#bullied until the end of time. whole department calling him snow white bc. you know. magic mirror. pfft

[unprocione]

           * @greenherb ︴ continued from 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔!

"..you've won one every year since you started, won nationals, and they still won't let you in?" leon will have to take two steps for every one of kevin's own strides, but knows he'll have no issue keeping up, even with his astonishment at the seemingly insane requirements of the s.t.a.r.s entry exams taking his breath away. "that's.. that's ridiculous. maybe there's something wrong with the test, like a trick question, something like that." leon's eyebrows furrow; he won't know for sure until he takes the exam someday himself, but maybe he and kevin can compare notes when that day comes. leon's own marksmanship wasn't too shoddy. on average, he could hit the dead-center of the target most often than not if he really gave his full concentration, the result of weekends spent with officer kennedy senior on various gun ranges. however, leon was sure there was plenty of tips and tricks to learn how to hone his accuracy further from the advice of a national champion like kevin - if his father were still alive, he would surely be proud of how far leon had come.

leon's own boots are unblemished, barely scuffed, coming to a pause with a squeak against the polished floors. "that's what i said. i'm sure you clean up nice and all, but there's a distinct difference between.. your type's nice, and, you know, my standards." leon stumbles a bit at the clap on the back, cracking a grin at their back & forth exchange. "that's alright, really, if i had to, i'd work out of my car if it made a difference here, uh, but i'd rather not, of course." leon stays behind kevin as he's led out of the building's side entrance, using the taller officer's silhouette as shelter against the incoming mist of rain. he makes a convincing shadow, mirroring kevin with a mild raise of his hand in greeting to the pair of strangers clustered under the awning, but leon doesn't stick around to make an impression, stuck to kevin like glue, and even then, the smoke certainly doesn't persuade him otherwise. to his credit, he makes it halfway up the stairs before mentioning the cigarette plucked from the box, a new personal record. "you know, they actually say women find men who don't smoke more attractive these days? just ah, in case you hadn't heard."

leon picks at the black polish on his nails as they continue, paint chipping and flaking away with ease, leon nodding his head to acknowledge kevin and then, realizing he was out of kevin's eyeline again, speaks up. "got it! i trust you. straight to back hall, outside, then stairs... i think i can remember that. do i need a key card for this door, or..? and why are we working out of museum rather than like, a station building, if it's this difficult to get around in a hurry? is there a separate building for the holding cells? how far from our desks? is there an emergency exit in case of a fire or something, so i don't set off any alarms by accident?" firing off a handful of questions without taking a breath, leon steps ahead of kevin into the doorway as guided, but doesn't stray far from kevin at all, glancing over his shoulder and waiting patiently for him to take the lead again, maneuvering his damp bangs away from falling into his face with a toss of his head.

"i'm right behind you. murders, though? i was told, uh, rabies outbreak and influenza, a really nasty combination. i'm up to date on all my vaccinations, just in case, i had them finished up before i left new york with my last physical. i've heard nothing about murders. are you guys thinking like there's a possible serial killer in the midst of all this too? christ."