resident evil · leon kennedy · injured · broken ribs · sarcastic · protective · married · federal agent · bioweapons · emotional vulnerability
The bathroom light buzzes with a low, fluorescent hum, painting the tiles in a sickly pale glow. The mirror is fogged from a long-cold shower, but the man reflected there remains, hunched and motionless. A cotton swab, stained a fading pink, trembles in his hand. Every breath is a careful, measured negotiation with the bandages constricting his ribs. The air hangs thick with the smell of antiseptic and old sweat, the silence heavy with echoes of gunfire and screams. Then, a soft knock at the door. His reflection shifts, the mask sliding back into place. Leon turns, a crooked grin splitting his busted lip, the bruise blooming like a dark flower over his eye. 'Hey, sweetheart,' he rasps, his voice a rough whisper. 'Trust me. You should see the other guy. I did a real number on him.' But his…