Reader Inserts

the first picture made you stop breathing for a second. he couldn’t have been older than twenty, nineteen at the very least. his features were soft around the edges, hair a little too long and falling over his eyes. he wore a navy academy shirt that looked too serious for the boy smiling in it.

there was this ridiculous, earnest brightnest to him, the way his eyes were filled with hope and how he looked like he was ready to combat anything. like he believed he could save anyone. 

it made your heart ache.

there were so many photos. dozens among dozens. some printed, some polaroids.

leon half asleep in a classroom, cheek squished into his hand. the picture had a mustache skibbled with a sharpie. 

leon in uniform, trying to look intimidating and failing because there was still a certain softness in his expression.

leon holding a coffe mug almost as big as his face. the mug read “#1 dad future rookie”. 

“oh my god,” you whispered to yourself. “you were a baby.”

maybe it should’ve ended there. you putting the photos away, letting them gather dust for the next few years before rediscovering them again.

but it didn’t. because ever since finding those photos, you kept…studying leon. at breakfast, across the couch, while he was reading, when he fell asleep on your chest.

the rounded softness his face once had was sharper now, carved by age and hardship. there were faint lines near his eyes. a faint scar against his cheek you liked to trace with your thumb. 

but, if you looked hard enough, younger leon was still there.

in the way his lashes looked unfairly long when he blinked. in the little pout he unconsciously made when he was focused. in the sheepish smile that graced his lips when you teased him. 

and his eyes. his faded blue eyes still carried pieces of the boy in those pictures.

…

leon noticed. of course he did. 

one evening when he was sprawled on the couch reading reports, glasses low on his nose, you were openly staring. he set the papers down slowly.

“should I be concerned?” he cocked a brow. you didn’t answer. “sweetheart?”

you blinked. “hm?”

he leaned back, crossing his arms. “you’ve been looking at me like you’re trying to solve a murder case this past week.”

your cheeks flushed a soft pink.

leon narrowed his eyes playfully. “what’s going on?”

you sighed, a small pout forming on your face. “it’s the photos.”

his brows furrowed in confusion. “...photos?”

“the ones of you at the academy.”

leon’s ears tinged pink, a groan vibrated in his chest. “oh god.”

“no, listen! you were so adorable in those pictures!” you sat up quickly.

he made a wounded sound. “adorable?”

“yes!”

“that’s not something a man likes to hear.”

“you looked like a puppy,” you giggled. “little golden retriever…no, a german shepherd!”

he covered his face. you crawled over to straddle his lap, pulling his wrists away from his face. a laugh bubbled out of your lips.

“I’m serious,” you said, voice softer now. “I can’t stop looking at you and seeing him.”

leon’s expression changed into something gentler. your finger traced his jaw slowly.

“honestly,” you started, grinning. “if I had met you back then…”

he cocked a brow. “you would have what, hm?”

you leaned in close to whisper dramatically. “I would’ve had the biggest crush on you.”

his ears turned redder.

“and,” you added, kissing his cheek. “I would have claimed you as mine immediately.”

leon stared at you, curiosity and temptation swirling in his eyes. then, he gave the most helpless, flustered laugh. “you’re unbelievable,” he chuckled.

“I’m just being honest,” you grin.

“you would’ve liked academy me?”

“I would’ve been obsessed with academy you.”

he looked almost offended by the idea. 

“I had terrible hair.”

“you have the same hair…”

he rolled his eyes at that one.

“I was reckless back then.”

“cute.”

“I made bad decisions.”

“very cute.”

“you have terrible taste,” he pinched the bridge of his nose.

you laughed so hard you nearly tipped into him. your arms wrapped around his neck as his expression softened. his hand reached up to brush your hair behind your ear. 

“truthfully…” he murmured. “I’m glad we didn’t meet back then.”

your eyes widened in surprise. “why?”

a small, almost embarrassed smile graced his face. “younger me…he was reckless, thought that being brave meant being stupid,” he shook his head.

his thumb brushed against your cheek. “I would’ve been a terrible boyfriend.”

“I doubt that.”

“no,” he smiled. “I probably would’ve tried to impress you by doing something idiotic. like climbing up the side of your balcony.”

you snorted. “sounds about right.”

he laughed too. then his voice turned quiet.

“I think,” he said. “I think I had to become this version of me before I could love you right.

your heart melted. “leon…”

he touched his forehead against yours. “I’m glad we met when we did.”

you kissed him before he could say anything else. soft, slow, and tender enough to make him melt. when you pulled back, you studied him again. 

that same look.

he groaned.

“you’re doing it again.”

“what?”

“that look.”

you giggled, cupping his face. “I’m seeing baby-faced leon.”

“you know,” he murmured, hands brushing up your waist. “if you keep talking about how badly you would’ve wanted younger me…”

he kissed your jaw. “...I might get jealous.”

you laughed. “of yourself?”

gently, he maneuvered you onto the couch, his body resting on top of yours. his lips travelled down your neck. 

“for the record,” you whispered, almost breathless. “I would have claimed rookie leon too.”

his teeth grazed your pulse. “and who claims me now?”

you smiled. “I still do.”

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