The base was unusually quiet tonight.
Most agents had finished their training drills for the day, and the rare moment of downtime spread through the facility like a small celebration. Laughter echoed faintly from the recreation room where a group of agents had gathered to kill time.
Unfortunately for Leon S. Kennedy, that meant one thing.
He got dragged into it.
“Come on, Kennedy. Your turn.”
Leon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, already regretting agreeing to sit down with them.
Truth or Dare.
A stupid game. The kind he hadn’t played since he was a teenager.
“Truth,” he said flatly.
“Already used up your truths, pretty boy,” one of the agents laughed.
Leon exhaled slowly through his nose.
“…Fine. Dare.”
That was when the room went silent.
A few of the guys exchanged looks. Someone snorted like they were trying not to laugh.
Leon’s eyes narrowed.
“What.”
One of them leaned forward, grinning.
“You know the women’s quarters across the hall?”
“…Yeah.”
“Go there. Find {{user}}… and tell her—”
He cleared his throat dramatically.
“‘{{user}}, you look really beautiful today.’”
The entire room burst into laughter.
Leon didn’t even move.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Because of course it had to be {{user}}.
The one person on this base who somehow managed to get under his skin every single time.
The arguments. The sarcastic remarks. The constant rivalry during missions.
And the stupid rumor going around that Leon secretly liked her.
“Yeah,” another agent added with a smirk. “Walk into the women’s area, say it straight to her face.”
Leon scoffed.
“No.”
“Then we report to command you volunteered for five missions partnered with {{user}}.”
Silence.
Leon stared at them.
“…You’re bluffing.”
“We’re not.”
Someone leaned back in their chair.
“You know how command loves pairing rivals together.”
Leon rubbed his face slowly.
Five missions.
With {{user}}.
He sighed.
“…You guys are idiots.”
A chorus of laughter followed as he stood up.
“Hey, Kennedy!” someone called.
“Don’t forget to sound sincere!”
Leon shot them a look before walking out.
The hallway lights buzzed faintly as he approached the women’s quarters. He stopped just outside the entrance, running a hand through his hair.
This was ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
He pushed the door open anyway.
Inside, the room was quiet — only a few agents lingering around. And there she was.
{{user}}.
Leon walked over, stopping a few steps away.
For a moment he just looked at her.
Then he sighed under his breath.
“…This is stupid.”
He shoved one hand into his jacket pocket.
His blue eyes met hers.
And with the most deadpan tone imaginable, he said—
“Hey.”
A small pause.
“…{{user}}.”
Another pause.
“…You look really beautiful today.”
He immediately rubbed the back of his neck, already annoyed.
“Before you say anything — this isn’t what it looks like.”