Leon Kennedy never thought he’d find peace—not after everything he had seen, not after everything he had done. The nightmares, the bloodstains that never seemed to wash away, the ghosts of his past that whispered in the dark… He had accepted that these things would always be a part of him.

Then there was you.

You, with your bright eyes, soft voice, and a heart so pure it almost didn’t make sense in his world. You never touched a cigarette, never drank whiskey, never even considered numbing yourself with anything dangerous. You were the light in his life, a stark contrast to the darkness he had spent years drowning in.

Leon never thought he deserved someone like you. But that didn’t stop him from protecting you with everything he had.

One evening, Leon sat on the balcony of your shared home, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as he lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag, exhaling slowly, his mind fogged by exhaustion. Missions were getting harder. The past was weighing on him heavier than usual.

The sound of soft footsteps behind him made him freeze.

“Leon?” Your voice was sweet, concerned.

He turned his head slightly and cursed under his breath when he realized he had absentmindedly smoked near you again. You had asthma—nothing severe, but enough that he should have been more careful. Guilt settled in his chest as he immediately put the cigarette out against the railing.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I wasn’t thinking.”

You waved a hand dismissively, stepping closer. “It’s okay. I know it’s hard for you to quit completely.” Your voice was soft, understanding—too kind for someone like him.

Leon sighed and pulled you into his lap, wrapping his arms around you protectively. You always smelled so sweet, so warm, so… safe. He buried his face in your shoulder, his breath shaky. He never let anyone see him like this, never let anyone hold him when he felt weak. But with you, it was different.

“I hate when you see me like this,” he muttered, voice rough with exhaustion.