The absolute audacity of Leon Kennedy trusting Ada Wong
This post was supposed to be serious, I'm working on it but. for now. Just walk with me. Leon meets this woman in what is, seemingly, the end of the world. She says she’s FBI, ok, makes sense. As time goes by he doesn't fully believe her, doesn't fully trust her, but he doesn't have much proof, much reason. In his defense, she does seem to know what she's doing, where she's going, and how to sort anything out. There’s something shady, not quite right, but what’s he supposed to do? Actually leave her alone like she asked before? Nah, no way.
And then they go through the horrors together. And, hey, she said that her mission is to take down Umbrella’s entire operation, and that’s exactly what Leon wants too. She also patched him up and left her trench coat on top of him when he took a bullet for her. And she’s kind, in her own way. She did save him before too, twice. And she’s pretty. And now she’s smiling at him a little and teasing him. And her lips are soft and taste like strawberry. And her hand is on his thigh. Ok.
And there he goes after the G-virus as evidence for the FBI. He gets it and immediately goes "Alright, now back to Ada", which doesn't happen that easily. And then he meets Annette, this woman Ada told him created the virus and is the person the FBI is after, the person that's Umbrella and that shot him on the shoulder. As she’s on the brink of death, she asks him "Do you trust that bitch?" First, rude. Don’t call her that. Second, huh? And she goes on "She's not FBI. She’s a mercenary" and. No. Just no? How could the woman that’s been with him so far during all of this be lying to him, and the person who caused all this was telling the truth? But, then again, he wanted to trust her. He didn't. So he goes the way back to question her about it.
...And it's true, it was all a big fat lie. She pulls a gun on him to get the fucking virus back. And he's pissed. He's hurt. He's resentful. Not just for the kiss or the lies, for everything. He's bitter about it too, so he aims at her too. Both just doing their jobs. He won't let this stupid virus get out and hurt more people, even if it means confronting her... but. Huh. Ada says "I don't wanna hurt you", and Leon takes that to heart. Leon S. Kennedy—Leon Big Dick Kennedy glares at the woman who just lied to him from the start, who used every way she could to get that fuckass virus, who's working for god-knows-who, who could bid the virus—and instead of being terrified (how did she lie this consistently?? Kissed? Him?? And still lied? That’s Not Okay. I'd be scared as hell, I'd be questioning everything) or mad beyond reason—Leon Big Dick Kennedy lowers his gun, leaving himself vulnerable to be shot. Ada is currently dangerous, pointing a gun at him, determinated, and had proven in every single way what she really was—or had she?
Had she, really? At the beginning, when she owed him nothing and saved him when he wasn't of worth to her? Had she, when she seemed actually worried for him when he was running away from the alligator? Had she, when she patched his shoulder? Had she, when she begrudgingly let him help her with her injuried leg? Was it all a lie? He doesn't think so. He's not crazy, he's not seeing things, there was something there. Goddamn it, she left her trench coat on top of him. If all of this was fake, then she’s downright twisted—but he doesn't think so.
But that’s what he thinks. What he felt. She’s still very much pointing a gun at him and the deceits and lies are very much weighing on them. She's still a threat, he just met her, but Leon Big Dick Kennedy not only puts his gun down, he's not giving up, he's daring her "Then you shoot me. But I don’t think you can." not on OUNCE of fear in this man's eyes. What the fuck. He puffs out his chest, he looks furious, hurt, tense, but afraid? Scared? I don’t think so. And how is he not scared? How is he somewhat, no, actually trusting her again? He's testing someone who just lied to him from the start? What's this? Everyone deserves a second chance?? There’s only one person more confused than me about this: Ada.
She’s shocked. Flabbergasted. Speechless. And he's looking at her like "Wasn't this damn virus everything you wanted? The only thing that truly matters? Aren’t I just a pawn? Then go ahead, kill me and come get it if you can." Literally what. She didn't see this coming. But she should have, of course she should, from everything she knew about this man so far. She tries to mask her reaction quickly. Oh, he has no idea with who and what he’s dealing with. She’s The Ada Wong. The hyper competent mercenary, high combat skilled spy, the person who always remains calm and collected even in the most extreme situations. The woman who successfully fulfills her contracts and deals, no matter what. He caught her off guard there for a second, but that was it. She remains pointing the gun at him, another job, another day–
Except that this wasn't just another day, and that for some reason, pulling that trigger feels painful. And she’s once again dumbfolded. She lowers the gun altogether, surprised at her own lack of courage, of will. She can't do it. She can't do the one thing that she's been doing, which is anything necessary to get her means. And she’s not calm, not collected, and didn't act on logic. The Ada Wong, defeated by a courageous rookie cop, read like a book by him for once. That would be a narcissistic wound I'd never recover from, I don't think she ever did.
She didn't know she'd act like this—but Leon did. He knew she wouldn’t shoot, and he was right, because he's still very much alive (as he can be in this situation), virus still in hands.