#ether rambles

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No BOWs, Umbrella's just shady in the usual corrupt ways. Also got the urge to just shove everything forward timeline wise so it can Modern AU on top of that. Why? Cause I can. Plus it's also partly inspired by the show The Rookie. I cannot help it, look at Castle go. Where was I? Oh yes, Leon having a no good very bad terrible awful first week.

Leon's first day doesn't go so well, being late and all. He gets put on front desk duty.

First night is just as bad because of the whole uh, he's from out of town and had no plan, much less a place to live ready. Leon's sleeping in his car.

Second day? Desk duty. And Leon gets shoved in a locker by a fellow rookie who shall be known as Asshole of Steele. Or Steele for short.

Third day. Desk duty. And someone trips Leon while he's carrying a bunch of things. Probably Steele. Definitely Steele. Motel time.

Fourth day Leon lost his keys and almost got arrested trying to break into his own car. Plus desk duty. Someone put thumb tacks on his seat.

Fifth day, Leon is too sleepy and in pain to notice there is a lot going on at the station, specifically with a suspect who tries to escape. Despite that Leon still manages to lock in and does some fancy ass flying arm bar takedown.

And on that day, STARS member Chris Redfield takes notice.

Chris: damn! nice moves, rookie.

Leon, eepy, owie, hungy, angy, and not used to compliments:

Chris: *processing the Sad Puppy Eyes* oh. oh you're coming home with me.

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Chris actually just yoinks Leon into STARS office, plops him in a chair, then goes to talk to Captain Wesker.

Leon sitting there overthinking that he's in trouble and trying very hard not to cry:

The rest of STARS (both Alpha & Beta Teams): Redfield what is this???

And thus Leon's fifth day on the Raccoon City Police Force is spent...on front desk duty.

However! Chris not only yoinked Leon to STARS for as of yet unknown reasons, he also does take Leon to his apartment. Chris feels like an apartment guy. Don't ask why but it's probably more comfortable than even a small house on his own.

Leon gets to sleep on a bed that doesn't smell sus and feel twice as awful. The stress of the week catches up, and Leon cries himself to sleep, shaking sobs smothered into the bed sheets.

And yes, Chris, who gave his own bed to Leon and would not allow any argument about it while he slept on the couch, heard it.

Why did Chris bring Leon to STARS? Welcome to the gang, rookie! Sort of. Kind of. Chris nominated himself to be Leon's Training Officer and hey rookies rotate shifts anyways, right? Chreon shippers I apologize, the power dynamics scare me so we're not addressing that. Yet.

ANYWAYS.

Leon picked the CRAZIEST part of the year to become a cop/transfer. Halloween, Thanksgiving, all the winter holidays, new years, probably other holidays I'm forgetting like Diwali, all in 4 months.

Good luck, rookie.

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So Leon is on Beta Team, now led by Wesker, who is also his TO. Since he's living in his car again, he has to ration his drinking, which means he gets a crash course in "Special Tactics and Rescue Services" while suffering some alcohol withdrawal. Apparently STARS handle big crime, if I were to take a guess similar to how the show Chicago PD has the "Intelligence Unit" that can do whatever they want because Hollywood. So Leon is dealing with that.

Meanwhile, with Chris

Divorced Chreon. In December. Can't have shit in Raccoon City.

Beta Team's missions involve drug busts, violent crime, organized operations, some private protection, and dealing with whatever HR Violation Rebecca is cooking up that she calls coffee.

Actually, Rebecca and Leon, both being the youngest/new recruits, get along quite well when Weaker isn't micromanaging. The older members of Bravo Team try to shovel talk Leon but he insists he only sees Rebecca as a friend. If this was a show like The Rookie with Nathan Fillion, this would probably be the part where they hook up anyways for the drama.

But this isn't TV, so they instead have unhinged sibling energy, Leon joining the slow growing army of Rebecca Protectors. She actually helps dig into his family history to clear their names, and by extension Leon's. though Leon himself doesn't seem too enthusiastic for some reason.

Hey remember the stalker subplot? Yeah Rebecca finds the collection of trinkets on Leon's desk (along with a secret stash of those pre-bottled shots of booze) and mentions it's kinda weird he's keeping "gifts". Btw they would be relevant to him in some way. A little watch or clock trinket, the dog and iron tokens from Monopoly, those split heart necklaces meant for 2 people but it just looks like a broken heart, that sort of thing. Still weird but Leon doesn't know what else to do with them sooo.

Anyways, back to Sherry! She's sad because her parents are working through the holiday season and she wants to do Family Things. So naturally, she sneaks out and goes to Chris' apartment, as Leon did tell her that's where he was staying previously.

Cue Chris seeing Leon's not-kid at his door. And having to tell her Leon doesn't live there anymore. And driving her back to her house.

Cue Sherry requesting a ride along with one Chris Redfield that her parents don't question. Even got Umbrella to make it a school outing. Clever girl.

Anyways Sherry is 11, not dumb. She knows Chris is miserable without Leon. It's written all over his face! Literally, he's growing out a stress beard! And Sherry encourages Chris to reach out to Leon, because if Chris is miserable without Leon, Leon is absolutely devastated without Chris. She is one hundred percent sure of it!

Cue Chris having a flashback of Leon's very drunk night that leads to a certain type of dream, realizing he has FEELINGS, going to get Leon back, only to see Leon and Rebecca on a coffee run together and making the biggest assumption ever.

Leon definitely felt someone looking at him.

December is actually lowkey for Leon, besides the high risk missions and such. He's making friends with Beta team. Dewey(pilot) tries to teach Leon how to dance, Richard Aiken the comms guy is like a brother to Leon, Sullivan (recon guy) gets Leon into some landscaping; there would be a whole episode B Plot of Sullivan realizing Leon can be trained like a dog because Rebecca saw that one tumblr post about it.

As for Forest Speyer, Chris' BFF and rival in sniper, he keeps an eye on Leon for Chris and gives updates.

And what is Wesker doing you may ask?

Where Marvin was the Good Mentor trying to help Leon put himself back together and find a place within the force, Wesker is Evil Mentor who pushes Leon to his limits, shave off everything that interferes with his ability to perform such as his revenge. Wesker trains Leon to be another piece on the board, a weapon in the arsenal. Quite literally, as he has Leon learn to handle a variety of weapons. Beta Team has a pilot, a marksman, comms, recon, a medic; why not add an attack dog?

Despite everything, Leon still manages to get Sherry a Christmas present.

I have also recently learned about Ark Thompson, some private investigator that's apparently friends with Leon.

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Just some more about Ark Thompson and filling up the nothing burger Capcom has given us.

So to start this off, let's make some general assumptions.

Leon couldn't have signed up for the police academy straight out high school, he'd be 17 or 18, which would make his original RE 2 reasoning of being late also a bit illegal as in the US you need to be 21 to legally purchase/consume alcohol.

That begs the question of what Leon was doing between 17/18 to 21, but I wanna just cover the six months of police training he had. (Yes, in the United States it's only 6 months, that explains a lot, let's move on)

I suggest Leon and Ark met during training at the police academy. Ark is apparently former military, likely a pilot, since he had dog tags and knows how to fly a chopper in Survivor. Assuming they're of similar age, as it would appear so via their original artwork and sprites, that would mean Ark would have done only 2 years of active military duty and is likely on inactive reserve. Or discharged. IDK how it works and google is not very helpful.

Anyways, Leon and Ark get along like a duck to water.

They're like 2 dogs that instantly become best friends. Friendly competition, a little faux flirting with the homie, nicknames(Leon is "Ken Doll" because he's a pretty boy, Ark is "Tommy Gun", a play on his name Thompson), they even got a special handshake that involves finger guns and a crisp dab up.

Why is Ark important here?

Guess who shows up in that weird week between Christmas and New Year's that's just...there. Yep! It's Ark! He's on a case, so he'll be staying in Raccoon City for a bit. He also instantly clocks that Leon's living in his car (yes again, which Leon wants on the downlow) so they decide to split the bill and room up together in a slightly better motel than Leon first had. Heck probably a hotel and Ark jokes about writing it off as a business expense.

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So how does Leon's November go?

Not all that bad actually. So you know still stressful by any typical metric.

Leon uses his lunch hour to swing by Sherry's school (he always brings her a kid's meal), and his one day off to be a housewife, or at least that's what Steele teases about because he cannot let Leon have anything. But...it's a routine. Leon knows he shouldn't get too comfortable. No one wants him. No way he's gonna slack off off the clock, especially when he lives with his TO who can end his career with a thought.

This "arc" becomes all about faaaamily, with Thanksgiving and all-OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS THERE'S A "NATIONAL LEON DAY" IN NOVEMBER 😂😂😂 (I guess for everyone named Leon lol).

Yeah, everyone starts talking about the holidays and Leon keeps dodging the question until Minerva corners him, getting him to spill the beans. Or rather the brains, just like the murders of his parents that Little Leon saw because we can do whatever we want with bare canon information.

Leon, in part, came to Raccoon City to find out who killed his parents, since it's his only clue. Until then, he's gonna be helping as many people as he can.

That's right, fuckers (affectionate), I made Leon Batman.

And I'm about to make him Spiderman because someone overhead about Leon's dead parents, went digging, and printed out the news article implying they were criminals. Which would be a very bad look for a cop if true, so Leon is suspended from duty until Internal Affairs says so.

So what's Leon to do on a Monday with the possibility of becoming unemployed? Having might as well done the walk of shame to turn in his badge and gun with everyone watching him like a hawk? When even Chris is looking at him- don't. don't give him hope. no one wants him. it was a miracle he even lasted this long.

DRINK!

Wait, no, that's a bad idea.

Chreon argument arc. Think the beginning of Vendetta but they're both babyfaced and living together. Leon somehow makes himself scarce in a tiny ass apartment and Chris is losing it. Any and all attempt at communicating suffers from Chris being a stubborn hothead and Leon's sassy ass getting shitfaced every night.

Marvin was Mr. Exposition in the October Arc, but is taking a more mentor type role for Leon in November. He checks up on him when Chris is getting swamped with work, tries to get Leon out the apartment, and giving Leon a little side hustle of babysitting his daughter Meryl.

Its... too much. A kindness he doesn't deserve. Dead Parents flashbacks lead to Leon somehow getting even more drunk than usual and he wakes up tucked in bed, a glass of water sitting on the nightstand with some ibuprofen. He doesn't remember much if anything, and like hell is he going to ask Chris.

Minerva finds Leon as he's getting Sherry her kid's meal. She swears she didn't tell anyone. Leon says not to worry. But know what? Minerva, no, Minni IS going to worry because Leon is her friend. She's a cop because she wants to help people, including her fellow officers who break, the way she's seen some family friends do. After an emotional day of visiting these retired/dead family friends, Minni invites Leon to the Branagh family Thanksgiving dinner. Which he turns down assuming it'll just be him and Chris, who he decided to apologize to.

Until Chris mentions he's actually gonna be hanging out with his sister Claire. He would have invited Leon but... Well, he gets interrupted again, only able to say "we'll talk later." Which naturally freaks Leon out so much he packs up his stuff, takes his car, and leaves.

Chris doesn't notice as Leon's been locking the bedroom door. He's in for a big surprise when he sees Leon is at the station, badge and gun restored.

With STARS Captain Albert Wesker as his new TO, switching teams with Captain Enrico Marini in a seemingly benevolent show of good faith by "stepping down" and giving Enrico the position he was clearly snubbed of. Stop lying, Wesker.

And so November ends with Leon both untouchable yet in the most vulnerable position ever and an empty bed that Chris can't think of as "his" anymore.

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Ah February. Leon has failed Dry January (not his fault), but is honestly doing better drink wise. He and Ark are trying to figure out what to do with their info, but for now play it cool.

Until Ada finally makes her debut doing her FBI act to "take over the case" regarding Irons' murders. Which means she's heading to a certain pair of Dumb and Dumber.

The dominos are falling. Irons wants Ark dead, Steele wants Leon (and dead), Sherry meets Claire and is definitely telling her that her brother has a husband they're just both idiots about it, and Wesker seems oddly frustrated. Minerva is beating Chris' head in about making a move because of Leon loses any bit of stability again he's probably going to lock up for good.

Katz is firmly out of the drama, but does warn Leon as well about Steele.

Because someone kidnaps Leon, shooting him in the shoulder for good measure.

Its a whole episode of calling, searching, asking every criminal Leon put behind bars if they were connected to his disappearance. Rebecca mentions the stalker trinket collection and the one they THOUGHT was the one leaving those "gifts" is equally as surprised. Back to square one on it, they try to figure out who could possibly have such a close connection to Leon and Steele suggests "the wannabe detective he's sharing a hotel room with."

So they go check it out, only to find Ark with a bullet in his head but somehow alive so that gets him off the suspect list, Chris getting agitated at the thought Leon might have moved on so quickly because who the hell is this Ark guy?

Actually, yeah. Who is Ark and why did Steele know about hi-OH FUCK IT WAS STEELE THIS ENTIRE TIME. (the author says as if they didn't know). Steele swears he has no idea, everyone can tell he's lying, so he makes a deal, ratting out his sperm factory bio dad for a lesser sentence.

Who has Leon? Irons of course. See, he's had to clean up after Steele one too many times so now Irons wants to "punish" Steele...by taking his "toy" away. Leon is the toy. He's paid Ada to do most of the dirty work, but Irons himself is going to kill Leon to make a point to his legit definition bastard son.

He WAS, anyways. But seeing Leon up close and personal? Eh, he can see the appeal. Maybe actually turn Leon into a-yeah you can probably guess where this is going.

Leon puts up a good fight until Irons gets him in the already shot shoulder and makes his Dead By Daylight noises, which stalls Irons long enough for the cavalry to bust down the door.

Chris, firstly, and his boulder punching face. But the rest of STARS Alpha and Bravo are not too far behind.

Ada, having possibly develop a little soft spot for Leon, leaves a USB with all the info on Irons and Steele for RPD to find... That is actually Ark's USB she was also paid to retrieve and destroy but oops, it's still in tact (/sarcasm).

At the hospital, with everyone who got hurt now recovering, including miraculously Ark, Chris and Leon can finally talk.

No, Leon wasn't dating Rebecca.

No, not Ark either.

Yeah, they're both shit at communicating. Yeah they miss whatever they had. And yeah... they kissed. Twice. Also, yeah, they want a little more than just kissing. Like holding hands. How scandalous.

Somewhere in the kerfuffle Chris' apartment got destroyed, but he was looking into a new place anyways. One with two bedrooms so neither have to sleep on the couch. But uh, Chris, any reason why asking Leon to move in sounds like a marriage proposal?

Yeah they're not going to use both beds lol

So Chreon is official in this AU! What about everyone else?

Ada slips away, the only trace she leaves behind being the bullet wound scars and a kiss on Leon's cheek because of course she snuck into the hospital.

Wesker seems relieved now, as far as anyone can tell, until Enrico tells him Alpha Team will be handling the ensuing investigation as "conflict of interest" with Bravo Team's closeness to Leon could affect their objectivity to the case. Wesker begins seething but he can't show it lol because Chris is right there!

A new Chief of Police will be appointed, no it's not Wesker.

Irons and Steele go to prison in the meantime. Don't think I need to tell you how well 2 former cops are gonna be welcomed there.

Minerva and Katz continue their budding careers as law enforcement. Leon needs a couple weeks to recover from bullet to the shoulder.

Sherry insisted they do Valentine's, getting her parents generic ass cards they barely look at and Chreon a lovely masterpiece of their whole little family. This prompts Leon to scramble and get something for Chris and ended up getting him a box of chocolate that looked plain on the outside but had a message on the inside that said "for my sweetheart". Chris now calls Leon "sweetheart".

Chris also shaved his stress beard. RIP beard, you will be missed.

It looks like it's all coming to a neat and tidy ending...

Until Ark gets released from the hospital, had to stay a couple days longer because head injury, and since his findings is gonna be used against Irons, if he pleads not guilty, that means Ark's gonna need to stay in Raccoon City. Leon BEGS Chris to let ol' Tommy Gun stay and Chris cannot say no despite really really REALLY wanting to.

So now it's finally Chris and Leon and Leon and Chris, just them, and Leon's friend Ark.

Season 1 has finished, on to Season 2!

Ah yes. October.

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So September 28, 1998 is actually a Monday. (Edit) Oh shit looks like it lines up with 2026. He k yeah, makes this easier. Anyways, I looked into IRL law enforcement scheduling, especially for rookies, and the answer apparently is "depends, especially with seniority." With either night shift as the first place for rookies, or wherever their TO goes.

And Chris Redfield is basically special ops of RPD.

Meanwhile Leon is a puppy dog baby man who has finally gotten some sleep. And breakfast. So instead of some sad looking thing like the Squonk he's actually prepared to have a good Saturday shift.

The first call Chris takes Leon to is a fight at a Waffle House. Or whatever Raccoon City's equivalent is because you know it's basically Gotham up in there.

Steele, who btw is ALSO a rookie with a stick up his ass, continues to be an asshole, swiping Leon's equipment so he has to look for it, literally tripping him up. Even has a little sidekick, another rookie, now named Katz, under his thumb to cover it all up as "oops".

There's also another OC rookie who is Marvin's niece, Minerva "Minni". She plays no games with the boys and sees right through Steele's bullshit. She's almost Leon's only friend and that's because he snarks back. Minerva's TO is STARS Bravo Captain Enrico. Steele definitely isn't jealous :3

Mid October is when Leon meets Sherry Birkin. She hid during a fire drill, hoping it would make her parents come see her. Instead, Leon finds her, and she imprints on him like a duckling. Also because he lowkey monologues about his own Sad Past without his parents (leaving out the "they got murdered" part).

And just as Officer John Nolan has a habit of accidentally destroying police cars, Officer Leon S Kennedy has a habit of being tossed like a ragdoll and/or kicking. You'd think he'd get injured quickly that way but at most it's just some bumps and bruises.

Besides the rough calls, Chris is actually teaching Leon important cop things. They get lunch together, Leon is ADAMANT they fix up the lack of edible food in the fridge, they even make a pit stop to pick up Sherry from school and drop her off at her house's gate like they're her personal drivers. You know, just domestic things of 2 bros chilling in an apartment always about 5 feet apart. Cuz they might be 💅✨

Until a couple movies or Resident Evil Fictional Equivalent releases. Like Bride of Chucky. Practical Magic. Just the holiday of Halloween in general.

Leon and Sherry get kidnapped and Chris raises hell through a haunted house saving them, even when Sherry manages to get herself free then Leon and they JoJo Jump the suspect.

If I was actually writing this, I'd be leaving hints someone is stalking Leon. Putting threatening messages or puzzle pieces with his stuff.

Everyone thinks the person who kidnapped him and Sherry was the stalker(+serial killer they're investigating) and Leon, a bit shaken but otherwise okay, doesn't have to worry now.

Until he finds another little trinket in his locker.

And he tells no one.