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Leon loved puzzles.
That was a fact that Chris very quickly learned about his boyfriend at the early stages of their dating.
Claire suggested that for their first date, Chris should take Leon to the escape room.
"During our time in RPD, when we encountered another one Iron's stupid gimmicks, Leon completely zeroed in on them, total focus, you could see cogs working in his head" Claire told Chris, "He even pumped his fist in victory a couple of times after solving those stupid puzzles. So cute, looked like a happy puppy!" she laughed.
Chris took her advice to heart and took Leon for their first date to escape room. It was a total success, Chris was able to see a change in Leon the minute they stepped into the attraction. His eyes lit up and he looked like a new energy surged up through him, making Leon look immediately younger than he was. Chris understood in that moment what Claire mant with her anecdote and took a passive role, just enjoying watching Leon in his element.
Because Leon was a highly inteligent man, his brain loved the stimuli of the good puzzle. Almost everything worked on him: sudokus, riddles, treasury hunts, escape rooms.
It became Chris's new hobby: finding something new to tease his boyfriend's big brain.
Chris quickly found Leon's favourite.
After one of their dates, when spending a night together was a new thing between them, Leon found a newspaper of the local gazette that Chris didn't clean up in time from the kitchen island.
"What do we have here?" Leon murmured, picking piece of paper to take a better look at it. "Didn't take you for such an avid reader, Redfield." he teased, flipping through the pages.
"Are you calling me dumb?" Chris shot back, more focused on cooking perfect eggs than whatever Leon was doing. He took a quick glance and realized what the other man was holding.
"Oh, this. I just like to be well informed on what's going on in the neighborhood. Old habit, you could say, going back to RC."
Chris turned from the stove, plates ready with hot food, expecting to get a sarcastic remark on his old-man hobbies, but was presented with the site of Leon oblivious to the world around him, pen scratching along the page of the paper. Where did he even found the pen?
Chris placed the food and watch his boyfriend frown, as his brain worked quickly on something. On closer inspection, Chris realized that Leon was filling up the cross-word puzzle that was in the entertainment section of the gazette. He usually skipped this part, not a big fun of cross-word puzzles. Not his vibe. So it was good to see that it tickled Leon's fancy.
From that point on, every Sunday morning (whenever their jobs allowed them to spend Sundays together) during breakfast, they split the gazette between them, Chris catching up on the local news and Leon scratching the itch by filling the puzzle.
They loved these specific mornings the most. Their little routine in the tempest of their chaotic lives.
So, when the time came and Chris was absolutely sure that he wanted to marry Leon, he already knew in what way he would propose to the love of his life.
He reached out to Claire and Sherry asking for the help with the plan. When he explained everything, both women were wholeheartedly on board.
With every week, the gazette had a specific theme for the cross-word puzzle that usually related to the news of that week. Leon loved that, and always tried to work out the theme before he finished the puzzle. It also worked in favor for their conversation, because then they could bicker about the theme, which of them was more right.
Chris, armed with the knowledge and persuasion power of two of his confidantes, worked out the special edition of the gazette, with one of a kind of theme for their cross-word puzzle: Leon themed.
3 Down: Spanish wine also known under names such as: jerez or xeres - Sherry
12 Across: Name of the title character from family movie form 1996 about girl with telekinetic powers directed by Danny DeVito - Matilda
25 Down: ______ crackers, usually used to prepare smores - Graham
After three years of being together, Chris hoped, that this day will go down in positive way in their books, evolving their relationship to the next desired level: being able to call Leon his dear and loving husband.
Chris had everything planned.
Bacon was sizzling in the pan, fruit salad was already on the table, smell of warm butter wafting through the air.
Everything was ready.
The only missing piece, was Leon himself.
"Morning, babe." Chris heard behind him, before two slender arms wrapped around his waist and light kiss was placed on his shoulder.
Speak of the devil.
"Morning, hon. Breakfast ready." Chris turned in Leon's embrace and kissed still sleepy Leon on the forehead.
"Mhm." Leon shuffled to his designated place, hot coffee and cross-word puzzle already waiting for him.
Chris made finishing touches to their food and sat across from his boyfriend. He checked if Leon was already engrossed into the puzzle before he placed the box with engagement ring close to Leon's plate, but still obscured by the newspaper. Just until the right time.
Chris tried to act normal, so it would look like he's taking care of his part of their Sunday routine, but his nerves were running rampant trough him, heart squeezing in his chest at the deepening frown on Leon's face.
He only needed to wait until Leon solved the puzzle.
The most agonizing few minutes of Chris's life.
"What the..." Leon started saying, placing newspaper down on the table. Only then he registered the box with the ring in it.
It was Chris's queue to say something.
"Will you make an honest man out of me, Leon Scott Kennedy and..." Chris reached across the table to the puzzle and tapped three times at the password solving it. Will you marry me?
Leon frowned harder, trying to connect the dots that didn't want to connect.
Chris waited patiently.
Leon's gaze darted from gazette, to the ring and to the Chris. Did the same round two more times, before everything clicked in his head.
"Yes." Leon's voice broke on that simple word, his eyes watering with happy tears. "Yes!"
Chris let out a deep sigh, not realizing that he held his breath in anticipation for the response.
Both of them sprang out from their seats, colliding in each other's embrace, happy tears flowing down their faces as they hugged.
"Oh, you clever bastard." Leon laughed into Chris's ear.
"Did you like it?" Chris asked.
Leon took a step back to be able to look into Chris' teary eyes, "Of course I love it," he assured "and I love you. And I will love being your husband." Leon smiled at him, before placing tender kiss at his lips, their stubbles scratching at each other's skin.
The cross-word would find it special place on the wall of their home, next to their wedding picture.