the city sparkled—a vast sea of lights and shadows. Being back felt surreal, like loading an old video game save file where the world had changed, but the character remained the same.

His thoughts drifted to his brothers, Victor and Kane, both of whom had thrived in his absence. From the letters they had exchanged, he knew they had made a lot of money. But Leon wasn't envious. He never would be. If anything, their success motivated him. His time was coming—he was sure of it.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Leon pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found Diamond's number. He hovered over it for a moment before smirking to himself and saving her name as "Diamond (with a diamond emoji next to the name)."

Tossing the phone onto the nightstand, he leaned back against the pillows, his mind slowly winding down.

"One step at a time," he murmured, closing his eyes.

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__________________ Images __________________

Leon Green (One of the three protagonists of this story)

Diamond Armstrong (A relevant character in this story)

Hotel room

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After each chapter, I will share images of the newly introduced characters who will play a role in the story, even if only in a minor event. Most of these images are not mine—they are sourced from Pinterest—but they represent how I envision the characters to look like.