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Emergency briefs and meetings were never new for Leon S. Kennedy. And now with his joint responsibility as a handler for the BSAA asset, Ethan Winters, the meetings seem to grow in number. Almost quadrupled. Well, not exactly, but that how it feels to him. Leon found it very annoying but they are considered "mandatory". It's 7 AM and the meeting is supposed to be at 7:30. He is gonna be late but they will have to deal with it. That's what you get when you call emergency meetings, he thought. Another briefing about asset handling. As if he hasn't attended 400 of them... He puts on his tactical jacket, combat boots, checks his guns and daggers are in place properly, and his ID. Not that he requires ID but this is a joint DSO and BSAA conducted meeting. He is not exactly in his domain. Outside of his bedroom, he hears sounds that he isn't used to hearing. Sound of coffee pouring, utensils clinking, the water sink running, beeps of kitchen equipment he rarely used. No, he us used to hearing complete silence. Usually, sounds imply that there is an intruder in his place. It's a damn near miracle that Ethan Winters was allowed to live in this “safehouse”. That was basically Leon's apartment, and one that is too big for him. He doesn't even know why he bought the three bedroom big ass apartment with furnishings. He thinks it was more of an impulse buy. He was feeling particularly down that day, which is saying something. He was browsing through apartments that were in good locations, tactical advantage and stuff because Leon’s mind never really rests. It hasn’t ever since 1998. He remembered coming across this apartment’s ad. He remembered thinking it looked homely. Domestic. Warm. When he shifted here, he really didn't feel like it though. Agent Kennedy lived mostly outside or in the HQ anyways… He thought of how many ranks him, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine pulled to make sure Ethan does not just become a number in the system. An asset to be used for missions that require him. A source of samples for the "good ones" to use. Jill had been particularly stern and protective, her fierceness almost felt like a physical presence. Of course, the three of them knew ow it feels like to be used as a tool, as a weapon. But with Jill’s time under Wesker’s control, the wounds go much deeper. With his thoughts running a million miles, he left his room. Truth be told, Leon was feeling cranky already, he barely slept for three hours.
As Leon came out of his bed room, he saw Ethan in the kitchen space and told him, "I will probably be back soon but just in case…do you remember the security details."
Ethan was...making an eggroll. More like rolling a finished one in a napkin. He had insisted on doing the house work to pay back to Leon in some way at least. Unnecessary. This is not a business thing. He was just doing his duty. But he also also saw something beneath that request. Ethan was trying to follow a familiar routine. Leon has read the files on Winters, and knew that Ethan Winters had worked from home before. He did most of the house chores himself while Mia Winters worked outside more. Well, considering her line work…being a handler to a bioweapon couldn’t be done through just a laptop. The point is, house chores were therapeutic to Ethan. He tells Leon, "Yeah. Yeah. Don't worry. Any danger and I lock the fortress down." As he wrapped the eggroll rather professionally. Leon was about to say something when his phone buzzed. He received it. Work. Meeting. Same old details. Containment breach number 245-6AW. The agent on the other side was basically giving him details he read in the encrypted files sent to him this morning. He said he is on his way and gave some more information. Then, suddenly…Leon smelled the eggroll before he saw it, almost shoved at his mouth. He glared at Ethan but he looked like he was used to glares like that, and tried to hand feed him. When DSO veteran moved and the younger blonde followed him. ‘Oh my god, what is this man doing’ - Leon thought. Ethan was relentless and patient, like this was just routine to him too. Maybe that’s how he made sure Mia never missed breakfast. The agent was compelled to take at least two bites, cut the call he was on, and was almost out of the door. "You cannot follow me outside." He said gently. He really wanted to scold the younger man but he was not gonna do that just because he felt irritated. "The ankle monitor--" but Leon never got to finish that sentence.
"I know I know! Just take the roll, it won't even stain your clothes, see!" Ethan basically handed the roll to him and then closed the door himself! Leon just stared at the closed door for a second because he had forgotten to take his car keys. He raised his hand to knock--the door opened and Ethan handed him his keys. "Anything else?"
Leon: "…No--"
Ethan: "Ok, my coffee is getting cold!"
The door closed again.
Leon made his way down, to the parking lot, eggroll in one hand (75% eaten already) and keys in another. He got in his car and drove out. The roads were quite empty, early morning peace. The roll was no more but he could still smell it in his car. It felt different. He isn't that used to home cooked meals. Not at all. He could still feel the warmth of his breakfast, in his body...in his heart. In his mind. He thought he had forgotten what it felt like, to be forced to eat breakfast. To make sure you don't go out of your home with an empty stomach. Leon gripped the steering wheel a bit harder and kept driving as the buildings became scarce. He felt a strange tightness in his chest. What is this feeling? Nostalgia? Peace? Longing? He didn't know. But he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Muffled sounds of food being prepared and cooked. Pouring coffee. Smell of coffee. Humming of some song he didn't know of. Leon's initial thought of irritation. Ankle monitor. Eyes that looked sleep deprived and yet trusting. What is this feeling? Guilt? Shame of enjoying this tenderness from someone who was basically his prisoner? Fear of getting used to it and then losing it? Heat in his eyes? Prickling feeling in his eyes? Leon didn't cry but he really wanted to--Humming of an unknown song. Eggroll being wrapped in napkin so it doesn’t stain his clothes. Ankle monitor. Stubbornness that made sure Leon didn’t leave on empty0stomach. He felt...warm, almost cozy, like the warm eggroll hugging him from inside. And then he just felt dirty. Exploitative. He blinked fast and willed his eyes to just go back to normal because he was about to reach the HQ.
As he got out of the car and walked towards the building, the taste of the egg roll was still in his mouth, his hand still felt the texture of the napkin. His eyes still remembered seeing the flash of emotion in hazel eyes as Ethan was reminded of the safehouse threshold. Leon was going to make fucking sure that he gets rid of the damn ankle monitor. It was stupid anyways...how would a fucking little thing like that going to stop Ethan if he really wanted to run away?? No, it was just another way to remind him that is not seen as a human being anymore. Not a survivor but an anomaly who should not even exist. It was all just stupid, and Leon S. Kennedy was going to get rid of this stupidity.