#seriously tho they understand perfectly that ethan is both the silly guy™️

[bunnybeandraws]

You know, I've realized that part of the reason I get so much writing inspiration from @crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington comics is because the way it writes the characters just... Scratches my brain in a way I really like. :3

It's the smell of freshly cooked eggs that wakes Leon that morning, and he rolls out of his bed (which was little more than an air mattress set up on the floor with a few spare blankets thrown on top) with a groan.

He'd have a quick shot to wake up the rest of the way, but he's sure Ethan would disapprove, especially this early in the morning before he's even had breakfast…

Oh, right… It'd probably be a good idea to check up on that, see how Ethan's doing.

Walking into the small kitchen of the even smaller apartment, the thing that surprises Leon most aren't the dark circles under Ethan's eyes from lack of sleep, or the way he just stares blankly at the eggs sizzling away on the pan. No, it's something else…

"Are you… Cooking breakfast with a blanket on?"

"It's cold." Ethan snaps, shooting Leon a quick glare from the corner of his eye that's definitely less intimidating than intended simply due to his softer face. "You got a problem?"

"No no. Just might be a fire hazard is all." Leon says, propping his hand on his hip as he gestures with his other hand to the thermostat on the wall.

"Thermostat also says it's, like, 75 degrees. And that's enough to make me wanna change into shorts."

Leon hears a soft click from the stove, indicating that Ethan's turned the heat off so as to not burn the eggs, and he can't help but wonder if his tiredness comes from baby things, or nightmares.

Both are plausible.

"Do you get cold easily?" Leon asks, unable to stop the question from slipping past his tongue. Not that Ethan holds it against him as he extends his hand to Leon, the one a Lycan had taken a chunk out of.

"I guess ever since Dulvey I've run a bit colder…" He murmurs, and as Leon takes his hand, 'a bit' might've been an understatement. Ethan's skin is freezing, like he's been sat in front of the AC or out in the cold for hours on end.

"I think it's because I died back there, and I-" Ethan pauses as he pulls his hand away from Leon, his eyes very quickly growing glassy. "And I'm technically a corpse. Haha, hah…"

Despite the soft smile and the forced laughter, Ethan swiftly devolves into sobs and hiccups, hands covering his face like he's disgusted by his own appearance, desperately begging Leon not to look at him.

Leon, for a moment at least, just kind of stands there, unsure of what to do. He's never been the comforting type, especially not in recent years, so all he can really do is watch Ethan break down, the blanket falling from his shoulders as he shakes.

Almost hesitantly, he reaches out to awkwardly pat his shoulder, glancing away until he's suddenly pulled into a desperate hug, Ethan burying his face in his shoulder.

'He's freezing!' Leon thinks to himself as he returns the embrace, one hand cradling the back of Ethan's head for support and the other simply resting on his back. 'Maybe I should hold him for just a bit longer… To warm him up…'

…Breakfast can wait, Leon decides… Ethan needs him more, and he won't let go until even the softest of hiccups has faded from his tongue.

#resident evil #leon kennedy #ethan winters #resident evil village #re8 #resident evil 8 #lethan #seriously tho they understand perfectly that ethan is both the silly guy™️ #and also one of the most tragic characters in the franchise #and they balance it all out really well! :3 #*shaking its art in my teeth like a dog* (affectionate)