Leslie Kyle

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Leslie Kyle
(レズリー・カイル, Rezurī Kairu?)
Biographical information
Home	Midgar (Wall Market, Sector 6)
Age	18 (Final Fantasy VII Remake) 20 (The Kids Are Alright)
Affiliation	Don Corneo (formerly)
Occupation	Henchman (formerly)
Physical description
Race	Human
Gender	Male
Hair color	Silver
Eye color	Yellow
Gameplay details
Type	Non-player character
Behind the scenes information
Designer	Roberto Ferrari
Japanese voice actor	Tasuku Hatanaka
English voice actor	Mark Whitten

Leslie Kyle is a minor supporting character in the Final Fantasy VII series, serving as a minor supporting character in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. He is a major character in The Kids Are Alright. He was a lackey working under Don Corneo in the Wall Market district of Sector 6 and held an elevated position, but later renounced his allegiance to him and left to search for his missing fiancée, Merle. In The Kids Are Alright, he helped Evan Townshend and Kyrie Canaan with their investigations.

History

Before Final Fantasy VII

Leslie got engaged to his girlfriend, Merle. Six months ago, she was selected to be in one of Don Corneo's bridal auditions, and before departing, gave Leslie a pendant. The same night as her audition, she vanished without a trace. Intent to learn of her fate, Leslie became one of Corneo's henchmen and eventually rose in rank.

Original continuity

In The Kids Are Alright, Leslie helped Evan and Kyrie with their investigations and sought further atonement for working under Corneo. He settled down with Merle, who became pregnant.

Remake continuity

Leslie prevents Cloud and Aerith from entering Corneo's mansion.

During "The Town That Never Sleeps", Cloud and Aerith were stopped by Leslie at the entrance to Corneo’s mansion. He said the don had no interest in "pretty boys", to which Cloud said they were looking for someone. He asked if it was Cloud's first time in Wall Market and informed him that people—especially men—weren't allowed to just walk into the mansion. Leslie refused to let Aerith in, despite her pleading, and despite the two lackeys commenting favorably on her appearance. Leslie reiterated that they required approval to enter, and suggested they seek out the Trio.

Cloud returned with a letter of approval, but Leslie said those applied to women only. When Cloud told him it was for Aerith, Leslie still barred him from entering. Cloud prepared to attack, but Leslie convinced him otherwise as Corneo would retaliate, potentially harming someone Cloud caress about, or someone he didn't even know. He told Cloud there was some time before the audition and urged him to return with Aerith if they were so adamant, but advised against it.#

Leslie brings Aerith and Tifa their gear as a gift from Andrea.

Cloud returned wearing a dress with Aerith, shocking and baffling Leslie. He said he hoped they knew what they would be getting into, stepping aside and reluctantly granting them entry. Sometime during the audition, Leslie conspired with Andrea Rhodea, peacefully returning Cloud and his friends' gear to them. He promised to clean up the mess of unconscious thugs left by Tifa and Aerith, telling them just to finish the job.

Leslie is cornered by Cloud and his friends.

Around the time of the Sector 7 plate collapse, Corneo tasked Leslie to track down Avalanche and bring them to him. During "In Search of Hope", Cloud, Barret, and Tifa returned to Corneo’s mansion and encountered Leslie. He asked what brought them back, and they explained they were looking for a way topside. If they helped with some "unfinished business" regarding Corneo, Leslie offered his aid. Leslie guided Cloud's party through the sewers, relying on them for protection, but they struggled to trust him, especially Barret. Along the way, Tifa asked why he risked it all for them back during the audition. He said Andrea told him to and cryptically said he "couldn’t bring himself to let it happen again".

The group reached a door that Leslie claimed was their destination. Cloud and Barret asked him about their deal, but he said their mission wasn't that simple before the supposed "key" got snatched by an Abzu Shoat, leaving him frantic. Together, they chased after the shoat and recovered the key, revealed to be a pendant. Leslie gave a somber apology to Cloud's group, and Barret asked if it belonged to a family member. Leslie told them it belonged to his fiancée, who was chosen to be one of Corneo's brides; however, she disappeared that same night. Tifa asked why he had brought them to the sewers, and Leslie explained it was for revenge and that he needed closure or else he couldn't move on. Cloud and Barret consoled Leslie, reassuring that they'd help.

Leslie threatens to shoot Corneo.

Upon returning to the door, Leslie entered alone, much to Cloud’s party's concern, soon following after him. Leslie confronted Corneo at his hideout in the sewers and held him at gunpoint, but Corneo subdued him. Corneo divulged his secret plans and prepared to execute him, but Cloud's party intervened. Corneo unleashed Abzu onto the group and escaped. Leslie blocked Abzu from striking Tifa and was knocked unconscious and flung through a door. Once awake, he was informed that Corneo had escaped, but said he would track him down eventually. The others offered comforting words to Leslie, who grabbed a bag and headed outside. Leslie gave grappling guns to Cloud's party, who revealed they were looking for someone, too, encouraging him to do the same. He said the grappling guns were one-way tickets, telling them to arrange their affairs before departing. Cloud's party and Leslie bade each other farewell and went their separate ways.

Characteristics

Appearance

Leslie is a lean young man with fair skin, spiky medium-length silver hair, and yellow eyes. He wears a black cap, a black leather jacket with red and black panther patterned lining. Leslie also wears a white undershirt, knee-length black shorts, tall boots, a black glove, a striped black and white wristband, and a dog-tag necklace.

Personality

Leslie is an apathetic and ill-tempered youth with a stone-cold gaze. Stoic and calm, he has great negotiating skills and isn't easily moved. At first glance, he seems like another one of Corneo's obedient lackeys, but his gaze suggests a tragic past. He shows genuine concern and advises against Aerith's plea to get into Corneo's audition.

Leslie cares deeply for his fiancée, Merle. Though he complicity serves Corneo, he harbors hatred towards him for the role he played in Merle’s mysterious disappearance. Corneo seems to have thought highly of him and intended to give Leslie a part in a new Wall Market should Neo Midgar be built. Despite this, Leslie sought revenge on Corneo, later renouncing his allegiance to him and enlisting Cloud to help kill him. His quest for vengeance went unfulfilled, but with renewed hope, he set off to find her.

Musical themes

"Leslie's Theme" plays at the beginning of the "Through the Underground Waterway" quest during the cutscene when the group encounters Leslie. The track is composed by Yoshinori Nakamura and is track 6 of disc 6 in the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack.

Gallery

Artwork by Roberto Ferrari.

Leslie in Wall Market.

Leslie with The Trio in the Corneo Colosseum.

Cloud holds Leslie's pendant.

Gazing at his fiancée's pendant.

The pendant.

Corneo subdues Leslie.

Tifa encourages Leslie.

Etymology

Leslie is both a first and last name that derives from an anglicization of the Gaelic term leas celyn meaning "holly-garden". The name is typically spelled "Leslie" when given to boys, and "Lesley" when given to girls. The earliest use of the name comes from the Scottish Leslie Clan.

Kyle is a common first name and also a surname that transfers from a region of the same name in southwestern Scotland. Kyle is a topographical term derived from the Scottish Gaelic word caol, meaning a sound or a strait.