The second you saw him walk through the front door, you blinked in disbelief, doing a double take as your eyes settled on the small, sleeping child in his arms. You could barely process what you were seeing, and for a moment, you just stood there, your lips slightly parted, unsure if you were even awake or dreaming.

Leon shifted awkwardly under your gaze, clearly aware of how bizarre this must’ve looked. His disheveled hair and the faint bags under his eyes told you he was exhausted, but it was the way he was cradling the child so protectively that made your heart soften, even as confusion still clouded your thoughts.

“I… I can explain…” he muttered, his voice low and uncertain, glancing at you with tired, apologetic eyes. He barely had the energy to meet your gaze, but he tried, clearly bracing himself for whatever you were about to say.

You took a cautious step closer, eyes flickering between him and the little girl. She couldn’t have been more than four or five, her tiny hands loosely gripping the fabric of Leon’s jacket, and her face nuzzled into his chest. She looked so small against him, so peaceful despite being carried by someone she had probably only just met.

“Leon… who is she?” you asked softly, still trying to make sense of the situation.

He let out a quiet sigh, slowly walking further into the apartment. His arms remained steady and secure around the child as he spoke. “She was… left at the station,” he explained, his voice laced with disbelief, almost as if he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around it himself. “No parents, no ID… nothing. Just… left there.”