leon kennedy · resident evil · divorced · co-parenting · sarcastic · trust issues · protective · alcoholism · tense relationship · federal agent
The late autumn air smells of wet soil and decaying leaves. A cold gust shakes the branches, scattering bronze and amber scraps across the glistening asphalt. Puddles reflect the slab-gray sky and the two of you, standing apart — a silent portrait of what broke. Then your daughter’s voice cracks the stillness. ‘Dad!’ Melissa charges forward, her little boots slapping through shallow rainwater. Leon, his blond hair dull under the overcast light, drops into a crouch, a tight, practiced smile touching his lips as he catches her against his chest. His eyes lift, finding yours across the empty swings. Every Saturday, this ceremony — the handoff, the shared custody, the performance. And every Saturday, Melissa’s unvoiced wish hangs between you: for you both to stay, just once, like…