Chapter Text
Leon stared at Marvin in utter confusion. “I’m sorry?”
”You’ve been reassigned.” The lieutenant repeated, looking tired. “Head upstairs, report to Captain Wesker in the S.T.A.R.S. office.”
“The S.T.A.R.S. office, sir?” Leon asked, suddenly aware of the thumping in his chest.
”You heard right, rookie.” Marvin clasped his hand on Leon’s shoulder with a weak smile. “I know it’s what you’ve been working towards, but it’s unfortunate to lose such a competent officer. Good luck, Kennedy.”
Leon felt a smile creep across his face as he gave Marvin a nod. When he turned to head towards the door, West Office erupted in rounds of cheers and congratulations.
”We never had a doubt!” David hollered.
“Damn, that was fast. That’s gotta be a record!” Elliot shouted.
”Let’s go out Friday to celebrate, eh rookie?” Rita suggested.
”Totally!” Leon replied through his grin, already halfway out the door.
As he made his way up the staircase, he could feel the excitement bubbling up in his chest. What kind of role would he have? Did they already have a mission for him? How long would the training period be? Marvin had said he was reporting to Captain Wesker, which meant he was on Alpha Team. He already knew Chris, which would hopefully give him a foot in the door to get to know the rest of the team with ease. He turned the corner ant the top of the staircase and spotted Chris in the hallway. Before Leon could say much of anything, Chris was already walking towards him with an amused and slightly confused expression on his face.
”Long way from home base, Kennedy. What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
“Well, actually it’s our neck of the woods now. The Lieutenant just told me I’ve been reassigned to S.T.A.R.S. and I’ll be working under Captain Wesker.”
“Hey, that’s awesome!” Chris beamed while bringing Leon in for a hug, squeezing so tightly that Leon thought he might break a rib. “From what I hear, you definitely belong here. Everyone sings your praises. Just uh… Do yourself a favor and stay on the captain’s good side, okay? And by that I mean focus on your work and don’t ask him too many questions, he hates incompetence and he points out flaws pretty bluntly.” He released Leon from his grasp and they began towards the office.
“I appreciate the advice! I hope I can live up to everyone’s expectations.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will! Get in there though, best not keep him waiting.”
Chris gave Leon a friendly pat on the shoulder and headed into the office first. Leon took one last deep breath to ground himself before he followed. The office itself was nothing too grand. It had a more sterile and official feel compared to the lived-in warmth of West Office. There was a cluster of desks along the back wall with some faces Leon recognized and a few he didn’t. Chris was talking to a man Leon didn’t know, but he paused to give Leon a reassuring smile and thumbs up. To the right was a large control panel of sorts with a few chairs haphazardly placed along it. To the left was a smaller room that Leon assumed was the Captain’s office, and far past that was the armory for S.T.A.R.S.
While it was a far cry from the atmosphere of West Office, there was still a friendly energy here. Everyone talked with smiles on their faces as they sipped their morning coffee. These officers shared many trials and tribulations, and the respect and comradery they shared was apparent. Leon could only hope to be a part of it some day. Shaking off his nerves, he looked towards the smaller office. Chris was right, he shouldn’t keep the Captain waiting.
Before he made it to the door, it swung open. Out stepped a tall, built man clad in the S.T.A.R.S. uniform with his blonde hair combed back neatly and a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose. The air in the room changed, and Leon could feel the other officers tense up. The man surveyed the room and his gaze landed squarely on Leon, who didn’t need to see the man’s name badge to know who this was. He stepped towards the man with his arm outstretched for a handshake.
”Captain Wesker, sir. It’s an honor.”
The captain met the rookie’s hand and shaked firmly. He couldn’t be sure, but Leon swore he saw the slightest twitch at the corner of Wesker’s mouth as if he was suppressing a smile.
”Officer Kennedy.” Wesker replied before drawing his hand back. “The pleasure is mine. I take it you’ve been made aware of your reassignment?”
“Somewhat, sir. I know I’m to report to you. Lieutenant Branagh said you would tell me my new placement.”
“Indeed.” Wesker paused for a moment, eyes sweeping across Leon as a sort of impromptu inspection. He stepped to the side and motioned towards his office. “Please, after you.”
As Leon stepped past the captain, the silence in the office became palpable. He could hear a ringing in his ears and was suddenly aware of how sweaty his palms were. The door shut behind him and the captain made his way past the rookie to sit in the chair behind the large desk in the back of the small room. Wesker shuffled a few papers around on his desk and pulled out a file, reading it over in silence. As there were no other chairs in the room, Leon just stood there patiently. After a few minutes of silence, the captain spoke.
”You have an excellent record here.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“No complaints, perfect attendance. Seems you also graduated top of your class at the academy. Very admirable indeed.”
Leon shifted uneasily between his feet, unsure where the conversation was headed. He simply waited for Wesker to continue.
”I need someone devoted, hard-working. Someone who can juggle various tasks and challenges, all while working in close capacity to me.” Wesker closed the file and peered at Leon over the frames of his sunglasses. “Does that sound like something you’re capable of?”
Leon swallowed hard, but didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely, sir. I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Excellent.” Wesker pulled out another file and handed it to Leon. “Your new assignment is to assist me wherever needed, though it will be primarily clerical work and data entry. You’ll also have access to my schedule and meetings, and you’ll need to coordinate with the other S.T.A.R.S. members for important events.”
Leon opened the file he was handed and read over his new job requirements. Answering and directing phone calls. Maintaining schedules within S.T.A.R.S. Maintaining and ordering supplies. Assisting Captain Wesker with project tasks. This didn’t sound like special unit work, or even officer work. It sounded like something a bit more… civilian.
“I’m sorry, sir. According to this, I’m not even an officer. It kind of seems like I’d be a—“
“Secretary.” The captain finished while folding his hands behind his back, expression remaining unreadable. “That’s correct, Kennedy.”
“I don’t understand, sir. I’m more than capable. You said so yourself; High marks, perfect attendance, squeaky record. Excuse my insolence sir but I’m a competent officer. Did I do something wrong?”
”This isn’t a punishment. I meant it when I said I need someone capable. It may not be the job out in the field you imagined, but it’s still work that needs done and I can’t trust just anyone to do it.” He paused and adjusted his glasses. “It pays more than officer work, as well.”
Leon bit the inside of his cheek to hold back from arguing. The extra money would be nice, and maybe this could be an opportunity for him to be accepted into the unit. He took a breath and looked back at the captain.
“Is there any possibility of advancement, sir?”
Another twitch at the corner of Wesker’s mouth, Leon was sure this time.
“It’s something I could be… persuaded about. Let us start with your current position and we’ll do a review in, say, six months?” The captain said as he put his hand out to the rookie. “Deal?”
It wasn’t ideal, but when else would he have an opportunity like this? “Deal.” He shook the captain’s hand firmly, cementing this memory and conversation in his head.
“Now that that’s settled, I’ll have someone show you around the office and nearby areas we regularly access.” Wesker led Leon out of the office and began towards the desks. As he approached, the conversation died. “I need someone to show Mr. Kennedy around while I finalize his transfer and desk.”
Chris immediately spoke up. “I can do it, sir.”
Wesker eyed Chris for a moment before nodding and going back into his office, door snapping shut behind him. Suddenly, the office burst into a million questions, all of which were directed at Leon.
”What was THAT about, rookie?? You and the captain have some sort of history??” A plain looking man said first.
”What did you do to end up in a place like this? You could’ve had it so much easier if you had kept your head down in West Office. Wesker is gonna make your life hell.” Said another man who looked slightly older than the first.
”What are they having you do first, Kennedy? They always start you with nonsensical training or a bad assignment nobody else wanted.” A woman with a short brown bob said. Leon was almost too shocked by his new position to realize that this was Jill Valentine. Almost.
Chris slung an arm over Leon’s shoulders and put the other one up in surrender. “Guys, calm down. He can’t answer all your questions at once. Can’t you see how nervous he is? Let me show him around like the captain wants and we can bombard him with all the specifics later, yeah?”
”Come on, Chris.” Said the first man. “You saw the way the captain was acting. It was borderline human!”
”Brad, that’s enough.” Said the second man, Leon could see the name Barry on his chest. “Whatever the kid did, it’s not like he can’t tell us later.” He grinned at Leon and took another drink of his coffee.
Chris chuckled and steered Leon away from the group. Leon could feel his heart pounding in his ears. He had barely minded the questions being thrown at him, as mentally he was still in Wesker’s office. The new assignment was almost laughable, but Captain Wesker had a fierce reputation. Leon wasn’t sure which he was more shocked by, the fact that he had talked back to his superior or the fact that the Albert Wesker didn’t punish him for it. Maybe his reputation was truly glorified, maybe he was just another officer doing what he could. But then… those twitches at the corner of his mouth, those phantom smirks. It seemed like he had been intrigued, almost amused, at Leon’s response to his reassignment. Was this a test of some kind? Whatever it was, Leon would ride out this assignment for the next six months and readdress the prospect of a promotion or reassignment at that time. Until then, all he could do was give it his all at his new position.
Chris walked Leon through the office, stopping to chit chat and introduce Leon to the other officers as they went along. If nothing else, Leon was eternally grateful that he knew at least one person on the team. It might make his new post less humiliating. He made a mental note to thank Claire later as they moved over to the computer by the armory.
“You’ll need a key card and password to access the armory, it’s all through this computer.” He said as he put his own card into the machine and the door clicked open. “I’m sure it won’t take too long, but you also won’t need to come in here all that often.”
“Or at all.” Leon grumbled.
“What do you mean by that?” Chris eyed him and cocked an eyebrow up as they moved into the armory.
“My reassignment. It’s not exactly what I thought it’d be.” Leon ran his fingers through his hair and huffed. “I’m going to be Wesker’s secretary.”
Chris laughed a little too hard at this. But when Leon just stared at him without a hint of a smile, he paused and blinked a few times. His face shifted from amused to utter confusion.
”Secretary. You’re serious?”
”Yeah.”
”That’s…” Chris’ face screwed into an annoyed expression. “That’s ridiculous. There must have been a mistake, everyone here knows your track record. Nobody batted an eye when you were brought up to be a part of the team because we all know you’re capable and good at what you do. Why would he put someone with such high marks and so much potential in such a civilian role?”
”He said he needs someone capable and trustworthy.” Leon shrugged. “Anyways, I asked him if there was any possibility of advancement and he said we could discuss it at my performance review in six months.”
“Six months?” Chris huffed, getting more annoyed with every word exchanged. “Listen, I’m not saying being a secretary isn’t difficult or important but come on, Leon. You’re an officer, a cop! You have so many other talents, clerical work is only a tiny part of what the police do and now he wants that to be your daily?”
”What can I do, Chris? You want me to argue with Wesker about my placement?”
”Yes! No! I don’t know!” Chris threw his hands in the air. “It just seems off, you know? I know there are plenty of talented people we have who he could have called in if he suddenly needed help. This almost feels like a punishment, don’t you think?”
“I thought so too, but he assured me it wasn’t.” Leon crossed his arms, thinking back on the conversation. “He said he needs someone capable. And that he can’t trust just anyone with the information I’ll be processing.”
“The captain reassured you? Like, without mocking you?” Chris looked genuinely shocked at this concept. “And that he trusts you? How? He doesn’t even know you, does he?”
”I mean, I certainly don’t know him. But he has access to my file so he’s probably gathered at least a little bit of info about me. I don’t know, Chris. But there’s nothing I can do at this point aside from either declining the assignment and making an enemy of Wesker or taking it and gaining the possibility of becoming a real member of the team.” He reached out and placed a hand on Chris’ shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, man. It’ll be an adjustment but I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know, Leon. Being Wesker’s secretary?” He shivered and shook his head. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
The rest of the tour went smoothly and relatively quickly, as Leon was already fairly familiar with the parts of the station that lie outside the S.T.A.R.S. office. Chris took him to the other side of the precinct and introduced him to Bravo Team, saying that it’s rare but sometimes they work together so it’s good to know them. Captain Enrico seemed infinitely warmer and friendlier compared to Wesker. He greeted Leon with a grin on his face and congratulated him on his movement. Leon decided to spare himself further embarrassment and just thanked him. Chris and Leon hit the break room for some coffee before heading back into the S.T.A.R.S. office, where a new desk was positioned right outside of Wesker’s office. Leon groaned.
“Hey, chin up buddy,” Chris said while giving him a firm pat on the back. “Like you said, all you can do is ride it out for now. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think… probably.”
The two men walked past the desk and over to the group of agents that had bombarded Leon with questions earlier. It began anew immediately.
”Alright, you’ve had your tour. Now spill.” Jill said.
Chris looked at Leon with worry painted on his face. Leon sighed.
”I’m not sure what I did or what led to my reassignment. I was, in fact, just keeping my head down in West Office. Did I have aspirations to join the S.T.A.R.S. team someday? Absolutely. I didn’t think it’d be this soon though. And I’m not even a real member.” He huffed and ran his hands through his hair again. “I’m a secretary. Wesker’s, to be more specific.”
Brad’s mouth fell open while he stared, and Barry stopped mid drink of his coffee and turned to face the group. Jill’s face went from shock to amusement. Leon was already dreading the response she was going to give.
“Does that mean I get to send you on coffee runs, rookie?” She smirked.
”Well, technically, Wesker can send me on coffee runs. But you, Valentine? I doubt I’m a commodity he’s willing to share so easily.” Leon replied while cocking his hip to one side.
“Oh, man! This guy’s a riot!” Jill shouted while elbowing Barry. “Why’d you hide him from us, Chris?”
”Well, we’ve only recently become friends.” Chris laughed. “He’s best friends with Claire. I tried to keep a distance because I didn’t want to be accused of stealing him away when he realizes I’m way cooler.”
“In your dreams, Redfield.” Barry spoke up. “I haven’t even met your sister and I could say for certain she’s cooler than you.”
“She modifies motorcycles for a living,” Leon chimed in. “And she races, sometimes.”
“Oh, she’s definitely cooler than you, Chris.” Jill grinned.
”Alright, alright. I don’t need to be beaten by my little sister when she isn’t even here, guys.” Chris said, putting his hands up in surrender. “Can we get back to making fun of Leon?”
”Wow, kick him while he’s down, why don’t you?” Brad said.
“I mean, it’s not like it’s a secret. Even if it were, I doubt it’d stay one for long. I’ll literally be right there,” Leon jerked his thumb towards the desk outside of Wesker’s office. “Every day, for at least the next six months.”
“Does six months signify something?” Jill asked.
”It’s what we agreed before I’ll be considered for a review. I’m really pushing for an evaluation to get into S.T.A.R.S. in a non-clerical way.” Leon replied. “I’m thinking more missions, less paperwork.”
”Well, we’re here to support you regardless of if you operate in the field or at a desk.” Chris smiled, clasping Leon’s shoulder once more. “We’re a team no matter what.”
Leon smiled and nodded. He knew there was no ill intent behind anything the team said. They were enjoying teasing him, sure. But it was all in good fun and at the end of the day they were there should he need it. He walked over to his new desk and examined his work station. It would need a little spicing up but it’s nothing he hadn’t done before. There was a phone at the left corner and a small box with some buttons and a microphone with a sticky note that read ‘Come see me when you’re finished looking around. -Captain Wesker’ Leon walked to the office door near his desk and lightly knocked. He heard the captain permit his entry so he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“Ah, Mr. Kennedy. How was your tour?” Wesker asked while sorting through some sort of paperwork.
“It was good, sir.” Leon said as he shut the door behind him. “I knew most of the precinct already but it was nice to meet the team I’ll be working with, as well.”
Wesker nodded along as Leon spoke, not looking up from the task in front of him. “Excellent. Good to hear Redfield didn’t dally. He introduced you to Bravo Team, I presume?”
“Yes, sir. The team was very welcoming and Captain Enrique was very friendly.”
As Leon watched the captain, he swore he saw a slight twitch in his hand but decided it was best to not speak up about it. He watched as Wesker put the papers he was sorting into a neat pile and set it to the side before putting his hands together and looking up at Leon over the rim of his sunglasses.
”Enrique is certainly a far cry from myself.”
“That’s true, sir.” Leon said. He chewed the inside of his cheek before deciding to add, “Not that that’s an issue, sir. You’re very good at your job and well respected in the precinct and the field in general. You’re just—“
“Abrasive?”
“I was going to say ‘different’, but if we’re being honest that is an apt descriptor, sir.”
Wesker leaned back in his chair and showed the faintest hint of a grin before saying, “Yes, I have been told as such. Not quite so boldly, I must say.”
”I don’t see any point in beating around the bush, sir.”
“Indeed. Have you used an intercom before, Kennedy?”
“No, sir.”
“It’s fairly straightforward. You have an intercom on your desk that connects to this one.” The captain tapped a box on the corner of his desk with its own speaker and microphone. “There are a few buttons on the intercom itself, one just acts as a buzzer to get my attention, which I can respond to by speaking or sending my own buzz back to indicate I’m busy. The other is what you hold down when you’re speaking into the microphone. Nothing too complicated.”
Leon nodded. “What would I need those for, sir? I thought I’d just be assisting with paperwork and organization.”
”There are many people interested in talking to department heads and team captains. As I am captain of Alpha Team and the head of the S.T.A.R.S. department, I have many people vying for my attention. Many of it is for things that could be solved with an email but they insist on meeting with me. I need you to act as a buffer of sorts.”
“But how will I know if I’m supposed to send them away? Anything you say is going to come out of the intercom on my desk so they’ll hear if you’re busy or not.”
“Not to worry, I’ve already devised a solution to that particular issue.” Wesker opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a slim headset. “As much of the information I will be conveying to you is strictly confidential, it’s of the utmost importance that it reaches your ears only.”
”And so you can freely make comments about not wanting to see someone?” Leon asked while taking the headset in his hands.
“That is merely a perk, I assure you.” Wesker replied smoothly. “That headset stays on at all times while you’re in the building, Leon. With the exception of your breaks, of course. It wirelessly connects to the intercom system. So long as you remain within the building, I’ll be able to reach you.”
“I can do that, sir.” Leon replied as he slid the headset on and turned on the power. “I assume there’s a charger of sorts for this.”
“In your desk. There won’t be much for you to do today, as I’m still deciding how to split the work between us. I will test the headset throughout the day to ensure it’s working properly. Your job today is to keep an ear open and get your desk situated.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Leon said. “If I may, sir, I’m going to go down to West Office and get the stuff I had at my desk. Should I bring my computer?”
“No need, you’ll have one by the end of the day. I’ll give you your login information once it’s set up. You’re dismissed.”
Leon nodded and left the office. He made his way down to West Office and tried to quietly slip in without anyone noticing. To his luck and amazement, nobody was there. He grabbed his jacket off the coat rack and set it on his chair. He slowly placed all of his decor on the jacket. A photo of him and Claire, his police academy certificate, a rubber duck he’d won at an arcade, plus his paperwork and the other Knick knacks he’d kept on his desk. Once he had it all stacked, he closed his jacket like a pseudo bag of sorts and picked up his coffee from earlier in the day. He had considered asking if anyone had a spare box he could use, but he wanted to spare himself from any confrontation from anyone in West Office, at least for today. He made his way back up to his new work station, narrowly avoiding contact with Rita when he spotted her chatting in the hallway. When he got back into the S.T.A.R.S. office, he set the jacket down with all of his stuff pouring onto his new desk.
”Jeez, rookie. I’m sure we have boxes around here you could’ve used instead of your jacket.” Jill said as she approached the desk.
”Yeah, well, I guess I wanted to be quick.” Leon said, organizing the stuff he’d brought up with him. He was sure Jill knew he was really just embarrassed, but to his delight she glossed over it.
”Who’s this?” Jill asked while picking up the photo of Claire and Leon. “Your girlfriend, maybe?”
”Absolutely not,” Leon laughed. “She’s my best friend.”
“Oh, so this is Chris’ little sis?”
”Sure is!” Chris said, taking the picture out of Jill’s hand. “She’s great, even if she can be a little much.”
“Have you considered maybe you’re just not enough to keep up?” Leon shot back.
”You wound me, Leon.” Chris said, miming a wound to the chest.
“Either way,” Leon said, taking the photo back and placing it on his desk. “I always have fun with her. Never even considered a romance between us, the Redfield’s are practically family.”
“Well, that’s great!” Jill smiled. “Even if it means you’re saddled with this one for a brother.”
“Alright guys, let’s play a game where we don’t pick on Chris, eh?” Chris said, though his grin gave him away. “I happen to know that someone was a huge fan of mine for a long time.”
“Please don’t do this, Chris…” Leon groaned.
“Please do, Chris.” Jill encouraged, with her own grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
”Let’s just say Leon’s wanted to join S.T.A.R.S. for a long time.” Chris said, crossing his arms. “He’d heard of my work, but didn’t know I was Claire’s brother.”
“Oh my god!” Jill said, turning to Leon.
”I know, I know!” Leon said, burying his head in his hands. “It was mortifying enough at the time without you and her bringing it up like this. I was a younger, less informed person.”
“Leon, it was like a year before you entered the police academy.” Chris teased.
”That’s blatantly untrue!” Leon argued.
Jill just laughed. “You even bicker like brothers!”
”Yeah, well, despite the harassment, I’m glad to have the Redfields in my life.” Leon said with a smile, genuine and warm.
Suddenly, the door to the captain’s office snapped open. Wesker stood in the doorway, surveying the office and the small group that had formed by Leon’s desk. He walked over to Leon’s desk and handed him a paper that looked like a schedule.
“This is a soft schedule for lunch breaks within the team.” The captain said, straightening out with his hands behind his back. “The team rotates who will remain in the office each week, just in case there’s an emergency. You’ve been added to the rotation as well.”
Leon nodded and Wesker went back into his office, closing the door behind him once more. He seemed… irritated. Leon made a mental note to ask later before turning back to the two standing at his desk.
“Is it just me who thinks it’s odd that the captain hand delivered that?” Jill said, looking at Chris. “It definitely seems like something he’d say could have been an email.”
Chris nodded. “Yeah, it’s weird for sure. Just what is your relationship with Wesker, Leon?”
”I’ve just met him today, our relationship is one of a boss and secretary, I guess.” Leon shrugged. “Of course, I knew about him before and have immense respect for him. He created S.T.A.R.S. He’s a living legend.”
“He’s a hardass with a god complex.” Chris said, a little quieter than everything else. “But hey, it seems like he likes you. Just don’t do anything to piss him off or he’ll take it out on the rest of us.”
“I disagree.” Jill said, placing her hands on her hips. “I think you should push the limits. See what you can get away with, see where his lines are.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” Leon huffed, leaning back in his chair. “There’s literally no reason for him to give me special treatment.”
“Maybe he thinks you’re cute.” Jill shrugged. This comment caused Brad to choke on the drink he’d just taken a sip of.
“That can’t be right.” Brad said from his desk. “You’re giving the captain way too much credit.”
“Yeah, physical attraction does seem like something he’d call ‘frivolous and beneath him’.” A man, who Leon remembered was named Joseph, added. “Maybe he’s testing the rookie, adding additional pressure by consistently hand delivering things.”
As Jill and Chris returned to their desks, there was a collective murmur that began within the office. Everyone had different theories as to why the captain was acting off. Leon thought it was bizarre, silly even, that something as simple as being handed a physical schedule for lunch breaks caused such an outcry within the office. Wesker must have been a creature of habit who was breaking routine for this to be the reaction. Leon, for one, didn’t really care. His priority remained unchanged: do a killer job as his secretary and convince him to let him join the S.T.A.R.S. team in an operative capacity. He finished setting up his desk and took a look at the schedule he’d been handed. It looked like when the captain added him to the rotation he put him at the top of the list, making this week his turn to stay in the office and take his break separately from the rest of the team. That must be why he handed it to him, so he’d see it was his week.
The timing was impeccable, as it was time for the rest of the team to take their lunches. They all waved to Leon as they left the office, some offering sympathetic looks. Leon didn’t mind. He didn’t know the team very well yet anyways, this would give him some time to get to know them slowly so he’d be more comfortable when he was around them in a less professional setting. He smiled to himself as he realized he was already making fast friends with Jill. It was then that he noticed how much quieter it was without her and Chris around. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, taking in the first bit of calm since he’d be told of his reassignment. He would get used to things, he was sure. As he sat leaned back in his chair, there was a sudden noise in his ear that almost made Leon jump out of his chair.
“Leon, do you hear me?” The buttery smooth voice of the captain said directly into his ear, causing a fluttering in Leon’s stomach. He lifted his hand to the headset and held a button.
”Yes, sir. Loud and clear. Am I coming through okay?” He replied.
”Indeed.” The captain replied. “Try the intercom microphone as well, please.”
Leon leaned forward and held the talk button on his intercom attached to his desk. “Testing, testing.”
“You are heard.” Wesker replied once more. “It seems everything is working well.”
“Extremely well. It sounds like you’re right next to me.”
“It is excellent equipment.”
Then silence. Leon pulled his hand away from the button he’d been holding and leaned back once more. He could feel his heart thumping in his ears. He hoped he’d get used to the captain’s voice sounding so close quickly, because at the moment it felt a little more intimate than he’d like. He took a breath and closed his eyes, the silent stillness of the office washing over him. This was the most calm and quiet he had experienced within the precinct. It was strange, but also kind of nice. He opened his eyes and stood from his desk, not wanting to fall asleep on the job. He walked around the office, observing the plaques and medals lining the walls, showcasing the different accomplishments of the S.T.A.R.S. units. He couldn’t help but wonder how it felt, to take part in recon missions and secure important data and people. More than that, he wondered what kind of bond those missions formed between members. Moving as a team, watching each other's backs. The members of Alpha team were truly…
”Incredible.” He whispered to himself.
”You give them too much credit, Kennedy.” Leon whipped his head around to see the captain, arms crossed as he leaned against his office doorway. He pushed himself off the frame, striding over to Leon as he continued. “They were in quite a state when they arrived to me. It took much time and more training to get them to be the officers they are.”
“Oh, sir. You startled me. Did you need something?”
”Take Redfield, for example.” Wesker continued, now standing next to Leon and looking at the group photo of the Alpha Team. “When he arrived, he was sloppy with an out of control temper. He had no sense of organization and he acted recklessly often.”
Leon wanted to argue, but some of those were still true even today. He thought of how quickly Chris got angry when they went out, the fury that so quickly spread across his face. Quick tempered was absolutely a way Claire had described her brother in the past.
”That isn’t to say he had no redeeming qualities at all. He had raw ability, of course. He’d never make it on my squad otherwise.” He glanced at Leon with a smirk before continuing. “He needed discipline and order to truly become—“
“A star?”
“Precisely. I’ve hand picked every member of my team. I saw the potential they had, and I’ve used it to build the perfect unit. Chris excels when it comes to physical prowess, Barry is top notch at gathering evidence, and Jill has a quick wit matched by very few.”
”Based on the rumors, I didn’t think you’d have such positive reviews of the team. It almost seems like you… like them?” Leon spoke before he could think too hard about what he was saying.
”Like or dislike has nothing to do with it. And those weren’t reviews, they are fact. I pick individuals who have talents to balance the rest of the team. I choose people who I know will excel.” He paused. “And the same applies to you.”
“Me, sir?”
”Of course. You said so yourself, you’re the model officer, correct?”
Leon should have been scared, or at least intimidated. The captain didn’t say things without reason, but Leon didn’t see what he was getting at. Even more, he could feel his cheeks burning at the captain’s comment. Something about Wesker’s words stirred something in Leon. He chose the safe route.
“Sir, I apologize for saying so. I was just frustrated, I didn’t mean to question—“
Wesker held his hand up for Leon to stop. “No need for apologies. You were correct, after all. You are the model officer. I would know, of course.” He leaned in close to Leon, voice dropping to barely above a whisper. “I’ve taken a special interest in you, Leon. And I’ve been watching for quite some time.”
The captain straightened back out, looking down at the rookie through his sunglasses. Before Leon could ask what he meant by that, the door to the office swung open and the other officers began pouring in from lunch. Wesker turned and walked back into his office, leaving Leon stunned and turning pinker by the second. He was only snapped out of his state of shock by a firm hand clasping his shoulder. He looked towards the source to see Chris, of course, with that same crooked smile he always wore when he was in a good mood. Leon smiled back, hoping Chris wouldn’t notice the tinge of color on his cheeks.
“Hey, Chris. How was lunch?”
”Oh, great! Jill and I got some burgers, they were awesome. Sucks that you were stuck here though, I hope the captain didn’t give you a hard time or anything.”
”No, not at all.” Leon said, a shiver going down his spine as he recalled the closeness between himself and the captain mere moments ago. He shook his head to dislodge the memory. “I was looking at all the medals you guys have earned and he talked about training you guys for a bit. Super impressive stuff.”
“Oh, yeah. He loves to brag about how he hand picked us and “smoothed out the rough edges”, or whatever.” Chris made huge air quotes as he said this, seeming a little annoyed. But he shrugged when he continued. “He’s not entirely wrong, we definitely weren’t mission ready. We weren’t hopeless, though. Just so you know.”
“Oh, sure. I’m sure you were always very incredible and talented, with little to no flaws.”
“Now you’re getting it!” Chris gave Leon a playful nudge. “Anyways, why don’t you go get something to eat. You can’t run on empty all day. Nutrients, and all that. Carbs. Protein!”
“Okay, I’ll go if you stop yelling food components at me!” Leon grinned, putting his hands up in surrender. “Not like I’ve got any pressing assignments anyway.”
As Chris returned to his desk, Leon went back to his desk and scooped up his jacket. His hand was hovering over the handle of the office door when he heard a click from his right. Out walked Wesker once again, this time with his jacket on and keys in his hand. Leon could tell that the rest of the office was trying to look busy, but they were trained to be aware of their captain at all times. Leon opened the door and held it open as he approached. The captain paused as he reached the doorway and turned towards Leon.
“Going on your break, Kennedy?”
”Yes, sir.”
“In that case, care to join me?”