Chapter Text
It was a hot summer day in the Blue Butterfly Kindergarten, and by looking at her pupils' faces Ada Wong knew she was about to be asked once again for a trip to a new ice cream shop just down the road.
The heat outside was unbearable, she and her coworker Claire couldn’t really decide what they could entertain the children with. Taking them out to the playground wasn't an option, as making sure none of the kids got sunburned in that weather would have been nearly impossible, and the children had already started complaining about the heat. Normally, they were more than happy to spend the day reading books, playing pretend, or drawing, but as noon approached, keeping their attention became at best unlikely. Just the thought of hearing another child complain about the heat made Ada’s heart break a little, so when Claire suggested the trip to the ice cream shop this time she really had to consider it.
“Its not that far away,” Claire argued. “My friend is the owner of the shop and he loves kids, I’ve been there already and the place is big enough to keep all the children inside.”
Ada was always cautious when it came to her pupils. She knew that children are very unpredictable little creatures and even a small walk outside the kindergarten could go very wrong. Still, sitting at her desk looking around the room to see kids unhappy faces made her really reconsider the possibility of making the trip.
“I know you have mentioned him several times already, but what was his name again?” Ada asked.
“Leon Kennedy. He worked in the force for a couple of years. I’m kind of surprised you haven’t met him already…” Claire was sitting next to her, with the flip phone in her hand, looking through her unread messages. Suddenly she remembered something. “Wait… haven’t you two met at my wedding? I remember laughing with Jill when he tried to invite you for a dance!”
Ada’s eyes opened wide, hazy memories from a few months back starting to pour into her mind. “It was him? Really?”
Claire knew they were all drunk that night, but couldn’t say that word in front of kids. The two women glanced toward the room, and fearing that the children could hear their teachers gossip, Ada lowered her voice. “I remember thinking he was some kind of womanizer, every girl in the room had eyed him from a mile away…”
Claire quietly laughed. “Oh yeah, he is quite handsome, isn’t he? I met him through my brother, and because I knew Chris would be bored to death I thought he would appreciate the company of a friend. I know we were a little bit…” Claire eyed the room once again and whispered “...tipsy, but he really is a nice guy.”
Before Ada could respond, she felt a little hand touching her arm for attention. She quickly straightened up in the chair and turned to face a little girl with a worried grin.
“Hi sweetie!” Ada noticed that the girl looked unhappy and gently lifted her onto her lap. “Oh Alice, what’s wrong? Is someone bothering you again? Who should I talk to this time?”
Alice clutched the teddy bear Ada had given her for her birthday tightly and shook her head. She then quietly set the toy on the teacher's desk and began making it wave its little paws, the sight making both women's hearts melt. Ada knew she shouldn’t have favorites, but Alice always had a special place in her heart.
“Then what’s happening? Are you sad?” Ada delicately tucked the girl’s dark hair behind her ear.
“It’s hot…” Alice said and looked Ada in the eyes. “Can’t we go play outside?”
Ada looked at Claire, puzzled by the girl's request. Her friend, knowing that Ada was in charge, simply shrugged, silently reminding her that the final decision was hers to make.
Ada's thoughts raced. She mentally went over all the logistics of taking fifteen children on the trip, the conversation she would have to have with management before taking the children out, and the awkward possibility of running into the man whose invitation to dance she'd turned down at Claire and Jill's wedding. There were plenty of reasons not to go to that cursed ice cream shop, but one look at Alice's sad little face was enough to make all of Ada's worries melt away.
Ada sighed deeply, feeling a bit defeated and said “You know, me and Miss Claire were thinking about going to that new ice cream shop down the road…”
“Really?!” Alice shot upright on Ada’s lap so suddenly that Ada had to tighten her grip to keep the girl from falling.
“Yeah…” Ada tucked Alice’s hair once again. “But you have to promise me you will behave nicely like my little butterfly you are, okay?”
“When are we going? Now?!” Alice was relentless, kicking her little feet in the air in excitement. Ada faced Claire once again, giving her a pleasing look to make a decision for her.
“Give us fifteen minutes, we just have to get ready. But don’t go telling everybody about this, we want it to be a surprise,” Claire said.
“Okay, Miss Claire! I won’t tell anyone!” Alice hopped down from Ada’s lap, teddy bear in hand, and ran over to her friends across the room. Ada let out a deep sigh as she watched Alice excitedly chatter to the other children, who quickly became just as thrilled about the trip.
“It’s going to be a long day…” she said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll go talk to the management. In the meantime you can get the kids ready,” Claire stated as she stood up from her chair. “Oh, I should also text Leon about our visit. He will surely be excited to see you again.”
As Ada and Claire were walking down the road to the ice cream shop, they had been reminded once again why taking children out is a really difficult task. Keeping kids in line was tedious, making sure everyone had their hat to protect them from sunlight was tough, and even focusing on counting their pupils once in a while was requiring some effort in this heat. Still, once the teachers were sure the kids were behaving nicely, they started talking about the man running the shop again.
“How old is he anyway? He looked young,” Ada stated, which made Claire laugh in response.
“What? Are you interested?” Claire teased. When she saw Ada’s unamused grin, she quickly added, “He just turned thirty, if I remember correctly. He's really not that much younger than you.”
“Huh...” Ada glanced over the children, instinctively counting heads again. “I mean I was just curious, I myself look probably fifty so…”
Claire let out a disbelieving laugh. “What are you talking about?! Look at you, you’re thirty-three yourself, working out and having the most flawless skin I have ever seen. No wonder he asked you for a dance.”
She punctuated every word with animated gestures, all while keeping a firm grip on the hand of one particularly stubborn child who refused to stay in line.
“Working with children does make me look older, worrying about them not wandering off when your coworker suggests going to an ice cream shop is guaranteed to give you wrinkles,” Ada joked, looking at her friend. “Besides, I wouldn't have said yes to anyone. Dancing just isn't my thing.”
“I know...” Claire's smile softened.
Claire knew Ada had only been in one relationship, not a good one at that, but she and her wife were really rooting for her to finally find someone that could make her feel loved. Their friend always prioritised work over dating, so it was no surprise Ada just didn’t feel the need to have a partner.
Knowing that the whole talk about love and whatnot made her feel uncomfortable, Claire decided to change the topic. “You know, I recently heard you were talking about promotion with the management…”
“Yeah. They offered me the Assistant Director position, but I told them I needed some time to think about it.”
Ada glanced down at Alice, who was holding tightly onto her hand. The little girl had insisted on bringing her teddy bear along, and knowing how anxious Alice could get in unfamiliar places, Ada hadn't had the heart to say no. Every now and then, the oversized bear's feet brushed against the sidewalk, reminding Ada that she'd have to clean it once they got back to the preschool.
“Well... are you going to take it?” Claire asked. “The pay has to be pretty good.”
“I don't think so,” Ada replied quietly.
Before Claire could ask why, Ada nodded toward a sign standing beside one of the outdoor tables.
“Look,” she said. “I think that's the place we've been looking for.”
The sign read, “Stars Scoops - Now open!” in large, colorful letters. The couple seated at one of the outdoor tables paused their conversation to watch the excited group of children making their way toward the ice cream shop. As some of the kids started waving in their direction, the couple smiled and waved back.
Claire stopped in front of the shop's door and waited for Ada to finish counting the children. Once she gave her a small nod, Claire turned to the group and clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
“Okay, before we go in, I just want to remind you about what we were talking about earlier. Don’t be loud, be respectful of other guests in the shop, stand in the line to get your ice cream, and please don’t make a mess!” Claire faced Ada and quietly added “...and just so you know, our conversation isn’t over.”
After rolling her eyes in a dramatic manner Ada held the door for Claire and children to go in, counting them when they passed the entrance once more. She stepped in after them, grateful for the cool air that greeted her.
Kids immediately started chattering about the array of ice cream flavors the shop had to offer, standing on their tiptoes to get a better look at the colorful tubs behind the glass display. Claire tried to calm them down and coax them a step back, but the glass was already covered in countless tiny hand prints. Ada pulled a pack of wet wipes from her backpack and began cleaning children's little hands one by one, making sure everyone stood patiently in line.
After a while, they heard footsteps coming from the back of the shop.
“I’m coming!” a man's voice called.
The door behind the counter opened, and a tall man emerged, adjusting the apron tied around his waist. He looked up with a practiced smile, but it quickly turned into one of surprise when he recognized Ada.
His blond hair was covering the side of his face, but Ada could still notice his face turning slightly red at the sight of her. It was Leon for sure, Ada thought, as she quickly turned her face to wipe another pair of little hands once again.
Claire immediately noticed the shift in the atmosphere, but decided she would make fun of her friends after getting their ice cream.
“Hi Leon,” Claire greeted her friend and put a hundred dollar bill on the counter. Leon finally tore his gaze away from Ada and looked at Claire, as though she'd snapped him out of a trance. “Seventeen servings for us, please. And don’t forget to add those little bear waffles, you know kids love these.”
“Sure thing, Miss Claire,” Leon said with a little smirk on his face, taking the bill and handing the change back to her. “I’ll give you two scoops per serving on the house. After all, it’s not every day we get such a special group of customers.”
Claire said a breathless “thank you” in Leon’s direction, and took the hand of the first kid in line to help them pick ice cream flavours.
As Claire lifted the children up to let them see the colorful tubs of ice cream, Ada watched the “special group of customers” while stealing occasional glances at Leon. She still couldn't quite believe that this man had once served in law enforcement, only to leave it all behind and open an ice cream shop. At first glance, he looked intimidating - tall, well-built, with arms covered in small bruises. The apron and the ice cream scoop in his hand were the only things that gave away the fact that he was no longer the kind of man people should fear.
Thinking back, Ada realized she was no different. Every time she went out wearing her red, tight-fitting dress, people were always surprised to learn that she worked as a kindergarten teacher. They expected someone who spent their days surrounded by children to look softer, more ordinary, perhaps less intimidating in their own way. That a woman like her wouldn't be worrying about scraped knees, but nonetheless there she was.
Just as the last few children were getting their ice cream, Ada felt a small hand tugging at her pants. Alice stood pressed against her leg, hiding behind her and refusing to look toward the counter.
So even now, he can still be a little intimidating, Ada thought.
Ada crouched down to the girl's level and gently took her hands. “What’s wrong, my little butterfly?”
Alice immediately hid her face against Ada’s shoulder, holding her teddy bear as tightly as she could. Ada looked toward Claire, who was still carrying one of the children, unaware of the situation happening behind her. Leon noticed the little girl's distress as he handed over another ice cream order and leaned closer to quietly say something to Claire.
Claire's eyes shifted to Ada, then back to Leon. After a moment, she gave him a small, understanding nod.
“Up next, two special customers, Alice and her teddy bear,” Leon said, looking at Ada.
“Alice, did you hear that? You and Bobby are getting ice cream,” Ada gently held the girl's face in her hands, looking into her watery eyes. “Do you want to pick flavours with me?”
Alice glanced at the ice cream display, then at Leon, and finally back at Ada. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly nodded and lifted her arms toward Ada, silently asking to be picked up.
Ada lifted Alice into her arms, whispering, “You’re such a brave girl,” as she carried her closer to the display. She gently rubbed the little girl's back, trying to ease her anxiety.
“Look at all the flavors, Alice. Which one would you like?” Ada asked softly.
Instead of answering, Alice hid her face behind her teddy bear.
Looking defeated, Ada glanced over at Claire, who was busy wiping melted ice cream from the children's faces as they sat around the tables near the entrance.
Leon knew it wasn't his fault that the little girl was afraid of him, but seeing her cling to Ada's shoulder still tugged at his heart. His mind raced as he searched for a way to earn her trust. His eyes wandered around the counter until they landed on something that made a small smile spread across his face.
“Hey, Alice,” Leon said gently. “Do you like chocolate ice cream? You don't have to decide just yet. Would you like to taste some first?” As he spoke, he picked up one of the little bear-shaped waffles and placed a small spoonful of chocolate ice cream on top.
He handed the little treat across the counter to Ada. “See? He looks just like your teddy bear,” he said with a warm smile. “I made him a little friend.”
Alice slowly lifted her head from behind her teddy bear and looked at the little waffle Ada was holding in front of her. She stole a cautious glance at Leon, her watery eyes full of uncertainty, before focusing on the tiny bear-shaped treat once again.
After a long moment of hesitation, Alice reached out and took the little waffle. She nibbled at the chocolate ice cream, her eyes never leaving the tiny bear. Ada and Leon exchanged a quick glance before turning back to her, both holding their breath as if the fate of the world depended on her verdict.
Suddenly, a little smile spread across the girl's face.
“Do you like it, sweetheart?” Ada asked softly.
Alice nodded.
“Would you like two scoops of chocolate, or do you want to try vanilla too?”
“Strawberry...” Alice replied, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
“One chocolate and one strawberry coming right up,” Leon announced cheerfully before quickly preparing her ice cream. Once he'd scooped both flavors into the cup, he added two little bear-shaped waffles on top.
As he handed the cup to Alice, he smiled. “One waffle for you, and one for your little teddy bear. I wouldn't want him to feel left out.”
“Alice, what do we say?” Ada said, as she watched the girl take the first bite of her ice cream.
Alice hesitantly looked over at Leon. “Th-thank you...” she whispered before quickly looking back down and taking another spoonful into her mouth. Leon couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“The pleasure’s all mine,” he replied, his gaze lingering on Ada for a moment longer than necessary. “...And what flavors would Miss Ada like?”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Ada said with a soft smile, tucking Alice’s hair behind her ear.
“Yes, ma’am,” Leon turned back to the ice cream tubs and began scooping. “Does Miss Ada want the teddy bear waffle as well?”
“Of course.”
Ada watched as children chattered excitedly about things happening outside the ice cream shop. The color of the parked cars, people walking by minding their own business, a cat sitting on the windowsill across the street. The kids were the age where those things really mattered to them, and it really made Ada think about what really matters to her.
Picking at her ice cream, Ada glanced at Alice, who was still clutching her teddy bear tightly, sitting quietly as she watched the other children. She was never the type to ask others to play with her. She seemed content with her own company, and her bear was the only friend she ever appeared to need.
Ada and Claire had tried countless times to help her open up, but it was never that simple. Alice carried a fear many foster children struggled with - the feeling that they didn't quite belong. Whenever the other children talked about their parents, she would instinctively pull away, as if keeping her distance could protect her from getting hurt.
Ada knew about it a little too well.
“Ada?” Claire’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “You’re zoning out again.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, taking a spoonful of ice cream as the flavors of chocolate and strawberry melted together on her tongue. She glanced over at her friend, knowing Claire wanted to return to the topic of the promotion, but the thought of it made her feel uneasy.
Instead, she chose to ask her friend a question lingering in her mind.
“When you tell people that you are a kindergarten teacher do they believe you?”
Claire’s eyes widened, a little surprised by Ada’s words. After taking a big spoonful of ice cream she answered “I mean, people do get a little bit taken aback after I tell them about my work, you know, seeing as I ride a motorcycle and look… exactly how I look,” Claire pointed towards her outfit, tank top with tight shorts and cowboy boots, “...but I don’t really care what they think as long as I get to enjoy what I do, you know?”
Ada looked down at her cup, thinking about what Claire said. She wasn’t wrong, the looks can be deceiving, but she still felt like she had to prove who she was.
“I know,” she said quietly, picking at her ice cream once again.
“Is this what’s about with the promotion?” Claire asked, with genuine care in her voice. Ada was not the type to willingly open up, yet it still struck her as odd that she wouldn’t take on the opportunity to have a better position at work.
“I just…” Ada felt her friend staring at her, which made her a bit uncomfortable. “Don’t feel it will suit me, that’s all. You don’t have to worry about it.”
But Claire knew her too well to believe that was all there was to it. Ada had spent years proving people wrong, proving that she was more than the way she looked. She knew it shouldn't matter, but every surprised reaction when she mentioned her job stayed with her longer than she wanted to admit. Her position as a teacher had become such a big part of who she was that if someone were to undermine it, it would hurt more than she was willing to admit. The thought of leaving behind her pupils for a promotion, felt almost like she was letting go of the one thing she had worked so hard to prove she belonged in.
But instead of admitting that those feelings mattered, she pushed them aside. It was easier to pretend they weren't there.
After a while Leon emerged from behind the backdoor of the shop and made their way to where the group was seated. He took his apron off, looking casually as ever, and sat down beside Claire.
“Ending your shift?” she teased him.
“Not really, just taking a break to catch up,” a little smirk appeared on his face as he continued. “No one is going to enter a shop anyway, seeing so many kids inside.”
“Right…”
“How is the weather treating you? Kids are probably being nosy about the heat,” he said looking at the group of children, still enamoured with what is going on behind the window.
“It’s honestly terrible,” Claire answered, finishing her portion of ice cream. “But I can imagine the business is doing great.”
“You bet. I was actually thinking about hiring someone to help me with making the ice cream, I sometimes can’t keep up with everything all at once.”
“You and Chris have dealt with worse things at force than a rush hour at an ice cream shop…”
“...But at least I had Chris to help me with that,” his look turned into one filled with nostalgia, probably reminiscing about working with his friend by his side. “Tell me, is he still mad at me for leaving?”
“He was never mad at you, Leon,” Claire said soothingly. “He is actually quite content that you were brave enough to make this decision. He wants what's best for you.”
“Yeah… I should probably visit him some time with a six pack or something.”
“...or, maybe better, he can visit your shop to finally taste the ice cream. It really is delicious, he doesn’t know what he's missing out on.”
“Hah, thanks,” Leon said with a faint smile on his face.
“Now, if you excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom real quick, will you two watch over the kids?” Claire stood up from her chair, pointing her finger towards Ada and Leon.
And just like that, they were left alone.
Ada had no intention of starting the conversation. She never had been the one to break the silence. She knew the situation was bound to be awkward, so instead she decided that the cup of ice cream in front of her deserved her full attention. It was far easier to study the slowly melting scoops than to meet the eyes of the man sitting across from her.
Leon stole a glance at Alice before looking back at Ada.
“Looks like I finally won her over,” he said with a small smile. “I was starting to think she'd never forgive me for looking scary.”
Ada finally looked up at him, caught off guard by how casually he'd broken the silence.
“She was always a shy kid,” Ada replied, glancing at the little girl. “She feels safest with her teddy bear. That's why I let her bring it with her today.”
“I get it,” Leon said with a faint smile. “You know, I was just like her when I was little.”
Ada looked back at him, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She hadn't expected that answer.
“It's hard to imagine you being shy,” Ada admitted.
Leon chuckled.
“An ex-cop isn't exactly expected to be shy,” he said. “But when I was her age, I barely spoke to anyone. There wasn't really anyone around to help me through it, so... I learned to deal with it on my own.”
“Why did you leave the force tho?” Ada asked before she could stop herself. The question sounded far more personal once it was out loud, but Leon didn't seem to mind.
“When I started working as a cop I really thought I could make a change in peoples’ lives. Quickly realized it wasn’t the case. So… I left.” Leon looked at Alice, who started talking to one of the girls sitting beside her. “I guess sometimes making a difference is as simple as helping a kid feel brave enough to choose an ice cream flavor.”
His words lingered in Ada's mind. She found herself thinking about what he'd said, the sincerity in his voice, and the way he genuinely seemed to care. She wasn't one to be easily moved, especially by someone she'd only met twice, yet she couldn't help thinking it was... sweet.
“I guess you’re right,” Ada said softly, meeting Leon's gaze.
A new customer walking into the shop interrupted the moment. Leon quickly stood up, slipping back behind the counter to put on his apron before greeting the woman with the same warmth he'd shown Alice. Ada listened as he helped her choose a flavor, his soft voice carrying across the shop as he patiently explained the different options.
Claire returned from her bathroom break just in time to tell Ada they should head back to the kindergarten, helping the kids get up from the seats. Women quickly arranged children back in line, making sure everyone had their protective hat on. As Claire set out to count their pupils, Ada took all the cups left behind on tables to throw them into the nearby trashcan.
“You go first, I’ll close the line,” Ada ordered her friend, and with Alice in one hand she opened the door for the group to walk out of the shop.
Claire called out a quick “thank you” to Leon before leading the children outside. As the last child stepped outside, Ada suddenly heard Leon’s voice from behind her.
“Ada, wait!”
She and Alice turned around at the same time. Leon stood there, looking slightly hesitant, as if he wasn't entirely sure whether he should have called out to her. Ada glanced toward Claire, who was waiting outside with the children. Her friend immediately understood what was happening and simply smiled, raising a hand to let Ada know there was no rush.
As the door closed behind her, Ada looked up at Leon. For the first time, she noticed a hint of nervousness in his expression.
“So... first of all, I wanted to apologize if I came off as a little too… confident at the wedding. I know I probably caught you off guard, but I’d like to make it up to you, if you’d let me,” Leon said, a hint of uncertainty slipping into his voice. “I heard there is a place with really good coffee nearby, if you’re interested.”
Ada knew Leon was trying to sound casual, but the way he nervously fiddled with the strings of his apron told her otherwise. He genuinely cared about her answer. She glanced through the window at Claire, who was shamelessly trying to get a better look at what was happening, before looking back at Alice and finally at Leon.
If he wants a chance, Ada thought, he has to earn it.
“You know, I think you can make it up to me.”
Leon’s eyes immediately brightened.
“...But instead of coffee, I’m sure the kids would love to hear you talk about your job.”
The brief look of surprise on his face made Ada smile. She wasn't sure why, but seeing the usually confident man suddenly at a loss was strangely satisfying.
“Alice, would you like to learn how to make ice cream from Mr. Leon?” Ada asked warmly, looking down at the little girl holding her hand. Alice gently nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. “See? I think that’s a yes.”
Leon’s eyes lingered on Alice for a moment before turning back to face Ada.
“Uh...” Leon blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. A small smile tugged at his lips as he quickly regained his composure. “Yeah, I mean, yeah, sure. I’m sure I can find some time in my very busy ice cream shop schedule.”
“Great,” Ada said with a slight grin. She reached for a tissue from the nearby table, pulled a pen from her backpack, and wrote down her phone number with her name underneath.
“There you go.” Ada handed the piece of paper back to him. “Text me when you have a free day. I’m sure we can figure something out.”
Leon took the tissue from her, staring at the handwritten number for a moment. A small, almost disbelieving smile appeared on his face.
“See you down the road, Leon,” Ada said as she walked through the entrance with Alice. She could faintly hear him reply, “Yes, ma’am,” before the door closed behind her.
Claire was already smiling, unable to contain her excitement.
“Well? What did he want from you? Did he ask you out?”
Ada smiled softly as they started walking back toward the kindergarten. She looked down at the teddy bear that Alice was holding in her hand, gently tightening the grip on the girl's hand.
“Let’s just say he was more than willing to earn another chance.”