Jealousy from Leon Kennedy's POV
it’s supposed to be an easy night
low stakes, nothing operational. just people talking too loud in a bar that smells like spilled beer
he’s got you in his peripherals, halfway through answering chris, when something changes
you’re across the room, angled slightly toward some guy from another unit who just walked up.
you’re smiling
leaning in a fraction when the guy speaks, like you can't hear him through all the background noise
and leon feels it happen in him quietly, the way it always does like he's still on a mission
he catalogues the variables:
too close
paying too much attention
familiarity is increasing faster than necessary
leon nods at the right time. he stays near chris. his body keeps doing what it’s trained to do, but his attention has already stopped participating
chris follows his line of sight and exhales through his nose like he already knows where this is going
“oh,” chris mutters. “you doing the quiet thing again?”
leon doesn’t respond because he’s already standing
he didn't decide to cross the room. the decision was made for him like he never had a choice
across the room, he notices small things as he gets closer
the angle of your shoulders toward the other guy
the ease in your expression
the fact that you haven’t looked for him in a while
he stops behind you, close enough that your awareness shifts before your eyes even find him
you turn slightly
give him a genuine smile like you haven't been torturing him
his voice comes out low enough that it belongs only to you
“you’re done talking to him.”
he hears the immediate instinct in you to deflect it, to make it light, to keep things smooth
you always try to keep things smooth
he respects that about you
but he isn't letting it slide tonight
his eyes flick briefly to the guy’s hand near your glass, just a fraction too comfortable
leon’s jaw tightens once
don’t escalate. don’t interrupt. don’t perform. just remove variables
he reaches past you and takes your glass like it belongs to his hands more than yours right now
the guy starts to speak. leon doesn’t even register the words
he looks at him once and the conversation collapses on its own
good
leon returns his attention to you immediately, because that’s the part that matters
you’re still looking at him like you’re trying to decide if this is about the job or something else
it isn’t the job
he should say something measured, something neutral
instead what comes out is simpler
“i’m leaving.”
then, quieter, because he can feel the pull in himself to soften it for you even now
“please come with me.”
he starts walking before he overthinks it but he waits half a step so you can fall into place beside him if you want to
you always do
and when you do, leon lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding
you wind yourself around his arm, holding onto him.
a big, knowing smile on your face
“you jealous, baby?”
he scoffs.
“think it's funny?”
you shake your head.
“no. makes me feel loved.”
he's quiet for a long time. longer than appropriate.
he pulls you against him tighter.
“don't have to question that one. I do.”
