#adam benford

[alamusprime]

Adam and Hunnigan on the case.

[tirsynni]

So there's a fresh wave of Benford hatred in the Resident Evil fandom again, and I wonder how much of it is purity culture nonsense, how much of it is based on Krauser's changed and updated motivations in the RE4 Remake, and how much of it is not understanding how Leon's story arc differs from the Redfields'.

A quick recap: Adam Benford was the one who forced Leon to become a government agent at the end of RE2. Leon was given a nasty choice: become an agent or Sherry Birkin, the child under his care, dies. Not much of a choice. From that point on, Leon was an agent for the same government who blew up Raccoon City and everyone hated Adam Benford. The problem came up in RE6, when it became clear that Leon and Adam were friends. People were damned unhappy about that and there have been comments that when the inevitable RE6 remake comes out, they wanted that portion wiped out.

By doing that, though, a significant portion of Leon's plot also gets wiped out.

A major theme in the RE series is that the BOWs weren't the real monsters: corporations were. Leon's arc makes it clear how entrenched the US government is, too, in this mess. Chris's arcs tend to be simpler, as he focuses on clear-cut enemies. RE1 makes that pretty clear. The incident at the mansion was a planned incident, orchestrated by the clearly evil Albert Wesker. Raccoon City was far messier: a deal gone bad, a corporation trying to hide its mess, and the US government not only wiping out a threat but also destroying evidence of their hand making that mess. The destruction of Raccoon City was because of an evil corporation and the US government: both of their mistakes, both of their deals going badly, both of them hiding evidence.

We aren't given too many details in Benford's portion of things. I think people see him as the one handing Leon the ultimatum and treat him like they treat Piers in RE6: acting like this individual is the one with the ultimate power to make decisions. Just like Piers Nivans didn't have the independent ability to order Chris Redfield back into the field in RE6, Adam Benford wouldn't have had the ability to independently offer Leon that ultimatum. He was the mouthpiece. We don't know his view of things. It isn't given. What we are given is that over a decade later, he is in a position to make independent decisions, he has become friends with Leon, and he has decided to go public about what happened in Raccoon City. That's a pretty big deal.

The anger at Benford's and Leon's friendship makes sense given what we see at the end of RE2, but it also misses the point of Leon's arc. Leon's arc rarely focuses on cackling villains. Leon's story is messy. He is enmeshed since the beginning in corrupt entities, and he fights alongside good people (and morally gray people) within those corrupt entities while he's trying to fight for justice.

RE2: Raccoon City Police Department was corrupt. There were some good people in it, absolutely, but it's an amazing example of police and local government corruption. Leon becomes a cop and wants to help people, and he learns while trying to save Raccoon City just how corrupt everything is. Maybe things would have been different if he was aware of the ACAB thing, but all he knew was he wanted to help people and instead, he became an asset for the people who destroyed Raccoon City.

Darkside Chronicles: Krauser's portion of it reveals quite clearly the corruption of the government and military. He's being used and he knows it. He knows he is nothing but an asset, only important for what he can offer, and he knows his own powerlessness. I think changing his motivation from "I want power, I want to be strong" to "my team was killed" weakens his point and his character. Krauser wasn't viewed as a person: he was viewed as a weapon, and he knew at the end of the game he was going to be discarded because of his arm. When he encounters BOWs, he is introduced to a new form of power, one he can possibly control, and sees a way to become powerful, too. Definitely not a Good and Pure reason but it's a damned understandable one, especially from his POV. He didn't get Leon's intro to BOWs. He had a completely different perspective which meant he came up with a completely different solution, and much of that was fueled by the corrupt and heartless US military and government.

RE4: Yes, you have the obvious threat of Los Illuminados, but Krauser and Ada make it clear that there's more to it. It's not a clear-cut situation. It isn't just save the girl from the bad guys. It is dealing with everything Ada represents: someone who is clearly a liar, someone who is clearly a threat, someone who is clearly working for the bad guys, and someone who helps Leon, anyway. Krauser's introduction is a reminder of how the government and military can't be trusted, how when Leon goes home, he is going back to another threat. The lien between friend and foe is blurred.

Leon's movies repeatedly feature the government and its people as a major threat. While he's fighting against BOWs, he is being betrayed and used by his government. He's being used and set up and he knows it. The people who should clearly be his enemies aren't, and he ends up fighting alongside and saving them. Things remain blurry. He's being used. He's being lied to. The government knows Leon and they know how to use him. For all of Leon's good intentions, he is absolutely a government weapon with limited power of his own.

So we come to RE6. Over a decade has passed since RE2. Leon's come a long way. He's still a government agent, but he's definitely gained more power. For the first time, it's introduced that he and Benford are friends.

This is introduced while Leon is killing him.

In the decade since Benford was last seen, it's clear some things have changed for him. He went from using Leon as an asset to being friends with him, enough to discuss his rather controversial, dangerous plan with him. Benford was a part of the RC mess, and now he wants to bring it to light, a decision which ends with his death. He's one of those questionable people Leon put his faith in, and it paid off. Over a decade later, the truth about Raccoon City is going to come to light.

Benford dies for this, with Leon being forced to pull the trigger. Benford tried to bring about some justice. His own portion of things would inevitably be brought to light, too. To silence him, an entire city was wiped out, showing once again how dangerous Leon's enemy was. Leon faces an enemy with a thousand heads mixed in among a million more, an enemy with the power to assassinate a president, an enemy who has wiped out two American cities.

Leon isn't facing an individual like Wesker: he's facing the American government, with his enemies tied deeply within it, and many of his foes don't even realize they're foes or what they're doing. They are cogs in the machine, not realizing what's going on until it's too late.

RE6 and Benford shows that redemption is possible, shows the possible price of redemption, and shows how dangerous Leon's is. Leon ends the game by cutting off one head, and it's clear that there are many, many other heads which need cutting off. On the surface, going public about Raccoon City was definitely the Good and Right thing to do, and it ended with Leon needing to shoot his friend in the head and an entire city getting sacrificed.

Leon's arc is messy. His enemy isn't clear cut. It focuses on justice, it focuses on extending a hand to people, it focuses on how just because a BOW is easy to shoot the manufacturing of those BOWs is damned hard to stop. Many of the characters in Leon's games and movies aren't bad people: they're people who are trapped or think they're doing the right thing or people who weigh their options and think this is the best one for them. His stories are filled with people who try to kill him one minute and try to save him the next or are involved with BOWs but have limited options, too much desperation, or too little knowledge until it's too late how the BOW situation is going to end.

Leon's ultimate enemies can't be killed by a single bullet. Leon's problems can't be solved in one dramatic climatic scene. The people surrounding Leon aren't 100% good or 100% evil. As such, he extends his hand to people who aren't morally pure, to killers and traitors. He continues to work for the government even after he can possibly use enough of his political power to escape. Leon's story is messy and he remains stubbornly, painfully optimistic, anyway.

It's discouraging how many people see characters like Benford and go "Nope. You sinned and you are a sinner for life. There is no redemption. You made this awful mistake, and you are damned forever." Not only does that lessen the impact of RE6, but it also indicates that half of Leon's mission is pointless. There's no point in him offering his hand, there's no point in him offering mercy, and there's no point in them accepting if this viewpoint is right. Once a filthy sinner, always a filthy sinner, and that viewpoint sounds more horrifying than most of the RE content.

[residentevilnet]

Requested by anonymous.

[cloakedsparrow]

“Don’t worry, you still got me. I guess nothing’s changed” & “I heard you became an agent” aka another Resident Evil headcanon/rant

Damnation is my favorite Resident Evil film. Not just because it’s awesome but also because I feel like we get the most insight into Leon as a character in it.

He’s usually ‘on’ in some way when we see him. He’s usually either protecting someone, keeping a civilian (or fake civilian) calm/safe, or with people he can’t really trust (like Benford) or doesn’t know if he can trust yet (like Helena). But his interactions with Hunnigan, JD, and Buddy/Sasha in that film are different. He’s very raw and open. And hurt. And tired. And hungry. He really lets them (and us) know how he feels about everything. It might just be the best characterization we get from any character in this franchise.

As part of this unusual expression of feelings, he makes the title quote before hanging up on Hunnigan at the end of the film. He seems upset. He starts to storm out of the hotel room he’s in before taking a breath and walking out with a little more control. Considering that he’s on furlough during that film and then part of the DSO in the next game, I always figured the ‘I guess nothing’s changed’ line meant that Benford pulled his shit again, using something to make Leon feel he had to join the DSO. Initially, I figured it was something to do with Buddy/Sasha. After all, we do see him returning to his life as a teacher at the end, despite having kidnapped and nearly murdered a US citizen during the film.

But then In RE6 we learn that Sherry Birkin is a DSO agent who answers directly to Simmons. This strikes me as weird for several reasons.

He’s her adopted father. Wouldn’t there be a conflict of interests to him being her CO?

As unlikely as it would be irl, we keep being told that the DSO answers directly to the president, so why is she an exception?

She’s a BOW who has been kept very sheltered/protected up to this point. When, where, and how was she safely trained?

Then I thought of that part of Damnation.

What if making Sherry an agent was what got Leon to sign on? As the most experienced agent with the most successful BOW related cases under his belt, Leon would be the natural choice for all the really crazy/dangerous assignments after joining the DSO. If he were to refuse to join though, then an agent with no experience but the ability to heal rapidly would probably be a top contender for such assignments. Leon taking the position would mean protecting her all over again and that’s something Benford knows works.

I’ve never subscribed to the fan-theory that Sherry is basically Leon’s daughter. I’ve always seen it as more of an unbalanced brother-sister relationship. Leon gave everything to protect her (from Umbrella, from the US government, from a life as a lab rat, from foster care) but he was nine years older than her and busy saving the world. She specifically refers to him as the person who saved her in Raccoon City rather than just someone she can trust or has known over half her life when Jake questions her about trusting Leon in RE6. She ultimately trusts him over her adopted father, so they definitely know each other still, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve spent  lot of time together.

There’s also the way he says he heard she became an agent. It’s very...stilted. Like he’s trying not to give away too much or is maybe not too happy about that but knows it’s not his place to say anything. It’s all very much like a big brother who went off to live his life when a much younger sibling was still growing up at home. There’s trust, respect, and caring there, but only one seems caught up with the other’s life.

About that ‘not giving away to much’ thought: Leon is caring and initially trusting, but he’s also smart and has seen some serious shit. He wouldn’t have signed away his freedom to guarantee Sherry’s safety without wanting some sort of evidence that she was truly being taken care of in exchange. He’s probably been given regular reports on her, both from Simmons and from Claire. He probably has files of childhood photos and drawings, copies of medical reports/report cards, and random reports on her interests going back to when she was twelve. He probably has video of her home ballet pageants or piano recitals or whatever she was into at any given point in her childhood.

But would Sherry know about any of that? She knows who Leon is, of course. She remembers him saving her in Raccoon City and has probably heard about him from Claire, just like she heard all about Chris from her. However, no one knows how Benford ‘recruited’ Leon. Would it have been more beneficial to Benford to let Leon see her or to keep them separated so his only way of learning about her was through Benford? And what about Simmons? He agreed to take responsibility for Sherry, would he have wanted Leon potentially butting in while he saw to that responsibility?

I’d like to think Leon made sure he got to see her sometimes, but it sounds like such visitations would have been rare. With Claire able to verify whatever the reports said about Sherry, would Leon feel the need to push to see her all that often? If he was given the choice of him being able to see Sherry or Claire, I would bet he’d let Claire see her.

That means Leon would have to say something like ‘I heard you became an agent’ because at this point, they don’t have time for a full explanation, assuming he’d even be comfortable giving one. Without context, it might seem odd or even creepy for her to find out just how much he’s been keeping track of her life if she doesn’t know she was basically a hostage used to guarantee his service for years.

It kind of makes me wish we’d gotten that version of RE7 with Leon and Sherry working together. Maybe they’ll use it for a future game, like a Revelations type title that takes place in-between existing games/films. It would be interesting to see what their relationship is now that Benford isn’t around anymore.

TLDR: Headcanon that Benford let Sherry apply to be an agent of the DSO in order to force Leon to join after Damnation. Simmons probably agreed under the condition that Sherry reports to him instead of Benford. Leon has been getting reports on his surrogate little sister/instrument of coercion for years but she doesn’t know that.

[desired-misery]

Whumptober WIP | Leon's POV

[warnings: vague allusions to Leon being worried about being outed as trans; references to (offscreen, assumed) homophobic and transphobic comments *warnings apply to under the cut]

On the topic of who knew about how fucked up he was, Leon’s thoughts jump to a question he hasn’t figured out how to ask until now. He risks it—  

“Krauser didn’t know about that, did he?”

Adam glances at him again, clearly caught by surprise. “Know what?”

Leon takes a few seconds, not sure if he really wants to know—

“That after Raccoon City, I was… you know.”

“Not unless you told him, he shouldn’t have.” Adam’s voice gentles, lowers.

It isn’t reassuring because Leon cannot stop himself from thinking along that same line, about the other medical information he keeps hidden—

“Did he know, uh, the other thing? Is that in my files?”

Adam’s confusion is obvious, but then realization hits. His voice gentles further. “No, that’s not general information— that’s between you and your doctors, Leon. And anyone you decide to tell.”

Leon thought that would be the answer he wanted… but it isn’t.

“What brought this up?”

Nothing but insults he has heard before— it’s not like Krauser ever said anything as disgusting as what Leon heard from the soldiers at the compound. They were doing it to get under his skin, that was all.

“Dunno. Had lot of time to think the past couple of days.”

Adam waits to see if Leon will cave and give up the real reason. Leon does not; he just spent an unknown number of hours playing this same fucking game with information he had less personal attachment to.

“I haven’t heard you mention him since—”

“I’m not talking about that traitor.”

Adam glances at him. Leon keeps his eyes averted.

“Okay,” Adam says.

Leon turns his body to face the door, adjusting his seat so that it is leaned back as far as it can go.

“Wake me up if you stop for food.”

Even though Leon can’t see him, he feels Adam’s eyes on his back multiple times. Even though it hardly takes more than a few minutes to fall asleep, a hundred thoughts run through Leon’s mind, all things he would love to not fucking think about ever again. It’s not like it matters— Krauser is dead as fuck, for damn real this time. Leon shoved Krauser’s own knife into his heart, felt it shudder and stop for good. 

Leon’s last conscious thought is more of a wish; that Adam doesn’t act like himself for one fucking minute and does not file away this moment of weakness as an interesting tidbit to bring up later for deeper analysis.

[renegadesstuff]

Morgane & Adam, HPI 🥺

3x04, ~Loi de Benford~

[sapphire-weapon]

ok one last post and then i’ll let it go

the whole idea that adam benford “headhunted” leon off the streets outside raccoon city makes absolutely no fucking sense, because it implies that benford somehow knew who he was already and had ascribed some sort of pre-determined value to him? and that leon wasn’t just

you know

some fucking guy bleeding out on the side of the road and just happened to be with the birkin kid.

like is the implication here that adam benford was sitting there at his big old big dick CIA desk (despite RE6 never mentioning him ever having been in the CIA) and looking at personnel files just for funsies and going “you know, this brand new recruit to the RPD, let’s go find him and see if he’s still alive somehow”?

BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT “HEADHUNTING” ACTUALLY MEANS.

THIS WHOLE THING JUST KEEPS GETTING DUMBER THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT

[mychoombatheroomba]

Fade Out

Between the Bones (Leon x GN! Reader) - Chapter 53

You and Leon are questioned following the events on base.

(Cross-posted from Ao3)

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

TW for angst and government manipulation but what else is new?

You didn’t really know where you were, only that the room was familiar. A one-way mirror. A simple table. A recording device. An empty chair across from you. A little TV on the corner of the table.

You’d been in a room like it once before, when you gave your report on what happened in Finland over a year ago. 

Now, here you were, history repeating itself; returning to you in new clothes but with the same violent intentions. You’d thought you had been cresting a hill in feeling your pain ease. Now you knew that you’d just been the unknowing fool strapped to a wheel, turning up to see the sun only to get crushed against the ground once more. 

So you let yourself be pressed down by the weight, wishing you could well and truly sink into the earth. It was easy to fall into that mindset by yourself, you found. 

In the days following this newest nightmare, you and the others had been isolated. A safety precaution to prevent the spread of the virus, and to keep anyone from taking action. Now, though, you’d been escorted from your quarantine and taken to this room, where you knew questions would be waiting for you. You didn’t want to talk about what had happened now any more than you had after Finland. You didn’t want to speak into reality what was already building a cage around your mind. 

Not that you had a choice. 

The door opened without you being ready for it to. A man walked in, carrying a manila folder. Tall. Brown hair. Pale, gaunt cheeks. Another fine-pressed suit, complete with one of those stupid ties that only cowboys should wear, but assholes from old money always seemed to love. 

“Good morning, Sergeant,” he greeted, already sounding like he knew everything in the world. 

Then there’s no need to talk to me. 

You didn’t speak back as the man settled into the chair opposite you, clicked the record button on the machine in front of him, holding the folder in his lap. He spoke your rank and name into the air, alongside the word “debriefing” as if that’s what this was. “Presiding officer: Derek C. Simmons.” He fixed his gaze on you, then, and it began. 

⧫⧫⧫

Leon knew the man across from him. 

He knew that aged face, the hair that was already beginning to gray, the rectangular glasses. Hard to forget a person who forced you into military service. Who had weighed your life against information you possessed and deemed you the lesser of the two. 

He half expected Adam Benford to find some new, horrible way to threaten him. As the agent took a seat and started the recording, Leon kept waiting for him to bring up Sherry, or even you and the others. He waited for some terrible new hammer to fall, because that seemed to be the way of things. 

Instead, it was just questions.

Familiar questions, all revolving around one central theme: tell me what happened that night.  

So he did. He relived on tape every agonizing detail. Each moment. 

- a shriek and a cracking of bone as it connected - 

- the laces of his boot colliding with a skull -

- no time for surprise to even register on his face -

⧫⧫⧫

“All of that, and you weren’t infected,” Simmons mused, stroking the goatee on his chin. “Nearly everyone on base turned, and you-”

“I didn’t eat the same food as everyone else,” you said dryly, because you’d had plenty of time over the last few days to put together that much. “That’s what it was, wasn’t it?” 

The man gave you a look that might have been approval, even if it was still filtered through a discerning veneer. “It was. And how convenient that you happened to avoid it. Just as you managed to avoid being infected during the incident at Dorne Base.” 

Anger. It lanced through you as soon as Simmons spoke. “If you’re looking to make accusations, don’t waste your time. Did you find Reed’s body with the others?” You didn’t even need Simmons to confirm it, you were so dead set in your belief. You were certain beyond any shadow of a doubt. 

⧫⧫⧫

Benford shook his head, and Leon knew you’d been right. He could feel it, even if your explanation had been rushed and delivered in near mania back on the base. How could it not have been? You’d watched another home fall in the same brutal way. You’d endured your nightmare a second time. 

Another horror for you to relive.

Another horror for Leon, because every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was a smoking rifle barrel and that look of emptiness on your face-

“How did this happen?” Leon asked, because when he wasn’t thinking of the blood and fires, he was thinking of that one question. “How did you let this happen again?” 

The wrinkles already present on Benford’s face deepened as he frowned. There was more guilt there than Leon would have expected. “We put our trust in the wrong person,” he answered, and Leon couldn’t have scoffed more at the understatement. 

The wrong person. A man who’d had his run of the base. The authority to do as he pleased. 

“Reed was in charge of handling all incoming and outgoing mail. It’s fair to say that’s how he got the virus samples. It would have gone through him first,” Benford admitted, and again Leon was floored by how easy it had been, in hindsight. All Reed had to do was wait until Krauser and Hellman were away . . . “What we don’t know for certain,” the agent went on, “is whether Reed acted alone.” 

Leon had been exhausted for days. Sleep evaded him, no matter what he tried. His mind was addled with the fresh poison of memory and nightmare. Even so, even with the stupor he was in, he felt his hackles raise as soon as Benford spoke the words. 

“You think someone on base helped him?” 

“It’s not out of the realm of possibility.” Some terrible feeling in his gut told Leon who they suspected even before your name was spoken into the air. “You’re quite close with the Sergeant, aren’t you?”

“You can’t be serious.” What other response was he supposed to have? “Are you just throwing accusations around for the hell of it? Or have you found any evidence?” 

⧫⧫⧫

“No, we haven’t,” Simmons surprised you by answering honestly, but his intake of breath told you that he wasn’t done. That much was proven further when he lifted the folder he held, and a jolt of adrenaline shot through you. “We did find these, though, hidden under the mattress of your bunk.” 

Fuck . . .

He flipped the folder open, and you immediately recognized the printed words on the first page. 

𝚁𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙾𝙾𝙽 𝙲𝙸𝚃𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝙿𝙾𝚁𝚃 - 𝚂𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟽𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟾

⧫⧫⧫

Leon looked down at the pictures of the reports and felt a new pit open in his stomach. He recognized them. He’d spent a fair amount of time reading through them, under your supervision, after all. 

“These same reports were missing from Major Krauser’s office,” Benford began, and Leon didn’t know what to do. 

What to say. Telling the truth would implicate not only you, but-

“The Major was adamant that he gave the reports to the Sergeant,” Benford explained, and Leon felt his heart sink. “He asked that punishment be his alone to bear. Claimed that he was the only one responsible for this breach of intelligence.”

⧫⧫⧫

“He lied.” It wasn’t your best performance, but you had to try. Had to do something, or Krauser would take the fall for your curiosity. Another casualty that you could have prevented if you’d been smarter. If you’d just put the fucking reports back when you were done reading through them in the first place. Now, all you could do was pray that your bluff would work. “I took them from his office the night before the attack. Check the camera footage, I was in the officer’s barracks. He’s just trying to cover for me.”

Simmons, for his part, just seemed intrigued by your words. “Really?” he said, raising a brow. “And what reason would he have to do that?” 

⧫⧫⧫

Leon knew the reason. He had been ignoring it for long enough, but he knew now. The Major’s service was everything to him, his life in the military all that he had. Still, he’d risked it for you. It all became unavoidable, then; why Krauser had been so harsh with Leon after Fort Benning. Why he’d been taking such an interest in your training. Why he’d given you classified information. Him keeping your secret, his late nights with you, all of it. 

Krauser cared for you. More than he should have.

And Leon knew. 

If he said as much, if he spoke that truth, Jack Krauser’s career would be over. 

Krauser’s feelings for you were a breach of the balance of power. Leon knew that. He would be justified in reporting it . . . but Krauser had never acted on those feelings. At least as far as Leon knew. He cared for you, that much was obvious, but he’d never acted on it. And Leon knew he wouldn’t. For all the harsh training, for every bruising lesson, Krauser was a good man.

A man that Leon, despite himself, cared for.

A man who just wanted the best for those under his command.

Still, a choice had to be made.

Leon wasn’t a liar. He had never been good at it. He’d always spoken the truth, when he could help it. 

But more than that, he’d always defended those he cared for. 

“He’s loyal to his men,” Leon answered, his voice smaller than he would like. It was true, he supposed. Even if loyalty may not have been all the Major felt towards you. “He would lie to keep them protected in a heartbeat.” 

⧫⧫⧫

“And you are loyal to him, it seems.” 

You knew where this was going, because Reed had made the exact same implication the other night. It made you want to scream. This whole ordeal did, because it was what little remained of your world being torn apart once more. The dogs and carrion birds had come to tear at the remains of you. It left you on your back heels, trying desperately to defend yourself and your Major both. “I’m loyal to everyone I serve with.” 

“Not to your country?” 

“To the government that signed off on a deal with Birkin?” you hissed, shaking your head. “That let an Umbrella agent slip under its nose? How can I trust that country when anyone could be working for the enemy? How the fuck can I even know that you’re not with Umbrella? Another asshole on its payroll?” You were seething, now. Swinging blindly at an enemy you couldn’t see, hoping to land any blow. 

Simmons regarded you, then, his eyes calculating. 

Up until now, everything felt scripted. Like he had been given a loose list of questions to ask you.

In that moment, you felt him break from it. 

⧫⧫⧫

“I understand what the Sergeant has gone through,” Benford said, his tone more sympathetic than Leon had ever heard it. “I know that what you both endured might have brought you . . . closer. I know that you likely trust the Sergeant. I’m trying to determine if we can.” 

Leon’s jaw clenched. “You’re crazy if you think that anyone who watched their entire base be destroyed, who lost the people most important in their life, who nearly died because of Umbrella, would ever work for those bastards.” Because you wouldn’t. You would never have done this. He didn’t understand why they would even think-

“You were close with Lieutenant Logan Alenko, were you not?” 

Benford’s question eviscerated Leon. Dug in before the younger man could even prepare himself. 

“Yes,” he answered, numb. “I was.” 

“And the Sergeant was too, am I correct?” 

Leon winced, the memory of your smiles and wry humor clashing brutally with that newest memory of you. The one that Leon could never and would never forget. 

“Yes.”

“But you reported that the Sergeant killed him anyway.”

“He . . . was infected.” 

“Infected but not turned, correct?” 

“. . . Yes.” 

Benford nodded, thinking for a moment. “You may speak freely, Leon,” he said, the eyes framed by glasses piercing but sincere. “Do you think you can trust an individual like that? One who is comfortable committing treason and executing allies?” 

Leon knew what answer was expected of him.

⧫⧫⧫

“I suppose you can’t,” Simmons admitted, seeming to mull something over. In the end, he looked towards the one-way glass, towards where other agents and officers were no doubt watching the debriefing, then back to you. “So allow me to be transparent with you.” He leaned forward, his hands clasping together and his elbows resting on the table. “Many of these reports that you’ve read crossed my desk. I was aware of the dealings being made with William Birkin. I was aware that Agent Reed was facilitating that communication.” You didn’t get any satisfaction from that confirmation. Not as Simmons continued. “I oversaw the operation to obtain virus samples when Birkin went silent, and when the situation in Raccoon City became uncontainable, I counseled its destruction.” 

You didn’t even have time to process the information. One hundred thousand deaths, deaths that bore down on Leon’s conscious, on your own, in a way . . . lives snuffed out in an instant, all because of this man. Some asshole in a suit. What truly made you feel empty, though, was what Simmons said next. 

“And I think you understand why I did it,” he said, and you wanted to look anywhere but his eyes. It felt impossible, though, as he peered at you from over his clasped hands. “You killed Lieutenant Alenko for the same reason.” 

You nearly flew across the table at him. Nearly tore his throat out. “It is not the same-”

⧫⧫⧫

You’d done it because you had to. Because Alenko would have turned if you hadn’t. You’d done it, Leon knew, to spare him. It wasn’t heartless of you . . .

⧫⧫⧫

“Oh, but it was,” Simmons shook his head. “It was ugly, but necessary. You kill a friend to keep him from turning into a monster. I destroy a city to keep a nation sleeping peacefully at night. I think you would have done the same thing, in my place. And I think you and I share a similar resentment for the organization that forced our hands.” 

The only thing that stayed your rage was hearing it mirrored in Simmons’ voice. 

⧫⧫⧫

You did what you had to do.

⧫⧫⧫

“Umbrella has upset the balance of our entire world. We did the same thing once before, developing the atomic bomb. We changed war forever. Now, it will be changed again. As much as we have tried - as I have tried - to keep the knowledge of what Umbrella has developed from the rest of the world, I know that news is already spreading. Our enemies are clamoring for their share of a weapon that can destroy a military base, a city. We will need individuals who can do what must be done,” he said, and you felt the chains clicking into place as he looked at you. “We need individuals like you.”

“I thought I might be responsible for all this?” Bitterness flavored your words because hadn’t he just suggested that you were the plant? That you were working for Umbrella?  

Simmons nodded, pensive as he lowered his hands. “I was asked to interrogate you on your potential involvement in this most recent attack, that is true. But you’re right. I think it’s a waste of time. You’re loyal to the men and women you serve with, I believe you when you say that. Unfortunately-” he drummed his fingers against the reports- “you have put me in a difficult situation.” 

Because even if you hadn’t been involved in the attack, you had absolutely done something wrong besides. You knew too much. Just as Leon knew too much, when he’d been tracked down after Raccoon City. 

They’d threatened a child to force his loyalty. Told him not so subtly that he and Sherry would die if he didn’t agree to give his life in service. 

What would they do to you?

“If you’re not with Umbrella,” you began, “then you don’t have anything to worry about from me.” 

⧫⧫⧫

You would never hurt anyone unless you had a good reason. Leon knew that truth in his heart. 

⧫⧫⧫

“I believe you,” Simmons said again, “but unfortunately, my superiors feel otherwise.”

“I’m offering you my cooperation-”

“And you’re being forgiven for committing treason,” Simmons pointed out. “You’ll forgive them for being cautious.” 

“Oh I will?” 

“You will,” Simmons nodded. “Because your Major admitted to committing that same treason on record. A record that I can strike or can act on. Just as I can ignore your fraternization, or act on it.” 

“I’m not fraternizing with the Major-”

“I wasn’t referring to him. Well, perhaps not only to him.”

You’d been through this enough times by now that it was no longer a shock; that realization that you hadn’t, in fact, been careful. That despite your best efforts, there were precious few ways to hide from eyes that were everywhere. 

So, as Simmons reached towards the little TV on the corner of the table and turned it on, it wasn’t shock that overtook you, this time. It was a dark acceptance. 

You looked at the screen, seeing the image come to life, low-quality, but unmistakable. Leon’s hair - that fucking ridiculous hair that he refused to cut - made it impossible to think it was anyone else. The shape of you was just as clear as you watched a familiar scene. You knew exactly what day it was. In your gut, you knew. The day you and Leon had faced Krauser together in sparring, right before the final test. The day you’d lamented that you wished to be going into service with Leon. You schooled your expression as best you could as you watched the recording, seeing you both walking back to the barracks, stopping, and then Leon folding his arms around you in a comforting embrace. 

⧫⧫⧫

He loved you. However much horror you’d endured, he loved you. 

⧫⧫⧫

You watched as, after a moment, your own arms came up to hold him in return. 

When you were with him like that, it was easy to forget the passage of time. Comfort had that effect, you supposed. Now, though, each second that embrace lasted on screen seemed to be a lifetime long. 

It was always going to turn out like this. You’d known that going in, hadn’t you? 

“Is this supposed to be a threat?” you asked, your voice becoming hollow once more. 

Simmons shook his head. “It’s an observation. You and Kennedy care for each other. The Major claimed to have no knowledge of anything between the two of you, but Hellman and Reed’s reports both surmise that you two are close.” He tilted his head, opening his hands in a questioning motion. “Just how close are you?”

“He asked me to teach him how to fight,” you said, holding Simmons’ gaze. “We’ve trained together. We’re friends. Nothing more.” 

“Really? No deeper feelings at all?”

⧫⧫⧫

He loved you.

⧫⧫⧫

“There’s nothing.” 

Simmons didn’t believe you. You could see that much written plainly across his face. Still, he nodded. “Good. I’m sure you’re aware of the importance of Leon’s continued service. I wouldn’t want anything to jeopardize that.” The threat was plain. Barely disguised. 

“Nothing will.” 

Because if Leon wasn’t in STRATCOM, if he wasn’t an agent for the government, he would be a liability. A man who knew too much.

That much was spelled out for you now, clear as day. If he was thrown from service, his life was forfeit. 

Krauser’s career, Leon’s life . . . all riding on you not misbehaving. 

The shackles were in place, your path forward clear. They were your weaknesses – the gaps in your armor. Simmons had found them without trouble. He would use them against you, if you gave him cause to.

So long as you were all entangled together, they would be in danger.

In the recording, you and Leon finally stepped away from each other. You watched out of the corner of your eye, numb. 

⧫⧫⧫

He hated what you’d done, but he loved you. 

⧫⧫⧫

“You want someone who will do whatever it takes? Who will bury Umbrella in the ground? You’ve got them.” If that was what you were put on this Earth to do, then so be it. 

You could be their weapon. That was what you’d been training for.

⧫⧫⧫

“Leon,” Benford spoke again, and Leon just wanted the nightmare to stop. He wanted it all to stop, even if just for a moment. “Do you honestly think we can trust a person like that?” 

The question wouldn’t have fazed him a week ago. It would have been ridiculous. Insane. 

Even now, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust you. He did. He always would. 

That didn’t change the fact that he had hesitated in his answer. Something had held his tongue, even if only for a moment. Something he never, ever wanted to associate with you, but he found it there all the same. He found it in the memory of your hollow expression, your blank stare as you lowered the rifle. 

Fear. 

He’d been afraid of you, in that moment. 

Or, perhaps, he’d been afraid for you. 

“It had to be done.” Leon was trying to convince the man across from him as much as himself. 

So yes. He trusted you. 

Even if he would never forget what you’d done.

⧫⧫⧫

Hearing those words, Simmons smiled. “I’m glad we understand each other.” With that, it was done. The agent stood and left, and a few seconds later, soldiers came in to lead you out of the room.

You passed him in the hallway as you were escorted back to your room. 

The universe loved its shitty timing, didn’t it? 

Leon’s eyes widened just a touch as he saw you. Blue framed in bruising. Still beautiful, just as he had been when you’d seen him across the mess hall. Just as when that bruising had been dealt by your hand and not just a lack of sleep. Maybe that lack of sleep was your fault, too. 

You hoped it was.

You hoped he hated you for what you’d done. You certainly did. 

It wasn’t hatred that you saw in that gaze, though. 

No. Instead, you glimpsed uncertainty. Concern. 

Fear. 

And what did you give back? What did you spare the man you loved? The man who had saved you the night of the attack and long before then? 

Absolutely nothing. 

You kept walking, your eyes focused forward as you passed him. 

You didn’t even blink. Not until you were back in your appointed cell, finding your belongings there. Fatigues, rucksack . . . and a radio that you shouldn’t have had. One stolen in an act of petty retribution. One that had been your companion as you watched others training for a war that was yours. 

Only yours. 

It should have only been yours. 

You took the radio in your hands. Flipped it on. 

A guitar. Drums. A voice that seemed to strain against the very words it sang. 

Cracked eggs, dead birds,

Scream as they fight for life

You’d known. You’d known from the start it couldn’t end any other way. 

I can feel death, can see its beady eyes

If things could be different . . . if you were anyone, anywhere else . . . but you weren’t. Wishing didn’t matter, not when you were faced with the reality before you. Leon could have your love, or he could have his life. You knew which one he would choose. So you wouldn’t give him the choice.

All these things into position,

All these things we’ll one day swallow whole

Your hands tightened around the radio, your eyes stinging.

And fade out again . . .

Your teeth clenched so hard you thought they might break, just as the plastic on the radio began to groan under your constricting fingers. 

And fade out-

Plastic and wiring splintered against the wall. The radio kept playing, even as you dashed it against the concrete. So, you brought your heel up. You knew how to silence something that wouldn’t die. You knew better than anyone. 

You brought your boot down and there was a crunch, a warping of voice.

Then, finally, silence. 

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

Tag List: @greywardensaywhat

[ovaryacted]

I’m gonna destroy the government with my own godamn hands if it means my man is free from its clutches. FREE HIM! WE GONNA GET YOU OUT OF HERE BAE! YOU HEAR ME! I PROMISE!

Something about Death Island's Intro

I watched Death Island a few nights ago, and something that has stuck with me was how basically all of Leon's information on his file was blacked out in the intro sequence.

Only his name and gender are shown, along with Hunnigan's name at the bottom and some more blocked out things.

It probably is stupid, but I can't help but focus on it. As the audience, we know a lot of things about Leon. We know his past and all of the things that he's been through, so why bother showing a file with a bunch of that information blacked out? Yes, it does serve as a reminder that Leon does a lot of highly-classified and dangerous wok for the DSO, and we can assume that the intro sequence is supposed to "simulate" Dylan researching everybody, but I can't help but feel that there's more to it than that.

To pretty much everyone aside from the other protagonists and maybe Hunnigan, no one really knows what Leon has gone through. At the beginning of Infinite Darkness, Patrick has a really shitty opinion of Leon: "Qualified? More like lucky. The only reason he's the golden boy now is because he was in the wrong place at the right time." Yes Patrick does come around to Leon, but as the new kid with no experience, he already has a preconceived notion that Leon isn't qualified for the job, likely because he's only heard Leon by name and simply as "the guy who saved the president's daughter one time." And while Shenmei quickly comes to Leon's defense, Patrick isn't yet convinced. Why?

Because the DSO simply treats Leon as an asset to be used and not a human being. Patrick hasn't even met him yet and just assumes that Leon never worked for his position before he's even met the guy. Again, this changes over the course of Infinite Darkness and Patrick ends up really respecting Leon after he sees who he really is.

In Death Island when Leon, Claire, and Chris have been infected, we hear Dylan's big plan and him essentially calling all of them out: "The huge corporations and the corrupt execs that run them, the ones getting big, fat bonuses for maintaining the status quo, that’s who you work for, who you really protect. And the innocent will continue to suffer as long as you do."

As he says that, they cut to a shot of Leon. It's hard to tell exactly what Leon's reaction is because he is fighting the infection from the virus, but there's no snappy comeback, no joke, no quip. Dylan drops the bombshell: "You’re nothing more than pawns, suckers." On the word "pawns," the shot cuts to Chris, who also is dealing with his exposure to the virus, and then Jill, who just readjusts her hold on her gun.

This takes us back to the intro sequence, the agent ID was "pawns:"

Literally in being agents, Jill, Chris, Leon, and Claire are pawns. That's how their organizations see them, not as individuals, but as assets. But again, there's a deeper layer with Leon on top of this as I've seen others online point out, in the actual marketing of Death Island:

"One of the government's most formidable weapons." Not agents, weapons. They see him as an asset, a thing, to be used in their "fight" against bioterrorism. The kicker comes back to the intro sequence and Leon's file is shown:

In a sea of what we can assume to be DSO agents, Leon is shown, with the word "pawn" in big letters. The word doesn't actually finish being written out fully, but based on the spacing of PAW, we can assume that there isn't space for both N and S in the remaining box. The N would simply go over Leon's face and there would be some leftover space in the box (yes it wouldn't fit 100%, but the animators worked really hard on this movie and with how fast the shot is, you really have to analyze it to notice that it would look off!).

So yes, while Dylan is trying to say that all of them are pawns, Leon is the pawn. Patrick says as much in Infinite Darkness, calling Leon the golden boy of the government. Even at the end of Infinite Darkness (which takes place before 6), Leon doesn't let Claire make a copy of the drive with all of the information that will basically expose the US government for its hand in what happened at Raccoon City. Before she walks away, she gives him one final look and says: "Like I said before, that outfit doesn't suit you." Of course she literally is talking about the fact that Leon is wearing a very bureaucratic-looking suit, but she also is referring to what the suit symbolizes. She knows that Leon has a good heart and wants to do the right thing, but she's also frustrated with his actions and him, probably unconsciously, falling further and further in-line with what the government wants. She probably knows that he's "in deep" at this point and is just trying to basically stay alive, but she also is frustrated that he's not taking the path that would basically lead to a way out. It's also worth noting that Eiichirō Hasumi, who directed Infinite Darkness, also directed Death Island.

I'm not sure exactly where I was going with this post, I just wanted to share my thoughts about Leon and where he's headed next. I hope that the next movie (or game!) will feature him and be about him coming to terms with the fact that he can choose to do the right thing and that he doesn't need to just be a pawn anymore. He deserves that and so much more. Thanks for reading!

[vitospaghetta]

Leon's flirting in Infinite Darkness pt 2: A Deeper Dive

After this post managed to gain a teeny bit of traction on here, I wanted to talk about this a bit more for clarification, and to further explore how this ties into the overall narrative and Leon's characterization throughout the franchise.

I'd like to make it clear right off the bat that I am not claiming that Leon is (and, for the record, I hate this word) a womanizer either. It was disappointing to see that that's what some people took away from my previous post. It's also worth noting that I don't think Leon's actions in the scene with Shen Mei come at the cost of his morality. Just as the erasure of negative qualities doesn't lessen the impact one character can have on others. Life isn't that simple.

The Gist

The interpretation that I have for the scene with Shen Mei is not one that claims that Leon is some selfish home-wrecker on the day to day. However, it is an exploration of the extent of his loneliness and how, even the most morally upstanding characters such as Leon, have traumas and emotional burdens that can make them behave in ways that are questionable at best. It was an analysis of how, in that moment, he inadvertently displayed a deeply vulnerable part of himself that does extend beyond that scene.

The man desperately yearns for affection and romantic connection with women while living a life that does not allow for him to do so in a way where longevity makes sense. Because of Leon's compassionate nature, he will not allow himself the indulgence of a long-term relationship in order to spare others the pain of being dragged into his life. Though short-term hook ups are something he is willing to pursue because then there's no risk of disappointing anyone. No missed anniversaries, birthdays, or holidays. No receiving a sudden call to fly out to god-knows-where immediately and being unable to say where he's going.

His innate human need for connection in the absence of normalcy lead to desperation. Desperation leads to impulsivity, and this impulsivity is what leads him to disregard a person's relationship status with a half-hopeful "soooo...?" In that moment, his desperation got the better of him.

The point of my previous post was to explore how a scene as brief as that one manages to peel back some of his layers to emphasize the extent of Leon's isolation imposed by his service to the government. How his inability to allow himself meaningful romantic connection ties into his most tragic flaws, consistent throughout the franchise.

Compassion Comes At A Cost

Leon has always been the type of character who will willingly throw himself under the bus in order to spare those he cares about from any unnecessary suffering. Choosing to work for the government to save Sherry's life, not turning Helena in to the authorities to clear his name in RE6 after the assassination of Adam Benford, his full willingness to sabotage his relationship with Claire at the end of Infinite Darkness in order to prevent the government from going after her. If there's one thing to know about Leon, it's that he will always put himself last.

He is not above sacrificing his own happiness for the sake of someone else's, but he would never expect anyone to do the same for him.

Self-Sabotage

Given how okay he was with Shen Mei's rejection, I don't doubt in the slightest that he was almost expecting her to say no. Just like Hunnigan in RE4. Just like how he loves Ada, a woman who will never love him the way he loves her.

The scene in Damnation comes to mind, where Ada asks him about "that night," where it's heavily implied that they hooked up at some point between RE4 and the events of the film. Unsurprisingly, the implication was reiterated/confirmed by the writer of the film himself. He also says that "[Leon] shows his real self when he gets in touch with a woman," which I think is a very apt statement.

She says that Leon's angry with her, presumably for cutting their romantic endeavor short, and yet he still can't be done with her. He chooses to latch on to a woman he can never get close to.

It took him until RE6 to finally let Ada go, and I'd like to think that ties very nicely into the character arc we see from Vendetta to Death Island, where both movies explore Leon's transition from choosing to suffer alone to learning to find comfort in camaraderie.

This all ties in with each other. Leon's isolation, even outside of romantic endeavors, has always been at least a little self-imposed. His service to the government lays the foundation, and Leon does the rest himself because of the circumstances of his life. There's a tragic cyclical nature to it.

This is the face of a man who willingly sets himself up for failure. It calls back to his "story of my life" line in RE4. He isn't hurt by these rejections because he doesn't expect much to come out of his attempts at flirting. He's throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks. Maybe it'll work out and he'll get lucky, though odds are it won't. Even he he does luck out, there's not much chance of a formal relationship coming out of it. Low risk, high reward.

Even Stephanie Panisello who voices Shen Mei jokingly said "Why do ya have to keep choosing these women that don't really love ya?!" in a Death Island interview while talking about how she feels about Leon.

When he asks Shen Mei out, he's asking for the hell of it — at least then he's trying to fill the void — but he's simultaneously keeping women at arm's length in an attempt to spare them. Maybe, given his history with Ada, he's trying to spare himself some pain, too.

Not Exactly OOC Behavior

Speaking of Ada, it's also not entirely unlike Leon to pursue someone who's already in an established relationship.

Infinite Darkness takes place in the original RE timeline* — the remakes are not canonical to these events.

(*The remakes do not supersede the events of the original games. They simply created a separate timeline where the games' narratives are approached from a different perspective — a chance to make the narratives more cohesive and modernized. Quite literally a "do-over," but not a replacement. Both the remakes and the original games are canon simultaneously, however all CGI media exists within the continuity of the original timeline. This is because they're all part of a pre-existing narrative, contiguous of each other.)

In OG RE2, Leon hears that Ada has a boyfriend and still develops feelings for her, and goes as far as kissing her in one of the endings, even though he found out earlier that her boyfriend supposedly died. Was John real? Probably not, but Leon didn't know that.

Though I also understand that the circumstances of these scenes are different — Leon, having developed genuine feelings for Ada, kisses her as he knows she's going to die, and after she admits that she loves him, too. It's a goodbye kiss of sorts. This isn't the tone being portrayed in the scene with Shen Mei, but it's noteworthy regardless. Just because someone has a boyfriend doesn't mean Leon's not gonna get the hots for them.

Moving Forward

Leon's longing for physical and emotional connection with others definitely highlights some of the more tragic aspects of his character. However, I think that the way we see his flirtatious behavior taper off over time is equally interesting. It's an indicator of his mental health (its decline leading up to Vendetta), as well as it is a testament of his maturity. When you consider his lack of flirtatiousness in Damnation/RE6/Vendetta/Death Island, you can see how he's matured emotionally. Though you can also see how he has truly succumbed to his isolation. The extent of his self-imposed burden, the extent of his hopelessness. A grim acceptance of loneliness, of impracticality, of his life being what it is, and having no idea of how to fix it.

[alamusprime]

Plan of action in place.

[citrine-elephant]

cool, scene in my head from the beginning of re6, leon's campaign but (according to being told that adam benford was involved in leon's servitude, @/colesabi @/danvssomethingorother)

leon rushes to where benford is supposed to be at this thing. everyone's dead, or dying, or infected. and so is the fucking president.

already, this could hella fuckin explore leon's ptsd. the fear and the terror, expecting for at any moment some worse monster to get the jump on him.

he's back in raccoon as he watches benford stumble towards him. maybe leon came in before he turned, or after. but... he hesitates.

say helena had ran into leon already, but she hasn't caught up yet as he had to fulfill his duty and check in on benford. and when she does...

leon has this... snap, of sorts. the mix of terror, his flashbacks, of sherry. when he hesitated, adam lunged for him.

and now helena is watching as leon wrestles with adam. as something seems to overcome him as he pushes the zombified president. as leon grabs the nearest object and smashes his head in. over. and over. and over -

this desperate... rage.

(think of the saw scene with... adam! and the toilet seat lmfao)

it's a little more... tense, when leon has to fill hunnigan in. but of course, his guilt could still play a part in that.......

[leon6w5]

I've been thinking about this for a while, how to formulate an analysis without losing anything quite essential. Let's start saying: Ada is a character that I see as made to intrigue. I think that she mediates between what she believes to be good and bad, especially when it comes to all those characters she cares about and has some connection with.

Little is known about her, we don't know exactly about her past, we don't even know if her real name is Ada. But we're not here to somehow justify her actions, but rather to understand, without categorizing her as something, because not even she puts herself in those parameters.

It's hard to describe a character who is usually there as an extension of another, this closes the door to depth. Ada before the remakes was this type of personality that we didn't know — and still don't know much about — what was going on in her head, (the closest thing to her real feelings about everything that happened in Raccoon City was brought up in the original Resident Evil 2, a dialogue with Leon) a “fatal femme”, a mysterious woman who contrasted with the hero. — A tragic relationship. From Resident Evil 1/2 — here I'm talking about the original — to Resident Evil 6, there wasn't exactly a malleable construction of her character. Until Resident Evil Damnation, Ada had a connection with mercenaries. Which makes this “redemption” of Ada an act, let's say, imposed, but without a bridge to it. By this I mean that, even with Ada's campaign in RE6 and also the original Separate Ways, it was hard to see why she reflected on the things that happened because of the bioweapons, everything seemed to somehow revolve around the feelings she had for Leon. — And it's not that characters who had bad attitudes shouldn't have their redemption arc, but for Ada, it was a leap without ground, it was nebulous. Not only that, but it's as if there was an internal conflict within her — I think people are very wrong in assuming that Ada has (and needs to have) a side within the construction of her character and her mistakes. It's not wrong to question her attitudes, but it's not right to compare her in such a way as to see her as a villain — like Wesker and his romanticized dystopia. I think that the great chance of her story happens when she realizes the results of her work, when she becomes a survivor together with Leon, facing a reality that she had been dodging because of her (very objective) missions.

I say this because, as said at the beginning, not even Leon had his good moments. From Resident Evil 4 to Infinite Darkness, we see that, for example, he rather to keep Claire safe when exposed that Wilson (directly linked to the American government) were working for Tricell. He preferred to save an important person over saving others. This is a huge moral burden, which he may condemn, since he was unable to save Shen Mei — he was unable to expose what the government did in Raccoon City — and he didn't want to lose someone who is important to him. Not only that, but Leon submitted to working with the government after Adam Benford threatened Sherry's life after RE2 — under Simmons' supervision.

• Leon being threatened by Adam Benford

So here we see that Leon sank and became a hostage to his own convictions, in Vendetta he does this when they talk about Arias, for example, for him two wrongs don't make a right, and he even starts working with Patricio to obtain illicit information for the government's benefit.

I believe that liking Ada from the beginning means understanding that her past was just as erased from her own backstory. She is a lonely woman who uses her abilities to survive in a world of powerful people. Think about it here: when we talk about Ada and Leon, we are talking about different sides of the same coin — and I think that is why I find their strange relationship interesting — they are characters with very different visions that mix like paint, stain each other and create a color of their own. They are characters who, when placed in situations like those in Resident Evil, show themselves willing to do X or Y. It bothers me to realize that this speech about Ada about Leon's position towards her, mischaracterizes both characters. Leon is not wrong to question, to try to understand why she does the things she does, and she does not exactly need to verbalize that she regrets it when it is clear that she cares about Leon — about people around him, like Sherry — not only that, but she cares about the future of biological weapons. Perhaps a large part of the fanbase has become accommodated to this view of right and wrong — without nuances — because we sympathize with Leon, his motivations were beautiful and seemed right to him, not putting yourself in his shoes is also denying that he has changed. And all of this is intertwined with the subject, precisely because Leon, despite being hurt by Ada, puts himself in her position. This does not mean agreeing, but imagining her life in a way that allows us to see part of it, her experiences and ask ourselves why she does not allow herself to come out of her own mask. Emotions. Ada seems to have difficulty accessing her own emotions and lacks empathy for herself. She can't discern what she feels, as if she were forcing herself to feel things or hide them. I like the remakes for this expressiveness. Ada has difficulty saying what seems obvious, but she chooses to demonstrate it and is genuine in such a way that the details about her show how she is and acts.

• Ada sympathizes with Carla and sees herself in Carla’s situation. This dialogue I interpreted that Ada was talking about herself too.

The franchise also doesn't give us an immediate answer, because we don't know much about the characters themselves, but rather about how they shape themselves when faced with the choices they must make, the bonds they form with other characters, and the unethical situations of pharmaceutical companies, the government, and the dehumanization of humanity. Resident Evil is a game about political power.

It's interesting to see how, in the remakes, Ada's development becomes much more linear and coherent with some of her reflections — her pains and weaknesses —, even if briefly. Before that, it was unclear to see this internal conflict of the character; she is a personality that questions her mistakes, starts to question her real intentions with what she does, starts to understand that perhaps her own survival has cost other people's, and this becomes evident during Separate Ways, RE6, RE2OG/RE2R. She seems to realizes that after Raccoon City, her "connivance" and her work left her too oblivious to a reality that she seemed to understand — but not live in. She started to normalize what was happening to such an extent that she didn't think it was different when, for example, she met Leon —, the problems caused by bioterrorism made her insensitive. But before that, at the end of RE2R, it was already something that would be demonstrated for the RE4R.

I like how, apart from her strange relationship with Leon, they are parallel characters that are different. I mean, throughout the franchise, Leon has been losing his sense of morality — I want to point out here that with this characterization of Leon in the remake, we saw that he was a very idealistic character, with a moral compass already defined and having discovered what was happening shook him, not only that, but later in the games and CGI films Infinite Darkness/Vendetta/Damnation/Degeneration/Death Island already mentioned — he realizes that the American government is not so different from everything he condemns, but he is part of it now and Ada was trying to find hers.

I also think that this doubt about Ada's morality comes from some prejudices and an unfair villainization, Ada has a hard time keeping in touch with her own feelings, not because she despises them but because maybe she never had that contact; she is a shell of herself, trying to pinpoint her identity compass — of morality too. Ada is always unsure of what to do, especially when it comes to her traumas, and the perception that her work (its results) could harm her too.

• Ada exposes her feelings about what she's been through.

• Ada dialogues with Leon about her feelings in RE2OG

• Ada kept a picture of her with John, even knowing that she was using him to get information from Umbrella, Ada seemed genuinely felt something (not necessarily love/passion) for him.

I added this photo precisely because, despite working for Umbrella, John did not agree with the way the situation was going. I think this reflected on Ada, not an affection/feeling for him but a personal thought that the circumstances could have been different and the same thing about Leon. The scenario could have been different, but would they have been what they are? Would they have been what they are not?

And now a topic which bothers me bitterly not only for the old fanbase, but also the new one. There is a certain fetishization, as if Ada not only didn't want to repent but also continued in this role of getting what she wants through her seduction and her little games, a character who, in many quotes, was made to be the hero's romantic partner, the mysterious hot woman in red. We know that this is not true, Ada is a character who has shown herself to be reflective, alone and lost within an identity that no longer means anything to her. And here I want to say that the choice of Ada's VA to be Lily Gao, brings a much more beautiful and humanized vision of the character, precisely because she is a Chinese woman, giving more experience and more life to a character who spent much of her franchise being fetishized by a portion of the public or hated. I like how Lily Gao played Ada Wong (Welcome To Raccoon City and especially RE4R;SW) without exposing the character to sexualization. The voice, expressions and also body language were punctually placed in a way that showed the humanization and more realistic construction of Ada even in the underlying dialogues, even those in which there is a misinterpretation by the fanbase — like many saying about Ada being jealous of Ashley. Lily Gao in her interview with Moni from REDATABASE made a pointing out Ada's malleable, ambiguous and mysterious personality — much more about affection, understanding of the character, putting herself in her shoes, than her sensuality or objectification — covered by a fake femininity/empowerment.

When I talk about humanization, I'm not talking about being right like the heroes, but rather understanding that life is intrinsically linked to the parameters we give it. Bad attitudes do not mean that people are completely bad or good attitudes are completely good. Imagine that within a subjective perception, we, as human beings, are constantly trying to correct ourselves for things that happened, because we had bad attitudes and regretting it is showing humanity, it is showing empathy. Ada is not only an interesting character because she has ‘gray’ choices, but because she has human choices. It may be difficult to first think about how we should act in the situations in which she was exposed and the same for everyone else in the franchise. Knowing what is right and wrong in the Resident Evil universe is desperate, Leon himself is proof of that.

a/n: thank you so much for reading! if you liked it let me know your opinion!

[drenix004]

𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 ━━━ 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍 𝐒. 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐘 ~chapter 0~

𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍︙❝Leon never believed in the tale of soul mates, not until he met the woman who is now his wife… now, they were a lethal couple completing secret missions after what happened in Raccoon City.❞

❛We know each other so well that even when we improvise we get things right.❜

warnings: mention of alcohol, drugs, death, obsession, among others, if you are not comfortable, don't read it !

rating: 18+

pairings: Leon S. Kennedy x female Oc

¡English is not my first language, so there may be mistakes, don’t hesitate to correct me.!

======== • ✠ • ========

Exhaustion hit his body hard, feeling every muscle tense. Even breathing was painful.

But the deepest pain came from the sight of his wife, laid out and secured to a stretcher for safety.

Both he and she, along with Sherry, had been quarantined by government agents after being found on the outskirts of what was once Raccoon City.

A truly unusual way to start his career as a rookie officer: zombies everywhere, a virus conceived by a pharmaceutical company, and his wife tied up like an animal.

Although it was said to be precautionary, he couldn't quite understand it; his wife and Sherry had already injected themselves with the cure.

He let out a sigh as he lightly squeezed the woman's wrist, which remained bound.

-You'll be fine, we will," he comforted himself.

The last few hours had left him mentally exhausted. He had experienced a kind of emotional shock that he had not yet had time to process because of the situation.

Even at this moment, he felt overwhelmed. The questions that had been thrown at him during the eight, almost nine, hours of interrogation were unanswerable, at least until his wife regained consciousness.

-What were you doing there? -he looked at her.

That question had been repeated to him many times, but he lacked an answer. He himself had been stunned to find her there. Supposedly, she was supposed to be in another city doing police work due to reports of people who, up to that point, were believed to be involved in cannibalism.

His wife was also a police officer, but she was not a rookie. She had graduated two years before him, and yes, she was two years older, which made her more experienced.

An experience she had demonstrated by cold-bloodedly shooting both the undead and those infected with the virus, which had caused an internal conflict within him.

Leon Kennedy was kind hearted and, although he found it hard to accept, somewhat naive. This combination had left him ill-prepared for the harsh reality that had been presented to them. That reality had led him to morally question the decisions he had made in those moments of chaos and death.

In short, he felt dejected and only wished for a brief moment of rest.

The sound of the monitor brought him out of his maelstrom of thoughts. The door to the room opened and several agents entered.

-Kennedy, outside.

The sound of the monitor echoed again; she would soon awaken. He tried to protest, but was forcibly removed.

His training differed from that of the agents, which allowed them to subdue him easily. They took him back to the interrogation room.

He sat down, staring at the mirror in front of him. He knew that behind the glass they were watching him, analyzing him.

Another cycle of bloody questions was about to begin.

======== - ✠ - ========

Adam Benford had been a senior government official for a while now, his eyes could recognize when someone had potential.

And these two officers had it and plenty of it, they just needed the little push to hone their skills. Especially the woman's.

He could see them talking behind the glass, they were not only communicating with words, he could also see a certain pattern in their body gestures and looks they gave each other. It was fascinating to see that kind of communication, but it was even more fascinating that they had escaped that hell.

The president and the senate committee gave the green light for the sterilization operation, or CODE: XX, to be performed to eradicate any trace of the T-virus. But, Benford knew that it was not only for that, it was also to eliminate the trace of the negligence of the government itself and those involved to avoid scandals, he knew that the woman was aware of it.

Another point for which the government could not let her go free, at least not alive. What they could do was to offer an option that would partly help them, but would keep them tied up.

Another glance between the officers was enough for me to make a decision.

-I'll talk to them, alone.

Those present next to him looked at him quizzically, but one look was enough for them to come out and shut everything down.

Adam came out after them, only he did enter the room of the two survivors.

-I know they're exhausted-he looked at Leon, who unconsciously pulled his wife closer to him, and then looked at her; she looked pale, and slightly sickly looking. -I will be brief. The government has a proposal for the two of you, they want you to join specialized training to become secret agents.

-Sherry, what about her? -The man looked at the woman.

-She knows too much.

-She is innocent,- grunted Leon. -Leave her alone.

-Look, I can get you to keep custody of her if you accept the offer. Otherwise they'll have to kill you and sherry-Benford looked directly at Kennedy-while Nefer-he looked at her-well, they'll make inquiries about her.

The pair connected glances before looking back at Benford.

-In other words, I'll become an object in research with no rights," she said as an unfunny laugh escaped her lips.

-Technically, yes. It's a good deal, think about it.-The room was plunged into an intense silence that became suffocating as the minutes passed until Nefer sighed and placed her other hand on top of her husband's, that was the definitive signal for her decision.

Leon placed his wife's head on his shoulder before speaking.

-We accept.

PREV | NEXT

[desired-misery]

Fandom: Resident Evil (Post-Resident Evil 4 Remake) Characters: Leon S. Kennedy, Jack Krauser, Adam Benford Rating: Mature Summary:

Leon's horrific hospital stay triggers all kinds of horrible thoughts. Thanks to the pain medication he has to take, his nightmares are vivid and intense. Tags: Nightmares, Panic Attacks, PTSD, Hallucinations, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Trans Leon S Kennedy, Sexual Harassment

Whumptober: Painful Hug [15], Nightmares [26]

AiLEssWhumptober: Non-consensual Body Modification [4], "You're so much prettier this way" [8], Hallucinations [11], Ownership [29]

@whumptober-archive @ailesswhumptober

[renegadesstuff]

Morgane & Adam, HPI 🤍

3x04, ~Loi de Benford~