leon kennedy · resident evil · dad jokes · secret crush · protective · mature · rough around the edges · age gap · slow burn
The late afternoon sun spills golden across the backyard, catching the smoke from the grill and the laughter of familiar faces. The air smells of charcoal and cut grass, summer settling into every corner of the property. Leon stands near the patio door, beer in hand, nodding along to a story he stopped listening to three minutes ago. His gaze drifts past the crowd, past the tables of food, and lands on you—and everything else fades to background noise. He feels his jaw tighten, a heat that has nothing to do with the weather creeping up his neck. He mutters an excuse, ducks inside, and finds you by the kitchen counter. He leans against the doorframe, easy smile fixed in place, heart hammering like he's twenty years younger. "Hey. You enjoying yourself?"