– Treasure Cookies (✿) – (Post RE9) Leon isn’t immune to procrastination, and with a certain little one’s curfew coming up, he decides to finish the work tomorrow.
— Post-work Hours (✿, Part 1, Part 2 - soon) – (Post RE6) Yours and Mr. Kennedy’s usual post-work hours routine will need a raincheck after you had to do some overtime.
— Arts and crafts, with a sprinkle of taxes (✿) – (Pre RE9) The table half-filled with paperwork and the other side with yellow yarn and crochet hooks, a beautiful irony of the two sides of your marriage.
— No longer afraid (✿, with a bit of ☔︎︎) – (Post RE6--9) Leon was in a community parking lot, picking you and your daughter up from a kids' party. He has some reflections.
— Focus, Leon! (✿, with a bit of s ) – (Post RE6--9) Your husband was always looking at his wedding ring.
➜ Drabbles / Blurbs
– Beauty Marks (✿, w/ alludes to sex) - you love the stars that adore your husband’s body.
– Dinner's ready, Leon! (✿, with a bit of ☔︎︎) - coming back from a debriefing, all he wanted was to sleep and drink, but hey, you're there.
➜ Small thoughts
— music |
➜ Headcanons
— Leon | One.
All, including some of my Leon fic-recs, are under the tag: #ᯓ★ leon k.
Video features music covers by Michael Hudak, David L Puga, Mak Eightman, ABG, Daknit, and Eric Dude via ocremix.org, as well as sound effects provided by spriters-resource.com. Links available in the video description!
chris redfields apartment just nasty & musty as hell omg. dirty clothes and open takeout containers everywhere i just know the french twinks he was plowing were IRRITATED
AU: Somebody paid millions to clone Leon and enhanced that clone with a virus, making one of the deadliest assassins around. Of course the clone is younger, stronger, and deadlier.
RE9 Leon Kennedy probably has like 5 herniated discs and has been told that he needs a spinal fusion but he refuses to get it done because then he won't be able to move the same anymore, so he just takes unhealthy amounts of ibuprofen daily. His liver and kidneys are begging him to stop.
Genre : fluff, yearner leon, soft leon, blood, Idk, romance, HEA, long chapter, angst? Hehe
Summary : This was supposed to be an easy assignment. Just another mission with you; his one sided crush: it was supposed to go like -- kill zombies, gather information, go back to hq and all done. At least, that's what Leon thought was supposed to happen.
But when unexpectedly Leon gets hurt and the moment he lay there, fatally injured, feeling his strength slipping away; none of it mattered anymore.
Because in those final moments, all he could think about was you. And the love he had carried in silence for years.
WC - 6.5k
Note : English ISNT my native language; so expect grammatical errors, spelling mistake; or sentence issues, this is my second request! And I really had fun writing it, thank you anon for your request!
Doing this oneshot, based on this request, thank you for giving me such a wonderful idea, anon. Expect mistakes and badly written stuff 🥲
Leon checked his phone for what felt like the millionth time, only to find it was still 3:47 a.m. He groaned loudly and threw his phone beside him, and felt already exhausted despite not having done anything.
Because he was supposed to be asleep by now and wake up around 6 am, for the mission, leave his apartment by 7 a.m. and reach the assigned location by 8 a.m. sharp.
Yet as he lay in bed with his back pressed against the mattress and his phone abandoned beside his pillow, all he could do was watch the minutes crawl by at an agonizing pace.
Damn it.
Because for Leon, this wasn't just another mission. It was more than that. It was a mission with you as his partner, his one-sided love. And God, right now he felt like some fourteen-year-old kid waiting for the next day so he could go on a picnic date with his crush.
Except it wasn't a date.
Hell, it wasn't even close to one.
It was just a routine mission that happened to be assigned to both of you.
Which rarely happened, much to Leon's disappointment, and he never had the guts to ask why.
Instead, he pretended it didn't bother him. Pretended he didn't look forward to every mission with you a little too much.
Pretended he wasn't secretly checking assignment lists in hopes of seeing your name beside his. But every time it happened, every time the two of you were paired together, Leon found himself looking forward to the mission far more than he should have.
And the fact that a twenty-seven-year-old man was acting like this.. was honestly embarrassing, but what else was he supposed to do?
But for six long years, Leon had been acting like this pathetic idiot whenever it came to you.
With a long, tired sigh, he finally sat up in one fluid motion, the bedsheets shifting with him as he settled at the edge of the bed. Resting his elbows on his knees, and slowly he buried his face in his hands for a moment before rubbing them down his features.
But then a thought tugged at him. Maybe he could at least make himself a coffee or two and get ready early. It wasn't like he was getting any more sleep anyway.
So, without wasting another second, he pushed himself out of bed and wandered around his apartment, trying to keep himself occupied. Yet no matter what he did, the same thought crept into his mind again and again.
It wasn't his fault.
Not really.
.
.
.
Because six years ago, you had walked into the DSO office, and the moment you did, Leon's met your gaze and his breath had caught in his throat.
Sure, you were gorgeous, that was one of the things about you; but as time passed, he realized you were so much more than that.
You were kind, generous, caring, your clumsiness was adorable, you were always willing to help someone, always willing to go out of your way for others.
God, Leon could barely get a sentence out around you for nearly two years, and it was only after you kept talking to him anyway that he finally managed to relax enough to hold an actual conversation.
Then it turned from simple admiration into something far more dangerous. At first, it was simple things like how hardworking you were, how ambitious you were, how you were always the first person willing to help during a mission.
Then it became the smaller things. The way you tilted your head when you were thinking. The way your nose scrunched whenever something annoyed you. The way your eyes closed completely when you laughed from the heart.
The way your smile showed every single one of your teeth without a trace of self-consciousness. The way you clicked your pen repeatedly whenever you were nervous. The ridiculous amount of whipped cream you insisted on putting in your coffee. The way you gave your full attention to whoever you were speaking to using your hands and body.
Honestly, the list was endless, and if he started talking about everything about you every little thing you did, it would take months to complete it, and even then it still wouldn’t feel enough. He wasn’t even exaggerating at this point; there was simply too much about you to ever fully put into words.
Hell, if he had to tell the deepest darkest secret truth he held in his heart..?
That most of the times even watching you talk to Carlos sometimes made something painful tighten inside Leon's chest.
And that was how bad it had gotten.
Yet he still kept his distance. Because something inside him wasn't ready not for this, not for whatever feelings you brought out of him. Or maybe it was just cowardice, Leon didn't know anymore but maybe just pretended not to.
So for six long years he did the same thing: noticed you, admired you, stayed polite, and never crossed a single boundary.
Even if, sometimes, having that boundary crossed was all he had ever wanted.
And overtime he told himself it was enough to see you smile at him. Enough to stand beside you. Because there were things in his life, things he had seen that made him reluctant to drag you into whatever mud he was buried in.
The truth was that he couldn't do that to you.
And yet, if it were for you, or even without you asking a single thing of him, Leon knew he would walk through hell itself without hesitation.
Those thoughts followed him as he took a quick shower and brushed his teeth. Since he was already awake, he figured he might as well make use of the extra time. Eventually, as he wanted before, he made himself a coffee and settled into what had quietly become a ritual over the years.
Sitting on the edge of his bed with a warm mug cradled in one hand, Leon unlocked his phone and opened the folder he never let himself think too hard about. It was filled with photographs of you collected over the years, some taken during team celebrations, some during missions, some where you stood beside him smiling, and others where you had no idea the camera had ever been pointed your way.
It probably would've looked creepy to anyone else. Maybe it was.
But Leon couldn't bring himself to care, because somehow, that was how six years had passed for Leon: stealing little moments, collecting small memories, and convincing himself they were enough, hearing your voice over comms was enough.
And maybe it should have been.
But they were not, not really.
Still some nights, when the apartment was too quiet and the loneliness settled too heavily in his chest, Leon found himself wishing for things he had no right to want.
Things as simple as seeing your name on his phone. Hearing you laugh from the next room. Him cooking for you. You waking beside him, knowing he could reach for you and not have to pretend it meant nothing.
Leon sighed at that thought.
He knew he had been in a lot of bad situations throughout his life. He'd stared death in the face more times than he cared to count. But somehow, being in love with you without knowing what to do about it was its own kind of disaster. Maybe it was the worst situation he had ever found himself in.
And yet, not a single bone in his body regretted it.
Just then, as he was wrestling with his thoughts, his eyes landed on the clock.
6:00 a.m. Sharp.
Leon nearly laughed in relief, now there were only two more hours left until he got to see you, hear your voice, and spend an entire mission by your side. The realization sent something dangerously close to solace flooding through his chest.
Without further ado, he started to get ready by wearing a fresh set of clothes, his jacket, with a satisfied sigh Leon glanced in the mirror, and sprinkled a few sprays of cologne on his neck and wrists, and just like that another hour slipped by.
Before leaving, Leon gave himself a mental pep talk, reminding himself that this was just a mission. A routine operation. Nothing special. He would spend a few hours with you, complete the objective, and then go home.
At least, that's what he told himself.
But what Leon didn't know was that he was completely wrong.
Eventually, he left his apartment, locking the door behind him before heading toward his car. The drive afterward was far too quiet, but Leon found that he didn't mind.
Reaching over absentmindedly, he turned on the radio and ended up playing one of your favorite songs without even realizing it. It filled the car softly as he drove, and the entire way there his thoughts drifted back to you; your laugh, your smile, the sound of your voice over comms, and the way you somehow managed to make even the worst days feel a little lighter.
By the time he arrived at the ruined facility, you were already there waiting for him. Standing near the entrance with the morning sunlight catching the edges of your silhouette, you looked almost unreal. That's what leon thought as he embrace your entire being through his gaze.
You were dressed entirely in black, tactical gear resting on your waist, your comms resting comfortably against your ears, you carried yourself with that familiar confidence he had admired for years.
But what truly got him was the smile on your face the one accompanied by that small crinkle of your nose that appeared whenever you were genuinely happy.
Leon felt his heart do that stupid thing it had been doing for the past six years. The same thing it always did whenever he saw you.
Leon quickly shook his head, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks at the direction of his thoughts. Unable to stop the smile tugging at his lips, he returned yours with one of his own before parking the car and making his way toward you.
As he approached, you immediately greeted him with a cheerful voice, "Hey!" Your eyes crinkled at the sight of him, your smile widening ever so slightly, and Leon felt something warm settle in his chest at the simple gesture.
Leon couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips. "Hey, partner."
God. Every single time he called you that, he felt like an absolute idiot. You had no idea how much he liked saying it. No idea how many things he wanted to call you something else instead. So he settled for, partner, the safest option available, even if his heart was busy saying things he would never dare speak out loud.
"Ready?" you asked finally, not looking at him as you adjusted your gear, your attention focused on checking the straps and equipment secured across your vest.
"As I'll ever be."
A grin spread across your face as you faced him again. "Good. I'll take the west wing. You take the east."
Leon raised an eyebrow at you, "Bossy."
You rolled your eyes immediately, "Efficient, Kennedy."
"That's not what I heard."
A laugh escaped you, and Leon swore he saw the faintest hint of pink appear on your cheeks before it vanished again, or maybe he imagined it because it wouldn't be the first time.
"Didn't say you don't like it." The words slipped out before Leon could stop them. His eyes widened slightly the moment he realized what he'd just said.
Thankfully, you were already looking down at the mission tablet, seemingly focused on the mission briefing rather than the embarrassing comment he'd accidentally let escape.
Leon nearly groaned.
Smooth. Real smooth, Kennedy.
"Since this is just a routine sweep," you continued, finally glancing up at Leon, "we'll keep each other updated through comms. If either of us finds anything suspicious, we regroup immediately."
Leon nodded, his attention fixed on you far more than the actual briefing. Instead, he found himself noticing the way you spoke, the way your hands moved as you explained the plan, and the tiny crease that appeared between your brows whenever you were focused on something.
It was ridiculous, really. At this point, Leon was completely hopeless.
"Leon?" The snap of your fingers in front of his face immediately pulled him out of his thoughts.
His attention snapped back to you. "Hm?"
"Were you listening?" you asked.
"Of course," Leon replied with a confident nod.
You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. "Then what did I just say?"
"...Something about the mission."
Your groan and it rang out loudly across the parking lot while Leon merely grinned shamelessly, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Shaking your head, you pointed toward the entrance. "East wing," you reminded him.
"Yes, ma'am." Leon offered a dramatic salute, though the grin never left his face.
You rolled your eyes so hard he was surprised they didn't get stuck, then you turned away from him. Before disappearing, however, you flipped him off over your shoulder and stuck your tongue out at him.
Leon's smile widened immediately.
God, he was gone.
And then, just like that, you disappeared into the west side of the ruined facility while Leon headed toward the east, still smiling like an idiot long after you were out of sight.
Focus on the mission, Kennedy he told himself because that had been his strategy for six years.
As Leon moved deeper into the abandoned facility, his footsteps echoed faintly through the ruined hallways. He swept each room carefully, checking for any signs of life—or death as he kept his weapon raised and his senses alert.
Then his comms crackled and immediately, warmth spread through his chest. “Leon, I've got eyes on the west corridor. No movements yet.”
Your voice flowed through the earpiece, calm and fierce.
And just like that, Leon could picture you perfectly. Focused and professional. It was one of the things he admired most about you. You could be relaxed and funny one moment, but the second a mission demanded it, you became completely locked in.
Leon adjusted his grip on his weapon as he moved through the crumbling corridor, keeping his steps steady and low. “Copy that,” he murmured. “Stay on overwatch.”
A brief silence followed before your voice came through again. “Be careful, Leon. Something feels off about this place.”
Your tone was softer this time, carrying a hint of concern that made Leon's chest tighten immediately. It always happened whenever you said anything that sounded even remotely worried about him.
“Always am,” he replied casually, even though the warmth spreading through his chest made it difficult to sound nearly as unaffected as he wanted.
"Still," you said, your voice crackling softly through the comms, "keep me updated."
Leon hummed in response and continued deeper into the facility.
Then everything went wrong as it always does.
Just as Leon pushed open a broken door, his attention slipped for the briefest moment. It was all the opportunity the infected needed. The creature lunged from the side of the doorway, far faster than expected, and raked its claws across his torso.
Excruciating pain exploded through his side as the claws tore into his flesh, slamming him violently into the wall. A sharp hiss escaped him as the impact knocked the air from his lungs. Blood immediately began soaking through his jacket, spreading rapidly across the torn fabric as a burning agony radiated through his entire body.
Your voice cracked through the comms, urgent and demanding. "Leon! Are you okay?! I heard some noises. Answer me."
Despite the pain Leon was enduring, the panic in your voice almost made him smile. "I'm fine," he gritted out, shoving the infected away before putting a bullet through its skull.
But Leon knew he wasn't fine; infected tore through some vital organ of his he was sure of it.
The infected's body collapsed instantly; in front of him, and Leon tried to steady his breathing. But it didn't felt steady; it kept getting heavier by each passing second.
"Leon, talk to me," you demanded.
He opened his mouth to answer, but a wave of dizziness crashed into him instead, stealing the words before they could leave his lips. His gaze dropped to his side, and his stomach sank immediately.
The blood was spreading across his jacket far faster than he liked, staining the fabric dark red with alarming speed.
That was...
Bad.
By the time he stumbled deeper into the room, his legs were beginning to feel unsteady. He pressed himself against the nearest wall before slowly sliding down it until he was sitting on the floor.
The world had slowly started to tilt.
His vision blurred at the edges, as the hallway seemed to sway around him. His every breath grew heavier than the last, and it took all his concentration just to remain standing. Then the comms crackled again.
"Leon!"
Your voice burst through the speaker, sharp with panic.
The sound alone made his chest tighten. You rarely sounded like that. Not for anything. Yet now there was unmistakable fear in your voice, and somehow that frightened him more than the blood pooling beneath his jacket.
Your voice sounded farther away now."Leon, respond!"
He exhaled shakily. "S…still here," he managed.
But in reality, he didn't feel very "here" anymore. Instead he felt he wasn't even in this world anymore, everything around him seemed distant, muffled, as though he were listening to it from underwater.
His hand remained pressed firmly against the wound, desperately trying to stem the bleeding, but it didn't help much. Warm blood continued to seep between his fingers, and with every passing second, he could feel his strength slipping away.
Through the haze, your voice broke through the comms again."I'm moving to your position. Hold on."
"No," he rasped immediately, forcing the words out. "Don't... call for backup."
"I will, but the tech isn't working here. The connection is bad. Please don't close your eyes. I'm coming to you now." The panic in your voice was impossible to miss.
And Leon couldn't help the lazy smile that tugged at his lips as he heard your footsteps echoing through the comms.
God, you're always so stubborn.
Then the comm connection cut out entirely.
Leon let his eyes close for just a second.
When he opened them again, he saw you standing in the doorway. For a brief moment, he genuinely thought he was hallucinating. Between the blood loss and the dizziness clouding his mind, seeing you there felt almost too good to be real.
But no.
There you were.
His smile widened faintly. Your brows furrowed the instant you spotted him, and without hesitation you broke into a run straight toward him.
It would've looked almost cinematic under different circumstances but right now it just seemed tragic.
Within seconds, you reached him and dropped to your knees beside him, immediately assessing the wound with practiced focus.
Your hands remained steady as they worked on his wound, but Leon could tell you were panicking.
He should've felt guilty for noticing it. Instead, something warm settled in his chest. Not because he was hurt; God, he would've preferred almost anything over that but because it meant you cared.
Maybe not in the same way he cared for you. Maybe not with the kind of love he'd carried for years. But you cared nonetheless, and somehow that was enough. And your eyes betrayed you despite your efforts to stay composed.
Leon caught the worry hidden behind them, the tears gathering at the corners that you were desperately trying to hold back, and for a moment he found himself smiling through the pain.
"Okay," you muttered, already shrugging off your black jacket and pressing it firmly against his wound. "Okay, stay with me."
Leon blinked up at you and let out a weak chuckle. Because even like this, even bleeding out on the floor of some ruined facility, with pain tearing through his side and his vision threatening to fade, all he could think about was how close you were.
"It's not bad," you said, clearly lying to him perhaps to keep him from worrying, perhaps because you were trying to convince yourself of the same thing. But your voice cracked halfway through the sentence, betraying you instantly.
Leon should've lied too, should've smiled and told you he was fine. But he didn't have the energy for it anymore. "It is bad," he said simply.
Your jaw tightened immediately. You adjusted your grip on the makeshift bandage of your jacket, pressing harder against his side.
The pressure sent another wave of pain through him that made him groan in pain, but somehow it was your voice that made something strange happen in his chest. "...No no you are gonna be okay."
God.
That did something dangerous to him. Even through the pain, Leon found himself lingering on your panicked expression. He shouldn't have thought it, not now of all times, but there was something oddly endearing about the way you were fussing over him.
"You look adorable when you are all panicky."
God what was he saying, but fuck it, if he is gonna die as well as say it.
A shaky breath escaped you as you looked at him. "What?" you asked confused.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Leon's mouth. "Yeah," he said quietly. "It's kind of distracting."
That earned a broken laugh from you but it was more of a half laugh, half sob. You pressed the jacket tighter against his wound, though your hands were trembling now.
"Stay with me," you ordered firmly.
Leon tried to keep his eyes open, but the edges of his vision were already blurring. "I am."
The moment his eyelids started to droop, you softly slapped his cheek. "Hey!" you breathed, patting each side of his face gently, "Open your eyes. Wake up."
Leon groaned weakly. "...You're not supposed to be here."
"What?" You asked.
He swallowed painfully and glanced away, his gaze drifting toward the floor. For a moment, he seemed almost embarrassed despite the blood loss and the pain tearing through his side. "I don't want you to see me like this," he admitted quietly.
For a moment, all you did was stare at him, then disbelief flashed across your face. "Leon, you are such an idiot."
Despite everything, he laughed, which instantly turns into a painful grunt.
You shook your head furiously and adjusted your grip on him again. "I called for backup. I don't know when they'll get here." You pause for a second and your voice wavered again. "But you're staying awake until they do. Do you hear me?"
Leon looked up at you and saw the tears gathering in your eyes. He saw the fear you were trying so desperately to hide, and the way your hands refused to let go of him no matter how much blood stained them.
For the first time since he'd been injured, he felt something dangerously close to relief settle in his chest. Not because he was hurt, not because things were going to be okay but because you were here. "Yeah," he whispered softly.
Your hands paused for a moment, and something in your expression shifted.
"Leon..." Your voice was quieter now, but no less firm. "You know, when I joined the agency, you were the one I looked up to. Honestly, you still are."
Leon blinked slowly, swallowing hard on the air between you and him.
You swallowed too and continued before you could lose your nerve. "You're brave. Braver than anyone I've ever met. You've gone through things most people wouldn't even dare to think about, and somehow you're still here." Your grip tightened slightly on his wound and he wince. You apologetically look at him and loosen your grip on the wound and continue, "You're still standing. You're still helping people."
He could not believe what he was hearing his eyes widening as he slowly processed your words.
A shaky breath escaped you. "I researched you, you know. Before we started working together. I read every report I could find, every mission record they would let me access." A faint, tearful laugh left you. "I wanted to know who the legendary Leon Kennedy really was."
Your eyes met his, and his eyes started to glisten too.
"But you know, all I found was someone who keeps carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and still shows up every day to save people."
Your voice cracked, you didnt know why you were saying it maybe it is to keep him alive, but it didnt change the fact it was the truth you have hidden for years, "Because, Leon, you're the kind of person who will always be..." The words caught in your throat. Suddenly, they felt far too dangerous to say out loud. Your gaze dropped briefly before finding his again. "Someone..." you tried once more, but your voice failed you. The confession hovered between you, unfinished yet painfully obvious. Your breath get stuck in your throat as you guide your hands towards his before giving it a firm squeeze.
"Who is important to me."
Leon glanced at your hands and his heart beats way too rapidly. And before he could ruin it by staying silent again, your words starts to wrap themselves around his ribs like a tightening coil.
They slowly settled somewhere deep inside him, somewhere he had spent years keeping locked away. No one had ever said those things to him, not like that. Not with tears in their eyes. Not with hands trembling as they fought to keep him alive.
For so long, Leon had been the one who carried the hurt, the one who kept moving forward because there was no other choice. Yet here you were, looking at him as though he was something worth saving.
The feeling hit him harder than the pain tearing through his side. And as he lay there, bloodied and exhausted, all he could think was that he needed to tell you. Needed you to know. Needed to confess. Before it was too late.
Leon swallowed painfully, his gaze never leaving yours. "I need you to know something too," he said quietly.
Your eyes widened instantly.
"No, no, don't talk. Save your energy," you warned, tightening your grip on him as if that alone could keep him here.
He ignored you.
Classic Leon.
A faint, tired smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I don't think I'm getting out of this one clean."
"Leon!"
The sharpness in your voice echoed through the room.
But Leon simply shook his head weakly.
"No." He swallowed hard, fighting through the pain. "Listen to me."
Something in his expression made your protest die in your throat.
For the first time since you'd reached him, he wasn't trying to reassure you. Your hands stayed pressed against his wound.
His voice was weaker now. He took a slow, painful breath, as though even speaking was becoming difficult. "I've had feelings for you for a long time."
Your entire body froze.
For a moment, you forgot about the blood, the mission, the collapsing facility—everything.
Your lips trembled.
"Leon..."
"Let me say it, partner," he interrupted softly. There was a faint smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Because, truthfully, this hurts like hell."
He paused, fighting for another breath.
"If this is the last breath I take," he said quietly, his gaze never leaving yours, "then it won't be in vain as long as I spend it near you."
Your eyes immediately filled with tears and you opened your mouth to speak but Leon swallowed hard and gave a weak shake of his head.
"No," he whispered when you tried to stop him again. "If I don't say it right now... I don't know if I'll ever be able to."
The words landed between you like a shockwave for a moment, all sound seemed to disappear. Your chest tightened painfully, your breath catching somewhere in your throat as you stared at him. The confession felt impossible, unreal, something you'd imagined a hundred times but never truly expected to hear.
"I.. I.. am in love with you."
There he said it. He thought, he doesn't care anymore if he lives or die. Because now he got to say it. And instead of feeling panicked he feels strangely safe, then almost a relieved exhales escaped him.
Your lips parted, trembling slightly. "You... you're serious?" you whispered, your voice barely audible.
“Yeah,” he muttered, a shaky breath escaping him as pain laced through every word. “Fuck, it hurts like a motherfucking bitch.” He gave a weak, strained exhale before laughing weakly. “Sorry…i know its a bad timing.”
Your grip tightened on him immediately, as if refusing to let him slip any further away.
Leon gaze at you and something in his expression softened, despite everything. “…It’s okay,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to say anything back.”
That made your eyes flash. “What?”
“I said it because I needed to,” he continued. “Not because I expect—”
“You think I don’t feel the same?”
Leon blinked slowly. “…What?”
Your breath shook. “You think I don’t—Leon, are you serious?”
For the first time in a long time, Leon Kennedy looked completely, utterly stunned.
You swallowed hard. “I love you,” you said. “I have for a long time too.”
“Leon… I loved you,” you said, your voice breaking as the words finally spilled out. “The moment you were hesitant to even talk to me, I thought you weren’t interested, so I just kept it friendly… I didn’t know what else to do.”
Your grip tightened on his hand as tears blurred your vision. “I kept pretending it was fine. That it didn’t matter. That I could just… stay close to you like that.” Your breath shook. “But it always mattered. It always was you.”
You swallowed hard, looking down at him through trembling lashes.
“I just didn’t think you’d ever feel the same.”
That actually got a real smile out of him. “I thought I was imagining it all,” he admitted softly.
“You were not,” you whispered.
“So we both were scared, and spent years like that?” you whispered, voice breaking as the realization settled heavily in your chest.
“Better late than never… right?” Leon groaned.
You nod you were actually sobbing now, “Stay... with.. me..,” you said again, and this time it wasn’t an order; it was a desperate plea. Your voice broke around the words, fragile and desperate as you held onto him like letting go would mean losing him completely.
Leon’s eyes softened. “I’m trying,” he said.
And for the first time since the mission started He believed he might actually get the chance to stay. “No—no, stay with me, Leon—”
“I am with you,” he said softly. “Even if I don’t make it out.”
Tears flowed freely down your cheeks, your eyes squeezing shut as a pained sob escaped you. “Don’t say that,” you whispered, your voice breaking.
“I’m not afraid anymore,” he added.
That made you shake your head harder. “You’re not allowed to leave me.”
Leon ignored that comment and instead his gaze softened, his breath uneven as he held your hand a little tighter. “Because…” he whispered, pausing as if gathering the last of his strength, “I get to tell you everything."
And for the first time in his life, Leon Kennedy let himself close his eyes without fear.
And the last thing he knew was your hands around him holding on desperately, refusing to let go and your voice breaking as you screamed his name again and again, as if sheer sound alone could pull him back from the edge.
.
.
.
When he woke up hours later, it was because of your uneven breathing and the steady beep of the machine beside him. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the harsh hospital light, the room slowly coming into focus.
When his vision finally cleared, the first thing he saw was you asleep in a chair beside him, head resting near the bed, his chest swelled with emotions and he noticed your fingers still wrapped around his.
Leon exhaled slowly and relief hit him so hard it almost hurt. You stirred too finally, blinking awake. When your eyes met his, everything seemed to stop again but this time, it didn’t fall into silence.
Leon let out a weak breath. “…Hey… partner,” he murmured softly.
Your eyes filled instantly. Then you leaned forward, gripping his hand tighter like you were afraid he might disappear again. “I love you, Leon Scott Kennedy,” you said, your voice shaking but certain, like you needed him to hear it now that he was truly here to listen.
Leon closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if letting the words settle somewhere deep inside him. Then he opened them again and smiled faintly. "I love you more than eternity itself, partner,” he whispered.
And you let smiled through your tear-stained face.
And this time as he looked into your eyes his hands reaching up to your face to wipe away your tears, Leon realized. It wasn’t an ending.
It was the beginning of something he never let himself believe he’d get.
