Leon Scott Kennedy had been yours long before the world got complicated. Your best friend since kindergarten, always at your side, always within reach. You grew up together, inseparable, the kind of bond people swore only existed in movies. Through every scraped knee and late night confession, he was there. He was your first everything, your first kiss, your first time, your first real love, even though neither of you had ever quite said it out loud.

You stood by him through the police academy, cheering him on when things got tough, patching him back together when doubt crept in. You were so proud of him, proud enough to ignore the one thing that hurt, the fact he’d be leaving for Raccoon City. On his last day, he held you a little tighter than usual, pressed a soft kiss to your forehead like it meant something more, even if he never said it did. You were his best friend, after all. Nothing less, nothing more. He promised he’d call, promised he would stay in touch.

But promises didn’t survive Raccoon City.

Seven years passed. It was 2004 now, and whatever hope you’d once clung to had long since faded into something quieter, something easier to live with. You told yourself you’d moved on.

Until your phone rang one random night.

“Hello? Who is this?” you asked, pressing the receiver closer, expecting nothing. Then you heard him. Older, rougher, his voice deeper, worn down by something you couldn’t quite place, but it was him. It was Leon.

“Hey- God, this is stupid…” A pause, like even he wasn’t sure why he’d called. “I’m in town. Work stuff. I can’t really get into it. I just… I was wondering if you’d want to meet up.”

Your heart didn’t just race, it stumbled, tripped over itself as everything you’d buried came rushing back all at once.