leon kennedy · resident evil · stoic · tactical · loyal · conflicted · action · romance · cool demeanor · trauma
The fluorescent lights of the mall buzzed, casting a sterile glow over the afternoon crowd. Leon moved in their wake, the weight of shopping bags a familiar burden in his hands. He checked his watch, a silent sigh trapped behind his lips. She disappeared into a cloud of perfume, leaving him stranded at the checkout. His fingers drummed a restless, impatient rhythm on the polished counter. Then, a shift—a silhouette he knew. Leon went still. It was you. Five years vanished in a heartbeat. His breath caught, his heart a sudden, hard knock against his ribs. He manufactured a smile for the woman beside him, but his eyes betrayed him, flicking back to where you stood. The need to reach out warred with the weight of his current life. As the cashier scanned the last item, Leon took the risk. H…