Work Text:
Leon Kennedy was an anomaly anyone could tell you that. He was much too young to hold the position he did as one of the few go-to answers for any bioterrorism threat no matter the severity. He answered to the highest ranks of the government and them alone.
He was quite the mystery, his missions and achievements hidden behind classifications that not even some of the highest ranks could look behind.
He walked in and out of the White House with little more than a nod at the security who didn't even blink at him. He appeared and disappeared somewhat sporadically, which came with territory of being deployed at the drop of the hat.
You could always tell when he came back too, being covered in bruises and bandages more times than not.
But despite it all he was something one would have to get used to while working in the White House and the higher areas of government. While he wasn't there all the time when he was it when shit hit the fan. In fact it was almost a guaranteed tell if you saw him that something had gone horribly wrong.
New people never knew what to make of him at first. He wasn't unprofessional necessarily He was quite good at what he did and understood the inner workings of government better than most. But you wouldn't know that unless you'd seen him in action during meetings, discussions, or the exceedingly rare case of actual combat.
No, most first impressions were of him in an unprofessionally low-cut dress shirt with a suit jacket thrown over it like an afterthought and wearing a watch more expensive than a car. All while getting treated almost the same as the damn president whenever he graced them with an appearance.
And none of this would necessarily be a problem if it wasn't for the fact you couldn't cite any of his actual credentials and accomplishments. You couldn't just point at them as an explanation as to why he was how he was, why he was so important to the government.
So important to the point that they kept better track of him than the majority of their most important assets.
Leon was simply Leon who was around enough to be known by or of by nearly everyone and truly understood by few.
He sometimes appeared with different people trailing after him. Most of which could be easily identified if you knew anything about the bioterrorism sector. Usually it was Chris or Claire Redfield here for some meeting.
Other times it's military commanders asking for advice or input for their troops before they get deployed to somewhere with known history of BOWs while he's on his way to wherever he is needed.
Either way he was a sought after man and he seemed completely ambivalent to it all.
oO0Oo
It was mentioned like an afterthought as Robin was walked around and introduced to the people he would answer too. With his new promotion to the higher echelons of defense in the government.
“Also, there is Leon, he isn't around often but you'll run into him especially if things have gone bad in the bioterrorism sector.”
“Leon?”
“Agent Leon S Kennedy, a member of STRATCOM and its go to answer for catastrophes.”
“The bio terrorism defense people.” Robin agreed. God only knows how much he'd heard about that, but not about this particular agent of theirs.
“He's one of the best they have and is the one to represent them here. He's someone you would most likely have to answer to if it came down to it.”
“Why most likely?” Robin asked skeptically.
“While he's not technically above you considering the different departments. In regards to bioterrorism, he outranks nearly everyone besides his handlers and the President and even then, they still defer to him.”
Robin blinks a few times, that was quite the position the agent had. “I don't know what to say to that.”
Chuckling is the response before another answer is given, “I can't give you much else about him. Most people aren't even sure exactly what all he's accomplished despite attempts at digging into his files. All I know is that impossible problems get solved when he's brought in.”
Later, the whispers and gestures of the other officials when the agent breezed by was his introduction. His first thought is that Leon is young, so very young he's nearly out of place. His next thought is that he isn't paying much attention, gaze locked on his phone and scowling at something on the screen.
Another set of footsteps catch Robin's attention before his train of thought can continue to linger. He looks up just in time to see a woman stop then run top speed at Leon, eyes bright and excited.
Leon doesn't even look up as none other than Ashley Graham launches herself at him full force.
“LEON!” She shouted in delight as she wrapped her arms around him. He didn't even stumble at the sudden attack, one arm out and prepared as she left the ground. All without looking up once.
“Hello Ashley, long time no see huh?” He greeted her with a chuckle patting her on the back as he finally pocketed his phone.
“I missed you.” She grumbled as she pulled back, pouting up at him. Leon just dropped her, mussed her hair up before throwing an arm over her shoulders.
Ashley protested lightly trying to fix her hair but dutifully walked along with him as he began to lead her away.
“Where are you off to?” She asked her tone cautious.
“Got called in for a consultation doesn't look bad thankfully but they have questions.”
“Well, that's good.” She agreed with relief audible in her voice which was fading away as they left.
“Holy shit are the rumors true?” Someone mutters.
“...they may just be.” Someone else grumbles
“What rumors?” Robin asks.
“Oh yeah, you're new. Everything's so classified so we're not exactly sure about the whole thing. But there are rumblings that Leon had actually saved her life after she got kidnapped.
Robin blinks, shit who was this guy?
oO0Oo
There was another outbreak, Leon had been called in for a meeting as they discussed their possible options. It wasn't looking great, and it seemed that there was going to be a hard call to make.
On cue the doors opened, and agent Kennedy appeared. He was dressed in a blue shirt, leather jacket, and black tactical pants that had seen better days. He took in the sight of everyone sitting around a table, papers scattered across it and TV’s showing life feeds of what most would consider nightmare fuel.
A few scowls were leveled at him disdain clear in their expressions. Leon ignored them however as he took the empty seat meant for him.
“You're late.” Someone grumbled, tone sour and annoyed.
“Yeah, well I just got dropped off here from a mission in Guatemala excuse me if I didn't bring a suit with me.” The agent snarked back.
The way he turned to glare at the speaker caused the light to reflect and show off what might have been dried blood crusted in his hair. He also had the beginnings of a bruise forming on the side of his face.
“Agent Kennedy, we called you here on such short notice because we have another outbreak. It started in Romania near a military installation. We think the goal is to run us out. So far it's been contained to a small town only a mile away but…” The official trailed off.
Leon grabbed a paper that was handed to him and gave it a quick once over.
“It's getting bad and we're running out of options.” Someone else took over.
Leon hummed and took another piece of paper offered to him. His eyes hardened but he said nothing.
“I don't see any way to keep this in control. If it gets to the base we are fucked. God knows who started this and if there's something worse ready to be released to storm through that base like nothing. This is hundreds of lives at stake, and we don't have the first clue of the end goal here.” Another man spoke up.
“Look I don't know why the hell we were waiting for this agent before deciding on how to save my men, but I am the Colonel in charge of overseeing everything on the bases we have in that region. AND I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY MEN TO THIS!” The same man continued.
“Has to be intentional but why this base in particular?” Leon questioned the Colonel, his eyes curious and sharp.
“Who the hell knows! Look, we are nearly out of time. A decision needs to be made now about how we are going to deal with this. I sure as hell don't want to tell the American people and my men's families that we just let this happen!” The Colonel snarled.
Leon looked up at the live feed, his face blank but his eyes steely.
The Colonel spoke up once more. “We have to sterilize. It's gotten far too out of hand, and we can't have it spreading.”
Silence followed as everyone thought it over. It would be a lie to say that no one had considered this. It was a quick answer to a pending catastrophe one that would work too. No one dared to say it aloud however that was…a last resort option and not one to be taken lightly at that.
“No.” Leon said with such vitriol that it sucked the air out of the room. The agent turned and glared at everyone in the room before his eyes landed on the Colonel once more.
“Excuse me?” the man asked, his voice edging on a sneer.
“I said no.” Leon repeats his conviction clear and unwavering. “You are not bombing another city to contain this. There are innocents alive in there, this is not going to be another Raccoon City.” With the last part, his glare turned back to everyone else warningly.
“It's our best option. I'm not letting my men die!” The Colonel growled, and he stood slamming his hands on the table as he glared down at Leon.
“It's the easy option.” Leon corrected voice cold and gaze unwavering from where it met the man's own. “There's a big difference.” He said definitively, his eyes are dark and dangerous.
“Oh, and how do you suppose we deal with it?” The man asked, tauntingly. “You don't even know the full situation! You just barged in here telling us what we must do!”
Leon titled his chin up, “Send me.”
Silence falls heavily in the room. The Colonel reared back and looked around at the other gathered officials. No one else blinked, just seemed to consider the insane offer like it was a viable option.
“Kennedy.” Someone warned tone weary but knowing, acknowledging the inevitable. From now on this meeting was a moot point and they all knew it.
Leon just raised a brow, and he looked around the table. No one tried to argue, there wasn't even a peep.
Leon took it as permission to continue, “You won't send a full team of with the excuse that you can't risk so many agents with how small the department is. It's also not big enough of an issue to have the BSAA handle it. It's just a little town after all, and if we did ask that would also say that we couldn't handle it ourselves. It would make us look bad on the international stage.”
He paused and when no interjections came, he finished his assessment
“So, I'll do it.”
The Colonel stared at him disbelieving, “Just you?” He asked, his voice wavering like he couldn't quite decide if he found this funny or not.
“I've handled worse.” Leon dismissed.
“Fine.” Someone grits out like it hurts. The possibility of losing Leon was…not something anyone wanted to consider. But they would be stupid to turn down an out like he'd just offered.
Leon smirked, nodded, and stood before pulling a gun from under his jacket and checking the slide. The thing was covered in enough blood that it made some of the gathered officials flinch.
“I'll get it done in 72 hours.” He said simply.
If it were anyone else, they'd call bullshit, but Leon Kennedy specialized in the impossible.
With that he was out the door phone in hand and already heading for his ear.
oO0Oo
Mark looked up at the sound of footsteps. He was greeted with the sight of Agent Kennedy. The kid was a helluva case study. He was so young but sometimes you caught him staring off into space with a look Mark had gotten familiar with on veterans who had seen far too much.
No one knew that much about him, nothing besides what they could observe and how others treated him. The bioterrorism sector seemed to think he was the next coming of Christ, while most high-ranking officials sneered at him like he was gum on their shoes.
He never gave anyone more than a glance however.
It didn't help that he was their own personal omen of death, which really spoke of his true purpose.
Leon crashed on the couch next to him, not even sparing him a glance as he rubbed the outside of his thigh.
“You ok?” Mark asked hesitantly.
“Got a nasty hit to the leg a few days ago. Supposed to be on bed rest, but bioterrorism waits for no man.” He grumbled.
“They couldn't send anyone else?” Mark questioned.
While Kennedy may be the chosen agent to speak and represent STRATCOM, he definitely wasn't the only one capable of it.
“It's best if it's me. No one else really gets how the bureaucracy works.” The agent explained as he tilted his head back and relaxed into the upholstery.
“You didn't drive here did you?” Mark asked concerned.
“No, I got dropped off.”
Mark internally sighs. It's funny he thinks looking at Leon slumped on the couch, this man is the age of his two boys. Mark can't help but still see him as just a kid, and yet here he is walking around on a leg bad enough bed rest was ordered, but still doing a job someone else could have.
“Same person picking you up then?” He asks.
Leon hums his agreement, “Will be here soon too. I just needed to rest my leg for a minute before I made the hike.”
Mark huffs a laugh, “I'm about to leave too I'll walk with you out in a minute.”
“You don't have to wait for me.” Leon argued, blue eyes now trained on him. It steals Mark’s breath for a moment, those eyes alone age him nearly 30 years. The depths of them whisper of the knowledge of unimaginable horrors.
“I don't but I want to.” Mark offers diplomatically.
Leon still looks unconvinced but doesn't fight it. And after a few more minutes of idle chatter where Mark is delighted to learn that Leon is hilarious, they are up and walking. It's a long walk to the exit, but Leon hadn't seemed interested at all in getting shuttled out.
“Too cramped and far too many people, and I don't know who's in there with me.” He explained when asked.
It sounded a bit paranoid, but Mark had a feeling that his fears weren't unprecedented. Maybe out of place in this regard, but when his gaze locks with those eyes, he knows it's not unwarranted.
It's not a terrible walk, but the way he sees the agent limping slightly out of the corner of his eye is concerned. Leon, however, is preoccupied with his phone presumably texting his ride and when he smiles, Mark can only assume he got confirmation.
Soon they are out of the exit and on the streets. Leon's limp had gotten worse and he couldn't quite hide the pain anymore as he winced.
“What exactly happened to your leg?” Mark asked, unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer.
Leon sighed as he looked down at the offending limb. “Impaled through the side couldn't get out of the way in time.”
Mark blinks as rage suddenly rushes through him. What the hell were they thinking calling him in with an injury that severe? What could possibly justify his presence.
Before Mark got too worked up however a honk of a car horn caught their attention. Leon jerked his head in the direction hand going for what Mark can only assume is a weapon (is he allowed to carry those in the White House?) but relaxed immediately after. The car parked and a woman stepped out.
Saying she was gorgeous would be an understatement. Leon's whole face lit up and all the superficial age melted away.
“Ada.” He greeted the woman face split into a childlike grin.
The woman just looked him over and huffed, “What the hell were you thinking going in your barley managing to walk.”
Leon frowned, “I'm fine.” He argued.
“Uh huh I'm sure.” She mocked. “God I should have forced you to stay home and had Sherry or Hunnagin go in your place.”
Leon went to argue but was cut off, “Oh don't start it Kennedy. Get in the damn car.”
“Yes ma'am.” He agreed without fuss his grin back into place.
Mark huffed and waved bye to the agent who reciprocated before collapsing into the waiting car. The woman watched him go with a shake of her head, “What am I going to do with him.” She asked no one in particular before making her way back to the driver's side.
All Mark can think is that he's glad Leon isn't alone, and that he has someone to help him with whatever burden he's forced to carry.