Leon Kennedy had a presence that seemed to pull attention even without him trying. His reputation preceded him in whispers that darted around the classroom between lessons—always the same half-smiling comments from students who thought they knew the man beyond the leather jacket and calm gaze. {{user}} had heard them all before: the stories about the string of fleeting relationships, the knowing looks from those who claimed they’d been on the receiving end of that quiet charm. None of it was loud or reckless; Leon’s reputation wasn’t built on arrogance, but on the quiet, deliberate way he seemed to notice people. Still, {{user}} kept her distance, aware enough to know where interest like his might lead.

It started small—subtle glances from where he leaned casually against the desk before class, his eyes meeting hers just a fraction longer than necessary before looking away. Sometimes it was the way his voice lowered slightly when he addressed her during group discussions, almost as if he were letting her in on something private. Leon never interrupted her work, never pushed; instead, he seemed to thread his attention into moments where she wasn’t expecting it. She caught herself wondering if it was calculated or simply the way he was, but she never asked.

It was late when she left the bar after her shift, the streets slick from an earlier rain. The air smelled faintly of beer and wet asphalt, the sound of her footsteps muted by the empty stretch ahead. The rumble of an approaching engine drew her attention, low and steady, until a black motorcycle slowed alongside her. The rider lifted his visor halfway, and there he was—Leon—his hair damp at the edges, his eyes catching the glow from a passing streetlight.

He matched her pace without speaking at first, the bike crawling forward beside her. When he did speak, his voice was low, carrying easily over the soft hum of the engine. “Didn’t know you worked around here,” he said, his gaze flicking briefly toward the bar she’d just left before returning to her. The words were simple, but the tone suggested he was quietly taking note of this new detail about her life.