#facing fears

A security mission takes Zeno and Leon to a museum for an unveiling of a cutting-edge DNA science exhibit (imagine cool interactive displays of giant DNA strands, microscope tubes you can look into, and suchlike. 🧬) except there's a dinosaur exhibit the next hall over displaying their brand new interactive Quetzalcoatlus skeleton. There is merch. There are stock dinosaur noises playing constantly. The sound of an edutainment documentary is bleeding through the walls. There are children running around in adorable little Quetzalcoatlus costumes.

Zeno handles this with all due grace. He is a professional. He is on duty. He's hiding his discomfort so well.

Meanwhile Leon sees his pet Zeno acting the part of a good B.O.W. bodyguard while so pale and clammy and trembly. This man is standing rigid as a pole, sunglasses doing nothing to hide the nervous sweat on his brow or the way he keeps jump-flinching every time there's A Noise. He's holding it together, yes, but in a pathetic sort of way. he looks like he wants to crawl into a corner and throw up.

Leon comes to the adorably incorrect assumption that the scientific exhibit is triggering him. He thinks he's helping when he switches places and tells him to take off. Oh, Zeno wants to stay close? Okay, why not chill in that dinosaur room that's just down the hall? Hey, maybe you can pick out something for Emily from that gift shop while you're there (one of Zeno's favourite activities, usually) to give to her next time you see her. Bet she'd love getting some dinosaur stuff from you.

Zeno would smile, strained, and go do what he's told without protesting because he's a lovable idiot who failed his communication classes. Leon pats himself on the back for managing another Clone Crisis. He thinks he's sent Zeno off on a relaxing side quest.

Zeno has been sent into the bowels of hell.

Not only is he walking towards the dinosaur noises, he's also carrying the expectation of engaging with the material via picking something for Emily. His handler will have questions if he comes back empty handed. The only thing Zeno doesn't want to do more than visit the Quetzalcoatlus exhibit is admit he's terrified of dinosaurs; he's a dangerous weapon and an assembly of inanimate bones should not faze him. He's marching into the exhibit area like he's walking into a suicide mission.

Scared, but stubborn as hell. He has committed to this with the resignation typically reserved for punishments.

Just imagining Zeno halting at the main attraction and looking up, up, up because it's so much taller than him. Mouth set in a grim line while he swallows. Reading from the fun little info kiosks all dead serious, like it's a Resident Evil journal entry. There's smaller animatronic models that make up the interactive elements of this exhibit. He watches them like a researcher observing their experiments. There's a pettable one. He pets it like a bomb.

Something something facing a fear head-on because you choose to. Leon didn't order him to this exhibit, he just suggested it out of well-meaning concern. Zeno knows he could be slipping out the back for a smoke break instead of being here, just like he knows he could swallow his pride and admit to his handler he's afraid of the dinosaurs without being punished or mocked. In the past, he never had the luxury of engaging with frightening things on his own terms. Now? His soul is nourished by healthy found family vibes and this man is full of stubbornness and determination.

Sometimes, personal victory doesn't shout and jump in celebration. Sometimes, personal victory happens silently, unnoticed in the shuffle of daily life. It quietly walks out of the interactive dinosaur exhibit after watching all the documentaries, it takes the shape of carefully supporting a large green Quetzalcoatlus plush to your chest as you rejoin your handler.

Leon: Oh, hello you. Just in time for shift change. Who's your friend?

Zeno: This is a Quetzalcoatlus. I believe it will be to Emily's liking.

Leon: I'll say. That thing's nearly as big as her. Here, I think my weapons case will have enough room if I move this... and this...

(resident evil inventory tetris noises)

Leon: So, I take it you enjoyed the dino exhibit? Maybe I should pop in next.

Zeno: Yes. You should.