Is This Enough ||MxM || Lgbtq+

Chapter 1

A/N Above is where Leo works

Leonardo's P.O.V.

I tapped my credit card against the payment panel of the aerial taxicab, feeling utterly exasperated with my existing circumstances. As I strolled down the street, a dog appeared in my line of vision.

His body was skinny and fragile, and his facial abnormalities were contorted with pain. Yet, when our eyes met, his gaze was soft and caring. I knelt down and with apprehension, scratched the fur between his ears. In our shared gaze, I felt an inescapable familiarity as if we were both struggling to find a place to belong.

He gave out a loud howl, one that only a wolf would make. I glanced at my watch, realizing I was running late. With a heavy heart, I had to leave, knowing that, even if we were alike, I still had obligations that I had to take care of.

Crossing the street, I noticed a discarded flyer with doomsday rhetoric written across its face; 'The end is coming. Be prepared.' Not wanting to give it much thought, I tossed the paper into a nearby bin before making my way through the lobby's revolving door.

Gleaming black tiles stretched out before me, and towering granite columns added to the grandiose atmosphere. I was waved in with nothing more than a flash of my badge unlike the formally dressed individuals in my vicinity. Though not without a few envious glances.

As Bruno and I stepped into the elevator, he exclaimed in an enthusiastic tone "Good morning, Mr. Brown! We're running a bit late, but you still have time to make your appointment with Mr. Walker at 11:00. Plus, there's a pile of San Angeles project reports sitting atop your desk waiting for your review!"

At the Acrima Technical Unit, it was an unspoken rule not to reveal any information about the job or the clients. All new hires had to promise not to talk about anything they saw or heard while working, and they were warned that if they weren't discreet, they would face serious repercussions.

From the moment I arrived at Acrima, I found myself juggling a range of low-paying jobs; service worker, janitor, hospitality staff. Each demanding my time and energy, but none offering the financial stability I desperately needed. Life was a struggle, and the bills piled up with no relief in sight. But then, one day, I came across an advertisement recruiting for the military. It was a long shot, but I decided to take a chance.

The promise seemed straightforward: comprehensive training, guaranteed medical and dental coverage, and the perks of a retirement plan and paid vacation. It sounded too good to ignore, so I signed up, eager to escape the grind of my previous jobs. But what I didn't expect was how quickly things would change. The traditional notion of what a soldier was, someone sent off to battle in defense of their country soon became a distant memory.

The landscape of modern warfare had shifted dramatically, and so had the nature of the training. I was thrust into a world of advanced military tactics, cutting-edge information technology, and...archery. Yes, archery. Apparently, arrows still had a place in combat, even in the age of drones and laser-guided missiles. But the real shocker was when I was handed an apron and taught how to whip up the perfect omelette.

At first, I thought it was a joke. But in time, I realized that every skill they were teaching us had a purpose, whether I understood it at the time or not. I can now hold my own in a firefight, troubleshoot complex systems, shoot a bow with impressive accuracy and yes, make an omelette that could rival the best chefs.

The omelette, surprisingly, became a life-saver more times than I care to admit. Whether it was in a high-stress situation where a hot meal was the only thing that could bring some semblance of normalcy, or when I had to impress a superior with more than just my combat skills, my newfound culinary prowess became an unexpected asset.