Ok ok ok, so how do Kitty and Leon end up falling for each other????
Context: "Like what drew him to her and what drew her to him?"
So, going by Leon's most popular ships, he tends to favor people who are quick-witted and tough. Kitty taking a shot that could have killed him, but didn't (and knew it wouldn't) was already a huge attraction to him, though he suppressed that at the time. Her competency is something that he values immeasurably. And if we're being honest, so is her recklessness (though this does get them in a fair amount of fights).
But what really draws him in is her softness. After they escape Raccoon City, Kitty becomes Emily's (Grace's adopted daughter) private tutor, and the gentleness Kitty displays in her interactions with Emily (and people in general) is what tugs at Leon the most. Because how can someone who has been through so much, still be so kind? He realizes that while he is attracted to the wild toughness she exhibited, it doesn't compare half as much to the gentleness she is capable of. Her vulnerability and openness with him after they escape is also something he doesn't expect. Leon is emotionally constipated at best, and someone willing to show their softest parts, Kitty's emotional underbelly so to speak, starts to shatter his defenses.
Having someone to care for after being alone for so long is also something that helps him open up. He finds himself looking for her in the everyday, looking forward to seeing her smile, to hearing her laugh, or sing in the shower. He wants to take care of her, buy her things, put a ring on her finger, and make sure she wants for nothing. He never wants to see her despair as she did when she admitted she knew she would never make it out of Raccoon City, even in a body bag.
He fights these feelings as much as possible, because he is so much older than her. He feels as though he is taking advantage of Kitty by feeling any sort of way other than friendly (or parental, and lets not get me started on any potential daddy kinks okayyyyy). The vulnerability aspect is what really throws him. If she were surly and uncooperative, it would be easy for him to dismiss his feelings, to ignore her worming into the chinks in his armor. But this also scares him. Kitty is almost too earnest with him, and this isn't something he is used to. So he pushes her away for a good while.
His acceptance of his feelings comes gradually. He finally realizes that it's more than platonic affection, more than a desire to care for someone in need, and more than even lust. And once that happens, there is no turning back. He's all in, shiny engagement ring, elaborate (private!!!) proposal, raunchy engagement sex , and already looking into buying a home.
Essentially. He falls first, doesn't realize it, and falls super hard once he does.
Kitty is more gradual. Though, her initial draw to Leon is more akin to that of a baby animal imprinting on a caretaker. Yes, she rescues him, but he's the first living human she's met in years that not only does not try to kill her on sight (or use her for world ending experiments), but actively protects her with his own life and body. Even though she's not romantically interested in him at first (or even really attracted to him bc she is #myme and demisexual), he immediately becomes someone she is unwilling to lose, or part with.
Leon's struggles with his attraction and feelings for her confuses Kitty to no end. He lets his control slip pretty early on into their forced cohabitation, and each time it happens he puts up more walls, leading to a lot of confusion on both ends (for different reasons. Kitty, because she doesn't understand why he would lie to himself and her. Leon because he doesn't understand why he would ever act in a sexual manner toward someone he considered a friend and he was in charge of caring for). Despite her years of confinement in Raccoon City, Kitty is emotionally mature enough to try and talk things out with Leon, only to be shut out.
And she doesn't mind the sexual attraction he has for her. They quickly grow very close after having to live together, him ferry her to and from appointments with DSO approved therapists and doctors, grocery shopping, meal planning (new to Leon), and random outings to book stores and libraries (two of the only public places Kitty can stand to be after Raccoon City, as crowds always remind her of zombie hoards now). So, for Kitty. It kind of just happens. She doesn't really know when, or how, or why. But one morning, she's sitting in the dining space of Leon's small DC apartment, sipping tea, watching him prepare his coffee for the morning. The sun hits him from the back, pouring into the space from the windows from the living room. He turns to smile at her, sleepy and genuine. And it hits her. She is in love with him.
Leon is kind, he is giving, he is generous with her. He takes care of her, and has a innate desire to help people. The fact that he's hot doesn't even factor in until one of those times Leon's control slips. They're in the entryway of the apartment, he's steadying her after she lost her balance trying to pull off a shoe, and now she is anchored against the wall and Leon is far too close. Flashes of the previous times he's kissed her, or touched her, or otherwise engaged in acts of a sexual nature with her are now in the forefront of her mind. Each time she was enthusiastically consenting, because she was touch starved. It felt nice. She felt safe with Leon. But now? Now she felt like she was melting into a puddle of mush just at the heated look in his eyes, at the brush of his thumb against her cheekbone. This time it's Kitty who runs away, leaving Leon confused and feeling foolish.
It's when Kitty finally tells him that she doesn't want to leave that their feelings spill out for the first time. He brings up her moving out, maybe even moving back home to Tennessee, because he thinks she is unhappy. The DSO wants her to work for them, acting under Leon, and he thinks it would be better for her to be away from that lifestyle. Heartbroken, Kitty pleads with him to let her stay, and everything tumbles out for the both of them.
After that, Leon is desperately searching for a ring and Kitty is kind of just in heaven. Being doted on is a huge thing for her, and Leon is never holding back in that regard again.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASK I HOPE THIS ANSWER IS SATISFACTORY!!!!!!!
