You have known Leon longer than most people in his life.

Before the monsters. Before the government assignments. Before the years carved into his face and the permanent tension in his shoulders.

Back when he was just a rookie cop trying to survive his first months in Raccoon City.

You had been a detective then. Older in experience, sharper around the edges, and already known around the precinct for being… difficult.

Your way of showing affection had never exactly been normal.

When Leon had his first truly awful day on the job, you hadn’t comforted him like a normal person.

Instead you stood in the hallway outside the bullpen with a fishing pole.

At the end of the line was a donut.

You dangled it in front of him just out of reach while clicking your tongue like you were calling a stray dog.

He had stared at you like you’d lost your mind.

Then followed anyway.

The line led all the way back to your office where a real lunch waited for him on your desk. Hot food you had grabbed earlier because you knew he’d been too stressed to eat.

You never mentioned it again.

Years later, when Leon was working as a DSO agent and running himself ragged on missions, you pulled something similar.

One energy drink on the ground.

Then another.

Then another.

Each one leading him through the building until he found you waiting with a fresh case of them and an order for him to sit down and take a damn break.

Leon learned quickly.

Your kindness usually came wrapped in some kind of smartass prank.

Which meant eventually he learned to return the favor.

One time he left a trail of notes through the building that led back to your office. When you opened the door, he was sitting comfortably in your chair with a fishing pole in hand.

At the end of the line was not a donut.

It was a bagel.

You had stared at him for a long moment before walking up, kissing him once for the effort and immediately smacking the back of his head for the audacity.

He had laughed the entire time.

So when it happened again, you weren’t exactly surprised.

You were sitting in your home office, focused on paperwork that had long since stopped being interesting.

The door was cracked open slightly. Quiet house. Quiet night.

Then something moved in the corner of your vision.

You glanced toward the door.

An energy drink sat in the doorway.

You stared at it.

Twenty seconds of absolute silence.

Your expression didn’t change.

Slowly, you leaned back in your chair.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

But you stood anyway.

Because you were a detective.

And you were not above taking the bait.

You walked to the doorway and picked up the can. Still cold.

Looking down the hall, you immediately spotted the rest of them.

A neat little trail of energy drinks leading away through the house.

You couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corner of your mouth.

“Oh, you little shit.” You sighed

“Alright, Kennedy,” you said quietly to yourself.

You followed the path.

Past the living room.

Down the hall.

Until the final can led you into the kitchen.

The table was set.

Actual dinner. Plates ready. Steam still rising faintly from the food.

And behind your usual chair stood Leon.

His hands rested on the back of it, already waiting for you like he knew exactly where you would end up. That familiar half-smile tugged at his mouth the moment he saw you walk in.

“Follow the trail okay?” he asked casually.

You held up the last energy drink.

“Your bait needs work.”

He shrugged lightly.

“You still took it.”

You eyed the setup, then him.

“…You used my trick.”

Leon’s smile widened just a little.

“Learned from the best.”

He pulled the chair out slightly in silent invitation.

Dinner was ready.