Archive of Our Own

The atmosphere of this coffee shop was not much different from the rest of them: the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon buns was floating in the air, calming, ear-soothing music playing in old dynamics, a barista in twenties — all-tattooed arms, preparing ten cups of coffee per second in early morning for hard working fellas and old people who were too bored to spend their time at home.

The name of the cafe stated “Caramel Cat”, the label was depicting a smiling cat with extremely long whiskers. Silly, but cute in a modern way.

Leon didn’t fancy spending much time in cafes usually grabbing a cup-to-go. Maybe, he would love those places better if he had more spare time for them. However, while doing private investigator’s job for himself, he sometimes didn’t have days off. Moreover, his working hours could start and end very randomly.

Kennedy didn’t do simple tasks like taking pictures of cheating husbands or looking for missing pets — it was common before, but not with his huge experience at his fifty-one. He was still in the saddle, tired but toughened up: the cooperation with the police, murder cases, drugs and something a normal human being didn’t have to see during their lifetime — all of this was a part of his speciality. Lots of stress, hard decisions, ride-or-die situations, insomnia as a cherry on top.

Nevertheless, today he got lucky: a promised day off, a new place to visit — strongly recommended by Rebecca from the labs. Cards had worked well for Kennedy, so he ordered his usual: black coffee, milk and one spoon of sugar — completely ignoring Rebecca’s advice of getting a banana split latte with extra whipped cream on top.

He didn’t take his place just yet, waiting for his order. The cafe’s windows were facing a quiet, narrow street paved with bricks. He checked the time on his watch — or just admired a new watch, god only knew, when the door of the cafe opened again and a new visitor stepped in, being followed with freezing winter wind. Usually, Leon kept himself all focused on his own thoughts in public places, barely noticing anyone around him. However, the man who had just appeared along with a strong scent of perfume and fresh, freezing air, was so eye-catching in his own natural way, that the gaze of the blue eyes got locked on him almost right away.

The stranger wasn’t looking for attention, for someone he would even seem boring, but not to Leon. The man was approaching the counter with the barista, and Leon’s eyes — all studying him.

The stranger had short dark hair, frowned look, similar to the expression Leon usually had — with the eyes that seemed to see too much for this life; his broad shoulders and a strong chest could barely be held by a dark tight turtleneck and a long black coat. The kind of body that didn’t come from gyms for fun but from needing to be useful. He was in his 50s, maybe just a little older than Leon. Handsome, mysterious and grumpy — just Leon’s type.

He watched the man ordering coffee, then taking a place at the corner table which was far from the crowd.

Barista finally handed Leon his latte, he pushed off the wall and headed headed toward the stranger now eyeing the spot not far from his table. It was a tactical respectful distance, still enough for hearing and being heard.

The man was sitting at the table with no scrolling or reading, just in his thoughts. Hands resting on the table top, knuckles rough, veins visible like the cafe’s warm lighting had a crush on him.

Leon’s brain produced a very calm, professional thought:

Oh no.

Kennedy took off his leather jacket and hang it on the chair. Despite the common misconception, he wasn’t good at starting the conversation. Multiple rejections had become a part of his persona a long time ago. So he took all his courage to get himself together and simply talk.

“A fancy place, isn’t it? I was recommended it just today, and honestly? I expected anything but not mysterious strangers in black coats.” Leon said it in his tactical flirting voice, special for such occasions.

The stranger lifted his eyes — he probably didn’t expect someone talking to him here. Like ever.

His expression remained calm and emotionless, voice — cracked from the tiredness and early morning hour:

“You didn’t expect to see anyone in a coat during the wintertime?”

It was definitely a sarcastic tone, not quite like Leon’s, more exhausted, concentrated even in casual life. It made something to Kennedy’s mind, a long-time forgotten feeling of the challenge.

“Not a big fan of the fun stuff?”

“Not a big fan of the noise.”

“Touché.” Leon chuckled under his breath. It was a nice one indeed. “Well, I guess today is not your lucky day then.”

A smile tugged Leon’s lips. It wasn’t like he had of smiling a lot, but while having a good company? Why the hell not.

“The name’s Leon. Leon Kennedy,” the blue eyes were piercing the man like he represented the most beautiful art in the world,“does a mysterious stranger has a name too?”

The man shifted. Probably thinking of his options.

“Hardly.”

But then barista’s ringing voice covered the calm melody of the music running from the dynamic:

“Black medium sugarless coffee for Chris.”

The stranger now had a name — Chris. He sighed, then left his spot to grab his order. The name fit like a punch. Leon smirked in satisfaction — he was getting his answers surprisingly easily right now.

The man came back  to his place. His expression was a little grumpier now — and Leon noticed that, thinking it was actually cute. Well, for a grown man. It was only feeding Kennedy’s interest.

“So, Chris,” the new name sounded more like a tease. “What brings you to this place in early morning?”

The man sipped his coffee first, then blessed Leon with another answer:

“Take a guess.” He muttered. 

Leon rested his chin on his fist, his eyes narrowed again.

“I don’t know. Looking for a good company? But too stubborn to admit it.”

Chris exhaled under his breath. It was something similar to laughter — Leon could swear.

“And you think you are the best candidate for that?”

Leon was waiting for this question.

“You read my thoughts, big guy.” Leon hummed casually like he had known Chris for several decades already. Then he added — quietly — more like to himself: “And I think I owe Rebecca that awful all-sugar banana split latte for recommending me that place.”

However, Chris heard his mumbling pretty well.

“Rebecca?”

“Yes. Rebecca Chambers. You know her?”

Something flickered in Chris’s eyes. He nodded.

“Yes. My establishment sometimes cooperates with her laboratories.”

Leon whistled, it was something he had expected, or rather had felt on some inner level.

“The gov job?”

“Something like that.”

It was clear Chris didn’t want to spill the details. Well, Leon couldn’t care more anyway. For now.

“Yeah, Bec literally made me come here talking about this place for weeks.” Leon rubbed the bridge of his nose remembering that headache. Chris snorted at that — another sound similar to laughter. It made the chest tighten a little.

“If she wants something, she will dig the grave, but will get what she wants.”

To men exchanged soft smiles mutually for the fist time. A small pause landed between them. A feeling that this was just the way it had to be. But it didn’t last long.

“Do you always sit like this?” Leon asked.

Chris turned his head.

Leon offered a polite smile, just shy of mischievous. “Like you’re guarding the coffee from an ambush. Let me guess — a habit from your mysterious gov work? Too dangerous to talk about?”

Chris stared at him for a beat. It looked like Leon had just hit the target.  Then Chris looked down at Leon’s cup, at the way Leon held it like it was just an excuse to sit there.

“You a detective?” Chris asked.

Leon’s smile widened. Not many people clocked him that fast.

“Private,” Leon said.

Chris nodded like that confirmed a suspicion. “Figures.”

Leon got really curious on this one.

“Which means?”

“That you have that look.”

Leon pretended to be offended. “Which look?”

Chris didn’t answer right away. He took a sip of coffee, then said, quiet and blunt:

“Like you can’t help showing up where you don’t belong.”

Leon froze for a fraction of a second, laughter caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure if Chris was flirting. Probably not. Just reading Leon properly. And honestly? It felt so much more fitting right now.

Leon recovered with the grace of a man who refused to have feelings in public.

“Wow,” Leon said, light. “And here I thought I was subtle.”

Chris’s mouth twitched — barely. A ghost of amusement.

“You’re loud.”

Leon grinned like he’d been complimented.

“I’m charming,” he corrected.

Chris looked away for a moment. Those small pauses felt like a part of his persona now. And Leon was absolutely chanted by that.

“I am not interested.”

Leon didn’t feel like it was a failure. On contrary — it fueled his interest up.

“Too bad, I was already planning our honey moon. Do you like the Caribbean?”

Chris snorted again, and Leon decided that from now on it was his favourite sound ever.

“You’ll get bored.” Chris added still staring at his cup or to the side, just not at Leon.

Leon’s smile softened without permission.

“No,” he said. “I don’t think I will.”

Finally, Chris exhaled and his gaze pierced at Leon’s. His eyes contained something hard. Something only people of his age could bear throughout their lives.

“Don’t get attached.”

The sentence was simple. The meaning wasn’t. Leon held his gaze. He could’ve made a joke. Could’ve flashed that grin and floated away like he always did, leaving nothing behind.

After all, he was just a simple guy with his own skeletons in a closet. Knowing that life was too short to keep running away.

He stood up, his cup — already empty.

“Sorry to bring it to ya,” he said saluting goodbye, “But I guess it is already too late for that.”

Chris stared at him for a second longer. Then he looked down at his coffee like it had betrayed him.

“Until the next time, Chris.” Leon said pulling his jacket and heading to the outside world that felt so much unimportant now.

Chris didn’t say anything.

Meanwhile, Leon had already made his decision:

He would definitely try more of their coffee tomorrow.

***

Coming back had never felt so right. Leon had some work to be done after the noon, so his uplifting mood from yesterday’s day off and a very pleasant encounter was simply not there. Not to mention his current investigation on local drug dealers’ connections, trying to push their questioning medicine to the global market. Dirty work, but someone had to do it. The chief of the police had personally called him in the morning, so there was not much of the choice.

The spoiled mood was one of the reasons why Leon wanted to see Chris even more. Somehow, that small encounter of theirs had brought some colors to his routine. Well, at least he had a stable place to get his coffee.

Kennedy pushed the door, the air around him changed from freezing cold to cozy warm. The smell of caffeine and cinnamon.

He tracked the corner tables they had been seated at yesterday — no Chris. His barely seen smile faded away completely. Why had he even been hoping?

Well, he didn’t want to leave with the thought he had come all this way here for nothing. The barista — same as yesterday, greeted him. Black coffee, milk, one spoon of sugar. There was no need of changing that.

And then he heard a voice. It didn’t belong to Chris. A high-pitched voice, a little girl.

“You’re late.”

Leon turned his head and finally spotted them: at the table near the window; there was Chris with the same niche of a grumpy morning guy. But right now there also was a child sitting next to him. An oversized hoodie made her look smaller than she really was; a black cap on her head, long princess-like blond hair falling down below her shoulders. The girl had a facial expression of a person who had been through a divorce and multiple trials so far.

Their small argument was eye- and ear-catching for sure.

“No, I am not.” Chris answered.

“Yes, you are. You told me we would be here by ten. It’s ten-ow-four now.”

“It doesn’t count.”

“It counts since you mentioned 10 am precisely.”

Chris — a tough guy (at least according to the vibes Leon had noticed in him yesterday) was currently dominated by a small child and a chocolate croissant. The scene? Worth watching.

Leon was staring without blinking. It was so sudden, that even barista had to raise her voice so he could turn back to her and grab the order.

Once the latte was in his hand, he took a deep breath, adjusted his hair and headed to the table next to theirs — just like the previous time, a respectful distance, but close enough for a very promising conversation.

Don’t get attached.

Chris’s words rewound in Leon’s head. Maybe, that was one of the reasons why?

Well, maybe Kennedy was about to go far worse than a simple attachment.

Leon hung his jacket, sat up. Chris — distracted before with his own pain while trying to wipe the chocolate off the kid’s cheek, at last raised his gaze and noticed Leon. There were more emotions in his eyes this time, something similar to recognition.

Leon nodded slightly in return, a sly smile tugged his lips. Meanwhile, the kid followed Chris’s gaze. Her blue eyes narrowed. It looked similar to her to be an investigator close to her main suspect.

“Are you flirting with my dad?”

Leon chocked on the air.

Chris froze. His eyes slowly shut like he was praying for a little bit more of patience. Better until the end of his life.

Leon forced himself to recover right away with one working method — by pretending his own awkwardness was a part of his charm.

“That depends.” He answered calmly, setting his coffee down on the edge of the table. “Is that your dad?”

The girl’s eyes narrowed even more: “Not the blood one. But it doesn’t change the matter.”

Chris was rubbing his eyes like the man who regretted everything in his life: “It’s complicated.”

Leon processed this information through his head, then came into conclusion that this answer was enough.

“Then yes.”

Chris’s eyes snapped open.

“Leon—”

“I am just making a conversation.”

The girl leaned back in her seat. The gaze still estimating like she was a mafia boss.

“Conversation. Right.” She hummed with the most unimpressed look ever existed.

Leon glanced over the girl again: her blue eyes were too sharp for a little kind. The posture — all confident. She kinda reminded Leon of his drinking buddy Helena, especially when she was in a bad mood after five shots — bossing around all the strangers in the bar.

Chris finally got himself together and placed a hand on girl’s back:

“Rose, this is Leon.”

The girl — Rose — glanced at Kennedy with the same expression: probably gathering all the demons in her head to place a verdict.

“Leon.” She repeated like she was testing Leon’s name. “Okay.”

“Leon, meet Rose. My…”

“Rosemary Redfield. His best thing in life.” Rose ended the phrase raising her nose proudly. Then she took a sip of her hot chocolate like she was a businesswoman. Leon smiled at her softly, and by all the canons of such arrangements, said:

“Hi.”

Rose pointed at him almost instantly: “You’re loud.”

Leon’s jaw dropped.

Like father, like daughter.

“No, I am not.” Kennedy protested.

“You sound like a host from an old TV show.”

Leon stared at her like she had just shot him:

“I… don’t.”

Failed to a little child. Leon was burying his career experience and all the tough situations he had been into with that.

“Yes, you do.” Rose said calmly the way people tended to state physics laws.

At last, Chris stepped in:

“Rose, be nice.”

“I am being nice.” She sipped her chocolate again. Then she suddenly added: “You are pretty.”

The change of the pattern made Leon smile involuntarily.

“Thank you.”

“Are you single?”

Chris made a sound similar either to a cough or to his soul escaping his body.

Leon blinked. Once. Twice.

“What.”

“Because if you are, it makes it easier.”

Chris couldn’t stay silent anymore.

“Rose.”

“What? I am helping.” She made the most innocent look a child only could make.

“You are absolutely not.”

She raised her eyebrow. Didn’t even blink.

“Otherwise, how else will you find a boyfriend?”

Leon pressed a hand to his mouth. Just he couldn’t stops smiling at Chris’s reaction to that. The man gave him a look of a person who had been through the war.

“She watches too much TV.” Chris muttered looking at Leon like at a lifeguard.

“And you watch too much sad men stuff.” Rose remarked totally willing to come out as a winner out of this conversation.

And so far? She was managing to.

Sad men stuff.

Leon only wondered what that would be. He leaned slightly closer with his chair still keeping a proper comfortable distance but also getting himself more involved into the conversation.

“So, how old are you, Rose?” Leon asked out of curiosity.

“Old enough.”

“Rose.” Chris used that father’s voice Leon usually heard from parents with their children being naughty.

“I am nine.”

“You are eight, Rose.” Chris corrected.

“My birthday is in four month, so I am almost nine.”

Leon smirked. Chris shot at him a warning gaze, non verbal statement ‘don’t encourage her’.

But of course nobody listened.

“So you’re basically nine.” Leon summarized, and then caught on himself two glances: a satisfied one from Rose, and an ironic one from Chris, it was almost screaming ‘betrayer’.

Rose was enjoying this staring contest two men had. It seemed like she was watching a football match, but wasn’t sure what team cheer for.

“You know,” Rose said to Chris leaning to the back of her chair and then added in a voice loud enough so half of the cafe could hear: “He’s prettier than your last date.”

Leon chocked on his latte. Chris stopped breathing and resembled a cat who had just broken a pot of flowers.

“You have a date, huh?” Leon asked right away after coughing his thoughts out — with a tease, of course.

“No, I don’t.”

“Liar.” Rose objected with her face full of confidence. Leon couldn’t stop snorting in laughter. Chris sighed again, his usual single parent’s expression was all there.

“At least not now. I don’t usually have time.”

“He never does.”

Rose rocked on her chair: there was something more in her voice; an early understanding how busy adults could be. It triggered something in Leon’s chest:

“And are you doing alright with that?”

Chris glanced at him. A long stare, not hostile one. Just a tired adult with his own history and problems.

“We are doing fine.” Chris finally said but Leon barely believed it. He also saw Rose being eager to comment on that too, but this time she held herself away.

A soft smile tugged Leon’s lips, blue eyes got warmer.

“What can I say, I am impressed.”

Rose’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You are?”

“Well, of course. You are so young, but already have Chris all under control.”

This time the girl’s mouth quirked. For real. Like she had just won a prize.

“No, she’s not.” Chris cut it.

Rose leaned back with a sly smile on her face.

“He does whatever I want.”

Chris opened his mouth. Rose lifted the brow. Chris’s mouth shut. Leon buried the laughter in his coffee.

“You are enjoying this.” Chris accused him.

Leon made the most innocent expression he had.

“Me? Never.”

Rose interfered pointing at Leon:

“You should come here tomorrow.”

“Should I?”

“Yes.”

“Rose, stop it—” Chris sounded like a broken record with this phrase by this time today.

“I like him.”

Both men stared at her in a surprise.

“You do?” Chris ran a hand through his short hair.

“Yes. I mean, he’s loud. But also he’s nice. And he looks at you like he wants to stop you from being sad.”

The words dropped casually, Rose took the cup to finish her chocolate too casually, like she didn’t just detonated everybody’s feelings.

Chris finally cleared his throat, his voice was rougher:

“You don’t just say things like that.”

“Why not? It’s true.” She folded her arms at that.

 Leon swallowed hard forcing a smile.

“I can… stop by time after time.”

Chris looked at him again. His expression meant a lot of stuff processing in his head.

“You don’t have to.” He said.

Leon indeed didn’t. He had come here yesterday, had wanted some coffee and flirting, maybe to spend some productive time together afterwards. But right now? He got himself dragged into a small family drama. And for some reason? He was curious where it would take him.

“I don’t have to, but I want to.” Kennedy finally said — and winked, blue eyes almost sparkling at that, and maybe he didn’t notice that himself, but this small gesture send Chris’s multiple stinging over his body.

Kennedy looked at Rose with his pretentious seriousness.

“If I come tomorrow, will you interrogate me again?”

She answered right away — no hesitation.

“Of course.”

“Well, that’s fair.” Leon shrugged slightly before standing up and pulling his leather jacket on. He met Chris’s gaze again. Something warmer was between them two now. A promise?

As Leon headed to the door, Rose suddenly raised her voice at him making sure everyone in the cafe wouldn’t skip it:

“And don’t flirt with anyone else!”

Chris lost his breath at that. And Leon? After a moment of confusion, he burst into laughter, just before flipping over the cafe’s porch.

***

Leon came back the next morning as promised. Same spot at the window: Chris and Rose had already been sitting there. These two never changed their habits: Chris had his bitter black coffee, Rose — hot chocolate with the whipped cream on top.

“You came.” Rose said instead of hi.

Leon smiled softly, approaching the table next to theirs with his own latte.

“I did.”

“You’re early.” Chris noticed. Was there a tease in his voice? Definitely was.

“Don’t get used to it, I used to being late.” Leon said casually, stating a simple fact about himself. But then he smirked the way only wild cats could do: “Let’s say, just trying to impress you.” And then his eyes widened, as he remembered something: “Actually, I’ve got something for you, Rose.”

Rose didn’t look surprised, rather — very interested. Chris also leaned close to peak.

Leon stretched his arm and placed a small paper bag in front of the girl. Rose took a look inside, her eyebrows lifting. She extended a pack of double-chocolate cookies and some frog stickers.

“I noticed you like chocolate, wasn’t sure about the frogs though, but I thought they were cute.” Leon explained. The stickers were indeed cute; each frog was doing something: playing cards, wearing glasses, pretending to smoke a bubble pipe.

For a moment both Chris and Rose kept silence staring at each other. Finally Rose exclaimed:

“Thank you, Leon.”

The gratitude was pure childish. Maybe most of the time she was trying to play cool like her father, but deep inside — still a child with small joys in this life.

She had already started opening the pack of stickers.

“You didn’t have to.”

Chris said it, but the smile was playing on his lips. His eyes — usually tired and careless were now warm, silently saying ‘Don’t you dare make her love you more than me.’

“You are officially cool.” Rose concluded all of the sudden.

Leon, being at fifty-one years old, couldn’t feel even more proud of himself than right now.

Chris stared at him.

“You bribed my kid.”

“I invested in diplomacy.” Leon pointed politely.

Rose chose the sticker she liked and started peeling it with the same precision Chris probably used to reloading his gun.

“Rose,” another father’s tone — not fully strict, but it caught Rose’s attention just for a second, which was the progress. “Don’t stick them on the table.”

“Okay,” she answered.

She definitely was going to do it.

Leon couldn’t stop staring at this father-daughter interaction: Chris was watching Rose with a specific kind of care of a man who had a dangerous job and knew how cruel this outside world could be. It was kind of care without trying to be controlling, but to be present whenever Rose needed him.

Leon had seen many parents — fathers specifically — during his long career; some of them were good, the others — sucked at basic stuff easily; but not Chris — he was so natural with it. Nothing pretentious, no ‘because I have to’, just him and a small person he cared about the most.

Kennedy tugged a smile. The real parenthood had never been a part of his life — and he had never actually expected it to be one. Though he had people in his life he cared about the same father-like way. Sherry Birkin was one of them — a girl he had saved when he used to be only a young rookie cop — believing in the system, being a part of it before it had broken him. And still, Sherry was the one to care about. Even now when she was all adult and joined the forces herself, they still managed to keep that father-daughter connection.

Rose’s voice made him come back to the reality.

“Dad, lean closer.” A demanding voice — Leon started getting used to it.

Chris didn’t dare to disobey — followed the order like a true desperate and tired soldier he was. Rose stuck a frog playing the guitar sticker to his chest.

Leon bit the inside of his cheek.

Chris looked down at the sticker that looked extremely hilarious on his muscled chest, expression blank.

Leon, unfortunately, started laughing. It earned him a look from Chris — promising consequences.

“I’m sorry, it’s just—” Leon raised his hand in defence.

“You’re dead.” Chris said, very calmly. Leon’s laughter got worse.

Rose glanced at Leon being totally confused by his reaction. Then she peeled another sticker and extended her hand. Leon stopped laughing, the question occurred in his eyes without any extra words.

“For you.” Rose explained.

“For me?” a double-checking, in case he had heard it wrong.

“So you match!”

The words sounded easily. Two men — froze, as Rose leaned closer to Leon to place the sticker to the jacket he hadn’t taken off this time.

Leon didn’t move. Not because he was scared of Rose.

Because Chris was watching. And the gaze was betraying his true emotion — how much it meant for him.

The sticker was on the leather jacket now — a frog reading a book while wearing thick glasses. Leon looked at it like on a medal. Then he met Chris’s gaze — soft, something behind those deep eyes.

Rose looked all pleased with herself coming back to her initial position on the chair. Though she probably had more ideas on how to make this morning even more interesting from her perspective.

“Leon, do you know how to make paper animals?”

The question was sudden, but striking. Leon nodded. It was a long time ago when he had learned it while being a boy scout. Later on he had been making some for Sherry. Luckily, he still remembered how to.

“Got a piece of paper?”

Rose’s eyes brightened. She reached for her backpack soon extending a small file of colorful paper, then gave it to Leon.

Chris was watching without saying anything. The man was fascinated with this random skill of Leon’s, how his hands were bending the paper easily — like he was working with martial arts and not a simple paper material.

Very soon there were three figures in front of Rose: a green frog, a red flamingo (simply because there was no pink paper) and a purple whale. The girl took a closer look at each with the expression of a person who was hard to impress, but right now all fascinated — beyond price.

“That’s cool,” she exhaled.

Leon couldn’t keep his smile away.

Rose was just a child, but she was also a part of Chris’s life, therefore, this kind of reaction seemed special, chest tightening, to be precise.

“See, he can be useful.” She said and Chris scoffed right away.

Leon raised his gaze, eyes locking on Chris’s. It was a moment two men realized — something more was coming. Not just a short cafe flirting, not just a possible one night date. It felt like acceptence.

Once Rose had enough of playing and watching her new paper toys, she decided to struck them with another sudden question:

“Leon, do you have a gun?”

Kennedy choked on air. It was not kind of question he expected from an almost-nine-year-old.

“N-not at the moment…” He cleared his throat, looking into Chris’s eyes and seeking for some help — didn’t find it eventually. He urged to explain: “Only when I’m on duty. Which is in a few hours.”

Rose looked too calm.

“I see.” She said. “Dad has one.”

Now Chris choked on his coffee. Leon’s head turned sharply to him. Chris’s face did that completely innocent thing that men did when they absolutely were not going to explain themselves.

Leon leaned back in his seat, arms folded, smirk on his lips.

“Interesting.”

“Don’t.” Chris’s gaze was steady.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t start.” Chris’s eyes narrowed. Leon’s — widened:

“Start what?”

Rose was watching the scene like another episode of “Peep show”. Finally, Leon chuckled under his breath and raised his hands in defeat: “Okay, okay. Not starting anything.”

Chris tilted his head — testing the trust in seconds. Another few more seconds — his gaze softened.

“Thank you.”

Leon’s chest did that stupid thing when people were either deeply crushed with their feelings or dying of heart attack. That one sounded sincere.

“For what?” Kennedy asked in return.

“For coming back.” Rose answered for Chris. Leon smiled at her too.

For coming back.

Leon had always been the one to be left behind. And now he could see these two probably had been though similar stuff. And Chris?

If before Leon had felt their connection to be just playful. Right now?

Kennedy probably wouldn’t confess that to himself even, but he really would want to give it a try. What was giving him hope? The fact that none of them were going to run away at this point.

They spent more time in the cafe: Rose was sharing her school drama, Leon opened up about a couple non-traumatic stories from his earliest police officer days. Chris confessed no more than of his surprising hobby of playing the guitar — that actually matched to his frog sticker even more now.

It all felt just right. So when it was time to go and Leon stood up from his seat, Rose’s voice sounded worried enough to wound Kennedy:

“Don’t go.” She frowned.

Leon paused. It hit hard. More than he had expected.

Chris looked at Rose, then at Leon, like he was trapped between those two.

Leon softened immediately.

“I have work,” Leon said gently. “But I’ll come back.”

Rose squinted.

“Promise?”

“Promise.” Leon nodded.

Rose didn’t smile, but something in her blue eyes flickered — another recognition?

Leon took his coffee — refilled twice for today, then leaned to Chris’s ear, so only he could hear:

“You’re doing well.”

Chris’s froze. Leon didn’t wait for an answer and headed to the exit.

“See you,” he murmured.

“See you,” Chris managed to answer.

And for the first time in many years, none of them felt like they needed to survive today.

***

A few days ago when Rebecca had first suggested this cafe, Leon had had no idea it would become so special for him: too hipster-coded for his age, too noisy due to the central location, with a variety of sweet beverages he didn’t want anyways; and still, that one rendez-vous had reminded him of a part of his life he had abandoned a long time ago.

Stability?

Hope?

Something people didn’t tend to name but felt it?

So when Leon stepped inside familiar Caramel Cat cafe with the same smiley cat, same very long whiskers, Kennedy tugged a smirk. A silly mascot for a silly but sacred place.

Something caught his attention right away. Sounds. Sounds of an argument between a child and an adult.

Of course those were them.

“I won’t go.” Rose protested over something like Chris was about to send her to the war.

Or probably, it was a personal war indeed.

Chris rubbed the bridge of his nose. The man seemed to be more exhausted than usual, still, Leon found him astonishingly attractive even like that.

A tired single father with his own drama not a single adult man would want to deal with. Leon suddenly gained a new type, aparently.

And he only was hoping Chris was also into depressed but funny, occasionally alcoholic detectives in return.

“Rose,” Chris sighed looking at the girl. Right now she represented everything that could be associated with the pure stubbornness. “You can’t just run away every time. A true fighter wouldn’t do that.”

Rose pressed her lips together. She reminded Leon of a kettle that was ready too blow up here and now.

“I can and I will. I am not one of your recruits, dad.”

Chris lost his face.

Leon gulped.

That one was serious.

It wasn’t a fight over going sleeping early or finishing the breakfast. It was personal.

So many times in his life Leon was trying to convince himself that other people’s troubles were out of his concern. And every time he was failing, not being able to ignore the one’s pain.

This time wasn’t an exception.

Kennedy made a few steps to their table, Rose turned to him a second later, her blue eyes got enlightened in seconds. That kind of expression when a person could breathe again after spending some time in the outspace with no air.

“Leon!” She exclaimed instead of greetings. Leon seemed to got used to it already. “Tell him!” She pointed at Chris.

“Hey there.” Leon smiled softly. “What do I need to tell him?” Leon and Chris’s gazes met. Just like the first time, just like before, but here and now. Electric shock. Leon had to use all his concentration so he didn’t lose himself completely.

“Hello.” Chris said calmly. He also felt relieved to see Leon. Then he lowered his gaze feeling shame for this scene. Still, he rushed himself to explain: “We are discussing Rose’s school presentation speech.”

Leon suddenly recalled it

“The one you mentioned yesterday?”

The girl nodded without hiding her surprised expression.

“You remembered?” She frowned, but not at him, at the situation. “Yes. But I am not going.”

Chris sighed again, looking at Leon. He didn’t need any words to show ‘I tried my best. Now your turn.’

It somehow warmed Leon’s heart. This kind of trust meant a lot.

He sat beside at his usual spot.

“So, you are not going, you said?”

Rose shook her head.

“Nope.”

She was determined. Stubborn. Maybe, Chris wasn’t her blood father, but this kind of features of character? Pretty much readable in them both.

Leon leaned on the fist with his chin, the gaze — calm, understanding.

“Okay, don’t go.”

Rose’s eyes widened.

Chris’s — as well.

“Really?” Father and daughter asked at the same time.

Leon nodded.

“Yup. You don’t want to, right?”

Rose paused. Then snorted.

“I don’t. It’s stupid.” Then she turned to Chris. “See? Leon understands it’s stupid. And you don’t.”

Chris glanced at Leon like he had just spotted an idiot. Leon only smirked.

“May I only ask, what is the topic?”

Rose shifted a little, thinking if she had to mention it. Then folded her arms.

“Family.” She shrugged.

Leon bit his lip. There it was.

“I see.” His eyes narrowed, scanning the girl’s face more attentively. “I don’t think you take it as stupid. What is the real reason, Rose?”

The girl looked surprised. She adjusted her hair for a moment.

“It’s this stupid speech. I don’t like it. And performing in front of the whole class? I’ll die.”

Chris exhaled through his nostrils. He felt hopeless in it.

Leon’s gaze softened. He smiled kindly, trying not to look too much teasing, but supportive.

“Well, one thing I can say for sure — you won’t die. There is not a single record in human history of people dying while performing a speech.”

“Really?” Something changed in Rose’s expression.

“Really.” Leon lied. There probably were such occasions, he just didn’t care to google.

Rose frowned again, looked away.

“Doesn’t matter. Still stupid.”

Leon tilted his head.

“May I take a look at your notes?”

There was a hesitation on Rose’s expression. Leon didn’t push, just tilted his head and repeated gently:

“Please?”

Rose snorted, but nevertheless, reached for her notebook.

Leon stood up, approached their table and took it. He scanned the text carefully. His expression — all concentrated, just like when he was studying a murder case file.

“It’s actually really good.” He concluded after reading.

However, Rose rolled her eyes.

“It sucks.” She muttered.

“Rose.” Chris interrupted, but Leon raised his hand showing he got it.

Chris retreated, now leaning closer on his elbows, and keeping watching the scene.

“Do you mind if I add a couple of sentences? I’ll keep it short, I promise.” Leon asked politely.

Rose bit her lip, thinking. It was hard to tell whether she was actually admitting to such an option or was choosing the best way to say no in the most impolite way possible.

“You can try.” Rose said in a calm tone, but her eyes were deceiving her interest as she peaked at the pages while Leon was scribbling words with.

In a few minutes he passed the notebook back to Rose. The girl studied it with the gaze teachers were in the habit of having, her mouth twitched a little.

“That’s… actually not bad.” She admitted.

Leon smiled softly. Maybe he wasn’t a kind of guy to talk about something important. Not out loud, at least. But on a paper? Sometimes it just made sense.

“But I still don’t want it. There will be the whole class. Watching.” Rose complained.

Chris looked at her sharply.

“Rose—”

Rose’s face tightened.

“I don’t want them to look at me.”

Leon’s stomach clenched. Chris’s jaw tightened, as he wanted to say something, but forced himself not to.

Leon looked at Rose and nodded slowly.

“Okay. That’s fair.”

Rose frowned suspiciously.

“It is?”

Leon shrugged.

“Yeah, it’s hard to handle.”

He glanced at Chris just for a second, something warm was in the father’s eyes. Then Kennedy’s attention was all back to the girl.

“But…” he continued in that efficient voice of a guy from the TV —the one Rose had teased him about… and was right. “…we can fix it.”

Rose opened her eyes wide in a surprise.

“We can?”

Leon smirked. This whole thing with Rose’s school assignment reminded him of a real mission.

His smile got cunning.

“You have three options here.” He showed three fingers accordingly, and then started bending them as he was mentioning the scenarios:

“Option one: you pretend there is nobody there in the classroom.”

“No way.” Rose cut it right away. Leon continued like nothing:

“Option two: instead of making it all serious, you make them laugh — so they won’t have a chance to criticize you.”

Rose hesitated, but Kennedy rushed to mention the last variant:

“Option three,” he bent the third finger, “we can make it short. Just one minute.”

A pause. None of three said a word for a moment.

“Only one minute?” Rose finally repeated.

“Only one minute.”

Rose hesitated again. But not for a long time.

“This could work…” she admitted looking at her notes again and the way Leon had modified them already. Even so, one question was still bothering her badly:

“What if I get nerveous? And mess up? I will die!” Her facial expression twitching: the ideal picture of a confident government worker’s daughter she had been trying to built this whole time ruined at that moment.

Leon didn’t push, just said calmly:

“Once again, you won’t die.” He reminded gently. “I guarantee you that.”

Rose pressed her lips together, then nodded.

Leon continued:

“However, if you get nervous — because it is completely normal…” Kennedy reached for his pocket then handed something to Rose a second later.

“Another paper frog?” She raised her eyebrow.

It was indeed the one from a white paper. Leon had made it just this morning before coming to the cafe.

“Not just another paper frog,” he corrected, “ it’s a calming paper frog.” he sat back at his chair, and then explained: “The solution is simple: put the frog in your pocket. Whenever you feel cooked? Squeeze it.” Leon winked. Rose looked at the frog again. A second. She squeezed it. The paper bent in a very satisfying way before returning to the initial position, reminding of a real frog jumping.

Chris was watching the whole scene almost dropping his jaw. Leon noticed that and gave him a promising look.

Rose meanwhile was dealing with a tough inner war inside her head: between her fears and a confidence Leon’s ideas had given her.

Finally, she raised her hands dramatically and stated:

“Okay-okay, I will try.” Her eyes narrowed then. “But if I still die, my ghost will haunt you forever.” She threatened in a very realistic way.

Kennedy chuckled. That kid was the most daring one he had ever met in his life.

“Deal.”

Then Leon turned to Chris. The man was so focused on the paper frog on the table — deep in his thoughts, that it took him a moment to feel Leon’s gaze on himself.

Their eyes met. Leon tugged already familiar smirk being fascinated by Chris’s reaction. Chris’s lips curled, in the way he probably didn’t expect from himself too.

“How much time do we have left?” Leon asked.

Chris cleared his throat.

“Twenty minutes.”

Rose grabbed her backpack, tossed the notebook inside of it. The paper frog was in her pocket next.

“Then let’s go.” She seemed to have much more courage now. “You are going too, Leon.” A statement. Not a question.

Kennedy tilted his head in confusion.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” Rose planted her hands on hips. “You are the one who encouraged me. Besides, dad will be bored to wait alone outside.”

Leon’s caught his breath in the throat. Because he was officially invited. Because he would be with Chris this whole time. Because all of the sudden it started to mean something.

Kennedy stood up, adjusting his leather jacket.

“Okay, then, what are we waiting for?” The gaze was roaming from Rose to Chris, and Chris — he just returned a smile.

“Yeah. Let’s get to my car.”

They exited the cafe. The street met them with the sun. The snow was still lying on the ground though.

The school was just a few blocks away. Once the car got parked, Rose stormed out of it.

“Hey, don’t rush, it’s slippery outside, and you still have five minutes.” Chris barked ahead, while the girl wave at them:

“I’ll be back.” She promised. And ran anyways.

Chris snorted, but a slight smile was still playing on his lips.

“Get them, kiddo.” Leon saluted.

Rose’s silhouette vanished behind the main entrance doors.

Leon and Chris remained alone in the car. A silence. Not tensed one, just leaving questions unspoken.

Kennedy talked first:

“Fancy taking a walk while waiting?”

Chris glanced at him. His eyes — deep, thinking way too much. But he nodded.

They went behind the school, at the stadium all covered in snow. The sun was still shining brightly bringing some warmth after the coldest days of winter. A small promise, a hint — of the upcoming spring. Both men hid their hands in their pockets while walking.

“I have to admit,” Leon hummed in a casual but not typical for himself mild voice, “Rose has a temper. Your temper.”

Chris chuckled.

“She learns the worst from me, that’s true.”

Both men smiled. Both had smiling lines under their eyes. Both with a history. Being in the moment — just there.

Leon hesitated before asking.

“How did you… become her father?” He looked away, the gaze focused on the school fence and a wide road behind it — leading somewhere far away from here.

Chris didn’t answer right away. Leon bet the man was dreaming of a cigarette for a better storytelling.

He sighed finally. Not sadly, more like getting deeper into his memories.

“Her parents were the dearest friends of mine.”

Were.

Past simple.

Leon didn’t interrupt, just kept listening and allowing Chris to take his time.

“Ethan never wanted to work where I work. But he was obliged to.” Chris mentioned the name. The story was just there. “And how it often happens in my field — you don’t always make it.” Chris looked at Leon. Leon — turned to him too. They stopped at the middle of the field. Only their footsteps left behind.

“And what happens even more often — your close ones can suffer from that too.” It wasn’t just Chris’s friend story. It was a part of Chris’s personal memories too.

Leon related. Too much. The loss, the exhaustion. Their worlds were different in some way, but in this pain? It was common for them both.

“Ethan felt it was coming. So before that incident took his and his wife’s lives, he had asked me for a favor I couldn’t refuse.”

“Rose.” Leon guessed.

Chris nodded.

Kennedy felt that pain — till the fibers of his soul. Taking care of those who were weaker, the sacrifice.

He didn’t need more details. Not right now. When Chris would be ready to tell more.

That was a reason Leon made a step forward. The distance between them was miserable probably for the first time since they met. Two gazes locked.

They both understood.

“What you did today for Rose…” Chris started, but Leon didn’t allow him to continue:

“Don’t mention it. It was exciting for me too.”

Chris tugged a small smile.

“Do I need to ask more — why?”

Leon chuckled. Another step. Their faces — inches from each other. Puffs of breath tickling faces.

“I wish I knew.” Leon admitted, but without any sadness, just like a fact. “I never dig that deep, just do what I want.”

Chris shook his head grinning now, and gosh, that grin was something.

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“You can have me instead.”

They both stopped smiling. Leon’s hands grabbed on Chris’s collar of his coat — pulling him and finally kissing.

The warmth of his mouth was heating better than a hot latte after the blizzard. It wasn’t all romantic, it was hungry. For life, for peace, for this.

Leon tasted the man, the mint flavour he had after the bubble gum, the tongue didn’t ask for a permission to explore. Chris exhaled through his nostrils, his hands wrapped Leon’s waist, pulling him closer, sharing the warmth and taking his in return.

Chris tilted his head, deepened the kiss, making Leon lose his head for a moment. He hadn’t kissed someone like that for a long time already — busy with cases, with alcohol and his own fighting.

But now? It was left forgotten.

When those strong arms were wrapping him tightly, when they scratched each other with their stubble. Not gentle at all, but emotional as hell.

Leon pulled back so they could catch some breath, foreheads pressing together. Clouds of breath were still there. It started to snow.

It was always snowy once the weather was getting warmer for some reason.

Leon cupped Chris’s chin, the thumb rubbed it gently.

“Not gonna lie, it is the first time I am kissing someone calling himself dad.” Leon snorted in laughter. His blue eyes got those sparks in them — alive. Here and now.

Chris rolled his eyes playfully, he pressed Leon closer.

“You’re lucky I am in a good mood now.”

Leon whistled.

“You can be in a good mood?!”

It earned him tickling. And he reacted.

And Chris remembered that.

“Okay-okay, got it.” Leon laughed, still being captured in those arms. “gonna reduce the percentage of the jokes… let’s say, on 20%?”

“Give it a try, and you will see what happens.”

They stood like that for a moment. Smiling like idiots, acting like damn teenagers in their fifties. The snow blizzard was getting stronger, they both looked up.

“Let’s get back in the car.” Chris suggested.

And as much as Leon wanted to stay like that for longer, the common sense, unfortunately, was one of the must to the adult life.

Leon pressed a shorter kiss to Chris’s lips, another rub on his cheek — before pulling back and marching back to the car.

The heart was still beating fast. It was the first time in while when Leon didn’t want to lose himself at work or run away. He didn’t want to name or label it. He was too old for that.

Instead he left all his worries for tomorrow.

The snow crunched underfoot. He was piercing Chris’s wide back, wondering how it would look without the coat and shirt.

Maybe for later.

Chris allowed himself to smoke as they stood outside the car — talking about nothing. Serious topics could wait. Favourite brands of local crafted beers? Made just enough sense.

Rose came back when they were both in the car already. She jumped in to the backseat all excited and not being able to breathe properly.

“I’ve made it!” She exclaimed, and it was the first time Leon saw this girl being so overwhelmed. He smiled at her — sincerely.

“Never doubted you, kiddo.”

Rose adjusted her hair, still being on emotions.

“You should have seen their faces. I kinda used the second option too and made them laugh at my annoying uncle joke.” Rose said it proudly, like she had just earned a noble prize for it.

This time even Chris laughed — and this laughter was true honey for Leon’s ears, his chest tightened.

“Just don’t get too excited about it, or you will turn into a joking machine like Leon.” Chris stated, starting an engine.

Kennedy almost lost his face.

Was it a joke?

Then Leon hummed:

“That is the best outcome possible.”

“Doubt it.” Chris turned his head to him, the eyes locking just for a moment to read the subtext. Then Chris looked at Rose, his voice was getting those rare playful notes: “hey, Rose, I was thinking… how’s the idea of inviting Leon for dinner at home?”

Rose’s gaze roamed both men suspiciously. She definitely suspected something. And wasn’t going to stay silent about it.

“You two kissed, didn’t you?”

Leon gulped.

Chris made a grimace similar to pain and stifled laughter.

But Rose didn’t need a direct answer.

“I think it’s a good idea.” She bent her arms, “under condition — he is going to help cooking.”

Leon laughed under his breathe.

“Commanding? Already?”

Rose tugged a smirk — similar to the one Leon was doing.

“You signed for it yourself, don’t complain.”

Leon raised his hands in defense. Chris rolled his eyes again and the car headed off.

The snow kept falling. There was another argument about car’s radio, not so many jokes from Chris, but each — a striking one. Leon glanced over the window.

He still didn’t fancy hipster coffee shops.

He and Chris still had their problems. Their pain. Their trauma.

Rose still had never met her real parents at mature age — and never would.

But right now they could admit — none of them had to face it alone.