The fact that he could not read displayed a concealed weakness that was holding him back. Also fact that a woman hurt him in the past revealed another weakness. .
Even though she threatened his way of life and his own security he could not kill her. Though he did consider the option Leon was very professional and could not kill any woman or a child for any reason. He displayed this professionalism in another seen in the movie. In the opening scene he was sent to kill the man in the hotel, after murdering in cold blood countless men he was instructed to let the last man go he did so with any hesitance. .
The most vivid account of nonverbal communication in the entire movie I feel was their first encounter in the hallway. The girl was smoking a cigarette sitting on the ledge. As Leon approached his initial reaction was to ask her why she was hiding the cigarette as he pasted. He never says another word, yet she still tells him about her bruise and that she got it playing a game supposedly. Even though he turns and walks away seemingly without any regard to what she was saying his nonverbal reaction tels of his true feelings. She ends the conversation asking him not to tell her parents about her smoking and he does not even turn his back to acknowledge her, as he walked way almost with his head down in disgust. .
Of the two main characters the girl by far shows the stronger communication skills. The girl proves to be very intuitive. She immediately asks the hit man if she could move in with him. She seemed to grasp the situation very clearly, seeing not only her need but his needs as well. By offering to basically take care of him in return for letting her stay there. Also asking for him to take care of her brothers" murderers in return. Another example is when her school calls her in the morning to see why she wasn't attending class, she pretends that she is her mother and then very morbidly proceeds tell the school that her daughter is dead.
