Chapter Text
Leon woke up to the sound of his alarm blaring.
At 4:30 in the morning.
Although his first day didn’t officially start until six in the morning, he wanted to get a good cup of coffee after that to start the day off. Today is the day. Leon thought to himself. His first day as a new police officer at Raccoon City. He worked hard at the academy — he even finished top of his class — and graduated in a couple of months. Leon knew that starting would be difficult, he knew he’d been waiting for this moment for a while, but it terrified him to think about his new job. The anticipation, anxiety, and nervousness surged in his mind, he has to make a good impression on everyone, after all, it is his first day.
Leon stretched in his bed, his arm extending above his head and his back arched with a quiet noise coming out of his mouth. He took out both his legs from the bed and quickly put on his slide-on sandals. The cold breeze attacked him everywhere, his legs and torso feeling the cold the most but he didn’t shiver. He got a fresh pair of underwear — he made sure he was a whole new person today — then he looked at his closet and selected his outfit, a plain white shirt, with a grey button-up. He reached for the denim in the drawer beneath his shirts, sliding into his ripped jeans and buttoning them up. His breath hitched as the cold of the jeans caused goosebumps to appear on his legs. They were slightly loose, but he loved the fact that they weren’t sticking onto his skin directly; it made the cold more bearable. He reached for the jacket that he recently bought from the Seven store eight blocks down, although it was not the best for the absolute zero temperature that Leon is experiencing, he’ll be able to get warm and not feel the sheer cold. Finally, he picked up his white Adidas , tied the laces, and went to lay back down on his bed one last time. Leon shifted his position on his bed, holding his legs close to his chest until he sighed and sprung onto his feet. He went out of his bedroom, past the kitchen, and into the living room — which was only two couches and a TV — he swiftly clutched his keys for both the house and his Jeep and went out the door. The clock read four-fifty.
Walking down the steps of his apartment was an easy task, one he did every day, after all, he lived on the 11th floor He remembered the faces of his neighbors, one was an older woman who lived near the first floor, and another one was an older man who had a rugged face and stoic face, Leon believed this man possibly entered the Iran war with the way the man swayed from left to right along with his crutch that never seemed to go away. Leon knew the man and child on the third floor, they both had a pale complexion with the blondest hair he had ever seen, he thought they possibly immigrated — just as he did from Italy — from an eastern European country or Asia but he had never asked. He also knew this one young girl that lived about four stories lower, he got to know her a bit because of her morning jogs which caused her to leave the apartment at around five in the morning. They grew quite close these past three years as Leon had to exercise himself, learning how hard running in the shivering cold must be. The girl’s name was Claire, and her last name was Redfield. He found her last name pretty, of course, and her first name was too, but he simply wasn’t attracted to her to make her first name sound pretty as well, he believed that for the name to be pretty, they had to be pretty to him, and quite frankly, she wasn’t more than a friend.
That’s when Claire caught up to him in the stairwell. She tapped him on the shoulder and had a smile on her face that shined brightly. “Hey, Leon!”
Leon was startled a bit, taken aback by the sudden noise that came into his ear, “Jesus Christ, Claire,” Leon responded, “You scared the fuck out of me.”
Claire scoffed, “You’re right,” she giggled, “I did. And you looked so scared! Are you nervous about your first day? Is this why I startled you so quickly? Also, you never told me about where you wanted to work, you just called me a week ago and said that your first day of work was Monday, which is today. ” They continued walking, making their way past the eighth floor.
“Maybe I am nervous.” Leon answered, “Look it’s just so crazy to think that after months of hard work at the academy, I actually got into the Police Department.”
Claire’s face contorted, “Wait your a cop now? Damn, I know so many cops it’s driving me crazy.”
“I thought I told you about this?” Leon asked, confused at the fact the younger girl didn’t seem to recollect what he told her, “I’ve always wanted to be a police officer. And since when did you know cops?”
She quickly looked back at him, “Really? I don’t think you told me because I feel like I would’ve remembered since my brother works at the police department. The big one with the pretty garden. Did I ever tell you that?”
Leon was shocked at the news. Claire’s brother works there? Is he scary? Is he a higher-up? What does he look like? He looked back to answer her, “I guess I never told you.”
Claire’s expression turned smug, “See, you never told me — I guess I didn’t tell you about my family either — but I’m so happy for you! Sadly, I have classes later today so we can’t celebrate your first day on the job. I have classes until Thursday, and they’re all from one to six P.M. so maybe we could go out and celebrate on the weekend or whenever I’m on break? Thanksgiving is coming up in about a month so maybe then?”
They soon reached the second floor, and Leon liked the idea of celebrating together, he wasn’t able to celebrate things at home — because his family was horrible and also because he had broken up with his ex three years ago — people and strangers always wanted something to do with his father and mother, although they did have money, their hands weren’t clean and that’s not something Leon liked at all. He remembered the fact that he loved his police officer, who helped him through those difficult times, and he wants to be just like them. He found out about those recent murders in the Arklay Mountains and he knew he had to know more. Something about them adhered to his mind almost like glue. He nodded at Claire and spoke, “Yeah, that sounds like fun, I haven’t celebrated in a while, and I have no one to celebrate Thanksgiving with so then sounds great.”
“Really?” Claire sounded worried, “Why not celebrate? I mean it’s good to have a celebration now and then, it’s great for your health and,” Claire paused, “Wait! Was I the only person you celebrated your birthday with? Is that why it was only you and I at the park playing with your bloodhound last time?” Leon’s heart ached at the reminder of his bloodhound, who he loved dearly, that passed away around four months ago. Leon’s birthday was only eight months ago in February. February was a difficult month for him, but it was September now, he understood that people and pets come and go and that he had given him the best life he could. Leon stared back at her, smiling he spoke, “Yes, that’s why I celebrated with you, even though you’re two years younger than me. It must’ve been weird, especially since I turned twenty-one and you turned nineteen not too long ago, I also never wanted to ask, but why have you lived in this complex for years? Who pays for it?” Claire quickly responded, “My brother does, he’s always supported me and wants nothing but the best for me.”
Leon’s mind quickly went from happy to sour, he always wondered why the universe was out for him, why he couldn’t get these people in his family that wanted to protect and help him with all his troubles; then Leon remembered about the people he has in his life now, Carlos, the man who works at the coffee shop— Mom’s Cafe —he loves, and Claire, his friend that he’s had for years from this apartment. Why be angry when all the universe has done is make me stronger? Leon thought to himself. Leon spoke, “You know I have to meet your brother one day, he sounds like a great man.”
They finally reached the lobby of the apartment complex, the sun narrowly shining through the glass doors. The morning dew left the glass slightly wet with droplets, and the sidewalk outside was left slightly grayer than usual. Leon smiled, he noticed a faint rainbow on the ground, something that reminded him about how even in the dark there’s still light. He loved hearing stories like those about finding the truth in lies or finding the light in the dark. The police officer that helped him while he was growing up would tell him stories about that, mostly because of all the corruption in the police force during the 80s, they wanted to show Leon that even though not every cop was bad, there was still some out there that hurt innocent people and that they wouldn’t be like those cops. Leon took those stories to heart, he always told himself how he needed to be like that police officer to others, to help them be better and find solidarity and safety.
“He is,” Claire looked up, “He should be coming back from Europe in three days. I got a letter from the police department, from my brother, that he would return by October 2nd. I’m slightly nervous, we haven’t seen each other in two months. Wait!” Claire shouted causing Leon to jerk slightly back, “Sorry, but I don’t think I’ve ever introduced him to my friends, I mean, he’s introduced to his co-workers, Jill, Rebecca, Albert, and others, but I’ve never told him about the people I’m close too, hell, I’ve known you for years and I don’t think I’ve ever even mentioned anything about you.”
Leon had no clue who Claire had mentioned before, those people must also be a part of the police department because they are her brother’s co-workers, meaning that he could possibly get a chance to get to meet them soon! I’m so nervous! Leon said to himself, slightly excited at the thought of being able to meet such wonderful people (he’s sure they have to be wonderful, they’re cops) but also nervous at the fact that they’re
“I mean, he is your brother,” Leon responds, fixing his collar, “What if he thinks that I’m some dude that’s trying to hit on you or something? You know how guys can be.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking, he’s always so adamant about our bloodline, sometimes I think that he’s crazy,” Claire answers leaving Leon a bit bewildered about what she had said, “I know right, I swear those addicts he arrests gave him something to go so crazy about it.”
“Your brother sure is something,” Leon replies, staring at his watch and looking at the time, “Anyways, Claire, I’m going to go to Mom’s Cafe , I need something to start the day off.”
“Oh, isn’t that kind of far?” Claire asked.
“Sort of,” Leon responded, “That’s why I’m taking my Jeep .”
Claire spoke, “Ah, that makes sense, anyways, have fun on your first day! I’m gonna start my run, be safe!”
Leon uttered, “You too, Claire, take care.”
Claire rushed out the glass doors, starting her run as a light jog, while Leon headed to the left side of the complex, opening the black metal gate and turning on his Jeep. He opened the driver's side door, grabbed onto the side of his seat, and jumped inside the Jeep , sitting comfortably on the light brown seats. Leon melted into his seat, he loved his Jeep dearly, satisfied about being able to afford such an expensive car at such a young age, he knew it wasn’t an easy thing to achieve. He managed to achieve this with all the money he gained from his academy training and the side job he took as a bartender at the pub next to the coffee shop. He found it strange that he started bartending at eighteen but couldn’t drink any of the cocktail mixtures that he made since he was three years younger than the required age to drink alcohol, which was twenty-one. He never got any help from his parents since they were too busy dealing with crime and being high off their minds while he still attended grade school. His childhood was difficult, his parents barely helped him from birth. Ever since the prosperous age of six, he knew he would have to endure most of life’s hardest times all by himself, he had no one to count on except himself. Sometimes he would remember some of the worst scenes from his young age and those still replayed in his head to this day.
Never going away.
Leon ran to the alleyway near his house, his small legs barely going anywhere and the tears in his eyes clouding his vision. His sky blue jeans and small polo fitted onto the six-year-old were dirty, with tear stains, dirt, and grime covered all over them. His parents fought yet again, except this time it wasn’t about money, drugs, or sex, no, instead this time they were fighting because they both wanted Leon to do something different.
“We can just leave take him somewhere very populated, and leave him there, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami, anywhere! I just don’t want him here anymore.”
Leon’s mother had told his drunken father in the living room, leaving the house a mess; dishes cluttered the sink, roaches crawled on the walls, and laundry was all over the floor. His father was in the middle of watching his favorite sports channel, on the slightly-broken television they had recently acquired from the Goodwill four blocks down, enjoying his favorite football team — the Juventus football team from Milan, Italy — when his wife abruptly turned off the television which enraged his father. He slowly stood up, putting his reclined leather chair in the upright position, and setting down the macaroni he was devouring on the coffee table on top of the light blue rug in the living room. “I’m not taking him no damn where because as soon as that son of a bitch can get a job he’s going to take care of us for the rest of his goddamn life!” Leon’s father yelled back. Already on the floor, his mother started wailing as if she were a banshee, kicking and crying around on the tiled floor while his father did nothing but watch until he muttered, “Crazy bitch.”
But then it all changed.
The front door of Leon’s run-down house was smashed through, the wood getting sent throughout the entire living room, the windows surrounding both the kitchen and living room were shattered as bricks were being thrown into the house sporadically, with such power behind the throws, and gunshots rang throughout the quiet neighborhood. In the alley, Leon hitched his voice, he gasped and crawled near the side of a building which he didn’t know the name of, he looked down at the ground, his blue shoes getting stained as the tears dropped from his face to the ground. He couldn’t hide his cries anymore, his soft but aching sniffles drowning out the screaming he couldn’t bear to hear anymore. The sound of bullets echoed down the alley, his mother and father screaming out in pain while a deep voice screamed at them asking, “Where the fuck is the money at!” while Leon’s parents simply said, “We don’t know.”
Leon cried out harder than ever before, he was used to random events where scary people came to visit his house to speak with his parents, but they never bothered him, never. But now, he wasn’t in the house, they must’ve seen him run out and thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to finally talk to his parents as if Leon was never there. When he heard the bullets spraying down the street he decided now it was time to run, to leave, and to finally get help. He ran past homeless people, living and sleeping in tents or sleeping on cardboard in the alley, and broken glass near doorways to the buildings next door. Approaching the chain link fence that kept this alley blocked from the sidewalk, he noticed a small opening in the corner, a cut piece of the chain almost as if a person could fit through. The sound of the bullets didn’t stop, more and more gunshots echoed throughout the alley. Leon let out a small squeal, as he squeezed through the fence opening, he barely fit, but his exposed skin was scratched severely, with cuts appearing on both of his arms and on his left cheek. He managed to pry himself through the fence, slip onto the sidewalk but pick himself off, and ran.
Leon sprinted down Concord Street, running past the neon signs that enticed others to go inside until he bumped into someone and fell back onto the concrete. He looked up, staring at the shiny badge that was shaped like a star. He didn’t have the strongest figure but was tall and looked as if he had been through so much in his lifetime. He had a dark complexion, and his dark hair was short but to Leon, this was his savior. “Woah there little guy,” the officer said, “is something the matter?”
Leon was thrilled to find a police officer so quickly, “I heard the gunshots and started heading this way,” the officer spoke yet again, “were you coming from there?”
Leon nodded, “Yes, it’s my parents,” he stuttered slightly, “something’s happening with them.”
The officer, whose last name was displayed on his badge, but Leon couldn’t see, only noticing the letter B at the beginning and an H at the end. “Are you alright little man?”
“Yes.”
“Go to that car you see, go in the back, the police car, and stay there until I come back, we’ll get you sorted out later.”
“Okay.”
That was the last time Leon would ever see his parents again. They were killed in his own home back when he lived on Carlton Street—the street his home was located on—Minnesota was left decimated as gang recruiting and drug crime skyrocketed in the surrounding area, occupied by two separate gangs called 7th Street and the Highland Boyz. 7th Street and the Highland Boyz have been at ends with each other for a while, both having ties with another gang called Merevera, they overtook many neighborhoods and sold narcotics to many innocent people. Meth was scattered down streets, cocaine bags would be found in the sewers or alleyways, heroin spoons, and syringes would be in supermarket parking lots, and lots of joints, blunts, and bongs would be found in the unkept houses. The street did always smell like marijuana, and people would get into altercations all the time. But that was in the past, and this was the present.
Leon broke from the trance that he seemed to be in, hyperventilating and sweaty. He checked the clock that the car had, slightly embedded onto the dashboard and above the sleek black radio. 5:00 on the dot, not a minute before or after and Leon saw this as a sign of luck, that something great would happen soon. He softly pulled out his keys from his jacket, jingling in his hands. He still had a Hello Kitty keychain that his ex-girlfriend, Mikaela, had given him, they didn’t end on any bad terms, they had simply just stopped loving each other as much and realized that they were better off as friends. They broke up their senior year in high school, both choosing different paths in life. Mikaela went to California to attend Standford, while Leon stayed in Missouri keeping his dream of becoming a police officer close to his chest, never letting it go. However, after he broke up with Mikaela, he started having strange thoughts about some particular men in the cinema. He was particularly fond of Johnny Depp and loved the way he looked, especially in that crop top he wore on Nightmare on Elm Street .
When Leon turned eighteen he thought about exploring who he was and what made him the way he is. Four months after his eighteenth birthday, in June, Leon decided it was time for him to finally understand who he truly was. He traveled hours to reach the destination but it didn’t take him long to reach the great city of Chicago, Illinois. While he was there he asked around for local bars that weren’t known for being mainstream, but rather, he would go and ask around for the spicer ones. The gay ones in fact, so he could further understand what thoughts he really had in his mind. In April of that year, Leon bought some homoerotica and magazines to test the waters, because he couldn’t understand his situation enough. But that was three years ago and now he was on his way to start his first day. He needed to get his coffee from Mom’s Cafe, a newly opened place that had cheap prices for the coffee he liked—Americano and Lattes—and had an area where Claire could study in case she needed to. Leon also made friends with the barista that worked there, Carlos, they both shared similar interests in sports, movies, and games, but to be quite frank, Leon thought Carlos was very attractive. In such a state as Missouri, Carlos stood out quite a bit and Leon noticed that right away, with his longer-than-average hair along with his name in general he was different and Leon liked that, he also wanted to be different. However, Leon didn’t really see anything else other than the fact that he was attractive, but that’s beside the point, right now, he needs his coffee.
The parking lot gate opened and Leon wasn’t waiting anymore for that coffee, he needed it now. The engine of his Jeep roared and Leon wasn’t too fond of that but he needed to leave immediately, the clock reading 5:11. Perfect. Mom’s Cafe opens at around 5 am near Park Street, so he should be there early and fresh, especially since Carlos takes the opening shift on Mondays. Leon wants to talk to other people about starting his first day at the police department, and Carlos is someone that Leon needed to talk to. Not only because that was basically his singular other friend, but because he needed some advice. Carlos and Leon are the same age, however, Carlos has enlisted in the Military and served two years in the Army. He ended his two-year term and needed some money for, what he said, “his shit” and moved back in with his parents for a while, before finally finding an apartment near Mom’s Cafe where he quickly applied and used the skills that he had before to get a quick job as a barista.
Leon drove his way past Lorena and Third Street, six minutes away from his destination and his mouth was already thinking about the sight of the coffee in his hands and his wallet still being filled to the brim of singular dollar bills. His wallet, although fat, barely had any bills past 10s, consisting of forty, dollar bills, two tens, and three 20s, he had a singular 100 dollar bill. The traffic light turned red on Bettery Street the suburban street lights flickered as Leon accelerated past the light, making his way past Filbert Street and on his way to Mission Road. The bright green bushes and roses made his heart flutter while looking at them. Leon always loved roses, in his old home back in Iowa, he had a rosebush that he always tended to at the ripe age of five, and in his foster home, he had a peony bush that was located in his backyard. Leon always loved flowers, the bright colors soothed his mind and his foster family would always give him flowers on the day he joined the family and on his birthday, making him feel as loved as he could.
The Jeep vroomed as it sped further into Bettery Street, the traffic light that led onto Mission Road was red and it took two minutes for the light to switch for traffic to not be congealed. Leon sighed as he knew it would be slightly annoying to wait for the light to switch. Mom’s Cafe was situated in the middle of Warren Street, slightly behind Park Street, allowing for quick and easy access for cars, trucks, or anyone to enter and quickly get their drink and be on their way. Barely a minute has passed and Leon was already getting frustrated, he needed that drink as soon as possible. He turned on the radio, which for some reason he forgot was turned off, he swiftly changed the frequencies and The Boy Is Mine came on. Leon loved the song for some reason, it felt as if. The boy is mine, the boy is mine , Leon hummed the tune of the song. Leon looked at the light ever so closely and the second it turned green he slammed the gas and immediately drove off past Filbert Street and into Raccoon Street. The train tracks on Raccoon Street caused the ride to be bumpy and shaky making Leon bounce up and down on his seat. Leon chuckled at the slight thought he had in his head, but he just shook his head, trying to remove that thought.
He circled the greenery that was Ema Street, loving the wonderful foliage, all the tall trees, beautiful flowers, and green grass all around. If Leon wasn’t from Raccoon City, he would’ve believed that this area was an arboretum, but it wasn’t. Leon continued on his way down the street, staring at the houses that were comprised of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, noting an exceptional house on the corner of Central and Euston. It reminded him of his foster home, and how his foster family tried their hardest to ensure that Leon would have the best life he could. A house, not too small, not too big, but right for Leon to live in for the remainder of his adolescence. Continuing past Euston, Leon took a sharp right turn into Warren Street and looked at the clock. The clock read 5:21 and Leon was eager as The Boy Is Mine finally came to an end. Leon continued to hum the beat of the song as he parallel-parked on the side of the road. Leon sighed in frustration, he hated parallel parking but he needed that coffee as soon as possible. Aligning the mirrors of the car he reversed fully until he could see the headlights of the car behind him. He put the wheel back and continued reversing until he could see the curb and the passenger door handle intersect with each other, then he turned the steering wheel to the left and reversed, parking perfectly, and was simpler than Leon expected. Turning the engine off, Leon unbuckled his seatbelt and checked to see if any car was approaching. He opened the door and walked to the sidewalk that had multiple gum stains that had already solidified and turned black. He turned his head upward and stared at the sign, Mom’s Cafe . The sign had a caricature-ized woman with a coffee in left her hand and what seemed to be a breakfast sandwich in her right. Leon quickly walked to the door, looking and the pull sign, and of course, pulling the door. A chime was heard as the metal shimmered as the sun rose, the open sign hanging above the glass pane above the door moved as the air conditioning directly above it turned on as the door opened. The checkered floor pattern, bright blue walls, and blinding lights caused Leon’s head to spin, but right as he was about to order, Carlos walked to the cash register and noticed him.
“Look who’s here,” Carlos waved to his co-worker, Briana, “I wasn’t expecting you this early, something up?”
“He was telling us something last time he came here, no?” Briana added, “Something, something, work? Am I right Leon?”
“Yeah,” Leon simply said, “It’s my first day at the Raccoon Police Department.”
“Oh, tough shit,” Carlos replied surprised, “Never expected you to be a cop like that, would’ve assumed you would be, I don’t know, a bartender at J’s or something.”
“Right,” Briana spoke, “but I see something in him though, I don’t know, it seems like he would love being a cop,” she ended, exaggerating.
Leon stared at both of them as they snickered behind the counter, squinting at them as they equally ended their laughs, he opened his mouth, still squinting at them with some slight annoyance, “Can I get my regular drink? Americano?”
Carlos clicked the buttons on the register and asked, “That all, rook?”
Leon sneered at Carlos’ little jab, “Yes sir barista man.”
“Perfect,” Carlos dragged out, “That’ll be two eighty-nine.”
Leon reached for his wallet inside his pockets, the outline showing on the side of his jeans. Opening up the wallet, he pulled out three dollars and told Carlos to, “Keep the change.”
Carlos stared at Leon, his eyebrows pursing and his lips open but no words were coming out. Leon walked away from the countertop and began to go sit down on the stool next to a donut stand. He sipped on his coffee unaware of everything else that was going on. He continued to stammer on his words until the door chimed and a new customer walked in.
“Oye, Redfield! How are ya’?” Carlos asked.
Leon turned around, Redfield? He continued to stare at the door waiting to see if Claire was around but he saw no sign of her. That was until he remembered that Claire mentioned that she had a brother and that maybe this big hulking man was that brother. Leon’s gaze was stuck on this muscular man, his biceps and triceps were possibly the size of Leon’s thigh, his quads were thick enough to be logs of wood, and his hands, my god , his hands were coarse and veiny to the brim, Leon couldn’t get enough. He continued to stare at his eye candy until he realized that this must be Claire’s brother Chris and then everything changed. I can’t think about him like that! Leon thought to himself. He’s my superior, and he’s also my friend’s brother, this is absolutely unacceptable from me. Leon shook his head. His eyes jerked from the hulking figure to his coffee, he began drinking it once again. Leon’s cheeks and ears began to flush a vibrant red, embarrassed of thinking about a superior like this.
Chris asked, “A latte, please.”
Briana nodded at Carlos, who has in the back making the drink, “Coming right up, that’ll be two-fifty-four.”
Chris pulled out his credit card, showing it to Briana who showed him her palm, asking for the card so she could swipe it. Chris gave it to her, looking around the establishment and noticing Leon on the stool where he usually sits in the morning. Guess I can’t sit there. Chris thought to himself. He looked around again, checking to see if he would like somewhere else to sit. Unfortunately, the other seating areas were tables and Chris didn’t feel comfortable taking up an entire table for himself, so he just sat next to Leon, who unbeknownst to him, was blushing severely the second he sat on the stool. Chris was manspreading, and manspreading big time. Leon could feel the cargo pants that Chris was wearing on his own, along with his thighs that he could somehow manage to make out. Even with those cargos, he could feel those muscles pulsating. He must’ve walked from the police department if they were like this.
Chris turned his head slightly to stare at Leon. He noticed some darker roots at the crown of his head, thinking that he must’ve dyed his hair somewhat blonder to make himself look like that. He felt as if Leon looked familiar like he had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t quite make it out. That’s when Carlos handed Chris his drink and started making some small talk with the man next to him.
“So Kennedy,” Carlos spoke, “how do you feel your first day at the RPD is going to go?”
Leon looked back and smiled, “No idea, just hope it goes well.”
Chris’ eyes widened. Now he understood why he looked so familiar, this was the new recruit that the S.T.A.R.S agents along with the Chief of Police Irons decided to bring in. Chris had noted how Leon had scores and charts that were astounding and impressive, but what struck him the most was how cute and beautiful he found him for some reason. Chris had always liked men, something Valentine would always tease him about, especially since he never had a boyfriend, but something in him stirred the moment he saw Kennedy and the way his heart jumped looking at him, sitting next to him, and hearing him speak sparked something in him he didn’t know he had.
“Ah, well, Redfield over here is a S.T.A.R.S. member ey,” Carlos told Leon, “Why don’t you talk with him a little bit in order to get acquainted? Who knows maybe you guys might work well together?”
And with that, Carlos was off to serve the next customer as he heard the door chime once again. Chris’ cheeks slightly blushed, he couldn’t stand to be with Kennedy by himself because he thought he looked so cute, like a baby deer without its mother. Drinking his latte, Chris asked Leon a question haphazardly, “Do you want to go the RPD now? It’s about to be fifteen minutes ‘till six. Don’t want you being late on your first day.”
Leon replied quickly but softly, “Sure.” And took his keys out of his pocket, shaking them in his hands, notifying Chris that they don’t need to walk.
Chris nodded at Leon, and he led the way to the door. Both of them waved bye to Briana and Carlos, who in turn, said, “Take care,” and “Good look.”
The door chimed on their way out, and Leon was excited to start his first day off strong.
Leon smiled, the morning sun shining down on them.