What if Carlos & Leon had met during the Raccoon City Incident?
It’s truly a missed opportunity that Leon and Carlos never met, because I’m convinced they would’ve developed one of the strongest brother-like bond in the series.
I think they will get along because:
They are fundamentally the same kind of person. They both have a heart of gold. They are the type of people who will not hesitate to throw themselves into danger if it means they would be protecting someone else. They easily designate themselves as the protector despite just meeting the other person. Carlos didn’t even know Jill, but he didn’t hesitate to protect her (and adding the comment that he had originally thought his team was dispatched to Raccoon City to save the civilians). Leon was only a rookie cop on his first day, he didn’t even have an attachment to the city and yet he continues to feel guilt for not being able to the people he encountered. They both share the ideology of “If someone needs help, I need to do something.”
Their background lore invites a natural chemistry. Carlos had a huge family and was one of seven brothers, but he lost his family due to the violence of the war-torn circumstances of his home. Leon spent the reminder of his childhood and adolescence as an orphan (going with the narrative that he grew up in the system). Whereas Carlos would’ve had a natural to adopt and protect, Leon would’ve had an inherent sense of loneliness that would’ve made him long for the establishment of familial bonds. I believe, Carlos would’ve clocked Leon as a younger brother (due to Leon’s size and inexperience).
Despite Capcom not providing us with an official birthday for their characters, Carlos and Leon are both born in 1977. Carlos gives me Aries energy because of how brash and scrappy he is. The popular fanon birthday for Leon is July 31st, which would’ve made him a Leo and this also fits his namesake “Lion”. With their Aries and Leo energy combined, they would’ve had that brother-like chemistry where it’s competitive but also an annoyingly endearing bond. Carlos’ energy-driven chaos and Leon’s systematic-precision would’ve clashed but also complimented one another.
Overall, Racoon City might’ve been slightly less traumatizing for Leon if he has Carlos by his side.
Leon was thrusted head first and unprepared into the biohazardous disaster, but Carlos has had prior expediences in combat and perhaps some briefing on the situation. Leon spends most of his time in the city alone; his loneliness and suppressed dependency made him instantly become attached to Ada (which ends up being an attachment that he will carry for the rest of his life). Carlos and his warm personality would’ve provided Leon with reassurance and comfort in their dire situation. Instead of Leon looking out for others, he would’ve had a found-brother figure who would’ve looked after him.
I also think that Leon’s storyline might’ve took off in another direction if he had gone with Carlos after they had escaped. Carlos has experience with how to evade the authorities, this would’ve helped Leon avoid being captured and forced into the government’s recruitment and his eventual canon storyline.
tangentwithtanner
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