Chris could feel the heavy weight of eyes on him as he started his second set of deadlifts. He was pretty used to getting looked at as he worked out, it's not like he wasn\u2019t aware of the way he looks in a tight t-shirt and admittedly short work out shorts despite nearing fifty. He doesn\u2019t usually give much thought to the looks, so used to it as he is, but this time he couldn\u2019t help the low heat forming deep in his gut as the weight of the gaze on him became deeply familiar. Looking up in the mirror to check his form, his eyes couldn\u2019t help but wander over to meet the familiar blue ones watching him closely, the young man\u2019s desire clearly written across his beautiful features.
\nHe had to tear his gaze away before his own face started to mirror the desire that was growing stronger deep within him. It's one thing for random gym goers to see a young guy desiring an older man but it\u2019s a whole other thing for a much older man to be seen so clearly lusting after a guy decades younger than him. The last thing he wanted was to be labeled a dirty old man and asked to leave, despite the fact that he was very much feeling like said dirty old man at the moment.
\nFinishing up his set, Chris decided that he\u2019d worked out enough for the day, no longer able to fully devote his focus to it. His physique and stamina could survive a shorter workout once in a while even at his age. Picking up his sweatshirt and water, he slowly made his way through the gym and towards the locker room, feeling eyes tracking his every move before he found himself being quietly followed. He had just opened up his locker in the empty room when the sound of soft footsteps stopped right behind him, close enough the skin on his back tingled underneath his sweaty shirt.
\n\u201cEnding your workout early today, I see.\u201d Chris let out a breath at the sound of the sultry voice coming from the man behind him. He fought the urge to turn around and look into the pretty blue eyes he knew were burning into the back of his head.
\n\u201cWhat, are you timing my workouts now?\u201d He tried to sound annoyed but the words came out more amused than anything.
\n\u201cWell, you did drive me here so unless you plan on leaving me behind\u2026\u201d The younger man\u2019s deadpan voice trailed off, not feeling the need to finish his sentence.
\nChris couldn\u2019t help the burst of laughter that escaped him. \u201cOkay, you\u2019ve got me there Leon.\u201d He turned around to see a bright smile spread across Leon\u2019s face. Chris loved that smile and he loved being the one to put it there almost as much. Leaning down, he pressed a chaste kiss to the smaller man's lips before pulling back slightly.
\n\u201cYou weren\u2019t exactly making it easy to focus on my workout when you were looking at me like you wanted to be bent over the weight bench, baby.\u201d His voice came out rough, low and right next to Leon\u2019s ear. A shiver ran its way down the younger man\u2019s spine at the feeling of Chris\u2019s warm breath, desire filling him once again.
\nNeeding to get the upper hand back, Leon turned to lean even closer to the larger man, making direct eye contact. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you take me home and show me actually what you think I want, daddy.\u201d He pressed a quick kiss to Chris\u2019s lips before pulling away completely to grab his workout bag. Chris stared after him for a moment while his brain tried to focus on anything beyond fucking Leon right here against the lockers before he quickly grabbed his own gym gear. \u201cLet\u2019s get the fuck out of here before I do something that will definitely get us both banned.\u201d The sound of laughter and Leon reaching out to grab his hand was the only response he got before he was dragged out of the locker room.
\nChris could feel questioning and judgemental eyes following them as Leon dragged him through the gym. He knew what people must be thinking and he couldn\u2019t blame them for it. He had fought his attraction to Leon for a while. He did his best to ignore how much he wanted Leon and how much the younger man made it clear he had wanted him. Chris knew Leon didn\u2019t care about their age difference, that it was part of the reason he had been so into Chris in the first place, but it didn\u2019t stop him from feeling like a creep. Leon was young enough to be his son for fuck\u2019s sake.
\nShaking his head as they climbed into his car, Chris put those thoughts out of his mind, no use dwelling on it at this point. He\u2019s long accepted that part of being with a man much younger than himself was being on the receiving end of disappointed and disgusted glares. Being with Leon was more than worth it all, he would take whatever abuse people could throw at him as long as it meant he got to love Leon.
\nBefore he knew it, they were pulling up in front of his home and the tension that had waned during the short drive came crashing back into them full force. Reaching over the center console, he grabbed the back of Leon\u2019s neck and dragged him in for a frantic kiss. The smaller man responded instantly, opening his mouth to allow Chris\u2019s tongue to push its way in, deepening the kiss. Leon\u2019s hands came up to grip the front of the older man\u2019s shirt, trying in vain to bring them even closer as Chris kept kissing him. Leon tasted like the stupid energy drinks he liked so much, Chris usually hated them but he couldn\u2019t get enough of the fruity taste in his boy's mouth. He only pulled away when the need for air got to be too much to ignore, leaving barely an inch between their mouths as they took deep breaths in.
\n\u201cChris- daddy, please.\u201d Leon needed Chris, he was so turned on from the kiss and the anticipation of what was to come that it was painful.
\nChris let out a deep growl at the name, it was not something he had even considered being called by past partners but, with Leon, it got him going like little else. \u201cGo inside, get naked and wait for me on the bed, baby. I\u2019ll be right behind you.\u201d He pulled Leon in for a quick kiss before pushing him towards the car door. \u201cAnd, no touching yourself, Leon.\u201d
\nHe watched his boy practically run inside while he slowly took his time grabbing their gym bags and heading in. A trail of shoes and clothes started at the entry way and continued on towards Chris\u2019s bedroom. Stopping to take off his shoes and drop their bags, Chris made sure to take his time doing it all slowly until the image of Leon impatiently waiting naked for him on his bed finally spurred him into action.
\nLeon laid waiting for Chris on the bed, his patience wearing thin as the seconds went by. Chris had said no touching but he was already so hard, the temptation growing as he thought about what the larger man would do if he disobeyed him. Slowly, he ran his hand down his abs and along to his waiting, hard, cock. Loosely gripping himself, he let his legs fall open wide and slowly stroked, letting a small moan slip out at the relief. After a few slow strokes, he heard footsteps making their way down the hall, the realization that he was about to be caught by Chris had his hand tightening and a loud moan leaving his lips.
\nThe older man paused right outside the open door at the sound of Leon\u2019s moan. Heat flared in his gut, he knew Leon must have disobeyed him, must be touching his pretty cock in there.
\nHe opened the door slowly, quietly, wanting to catch Leon red handed but not catching on quite yet that that was exactly what the younger man wanted. Another loud moan reached his ears as he stepped through the door. Looking up, he found Leon already staring at him, smirk on his face and hand stroking his hard length. The heat in his gut grew even hotter at the sight, Leon looked like heaven and hell wrapped up in the prettiest package Chris has ever seen. All long limbs, sinewy muscles and a mouth that was pure sin with an attitude to match.
\n\u201cI thought I told you not to touch yourself.\u201d Chris pitched his voice low and commanding, his Captain Redfield voice as Leon liked to call it.
\nThe smaller man didn\u2019t even pretend to be sorry or caught out, he just gave himself another slow stroke and looked at Chris with that cocky smirk of his. \u201cAnd? What are you going to do about it, daddy?\u201d
\nChris took a deep breath in at Leon\u2019s words, his cock twitching at the possibilities of how he could punish his boy. Slowly, he walked over to the foot of the bed, only stopping when his knees touched it.
\n\u201cCome here, Leon\u201d he commanded.
\nHe watched as the younger man got onto his hands and knees and crawled across the bed until he was right in front of Chris. Settling back on his ankles, he looked up through his bangs at the older man. \u201cTurn around.\u201d Leon slowly turned around to face the head of the bed, wisely keeping his mouth shut. \u201cHands and knees, baby.\u201d Immediately his hands dropped to the bed and he pushed himself up into position. Chris reached out and gripped Leon\u2019s hips tight, pulling him back until his knees were dangerously close to the edge of the bed and his ass was pressed against Chris\u2019s still clothed length. He fought down a groan that threatened to leave his mouth at the press of Leon\u2019s ass, not wanting to give the younger man any satisfaction.
\nHe slowly ground his hard length against the smaller man's ass, knowing the rough drag of fabric would be equally pleasurable and irritating. He ground against him a few more times, enjoying the hitching of Leon\u2019s breath at every thrust of his hips, before he slipped his hands down further and spread the younger man's perky cheeks to reveal his tight hole. He watched as he ground his clothed cock against Leon\u2019s exposed hole, hard, and felt his length twitch at the loud gasp it incited and the way his pretty hole fluttered at the touch. It was a mockery of what they both really wanted but, damn, it sure was getting him off at the moment.
\nSlipping a hand around Leon\u2019s hip, he felt the younger man\u2019s cock, hard and leaking onto the bed below him. \u201cYou like this, baby? Should I get off just like this, then? Clothed, grinding against your pretty little hole?\u201d He gave another hard thrust and felt more precome drip as Leon moaned at the dual sensations. Removing his hand, he placed it back on the smaller man\u2019s hip, pulling him back to meet his next thrust. \u201cOr should I fuck you like this? You, naked, and kneeling for me like a good little slut while I\u2019m standing here fully dressed.\u201d Chris couldn\u2019t help but smirk when the man beneath him let out a moan and jerked his hips at his words.
\nPulling a hand back, he brought it down on Leon\u2019 ass with no warnng, the spank hard enough to sting and leave the sensitive skin an angry red. The younger man jerked, a surprised yelp leaving his lips. Chris watched him for a moment before pulling his hand back for a second spank, eliciting a moan from Leon this time. He immediately ran a soothing hand over the red and sensitive area before leaning down to pepper gentle kisses along his lower back in appeasement. \u201cYou still with me, baby?\u201d
\n\u201cYe-yes, daddy. Pl-please.\u201d
\nChris ran a large hand along the length of Leon\u2019s spine up to the back of his neck, letting it rest there, gentle but heavy. Placing one knee on the bed, he leaned over to pull the younger man into a deep kiss. Leon responded immediately, opening his mouth to allow Chris entrance. The hand on the back of the smaller man\u2019s neck moved to cup his jaw, thumb slowly stroking the other's cheek as Leon moaned into his mouth. When they finally separated to catch their breaths, Chris leaned in close to Leon\u2019s ear. \u201cDon\u2019t move, baby. If you\u2019re a good boy, I\u2019ll fuck you.\u201d Pulling back, he got off the bed and started backing away. Only stopping to give Leon\u2019s ass one last spank, much more gentle than the others but still eliciting a gasp, before walking into his ensuite.
\nLeon couldn\u2019t help but squirm a little, something about being told not to move had every nerve in his body twitching. He hated being told what to do, forced military training and government service would do that to a person. And yet, when Chris uses his Captain Redfield voice on him, it makes him so fucking hard. Only for Chris would he be so willing to give up even more of his autonomy, and right now he\u2019d be willing to do whatever the older man asked if it meant he\u2019d be getting fucked by that big cock soon.
\nChris could see Leon in the reflection of the bathroom mirror, twitchy but not moving. He hadn't actually had any real reason to go into the bathroom, he had simply wanted to see if Leon would disobey him again. Running the water in the sink, he paused to look at his own reflection in the mirror. The man looking back at him is one he was still getting used to seeing. Happier and more relaxed than he\u2019d been since he was 25, over two decades ago. Leon had come into his life, messed up all his plans to remain sad and alone until he died in the line of duty, and made him want to settle down and live beyond mission to mission. Glancing back at the reflection of his boy, he figured he made the both of them wait long enough. He turned off the water and made his way back to the pretty boy waiting so perfectly still for him.
\nHe made sure to grab the half empty bottle of lube from his nightstand before stepping behind the smaller man, dropping it to the bed next to him. \u201cYou did so well staying still, baby. I think you deserve a reward.\u201d Large hands ran along the smaller man's sides, settling on his hips as Chris leaned over to place gentle kisses along his back. Reaching a hand around, he teased his fingers along the length of the younger man\u2019s neglected cock, a small smirk forming at the jerking of Leon\u2019s hips from such a minimal touch.
\nClosing his fist around Leon\u2019s length, he started a slow but firm rhythm, pumping his hand in time with the younger man\u2019s thrusts as small moans and gasps filled his ears. Chris\u2019 own still clothed length twitching at every pretty little sound.
\nAll too soon for Leon\u2019s liking, Chris was pulling his hand away, causing frustrated whines to leave his lips. \u201cShh, baby, it\u2019s okay. Daddy\u2019s still here, I\u2019m going to take care of you.\u201d He soothed his boy, rubbing his hand along Leon\u2019s hip before nudging his legs wider with the back of his hand. \u201cDaddy\u2019s going to give you what you need, baby.\u201d
\nGrabbing the lube, he poured some over his fingers, not bothering to let it warm up before bringing a finger down to circle Leon\u2019s tight hole.
\n\u201cShit, Chris! Some warning next time!\u201d Leon yelped at the sudden coldness, pulling away slightly and momentarily forgetting their game.
\nThe older man couldn\u2019t help the burst of laughter he let out at Leon\u2019s outburst, letting his hand fall away. \u201cThat was the point, Leon, you\u2019re still being punished for disobeying me.\u201d Leon felt his cheeks redden in embarrassment, he hadn\u2019t been able to curb his reaction, used to not having to hide anything from the older man. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, daddy. I promise I\u2019ll be good again.\u201d He tried to save the mood but even to his own ears his tone sounded forced. A small laugh escaped Chris again, it was too late to save their game, the mood for it already ruined, but that didn\u2019t mean he was anywhere near done with the smaller man.
\nStrong hands grabbed Leon\u2019s hips, manhandling him until he was no longer on his hands and knees but his back, looking up at Chris. He pushed himself up on one hand and waited to see what the larger man would do next. He watched as Chris pulled his shirt up and over his head, throwing it off to the side, followed by pulling off his shorts and boxers in one go. Leon watched the slight bob of Chris\u2019 now freed cock, forgetting his embarrassment as his mouth watered at the sight.
\nChris leaned over him, balancing his weight with one hand placed on the bed, and grabbing Leon\u2019s face with his other to pull him into a hungry kiss. The younger man felt like he was being devoured by Chris, he could do little but accept every slide of Chris\u2019 tongue and every whimper leaving his own mouth. He couldn\u2019t help but let out a small whine when the older man eventually pulled away to catch his breath.
\nNext thing he knew, the hand holding his face moved down to grip him around the waist and he felt himself being hauled up the bed. The display of Chris\u2019s strength had a moan leaving his lips and a thick bead of precome dripping onto his stomach. He was settled back against the pillows with another one being shoved beneath his hips before Chris sat back on his ankles to admire his handy work. Leon looked so good spread out for him with his hands tangled in the pillow above him, showing off the full length of his body.
\nPicking up the lube again, he poured some more back onto his fingers, the rest having been wiped off onto the bed. He made a show of warming it up between his fingers, laughing when Leon tried to kick him and told him not to be a jerk.
\nHe brought his hand down slowly, smiling when Leon spread his legs wider with no prompting. He circled the tip of his pointer finger around the rim of the younger man\u2019s hole, silently urging him to relax. Leaning down, he peppered kisses along Leon\u2019s abdomen as he slowly started to press his finger in. A content sigh left the smaller man\u2019s mouth as he felt Chris\u2019 large finger push all the way in, it wasn\u2019t nearly enough to get him off but just having any bit of Chris inside him always felt so damn good. The larger man pulled his finger almost all the way out before thrusting it back in, watching as Leon\u2019s cock leaked at the sensation. He started up a steady rhythm, thrusting his finger while wishing it was his cock he was thrusting into Leon's tight hole.
\n\u201cMore, Chris, fuck!\u201d Leon was whining now, he desperately needed more already.
\nChris could rarely deny Leon anything when he sounded so needy. Pulling his finger out, he lined up his middle finger along his pointer and slowly pushed them both in, much to the pleasure of the younger man who let out a deep breath at the stretch. Once fully inside, he gently fanned his fingers apart, stretching Leon\u2019s hole further. Chris knew Leon had little patience for this part, wanting it done as fast as possible so he could get fucked already. Sometimes Chris made him wait an agonizingly long time as he slowly prepared him, turning him into a begging mess. Luckily for Leon, Chris didn\u2019t have that much patience today either.
\nHe started a fast rhythm, alternating thrusting his fingers and stretching Leon\u2019s hole, wanting to do a thorough but fast job prepping him. Curling his fingers deep inside Leon had the smaller man\u2019s back arching as his feet scrambled for purchase on the comforter. \u201cFuck, Chris!\u201d He tried to hide his face in the crook of his elbow but a strong hand reached up and gently pried it away. \u201cLet me see you, sweetheart.\u201d Leon opened his eyes and found Chris\u2019 heavy gaze already on his face. The older man curled his fingers again, just right, and this time Leon managed to hold Chris\u2019 gaze as his mouth opened in a deep moan. \u201cGood boy, Leon.\u201d The smaller man let out a whimper at the praise, he could never hide how much he loved it when Chris praised him.
\nWith no warning, Chris quickly added a third finger without breaking his rhythm, pulling a garbled string of curses out of the younger man. He ran his unoccupied hand along Leon\u2019s side, a gentle contrast to the brutal thrusting of his fingers.
\nLeon was losing himself in the feeling of Chris\u2019 large fingers, hips chasing and bearing down on them at every thrust. He could feel himself getting closer and closer, the increasingly urgent need to come making it almost impossible to form any coherent thoughts. He had wanted to get fucked and come on Chris\u2019 big cock but the part of his brain that had any control was rapidly being diminished by every hard thrust of Chris\u2019 fingers and all thoughts completely left his mind when, suddenly, the older man curled his fingers so perfectly once again.
\n\u201cChris-oh god-Chris! I\u2019m gonna come!\u201d
\nLeon was going to come, he couldn\u2019t stop it, didn\u2019t want to stop it. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind he registered the sound of Chris\u2019 laugh before a large hand quickly gripped the base of his weeping cock and squeezed none too gently as the fingers inside of him were pulled out.
\n\u201cFuck! Chris!\u201d He couldn\u2019t help the curses leaving his mouth, he had been so close! Frustrated tears formed in the corners of his eyes, too overwhelmed and annoyed at the denied orgasm to stop or bother hiding them.
\n\u201cShh, sweetheart. Don\u2019t cry, I\u2019ve got you, I\u2019m here.\u201d Chris tried soothing him. He knew how much it sucked to be so close then denied your release but he also knew Leon\u2019s orgasm would be so much better from being fucked on Chris\u2019 cock then his fingers. Leon knew this too despite his reaction. Leaning down, he pulled Leon into a kiss, ignoring the fact that the younger man was still very much cursing at him. He swallowed down each curse until the smaller man finally reciprocated the kiss, roughly biting down on Chris\u2019 bottom lip and shoving his tongue deep inside. Strong thighs wrapped around his hips and tugged, bringing him down until their bodies were pressed together, Leon\u2019s need for closeness overpowering his annoyance.
\nThe closeness brought their hard lengths together, both men immediately moaning and thrusting against the other. The slickness of their combined precome making the slide easy and so damn good. Little gasps and groans of pleasure slipped out of their frantic kissing as Leon\u2019s hands roamed the muscular planes of Chris\u2019 back. The simmering desire Chris had been feeling from the start to be inside Leon suddenly become completely overwhelming, he had to be inside Leon right this fucking second.
\n\u201cLeon, sweetheart, please I want to fuck you.\u201d He was begging, he sounded so needy but couldn\u2019t bring himself to care.
\n\u201cChris-fuck, do it! Fuck me!\u201d Leon sounded just as needy as Chris did, both needing the other so badly.
\nAs much as it pained him in the moment, Chris pulled up and away from his lover. He didn\u2019t want to but he needed to be able to grab the lube to slick himself up before he could even think about pushing into Leon. He let out a deep groan as his hand closed around his length, spreading the lube along his very generous size.
\n\u201cStop jerking off and get that thing inside me already!\u201d Leon demanded.
\nChris didn\u2019t have to be told twice, leaning back over the smaller man he lined himself up and slowly pushed in, grunting as his tip was enveloped in the tight heat of Leon. The younger man felt like he had the wind knocked out of him at the slow press inside him, never quite used to Chris\u2019 size no matter how often they got to do this. It certainly didn\u2019t help that they frequently had to go weeks without due to their jobs. He let out a nearly whispered \u201cKiss me\u201d that had Chris leaning closer and capturing his lips in a messy open mouthed kiss.
\nChris slowly pressed in further as he continued to kiss Leon until the smaller man turned his head away. \u201cI\u2019m not fucking fragile, Chris.\u201d was all the warning he got before the strong legs around his hips flexed and pulled him in completely until their hips were flush and Chris was buried to the hilt. Both men let out simultaneous gasps and froze, the two of them immediately dangerously close to the edge. After about thirty seconds but felt like a whole lot longer, Leon tightened his legs around the larger man a little harder before loosening his hold gradually. \u201cYou better start fucking me, Chris, before I find some other dirty old man to do it.\u201d Chris huffed out a small laugh, the threat not so worrying when Leon sounded so breathy and strained already. \u201cAy ay, Captain!\u201d He couldn\u2019t help the goofy smile on his face or how it widened as Leon tried to push him away. Before the younger man could succeed, Chris quickly pulled out half way, sharply thrusting back in, hard.
\n\u201cChris!\u201d Leon\u2019s gasp turned into a moan as pleasure sparked inside him and he threw his arms around Chris to keep him close.
\nThe older man started up a slow but firm pace, each slow drag of his cock out and harsh thrust in punching moan after moan from deep within Leon. Being inside Leon was easily one of the best things Chris has ever experienced, he was so tight and hot, insides forming to fit Chris so perfectly as though he was made specifically for him. Sometimes he can\u2019t believe he went over 40 years without this but it was worth every second to get the privilege of having it now for as long as Leon wants him. He sure as hell won\u2019t be giving this up for as long as he\u2019s still alive.
\n\u201cYou feel so good, baby! Fuck-so tight!\u201d
\nLeon let out a whimper at Chris\u2019 words, he was always so weak for Chris\u2019 praise and dirty talk. His hands scrambled for purchase against the harsh rhythm, nails digging into Chris\u2019 muscular back.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re doing so good, sweetheart, taking me so fucking well.\u201d
\nHe barely registered Leon\u2019s nails clawing into him, too lost in the tight heat to pay it any mind.
\nThe only sounds that could be heard in the room beyond the rhythmic slapping of skin on skin was an intoxicating mix of grunts, whimpers, and moans. Neither man felt the need to hold back or hide their sounds of pleasure, both wanting the other to know exactly how good they\u2019re feeling. Every whimper leaving the younger man\u2019s lips had Chris\u2019 cock twitching deep inside him, the sound being one of the older man\u2019s favorites.
\nChris could feel himself getting close, the feeling of being surrounded so fully by Leon overwhelming his senses. He knew the younger man wasn\u2019t fairing much better, his insides fluttering and bearing down on him at every thrust. Lifting himself up just a little, he changed the angle of his thrusts so that he could hit Leon\u2019s prostate with every hard thrust making the smaller man see stars. Chris needed Leon to come first, he wouldn\u2019t let himself fall over the edge until he ensured the younger man had a mind blowing orgasm.
\nLeon could hear himself getting louder and louder each time Chris hit his bundle of nerves so perfectly. He could\u2019ve been yelling anything from Chris\u2019 name to things he\u2019d find embarrassing in other circumstances. \u201cChris!\u201d \u201cNeed you!\u201d \u201cFuck-Harder!\u201d \u201cLove you, Chris!\u201d \u201cFuck-Chris, I love you!\u201d
\nHe was so close, his abdomen was twitching uncontrollably and his hole was tightening desperately on Chris\u2019 big cock urging him to keep going, to go harder. His own untouched cock ached, leaking a mess between their connected bodies. He could feel Chris starting to lose his rhythm, thrusts getting sloppier as he too was getting closer and closer.
\nReaching a hand between their bodies, Chris wrapped a firm hand around Leon\u2019s neglected length, doing his best to pump in time with his thrusts.
\n\u201cCome for me, sweetheart. You\u2019re doing so well, let go for me.\u201d
\nLeon was fighting it, he needed so badly to come but couldn\u2019t just yet. Chris kept thrusting, hitting the bundle of nerves repeatedly, and pumping his hand just how he knew the younger man loved it.
\n\u201cLeon, sweetheart, I\u2019ve got you. Come for me, my love!\u201d
\nOne more thrust and Leon was pushed over the edge, coming between their bodies and in Chris\u2019 hand. Nails digging harder into Chris\u2019 back as he yelled his name. Each continued thrust of Chris inside him extended the overwhelming pleasure he was feeling.
\nLeon was unbelievably tight as he came, Chris couldn\u2019t last more than another few seconds before he was grunting and filling the younger man up. Hips thrusting shallowly as he rode the wave of pleasure pumped more and more come into Leon, marking him as Chris\u2019 from the inside. Arms giving out as his hips finally stilled, he collapsed on top of the smaller man. The two of them too spent to do anything more than just breathing together as they came back to themselves.
\n\u201cChris, you\u2019re too damn heavy.\u201d Leon tried to shove him once he could feel his arms again.
\nThe larger man had the audacity to simply grunt and settle down further into Leon, refusing to budge even a little.
\n\u201cFucking jerk.\u201d Chris laughed at the younger man\u2019s mumbled insult. He wanted to lay like this for just a little bit longer, just until he had to get up and get them cleaned off.
\nLifting a hand to Leon\u2019s face, he ran his thumb across his flushed cheek. \u201cSo beautiful. How did I get so lucky, Leon?\u201d He didn\u2019t need an answer, knew there wasn\u2019t one anyway. Leon just looked at him for a moment before pressing his lips to Chris\u2019 for a slow and soft kiss. Chris sunk into the kiss, not feeling the need to deepen or quicken it, he just let himself enjoy the gentleness of the moment.
\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t get off me, you won\u2019t be getting lucky again any time soon.\u201d Leon whispered into the kiss, effectively ruining it.
\nLaughing, Chris heaved himself up and off of the younger man. \u201cOkay, fine, you win, Leon. Let me get us cleaned up.\u201d
\nWalking into the bathroom, he let his mind wander. He was so unbelievably lucky to not only have Leon in his life but to love him and to have Leon love him in return. He thought of the ring box he had hidden away in his safe. Leon was very young and their lives were hectic and dangerous and settling down seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream and yet, when he looked at the younger man in the reflection of the mirror, he saw a future he desperately wanted.
", "summary": "Chris could feel the heavy weight of eyes on him as he started his second set of deadlifts. He was pretty used to getting looked at as he worked out, it's not like he wasn\u2019t aware of the way he looks in a tight t-shirt and admittedly short work out shorts despite nearing fifty. He doesn\u2019t usually give much thought to the looks, so used to it as he is, but this time he couldn\u2019t help the low heat forming deep in his gut as the weight of the gaze on him became deeply familiar. Looking up in the mirror to check his form, his eyes couldn\u2019t help but wander over to meet the familiar blue ones watching him closely, the young man\u2019s desire clearly written across his beautiful features.
\nHe had to tear his gaze away before his own face started to mirror the desire that was growing stronger deep within him. It's one thing for random gym goers to see a young guy desiring an older man but it\u2019s a whole other thing for a much older man to be seen so clearly lusting after a guy decades younger than him. The last thing he wanted was to be labeled a dirty old man and asked to leave, despite the fact that he was very much feeling like said dirty old man at the moment.
\nFinishing up his set, Chris decided that he\u2019d worked out enough for the day, no longer able to fully devote his focus to it. His physique and stamina could survive a shorter workout once in a while even at his age. Picking up his sweatshirt and water, he slowly made his way through the gym and towards the locker room, feeling eyes tracking his every move before he found himself being quietly followed. He had just opened up his locker in the empty room when the sound of soft footsteps stopped right behind him, close enough the skin on his back tingled underneath his sweaty shirt.
\n\u201cEnding your workout early today, I see.\u201d Chris let out a breath at the sound of the sultry voice coming from the man behind him. He fought the urge to turn around and look into the pretty blue eyes he knew were burning into the back of his head.
\n\u201cWhat, are you timing my workouts now?\u201d He tried to sound annoyed but the words came out more amused than anything.
\n\u201cWell, you did drive me here so unless you plan on leaving me behind\u2026\u201d The younger man\u2019s deadpan voice trailed off, not feeling the need to finish his sentence.
\nChris couldn\u2019t help the burst of laughter that escaped him. \u201cOkay, you\u2019ve got me there Leon.\u201d He turned around to see a bright smile spread across Leon\u2019s face. Chris loved that smile and he loved being the one to put it there almost as much. Leaning down, he pressed a chaste kiss to the smaller man's lips before pulling back slightly.
\n\u201cYou weren\u2019t exactly making it easy to focus on my workout when you were looking at me like you wanted to be bent over the weight bench, baby.\u201d His voice came out rough, low and right next to Leon\u2019s ear. A shiver ran its way down the younger man\u2019s spine at the feeling of Chris\u2019s warm breath, desire filling him once again.
\nNeeding to get the upper hand back, Leon turned to lean even closer to the larger man, making direct eye contact. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you take me home and show me actually what you think I want, daddy.\u201d He pressed a quick kiss to Chris\u2019s lips before pulling away completely to grab his workout bag. Chris stared after him for a moment while his brain tried to focus on anything beyond fucking Leon right here against the lockers before he quickly grabbed his own gym gear. \u201cLet\u2019s get the fuck out of here before I do something that will definitely get us both banned.\u201d The sound of laughter and Leon reaching out to grab his hand was the only response he got before he was dragged out of the locker room.
\nChris could feel questioning and judgemental eyes following them as Leon dragged him through the gym. He knew what people must be thinking and he couldn\u2019t blame them for it. He had fought his attraction to Leon for a while. He did his best to ignore how much he wanted Leon and how much the younger man made it clear he had wanted him. Chris knew Leon didn\u2019t care about their age difference, that it was part of the reason he had been so into Chris in the first place, but it didn\u2019t stop him from feeling like a creep. Leon was young enough to be his son for fuck\u2019s sake.
\nShaking his head as they climbed into his car, Chris put those thoughts out of his mind, no use dwelling on it at this point. He\u2019s long accepted that part of being with a man much younger than himself was being on the receiving end of disappointed and disgusted glares. Being with Leon was more than worth it all, he would take whatever abuse people could throw at him as long as it meant he got to love Leon.
\nBefore he knew it, they were pulling up in front of his home and the tension that had waned during the short drive came crashing back into them full force. Reaching over the center console, he grabbed the back of Leon\u2019s neck and dragged him in for a frantic kiss. The smaller man responded instantly, opening his mouth to allow Chris\u2019s tongue to push its way in, deepening the kiss. Leon\u2019s hands came up to grip the front of the older man\u2019s shirt, trying in vain to bring them even closer as Chris kept kissing him. Leon tasted like the stupid energy drinks he liked so much, Chris usually hated them but he couldn\u2019t get enough of the fruity taste in his boy's mouth. He only pulled away when the need for air got to be too much to ignore, leaving barely an inch between their mouths as they took deep breaths in.
\n\u201cChris- daddy, please.\u201d Leon needed Chris, he was so turned on from the kiss and the anticipation of what was to come that it was painful.
\nChris let out a deep growl at the name, it was not something he had even considered being called by past partners but, with Leon, it got him going like little else. \u201cGo inside, get naked and wait for me on the bed, baby. I\u2019ll be right behind you.\u201d He pulled Leon in for a quick kiss before pushing him towards the car door. \u201cAnd, no touching yourself, Leon.\u201d
\nHe watched his boy practically run inside while he slowly took his time grabbing their gym bags and heading in. A trail of shoes and clothes started at the entry way and continued on towards Chris\u2019s bedroom. Stopping to take off his shoes and drop their bags, Chris made sure to take his time doing it all slowly until the image of Leon impatiently waiting naked for him on his bed finally spurred him into action.
\nLeon laid waiting for Chris on the bed, his patience wearing thin as the seconds went by. Chris had said no touching but he was already so hard, the temptation growing as he thought about what the larger man would do if he disobeyed him. Slowly, he ran his hand down his abs and along to his waiting, hard, cock. Loosely gripping himself, he let his legs fall open wide and slowly stroked, letting a small moan slip out at the relief. After a few slow strokes, he heard footsteps making their way down the hall, the realization that he was about to be caught by Chris had his hand tightening and a loud moan leaving his lips.
\nThe older man paused right outside the open door at the sound of Leon\u2019s moan. Heat flared in his gut, he knew Leon must have disobeyed him, must be touching his pretty cock in there.
\nHe opened the door slowly, quietly, wanting to catch Leon red handed but not catching on quite yet that that was exactly what the younger man wanted. Another loud moan reached his ears as he stepped through the door. Looking up, he found Leon already staring at him, smirk on his face and hand stroking his hard length. The heat in his gut grew even hotter at the sight, Leon looked like heaven and hell wrapped up in the prettiest package Chris has ever seen. All long limbs, sinewy muscles and a mouth that was pure sin with an attitude to match.
\n\u201cI thought I told you not to touch yourself.\u201d Chris pitched his voice low and commanding, his Captain Redfield voice as Leon liked to call it.
\nThe smaller man didn\u2019t even pretend to be sorry or caught out, he just gave himself another slow stroke and looked at Chris with that cocky smirk of his. \u201cAnd? What are you going to do about it, daddy?\u201d
\nChris took a deep breath in at Leon\u2019s words, his cock twitching at the possibilities of how he could punish his boy. Slowly, he walked over to the foot of the bed, only stopping when his knees touched it.
\n\u201cCome here, Leon\u201d he commanded.
\nHe watched as the younger man got onto his hands and knees and crawled across the bed until he was right in front of Chris. Settling back on his ankles, he looked up through his bangs at the older man. \u201cTurn around.\u201d Leon slowly turned around to face the head of the bed, wisely keeping his mouth shut. \u201cHands and knees, baby.\u201d Immediately his hands dropped to the bed and he pushed himself up into position. Chris reached out and gripped Leon\u2019s hips tight, pulling him back until his knees were dangerously close to the edge of the bed and his ass was pressed against Chris\u2019s still clothed length. He fought down a groan that threatened to leave his mouth at the press of Leon\u2019s ass, not wanting to give the younger man any satisfaction.
\nHe slowly ground his hard length against the smaller man's ass, knowing the rough drag of fabric would be equally pleasurable and irritating. He ground against him a few more times, enjoying the hitching of Leon\u2019s breath at every thrust of his hips, before he slipped his hands down further and spread the younger man's perky cheeks to reveal his tight hole. He watched as he ground his clothed cock against Leon\u2019s exposed hole, hard, and felt his length twitch at the loud gasp it incited and the way his pretty hole fluttered at the touch. It was a mockery of what they both really wanted but, damn, it sure was getting him off at the moment.
\nSlipping a hand around Leon\u2019s hip, he felt the younger man\u2019s cock, hard and leaking onto the bed below him. \u201cYou like this, baby? Should I get off just like this, then? Clothed, grinding against your pretty little hole?\u201d He gave another hard thrust and felt more precome drip as Leon moaned at the dual sensations. Removing his hand, he placed it back on the smaller man\u2019s hip, pulling him back to meet his next thrust. \u201cOr should I fuck you like this? You, naked, and kneeling for me like a good little slut while I\u2019m standing here fully dressed.\u201d Chris couldn\u2019t help but smirk when the man beneath him let out a moan and jerked his hips at his words.
\nPulling a hand back, he brought it down on Leon\u2019 ass with no warnng, the spank hard enough to sting and leave the sensitive skin an angry red. The younger man jerked, a surprised yelp leaving his lips. Chris watched him for a moment before pulling his hand back for a second spank, eliciting a moan from Leon this time. He immediately ran a soothing hand over the red and sensitive area before leaning down to pepper gentle kisses along his lower back in appeasement. \u201cYou still with me, baby?\u201d
\n\u201cYe-yes, daddy. Pl-please.\u201d
\nChris ran a large hand along the length of Leon\u2019s spine up to the back of his neck, letting it rest there, gentle but heavy. Placing one knee on the bed, he leaned over to pull the younger man into a deep kiss. Leon responded immediately, opening his mouth to allow Chris entrance. The hand on the back of the smaller man\u2019s neck moved to cup his jaw, thumb slowly stroking the other's cheek as Leon moaned into his mouth. When they finally separated to catch their breaths, Chris leaned in close to Leon\u2019s ear. \u201cDon\u2019t move, baby. If you\u2019re a good boy, I\u2019ll fuck you.\u201d Pulling back, he got off the bed and started backing away. Only stopping to give Leon\u2019s ass one last spank, much more gentle than the others but still eliciting a gasp, before walking into his ensuite.
\nLeon couldn\u2019t help but squirm a little, something about being told not to move had every nerve in his body twitching. He hated being told what to do, forced military training and government service would do that to a person. And yet, when Chris uses his Captain Redfield voice on him, it makes him so fucking hard. Only for Chris would he be so willing to give up even more of his autonomy, and right now he\u2019d be willing to do whatever the older man asked if it meant he\u2019d be getting fucked by that big cock soon.
\nChris could see Leon in the reflection of the bathroom mirror, twitchy but not moving. He hadn't actually had any real reason to go into the bathroom, he had simply wanted to see if Leon would disobey him again. Running the water in the sink, he paused to look at his own reflection in the mirror. The man looking back at him is one he was still getting used to seeing. Happier and more relaxed than he\u2019d been since he was 25, over two decades ago. Leon had come into his life, messed up all his plans to remain sad and alone until he died in the line of duty, and made him want to settle down and live beyond mission to mission. Glancing back at the reflection of his boy, he figured he made the both of them wait long enough. He turned off the water and made his way back to the pretty boy waiting so perfectly still for him.
\nHe made sure to grab the half empty bottle of lube from his nightstand before stepping behind the smaller man, dropping it to the bed next to him. \u201cYou did so well staying still, baby. I think you deserve a reward.\u201d Large hands ran along the smaller man's sides, settling on his hips as Chris leaned over to place gentle kisses along his back. Reaching a hand around, he teased his fingers along the length of the younger man\u2019s neglected cock, a small smirk forming at the jerking of Leon\u2019s hips from such a minimal touch.
\nClosing his fist around Leon\u2019s length, he started a slow but firm rhythm, pumping his hand in time with the younger man\u2019s thrusts as small moans and gasps filled his ears. Chris\u2019 own still clothed length twitching at every pretty little sound.
\nAll too soon for Leon\u2019s liking, Chris was pulling his hand away, causing frustrated whines to leave his lips. \u201cShh, baby, it\u2019s okay. Daddy\u2019s still here, I\u2019m going to take care of you.\u201d He soothed his boy, rubbing his hand along Leon\u2019s hip before nudging his legs wider with the back of his hand. \u201cDaddy\u2019s going to give you what you need, baby.\u201d
\nGrabbing the lube, he poured some over his fingers, not bothering to let it warm up before bringing a finger down to circle Leon\u2019s tight hole.
\n\u201cShit, Chris! Some warning next time!\u201d Leon yelped at the sudden coldness, pulling away slightly and momentarily forgetting their game.
\nThe older man couldn\u2019t help the burst of laughter he let out at Leon\u2019s outburst, letting his hand fall away. \u201cThat was the point, Leon, you\u2019re still being punished for disobeying me.\u201d Leon felt his cheeks redden in embarrassment, he hadn\u2019t been able to curb his reaction, used to not having to hide anything from the older man. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, daddy. I promise I\u2019ll be good again.\u201d He tried to save the mood but even to his own ears his tone sounded forced. A small laugh escaped Chris again, it was too late to save their game, the mood for it already ruined, but that didn\u2019t mean he was anywhere near done with the smaller man.
\nStrong hands grabbed Leon\u2019s hips, manhandling him until he was no longer on his hands and knees but his back, looking up at Chris. He pushed himself up on one hand and waited to see what the larger man would do next. He watched as Chris pulled his shirt up and over his head, throwing it off to the side, followed by pulling off his shorts and boxers in one go. Leon watched the slight bob of Chris\u2019 now freed cock, forgetting his embarrassment as his mouth watered at the sight.
\nChris leaned over him, balancing his weight with one hand placed on the bed, and grabbing Leon\u2019s face with his other to pull him into a hungry kiss. The younger man felt like he was being devoured by Chris, he could do little but accept every slide of Chris\u2019 tongue and every whimper leaving his own mouth. He couldn\u2019t help but let out a small whine when the older man eventually pulled away to catch his breath.
\nNext thing he knew, the hand holding his face moved down to grip him around the waist and he felt himself being hauled up the bed. The display of Chris\u2019s strength had a moan leaving his lips and a thick bead of precome dripping onto his stomach. He was settled back against the pillows with another one being shoved beneath his hips before Chris sat back on his ankles to admire his handy work. Leon looked so good spread out for him with his hands tangled in the pillow above him, showing off the full length of his body.
\nPicking up the lube again, he poured some more back onto his fingers, the rest having been wiped off onto the bed. He made a show of warming it up between his fingers, laughing when Leon tried to kick him and told him not to be a jerk.
\nHe brought his hand down slowly, smiling when Leon spread his legs wider with no prompting. He circled the tip of his pointer finger around the rim of the younger man\u2019s hole, silently urging him to relax. Leaning down, he peppered kisses along Leon\u2019s abdomen as he slowly started to press his finger in. A content sigh left the smaller man\u2019s mouth as he felt Chris\u2019 large finger push all the way in, it wasn\u2019t nearly enough to get him off but just having any bit of Chris inside him always felt so damn good. The larger man pulled his finger almost all the way out before thrusting it back in, watching as Leon\u2019s cock leaked at the sensation. He started up a steady rhythm, thrusting his finger while wishing it was his cock he was thrusting into Leon's tight hole.
\n\u201cMore, Chris, fuck!\u201d Leon was whining now, he desperately needed more already.
\nChris could rarely deny Leon anything when he sounded so needy. Pulling his finger out, he lined up his middle finger along his pointer and slowly pushed them both in, much to the pleasure of the younger man who let out a deep breath at the stretch. Once fully inside, he gently fanned his fingers apart, stretching Leon\u2019s hole further. Chris knew Leon had little patience for this part, wanting it done as fast as possible so he could get fucked already. Sometimes Chris made him wait an agonizingly long time as he slowly prepared him, turning him into a begging mess. Luckily for Leon, Chris didn\u2019t have that much patience today either.
\nHe started a fast rhythm, alternating thrusting his fingers and stretching Leon\u2019s hole, wanting to do a thorough but fast job prepping him. Curling his fingers deep inside Leon had the smaller man\u2019s back arching as his feet scrambled for purchase on the comforter. \u201cFuck, Chris!\u201d He tried to hide his face in the crook of his elbow but a strong hand reached up and gently pried it away. \u201cLet me see you, sweetheart.\u201d Leon opened his eyes and found Chris\u2019 heavy gaze already on his face. The older man curled his fingers again, just right, and this time Leon managed to hold Chris\u2019 gaze as his mouth opened in a deep moan. \u201cGood boy, Leon.\u201d The smaller man let out a whimper at the praise, he could never hide how much he loved it when Chris praised him.
\nWith no warning, Chris quickly added a third finger without breaking his rhythm, pulling a garbled string of curses out of the younger man. He ran his unoccupied hand along Leon\u2019s side, a gentle contrast to the brutal thrusting of his fingers.
\nLeon was losing himself in the feeling of Chris\u2019 large fingers, hips chasing and bearing down on them at every thrust. He could feel himself getting closer and closer, the increasingly urgent need to come making it almost impossible to form any coherent thoughts. He had wanted to get fucked and come on Chris\u2019 big cock but the part of his brain that had any control was rapidly being diminished by every hard thrust of Chris\u2019 fingers and all thoughts completely left his mind when, suddenly, the older man curled his fingers so perfectly once again.
\n\u201cChris-oh god-Chris! I\u2019m gonna come!\u201d
\nLeon was going to come, he couldn\u2019t stop it, didn\u2019t want to stop it. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind he registered the sound of Chris\u2019 laugh before a large hand quickly gripped the base of his weeping cock and squeezed none too gently as the fingers inside of him were pulled out.
\n\u201cFuck! Chris!\u201d He couldn\u2019t help the curses leaving his mouth, he had been so close! Frustrated tears formed in the corners of his eyes, too overwhelmed and annoyed at the denied orgasm to stop or bother hiding them.
\n\u201cShh, sweetheart. Don\u2019t cry, I\u2019ve got you, I\u2019m here.\u201d Chris tried soothing him. He knew how much it sucked to be so close then denied your release but he also knew Leon\u2019s orgasm would be so much better from being fucked on Chris\u2019 cock then his fingers. Leon knew this too despite his reaction. Leaning down, he pulled Leon into a kiss, ignoring the fact that the younger man was still very much cursing at him. He swallowed down each curse until the smaller man finally reciprocated the kiss, roughly biting down on Chris\u2019 bottom lip and shoving his tongue deep inside. Strong thighs wrapped around his hips and tugged, bringing him down until their bodies were pressed together, Leon\u2019s need for closeness overpowering his annoyance.
\nThe closeness brought their hard lengths together, both men immediately moaning and thrusting against the other. The slickness of their combined precome making the slide easy and so damn good. Little gasps and groans of pleasure slipped out of their frantic kissing as Leon\u2019s hands roamed the muscular planes of Chris\u2019 back. The simmering desire Chris had been feeling from the start to be inside Leon suddenly become completely overwhelming, he had to be inside Leon right this fucking second.
\n\u201cLeon, sweetheart, please I want to fuck you.\u201d He was begging, he sounded so needy but couldn\u2019t bring himself to care.
\n\u201cChris-fuck, do it! Fuck me!\u201d Leon sounded just as needy as Chris did, both needing the other so badly.
\nAs much as it pained him in the moment, Chris pulled up and away from his lover. He didn\u2019t want to but he needed to be able to grab the lube to slick himself up before he could even think about pushing into Leon. He let out a deep groan as his hand closed around his length, spreading the lube along his very generous size.
\n\u201cStop jerking off and get that thing inside me already!\u201d Leon demanded.
\nChris didn\u2019t have to be told twice, leaning back over the smaller man he lined himself up and slowly pushed in, grunting as his tip was enveloped in the tight heat of Leon. The younger man felt like he had the wind knocked out of him at the slow press inside him, never quite used to Chris\u2019 size no matter how often they got to do this. It certainly didn\u2019t help that they frequently had to go weeks without due to their jobs. He let out a nearly whispered \u201cKiss me\u201d that had Chris leaning closer and capturing his lips in a messy open mouthed kiss.
\nChris slowly pressed in further as he continued to kiss Leon until the smaller man turned his head away. \u201cI\u2019m not fucking fragile, Chris.\u201d was all the warning he got before the strong legs around his hips flexed and pulled him in completely until their hips were flush and Chris was buried to the hilt. Both men let out simultaneous gasps and froze, the two of them immediately dangerously close to the edge. After about thirty seconds but felt like a whole lot longer, Leon tightened his legs around the larger man a little harder before loosening his hold gradually. \u201cYou better start fucking me, Chris, before I find some other dirty old man to do it.\u201d Chris huffed out a small laugh, the threat not so worrying when Leon sounded so breathy and strained already. \u201cAy ay, Captain!\u201d He couldn\u2019t help the goofy smile on his face or how it widened as Leon tried to push him away. Before the younger man could succeed, Chris quickly pulled out half way, sharply thrusting back in, hard.
\n\u201cChris!\u201d Leon\u2019s gasp turned into a moan as pleasure sparked inside him and he threw his arms around Chris to keep him close.
\nThe older man started up a slow but firm pace, each slow drag of his cock out and harsh thrust in punching moan after moan from deep within Leon. Being inside Leon was easily one of the best things Chris has ever experienced, he was so tight and hot, insides forming to fit Chris so perfectly as though he was made specifically for him. Sometimes he can\u2019t believe he went over 40 years without this but it was worth every second to get the privilege of having it now for as long as Leon wants him. He sure as hell won\u2019t be giving this up for as long as he\u2019s still alive.
\n\u201cYou feel so good, baby! Fuck-so tight!\u201d
\nLeon let out a whimper at Chris\u2019 words, he was always so weak for Chris\u2019 praise and dirty talk. His hands scrambled for purchase against the harsh rhythm, nails digging into Chris\u2019 muscular back.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re doing so good, sweetheart, taking me so fucking well.\u201d
\nHe barely registered Leon\u2019s nails clawing into him, too lost in the tight heat to pay it any mind.
\nThe only sounds that could be heard in the room beyond the rhythmic slapping of skin on skin was an intoxicating mix of grunts, whimpers, and moans. Neither man felt the need to hold back or hide their sounds of pleasure, both wanting the other to know exactly how good they\u2019re feeling. Every whimper leaving the younger man\u2019s lips had Chris\u2019 cock twitching deep inside him, the sound being one of the older man\u2019s favorites.
\nChris could feel himself getting close, the feeling of being surrounded so fully by Leon overwhelming his senses. He knew the younger man wasn\u2019t fairing much better, his insides fluttering and bearing down on him at every thrust. Lifting himself up just a little, he changed the angle of his thrusts so that he could hit Leon\u2019s prostate with every hard thrust making the smaller man see stars. Chris needed Leon to come first, he wouldn\u2019t let himself fall over the edge until he ensured the younger man had a mind blowing orgasm.
\nLeon could hear himself getting louder and louder each time Chris hit his bundle of nerves so perfectly. He could\u2019ve been yelling anything from Chris\u2019 name to things he\u2019d find embarrassing in other circumstances. \u201cChris!\u201d \u201cNeed you!\u201d \u201cFuck-Harder!\u201d \u201cLove you, Chris!\u201d \u201cFuck-Chris, I love you!\u201d
\nHe was so close, his abdomen was twitching uncontrollably and his hole was tightening desperately on Chris\u2019 big cock urging him to keep going, to go harder. His own untouched cock ached, leaking a mess between their connected bodies. He could feel Chris starting to lose his rhythm, thrusts getting sloppier as he too was getting closer and closer.
\nReaching a hand between their bodies, Chris wrapped a firm hand around Leon\u2019s neglected length, doing his best to pump in time with his thrusts.
\n\u201cCome for me, sweetheart. You\u2019re doing so well, let go for me.\u201d
\nLeon was fighting it, he needed so badly to come but couldn\u2019t just yet. Chris kept thrusting, hitting the bundle of nerves repeatedly, and pumping his hand just how he knew the younger man loved it.
\n\u201cLeon, sweetheart, I\u2019ve got you. Come for me, my love!\u201d
\nOne more thrust and Leon was pushed over the edge, coming between their bodies and in Chris\u2019 hand. Nails digging harder into Chris\u2019 back as he yelled his name. Each continued thrust of Chris inside him extended the overwhelming pleasure he was feeling.
\nLeon was unbelievably tight as he came, Chris couldn\u2019t last more than another few seconds before he was grunting and filling the younger man up. Hips thrusting shallowly as he rode the wave of pleasure pumped more and more come into Leon, marking him as Chris\u2019 from the inside. Arms giving out as his hips finally stilled, he collapsed on top of the smaller man. The two of them too spent to do anything more than just breathing together as they came back to themselves.
\n\u201cChris, you\u2019re too damn heavy.\u201d Leon tried to shove him once he could feel his arms again.
\nThe larger man had the audacity to simply grunt and settle down further into Leon, refusing to budge even a little.
\n\u201cFucking jerk.\u201d Chris laughed at the younger man\u2019s mumbled insult. He wanted to lay like this for just a little bit longer, just until he had to get up and get them cleaned off.
\nLifting a hand to Leon\u2019s face, he ran his thumb across his flushed cheek. \u201cSo beautiful. How did I get so lucky, Leon?\u201d He didn\u2019t need an answer, knew there wasn\u2019t one anyway. Leon just looked at him for a moment before pressing his lips to Chris\u2019 for a slow and soft kiss. Chris sunk into the kiss, not feeling the need to deepen or quicken it, he just let himself enjoy the gentleness of the moment.
\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t get off me, you won\u2019t be getting lucky again any time soon.\u201d Leon whispered into the kiss, effectively ruining it.
\nLaughing, Chris heaved himself up and off of the younger man. \u201cOkay, fine, you win, Leon. Let me get us cleaned up.\u201d
\nWalking into the bathroom, he let his mind wander. He was so unbelievably lucky to not only have Leon in his life but to love him and to have Leon love him in return. He thought of the ring box he had hidden away in his safe. Leon was very young and their lives were hectic and dangerous and settling down seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream and yet, when he looked at the younger man in the reflection of the mirror, he saw a future he desperately wanted.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T19:20:21Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T19:33:13Z", "authors": ["heartofpatroclus"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85363411", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85363411", "external_url": null, "title": "The Cure - A Leon Kennedy x Victor Gideon fanfic", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\nLeon woke up tied to a chair.
\nHis hands bound behind it.
\nThe investigator was not at all surprised, his job meant this wasn\u2019t the first time he\u2019d woken up restrained to a chair. Leon tried look at his surroundings, but there was a blindingly bright light ahead. He blinked trying to reduce the glare.
\nA shadow passed in front of the light, blotting it out.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026.\u201d
\nHis eye\u2019s slowly began to adjust, that shadow converging into something recognisable. A man, a very dangerous man. Victor Gideon, an insane scientist and the person he\u2019d been searching for.
\n\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d He asked.
\nLeon just glared.
\n\u201cIs it for me?\u201d He said pointing to himself.
\nBut the investigator kept his mouth shut, not answering.
\n\u201cThe silent treatment\u2026\u201d
\nHe came closer.
\n\u201cMy, my you are a difficult man."
\nVictor then walked past running his fingers through Leons hairs. It was a deeply unpleasant feeling, but he stayed still, refusing to give Gideon the satisfaction of a reaction.
\nThe scientist circled behind him and stopped to the right of Leon. A large hand then rested on his shoulder.
\n\u201cNo matter\u2026\u201d
\nHe extended two finger and touched the collar of Kennedy\u2019s shirt.
\n\u201cI already know the answer...\u201d
\nHe pushed the collar down revealing the black mark on the side of Leons neck.
\n\u201cOh yes, this is brewing under the skin quite...\u201d
\nVictor\u2019s knuckles pressed to the side of Leons neck and caressed the mark, making his skin crawl.
\n\u201c...nicely\u2026.\u201d He purred.
\nFor years the mark on his neck hadn\u2019t reacted to much, other than being sore when it rained. But when Victors knuckles grazed the infected area, it was like a bolt of lightening shot down his neck.
\n\u201cAUGH.\u201d He jolted away from that hand.
\nThat\u2019s when the rope bindings on Leons arms came loose. The moment he was free the investigator reacted on pure instinct. He jumped to his feet and slammed his elbow into Victors jaw. Causing the Scientist to stumble backwards.
\n"Geh!"
\nThe glint of something metal got Leons attention. Close to him, on a medical table was a revolver. The investigator lunged for it, his hands clasping the weapon. He then spun around and let off a few shots at Victor. Intending to slow him down.
\nBLAMO!
\nBut the bullets hit nothing but solid brick wall and the door to the room was now ajar. Victor Gideon nowhere in sight.
\nAw hell.
\nHe got away.
\nLeon lowered his weapon.
\nThe scientist was right, he\u2019d come to find a cure for the mark on his neck and believed Gideon knew something about it.
\nLeon reached up and touched his neck.
\nIt tingling.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\nLeon woke up tied to a chair.
\nHis hands bound behind it.
\nThe investigator was not at all surprised, his job meant this wasn\u2019t the first time he\u2019d woken up restrained to a chair. Leon tried look at his surroundings, but there was a blindingly bright light ahead. He blinked trying to reduce the glare.
\nA shadow passed in front of the light, blotting it out.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026.\u201d
\nHis eye\u2019s slowly began to adjust, that shadow converging into something recognisable. A man, a very dangerous man. Victor Gideon, an insane scientist and the person he\u2019d been searching for.
\n\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d He asked.
\nLeon just glared.
\n\u201cIs it for me?\u201d He said pointing to himself.
\nBut the investigator kept his mouth shut, not answering.
\n\u201cThe silent treatment\u2026\u201d
\nHe came closer.
\n\u201cMy, my you are a difficult man."
\nVictor then walked past running his fingers through Leons hairs. It was a deeply unpleasant feeling, but he stayed still, refusing to give Gideon the satisfaction of a reaction.
\nThe scientist circled behind him and stopped to the right of Leon. A large hand then rested on his shoulder.
\n\u201cNo matter\u2026\u201d
\nHe extended two finger and touched the collar of Kennedy\u2019s shirt.
\n\u201cI already know the answer...\u201d
\nHe pushed the collar down revealing the black mark on the side of Leons neck.
\n\u201cOh yes, this is brewing under the skin quite...\u201d
\nVictor\u2019s knuckles pressed to the side of Leons neck and caressed the mark, making his skin crawl.
\n\u201c...nicely\u2026.\u201d He purred.
\nFor years the mark on his neck hadn\u2019t reacted to much, other than being sore when it rained. But when Victors knuckles grazed the infected area, it was like a bolt of lightening shot down his neck.
\n\u201cAUGH.\u201d He jolted away from that hand.
\nThat\u2019s when the rope bindings on Leons arms came loose. The moment he was free the investigator reacted on pure instinct. He jumped to his feet and slammed his elbow into Victors jaw. Causing the Scientist to stumble backwards.
\n"Geh!"
\nThe glint of something metal got Leons attention. Close to him, on a medical table was a revolver. The investigator lunged for it, his hands clasping the weapon. He then spun around and let off a few shots at Victor. Intending to slow him down.
\nBLAMO!
\nBut the bullets hit nothing but solid brick wall and the door to the room was now ajar. Victor Gideon nowhere in sight.
\nAw hell.
\nHe got away.
\nLeon lowered his weapon.
\nThe scientist was right, he\u2019d come to find a cure for the mark on his neck and believed Gideon knew something about it.
\nLeon reached up and touched his neck.
\nIt tingling.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T19:10:49Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T19:28:07Z", "authors": ["TheBigBadW0lf"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85362411", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85362411", "external_url": null, "title": "Sweet", "content_text": "", "content_html": "He knows it\u2019s wrong to have a preference, but Leon wants a daughter more than anything. Since the moment he found out you were expecting, he\u2019s been praying to some divine power for a daughter. For what feels like his whole life, he\u2019s been preparing to be the best girl dad to his little girl.
\nBut the universe has a funny way of doing things. The one thing Leon desires more than anything is the one thing he can\u2019t obtain. It feels nearly impossible as he tries to get his third son to fall asleep.
\n\u201cBoys! The baby needs to sleep, be quiet!\u201d Leon yells, though his voice is not loud enough to overshadow the screaming boys. They\u2019re probably beating each other up but Leon doesn\u2019t even have the energy to stop that anymore. If anything the little shits might drag the baby into the fight as well.
\nLeon\u2019s tired eyes look down at the teething baby who finds comfort in chewing on his tiny hand. The man bought an absurd amount of toy to help the baby\u2019s sore gums, yet one of the little gremlins found them and is holding it for ramson. Oh, Leon wants a girl so bad but he\u2019s completely finished. Leon\u2019s bouncing him, trying to get the baby to go down for his nap, but it\u2019s to no avail.
\n\u201cFor how long are you going to stay this adorable, James?\u201d Leon asks as if the baby could answer. Leon knows it\u2019s only a matter of time before James joins them. He\u2019ll be completely overpowered by his three boys in no time. Oh Leon already feels that headache incoming\u2013 Worst part is that he still loves the little shits, even with all the chaos they cause.
\n\u201cHey! Stop that you two!\u201d Leon hears the yelling, a subtle smile coming to Leon\u2019s lips when he hears the noise from the boys stop. At least they fear you, that\u2019s better than nothing. He can only picture you dragging them by their ears and scolding them. It\u2019s the only way the boys listen nowadays.
\n\u201cYou better behave, James, or else your mommy will drag you by your ear too.\u201d Leon hopes that instilling some fear in the baby will make sure that he\u2019s a little less rowdy than his brothers, but he doubts it\u2019ll work in his favor. The baby barely sleeps, Leon knows he\u2019s in for a wild ride with this one too.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s still not asleep?\u201d You startle the man when you enter the living room. The baby\u2019s eyes are wide open, and you\u2019d laugh. If this wasn\u2019t your third baby, you\u2019d laugh. You sigh. \u201cMake him a bottle.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy don\u2019t you just pull out a tit?\u201d he asks as he hands you the baby. You glare at him, and he chuckles as he raises his hands defensively. He stands up to do what you\u2019ve asked of him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve pumped enough, he can take a bottle,\u201d you answer before cooing at your baby. He\u2019s drooling, making a mess all over his clothes. Poor little thing is probably so uncomfortable, lately he\u2019s been so fussy.
\n\u201cHow do you get those two under control so fast?\u201d your husband asks as he begins preparing his son\u2019s bottle.
\n\u201cA magician never reveals their secret,\u201d you say with a half-smile. Before Leon can jokingly protest, your baby lets out a shrill cry. You pout, bouncing him before asking, \u201cAre you hungry, my love? Daddy is making your bottle.\u201d
\n\u201cMom, Matt took my game!\u201d your eldest, Leo, yells from his room. You roll your eyes, knowing that you\u2019ll have to mediate the situation between them yet again. As if a crying baby wasn\u2019t enough.
\n\u201cMatt, give Leo his game back! Don\u2019t make me go up there!\u201d you shout back as you rock James back and forth, hoping to soothe the cries even though there\u2019s only one way to calm him down. \u201cLeon, hurry up!\u201d
\n\u201cDoing the best I can, sweetheart,\u201d he answers, rushing to prepare the perfect bottle. The thing with James is that if the bottle isn\u2019t damn near perfect, he won\u2019t even attempt to drink it. Either he drinks straight from the source or the bottle is just right. \u201cScratch him, maybe he\u2019s itchy.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not and I\u2019m itchy cry, but I\u2019ll try,\u201d you say, trying to scratch the wailing baby. \u201cDidn\u2019t work! Hurry!\u201d
\n\u201cMommmmm! Leo is trying to steal my games!\u201d
\n\u201cWait a minute your brother is crying!\u201d you yell back before shushing the baby. \u201cI know love, daddy is almost done.\u201d
\n\u201cHere.\u201d Leon hands you the bottle, and you immediately put it in the baby\u2019s mouth. The crying subsides, replaced by yelling from the boys.
\n\u201cLeon, go.\u201d You motion with your head, and he sighs.
\n\u201cDo I have to?\u201d he asks, and when you glare at him, he turns around to do just what you expect him to do. \u201cBoys! Stop it before mommy gets mad!\u201d
\n\u2013 \u2013 \u2013
\n\u201cIf I walk by and you two are awake, you\u2019ll be in so much trouble,\u201d Leon threatens as he tucks in his boys. Back in their toddlerhood days, they\u2019d at least be tired at this hour\u2013 That doesn\u2019t happen anymore. The boys\u2019 eyes are wide open as they stare at their father. They share a mischievous look, and Leon catches it before they can even begin to plot. \u201cDon\u2019t even think about it.\u201d
\n\u201cWe weren\u2019t going to do anything,\u201d Leo claims, and Leon pinches the bridge of his nose. They couldn\u2019t make it any more obvious either.
\n\u201cKeep it that way, or else mom is going to get really mad.\u201d The threat always works, and Leon is not going to change that system. Leon kisses the top of their heads before walking out of the room.
\nLeon walks back to the bedroom, eyes landing on you as you put the baby in his bassinet. He smirks as he watches you. He sneakily walks up to you before hugging you from behind, and placing a kiss on your temple.
\n\u201cLeon.\u201d You put your hand over your heart as your husband surprises you. He lets out a low laugh at your reaction. \u201cAre you trying to kill me?\u201d
\n\u201cHow about we send James back to his nursery?\u201d he suggests, whispering to not poke the sleeping bear that\u2019s in the room.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know how you still have the energy for sex,\u201d you chuckle before carefully scooping up the baby and handing him to your husband. He walks as carefully as possible to not ruin his chances tonight. The man nearly tiptoes out of the room and to the nursery, watching his every step to not upset the ticking time bomb.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll come get you later,\u201d Leon whispers when he finally puts the baby down in his crib. He exits the room as carefully as he entered.
\nLeon enters the room, immediately taking off his shirt as you sit on your side of the bed. He makes sure to lock the door, ensuring there are no interruptions tonight. You chuckle watching your husband rush to your side, making sure to seize the moment before someone gets the idea to ruin it.
\nLeon gets on top of you, lips engulfing yours in a hungry kiss. Your hands waste no time in roaming his body, feeling every inch of him as if you haven\u2019t gotten that opportunity before. His tongue enters your mouth, pressing against your own while your hands get riskier.
\nHis hands go under your shirt, burning up your body with every touch. Leon pulls away, lips kissing your neck while his hands go to your breasts. He squeezes your tits, and you let out a subtle moan before telling him, \u201cFuck, be careful. I might leak.\u201d
\nHe doesn\u2019t stop playing with your tits, instead his head goes under your shirt, mouth wrapping around your nipple and sucking. You\u2019re caught off-guard by his actions but you let him be as he sucks on your tits.
\n\u201cAre you actually drinking\u2013\u201d you ask before a whimper leaves your lips. He hums against your nipple before he unlatches. You lift up the oversized shirt to watch as your husband kisses your tits.
\nThis isn\u2019t your typical foreplay, but for some reason you\u2019re extremely turned on. Leon's lips wrap around your puffy nipple again. You softly moan his name, shutting your eyes as he greedily sucks on your tits.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re so sweet,\u201d he mutters when he unlatches. His hand goes between your legs, rubbing on your clothed cunt to incite some sort of reaction in you which he quickly gets. He begins to take off your pants, a task that he seems to struggle with as he grows desperate. \u201cFuck, help me, baby.\u201d
\nYou finally take off your pants, and he wastes no time in pushing your panties to the side. Two fingers run through your folded, gathering your slick before they focus on playing with your clit. Leon wastes no time in occupying his mouth, latching around the nipple that he hasn\u2019t paid much attention to.
\n\u201cFuck, do you like it or what?\u201d you ask as he drinks your milk. He hums against your nipple again while he slips one finger into your pussy.
\nHe fills you with pleasure, building up your climax. He slips another finger in, curving them so they brush against your sweet spot. His mouth detaches for a second, kissing your breasts before indulging again. He won\u2019t stop until he\u2019s satiated.
\nYou hold your breath as the feeling becomes too much. Your hands hold onto his shoulders, nails digging into the flesh for support. Your back arches, pleasure becoming overpowering and completely washing over you as you reach your climax.
\nHe continues pumping his fingers in and out of you, finally taking them out when he finally unlatches. He looks up at you with dark eyes, completely filled with lust. He brings up the fingers that were just inside of you and puts them in his mouth, licking them clean.
\n\u201cGod, you taste so perfect,\u201d he says as he pulls down his pants, revealing his hard cock. He spits on his hand, quickly stroking his cock before running the tip through your folds. He makes eye contact with you, teasing your entrance but not slipping it in.
\n\u201cPut it in, Leon, I need you,\u201d you tell him when he takes his sweet time to give you what you need.
\n\u201cI need to knock you up, baby.\u201d Leon slips inside of you, not giving you a second to protest before a moan escapes your lips. He gives you a second to adjust before giving slow gentle thrusts. \u201cFuck, I need to knock up your tight little pussy again.\u201d
\n\u201cLeon,\u201d you moan, back arching as he hits the right spot. You shut your eyes, nearly seeing white at just how good he makes you feel. His words go ignored by your ears even though you can very clearly comprehend what he asks of you. Right now you\u2019re too lost in the moment to care.
\n\u201cWill you give me my baby girl, my love? Please,\u201d he whispers into your ears, nibbling on your earlobe as his thrusts become harder. Your hand goes down to play with your oversensitive clit, heightening your pleasure.
\nYou\u2019re making a mess all over him, one that he\u2019s more than happy to clean up. You\u2019re chanting his name, trying to be as quiet as you can to not wake anyone up\u2013 The task feels nearly impossible but you persevere.
\n\u201cShit, I\u2019m gonna come\u2013\u201d you moan. You\u2019re squeezing around his cock, ready to milk him for all he\u2019s got. \u201cFuck, Leon.\u201d
\n\u201cGod, you\u2019re so perfect for me, baby. I need to knock you up again.\u201d His words go unheard by your fucked out brain, reaching your climax for the second time. \u201cPlease let me knock you up, baby, I need my baby girl.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s it, baby. This is it. This is our girl.\u201d Leon bites down on your shoulder, suppressing any sound he makes as his cock twitches inside of you and fills you up with his seed. He gives a couple more gentle thrusts before leaving his softening cock buried inside of you. He\u2019ll make sure not a single drop of his precious seed goes to waste\u2013 Not this time. This time he\u2019s getting his girl.
\nHe engulfs you in another kiss, this time more loving and soft compared to earlier. He pulls away, kissing the tip of your nose and telling you, \u201cI love you.\u201d
\n\u201cI love you too.\u201d You peck his lips. He finally pulls out, laying down on his side of the bed as you get up to clean up.
\n\u201cWhat are you going to do? Get into that weird position you get\u2013\u201d
\n\u201cLeon, if I end up with another boy I will literally cut your balls off,\u201d you cut him off and he chuckles. He can\u2019t argue with it. You both love your sons more than anything, but you\u2019ll lose your mind if you add another one into the mix.
", "summary": "He knows it\u2019s wrong to have a preference, but Leon wants a daughter more than anything. Since the moment he found out you were expecting, he\u2019s been praying to some divine power for a daughter. For what feels like his whole life, he\u2019s been preparing to be the best girl dad to his little girl.
\nBut the universe has a funny way of doing things. The one thing Leon desires more than anything is the one thing he can\u2019t obtain. It feels nearly impossible as he tries to get his third son to fall asleep.
\n\u201cBoys! The baby needs to sleep, be quiet!\u201d Leon yells, though his voice is not loud enough to overshadow the screaming boys. They\u2019re probably beating each other up but Leon doesn\u2019t even have the energy to stop that anymore. If anything the little shits might drag the baby into the fight as well.
\nLeon\u2019s tired eyes look down at the teething baby who finds comfort in chewing on his tiny hand. The man bought an absurd amount of toy to help the baby\u2019s sore gums, yet one of the little gremlins found them and is holding it for ramson. Oh, Leon wants a girl so bad but he\u2019s completely finished. Leon\u2019s bouncing him, trying to get the baby to go down for his nap, but it\u2019s to no avail.
\n\u201cFor how long are you going to stay this adorable, James?\u201d Leon asks as if the baby could answer. Leon knows it\u2019s only a matter of time before James joins them. He\u2019ll be completely overpowered by his three boys in no time. Oh Leon already feels that headache incoming\u2013 Worst part is that he still loves the little shits, even with all the chaos they cause.
\n\u201cHey! Stop that you two!\u201d Leon hears the yelling, a subtle smile coming to Leon\u2019s lips when he hears the noise from the boys stop. At least they fear you, that\u2019s better than nothing. He can only picture you dragging them by their ears and scolding them. It\u2019s the only way the boys listen nowadays.
\n\u201cYou better behave, James, or else your mommy will drag you by your ear too.\u201d Leon hopes that instilling some fear in the baby will make sure that he\u2019s a little less rowdy than his brothers, but he doubts it\u2019ll work in his favor. The baby barely sleeps, Leon knows he\u2019s in for a wild ride with this one too.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s still not asleep?\u201d You startle the man when you enter the living room. The baby\u2019s eyes are wide open, and you\u2019d laugh. If this wasn\u2019t your third baby, you\u2019d laugh. You sigh. \u201cMake him a bottle.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy don\u2019t you just pull out a tit?\u201d he asks as he hands you the baby. You glare at him, and he chuckles as he raises his hands defensively. He stands up to do what you\u2019ve asked of him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve pumped enough, he can take a bottle,\u201d you answer before cooing at your baby. He\u2019s drooling, making a mess all over his clothes. Poor little thing is probably so uncomfortable, lately he\u2019s been so fussy.
\n\u201cHow do you get those two under control so fast?\u201d your husband asks as he begins preparing his son\u2019s bottle.
\n\u201cA magician never reveals their secret,\u201d you say with a half-smile. Before Leon can jokingly protest, your baby lets out a shrill cry. You pout, bouncing him before asking, \u201cAre you hungry, my love? Daddy is making your bottle.\u201d
\n\u201cMom, Matt took my game!\u201d your eldest, Leo, yells from his room. You roll your eyes, knowing that you\u2019ll have to mediate the situation between them yet again. As if a crying baby wasn\u2019t enough.
\n\u201cMatt, give Leo his game back! Don\u2019t make me go up there!\u201d you shout back as you rock James back and forth, hoping to soothe the cries even though there\u2019s only one way to calm him down. \u201cLeon, hurry up!\u201d
\n\u201cDoing the best I can, sweetheart,\u201d he answers, rushing to prepare the perfect bottle. The thing with James is that if the bottle isn\u2019t damn near perfect, he won\u2019t even attempt to drink it. Either he drinks straight from the source or the bottle is just right. \u201cScratch him, maybe he\u2019s itchy.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not and I\u2019m itchy cry, but I\u2019ll try,\u201d you say, trying to scratch the wailing baby. \u201cDidn\u2019t work! Hurry!\u201d
\n\u201cMommmmm! Leo is trying to steal my games!\u201d
\n\u201cWait a minute your brother is crying!\u201d you yell back before shushing the baby. \u201cI know love, daddy is almost done.\u201d
\n\u201cHere.\u201d Leon hands you the bottle, and you immediately put it in the baby\u2019s mouth. The crying subsides, replaced by yelling from the boys.
\n\u201cLeon, go.\u201d You motion with your head, and he sighs.
\n\u201cDo I have to?\u201d he asks, and when you glare at him, he turns around to do just what you expect him to do. \u201cBoys! Stop it before mommy gets mad!\u201d
\n\u2013 \u2013 \u2013
\n\u201cIf I walk by and you two are awake, you\u2019ll be in so much trouble,\u201d Leon threatens as he tucks in his boys. Back in their toddlerhood days, they\u2019d at least be tired at this hour\u2013 That doesn\u2019t happen anymore. The boys\u2019 eyes are wide open as they stare at their father. They share a mischievous look, and Leon catches it before they can even begin to plot. \u201cDon\u2019t even think about it.\u201d
\n\u201cWe weren\u2019t going to do anything,\u201d Leo claims, and Leon pinches the bridge of his nose. They couldn\u2019t make it any more obvious either.
\n\u201cKeep it that way, or else mom is going to get really mad.\u201d The threat always works, and Leon is not going to change that system. Leon kisses the top of their heads before walking out of the room.
\nLeon walks back to the bedroom, eyes landing on you as you put the baby in his bassinet. He smirks as he watches you. He sneakily walks up to you before hugging you from behind, and placing a kiss on your temple.
\n\u201cLeon.\u201d You put your hand over your heart as your husband surprises you. He lets out a low laugh at your reaction. \u201cAre you trying to kill me?\u201d
\n\u201cHow about we send James back to his nursery?\u201d he suggests, whispering to not poke the sleeping bear that\u2019s in the room.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know how you still have the energy for sex,\u201d you chuckle before carefully scooping up the baby and handing him to your husband. He walks as carefully as possible to not ruin his chances tonight. The man nearly tiptoes out of the room and to the nursery, watching his every step to not upset the ticking time bomb.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll come get you later,\u201d Leon whispers when he finally puts the baby down in his crib. He exits the room as carefully as he entered.
\nLeon enters the room, immediately taking off his shirt as you sit on your side of the bed. He makes sure to lock the door, ensuring there are no interruptions tonight. You chuckle watching your husband rush to your side, making sure to seize the moment before someone gets the idea to ruin it.
\nLeon gets on top of you, lips engulfing yours in a hungry kiss. Your hands waste no time in roaming his body, feeling every inch of him as if you haven\u2019t gotten that opportunity before. His tongue enters your mouth, pressing against your own while your hands get riskier.
\nHis hands go under your shirt, burning up your body with every touch. Leon pulls away, lips kissing your neck while his hands go to your breasts. He squeezes your tits, and you let out a subtle moan before telling him, \u201cFuck, be careful. I might leak.\u201d
\nHe doesn\u2019t stop playing with your tits, instead his head goes under your shirt, mouth wrapping around your nipple and sucking. You\u2019re caught off-guard by his actions but you let him be as he sucks on your tits.
\n\u201cAre you actually drinking\u2013\u201d you ask before a whimper leaves your lips. He hums against your nipple before he unlatches. You lift up the oversized shirt to watch as your husband kisses your tits.
\nThis isn\u2019t your typical foreplay, but for some reason you\u2019re extremely turned on. Leon's lips wrap around your puffy nipple again. You softly moan his name, shutting your eyes as he greedily sucks on your tits.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re so sweet,\u201d he mutters when he unlatches. His hand goes between your legs, rubbing on your clothed cunt to incite some sort of reaction in you which he quickly gets. He begins to take off your pants, a task that he seems to struggle with as he grows desperate. \u201cFuck, help me, baby.\u201d
\nYou finally take off your pants, and he wastes no time in pushing your panties to the side. Two fingers run through your folded, gathering your slick before they focus on playing with your clit. Leon wastes no time in occupying his mouth, latching around the nipple that he hasn\u2019t paid much attention to.
\n\u201cFuck, do you like it or what?\u201d you ask as he drinks your milk. He hums against your nipple again while he slips one finger into your pussy.
\nHe fills you with pleasure, building up your climax. He slips another finger in, curving them so they brush against your sweet spot. His mouth detaches for a second, kissing your breasts before indulging again. He won\u2019t stop until he\u2019s satiated.
\nYou hold your breath as the feeling becomes too much. Your hands hold onto his shoulders, nails digging into the flesh for support. Your back arches, pleasure becoming overpowering and completely washing over you as you reach your climax.
\nHe continues pumping his fingers in and out of you, finally taking them out when he finally unlatches. He looks up at you with dark eyes, completely filled with lust. He brings up the fingers that were just inside of you and puts them in his mouth, licking them clean.
\n\u201cGod, you taste so perfect,\u201d he says as he pulls down his pants, revealing his hard cock. He spits on his hand, quickly stroking his cock before running the tip through your folds. He makes eye contact with you, teasing your entrance but not slipping it in.
\n\u201cPut it in, Leon, I need you,\u201d you tell him when he takes his sweet time to give you what you need.
\n\u201cI need to knock you up, baby.\u201d Leon slips inside of you, not giving you a second to protest before a moan escapes your lips. He gives you a second to adjust before giving slow gentle thrusts. \u201cFuck, I need to knock up your tight little pussy again.\u201d
\n\u201cLeon,\u201d you moan, back arching as he hits the right spot. You shut your eyes, nearly seeing white at just how good he makes you feel. His words go ignored by your ears even though you can very clearly comprehend what he asks of you. Right now you\u2019re too lost in the moment to care.
\n\u201cWill you give me my baby girl, my love? Please,\u201d he whispers into your ears, nibbling on your earlobe as his thrusts become harder. Your hand goes down to play with your oversensitive clit, heightening your pleasure.
\nYou\u2019re making a mess all over him, one that he\u2019s more than happy to clean up. You\u2019re chanting his name, trying to be as quiet as you can to not wake anyone up\u2013 The task feels nearly impossible but you persevere.
\n\u201cShit, I\u2019m gonna come\u2013\u201d you moan. You\u2019re squeezing around his cock, ready to milk him for all he\u2019s got. \u201cFuck, Leon.\u201d
\n\u201cGod, you\u2019re so perfect for me, baby. I need to knock you up again.\u201d His words go unheard by your fucked out brain, reaching your climax for the second time. \u201cPlease let me knock you up, baby, I need my baby girl.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s it, baby. This is it. This is our girl.\u201d Leon bites down on your shoulder, suppressing any sound he makes as his cock twitches inside of you and fills you up with his seed. He gives a couple more gentle thrusts before leaving his softening cock buried inside of you. He\u2019ll make sure not a single drop of his precious seed goes to waste\u2013 Not this time. This time he\u2019s getting his girl.
\nHe engulfs you in another kiss, this time more loving and soft compared to earlier. He pulls away, kissing the tip of your nose and telling you, \u201cI love you.\u201d
\n\u201cI love you too.\u201d You peck his lips. He finally pulls out, laying down on his side of the bed as you get up to clean up.
\n\u201cWhat are you going to do? Get into that weird position you get\u2013\u201d
\n\u201cLeon, if I end up with another boy I will literally cut your balls off,\u201d you cut him off and he chuckles. He can\u2019t argue with it. You both love your sons more than anything, but you\u2019ll lose your mind if you add another one into the mix.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T18:47:50Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T19:27:25Z", "authors": ["lemonlover1110"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85360701", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85360701", "external_url": null, "title": "It's Always Rainy in Philadelphia", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\nA poetic person would describe you as a fl\u00e2neuse. Someone who likes to meander around the city and explore all of the hidden cracks that go unnoticed with curious appreciation. The thought that you could be seen as some deeply artistic, deliberate philosopher was nice, but not true. You just liked exploring abandoned spaces. Not for any particularly thoughtful reason. Sure, it was humbling to wander through a decrepit community center and see the evidence that someone else had been here. A beer can, a blanket, a half-smoked blunt. It was proof that someone else had climbed the same dumpster to scramble through the sagging frame of a window. Proof that someone else calculated how far they would have to jump over the sinkhole in the middle of the floor, just like you did.
\nIt makes you feel less lonely, but in a way that reminds you that you aren\u2019t special. That\u2019s comforting, too, because you dread being unusual.
\nBut really, you just like exploring. You like bringing your camera with you and snapping pictures of old graffiti, and pools of water that shouldn\u2019t be there, and vines overtaking previously clean, shiny buildings. Sometimes, when you have a couple of consecutive days off from work, you stay for a few nights in whatever place you end up. Which is completely stupid and unsafe, especially for a woman, but you do your best to come prepared. A handgun on your hip and a knife in your sock seem good enough.
\nIf you couldn\u2019t get away from an attacker with those two things, it was probably your time to go.
\nA year and a half ago, you stopped taking your meds. You moved from Rhode Island to San Francisco, then Portland, and somehow you landed here in Philadelphia. You missed the East Coast way of life. People mind their business and are rarely interested in getting to know you. Life moves faster over here. People walk faster, expect their coffee right away, and risk being run over when the crosswalk light is still blinking red. When people help you, it\u2019s in a hurried and annoyed way, but genuine. No need to ask any unnecessary questions, no life story, no pity party. Just a silent understanding.
\nSilence is good, especially when the city is so loud.
\nThe bars here are good, too. There\u2019s one far enough from the universities that you rarely bump into frat guys. It mostly consists of middle-aged people who would rather sit at the counter with their heads in their hands, mulling over a recent divorce than talk. One time, you played darts with an older Italian man. It was your first time, you sucked, and he was really trying to give you tips on how to hit the board and not the wood-paneled walls. You took a deep breath, steeled your shoulders, and threw a dart. You thought for sure it would hit at least a single, but you didn\u2019t see the dart land anywhere. Not the board and not even the wall. It had landed in the man\u2019s head. He looked at you with unadulterated disappointment as he pulled the dart out of his balding head.
\nYou avoided that bar for a month, but you had a hard day at work, it\u2019s the closest one to your apartment, and nothing sounded better than a drink, so you slip inside. The bell above the door jingles and then slams behind you. You quickly scan the small room. Dart board guy isn\u2019t here. You finally let out a breath, slump onto a stool, and order a rumple shot. Gross, but you need something to shock your system out of work mode.
\nBefore you dropped out of college in your third year, you were studying chemistry with a minor in forensic science. Now, you answer phones at a dental clinic. Sometimes, you deliver food for the Chinese restaurant that you live above. They give you the extra white rice and egg drop soup after closing, so it\u2019s hard to complain. The work at the clinic isn\u2019t hard, more mind-numbing than anything, but your coworkers are difficult to deal with. Or, more likely, you\u2019re difficult to deal with. They have established lives, a regular schedule, and it seems like all of them are on a heavy dose of SSRIs. They\u2019re like zombies who go to yoga. You long to be able to run such a tight ship.
\n\u201cCan I get another?\u201d you call to the bartender. The shot burns just as badly as the first one. The worst part of being off your meds is that it takes more effort to get tipsy. Two shots used to do the job just fine, but now, it takes about four. Double the money for the same shit.
\nAfter the third one, you\u2019re finally able to relax. The colorful Christmas lights strung across the ceiling are a little softer, clanking glasses a little quieter, and your breathing is steadier.
\nYou cut yourself off. You have to be up early in the morning, you\u2019re driving to Jersey to check out an abandoned power plant. Since this is your first time going, you\u2019d rather not be hungover. Someone told you about the plant a couple of weeks ago in McGlinchey\u2019s, and you\u2019ve been waiting for the right weekend to escape the city. You couldn\u2019t find many pictures of it online, just a few of the outside, and you\u2019re dreadfully curious to see what hides behind those concrete walls.
\nYou pay your tab and leave a pitiful tip with the crumpled-up cash in your pocket, and walk home. It\u2019s only a five-minute walk, but it\u2019s raining so hard that when you finally shut your apartment door, you\u2019re dripping all over the place. You immediately peel your clothes off and drop them on the wood floor with a wet thud. Tomorrows problem. You\u2019re exhausted.
\nYou crumple onto the couch, set an alarm, and pull the tattered knit blanket over your head.
\nYou think it\u2019s your alarm waking you up, but it\u2019s your phone ringing. You dig around in the couch cushions deliriously, find it, and groan when you see the caller ID.
\n\u201cHey, Mom,\u201d you answer after a long moment of deliberation. Your voice is scratchy from sleep.
\n\u201cHi, sweetheart. It\u2019s Sunday.\u201d
\nYou wish you hadn\u2019t picked up. \u201cYes, it is.\u201d
\nHer sigh comes through, heavy and disappointed. \u201cI guess you\u2019re not getting ready for church, then?\u201d
\nYou look around your tiny apartment. A coffee table next to you with a bowl of two-day-old rice, a disintegrating plant hanging above your window, and some photos you took taped to the wall in a vain attempt to make the place feel less like a storage unit.
\n\u201cNo,\u201d you admit. Sometimes you lie, but you don\u2019t have the willpower today.
\n\u201cI know you\u2019re in a dark place right now,\u201d she insists, \u201cBut only God can pull you out. He\u2019s knocking. You just have to let him in.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know what to say to that. You used to argue with her about it, try to get her to see your side, but it was useless. Silence is the best way to handle it.
\n\u201cRemember,\u201d she says softly, like she\u2019s trying to tug at your heartstrings. \u201cHe\u2019ll always be waiting for you.\u201d
\n\u201cThanks, Mom, I love you. Gotta go.\u201d You end the call before she can get another word in. She would preach for hours if given the chance.
\nYou toss your phone onto the coffee table and drag your hands over your face. You\u2019re tired of the calls, of the texts she sends you with Bible verses attached, of the constant guilt tripping. If she weren\u2019t your mother- and also going through a tumultuous divorce- you would have blocked her by now.
\nYou pad to the kitchen and start the coffee pot. It sputters miserably, like trying to start a dead car, but it somehow dribbles out a full cup. Thank God. You take your time waking up, staring out the window at the rising sun starting to peek over the city. Philadelphia can be grimy, especially the part you live in, but it looks like a painting in the morning. Smears of orange reflect off the windows, birds fly low, and dew still sticks to the trees. It\u2019s calm.
\nYou start to pack for the trip. You don\u2019t need a lot; you won\u2019t be sleeping there, so just the necessities will do. A pair of work gloves, a full face respirator, a portable charger, a flashlight, your camera, a Geiger counter, and a few granola bars. You pull on thick construction pants (you learned your lesson after getting stuck with rusty rebar while wearing leggings) and a big hoodie. It\u2019s October, and slowly starting to get colder, so you double up your socks before sliding into steel-toed boots. The knife gets tucked inside, and you strap on your hip holster.
\nThe gun sits under an unfolded pile of panties in the top dresser drawer. You fiddle around until your fingers hit the cold metal of the TX22. It sits heavy in your hand as you stare down at it. A flood of memories hit you, as they always do when you hold a gun. Some nice, but mostly terrible.
\nYou realize you\u2019ve been looking at it for a full five minutes before you shake your head and shove it in the holster.
\nYou double-check your backpack, grab your keys, and head out the door. You still haven\u2019t gotten used to the new apartment. The hallways are dark, and smell of cigarettes, and the carpeted stairs are so old that a faded foot path has appeared from all the abuse. But it\u2019s not awful. You have somewhere to rest your head at night, your landlord is sweet, and the AC works great. After the hostel you lived at in San Francisco, this feels like an all-inclusive resort.
\nYou trek to your car parked down the street and haul your backpack into the passenger seat. You drive in silence, which is unusual. You fill most of your waking moments with music, or podcasts, or with the TV playing some reality show, because it\u2019s easier that way. You don\u2019t like to think too much, because you always spiral and end up with the same haunting thought: I really fucked up.
\nBut the windows are rolled down, the cool breeze is rustling through your hair, and the weather is clear. That\u2019s enough of a distraction, and paired with the thought that you\u2019re going somewhere new, you\u2019re happy.
\nIt takes three hours before you\u2019re meandering down a small gravel road deep in the woods. The trees are overgrown and scratch against your car as you do your best to weave around them, but it\u2019s no use. Your car isn\u2019t exactly in the best condition to begin with, so you barrel on. The path is sketchy, and you second-guess your map, but the trees slowly get sparser, and eventually you\u2019re spit out in front of the power plant.
\nIt\u2019s a looming, grey building that\u2019s surrounded by tall, barbed fencing. You hope your wire cutters are in the trunk, because from here you couldn\u2019t spot any graffiti, and that\u2019s a bad sign. No graffiti means not many people have been here. Maybe because of the location, but probably because there were enough cameras to scare anyone off.
\nYou park in the grass, turning the car around so you face the road. If there were guards, you needed to make a quick escape. Can\u2019t risk landing in jail again.
\nYou\u2019re not deterred by the lack of graffiti or the lack of holes in the fence. It gives you butterflies.
\nYou unzip your backpack and grab the respirator. Best to put it on now if there were cameras. You throw your keys in the bag and open the door. Thankfully, you had left your wire cutters in the trunk, and that\u2019s the last thing you grab before you march through the overgrown grass. The overgrown forest canopies the area with shade, and only sporadic streaks of light peek through the leaves.
\nAs you stroll along the fence, keeping an eye out for a hole you could shimmy through before resorting to cutting one yourself, you realize how quiet it is. You needed this. You love the way a city can suck you up and keep you hidden in a sea of people. You love how small your thoughts get when everything around you is busy and overwhelming, but you didn\u2019t realize how much you missed the real quiet. There\u2019s nothing artificial about it.
\nYou can\u2019t find a hole, so you slide your work gloves on before you start cutting the fence. The metal snaps apart with satisfying, crunchy pops. It takes fifteen minutes, and you\u2019re sweating through your hoodie by the end, but you\u2019re proud of your work. Small enough not to be noticeable, but large enough for a quick escape.
\nYou push your backpack through first, then crawl under the wire. It rubs against your back painfully, but it\u2019s grounding. When you reach the other side, you allow yourself to sit in the soft grass and observe the power plant. It\u2019s nondescript; there\u2019s not even a logo slapped on the side. Three ventilation stacks rise so high that it makes you dizzy to look up. Ivy curls up the concrete like a disease, and black stains from years of rain droop down the sides. Despite the obvious lack of traffic this place gets, most of the windows had been shattered.
\nInteresting.
\nYou stand up and shoulder your backpack, continuing to canvas the area. You like to have a vague idea of what you\u2019re getting into, so you make mental notes of the doors and windows that could be accessible from the ground. There\u2019s a surprising lack of cameras.
\nYou find an emergency exit that\u2019s been propped open slightly with a brick. Guess it\u2019s a sign.
\nYou switch the Geigar counter on, stuff it in your pocket, and grab the handle. The door squeals as you creep inside, and you\u2019re faced with a winding, steel staircase. You go past it to the open door on the right and flick your flashlight on.
\nThe hallways are long and mazelike, just empty white walls and doors to offices and meeting rooms. You look into a couple of unlocked ones, but they\u2019re barren. The place has been completely gutted. The outside may be crumbling apart, but the inside is uncomfortably clean. Besides a lobby and a couple of bathrooms, the first floor offers nothing of interest, so you retrace your steps to the staircase. It rattles under your boots as you climb to the second story, which seems a lot more promising when you reach the top.
\nIt\u2019s equally empty, but the wooden doors are replaced with heavy steel ones. It would be pitch black if it weren\u2019t for the glaring red alarm lights lining the ceiling. The excitement grows when you notice double doors with safety warnings plastered all across. The Geigar counter is still clicking steadily in your pocket, so you try the door.
\nIt\u2019s unlocked and swings open with ease. You\u2019re in the control room, and you can\u2019t help but smile under your mask. Jackpot.
\nThe cold room hosts a long analog panel that sits before massive windows. You jog to the glass, eagerly pressing your forehead against it to get a look at the breathtaking sight below you. The sheer size of the turbine hall makes your breath hitch. Massive boilers and fat aluminum flue pipes that weave across the room like a snake. It was a twisted jungle of metal, and your head flies around to look for an access door. You need to get down there.
\nThere\u2019s one to the left, and by a stroke of pure luck, it\u2019s unlocked. You grip the straps of the backpack until your knuckles turn white as you step onto the catwalk. The room is painfully silent, so uncanny when you imagine how loud it probably was when in operation. The only sound is your heavy boots echoing through the hall.
\nYou walk slowly around the catwalk, reverently, like you\u2019re in a place of worship. There\u2019s a ladder at the end, and you don\u2019t think twice before climbing down.
\nThere\u2019s a feeling that you\u2019re always chasing, and it hits you like a shot of heroine when you drop onto the tile floor. It\u2019s the feeling of insignificance. The machines soar above you, and you\u2019re an ant in comparison. In this room of the most powerful mechanisms, you are nothing. They have been here long before you were born, and they will be here long after. They\u2019re consistent, never changing, meticulously made. The metal innards that sit behind the steel curves of the boilers are flawless and calculated.
\nYou\u2019re broken from your awe when you hear the Geigar counter start to click faster. You only make it two steps back before a wretched groan pierces through the silence. You freeze in your tracks.
\nThere\u2019s someone here.
\nYou don\u2019t breathe, eyes frantically straining across the dark room to find the source. You don\u2019t see anything, but you hear the sloppy footsteps and the agonized grunt. It echoes one hundred times over; it\u2019s impossible to tell where they\u2019re coming from.
\nThe Geigar counter ticks furiously, and you\u2019re forced to back against the wall. The ticks slow, only for a moment, before it\u2019s blaring urgently again.
\nThe footsteps turn into quick, fleshy slaps against the floor. Closer. Closer.
\nYou drop the flashlight and yank your gun out and flick the safety off in one swift motion, holding it out in front of you with shaking arms. You know you should move. Run, hide, do anything, but you\u2019re paralyzed.
\nAnd then you see the person lean out from behind a boiler, and they\u2019re looking straight at you.
\n\u201cI have a gun,\u201d you warn loudly, and your voice comes out much more confident than you feel. \u201cWho the fuck are you?\u201d
\nA thick stillness settles. And then the person sprints straight for you.
\nExcept, it\u2019s not a person. You only see a quick flash, but there\u2019s nothing human about it. You see shredded skin and oozing blood, and you shoot.
\nThe gunshot ruptures around the room and renders you deaf, but you shoot again, and this one lands right in the thing\u2019s skull. Chunks of flesh explode from its head and land on the boiler, sticking to it like you threw spaghetti at the wall.
\nYou lower the gun, but your grip on it doesn\u2019t let up. The thing, person, whatever the fuck it is, lies motionless. You\u2019re breathing so hard that your throat burns, and your thoughts have been replaced with static adrenaline.
\nA resounding crack, bone scraping against bone, a moan. It's getting up.
\n\u201cHoly shit, holy shit,\u201d you gasp.
\nIt barrels towards you like a feral animal, too quick for you to put the pieces together or come up with some sort of escape plan. It\u2019s too late. You can feel bony hands around your neck and see the face of your perpetrator up close. Hollow, soulless eyes and the gaping mouth of a lion. Spit drips down its yellow teeth as its jaw stretches impossibly wider. Its neck wrenches back so far its eyes disappear, then snaps forward to your jugular.
\nIt's gonna bite me. I\u2019m gonna die. I\u2019m going to fucking die here.
\nA gunshot reverberates in the air, and the thing slumps over again with a soggy thump.
\nBut your gun is still pointed at the floor.
\n\u201cSir!\u201d
\nYou barely register the voice, too focused on your failing lungs struggling to suck in air. Your neck burns, and your throat constricts like a drying fish trying to get oxygen.
\n\u201cSir!\u201d the voice shouts again.
\nI gotta get out.
\nYour survival instincts take over, and your body is running to the ladder, scrambling up so fast that your sweaty palms slip on the bars. You make it to the top and fall against the catwalk, half crawling, half running back to the control room.
\nYou slam into something solid and fall onto your ass so hard your teeth vibrate. When you look up and see the man you ran right into, your gun instantly goes up and points at his face.
\n\u201cBuddy, you need to get up right now,\u201d the man hisses. \u201cPut the gun away.\u201d
\nThe gun doesn\u2019t budge. \u201cThere\u2019s a,\u201d you stammer. \u201cThere\u2019s a fucking zombie! Are you one?\u201d You begin to scoot back on your ass, gun quivering in your hands. \u201cI\u2019ll shoot you.\u201d
\n\u201cDo I look like a zombie?\u201d he drawls, and before you can pull the trigger, you\u2019re being yanked up by the arm, and your gun clatters against the floor. \u201cI\u2019m DSO,\u201d he says, like that explains anything. \u201cYou need to stay behind me. I\u2019ll get you out.\u201d
\nFor some reason, your legs follow him. He\u2019s wearing a bulletproof vest with a DSO patch stuck to the back. He might be legit, and he\u2019s the only one with a gun now, so this is your best chance at survival.
\n\u201cSherry,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a civilian.\u201d
\nYou can hear a faint static voice from his earpiece, but it\u2019s too quiet to understand.
\n\u201cRight. Getting out now.\u201d He glances back, like he\u2019s making sure you\u2019re still there. \u201cKeep your eyes open, this may get sketchy.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know how to speak, so you nod.
\nHe leads you back into the control room, then out the steel doors, and as you're running through the hallway, his hand snaps up. Stop.
\nA figure hobbles out from behind a corner, and two gunshots go off.
\nHe motions for you to keep moving.
\nAnd by God, you do, hot on his heels. You rush down the wobbly steps to the first floor, booking it out of the front door like you\u2019re on fire. Even when your boots are thundering across the long grass, you don\u2019t stop until you\u2019ve shimmied under the fence and made it to your car. Your head flies back when there are three more gunshots. The man is right outside the exit, gun still pointed at the threshold as he steps backwards slowly.
\nYou fumble for your keys in your backpack and unlock the car door, heaving. You\u2019re quick to fall into your seat, slam the door, and start the engine, but then your door is being ripped back open.
\nThe man stands there, looking down at you. He got here too fast. His gun has been put away, but you still raise your hands in surrender.
\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t hurt me,\u201d you beg, voice cracking.
\nHe looks exasperated, sweat dripping down his weathered face. \u201cI\u2019m not gonna hurt you,\u201d he sighs, and he crouches down so he\u2019s eye to eye with you. \u201cEverything\u2019s okay, but you need to come with me.\u201d
\n\u201cFuck no,\u201d you stammer.
\n\u201cNot optional, sorry,\u201d he says, but it sounds like he actually is sorry. He reaches a hand out for you to take. \u201cI work for the government, I\u2019m safe, just trying to get you out.\u201d
\n\u201cI can get out on my own if you get off my car,\u201d you plead. Realistically, you could gun it and just run him over, but fear is holding you hostage.
\nHe rubs his forehead like a migraine is coming on. \u201cIf you don\u2019t comply, I\u2019ll need to use force.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know what to do. You\u2019re on the verge of having a full-on breakdown.
\nHe decides for you, reaching across your chest and pulling the keys out of the ignition. \u201cAre you gonna make me carry you? I\u2019m getting too old for that.\u201d
\nYou step out of the car carefully. Your legs are wet noddles and it\u2019s a miracle you don\u2019t keel over right there.
\nHe places a large hand on your shoulder, obviously thinking you\u2019d bolt, and guides you to a car tucked a little farther into the woods, on a different path. He opens the door for you, and you get in the passenger seat.
\nWhen he starts the car and swerves down the road, you finally rip your respirator off, gasping. You double over into yourself as your throat constricts. Your eyes are wide, but you can\u2019t see past the crushing panic. Thankfully, the man doesn\u2019t say anything when you dry heave.
\nThose eyes. Those teeth. The exposed muscle under black skin.
\nYou don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s been before your body gives up, replacing the adrenaline with shock. You sit back and stare at the man driving. You wish you could ask the hundred questions swirling in your head, but when you open your mouth, nothing comes out. So you just stare at him.
\nHe\u2019s older than you expected, probably in his forties. His hair is scattered with grey streaks, and there are deep bags under his eyes. His far too tight navy button-up hugs his biceps like it\u2019s about to burst open.
\n\u201cSorry about calling you sir,\u201d he says, trying to break the tension. He tosses a weak smile your way.
\nYou don\u2019t respond.
\nHis fingers drum against the steering wheel. \u201cListen, I\u2019m sure you have a lot of questions, but the important thing is getting you to the office so you can get a medical assessment. They\u2019ll be able to answer some of your questions.\u201d
\nYour expression sours, and the frustration is the only thing that finally forces your voice to work. \u201cYou\u2019re kidnapping me.\u201d
\nHe absently reaches into his breast pocket and presents the DSO badge. You still don\u2019t know what the fuck DSO is. \u201cWhat were you doing at the powerplant?\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t answer that. \u201cH-How far is this office? Are you gonna put me on a boat and ship me to Guatemala?\u201d
\nHe chuckles softly. \u201cNo. We\u2019re not far.\u201d
\nYour mind jolts back to the beast. Shredded, burnt flesh hanging off of it like a weeping willow. Soulless eyes, unnaturally thin arms, wide mouth. The frantic clicks from the Geigar counter. Would you get radiation poisoning? Was that thing radioactive?
\nIf you weren\u2019t in shock, it would almost be funny. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It seemed to be a trend in your life. Only a curse could make someone so unlucky.
\nThe rest of the drive is silent. The man doesn\u2019t cough up any sort of explanation, and you\u2019re too busy repeating the events over and over to ask questions. You don\u2019t even realize the car has parked until the man taps the dashboard to get your attention. You must be losing time.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re at the office,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m going to take you inside, and the medical team will pull you away for a moment to make sure you\u2019re okay.\u201d
\nYou nod vacantly. Brain matter splattering onto the boiler.
\n\u201cThen we\u2019ll have a meeting, and you can tell them what you were doing at the plant.\u201d
\n\u201cWill you be there?\u201d you ask without thinking.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll be there,\u201d he nodded. \u201cI know you\u2019re scared. You\u2019ll be okay, kid.\u201d
\n\u201c...Okay.\u201d
\nYou follow him out of the car, wrapping your arms around yourself as you walk into the blank building. Just like the power plant- no logo. And in the middle of nowhere.
\nAs soon as you step inside, you\u2019re surrounded by lab coats and falsely comforting voices. You\u2019re whisked away to a small medical room and ordered to sit on the cold examination table. You don\u2019t realize how bad you\u2019re shaking until one of the doctors tries to draw your blood. She has to hold your arm down to slip the needle in.
\nA blood pressure cuff is pulled tight around your bicep, and an oxygen monitor is clamped to your finger.
\n\u201cTacky at 120,\u201d a man says, and another needle jabs you.
\nA blanket is thrown across your shoulders, and you close your eyes. You stop shaking. Whatever they just injected you with is making you delirious. You hear vague snippets of medical jargon that you can\u2019t understand before you lie back on the table and slip away.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\nA poetic person would describe you as a fl\u00e2neuse. Someone who likes to meander around the city and explore all of the hidden cracks that go unnoticed with curious appreciation. The thought that you could be seen as some deeply artistic, deliberate philosopher was nice, but not true. You just liked exploring abandoned spaces. Not for any particularly thoughtful reason. Sure, it was humbling to wander through a decrepit community center and see the evidence that someone else had been here. A beer can, a blanket, a half-smoked blunt. It was proof that someone else had climbed the same dumpster to scramble through the sagging frame of a window. Proof that someone else calculated how far they would have to jump over the sinkhole in the middle of the floor, just like you did.
\nIt makes you feel less lonely, but in a way that reminds you that you aren\u2019t special. That\u2019s comforting, too, because you dread being unusual.
\nBut really, you just like exploring. You like bringing your camera with you and snapping pictures of old graffiti, and pools of water that shouldn\u2019t be there, and vines overtaking previously clean, shiny buildings. Sometimes, when you have a couple of consecutive days off from work, you stay for a few nights in whatever place you end up. Which is completely stupid and unsafe, especially for a woman, but you do your best to come prepared. A handgun on your hip and a knife in your sock seem good enough.
\nIf you couldn\u2019t get away from an attacker with those two things, it was probably your time to go.
\nA year and a half ago, you stopped taking your meds. You moved from Rhode Island to San Francisco, then Portland, and somehow you landed here in Philadelphia. You missed the East Coast way of life. People mind their business and are rarely interested in getting to know you. Life moves faster over here. People walk faster, expect their coffee right away, and risk being run over when the crosswalk light is still blinking red. When people help you, it\u2019s in a hurried and annoyed way, but genuine. No need to ask any unnecessary questions, no life story, no pity party. Just a silent understanding.
\nSilence is good, especially when the city is so loud.
\nThe bars here are good, too. There\u2019s one far enough from the universities that you rarely bump into frat guys. It mostly consists of middle-aged people who would rather sit at the counter with their heads in their hands, mulling over a recent divorce than talk. One time, you played darts with an older Italian man. It was your first time, you sucked, and he was really trying to give you tips on how to hit the board and not the wood-paneled walls. You took a deep breath, steeled your shoulders, and threw a dart. You thought for sure it would hit at least a single, but you didn\u2019t see the dart land anywhere. Not the board and not even the wall. It had landed in the man\u2019s head. He looked at you with unadulterated disappointment as he pulled the dart out of his balding head.
\nYou avoided that bar for a month, but you had a hard day at work, it\u2019s the closest one to your apartment, and nothing sounded better than a drink, so you slip inside. The bell above the door jingles and then slams behind you. You quickly scan the small room. Dart board guy isn\u2019t here. You finally let out a breath, slump onto a stool, and order a rumple shot. Gross, but you need something to shock your system out of work mode.
\nBefore you dropped out of college in your third year, you were studying chemistry with a minor in forensic science. Now, you answer phones at a dental clinic. Sometimes, you deliver food for the Chinese restaurant that you live above. They give you the extra white rice and egg drop soup after closing, so it\u2019s hard to complain. The work at the clinic isn\u2019t hard, more mind-numbing than anything, but your coworkers are difficult to deal with. Or, more likely, you\u2019re difficult to deal with. They have established lives, a regular schedule, and it seems like all of them are on a heavy dose of SSRIs. They\u2019re like zombies who go to yoga. You long to be able to run such a tight ship.
\n\u201cCan I get another?\u201d you call to the bartender. The shot burns just as badly as the first one. The worst part of being off your meds is that it takes more effort to get tipsy. Two shots used to do the job just fine, but now, it takes about four. Double the money for the same shit.
\nAfter the third one, you\u2019re finally able to relax. The colorful Christmas lights strung across the ceiling are a little softer, clanking glasses a little quieter, and your breathing is steadier.
\nYou cut yourself off. You have to be up early in the morning, you\u2019re driving to Jersey to check out an abandoned power plant. Since this is your first time going, you\u2019d rather not be hungover. Someone told you about the plant a couple of weeks ago in McGlinchey\u2019s, and you\u2019ve been waiting for the right weekend to escape the city. You couldn\u2019t find many pictures of it online, just a few of the outside, and you\u2019re dreadfully curious to see what hides behind those concrete walls.
\nYou pay your tab and leave a pitiful tip with the crumpled-up cash in your pocket, and walk home. It\u2019s only a five-minute walk, but it\u2019s raining so hard that when you finally shut your apartment door, you\u2019re dripping all over the place. You immediately peel your clothes off and drop them on the wood floor with a wet thud. Tomorrows problem. You\u2019re exhausted.
\nYou crumple onto the couch, set an alarm, and pull the tattered knit blanket over your head.
\nYou think it\u2019s your alarm waking you up, but it\u2019s your phone ringing. You dig around in the couch cushions deliriously, find it, and groan when you see the caller ID.
\n\u201cHey, Mom,\u201d you answer after a long moment of deliberation. Your voice is scratchy from sleep.
\n\u201cHi, sweetheart. It\u2019s Sunday.\u201d
\nYou wish you hadn\u2019t picked up. \u201cYes, it is.\u201d
\nHer sigh comes through, heavy and disappointed. \u201cI guess you\u2019re not getting ready for church, then?\u201d
\nYou look around your tiny apartment. A coffee table next to you with a bowl of two-day-old rice, a disintegrating plant hanging above your window, and some photos you took taped to the wall in a vain attempt to make the place feel less like a storage unit.
\n\u201cNo,\u201d you admit. Sometimes you lie, but you don\u2019t have the willpower today.
\n\u201cI know you\u2019re in a dark place right now,\u201d she insists, \u201cBut only God can pull you out. He\u2019s knocking. You just have to let him in.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know what to say to that. You used to argue with her about it, try to get her to see your side, but it was useless. Silence is the best way to handle it.
\n\u201cRemember,\u201d she says softly, like she\u2019s trying to tug at your heartstrings. \u201cHe\u2019ll always be waiting for you.\u201d
\n\u201cThanks, Mom, I love you. Gotta go.\u201d You end the call before she can get another word in. She would preach for hours if given the chance.
\nYou toss your phone onto the coffee table and drag your hands over your face. You\u2019re tired of the calls, of the texts she sends you with Bible verses attached, of the constant guilt tripping. If she weren\u2019t your mother- and also going through a tumultuous divorce- you would have blocked her by now.
\nYou pad to the kitchen and start the coffee pot. It sputters miserably, like trying to start a dead car, but it somehow dribbles out a full cup. Thank God. You take your time waking up, staring out the window at the rising sun starting to peek over the city. Philadelphia can be grimy, especially the part you live in, but it looks like a painting in the morning. Smears of orange reflect off the windows, birds fly low, and dew still sticks to the trees. It\u2019s calm.
\nYou start to pack for the trip. You don\u2019t need a lot; you won\u2019t be sleeping there, so just the necessities will do. A pair of work gloves, a full face respirator, a portable charger, a flashlight, your camera, a Geiger counter, and a few granola bars. You pull on thick construction pants (you learned your lesson after getting stuck with rusty rebar while wearing leggings) and a big hoodie. It\u2019s October, and slowly starting to get colder, so you double up your socks before sliding into steel-toed boots. The knife gets tucked inside, and you strap on your hip holster.
\nThe gun sits under an unfolded pile of panties in the top dresser drawer. You fiddle around until your fingers hit the cold metal of the TX22. It sits heavy in your hand as you stare down at it. A flood of memories hit you, as they always do when you hold a gun. Some nice, but mostly terrible.
\nYou realize you\u2019ve been looking at it for a full five minutes before you shake your head and shove it in the holster.
\nYou double-check your backpack, grab your keys, and head out the door. You still haven\u2019t gotten used to the new apartment. The hallways are dark, and smell of cigarettes, and the carpeted stairs are so old that a faded foot path has appeared from all the abuse. But it\u2019s not awful. You have somewhere to rest your head at night, your landlord is sweet, and the AC works great. After the hostel you lived at in San Francisco, this feels like an all-inclusive resort.
\nYou trek to your car parked down the street and haul your backpack into the passenger seat. You drive in silence, which is unusual. You fill most of your waking moments with music, or podcasts, or with the TV playing some reality show, because it\u2019s easier that way. You don\u2019t like to think too much, because you always spiral and end up with the same haunting thought: I really fucked up.
\nBut the windows are rolled down, the cool breeze is rustling through your hair, and the weather is clear. That\u2019s enough of a distraction, and paired with the thought that you\u2019re going somewhere new, you\u2019re happy.
\nIt takes three hours before you\u2019re meandering down a small gravel road deep in the woods. The trees are overgrown and scratch against your car as you do your best to weave around them, but it\u2019s no use. Your car isn\u2019t exactly in the best condition to begin with, so you barrel on. The path is sketchy, and you second-guess your map, but the trees slowly get sparser, and eventually you\u2019re spit out in front of the power plant.
\nIt\u2019s a looming, grey building that\u2019s surrounded by tall, barbed fencing. You hope your wire cutters are in the trunk, because from here you couldn\u2019t spot any graffiti, and that\u2019s a bad sign. No graffiti means not many people have been here. Maybe because of the location, but probably because there were enough cameras to scare anyone off.
\nYou park in the grass, turning the car around so you face the road. If there were guards, you needed to make a quick escape. Can\u2019t risk landing in jail again.
\nYou\u2019re not deterred by the lack of graffiti or the lack of holes in the fence. It gives you butterflies.
\nYou unzip your backpack and grab the respirator. Best to put it on now if there were cameras. You throw your keys in the bag and open the door. Thankfully, you had left your wire cutters in the trunk, and that\u2019s the last thing you grab before you march through the overgrown grass. The overgrown forest canopies the area with shade, and only sporadic streaks of light peek through the leaves.
\nAs you stroll along the fence, keeping an eye out for a hole you could shimmy through before resorting to cutting one yourself, you realize how quiet it is. You needed this. You love the way a city can suck you up and keep you hidden in a sea of people. You love how small your thoughts get when everything around you is busy and overwhelming, but you didn\u2019t realize how much you missed the real quiet. There\u2019s nothing artificial about it.
\nYou can\u2019t find a hole, so you slide your work gloves on before you start cutting the fence. The metal snaps apart with satisfying, crunchy pops. It takes fifteen minutes, and you\u2019re sweating through your hoodie by the end, but you\u2019re proud of your work. Small enough not to be noticeable, but large enough for a quick escape.
\nYou push your backpack through first, then crawl under the wire. It rubs against your back painfully, but it\u2019s grounding. When you reach the other side, you allow yourself to sit in the soft grass and observe the power plant. It\u2019s nondescript; there\u2019s not even a logo slapped on the side. Three ventilation stacks rise so high that it makes you dizzy to look up. Ivy curls up the concrete like a disease, and black stains from years of rain droop down the sides. Despite the obvious lack of traffic this place gets, most of the windows had been shattered.
\nInteresting.
\nYou stand up and shoulder your backpack, continuing to canvas the area. You like to have a vague idea of what you\u2019re getting into, so you make mental notes of the doors and windows that could be accessible from the ground. There\u2019s a surprising lack of cameras.
\nYou find an emergency exit that\u2019s been propped open slightly with a brick. Guess it\u2019s a sign.
\nYou switch the Geigar counter on, stuff it in your pocket, and grab the handle. The door squeals as you creep inside, and you\u2019re faced with a winding, steel staircase. You go past it to the open door on the right and flick your flashlight on.
\nThe hallways are long and mazelike, just empty white walls and doors to offices and meeting rooms. You look into a couple of unlocked ones, but they\u2019re barren. The place has been completely gutted. The outside may be crumbling apart, but the inside is uncomfortably clean. Besides a lobby and a couple of bathrooms, the first floor offers nothing of interest, so you retrace your steps to the staircase. It rattles under your boots as you climb to the second story, which seems a lot more promising when you reach the top.
\nIt\u2019s equally empty, but the wooden doors are replaced with heavy steel ones. It would be pitch black if it weren\u2019t for the glaring red alarm lights lining the ceiling. The excitement grows when you notice double doors with safety warnings plastered all across. The Geigar counter is still clicking steadily in your pocket, so you try the door.
\nIt\u2019s unlocked and swings open with ease. You\u2019re in the control room, and you can\u2019t help but smile under your mask. Jackpot.
\nThe cold room hosts a long analog panel that sits before massive windows. You jog to the glass, eagerly pressing your forehead against it to get a look at the breathtaking sight below you. The sheer size of the turbine hall makes your breath hitch. Massive boilers and fat aluminum flue pipes that weave across the room like a snake. It was a twisted jungle of metal, and your head flies around to look for an access door. You need to get down there.
\nThere\u2019s one to the left, and by a stroke of pure luck, it\u2019s unlocked. You grip the straps of the backpack until your knuckles turn white as you step onto the catwalk. The room is painfully silent, so uncanny when you imagine how loud it probably was when in operation. The only sound is your heavy boots echoing through the hall.
\nYou walk slowly around the catwalk, reverently, like you\u2019re in a place of worship. There\u2019s a ladder at the end, and you don\u2019t think twice before climbing down.
\nThere\u2019s a feeling that you\u2019re always chasing, and it hits you like a shot of heroine when you drop onto the tile floor. It\u2019s the feeling of insignificance. The machines soar above you, and you\u2019re an ant in comparison. In this room of the most powerful mechanisms, you are nothing. They have been here long before you were born, and they will be here long after. They\u2019re consistent, never changing, meticulously made. The metal innards that sit behind the steel curves of the boilers are flawless and calculated.
\nYou\u2019re broken from your awe when you hear the Geigar counter start to click faster. You only make it two steps back before a wretched groan pierces through the silence. You freeze in your tracks.
\nThere\u2019s someone here.
\nYou don\u2019t breathe, eyes frantically straining across the dark room to find the source. You don\u2019t see anything, but you hear the sloppy footsteps and the agonized grunt. It echoes one hundred times over; it\u2019s impossible to tell where they\u2019re coming from.
\nThe Geigar counter ticks furiously, and you\u2019re forced to back against the wall. The ticks slow, only for a moment, before it\u2019s blaring urgently again.
\nThe footsteps turn into quick, fleshy slaps against the floor. Closer. Closer.
\nYou drop the flashlight and yank your gun out and flick the safety off in one swift motion, holding it out in front of you with shaking arms. You know you should move. Run, hide, do anything, but you\u2019re paralyzed.
\nAnd then you see the person lean out from behind a boiler, and they\u2019re looking straight at you.
\n\u201cI have a gun,\u201d you warn loudly, and your voice comes out much more confident than you feel. \u201cWho the fuck are you?\u201d
\nA thick stillness settles. And then the person sprints straight for you.
\nExcept, it\u2019s not a person. You only see a quick flash, but there\u2019s nothing human about it. You see shredded skin and oozing blood, and you shoot.
\nThe gunshot ruptures around the room and renders you deaf, but you shoot again, and this one lands right in the thing\u2019s skull. Chunks of flesh explode from its head and land on the boiler, sticking to it like you threw spaghetti at the wall.
\nYou lower the gun, but your grip on it doesn\u2019t let up. The thing, person, whatever the fuck it is, lies motionless. You\u2019re breathing so hard that your throat burns, and your thoughts have been replaced with static adrenaline.
\nA resounding crack, bone scraping against bone, a moan. It's getting up.
\n\u201cHoly shit, holy shit,\u201d you gasp.
\nIt barrels towards you like a feral animal, too quick for you to put the pieces together or come up with some sort of escape plan. It\u2019s too late. You can feel bony hands around your neck and see the face of your perpetrator up close. Hollow, soulless eyes and the gaping mouth of a lion. Spit drips down its yellow teeth as its jaw stretches impossibly wider. Its neck wrenches back so far its eyes disappear, then snaps forward to your jugular.
\nIt's gonna bite me. I\u2019m gonna die. I\u2019m going to fucking die here.
\nA gunshot reverberates in the air, and the thing slumps over again with a soggy thump.
\nBut your gun is still pointed at the floor.
\n\u201cSir!\u201d
\nYou barely register the voice, too focused on your failing lungs struggling to suck in air. Your neck burns, and your throat constricts like a drying fish trying to get oxygen.
\n\u201cSir!\u201d the voice shouts again.
\nI gotta get out.
\nYour survival instincts take over, and your body is running to the ladder, scrambling up so fast that your sweaty palms slip on the bars. You make it to the top and fall against the catwalk, half crawling, half running back to the control room.
\nYou slam into something solid and fall onto your ass so hard your teeth vibrate. When you look up and see the man you ran right into, your gun instantly goes up and points at his face.
\n\u201cBuddy, you need to get up right now,\u201d the man hisses. \u201cPut the gun away.\u201d
\nThe gun doesn\u2019t budge. \u201cThere\u2019s a,\u201d you stammer. \u201cThere\u2019s a fucking zombie! Are you one?\u201d You begin to scoot back on your ass, gun quivering in your hands. \u201cI\u2019ll shoot you.\u201d
\n\u201cDo I look like a zombie?\u201d he drawls, and before you can pull the trigger, you\u2019re being yanked up by the arm, and your gun clatters against the floor. \u201cI\u2019m DSO,\u201d he says, like that explains anything. \u201cYou need to stay behind me. I\u2019ll get you out.\u201d
\nFor some reason, your legs follow him. He\u2019s wearing a bulletproof vest with a DSO patch stuck to the back. He might be legit, and he\u2019s the only one with a gun now, so this is your best chance at survival.
\n\u201cSherry,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a civilian.\u201d
\nYou can hear a faint static voice from his earpiece, but it\u2019s too quiet to understand.
\n\u201cRight. Getting out now.\u201d He glances back, like he\u2019s making sure you\u2019re still there. \u201cKeep your eyes open, this may get sketchy.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know how to speak, so you nod.
\nHe leads you back into the control room, then out the steel doors, and as you're running through the hallway, his hand snaps up. Stop.
\nA figure hobbles out from behind a corner, and two gunshots go off.
\nHe motions for you to keep moving.
\nAnd by God, you do, hot on his heels. You rush down the wobbly steps to the first floor, booking it out of the front door like you\u2019re on fire. Even when your boots are thundering across the long grass, you don\u2019t stop until you\u2019ve shimmied under the fence and made it to your car. Your head flies back when there are three more gunshots. The man is right outside the exit, gun still pointed at the threshold as he steps backwards slowly.
\nYou fumble for your keys in your backpack and unlock the car door, heaving. You\u2019re quick to fall into your seat, slam the door, and start the engine, but then your door is being ripped back open.
\nThe man stands there, looking down at you. He got here too fast. His gun has been put away, but you still raise your hands in surrender.
\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t hurt me,\u201d you beg, voice cracking.
\nHe looks exasperated, sweat dripping down his weathered face. \u201cI\u2019m not gonna hurt you,\u201d he sighs, and he crouches down so he\u2019s eye to eye with you. \u201cEverything\u2019s okay, but you need to come with me.\u201d
\n\u201cFuck no,\u201d you stammer.
\n\u201cNot optional, sorry,\u201d he says, but it sounds like he actually is sorry. He reaches a hand out for you to take. \u201cI work for the government, I\u2019m safe, just trying to get you out.\u201d
\n\u201cI can get out on my own if you get off my car,\u201d you plead. Realistically, you could gun it and just run him over, but fear is holding you hostage.
\nHe rubs his forehead like a migraine is coming on. \u201cIf you don\u2019t comply, I\u2019ll need to use force.\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t know what to do. You\u2019re on the verge of having a full-on breakdown.
\nHe decides for you, reaching across your chest and pulling the keys out of the ignition. \u201cAre you gonna make me carry you? I\u2019m getting too old for that.\u201d
\nYou step out of the car carefully. Your legs are wet noddles and it\u2019s a miracle you don\u2019t keel over right there.
\nHe places a large hand on your shoulder, obviously thinking you\u2019d bolt, and guides you to a car tucked a little farther into the woods, on a different path. He opens the door for you, and you get in the passenger seat.
\nWhen he starts the car and swerves down the road, you finally rip your respirator off, gasping. You double over into yourself as your throat constricts. Your eyes are wide, but you can\u2019t see past the crushing panic. Thankfully, the man doesn\u2019t say anything when you dry heave.
\nThose eyes. Those teeth. The exposed muscle under black skin.
\nYou don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s been before your body gives up, replacing the adrenaline with shock. You sit back and stare at the man driving. You wish you could ask the hundred questions swirling in your head, but when you open your mouth, nothing comes out. So you just stare at him.
\nHe\u2019s older than you expected, probably in his forties. His hair is scattered with grey streaks, and there are deep bags under his eyes. His far too tight navy button-up hugs his biceps like it\u2019s about to burst open.
\n\u201cSorry about calling you sir,\u201d he says, trying to break the tension. He tosses a weak smile your way.
\nYou don\u2019t respond.
\nHis fingers drum against the steering wheel. \u201cListen, I\u2019m sure you have a lot of questions, but the important thing is getting you to the office so you can get a medical assessment. They\u2019ll be able to answer some of your questions.\u201d
\nYour expression sours, and the frustration is the only thing that finally forces your voice to work. \u201cYou\u2019re kidnapping me.\u201d
\nHe absently reaches into his breast pocket and presents the DSO badge. You still don\u2019t know what the fuck DSO is. \u201cWhat were you doing at the powerplant?\u201d
\nYou don\u2019t answer that. \u201cH-How far is this office? Are you gonna put me on a boat and ship me to Guatemala?\u201d
\nHe chuckles softly. \u201cNo. We\u2019re not far.\u201d
\nYour mind jolts back to the beast. Shredded, burnt flesh hanging off of it like a weeping willow. Soulless eyes, unnaturally thin arms, wide mouth. The frantic clicks from the Geigar counter. Would you get radiation poisoning? Was that thing radioactive?
\nIf you weren\u2019t in shock, it would almost be funny. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It seemed to be a trend in your life. Only a curse could make someone so unlucky.
\nThe rest of the drive is silent. The man doesn\u2019t cough up any sort of explanation, and you\u2019re too busy repeating the events over and over to ask questions. You don\u2019t even realize the car has parked until the man taps the dashboard to get your attention. You must be losing time.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re at the office,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m going to take you inside, and the medical team will pull you away for a moment to make sure you\u2019re okay.\u201d
\nYou nod vacantly. Brain matter splattering onto the boiler.
\n\u201cThen we\u2019ll have a meeting, and you can tell them what you were doing at the plant.\u201d
\n\u201cWill you be there?\u201d you ask without thinking.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll be there,\u201d he nodded. \u201cI know you\u2019re scared. You\u2019ll be okay, kid.\u201d
\n\u201c...Okay.\u201d
\nYou follow him out of the car, wrapping your arms around yourself as you walk into the blank building. Just like the power plant- no logo. And in the middle of nowhere.
\nAs soon as you step inside, you\u2019re surrounded by lab coats and falsely comforting voices. You\u2019re whisked away to a small medical room and ordered to sit on the cold examination table. You don\u2019t realize how bad you\u2019re shaking until one of the doctors tries to draw your blood. She has to hold your arm down to slip the needle in.
\nA blood pressure cuff is pulled tight around your bicep, and an oxygen monitor is clamped to your finger.
\n\u201cTacky at 120,\u201d a man says, and another needle jabs you.
\nA blanket is thrown across your shoulders, and you close your eyes. You stop shaking. Whatever they just injected you with is making you delirious. You hear vague snippets of medical jargon that you can\u2019t understand before you lie back on the table and slip away.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T18:06:44Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T18:27:58Z", "authors": ["Casterland"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85360351", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85360351", "external_url": null, "title": "Biohazard", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\nSeptember 25th, 1998. Time: 8:00 P.M.
\nTonight was the night where everything in your life changed, but you didn\u2019t know that yet. To you, it was like any other Friday night at the Hospital. The hospital was abuzz with different noises; the murmur of words, the shouts of pain, the beeping of heart monitors, the pitter patter of feet, and the sounds of other medical instruments.
\nYou were on the way to your next patient, speed walking down the white hallway as you went over the next patient\u2019s file on your clipboard one of the nurses had handed to you. You can\u2019t remember how long you\u2019ve been here, ten hours at best. It\u2019s stressful, especially having to work in the ER. The bright lights of the hospital blinded you, making you squint slightly as your eyes strained to read the words on the clipboard even through your glasses.
\nThe moonlight knocked at the hospital windows, peering in through the glass and welcoming itself inside and danced across the white tiles covering the floors. The wind drifted from place to place, occasionally wandering inside of the building and rubbing against the residents.
\nNurses and other doctors alike filled the hallway, either moving a patient or checking on a patient. Certain medical instruments were being moved around, some lining the walls of the hallway as a woman in labor cried out in pain from somewhere behind one of the many closed doors in the hallway.
\n\u201cHow\u2019s our burn patient holding up?\u201d Your voice cut through the noise, firm and clear, as you stopped in front of one of the treatment rooms. A man had come into the ER a few hours prior with 3rd degree burns all over his right arm that caused the skin there to melt and redden and cause boils as big as an avocado seeds; creating a sharp contrast to his left arm that was relatively normal. When you examined him, he had bruising around his ankles and wrists, along with burn marks on his left shoulder that had faded, but definitely scarred. There was more markings on him, and you knew that there\u2019s most likely some internal damage there too.
\nIt was like the man had been tortured, or maybe he was being abused. But right now you can\u2019t determine that, as you\u2019re more focused on his health and safety more than the what-ifs that this job always seems to bring you; focusing on two things at once could mean making a mistake during his treatment here, and you definitely did not want that.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s doing better now. He\u2019s not expressing any pain in his right arm, not yet at least. Other than that his throat is sore, experiencing a migraine, his chest hurts, and he has a fever. The images of his x-ray should be on his chart now.\u201d A nurse spoke up as you entered the room, looking up at you with a neutral expression on her face aside from the small smile playing on her lips with a small bit of her crows feet crinkling at the corners of her eyes, the silvers of gray that mixed with her red hair shimmered slightly in the bright lights of the hospital.
\nNurse Barbra was one of the older workers here at the hospital with a mothering kind of nature. You\u2019ve always kind of looked up to her. She was there at the beginning of your residency here, and she\u2019s helped you out a lot ever since then.
\nA smile twitched at your lips, your shoulders slightly relaxing at the mere sight of her, but you remembered to focus on what you\u2019re doing first. You\u2019ll be able to talk to her during break.
\n\u201cThanks for letting me know, Barbra. I appreciate it. Did he wake up at all after the x-ray?\u201d You shut the door behind you with a quiet click before moving over to the bed where the sleeping man was, your eyes roaming over the patient and silently checking him over before you leaned over and pulled the clipboard out of the slot at the end of the bed to read it over.
\n\u201cOnly once, other than that he\u2019s mostly been sleeping.\u201d Barbra hummed, going back to adjusting the patient\u2019s bed to make sure he was comfortable in it and everything was in its proper place. She\u2019s always been a very diligent woman, even outside of work. Maybe that\u2019s just her years of experience working as a nurse, or maybe she\u2019s always had a stride towards being efficient in every aspect of her life.
\nChecking over the man\u2019s charts, you could see he was a fairly athletic man. Name: David Ranger. From what you could see from his I.D. he\u2019s a black male in his early twenties, short black hair with waves in it, brown eyes, and boyish features. He looks like he\u2019s still in college, if he is in college. You still don\u2019t know much about this guy, which isn\u2019t really your job. You had his medical records here, and his treatment is all that really matters right now than playing twenty questions.
\nYou flip over the paper and begin to examine the x-ray; Nothing was out of the ordinary besides an old broken bone on his shoulder, but other than that the guy was perfectly fit. Well, besides the fact that he has a very bad burn on his arm. The police already came by to check on him and the detectives came to see if he was awake. He was involved in a house fire a few streets down from here. Apparently some maniac broke into the house while he was trying to have a romantic dinner with his fiancee and some of the candles tipped over and caught fire to the table cloth they were on. You don\u2019t have the full story, but got the gist of it. His fiancee was in another room being taken care of right now. You weren\u2019t assigned to her, but based on the talk you heard from your fellow employees, she was in worse condition than David.
\n\u201cThe hospital feels pretty busy tonight.\u201d You mumbled, still scanning through the documents but couldn\u2019t help but glance at Barbra from the corners of your eyes. She had finished making up the patient\u2019s bed, and was now looking at you.
\n\u201cYes, it really has been busy.\u201d She nodded her head slowly in agreement, glancing back at the young man in the bed. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen the hospital be this populated before.\u201d She sighed, shaking her head as she walked over to your side. It was rare to have moments of peace like this where you could let your mind stop running and pick itself up and just talk and let everything slow down.
\n\u201cHm. Yeah, me neither.\u201d You purse your lips. It really did feel busier than normal. Hospitals have always been an active place to begin with, like a police department. People come in and out, some stay for a while, and some visit the ones inside of the place. It was either really populated, or just quiet but still busy. But today? It seemed like the whole city was ending up in the hospital, either due to car accidents, or some random maniac attacking other people.
\n\u201cThe world just keeps getting more and more violent.\u201d You frowned, glancing over at Barbra to watch her reaction. The older woman\u2019s face held sympathetic understanding, her eyes softening as she slowly nodded her head.
\n\u201cI understand. My niece is a mortician, and she was just telling me about how a girl she had to work on was raped and murdered. She was just fourteen.\u201d The older woman\u2019s face fell and all you could do was nod in silent understanding.
\nYou\u2019ve seen your fair share of horror stories, and at this point, it\u2019s hard not to become desensitized to it. They come rolling in and out of the hospital, sporting the wounds of their crimes or of the things they survived, and you tend to them no matter what their history is. That\u2019s the job after all. And most are able to walk out, but some don\u2019t get to leave. It was hard at first. Seeing people get rolled down to the morgue in the basement, listening to what happened for them to come here. Not everyone\u2019s story is so messy, but that doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re mostly clean ones. It feels like bearing the weight of this job has become easier than when you first started. And it has. But whenever you feel yourself begin to not even blink at what happened to people, you force yourself to stop and take a break.
\nIt was easier to become desensitized to everything. Rape? Abuse? It can become just something you can only blink your eyes to before you move onto the next conversation because of just how much it happens. And seeing and hearing about it everyday makes it even easier to become desensitized to it. But what good is a doctor that isn\u2019t empathetic? Doesn\u2019t sympathize with both the family and the victim? What good is a doctor that only feels numb to others\u2019 pain? Those are the questions you ask yourself everyday because if you feel numb in a job that gives you meaning, then what meaning does it really have?
\nYou sigh and rub your face, squeezing your eyes shut as you pinched the bridge of your nose before you shake your head to clear your thoughts. You did not need to start spiraling right now.
\n\u201cWell, everything seems alright here.\u201d You nod your head, flashing a small smile towards Barbra as you set the clipboard back into the little slot at the end of the bed.
\n\u201cIt seems like you already got everything handled. Let me know when he wakes up, yeah?\u201d Barbra nods her head and smiles back at you, placing a hand on your shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. \u201cYou\u2019ll be the first to know.\u201d
\nYou smile.
\n\u201cThank you, Barbra. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d Barbra\u2019s hand falls away from your shoulder as you turn and leave the room. There wasn\u2019t much to do in Mr. Ranger\u2019s room really. He was still sleeping, and any sort of check in besides physical things you could do like check his temperature wouldn\u2019t work much. For you to prescribe anything, communication with him is important. You could only do so much based on physical data that you can gather. Besides, he\u2019s in good hands with Barbra.
\nHis body had worked up a lot of adrenaline, and now it was crashing. You can only imagine what his fiancee is going through right now while he\u2019s passed out from exhaustion. That thought terrified you. What if something bad happened to one of your family members and they couldn\u2019t reach you because you were asleep? Or you couldn\u2019t wake up and can\u2019t do anything to stop it?
\nYou sigh once more and rub a hand down your face. You needed to get a grip; and staying up most of the day and then coming into work is not helping you out right now. \u201cNight shift is so tiring.\u201d You mumbled underneath your breath, shaking your head to try and clear your head again. It didn\u2019t work much.
\nYou go back to work, making your way around the hospital and checking on your other patients and the residents as time slowly along. The clocks quietly ticked away on the walls, overlooking the hospital as they counted down to the time your nightmare would begin. But is it really a nightmare if it was real life?
\n\u201cDr. Spencer!\u201d A panicked voice called out, the sounds of a heart monitor flat lining catching your attention from your paperwork more than the panicked voice of the intern calling out your name in a hurry. Your body acted on instinct, pushing itself out of your chair and darting towards the room.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s not breathing! S-She\u2019s having a seizure!\u201d The intern\u2019s, Amber, panic had grown louder as she glanced around the room in a hurry, like she didn\u2019t know what to do now. You understand why. It\u2019s not everyday that someone begins to flat line in front of you. You have enough experience to approach the situation in a mannerly fashion, but Amber? It would be her first time dealing with something like this. She\u2019s only been working here a few days, a college student trying to become a nurse: just like her mom. She\u2019s Barbra\u2019s kid. And although she\u2019s been training on how to deal with these kinds of things, it\u2019s just different when it\u2019s a practice dummy and a physical person before you.
\n\u201cWe can\u2019t panic, we have to act first. Panicking will only waste time that we don\u2019t have.\u201d You grab her shoulder, giving her a quick squeeze before brushing past her to get to the patient as other nearby nurses rush into the room. The heart monitor continued to sound out in the background, overlapping the background noise of the ER, the quiet ticking of the clock in the room fading out in the background.
\nThe woman in the bed shook violently, her body jerking around as the covers on top of her body were pulled off by the nearby nurses. It was like many of the other seizures you\u2019ve seen before, but you noticed the little differences. Her eyes were rolled back like the red veins visible as her mouth hung open like she was desperately trying to gasp for air but no noticeable sound came out but those things weren\u2019t the odd parts. A strange, translucent liquid with a white hue to it began to dribble out of the corner of her mouth, starting to foam as it came into contact with the cool air of the ER. She was unnaturally pale with a slight green hue, her veins visible and looking darker than what you considered normal. Her fingernails looked ghastly with small black splotches. Her body twisted in unnatural ways, her legs kicking desperately as her hands clawed at the bed underneath her.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s tonic!\u201d You shout out to the nurses who have rushed over.
\n\u201cRoll her over onto her side!\u201d You and the nurses roll her over, one of them making sure she doesn\u2019t knock her head into the frame of the bed as her body shudders violently. You quickly moved up to her neck, pressing it into the soft patch of skin next to the front of her next to feel for a pulse: You could barely feel a pulse.
\n\u201cShe barely has a pulse! Someone get me an oxygen mask!\u201d Your voice cuts through the loud flat sound of the heart monitor nearby. Amber was frozen in place, her eyes wide as everything around her just seemed to stop before she pushed herself out of her trance. She moves forward, grabbing the oxygen mask and handing it over to you with shaky hands. You immediately take the mask from her without hesitation, your brows pinched together in concentration as you pressed the mask over her mouth.
\n\u201cC\u2019mon now, breathe, breathe.\u201d You murmured quietly, your eyes focusing on her face to watch for any sort of reaction, any telltale sign to see if your efforts would work. A strange liquid, darker than what mucus would be, started to seep out of her nose. It made you pause for a moment. The area around her eyes seemed darker, like she hasn\u2019t gotten a week worth of sleep, almost purple, as sweat trickled down her forehead and caused the brown strands to stick to her skin. This was something you\u2019ve never seen before and it confused you a great deal. You never heard of these kinds of symptoms in a seizure before. What the hell was happening? Only some things were familiar to you, but the rest were so alien to you.
\nYou watch as the woman\u2019s chest heaves, signaling that she was indeed breathing, or at least trying to. Her body continues to jerk, her eyes continuing to roll back into her head uncontrollably, and then it all just suddenly stops. Her body goes completely still, her eyes staying wide open as she goes limp. The heart monitor continued to flat line in the background as you reached out to check her pulse: Nothing. You pull the oxygen mask off of her, letting her roll back onto her back as brown bile escapes the corner of her lips. What the actual fuck?
\nYou turn to look at the other nurses; they all share the same look of shock and awe on their faces. You\u2019ve heard about these strange symptoms from your colleagues, and initially you brushed it off at first, but now seeing it for yourself? There was definitely something going on here.
\nYou pull away from the patient, a swirl of frustration and guilt churning in your stomach as you lay her back on her back: you couldn\u2019t save her. There wasn\u2019t much you could do. The woman had a DNR (Do-Not-Resuscitate) order. But still, any loss is still a loss.
\nYou chew on the inside of your cheek, needing to let out your frustration in some way as you glance at the clock. \u201cTime of death: 8:29 P.M.\u201d You breathed out as you glanced at one of the nurses, signaling her to write it down as another nurse unhooked the monitor. You grab a tissue from off of the patient\u2019s bedside, dabbing away at the bile around the corner of her mouth and cleaning her up a bit before she would be sent to the morgue. No one would want to be left looking like that; plus, you were curious about these strange new symptoms spreading around the hospital. All you needed was a sample, something to study when you were on your downtime. What was causing this? What was forcing the body to create such a strange liquid that made it turn as brown as fecal matter? It was something you\u2019ve never seen before.
\nThe splotch on the once white tissue was now a tainted brown, with hints of black and mucky green swirling around as it grayed around the edges of the splotch. A foul order emitted from it, making your nose scrunch up and your lips curl in distaste It was something you\u2019ve never smelt before. It smelt like puke, but mixed with the scent of copper, something sour, and something else you couldn\u2019t put your finger on. You turn to thank the nurses in the room for their help before letting your eyes land on Amber; her eyes were red, those blue eyes shining with tears as they streamed silently down her round cheeks. She was clearly distraught, never having witnessed such a violent end to someone before now. You knew she must feel some sort of guilt on her part. She was there when the woman started seizing, and yet she panicked, and now the woman was dead; you know how it feels.
\nYou sigh and walk over to Amber, giving her an apologetic look. You opened your mouth, wanting to find a way to reassure her or comfort her, but the look on her face made you pause and think. Would right now be the best time to comfort her? Would it make it worse? You chew on the inside of your cheek before deciding your next move.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to see that. It was bound to happen at some point, but I just wish it wasn\u2019t during your internship.\u201d You frowned gently.
\n\u201cBut death never waits for a living. I wish I could say it gets easier with time, but it doesn\u2019t. If you need to take a break, I\u2019d understand.\u201d Amber didn\u2019t say much but just slowly nodded her head, letting out a shaky breath as she reached up to wipe the tears falling down her cheeks.
\n\u201cN-No.\u201d She mumbled after a moment.
\n\u201cThe place is packed, and we\u2019re short staffed. What kind of nurse would I be if I stopped when everything got hard?\u201d You couldn\u2019t help but smile at that. She really was Barbra\u2019s daughter: full of determination and a heart so full of love to give.
\n\u201cI understand.\u201d You nod.
\n\u201cBut if things get worse, take a break, alright? You wouldn\u2019t be of any help if you\u2019re distracted.\u201d You said kindly, your words holding some truth to it. Being distracted in this line of work can lead to so many mishaps that range from small little things to large things. Amber nods her head in silent understanding. She didn\u2019t seem like she wants to talk about it any further. You\u2019ll have to tell Barbra what happened today.
\n\u201cNormally, I let the interns take the bodies down to the morgue, but this is a special case. I\u2019m pretty sure I can handle this one.\u201d You gesture towards the hall that leads down to the elevator. Now that may seem a tad bit morbid, but the morgue is in the basement, and the basement was the oldest part of the building. It was used as a body reserve for the fallen soldiers during the Civil War. The electricity would cut off randomly throughout the day, and the basement was the coldest part of the hospital, no matter how many times the HVAC would mess with the heating system. It\u2019s safe to say that the basement in general is just not a place anyone would feel comfortable in. So, to get the newcomers used to the basement, you would send them down there for any basement related reason. But after what Amber just saw? You weren\u2019t so convinced that was a good idea.
\n\u201cNo, no, I can do it.\u201d Amber shakes her head, obviously not wanting to be viewed as weak by you.
\n\u201cAmber\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cNo, I can do it. I don\u2019t want any special treatment, alright?\u201d She gives you a pleading look to which you just sigh in response. She had a point there. If someone saw you letting your friend\u2019s daughter off the hook, then it would like like favoritism, or maybe just nepotism. You know she wants to do this the right way.
\n\u201cFine, but I want you off the floor immediately after, you hear me? You can return to work after I check in on you in the break room.\u201d You said firmly. You didn\u2019t want her to do it in the first place, but at least this way she gets to process what just happened afterwards.
\n\u201cYes ma\u2019am.\u201d She nods her head before she walks past you, already preparing the woman to be transported down to the morgue. You tried not to say anything as you walked out of the room, forcing your focus to shift from Amber to the tissue you were still holding. Although you wanted to worry about Amber and comfort her, she wasn\u2019t a child. If she wanted your help she would ask for it. Plus, this new substance coming out of your patient was really worrying.
\nYou make your way down the hallway, chewing on your bottom lip as you hold it in front of you to examine it. You were glad to be wearing gloves, as the mucky green and the cloudy black substance inside of the brown bile had started to spread out from its home, making its way across the once white tissue paper. It was like it was alive as it slunk across the darkening tissue paper, tainting it with its presence.
\nIt both frightened you, and intrigued you. What in the world could this thing be? What can be causing this substance to form inside of the patient? Just as you were making your way to the examination room to check the cells of this new medical anomaly, the news broadcasting on the TV drew your attention as everything in the hospital seemed to just go stagnant as everyone currently on the floor looked at the big monitor in the main room.
\nA woman stood on the screen, the blonde locks reflecting the bright lights of the studio she was inside of. She was a pretty woman with a perfectly manufactured smile to please both the male and female audience, her makeup light and natural with her lips painted the perfect red for any beautiful white blonde model you would see on TV. Her dress matched the red of her lips, something formal but still casual enough to reveal the faintest hint of her cleavage to keep the attention of some watcher who were more interested in her than her words.
\nYou can tell that she seemed worried despite the smile that is glued to her mouth. It wasn\u2019t her face that gave her away, well, maybe a little, but it was her eyes that gave her away the most with that smile wavering slightly. Her blue eyes sparkled, seemed slightly even moist at best. Her eyebrows, although barely even slightly, were knitted together, revealing the bit of worry that seemed to simmer there. You must\u2019ve missed the introduction, as the woman on the screen was already talking.
\n\u201c\u2014reports of people being violently attacked outside of their homes and on the streets. Police have advised citizens to stay inside and keep all the exits and entries to their homes locked and secured, and to stay away from windows. As of tomorrow, there will be a curfew placed on the city\u2014\u201d She gets cut off by a loud bang in the studio and the sounds of people screaming off camera. You watch as she blinks, her tan face paling underneath the bright studio lights as something bright red splatters across her and the staging. You can recognize it instantly: blood.
\nMore screams echo from the speakers of the TV, the hospital watching in stunned silence as the camera being used to broadcast the event gets knocked over, causing the film to crack and a sheen of red coat the side. Blood decorated the floor of the studio, multiple pairs of feet darting across the screen and sending the red liquid to splatter across the lens of the camera.
\nYou stood there frozen with the other staff, various gasps escaping them as you all watched with wide eyes as the woman from before slips on the blood. Her screams pierced your ears as you watched gnarled hands dig into her dress, tearing at it as their blunt nails tear open the skin of her stomach, making your own feel queasy. Hands dive into the abdomen, the squelching of their hands pulling out the intestines and blood getting mixed around blended in with her choked sobs and the sounds of smacking lips.
\nThe screen goes to black and white, leaving you and the other staff staring slacked jawed at the screen as the sound of static filled your ears.
\n\u201cWhat\u2026 the fuck.\u201d A nurse spoke up next to you, her voice strained and sounding like she was moments away from crying or puking, maybe both. Before anyone of you knew it, the lights of the hospital changed from the sterile pale lights to a flashing red light as the alarm bounced off the walls. The static, and flashing lights, the blaring alarm, and the scene that happened before your eyes made you stand still in complete shock. Your ears were ringing from the overwhelming sounds filling your ears, and it felt like everything around you had faded as the white-nose of the static filled your mind; leaving you feeling completely blank as everything zones out for you.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\nSeptember 25th, 1998. Time: 8:00 P.M.
\nTonight was the night where everything in your life changed, but you didn\u2019t know that yet. To you, it was like any other Friday night at the Hospital. The hospital was abuzz with different noises; the murmur of words, the shouts of pain, the beeping of heart monitors, the pitter patter of feet, and the sounds of other medical instruments.
\nYou were on the way to your next patient, speed walking down the white hallway as you went over the next patient\u2019s file on your clipboard one of the nurses had handed to you. You can\u2019t remember how long you\u2019ve been here, ten hours at best. It\u2019s stressful, especially having to work in the ER. The bright lights of the hospital blinded you, making you squint slightly as your eyes strained to read the words on the clipboard even through your glasses.
\nThe moonlight knocked at the hospital windows, peering in through the glass and welcoming itself inside and danced across the white tiles covering the floors. The wind drifted from place to place, occasionally wandering inside of the building and rubbing against the residents.
\nNurses and other doctors alike filled the hallway, either moving a patient or checking on a patient. Certain medical instruments were being moved around, some lining the walls of the hallway as a woman in labor cried out in pain from somewhere behind one of the many closed doors in the hallway.
\n\u201cHow\u2019s our burn patient holding up?\u201d Your voice cut through the noise, firm and clear, as you stopped in front of one of the treatment rooms. A man had come into the ER a few hours prior with 3rd degree burns all over his right arm that caused the skin there to melt and redden and cause boils as big as an avocado seeds; creating a sharp contrast to his left arm that was relatively normal. When you examined him, he had bruising around his ankles and wrists, along with burn marks on his left shoulder that had faded, but definitely scarred. There was more markings on him, and you knew that there\u2019s most likely some internal damage there too.
\nIt was like the man had been tortured, or maybe he was being abused. But right now you can\u2019t determine that, as you\u2019re more focused on his health and safety more than the what-ifs that this job always seems to bring you; focusing on two things at once could mean making a mistake during his treatment here, and you definitely did not want that.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s doing better now. He\u2019s not expressing any pain in his right arm, not yet at least. Other than that his throat is sore, experiencing a migraine, his chest hurts, and he has a fever. The images of his x-ray should be on his chart now.\u201d A nurse spoke up as you entered the room, looking up at you with a neutral expression on her face aside from the small smile playing on her lips with a small bit of her crows feet crinkling at the corners of her eyes, the silvers of gray that mixed with her red hair shimmered slightly in the bright lights of the hospital.
\nNurse Barbra was one of the older workers here at the hospital with a mothering kind of nature. You\u2019ve always kind of looked up to her. She was there at the beginning of your residency here, and she\u2019s helped you out a lot ever since then.
\nA smile twitched at your lips, your shoulders slightly relaxing at the mere sight of her, but you remembered to focus on what you\u2019re doing first. You\u2019ll be able to talk to her during break.
\n\u201cThanks for letting me know, Barbra. I appreciate it. Did he wake up at all after the x-ray?\u201d You shut the door behind you with a quiet click before moving over to the bed where the sleeping man was, your eyes roaming over the patient and silently checking him over before you leaned over and pulled the clipboard out of the slot at the end of the bed to read it over.
\n\u201cOnly once, other than that he\u2019s mostly been sleeping.\u201d Barbra hummed, going back to adjusting the patient\u2019s bed to make sure he was comfortable in it and everything was in its proper place. She\u2019s always been a very diligent woman, even outside of work. Maybe that\u2019s just her years of experience working as a nurse, or maybe she\u2019s always had a stride towards being efficient in every aspect of her life.
\nChecking over the man\u2019s charts, you could see he was a fairly athletic man. Name: David Ranger. From what you could see from his I.D. he\u2019s a black male in his early twenties, short black hair with waves in it, brown eyes, and boyish features. He looks like he\u2019s still in college, if he is in college. You still don\u2019t know much about this guy, which isn\u2019t really your job. You had his medical records here, and his treatment is all that really matters right now than playing twenty questions.
\nYou flip over the paper and begin to examine the x-ray; Nothing was out of the ordinary besides an old broken bone on his shoulder, but other than that the guy was perfectly fit. Well, besides the fact that he has a very bad burn on his arm. The police already came by to check on him and the detectives came to see if he was awake. He was involved in a house fire a few streets down from here. Apparently some maniac broke into the house while he was trying to have a romantic dinner with his fiancee and some of the candles tipped over and caught fire to the table cloth they were on. You don\u2019t have the full story, but got the gist of it. His fiancee was in another room being taken care of right now. You weren\u2019t assigned to her, but based on the talk you heard from your fellow employees, she was in worse condition than David.
\n\u201cThe hospital feels pretty busy tonight.\u201d You mumbled, still scanning through the documents but couldn\u2019t help but glance at Barbra from the corners of your eyes. She had finished making up the patient\u2019s bed, and was now looking at you.
\n\u201cYes, it really has been busy.\u201d She nodded her head slowly in agreement, glancing back at the young man in the bed. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen the hospital be this populated before.\u201d She sighed, shaking her head as she walked over to your side. It was rare to have moments of peace like this where you could let your mind stop running and pick itself up and just talk and let everything slow down.
\n\u201cHm. Yeah, me neither.\u201d You purse your lips. It really did feel busier than normal. Hospitals have always been an active place to begin with, like a police department. People come in and out, some stay for a while, and some visit the ones inside of the place. It was either really populated, or just quiet but still busy. But today? It seemed like the whole city was ending up in the hospital, either due to car accidents, or some random maniac attacking other people.
\n\u201cThe world just keeps getting more and more violent.\u201d You frowned, glancing over at Barbra to watch her reaction. The older woman\u2019s face held sympathetic understanding, her eyes softening as she slowly nodded her head.
\n\u201cI understand. My niece is a mortician, and she was just telling me about how a girl she had to work on was raped and murdered. She was just fourteen.\u201d The older woman\u2019s face fell and all you could do was nod in silent understanding.
\nYou\u2019ve seen your fair share of horror stories, and at this point, it\u2019s hard not to become desensitized to it. They come rolling in and out of the hospital, sporting the wounds of their crimes or of the things they survived, and you tend to them no matter what their history is. That\u2019s the job after all. And most are able to walk out, but some don\u2019t get to leave. It was hard at first. Seeing people get rolled down to the morgue in the basement, listening to what happened for them to come here. Not everyone\u2019s story is so messy, but that doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re mostly clean ones. It feels like bearing the weight of this job has become easier than when you first started. And it has. But whenever you feel yourself begin to not even blink at what happened to people, you force yourself to stop and take a break.
\nIt was easier to become desensitized to everything. Rape? Abuse? It can become just something you can only blink your eyes to before you move onto the next conversation because of just how much it happens. And seeing and hearing about it everyday makes it even easier to become desensitized to it. But what good is a doctor that isn\u2019t empathetic? Doesn\u2019t sympathize with both the family and the victim? What good is a doctor that only feels numb to others\u2019 pain? Those are the questions you ask yourself everyday because if you feel numb in a job that gives you meaning, then what meaning does it really have?
\nYou sigh and rub your face, squeezing your eyes shut as you pinched the bridge of your nose before you shake your head to clear your thoughts. You did not need to start spiraling right now.
\n\u201cWell, everything seems alright here.\u201d You nod your head, flashing a small smile towards Barbra as you set the clipboard back into the little slot at the end of the bed.
\n\u201cIt seems like you already got everything handled. Let me know when he wakes up, yeah?\u201d Barbra nods her head and smiles back at you, placing a hand on your shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. \u201cYou\u2019ll be the first to know.\u201d
\nYou smile.
\n\u201cThank you, Barbra. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d Barbra\u2019s hand falls away from your shoulder as you turn and leave the room. There wasn\u2019t much to do in Mr. Ranger\u2019s room really. He was still sleeping, and any sort of check in besides physical things you could do like check his temperature wouldn\u2019t work much. For you to prescribe anything, communication with him is important. You could only do so much based on physical data that you can gather. Besides, he\u2019s in good hands with Barbra.
\nHis body had worked up a lot of adrenaline, and now it was crashing. You can only imagine what his fiancee is going through right now while he\u2019s passed out from exhaustion. That thought terrified you. What if something bad happened to one of your family members and they couldn\u2019t reach you because you were asleep? Or you couldn\u2019t wake up and can\u2019t do anything to stop it?
\nYou sigh once more and rub a hand down your face. You needed to get a grip; and staying up most of the day and then coming into work is not helping you out right now. \u201cNight shift is so tiring.\u201d You mumbled underneath your breath, shaking your head to try and clear your head again. It didn\u2019t work much.
\nYou go back to work, making your way around the hospital and checking on your other patients and the residents as time slowly along. The clocks quietly ticked away on the walls, overlooking the hospital as they counted down to the time your nightmare would begin. But is it really a nightmare if it was real life?
\n\u201cDr. Spencer!\u201d A panicked voice called out, the sounds of a heart monitor flat lining catching your attention from your paperwork more than the panicked voice of the intern calling out your name in a hurry. Your body acted on instinct, pushing itself out of your chair and darting towards the room.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s not breathing! S-She\u2019s having a seizure!\u201d The intern\u2019s, Amber, panic had grown louder as she glanced around the room in a hurry, like she didn\u2019t know what to do now. You understand why. It\u2019s not everyday that someone begins to flat line in front of you. You have enough experience to approach the situation in a mannerly fashion, but Amber? It would be her first time dealing with something like this. She\u2019s only been working here a few days, a college student trying to become a nurse: just like her mom. She\u2019s Barbra\u2019s kid. And although she\u2019s been training on how to deal with these kinds of things, it\u2019s just different when it\u2019s a practice dummy and a physical person before you.
\n\u201cWe can\u2019t panic, we have to act first. Panicking will only waste time that we don\u2019t have.\u201d You grab her shoulder, giving her a quick squeeze before brushing past her to get to the patient as other nearby nurses rush into the room. The heart monitor continued to sound out in the background, overlapping the background noise of the ER, the quiet ticking of the clock in the room fading out in the background.
\nThe woman in the bed shook violently, her body jerking around as the covers on top of her body were pulled off by the nearby nurses. It was like many of the other seizures you\u2019ve seen before, but you noticed the little differences. Her eyes were rolled back like the red veins visible as her mouth hung open like she was desperately trying to gasp for air but no noticeable sound came out but those things weren\u2019t the odd parts. A strange, translucent liquid with a white hue to it began to dribble out of the corner of her mouth, starting to foam as it came into contact with the cool air of the ER. She was unnaturally pale with a slight green hue, her veins visible and looking darker than what you considered normal. Her fingernails looked ghastly with small black splotches. Her body twisted in unnatural ways, her legs kicking desperately as her hands clawed at the bed underneath her.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s tonic!\u201d You shout out to the nurses who have rushed over.
\n\u201cRoll her over onto her side!\u201d You and the nurses roll her over, one of them making sure she doesn\u2019t knock her head into the frame of the bed as her body shudders violently. You quickly moved up to her neck, pressing it into the soft patch of skin next to the front of her next to feel for a pulse: You could barely feel a pulse.
\n\u201cShe barely has a pulse! Someone get me an oxygen mask!\u201d Your voice cuts through the loud flat sound of the heart monitor nearby. Amber was frozen in place, her eyes wide as everything around her just seemed to stop before she pushed herself out of her trance. She moves forward, grabbing the oxygen mask and handing it over to you with shaky hands. You immediately take the mask from her without hesitation, your brows pinched together in concentration as you pressed the mask over her mouth.
\n\u201cC\u2019mon now, breathe, breathe.\u201d You murmured quietly, your eyes focusing on her face to watch for any sort of reaction, any telltale sign to see if your efforts would work. A strange liquid, darker than what mucus would be, started to seep out of her nose. It made you pause for a moment. The area around her eyes seemed darker, like she hasn\u2019t gotten a week worth of sleep, almost purple, as sweat trickled down her forehead and caused the brown strands to stick to her skin. This was something you\u2019ve never seen before and it confused you a great deal. You never heard of these kinds of symptoms in a seizure before. What the hell was happening? Only some things were familiar to you, but the rest were so alien to you.
\nYou watch as the woman\u2019s chest heaves, signaling that she was indeed breathing, or at least trying to. Her body continues to jerk, her eyes continuing to roll back into her head uncontrollably, and then it all just suddenly stops. Her body goes completely still, her eyes staying wide open as she goes limp. The heart monitor continued to flat line in the background as you reached out to check her pulse: Nothing. You pull the oxygen mask off of her, letting her roll back onto her back as brown bile escapes the corner of her lips. What the actual fuck?
\nYou turn to look at the other nurses; they all share the same look of shock and awe on their faces. You\u2019ve heard about these strange symptoms from your colleagues, and initially you brushed it off at first, but now seeing it for yourself? There was definitely something going on here.
\nYou pull away from the patient, a swirl of frustration and guilt churning in your stomach as you lay her back on her back: you couldn\u2019t save her. There wasn\u2019t much you could do. The woman had a DNR (Do-Not-Resuscitate) order. But still, any loss is still a loss.
\nYou chew on the inside of your cheek, needing to let out your frustration in some way as you glance at the clock. \u201cTime of death: 8:29 P.M.\u201d You breathed out as you glanced at one of the nurses, signaling her to write it down as another nurse unhooked the monitor. You grab a tissue from off of the patient\u2019s bedside, dabbing away at the bile around the corner of her mouth and cleaning her up a bit before she would be sent to the morgue. No one would want to be left looking like that; plus, you were curious about these strange new symptoms spreading around the hospital. All you needed was a sample, something to study when you were on your downtime. What was causing this? What was forcing the body to create such a strange liquid that made it turn as brown as fecal matter? It was something you\u2019ve never seen before.
\nThe splotch on the once white tissue was now a tainted brown, with hints of black and mucky green swirling around as it grayed around the edges of the splotch. A foul order emitted from it, making your nose scrunch up and your lips curl in distaste It was something you\u2019ve never smelt before. It smelt like puke, but mixed with the scent of copper, something sour, and something else you couldn\u2019t put your finger on. You turn to thank the nurses in the room for their help before letting your eyes land on Amber; her eyes were red, those blue eyes shining with tears as they streamed silently down her round cheeks. She was clearly distraught, never having witnessed such a violent end to someone before now. You knew she must feel some sort of guilt on her part. She was there when the woman started seizing, and yet she panicked, and now the woman was dead; you know how it feels.
\nYou sigh and walk over to Amber, giving her an apologetic look. You opened your mouth, wanting to find a way to reassure her or comfort her, but the look on her face made you pause and think. Would right now be the best time to comfort her? Would it make it worse? You chew on the inside of your cheek before deciding your next move.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to see that. It was bound to happen at some point, but I just wish it wasn\u2019t during your internship.\u201d You frowned gently.
\n\u201cBut death never waits for a living. I wish I could say it gets easier with time, but it doesn\u2019t. If you need to take a break, I\u2019d understand.\u201d Amber didn\u2019t say much but just slowly nodded her head, letting out a shaky breath as she reached up to wipe the tears falling down her cheeks.
\n\u201cN-No.\u201d She mumbled after a moment.
\n\u201cThe place is packed, and we\u2019re short staffed. What kind of nurse would I be if I stopped when everything got hard?\u201d You couldn\u2019t help but smile at that. She really was Barbra\u2019s daughter: full of determination and a heart so full of love to give.
\n\u201cI understand.\u201d You nod.
\n\u201cBut if things get worse, take a break, alright? You wouldn\u2019t be of any help if you\u2019re distracted.\u201d You said kindly, your words holding some truth to it. Being distracted in this line of work can lead to so many mishaps that range from small little things to large things. Amber nods her head in silent understanding. She didn\u2019t seem like she wants to talk about it any further. You\u2019ll have to tell Barbra what happened today.
\n\u201cNormally, I let the interns take the bodies down to the morgue, but this is a special case. I\u2019m pretty sure I can handle this one.\u201d You gesture towards the hall that leads down to the elevator. Now that may seem a tad bit morbid, but the morgue is in the basement, and the basement was the oldest part of the building. It was used as a body reserve for the fallen soldiers during the Civil War. The electricity would cut off randomly throughout the day, and the basement was the coldest part of the hospital, no matter how many times the HVAC would mess with the heating system. It\u2019s safe to say that the basement in general is just not a place anyone would feel comfortable in. So, to get the newcomers used to the basement, you would send them down there for any basement related reason. But after what Amber just saw? You weren\u2019t so convinced that was a good idea.
\n\u201cNo, no, I can do it.\u201d Amber shakes her head, obviously not wanting to be viewed as weak by you.
\n\u201cAmber\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cNo, I can do it. I don\u2019t want any special treatment, alright?\u201d She gives you a pleading look to which you just sigh in response. She had a point there. If someone saw you letting your friend\u2019s daughter off the hook, then it would like like favoritism, or maybe just nepotism. You know she wants to do this the right way.
\n\u201cFine, but I want you off the floor immediately after, you hear me? You can return to work after I check in on you in the break room.\u201d You said firmly. You didn\u2019t want her to do it in the first place, but at least this way she gets to process what just happened afterwards.
\n\u201cYes ma\u2019am.\u201d She nods her head before she walks past you, already preparing the woman to be transported down to the morgue. You tried not to say anything as you walked out of the room, forcing your focus to shift from Amber to the tissue you were still holding. Although you wanted to worry about Amber and comfort her, she wasn\u2019t a child. If she wanted your help she would ask for it. Plus, this new substance coming out of your patient was really worrying.
\nYou make your way down the hallway, chewing on your bottom lip as you hold it in front of you to examine it. You were glad to be wearing gloves, as the mucky green and the cloudy black substance inside of the brown bile had started to spread out from its home, making its way across the once white tissue paper. It was like it was alive as it slunk across the darkening tissue paper, tainting it with its presence.
\nIt both frightened you, and intrigued you. What in the world could this thing be? What can be causing this substance to form inside of the patient? Just as you were making your way to the examination room to check the cells of this new medical anomaly, the news broadcasting on the TV drew your attention as everything in the hospital seemed to just go stagnant as everyone currently on the floor looked at the big monitor in the main room.
\nA woman stood on the screen, the blonde locks reflecting the bright lights of the studio she was inside of. She was a pretty woman with a perfectly manufactured smile to please both the male and female audience, her makeup light and natural with her lips painted the perfect red for any beautiful white blonde model you would see on TV. Her dress matched the red of her lips, something formal but still casual enough to reveal the faintest hint of her cleavage to keep the attention of some watcher who were more interested in her than her words.
\nYou can tell that she seemed worried despite the smile that is glued to her mouth. It wasn\u2019t her face that gave her away, well, maybe a little, but it was her eyes that gave her away the most with that smile wavering slightly. Her blue eyes sparkled, seemed slightly even moist at best. Her eyebrows, although barely even slightly, were knitted together, revealing the bit of worry that seemed to simmer there. You must\u2019ve missed the introduction, as the woman on the screen was already talking.
\n\u201c\u2014reports of people being violently attacked outside of their homes and on the streets. Police have advised citizens to stay inside and keep all the exits and entries to their homes locked and secured, and to stay away from windows. As of tomorrow, there will be a curfew placed on the city\u2014\u201d She gets cut off by a loud bang in the studio and the sounds of people screaming off camera. You watch as she blinks, her tan face paling underneath the bright studio lights as something bright red splatters across her and the staging. You can recognize it instantly: blood.
\nMore screams echo from the speakers of the TV, the hospital watching in stunned silence as the camera being used to broadcast the event gets knocked over, causing the film to crack and a sheen of red coat the side. Blood decorated the floor of the studio, multiple pairs of feet darting across the screen and sending the red liquid to splatter across the lens of the camera.
\nYou stood there frozen with the other staff, various gasps escaping them as you all watched with wide eyes as the woman from before slips on the blood. Her screams pierced your ears as you watched gnarled hands dig into her dress, tearing at it as their blunt nails tear open the skin of her stomach, making your own feel queasy. Hands dive into the abdomen, the squelching of their hands pulling out the intestines and blood getting mixed around blended in with her choked sobs and the sounds of smacking lips.
\nThe screen goes to black and white, leaving you and the other staff staring slacked jawed at the screen as the sound of static filled your ears.
\n\u201cWhat\u2026 the fuck.\u201d A nurse spoke up next to you, her voice strained and sounding like she was moments away from crying or puking, maybe both. Before anyone of you knew it, the lights of the hospital changed from the sterile pale lights to a flashing red light as the alarm bounced off the walls. The static, and flashing lights, the blaring alarm, and the scene that happened before your eyes made you stand still in complete shock. Your ears were ringing from the overwhelming sounds filling your ears, and it felt like everything around you had faded as the white-nose of the static filled your mind; leaving you feeling completely blank as everything zones out for you.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T17:57:39Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T17:57:40Z", "authors": ["Dreamcatcher027"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85360231", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85360231", "external_url": null, "title": "Message", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\nAmidst the darkness, Leon lost hope.
\nGrace was beside him, maybe rethinking every great moment of her life. Maybe the one with her mother, or her time at the FBI Academy.
\nThere was no way, not even a slight chance with a weird move, that could get both of them out. Leon could not even believe that this would be his deathbed, the place where it all started. He thought it was not entirely bad considering that he now gets to die alongside the people of Racoon City, the people he thought he could not do enough for decades ago.
\nHe was about to lay down and embrace the end of Leon Kennedy when the brightest light splashed onto them. Five agents lower themselves down, one of them asking his name before communicating to someone that Leon and Grace are safe. Leon frowned, he was pretty certain he heard the word alpha, and he prayed to every god he knew for that alpha to be another alpha from any other squad in the world.
\nIt was the first Greek letter, surely every squad has an alpha right? Right?
\nHe did not even pray to stay alive when no escape was in sight.
\nBut he did pray for that alpha to not be the alpha.
\n\u201cMr. Kennedy... I have a message from Captain Redfield.\u201d
\nFUCK!
\nThat was the only word he could think of. Leon hasn\u2019t seen that man in ages and pray he won\u2019t have to ever again. Of course, it\u2019s got to be the Hound Wolf Squad that gets him out of here. Of course it has to be Captain Redfield.
\nIt would be so weird to say but if going up that rope would have Chris Redfield standing, waiting for him at his moment of freedom, dying down here doesn\u2019t sound so bad right now.
\nThey say humans will rerun the best memories of their life when they die.
\nDo humans also rerun the worst memories of their life when they escape death, then?
\nBecause for Leon, he is doing that right now. All he could think of was the conversation he had with Chris the night after they successfully got out of Alcatraz.
\nJill, Claire, and Rebecca went to get the rest they deserved. At the bar, there was only Chris and him. Back then, both of them had gone through too much. They have both lost too many people before their eyes. They have seen things that were basically a killing machine. They just went through another one of their never-ending series of fighting off zombies.
\nThe more they talked, the more they realized that at least they have each other.
\nAnd because having each other was so uncertain, one of them could be devoured by the new zombies somewhere on earth tomorrow, they devour each other out with hunger, spending the passionate night together in San Francisco. It might be those whiskies but Leon was sure that their conversation flow was so good they both did not even finish their first drink.
\nThey both didn\u2019t plan that far ahead of what\u2019s going to happen later.
\nThen dawn arrived, all adrenaline from surviving the death island was completely gone.
\nThat was when reality hit and Leon realized he just slept with someone who he considered his friend. And that was a really really bad thing.
\nThe only thing Leon could think back then was that he would rather have no conversation than Chris ending their friendship to his face.
\nHe left.
\nTo everyone, Chris and Leon are still in contact, just did not get to hang out because they are busy with their job. If anybody asked Leon about Chris, he would just say that he would run into Chris at some point. When in fact, Leon blocks Chris in every way and he guesses Chris did not tell anyone at all because even Claire seems to believe Leon\u2019s excuse. He just keeps doing more and more jobs everyday, taking as many missions as possible, just to escape the memory of that night.
\nUntil now, where his grand runaway scheme doesn\u2019t work any more.
\n\u201cCaptain said to bring you both to BSAA. Miss Ashcroft, we will perform primary care here and you will be properly assessed by the medical professional at the headquarter-" Umber Eyes said to both of them before turning to Leon.\u201c-and to Mister Kennedy, he said we need to talk.\u201d
\nLeon got sudden goosebumps all over his body. Even Grace turned to look at him with so many questions. He swallowed, feeling like thousands of needles are flowing through his throat.
\n\u201cJust...just get Grace out first. She\u2019s injured,\u201d Leon said without looking at Umber Eyes. Leon was certain that someone was watching the footage from the camera on Umber Eyes\u2019s head and it made him feel like that someone is staring into his soul right now.
\nLeon let out a huge relief when he realized that Chris Redfield wasn\u2019t waiting for him up on the ground. However, that didn\u2019t mean Leon survived. The Hound Wolf always looked in his direction. For god\u2019s sake, did they get an order from their captain to make sure that Mr. Kennedy didn't run away.
\nGrace got some primary care, enough for her to be able to sit on the plane. She was sitting still, beside Leon.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re good?\u201d Grace asked.
\nLeon scoffed. \u201cAsk yourself,\u201d he said jokingly.
\n\u201cNo, I mean- how do I put this. Do you have a conflict with BSAA?\u201d The takeaway Grace got from the conversation was that Leon might not want to talk to BSAA.
\n\u201cNo, I guess,\u201d Leon said. He wasn\u2019t sure if whatever was going on within himself could satisfy Grace\u2019s definition of conflict with BSAA.
\n\u201cYou guess?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, BSAA is not a bad guy.\u201d
\nGrace glanced at the man beside her. She could sense that Leon is nervous. He played with the ring on his hand, the one Grace thought was a wedding ring but turns out to be the ring shared among some survivors of Raccoon City.
\nThe plane landed on the runway in Virginia, exclusively used for BSAA. Leon looked out of the window, amazed by how much the place had changed. He hasn\u2019t been here in so long and he did not go on a mission expecting to end up here.
\nLeon helped Grace walk out of the plane. There are a few BSAA staff waiting for them.
\nGrace sat in the golf cart and Leon asked her to make sure that she wouldn\u2019t hurt more on the way to the main building. Leon was about to sit next to her when one of the Hound Wolf Squad stopped him.
\n\u201cThis one will bring Miss Ashcroft to the med area, mister Kennedy. She will be properly examined and we\u2019ll make sure she\u2019s okay. Your cart is over there,\u201d that agent said.
\nLeon looked at Grace who seemed to be worried about him.
\n\u201cGrace, I'll be fine. We\u2019ll catch up later. They got the best doc here, go get your wound patch,\u201d Leon said to Grace before glancing toward the Hound Wolf Squad. One of them is already on the driver seat of the golf cart. Another one was beside him. \u201cCaptain is waiting, mister Kennedy,\u201d he said, and Leon couldn\u2019t help himself rolling his eyes. What a great squad that man has gathered.
\nIt did not take so long for Leon to arrive at the part of the building that was the home of all the elite task force. Leon took a deep breath before he followed the Hound Wolf Squad in.
\nDespite being the middle of the night, many people are still working around the clock. Leon walked past many of them still communicating with their squad who were still in Raccoon City. The agent who led him in stopped at one door, scanned his pass and walked in. That was when Leon knew he had arrived at the cave of the Hound Wolves.
\nLeon followed that agent to another door. Even though all the binder were closed, Leon knew damn well who was inside. The agent who brought him here nodded to him once and walked away.
\n\u201cNot going in to introduce me? What hospitality,\u201d Leon said sarcastically.
\n\u201cI believe you require no introduction, mister Kennedy,\u201d he said and walked away.
\nLeon stood still in front of the room. He felt like he couldn\u2019t breathe right now.
\nTen years, or maybe more.
\nTen years later Leon has run away from the consequences of his own actions.
\nHe wasn\u2019t ready to face it now either but he had no choice. It wasn\u2019t like he could just run out of this place right now. Leon placed his hand on the door knob, taking a few more seconds and another deep breath before opening the door.
\nA guy in front was focused on his work laying around on the desk. It took a while for him to lift his face to meet Leon's eyes. Not that he would complain though. It give him the opportunity to grace his eyesight on the face in front of him.
\nChris is surely getting older (of course, it's been ten years), somehow also getting bigger than the last time Leon saw him, and definitely looks more tired than ever before despite being in his fifties now.
\nAll those things aside, it was still the same Chris Redfield.
\nThe room was filled with silence for god knows how long. Leon could only hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest, almost bounce out of his own body and crawl to Chris, until the face lifted up and their eyes met.
\nThe maze he has started to solve is now ruined, Leon is lost again, in those pairs of eyes.
\nDecade has passed and Leon is still at the same place where he left off.
\nHe still loves Chris, with his whole heart.
\nYes, he\u2019s in love with Chris. Don't know when. Don't know why. Don't even want to know why.
\nThat was why he left. That was why he couldn\u2019t bear seeing Chris after that night.
\nThe scariest thing in his life wasn\u2019t those things he just fought off, it was Chris. More specifically, Chris, to his face, pushing Leon out of life.
\nBut it has been ten years. Surely Chris wouldn\u2019t bring that night up anymore. He definitely wanted to talk to Leon about work.
\nRight?
\nLeon thought to himself as he walked toward the desk in the middle of Chris\u2019s office.
\nChris stands up, sending Leon a soft smile. However, all Leon could receive from that smile was a chill down his own spine.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\nAmidst the darkness, Leon lost hope.
\nGrace was beside him, maybe rethinking every great moment of her life. Maybe the one with her mother, or her time at the FBI Academy.
\nThere was no way, not even a slight chance with a weird move, that could get both of them out. Leon could not even believe that this would be his deathbed, the place where it all started. He thought it was not entirely bad considering that he now gets to die alongside the people of Racoon City, the people he thought he could not do enough for decades ago.
\nHe was about to lay down and embrace the end of Leon Kennedy when the brightest light splashed onto them. Five agents lower themselves down, one of them asking his name before communicating to someone that Leon and Grace are safe. Leon frowned, he was pretty certain he heard the word alpha, and he prayed to every god he knew for that alpha to be another alpha from any other squad in the world.
\nIt was the first Greek letter, surely every squad has an alpha right? Right?
\nHe did not even pray to stay alive when no escape was in sight.
\nBut he did pray for that alpha to not be the alpha.
\n\u201cMr. Kennedy... I have a message from Captain Redfield.\u201d
\nFUCK!
\nThat was the only word he could think of. Leon hasn\u2019t seen that man in ages and pray he won\u2019t have to ever again. Of course, it\u2019s got to be the Hound Wolf Squad that gets him out of here. Of course it has to be Captain Redfield.
\nIt would be so weird to say but if going up that rope would have Chris Redfield standing, waiting for him at his moment of freedom, dying down here doesn\u2019t sound so bad right now.
\nThey say humans will rerun the best memories of their life when they die.
\nDo humans also rerun the worst memories of their life when they escape death, then?
\nBecause for Leon, he is doing that right now. All he could think of was the conversation he had with Chris the night after they successfully got out of Alcatraz.
\nJill, Claire, and Rebecca went to get the rest they deserved. At the bar, there was only Chris and him. Back then, both of them had gone through too much. They have both lost too many people before their eyes. They have seen things that were basically a killing machine. They just went through another one of their never-ending series of fighting off zombies.
\nThe more they talked, the more they realized that at least they have each other.
\nAnd because having each other was so uncertain, one of them could be devoured by the new zombies somewhere on earth tomorrow, they devour each other out with hunger, spending the passionate night together in San Francisco. It might be those whiskies but Leon was sure that their conversation flow was so good they both did not even finish their first drink.
\nThey both didn\u2019t plan that far ahead of what\u2019s going to happen later.
\nThen dawn arrived, all adrenaline from surviving the death island was completely gone.
\nThat was when reality hit and Leon realized he just slept with someone who he considered his friend. And that was a really really bad thing.
\nThe only thing Leon could think back then was that he would rather have no conversation than Chris ending their friendship to his face.
\nHe left.
\nTo everyone, Chris and Leon are still in contact, just did not get to hang out because they are busy with their job. If anybody asked Leon about Chris, he would just say that he would run into Chris at some point. When in fact, Leon blocks Chris in every way and he guesses Chris did not tell anyone at all because even Claire seems to believe Leon\u2019s excuse. He just keeps doing more and more jobs everyday, taking as many missions as possible, just to escape the memory of that night.
\nUntil now, where his grand runaway scheme doesn\u2019t work any more.
\n\u201cCaptain said to bring you both to BSAA. Miss Ashcroft, we will perform primary care here and you will be properly assessed by the medical professional at the headquarter-" Umber Eyes said to both of them before turning to Leon.\u201c-and to Mister Kennedy, he said we need to talk.\u201d
\nLeon got sudden goosebumps all over his body. Even Grace turned to look at him with so many questions. He swallowed, feeling like thousands of needles are flowing through his throat.
\n\u201cJust...just get Grace out first. She\u2019s injured,\u201d Leon said without looking at Umber Eyes. Leon was certain that someone was watching the footage from the camera on Umber Eyes\u2019s head and it made him feel like that someone is staring into his soul right now.
\nLeon let out a huge relief when he realized that Chris Redfield wasn\u2019t waiting for him up on the ground. However, that didn\u2019t mean Leon survived. The Hound Wolf always looked in his direction. For god\u2019s sake, did they get an order from their captain to make sure that Mr. Kennedy didn't run away.
\nGrace got some primary care, enough for her to be able to sit on the plane. She was sitting still, beside Leon.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re good?\u201d Grace asked.
\nLeon scoffed. \u201cAsk yourself,\u201d he said jokingly.
\n\u201cNo, I mean- how do I put this. Do you have a conflict with BSAA?\u201d The takeaway Grace got from the conversation was that Leon might not want to talk to BSAA.
\n\u201cNo, I guess,\u201d Leon said. He wasn\u2019t sure if whatever was going on within himself could satisfy Grace\u2019s definition of conflict with BSAA.
\n\u201cYou guess?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, BSAA is not a bad guy.\u201d
\nGrace glanced at the man beside her. She could sense that Leon is nervous. He played with the ring on his hand, the one Grace thought was a wedding ring but turns out to be the ring shared among some survivors of Raccoon City.
\nThe plane landed on the runway in Virginia, exclusively used for BSAA. Leon looked out of the window, amazed by how much the place had changed. He hasn\u2019t been here in so long and he did not go on a mission expecting to end up here.
\nLeon helped Grace walk out of the plane. There are a few BSAA staff waiting for them.
\nGrace sat in the golf cart and Leon asked her to make sure that she wouldn\u2019t hurt more on the way to the main building. Leon was about to sit next to her when one of the Hound Wolf Squad stopped him.
\n\u201cThis one will bring Miss Ashcroft to the med area, mister Kennedy. She will be properly examined and we\u2019ll make sure she\u2019s okay. Your cart is over there,\u201d that agent said.
\nLeon looked at Grace who seemed to be worried about him.
\n\u201cGrace, I'll be fine. We\u2019ll catch up later. They got the best doc here, go get your wound patch,\u201d Leon said to Grace before glancing toward the Hound Wolf Squad. One of them is already on the driver seat of the golf cart. Another one was beside him. \u201cCaptain is waiting, mister Kennedy,\u201d he said, and Leon couldn\u2019t help himself rolling his eyes. What a great squad that man has gathered.
\nIt did not take so long for Leon to arrive at the part of the building that was the home of all the elite task force. Leon took a deep breath before he followed the Hound Wolf Squad in.
\nDespite being the middle of the night, many people are still working around the clock. Leon walked past many of them still communicating with their squad who were still in Raccoon City. The agent who led him in stopped at one door, scanned his pass and walked in. That was when Leon knew he had arrived at the cave of the Hound Wolves.
\nLeon followed that agent to another door. Even though all the binder were closed, Leon knew damn well who was inside. The agent who brought him here nodded to him once and walked away.
\n\u201cNot going in to introduce me? What hospitality,\u201d Leon said sarcastically.
\n\u201cI believe you require no introduction, mister Kennedy,\u201d he said and walked away.
\nLeon stood still in front of the room. He felt like he couldn\u2019t breathe right now.
\nTen years, or maybe more.
\nTen years later Leon has run away from the consequences of his own actions.
\nHe wasn\u2019t ready to face it now either but he had no choice. It wasn\u2019t like he could just run out of this place right now. Leon placed his hand on the door knob, taking a few more seconds and another deep breath before opening the door.
\nA guy in front was focused on his work laying around on the desk. It took a while for him to lift his face to meet Leon's eyes. Not that he would complain though. It give him the opportunity to grace his eyesight on the face in front of him.
\nChris is surely getting older (of course, it's been ten years), somehow also getting bigger than the last time Leon saw him, and definitely looks more tired than ever before despite being in his fifties now.
\nAll those things aside, it was still the same Chris Redfield.
\nThe room was filled with silence for god knows how long. Leon could only hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest, almost bounce out of his own body and crawl to Chris, until the face lifted up and their eyes met.
\nThe maze he has started to solve is now ruined, Leon is lost again, in those pairs of eyes.
\nDecade has passed and Leon is still at the same place where he left off.
\nHe still loves Chris, with his whole heart.
\nYes, he\u2019s in love with Chris. Don't know when. Don't know why. Don't even want to know why.
\nThat was why he left. That was why he couldn\u2019t bear seeing Chris after that night.
\nThe scariest thing in his life wasn\u2019t those things he just fought off, it was Chris. More specifically, Chris, to his face, pushing Leon out of life.
\nBut it has been ten years. Surely Chris wouldn\u2019t bring that night up anymore. He definitely wanted to talk to Leon about work.
\nRight?
\nLeon thought to himself as he walked toward the desk in the middle of Chris\u2019s office.
\nChris stands up, sending Leon a soft smile. However, all Leon could receive from that smile was a chill down his own spine.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T17:55:24Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T17:57:44Z", "authors": ["littlelazybeez"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85357936", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85357936", "external_url": null, "title": "La Duda", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Yeah, I know what you might think, "Oh, he's a jester, just some fool to make fun of," and, maybe you're right, he is being made fun of quite often. But hey, he earned that place!
\nHe was just fifteen when the cabin he and his grandfather were living in burned to the ground. It was a horrible night, he could've sworn he stepped outside just for a second, but when he returned, the tongues of flame has already wrapped themselves around the cabin, dancing and crackling happily as they devoured the wood with his ill grandrather still inside. And so he was left alone, alone in the whole world. His mother died during his own birth, he never saw her, and his father was god knows where, he could've died on the street from the hunger, nobody would care. But it seemed that his luck hasn't completely run out as one day the kind himself, no less, was driving on his horse-drawn carriage past him. The king was just talking to the people in the little city he was living in and he, a dirty, homeless boy was able to make his majesty laugh by asking something silly about the bread.
\n...But that was almost thirteen years ago, he's no longer a little starving boy, he has a place to live and clothes to wear. He learned a lot since then, learned how to dance and play guitar, knew a lot of songs, puzzles, funny stories and whatnot, anything to keep the king entertained. Speaking of, the king that took him in had died a long time ago, too. Now it's his son who rules the country, and, oh.. What a man he was. The boy waas just a year younger than himself, and it's no wonder that every woman at court were wiling to do anything to be the king's favourite. And it was quite understandable. Not only they wanted him because he's a king, but because the boy wasn't deprived of beauty, not at all. Tall and strong, just like his father, knew how to fight and ride a horse exellently. His skin was as pale as a fine and expensive porcelain could be with a soft, pink blush that appeared on his cheeks quite often. And his hair, oh, his hair, his short, blonde locks looked so soft, especially under a soft, morning sunlight, that he found himself thinking about running his hand through his majesty hair quite often, for what he felt guilty after. Every time they locked eyes, it felt as if his blue iris were looking right in the depths of his very soul, turning it inside out. He was even more handsome, how much more, you ask? when his face wasn't weighed down by this frown of his. Oh. He just had to be so perfect, didn't he?
\nBut he, as a jester, was close to the king, intimately so, and knew him on a more personal level, beyond just his looks. He always follows him, almost like a lost puppy, wherever it\u2019s a meeting with all kinds of important people, a banquet, a theater visits, a royal ball he was there, to entertain the guest, and most importantly, the king. He almost slept with him in the same bed, and even though it was just a figure of speech, he really wished he did. But that was a thought for another day. The king wasn\u2019t really talkative, only talked when necessary and preferred short and informative conversation. Always such a nice and kind kid, he wanted to help others, and now, as an adult, that hasn\u2019t changed a one bit. The thing is, he wasn\u2019t really successful in this. He didn\u2019t have much friends beyond the close circle of people that included him.
\nBut enough of this rumbling, fast forward to the present day. Today is a big day, the king is getting married.
\nThe whole place was going crazy. Every few second someone would ran past him in each and every direction to do their job. Through the window he saw some big and bulky man, who was handling all the horses the palace had, talking with a girl, who, he believed, was his sister. Suddenly, a girl ran past him, nearly knocking him down. He only had time to recover and turn his head to the direction she just run to to say a couple of warm words but all he managed to do was to see her blonde hair before the girl disappeared around the corner. With a snort he walked on.
\nHe couldn\u2019t find the king anywhere, so he spent at least the last thirty minutes to ask everyone he met along his way about his majesty\u2019s whereabouts, and finally, he stumbled upon the same young girl, who almost swept him off his feet. She looked no older than, maybe, 21 years old, with blonde hair and beautiful green eyes, her face was cute and round and she still had some baby fat on her cheeks. She looked familiar so he assume the girl was a maid of honor of some kind. With a little stuttering she apologized for before and told him that the king was currently taking a bath. Well, he could\u2019ve figured. The half of the task was done, now, he just had to find where exactly he was taking a bath.
\nAfter a little while of walking through the big and beautiful halls he found the room he needed. He gently knocked on the door and after hearing the long-awaited response, he opened the door and entered the room, quietly closing it behind himself. The room where he was taking a bath was just his majesty\u2019s private chambers with a bath in the middle of the room that was enclosed by a few folding screens.
\nIt was a common knowledge that the king had little to no privacy, so seeing no servants or guards in the room had him a little confused. Not that he complained, though, he rarely had a chance to speak to Leon privately, so he jumped at the chance without even thinking.
\nHe quickly circled around and finally saw the king in all of his glorious nudity. Well, almost. \u201cYou\u2019re all alone, my majesty?\u201d He said with one of his most charming grin.
\nBut it seems the other man wasn\u2019t very impressed by his charming smiles \u201cYes. And I wanted to keep it that way.\u201d
\n\u201cAlways so serious.. Just wanted to keep you company. You must be nervous before your wedding, ain\u2019t you, my lord?\u201d
\nThere was a little pause before his answer, as if he wasn\u2019t sure what to say. \u201cNot really. But I\u2019m a little bored right now, so.. Perform for me.\u201d He ordered, his tone was stern and his eyes were practically burning holes in him. He liked it though. He loved having all his majesty\u2019s attention just for him and him alone, even if that was.. whatever it is now.
\nHe quickly disposed of these thoughts, bowed to him and straightened out with the same wide grin. \u201cYes, my lord. What do you want me to do? Oh,\u201d He gasped and then started to talk in a conspiratorial voice. \u201cI know a trick with cards. Do you want to see?\u201d He asked, but a deck of cards already appeared in his hands.
\nLeon\u2019s face stayed the same, but a curious gleam arose in his eyes. \u201cGo on.\u201d
\n\u201cAlright..\u201d He started to shuffle the cards, concentrating all Leon\u2019s attentions on said cards. He quickly shuffled the cards, and showed the king that they were in a complete random order, and while doing so, he swiftly managed to take a look and remember the last card in the deck then fanned out the cards in front of him. \u201cPlease, pick a card.\u201d
\nIt amused him how Leon looked up at him all skeptically through his long eyelashes, but he took the card nonetheless. \u201cNow remember it and put it back.\u201d He pointedly looked away to make it obvious that he was in no way snooping. Finally, Leon put the card in the back of the deck and then Luis proceeded to cut the cards by splitting the deck into two parts to ensure the king that the cards were random, and now he also knew the card he remembered and the card Leon chose were somewhere in the middle. A piece of cake. Then he fanned out the cards again with their faces up.
\nHe made a show of choosing the card, even though he already found it, just to amuse his majesty.
\n\u201cWell, I believe it\u2019s a.. King!\u201d He held a card between his index and middle finger. \u201cAm I right?\u201d
\nA genuine smile appeared on Leon\u2019s face and he looked up at him. Their eyes locked and he felt something lit in his chest. \u201cHow did you do that, huh? You cheated. You must have.\u201d
\n\u201cNot at all. I would never do that, my lord.\u201d
\nHe put the deck back to keep cards up his sleeve, no pun intended, some jester kept their requisite literally in their sleeves or under a big, motley cap to have a quick access to it.
\nHe proceeded to entertain his majesty by telling funny stories and playing on a guitar. He was kinda focused on his instrument to pay attention to his surroundings so when he heard a soft splash and a slight sound of effort from behind, he went stiff. His back was turned to the man at the moment as he was leaning against the edge of the bath, and suddenly he found himself very nervous to turn around. He gulped down so loudly that he feared Leon could have heard it. He hesitantly turned his head to the side, still playing some song on the guitar and what he saw had his heartbeat race incredibly fast.
\nHis eyes were closed, thankfully, so he didn\u2019t see Luis snooping around. He took the opportunity to look at the way his reddened and flushed from the hot water skin was glistening under the sunlight. The heavy breaths he took every now and then were making his guts feel jittery, but what made his heart beat practically in his throat was the fact that Leon\u2019s legs were slightly apart and his hand was currently between his thighs and it was making steady movements up and down. He immediately turned away and with a shaky exhale asked.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, what.. what are you doing there, my lord?\u201d He said awkwardly, still preferring to stay turned away.
\nHe hummed softly before answering. \u201cI\u2019m sure you know exactly what I\u2019m doing.\u201d
\nHis quiet voice was driving him mad and the fact that indeed knew what Leon was doing, just at an arm\u2019s length away from him, was making him feel fuzzy all over. He only now realised that he stopped playing his guitar so he put that aside and slowly turned his head towards his majesty yet again. Only now his eyes were open and already looking at him when he turned his head, once again burning holes in him.
\n\u201cI.. You, um..\u201d He stuttered hard. It took him a good minute to find his word before blabbering them in a hushed voice, even though it was just two of them. \u201cYou should not do it here. Or anywhere for that matter! Anyone could walk in and.. and see me and you.. What would they think?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat would they think? They would definitely think I went crazy, defiling myself.\u201d He closed his eyes again and tilted his head back \u201cBut I can\u2019t help myself.. only if you knew how hard it is to keep control over myself when you\u2019re near to me, oh, only if you knew..\u201d He was mesmerised by the very sight of Leon, specifically by his hand that was still going up and down in steady, but more faster rhythm than a few minutes prior. His cock was flushed and a little pink, and he guessed it wasn\u2019t just because of the hot water he was still in. And oh, he wished it was his hand instead.
\nStill, he had to answer and not just standing there like a deer in the headlights. \u201cBut my lord, you\u2019re getting married and.. and we\u2019re both men..\u201d He covered his face with his hands and continued in a quiet voice. \u201cIt\u2019s so wrong, oh, it\u2019s so wrong..\u201d
\nIt was unbearable. He both wanted to jump in that bath to be as close to Leon as possible and leave the room this instant at the same time, and it was driving him up the wall.
\nIn the end he decided to leave, because listening to these words that he himself thought of in the middle of the night and then spent a lot of time beating himself up about and those noises of his that was making his belly and below feel warm was something he wasn\u2019t ready for.
\nIt was now almost midnight and the celebration was in full swing. The bride, some princess from another country, arrived here a few hours prior with a lot of gifts and souvenirs from her country. It was the first time the bride and the groom saw each other in person. They will be officially married in a couple of days or so, so they could get to know each other. He knew it was just a political deal, but still, he couldn\u2019t stand the idea of someone else being as close to the king as he is.
\nHe was standing in the corner of the big room the party was, feeling a bit defeated. He knew he should go and entertain the guests and the newlywed but he couldn\u2019t force himself to move. While looking at nothing in particular he unintentionally caught Leon\u2019s look, it seemed he was looking at him for a while, but the moment they locked eyes he quickly averted his stare. He felt his heart sinks, but what could he do about that? He couldn\u2019t make his feeling for Leon go away nor he couldn\u2019t reconstruct the society that believed that two men or women could not love each other.
\nSo, with a heavy heart, he pushed off the wall, and went to occupy the guests with songs and stories till the end of the party.
", "summary": "Yeah, I know what you might think, "Oh, he's a jester, just some fool to make fun of," and, maybe you're right, he is being made fun of quite often. But hey, he earned that place!
\nHe was just fifteen when the cabin he and his grandfather were living in burned to the ground. It was a horrible night, he could've sworn he stepped outside just for a second, but when he returned, the tongues of flame has already wrapped themselves around the cabin, dancing and crackling happily as they devoured the wood with his ill grandrather still inside. And so he was left alone, alone in the whole world. His mother died during his own birth, he never saw her, and his father was god knows where, he could've died on the street from the hunger, nobody would care. But it seemed that his luck hasn't completely run out as one day the kind himself, no less, was driving on his horse-drawn carriage past him. The king was just talking to the people in the little city he was living in and he, a dirty, homeless boy was able to make his majesty laugh by asking something silly about the bread.
\n...But that was almost thirteen years ago, he's no longer a little starving boy, he has a place to live and clothes to wear. He learned a lot since then, learned how to dance and play guitar, knew a lot of songs, puzzles, funny stories and whatnot, anything to keep the king entertained. Speaking of, the king that took him in had died a long time ago, too. Now it's his son who rules the country, and, oh.. What a man he was. The boy waas just a year younger than himself, and it's no wonder that every woman at court were wiling to do anything to be the king's favourite. And it was quite understandable. Not only they wanted him because he's a king, but because the boy wasn't deprived of beauty, not at all. Tall and strong, just like his father, knew how to fight and ride a horse exellently. His skin was as pale as a fine and expensive porcelain could be with a soft, pink blush that appeared on his cheeks quite often. And his hair, oh, his hair, his short, blonde locks looked so soft, especially under a soft, morning sunlight, that he found himself thinking about running his hand through his majesty hair quite often, for what he felt guilty after. Every time they locked eyes, it felt as if his blue iris were looking right in the depths of his very soul, turning it inside out. He was even more handsome, how much more, you ask? when his face wasn't weighed down by this frown of his. Oh. He just had to be so perfect, didn't he?
\nBut he, as a jester, was close to the king, intimately so, and knew him on a more personal level, beyond just his looks. He always follows him, almost like a lost puppy, wherever it\u2019s a meeting with all kinds of important people, a banquet, a theater visits, a royal ball he was there, to entertain the guest, and most importantly, the king. He almost slept with him in the same bed, and even though it was just a figure of speech, he really wished he did. But that was a thought for another day. The king wasn\u2019t really talkative, only talked when necessary and preferred short and informative conversation. Always such a nice and kind kid, he wanted to help others, and now, as an adult, that hasn\u2019t changed a one bit. The thing is, he wasn\u2019t really successful in this. He didn\u2019t have much friends beyond the close circle of people that included him.
\nBut enough of this rumbling, fast forward to the present day. Today is a big day, the king is getting married.
\nThe whole place was going crazy. Every few second someone would ran past him in each and every direction to do their job. Through the window he saw some big and bulky man, who was handling all the horses the palace had, talking with a girl, who, he believed, was his sister. Suddenly, a girl ran past him, nearly knocking him down. He only had time to recover and turn his head to the direction she just run to to say a couple of warm words but all he managed to do was to see her blonde hair before the girl disappeared around the corner. With a snort he walked on.
\nHe couldn\u2019t find the king anywhere, so he spent at least the last thirty minutes to ask everyone he met along his way about his majesty\u2019s whereabouts, and finally, he stumbled upon the same young girl, who almost swept him off his feet. She looked no older than, maybe, 21 years old, with blonde hair and beautiful green eyes, her face was cute and round and she still had some baby fat on her cheeks. She looked familiar so he assume the girl was a maid of honor of some kind. With a little stuttering she apologized for before and told him that the king was currently taking a bath. Well, he could\u2019ve figured. The half of the task was done, now, he just had to find where exactly he was taking a bath.
\nAfter a little while of walking through the big and beautiful halls he found the room he needed. He gently knocked on the door and after hearing the long-awaited response, he opened the door and entered the room, quietly closing it behind himself. The room where he was taking a bath was just his majesty\u2019s private chambers with a bath in the middle of the room that was enclosed by a few folding screens.
\nIt was a common knowledge that the king had little to no privacy, so seeing no servants or guards in the room had him a little confused. Not that he complained, though, he rarely had a chance to speak to Leon privately, so he jumped at the chance without even thinking.
\nHe quickly circled around and finally saw the king in all of his glorious nudity. Well, almost. \u201cYou\u2019re all alone, my majesty?\u201d He said with one of his most charming grin.
\nBut it seems the other man wasn\u2019t very impressed by his charming smiles \u201cYes. And I wanted to keep it that way.\u201d
\n\u201cAlways so serious.. Just wanted to keep you company. You must be nervous before your wedding, ain\u2019t you, my lord?\u201d
\nThere was a little pause before his answer, as if he wasn\u2019t sure what to say. \u201cNot really. But I\u2019m a little bored right now, so.. Perform for me.\u201d He ordered, his tone was stern and his eyes were practically burning holes in him. He liked it though. He loved having all his majesty\u2019s attention just for him and him alone, even if that was.. whatever it is now.
\nHe quickly disposed of these thoughts, bowed to him and straightened out with the same wide grin. \u201cYes, my lord. What do you want me to do? Oh,\u201d He gasped and then started to talk in a conspiratorial voice. \u201cI know a trick with cards. Do you want to see?\u201d He asked, but a deck of cards already appeared in his hands.
\nLeon\u2019s face stayed the same, but a curious gleam arose in his eyes. \u201cGo on.\u201d
\n\u201cAlright..\u201d He started to shuffle the cards, concentrating all Leon\u2019s attentions on said cards. He quickly shuffled the cards, and showed the king that they were in a complete random order, and while doing so, he swiftly managed to take a look and remember the last card in the deck then fanned out the cards in front of him. \u201cPlease, pick a card.\u201d
\nIt amused him how Leon looked up at him all skeptically through his long eyelashes, but he took the card nonetheless. \u201cNow remember it and put it back.\u201d He pointedly looked away to make it obvious that he was in no way snooping. Finally, Leon put the card in the back of the deck and then Luis proceeded to cut the cards by splitting the deck into two parts to ensure the king that the cards were random, and now he also knew the card he remembered and the card Leon chose were somewhere in the middle. A piece of cake. Then he fanned out the cards again with their faces up.
\nHe made a show of choosing the card, even though he already found it, just to amuse his majesty.
\n\u201cWell, I believe it\u2019s a.. King!\u201d He held a card between his index and middle finger. \u201cAm I right?\u201d
\nA genuine smile appeared on Leon\u2019s face and he looked up at him. Their eyes locked and he felt something lit in his chest. \u201cHow did you do that, huh? You cheated. You must have.\u201d
\n\u201cNot at all. I would never do that, my lord.\u201d
\nHe put the deck back to keep cards up his sleeve, no pun intended, some jester kept their requisite literally in their sleeves or under a big, motley cap to have a quick access to it.
\nHe proceeded to entertain his majesty by telling funny stories and playing on a guitar. He was kinda focused on his instrument to pay attention to his surroundings so when he heard a soft splash and a slight sound of effort from behind, he went stiff. His back was turned to the man at the moment as he was leaning against the edge of the bath, and suddenly he found himself very nervous to turn around. He gulped down so loudly that he feared Leon could have heard it. He hesitantly turned his head to the side, still playing some song on the guitar and what he saw had his heartbeat race incredibly fast.
\nHis eyes were closed, thankfully, so he didn\u2019t see Luis snooping around. He took the opportunity to look at the way his reddened and flushed from the hot water skin was glistening under the sunlight. The heavy breaths he took every now and then were making his guts feel jittery, but what made his heart beat practically in his throat was the fact that Leon\u2019s legs were slightly apart and his hand was currently between his thighs and it was making steady movements up and down. He immediately turned away and with a shaky exhale asked.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, what.. what are you doing there, my lord?\u201d He said awkwardly, still preferring to stay turned away.
\nHe hummed softly before answering. \u201cI\u2019m sure you know exactly what I\u2019m doing.\u201d
\nHis quiet voice was driving him mad and the fact that indeed knew what Leon was doing, just at an arm\u2019s length away from him, was making him feel fuzzy all over. He only now realised that he stopped playing his guitar so he put that aside and slowly turned his head towards his majesty yet again. Only now his eyes were open and already looking at him when he turned his head, once again burning holes in him.
\n\u201cI.. You, um..\u201d He stuttered hard. It took him a good minute to find his word before blabbering them in a hushed voice, even though it was just two of them. \u201cYou should not do it here. Or anywhere for that matter! Anyone could walk in and.. and see me and you.. What would they think?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat would they think? They would definitely think I went crazy, defiling myself.\u201d He closed his eyes again and tilted his head back \u201cBut I can\u2019t help myself.. only if you knew how hard it is to keep control over myself when you\u2019re near to me, oh, only if you knew..\u201d He was mesmerised by the very sight of Leon, specifically by his hand that was still going up and down in steady, but more faster rhythm than a few minutes prior. His cock was flushed and a little pink, and he guessed it wasn\u2019t just because of the hot water he was still in. And oh, he wished it was his hand instead.
\nStill, he had to answer and not just standing there like a deer in the headlights. \u201cBut my lord, you\u2019re getting married and.. and we\u2019re both men..\u201d He covered his face with his hands and continued in a quiet voice. \u201cIt\u2019s so wrong, oh, it\u2019s so wrong..\u201d
\nIt was unbearable. He both wanted to jump in that bath to be as close to Leon as possible and leave the room this instant at the same time, and it was driving him up the wall.
\nIn the end he decided to leave, because listening to these words that he himself thought of in the middle of the night and then spent a lot of time beating himself up about and those noises of his that was making his belly and below feel warm was something he wasn\u2019t ready for.
\nIt was now almost midnight and the celebration was in full swing. The bride, some princess from another country, arrived here a few hours prior with a lot of gifts and souvenirs from her country. It was the first time the bride and the groom saw each other in person. They will be officially married in a couple of days or so, so they could get to know each other. He knew it was just a political deal, but still, he couldn\u2019t stand the idea of someone else being as close to the king as he is.
\nHe was standing in the corner of the big room the party was, feeling a bit defeated. He knew he should go and entertain the guests and the newlywed but he couldn\u2019t force himself to move. While looking at nothing in particular he unintentionally caught Leon\u2019s look, it seemed he was looking at him for a while, but the moment they locked eyes he quickly averted his stare. He felt his heart sinks, but what could he do about that? He couldn\u2019t make his feeling for Leon go away nor he couldn\u2019t reconstruct the society that believed that two men or women could not love each other.
\nSo, with a heavy heart, he pushed off the wall, and went to occupy the guests with songs and stories till the end of the party.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T16:56:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T16:58:08Z", "authors": ["WhoYouCallingSancho"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85355011", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85355011", "external_url": null, "title": "Still Warm", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\n1
\nEthan wakes up the same way he always does now without transition.
\nThere is no drifting up through sleep, no heaviness in his limbs, no breath catching as consciousness returns. One moment there is nothing, and the next there is him, assembled out of quiet and habit in a body that remembers how to be a person even when it technically isn\u2019t one anymore.
\nThe ceiling above him is familiar. That is how he knows he is still here.
\nEthan lies still for a moment longer than he needs to, staring at the faint seam in the plaster where two panels don\u2019t quite meet. He used to think about fixing it. Now he just counts it as one of the things that proves the house is real.
\nHis fingers twitch once.
\nThere\u2019s a faint crackle under the skin when he does it.
\nHe doesn\u2019t look.
\nInstead, he sits up.
\nThe movement is smooth. Too smooth, sometimes. Like a puppet remembering there is supposed to be resistance in joints.
\nHe swings his legs over the side of the bed and stares down at his hands.
\nThey are intact today.
\nThat is good.
\nThat is always good.
\nEthan flexes them once, twice, and watches the faint, dark lattice beneath the skin settle as if it had never been there at all.
\n\u201cOkay,\u201d he says quietly, because saying things out loud helps anchor them. \u201cNormal day.\u201d
\nHis voice sounds like his voice. That is also important.
\nHe stands.
\nThe kitchen smells like coffee and something vaguely burnt.
\nMia is already awake.
\nOf course she is.
\nShe stands at the counter with her back to him, stirring something she is not really paying attention to. The spoon taps the side of the mug in a steady rhythm that is almost, but not quite, too precise.
\n\u201cMorning,\u201d Ethan says.
\n\u201cMorning,\u201d Mia replies.
\nThere is a pause. Not an uncomfortable one. Just a practiced one.
\nEthan moves to the cabinet without needing to think about it. Cereal. Bowl. Spoon. The sequence is automatic, stored somewhere deeper than memory. His body performs it like it is trying to convince itself it still belongs in a routine.
\nBehind him, Mia watches.
\nShe always does.
\n\u201cYou sleep?\u201d she asks casually.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Ethan says immediately.
\nIt is not a lie.
\nIt is just not the truth in any meaningful way.
\nMia hums softly and turns back to the stove. \u201cRose\u2019s school project is due Friday.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll help her,\u201d Ethan says.
\n\u201cI know you will.\u201d
\nThat is the end of the conversation.
\nIt always ends like that now.
\nRose is already at the table when he turns around.
\nSmall hands wrapped around a glass of orange juice. A half-finished plate of toast sits in front of her, carefully arranged in a way that suggests she had been trying to make it look like something other than just toast.
\n\u201cDad!\u201d she says brightly. \u201cI think I figured out my science thing.\u201d
\nEthan\u2019s chest does something it used to do when he still had a heartbeat.
\nIt isn\u2019t pain.
\nIt\u2019s recognition.
\n\u201cThat so?\u201d he asks, sliding into the chair across from her.
\n\u201cYeah!\u201d Rose leans forward, eyes bright. \u201cIf plants can grow toward sunlight, do you think they can grow toward people too?\u201d
\n\u201cThat sounds like you\u2019re trying to make plants emotionally attached to us,\u201d Mia says from the stove without looking up.
\nRose ignores her. \u201cI think they can.\u201d
\nEthan smiles.
\nIt takes a second to form properly.
\n\u201cMaybe,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I think you\u2019d have to be pretty interesting for a plant to bother.\u201d
\nRose gasps like this is a challenge. \u201cI\u2019m interesting!\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t say you weren\u2019t,\u201d Ethan says quickly.
\nMia glances over her shoulder. Something soft flickers across her face for half a second before she looks away again.
\nEthan watches Rose talk with her hands, spilling half her juice in excitement, and automatically reaches out to steady the glass before it tips too far.
\nHis fingers brush hers.
\nWarm.
\nAlive.
\nReal.
\nFor a fraction of a second, something beneath Ethan\u2019s skin reacts\u2014an instinctive ripple, a response too fast for thought. The faintest dark thread of something like shadow crawls under his knuckles.
\nHe stills immediately.
\nRose doesn\u2019t notice.
\nMia does.
\nBut she says nothing.
\nEthan withdraws his hand slowly.
\n\u201cCareful,\u201d he says lightly. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to avoid sticky floors today.\u201d
\nRose giggles.
\nEthan keeps smiling.
\nAfter breakfast, the house settles into its normal quiet.
\nMia leaves for work.
\nRose goes upstairs to get ready.
\nAnd Ethan remains in the kitchen, washing dishes that are already clean.
\nThe water runs cold over his hands.
\nHe watches it.
\nThere are moments like this\u2014small, empty spaces where the world expects him to be idle, and his body doesn\u2019t quite know what to do with itself.
\nHe flexes his fingers again.
\nA faint crack forms along the edge of his knuckle.
\nEthan pauses.
\nLooks down.
\nThe crack seals itself slowly, like something reconsidering whether it was ever supposed to exist.
\nHe turns the tap off.
\nDrying his hands carefully.
\nMethodically.
\nLike precision alone can keep things from slipping.
\nRose calls for him ten minutes later.
\n\u201cDad! Can you help me with this?\u201d
\nHe goes upstairs immediately.
\nHer room is bright in a way the rest of the house isn\u2019t. Posters on the walls. Papers spread across the desk. A half-assembled model of something that might be a plant cell or might just be creative chaos.
\nShe is sitting on the floor, looking frustrated.
\n\u201cIt keeps falling apart,\u201d she says.
\nEthan kneels beside her.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s falling apart?\u201d
\n\u201cThis!\u201d she says, holding up the model. \u201cIt\u2019s supposed to stay together but it won\u2019t stick.\u201d
\nEthan studies it.
\nGlue. Paper. Tape. Carefully arranged pieces that refuse to obey intention.
\nHe understands that.
\n\u201cMaybe,\u201d he says gently, \u201cit\u2019s not broken. Maybe it just needs a different way to hold itself together.\u201d
\nRose considers that.
\n\u201cThat sounds like something Mom would say,\u201d she decides.
\nEthan laughs once.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll take that as a compliment.\u201d
\nThey sit together for a while.
\nFixing things.
\nNot talking much.
\nIt is one of the easiest parts of the day.
\nThe first problem happens at 3:17 PM.
\nEthan knows the time exactly because he hears the clock click when it happens.
\nHe is standing in the hallway when it starts.
\nA sensation\u2014not pain, not quite\u2014but a wrongness, like his body briefly forgets how it is supposed to exist.
\nHis left arm twitches.
\nOnce.
\nTwice.
\nHe stops walking.
\nThe skin along his forearm darkens in thin branching lines that disappear almost as quickly as they appear.
\nEthan stares at it.
\nSlowly, he pulls his sleeve down.
\n\u201cNot now,\u201d he mutters.
\nThe sensation fades.
\nLike it was never there.
\nHe exhales once.
\nContinues walking.
\nThat evening, the sky outside the window is the color of bruised glass.
\nRose is watching something on TV.
\nMia is upstairs.
\nThe house is quiet in the way that makes every small sound feel louder than it should be.
\nEthan stands in the hallway mirror.
\nHe doesn\u2019t mean to.
\nHe just ends up there.
\nHe looks at himself for a long time.
\nSame face.
\nSame posture.
\nSame carefully constructed imitation of a man who used to exist.
\nHe lifts a hand and touches the edge of his glasses.
\nThere is a faint pressure behind his left eye.
\nHe removes the glasses slowly.
\nFor a moment, his reflection doesn\u2019t quite match him.
\nThe left eye is wrong.
\nClouded.
\nDarkened at the edges, like something inside it is remembering a different shape.
\nSomething flickers beneath the surface\u2014patterning, movement, depth that doesn\u2019t belong to human anatomy.
\nEthan\u2019s expression doesn\u2019t change.
\nHe puts the glasses back on.
\nCarefully.
\nDeliberately.
\nFrom upstairs, Mia\u2019s footsteps shift.
\nRose laughs at something on TV.
\nThe house continues.
\nEthan exhales.
\n\u201cOkay,\u201d he says softly to himself.
\nA pause.
\nThen, quieter:
\n\u201cStill fine.\u201d
\nThe noise outside comes just after midnight.
\nNot loud.
\nNot dramatic.
\nJust wrong.
\nEthan is already awake when it happens.
\nOf course he is.
\nHe stands in the kitchen without turning on the light. The dark is familiar to him now in ways it shouldn\u2019t be.
\nAnother sound.
\nCloser this time.
\nSomething scraping lightly against the outer wall of the house.
\nEthan tilts his head slightly.
\nListens.
\nThere are patterns to things like this. There are always patterns.
\nBehind him, the hallway is silent.
\nRose is asleep upstairs.
\nMia is breathing slowly in their room.
\nEthan exhales once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\n1
\nEthan wakes up the same way he always does now without transition.
\nThere is no drifting up through sleep, no heaviness in his limbs, no breath catching as consciousness returns. One moment there is nothing, and the next there is him, assembled out of quiet and habit in a body that remembers how to be a person even when it technically isn\u2019t one anymore.
\nThe ceiling above him is familiar. That is how he knows he is still here.
\nEthan lies still for a moment longer than he needs to, staring at the faint seam in the plaster where two panels don\u2019t quite meet. He used to think about fixing it. Now he just counts it as one of the things that proves the house is real.
\nHis fingers twitch once.
\nThere\u2019s a faint crackle under the skin when he does it.
\nHe doesn\u2019t look.
\nInstead, he sits up.
\nThe movement is smooth. Too smooth, sometimes. Like a puppet remembering there is supposed to be resistance in joints.
\nHe swings his legs over the side of the bed and stares down at his hands.
\nThey are intact today.
\nThat is good.
\nThat is always good.
\nEthan flexes them once, twice, and watches the faint, dark lattice beneath the skin settle as if it had never been there at all.
\n\u201cOkay,\u201d he says quietly, because saying things out loud helps anchor them. \u201cNormal day.\u201d
\nHis voice sounds like his voice. That is also important.
\nHe stands.
\nThe kitchen smells like coffee and something vaguely burnt.
\nMia is already awake.
\nOf course she is.
\nShe stands at the counter with her back to him, stirring something she is not really paying attention to. The spoon taps the side of the mug in a steady rhythm that is almost, but not quite, too precise.
\n\u201cMorning,\u201d Ethan says.
\n\u201cMorning,\u201d Mia replies.
\nThere is a pause. Not an uncomfortable one. Just a practiced one.
\nEthan moves to the cabinet without needing to think about it. Cereal. Bowl. Spoon. The sequence is automatic, stored somewhere deeper than memory. His body performs it like it is trying to convince itself it still belongs in a routine.
\nBehind him, Mia watches.
\nShe always does.
\n\u201cYou sleep?\u201d she asks casually.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Ethan says immediately.
\nIt is not a lie.
\nIt is just not the truth in any meaningful way.
\nMia hums softly and turns back to the stove. \u201cRose\u2019s school project is due Friday.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll help her,\u201d Ethan says.
\n\u201cI know you will.\u201d
\nThat is the end of the conversation.
\nIt always ends like that now.
\nRose is already at the table when he turns around.
\nSmall hands wrapped around a glass of orange juice. A half-finished plate of toast sits in front of her, carefully arranged in a way that suggests she had been trying to make it look like something other than just toast.
\n\u201cDad!\u201d she says brightly. \u201cI think I figured out my science thing.\u201d
\nEthan\u2019s chest does something it used to do when he still had a heartbeat.
\nIt isn\u2019t pain.
\nIt\u2019s recognition.
\n\u201cThat so?\u201d he asks, sliding into the chair across from her.
\n\u201cYeah!\u201d Rose leans forward, eyes bright. \u201cIf plants can grow toward sunlight, do you think they can grow toward people too?\u201d
\n\u201cThat sounds like you\u2019re trying to make plants emotionally attached to us,\u201d Mia says from the stove without looking up.
\nRose ignores her. \u201cI think they can.\u201d
\nEthan smiles.
\nIt takes a second to form properly.
\n\u201cMaybe,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I think you\u2019d have to be pretty interesting for a plant to bother.\u201d
\nRose gasps like this is a challenge. \u201cI\u2019m interesting!\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t say you weren\u2019t,\u201d Ethan says quickly.
\nMia glances over her shoulder. Something soft flickers across her face for half a second before she looks away again.
\nEthan watches Rose talk with her hands, spilling half her juice in excitement, and automatically reaches out to steady the glass before it tips too far.
\nHis fingers brush hers.
\nWarm.
\nAlive.
\nReal.
\nFor a fraction of a second, something beneath Ethan\u2019s skin reacts\u2014an instinctive ripple, a response too fast for thought. The faintest dark thread of something like shadow crawls under his knuckles.
\nHe stills immediately.
\nRose doesn\u2019t notice.
\nMia does.
\nBut she says nothing.
\nEthan withdraws his hand slowly.
\n\u201cCareful,\u201d he says lightly. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to avoid sticky floors today.\u201d
\nRose giggles.
\nEthan keeps smiling.
\nAfter breakfast, the house settles into its normal quiet.
\nMia leaves for work.
\nRose goes upstairs to get ready.
\nAnd Ethan remains in the kitchen, washing dishes that are already clean.
\nThe water runs cold over his hands.
\nHe watches it.
\nThere are moments like this\u2014small, empty spaces where the world expects him to be idle, and his body doesn\u2019t quite know what to do with itself.
\nHe flexes his fingers again.
\nA faint crack forms along the edge of his knuckle.
\nEthan pauses.
\nLooks down.
\nThe crack seals itself slowly, like something reconsidering whether it was ever supposed to exist.
\nHe turns the tap off.
\nDrying his hands carefully.
\nMethodically.
\nLike precision alone can keep things from slipping.
\nRose calls for him ten minutes later.
\n\u201cDad! Can you help me with this?\u201d
\nHe goes upstairs immediately.
\nHer room is bright in a way the rest of the house isn\u2019t. Posters on the walls. Papers spread across the desk. A half-assembled model of something that might be a plant cell or might just be creative chaos.
\nShe is sitting on the floor, looking frustrated.
\n\u201cIt keeps falling apart,\u201d she says.
\nEthan kneels beside her.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s falling apart?\u201d
\n\u201cThis!\u201d she says, holding up the model. \u201cIt\u2019s supposed to stay together but it won\u2019t stick.\u201d
\nEthan studies it.
\nGlue. Paper. Tape. Carefully arranged pieces that refuse to obey intention.
\nHe understands that.
\n\u201cMaybe,\u201d he says gently, \u201cit\u2019s not broken. Maybe it just needs a different way to hold itself together.\u201d
\nRose considers that.
\n\u201cThat sounds like something Mom would say,\u201d she decides.
\nEthan laughs once.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll take that as a compliment.\u201d
\nThey sit together for a while.
\nFixing things.
\nNot talking much.
\nIt is one of the easiest parts of the day.
\nThe first problem happens at 3:17 PM.
\nEthan knows the time exactly because he hears the clock click when it happens.
\nHe is standing in the hallway when it starts.
\nA sensation\u2014not pain, not quite\u2014but a wrongness, like his body briefly forgets how it is supposed to exist.
\nHis left arm twitches.
\nOnce.
\nTwice.
\nHe stops walking.
\nThe skin along his forearm darkens in thin branching lines that disappear almost as quickly as they appear.
\nEthan stares at it.
\nSlowly, he pulls his sleeve down.
\n\u201cNot now,\u201d he mutters.
\nThe sensation fades.
\nLike it was never there.
\nHe exhales once.
\nContinues walking.
\nThat evening, the sky outside the window is the color of bruised glass.
\nRose is watching something on TV.
\nMia is upstairs.
\nThe house is quiet in the way that makes every small sound feel louder than it should be.
\nEthan stands in the hallway mirror.
\nHe doesn\u2019t mean to.
\nHe just ends up there.
\nHe looks at himself for a long time.
\nSame face.
\nSame posture.
\nSame carefully constructed imitation of a man who used to exist.
\nHe lifts a hand and touches the edge of his glasses.
\nThere is a faint pressure behind his left eye.
\nHe removes the glasses slowly.
\nFor a moment, his reflection doesn\u2019t quite match him.
\nThe left eye is wrong.
\nClouded.
\nDarkened at the edges, like something inside it is remembering a different shape.
\nSomething flickers beneath the surface\u2014patterning, movement, depth that doesn\u2019t belong to human anatomy.
\nEthan\u2019s expression doesn\u2019t change.
\nHe puts the glasses back on.
\nCarefully.
\nDeliberately.
\nFrom upstairs, Mia\u2019s footsteps shift.
\nRose laughs at something on TV.
\nThe house continues.
\nEthan exhales.
\n\u201cOkay,\u201d he says softly to himself.
\nA pause.
\nThen, quieter:
\n\u201cStill fine.\u201d
\nThe noise outside comes just after midnight.
\nNot loud.
\nNot dramatic.
\nJust wrong.
\nEthan is already awake when it happens.
\nOf course he is.
\nHe stands in the kitchen without turning on the light. The dark is familiar to him now in ways it shouldn\u2019t be.
\nAnother sound.
\nCloser this time.
\nSomething scraping lightly against the outer wall of the house.
\nEthan tilts his head slightly.
\nListens.
\nThere are patterns to things like this. There are always patterns.
\nBehind him, the hallway is silent.
\nRose is asleep upstairs.
\nMia is breathing slowly in their room.
\nEthan exhales once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
\ns once.
\nSlowly removes his glasses.
\nThe faint wrongness in his eye spreads outward like ink dropped in water.
\n\u201cI was hoping,\u201d he says softly, almost amused, \u201cwe\u2019d get one normal week.\u201d
\nThe scraping stops.
\nSomething outside shifts.
\nEthan rolls his shoulders once.
\nAnd adds, almost politely:
\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s today.\u201d
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T15:32:29Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T15:34:53Z", "authors": ["PhailureDX"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85354366", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85354366", "external_url": null, "title": "Leon Kennedy, I'll always love you", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\n\u201cForever?\u201d the dirty blond-haired boy said beside you. You turned your head toward him.
\nThe last of the evening sunlight stretched across the open field in long bands of gold and orange, turning everything softer than it really was. The grass around the truck looked almost amber where the light hit it. Dust still clung to the faded paint along the sides of your father\u2019s pickup from the drive out here, and the metal beneath you held onto the warmth of the day.
\nThe sunset caught Leon\u2019s face in a way that almost didn\u2019t seem fair.
\nHis hair looked lighter in the glow, strands of dirty blond shifting whenever the breeze moved through them. The edges of his features softened under the orange sky. His blue eyes reflected the fading light, and for a second, he didn\u2019t look like someone who had spent all of senior year pretending he had everything figured out.
\nYour chest tightened unexpectedly. A small smile pulled at your mouth. \u201cYeah,\u201d you said quietly. \u201cForever.\u201d
\nThe word hung between you. You knew how ridiculous it sounded. Forever. People always said it so easily in movies. Like forever was something simple. Something you just decided one day and then it happened. But real life didn\u2019t work like that.
\nYou both knew that. You\u2019d graduated only a couple weeks ago. Eighteen. Technically adults, but not really.
\nStill living under your parents\u2019 roofs. Still lying about where you were going. Still feeling nervous when you held hands in public because someone\u2019s mom might see. Still talking about jobs and colleges and futures like any of you actually understood what came after summer.
\nYou were eighteen and stupid. At least that\u2019s what adults would call it. Maybe they\u2019d laugh if they heard you now.
\nTwo kids sitting in the bed of a borrowed truck in the middle of nowhere talking about forever like they\u2019d invented the concept.
\nBut right then\u2026 it didn\u2019t feel stupid.
\nRight then, with the warm air brushing against your skin and the sound of distant crickets beginning to wake up and the sky melting into shades of orange and pink. It felt real.
\nYou shifted slightly where you sat.
\nYour father definitely did not know you\u2019d taken the truck to see Leon. If he did, you\u2019d probably be grounded despite technically being an adult now. You had told him you were sleeping over at your friend\u2019s house. You\u2019d even packed an overnight bag to make it believable.
\nInstead, you ended up here. A random field a little outside town. No plans or destination.
\nJust driving until the roads got emptier and emptier and Leon pointed at an opening in the grass and said, \u201cPull in here.\u201d
\nNow the truck was parked crooked in the field with the engine long since shut off.
\nOne of your father\u2019s old blankets was spread beneath you both because the metal bed got uncomfortable after twenty minutes.
\nLeon sat close enough that your shoulders touched every now and then whenever one of you moved. Neither of you mentioned it. Neither of you moved away. The field stretched forever in front of you. Just tall grass moving in waves and the enormous sky overhead.
\nYou wondered briefly if this would become one of those memories people talked about years later. One of those weird moments that shouldn\u2019t matter but somehow does.
\nThat random summer evening. That random field. That stupid conversation. Your thoughts drifted before they were interrupted by the sound of Leon sighing.
\nYou turned your head back toward him.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d you asked, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
\nLeon looked over at you. For a second, he didn\u2019t answer. That alone felt strange.
\nLeon usually had something to say. Even when he was quiet, it never felt hesitant. But now his hands were busy with nothing, fingers picking at a loose thread in the old blanket beneath him, shoulders drawn just a little tighter than before.
\nThe breeze moved through his hair and he looked back out at the field instead of at you.Then he said your name. Your chest did that stupid thing it always did.
\nYou\u2019d heard him say your name a thousand times over the last three years. Called across school hallways. Mumbled half-asleep during late phone calls. Whispered while sitting in parking lots with the windows down.
\nBut somehow it never stopped sounding good. It felt more important coming from him. You hated admitting that to yourself.
\n\u201cI was thinking\u2026\u201d he started.
\nHis voice was careful, not casual. You immediately felt your stomach dip. Leon rubbed the back of his neck and let out a short breath.
\n\u201cY\u2019know I\u2019ve always wanted to join the police force.\u201d
\nYou nodded automatically.
\nOf course you knew. Leon never changed his answer. Police. He talked about helping people. Doing something that mattered. Being someone.
\nYou remembered sitting in the school parking lot after junior year finals while he explained academy requirements to you for almost an hour.
\nYou hadn\u2019t understood half of it. You listened anyway.
\n\u201cYou\u2026 also know that there\u2019s no police academy here.\u201d
\nYour chest tightened before you even knew why. Your fingers curled slightly against the blanket.
\n\u201cYeah?\u201d you said.
\nYou tried to make it sound normal. Like your heart didn\u2019t suddenly feel louder.
\nLeon swallowed. His eyes stayed forward.
\n\u201cI found a good one.\u201d
\nThe words landed softly. Too softly.
\n\u201cNot super far away.\u201d
\nYour stomach dropped.
\n\u201cOnly like a four-hour drive.\u201d
\nHe said the last part quieter. Like saying the number out loud made it real. Four hours. Not across the country. Not impossible. Definitely not impossible. But not close enough either. Not close enough for after-school drives. Not close enough for spontaneous visits. Not close enough to pretend nothing would change.
\nLeon finally looked at you. His expression shifted into something vulnerable you didn\u2019t see often. Not fear exactly. Hope. He was like a puppy sometimes. His jaw tightened slightly.
\n\u201cI like you.\u201d
\nYour breath caught. His ears and cheeks turned faintly pink immediately after saying it. Then he corrected himself.
\n\u201cNo, I really like you.\u201d His eyes searched your face.
\n\u201cI want you to come with me.\u201d
\nThe field suddenly felt quieter. You stared at him. Part of you wanted to laugh. Like? You\u2019d been together three years.
\nThree years of movie nights and football games and sneaking out and arguments and making up and sharing fries and sitting too close and saying goodbye at your front door every single night.
\nThree years.
\nAt eighteen, that felt ancient.
\nForever, practically.
\nAnd for one awful second, you imagined it. A tiny apartment. Boxes everywhere. Leon in academy training. You working somewhere nearby. Learning how to grocery shop. Late-night drives. The picture formed instantly. And then broke just as quick as it came.
\nYour father. You thought of him sitting at the kitchen table. The silence in the house lately. Your mother\u2019s side of the closet empty. His eyes looking older. The way he\u2019d started asking if you\u2019d be home for dinner. The way he lingered in doorways. The way he tried to act normal.
\nYour throat tightened. You looked down. \u201cUm\u2026 Leon\u2026\u201d
\nImmediately, something in his face shifted like he was bracing for something.
\nYou swallowed. \u201cI\u2019d really like that\u2026\u201d And you meant it. God, you meant it. You could see it. You wanted to say yes. You wanted to be the girl who said yes.
\nBut, you couldn\u2019t.
\n\u201c\u2026you know the situation with my dad.\u201d Your voice came out smaller than you intended.
\n\u201cI- I can\u2019t just leave. It\u2019s.. it\u2019s too soon,\u201d You looked away.
\nA clump formed in your throat. You hated how weak it sounded. You hated how quickly your eyes started burning. You hated that the answer wasn\u2019t simple. You hated that life didn\u2019t care that you loved someone.
\nFor a moment, Leon didn\u2019t say anything. The field stretched endlessly in front of you. Then beside you, Leon nodded once.
\nYou saw it happen in real time.
\nSomething in his expression cracked. The hopeful look in his eyes dimmed just enough for your chest to ache. His shoulders sank a little. His gaze dropped toward his hands again.
\n\u201cOh,\u201d he said softly.
\nThat was all. Just one word. But somehow it sounded worse than if he\u2019d yelled. You fucking hated it so much. You wanted to take it back, tell him you loved him and you wanted to go with him, but you couldn\u2019t bring yourself to do it.
\nThe wind moved through the field again, bending the tall grass in slow waves around the truck. Somewhere far off, you could hear the faint chirp of crickets growing louder as the sun dipped lower.
\nNeither of you spoke.
\nYou hated this silence.
\nLeon rubbed his palms together once before resting his elbows on his knees. He stared out at the horizon like he was trying very hard not to look at you.
\n\u201cI know your dad needs you,\u201d he said after a while.
\nHis voice sounded thinner now.
\nYou swallowed hard. \u201cLeon-\u201d
\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay.\u201d He nodded quickly, though it obviously wasn\u2019t okay. \u201cI get it.\u201d
\nBut he didn\u2019t sound like he got it. He sounded heartbroken. You watched his jaw tighten. For the first time all evening, he looked tired. Like he\u2019d spent days building this moment up in his head only to watch it fall apart in under a minute.
\n\u201cI shouldn\u2019t\u2019ve asked like that,\u201d he muttered. \u201cThat was stupid.\u201d
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t stupid,\u201d you said immediately.
\n\u201cIt kinda was.\u201d
\nHe let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it. It sounded rough. Forced even. His eyes stayed fixed ahead.
\n\u201cI think I just\u2026\u201d He paused, swallowing. \u201cI think I just wanted us to stay us.\u201d
\nThat nearly broke you. Because you wanted that too. God, you wanted that too.
\nYou reached toward him instinctively, your fingers brushing against the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down at your hand for a second before looking away again.
\nThe sunset had started fading now, the bright orange melting into darker shades of blue and purple overhead. The warmth from earlier was disappearing with it.
\nLeon inhaled slowly through his nose. Then he finally said the part he\u2019d been avoiding.
\n\u201cI leave in two days.\u201d
\nYour stomach dropped so suddenly it almost hurt.
\nYou turned toward him fully. \u201cWhat?\u201d
\nHe finally looked at you again. His eyes were glossy under the fading light.
\n\u201cFriday morning,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI already signed everything.\u201d
\nTwo days. Two. Your brain couldn\u2019t even process it properly.
\n\u201cNo, I thought you were talking about like\u2026 later this summer or something-\u201d you said, a faint panic in your voice. Your eyes stung.
\n\u201cI was gonna tell you sooner.\u201d His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and he looked away immediately after. \u201cI just kept putting it off because every time I tried, I freaked out.\u201d
\nYour chest tightened painfully. Two days. In two days, he\u2019d be gone. The boy sitting beside you. The one who had spent three years becoming part of your life so naturally you stopped noticing where he ended and you began.
\nGone.
\nFour hours away suddenly sounded impossibly far. Leon dragged a hand over his face before leaning back against the cab of the truck.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he mumbled. \u201cI think maybe I just thought if I asked you to come, this wouldn\u2019t feel so shitty.\u201d
\nThe honesty in his voice hurt. You could hear how hard he was trying not to fall apart.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t wanna do this without you,\u201d he admitted quietly.
\nThat did it.
\nYour eyes burned even more now. Leon noticed and looked away fast, like he couldn\u2019t stand seeing you cry right now.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispered.
\nAnd somehow that made it worse. He sounded like he regretted telling you at all. The air between you felt heavy now. Leon stared out across the darkening field for another long moment before speaking again.
\nHis voice was barely above a whisper.
\n\u201cI just wanna go home now.\u201d
\nAnd you did. You took him home. No words were exchanged besides a quiet \u2018thank you\u2019 when he got out of the car.
\nHe didn\u2019t stop by before he left. At first, you waited.
\nNot really intentionally. You just\u2026 kept expecting it.
\nFriday morning came and you found yourself glancing out the front window while making coffee for you and your dad. Listening for tires in the driveway. Thinking every pair of headlights outside was familiar.
\nYou checked your phone more than once. Nothing. And somewhere around noon, you realized he wasn\u2019t coming. You sat with that for a while. Then eventually you decided it was probably for the best.
\nBecause what would either of you even say?
\nYou already knew. You knew he was leaving. He knew you weren\u2019t going. Anything after that would\u2019ve just made it harder. You imagined him standing at your door with his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. You imagined yourself opening it. Seeing the bag in his truck.
\nKnowing that after he drove away, things wouldn\u2019t go back to normal.
\nYou imagined trying to act okay. Imagined hugging him. Imagined not wanting to let go. Maybe he knew that too. Maybe that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t come.
\nSo instead, he left. No goodbye. That hurt in an entirely different way.
\n\u2014
\nThe house stayed exactly the same afterward. Which almost made it worse. Your dad still sat in the kitchen every morning with his coffee. You still did laundry. Still washed dishes. Still watched TV at night.
\nStill answered people when they asked how summer was going.
\nLife kept moving. Which felt rude. Because something had changed. And nobody seemed to notice. Sometimes something funny would happen and your immediate thought would be, Leon would laugh at this, or say one of his stupidly corny jokes
\nThen you\u2019d remember. Four hours away. Police academy. Busy.
\nYou wondered if he thought about you. You wondered if he regretted asking. You wondered if he was mad. You wondered if maybe he was happier now. You wondered if he already found another woman.
\nYou tried not to think about those things too much. Three years is a long time when you\u2019re eighteen. Long enough to make someone part of your routine. Long enough that losing them doesn\u2019t feel dramatic. It feels quiet. It was like reaching for something that should be there and realizing it isn\u2019t.
\n\u2014
\nThen about three months later, there was a letter. Your dad handed it to you absentmindedly after checking the mailbox.
\n\u201cGot mail.\u201d
\nYou almost didn\u2019t look. Then you saw your name. And the handwriting. Your stomach dropped. You knew his handwriting instantly. A little slanted. Messy, but so uniquely beautiful. Like he always wrote too fast.
\nYour fingers froze around the envelope. You took it to your room. Closed the door. Sat on your bed and just looked at it for a minute. Three months. Three months and suddenly he was there again. Not really. But enough. You opened it carefully.
\nInside was a folded sheet of notebook paper.
\nHe started casually. Like he didn\u2019t know how to begin either. Said training was harder than he expected. Said he passed. Said he finished the academy. You reread that sentence twice.
\nFinished.
\nHe actually did it.
\nThen farther down, he wrote that they assigned him to the Raccoon City Police Department. RPD for short, he\u2019d written in parentheses. Like you wouldn\u2019t know.
\nLike he was explaining it to make you smile. You could practically hear his voice saying it. You imagined him writing that line. Leaning over some desk. Thinking you\u2019d laugh at him clarifying abbreviations. The letter wasn\u2019t super long.
\nMostly updates like little things.
\nThings he thought you\u2019d want to know. No dramatic declarations. No asking if you changed your mind.
\nNear the end, he wrote that he hoped things were okay at home. That he hoped your dad was doing better and he hoped you were doing okay too. That line hurt the most. Because he remembered. Even after three months, he remembered.
\nYou folded the letter back up. Then unfolded it. Then read it again. And again.
\nAnd again.
\nEventually you put it in your nightstand. Then took it back out later that night. You told yourself it was because you forgot something. You hadn\u2019t. You just wanted to read it one more time. You missed him like hell. And maybe that was the worst part.
\nNot that you missed him.
\nBut that after three months, you still expected to hear his voice sometimes.
\nThen, later that same month, something happened in Raccoon City.
\nAt first, it was just background noise.
\nA news clip playing quietly in your dad\u2019s kitchen while he flipped through channels without really watching anything. Something about a quarantine. Restricted access. The kind of headlines that sounded like they belonged to another world entirely.
\nYou didn\u2019t pay much attention at first. Not until you heard the name. It was Raccoon City. Your head lifted before you even fully processed why. You moved closer to the TV without realizing it. Something in your chest tightened in a way you didn\u2019t like.
\nRaccoon City.
\nLeon.
\nYour brain tried to connect it immediately, even before you allowed yourself to think it properly. It didn\u2019t feel real at first. Because he had just gotten there. He had just told you.
\nRPD.
\nNew life. New start.
\nNow, the news was saying Raccoon City like it was something breaking, something unfolding, something so wrong.
\nYour dad muttered something under his breath you didn\u2019t quite hear and changed the channel, like it was just one of many things that didn\u2019t matter enough to keep watching. You stayed standing there, staring at the screen even after it switched to something else entirely.
\nYour brain was loud. Like everything had gone slightly underwater except your thoughts. You tried to tell yourself it was nothing. Cities had incidents all the time.
\nHe was fine. Leon was fine. He had to be fine. Because he had just started. Because he had worked too hard to get there. Because he had written to you just weeks ago like everything was normal. But the word quarantine kept looping in your head anyway.
\nYou went to your room after that and sat on your bed without turning on the light and just sat there.
\nDays passed and you didn\u2019t know what to do with yourself. You didn\u2019t know anything. You didn\u2019t know if he was safe, or if he was even okay at all.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\n\u201cForever?\u201d the dirty blond-haired boy said beside you. You turned your head toward him.
\nThe last of the evening sunlight stretched across the open field in long bands of gold and orange, turning everything softer than it really was. The grass around the truck looked almost amber where the light hit it. Dust still clung to the faded paint along the sides of your father\u2019s pickup from the drive out here, and the metal beneath you held onto the warmth of the day.
\nThe sunset caught Leon\u2019s face in a way that almost didn\u2019t seem fair.
\nHis hair looked lighter in the glow, strands of dirty blond shifting whenever the breeze moved through them. The edges of his features softened under the orange sky. His blue eyes reflected the fading light, and for a second, he didn\u2019t look like someone who had spent all of senior year pretending he had everything figured out.
\nYour chest tightened unexpectedly. A small smile pulled at your mouth. \u201cYeah,\u201d you said quietly. \u201cForever.\u201d
\nThe word hung between you. You knew how ridiculous it sounded. Forever. People always said it so easily in movies. Like forever was something simple. Something you just decided one day and then it happened. But real life didn\u2019t work like that.
\nYou both knew that. You\u2019d graduated only a couple weeks ago. Eighteen. Technically adults, but not really.
\nStill living under your parents\u2019 roofs. Still lying about where you were going. Still feeling nervous when you held hands in public because someone\u2019s mom might see. Still talking about jobs and colleges and futures like any of you actually understood what came after summer.
\nYou were eighteen and stupid. At least that\u2019s what adults would call it. Maybe they\u2019d laugh if they heard you now.
\nTwo kids sitting in the bed of a borrowed truck in the middle of nowhere talking about forever like they\u2019d invented the concept.
\nBut right then\u2026 it didn\u2019t feel stupid.
\nRight then, with the warm air brushing against your skin and the sound of distant crickets beginning to wake up and the sky melting into shades of orange and pink. It felt real.
\nYou shifted slightly where you sat.
\nYour father definitely did not know you\u2019d taken the truck to see Leon. If he did, you\u2019d probably be grounded despite technically being an adult now. You had told him you were sleeping over at your friend\u2019s house. You\u2019d even packed an overnight bag to make it believable.
\nInstead, you ended up here. A random field a little outside town. No plans or destination.
\nJust driving until the roads got emptier and emptier and Leon pointed at an opening in the grass and said, \u201cPull in here.\u201d
\nNow the truck was parked crooked in the field with the engine long since shut off.
\nOne of your father\u2019s old blankets was spread beneath you both because the metal bed got uncomfortable after twenty minutes.
\nLeon sat close enough that your shoulders touched every now and then whenever one of you moved. Neither of you mentioned it. Neither of you moved away. The field stretched forever in front of you. Just tall grass moving in waves and the enormous sky overhead.
\nYou wondered briefly if this would become one of those memories people talked about years later. One of those weird moments that shouldn\u2019t matter but somehow does.
\nThat random summer evening. That random field. That stupid conversation. Your thoughts drifted before they were interrupted by the sound of Leon sighing.
\nYou turned your head back toward him.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d you asked, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
\nLeon looked over at you. For a second, he didn\u2019t answer. That alone felt strange.
\nLeon usually had something to say. Even when he was quiet, it never felt hesitant. But now his hands were busy with nothing, fingers picking at a loose thread in the old blanket beneath him, shoulders drawn just a little tighter than before.
\nThe breeze moved through his hair and he looked back out at the field instead of at you.Then he said your name. Your chest did that stupid thing it always did.
\nYou\u2019d heard him say your name a thousand times over the last three years. Called across school hallways. Mumbled half-asleep during late phone calls. Whispered while sitting in parking lots with the windows down.
\nBut somehow it never stopped sounding good. It felt more important coming from him. You hated admitting that to yourself.
\n\u201cI was thinking\u2026\u201d he started.
\nHis voice was careful, not casual. You immediately felt your stomach dip. Leon rubbed the back of his neck and let out a short breath.
\n\u201cY\u2019know I\u2019ve always wanted to join the police force.\u201d
\nYou nodded automatically.
\nOf course you knew. Leon never changed his answer. Police. He talked about helping people. Doing something that mattered. Being someone.
\nYou remembered sitting in the school parking lot after junior year finals while he explained academy requirements to you for almost an hour.
\nYou hadn\u2019t understood half of it. You listened anyway.
\n\u201cYou\u2026 also know that there\u2019s no police academy here.\u201d
\nYour chest tightened before you even knew why. Your fingers curled slightly against the blanket.
\n\u201cYeah?\u201d you said.
\nYou tried to make it sound normal. Like your heart didn\u2019t suddenly feel louder.
\nLeon swallowed. His eyes stayed forward.
\n\u201cI found a good one.\u201d
\nThe words landed softly. Too softly.
\n\u201cNot super far away.\u201d
\nYour stomach dropped.
\n\u201cOnly like a four-hour drive.\u201d
\nHe said the last part quieter. Like saying the number out loud made it real. Four hours. Not across the country. Not impossible. Definitely not impossible. But not close enough either. Not close enough for after-school drives. Not close enough for spontaneous visits. Not close enough to pretend nothing would change.
\nLeon finally looked at you. His expression shifted into something vulnerable you didn\u2019t see often. Not fear exactly. Hope. He was like a puppy sometimes. His jaw tightened slightly.
\n\u201cI like you.\u201d
\nYour breath caught. His ears and cheeks turned faintly pink immediately after saying it. Then he corrected himself.
\n\u201cNo, I really like you.\u201d His eyes searched your face.
\n\u201cI want you to come with me.\u201d
\nThe field suddenly felt quieter. You stared at him. Part of you wanted to laugh. Like? You\u2019d been together three years.
\nThree years of movie nights and football games and sneaking out and arguments and making up and sharing fries and sitting too close and saying goodbye at your front door every single night.
\nThree years.
\nAt eighteen, that felt ancient.
\nForever, practically.
\nAnd for one awful second, you imagined it. A tiny apartment. Boxes everywhere. Leon in academy training. You working somewhere nearby. Learning how to grocery shop. Late-night drives. The picture formed instantly. And then broke just as quick as it came.
\nYour father. You thought of him sitting at the kitchen table. The silence in the house lately. Your mother\u2019s side of the closet empty. His eyes looking older. The way he\u2019d started asking if you\u2019d be home for dinner. The way he lingered in doorways. The way he tried to act normal.
\nYour throat tightened. You looked down. \u201cUm\u2026 Leon\u2026\u201d
\nImmediately, something in his face shifted like he was bracing for something.
\nYou swallowed. \u201cI\u2019d really like that\u2026\u201d And you meant it. God, you meant it. You could see it. You wanted to say yes. You wanted to be the girl who said yes.
\nBut, you couldn\u2019t.
\n\u201c\u2026you know the situation with my dad.\u201d Your voice came out smaller than you intended.
\n\u201cI- I can\u2019t just leave. It\u2019s.. it\u2019s too soon,\u201d You looked away.
\nA clump formed in your throat. You hated how weak it sounded. You hated how quickly your eyes started burning. You hated that the answer wasn\u2019t simple. You hated that life didn\u2019t care that you loved someone.
\nFor a moment, Leon didn\u2019t say anything. The field stretched endlessly in front of you. Then beside you, Leon nodded once.
\nYou saw it happen in real time.
\nSomething in his expression cracked. The hopeful look in his eyes dimmed just enough for your chest to ache. His shoulders sank a little. His gaze dropped toward his hands again.
\n\u201cOh,\u201d he said softly.
\nThat was all. Just one word. But somehow it sounded worse than if he\u2019d yelled. You fucking hated it so much. You wanted to take it back, tell him you loved him and you wanted to go with him, but you couldn\u2019t bring yourself to do it.
\nThe wind moved through the field again, bending the tall grass in slow waves around the truck. Somewhere far off, you could hear the faint chirp of crickets growing louder as the sun dipped lower.
\nNeither of you spoke.
\nYou hated this silence.
\nLeon rubbed his palms together once before resting his elbows on his knees. He stared out at the horizon like he was trying very hard not to look at you.
\n\u201cI know your dad needs you,\u201d he said after a while.
\nHis voice sounded thinner now.
\nYou swallowed hard. \u201cLeon-\u201d
\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay.\u201d He nodded quickly, though it obviously wasn\u2019t okay. \u201cI get it.\u201d
\nBut he didn\u2019t sound like he got it. He sounded heartbroken. You watched his jaw tighten. For the first time all evening, he looked tired. Like he\u2019d spent days building this moment up in his head only to watch it fall apart in under a minute.
\n\u201cI shouldn\u2019t\u2019ve asked like that,\u201d he muttered. \u201cThat was stupid.\u201d
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t stupid,\u201d you said immediately.
\n\u201cIt kinda was.\u201d
\nHe let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it. It sounded rough. Forced even. His eyes stayed fixed ahead.
\n\u201cI think I just\u2026\u201d He paused, swallowing. \u201cI think I just wanted us to stay us.\u201d
\nThat nearly broke you. Because you wanted that too. God, you wanted that too.
\nYou reached toward him instinctively, your fingers brushing against the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down at your hand for a second before looking away again.
\nThe sunset had started fading now, the bright orange melting into darker shades of blue and purple overhead. The warmth from earlier was disappearing with it.
\nLeon inhaled slowly through his nose. Then he finally said the part he\u2019d been avoiding.
\n\u201cI leave in two days.\u201d
\nYour stomach dropped so suddenly it almost hurt.
\nYou turned toward him fully. \u201cWhat?\u201d
\nHe finally looked at you again. His eyes were glossy under the fading light.
\n\u201cFriday morning,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI already signed everything.\u201d
\nTwo days. Two. Your brain couldn\u2019t even process it properly.
\n\u201cNo, I thought you were talking about like\u2026 later this summer or something-\u201d you said, a faint panic in your voice. Your eyes stung.
\n\u201cI was gonna tell you sooner.\u201d His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and he looked away immediately after. \u201cI just kept putting it off because every time I tried, I freaked out.\u201d
\nYour chest tightened painfully. Two days. In two days, he\u2019d be gone. The boy sitting beside you. The one who had spent three years becoming part of your life so naturally you stopped noticing where he ended and you began.
\nGone.
\nFour hours away suddenly sounded impossibly far. Leon dragged a hand over his face before leaning back against the cab of the truck.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he mumbled. \u201cI think maybe I just thought if I asked you to come, this wouldn\u2019t feel so shitty.\u201d
\nThe honesty in his voice hurt. You could hear how hard he was trying not to fall apart.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t wanna do this without you,\u201d he admitted quietly.
\nThat did it.
\nYour eyes burned even more now. Leon noticed and looked away fast, like he couldn\u2019t stand seeing you cry right now.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispered.
\nAnd somehow that made it worse. He sounded like he regretted telling you at all. The air between you felt heavy now. Leon stared out across the darkening field for another long moment before speaking again.
\nHis voice was barely above a whisper.
\n\u201cI just wanna go home now.\u201d
\nAnd you did. You took him home. No words were exchanged besides a quiet \u2018thank you\u2019 when he got out of the car.
\nHe didn\u2019t stop by before he left. At first, you waited.
\nNot really intentionally. You just\u2026 kept expecting it.
\nFriday morning came and you found yourself glancing out the front window while making coffee for you and your dad. Listening for tires in the driveway. Thinking every pair of headlights outside was familiar.
\nYou checked your phone more than once. Nothing. And somewhere around noon, you realized he wasn\u2019t coming. You sat with that for a while. Then eventually you decided it was probably for the best.
\nBecause what would either of you even say?
\nYou already knew. You knew he was leaving. He knew you weren\u2019t going. Anything after that would\u2019ve just made it harder. You imagined him standing at your door with his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. You imagined yourself opening it. Seeing the bag in his truck.
\nKnowing that after he drove away, things wouldn\u2019t go back to normal.
\nYou imagined trying to act okay. Imagined hugging him. Imagined not wanting to let go. Maybe he knew that too. Maybe that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t come.
\nSo instead, he left. No goodbye. That hurt in an entirely different way.
\n\u2014
\nThe house stayed exactly the same afterward. Which almost made it worse. Your dad still sat in the kitchen every morning with his coffee. You still did laundry. Still washed dishes. Still watched TV at night.
\nStill answered people when they asked how summer was going.
\nLife kept moving. Which felt rude. Because something had changed. And nobody seemed to notice. Sometimes something funny would happen and your immediate thought would be, Leon would laugh at this, or say one of his stupidly corny jokes
\nThen you\u2019d remember. Four hours away. Police academy. Busy.
\nYou wondered if he thought about you. You wondered if he regretted asking. You wondered if he was mad. You wondered if maybe he was happier now. You wondered if he already found another woman.
\nYou tried not to think about those things too much. Three years is a long time when you\u2019re eighteen. Long enough to make someone part of your routine. Long enough that losing them doesn\u2019t feel dramatic. It feels quiet. It was like reaching for something that should be there and realizing it isn\u2019t.
\n\u2014
\nThen about three months later, there was a letter. Your dad handed it to you absentmindedly after checking the mailbox.
\n\u201cGot mail.\u201d
\nYou almost didn\u2019t look. Then you saw your name. And the handwriting. Your stomach dropped. You knew his handwriting instantly. A little slanted. Messy, but so uniquely beautiful. Like he always wrote too fast.
\nYour fingers froze around the envelope. You took it to your room. Closed the door. Sat on your bed and just looked at it for a minute. Three months. Three months and suddenly he was there again. Not really. But enough. You opened it carefully.
\nInside was a folded sheet of notebook paper.
\nHe started casually. Like he didn\u2019t know how to begin either. Said training was harder than he expected. Said he passed. Said he finished the academy. You reread that sentence twice.
\nFinished.
\nHe actually did it.
\nThen farther down, he wrote that they assigned him to the Raccoon City Police Department. RPD for short, he\u2019d written in parentheses. Like you wouldn\u2019t know.
\nLike he was explaining it to make you smile. You could practically hear his voice saying it. You imagined him writing that line. Leaning over some desk. Thinking you\u2019d laugh at him clarifying abbreviations. The letter wasn\u2019t super long.
\nMostly updates like little things.
\nThings he thought you\u2019d want to know. No dramatic declarations. No asking if you changed your mind.
\nNear the end, he wrote that he hoped things were okay at home. That he hoped your dad was doing better and he hoped you were doing okay too. That line hurt the most. Because he remembered. Even after three months, he remembered.
\nYou folded the letter back up. Then unfolded it. Then read it again. And again.
\nAnd again.
\nEventually you put it in your nightstand. Then took it back out later that night. You told yourself it was because you forgot something. You hadn\u2019t. You just wanted to read it one more time. You missed him like hell. And maybe that was the worst part.
\nNot that you missed him.
\nBut that after three months, you still expected to hear his voice sometimes.
\nThen, later that same month, something happened in Raccoon City.
\nAt first, it was just background noise.
\nA news clip playing quietly in your dad\u2019s kitchen while he flipped through channels without really watching anything. Something about a quarantine. Restricted access. The kind of headlines that sounded like they belonged to another world entirely.
\nYou didn\u2019t pay much attention at first. Not until you heard the name. It was Raccoon City. Your head lifted before you even fully processed why. You moved closer to the TV without realizing it. Something in your chest tightened in a way you didn\u2019t like.
\nRaccoon City.
\nLeon.
\nYour brain tried to connect it immediately, even before you allowed yourself to think it properly. It didn\u2019t feel real at first. Because he had just gotten there. He had just told you.
\nRPD.
\nNew life. New start.
\nNow, the news was saying Raccoon City like it was something breaking, something unfolding, something so wrong.
\nYour dad muttered something under his breath you didn\u2019t quite hear and changed the channel, like it was just one of many things that didn\u2019t matter enough to keep watching. You stayed standing there, staring at the screen even after it switched to something else entirely.
\nYour brain was loud. Like everything had gone slightly underwater except your thoughts. You tried to tell yourself it was nothing. Cities had incidents all the time.
\nHe was fine. Leon was fine. He had to be fine. Because he had just started. Because he had worked too hard to get there. Because he had written to you just weeks ago like everything was normal. But the word quarantine kept looping in your head anyway.
\nYou went to your room after that and sat on your bed without turning on the light and just sat there.
\nDays passed and you didn\u2019t know what to do with yourself. You didn\u2019t know anything. You didn\u2019t know if he was safe, or if he was even okay at all.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T15:17:10Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T15:28:07Z", "authors": ["0_nanist"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85354261", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85354261", "external_url": null, "title": "~Desperate, I will Crawl...Waiting for So Long...No Love, there is No Love...Die for Anyone, what have I Become...?!~", "content_text": "", "content_html": "\u2026If something is worth fighting for, nothing will stand in your way.
\n\u201cHmm?\u201d Chris noticed the unknown call coming in. He narrowed his eyes, hesitating for only a minute before pressing down on his earpiece. \u201cCarlos?\u201d
\n\u201cSorry to bother you, handsome, but I got some news I think you\u2019ll be interested in.\u201d Carlos Oliveira\u2019s voice was smooth as butter, and never failed to make Chris\u2019s heart race. He heard shuffling in the background\u2014Carlos was at his safehouse, no doubt, gathering information from the shadows.
\nThe man was a man of many talents.
\n\u201cWhat have you heard?\u201d Chris asked, rising from his desk and exiting the room. Luckily, he didn\u2019t draw eyes, finding a quiet, secluded area. He reached into his pocket and thumbed the cigarette box he purchased just this morning. The itch to burn his miseries away stung the back of his throat, but he was working on quitting for his health\u2019s sake.
\nAnd to avoid the twin scolding of a century from his baby sister and his steady boyfriend.
\n\u201cDARKCOM\u2019s California Interception Team B was dispatched to the Mojave Desert after abnormal demonic energy was detected there,\u201d Chris could hear Carlos furiously typing, and imagined his unkempt, medium-length dark waves falling into his usually inviting, mocha-brown eyes. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t match any of the trace energy sources marked in their main database\u2014its level can\u2019t be surmised.\u201d
\n\u201cMeaning we\u2019re dealing with more than a lowly grunt.\u201d
\n\u201cYou bet, because this team is debuting the Super Demon Killer 950 cartridge.\u201d
\n\u201cSuper Demon Killer 950\u2026?\u201d Chris echoed, a vein throbbing in his right temple. He pressed his free hand against the wall behind him to steady himself. \u201cCarlos, what is that?\u201d
\nCarlos was quiet for a few minutes, as if choosing his next words carefully. \u201cAccording to my sources,\u201d he began, exhaling slowly through his mouth, \u201cthe Super Demon Killer 950 cartridge is a specialized nerve agent\u2014once it enters the bloodstream, it immediately attacks the brain stem to cause permanent total paralysis.\u201d
\n\u201cMakes apprehending their target easier. But there\u2019s more to this, Carlos. Isn\u2019t there?\u201d Chris gently pressed, not wanting to force any words out of his boyfriend\u2019s mouth.
\nHe heard Carlos take in a sharp breath. \u201cCarlos?\u201d
\n\u201cThe Super Demon Killer 950 was created\u2026using Dante\u2019s DNA as a base. This nerve agent was specifically created to affect those related to Dante.\u201d
\nChris\u2019s chest tightened painfully. He almost collapsed against the wall, if not for crushing the cigarette box in his other hand.
\n\u201cThat specialized nerve agent\u2026it\u2019s specifically designed to render Vergil defenseless,\u201d Chris whispered, his voice wavering.
\nCarlos let out a disgruntled scoff in agreement. \u201cDARKCOM wouldn\u2019t be rolling this innovation out if they weren\u2019t certain they could use it. That means Vergil is returning to Earth.\u201d
\n\u201cWe have to warn Leon, Claire, and Jill.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll warn the girls, you think you can warn Leon?\u201d Chris asked, already pulling out his phone and dialing Claire\u2019s number.
\n\u201cShould we convince him to come to the safehouse?\u201d Carlos demanded as he pulled up Leon\u2019s number and dialed. His knee bounced as he waited, his ears ringing. \u201cI know he\u2019s still recovering from Spain\u2014this could be too much for him so soon. Plus, we\u2019ve yet to receive confirmation that DARKCOM even captured Vergil to begin with.\u201d
\n\u201cThey won\u2019t capture him, sweetheart. You and I both know that,\u201d Chris pointed out, frowning as he pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cYou know Leon won\u2019t go for the safehouse. It\u2019s been months since he\u2019s seen Vergil; I\u2019m sure he has some inkling of Vergil being on Earth already. Nothing gets past Leon.\u201d
\n\u201cHow do you know for sure? Yeah, Vergil is a powerful half-demon, but even his abilities are tempered here on Earth, right? And it\u2019s not like he and Leon share some psychic connection or something\u2026right?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, nothing like that. Still, I just have this feeling.\u201d Chris straightened his back, forcing himself to vanish into his steely soldier resolve again. \u201cCarlos, Leon isn\u2019t picking up, is he?\u201d
\n\u201cNo. It goes to voicemail after a few rings. He put in his report on Las Plagas about two weeks ago\u2014he\u2019s got a clean bill of health, but he\u2019s off missions for a bit. So why isn\u2019t he answering?\u201d Carlos mused out loud, once again hanging up and trying again.
\nChris Redfield was on the move, his gaze faraway as his body moved on autopilot. \u201cLet\u2019s hope it\u2019s only because the dumbass is away from his phone.\u201d He grumbled, his pulse thudding frantically in his neck.
\nWhoosh!Thwack!Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!CRACK!
\nThe long, thick punching bag swung heavily to and fro, one of the seams torn and oozing stuffing onto the floor.
\nLeon S. Kennedy wiped sweat off his left brow. His soft, sandy blonde hair was damp, clinging to his temples, forehead, and the back of his neck. The front of his form-fitting, black tank top was wet, a heavy trail leading down his toned stomach. As he stood up from his crouch, perspiration hanging from his chin, Leon\u2019s eyelids fluttered.
\nA pair of wide, glassy, ice-blue eyes stared back at him from the pool of sweat at his feet. Nasty, purple bags highlighted his flushed cheeks and neck\u2014Leon\u2019s dull nails dug into the thick, black rubber floor, his upper back muscles tense.
\n\u201c\u00a1Te voy a matar!\u201d
\n\u201c\u00a1Detr\u00e1s de ti, imb\u00e9cil!\u201d
\n\u201c\u00a1Puedes correr, pero no te puedes esconder!\u201d
\nLeon tried to swallow around the lump in his throat. He sidestepped, every nerve in his body on high alert.
\nHe heard the hiss of a machete inches from his ear; Leon ducked and roundhouse kicked a male villager with rotting, reddish skin, bulbous, red-rimmed eyes, and greasy, black hair. When he felt one of the female villagers grab his arm, about to stab him in the throat with a kitchen knife, he threw his head back\u2014his skull collided with thin air, but the momentary black dots dancing in the corners of his eyes were all too real.
\n\u201c\u00a1No dejes que se escape!\u201d
\nLeon swallowed a harsh gasp as a male villager grabbed him by the neck. Large, slimy fingers squeezed hard on Leon\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple, grazed his pulse point, and tried to force those large, slimy fingers down his throat.
\nThe government agent snarled and threw his knee up high; the male villager groaned and clutched his stomach, a small stream of saliva and blood dripping down his chin.
\n\u201cHands off!\u201d Leon shouted before he blasted a hole through the male villager\u2019s head with the shotgun he found in one of the dilapidated houses.
\nThe male villager choked on his own insides, a sickening, wet gurgling erupting from his exposed larynx. He reached blindly for Leon\u2014one of his arms lacked a hand, in its place was a mess of fleshy, spasming tendrils.
\nLeon scowled. He swapped his shotgun for his combat knife. He sidestepped when the male villager lunged at him and, with a flourish, decapitated the once-conscious, seemingly harmless, and hardworking man. Leon cleaned the ruby-red blood off his knife, avoiding looking at the severed head now stuck in the mud. He didn\u2019t have time to lament, as he heard various battle cries closing in\u2014the sound of a chainsaw revving to life made Leon\u2019s blood go cold, but his smile was precise, cutting.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s my lucky day.\u201d
\nWhen Leon came to, the punching bag was on the thick, black rubber floor. It was limp, with more stuffing in chunks scattered everywhere. The chain that once sustained it in mid-air was in pieces, a few of the links stretched taut as if from a taffy puller.
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon breathed in through his teeth, on his knees, and his hands folded against the back of his neck. His pupils were pin-needles, and all traces of his vigorous workout were gone from his face. He was pale, his stomach was roiling, and his chest felt too, too tight.
\n\u201cBreathe,\u201d Leon whispered, his voice hoarse. His throat hurt, as did his arms. He squeezed his eyes shut and let his head fall forward, the thick, black rubber surprisingly cool. \u201cB-Breathe in, then out. In through your nose, out through your mouth\u2014breathe slowly.\u201d
\nIt took a few minutes, but soon the world ceased spinning. Leon had feeling in his legs again, and he was able to stand up. He approached the punching bag like a fallen comrade, crouching down and running his fingers along one of the threadbare seams.
\nThe pretty blonde sighed and shook his head. He stood up again and, with little trouble, lifted the pulverized punching bag. He slung it over his shoulder, its weight superficial, and walked over to the training room supply closet. It was usually unlocked, and tonight was no exception. He opened the large, metal door and turned on the lights.
\nIt was small compared to the training room itself: weights, replacement punching bags, boxing gloves, and extra mats were meticulously arranged behind a long, rectangular metal desk. The desk lacked any personalization, so this closet really was just for extra equipment that needed to be out of sight, out of mind. Not that Leon could see someone comfortably calling this room their office; maybe it\u2019s his PTSD talking, but small, metal rooms with no windows, hence no natural lighting or any connection to the outside world, don\u2019t make for an ideal working environment. Then again, to each their own.
\nLeon found a stack of sticky notes and a black ballpoint pen. He set the ruined punching bag onto the desk, almost covering it with shredded, once pristine, genuine leather. The government agent was quick, putting together a half-hearted apology before sticking the sticky note onto the desk. Leon returned the pen to where he found it, left the sticky notes in a haphazard tower, and exited the supply closet. The door didn\u2019t make a sound as it slid shut behind Leon\u2019s heels\u2014the training room lights flickered to life again, momentarily blinding Leon.
\nOn autopilot, Leon walked over to one of the long, metal benches. He unzipped his dark blue duffel bag, taking out a few things: his combat knife, a change of clothes, his cellphone, a dark blue hoodie, an unopened pregnancy test, and a small, leather-bound book. For a moment, Leon thought about charging his phone; he\u2019s been in here for hours, and no doubt he\u2019s missed a few calls. His fingers flexed instinctively, only to pick up the small, leather-bound book instead.
\nThis was a gift from Vergil. It was nearly identical to a small, leather-bound book Vergil kept on his person; it sat in the palm of Leon\u2019s hand, had a simple yet elegant blue leather skin with a thin, black spine, and a blue ribbon bookmark. The main difference was the calligraphic letter on the spine: on Vergil\u2019s, it was an L, but on Leon\u2019s, it was a V.
\nLeon stroked the spine with slightly trembling hands, taking time to trace the calligraphic V from end to end. This was one of many gifts from Vergil over the years, and while Leon treasured everything from his lover, this book was near and dear to him. It was the only way he could communicate with Vergil, with the rift, both socially and literally, between their worlds.
\nPop!Pop!Pop!Pop!Pop!
\nLeon looked out of one of the training room\u2019s massive, bulletproof glass windows. A quarter across the city, fireworks were going off. Outside a tall, cream-colored building, crowds of people holding up signs shouted, chanted, and begged with their whole chests. Signs depicting President Hopper with devil horns, red eyes; others with his face scratched out, with the words YOU ARE THE MONSTER! written in large, red letters. As the protestors shouted at the heavy security stationed outside the building, some were kinder than the hooligans throwing empty soda cans, a grand party was in full swing inside. Champagne in fancy glasses, women in long, carefully tailored dresses, and men in pressed, collared suits, tablecloth as expensive as gas prices these days, and, at the center of it all, President Hopper himself.
\nThe short, overweight man in his trademark, ridiculous cowboy hat, chortling like a pig, holding a glass that looked comically small in his thick, beefy hand. He was chatting up random faces, forcing a smile when a joke fell flat, or when asked a particularly intense question.
\n\u2018If you\u2019re there, then Baines is too. This is your big campaign party, right? Your ass is halfway out the door, so you gotta make sure you spread the word on your successor. The next slimy, pathetic, selfish, arrogant hothead to take your place as leader of the free world.\u2019 Leon thought, a cynical smile toying with his lovely, fair lips.
\nPresident Hopper\u2026how Leon loathed working under him. All the atrocities he\u2019s allowed, the misinformation and outright lies he\u2019s spread, not to mention how he\u2019s handled both the Demon-Human War and the war against bioterrorism. He knew what Umbrella was up to and what high-ranking, influential members of the community, like former Chief Irons, supplied Umbrella with. And it wasn\u2019t just a crisp, clean PR image.
\nBaines was no different. He was the brains behind the operations, but he was just as heartless. His harsh, long face, how he rarely flinched when interrogated by the media, and how he commanded a room with a mere glance.
\nLeon had to sit down, a wave of nausea turning him green. He sat down next to his duffel bag, the protestors shouting and classical music playing at the party somehow audible even as he dug his nails into his ears.
\nBaines. Every time Leon is in a room with him, he feels\u2026scared. Leon feels scared, unnerved, uneven. He\u2019s only exchanged a handful of words with the Vice President since he became a government agent, yet\u2026he despises him. Leon despises Vice President Baines; his hatred for the man eclipses his hatred for Hopper, which sounds ludicrous, but it\u2019s the truth. Both men are horrible. Both President Hopper and Vice President Baines are deranged, violent-prone, heinous men, wearing skin suits to placate both their followers and opposers. They were evil, and it\u2019s great that their tenure in office is running out, but the damage has been done.
\nBoth innocent human and non-human lives have been lost to this six-year-long carnage. Everyone has lost someone because of this, and Leon\u2026was forced to comply.
\n\u2018The last broadcast coverage of their assault on Mundus\u2019s stronghold\u2026so much blood, so many soldiers torn to shreds.\u2019 Leon tasted bile in the back of his throat. \u2018And the lesser demons caught in the crossfire, shot and exploded to pieces\u2026Vergil, please be careful.\u2019
\nVergil, Leon\u2019s Vergil, was involved in this, too. He was Mundus\u2019s most trusted confidant, his son in more ways than one. Vergil was out there, fighting alongside his brethren to protect his home, their home. So many soldiers\u2026so many faces Vergil came to know, lost to the bloodshed. So many faces, deemed ugly and thus evil, maimed under the facade of \u201cProtecting the Innocent\u201d.
\nWho gets to decide who\u2019s innocent? President Hopper? Vice President Baines?
\nThen there\u2019s Arius\u2026
\nIt\u2019s not fair!
\n\u2018Mundus\u2026is he really the one who set Vergil free?\u2019 Leon hated, hated, when his mind wandered, but he had questions. Vergil described Mundus as a savior, as the one who freed him from his pain. Vergil was, but a child when Mundus found him, a terrified child who witnessed his home burn down, and his mother abandon him to the flames and vicious invaders that later claimed her life. Vergil\u2019s mother, Eva, rescued only Dante, Vergil\u2019s twin brother, from the monsters that attacked their home. She grabbed Dante and attempted to flee, ignoring her other son.
\nEva was a traitor.
\n\u2018No loving mother would do what she did to him.\u2019 Leon shuddered as fire spiked in his veins, igniting them from the inside out. He held the small, leather-bound book close to his chest, his ice-blue gaze now on the unopened pregnancy test. \u2018She had two sons, and only went back for one. She left Vergil to die, even when he called for her. Vergil killed those who killed his mother; he protected her honor even when she abandoned him.\u2019
\nMundus found Vergil at his weakest and took him in. He raised Vergil in Makai and helped him grow stronger. Mundus helped Vergil tap into his potential; Vergil was able to wield the Yamato, one of his father\u2019s swords, and not crumble under its sheer might. He was to Vergil what Sparda failed to be: a father.
\nBut\u2026would a loving father allow his one and only son to participate in this war? Vergil was powerful, more so than any other of Mundus\u2019s soldiers. If Vice President Baines got his hands on him, it would spell the end for both Earth and Makai.
\n\u2018Like how they have Dante\u2026\u2019
\nDante. Vergil\u2019s twin brother.
\nLeon knew him. He knew what was on file and what Vergil had confided in him over the years. If Vergil was the calm, Dante was the storm. He was loud, brash, arrogant, and\u2026Eva\u2019s favorite. He was the son she went back for, the son she cradled against her bosom and consoled as their home came down around them. Dante wielded Rebellion, another one of Sparda\u2019s blades, and was powerful. Leon has seen the footage and has played it back several times. Dante was incredible, a force of nature like Vergil. It was scary how similar they were\u2026
\n\u2018I should hate you.\u2019 Leon tilted his head back, picking up his water bottle. He uncapped the plastic bottle and splashed water on his face, gasping as if resurfacing from a deep, dark pool. \u2018I should hate you. Like I hate her\u2026you were an innocent child, you didn\u2019t deserve what happened. You didn\u2019t deserve to see any of that, live any of that.\u2019
\nLeon lived through his parents\u2019 deaths. He experienced it, in flesh and blood, at only sixteen. He was older than Dante and Vergil when they lost their mother, but the pain is universal. The ache that never goes away, that beats like blood behind a wound. You\u2019ve learned to live with it, even when it\u2019s drowning you alive.
\nDante didn\u2019t deserve that, Vergil didn\u2019t deserve that. But if Eva had tried to save both, would things be different? Would Mundus have found Vergil?
\n\u2018...Vergil, I want to believe you\u2019re doing what\u2019s right. I want to believe that you\u2019ll come back, and this war will end. I want to believe that both sides are wrong and both need to change. I want to believe you\u2026but something isn\u2019t right!\u2019
\nLeon crushed his water bottle in his book-free hand. Water plopped down to the floor between his tense knuckles, trickling along the veins under his skin before going Splat! His skin felt paper-thin and was white as milk. He tossed the empty plastic bottle aside, wiping his hand on his gray compression pants. He gulped in air and flipped the small, leather-bound book open to a random page, his eyes burning.
\nTo the untrained eye, the book was blank. It was blank, lacking a story\u2014it started to shimmer and glow, however, when Leon pressed his lips to it. He pressed his lips to the page for a few minutes, parting his lips as small bursts of blue electricity danced across his skin. Instead of pain, the small bursts brought comfort; they warmed him up, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, like a fire. One burst exploded against Leon\u2019s mouth, and the cut across his cheek was healed. Another danced over Leon\u2019s head, before casting a vibrant blue glow into the room.
\nUnique, loopy characters appeared on the page. They looked random: harsh lines, delicate curves, bent slashes, coming together to form words and sentences. To the untrained eye, it was gibberish. It was a gibberish language, something a kid would create to talk to his friends when it\u2019s way past his bedtime.
\nBut Leon understood them. He understood every word, having read them every night without fail for the past six years. Once upon a time, it was only a page. Now, it\u2019s an entire book dedicated to him from Vergil.
\n\u201c...\u2019 The skies seem angrier today. Everyone is on edge as we finalize our next steps. It\u2019s disheartening, beloved. It\u2019s disheartening to see how exhausted, lost, and frustrated everyone is. Mundus is doing all that he can; we are doing all that we can, but the President\u2019s army is relentless.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 But I hope you\u2019re well. I\u2019ve been gone for months, haven\u2019t I? I\u2019m sorry. I wish I could be there for you, Leon. What you\u2019ve shared with me about Spain, what you and that young girl went through\u2026I\u2019d take revenge on Saddler and Krauser myself if I could.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 I admire you, Leon. You are the greatest reason why I continue to fight this fight. I dream of a world free from human tyranny. I dream of Makai under brighter, clearer skies. I dream of a time when I can be bound to you, and you alone. I miss you, my dear light. Never forget that you are my greatest treasure.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 We met under dire circumstances. I wasn\u2019t expecting to find love when I found you in Raccoon City. Whatever compelled me to stay and fight by your side, I give thanks. I am in debt to that higher power, that higher force that guided me to you. I\u2019m sorry I\u2019ve made you wait so long. But this I vow: when I return, it will be for you. When I return, it will be to make an honest man of you. When I return, I will take your hand and give myself to you for the rest of our days. When I return\u2026I will be the man you deserve.\u2019\u201d
\nLeon pressed his lips together. His voice paled in comparison to Vergil\u2019s. His beautiful handwriting was mistreated under Leon\u2019s teary smolder, his lovely words sounding hollow when echoed by someone else.
\nIt wasn\u2019t the same as seeing Vergil write these messages to Leon, or hearing him read them out loud to make sure they were just right. This book didn\u2019t replace Vergil\u2019s voice, his mannerisms, his presence in Leon\u2019s life, but it was what they could do in their situation. Anyone would have gone mad waiting and given up. But Leon wouldn\u2019t, he couldn\u2019t. Vergil has been abandoned by loved ones too many times\u2026he\u2019s been alone for too long, even with Mundus.
\nLeon refused to be another person who failed Vergil. He refused to leave the other man behind. The man who fought alongside his brethren with the ferocity of a caged animal was the same man who held Leon through his recurring nightmares. Vergil was the same man who\u2019d hold Leon until he ran out of tears, didn\u2019t let go even when Leon begged him to leave. Vergil was the same man who helped Leon put down the bottle and get help. Vergil was the same man who, when he smiled, lit up Leon\u2019s entire day.
\nVergil was the man Leon loved. He\u2019s loved him since that night in Raccoon City, and through it all, they\u2019ve managed to stay together.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Leon. It\u2019s okay\u2026\u201d
\nVergil\u2019s voice was soft, silky smooth, and wrapped Leon in a warm, weighted blanket. The blonde man was shaking like a leaf in winter, his arms limp at his sides. His eyes were wide as dinner plates, leaving wet spots on Vergil\u2019s royal blue nightshirt.
\nVergil carefully carded his fingers through Leon\u2019s hair. When Leon didn\u2019t flinch, the white-haired man drew him against his chest, leaning back against the toilet. Leon followed him, his gaze everywhere but on the warm, sticky feeling going down his right arm. The metallic smell was too much, so Leon turned his head and buried his face in Vergil\u2019s neck, inhaling deeply. Vergil tore a piece from his nightshirt and wrapped it around Leon\u2019s wrist, applying careful pressure with such dexterity, with long, steady fingers.
\nVergil whispered something in Leon\u2019s ear, something that at the time he didn\u2019t understand because he wasn\u2019t a fluent speaker. It came out growly, and Vergil had to clear his throat after saying it because of the strain it put on his voice. Leon didn\u2019t understand it then, but\u2026he did now.
\n\u201c...\u2019 Wherever you go, I go. Always.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2026?
\n\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Leon said out loud, furrowing his dark eyebrows.
\nThe bookmark was glowing. It let out a frosty blue glow, which spilled onto the floor like sunshine. \u2018Vergil wrote me a new message?\u2019 Leon pressed his lips into a thin line, flipping to the next, supposedly blank page. He propped the book against his knees, his thumb skimming across the words forming.
\n\u2018...What?\u2019
\n\u201c...\u2019 Leon, please take care. Be careful with who approaches you and what next move you make. There are traitors and liars on both sides. Please, please be cautious.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2018Vergil\u2026? Vergil, what\u2019s going on? What do you mean by this? Vergil-!\u2019
\n\u201cWe need to talk.\u201d
\nLeon snapped his head back. Mary Ann Arkham, DARKCOM\u2019s Golden Gal, stood there. She was dressed down in a black tank top and matching leggings, wearing black fingerless gloves. Her dual-colored eyes lingered on Leon\u2019s face, an expression of pure dread marring her thin, porcelain-looking face.
\nShe was beautiful as she was dangerous; her eyes told different stories, one of blinding fury, the other of begrudging serenity. The way she held herself commanded authority, passion, and control. Her normally hard face, however, looked off with a distant look in her eyes and the strict, guilty frown on her lips.
\nLeon stared at her, Mary white as a ghost, as the bookmark stopped glowing.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s nothing we need to discuss,\u201d Leon replied coolly, getting to his feet. He snapped the small, leather-bound book shut, shoving it unceremoniously into his duffel bag. He quickly packed the rest of his things, slinging one bag strap over his shoulder.
\nLeon failed to notice Mary\u2019s shocked, and slightly petrified, stare when she spotted the unopened pregnancy test. \u201cYou want the room? It\u2019s all yours. I\u2019m done for the day.\u201d Leon added, stepping over the large puddle on the floor. He stalked past Mary, avoiding brushing shoulders with her, making a beeline for the heavy, metal door that led into the hallway.
\n\u201cWait! Please\u2026\u201d Mary begged, spinning around on her heels. She thought about grabbing Leon\u2019s wrist, then reconsidered. She remembered the combat knife in his duffel bag. \u201cI know you want nothing to do with me, and I understand. Believe me, I do.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you? Then why think this was a good idea?\u201d Leon spat, his back to Mary still. He didn\u2019t slow down.
\nMary gritted her teeth. Sweat was building against her temple, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. \u201cBecause I want to make things right!\u201d She exclaimed, balling her hands into fists. She swallowed another plea, sighing. \u201cI want to make things right. I\u2019ve spent six years trying to justify to myself everything I let slide, every bad decision I made. What I was dealing with personally, what battle I was fighting inside me\u2026it wasn\u2019t your fault. It wasn\u2019t your fault, and yet I made you pay the price for my cowardice.\u201d
\nLeon slowed his hurried pace. His Adam\u2019s apple bobbled up and down as a chill went down his spine.
\n\u201cI have no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you\u2019ve never thought about why that is?\u201d Mary pressed, taking a step forward. Leon tensed up, but didn\u2019t look over his shoulder at her. \u201cHuge chunks of your memory, just gone. You don\u2019t remember much before Raccoon City. You remember your parents weren\u2019t good people. You remember being alone most of your life, apart from one person who suddenly disappeared without a trace. You remember pain, you remember a cold, dark room, and feeling needles prick your skin-\u201d
\n\u201cSTOP.\u201d Leon snarled, glaring hotly at Mary. His jaw was set, squared sharply, while his pupils were sickle-shaped. Mary flinched.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry. But I know you want answers, and I can give them to you. \u201c
\nVergil\u2019s out-of-the-blue warning now made sense.
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t gain anything from telling me the truth. You say you wanted to make things right, but it took you six years to grow a conscience? While you took orders from DARKCOM, followed Baines\u2019s instructions to a T, and as far as I know, you\u2019re not a step closer to retiring. You\u2019re in the midst of a promotion, aren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cHow did you\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cMy friends and I are forced to rub shoulders with you DARKCOM creeps all the fucking time.\u201d Leon spat, his lips pulling back over his teeth. He pressed a fist against the wall behind him. \u201cThey like to talk a lot, and news travels fast when you work for the President.\u201d
\nMary lowered her gaze. \u201cCommander Arkham, isn\u2019t it? Congratulations.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s Lady,\u201d Mary stressed, running her fingers through her hair.
\nLeon\u2019s eyes widened an inch, but he stayed quiet. \u201cI\u2019m Lady, Leon. That\u2019s who I am now, who I\u2019ve been for the past six years. You don\u2019t trust me. I know you hate me. I hate myself, ha. I\u2019m not going to beg or force you to change your mind, but\u2026you needed to know before it\u2019s public knowledge.\u201d
\n\u201c...?\u201d
\nMary swallowed hard. \u201cThey\u2019re setting him free, Leon.\u201d She said, her voice sounding louder than normal even if she didn\u2019t raise her tone.
\nLeon\u2019s muscles locked up in place. His carefully crafted mask splintered down the middle, as his eyes went a pale blue and his breath caught in his chest. He almost went limp, if not for his fist against the wall.
\n\u201c...They\u2019re\u2026freeing him?\u201d
\n\u201cThey\u2019re sending him after Vergil. He\u2019s here on Earth, Leon. He\u2019s here on Earth, and he\u2019s killed dozens of DARKCOM\u2019s own already. He\u2019s here on Earth, so they\u2019re releasing Dante from cryo-sleep to deal with him.\u201d
\n\u201cVergil\u2026is here on Earth?\u201d Leon echoed as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. \u201cVergil is here\u2026oh no, he\u2019s here under Mundus\u2019s orders.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about? W-what do you know?\u201d
\n\u201cI knew something was wrong. Mundus wouldn\u2019t do this unless his hands were tied. Something isn\u2019t right.\u201d Leon whispered, his lips going numb with cold. He turned away from Mary, his thoughts going to Carlos.
\nHe needs to contact Carlos ASAP.
\n\u201cYou two need a ride over there?\u201d Both Mary and Leon drew their weapons: Leon his combat knife, and Mary one of her concealed handguns.
\nIn the open doorway stood a man dressed in black tactical gear, complete with a heavy vest, combat boots, and gloves. His face was obscured by a thick, black gas mask complete with round, soulless red eyes. He stood there, holding a set of car keys. He twirled the loop around his left pointer finger, leaning against the doorframe.
\n\u201cGrim?!\u201d Mary gasped, lowering her firearm.
\nLeon stared at her, puzzled. \u201cThe hell?\u201d He said, shaking his head before looking back at the newcomer. \u201cHUNK\u2026what are you doing here?\u201d
\n\u201cHUNK?? The hell?!\u201d
\nThe masked man chuckled, thumbing the grip of his Lightning Hawk. \u201cHaven\u2019t been called Grim in years, Lady. You have to evolve with the times, you know?\u201d He said, shrugging his shoulders. He pushed off the doorframe, stepping fully into the room. \u201cListen, we\u2019re on a tight schedule, so are we going or not?\u201d
\n\u201cGoing where?\u201d Leon asked, though it wasn\u2019t really an inquiry.
\n\u201cGoing to see Dante rejoin the living, obviously, Bella,\u201d HUNK purred, relishing the sight of Leon wincing at the nickname. \u201cI got a bone to pick with that popsicle, too, so why not give you and Lady a ride? It\u2019ll be a discreet one, I promise.\u201d
\nMary and Leon didn\u2019t look convinced. HUNK huffed, rolling his eyes even though they couldn\u2019t see it. \u201cCome on, for old time\u2019s sake, too. We all have questions that need answering, and Dante is going to give them to us.\u201d HUNK looked at Leon and, for a split second, his voice was soft. It was softer and velvety smooth. \u201cIt\u2019s time he did things right by you, Bella. He broke the promise he made me, so I\u2019m here to collect. Let\u2019s go, before we miss the fireworks.\u201d
\n\u2026-UROBOROS DETENTION FACILITY\u2026
\nIt was another day. Everything felt average, mundane\u2014a fellow operative received clearance to enter the facility, and he wasn\u2019t alone today. He was charged with detaining more of the supposed \u201cgood demons\u201d, the ones that weren\u2019t involved in spraying human blood everywhere.
\nYeah, right. Just because someone doesn\u2019t automatically grab a kitchen knife doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t turn around and impale you when your back is turned. There\u2019s no such thing as a good demon. These lowly peasants were cleverer than they were given credit for. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to keep them locked up. One demon is trouble already, but in numbers? That\u2019s why this facility was a necessity. When you want to protect the innocent, you need to lock the sinful away. DARKCOM was doing God\u2019s work.
\nThey were doing what He was too terrified to do himself.
\nAs the loaded military tank passed through one of the main, fortified gates, several heads turned to witness its arrival. Some heads were bandaged, hiding horrific burn scars, wide gaping holes, or still bleeding gashes in their necks and faces. They were all shackled with nooses around their necks, standing in a straight line, too afraid to gawk for too long. Some of these \u201cgood demons\u201d have been standing still for hours and have been denied any kind of sustenance. Whenever they asked, they were either mocked or ignored.
\nIt\u2019s hard to tell which response is better.
\nThe loaded military tank\u2019s stop was the Imprisonment Area, Sector B-22. An operative with an illuminated wand guided the tank to a smooth, clean halt. This operative was youngish, cocky, with dark eyes and hair. He had his walkie strapped to his chest, off to the right. He approached the back of the tank, lazily hanging his illuminated wand off his belt.
\n\u2018Alright, time to see what we\u2019re dealing with today. Joy,\u2019 the man thought, rolling his eyes. He undid the heavy latch and yanked the doors back.
\nOnly to blink owlishly.
\nThe back of the tank was\u2026empty. There wasn\u2019t a sight of horns, glowing eyes, or long, sharp talons for claws. There was nothing but a cold, heavy room back here.
\n\u2018What the\u2026?\u2019 The man narrowed his eyes, irritated. He let go of his walkie, twirled his illuminated wand like a baton, and walked over to the driver\u2019s side. \u201cHey, buddy,\u201d he began tersely, his jaw set, \u201cthis is supposed to be a full load.\u201d He placed one heavy boot on the small step outside the driver\u2019s door, scowling. \u201cAll right, where\u2019s the Hellspawn? If this is a joke, it\u2019s a real\u2026bad one.\u201d The man with dark hair and eyes trailed off, resembling a gaping fish. \u201cHuh?\u201d
\nThe tank didn\u2019t have a driver. There was no passenger in the passenger\u2019s seat either. Just like the back, the front of the heavy military tank was empty.
\n\u201cWhat the\u2026?\u201d The man with dark eyes and hair swallowed hard, his confidence snapped in the blink of an eye. He shakily reached up to his walkie, his thumb slippery over one of the buttons. \u201cThese aren\u2019t self-driving. That kind of tech is too risky to bring all the way out here. So where are the-?\u201d
\n\u201cHere.\u201d
\nThe man only had a second. And he wasted it on turning around, raising his illuminated wand like a broadsword. His breath caught in his throat, and he screamed.
\nHe let out a shrill shriek before the Yamato went through his chest\u2014blood splattered onto the front of the tank; the man was dead before his body hit the ground, eyes frozen wide and skin cold as ice.
\nA pair of smoldering, hooded amber eyes stared at the fresh corpse on the ground, sparing it only a dismal minute before resuming walking. The man with dark hair and eyes was a necessary casualty, but the real prize remains inside the facility.
\n\u2026-WASHINGTON D.C., DARKCOM HQ\u2026
\nThe ride to DARKCOM Headquarters was a quiet, tense one. Grim, or HUNK as he\u2019s now known as, was in the driver\u2019s seat, one hand on the wheel, while the other rested relaxed in his lap. Leon and Lady were in the backseat because neither wanted to sit beside HUNK. Well, more like Leon was more than willing to, but Lady, with one look, made it clear she wanted him close by.
\nSo in the end, they were seated shoulder-to-shoulder, hearing the familiar hum of everyday traffic zip past them.
\nHUNK was mute. He didn\u2019t even glance at Leon and Lady through the rearview mirror. The tension in the car was at its peak, and he refused to break it. It\u2019s more fun to watch the chaos unwind than initiate it, after all.
\n\u201c...Tell me, what are you thinking?\u201d Lady asked Leon, whose gaze was out the window. Her dual-colored eyes were slightly wider than normal, her lips in a thin line. \u201cI\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t read you as well as I used to. So I need you to tell me, Leon. You said earlier that things were off. What was it?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Leon replied, half-shrugging. \u201cI can\u2019t explain it, but Vergil returning to Earth feels strange. Something happened on Makai, something that\u2019s upset Mundus enough to send Vergil here.\u201d
\nLady tensed for a minute\u2014was Leon, unknowingly, referring to the Arcana Chalice that Lady herself managed to retrieve from Makai, as millions of American footsoldiers played Russian Roulette with some of Mundus\u2019s greatest, most violent assets?
\nLeon doesn\u2019t know, right? There\u2019s no way. And Lady highly doubted Vergil would confide in Leon about this, no matter how strong their bond was. So\u2026
\n\u201cYou always had a sixth sense for trouble, even before Raccoon City,\u201d Lady said under her breath, wincing when Leon\u2019s frown deepened.
\n\u201cIs it true? What you told me\u2026about Baines?\u201d Leon asked, short and going for the jugular.
\nLady swallowed hard. \u201cYes,\u201d she said, after a few dragging minutes. \u201cBaines arranged for you to be sent to Raccoon City. He made contact with Chief Irons and had an interview set up for you as soon as you graduated from the police academy.\u201d Lady picked at a hangnail, her teeth chattering despite the car running cozy and warm. \u201cBaines was afraid you\u2019d somehow ruin his plans again; Raccoon City was on its last legs, and Baines was sure you\u2019d die once the place was nuked off the map.\u201d
\nLeon\u2019s expression remained unfathomable. He blinked slowly, his ice-blue eyes foggy.
\n\u201cAnd you say Baines is also responsible for my missing memories?\u201d He pressed further, reclining in his seat.
\n\u201cIt was to ensure that once you were released from DARKCOM\u2019s custody, you wouldn\u2019t try to expose the truth about the White Rabbit\u2026you were subjected to torture for weeks, a-and they administered a powerful serum at the same time every day, upping the dosage.\u201d
\nLady squeezed her eyes shut\u2014Leon\u2019s screams were ancient history, yet she could still hear them as if it were yesterday. \u201c...At first, you were resistant to it. They\u2019d up the dosage, apply more pressure to get you to snap. Then one day, y-you didn\u2019t remember a thing.\u201d
\n\u201cYou paid the price for a war you didn\u2019t even cause with your past life, Leon,\u201d both Leon and Lady startled in their seats when HUNK finally spoke up. He didn\u2019t glance at the blonde man via the rearview mirror, his voice deeper, closer to a snarl. \u201cThey kept you in there longer than me, though I suspect it was because Baines is a twisted son of a bitch who really enjoyed making you, in particular, squirm.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were there too, HUNK?\u201d Leon asked, his throat tight. He looked from the back of HUNK\u2019s head to Lady, demanding a further explanation.
\nLady pinched the bridge of her nose. \u201cThat\u2019s why I called him Grim earlier, Leon. It\u2019s who he was to us. I met HUNK as Grim, as your right-hand man\u2026as your best friend.\u201d
\n\u201cI got involved in this demon crap because I wanted to protect you.\u201d HUNK purred, letting out a faint chuckle. \u201cYou were hellbent on being a hero, and you didn\u2019t want to abandon Dante. No matter what I said or did\u2026you were by his side until the very end.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re saying\u2026I had a relationship with Dante? Once upon a time, six years ago,\u201d Leon said, scoffing. He glared down at his hands, shaking his head. \u201cThat\u2019s impossible. I only know Dante through what Vergil\u2019s told me. I\u2019ve never met Dante before; today is the first time, something I didn\u2019t think would ever happen.\u201d
\n\u201cI know it\u2019s a lot to process, but-\u201d Lady began, only for Leon to cut her off with a heated glare.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve never met Dante before,\u201d he stressed, running his hand through his hair. Leon crossed his legs, his skin stretched taut over his knuckles. \u201cI only know about the White Rabbit, the Force Edge, and the legend of the Demon Knight Sparda because Vergil told me. Vergil is how I know Dante, and quite frankly, if this weren\u2019t necessary, I\u2019d avoid being within five feet of that bastard.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d Lady asked, baffled.
\nShe remembered the way Leon looked at Dante: warm, dazzling blue eyes, an adorable crooked smile that showed off a hint of straight, white teeth, how Leon would hold on to Dante\u2019s arm or kiss his cheek, and turn pink whenever the white-haired man in red would bump noses with him.
\nEven if Leon doesn\u2019t remember his time with Dante, what has Vergil told him that could make Leon despise Dante as he does? This wasn\u2019t natural; it wasn\u2019t born out of Leon\u2019s own experiences, thoughts, and feelings on Dante. No\u2026Leon has been told many things about Dante from Vergil, and clearly, most of it is bullshit.
\n\u201c...I want to leave with you, Honey. You and me, we\u2019ll keep Redgrave City safe...\u201d
\n\u201c...Jackpot\u2026\u201d
\n\u2026
\n\u201c...if we have that going for us, can anything stop us?\u201d
\n\u201c...I love you too, Leon\u2026\u201d
\nIt\u2019s bizarre how this is the same man who once said he\u2019d go away with Dante after what happened with the White Rabbit. Leon used to be bubbly, inviting, seemingly always able to find a way to smile.
\nLady knows he\u2019s been through hell, physically and mentally, since Raccoon City, but this was something else. And she knew Vergil was behind it.
\nHUNK, for the first time since the drive to DARKCOM Headquarters started, peered at Leon from the rearview mirror, his gloved hands tight on the steering wheel.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cWhat Eva did\u2026that speaks volumes,\u201d Leon muttered, turning his head away. Lady furrowed her brows. \u201cDante was a child then; he\u2019s innocent to a point. I\u2026I can\u2019t say I hate someone I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know him, but Eva choosing him over Vergil is why I don\u2019t want to see him.\u201d Leon snapped his head to look at Lady again, faint tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.
\nLady went deadly still. \u201cYou don\u2019t choose between two innocent lives. You do everything possible to save them\u2026! You don\u2019t choose, Lady. You shouldn\u2019t choose.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re here,\u201d HUNK butted in, feeling the conversation, if it hasn\u2019t already, going downhill. As they neared the main gate, he turned around in his seat. \u201cLady, there\u2019s no way we\u2019re getting in without your clearance. Get your ass in gear, please.\u201d
\n\u201cThey won\u2019t let you in, looking like you\u2019re ready to torch the place.\u201d
\n\u201cRelax, I know what to do,\u201d HUNK said smoothly, giving Lady a firm nod. \u201cThis conversation is on hold, for now.\u201d
\nLeon rolled his eyes, but complied. \u201cOnce we\u2019re given clearance, it\u2019s time to say hi to the past. Be ready.\u201d
\n\u201cHis heartbeat\u2019s starting back up.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re going too fast! We still need him incapacitated.\u201d
\n\u201cTsk, always the criticism. Freezing them\u2019s easy. Thawing them out takes a while. It\u2019ll be hours before this guy is anywhere close to conscious.\u201d
\nTwo DARKCOM operatives standing on guard looked at each other as the scientists, a young, pale-faced man with light blonde hair, and a woman, older, with short, brown hair, thick red glasses, and red lipstick, argued over the defrosting process. They blinked, shrugged, and remained silent.
\nYou know better than to get involved in arguments like this.
\nA yellowish remedy was administered into Dante\u2019s tank, which was now mostly liquid inside. His snow-white hair floated above his ears, obscuring most of his face. He was still restrained and muzzled, but as some color returned to his cheeks and his heartbeat grew stronger, his mind began to wake up.
\nLady, Leon, and HUNK entered the room quietly. One of the DARKCOM operatives standing guard looked over at them; when Lady nodded, he nodded back and stayed put. He was, however, unnerved by the man dressed all in black, with a black cloth mask pulled over his mouth and nose. He couldn\u2019t see his eyes either, hidden under dark red shades. As the remedy continued to spread, more and more bubbles formed. Leon narrowed his eyes. He approached the cryo tank slowly, making sure Lady had him in her sights. The scientists were too engrossed in their back-and-forth to notice the man with sandy blonde hair and hard, ice-blue eyes; Leon looked up, his lips in a thin, tight line.
\nDante and Vergil shared similarities. They had the same snow-white hair, alabaster skin; it was hard to tell from here, but Dante looked broad-shouldered, tall like Vergil. He was young, no doubt from being frozen for six years, which further stalled his aging. Demons, full and half, age much slower than humans\u2014it\u2019s remarkable, really, how a half-demon and a human could bear such striking, superficial resemblance, yet be built differently.
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon exhaled, his sigh coming out as misty, white vapor. When he glanced at the bickering scientists, he instinctively reached up to touch his neck. His skin crawled, and the walls felt like they were closing in. Cold sweat blossomed across his forehead; Leon sank his teeth into the inside of his cheek, trying to keep the sudden wave of nausea at bay.
\n\u201c...I can\u2019t. Dante has to face the White Rabbit alone. This is his fight, not yours.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve just about had it! I\u2019m sick and tired of people making decisions for me! Dante and I, this is our fight!\u201d
\n\u2026
\n\u201c...I told you. If we\u2019re lonely, we\u2019ll be lonely together.\u201d
\n\u201cLeon?!\u201d HUNK hissed shrilly as he saw Leon grip his head with both hands. He wasn\u2019t groaning in pain, but he was grinding his teeth into fine powder. He was hunched over, as if trying to keep his brain from exploding\u2014sweat slid down his temples, his eyes a lighter blue.
\nLady gasped and, like HUNK, tried approaching Leon, only to be frozen in place when lightning strikes came from the ceiling, from all sides of the room, seeming to collide with and come from the cryo tank. \u201cLeon?!\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d Lady demanded, stomping over to the scientists and taking a look at the console. The readings were off the charts, changing drastically with each tick of the clock. The lightning strikes grew stronger, more frequent, and reddish in hue.
\nLady\u2019s dual-colored eyes took up most of her face. The lightning, she remembers seeing it before when\u2026when Dante faced off against the White Rabbit. She shoved both scientists aside, sending them to the floor like ragdolls, and began furiously pressing buttons. \u201cWe need to stabilize this thing, now!\u201d She roared, only to scream when red lightning struck her straight in the chest.
\n\u201cLady!\u201d HUNK shoved his way past the useless DARKCOM operatives, catching the woman with dual-colored eyes before she collapsed to the floor. His eyes flashed gray behind his red shades as the lightning shrieked like a banshee, smoke filling the room. \u201cLeon!\u201d
\nThe pretty blonde was on his knees, clutching his head. \u201cLeon!-!\u201d
\n\u201cAAGGHH!\u201d
\nHUNK backed away from the main console, Lady semi-conscious in his embrace. He folded her tight against his chest and ran towards Leon. He yelled, holding a hand out to the government agent; another red lightning strike came down, hard, this time splintering the cryo tank cleanly down the middle. Golden-tinted freezing water seeped rapidly through the cracks, making the glass groan.
\n\u201cLEON!!\u201d
\n\u201c\u2026Heehee\u2026hahaha\u2026.HAHAHAHAHA! Ah, so it begins! The sons of Sparda are both awake! Dante is rising from the ashes, Vergil is on Earth, and\u2026Kennedy is there. Those two will slaughter each other, hahaha! Swords will clash, spirits will whine, and these twin souls will be shredded to PIECES. Their undoing was foreseen, yet neither is prepared for what\u2019s to come. That stupid, pathetic human will deliver their bitter demise, hahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!\u201d
\nAnd then\u2026Mundus\u2019s true, greatest adversary won\u2019t come to be. That prophecy is useless now. It won\u2019t come to pass.
\nEverything will fall into place\u2026
\n\u2018...I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry\u2026I\u2019m sorry!\u2019
\nDante\u2019s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull. The air was punched out of his lungs\u2014his eyes, a vibrant, inhumanly beautiful blue, were wide as he was surrounded by hungry, snarling flames.
\nA fire\u2026the fire\u2026his home\u2026it\u2019s on fire!
\nThe majestic mansion, complete with elegantly stained-glass windows, a well-kept lawn, and rooms upon rooms filled with secrets, was in shambles. The fire was as tall as the mansion itself, shattering the windows with crackling fists and forcing too hot air into every crevice, every corner.
\nDante\u2019s heart leapt into his throat. Every nerve in his body begged him to run. The fire was spreading, reducing everything green, lively, and free to ashes. \u201cNo.\u201d Dante choked on his tongue, his knees wobbling under him. \u201cNo, don\u2019t do this again\u2026!\u201d The white-haired man started to back away, the world around him exploding in a fine mist of red.
\n\u201cPlease\u2026please, not this again!\u201d A woman\u2019s scream made Dante slam his hands over his ears. It was no use\u2014he could still hear her, a broken mess on the luxurious carpet in the main room, blood erupting from her chest as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
\nEva!
\n\u2018MOM!\u2019 Dante bit his lower lip and took another step back.
\nSnap!
\n\u201cW-what..?!\u201d
\nSkulls. Millions upon millions of skulls; their empty eyes mocked Dante as they laughed at him. They laughed at him, even the one whose jaw was severed after Dante\u2019s boot dug too deep. A mountain of gray, laughing skulls stared at Dante, tracking his every move. \u201cNo, no, no! N-no, please!\u201d Dante patted himself down, searching for his handguns or Rebellion.
\nHe was defenseless against whatever created this graveyard!
\n\u201cYou ran away\u2026\u201d One of the skulls croaked, its eyes glowing red for a split second. Dante screamed and tripped backwards, barely catching himself. Another skull giggled, sounding like a small child, before hopping off several other skulls and sinking its teeth into Dante\u2019s arm.
\n\u201cNgh! G-get off me!\u201d
\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t do anything, hahaha! You just sat there and watched!\u201d The skull chomping on Dante\u2019s arm insisted, as blood oozed from its empty sockets.
\nThe skull graveyard began to groan. Several toppled off each other like dominoes, snickering on the way down. As Dante finally dislodged the cackling skull from his arm, an oppressive shadow swallowed him.
\nDante\u2019s heart skipped a beat. He threw his head back, slowly sinking into the skeletal wasteland.
\n\u201cNo\u2026! No! NO!\u201d
\n\u201cIt was Lord Mundus who had our family murdered.\u201d
\nDante was staring into the gouged, round eyes\u2026of his child self. It was him, it was Dante as a child. His hair was shorter, his features less sharp, babyish, and while he was a child, this version of himself was a colossus. Thousands of gray, cackling skulls rolled off his back, his shoulders, and his arms as he emerged from the sea of death, a twisted smile on his gray face.
\n\u201cBut you abandoned your brother.\u201d Child Dante\u2019s empty eye sockets began to glow, resembling the harsh, soulless eyes of\u2026of a demon.
\nDante screamed again. Child Dante raised his hand and brought it down on the ground\u2014skulls flew everywhere, and a ring of fire took center stage. Dante coughed, shielding his eyes from the bright light.
\n\u201cNO!\u201d
\nVergil. He was a child again, lying in the heart of the fire. He was small, too small; he was lying facedown in the dirt, his pale blue pajamas in tatters. Blood stained his alabaster skin, while a severe burn mark surrounded his right, closed eye. He was still, barely breathing, as his lungs were swollen with smoke.
\n\u201cVergil! V\u2026VERGIL!\u201d Dante was losing control. A part of him was shouting, telling him to stop, to run. This was all in his head! It wasn\u2019t real, this isn\u2019t real!
\nBut Child Vergil\u2019s pained whimpers, how he struggled to breathe\u2026!
\n\u201cYou promised Mom you\u2019d always protect Vergil.\u201d Child Dante sneered, his wicked smile wider. He was hunched over like a gargoyle, blood oozing between his teeth. He slammed both hands down, caging Dante in with his tiny, white fingers. \u201cBut you put yourself first!\u201d Child Dante roared and started to peel the skin off his face. Rivers of blood came down, several laughing skulls opening their jaws wide to feast.
\nDante\u2019s stomach turned to ash. For a split second, he saw his twin brother\u2019s face, youthful and flawless. Child Vergil was gazing up at the sky, watching as the clouds lazily drifted by and changed from their picturesque white to swirling mists of pink and orange. He was wearing his favorite sweater vest, his blue eyes dancing. Then, as if hearing someone call his name, he glanced over his shoulder with a small, yet unguarded smile.
\nVergil\u2026Vergil!
\n\u201cVergil, I-I\u2019m sorry!\u201d Dante shouted, unable to keep his tears at bay. The jeering, cackling skulls were moving. They were bouncing, twisting in place, and some latched onto Dante like leeches. They were a symphony that made Dante\u2019s eardrums burst, dragging him down to a bottomless pit.
\nChild Vergil, unscathed and curious, furrowed his eyebrows. Tiny, adorable wrinkles carved into his forehead; the white-haired child tried to approach, frowning. \u201cI was scared!\u201d Dante went on, gasping as several skulls tore into his red coat. He whimpered and flung his arms out, reaching out for Child Vergil.
\nThe skulls were relentless, though. They moaned and melted into each other; bony hands erupted from deep below, one wrapping around Dante\u2019s neck.
\n\u201cGah! No, no, no! Vergil, please!\u201d
\nChild Vergil giggled, shaking his head as if Dante was telling him a stupid joke. He let his arm fall to his side, stepping back and waving. \u201cPlease! C-come back! Please! I\u2019m sorry! I\u2019m sorry! I\u2019M SORRY!\u201d
\nThe tight, narrow corridors ran red.
\nDARKCOM operatives swarmed outside the prison cells, raising their firearms to aim, only to go numb a second later. A flash of blue-white light, and they were finished. The demonic knight Nelo Angelo stepped over a human skull, sliced in half, a wide, pale-blue eye staring up at him. He kicked aside a severed torso with the toe of his heavy boot. As one foolish man attempted to shoot Nelo Angelo in the face, the demonic knight unsheathed his katana.
\n\u201cAAGH-!\u201d The man couldn\u2019t finish his blood-curdling plea, collapsing in a heap of flesh and bone at Nelo Angelo\u2019s feet.
\nTerrified yet curious prisoners watched as a tall, hulking figure waltzed down the hallway. DARKCOM sounded the alarm\u2014it flashed a blinding red siren in every cell, making its prisoners hiss and huddle closer together. But as more DARKCOM soldiers arrived on the scene, the corridor ran redder.
\nIt was a river of blood, a sea of carnage. One of the prisoners yelped when the tall, hulking figure seemingly went through five DARKCOM operatives in the blink of an eye. He left massive, gaping holes in their chests, their insides pooling onto the hard, metal floors.
\nNelo Angelo rose slowly. He sheathed his katana and overrode each cell block\u2019s personalized security. The bullet, fire, and claws-proof glass doors slid open; the prisoners, wrapped in dirty cloaks and soiled bandages, took small, tentative steps out into the hallway. They gazed upon the corpses with a mixture of shock and morbid glee, while their rescuer wiped the blood off his armor.
\n\u201cOur king Mundus grants you your freedom.\u201d Nelo Angelo declared, his gray skin peeling in places. He towered over the prisoners. \u201cShow him gratitude,\u201d he continued, as his reddish-purple horns snapped into pieces and littered the floor. \u201cIt was Mundus who freed me from my own bondage.\u201d
\nThe bright blue glow in his chest spread to the rest of his body. Nelo Angelo\u2019s eyes flashed a stark blue, and a whirlwind of lightning surrounded him.
\nThe prisoners groaned, the intensity hurting their eyes. They didn\u2019t pull away, as the demonic knight revealed his true face: alabaster skin and snow-white hair, dressed in royal blue with yellow accents, and dancing blue flames for eyes.
\n\u201cThe sapiens send their armies, unaware of the storm they ride into. I am that storm.\u201d Vergil swore, exhaling as he felt something blossoming in his chest.
\nPower. Raw, mindless, vicious power.
\n\u2018Dante, you have awoken. It\u2019s time, brother. It\u2019s time\u2026to settle things once and for all.\u2019
\n\u201cOne minute, he\u2019s bringing hellfire into the building, the next he\u2019s out like a light. Who gets these fucking things?\u201d HUNK glowered, leaning against the nearest wall.
\nHe and Leon were in a sterile, white room in the extensive medical wing. Lady was being treated in the next room; apart from the lightning strike to the chest, she was okay. DARKCOM\u2019s elite, expensive doctors wanted to keep a close eye on her vitals, however. She was in charge of their military division, after all. Her loss would be a crushing blow.
\nHUNK felt bad for her. This wouldn\u2019t be happening if she hadn\u2019t betrayed them, but\u2026part of him believed she truly regretted her past choices. Lady wanted to make things right. What she didn\u2019t realize, though, was that atoning for her sins required her to suffer what Hunk suffered, what Leon suffered, and what Dante suffered.
\nThe highway to Hell is paved with good intentions.
\n\u201cHe couldn\u2019t control it,\u201d Leon whispered, sitting down in a hard, metal chair. He was by Dante\u2019s bedside, his eyes on the steadily beating away heart monitor. The white-haired man was asleep; he was in a paper gown, with an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose and various tubes and wires sticking out of his arms. Dante\u2019s eyes darted to and fro under his eyelids, but he didn\u2019t stir.
\n\u201cTsk, lack of control is an understatement. Everyone in that room was hit with something.\u201d Hunk said, his arms folded tightly over his chest. He hung his head, burning holes into the floor. \u201cHe could have killed us.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon didn\u2019t respond, his eyes now on Dante\u2019s blank face. He leaned forward a little, his hands folded over his lap, squinting his eyes as if solving a difficult math problem.
\nHunk pushed off the wall, moving to stand beside Leon.
\n\u201cWhat are you thinking, Bella?\u201d
\n\u201c...He was scared.\u201d Leon\u2019s voice quaked a little, the corners of his mouth pinched.
\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s important, why\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was seeing things, HUNK.\u201d Leon hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes burning. His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. \u201cHe was reliving something terrible, something that felt too real. For a moment, he was stuck there. Whatever he was seeing, he was reliving it.\u201d
\n\u201c...Are you talking about\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, that night. Dante was reliving that night.\u201d Leon nodded, folding his hands against his stomach now. \u201cVergil\u2019s relived it, too. The fire, the howls, the\u2026the smoke, all of it, Dante saw it just like Vergil did.\u201d
\nHUNK swallowed hard. He let his gaze drift, tasting bile in the back of his throat. \u201cSo it\u2019s true. You and Vergil\u2026I can\u2019t believe it.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201c...I\u2019m going to check on Lady,\u201d HUNK said finally, failing to keep the disgust out of his voice. He turned around and walked through the door, only taking a moment to linger. \u201cLeon.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d HUNK sighed, reconsidering. He left the room, the heavy metal door sliding shut behind him.
\nLeon looked over his shoulder, then returned his focus to Dante. The man was breathing, still as a gravestone. His hair spilled across the pillow like ink, the warmth of his skin palpable. He was like a furnace, and Leon felt ill, but it comforted him.
\n\u2018...You two couldn\u2019t look more different if you tried,\u2019 Leon thought, somewhat relieved. He stood up, leaning forward. His blue eyes traced the lines, bends, and curves that made up Dante\u2019s face.
\nIt was longish, as was his snow-white hair. It looked softer, sleeker compared to Vergil\u2019s spiky updo. Dante\u2019s skin wasn\u2019t as pale as Vergil\u2019s, a faint peach; he was as tall and physically imposing as Vergil, and his color scheme, from what Leon saw on file, was the polar opposite of Vergil\u2019s.
\nFire and ice.
\nPassion and melancholy.
\nDay and night. Two sides of the same coin, and one can\u2019t exist without the other. That\u2019s what Dante and Vergil were.
\n\u2018...So why did Eva only save you?\u2019
\nLeon hastily wiped a tear running down his cheek. He sighed, running his hand down his face. He was exhausted. He should have contacted Carlos when he had the chance or gotten in touch with Chris, Jill, and Claire. This was so much at once\u2014Leon was almost positive Vergil was keeping something from him, despite that warning letter he wrote him. HUNK was apparently a childhood friend. Lady felt remorseful, and\u2026Leon once loved Dante.
\nThat\u2019s the worst of it. Leon apparently knew Dante once, as intimately as one could know another person. Leon once trusted Dante, cared about him\u2026 and wanted to be with him. Six years ago, Leon S. Kennedy would have run away with Dante, starting fresh in Redgrave City. Leon faced the White Rabbit and lived, and wanted nothing more than to start a life with his lover.
\nHis one and only lover\u2026it hadn\u2019t been Vergil all this time.
\n\u2018But I can\u2019t remember anything!\u2019 Leon\u2019s thoughts stung, like glass shards digging into every wrinkle in his brain. He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. \u2018I h-heard voices, when you were awakening. I heard myself talking to someone. I heard someone\u2019s voice, and it was Vergil\u2019s, but it was all wrong. It was him, and he wanted me to\u2026t-to\u2026\u2019
\nLeon\u2019s shoulders shook. He pressed a hand over his mouth, feeling like he was going to throw up. \u2018He wanted me to let you face the White Rabbit alone. He insisted it wasn\u2019t my fight, but I\u2026if I loved you, then it was my fight. It was you and me, against whatever the fuck wanted us dead. Vergil wanted me to abandon you.\u2019
\nVergil was hurt. He was abandoned first by both his mother and twin brother. He was left to rot, to die at the hands of those foul, vile creatures that night. He has every right to feel this rage, this pain\u2014Leon has seen Vergil break down, something that sounds ridiculous with how calm, collected, and composed he was by nature. But Leon\u2019s seen those beautiful eyes drown in a sea of tears, and the way his hands shake sometimes. Vergil was a man on fire, a man in agony hidden behind a carefully crafted mask. He never lied about his past or his suffering to Leon. It was the truth.
\nYet\u2026he and Dante are brothers. They were twins, one person split into two. They couldn\u2019t exist without each other.
\n\u2018Did\u2026did Vergil lie to me? Did you lie to me? All this time, you were here\u2026.they kept you here, the only person who could defy Vergil. You are his equal, yet you couldn\u2019t be more different.\u2019 Leon looked down at Dante\u2019s hand, long, fair, and calloused. The pretty blonde grimaced; he sluggishly moved his arm, his fingertips inches from Dante\u2019s. After pushing down his nerves, Leon slid his hand under Dante\u2019s. He didn\u2019t curl his fingers, didn\u2019t hold Dante\u2019s hand\u2014he simply let their palms connect, a sliver of skin-to-skin contact.
\nLeon expected a flurry of images playing back for him, like a double feature. He expected a searing pain going up his spine again, and echoes of his past hitting him like a two-ton truck. He expected to feel joy, a warmth unique to finding your other half. When you find that person meant for you, the world feels right. It\u2019s strange, off-kilter, and you wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.
\n\u2026But nothing happened. No memories flooded back, none of his senses overloaded with familiar smells, tastes, and sensations, and no warmth. He felt cold all over, much like how he did when he first set foot in DARKCOM HQ.
\nEmpty, unsteady, hollow\u2013the same.
\n\u201c...Maybe everything is a lie,\u201d Leon mumbled, his mouth barely moving. He closed his eyes for a few minutes, relaxing his tense muscles. He didn\u2019t move an inch; he counted in his head, skipped count, started over, until he lost count. He lost count and opened his eyes, blinked owlishly.
\n\u201c...?!\u201d
\nBlue eyes were staring back at him. They were an electric-blue, seemingly glowing. They were wide, sparkling. Blue eyes were staring back at Leon, framed by unruly, long, snow-white hair. Blue eyes were staring back at Leon, and the heart monitor suddenly spiked.
\nDante was staring at Leon. His eyes were half-lidded at first, as black shadows were all he could decipher. Black, shapeless, muted shadows, with no faces; as the rest of his body caught up with him, one shadow melted in place, revealing short, spun golden silk.
\nSpun golden silk, twinkling, iridescent eyes, right now a piercing, encompassing blue, and a soft, shapely mouth, fair as roses. Dante\u2019s eyes widened, his oxygen mask fogging up. \u201cLe\u2026on?\u201d He asked, his voice scratchy. He coughed, wincing as a twinge of pain stung the back of his throat.
\nLeon went still. He was afraid to blink\u2014his muscles locked down, his lungs deflated, and his heart started pounding against the walls of his ribcage, sending shockwaves down his spine.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026\u201d Dante said again, pushing off the bed with his elbows. Leon\u2019s upper body backed away, his feet cemented in place. Dante\u2019s eyes took up most of his face; he gave Leon a lookover, his jaw gradually dropping as more and more details, old and new, started registering.
\nLeon had sandy blonde hair now. His face was less round, revealing a cutting jawline. He had a slight tan, and his eyes looked bluer than ever. He was wearing a satin blue jacket over a plain, gray shirt and tight, dark-washed jeans. His arms looked thicker, his chest wider, and his shoulders broader.
\nHe\u2026he looked older, forged by unknown fires, yet still breathtakingly gorgeous. An angel dropped unceremoniously from Heaven. He was a living, breathing statue, sculpted from pain and loss, compassion and sincerity. It\u2019s been years, clearly, yet Dante couldn\u2019t look away.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cW-wait here, I\u2019ll get a nurse to-\u201d Leon began, putting one foot behind the other.
\nThat\u2019s all it took.
\n\u201cWait-!\u201d
\n\u201cLEON!!\u201d
\nCRASH!
\n\u201cWhat the hell?!\u201d HUNK shouted as the entire building quaked out of nowhere. He steadied himself on the side railing of Lady\u2019s bed, who nearly flew out the window from the impact. Her dual-colored eyes widened, a fresh wave of distress seeping into her bones.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s awake. And h-he saw Leon,\u201d she said, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Lady was in a crinkly paper gown, ripping out the multiple wires in her arms and discarding her oxygen mask. \u201cNo\u2026! He doesn\u2019t know yet.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, come on!\u201d HUNK hissed as he followed Lady out of the room, letting the door slam behind him.
\nThe duo didn\u2019t have to look for long: Dante\u2019s hospital room was next door to Lady\u2019s, and the wall closest to the hallway had a human-shaped hole. It was a miracle the wall didn\u2019t come tumbling down then and there; several doctors and nurses, pale-faced and trembling, stared blankly at the wall. Small bits of debris shattered into fine powder onto the floor\u2014holding Lady\u2019s hand, HUNK approached the ruined wall, peering through the hole.
\nLeon stood there, panting. He had a hand over his mouth; his eyes were navy blue. Lady looked behind her.
\nDante was limp on the floor several feet away, upside-down eagle spread. He was groaning weakly, his hair in his eyes. Being tossed like an empty soda can didn\u2019t hurt him, but as he got to his feet, a hand pressed against his side, and confused wrinkles etched into Dante\u2019s forehead.
\n\u201cLeon? What happened?\u201d HUNK asked slowly, letting go of Lady\u2019s hand and stepping through the Dante-shaped hole in the wall.
\nHe held up his hands when the pretty blonde growled, still in a defensive stance: legs spread, evenly distributing his weight, keeping his core tight while his arms were folded tightly, protecting his torso. \u201cHey, hey, it\u2019s okay,\u201d HUNK softened his tone, frowning under his cloth mask. \u201cI just want to know what he did.\u201d
\n\u201c...He tried to kiss me,\u201d Leon answered finally, taking his hand away from his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, wrinkling his nose. \u201cI panicked. He hugged me, then tried to\u2026I just r-reacted.\u201d
\nHUNK\u2019s shoulders slumped, sighing as he hung his head. He turned to meet Lady\u2019s gaze, who looked torn between plain shock, because since when was Leon that strong, and mounting shame.
\nOn wobbly legs, the woman with dual-colored eyes walked over to Dante. Dante snapped his head back and snarled, rage suddenly making his blood boil over. His eyes flashed red for a split second; Lady gasped and stopped, her stomach twisting itself.
\n\u201cDante\u2026we need to talk.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout\u2026what? You and I have nothing to talk about.\u201d Dante looked past Lady to Leon, his expression going from furious to confused again. He stood up, grunting, as he walked past Lady. \u201cLeon\u2026Leon, it\u2019s me! It\u2019s me, Dante! Angel, come on, what was the roundhouse kick for? Though it was kind of hot, gotta say, you were always strong, but that was something else!\u201d Dante forced a laugh, a smile, as if that would break the tension.
\nBut Leon stared coldly back at him. No smile, no sweet, light giggle with an adorable snort thrown at the end. No\u2026anything.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t. Touch. M-me.\u201d Leon said, biting his lips. He shook his head, slowly at first. He shook his head, his bangs sent flying. He doubled forward before vomiting on the floor. HUNK ran to Leon\u2019s side\u2014Lady swallowed hard, leaning harder on her right leg.
\nLeon emptied his stomach onto the floor, spittle hanging off his lower lip. Dante\u2019s pupils shrank, his entire body suddenly rigid; an overbearing smell filled the room, Leon\u2019s body convulsing where he kneeled. Tears ran down his face, retching noises spewing from his mouth, echoing deafeningly off the walls. HUNK rubbed Leon\u2019s back, holding him steady as Leon nearly collapsed to the smooth, cool floor.
\nDante let out a dry sob. Leon groaned, his throat hurting. HUNK was silent as a mime, and Lady covered her mouth with both hands.
\nVice President Baines didn\u2019t smile as Dante, Lady, Leon, and HUNK waltzed into the room. Arius did, his radiant smirk straight off a cheesy toothpaste billboard.
\nLeon managed not to flinch when seeing Baines. Dante caught his lower jaw clenching\u2014if Baines saw it, he didn\u2019t react, his gloved hands folded behind his back. Arius\u2019s secretary, a bronze-skinned woman with deep red hair, cropped short, dressed in red with yellow accents and a purple-eyed masquerade mask, lingered in the background, her arms folded.
\nThe view outside the office was immaculate. The clear blue sky, clouds stretched thin as the sun shone down; apart from the Lincoln Memorial in the distance, none of the other buildings in Washington, D.C., eclipsed DARKCOM HQ.
\n\u201cWe finally have the pleasure.\u201d Arius greeted, giving a whimsical bow to the four. His muted red coat with the fur collar swayed merrily behind him. Lady, HUNK, and Leon stayed back with Arius\u2019s secretary as Dante approached him. His every step was loaded, his normally grinning face smooth. \u201cBelieve me,\u201d Arius went on, his gaze flickering to Leon for a split second, \u201cit\u2019s one for us both. I\u2019d apologize for your hiatus in our cryo chamber, but I\u2019m actually a bit envious.\u201d
\nLeon tensed when Arius, after holding his hand out for Dante to shake, yanked the younger man into him. He patted Dante\u2019s back with a hefty, gray-white hand, his smile touching his plum-purple eyes.
\nArius leaned in, his warm breath fanning against Dante\u2019s ear. \u201cI\u2019d been thinking of trying it myself.\u201d
\nDante raised an eyebrow, his lips in a light frown. Then, when his eyes landed on Baines again, all the puzzlement was zapped out of the half-demon\u2019s system.
\nBaines blinked. He looked from Dante to Leon and finally at HUNK. The masked man cocked his hip out, his Lightning Hawk out for everyone to see.
\n\u201cAh, I see there\u2019s some history here.\u201d Arius\u2019s voice brought Dante back to reality. The man with plum-purple eyes looked past his secretary and Lady to hone in on HUNK. \u201cHuman Unit Never Killed. I thought you were a myth; one learns, however, that truth is stranger than fiction. Your reputation precedes you.\u201d
\nHUNK stayed quiet. \u201cIs it true you spent some time here, Mr. HUNK? Like our other honorary guest?\u201d
\n\u201cIt was a lousy time. I would rather not dwell on the past,\u201d HUNK said nonchalantly, removing a crick in his neck.
\nArius laughed.
\n\u201cDeadly with a sense of humor to boo! If you lacked alliance, I\u2019d offer you a permanent position here. We could use a man like you.\u201d Arius sidestepped Dante, his expression darkening.
\nDante forced himself to remain calm. He didn\u2019t have to look at Arius to know he was staring down Leon. \u201cAnd you\u2026Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy, I\u2019ve been anticipating our first meeting since I accessed your file.\u201d
\nLeon fought the urge to vomit again\u2014this man had too many mannerisms that reminded him of Ram\u00f3n Salazar. \u201cA survivor of the Raccoon City Incident, one of the few. Such a tragic end to so many lives, don\u2019t you agree?\u201d
\nLeon didn\u2019t say anything.
\n\u201cYou were young, hopeful, and dare I say, naive. As many young people with aspirations are.\u201d Arius made his way towards Leon, stopping half a foot in front of him. Plum-purple scrutinized icy-blue. \u201cAfter that night, you\u2019ve transformed yourself\u2014no longer that idealistic rookie cop, but a force of nature. Your skills, your professionalism, and your ability to handle larger-than-life situations have put you on the map! The best the American government has, and\u2026\u201d Arius leaned in, the sunlight coming in giving his skin a glossy shine. \u201cThe only human I\u2019ve met to not only subdue one half-demon, but two. And that those two powerful half-demons share the same blood, I applaud you. No wonder Baines was fond of you.\u201d
\n\u201c?!\u201d Leon\u2019s eyes widened a fraction. Dante\u2019s superhuman hearing was a blessing and a curse; as he heard Leon\u2019s heart stutter, white-hot fury seeped into his veins.
\n\u201cSpeaking of Baines! I apologize, my friend, we\u2019ve been ignoring you.\u201d Arius straightened his back, a faux sheepish expression on his face now. \u201cEveryone here is familiar with our Vice President, correct? Baines assists with recruiting, and he directed Arkham\u2019s elite ops team on certain missions pertaining to national security.\u201d
\nLady\u2019s mind flashed back to her old team, their smiling faces, and their go-getter attitudes. The few people she felt truly comfortable with, who saw her ugliest side, yet stuck by her regardless. She folded her arms tighter over her chest. HUNK turned his head a little and subtly, without Arius\u2019s secretary noticing, placed a hand on the small of Lady\u2019s back.
\nDante kept Baines in his sights, his heart breaking when Leon\u2019s pulse only spiked in intensity.
\n\u201cBut DARKCOM is my company, as is the company that owns it. You\u2019ve been made aware of our current situation; the gruelling war between Humans and Demons is but one half of the story. It\u2019s a triptych: every war has its layers, its secrets and truths, and sometimes drastic measures are necessary to ensure a victory that satisfies everyone. Which is why I\u2019ll be overseeing your mission personally.\u201d
\nArius\u2019s hand was on Dante again, gently kneading his shoulder. \u201cI trust that your allies seek the same thing? There aren\u2019t limitations to the resources at your disposal, Dante. One should know when to let the experts handle things. Come, let me give you and your friends a tour.\u201d
\nBaines sighed softly. Dante let himself be led away by Arius. Arius\u2019s secretary followed closely behind, while Lady and HUNK\u2019s every move was in sync. Leon brought up the rear, and he stopped before crossing the threshold after the others. He gripped the doorway, slowly turning his head to look over his shoulder.
\nBaines stared at Leon, and Leon stared back at him. The tension between them was unmistakable with the others out of the way. Baines tilted his head to the side, his nostrils flaring\u2014Leon winced, despite fighting so hard. He winced and exhaled sharply, shaking his head and letting the door slide shut behind him.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re leaving so soon?\u201d
\nDante glanced at Leon and HUNK out of the corner of his eye. He slowly sheathed Ebony and Ivory. Lady was too preoccupied inspecting Nell Goldstein\u2019s latest weapons shipment, contemplating what to take for herself.
\nThe two men were talking in mild, hushed tones, Leon\u2019s arms folded over his chest. HUNK stood there, his back erect. He traded in his cloth facemask and shades for his trademark gasmask, his round, soulless red eyes eerier than usual.
\n\u201cI guess this isn\u2019t enough action for you.\u201d
\n\u201cI need to step out,\u201d HUNK agreed, nodding once. He then removed his Lightning Hawk from its holster. \u201cBut just in case you get into any trouble before I return, take this.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t. This is-\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not the only weapon in my arsenal, Leon,\u201d HUNK cut Leon\u2019s reluctant ramblings in half, pressing the powerful, semi-automatic 7-round magnum against Leon\u2019s palms.
\nThe pretty blonde\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cThis beauty packs a punch, but you already knew that, right? You\u2019re going to face hordes out there, human and non-human. The Lightning Hawk is great for crowd control, and if you\u2019re feeling extra frisky. One shot will pop heads like a grape.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat about you?\u201d Leon asked, curling his fingers around the grip. It was weighty, sturdy, and, yeah, HUNK had a Grim Reaper scythe charm hanging from it. It was goofy, it was ridiculous, and it fits. \u201c...You knew this whole time. You knew me this whole time, yet pretended we first met in Raccoon City. Why?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I learned long ago that I didn\u2019t deserve to know you,\u201d HUNK replied dryly, thumbing the hilt of his combat knife.
\nLeon furrowed his eyebrows. \u201c...I\u2019m not a good person, Leon. I never said I was, nor did I try to be. I did what I had to do to survive; morality goes out the window when you\u2019re short on options. But you, you were always the one good thing in my life. What we went through here six years ago made me realize I couldn\u2019t hold on to you anymore. Our lives are too far apart, and we\u2019re on opposite sides.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201cI have people to answer to. Bad people, as bad if not worse than Arius and Baines,\u201d HUNK went on, squaring his shoulders. \u201cUmbrella isn\u2019t gone, Leon. You know that, I know that. You have to be the hero\u2014there\u2019s no way around it, I\u2019m in too deep.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be\u2026!\u201d Leon blurted out, letting out a sharp sigh. \u201cIf you don\u2019t believe in what Umbrella wants, then you can still change your mind.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s on my mind is capital, Leon. It\u2019s a business transaction, another job coming down the pipeline. This world is doomed; humanity, as we know it, is rotten and will eventually end itself. At least when it all comes crumbling down, I\u2019ll die in luxury.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know that. You can\u2019t possibly know that.\u201d
\n\u201c...Heh, I see why you and Vergil connected,\u201d HUNK asserted, his smile lost to flawless, hard black. \u201cYou know, maybe I was wrong before.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Leon asked, as the man in the gas mask reached out and brushed his thumb along his forearm.
\n\u201cWho you used to be\u2026I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll ever come back. I don\u2019t know why, I can\u2019t say why, but the Leon I knew died here, in the basement, six years ago. I thought it was a terrible loss, and I wanted to kill Dante for breaking his promise to me.\u201d
\n\u201cHis promise\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cThat he\u2019d keep you safe. He couldn\u2019t keep it. I wanted him dead then; I want him dead now. And what does that have to do with you?\u201d
\nLeon pressed his lips into a thin line, shrugging.
\n\u201cI thought the Leon I knew died here six years ago. While you\u2019ll never be who you used to be, you\u2019re still the same good guy I remember. You\u2019ve never stopped being a good guy, even when time and time again, you had reasons to.\u201d
\nLeon\u2019s eyes widened as HUNK\u2019s hand moved to cup his face. He didn\u2019t jerk away or feel a chill wash over him. This was foreign, yet\u2026grounded. It was foreign yet grounding, reassuring. \u201cYou\u2019ll always be a good guy, Leon. So I know that you\u2019ll figure this out.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if Vergil is all evil, or just misguided. But you saw the good in him, like you saw the good in Dante. You believed in him\u2014you won\u2019t stop fighting until you get him back, and set things right. You might lose yourself, or him, or both in the process, but you don\u2019t care, do you?\u201d
\n\u201c...I won\u2019t abandon Vergil,\u201d Leon breathed, his eyes a pale, pale blue. He placed his hand over HUNK\u2019s. \u201cHe\u2019s keeping something from me. Mundus wants something, I can feel it. I never trusted Mundus, but I trusted Vergil. If he\u2019s lied to me\u2026if he\u2019s going to keep hurting people, then I will stop him. At that point, my feelings don\u2019t matter. I have a job to do.\u201d
\n\u201c...You\u2019re going to be okay,\u201d HUNK whispered, running his gloved thumb over Leon\u2019s cheek, his forefinger stroking the nape of his neck. He then dropped his hand, and his voice was frigid once again. \u201cI\u2019ll see you around, Agent Kennedy.\u201d
\n\u201cI hope so\u2014not everyone gets to meet the Grim Reaper and live to tell the tale,\u201d Leon said, as HUNK backed away. \u201cHow are you going to get out of this place alive, hmm?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not that impressive.\u201d HUNK retorted. He lingered a minute longer, then, just like that, vanished without a trace.
\nLeon looked down at the Lightning Hawk in his left hand. He caressed the grip, caught the reflection of his left eye in the scythe charm\u2019s dulled blade.
\n\u2026
\n\u201cThat piece is what legends are made of. Eh, and your pretty boy agent ain\u2019t so bad either.\u201d
\nDante let out an undignified squeak as Nell Goldstein stood next to him, grinning around a skinny, lit cigarette. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of trust to put in someone\u2014that magnum in Leon\u2019s hands? It can almost match my creations in terms of creativity and firepower. Almost! I wouldn\u2019t worry too much about Blondie now, kid, since he\u2019s got the means to hold his own.\u201d
\nThe blonde woman with golden-hazel eyes bumped hips with Dante, her grin wider than before. \u201cYou got good taste for a wacko.\u201d
\n\u201cW-what are you talking about?!\u201d Dante hissed, since he didn\u2019t want an outburst getting Leon\u2019s attention. The pretty blonde didn\u2019t have to know that Dante heard his entire conversation with HUNK, even through solid steel walls and bullets, fire, and claws-proof glass.
\nNell snorted, thumbing her nose. \u201cYou know what I\u2019m talkin\u2019 about, ya blockhead. You were worried about your pretty boy agent. Well, now you\u2019re off the hook! I don\u2019t see what the fuss was about to begin with\u2014he wouldn\u2019t be America\u2019s Finest if he didn\u2019t know a grenade from a flame round.\u201d
\nDante sighed, rolling his eyes. \u201cYou know, just when I was starting to like you, Nell.\u201d
\n\u201cYou already did.\u201d Nell pointed out, tucking some stringy, platinum blonde hair behind her ears. Then, in a low murmur, she added, \u201cI\u2019m rooting for you, kiddo.\u201d
\n\u201cHuh?\u201d
\n\u201cYou spent the last fifteen minutes standin\u2019 like a statue, worried your pretty boy\u2019s friend was leaving him high and dry. You\u2019re already carrying a lot of guilt concerning him, and you\u2019re willing to take more as long as he\u2019s standing.\u201d Nell hummed, resting her hands on her hips.
\nDante looked at her warily. \u201cThe way you look at him, it ain\u2019t just guilt in those eyes. You loved him all this time, huh? Even when you were under ice.\u201d
\n\u201c...When I saw him, when I woke up, I was happy.\u201d Nell snubbed out her cigarette on the ashtray on her desk, shrugging on her lab coat.
\nDante watched as Leon stared into the distance, lost in thought. \u201cHe made me the happiest I\u2019ve been in years. I dragged him into my mess, and the last memory I had of Leon was of him in tears. He was crying, unable to move, and I couldn\u2019t stop the bad people from hurting him.\u201d
\nNell hummed. She glanced at Lady\u2019s back. \u201cIs that why you two aren\u2019t talking much? She had something to do with Blondie\u2019s time here?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah,\u201d Dante\u2019s lips pulled back over his teeth, showing rows of serrated canines.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t blame ya. She\u2019s trying to make things right, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t feel the way you feel.\u201d
\n\u201cThanks for that?\u201d
\n\u201cI mean it, Dante. I\u2019m too old for this shit\u2014romance wasn\u2019t exactly my strong point back in the day, that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t get it.\u201d Nell sat down in her thick, cozy desk chair, crossing her legs at the ankles.
\nDante plopped down on her desk, and she didn\u2019t knee him in the groin over it. \u201c...Listen, whatever happens, you've got to remember that the Leon you knew probably won\u2019t come back. It\u2019s possible; whatever Baines pumped into him had time to cause irreversible damage. The sooner you accept that, the easier it\u2019ll be to reconnect with him.\u201d
\n\u201cBut how can I?\u201d Dante mused out loud as he stared at the ground. \u201cNell, Leon got together with Vergil. He got together with my twin brother, the same twin brother I believed dead this entire time. While I was away, he and Vergil formed a connection I\u2019ll never understand. The way he looks at me\u2026it\u2019s like he\u2019s seeing a monster.\u201d
\nNell frowned. She reached over and touched Dante\u2019s knee, prompting him to look her dead in the eye.
\n\u201cHe loves Vergil now. He\u2019s doing this for Vergil, and only Vergil. We\u2019re being forced to work together; he hates me.\u201d
\n\u201cHe hates the you that Vergil made for him. Everyone\u2019s got their side of the story, and Vergil told his. Now it\u2019s time you told yours,\u201d Nell persisted, squeezing Dante\u2019s knee. \u201cDon\u2019t count Leon out just yet. This could be what he needs to see things clearly. You love him, don\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll love him for the rest of my life. Even if he never remembers, or never feels the same way for me again\u2026I love him more than anything else in the world.\u201d
\n\u201cThen fight for him,\u201d Nell said, just as Leon came back into the room, the Lightning Hawk strapped to his thigh. Lady turned on her heels, having picked out her spoils for the day. \u201cEverything\u2019s worth fightin\u2019 for, I reckon love\u2019s one of those things. You\u2019re not Vergil, and that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d
\nThe frail-looking, snarky woman soon stretched and let out an exaggerated yawn. Her somber look was gone, replaced with smoldering, lively topaz eyes and a lopsided, toothy grin. \u201cAh! Well, y\u2019all take whatever else you want now, just be quiet about it.\u201d
\nLeon and Lady joined Dante at Nell\u2019s desk as she kicked up her feet and reclined in her seat. \u201cMy show\u2019s almost on.\u201d
\nTalk about emotional whiplash.
\n\u201cThanks for everything,\u201d Leon said, a hint of a smile on his lips. Nell chuckled. \u201cYou\u2019re batshit insane, lady.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, am I?\u201d
\n\u201cBatshit insane, bonkers, off your head. But I guess all the best people are.\u201d
\nNell threw her head back, holding her stomach as her banshee wails echoed throughout the room. Leon winced, still smiling though. Lady rolled her eyes good-naturedly, and Dante let it be, seeing as this was the first time Leon\u2019s been at ease since Dante\u2019s disastrous attempt at a romantic reunion in the medical wing.
\nThey were locked and loaded. HUNK might have taken off, but Leon was a trained operative. He had six years of fighting bioterrorism under his belt and knew Vergil better than Dante and Lady combined. They\u2019ll have the jump on him, and once Dante gets his bearings, he\u2019ll finally have the answers to all of his questions.
\nThings will turn around. Things will get better; they\u2019ll be different this time. They had to be.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re ready to go?\u201d Lady asked tentatively, looking from Dante to Leon and back again.
\nLeon nodded.
\n\u201cReady when you are, Lady. Let\u2019s get this party started!\u201d Dante exclaimed, puffing out his chest.
\nLady pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting back a smirk as she led the way back to the elevator. Dante and Leon looked at one another; the pretty blonde nodded once and went ahead of Dante.
\nThe white-haired man smiled in relief, and a tiny sliver of hope bloomed in his chest. Nell Goldstein was glued to her T.V. screen, one of those sleazy, over-the-top daytime talk shows playing. Even the man was sleazy-looking, with his overly bleached blonde hair in a terrible combover, a pink rental suit, and a red bowtie. He leaned forward into the camera, smirking.
\nOkay, maybe Nell does have a couple of screws loose if this is her show.
\n\u201cWelcome to the show. I\u2019m Stan Sullivan,\u201d the portly man greeted both his live and television audiences, cold sweat forming against his temple. He was wearing a painfully forced, cheerful smile. \u201cToday we have a special, unplanned guest.\u201d
\nRight. Who was it now, another politician being exposed for having an affair and thus an illegitimate child? Please.
\n\u201cAn official ambassador from the Demon Realm, whose name is Vergil the demon.\u201d
\nNell sat up in her chair, her mouth stretched in a disbelieving grin.
\n\u201cWhat?!\u201d Dante stopped in his tracks, he, Lady, and Leon looking back at the television.
\n\u201cNo fucking way,\u201d Lady blurted out, narrowing her dual-colored eyes. Then she gasped and looked at Leon.
\nThe blonde-haired agent was speechless. His eyes were wide, his pupils dilating. His arms were limp at his sides, his mouth parted down the middle. Leon let out a long, shuddering sigh, a tremor going down his right arm.
\nDante was by Leon\u2019s side in a millisecond, a hand out ready to steady him.
\n\u201c...V-Vergil.\u201d
\nHUNK switched on a small, rectangular device he had hanging off his belt. It had a couple of buttons, with a screen taking most of the real estate. As the console came to life, a blinking red dot appeared, flashing like a warning sign.
\n\u201cHmm\u2026\u201d The masked man pursed his lips. He looked through his many pockets, drawing out what looked like a SIM card. It was square and mint green.
\nHUNK popped the chip into the console, tapping his knee. He then tapped the side of his head\u2014it took a few minutes, DARKCOM HQ\u2019s comms. jammers were surprisingly efficient, but soon HUNK was smiling.
\n\u201cOliveira, this is your only freebie. I\u2019ll make this quick\u2014Kennedy\u2019s going to need backup, urgent.\u201d
\n\u201cVergil?\u201d
\nJill knocked her chair back. Carlos stopped typing, and Chris crushed the pen in his hand. Claire gripped the table for support, her knees close to giving in.
\n\u201cThank you for having me, Stan,\u201d Vergil said, taking a seat onstage. He folded his hands across his lap, keeping the Yamato in plain sight. He had a serene smile, sitting up straight with his legs slightly spread.
\nStan Sullivan cleared his throat, his hand shaking around the microphone. \u201cWell, to start, Vergil,\u201d he said, walking leisurely in place, \u201cif I can call you that, something I think a lot of our audience will be wondering\u2026You don\u2019t exactly look like a demon.\u201d
\n\u201cThis has to be a trick,\u201d Jill said, slowly shaking her head. Her lower lip quivered, her chest tight. \u201cT-this has to be another shapeshifting Plasma, something! This can\u2019t be him\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAnd what is it that a demon looks like, Stan?\u201d
\nThe audience, the one at home included, was dead silent. Just swallowing sounded like a rockslide\u2014Stan gulped, his eyes straining to stay under those stupid sunglasses.
\nVergil soon chuckled, tilting his head to the side inquisitively. \u201cI\u2019m just kidding,\u201d he said, leaning forward in his seat. \u201cI, of course, know what you mean.\u201d
\nCue the cue card to clap along to the license-free music!
\n\u201cIt is him,\u201d Chris argued, glaring. He hung his head, exhaling heavily. \u201cIt is him, Jill. There\u2019s no mistaking it\u2014that confidence bordering on arrogance, no one does it better than Vergil.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cThe explanation is simple,\u201d Vergil resumed, once the grating music track cut off. \u201cMy father was a demon, but my mother was human.\u201d
\n\u201cWow. I\u2026I didn\u2019t even know that\u2013\u201d Stan began, his voice steady.
\n\u201cWe need to shut this down. Now.\u201d Baines growled, the DARKCOM HQ Control room in chaos. Everyone stationed at a computer was typing madly, pulling up a map marked with every known rift between the Human and Demon Realms. None were currently active; DARKCOM has been working around the clock to ensure they had the only way in and out of Makai.
\nThe White Rabbit\u2019s messes were cleaned up ages ago, so how is Vergil here?
\n\u201cShut it down? This is can\u2019t-miss T.V.,\u201d Arius argued, perfectly poised as he stood beside Baines. His pompous air was intact. \u201cNot a move I expected from a brooding warrior.\u201d The man with plum-purple eyes craned his neck to look at Leon, who had rushed in along with Dante and Lady. \u201c...Perhaps because he knows his treasure is in our possession.\u201d
\nThe blonde agent shook his head. \u201cYou disagree? Let\u2019s be rational about this, Mr. Kennedy. Vergil and Dante are bound by blood. Two souls that were originally one\u2014as Dante awakened, so did Vergil. He knows Dante is out there, and where Dante is, you\u2019re sure to be too.\u201d Arius tapped his chin. \u201cHe\u2019s upended the entire game board. Utterly inspired.\u201d
\n\u201cIf he wanted to contact me, he could,\u201d Leon answered hastily, the Lightning Hawk in his thigh holster suddenly weighing fifty pounds.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean, Leon?\u201d Lady demanded, measuring her tone so as not to make the man snap at her.
\n\u201cIf he\u2026if he wanted to contact me\u2026\u201d Leon trailed off, realization hitting him like a tidal wave.
\nHe hasn\u2019t checked his book in hours. Ever since Dante woke up in the medical wing, Leon\u2019s been too skittish to see what new messages Vergil wrote him.
\nHe ignored the bookmark\u2019s glowing, consumed with his inquiries and dead ends.
\nVergil\u2026
\n\u2018Mundus warned me, Leon. But I suspect he knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to resist\u2014you are my kin, as is Dante. I should have known before any of this transpired that my brother\u2019s and my sordid history would have you in the crosshairs. I suspected, yet didn\u2019t act in time.\u2019
\nVergil, on the surface, was the ideal stoic. He didn\u2019t bat an eye as people in the live audience eyed him, cowering in their seats over his origin.
\nA woman, a human woman\u2026willingly mated with a demon? Or was she coerced?
\n\u201cAre there many others who are like you?\u201d Stan asked, yanking on his collar.
\n\u201cOthers like me?\u201d Vergil parroted, his blue eyes sparkling. \u201cOnly one. I was born on Earth. But I\u2019ve lived on Makai since I was a child.\u201d
\nDante clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went pink. \u201cI return now on behalf of Mundus, my king. You have all been told that our world is Hell, and our ruler the Devil.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is he doing\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cBut these are only stories. They have nothing to do with our true nature. Mundus seeks simply to preserve the proper order of his realm.\u201d
\n\u201cHow could he defend that MONSTER?\u201d Dante howled, his hands sliding into his hair. He dug his dull nails into his scalp. \u201cWhen he\u2026\u201d
\nLady squeezed her eyes shut, turning her head away. Leon\u2019s eyes were now glued to Dante\u2019s face. He opened his mouth to speak, only for Vergil to continue addressing the world.
\nVergil\u2019s mouth was a firm, harsh line. He stared directly into the camera, and pictured ice-blue eyes gazing back at him.
\n\u201cYour leaders, with the help of their well-paid mouthpieces, have sold you this attempted invasion as a moral battle. Good versus Evil. Humanity versus Hell. Unlike them, I believe you are intelligent enough to face reality.\u201d
\nVergil rose from the chair. He narrowed his eyes dangerously, reaching into his coat pocket.
\n\u2018It\u2019s time I expose DARKCOM for what it is, Leon. I\u2019m exposing what they did to my people, our people. And what they did to you.\u2019
\n\u201cThese are stills taken from security footage at one of your country\u2019s black site demon prisons.\u201d
\nThe images were gruesome: DARKCOM soldiers aiming their high-powered rifles at a downed demon and handcuffing it. The demon\u2019s face frozen in terror, tears prickling the corners of their eyes; several demons, no Makaians, in filthy cages, eyes bulging from their skulls as course after course of raw electricity singed their bodies from the inside out while scientists wearing oxygen masks idly watched; a tall, thin Makaian laying on an examination table, blood oozing from his severed limbs, while still alive.
\nLady screamed. Leon fell to his knees, as did Dante.
\n\u201cShowing your soldiers torturing Makaians without trial, for no crime other than their origins.\u201d Vergil\u2019s voice went husky, his eyes black as a moonless night.
\n\u201cT-those demons aren\u2019t from Mundus\u2019s troops!\u201d Lady exclaimed, grabbing Baines\u2019s shoulder in a death grip. Her eyes were on fire as she forced him to look at her, tasting bile in the back of her throat. \u201cThey\u2019re civilians, refugees.\u201d
\nBaines didn\u2019t blink as he stared Lady down.
\n\u201cThere can be no refugees from Hell,\u201d he declared, calm and collected. \u201cTsk, I thought you would have seen your error in that by now.\u201d
\n\u201cYour people\u2026did that to them?!\u201d Leon moaned, his hands clawing the hard, metal floor. Baines spared him a glance. Leon\u2019s eyes were in slits, blood pounding hard and fast behind his ears. \u201cYou abducted Makaians who wanted nothing to do with this! They paid with their lives, all for your religious righteousness bullshit?!\u201d
\n\u201c...Those needing to be dealt with were dealt with swiftly,\u201d Baines replied, his stone gray eyes peeking out from under his dark red shades.
\nLeon went white as a sheet. Dante snarled and stood between Baines and Leon, his fingers curled around Ebony and Ivory.
\nArius hummed, seemingly unbothered by the impending battle brewing mere inches from him. His secretary stared blankly ahead. \u201cHmm. If his big play is to hope people sympathize with demons\u2026\u201d the man with plum-purple eyes couldn\u2019t keep from laughing, trailing off with a cynical smile.
\nVergil held the photos up high, his other hand tight around the Yamato. \u201cThis prison torturing innocent civilians is a private facility, whose ownership can be traced to a single parent corporation, Uroboros.\u201d
\n\u201c...Uroboros?\u201d Leon echoed, as Arius\u2019s gleeful expression soured immensely.
\n\u201cThe invasion of Makai and the lives it\u2019s claimed from both our realms, has all been engineered by one man, Arius Von Erenburg. Your country\u2019s entire cause for taking up arms against Makai is built on a lie. Manufactured by Arius. The so-called demon who attacked New York City, the White Rabbit, was in fact\u2013\u201d
\n\u201cCut the feed!\u201d Arius roared into the phone his secretary handed him.
\nVergil\u2019s face was gone from the screen, a loud, jeering wailing filling the room. Everything and everyone was hushed, as if silenced by an invisible force. Arius was seething, his face a bright scarlet.
\n\u201c...\u201d That\u2019s when Dante, silent as a grave, turned and ran from the room.
\nLeon\u2019s eyes were on the ground. After a few minutes, he found the strength to stand again, lumbering after Dante like a zombie. Lady watched them exit with her heart in her throat. She avoided Baines\u2019s glower while Arius slammed his fists down on the control console in front of him.
\n\u201cVergil. Compadre. Seeing as you\u2019re Makai\u2019s ambassador and all, I figured you and I should negotiate.\u201d
\n\u201cI got Leon\u2019s location! He\u2019s at DARKCOM HQ.\u201d
\n\u201cChris?\u201d
\n\u201cScrew Hopper. We\u2019re dealing with this ourselves. We have to hurry.\u201d
\n\u201cRight behind you.\u201d
\n\u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d
\n\u201cCome on!\u201d
\n\u2026CODE RED. VERGIL IS INCOMING. T-MINUS TEN MINUTES\u2026
\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mom. I\u2019ll get him back.\u201d Dante whispered, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to the smooth, round golden locket. He slid it into his inside jacket pocket, Rebellion strapped to his back. Leon then entered the room, dressed in black tactical gear. He held the Lightning Hawk steady, his sandy blonde bangs obscuring his eyes. He evaded Dante\u2019s momentarily worried look, shaking his head.
\nDante relented, leading the way. He listened to Leon\u2019s heartbeat with every step he took, the only sound keeping him grounded now.
\n\u2018Vergil\u2026this ends here.\u2019
\n\u2018Dante\u2026Vergil\u2026\u2019
\n\u2018...Leon, I\u2019m here.\u2019
", "summary": "\u2026If something is worth fighting for, nothing will stand in your way.
\n\u201cHmm?\u201d Chris noticed the unknown call coming in. He narrowed his eyes, hesitating for only a minute before pressing down on his earpiece. \u201cCarlos?\u201d
\n\u201cSorry to bother you, handsome, but I got some news I think you\u2019ll be interested in.\u201d Carlos Oliveira\u2019s voice was smooth as butter, and never failed to make Chris\u2019s heart race. He heard shuffling in the background\u2014Carlos was at his safehouse, no doubt, gathering information from the shadows.
\nThe man was a man of many talents.
\n\u201cWhat have you heard?\u201d Chris asked, rising from his desk and exiting the room. Luckily, he didn\u2019t draw eyes, finding a quiet, secluded area. He reached into his pocket and thumbed the cigarette box he purchased just this morning. The itch to burn his miseries away stung the back of his throat, but he was working on quitting for his health\u2019s sake.
\nAnd to avoid the twin scolding of a century from his baby sister and his steady boyfriend.
\n\u201cDARKCOM\u2019s California Interception Team B was dispatched to the Mojave Desert after abnormal demonic energy was detected there,\u201d Chris could hear Carlos furiously typing, and imagined his unkempt, medium-length dark waves falling into his usually inviting, mocha-brown eyes. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t match any of the trace energy sources marked in their main database\u2014its level can\u2019t be surmised.\u201d
\n\u201cMeaning we\u2019re dealing with more than a lowly grunt.\u201d
\n\u201cYou bet, because this team is debuting the Super Demon Killer 950 cartridge.\u201d
\n\u201cSuper Demon Killer 950\u2026?\u201d Chris echoed, a vein throbbing in his right temple. He pressed his free hand against the wall behind him to steady himself. \u201cCarlos, what is that?\u201d
\nCarlos was quiet for a few minutes, as if choosing his next words carefully. \u201cAccording to my sources,\u201d he began, exhaling slowly through his mouth, \u201cthe Super Demon Killer 950 cartridge is a specialized nerve agent\u2014once it enters the bloodstream, it immediately attacks the brain stem to cause permanent total paralysis.\u201d
\n\u201cMakes apprehending their target easier. But there\u2019s more to this, Carlos. Isn\u2019t there?\u201d Chris gently pressed, not wanting to force any words out of his boyfriend\u2019s mouth.
\nHe heard Carlos take in a sharp breath. \u201cCarlos?\u201d
\n\u201cThe Super Demon Killer 950 was created\u2026using Dante\u2019s DNA as a base. This nerve agent was specifically created to affect those related to Dante.\u201d
\nChris\u2019s chest tightened painfully. He almost collapsed against the wall, if not for crushing the cigarette box in his other hand.
\n\u201cThat specialized nerve agent\u2026it\u2019s specifically designed to render Vergil defenseless,\u201d Chris whispered, his voice wavering.
\nCarlos let out a disgruntled scoff in agreement. \u201cDARKCOM wouldn\u2019t be rolling this innovation out if they weren\u2019t certain they could use it. That means Vergil is returning to Earth.\u201d
\n\u201cWe have to warn Leon, Claire, and Jill.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll warn the girls, you think you can warn Leon?\u201d Chris asked, already pulling out his phone and dialing Claire\u2019s number.
\n\u201cShould we convince him to come to the safehouse?\u201d Carlos demanded as he pulled up Leon\u2019s number and dialed. His knee bounced as he waited, his ears ringing. \u201cI know he\u2019s still recovering from Spain\u2014this could be too much for him so soon. Plus, we\u2019ve yet to receive confirmation that DARKCOM even captured Vergil to begin with.\u201d
\n\u201cThey won\u2019t capture him, sweetheart. You and I both know that,\u201d Chris pointed out, frowning as he pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cYou know Leon won\u2019t go for the safehouse. It\u2019s been months since he\u2019s seen Vergil; I\u2019m sure he has some inkling of Vergil being on Earth already. Nothing gets past Leon.\u201d
\n\u201cHow do you know for sure? Yeah, Vergil is a powerful half-demon, but even his abilities are tempered here on Earth, right? And it\u2019s not like he and Leon share some psychic connection or something\u2026right?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, nothing like that. Still, I just have this feeling.\u201d Chris straightened his back, forcing himself to vanish into his steely soldier resolve again. \u201cCarlos, Leon isn\u2019t picking up, is he?\u201d
\n\u201cNo. It goes to voicemail after a few rings. He put in his report on Las Plagas about two weeks ago\u2014he\u2019s got a clean bill of health, but he\u2019s off missions for a bit. So why isn\u2019t he answering?\u201d Carlos mused out loud, once again hanging up and trying again.
\nChris Redfield was on the move, his gaze faraway as his body moved on autopilot. \u201cLet\u2019s hope it\u2019s only because the dumbass is away from his phone.\u201d He grumbled, his pulse thudding frantically in his neck.
\nWhoosh!Thwack!Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!CRACK!
\nThe long, thick punching bag swung heavily to and fro, one of the seams torn and oozing stuffing onto the floor.
\nLeon S. Kennedy wiped sweat off his left brow. His soft, sandy blonde hair was damp, clinging to his temples, forehead, and the back of his neck. The front of his form-fitting, black tank top was wet, a heavy trail leading down his toned stomach. As he stood up from his crouch, perspiration hanging from his chin, Leon\u2019s eyelids fluttered.
\nA pair of wide, glassy, ice-blue eyes stared back at him from the pool of sweat at his feet. Nasty, purple bags highlighted his flushed cheeks and neck\u2014Leon\u2019s dull nails dug into the thick, black rubber floor, his upper back muscles tense.
\n\u201c\u00a1Te voy a matar!\u201d
\n\u201c\u00a1Detr\u00e1s de ti, imb\u00e9cil!\u201d
\n\u201c\u00a1Puedes correr, pero no te puedes esconder!\u201d
\nLeon tried to swallow around the lump in his throat. He sidestepped, every nerve in his body on high alert.
\nHe heard the hiss of a machete inches from his ear; Leon ducked and roundhouse kicked a male villager with rotting, reddish skin, bulbous, red-rimmed eyes, and greasy, black hair. When he felt one of the female villagers grab his arm, about to stab him in the throat with a kitchen knife, he threw his head back\u2014his skull collided with thin air, but the momentary black dots dancing in the corners of his eyes were all too real.
\n\u201c\u00a1No dejes que se escape!\u201d
\nLeon swallowed a harsh gasp as a male villager grabbed him by the neck. Large, slimy fingers squeezed hard on Leon\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple, grazed his pulse point, and tried to force those large, slimy fingers down his throat.
\nThe government agent snarled and threw his knee up high; the male villager groaned and clutched his stomach, a small stream of saliva and blood dripping down his chin.
\n\u201cHands off!\u201d Leon shouted before he blasted a hole through the male villager\u2019s head with the shotgun he found in one of the dilapidated houses.
\nThe male villager choked on his own insides, a sickening, wet gurgling erupting from his exposed larynx. He reached blindly for Leon\u2014one of his arms lacked a hand, in its place was a mess of fleshy, spasming tendrils.
\nLeon scowled. He swapped his shotgun for his combat knife. He sidestepped when the male villager lunged at him and, with a flourish, decapitated the once-conscious, seemingly harmless, and hardworking man. Leon cleaned the ruby-red blood off his knife, avoiding looking at the severed head now stuck in the mud. He didn\u2019t have time to lament, as he heard various battle cries closing in\u2014the sound of a chainsaw revving to life made Leon\u2019s blood go cold, but his smile was precise, cutting.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s my lucky day.\u201d
\nWhen Leon came to, the punching bag was on the thick, black rubber floor. It was limp, with more stuffing in chunks scattered everywhere. The chain that once sustained it in mid-air was in pieces, a few of the links stretched taut as if from a taffy puller.
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon breathed in through his teeth, on his knees, and his hands folded against the back of his neck. His pupils were pin-needles, and all traces of his vigorous workout were gone from his face. He was pale, his stomach was roiling, and his chest felt too, too tight.
\n\u201cBreathe,\u201d Leon whispered, his voice hoarse. His throat hurt, as did his arms. He squeezed his eyes shut and let his head fall forward, the thick, black rubber surprisingly cool. \u201cB-Breathe in, then out. In through your nose, out through your mouth\u2014breathe slowly.\u201d
\nIt took a few minutes, but soon the world ceased spinning. Leon had feeling in his legs again, and he was able to stand up. He approached the punching bag like a fallen comrade, crouching down and running his fingers along one of the threadbare seams.
\nThe pretty blonde sighed and shook his head. He stood up again and, with little trouble, lifted the pulverized punching bag. He slung it over his shoulder, its weight superficial, and walked over to the training room supply closet. It was usually unlocked, and tonight was no exception. He opened the large, metal door and turned on the lights.
\nIt was small compared to the training room itself: weights, replacement punching bags, boxing gloves, and extra mats were meticulously arranged behind a long, rectangular metal desk. The desk lacked any personalization, so this closet really was just for extra equipment that needed to be out of sight, out of mind. Not that Leon could see someone comfortably calling this room their office; maybe it\u2019s his PTSD talking, but small, metal rooms with no windows, hence no natural lighting or any connection to the outside world, don\u2019t make for an ideal working environment. Then again, to each their own.
\nLeon found a stack of sticky notes and a black ballpoint pen. He set the ruined punching bag onto the desk, almost covering it with shredded, once pristine, genuine leather. The government agent was quick, putting together a half-hearted apology before sticking the sticky note onto the desk. Leon returned the pen to where he found it, left the sticky notes in a haphazard tower, and exited the supply closet. The door didn\u2019t make a sound as it slid shut behind Leon\u2019s heels\u2014the training room lights flickered to life again, momentarily blinding Leon.
\nOn autopilot, Leon walked over to one of the long, metal benches. He unzipped his dark blue duffel bag, taking out a few things: his combat knife, a change of clothes, his cellphone, a dark blue hoodie, an unopened pregnancy test, and a small, leather-bound book. For a moment, Leon thought about charging his phone; he\u2019s been in here for hours, and no doubt he\u2019s missed a few calls. His fingers flexed instinctively, only to pick up the small, leather-bound book instead.
\nThis was a gift from Vergil. It was nearly identical to a small, leather-bound book Vergil kept on his person; it sat in the palm of Leon\u2019s hand, had a simple yet elegant blue leather skin with a thin, black spine, and a blue ribbon bookmark. The main difference was the calligraphic letter on the spine: on Vergil\u2019s, it was an L, but on Leon\u2019s, it was a V.
\nLeon stroked the spine with slightly trembling hands, taking time to trace the calligraphic V from end to end. This was one of many gifts from Vergil over the years, and while Leon treasured everything from his lover, this book was near and dear to him. It was the only way he could communicate with Vergil, with the rift, both socially and literally, between their worlds.
\nPop!Pop!Pop!Pop!Pop!
\nLeon looked out of one of the training room\u2019s massive, bulletproof glass windows. A quarter across the city, fireworks were going off. Outside a tall, cream-colored building, crowds of people holding up signs shouted, chanted, and begged with their whole chests. Signs depicting President Hopper with devil horns, red eyes; others with his face scratched out, with the words YOU ARE THE MONSTER! written in large, red letters. As the protestors shouted at the heavy security stationed outside the building, some were kinder than the hooligans throwing empty soda cans, a grand party was in full swing inside. Champagne in fancy glasses, women in long, carefully tailored dresses, and men in pressed, collared suits, tablecloth as expensive as gas prices these days, and, at the center of it all, President Hopper himself.
\nThe short, overweight man in his trademark, ridiculous cowboy hat, chortling like a pig, holding a glass that looked comically small in his thick, beefy hand. He was chatting up random faces, forcing a smile when a joke fell flat, or when asked a particularly intense question.
\n\u2018If you\u2019re there, then Baines is too. This is your big campaign party, right? Your ass is halfway out the door, so you gotta make sure you spread the word on your successor. The next slimy, pathetic, selfish, arrogant hothead to take your place as leader of the free world.\u2019 Leon thought, a cynical smile toying with his lovely, fair lips.
\nPresident Hopper\u2026how Leon loathed working under him. All the atrocities he\u2019s allowed, the misinformation and outright lies he\u2019s spread, not to mention how he\u2019s handled both the Demon-Human War and the war against bioterrorism. He knew what Umbrella was up to and what high-ranking, influential members of the community, like former Chief Irons, supplied Umbrella with. And it wasn\u2019t just a crisp, clean PR image.
\nBaines was no different. He was the brains behind the operations, but he was just as heartless. His harsh, long face, how he rarely flinched when interrogated by the media, and how he commanded a room with a mere glance.
\nLeon had to sit down, a wave of nausea turning him green. He sat down next to his duffel bag, the protestors shouting and classical music playing at the party somehow audible even as he dug his nails into his ears.
\nBaines. Every time Leon is in a room with him, he feels\u2026scared. Leon feels scared, unnerved, uneven. He\u2019s only exchanged a handful of words with the Vice President since he became a government agent, yet\u2026he despises him. Leon despises Vice President Baines; his hatred for the man eclipses his hatred for Hopper, which sounds ludicrous, but it\u2019s the truth. Both men are horrible. Both President Hopper and Vice President Baines are deranged, violent-prone, heinous men, wearing skin suits to placate both their followers and opposers. They were evil, and it\u2019s great that their tenure in office is running out, but the damage has been done.
\nBoth innocent human and non-human lives have been lost to this six-year-long carnage. Everyone has lost someone because of this, and Leon\u2026was forced to comply.
\n\u2018The last broadcast coverage of their assault on Mundus\u2019s stronghold\u2026so much blood, so many soldiers torn to shreds.\u2019 Leon tasted bile in the back of his throat. \u2018And the lesser demons caught in the crossfire, shot and exploded to pieces\u2026Vergil, please be careful.\u2019
\nVergil, Leon\u2019s Vergil, was involved in this, too. He was Mundus\u2019s most trusted confidant, his son in more ways than one. Vergil was out there, fighting alongside his brethren to protect his home, their home. So many soldiers\u2026so many faces Vergil came to know, lost to the bloodshed. So many faces, deemed ugly and thus evil, maimed under the facade of \u201cProtecting the Innocent\u201d.
\nWho gets to decide who\u2019s innocent? President Hopper? Vice President Baines?
\nThen there\u2019s Arius\u2026
\nIt\u2019s not fair!
\n\u2018Mundus\u2026is he really the one who set Vergil free?\u2019 Leon hated, hated, when his mind wandered, but he had questions. Vergil described Mundus as a savior, as the one who freed him from his pain. Vergil was, but a child when Mundus found him, a terrified child who witnessed his home burn down, and his mother abandon him to the flames and vicious invaders that later claimed her life. Vergil\u2019s mother, Eva, rescued only Dante, Vergil\u2019s twin brother, from the monsters that attacked their home. She grabbed Dante and attempted to flee, ignoring her other son.
\nEva was a traitor.
\n\u2018No loving mother would do what she did to him.\u2019 Leon shuddered as fire spiked in his veins, igniting them from the inside out. He held the small, leather-bound book close to his chest, his ice-blue gaze now on the unopened pregnancy test. \u2018She had two sons, and only went back for one. She left Vergil to die, even when he called for her. Vergil killed those who killed his mother; he protected her honor even when she abandoned him.\u2019
\nMundus found Vergil at his weakest and took him in. He raised Vergil in Makai and helped him grow stronger. Mundus helped Vergil tap into his potential; Vergil was able to wield the Yamato, one of his father\u2019s swords, and not crumble under its sheer might. He was to Vergil what Sparda failed to be: a father.
\nBut\u2026would a loving father allow his one and only son to participate in this war? Vergil was powerful, more so than any other of Mundus\u2019s soldiers. If Vice President Baines got his hands on him, it would spell the end for both Earth and Makai.
\n\u2018Like how they have Dante\u2026\u2019
\nDante. Vergil\u2019s twin brother.
\nLeon knew him. He knew what was on file and what Vergil had confided in him over the years. If Vergil was the calm, Dante was the storm. He was loud, brash, arrogant, and\u2026Eva\u2019s favorite. He was the son she went back for, the son she cradled against her bosom and consoled as their home came down around them. Dante wielded Rebellion, another one of Sparda\u2019s blades, and was powerful. Leon has seen the footage and has played it back several times. Dante was incredible, a force of nature like Vergil. It was scary how similar they were\u2026
\n\u2018I should hate you.\u2019 Leon tilted his head back, picking up his water bottle. He uncapped the plastic bottle and splashed water on his face, gasping as if resurfacing from a deep, dark pool. \u2018I should hate you. Like I hate her\u2026you were an innocent child, you didn\u2019t deserve what happened. You didn\u2019t deserve to see any of that, live any of that.\u2019
\nLeon lived through his parents\u2019 deaths. He experienced it, in flesh and blood, at only sixteen. He was older than Dante and Vergil when they lost their mother, but the pain is universal. The ache that never goes away, that beats like blood behind a wound. You\u2019ve learned to live with it, even when it\u2019s drowning you alive.
\nDante didn\u2019t deserve that, Vergil didn\u2019t deserve that. But if Eva had tried to save both, would things be different? Would Mundus have found Vergil?
\n\u2018...Vergil, I want to believe you\u2019re doing what\u2019s right. I want to believe that you\u2019ll come back, and this war will end. I want to believe that both sides are wrong and both need to change. I want to believe you\u2026but something isn\u2019t right!\u2019
\nLeon crushed his water bottle in his book-free hand. Water plopped down to the floor between his tense knuckles, trickling along the veins under his skin before going Splat! His skin felt paper-thin and was white as milk. He tossed the empty plastic bottle aside, wiping his hand on his gray compression pants. He gulped in air and flipped the small, leather-bound book open to a random page, his eyes burning.
\nTo the untrained eye, the book was blank. It was blank, lacking a story\u2014it started to shimmer and glow, however, when Leon pressed his lips to it. He pressed his lips to the page for a few minutes, parting his lips as small bursts of blue electricity danced across his skin. Instead of pain, the small bursts brought comfort; they warmed him up, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, like a fire. One burst exploded against Leon\u2019s mouth, and the cut across his cheek was healed. Another danced over Leon\u2019s head, before casting a vibrant blue glow into the room.
\nUnique, loopy characters appeared on the page. They looked random: harsh lines, delicate curves, bent slashes, coming together to form words and sentences. To the untrained eye, it was gibberish. It was a gibberish language, something a kid would create to talk to his friends when it\u2019s way past his bedtime.
\nBut Leon understood them. He understood every word, having read them every night without fail for the past six years. Once upon a time, it was only a page. Now, it\u2019s an entire book dedicated to him from Vergil.
\n\u201c...\u2019 The skies seem angrier today. Everyone is on edge as we finalize our next steps. It\u2019s disheartening, beloved. It\u2019s disheartening to see how exhausted, lost, and frustrated everyone is. Mundus is doing all that he can; we are doing all that we can, but the President\u2019s army is relentless.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 But I hope you\u2019re well. I\u2019ve been gone for months, haven\u2019t I? I\u2019m sorry. I wish I could be there for you, Leon. What you\u2019ve shared with me about Spain, what you and that young girl went through\u2026I\u2019d take revenge on Saddler and Krauser myself if I could.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 I admire you, Leon. You are the greatest reason why I continue to fight this fight. I dream of a world free from human tyranny. I dream of Makai under brighter, clearer skies. I dream of a time when I can be bound to you, and you alone. I miss you, my dear light. Never forget that you are my greatest treasure.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201c...\u2019 We met under dire circumstances. I wasn\u2019t expecting to find love when I found you in Raccoon City. Whatever compelled me to stay and fight by your side, I give thanks. I am in debt to that higher power, that higher force that guided me to you. I\u2019m sorry I\u2019ve made you wait so long. But this I vow: when I return, it will be for you. When I return, it will be to make an honest man of you. When I return, I will take your hand and give myself to you for the rest of our days. When I return\u2026I will be the man you deserve.\u2019\u201d
\nLeon pressed his lips together. His voice paled in comparison to Vergil\u2019s. His beautiful handwriting was mistreated under Leon\u2019s teary smolder, his lovely words sounding hollow when echoed by someone else.
\nIt wasn\u2019t the same as seeing Vergil write these messages to Leon, or hearing him read them out loud to make sure they were just right. This book didn\u2019t replace Vergil\u2019s voice, his mannerisms, his presence in Leon\u2019s life, but it was what they could do in their situation. Anyone would have gone mad waiting and given up. But Leon wouldn\u2019t, he couldn\u2019t. Vergil has been abandoned by loved ones too many times\u2026he\u2019s been alone for too long, even with Mundus.
\nLeon refused to be another person who failed Vergil. He refused to leave the other man behind. The man who fought alongside his brethren with the ferocity of a caged animal was the same man who held Leon through his recurring nightmares. Vergil was the same man who\u2019d hold Leon until he ran out of tears, didn\u2019t let go even when Leon begged him to leave. Vergil was the same man who helped Leon put down the bottle and get help. Vergil was the same man who, when he smiled, lit up Leon\u2019s entire day.
\nVergil was the man Leon loved. He\u2019s loved him since that night in Raccoon City, and through it all, they\u2019ve managed to stay together.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Leon. It\u2019s okay\u2026\u201d
\nVergil\u2019s voice was soft, silky smooth, and wrapped Leon in a warm, weighted blanket. The blonde man was shaking like a leaf in winter, his arms limp at his sides. His eyes were wide as dinner plates, leaving wet spots on Vergil\u2019s royal blue nightshirt.
\nVergil carefully carded his fingers through Leon\u2019s hair. When Leon didn\u2019t flinch, the white-haired man drew him against his chest, leaning back against the toilet. Leon followed him, his gaze everywhere but on the warm, sticky feeling going down his right arm. The metallic smell was too much, so Leon turned his head and buried his face in Vergil\u2019s neck, inhaling deeply. Vergil tore a piece from his nightshirt and wrapped it around Leon\u2019s wrist, applying careful pressure with such dexterity, with long, steady fingers.
\nVergil whispered something in Leon\u2019s ear, something that at the time he didn\u2019t understand because he wasn\u2019t a fluent speaker. It came out growly, and Vergil had to clear his throat after saying it because of the strain it put on his voice. Leon didn\u2019t understand it then, but\u2026he did now.
\n\u201c...\u2019 Wherever you go, I go. Always.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2026?
\n\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Leon said out loud, furrowing his dark eyebrows.
\nThe bookmark was glowing. It let out a frosty blue glow, which spilled onto the floor like sunshine. \u2018Vergil wrote me a new message?\u2019 Leon pressed his lips into a thin line, flipping to the next, supposedly blank page. He propped the book against his knees, his thumb skimming across the words forming.
\n\u2018...What?\u2019
\n\u201c...\u2019 Leon, please take care. Be careful with who approaches you and what next move you make. There are traitors and liars on both sides. Please, please be cautious.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2018Vergil\u2026? Vergil, what\u2019s going on? What do you mean by this? Vergil-!\u2019
\n\u201cWe need to talk.\u201d
\nLeon snapped his head back. Mary Ann Arkham, DARKCOM\u2019s Golden Gal, stood there. She was dressed down in a black tank top and matching leggings, wearing black fingerless gloves. Her dual-colored eyes lingered on Leon\u2019s face, an expression of pure dread marring her thin, porcelain-looking face.
\nShe was beautiful as she was dangerous; her eyes told different stories, one of blinding fury, the other of begrudging serenity. The way she held herself commanded authority, passion, and control. Her normally hard face, however, looked off with a distant look in her eyes and the strict, guilty frown on her lips.
\nLeon stared at her, Mary white as a ghost, as the bookmark stopped glowing.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s nothing we need to discuss,\u201d Leon replied coolly, getting to his feet. He snapped the small, leather-bound book shut, shoving it unceremoniously into his duffel bag. He quickly packed the rest of his things, slinging one bag strap over his shoulder.
\nLeon failed to notice Mary\u2019s shocked, and slightly petrified, stare when she spotted the unopened pregnancy test. \u201cYou want the room? It\u2019s all yours. I\u2019m done for the day.\u201d Leon added, stepping over the large puddle on the floor. He stalked past Mary, avoiding brushing shoulders with her, making a beeline for the heavy, metal door that led into the hallway.
\n\u201cWait! Please\u2026\u201d Mary begged, spinning around on her heels. She thought about grabbing Leon\u2019s wrist, then reconsidered. She remembered the combat knife in his duffel bag. \u201cI know you want nothing to do with me, and I understand. Believe me, I do.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you? Then why think this was a good idea?\u201d Leon spat, his back to Mary still. He didn\u2019t slow down.
\nMary gritted her teeth. Sweat was building against her temple, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. \u201cBecause I want to make things right!\u201d She exclaimed, balling her hands into fists. She swallowed another plea, sighing. \u201cI want to make things right. I\u2019ve spent six years trying to justify to myself everything I let slide, every bad decision I made. What I was dealing with personally, what battle I was fighting inside me\u2026it wasn\u2019t your fault. It wasn\u2019t your fault, and yet I made you pay the price for my cowardice.\u201d
\nLeon slowed his hurried pace. His Adam\u2019s apple bobbled up and down as a chill went down his spine.
\n\u201cI have no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you\u2019ve never thought about why that is?\u201d Mary pressed, taking a step forward. Leon tensed up, but didn\u2019t look over his shoulder at her. \u201cHuge chunks of your memory, just gone. You don\u2019t remember much before Raccoon City. You remember your parents weren\u2019t good people. You remember being alone most of your life, apart from one person who suddenly disappeared without a trace. You remember pain, you remember a cold, dark room, and feeling needles prick your skin-\u201d
\n\u201cSTOP.\u201d Leon snarled, glaring hotly at Mary. His jaw was set, squared sharply, while his pupils were sickle-shaped. Mary flinched.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry. But I know you want answers, and I can give them to you. \u201c
\nVergil\u2019s out-of-the-blue warning now made sense.
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t gain anything from telling me the truth. You say you wanted to make things right, but it took you six years to grow a conscience? While you took orders from DARKCOM, followed Baines\u2019s instructions to a T, and as far as I know, you\u2019re not a step closer to retiring. You\u2019re in the midst of a promotion, aren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cHow did you\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cMy friends and I are forced to rub shoulders with you DARKCOM creeps all the fucking time.\u201d Leon spat, his lips pulling back over his teeth. He pressed a fist against the wall behind him. \u201cThey like to talk a lot, and news travels fast when you work for the President.\u201d
\nMary lowered her gaze. \u201cCommander Arkham, isn\u2019t it? Congratulations.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s Lady,\u201d Mary stressed, running her fingers through her hair.
\nLeon\u2019s eyes widened an inch, but he stayed quiet. \u201cI\u2019m Lady, Leon. That\u2019s who I am now, who I\u2019ve been for the past six years. You don\u2019t trust me. I know you hate me. I hate myself, ha. I\u2019m not going to beg or force you to change your mind, but\u2026you needed to know before it\u2019s public knowledge.\u201d
\n\u201c...?\u201d
\nMary swallowed hard. \u201cThey\u2019re setting him free, Leon.\u201d She said, her voice sounding louder than normal even if she didn\u2019t raise her tone.
\nLeon\u2019s muscles locked up in place. His carefully crafted mask splintered down the middle, as his eyes went a pale blue and his breath caught in his chest. He almost went limp, if not for his fist against the wall.
\n\u201c...They\u2019re\u2026freeing him?\u201d
\n\u201cThey\u2019re sending him after Vergil. He\u2019s here on Earth, Leon. He\u2019s here on Earth, and he\u2019s killed dozens of DARKCOM\u2019s own already. He\u2019s here on Earth, so they\u2019re releasing Dante from cryo-sleep to deal with him.\u201d
\n\u201cVergil\u2026is here on Earth?\u201d Leon echoed as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. \u201cVergil is here\u2026oh no, he\u2019s here under Mundus\u2019s orders.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about? W-what do you know?\u201d
\n\u201cI knew something was wrong. Mundus wouldn\u2019t do this unless his hands were tied. Something isn\u2019t right.\u201d Leon whispered, his lips going numb with cold. He turned away from Mary, his thoughts going to Carlos.
\nHe needs to contact Carlos ASAP.
\n\u201cYou two need a ride over there?\u201d Both Mary and Leon drew their weapons: Leon his combat knife, and Mary one of her concealed handguns.
\nIn the open doorway stood a man dressed in black tactical gear, complete with a heavy vest, combat boots, and gloves. His face was obscured by a thick, black gas mask complete with round, soulless red eyes. He stood there, holding a set of car keys. He twirled the loop around his left pointer finger, leaning against the doorframe.
\n\u201cGrim?!\u201d Mary gasped, lowering her firearm.
\nLeon stared at her, puzzled. \u201cThe hell?\u201d He said, shaking his head before looking back at the newcomer. \u201cHUNK\u2026what are you doing here?\u201d
\n\u201cHUNK?? The hell?!\u201d
\nThe masked man chuckled, thumbing the grip of his Lightning Hawk. \u201cHaven\u2019t been called Grim in years, Lady. You have to evolve with the times, you know?\u201d He said, shrugging his shoulders. He pushed off the doorframe, stepping fully into the room. \u201cListen, we\u2019re on a tight schedule, so are we going or not?\u201d
\n\u201cGoing where?\u201d Leon asked, though it wasn\u2019t really an inquiry.
\n\u201cGoing to see Dante rejoin the living, obviously, Bella,\u201d HUNK purred, relishing the sight of Leon wincing at the nickname. \u201cI got a bone to pick with that popsicle, too, so why not give you and Lady a ride? It\u2019ll be a discreet one, I promise.\u201d
\nMary and Leon didn\u2019t look convinced. HUNK huffed, rolling his eyes even though they couldn\u2019t see it. \u201cCome on, for old time\u2019s sake, too. We all have questions that need answering, and Dante is going to give them to us.\u201d HUNK looked at Leon and, for a split second, his voice was soft. It was softer and velvety smooth. \u201cIt\u2019s time he did things right by you, Bella. He broke the promise he made me, so I\u2019m here to collect. Let\u2019s go, before we miss the fireworks.\u201d
\n\u2026-UROBOROS DETENTION FACILITY\u2026
\nIt was another day. Everything felt average, mundane\u2014a fellow operative received clearance to enter the facility, and he wasn\u2019t alone today. He was charged with detaining more of the supposed \u201cgood demons\u201d, the ones that weren\u2019t involved in spraying human blood everywhere.
\nYeah, right. Just because someone doesn\u2019t automatically grab a kitchen knife doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t turn around and impale you when your back is turned. There\u2019s no such thing as a good demon. These lowly peasants were cleverer than they were given credit for. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to keep them locked up. One demon is trouble already, but in numbers? That\u2019s why this facility was a necessity. When you want to protect the innocent, you need to lock the sinful away. DARKCOM was doing God\u2019s work.
\nThey were doing what He was too terrified to do himself.
\nAs the loaded military tank passed through one of the main, fortified gates, several heads turned to witness its arrival. Some heads were bandaged, hiding horrific burn scars, wide gaping holes, or still bleeding gashes in their necks and faces. They were all shackled with nooses around their necks, standing in a straight line, too afraid to gawk for too long. Some of these \u201cgood demons\u201d have been standing still for hours and have been denied any kind of sustenance. Whenever they asked, they were either mocked or ignored.
\nIt\u2019s hard to tell which response is better.
\nThe loaded military tank\u2019s stop was the Imprisonment Area, Sector B-22. An operative with an illuminated wand guided the tank to a smooth, clean halt. This operative was youngish, cocky, with dark eyes and hair. He had his walkie strapped to his chest, off to the right. He approached the back of the tank, lazily hanging his illuminated wand off his belt.
\n\u2018Alright, time to see what we\u2019re dealing with today. Joy,\u2019 the man thought, rolling his eyes. He undid the heavy latch and yanked the doors back.
\nOnly to blink owlishly.
\nThe back of the tank was\u2026empty. There wasn\u2019t a sight of horns, glowing eyes, or long, sharp talons for claws. There was nothing but a cold, heavy room back here.
\n\u2018What the\u2026?\u2019 The man narrowed his eyes, irritated. He let go of his walkie, twirled his illuminated wand like a baton, and walked over to the driver\u2019s side. \u201cHey, buddy,\u201d he began tersely, his jaw set, \u201cthis is supposed to be a full load.\u201d He placed one heavy boot on the small step outside the driver\u2019s door, scowling. \u201cAll right, where\u2019s the Hellspawn? If this is a joke, it\u2019s a real\u2026bad one.\u201d The man with dark hair and eyes trailed off, resembling a gaping fish. \u201cHuh?\u201d
\nThe tank didn\u2019t have a driver. There was no passenger in the passenger\u2019s seat either. Just like the back, the front of the heavy military tank was empty.
\n\u201cWhat the\u2026?\u201d The man with dark eyes and hair swallowed hard, his confidence snapped in the blink of an eye. He shakily reached up to his walkie, his thumb slippery over one of the buttons. \u201cThese aren\u2019t self-driving. That kind of tech is too risky to bring all the way out here. So where are the-?\u201d
\n\u201cHere.\u201d
\nThe man only had a second. And he wasted it on turning around, raising his illuminated wand like a broadsword. His breath caught in his throat, and he screamed.
\nHe let out a shrill shriek before the Yamato went through his chest\u2014blood splattered onto the front of the tank; the man was dead before his body hit the ground, eyes frozen wide and skin cold as ice.
\nA pair of smoldering, hooded amber eyes stared at the fresh corpse on the ground, sparing it only a dismal minute before resuming walking. The man with dark hair and eyes was a necessary casualty, but the real prize remains inside the facility.
\n\u2026-WASHINGTON D.C., DARKCOM HQ\u2026
\nThe ride to DARKCOM Headquarters was a quiet, tense one. Grim, or HUNK as he\u2019s now known as, was in the driver\u2019s seat, one hand on the wheel, while the other rested relaxed in his lap. Leon and Lady were in the backseat because neither wanted to sit beside HUNK. Well, more like Leon was more than willing to, but Lady, with one look, made it clear she wanted him close by.
\nSo in the end, they were seated shoulder-to-shoulder, hearing the familiar hum of everyday traffic zip past them.
\nHUNK was mute. He didn\u2019t even glance at Leon and Lady through the rearview mirror. The tension in the car was at its peak, and he refused to break it. It\u2019s more fun to watch the chaos unwind than initiate it, after all.
\n\u201c...Tell me, what are you thinking?\u201d Lady asked Leon, whose gaze was out the window. Her dual-colored eyes were slightly wider than normal, her lips in a thin line. \u201cI\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t read you as well as I used to. So I need you to tell me, Leon. You said earlier that things were off. What was it?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Leon replied, half-shrugging. \u201cI can\u2019t explain it, but Vergil returning to Earth feels strange. Something happened on Makai, something that\u2019s upset Mundus enough to send Vergil here.\u201d
\nLady tensed for a minute\u2014was Leon, unknowingly, referring to the Arcana Chalice that Lady herself managed to retrieve from Makai, as millions of American footsoldiers played Russian Roulette with some of Mundus\u2019s greatest, most violent assets?
\nLeon doesn\u2019t know, right? There\u2019s no way. And Lady highly doubted Vergil would confide in Leon about this, no matter how strong their bond was. So\u2026
\n\u201cYou always had a sixth sense for trouble, even before Raccoon City,\u201d Lady said under her breath, wincing when Leon\u2019s frown deepened.
\n\u201cIs it true? What you told me\u2026about Baines?\u201d Leon asked, short and going for the jugular.
\nLady swallowed hard. \u201cYes,\u201d she said, after a few dragging minutes. \u201cBaines arranged for you to be sent to Raccoon City. He made contact with Chief Irons and had an interview set up for you as soon as you graduated from the police academy.\u201d Lady picked at a hangnail, her teeth chattering despite the car running cozy and warm. \u201cBaines was afraid you\u2019d somehow ruin his plans again; Raccoon City was on its last legs, and Baines was sure you\u2019d die once the place was nuked off the map.\u201d
\nLeon\u2019s expression remained unfathomable. He blinked slowly, his ice-blue eyes foggy.
\n\u201cAnd you say Baines is also responsible for my missing memories?\u201d He pressed further, reclining in his seat.
\n\u201cIt was to ensure that once you were released from DARKCOM\u2019s custody, you wouldn\u2019t try to expose the truth about the White Rabbit\u2026you were subjected to torture for weeks, a-and they administered a powerful serum at the same time every day, upping the dosage.\u201d
\nLady squeezed her eyes shut\u2014Leon\u2019s screams were ancient history, yet she could still hear them as if it were yesterday. \u201c...At first, you were resistant to it. They\u2019d up the dosage, apply more pressure to get you to snap. Then one day, y-you didn\u2019t remember a thing.\u201d
\n\u201cYou paid the price for a war you didn\u2019t even cause with your past life, Leon,\u201d both Leon and Lady startled in their seats when HUNK finally spoke up. He didn\u2019t glance at the blonde man via the rearview mirror, his voice deeper, closer to a snarl. \u201cThey kept you in there longer than me, though I suspect it was because Baines is a twisted son of a bitch who really enjoyed making you, in particular, squirm.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were there too, HUNK?\u201d Leon asked, his throat tight. He looked from the back of HUNK\u2019s head to Lady, demanding a further explanation.
\nLady pinched the bridge of her nose. \u201cThat\u2019s why I called him Grim earlier, Leon. It\u2019s who he was to us. I met HUNK as Grim, as your right-hand man\u2026as your best friend.\u201d
\n\u201cI got involved in this demon crap because I wanted to protect you.\u201d HUNK purred, letting out a faint chuckle. \u201cYou were hellbent on being a hero, and you didn\u2019t want to abandon Dante. No matter what I said or did\u2026you were by his side until the very end.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re saying\u2026I had a relationship with Dante? Once upon a time, six years ago,\u201d Leon said, scoffing. He glared down at his hands, shaking his head. \u201cThat\u2019s impossible. I only know Dante through what Vergil\u2019s told me. I\u2019ve never met Dante before; today is the first time, something I didn\u2019t think would ever happen.\u201d
\n\u201cI know it\u2019s a lot to process, but-\u201d Lady began, only for Leon to cut her off with a heated glare.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve never met Dante before,\u201d he stressed, running his hand through his hair. Leon crossed his legs, his skin stretched taut over his knuckles. \u201cI only know about the White Rabbit, the Force Edge, and the legend of the Demon Knight Sparda because Vergil told me. Vergil is how I know Dante, and quite frankly, if this weren\u2019t necessary, I\u2019d avoid being within five feet of that bastard.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d Lady asked, baffled.
\nShe remembered the way Leon looked at Dante: warm, dazzling blue eyes, an adorable crooked smile that showed off a hint of straight, white teeth, how Leon would hold on to Dante\u2019s arm or kiss his cheek, and turn pink whenever the white-haired man in red would bump noses with him.
\nEven if Leon doesn\u2019t remember his time with Dante, what has Vergil told him that could make Leon despise Dante as he does? This wasn\u2019t natural; it wasn\u2019t born out of Leon\u2019s own experiences, thoughts, and feelings on Dante. No\u2026Leon has been told many things about Dante from Vergil, and clearly, most of it is bullshit.
\n\u201c...I want to leave with you, Honey. You and me, we\u2019ll keep Redgrave City safe...\u201d
\n\u201c...Jackpot\u2026\u201d
\n\u2026
\n\u201c...if we have that going for us, can anything stop us?\u201d
\n\u201c...I love you too, Leon\u2026\u201d
\nIt\u2019s bizarre how this is the same man who once said he\u2019d go away with Dante after what happened with the White Rabbit. Leon used to be bubbly, inviting, seemingly always able to find a way to smile.
\nLady knows he\u2019s been through hell, physically and mentally, since Raccoon City, but this was something else. And she knew Vergil was behind it.
\nHUNK, for the first time since the drive to DARKCOM Headquarters started, peered at Leon from the rearview mirror, his gloved hands tight on the steering wheel.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cWhat Eva did\u2026that speaks volumes,\u201d Leon muttered, turning his head away. Lady furrowed her brows. \u201cDante was a child then; he\u2019s innocent to a point. I\u2026I can\u2019t say I hate someone I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know him, but Eva choosing him over Vergil is why I don\u2019t want to see him.\u201d Leon snapped his head to look at Lady again, faint tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.
\nLady went deadly still. \u201cYou don\u2019t choose between two innocent lives. You do everything possible to save them\u2026! You don\u2019t choose, Lady. You shouldn\u2019t choose.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re here,\u201d HUNK butted in, feeling the conversation, if it hasn\u2019t already, going downhill. As they neared the main gate, he turned around in his seat. \u201cLady, there\u2019s no way we\u2019re getting in without your clearance. Get your ass in gear, please.\u201d
\n\u201cThey won\u2019t let you in, looking like you\u2019re ready to torch the place.\u201d
\n\u201cRelax, I know what to do,\u201d HUNK said smoothly, giving Lady a firm nod. \u201cThis conversation is on hold, for now.\u201d
\nLeon rolled his eyes, but complied. \u201cOnce we\u2019re given clearance, it\u2019s time to say hi to the past. Be ready.\u201d
\n\u201cHis heartbeat\u2019s starting back up.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re going too fast! We still need him incapacitated.\u201d
\n\u201cTsk, always the criticism. Freezing them\u2019s easy. Thawing them out takes a while. It\u2019ll be hours before this guy is anywhere close to conscious.\u201d
\nTwo DARKCOM operatives standing on guard looked at each other as the scientists, a young, pale-faced man with light blonde hair, and a woman, older, with short, brown hair, thick red glasses, and red lipstick, argued over the defrosting process. They blinked, shrugged, and remained silent.
\nYou know better than to get involved in arguments like this.
\nA yellowish remedy was administered into Dante\u2019s tank, which was now mostly liquid inside. His snow-white hair floated above his ears, obscuring most of his face. He was still restrained and muzzled, but as some color returned to his cheeks and his heartbeat grew stronger, his mind began to wake up.
\nLady, Leon, and HUNK entered the room quietly. One of the DARKCOM operatives standing guard looked over at them; when Lady nodded, he nodded back and stayed put. He was, however, unnerved by the man dressed all in black, with a black cloth mask pulled over his mouth and nose. He couldn\u2019t see his eyes either, hidden under dark red shades. As the remedy continued to spread, more and more bubbles formed. Leon narrowed his eyes. He approached the cryo tank slowly, making sure Lady had him in her sights. The scientists were too engrossed in their back-and-forth to notice the man with sandy blonde hair and hard, ice-blue eyes; Leon looked up, his lips in a thin, tight line.
\nDante and Vergil shared similarities. They had the same snow-white hair, alabaster skin; it was hard to tell from here, but Dante looked broad-shouldered, tall like Vergil. He was young, no doubt from being frozen for six years, which further stalled his aging. Demons, full and half, age much slower than humans\u2014it\u2019s remarkable, really, how a half-demon and a human could bear such striking, superficial resemblance, yet be built differently.
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon exhaled, his sigh coming out as misty, white vapor. When he glanced at the bickering scientists, he instinctively reached up to touch his neck. His skin crawled, and the walls felt like they were closing in. Cold sweat blossomed across his forehead; Leon sank his teeth into the inside of his cheek, trying to keep the sudden wave of nausea at bay.
\n\u201c...I can\u2019t. Dante has to face the White Rabbit alone. This is his fight, not yours.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve just about had it! I\u2019m sick and tired of people making decisions for me! Dante and I, this is our fight!\u201d
\n\u2026
\n\u201c...I told you. If we\u2019re lonely, we\u2019ll be lonely together.\u201d
\n\u201cLeon?!\u201d HUNK hissed shrilly as he saw Leon grip his head with both hands. He wasn\u2019t groaning in pain, but he was grinding his teeth into fine powder. He was hunched over, as if trying to keep his brain from exploding\u2014sweat slid down his temples, his eyes a lighter blue.
\nLady gasped and, like HUNK, tried approaching Leon, only to be frozen in place when lightning strikes came from the ceiling, from all sides of the room, seeming to collide with and come from the cryo tank. \u201cLeon?!\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d Lady demanded, stomping over to the scientists and taking a look at the console. The readings were off the charts, changing drastically with each tick of the clock. The lightning strikes grew stronger, more frequent, and reddish in hue.
\nLady\u2019s dual-colored eyes took up most of her face. The lightning, she remembers seeing it before when\u2026when Dante faced off against the White Rabbit. She shoved both scientists aside, sending them to the floor like ragdolls, and began furiously pressing buttons. \u201cWe need to stabilize this thing, now!\u201d She roared, only to scream when red lightning struck her straight in the chest.
\n\u201cLady!\u201d HUNK shoved his way past the useless DARKCOM operatives, catching the woman with dual-colored eyes before she collapsed to the floor. His eyes flashed gray behind his red shades as the lightning shrieked like a banshee, smoke filling the room. \u201cLeon!\u201d
\nThe pretty blonde was on his knees, clutching his head. \u201cLeon!-!\u201d
\n\u201cAAGGHH!\u201d
\nHUNK backed away from the main console, Lady semi-conscious in his embrace. He folded her tight against his chest and ran towards Leon. He yelled, holding a hand out to the government agent; another red lightning strike came down, hard, this time splintering the cryo tank cleanly down the middle. Golden-tinted freezing water seeped rapidly through the cracks, making the glass groan.
\n\u201cLEON!!\u201d
\n\u201c\u2026Heehee\u2026hahaha\u2026.HAHAHAHAHA! Ah, so it begins! The sons of Sparda are both awake! Dante is rising from the ashes, Vergil is on Earth, and\u2026Kennedy is there. Those two will slaughter each other, hahaha! Swords will clash, spirits will whine, and these twin souls will be shredded to PIECES. Their undoing was foreseen, yet neither is prepared for what\u2019s to come. That stupid, pathetic human will deliver their bitter demise, hahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!\u201d
\nAnd then\u2026Mundus\u2019s true, greatest adversary won\u2019t come to be. That prophecy is useless now. It won\u2019t come to pass.
\nEverything will fall into place\u2026
\n\u2018...I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry\u2026I\u2019m sorry!\u2019
\nDante\u2019s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull. The air was punched out of his lungs\u2014his eyes, a vibrant, inhumanly beautiful blue, were wide as he was surrounded by hungry, snarling flames.
\nA fire\u2026the fire\u2026his home\u2026it\u2019s on fire!
\nThe majestic mansion, complete with elegantly stained-glass windows, a well-kept lawn, and rooms upon rooms filled with secrets, was in shambles. The fire was as tall as the mansion itself, shattering the windows with crackling fists and forcing too hot air into every crevice, every corner.
\nDante\u2019s heart leapt into his throat. Every nerve in his body begged him to run. The fire was spreading, reducing everything green, lively, and free to ashes. \u201cNo.\u201d Dante choked on his tongue, his knees wobbling under him. \u201cNo, don\u2019t do this again\u2026!\u201d The white-haired man started to back away, the world around him exploding in a fine mist of red.
\n\u201cPlease\u2026please, not this again!\u201d A woman\u2019s scream made Dante slam his hands over his ears. It was no use\u2014he could still hear her, a broken mess on the luxurious carpet in the main room, blood erupting from her chest as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
\nEva!
\n\u2018MOM!\u2019 Dante bit his lower lip and took another step back.
\nSnap!
\n\u201cW-what..?!\u201d
\nSkulls. Millions upon millions of skulls; their empty eyes mocked Dante as they laughed at him. They laughed at him, even the one whose jaw was severed after Dante\u2019s boot dug too deep. A mountain of gray, laughing skulls stared at Dante, tracking his every move. \u201cNo, no, no! N-no, please!\u201d Dante patted himself down, searching for his handguns or Rebellion.
\nHe was defenseless against whatever created this graveyard!
\n\u201cYou ran away\u2026\u201d One of the skulls croaked, its eyes glowing red for a split second. Dante screamed and tripped backwards, barely catching himself. Another skull giggled, sounding like a small child, before hopping off several other skulls and sinking its teeth into Dante\u2019s arm.
\n\u201cNgh! G-get off me!\u201d
\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t do anything, hahaha! You just sat there and watched!\u201d The skull chomping on Dante\u2019s arm insisted, as blood oozed from its empty sockets.
\nThe skull graveyard began to groan. Several toppled off each other like dominoes, snickering on the way down. As Dante finally dislodged the cackling skull from his arm, an oppressive shadow swallowed him.
\nDante\u2019s heart skipped a beat. He threw his head back, slowly sinking into the skeletal wasteland.
\n\u201cNo\u2026! No! NO!\u201d
\n\u201cIt was Lord Mundus who had our family murdered.\u201d
\nDante was staring into the gouged, round eyes\u2026of his child self. It was him, it was Dante as a child. His hair was shorter, his features less sharp, babyish, and while he was a child, this version of himself was a colossus. Thousands of gray, cackling skulls rolled off his back, his shoulders, and his arms as he emerged from the sea of death, a twisted smile on his gray face.
\n\u201cBut you abandoned your brother.\u201d Child Dante\u2019s empty eye sockets began to glow, resembling the harsh, soulless eyes of\u2026of a demon.
\nDante screamed again. Child Dante raised his hand and brought it down on the ground\u2014skulls flew everywhere, and a ring of fire took center stage. Dante coughed, shielding his eyes from the bright light.
\n\u201cNO!\u201d
\nVergil. He was a child again, lying in the heart of the fire. He was small, too small; he was lying facedown in the dirt, his pale blue pajamas in tatters. Blood stained his alabaster skin, while a severe burn mark surrounded his right, closed eye. He was still, barely breathing, as his lungs were swollen with smoke.
\n\u201cVergil! V\u2026VERGIL!\u201d Dante was losing control. A part of him was shouting, telling him to stop, to run. This was all in his head! It wasn\u2019t real, this isn\u2019t real!
\nBut Child Vergil\u2019s pained whimpers, how he struggled to breathe\u2026!
\n\u201cYou promised Mom you\u2019d always protect Vergil.\u201d Child Dante sneered, his wicked smile wider. He was hunched over like a gargoyle, blood oozing between his teeth. He slammed both hands down, caging Dante in with his tiny, white fingers. \u201cBut you put yourself first!\u201d Child Dante roared and started to peel the skin off his face. Rivers of blood came down, several laughing skulls opening their jaws wide to feast.
\nDante\u2019s stomach turned to ash. For a split second, he saw his twin brother\u2019s face, youthful and flawless. Child Vergil was gazing up at the sky, watching as the clouds lazily drifted by and changed from their picturesque white to swirling mists of pink and orange. He was wearing his favorite sweater vest, his blue eyes dancing. Then, as if hearing someone call his name, he glanced over his shoulder with a small, yet unguarded smile.
\nVergil\u2026Vergil!
\n\u201cVergil, I-I\u2019m sorry!\u201d Dante shouted, unable to keep his tears at bay. The jeering, cackling skulls were moving. They were bouncing, twisting in place, and some latched onto Dante like leeches. They were a symphony that made Dante\u2019s eardrums burst, dragging him down to a bottomless pit.
\nChild Vergil, unscathed and curious, furrowed his eyebrows. Tiny, adorable wrinkles carved into his forehead; the white-haired child tried to approach, frowning. \u201cI was scared!\u201d Dante went on, gasping as several skulls tore into his red coat. He whimpered and flung his arms out, reaching out for Child Vergil.
\nThe skulls were relentless, though. They moaned and melted into each other; bony hands erupted from deep below, one wrapping around Dante\u2019s neck.
\n\u201cGah! No, no, no! Vergil, please!\u201d
\nChild Vergil giggled, shaking his head as if Dante was telling him a stupid joke. He let his arm fall to his side, stepping back and waving. \u201cPlease! C-come back! Please! I\u2019m sorry! I\u2019m sorry! I\u2019M SORRY!\u201d
\nThe tight, narrow corridors ran red.
\nDARKCOM operatives swarmed outside the prison cells, raising their firearms to aim, only to go numb a second later. A flash of blue-white light, and they were finished. The demonic knight Nelo Angelo stepped over a human skull, sliced in half, a wide, pale-blue eye staring up at him. He kicked aside a severed torso with the toe of his heavy boot. As one foolish man attempted to shoot Nelo Angelo in the face, the demonic knight unsheathed his katana.
\n\u201cAAGH-!\u201d The man couldn\u2019t finish his blood-curdling plea, collapsing in a heap of flesh and bone at Nelo Angelo\u2019s feet.
\nTerrified yet curious prisoners watched as a tall, hulking figure waltzed down the hallway. DARKCOM sounded the alarm\u2014it flashed a blinding red siren in every cell, making its prisoners hiss and huddle closer together. But as more DARKCOM soldiers arrived on the scene, the corridor ran redder.
\nIt was a river of blood, a sea of carnage. One of the prisoners yelped when the tall, hulking figure seemingly went through five DARKCOM operatives in the blink of an eye. He left massive, gaping holes in their chests, their insides pooling onto the hard, metal floors.
\nNelo Angelo rose slowly. He sheathed his katana and overrode each cell block\u2019s personalized security. The bullet, fire, and claws-proof glass doors slid open; the prisoners, wrapped in dirty cloaks and soiled bandages, took small, tentative steps out into the hallway. They gazed upon the corpses with a mixture of shock and morbid glee, while their rescuer wiped the blood off his armor.
\n\u201cOur king Mundus grants you your freedom.\u201d Nelo Angelo declared, his gray skin peeling in places. He towered over the prisoners. \u201cShow him gratitude,\u201d he continued, as his reddish-purple horns snapped into pieces and littered the floor. \u201cIt was Mundus who freed me from my own bondage.\u201d
\nThe bright blue glow in his chest spread to the rest of his body. Nelo Angelo\u2019s eyes flashed a stark blue, and a whirlwind of lightning surrounded him.
\nThe prisoners groaned, the intensity hurting their eyes. They didn\u2019t pull away, as the demonic knight revealed his true face: alabaster skin and snow-white hair, dressed in royal blue with yellow accents, and dancing blue flames for eyes.
\n\u201cThe sapiens send their armies, unaware of the storm they ride into. I am that storm.\u201d Vergil swore, exhaling as he felt something blossoming in his chest.
\nPower. Raw, mindless, vicious power.
\n\u2018Dante, you have awoken. It\u2019s time, brother. It\u2019s time\u2026to settle things once and for all.\u2019
\n\u201cOne minute, he\u2019s bringing hellfire into the building, the next he\u2019s out like a light. Who gets these fucking things?\u201d HUNK glowered, leaning against the nearest wall.
\nHe and Leon were in a sterile, white room in the extensive medical wing. Lady was being treated in the next room; apart from the lightning strike to the chest, she was okay. DARKCOM\u2019s elite, expensive doctors wanted to keep a close eye on her vitals, however. She was in charge of their military division, after all. Her loss would be a crushing blow.
\nHUNK felt bad for her. This wouldn\u2019t be happening if she hadn\u2019t betrayed them, but\u2026part of him believed she truly regretted her past choices. Lady wanted to make things right. What she didn\u2019t realize, though, was that atoning for her sins required her to suffer what Hunk suffered, what Leon suffered, and what Dante suffered.
\nThe highway to Hell is paved with good intentions.
\n\u201cHe couldn\u2019t control it,\u201d Leon whispered, sitting down in a hard, metal chair. He was by Dante\u2019s bedside, his eyes on the steadily beating away heart monitor. The white-haired man was asleep; he was in a paper gown, with an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose and various tubes and wires sticking out of his arms. Dante\u2019s eyes darted to and fro under his eyelids, but he didn\u2019t stir.
\n\u201cTsk, lack of control is an understatement. Everyone in that room was hit with something.\u201d Hunk said, his arms folded tightly over his chest. He hung his head, burning holes into the floor. \u201cHe could have killed us.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d Leon didn\u2019t respond, his eyes now on Dante\u2019s blank face. He leaned forward a little, his hands folded over his lap, squinting his eyes as if solving a difficult math problem.
\nHunk pushed off the wall, moving to stand beside Leon.
\n\u201cWhat are you thinking, Bella?\u201d
\n\u201c...He was scared.\u201d Leon\u2019s voice quaked a little, the corners of his mouth pinched.
\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s important, why\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was seeing things, HUNK.\u201d Leon hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes burning. His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. \u201cHe was reliving something terrible, something that felt too real. For a moment, he was stuck there. Whatever he was seeing, he was reliving it.\u201d
\n\u201c...Are you talking about\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, that night. Dante was reliving that night.\u201d Leon nodded, folding his hands against his stomach now. \u201cVergil\u2019s relived it, too. The fire, the howls, the\u2026the smoke, all of it, Dante saw it just like Vergil did.\u201d
\nHUNK swallowed hard. He let his gaze drift, tasting bile in the back of his throat. \u201cSo it\u2019s true. You and Vergil\u2026I can\u2019t believe it.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201c...I\u2019m going to check on Lady,\u201d HUNK said finally, failing to keep the disgust out of his voice. He turned around and walked through the door, only taking a moment to linger. \u201cLeon.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d HUNK sighed, reconsidering. He left the room, the heavy metal door sliding shut behind him.
\nLeon looked over his shoulder, then returned his focus to Dante. The man was breathing, still as a gravestone. His hair spilled across the pillow like ink, the warmth of his skin palpable. He was like a furnace, and Leon felt ill, but it comforted him.
\n\u2018...You two couldn\u2019t look more different if you tried,\u2019 Leon thought, somewhat relieved. He stood up, leaning forward. His blue eyes traced the lines, bends, and curves that made up Dante\u2019s face.
\nIt was longish, as was his snow-white hair. It looked softer, sleeker compared to Vergil\u2019s spiky updo. Dante\u2019s skin wasn\u2019t as pale as Vergil\u2019s, a faint peach; he was as tall and physically imposing as Vergil, and his color scheme, from what Leon saw on file, was the polar opposite of Vergil\u2019s.
\nFire and ice.
\nPassion and melancholy.
\nDay and night. Two sides of the same coin, and one can\u2019t exist without the other. That\u2019s what Dante and Vergil were.
\n\u2018...So why did Eva only save you?\u2019
\nLeon hastily wiped a tear running down his cheek. He sighed, running his hand down his face. He was exhausted. He should have contacted Carlos when he had the chance or gotten in touch with Chris, Jill, and Claire. This was so much at once\u2014Leon was almost positive Vergil was keeping something from him, despite that warning letter he wrote him. HUNK was apparently a childhood friend. Lady felt remorseful, and\u2026Leon once loved Dante.
\nThat\u2019s the worst of it. Leon apparently knew Dante once, as intimately as one could know another person. Leon once trusted Dante, cared about him\u2026 and wanted to be with him. Six years ago, Leon S. Kennedy would have run away with Dante, starting fresh in Redgrave City. Leon faced the White Rabbit and lived, and wanted nothing more than to start a life with his lover.
\nHis one and only lover\u2026it hadn\u2019t been Vergil all this time.
\n\u2018But I can\u2019t remember anything!\u2019 Leon\u2019s thoughts stung, like glass shards digging into every wrinkle in his brain. He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. \u2018I h-heard voices, when you were awakening. I heard myself talking to someone. I heard someone\u2019s voice, and it was Vergil\u2019s, but it was all wrong. It was him, and he wanted me to\u2026t-to\u2026\u2019
\nLeon\u2019s shoulders shook. He pressed a hand over his mouth, feeling like he was going to throw up. \u2018He wanted me to let you face the White Rabbit alone. He insisted it wasn\u2019t my fight, but I\u2026if I loved you, then it was my fight. It was you and me, against whatever the fuck wanted us dead. Vergil wanted me to abandon you.\u2019
\nVergil was hurt. He was abandoned first by both his mother and twin brother. He was left to rot, to die at the hands of those foul, vile creatures that night. He has every right to feel this rage, this pain\u2014Leon has seen Vergil break down, something that sounds ridiculous with how calm, collected, and composed he was by nature. But Leon\u2019s seen those beautiful eyes drown in a sea of tears, and the way his hands shake sometimes. Vergil was a man on fire, a man in agony hidden behind a carefully crafted mask. He never lied about his past or his suffering to Leon. It was the truth.
\nYet\u2026he and Dante are brothers. They were twins, one person split into two. They couldn\u2019t exist without each other.
\n\u2018Did\u2026did Vergil lie to me? Did you lie to me? All this time, you were here\u2026.they kept you here, the only person who could defy Vergil. You are his equal, yet you couldn\u2019t be more different.\u2019 Leon looked down at Dante\u2019s hand, long, fair, and calloused. The pretty blonde grimaced; he sluggishly moved his arm, his fingertips inches from Dante\u2019s. After pushing down his nerves, Leon slid his hand under Dante\u2019s. He didn\u2019t curl his fingers, didn\u2019t hold Dante\u2019s hand\u2014he simply let their palms connect, a sliver of skin-to-skin contact.
\nLeon expected a flurry of images playing back for him, like a double feature. He expected a searing pain going up his spine again, and echoes of his past hitting him like a two-ton truck. He expected to feel joy, a warmth unique to finding your other half. When you find that person meant for you, the world feels right. It\u2019s strange, off-kilter, and you wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.
\n\u2026But nothing happened. No memories flooded back, none of his senses overloaded with familiar smells, tastes, and sensations, and no warmth. He felt cold all over, much like how he did when he first set foot in DARKCOM HQ.
\nEmpty, unsteady, hollow\u2013the same.
\n\u201c...Maybe everything is a lie,\u201d Leon mumbled, his mouth barely moving. He closed his eyes for a few minutes, relaxing his tense muscles. He didn\u2019t move an inch; he counted in his head, skipped count, started over, until he lost count. He lost count and opened his eyes, blinked owlishly.
\n\u201c...?!\u201d
\nBlue eyes were staring back at him. They were an electric-blue, seemingly glowing. They were wide, sparkling. Blue eyes were staring back at Leon, framed by unruly, long, snow-white hair. Blue eyes were staring back at Leon, and the heart monitor suddenly spiked.
\nDante was staring at Leon. His eyes were half-lidded at first, as black shadows were all he could decipher. Black, shapeless, muted shadows, with no faces; as the rest of his body caught up with him, one shadow melted in place, revealing short, spun golden silk.
\nSpun golden silk, twinkling, iridescent eyes, right now a piercing, encompassing blue, and a soft, shapely mouth, fair as roses. Dante\u2019s eyes widened, his oxygen mask fogging up. \u201cLe\u2026on?\u201d He asked, his voice scratchy. He coughed, wincing as a twinge of pain stung the back of his throat.
\nLeon went still. He was afraid to blink\u2014his muscles locked down, his lungs deflated, and his heart started pounding against the walls of his ribcage, sending shockwaves down his spine.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026\u201d Dante said again, pushing off the bed with his elbows. Leon\u2019s upper body backed away, his feet cemented in place. Dante\u2019s eyes took up most of his face; he gave Leon a lookover, his jaw gradually dropping as more and more details, old and new, started registering.
\nLeon had sandy blonde hair now. His face was less round, revealing a cutting jawline. He had a slight tan, and his eyes looked bluer than ever. He was wearing a satin blue jacket over a plain, gray shirt and tight, dark-washed jeans. His arms looked thicker, his chest wider, and his shoulders broader.
\nHe\u2026he looked older, forged by unknown fires, yet still breathtakingly gorgeous. An angel dropped unceremoniously from Heaven. He was a living, breathing statue, sculpted from pain and loss, compassion and sincerity. It\u2019s been years, clearly, yet Dante couldn\u2019t look away.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cW-wait here, I\u2019ll get a nurse to-\u201d Leon began, putting one foot behind the other.
\nThat\u2019s all it took.
\n\u201cWait-!\u201d
\n\u201cLEON!!\u201d
\nCRASH!
\n\u201cWhat the hell?!\u201d HUNK shouted as the entire building quaked out of nowhere. He steadied himself on the side railing of Lady\u2019s bed, who nearly flew out the window from the impact. Her dual-colored eyes widened, a fresh wave of distress seeping into her bones.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s awake. And h-he saw Leon,\u201d she said, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Lady was in a crinkly paper gown, ripping out the multiple wires in her arms and discarding her oxygen mask. \u201cNo\u2026! He doesn\u2019t know yet.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, come on!\u201d HUNK hissed as he followed Lady out of the room, letting the door slam behind him.
\nThe duo didn\u2019t have to look for long: Dante\u2019s hospital room was next door to Lady\u2019s, and the wall closest to the hallway had a human-shaped hole. It was a miracle the wall didn\u2019t come tumbling down then and there; several doctors and nurses, pale-faced and trembling, stared blankly at the wall. Small bits of debris shattered into fine powder onto the floor\u2014holding Lady\u2019s hand, HUNK approached the ruined wall, peering through the hole.
\nLeon stood there, panting. He had a hand over his mouth; his eyes were navy blue. Lady looked behind her.
\nDante was limp on the floor several feet away, upside-down eagle spread. He was groaning weakly, his hair in his eyes. Being tossed like an empty soda can didn\u2019t hurt him, but as he got to his feet, a hand pressed against his side, and confused wrinkles etched into Dante\u2019s forehead.
\n\u201cLeon? What happened?\u201d HUNK asked slowly, letting go of Lady\u2019s hand and stepping through the Dante-shaped hole in the wall.
\nHe held up his hands when the pretty blonde growled, still in a defensive stance: legs spread, evenly distributing his weight, keeping his core tight while his arms were folded tightly, protecting his torso. \u201cHey, hey, it\u2019s okay,\u201d HUNK softened his tone, frowning under his cloth mask. \u201cI just want to know what he did.\u201d
\n\u201c...He tried to kiss me,\u201d Leon answered finally, taking his hand away from his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, wrinkling his nose. \u201cI panicked. He hugged me, then tried to\u2026I just r-reacted.\u201d
\nHUNK\u2019s shoulders slumped, sighing as he hung his head. He turned to meet Lady\u2019s gaze, who looked torn between plain shock, because since when was Leon that strong, and mounting shame.
\nOn wobbly legs, the woman with dual-colored eyes walked over to Dante. Dante snapped his head back and snarled, rage suddenly making his blood boil over. His eyes flashed red for a split second; Lady gasped and stopped, her stomach twisting itself.
\n\u201cDante\u2026we need to talk.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout\u2026what? You and I have nothing to talk about.\u201d Dante looked past Lady to Leon, his expression going from furious to confused again. He stood up, grunting, as he walked past Lady. \u201cLeon\u2026Leon, it\u2019s me! It\u2019s me, Dante! Angel, come on, what was the roundhouse kick for? Though it was kind of hot, gotta say, you were always strong, but that was something else!\u201d Dante forced a laugh, a smile, as if that would break the tension.
\nBut Leon stared coldly back at him. No smile, no sweet, light giggle with an adorable snort thrown at the end. No\u2026anything.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t. Touch. M-me.\u201d Leon said, biting his lips. He shook his head, slowly at first. He shook his head, his bangs sent flying. He doubled forward before vomiting on the floor. HUNK ran to Leon\u2019s side\u2014Lady swallowed hard, leaning harder on her right leg.
\nLeon emptied his stomach onto the floor, spittle hanging off his lower lip. Dante\u2019s pupils shrank, his entire body suddenly rigid; an overbearing smell filled the room, Leon\u2019s body convulsing where he kneeled. Tears ran down his face, retching noises spewing from his mouth, echoing deafeningly off the walls. HUNK rubbed Leon\u2019s back, holding him steady as Leon nearly collapsed to the smooth, cool floor.
\nDante let out a dry sob. Leon groaned, his throat hurting. HUNK was silent as a mime, and Lady covered her mouth with both hands.
\nVice President Baines didn\u2019t smile as Dante, Lady, Leon, and HUNK waltzed into the room. Arius did, his radiant smirk straight off a cheesy toothpaste billboard.
\nLeon managed not to flinch when seeing Baines. Dante caught his lower jaw clenching\u2014if Baines saw it, he didn\u2019t react, his gloved hands folded behind his back. Arius\u2019s secretary, a bronze-skinned woman with deep red hair, cropped short, dressed in red with yellow accents and a purple-eyed masquerade mask, lingered in the background, her arms folded.
\nThe view outside the office was immaculate. The clear blue sky, clouds stretched thin as the sun shone down; apart from the Lincoln Memorial in the distance, none of the other buildings in Washington, D.C., eclipsed DARKCOM HQ.
\n\u201cWe finally have the pleasure.\u201d Arius greeted, giving a whimsical bow to the four. His muted red coat with the fur collar swayed merrily behind him. Lady, HUNK, and Leon stayed back with Arius\u2019s secretary as Dante approached him. His every step was loaded, his normally grinning face smooth. \u201cBelieve me,\u201d Arius went on, his gaze flickering to Leon for a split second, \u201cit\u2019s one for us both. I\u2019d apologize for your hiatus in our cryo chamber, but I\u2019m actually a bit envious.\u201d
\nLeon tensed when Arius, after holding his hand out for Dante to shake, yanked the younger man into him. He patted Dante\u2019s back with a hefty, gray-white hand, his smile touching his plum-purple eyes.
\nArius leaned in, his warm breath fanning against Dante\u2019s ear. \u201cI\u2019d been thinking of trying it myself.\u201d
\nDante raised an eyebrow, his lips in a light frown. Then, when his eyes landed on Baines again, all the puzzlement was zapped out of the half-demon\u2019s system.
\nBaines blinked. He looked from Dante to Leon and finally at HUNK. The masked man cocked his hip out, his Lightning Hawk out for everyone to see.
\n\u201cAh, I see there\u2019s some history here.\u201d Arius\u2019s voice brought Dante back to reality. The man with plum-purple eyes looked past his secretary and Lady to hone in on HUNK. \u201cHuman Unit Never Killed. I thought you were a myth; one learns, however, that truth is stranger than fiction. Your reputation precedes you.\u201d
\nHUNK stayed quiet. \u201cIs it true you spent some time here, Mr. HUNK? Like our other honorary guest?\u201d
\n\u201cIt was a lousy time. I would rather not dwell on the past,\u201d HUNK said nonchalantly, removing a crick in his neck.
\nArius laughed.
\n\u201cDeadly with a sense of humor to boo! If you lacked alliance, I\u2019d offer you a permanent position here. We could use a man like you.\u201d Arius sidestepped Dante, his expression darkening.
\nDante forced himself to remain calm. He didn\u2019t have to look at Arius to know he was staring down Leon. \u201cAnd you\u2026Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy, I\u2019ve been anticipating our first meeting since I accessed your file.\u201d
\nLeon fought the urge to vomit again\u2014this man had too many mannerisms that reminded him of Ram\u00f3n Salazar. \u201cA survivor of the Raccoon City Incident, one of the few. Such a tragic end to so many lives, don\u2019t you agree?\u201d
\nLeon didn\u2019t say anything.
\n\u201cYou were young, hopeful, and dare I say, naive. As many young people with aspirations are.\u201d Arius made his way towards Leon, stopping half a foot in front of him. Plum-purple scrutinized icy-blue. \u201cAfter that night, you\u2019ve transformed yourself\u2014no longer that idealistic rookie cop, but a force of nature. Your skills, your professionalism, and your ability to handle larger-than-life situations have put you on the map! The best the American government has, and\u2026\u201d Arius leaned in, the sunlight coming in giving his skin a glossy shine. \u201cThe only human I\u2019ve met to not only subdue one half-demon, but two. And that those two powerful half-demons share the same blood, I applaud you. No wonder Baines was fond of you.\u201d
\n\u201c?!\u201d Leon\u2019s eyes widened a fraction. Dante\u2019s superhuman hearing was a blessing and a curse; as he heard Leon\u2019s heart stutter, white-hot fury seeped into his veins.
\n\u201cSpeaking of Baines! I apologize, my friend, we\u2019ve been ignoring you.\u201d Arius straightened his back, a faux sheepish expression on his face now. \u201cEveryone here is familiar with our Vice President, correct? Baines assists with recruiting, and he directed Arkham\u2019s elite ops team on certain missions pertaining to national security.\u201d
\nLady\u2019s mind flashed back to her old team, their smiling faces, and their go-getter attitudes. The few people she felt truly comfortable with, who saw her ugliest side, yet stuck by her regardless. She folded her arms tighter over her chest. HUNK turned his head a little and subtly, without Arius\u2019s secretary noticing, placed a hand on the small of Lady\u2019s back.
\nDante kept Baines in his sights, his heart breaking when Leon\u2019s pulse only spiked in intensity.
\n\u201cBut DARKCOM is my company, as is the company that owns it. You\u2019ve been made aware of our current situation; the gruelling war between Humans and Demons is but one half of the story. It\u2019s a triptych: every war has its layers, its secrets and truths, and sometimes drastic measures are necessary to ensure a victory that satisfies everyone. Which is why I\u2019ll be overseeing your mission personally.\u201d
\nArius\u2019s hand was on Dante again, gently kneading his shoulder. \u201cI trust that your allies seek the same thing? There aren\u2019t limitations to the resources at your disposal, Dante. One should know when to let the experts handle things. Come, let me give you and your friends a tour.\u201d
\nBaines sighed softly. Dante let himself be led away by Arius. Arius\u2019s secretary followed closely behind, while Lady and HUNK\u2019s every move was in sync. Leon brought up the rear, and he stopped before crossing the threshold after the others. He gripped the doorway, slowly turning his head to look over his shoulder.
\nBaines stared at Leon, and Leon stared back at him. The tension between them was unmistakable with the others out of the way. Baines tilted his head to the side, his nostrils flaring\u2014Leon winced, despite fighting so hard. He winced and exhaled sharply, shaking his head and letting the door slide shut behind him.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re leaving so soon?\u201d
\nDante glanced at Leon and HUNK out of the corner of his eye. He slowly sheathed Ebony and Ivory. Lady was too preoccupied inspecting Nell Goldstein\u2019s latest weapons shipment, contemplating what to take for herself.
\nThe two men were talking in mild, hushed tones, Leon\u2019s arms folded over his chest. HUNK stood there, his back erect. He traded in his cloth facemask and shades for his trademark gasmask, his round, soulless red eyes eerier than usual.
\n\u201cI guess this isn\u2019t enough action for you.\u201d
\n\u201cI need to step out,\u201d HUNK agreed, nodding once. He then removed his Lightning Hawk from its holster. \u201cBut just in case you get into any trouble before I return, take this.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t. This is-\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not the only weapon in my arsenal, Leon,\u201d HUNK cut Leon\u2019s reluctant ramblings in half, pressing the powerful, semi-automatic 7-round magnum against Leon\u2019s palms.
\nThe pretty blonde\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cThis beauty packs a punch, but you already knew that, right? You\u2019re going to face hordes out there, human and non-human. The Lightning Hawk is great for crowd control, and if you\u2019re feeling extra frisky. One shot will pop heads like a grape.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat about you?\u201d Leon asked, curling his fingers around the grip. It was weighty, sturdy, and, yeah, HUNK had a Grim Reaper scythe charm hanging from it. It was goofy, it was ridiculous, and it fits. \u201c...You knew this whole time. You knew me this whole time, yet pretended we first met in Raccoon City. Why?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I learned long ago that I didn\u2019t deserve to know you,\u201d HUNK replied dryly, thumbing the hilt of his combat knife.
\nLeon furrowed his eyebrows. \u201c...I\u2019m not a good person, Leon. I never said I was, nor did I try to be. I did what I had to do to survive; morality goes out the window when you\u2019re short on options. But you, you were always the one good thing in my life. What we went through here six years ago made me realize I couldn\u2019t hold on to you anymore. Our lives are too far apart, and we\u2019re on opposite sides.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201cI have people to answer to. Bad people, as bad if not worse than Arius and Baines,\u201d HUNK went on, squaring his shoulders. \u201cUmbrella isn\u2019t gone, Leon. You know that, I know that. You have to be the hero\u2014there\u2019s no way around it, I\u2019m in too deep.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be\u2026!\u201d Leon blurted out, letting out a sharp sigh. \u201cIf you don\u2019t believe in what Umbrella wants, then you can still change your mind.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s on my mind is capital, Leon. It\u2019s a business transaction, another job coming down the pipeline. This world is doomed; humanity, as we know it, is rotten and will eventually end itself. At least when it all comes crumbling down, I\u2019ll die in luxury.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know that. You can\u2019t possibly know that.\u201d
\n\u201c...Heh, I see why you and Vergil connected,\u201d HUNK asserted, his smile lost to flawless, hard black. \u201cYou know, maybe I was wrong before.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Leon asked, as the man in the gas mask reached out and brushed his thumb along his forearm.
\n\u201cWho you used to be\u2026I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll ever come back. I don\u2019t know why, I can\u2019t say why, but the Leon I knew died here, in the basement, six years ago. I thought it was a terrible loss, and I wanted to kill Dante for breaking his promise to me.\u201d
\n\u201cHis promise\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cThat he\u2019d keep you safe. He couldn\u2019t keep it. I wanted him dead then; I want him dead now. And what does that have to do with you?\u201d
\nLeon pressed his lips into a thin line, shrugging.
\n\u201cI thought the Leon I knew died here six years ago. While you\u2019ll never be who you used to be, you\u2019re still the same good guy I remember. You\u2019ve never stopped being a good guy, even when time and time again, you had reasons to.\u201d
\nLeon\u2019s eyes widened as HUNK\u2019s hand moved to cup his face. He didn\u2019t jerk away or feel a chill wash over him. This was foreign, yet\u2026grounded. It was foreign yet grounding, reassuring. \u201cYou\u2019ll always be a good guy, Leon. So I know that you\u2019ll figure this out.\u201d
\n\u201c...\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if Vergil is all evil, or just misguided. But you saw the good in him, like you saw the good in Dante. You believed in him\u2014you won\u2019t stop fighting until you get him back, and set things right. You might lose yourself, or him, or both in the process, but you don\u2019t care, do you?\u201d
\n\u201c...I won\u2019t abandon Vergil,\u201d Leon breathed, his eyes a pale, pale blue. He placed his hand over HUNK\u2019s. \u201cHe\u2019s keeping something from me. Mundus wants something, I can feel it. I never trusted Mundus, but I trusted Vergil. If he\u2019s lied to me\u2026if he\u2019s going to keep hurting people, then I will stop him. At that point, my feelings don\u2019t matter. I have a job to do.\u201d
\n\u201c...You\u2019re going to be okay,\u201d HUNK whispered, running his gloved thumb over Leon\u2019s cheek, his forefinger stroking the nape of his neck. He then dropped his hand, and his voice was frigid once again. \u201cI\u2019ll see you around, Agent Kennedy.\u201d
\n\u201cI hope so\u2014not everyone gets to meet the Grim Reaper and live to tell the tale,\u201d Leon said, as HUNK backed away. \u201cHow are you going to get out of this place alive, hmm?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not that impressive.\u201d HUNK retorted. He lingered a minute longer, then, just like that, vanished without a trace.
\nLeon looked down at the Lightning Hawk in his left hand. He caressed the grip, caught the reflection of his left eye in the scythe charm\u2019s dulled blade.
\n\u2026
\n\u201cThat piece is what legends are made of. Eh, and your pretty boy agent ain\u2019t so bad either.\u201d
\nDante let out an undignified squeak as Nell Goldstein stood next to him, grinning around a skinny, lit cigarette. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of trust to put in someone\u2014that magnum in Leon\u2019s hands? It can almost match my creations in terms of creativity and firepower. Almost! I wouldn\u2019t worry too much about Blondie now, kid, since he\u2019s got the means to hold his own.\u201d
\nThe blonde woman with golden-hazel eyes bumped hips with Dante, her grin wider than before. \u201cYou got good taste for a wacko.\u201d
\n\u201cW-what are you talking about?!\u201d Dante hissed, since he didn\u2019t want an outburst getting Leon\u2019s attention. The pretty blonde didn\u2019t have to know that Dante heard his entire conversation with HUNK, even through solid steel walls and bullets, fire, and claws-proof glass.
\nNell snorted, thumbing her nose. \u201cYou know what I\u2019m talkin\u2019 about, ya blockhead. You were worried about your pretty boy agent. Well, now you\u2019re off the hook! I don\u2019t see what the fuss was about to begin with\u2014he wouldn\u2019t be America\u2019s Finest if he didn\u2019t know a grenade from a flame round.\u201d
\nDante sighed, rolling his eyes. \u201cYou know, just when I was starting to like you, Nell.\u201d
\n\u201cYou already did.\u201d Nell pointed out, tucking some stringy, platinum blonde hair behind her ears. Then, in a low murmur, she added, \u201cI\u2019m rooting for you, kiddo.\u201d
\n\u201cHuh?\u201d
\n\u201cYou spent the last fifteen minutes standin\u2019 like a statue, worried your pretty boy\u2019s friend was leaving him high and dry. You\u2019re already carrying a lot of guilt concerning him, and you\u2019re willing to take more as long as he\u2019s standing.\u201d Nell hummed, resting her hands on her hips.
\nDante looked at her warily. \u201cThe way you look at him, it ain\u2019t just guilt in those eyes. You loved him all this time, huh? Even when you were under ice.\u201d
\n\u201c...When I saw him, when I woke up, I was happy.\u201d Nell snubbed out her cigarette on the ashtray on her desk, shrugging on her lab coat.
\nDante watched as Leon stared into the distance, lost in thought. \u201cHe made me the happiest I\u2019ve been in years. I dragged him into my mess, and the last memory I had of Leon was of him in tears. He was crying, unable to move, and I couldn\u2019t stop the bad people from hurting him.\u201d
\nNell hummed. She glanced at Lady\u2019s back. \u201cIs that why you two aren\u2019t talking much? She had something to do with Blondie\u2019s time here?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah,\u201d Dante\u2019s lips pulled back over his teeth, showing rows of serrated canines.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t blame ya. She\u2019s trying to make things right, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t feel the way you feel.\u201d
\n\u201cThanks for that?\u201d
\n\u201cI mean it, Dante. I\u2019m too old for this shit\u2014romance wasn\u2019t exactly my strong point back in the day, that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t get it.\u201d Nell sat down in her thick, cozy desk chair, crossing her legs at the ankles.
\nDante plopped down on her desk, and she didn\u2019t knee him in the groin over it. \u201c...Listen, whatever happens, you've got to remember that the Leon you knew probably won\u2019t come back. It\u2019s possible; whatever Baines pumped into him had time to cause irreversible damage. The sooner you accept that, the easier it\u2019ll be to reconnect with him.\u201d
\n\u201cBut how can I?\u201d Dante mused out loud as he stared at the ground. \u201cNell, Leon got together with Vergil. He got together with my twin brother, the same twin brother I believed dead this entire time. While I was away, he and Vergil formed a connection I\u2019ll never understand. The way he looks at me\u2026it\u2019s like he\u2019s seeing a monster.\u201d
\nNell frowned. She reached over and touched Dante\u2019s knee, prompting him to look her dead in the eye.
\n\u201cHe loves Vergil now. He\u2019s doing this for Vergil, and only Vergil. We\u2019re being forced to work together; he hates me.\u201d
\n\u201cHe hates the you that Vergil made for him. Everyone\u2019s got their side of the story, and Vergil told his. Now it\u2019s time you told yours,\u201d Nell persisted, squeezing Dante\u2019s knee. \u201cDon\u2019t count Leon out just yet. This could be what he needs to see things clearly. You love him, don\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll love him for the rest of my life. Even if he never remembers, or never feels the same way for me again\u2026I love him more than anything else in the world.\u201d
\n\u201cThen fight for him,\u201d Nell said, just as Leon came back into the room, the Lightning Hawk strapped to his thigh. Lady turned on her heels, having picked out her spoils for the day. \u201cEverything\u2019s worth fightin\u2019 for, I reckon love\u2019s one of those things. You\u2019re not Vergil, and that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d
\nThe frail-looking, snarky woman soon stretched and let out an exaggerated yawn. Her somber look was gone, replaced with smoldering, lively topaz eyes and a lopsided, toothy grin. \u201cAh! Well, y\u2019all take whatever else you want now, just be quiet about it.\u201d
\nLeon and Lady joined Dante at Nell\u2019s desk as she kicked up her feet and reclined in her seat. \u201cMy show\u2019s almost on.\u201d
\nTalk about emotional whiplash.
\n\u201cThanks for everything,\u201d Leon said, a hint of a smile on his lips. Nell chuckled. \u201cYou\u2019re batshit insane, lady.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, am I?\u201d
\n\u201cBatshit insane, bonkers, off your head. But I guess all the best people are.\u201d
\nNell threw her head back, holding her stomach as her banshee wails echoed throughout the room. Leon winced, still smiling though. Lady rolled her eyes good-naturedly, and Dante let it be, seeing as this was the first time Leon\u2019s been at ease since Dante\u2019s disastrous attempt at a romantic reunion in the medical wing.
\nThey were locked and loaded. HUNK might have taken off, but Leon was a trained operative. He had six years of fighting bioterrorism under his belt and knew Vergil better than Dante and Lady combined. They\u2019ll have the jump on him, and once Dante gets his bearings, he\u2019ll finally have the answers to all of his questions.
\nThings will turn around. Things will get better; they\u2019ll be different this time. They had to be.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re ready to go?\u201d Lady asked tentatively, looking from Dante to Leon and back again.
\nLeon nodded.
\n\u201cReady when you are, Lady. Let\u2019s get this party started!\u201d Dante exclaimed, puffing out his chest.
\nLady pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting back a smirk as she led the way back to the elevator. Dante and Leon looked at one another; the pretty blonde nodded once and went ahead of Dante.
\nThe white-haired man smiled in relief, and a tiny sliver of hope bloomed in his chest. Nell Goldstein was glued to her T.V. screen, one of those sleazy, over-the-top daytime talk shows playing. Even the man was sleazy-looking, with his overly bleached blonde hair in a terrible combover, a pink rental suit, and a red bowtie. He leaned forward into the camera, smirking.
\nOkay, maybe Nell does have a couple of screws loose if this is her show.
\n\u201cWelcome to the show. I\u2019m Stan Sullivan,\u201d the portly man greeted both his live and television audiences, cold sweat forming against his temple. He was wearing a painfully forced, cheerful smile. \u201cToday we have a special, unplanned guest.\u201d
\nRight. Who was it now, another politician being exposed for having an affair and thus an illegitimate child? Please.
\n\u201cAn official ambassador from the Demon Realm, whose name is Vergil the demon.\u201d
\nNell sat up in her chair, her mouth stretched in a disbelieving grin.
\n\u201cWhat?!\u201d Dante stopped in his tracks, he, Lady, and Leon looking back at the television.
\n\u201cNo fucking way,\u201d Lady blurted out, narrowing her dual-colored eyes. Then she gasped and looked at Leon.
\nThe blonde-haired agent was speechless. His eyes were wide, his pupils dilating. His arms were limp at his sides, his mouth parted down the middle. Leon let out a long, shuddering sigh, a tremor going down his right arm.
\nDante was by Leon\u2019s side in a millisecond, a hand out ready to steady him.
\n\u201c...V-Vergil.\u201d
\nHUNK switched on a small, rectangular device he had hanging off his belt. It had a couple of buttons, with a screen taking most of the real estate. As the console came to life, a blinking red dot appeared, flashing like a warning sign.
\n\u201cHmm\u2026\u201d The masked man pursed his lips. He looked through his many pockets, drawing out what looked like a SIM card. It was square and mint green.
\nHUNK popped the chip into the console, tapping his knee. He then tapped the side of his head\u2014it took a few minutes, DARKCOM HQ\u2019s comms. jammers were surprisingly efficient, but soon HUNK was smiling.
\n\u201cOliveira, this is your only freebie. I\u2019ll make this quick\u2014Kennedy\u2019s going to need backup, urgent.\u201d
\n\u201cVergil?\u201d
\nJill knocked her chair back. Carlos stopped typing, and Chris crushed the pen in his hand. Claire gripped the table for support, her knees close to giving in.
\n\u201cThank you for having me, Stan,\u201d Vergil said, taking a seat onstage. He folded his hands across his lap, keeping the Yamato in plain sight. He had a serene smile, sitting up straight with his legs slightly spread.
\nStan Sullivan cleared his throat, his hand shaking around the microphone. \u201cWell, to start, Vergil,\u201d he said, walking leisurely in place, \u201cif I can call you that, something I think a lot of our audience will be wondering\u2026You don\u2019t exactly look like a demon.\u201d
\n\u201cThis has to be a trick,\u201d Jill said, slowly shaking her head. Her lower lip quivered, her chest tight. \u201cT-this has to be another shapeshifting Plasma, something! This can\u2019t be him\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAnd what is it that a demon looks like, Stan?\u201d
\nThe audience, the one at home included, was dead silent. Just swallowing sounded like a rockslide\u2014Stan gulped, his eyes straining to stay under those stupid sunglasses.
\nVergil soon chuckled, tilting his head to the side inquisitively. \u201cI\u2019m just kidding,\u201d he said, leaning forward in his seat. \u201cI, of course, know what you mean.\u201d
\nCue the cue card to clap along to the license-free music!
\n\u201cIt is him,\u201d Chris argued, glaring. He hung his head, exhaling heavily. \u201cIt is him, Jill. There\u2019s no mistaking it\u2014that confidence bordering on arrogance, no one does it better than Vergil.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cThe explanation is simple,\u201d Vergil resumed, once the grating music track cut off. \u201cMy father was a demon, but my mother was human.\u201d
\n\u201cWow. I\u2026I didn\u2019t even know that\u2013\u201d Stan began, his voice steady.
\n\u201cWe need to shut this down. Now.\u201d Baines growled, the DARKCOM HQ Control room in chaos. Everyone stationed at a computer was typing madly, pulling up a map marked with every known rift between the Human and Demon Realms. None were currently active; DARKCOM has been working around the clock to ensure they had the only way in and out of Makai.
\nThe White Rabbit\u2019s messes were cleaned up ages ago, so how is Vergil here?
\n\u201cShut it down? This is can\u2019t-miss T.V.,\u201d Arius argued, perfectly poised as he stood beside Baines. His pompous air was intact. \u201cNot a move I expected from a brooding warrior.\u201d The man with plum-purple eyes craned his neck to look at Leon, who had rushed in along with Dante and Lady. \u201c...Perhaps because he knows his treasure is in our possession.\u201d
\nThe blonde agent shook his head. \u201cYou disagree? Let\u2019s be rational about this, Mr. Kennedy. Vergil and Dante are bound by blood. Two souls that were originally one\u2014as Dante awakened, so did Vergil. He knows Dante is out there, and where Dante is, you\u2019re sure to be too.\u201d Arius tapped his chin. \u201cHe\u2019s upended the entire game board. Utterly inspired.\u201d
\n\u201cIf he wanted to contact me, he could,\u201d Leon answered hastily, the Lightning Hawk in his thigh holster suddenly weighing fifty pounds.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean, Leon?\u201d Lady demanded, measuring her tone so as not to make the man snap at her.
\n\u201cIf he\u2026if he wanted to contact me\u2026\u201d Leon trailed off, realization hitting him like a tidal wave.
\nHe hasn\u2019t checked his book in hours. Ever since Dante woke up in the medical wing, Leon\u2019s been too skittish to see what new messages Vergil wrote him.
\nHe ignored the bookmark\u2019s glowing, consumed with his inquiries and dead ends.
\nVergil\u2026
\n\u2018Mundus warned me, Leon. But I suspect he knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to resist\u2014you are my kin, as is Dante. I should have known before any of this transpired that my brother\u2019s and my sordid history would have you in the crosshairs. I suspected, yet didn\u2019t act in time.\u2019
\nVergil, on the surface, was the ideal stoic. He didn\u2019t bat an eye as people in the live audience eyed him, cowering in their seats over his origin.
\nA woman, a human woman\u2026willingly mated with a demon? Or was she coerced?
\n\u201cAre there many others who are like you?\u201d Stan asked, yanking on his collar.
\n\u201cOthers like me?\u201d Vergil parroted, his blue eyes sparkling. \u201cOnly one. I was born on Earth. But I\u2019ve lived on Makai since I was a child.\u201d
\nDante clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went pink. \u201cI return now on behalf of Mundus, my king. You have all been told that our world is Hell, and our ruler the Devil.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is he doing\u2026?\u201d
\n\u201cBut these are only stories. They have nothing to do with our true nature. Mundus seeks simply to preserve the proper order of his realm.\u201d
\n\u201cHow could he defend that MONSTER?\u201d Dante howled, his hands sliding into his hair. He dug his dull nails into his scalp. \u201cWhen he\u2026\u201d
\nLady squeezed her eyes shut, turning her head away. Leon\u2019s eyes were now glued to Dante\u2019s face. He opened his mouth to speak, only for Vergil to continue addressing the world.
\nVergil\u2019s mouth was a firm, harsh line. He stared directly into the camera, and pictured ice-blue eyes gazing back at him.
\n\u201cYour leaders, with the help of their well-paid mouthpieces, have sold you this attempted invasion as a moral battle. Good versus Evil. Humanity versus Hell. Unlike them, I believe you are intelligent enough to face reality.\u201d
\nVergil rose from the chair. He narrowed his eyes dangerously, reaching into his coat pocket.
\n\u2018It\u2019s time I expose DARKCOM for what it is, Leon. I\u2019m exposing what they did to my people, our people. And what they did to you.\u2019
\n\u201cThese are stills taken from security footage at one of your country\u2019s black site demon prisons.\u201d
\nThe images were gruesome: DARKCOM soldiers aiming their high-powered rifles at a downed demon and handcuffing it. The demon\u2019s face frozen in terror, tears prickling the corners of their eyes; several demons, no Makaians, in filthy cages, eyes bulging from their skulls as course after course of raw electricity singed their bodies from the inside out while scientists wearing oxygen masks idly watched; a tall, thin Makaian laying on an examination table, blood oozing from his severed limbs, while still alive.
\nLady screamed. Leon fell to his knees, as did Dante.
\n\u201cShowing your soldiers torturing Makaians without trial, for no crime other than their origins.\u201d Vergil\u2019s voice went husky, his eyes black as a moonless night.
\n\u201cT-those demons aren\u2019t from Mundus\u2019s troops!\u201d Lady exclaimed, grabbing Baines\u2019s shoulder in a death grip. Her eyes were on fire as she forced him to look at her, tasting bile in the back of her throat. \u201cThey\u2019re civilians, refugees.\u201d
\nBaines didn\u2019t blink as he stared Lady down.
\n\u201cThere can be no refugees from Hell,\u201d he declared, calm and collected. \u201cTsk, I thought you would have seen your error in that by now.\u201d
\n\u201cYour people\u2026did that to them?!\u201d Leon moaned, his hands clawing the hard, metal floor. Baines spared him a glance. Leon\u2019s eyes were in slits, blood pounding hard and fast behind his ears. \u201cYou abducted Makaians who wanted nothing to do with this! They paid with their lives, all for your religious righteousness bullshit?!\u201d
\n\u201c...Those needing to be dealt with were dealt with swiftly,\u201d Baines replied, his stone gray eyes peeking out from under his dark red shades.
\nLeon went white as a sheet. Dante snarled and stood between Baines and Leon, his fingers curled around Ebony and Ivory.
\nArius hummed, seemingly unbothered by the impending battle brewing mere inches from him. His secretary stared blankly ahead. \u201cHmm. If his big play is to hope people sympathize with demons\u2026\u201d the man with plum-purple eyes couldn\u2019t keep from laughing, trailing off with a cynical smile.
\nVergil held the photos up high, his other hand tight around the Yamato. \u201cThis prison torturing innocent civilians is a private facility, whose ownership can be traced to a single parent corporation, Uroboros.\u201d
\n\u201c...Uroboros?\u201d Leon echoed, as Arius\u2019s gleeful expression soured immensely.
\n\u201cThe invasion of Makai and the lives it\u2019s claimed from both our realms, has all been engineered by one man, Arius Von Erenburg. Your country\u2019s entire cause for taking up arms against Makai is built on a lie. Manufactured by Arius. The so-called demon who attacked New York City, the White Rabbit, was in fact\u2013\u201d
\n\u201cCut the feed!\u201d Arius roared into the phone his secretary handed him.
\nVergil\u2019s face was gone from the screen, a loud, jeering wailing filling the room. Everything and everyone was hushed, as if silenced by an invisible force. Arius was seething, his face a bright scarlet.
\n\u201c...\u201d That\u2019s when Dante, silent as a grave, turned and ran from the room.
\nLeon\u2019s eyes were on the ground. After a few minutes, he found the strength to stand again, lumbering after Dante like a zombie. Lady watched them exit with her heart in her throat. She avoided Baines\u2019s glower while Arius slammed his fists down on the control console in front of him.
\n\u201cVergil. Compadre. Seeing as you\u2019re Makai\u2019s ambassador and all, I figured you and I should negotiate.\u201d
\n\u201cI got Leon\u2019s location! He\u2019s at DARKCOM HQ.\u201d
\n\u201cChris?\u201d
\n\u201cScrew Hopper. We\u2019re dealing with this ourselves. We have to hurry.\u201d
\n\u201cRight behind you.\u201d
\n\u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d
\n\u201cCome on!\u201d
\n\u2026CODE RED. VERGIL IS INCOMING. T-MINUS TEN MINUTES\u2026
\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mom. I\u2019ll get him back.\u201d Dante whispered, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to the smooth, round golden locket. He slid it into his inside jacket pocket, Rebellion strapped to his back. Leon then entered the room, dressed in black tactical gear. He held the Lightning Hawk steady, his sandy blonde bangs obscuring his eyes. He evaded Dante\u2019s momentarily worried look, shaking his head.
\nDante relented, leading the way. He listened to Leon\u2019s heartbeat with every step he took, the only sound keeping him grounded now.
\n\u2018Vergil\u2026this ends here.\u2019
\n\u2018Dante\u2026Vergil\u2026\u2019
\n\u2018...Leon, I\u2019m here.\u2019
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T15:15:02Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T15:28:00Z", "authors": ["1InSaNeAnGeL"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85353156", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85353156", "external_url": null, "title": "Birth-day cake", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Ethan worked in a bakery when he was a teenager, so this time he decided to make the cake himself.
\nHis little daughter, Rose, was turning seven. The girl was at the table eating the lunch that Ethan had prepared for her; since it was her birthday, she decided to have cheesy macaroni.
\nLeon left the house very early; Ethan had barely noticed he'd gotten out of bed. He simply left him a text message that said:
\nI'll go get Rosey's birthday present
\n-leon kennedy
\nWhat did you purchase?
\n-Ethan
\nGovernment secret
\n-Leon kennedy
\nIf it's the puppy you promised a week ago, I'll kill you and I won't leave any cake for you.
\n-Ethan
\nLeon didn't reply to the last message, he simply left it on read.
\n"Dad, I'm done eating!" Rosey said, slamming her plate down on the table. "I want cookies!" she yelled, grabbing her fork and banging it on the table. "Cookies now! Cookies now!"
\n"Rosey, don't bang on the table." Ethan approached Rosey and took the fork from her hand. Rosey pouted. "I'll make you cookies after I finish the cake."
\n\u201c But I want them now! \u201c Rose tried to throw a tantrum.
\nEthan put his hands to his forehead and pinched his brow. "Sweetheart, I can't do everything at once. Besides, didn't you want a cake like Matilda's? That kind of cake takes time," he tried to convince her. But Rosemary was determined to eat cookies.
\n\u201c I'll tell your father to buy some cookies, okay? \u201cTo which Rosemary nodded.
\n\u201cI want chocolate chip cookies! \u201c Ethan smiled, picked up his phone and went into the chat.
\nLeon, honey, can you buy chocolate chip cookies for rosey?
\n-Ethan
\nLeon took a while to reply, but he sent him a thumbs-up emoji.
\n"When your daddy gets back, you'll have your cookies." Ethan hid the fact that Leon had gone to buy her birthday present; he wanted it to be a surprise, even though Ethan already suspected what it was. But he gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Look at the time," Ethan said, swiping down on his phone to check the time. "It's time for your favorite cartoon, go on." Rosey held out her arms, and Ethan lifted her by the armpits to help her down from the seat.
\nHer little daughter ran into the living room and turned on the television.
\nThat will give him time to make the cake.
\nEthan went back to the kitchen and started looking for the ingredients at the counter.
\nChocolate bar, eggs, sugar, a pinch of salt, milk, flour, baking powder, butter at room temperature, and cocoa powder. All spread out on the counter.
\nIn another bowl had chocolate for melting, with cream and powdered sugar.
\nHe began creaming the butter and sugar together, then added the eggs one at a time, mixing them with the milk. He set the bowl aside and began mixing the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in another bowl, sifting it.
\nHe put some butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe glass bowl and melt it in 30-second intervals. Once melted, he waited a bit and then add it to the bowl with the liquid ingredients.
\nand with a hand whisk he began to mix the melted chocolate with the eggs.
\nNow he had to gradually incorporate the dry ingredients, the flour.
\nOnce he had a liquid batter, he looked for a cake pan, greased and floured the pan.
\nHe poured the cake batter into the pan and put it in the oven, which was already preheated. He set the timer and let it cook for 40 minutes.
\nEthan went to check on his daughter; her favorite animated show had already finished, so she was just drawing on the floor.
\nHis little girl was already 7 years old. \u2018How fast they grow up\u2019 Ethan thought.
\nShe watched her daughter draw for a few minutes
\nOnce the 40 minutes had passed, the timer went off, Ethan went back to the kitchen and took the cake out of the oven.
\nHe waited ten minutes so he could unmold it more easily.
\nOnce the cake had cooled slightly, Ethan cut it in half.
\nHe took the whipping cream and started whipping it to stiff peaks with 50 grams of sugar. Then he melted the chocolate in the microwave to gradually incorporate it into the cream.
\nOnce everything was integrated, he began to make the cake.
\nLayer by layer he placed the chocolate cream along with a cup of sugared coffee to soak the sponge cake and then covered the whole cake with the chocolate cream.
\nOnce the cake is finished, he stores it in the refrigerator.
\nEthan rested in the living room with his daughter, she was quiet while watching another show that caught her attention.
\nThey were in a comfortable silence.
\nUntil the door opened, Rose suddenly stood up and ran to the door.
\nEthan got up from the sofa and headed towards the entrance of the house.
\n\u201cOh no,\u201d Ethan thought.
\nIt was Leon, with a small brown box and chocolate chip cookies on top. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it,\u201d Ethan mentally facepalmed.
\n"Daddy, what's that?" Rosemary asked curiously, wanting to take the box. Leon couldn't stop smiling. Ethan took the cookies while Leon put the box down on the floor.
\nLeon opened the box and inside was a puppy, a golden retriever. His daughter gasped in surprise and began to shout and jump with excitement.
\n\u201cPuppy! Puppy!\u201d Rosemary picked up the puppy and hugged it, tears of joy streaming down her face.\u201dDaddy\u201d sobbed rosemary.\u201dthank you dad-dy\u201d
\nLeon couldn't stop smiling and laughing. Leon looked at Ethan and gave him a knowing smile.
\nEthan looked back at him.
\n"Maybe a puppy isn't such a bad idea, we need a protector," Ethan joked.
\nLeon let out a chuckle.
\n"Promise me you'll take care of him, Rosey, hm?" Leon said, looking into his daughter's eyes. Rosey simply nodded as she gave the puppy affectionate kisses.
\n\u201cHow should we name it?\u201d Ethan asked.
\n\u201cWhat about rookie\u201d Leon said nonchalantly
\n\u201cSeriously\u2026\u201d-Ethan pouted.
\nRosemary picked up the puppy and said \u201cRookie!!\u201d.
\nThe adults laughed and went to the kitchen with their daughter and the newest member of the family.
\nEthan placed the cake in front of his daughter with a candle that had the number seven on it.
\n\u201cMake a wish, sweetheart,\u201d Ethan told him, and Leon began to sing Happy Birthday, to which Ethan continued.
\nRosey thought for a few moments and blew out the candle.
\nLeon stood on Rosemary's right side and Ethan on her left, and they hugged her, squeezing her between them, kissing her cheeks.
\nAfter that they sent Rosey to sleep in her roombed. They cuddled her and gave her a goodnight kiss. They left the puppy in Rosey's room, in the same box with a pillow for a bed.
\nThey both fell asleep easily.
\nLeon was undressing in the master bedroom. Ethan watched him from the bed.
\n\u201cadmit you're a bit of an idiot for not consulting me about the puppy \u201c Ethan commented, a little angry.
\n\u201cWell, but now she cleans her room by herself \u201d Leon replied, turning his back on him, almost on purpose, as if to seduce him.
\n"Just by picking up her toys from the floor," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow.
\nTo which Leon replied, "That's what you promised her." And with a lopsided smile, he crawled to the bed.
\nEthan kissed him on the mouth, a dry kiss. "Hmm, maybe that was okay. You made her very happy today... You'll clean up the dog mess," he threatened, placing a finger on Leon's lips to prevent him from saying anything else foolish. Or from daring to suggest that Ethan would have to clean everything again, in addition to the house.
\nLeon took Ethan's hand and kissed it, moving up from the back of his hand up his arm to Ethan's neck.
\nEthan moaned at the wet kiss. Leon pulled away from his neck and kissed Ethan, opening his mouth with a finger and deepening the kiss with his tongue.
\nLeon's other hand slipped under Ethan's pajama shirt, and Ethan shivered under his touch.
\nEthan took hold of Leon's hair, pulling his face closer to his, noses brushing and teeth clashing.
\nLeon rubbed his bulge against Ethan's. They both groaned, Ethan's hands tracing Leon's back, touching every wound.
\nLeon stopped kissing Ethan to look at how he had left his husband after his little intervention.
\nLeon removed Ethan's pants, exposing his boxers, which contained an erection. He removed the boxers and began to masturbate Ethan.
\nEthan squirmed and whimpered under his touch, his blood boiling.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026ah mhph\u201d Ethan stammered.
\nHe slid his hand from the tip of his penis down to Ethan's anus. He teased his hole a little bit.
\nShe took it from the bedside table lube. He placed it in his hand and began to penetrate Ethan's anus, little by little until he went from one finger to two, to three, and finally to four.
\nLeon's erection hurt, Leon took his jean bottoms off with his underwear.
\nso without further ado he took the lube again and spread it over his penis.
\nEthan was whimpering, with small tears in his eyes, looking at Leon from under his eyelashes. A lustful look.
\nLeon pressed his penis against Ethan's wet entrance and pushed his penis into him. Leon grumbled as he thrust himself over Ethan. He grabbed his hips and pushed his penis in slowly, at a gentle pace, so that Ethan could get used to it.
\nwhich a minute later Ethan was asking between stammers \u2014 more, please l-leon\u2014 .
\nLeon granted that wish, and began thrusting even harder, almost both of them reaching climax after being in the missionary position.
\nLeon gave one last thrust and came inside Ethan.
\nEthan sighed, still without cumming, and looked at Leon with a disappointed expression.
\n\u201c Don't worry, I won't leave you without your climax\u201d Leon took Ethan's penis and jacked him off, still with Leon's dick in his ass.
\nThe hole squirmed with every pump leon gave ethans cock
\nEthan se squirmed and cummed.
", "summary": "Ethan worked in a bakery when he was a teenager, so this time he decided to make the cake himself.
\nHis little daughter, Rose, was turning seven. The girl was at the table eating the lunch that Ethan had prepared for her; since it was her birthday, she decided to have cheesy macaroni.
\nLeon left the house very early; Ethan had barely noticed he'd gotten out of bed. He simply left him a text message that said:
\nI'll go get Rosey's birthday present
\n-leon kennedy
\nWhat did you purchase?
\n-Ethan
\nGovernment secret
\n-Leon kennedy
\nIf it's the puppy you promised a week ago, I'll kill you and I won't leave any cake for you.
\n-Ethan
\nLeon didn't reply to the last message, he simply left it on read.
\n"Dad, I'm done eating!" Rosey said, slamming her plate down on the table. "I want cookies!" she yelled, grabbing her fork and banging it on the table. "Cookies now! Cookies now!"
\n"Rosey, don't bang on the table." Ethan approached Rosey and took the fork from her hand. Rosey pouted. "I'll make you cookies after I finish the cake."
\n\u201c But I want them now! \u201c Rose tried to throw a tantrum.
\nEthan put his hands to his forehead and pinched his brow. "Sweetheart, I can't do everything at once. Besides, didn't you want a cake like Matilda's? That kind of cake takes time," he tried to convince her. But Rosemary was determined to eat cookies.
\n\u201c I'll tell your father to buy some cookies, okay? \u201cTo which Rosemary nodded.
\n\u201cI want chocolate chip cookies! \u201c Ethan smiled, picked up his phone and went into the chat.
\nLeon, honey, can you buy chocolate chip cookies for rosey?
\n-Ethan
\nLeon took a while to reply, but he sent him a thumbs-up emoji.
\n"When your daddy gets back, you'll have your cookies." Ethan hid the fact that Leon had gone to buy her birthday present; he wanted it to be a surprise, even though Ethan already suspected what it was. But he gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Look at the time," Ethan said, swiping down on his phone to check the time. "It's time for your favorite cartoon, go on." Rosey held out her arms, and Ethan lifted her by the armpits to help her down from the seat.
\nHer little daughter ran into the living room and turned on the television.
\nThat will give him time to make the cake.
\nEthan went back to the kitchen and started looking for the ingredients at the counter.
\nChocolate bar, eggs, sugar, a pinch of salt, milk, flour, baking powder, butter at room temperature, and cocoa powder. All spread out on the counter.
\nIn another bowl had chocolate for melting, with cream and powdered sugar.
\nHe began creaming the butter and sugar together, then added the eggs one at a time, mixing them with the milk. He set the bowl aside and began mixing the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in another bowl, sifting it.
\nHe put some butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe glass bowl and melt it in 30-second intervals. Once melted, he waited a bit and then add it to the bowl with the liquid ingredients.
\nand with a hand whisk he began to mix the melted chocolate with the eggs.
\nNow he had to gradually incorporate the dry ingredients, the flour.
\nOnce he had a liquid batter, he looked for a cake pan, greased and floured the pan.
\nHe poured the cake batter into the pan and put it in the oven, which was already preheated. He set the timer and let it cook for 40 minutes.
\nEthan went to check on his daughter; her favorite animated show had already finished, so she was just drawing on the floor.
\nHis little girl was already 7 years old. \u2018How fast they grow up\u2019 Ethan thought.
\nShe watched her daughter draw for a few minutes
\nOnce the 40 minutes had passed, the timer went off, Ethan went back to the kitchen and took the cake out of the oven.
\nHe waited ten minutes so he could unmold it more easily.
\nOnce the cake had cooled slightly, Ethan cut it in half.
\nHe took the whipping cream and started whipping it to stiff peaks with 50 grams of sugar. Then he melted the chocolate in the microwave to gradually incorporate it into the cream.
\nOnce everything was integrated, he began to make the cake.
\nLayer by layer he placed the chocolate cream along with a cup of sugared coffee to soak the sponge cake and then covered the whole cake with the chocolate cream.
\nOnce the cake is finished, he stores it in the refrigerator.
\nEthan rested in the living room with his daughter, she was quiet while watching another show that caught her attention.
\nThey were in a comfortable silence.
\nUntil the door opened, Rose suddenly stood up and ran to the door.
\nEthan got up from the sofa and headed towards the entrance of the house.
\n\u201cOh no,\u201d Ethan thought.
\nIt was Leon, with a small brown box and chocolate chip cookies on top. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it,\u201d Ethan mentally facepalmed.
\n"Daddy, what's that?" Rosemary asked curiously, wanting to take the box. Leon couldn't stop smiling. Ethan took the cookies while Leon put the box down on the floor.
\nLeon opened the box and inside was a puppy, a golden retriever. His daughter gasped in surprise and began to shout and jump with excitement.
\n\u201cPuppy! Puppy!\u201d Rosemary picked up the puppy and hugged it, tears of joy streaming down her face.\u201dDaddy\u201d sobbed rosemary.\u201dthank you dad-dy\u201d
\nLeon couldn't stop smiling and laughing. Leon looked at Ethan and gave him a knowing smile.
\nEthan looked back at him.
\n"Maybe a puppy isn't such a bad idea, we need a protector," Ethan joked.
\nLeon let out a chuckle.
\n"Promise me you'll take care of him, Rosey, hm?" Leon said, looking into his daughter's eyes. Rosey simply nodded as she gave the puppy affectionate kisses.
\n\u201cHow should we name it?\u201d Ethan asked.
\n\u201cWhat about rookie\u201d Leon said nonchalantly
\n\u201cSeriously\u2026\u201d-Ethan pouted.
\nRosemary picked up the puppy and said \u201cRookie!!\u201d.
\nThe adults laughed and went to the kitchen with their daughter and the newest member of the family.
\nEthan placed the cake in front of his daughter with a candle that had the number seven on it.
\n\u201cMake a wish, sweetheart,\u201d Ethan told him, and Leon began to sing Happy Birthday, to which Ethan continued.
\nRosey thought for a few moments and blew out the candle.
\nLeon stood on Rosemary's right side and Ethan on her left, and they hugged her, squeezing her between them, kissing her cheeks.
\nAfter that they sent Rosey to sleep in her roombed. They cuddled her and gave her a goodnight kiss. They left the puppy in Rosey's room, in the same box with a pillow for a bed.
\nThey both fell asleep easily.
\nLeon was undressing in the master bedroom. Ethan watched him from the bed.
\n\u201cadmit you're a bit of an idiot for not consulting me about the puppy \u201c Ethan commented, a little angry.
\n\u201cWell, but now she cleans her room by herself \u201d Leon replied, turning his back on him, almost on purpose, as if to seduce him.
\n"Just by picking up her toys from the floor," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow.
\nTo which Leon replied, "That's what you promised her." And with a lopsided smile, he crawled to the bed.
\nEthan kissed him on the mouth, a dry kiss. "Hmm, maybe that was okay. You made her very happy today... You'll clean up the dog mess," he threatened, placing a finger on Leon's lips to prevent him from saying anything else foolish. Or from daring to suggest that Ethan would have to clean everything again, in addition to the house.
\nLeon took Ethan's hand and kissed it, moving up from the back of his hand up his arm to Ethan's neck.
\nEthan moaned at the wet kiss. Leon pulled away from his neck and kissed Ethan, opening his mouth with a finger and deepening the kiss with his tongue.
\nLeon's other hand slipped under Ethan's pajama shirt, and Ethan shivered under his touch.
\nEthan took hold of Leon's hair, pulling his face closer to his, noses brushing and teeth clashing.
\nLeon rubbed his bulge against Ethan's. They both groaned, Ethan's hands tracing Leon's back, touching every wound.
\nLeon stopped kissing Ethan to look at how he had left his husband after his little intervention.
\nLeon removed Ethan's pants, exposing his boxers, which contained an erection. He removed the boxers and began to masturbate Ethan.
\nEthan squirmed and whimpered under his touch, his blood boiling.
\n\u201cLeon\u2026ah mhph\u201d Ethan stammered.
\nHe slid his hand from the tip of his penis down to Ethan's anus. He teased his hole a little bit.
\nShe took it from the bedside table lube. He placed it in his hand and began to penetrate Ethan's anus, little by little until he went from one finger to two, to three, and finally to four.
\nLeon's erection hurt, Leon took his jean bottoms off with his underwear.
\nso without further ado he took the lube again and spread it over his penis.
\nEthan was whimpering, with small tears in his eyes, looking at Leon from under his eyelashes. A lustful look.
\nLeon pressed his penis against Ethan's wet entrance and pushed his penis into him. Leon grumbled as he thrust himself over Ethan. He grabbed his hips and pushed his penis in slowly, at a gentle pace, so that Ethan could get used to it.
\nwhich a minute later Ethan was asking between stammers \u2014 more, please l-leon\u2014 .
\nLeon granted that wish, and began thrusting even harder, almost both of them reaching climax after being in the missionary position.
\nLeon gave one last thrust and came inside Ethan.
\nEthan sighed, still without cumming, and looked at Leon with a disappointed expression.
\n\u201c Don't worry, I won't leave you without your climax\u201d Leon took Ethan's penis and jacked him off, still with Leon's dick in his ass.
\nThe hole squirmed with every pump leon gave ethans cock
\nEthan se squirmed and cummed.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T14:49:13Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T14:49:30Z", "authors": ["Marchwashere2003"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85352211", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85352211", "external_url": null, "title": "Quieter", "content_text": "", "content_html": "For once, morning came not with dread that it may be his last. He blinked awake slowly. Finsing himself surrounded by a soft comforter and a solid weight around his waist. Leone smiled softly not needing to turn around to know who it was. He would know Chris\u2019s touch even if he were blind. He lifted his left hand up to the light filtering through the curtains. His wedding ring back on his finger where it belonged. His skin no longer marred by Racoon City Syndrome. He would live to see another morning. Hopefully many more if he could help it.
\nThe arm around his waist tightened and the person behind him hummed quietly \u201cMorning\u201d Chris mumbled keeping his face buried in Leon\u2019s soft hair.
\n\u201cMorning\u201d Leon murmured back, his voice ragged. He shifted slightly in bed, a phantom ache in his lower back made him chuckle lightly. Last night, after Chris was done lecturing him about running off into danger without advanced notice or even leaving a message explaining, Chris proceeded to drag Leon into the bedroom where he showed Leon just how much he missed him.
\nWhich, as it turned out, was a lot.
\nLeon bore the bites on his throat and the bruises on his thighs with pride. Sex with Chris had always been out of this world but last night had been insane. His throat ached from crying out Chris\u2019s name. His thighs felt like lead. He was pretty sure the sheets were ruined.
\nHe couldn\u2019t give a flying fuck.
\nChris pressed a kiss to Leon\u2019s shoulder \u201cDon\u2019t run off on me again\u201d
\nLeon smiled into his pillow, threading his hand with Chris\u2019s. Their matching wedding rings glinting in the morning light \u201cYou got it\u201d
\n===
\nLater that morning when they finally dragged themselves out of bed, Leon was making breakfast when the front door knocked. Chris went to answer it while Leon plated the food. Crispy bacon and eggs sunny side up. They were currently staying in one of the DOS\u2019s many safe houses. Located in a quiet suburban neighbourhood that was known to keep to themselves.
\nLeon was just about finished pouring two cups of black coffee when Chris came back into the kitchen looking rather amused \u201cLeon?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, Chris?\u201d he asked turning around noting the amusement in his expression
\nChrist stifled a chuckle \u201cI think we need to be quieter from now on\u201d
\nLeon sipped his coffee before responding \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cThe neighbours just knocked on our door,\u201d Chris began to explain \u201cAnd they were like, hey Chris, could you maybe keep the noise down?\u201d
\nHis husband gave a confused tilt of his head \u201cDid they say why?\u201d
\nA surprisingly undignified snort escaped Chris \u201cThey didn\u2019t have to. I\u2019ve - I\u2019ve never told them my name before\u201d
\nIt took a moment for it to click in Leon\u2019s brain how the neighbours would know Chris\u2019s name if they\u2019d never introduced themselves. That\u2019s when Leon remembered the night before and realised he had been much, much louder than intended \u201c... Oh\u201d
", "summary": "For once, morning came not with dread that it may be his last. He blinked awake slowly. Finsing himself surrounded by a soft comforter and a solid weight around his waist. Leone smiled softly not needing to turn around to know who it was. He would know Chris\u2019s touch even if he were blind. He lifted his left hand up to the light filtering through the curtains. His wedding ring back on his finger where it belonged. His skin no longer marred by Racoon City Syndrome. He would live to see another morning. Hopefully many more if he could help it.
\nThe arm around his waist tightened and the person behind him hummed quietly \u201cMorning\u201d Chris mumbled keeping his face buried in Leon\u2019s soft hair.
\n\u201cMorning\u201d Leon murmured back, his voice ragged. He shifted slightly in bed, a phantom ache in his lower back made him chuckle lightly. Last night, after Chris was done lecturing him about running off into danger without advanced notice or even leaving a message explaining, Chris proceeded to drag Leon into the bedroom where he showed Leon just how much he missed him.
\nWhich, as it turned out, was a lot.
\nLeon bore the bites on his throat and the bruises on his thighs with pride. Sex with Chris had always been out of this world but last night had been insane. His throat ached from crying out Chris\u2019s name. His thighs felt like lead. He was pretty sure the sheets were ruined.
\nHe couldn\u2019t give a flying fuck.
\nChris pressed a kiss to Leon\u2019s shoulder \u201cDon\u2019t run off on me again\u201d
\nLeon smiled into his pillow, threading his hand with Chris\u2019s. Their matching wedding rings glinting in the morning light \u201cYou got it\u201d
\n===
\nLater that morning when they finally dragged themselves out of bed, Leon was making breakfast when the front door knocked. Chris went to answer it while Leon plated the food. Crispy bacon and eggs sunny side up. They were currently staying in one of the DOS\u2019s many safe houses. Located in a quiet suburban neighbourhood that was known to keep to themselves.
\nLeon was just about finished pouring two cups of black coffee when Chris came back into the kitchen looking rather amused \u201cLeon?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, Chris?\u201d he asked turning around noting the amusement in his expression
\nChrist stifled a chuckle \u201cI think we need to be quieter from now on\u201d
\nLeon sipped his coffee before responding \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cThe neighbours just knocked on our door,\u201d Chris began to explain \u201cAnd they were like, hey Chris, could you maybe keep the noise down?\u201d
\nHis husband gave a confused tilt of his head \u201cDid they say why?\u201d
\nA surprisingly undignified snort escaped Chris \u201cThey didn\u2019t have to. I\u2019ve - I\u2019ve never told them my name before\u201d
\nIt took a moment for it to click in Leon\u2019s brain how the neighbours would know Chris\u2019s name if they\u2019d never introduced themselves. That\u2019s when Leon remembered the night before and realised he had been much, much louder than intended \u201c... Oh\u201d
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T14:26:25Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T14:27:38Z", "authors": ["doughnut_mind_if_I_do"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85351956", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85351956", "external_url": null, "title": "princess hair", "content_text": "", "content_html": "princess hair
\nLeon sat on the fluffy carpet in the living room, his long legs stretched out, trying to look dignified. It wasn\u2019t exactly easy when two little girls were kneeling on either side of him, working on his hair with intense concentration.
\n\u201cNot too tight, Rose,\u201d he murmured as Rose carefully parted a strand of his blond hair with a serious expression. The girl nodded solemnly, as if she were performing an extremely important operation.
\nEmily, meanwhile, was already holding up a handful of pink and purple hair clips. \u201cThis one goes perfectly with your eyes, Leon!\u201d
\nLeon smiled crookedly. \u201cMy eyes are blue, Em.\u201d
\n\u201cBut the clips have glitter! That\u2019s basically the same thing. Because every time you see Chris, your eyes sparkle just like those hair clips!\u201d
\nLeon couldn't help but feel a warm glow in his heart at Emily's words. She already seemed to have a knack for observing things.
\nHe let out a quiet sigh, but it was a fond one. Ever since Chris had left for work that morning, Leon had taken over watching Rose and Emily, because he had offered Grace to watch Emily for a week. He was the only one of the three who finally had time off anyway. And today was supposed to be a quiet day \u2013 watching cartoons, baking cookies, maybe some reading. Instead, he had officially been appointed as a living styling doll.
\nRose skillfully divided his hair into several small sections and began braiding tiny little pigtails. Her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth in concentration. Emily immediately decorated each finished braid with a clip \u2013 butterflies, stars, a little unicorn.
\n\u201cYou do realize Chris is going to laugh at me when he gets home, right?\u201d Leon asked dryly.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s gonna think it looks really pretty,\u201d Rose said confidently. \u201cYou look like a pretty princess!\u201d
\n\u201cA really cool pretty princess,\u201d Emily added, sticking another sparkly clip right above Leon\u2019s forehead.
\nLeon closed his eyes for a moment and let them continue. The little fingers in his hair felt strangely soothing. After all the years of fighting viruses, and zombies, this was\u2026 peaceful. Almost absurdly peaceful. So he let the girls keep fiddling with his hair.
\nWhen the front door finally opened, it was already afternoon. Leon heard Chris\u2019s heavy footsteps in the hallway and the familiar sound of him hanging up his jacket. \u201cI\u2019m home!\u201d Chris called out, as always.
\nThen he rounded the corner into the living room \u2013 and stopped dead. For a moment, he didn\u2019t say anything. His eyes widened, and a broad, far-too-amused grin spread across his face.
\nLeon just raised one eyebrow, though the effect was somewhat diminished by the two tiny braids right above his forehead. \u201cNot. A. Word, Redfield-Kennedy.\u201d
\nChris walked over slowly, arms crossed over his chest. He looked his husband up and down \u2013 the many little braids, the glittering clips, and especially the very prominent unicorn right at the top of his head.
\n\u201cBaby\u201d, Chris began in his deep, warm voice, \u201cyou look\u2026 enchanting.\u201d
\nLeon snorted. \u201cShut up.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, I mean it.\u201d Chris crouched down in front of him so they were at eye level. He reached out and gently touched one of the little braids. \u201cVery\u2026 avant-garde. Very graceful. Very Leon-Redfield-Kennedy.\u201d
\nRose and Emily giggled behind their hands.
\nChris grinned even wider. \u201cI didn\u2019t know I married a fashion influencer. Just wait until Jill sees this. Or Claire. They\u2019re gonna demand I take a picture.\u201d
\nLeon narrowed his eyes, but he couldn\u2019t suppress the telltale twitch at the corner of his mouth. \u201cYou\u2019re enjoying this way too much.\u201d
\n\u201cA little,\u201d Chris admitted. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Leon\u2019s forehead, right between two clips. \u201cBut mostly I think it\u2019s sweet. You let them do whatever they want with you.\u201d
\n\u201cThey bribed me,\u201d Leon muttered. \u201cWith hot chocolate.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd it worked!\u201d Rose noted, clearly proud.
\nEmily triumphantly held up one last clip. \u201cOne more! The rainbow one!\u201d
\nChris sat down on the carpet beside Leon, wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. \u201cGo ahead, girls. I\u2019ll hold him so he doesn\u2019t run away.\u201d
\nLeon leaned his head against Chris\u2019s shoulder, the many little braids rustling softly. \u201cI hate all of you,\u201d he said, with zero conviction.
\nChris chuckled quietly, kissed him again on the temple and whispered in his ear: \u201cLiar. You love us.\u201d
\nAnd Leon, surrounded by glittering hair clips and the warm weight of Chris\u2019s arm around him, couldn\u2019t argue.
", "summary": "princess hair
\nLeon sat on the fluffy carpet in the living room, his long legs stretched out, trying to look dignified. It wasn\u2019t exactly easy when two little girls were kneeling on either side of him, working on his hair with intense concentration.
\n\u201cNot too tight, Rose,\u201d he murmured as Rose carefully parted a strand of his blond hair with a serious expression. The girl nodded solemnly, as if she were performing an extremely important operation.
\nEmily, meanwhile, was already holding up a handful of pink and purple hair clips. \u201cThis one goes perfectly with your eyes, Leon!\u201d
\nLeon smiled crookedly. \u201cMy eyes are blue, Em.\u201d
\n\u201cBut the clips have glitter! That\u2019s basically the same thing. Because every time you see Chris, your eyes sparkle just like those hair clips!\u201d
\nLeon couldn't help but feel a warm glow in his heart at Emily's words. She already seemed to have a knack for observing things.
\nHe let out a quiet sigh, but it was a fond one. Ever since Chris had left for work that morning, Leon had taken over watching Rose and Emily, because he had offered Grace to watch Emily for a week. He was the only one of the three who finally had time off anyway. And today was supposed to be a quiet day \u2013 watching cartoons, baking cookies, maybe some reading. Instead, he had officially been appointed as a living styling doll.
\nRose skillfully divided his hair into several small sections and began braiding tiny little pigtails. Her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth in concentration. Emily immediately decorated each finished braid with a clip \u2013 butterflies, stars, a little unicorn.
\n\u201cYou do realize Chris is going to laugh at me when he gets home, right?\u201d Leon asked dryly.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s gonna think it looks really pretty,\u201d Rose said confidently. \u201cYou look like a pretty princess!\u201d
\n\u201cA really cool pretty princess,\u201d Emily added, sticking another sparkly clip right above Leon\u2019s forehead.
\nLeon closed his eyes for a moment and let them continue. The little fingers in his hair felt strangely soothing. After all the years of fighting viruses, and zombies, this was\u2026 peaceful. Almost absurdly peaceful. So he let the girls keep fiddling with his hair.
\nWhen the front door finally opened, it was already afternoon. Leon heard Chris\u2019s heavy footsteps in the hallway and the familiar sound of him hanging up his jacket. \u201cI\u2019m home!\u201d Chris called out, as always.
\nThen he rounded the corner into the living room \u2013 and stopped dead. For a moment, he didn\u2019t say anything. His eyes widened, and a broad, far-too-amused grin spread across his face.
\nLeon just raised one eyebrow, though the effect was somewhat diminished by the two tiny braids right above his forehead. \u201cNot. A. Word, Redfield-Kennedy.\u201d
\nChris walked over slowly, arms crossed over his chest. He looked his husband up and down \u2013 the many little braids, the glittering clips, and especially the very prominent unicorn right at the top of his head.
\n\u201cBaby\u201d, Chris began in his deep, warm voice, \u201cyou look\u2026 enchanting.\u201d
\nLeon snorted. \u201cShut up.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, I mean it.\u201d Chris crouched down in front of him so they were at eye level. He reached out and gently touched one of the little braids. \u201cVery\u2026 avant-garde. Very graceful. Very Leon-Redfield-Kennedy.\u201d
\nRose and Emily giggled behind their hands.
\nChris grinned even wider. \u201cI didn\u2019t know I married a fashion influencer. Just wait until Jill sees this. Or Claire. They\u2019re gonna demand I take a picture.\u201d
\nLeon narrowed his eyes, but he couldn\u2019t suppress the telltale twitch at the corner of his mouth. \u201cYou\u2019re enjoying this way too much.\u201d
\n\u201cA little,\u201d Chris admitted. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Leon\u2019s forehead, right between two clips. \u201cBut mostly I think it\u2019s sweet. You let them do whatever they want with you.\u201d
\n\u201cThey bribed me,\u201d Leon muttered. \u201cWith hot chocolate.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd it worked!\u201d Rose noted, clearly proud.
\nEmily triumphantly held up one last clip. \u201cOne more! The rainbow one!\u201d
\nChris sat down on the carpet beside Leon, wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. \u201cGo ahead, girls. I\u2019ll hold him so he doesn\u2019t run away.\u201d
\nLeon leaned his head against Chris\u2019s shoulder, the many little braids rustling softly. \u201cI hate all of you,\u201d he said, with zero conviction.
\nChris chuckled quietly, kissed him again on the temple and whispered in his ear: \u201cLiar. You love us.\u201d
\nAnd Leon, surrounded by glittering hair clips and the warm weight of Chris\u2019s arm around him, couldn\u2019t argue.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T14:21:04Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T14:27:22Z", "authors": ["Zawija"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85349676", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85349676", "external_url": null, "title": "The Dead Of Baby Blue", "content_text": "", "content_html": "The concrete wall is cold through the thin fabric of his shirt. The chill of it seeping into his spine\u2013not that he could be bothered by it in the grand scheme of things when his hair\u2019s still dripping wet at his feet.
\nWhat\u2019s a little chill when he\u2019s practically dissociated at one point to withstand the pain like a body on autopilot and the pilot\u2019s long gone\u2026
\nIn fact, bracing his back against the cold wall is almost a welcomed sensation\u2013something sturdy and real that\u2019s slowly pulling him back from everything that\u2019s distant and submerged.
\nSlumped against the wall, knees pulled in, shoulders shaking in small, uneven tremors he can\u2019t quite suppress, he doesn\u2019t know how long he's been sitting here. Ten minutes? An hour? Time does what it does during these sessions; stretches and compresses in ways that make it unreliable. After all, part of the torture is losing the notion of time\u2026
\nParts of his body still believe it\u2019s not over. His hands, resting loose against his head, trembles in fine, almost imperceptible increments. He presses his palms flat against his forehead to stop it, which doesn\u2019t work, which he already knew.
\nEvery time the session drags a little longer and today was another new record. Long past the point where his body stopped cooperating and something more stubborn, more desperate had taken over. It was almost an outer body experience.
\nIt was horrible.
\nIt was frightening.
\nBut it\u2019s over\u2013yet he hates that he can\u2019t muster the strength to run the fuck away from this room, now.
\nSo his legs buckle beneath his feet and he let himself slide down against the wall. And the moment he hits the ground, a tear slips down before he can stop it.
\nThen another. Silent. Steady.
\nThen a gut-wrenching sob not silent at all.
\nHe presses his forehead hard against his wrists, and just like that, the breakdown becomes almost as worst as the nightmare.
\nThe nightmare he can categorize. Box it, fill it under training, necessary, temporary\u2026 but this? The way his body has just decided to surrender to the weakness, blowing all the resilience he\u2019s been made to build for hours here into smithereens? That\u2019s unforgivable. And yet here he was, loud and steady, like a broken faucet he couldn\u2019t fix.
\nHe\u2019s not even sad. He\u2019s not sure what he is at that moment. But something has shaken loose inside when it was finally over and the tears are just the evidence.
\nPerhaps it\u2019s the epiphany that this is what life had in store for him all along\u2013when he\u2019s kissed his grandma one last time before leaving town to join Raccoon City\u2019s precinct, happy as a clam. When he\u2019s been so scared to have fumbled his first day at work after his girlfriend broke up with him through the phone.
\nThat every police code he\u2019s learned by heart has been a silly waste of time.
\nThat protecting citizens using the law has been a waste of dreams.
\nThat all along, he\u2019s been bound to end here, in this empty room bereft of nothing but a table for a handyman\u2019s tool case and an execution chair.
\nLeon wants to fucking die.
\nHe hears bootsteps approaching and he doesn\u2019t need to look up to know who it is. Then the long descent of a man lowering himself to the floor without complaint, and suddenly there\u2019s a smidgen of warmth at his left shoulder, the solid proximity of someone who has also been in that room with him for hours.
\nKrauser doesn\u2019t say anything and for a while. There\u2019s only the sound of Leon trying and failing to steady his sobbing and the twitches of that miserable bulb above their heads.
\nAnd yet, something stubborn survives the wreckage\u2014even like this he finds the strength to cling to it\u2014keeping his gaze down, refusing to look at Krauser first.
\nKrauser finally breaks the silence, voice low, almost thoughtful. \u201cSomeday this pain will be useful.\u201d
\nLeon turns his head, eyes red, lashes clumped together, and looks at Krauser like he\u2019s trying to decide whether to believe him\u2014or hate him for it.
\nIt\u2019s almost harder than if he's said something cutting. Leon has braced for cutting. Has assembled the architecture of a response, something clipped and defiant. But Krauser just sits there with his forearms across his knees and his breathing even, meeting his gaze without flinching.
\nIt\u2019s always a small miscalculation, looking directly at Jack Krauser. The man has a quality of attention that feels like pressure\u2014not aggressive, not warm, just total\u2014like being observed by something that doesn't look away till it\u2019s bored.
\nAnd those eyes are enduring glaciers in a boreal land where Leon wonders if anyone could ever be welcome.
\nThey find his face and hold. And they win like fucking always because Leon looks away first.
\nBut he doesn\u2019t get far.
\nKrauser\u2019s hand comes up, firm fingers catching his chin and pulling him back\u2014not gently, but worse of all, not roughly either.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t turn away,\u201d Krauser mutters. \u201cLook me in the eyes with that angry, snotty little mug of yours.\u201d
\nSomething ignites in Leon's chest.
\nSnotty. He feels it move through him like a lit fuse\u2014the indignity of it, the accuracy; the fact that Krauser can sit here after everything he did to him and still find the angle that makes Leon want to swing through absolute exhaustion.
\nIt\u2019s not even cruelty\u2014which would have been easier to dismiss. It\u2019s the precision. Him locating exactly the small remaining embers of his pride and breathing on it, deliberately, because this impossible man understands what a man needs to come back from something.
\nAnd that thumb presses against his chin.
\nMaking him look into that wintrily appraisal that always feels like a nice little present saved for Leon\u2019s eyes only.
\nHe won\u2019t fully understand it until later, would turn it over for a long time afterward in the dark but in that instant, he closes the distance and presses his mouth against Krauser's.
\nHard, graceless. A declaration more than anything else. Take this. Feel this. Have a taste of the fucking snot.
\nThe rebellious punch he doesn\u2019t have the strength to land.
\nHe wants Krauser to flinch, to pull back, to be thrown - he wants one moment where the man doesn't have the upper hand, where something lands that Krauser hasn\u2019t already anticipated. He wants to land a hit. He wants to take something back from this session.
\nAnd most of all, he wants to show the prick he can\u2019t just break him for hours then act like he can also be gentle by slinging bits of wisdom words at him like some fucking Ghandi.
\nBut he ends up pulling away first.
\nBecause Jack hasn\u2019t moved.
\nThere\u2019s a flicker of expectation\u2014like he\u2019s waiting for impact. For the man to shove him off, to get pissed, to react.
\nBut he hasn\u2019t even flinched.
\nHe\u2019s exactly where he'd been, forearms across his knees, chin slightly tilted, watching Leon with an expression that\u2019s\u2014God, insufferable\u2014and the faintest suggestion of a smile curls the edge of his lips.
\n\u201cThat supposed to mean somethin\u2019?\u201d
\nHe\u2019s fucking amused and Leon\u2019s the one still leaking snot and tears.
\nOh whatever the fuck.
\nLeon starts wiping at his face, rough and resentful. \u201cYeah,\u201d he mutters hoarsely. \u201cMeans I\u2019m not fucking broken.\u201d
\n\u201cThen I have more work on my plate.\u201d
\nLeon snaps back at him with a pathetic, hateful glower. \u201cWhy do you fucking hate me?\u201d
\n\u201c\u2018Cuz you haven\u2019t been damaged enough. And damaged people are dangerous. Know why?\u201d Leon scrunches his brow and Krauser smiles. \u201c\u2018Cuz they know they can survive.\u201d
\nThis time, Leon doesn\u2019t look away.
\n\u201cPlus I don\u2019t hate ya, Rookie. You\u2019re part of the fold I must train\u2014and I always deliver good fucking results.\u201d
\nHis chest still heaves, his throat is still tight\u2014but he holds eye contact, now even as his chin still trembles.
\nKrauser suddenly pokes at Leon's temple. \u201cIt all begins and ends in your mind, Rookie. What you give power to, has power over you, if you allow it. Do you wanna continue to be ruled by pain and whatever fucking monsters you told me about?\u201d
\nIt\u2019s at that exact moment, that something slowly burrows inside his head. Like the faintest beam of light pushing its way through the dark clouds of the nightmare.
\nKrauser turns back to face forward, forearms settling on his knees again, gaze moving to where that vile, strapping chair is, and Leon gets suddenly dizzy from the whiplash of feeling like they\u2019re just two men sitting in the training field now. As if nothing has shifted. Jack hasn\u2019t been drowning him for hours in electrified water and Leon hasn\u2019t planted his lips on his fucking superior\u2026 Or everything had, but the difference didn't matter to the other man.
\nLeon wetly coughs and stares at the side of his face.
\nMaybe\u2026
\nMaybe he should start looking at this differently.
\nMaybe he\u2019s not being buried in this dark place.
\nMaybe he\u2019s being planted...
", "summary": "The concrete wall is cold through the thin fabric of his shirt. The chill of it seeping into his spine\u2013not that he could be bothered by it in the grand scheme of things when his hair\u2019s still dripping wet at his feet.
\nWhat\u2019s a little chill when he\u2019s practically dissociated at one point to withstand the pain like a body on autopilot and the pilot\u2019s long gone\u2026
\nIn fact, bracing his back against the cold wall is almost a welcomed sensation\u2013something sturdy and real that\u2019s slowly pulling him back from everything that\u2019s distant and submerged.
\nSlumped against the wall, knees pulled in, shoulders shaking in small, uneven tremors he can\u2019t quite suppress, he doesn\u2019t know how long he's been sitting here. Ten minutes? An hour? Time does what it does during these sessions; stretches and compresses in ways that make it unreliable. After all, part of the torture is losing the notion of time\u2026
\nParts of his body still believe it\u2019s not over. His hands, resting loose against his head, trembles in fine, almost imperceptible increments. He presses his palms flat against his forehead to stop it, which doesn\u2019t work, which he already knew.
\nEvery time the session drags a little longer and today was another new record. Long past the point where his body stopped cooperating and something more stubborn, more desperate had taken over. It was almost an outer body experience.
\nIt was horrible.
\nIt was frightening.
\nBut it\u2019s over\u2013yet he hates that he can\u2019t muster the strength to run the fuck away from this room, now.
\nSo his legs buckle beneath his feet and he let himself slide down against the wall. And the moment he hits the ground, a tear slips down before he can stop it.
\nThen another. Silent. Steady.
\nThen a gut-wrenching sob not silent at all.
\nHe presses his forehead hard against his wrists, and just like that, the breakdown becomes almost as worst as the nightmare.
\nThe nightmare he can categorize. Box it, fill it under training, necessary, temporary\u2026 but this? The way his body has just decided to surrender to the weakness, blowing all the resilience he\u2019s been made to build for hours here into smithereens? That\u2019s unforgivable. And yet here he was, loud and steady, like a broken faucet he couldn\u2019t fix.
\nHe\u2019s not even sad. He\u2019s not sure what he is at that moment. But something has shaken loose inside when it was finally over and the tears are just the evidence.
\nPerhaps it\u2019s the epiphany that this is what life had in store for him all along\u2013when he\u2019s kissed his grandma one last time before leaving town to join Raccoon City\u2019s precinct, happy as a clam. When he\u2019s been so scared to have fumbled his first day at work after his girlfriend broke up with him through the phone.
\nThat every police code he\u2019s learned by heart has been a silly waste of time.
\nThat protecting citizens using the law has been a waste of dreams.
\nThat all along, he\u2019s been bound to end here, in this empty room bereft of nothing but a table for a handyman\u2019s tool case and an execution chair.
\nLeon wants to fucking die.
\nHe hears bootsteps approaching and he doesn\u2019t need to look up to know who it is. Then the long descent of a man lowering himself to the floor without complaint, and suddenly there\u2019s a smidgen of warmth at his left shoulder, the solid proximity of someone who has also been in that room with him for hours.
\nKrauser doesn\u2019t say anything and for a while. There\u2019s only the sound of Leon trying and failing to steady his sobbing and the twitches of that miserable bulb above their heads.
\nAnd yet, something stubborn survives the wreckage\u2014even like this he finds the strength to cling to it\u2014keeping his gaze down, refusing to look at Krauser first.
\nKrauser finally breaks the silence, voice low, almost thoughtful. \u201cSomeday this pain will be useful.\u201d
\nLeon turns his head, eyes red, lashes clumped together, and looks at Krauser like he\u2019s trying to decide whether to believe him\u2014or hate him for it.
\nIt\u2019s almost harder than if he's said something cutting. Leon has braced for cutting. Has assembled the architecture of a response, something clipped and defiant. But Krauser just sits there with his forearms across his knees and his breathing even, meeting his gaze without flinching.
\nIt\u2019s always a small miscalculation, looking directly at Jack Krauser. The man has a quality of attention that feels like pressure\u2014not aggressive, not warm, just total\u2014like being observed by something that doesn't look away till it\u2019s bored.
\nAnd those eyes are enduring glaciers in a boreal land where Leon wonders if anyone could ever be welcome.
\nThey find his face and hold. And they win like fucking always because Leon looks away first.
\nBut he doesn\u2019t get far.
\nKrauser\u2019s hand comes up, firm fingers catching his chin and pulling him back\u2014not gently, but worse of all, not roughly either.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t turn away,\u201d Krauser mutters. \u201cLook me in the eyes with that angry, snotty little mug of yours.\u201d
\nSomething ignites in Leon's chest.
\nSnotty. He feels it move through him like a lit fuse\u2014the indignity of it, the accuracy; the fact that Krauser can sit here after everything he did to him and still find the angle that makes Leon want to swing through absolute exhaustion.
\nIt\u2019s not even cruelty\u2014which would have been easier to dismiss. It\u2019s the precision. Him locating exactly the small remaining embers of his pride and breathing on it, deliberately, because this impossible man understands what a man needs to come back from something.
\nAnd that thumb presses against his chin.
\nMaking him look into that wintrily appraisal that always feels like a nice little present saved for Leon\u2019s eyes only.
\nHe won\u2019t fully understand it until later, would turn it over for a long time afterward in the dark but in that instant, he closes the distance and presses his mouth against Krauser's.
\nHard, graceless. A declaration more than anything else. Take this. Feel this. Have a taste of the fucking snot.
\nThe rebellious punch he doesn\u2019t have the strength to land.
\nHe wants Krauser to flinch, to pull back, to be thrown - he wants one moment where the man doesn't have the upper hand, where something lands that Krauser hasn\u2019t already anticipated. He wants to land a hit. He wants to take something back from this session.
\nAnd most of all, he wants to show the prick he can\u2019t just break him for hours then act like he can also be gentle by slinging bits of wisdom words at him like some fucking Ghandi.
\nBut he ends up pulling away first.
\nBecause Jack hasn\u2019t moved.
\nThere\u2019s a flicker of expectation\u2014like he\u2019s waiting for impact. For the man to shove him off, to get pissed, to react.
\nBut he hasn\u2019t even flinched.
\nHe\u2019s exactly where he'd been, forearms across his knees, chin slightly tilted, watching Leon with an expression that\u2019s\u2014God, insufferable\u2014and the faintest suggestion of a smile curls the edge of his lips.
\n\u201cThat supposed to mean somethin\u2019?\u201d
\nHe\u2019s fucking amused and Leon\u2019s the one still leaking snot and tears.
\nOh whatever the fuck.
\nLeon starts wiping at his face, rough and resentful. \u201cYeah,\u201d he mutters hoarsely. \u201cMeans I\u2019m not fucking broken.\u201d
\n\u201cThen I have more work on my plate.\u201d
\nLeon snaps back at him with a pathetic, hateful glower. \u201cWhy do you fucking hate me?\u201d
\n\u201c\u2018Cuz you haven\u2019t been damaged enough. And damaged people are dangerous. Know why?\u201d Leon scrunches his brow and Krauser smiles. \u201c\u2018Cuz they know they can survive.\u201d
\nThis time, Leon doesn\u2019t look away.
\n\u201cPlus I don\u2019t hate ya, Rookie. You\u2019re part of the fold I must train\u2014and I always deliver good fucking results.\u201d
\nHis chest still heaves, his throat is still tight\u2014but he holds eye contact, now even as his chin still trembles.
\nKrauser suddenly pokes at Leon's temple. \u201cIt all begins and ends in your mind, Rookie. What you give power to, has power over you, if you allow it. Do you wanna continue to be ruled by pain and whatever fucking monsters you told me about?\u201d
\nIt\u2019s at that exact moment, that something slowly burrows inside his head. Like the faintest beam of light pushing its way through the dark clouds of the nightmare.
\nKrauser turns back to face forward, forearms settling on his knees again, gaze moving to where that vile, strapping chair is, and Leon gets suddenly dizzy from the whiplash of feeling like they\u2019re just two men sitting in the training field now. As if nothing has shifted. Jack hasn\u2019t been drowning him for hours in electrified water and Leon hasn\u2019t planted his lips on his fucking superior\u2026 Or everything had, but the difference didn't matter to the other man.
\nLeon wetly coughs and stares at the side of his face.
\nMaybe\u2026
\nMaybe he should start looking at this differently.
\nMaybe he\u2019s not being buried in this dark place.
\nMaybe he\u2019s being planted...
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T13:19:49Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T13:30:06Z", "authors": ["TheAnderfelsOne"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85348311", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85348311", "external_url": null, "title": "take my hand (take my whole life too)", "content_text": "", "content_html": "The first time you hold Leon's hand, he doesn't know what to do. You were his current mission objective, and his purpose was to keep you safe and bring you to the extraction point. Hand holding was not and is not something ever requested or required of him. Sure, sometimes he would hold a kids hand when he was extracting them, but it was more of a mechanism for protection and safety than it was for their comfort, though Leon knew that often, holding the kids hands helped them feel safer. He didn't mind that, but it wasn't ever the reason he did it. He just found that it was easier to keep track of kids that way, and only did it when he couldn't just carry the children.
\nProtection had never meant affection in any way. At least not usually. And besides, you weren't a kid. So hand holding or carrying would be, generally speaking, extremely unusual. But he liked you. Your conversations, the way you would lean into him when scared, how you looked to him for protection while also being a strong, grounded adult.
\nYou don't even think about it when you shove your hand into his, crouched down next to him, peeking around the corner, both of you staring intently at the two blisterheads, the first of these kinds of zombies that you'd seen, with their jerky, erratic movements, their soft, sinister growls, and their unnaturally blown up, cranium heavy heads. Your hand just simply- finds his, heart pounding and muscles tense with anxiety. You do it automatically, like you'd always held his hand, like your hand belonged in his, like it was the right place to be. Granted, you'd probably hold your enemies hand if they were next to you too, but it wouldn't feel as safe.
\nWhen your hands interlace, Leon doesn't flinch or move. He simply adjusts. He is far too tactically trained for a behavior like that, especially in a situation where he's dealing with flinch-happy creatures like these monsters. But boy is he surprised. He glances at you out of the periphery of his vision. "you okay?" he murmurs, his voice a gentle rumble. Most of his attention stays focused on the blisterheads, who haven't yet noticed either of you. Both of you are doing your best to keep it that way.
\nYou nodded, not trusting your voice, your hand squeezing onto his even tighter.
\nUsing his free hand, Leon pulls Requiem quietly from its holster, and aims the gun carefully. His hand moves with practiced confidence, the lines of his muscles flexing as he straightens it and points, lining both creatures up in the line of fire. When he's happy with his aim, he shoots once, the bullet slicing through both of their heads as if made of tofu. A spray of blood paints the rubble around the now twice-dead blisters. Leons lip twitches, a small smile flickering there. "Heh. Two blisters, one bullet." He does not let go of your hand as he holsters his gun once more, his eyes sweeping the perimeter of the building, checking to see if the noise would attract more creatures or if that was it. You stay quiet as he does so, keeping your eyes peeled as well.
\n"I think we're okay. For now at least." He says, his other hand grabbing your elbow to help you as you stand up.
\n"Thank fuck." You say, dusting some of the powdery cement that had landed on your cargo pants.
\n"Those things were scary."
\nLeon can't resist a smile when you say that, checking his comms for the to figure out the best place to. "The blisters? Nah. They're just irritating. Like hemmoroids. Can't get off my ass."
\nYou let out a little snort of laughter, your residual fear slowly disappearing. Agent Ashrcroft's voice flickers through the comm as Leon asks for an update. "Leon, theres a safe house a couple blocks down from where you two are located. You can rest there for the night. I've sent the details to your device. Over. Will communicate more when you reach the safe house."
\nLeon nods. "Lets go." He says to you. He glances down at your intertwined hands once but doesn't say anything more. He doesn't let go, just starts to walk, his comm shoved back in his pocket, clearly knowing his way around here.
\nIt was Raccoon City, after all, and he had said, in one of the brief moments where you got him to talk about himself, that he was from here. You glance around. Not a single building here was still fully intact. Roofs slopped, caving in. Clothing dirty and tossed. Cars abandoned, full of supplies rotting and useless.
\nIt must be hard, you mused. Seeing the place he knew so torn up. You squeeze his hand, almost as if to comfort him, and he squeezes back on autopilot, his focus on ensuring that you get through the rubble and buildings to a safe place without dying. Leon is constantly on alert, his eyes always scanning the area. He was good at his job, you'll give him that. And you would miss him when this job was over, which was odd to say because these had literally been some of the worst days of your life.
\nThe two of you make it to the safe house with no serious trouble, and you finally let go of his hand, almost regretfully, missing the warmth and comfort immeadiately as you guys set up camp.
\n"Time to rest." Leon says. He takes some of his guns and weapons off, resting them to his sides. But Requiem, he keeps on him. His hatchet, which he takes care to sharpen and clean, wiping flakes of dried blood off. You watch him cleaning methodically, the motion repetitive and soothing, finding yourself staring at his hands. It had been awful nice to hold them. You find yourself wishing you had another excuse to hold his hand.
\nAs the two of you dig into some canned tuna and stale saltines, a comfortable silence fills the air. You finally allow yourself to take a breath, knowing that in this area, you were at least safe for the night. Or that was the hope, anyways. You felt calm, with the little lamp buzzing softly, the two sleeping bags rolled out, yours on the small twin bed, Leons on the floor, despite your numerous offers to let him have the twin bed instead.
\nNo no, ever the gentlemen, he simply says. "take the bed. i prefer the floor anyways. harder to sneak up on." you want to argue with his logic, but then decide that its not worth your time, and simply accept his offer of kindness.
\nYou look up from your sad meal of tuna flakes to see him staring at you, his gaze burning a hole in your skin. It shocks you, the intensity of his gaze. You can't help but wonder what he's thinking when he stares like that. He glances away once he notices your gaze, and the moment passes as he stands up to check that the place is secure one more time before its time to sleep.
\nAfter the food and a simple washing up, you curl into your sleeping bag. it is nice to sleep on top of a bed again, you have to admit, the softness feeling foriegn after your abduction. Even though you can feel the springs hidden in the thin mattress, a twin bed has never felt more comforting and beautiful in your entire life.
\n"Thanks for letting me have the bed, Leon." You murmur, voice thick from tiredness.
\n"Glad you're comfortable." Is is simple reply, as he unzips his sleeping bag and settles in himself.
\n"Good night." You murmur, already drifting off. Leon turns off the little lamp with a soft click.
\n"Good night." He replies back. "Sleep well."
\n__
\nAs the two of you are walking down the city streets the next morning, you actually find it quite peaceful. You really shouldn't, you suppose, but its been a couple of mornings like this and knock on wood, nothing too terrifying had happened in the mornings. The cold seemed to make the creatures go mildly dormant. Or perhaps they were more nocturnal than anything. You weren't sure. But whatever it was, mornings had always been relatively peaceful.
\n"Leon," You say, as the two of you walk over a bridge that feels like it may soon collapse beneath your feet, creaking and groaning. "Do you like what you do?"
\n"What I do?" He repeats, sparing you a quick glance, before it returns to scanning the horizon for dangers. He kicks a crushed soda can, the label long deteriorated.
\n"It seems like such a tough job. Mentally and physically." You say simply. "And so dangerous."
\n"It helps people." He replies back. "And I have more personal reasons as well." His eyes flick down to his gloved hand.
\n"I see." You reply. You don't want to pry.
\n"I've lost people." He continues quietly. "Seen people lost. Seen people gone. Watched people turn. It is a mercy, to take these people out of their misery. They're in pain, you know. They're supposed to be dead but they aren't, not fully, not yet. It is a mercy. A kindness."
\nHe still refers to them as people sometimes, you note. Interesting for someone who has been at the hand of so many of their deaths.
\n"And, if I can save one more person whose alive? It's worth it. All the shit i deal with. I can't save em all." His face tenses at that, and he actually stops for a second, his gaze far off in the distance, lost in a memory.
\n"But I can try."
\n"Can't make killing some of these people easier though. Even if you save a few."
\nLeon shrugs at that. "Maybe not. But I've always been confident that what I've done has been the right thing. Even back when I was a starry-eyed recruit for the Raccoon City Police Department."
\nLeon actually laughs for a second, taking your hand and helping you over a large pile of rocks. "Technically this is breaking client confidentiality, but I don't think she'd care. I helped this kid: Sherri. A long time ago. She helped me too, more than she knew then. More than she knows now."
\nHe reaches into his back pocket, behind his hatchet, and pulls out a sleek black wallet, which he flips open. You see a blonde girl, dressed in blue graduation regalia, her smile bright and sunny.
\n"This was her high school graduation. She sent me this picture." Leons smile softens as he looks at Sherri. "She got to graduate because of me."
\n"I don't always know how the people I save turn out. But I never regret it. Even saving one person."
\n"Oh man," You say softly. "Thats so beautiful. I kind of thought you just liked beating zombies up."
\nLeon lets out a huff of laughter. "It is satisfying in it's own way."
\nYou squeeze his hand lightly. He blinks in surprise, glancing down at your hand, which has once again found his. "Thanks for sharing."
\nHe doesn't say anything, but he does squeeze your hand in return. And if your heart fluttered the tiniest bit at that, that was no ones buisness.
\n--
\nA couple days later, the two of you are walking to the next safehouse, later than you'd usually be out. There had been more zombies than usual out crawling, and Agent Ashcroft had insisted that you move now, even though it was late at night.
\nLeon had been more open with you than usual, talking more, sharing more, and you can't help but think that you were going to miss him when this was over. A plant rustles menacingly and you can't help but grab his arm.
\nHe glances over, hand coming to rest more securely in yours. "You scared?"
\nYou nod. He pulls out his gun with his free hand. "I'll keep you safe." He says. "You can trust me."
\n"I know."" You reply, without a single thought, already feeling better with your arm wrapped around his. Its softer than you'd thought, less muscled almost. "I trust you."
\nThe barest hint of a smile makes its way to his face. "Good. You should."
\nHe guides you through the rest of the way to the safe house with one hand, the lamp secured to the strap on his breastpocket, lighting the way. Although you hadn't laced your hands together, he does it for you, grabbing your hand and meshing them together, your arm tucked still in the crook of his elbow. He squeezes your hand absentmindedly sometimes, as he continues to walk, almost as if to check in, make sure you knew that he was still there, still protecting you, still your safe space in this dark night.
\nHe smells good, you realize. Even though he really shouldn't, not after all the days you've spent with barely any ability to stay hygenic. But he does. Not in cologne kind of way, though sometimes a faint trace of whatever colonge he usually wears drifts through the air, but more in the human kind of way, the natural scent each individual human has, indescribable in its uniqueness. It's soothing. You have to resist the urge to tell him this, even though he probably wouldn't care. Maybe, just maybe you have the tiniest crush on him, and you feel like saying that might make it very obvious.
\nRegretfully, the two of you do in fact reach the safe house, and, no longer having an excuse to hold on to him, you release him from your grip, immeadiately missing the comfort of holding onto him. He almost seems reluctant for you to let go, looking down at your hands as you pull your arm away.
\nBut neither of you say anything.
\n--
\nToday, you are blessed with a can of spaghetti bolognese. Or, you think more honestly, a can of something that vaugely resembles that. It's got tomatoes in it, and perhaps it smells a little bit like beef, but it's not exactly...well. But it is a meal, and you are appreciative.
\nLeon sits across from you. You're lucky enough that this safe house has two beds, so he's placed most of his stuff down on one bed, the one nearer to windows and doors, and yours is more inside.
\n"You know," You say. "I'm going to miss this after its over."
\nLeon drags his metal fork through the can of gummy spaghetti. "Miss this." He huffs out a small laugh. "Now thats not one I've heard before. Want to explain?"
\n"Well..." And the rest of the words exit your mouth before you can stop it. "I'm going to miss spending time with you."
\n"With me?" He says, his smile twisting upward a little as he makes eye contact. "Really?"
\n"Yeah." You say. "You're..."
\nSweet. Funny. Charming. Protective. Thoughtful. Handsome. Clever. Strong.
\n"Kind." You land on. "And also really cool." Heat rushes to your cheeks, and you hope he can't see it in the golden glow of the lamp.
\n"You think I'm cool?" He asks, and you see Leon Kennedys face light up for the first time as he teases you a little.
\nYou can't help the smile that comes to your face. "Don't let it get to your head."
\nHe takes a bite of potential spaghetti. "You're...cool too." He pauses. "And sweet."
\nThe two of you stare at each other, the lamp flickering and buzzing softly in the background, illuminating you with a warm glow. A tension, a good tension is flowing, ebbing, reaching a breaking point, sparking sharply in your veins and you think its going to burst, and he opens his mouth to say something when his comm buzzes and you startle.
\nHe pulls his comm out, a little short when he replies, his mouth set in a tight line, irritated at having to do anything but talk to you.
\n"A little busy, Grace. Is it urgent?"
\nGraces voice crackles through the comm. "Adas on the line. She wants to talk." Leons eyebrows raise.
\n"Ada wants to talk, huh?" He smiles a little. "Alright, give me a second."
\nHe walks to the makeshift bathroom to get a little privacy, but you can still hear the muffled sounds of a conversation. He sounds surprisingly animated and your heart sinks a little bit. Of course he would have a girl back home. It made a lot of sense. He was handsome, thoughtful, kind. You'd sort of thought the two of you were having a moment back there, but clearly you'd been reading the situation wrong.
\nLeon laughs from the other room, and you can't help but feel a little rejected. You know its not this womans fault, that she was probably awesome and amazing and wonderful, but you really liked Leon.
\nAnd fine, you did have a crush on him. Could anyone blame you?
\nBut, you decide, as he comes back, it was his life to live. And you hoped that he lived it well.
\nYou are in your sleeping bag, on the bed and ready to sleep by the time he comes back from the conversation. You'd give yourself a day to lick your wounds, and then accept things as they were. You had already curled up.
\nLeon pauses at your "sleeping figure" turned away from him, whispering your name softly. You don't reply. Pretending to sleep was your new plan, not just to be in bed already. You can hear his footsteps approach where you are sleeping, and with gentle, gentle hands, he takes the hair that has fallen in your face and brushes it carefully behind the curve of your ear, leaving a trail of shivers going down your spine, the pads of his fingers rough and callous, but the touch itself impossibly soft. He says your name again. When you don't reply, he sighs and flicks off the light.
\n"Sleep well." He says, and you hear him settle into his sleeping bag.
\nYour eyes open in the pitch black darkness, his touch lingering on your skin, burning a hole in your stomach. You weren't sleeping tonight.
\n--
\nOnly one more day to the extraction. You take solace in this, even if it means traveling at night again, and even if it means saying goodbye to Leon after this mission. After he sends you back to safety, even though honestly, you've found so much safety in his company that you'll miss him no matter what. Even if he did have a thing with an amazing girl named Ada.
\nSo tonight, you are going to brave the streets alone. No holding his hand. No grabbing his arm. Not that you should have been, but by the end, maybe you had thought of it as a sort of cute, romantic thing to do. Yes, you did do it because you were scared, but also because you liked holding his hand. It felt warm and calloused, but so so comforting.
\nFor the first 30 minutes out after dark, this works out just fine. You just had to make it to the safe house, you encourage yourself. Just the safe house, then traveling to the nearby helipad and you would be on your way back home, to your safe, warm bed, and your lovely lovely little dog. You hoped your roommate was taking care of Engel.
\nBut then Leons flashlight casts a suspicious shadow, and you jump twenty miles into the air, a squeal far too loud for a situation like this escaping your mouth. Your hand reaches out to grab Leons, but at the last second you curve it back to cover your mouth instead. You could do this.
\n"Sorry," You whisper, trying to keep your voice down.
\n"Happens." Leon says, scanning your surroundings, his hand hovering over Requiem. He glances over at your hand casually, but you don't reach to grab his. Honestly, you feel a little awkward after what had gone on, what with Ada, and as much as you would like to grab his hand, you were very stubborn and very embarrassed, and it was a potent combination that prevented you from doing anything else.
\nThe two of you continue your journey, but you are much more on alert, and very regretful at your promise to yourself to not hold his hand, which you desperately wanted to do. You walk in the dark, quietly.
\nA couple minutes later, Leon holds his hand up, indicating for you to stop. Hand signals were far safer than speaking at this time of night, and you stop immediately, waiting to see what he's going to do. He takes out his gun, holding it in his right hand and then pauses, seeming to be in debate about something. Were you coming up on some very unsafe underpass? You weren't sure but you were also very confident that even if you were, Leon would be able to keep you safe. In some way shape or form. It would just double suck to not be able to hold his hand.
\nYou are in your little deliberations so long that Leon has to cough lightly to get your attention. You look up, mildly startled, and see that hes been holding his free hand out to you.
\nYou blink at him, almost confused. Does he want you to hold his hand? Why? You were scared and happy but still, before you had started to grasp onto his hand, he had never offered to hold yours.
\n"You don't have to," You say, feeling a little awkward, almost as if you'd been too seen, like he'd know that you liked holding his hand, not just cause it was protection, but that you liked the feel of his hand in yours, like walking beside him. All of those things. It almost felt like you bared your soul a little bit, and then found out about Ada, which was just embarrassing, honestly.
\nHe sighs, shifting his weight back and forth. "I know that." He says back, making eye contact with you. You feel his gaze on you, something akin to desire in them.
\n"Oh." You say softly. And he's won. You reach your hand out to put in his. They mesh together, and you breathe an unconscious sigh of relief. A little smile flickers on his face.
\n"You find me that safe?" He asks quietly, his voice barely a murmur as you start to walk.
\n"I'm not dignifying that with an awnser." You breathe back, deliberately focusing your eyes on the road.
\n"Alright." He says back, but there's a smugness in his voice that makes you want to punch him, just the tiniest bit. Or perhaps kiss him. It was really up for debate.
\n--
\nDinner that night is very quiet. Tonight you get to eat beef stew, with chunks of what might have once been potatoes and carrots mixed in as well.
\nBoth of you are thinking about this ending. About having to say goodbye. It's not a pleasant thought, and that is somehow insane to you.
\nAfter all, you'd been abducted, held hostage, and then verbally harassed for days on end with little food or water. And then Leon had come in, and within a couple minutes, you'd been untied, seen your captors beaten up, and been on your way home. Or, you guessed, it did make sense that you'd like Leon. But for him, it was just a normal Tuesday. It just also majorly sucked that you liked Leon. What could you possibly say to him at the end of this?
\nHey, just in case you aren't majorly in love with Ada, would you like to go out with the hostage you saved? We've already lived with one another, so I think we might be pretty well suited for each other. Anyways let me know what you think. I'd give you my number but I think its in my case file, along with other information that I think you probably shouldn't know about me. But hey, who's counting, amirite?
\nAnyhow. That was sort of all you could think of and it really wasn't great. So... it was quiet. He was such an interesting person too. The kind of person you'd simply love to know more about.
\nBut all you could simply hope for in this case was that he did have someone lovely waiting for him back home. You'd not seen a ring, but that didn't mean he wasn't promised to someone.
\nYou finish washing up, getting ready to go to bed. There were two beds today, and you had the more interior one, as usual. You curl up in your bed as Leon comes back from washing up as well, his hair slightly damp in an undecently handsome way.
\n"Good night Leon," You say as he flicks off the lamp. "I'll miss you." You add quieter.
\n"You too." He replies, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
\n--
\nA loud noise jolts you out of your sleep, and you are immediately on edge. It's too dark to be morning, so you quickly roll out of your sleeping bag and rummage around for the lamplight, flicking it on with fumbling hands.
\nIt's Leon. He's covered in cold sweat, his face beaded with little droplets and scrunched up against some unknown fear. You tap his shoulder lightly, shake him, and yell his name, but nothing seems to pull him out of this dream that has gotten a hold of him.
\nFeeling desperate and a little delirious, you reach out and grab one of his hands, lacing your fingers together, very aware that he could accidentally throw a punch that would absolutely break your nose the closer you got to him. If you couldn't wake him up, maybe you could calm him down? Hopefully. Dear god.
\nHis breathing slows a little as you hold his hand. You sit down on the edge of his sleeping bag that has been shoved off with movement, holding his hand and staring at the gun he has stored on the floor next to him.
\nFiguring this couldn't hurt, you edge closer to him, now sitting on the bed with him. His breathing is still heavy, and he seems to be in distress. You weren't going to push any boundaries by getting any closer, however.
\nLeon has other plans. In his sleep, his hand farther from you ends up flopping over your stomach as he sort of curls into you. His breathing is deepening though, so despite this being the most awkward position you've ever been in, for a multitude of reasons, you let it slide. Besides, it was almost like cuddling with him. Almost. Just a little bit.
\nYou tap gently him on the shoulder one more time, testing his lucidity. Still asleep. There is no reaction to your tap, though you suppose with Leon there never would be. He was too good at managing his reactions for safety reasons. Besides, you think mildly, shifting your body so that you were very clearly just sitting next to him despite one of his arms being wrapped around you.
\nYou sit there with him as he sleeps, not wanting him to become distressed again. What the fuck is happening?
\n"Leon. Leon!" You whisper.
\nFinally he lets out a small, sleepy moan. "Mmm. What?"
\nWell...at least he was awake, even if he wasn't entirely conscious.
\n"You-doing okay now?"
\n"From-what?" And you have a sudden realization that hits you like a truck. Hes- hes allowing himself to be sleepy around you. Must be allowing himself to, because he's so aware. So so aware. Had to be, for his job.
\n"Don't worry about it." You murmur. And as much as you don't want to, you realize that its probably just about time to go back to your own sleeping bag. "Alright. Goodnight."
\nYou peel his hand off of you as gently as you could, trying not to distress him, while simultaneously not letting go of the hand you were still holding.
\nAs you slowly remove his hand, it suddenly tightens imperceptibly, and he's pulling you in by the waist. Your breath catches, and you are wide awake now, finding yourself curled up against Leon Kennedy.
\n"Stay." He murmurs, his voice thick and soft. "Please."
\n"Okay." You whisper. His eyes stay shut, his breathing even and slow. It deepens out eventually, and you reach over to turn off the lamp, but not before you stare at him with unfiltered ache. His flaxen hair, messed up and flopped everywhere. His face so young and unstrained in sleep. His eyelashes, blonde in colour. You could stare at him for ages and you weren't sure you'd ever get another chance. He was so beautiful, so gentle, so kind, and you could feel your self falling for him. Just a little.
\nYour eyes start to feel heavy, and you know you are going to fall into the thick, warm recesses of sleep soon. Your head droops onto his shoulder and you curl into him a little, abandoning all pretenses. His arms go to wrap around you, enveloping you in his strong, warm embrace.
\nIt's the best night of sleep you've gotten in a while.
\n--
\nThe next day, things move too fast. Too fast. Leon is gone by the time you wake up. You are glad for this, honestly. Breakfast is quiet, though he does say thanks once, to which you nod and say of course. Its not as awkward as you'd think. Almost as if you'd always been like this, the two of you. It's a terribly domestic thought at you force yourself to push it away. It's a short walk in the cool morning to where the helicopter is waiting. Leon lifts you into it without a second thought.
\nAda ends up being the one whose piloting the helicopter, and my god, you can't even blame Leon for being in love with her. Shes gorgeous, she can pilot, and shes got amazing style? Who wouldn't fall in love with her? She was also terribly nice to you, giving you her coat, which smelled expensive, and a small kiss on the cheek. Leon's face brightens when he sees her, and she holds her hand out.
\nYou look away, refusing to admit that it was a little painful to see, but also point blank refusing to look as Leon probably kissed her hand.
\n"Never thought I'd see the day." Leon says.
\nAda just laughs. "Neither did I. But we can talk about this later. Lets get her home."
\nYou were glad for the little time you had gotten with Leon.
\nYou cant hear anything with the blades whirring above your head, and you can't stop thinking about last night. The way his hand tightened around you. The way his breathing blew softly against your neck, the warmth of his body against yours. The feeling of resting your head against another's shoulder, the knowledge that you were being held, that he had wanted you to help him sleep. What had all of it meant? Was it really nothing?
\nAnd then its over. You're back home. In your native country. Leon helps you, his hands grasping your waist and making sure you don't fall off the helicopter. You open your mouth to say something. Thanks seems too small, and I will miss you horrendously seems too big in the light of day.
\nAnd unfortunately, barring a better thing to say, your brain decides on: "Thanks, miss." Combining the two potential statements into an equally terrible sentence.
\nLeons lips quirk up into a little half smile. "Miss?"
\nYou wince. "Sorry, I was trying to say thanks and I'll miss you a lot all at the same time. I fucked it."
\n"Why...would you miss me?" He asks, sounding confused. Now you're the one whose confused.
\n"Well- this is the last I'm gonna see of you, isn't it?"
\n"It is?" Leon asks back, surprised. He runs a hand through his hair, a nasty thing to do to you. "I don't really have a next mission planned, and I kind of thought we hit it off. Just a little."
\nYou laugh, a little exasperated.
\n"Well...you've got Ada, and I cant-"
\nLeons face scrunches up and he looks even more confused. "What do you mean I've got Ada?"
\n"Cmon, Leon, you took her call and then you took her hand earlier and-"
\n"Ada's a lesbian. She's marrying our coworker, Claire Redfield. I was congratulating her both times. She's a very dear friend."
\nOh! Oh.
\n"You thought we were- no. In the best way possible, Ada and I are meant to be friends. I was actually going to- uh- if you wanted to, ask you to be my plus one to her wedding."
\n"Oh! I mean-yes! I mean sorry- I assumed- should-"
\n"And then, I was going to do this." He pulls you closer to him by your waist, one hand coming to rest in your hair, the other on your jaw, rubbing a gentle pattern.
", "summary": "The first time you hold Leon's hand, he doesn't know what to do. You were his current mission objective, and his purpose was to keep you safe and bring you to the extraction point. Hand holding was not and is not something ever requested or required of him. Sure, sometimes he would hold a kids hand when he was extracting them, but it was more of a mechanism for protection and safety than it was for their comfort, though Leon knew that often, holding the kids hands helped them feel safer. He didn't mind that, but it wasn't ever the reason he did it. He just found that it was easier to keep track of kids that way, and only did it when he couldn't just carry the children.
\nProtection had never meant affection in any way. At least not usually. And besides, you weren't a kid. So hand holding or carrying would be, generally speaking, extremely unusual. But he liked you. Your conversations, the way you would lean into him when scared, how you looked to him for protection while also being a strong, grounded adult.
\nYou don't even think about it when you shove your hand into his, crouched down next to him, peeking around the corner, both of you staring intently at the two blisterheads, the first of these kinds of zombies that you'd seen, with their jerky, erratic movements, their soft, sinister growls, and their unnaturally blown up, cranium heavy heads. Your hand just simply- finds his, heart pounding and muscles tense with anxiety. You do it automatically, like you'd always held his hand, like your hand belonged in his, like it was the right place to be. Granted, you'd probably hold your enemies hand if they were next to you too, but it wouldn't feel as safe.
\nWhen your hands interlace, Leon doesn't flinch or move. He simply adjusts. He is far too tactically trained for a behavior like that, especially in a situation where he's dealing with flinch-happy creatures like these monsters. But boy is he surprised. He glances at you out of the periphery of his vision. "you okay?" he murmurs, his voice a gentle rumble. Most of his attention stays focused on the blisterheads, who haven't yet noticed either of you. Both of you are doing your best to keep it that way.
\nYou nodded, not trusting your voice, your hand squeezing onto his even tighter.
\nUsing his free hand, Leon pulls Requiem quietly from its holster, and aims the gun carefully. His hand moves with practiced confidence, the lines of his muscles flexing as he straightens it and points, lining both creatures up in the line of fire. When he's happy with his aim, he shoots once, the bullet slicing through both of their heads as if made of tofu. A spray of blood paints the rubble around the now twice-dead blisters. Leons lip twitches, a small smile flickering there. "Heh. Two blisters, one bullet." He does not let go of your hand as he holsters his gun once more, his eyes sweeping the perimeter of the building, checking to see if the noise would attract more creatures or if that was it. You stay quiet as he does so, keeping your eyes peeled as well.
\n"I think we're okay. For now at least." He says, his other hand grabbing your elbow to help you as you stand up.
\n"Thank fuck." You say, dusting some of the powdery cement that had landed on your cargo pants.
\n"Those things were scary."
\nLeon can't resist a smile when you say that, checking his comms for the to figure out the best place to. "The blisters? Nah. They're just irritating. Like hemmoroids. Can't get off my ass."
\nYou let out a little snort of laughter, your residual fear slowly disappearing. Agent Ashrcroft's voice flickers through the comm as Leon asks for an update. "Leon, theres a safe house a couple blocks down from where you two are located. You can rest there for the night. I've sent the details to your device. Over. Will communicate more when you reach the safe house."
\nLeon nods. "Lets go." He says to you. He glances down at your intertwined hands once but doesn't say anything more. He doesn't let go, just starts to walk, his comm shoved back in his pocket, clearly knowing his way around here.
\nIt was Raccoon City, after all, and he had said, in one of the brief moments where you got him to talk about himself, that he was from here. You glance around. Not a single building here was still fully intact. Roofs slopped, caving in. Clothing dirty and tossed. Cars abandoned, full of supplies rotting and useless.
\nIt must be hard, you mused. Seeing the place he knew so torn up. You squeeze his hand, almost as if to comfort him, and he squeezes back on autopilot, his focus on ensuring that you get through the rubble and buildings to a safe place without dying. Leon is constantly on alert, his eyes always scanning the area. He was good at his job, you'll give him that. And you would miss him when this job was over, which was odd to say because these had literally been some of the worst days of your life.
\nThe two of you make it to the safe house with no serious trouble, and you finally let go of his hand, almost regretfully, missing the warmth and comfort immeadiately as you guys set up camp.
\n"Time to rest." Leon says. He takes some of his guns and weapons off, resting them to his sides. But Requiem, he keeps on him. His hatchet, which he takes care to sharpen and clean, wiping flakes of dried blood off. You watch him cleaning methodically, the motion repetitive and soothing, finding yourself staring at his hands. It had been awful nice to hold them. You find yourself wishing you had another excuse to hold his hand.
\nAs the two of you dig into some canned tuna and stale saltines, a comfortable silence fills the air. You finally allow yourself to take a breath, knowing that in this area, you were at least safe for the night. Or that was the hope, anyways. You felt calm, with the little lamp buzzing softly, the two sleeping bags rolled out, yours on the small twin bed, Leons on the floor, despite your numerous offers to let him have the twin bed instead.
\nNo no, ever the gentlemen, he simply says. "take the bed. i prefer the floor anyways. harder to sneak up on." you want to argue with his logic, but then decide that its not worth your time, and simply accept his offer of kindness.
\nYou look up from your sad meal of tuna flakes to see him staring at you, his gaze burning a hole in your skin. It shocks you, the intensity of his gaze. You can't help but wonder what he's thinking when he stares like that. He glances away once he notices your gaze, and the moment passes as he stands up to check that the place is secure one more time before its time to sleep.
\nAfter the food and a simple washing up, you curl into your sleeping bag. it is nice to sleep on top of a bed again, you have to admit, the softness feeling foriegn after your abduction. Even though you can feel the springs hidden in the thin mattress, a twin bed has never felt more comforting and beautiful in your entire life.
\n"Thanks for letting me have the bed, Leon." You murmur, voice thick from tiredness.
\n"Glad you're comfortable." Is is simple reply, as he unzips his sleeping bag and settles in himself.
\n"Good night." You murmur, already drifting off. Leon turns off the little lamp with a soft click.
\n"Good night." He replies back. "Sleep well."
\n__
\nAs the two of you are walking down the city streets the next morning, you actually find it quite peaceful. You really shouldn't, you suppose, but its been a couple of mornings like this and knock on wood, nothing too terrifying had happened in the mornings. The cold seemed to make the creatures go mildly dormant. Or perhaps they were more nocturnal than anything. You weren't sure. But whatever it was, mornings had always been relatively peaceful.
\n"Leon," You say, as the two of you walk over a bridge that feels like it may soon collapse beneath your feet, creaking and groaning. "Do you like what you do?"
\n"What I do?" He repeats, sparing you a quick glance, before it returns to scanning the horizon for dangers. He kicks a crushed soda can, the label long deteriorated.
\n"It seems like such a tough job. Mentally and physically." You say simply. "And so dangerous."
\n"It helps people." He replies back. "And I have more personal reasons as well." His eyes flick down to his gloved hand.
\n"I see." You reply. You don't want to pry.
\n"I've lost people." He continues quietly. "Seen people lost. Seen people gone. Watched people turn. It is a mercy, to take these people out of their misery. They're in pain, you know. They're supposed to be dead but they aren't, not fully, not yet. It is a mercy. A kindness."
\nHe still refers to them as people sometimes, you note. Interesting for someone who has been at the hand of so many of their deaths.
\n"And, if I can save one more person whose alive? It's worth it. All the shit i deal with. I can't save em all." His face tenses at that, and he actually stops for a second, his gaze far off in the distance, lost in a memory.
\n"But I can try."
\n"Can't make killing some of these people easier though. Even if you save a few."
\nLeon shrugs at that. "Maybe not. But I've always been confident that what I've done has been the right thing. Even back when I was a starry-eyed recruit for the Raccoon City Police Department."
\nLeon actually laughs for a second, taking your hand and helping you over a large pile of rocks. "Technically this is breaking client confidentiality, but I don't think she'd care. I helped this kid: Sherri. A long time ago. She helped me too, more than she knew then. More than she knows now."
\nHe reaches into his back pocket, behind his hatchet, and pulls out a sleek black wallet, which he flips open. You see a blonde girl, dressed in blue graduation regalia, her smile bright and sunny.
\n"This was her high school graduation. She sent me this picture." Leons smile softens as he looks at Sherri. "She got to graduate because of me."
\n"I don't always know how the people I save turn out. But I never regret it. Even saving one person."
\n"Oh man," You say softly. "Thats so beautiful. I kind of thought you just liked beating zombies up."
\nLeon lets out a huff of laughter. "It is satisfying in it's own way."
\nYou squeeze his hand lightly. He blinks in surprise, glancing down at your hand, which has once again found his. "Thanks for sharing."
\nHe doesn't say anything, but he does squeeze your hand in return. And if your heart fluttered the tiniest bit at that, that was no ones buisness.
\n--
\nA couple days later, the two of you are walking to the next safehouse, later than you'd usually be out. There had been more zombies than usual out crawling, and Agent Ashcroft had insisted that you move now, even though it was late at night.
\nLeon had been more open with you than usual, talking more, sharing more, and you can't help but think that you were going to miss him when this was over. A plant rustles menacingly and you can't help but grab his arm.
\nHe glances over, hand coming to rest more securely in yours. "You scared?"
\nYou nod. He pulls out his gun with his free hand. "I'll keep you safe." He says. "You can trust me."
\n"I know."" You reply, without a single thought, already feeling better with your arm wrapped around his. Its softer than you'd thought, less muscled almost. "I trust you."
\nThe barest hint of a smile makes its way to his face. "Good. You should."
\nHe guides you through the rest of the way to the safe house with one hand, the lamp secured to the strap on his breastpocket, lighting the way. Although you hadn't laced your hands together, he does it for you, grabbing your hand and meshing them together, your arm tucked still in the crook of his elbow. He squeezes your hand absentmindedly sometimes, as he continues to walk, almost as if to check in, make sure you knew that he was still there, still protecting you, still your safe space in this dark night.
\nHe smells good, you realize. Even though he really shouldn't, not after all the days you've spent with barely any ability to stay hygenic. But he does. Not in cologne kind of way, though sometimes a faint trace of whatever colonge he usually wears drifts through the air, but more in the human kind of way, the natural scent each individual human has, indescribable in its uniqueness. It's soothing. You have to resist the urge to tell him this, even though he probably wouldn't care. Maybe, just maybe you have the tiniest crush on him, and you feel like saying that might make it very obvious.
\nRegretfully, the two of you do in fact reach the safe house, and, no longer having an excuse to hold on to him, you release him from your grip, immeadiately missing the comfort of holding onto him. He almost seems reluctant for you to let go, looking down at your hands as you pull your arm away.
\nBut neither of you say anything.
\n--
\nToday, you are blessed with a can of spaghetti bolognese. Or, you think more honestly, a can of something that vaugely resembles that. It's got tomatoes in it, and perhaps it smells a little bit like beef, but it's not exactly...well. But it is a meal, and you are appreciative.
\nLeon sits across from you. You're lucky enough that this safe house has two beds, so he's placed most of his stuff down on one bed, the one nearer to windows and doors, and yours is more inside.
\n"You know," You say. "I'm going to miss this after its over."
\nLeon drags his metal fork through the can of gummy spaghetti. "Miss this." He huffs out a small laugh. "Now thats not one I've heard before. Want to explain?"
\n"Well..." And the rest of the words exit your mouth before you can stop it. "I'm going to miss spending time with you."
\n"With me?" He says, his smile twisting upward a little as he makes eye contact. "Really?"
\n"Yeah." You say. "You're..."
\nSweet. Funny. Charming. Protective. Thoughtful. Handsome. Clever. Strong.
\n"Kind." You land on. "And also really cool." Heat rushes to your cheeks, and you hope he can't see it in the golden glow of the lamp.
\n"You think I'm cool?" He asks, and you see Leon Kennedys face light up for the first time as he teases you a little.
\nYou can't help the smile that comes to your face. "Don't let it get to your head."
\nHe takes a bite of potential spaghetti. "You're...cool too." He pauses. "And sweet."
\nThe two of you stare at each other, the lamp flickering and buzzing softly in the background, illuminating you with a warm glow. A tension, a good tension is flowing, ebbing, reaching a breaking point, sparking sharply in your veins and you think its going to burst, and he opens his mouth to say something when his comm buzzes and you startle.
\nHe pulls his comm out, a little short when he replies, his mouth set in a tight line, irritated at having to do anything but talk to you.
\n"A little busy, Grace. Is it urgent?"
\nGraces voice crackles through the comm. "Adas on the line. She wants to talk." Leons eyebrows raise.
\n"Ada wants to talk, huh?" He smiles a little. "Alright, give me a second."
\nHe walks to the makeshift bathroom to get a little privacy, but you can still hear the muffled sounds of a conversation. He sounds surprisingly animated and your heart sinks a little bit. Of course he would have a girl back home. It made a lot of sense. He was handsome, thoughtful, kind. You'd sort of thought the two of you were having a moment back there, but clearly you'd been reading the situation wrong.
\nLeon laughs from the other room, and you can't help but feel a little rejected. You know its not this womans fault, that she was probably awesome and amazing and wonderful, but you really liked Leon.
\nAnd fine, you did have a crush on him. Could anyone blame you?
\nBut, you decide, as he comes back, it was his life to live. And you hoped that he lived it well.
\nYou are in your sleeping bag, on the bed and ready to sleep by the time he comes back from the conversation. You'd give yourself a day to lick your wounds, and then accept things as they were. You had already curled up.
\nLeon pauses at your "sleeping figure" turned away from him, whispering your name softly. You don't reply. Pretending to sleep was your new plan, not just to be in bed already. You can hear his footsteps approach where you are sleeping, and with gentle, gentle hands, he takes the hair that has fallen in your face and brushes it carefully behind the curve of your ear, leaving a trail of shivers going down your spine, the pads of his fingers rough and callous, but the touch itself impossibly soft. He says your name again. When you don't reply, he sighs and flicks off the light.
\n"Sleep well." He says, and you hear him settle into his sleeping bag.
\nYour eyes open in the pitch black darkness, his touch lingering on your skin, burning a hole in your stomach. You weren't sleeping tonight.
\n--
\nOnly one more day to the extraction. You take solace in this, even if it means traveling at night again, and even if it means saying goodbye to Leon after this mission. After he sends you back to safety, even though honestly, you've found so much safety in his company that you'll miss him no matter what. Even if he did have a thing with an amazing girl named Ada.
\nSo tonight, you are going to brave the streets alone. No holding his hand. No grabbing his arm. Not that you should have been, but by the end, maybe you had thought of it as a sort of cute, romantic thing to do. Yes, you did do it because you were scared, but also because you liked holding his hand. It felt warm and calloused, but so so comforting.
\nFor the first 30 minutes out after dark, this works out just fine. You just had to make it to the safe house, you encourage yourself. Just the safe house, then traveling to the nearby helipad and you would be on your way back home, to your safe, warm bed, and your lovely lovely little dog. You hoped your roommate was taking care of Engel.
\nBut then Leons flashlight casts a suspicious shadow, and you jump twenty miles into the air, a squeal far too loud for a situation like this escaping your mouth. Your hand reaches out to grab Leons, but at the last second you curve it back to cover your mouth instead. You could do this.
\n"Sorry," You whisper, trying to keep your voice down.
\n"Happens." Leon says, scanning your surroundings, his hand hovering over Requiem. He glances over at your hand casually, but you don't reach to grab his. Honestly, you feel a little awkward after what had gone on, what with Ada, and as much as you would like to grab his hand, you were very stubborn and very embarrassed, and it was a potent combination that prevented you from doing anything else.
\nThe two of you continue your journey, but you are much more on alert, and very regretful at your promise to yourself to not hold his hand, which you desperately wanted to do. You walk in the dark, quietly.
\nA couple minutes later, Leon holds his hand up, indicating for you to stop. Hand signals were far safer than speaking at this time of night, and you stop immediately, waiting to see what he's going to do. He takes out his gun, holding it in his right hand and then pauses, seeming to be in debate about something. Were you coming up on some very unsafe underpass? You weren't sure but you were also very confident that even if you were, Leon would be able to keep you safe. In some way shape or form. It would just double suck to not be able to hold his hand.
\nYou are in your little deliberations so long that Leon has to cough lightly to get your attention. You look up, mildly startled, and see that hes been holding his free hand out to you.
\nYou blink at him, almost confused. Does he want you to hold his hand? Why? You were scared and happy but still, before you had started to grasp onto his hand, he had never offered to hold yours.
\n"You don't have to," You say, feeling a little awkward, almost as if you'd been too seen, like he'd know that you liked holding his hand, not just cause it was protection, but that you liked the feel of his hand in yours, like walking beside him. All of those things. It almost felt like you bared your soul a little bit, and then found out about Ada, which was just embarrassing, honestly.
\nHe sighs, shifting his weight back and forth. "I know that." He says back, making eye contact with you. You feel his gaze on you, something akin to desire in them.
\n"Oh." You say softly. And he's won. You reach your hand out to put in his. They mesh together, and you breathe an unconscious sigh of relief. A little smile flickers on his face.
\n"You find me that safe?" He asks quietly, his voice barely a murmur as you start to walk.
\n"I'm not dignifying that with an awnser." You breathe back, deliberately focusing your eyes on the road.
\n"Alright." He says back, but there's a smugness in his voice that makes you want to punch him, just the tiniest bit. Or perhaps kiss him. It was really up for debate.
\n--
\nDinner that night is very quiet. Tonight you get to eat beef stew, with chunks of what might have once been potatoes and carrots mixed in as well.
\nBoth of you are thinking about this ending. About having to say goodbye. It's not a pleasant thought, and that is somehow insane to you.
\nAfter all, you'd been abducted, held hostage, and then verbally harassed for days on end with little food or water. And then Leon had come in, and within a couple minutes, you'd been untied, seen your captors beaten up, and been on your way home. Or, you guessed, it did make sense that you'd like Leon. But for him, it was just a normal Tuesday. It just also majorly sucked that you liked Leon. What could you possibly say to him at the end of this?
\nHey, just in case you aren't majorly in love with Ada, would you like to go out with the hostage you saved? We've already lived with one another, so I think we might be pretty well suited for each other. Anyways let me know what you think. I'd give you my number but I think its in my case file, along with other information that I think you probably shouldn't know about me. But hey, who's counting, amirite?
\nAnyhow. That was sort of all you could think of and it really wasn't great. So... it was quiet. He was such an interesting person too. The kind of person you'd simply love to know more about.
\nBut all you could simply hope for in this case was that he did have someone lovely waiting for him back home. You'd not seen a ring, but that didn't mean he wasn't promised to someone.
\nYou finish washing up, getting ready to go to bed. There were two beds today, and you had the more interior one, as usual. You curl up in your bed as Leon comes back from washing up as well, his hair slightly damp in an undecently handsome way.
\n"Good night Leon," You say as he flicks off the lamp. "I'll miss you." You add quieter.
\n"You too." He replies, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
\n--
\nA loud noise jolts you out of your sleep, and you are immediately on edge. It's too dark to be morning, so you quickly roll out of your sleeping bag and rummage around for the lamplight, flicking it on with fumbling hands.
\nIt's Leon. He's covered in cold sweat, his face beaded with little droplets and scrunched up against some unknown fear. You tap his shoulder lightly, shake him, and yell his name, but nothing seems to pull him out of this dream that has gotten a hold of him.
\nFeeling desperate and a little delirious, you reach out and grab one of his hands, lacing your fingers together, very aware that he could accidentally throw a punch that would absolutely break your nose the closer you got to him. If you couldn't wake him up, maybe you could calm him down? Hopefully. Dear god.
\nHis breathing slows a little as you hold his hand. You sit down on the edge of his sleeping bag that has been shoved off with movement, holding his hand and staring at the gun he has stored on the floor next to him.
\nFiguring this couldn't hurt, you edge closer to him, now sitting on the bed with him. His breathing is still heavy, and he seems to be in distress. You weren't going to push any boundaries by getting any closer, however.
\nLeon has other plans. In his sleep, his hand farther from you ends up flopping over your stomach as he sort of curls into you. His breathing is deepening though, so despite this being the most awkward position you've ever been in, for a multitude of reasons, you let it slide. Besides, it was almost like cuddling with him. Almost. Just a little bit.
\nYou tap gently him on the shoulder one more time, testing his lucidity. Still asleep. There is no reaction to your tap, though you suppose with Leon there never would be. He was too good at managing his reactions for safety reasons. Besides, you think mildly, shifting your body so that you were very clearly just sitting next to him despite one of his arms being wrapped around you.
\nYou sit there with him as he sleeps, not wanting him to become distressed again. What the fuck is happening?
\n"Leon. Leon!" You whisper.
\nFinally he lets out a small, sleepy moan. "Mmm. What?"
\nWell...at least he was awake, even if he wasn't entirely conscious.
\n"You-doing okay now?"
\n"From-what?" And you have a sudden realization that hits you like a truck. Hes- hes allowing himself to be sleepy around you. Must be allowing himself to, because he's so aware. So so aware. Had to be, for his job.
\n"Don't worry about it." You murmur. And as much as you don't want to, you realize that its probably just about time to go back to your own sleeping bag. "Alright. Goodnight."
\nYou peel his hand off of you as gently as you could, trying not to distress him, while simultaneously not letting go of the hand you were still holding.
\nAs you slowly remove his hand, it suddenly tightens imperceptibly, and he's pulling you in by the waist. Your breath catches, and you are wide awake now, finding yourself curled up against Leon Kennedy.
\n"Stay." He murmurs, his voice thick and soft. "Please."
\n"Okay." You whisper. His eyes stay shut, his breathing even and slow. It deepens out eventually, and you reach over to turn off the lamp, but not before you stare at him with unfiltered ache. His flaxen hair, messed up and flopped everywhere. His face so young and unstrained in sleep. His eyelashes, blonde in colour. You could stare at him for ages and you weren't sure you'd ever get another chance. He was so beautiful, so gentle, so kind, and you could feel your self falling for him. Just a little.
\nYour eyes start to feel heavy, and you know you are going to fall into the thick, warm recesses of sleep soon. Your head droops onto his shoulder and you curl into him a little, abandoning all pretenses. His arms go to wrap around you, enveloping you in his strong, warm embrace.
\nIt's the best night of sleep you've gotten in a while.
\n--
\nThe next day, things move too fast. Too fast. Leon is gone by the time you wake up. You are glad for this, honestly. Breakfast is quiet, though he does say thanks once, to which you nod and say of course. Its not as awkward as you'd think. Almost as if you'd always been like this, the two of you. It's a terribly domestic thought at you force yourself to push it away. It's a short walk in the cool morning to where the helicopter is waiting. Leon lifts you into it without a second thought.
\nAda ends up being the one whose piloting the helicopter, and my god, you can't even blame Leon for being in love with her. Shes gorgeous, she can pilot, and shes got amazing style? Who wouldn't fall in love with her? She was also terribly nice to you, giving you her coat, which smelled expensive, and a small kiss on the cheek. Leon's face brightens when he sees her, and she holds her hand out.
\nYou look away, refusing to admit that it was a little painful to see, but also point blank refusing to look as Leon probably kissed her hand.
\n"Never thought I'd see the day." Leon says.
\nAda just laughs. "Neither did I. But we can talk about this later. Lets get her home."
\nYou were glad for the little time you had gotten with Leon.
\nYou cant hear anything with the blades whirring above your head, and you can't stop thinking about last night. The way his hand tightened around you. The way his breathing blew softly against your neck, the warmth of his body against yours. The feeling of resting your head against another's shoulder, the knowledge that you were being held, that he had wanted you to help him sleep. What had all of it meant? Was it really nothing?
\nAnd then its over. You're back home. In your native country. Leon helps you, his hands grasping your waist and making sure you don't fall off the helicopter. You open your mouth to say something. Thanks seems too small, and I will miss you horrendously seems too big in the light of day.
\nAnd unfortunately, barring a better thing to say, your brain decides on: "Thanks, miss." Combining the two potential statements into an equally terrible sentence.
\nLeons lips quirk up into a little half smile. "Miss?"
\nYou wince. "Sorry, I was trying to say thanks and I'll miss you a lot all at the same time. I fucked it."
\n"Why...would you miss me?" He asks, sounding confused. Now you're the one whose confused.
\n"Well- this is the last I'm gonna see of you, isn't it?"
\n"It is?" Leon asks back, surprised. He runs a hand through his hair, a nasty thing to do to you. "I don't really have a next mission planned, and I kind of thought we hit it off. Just a little."
\nYou laugh, a little exasperated.
\n"Well...you've got Ada, and I cant-"
\nLeons face scrunches up and he looks even more confused. "What do you mean I've got Ada?"
\n"Cmon, Leon, you took her call and then you took her hand earlier and-"
\n"Ada's a lesbian. She's marrying our coworker, Claire Redfield. I was congratulating her both times. She's a very dear friend."
\nOh! Oh.
\n"You thought we were- no. In the best way possible, Ada and I are meant to be friends. I was actually going to- uh- if you wanted to, ask you to be my plus one to her wedding."
\n"Oh! I mean-yes! I mean sorry- I assumed- should-"
\n"And then, I was going to do this." He pulls you closer to him by your waist, one hand coming to rest in your hair, the other on your jaw, rubbing a gentle pattern.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T12:46:21Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T12:46:21Z", "authors": ["iammyownluckycharm"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85348251", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85348251", "external_url": null, "title": "albert whiskers x his dog leon.", "content_text": "", "content_html": "ugly chibi anime style fanarts of albert wesker dressed as a cat and leon s. kennedy dressed as a dog \ud83d\udc31x\ud83d\udc36
\nevery part/chapter are panels telling a story, so it's a mini comic.
\nthe idea came to me 'cause canon wesker calls leon dog and fanon calls wesker cat LOL and I was like it'd be cute whiskers and his dog leon going on adventures \ud83d\udc37\ud83d\udc37\ud83d\udc37
\nIdk what I'm doing, I guess, anything but finishing my fics \ud83e\udeea\ud83e\udeea\ud83e\udeea
\nall began when I made a chibi leon in a dog costume running away from wesker for my weskennedy fic "nobody wants wesker." \ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude42
\nI already posted the fanarts/sketches 'til part 5 of whiskers x leon on my wesker x leon blog (theplastic on tumblr) but decided to post them here too 'cause I think all the fanarts are a mini comic \ud83d\udcad\ud83d\udcad\ud83d\udcad
", "summary": "ugly chibi anime style fanarts of albert wesker dressed as a cat and leon s. kennedy dressed as a dog \ud83d\udc31x\ud83d\udc36
\nevery part/chapter are panels telling a story, so it's a mini comic.
\nthe idea came to me 'cause canon wesker calls leon dog and fanon calls wesker cat LOL and I was like it'd be cute whiskers and his dog leon going on adventures \ud83d\udc37\ud83d\udc37\ud83d\udc37
\nIdk what I'm doing, I guess, anything but finishing my fics \ud83e\udeea\ud83e\udeea\ud83e\udeea
\nall began when I made a chibi leon in a dog costume running away from wesker for my weskennedy fic "nobody wants wesker." \ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude42
\nI already posted the fanarts/sketches 'til part 5 of whiskers x leon on my wesker x leon blog (theplastic on tumblr) but decided to post them here too 'cause I think all the fanarts are a mini comic \ud83d\udcad\ud83d\udcad\ud83d\udcad
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T12:44:38Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T12:54:58Z", "authors": ["mirrorcle"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85348016", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85348016", "external_url": null, "title": "It's never too late", "content_text": "", "content_html": "Chapter Text
\nYou wake up as your alarm starts ringing. Still pretty groggy, you check the time. It's 4 in the morning, you immediately get out of bed and start with your chores since you have a long day ahead. Making coffee, putting food out for the cat, putting seeds in the bird feeder in your garden, inspecting your plants among other things. You then go out on a walk around your neighborhood.
\nYour town is 45 minutes away from Washington DC but is thankfully mostly self sufficient with schools and hospitals. A good chunk of the population here is incredibly nice and they are always there for each other. Twenty minutes into the walk you start remincing about your dead husband, how it's been more than 27 years since you lost him in the racoon city incident and became a single mother. You've finally come to terms with it and thinking about him is not so somber anymore, instead you're reminded of the good things, the happy times you two spent together, it always manages to bring a soft smile to your face.
\nYou've taken a shower and now you're driving to your coffee shop 45-50 minutes away from your house. Lily, your daughter calls you as usual just after she wakes up.
\n"Morning mom!"
\n"Morning sweetheart! How's everything going"
\n"Work's been crazy mom, I don't even know where to start"
\n"What happened?"
\nLily hesitates a little because she is unsure about how you'll react but decides to say it anyways.
\n" The recent deaths of raccoon City victims due to the T virus syndrome"
\n"Well...." You try to say something but you just can't seem to say anything.
\n"How's Mocha (the cat) doing?" Lily asks quickly, changing the subject.
\n"Mocha is still as energetic as ever" you reply.
\nYou two continue chatting as usual
\n"Mom I think it's about time you start dating again" Lily says
\n"Oh come on in 47, I'm too old for stuff like dating and romance"
\n"No you aren't, it's never too late for anything "
\n"Yea, yeah whatever" you reply.
\n"Ughhhhhhh, well I hope you do find a boyfriend soon. Anyways I gotta go to the Gym, Bye Mom."
\n"Bye sweetheart!"
\nOnce the call cuts, you arrive at your coffee Shop.
\nIt's now 6:00 in the morning and you've entered your shop.
\nYour shop, mostly known as Mocha's cafe is located in Washington DC. Thankfully your father's side of the family had bought this place ages ago leading you to inherit it.
\nThe cafe isn't the most extravagant, but it's definitely cozy. It's always full of this subtle scent of vanilla, chocolate and coffee. There's photos of Mocha, your grey domestic shorthair everywhere.
\n"Morning!" Your sister Janet exclaims.
\n"Morning Janet, let's get started on the cookies and the croissants shall we?"
\nYou and Janet start cleaning the cafe and baking the cookies and croissants respectively. The part timer Carl comes at 7:00. It's 7:30 in the morning and now it's time to open the cafe.
\nA black Porsche stops in front of your cafe.
\nThe cafe door opens and a handsome middle aged man not much older than you enters.
\nHe's by far the most attractive man you've seen and honestly he almost took your breath away, but you managed to keep your composure.
\n"Good morning!, welcome to Mocha's cafe! What would you like to have?"
\n"Just an americano"
\n"Is the order to go?" You ask.
\n"No I'll drink it here"
\n"May I have your name, sir?"
\n"Leon Kennedy"
\n"Alright sir please take a seat I'll bring your order soon"
\nYou bring his order to him at his table, the sharp scent of his perfume going up your nose intoxicating you.
\n"There you go Sir, is there anything else you'd like?"
\n"No need, thanks for asking though"
\nHe then proceeded to drink his americano and it felt as if he was........stealing glances at you? You felt as if he was looking towards you every chance he got, but the cafe eventually got busy and you couldn't be bothered to think about anything except work at the moment.
\nThe time to close was coming near and we sent Carl home and started to prep pastries and stuff for tomorrow.
\nThe door opened again and there stood Leon Kennedy.
\nThis time he looked more worn out and tired and somehow sexier? Deciding to not focus on that right now, you take his order and close the cafe once he leaves.
\nHe was all you could think about on the drive back home. Those vibrant blue eyes which made you feel like you were gazing into the ocean or his peppery blond hair which suited him so perfectly or the shirt that he was wearing which clung to every muscle on his body. This was the first time in 27 years that you had felt this way.
\nEven when you were back home that's all you thought about. Effectively losing your sleep.
", "summary": "Chapter Text
\nYou wake up as your alarm starts ringing. Still pretty groggy, you check the time. It's 4 in the morning, you immediately get out of bed and start with your chores since you have a long day ahead. Making coffee, putting food out for the cat, putting seeds in the bird feeder in your garden, inspecting your plants among other things. You then go out on a walk around your neighborhood.
\nYour town is 45 minutes away from Washington DC but is thankfully mostly self sufficient with schools and hospitals. A good chunk of the population here is incredibly nice and they are always there for each other. Twenty minutes into the walk you start remincing about your dead husband, how it's been more than 27 years since you lost him in the racoon city incident and became a single mother. You've finally come to terms with it and thinking about him is not so somber anymore, instead you're reminded of the good things, the happy times you two spent together, it always manages to bring a soft smile to your face.
\nYou've taken a shower and now you're driving to your coffee shop 45-50 minutes away from your house. Lily, your daughter calls you as usual just after she wakes up.
\n"Morning mom!"
\n"Morning sweetheart! How's everything going"
\n"Work's been crazy mom, I don't even know where to start"
\n"What happened?"
\nLily hesitates a little because she is unsure about how you'll react but decides to say it anyways.
\n" The recent deaths of raccoon City victims due to the T virus syndrome"
\n"Well...." You try to say something but you just can't seem to say anything.
\n"How's Mocha (the cat) doing?" Lily asks quickly, changing the subject.
\n"Mocha is still as energetic as ever" you reply.
\nYou two continue chatting as usual
\n"Mom I think it's about time you start dating again" Lily says
\n"Oh come on in 47, I'm too old for stuff like dating and romance"
\n"No you aren't, it's never too late for anything "
\n"Yea, yeah whatever" you reply.
\n"Ughhhhhhh, well I hope you do find a boyfriend soon. Anyways I gotta go to the Gym, Bye Mom."
\n"Bye sweetheart!"
\nOnce the call cuts, you arrive at your coffee Shop.
\nIt's now 6:00 in the morning and you've entered your shop.
\nYour shop, mostly known as Mocha's cafe is located in Washington DC. Thankfully your father's side of the family had bought this place ages ago leading you to inherit it.
\nThe cafe isn't the most extravagant, but it's definitely cozy. It's always full of this subtle scent of vanilla, chocolate and coffee. There's photos of Mocha, your grey domestic shorthair everywhere.
\n"Morning!" Your sister Janet exclaims.
\n"Morning Janet, let's get started on the cookies and the croissants shall we?"
\nYou and Janet start cleaning the cafe and baking the cookies and croissants respectively. The part timer Carl comes at 7:00. It's 7:30 in the morning and now it's time to open the cafe.
\nA black Porsche stops in front of your cafe.
\nThe cafe door opens and a handsome middle aged man not much older than you enters.
\nHe's by far the most attractive man you've seen and honestly he almost took your breath away, but you managed to keep your composure.
\n"Good morning!, welcome to Mocha's cafe! What would you like to have?"
\n"Just an americano"
\n"Is the order to go?" You ask.
\n"No I'll drink it here"
\n"May I have your name, sir?"
\n"Leon Kennedy"
\n"Alright sir please take a seat I'll bring your order soon"
\nYou bring his order to him at his table, the sharp scent of his perfume going up your nose intoxicating you.
\n"There you go Sir, is there anything else you'd like?"
\n"No need, thanks for asking though"
\nHe then proceeded to drink his americano and it felt as if he was........stealing glances at you? You felt as if he was looking towards you every chance he got, but the cafe eventually got busy and you couldn't be bothered to think about anything except work at the moment.
\nThe time to close was coming near and we sent Carl home and started to prep pastries and stuff for tomorrow.
\nThe door opened again and there stood Leon Kennedy.
\nThis time he looked more worn out and tired and somehow sexier? Deciding to not focus on that right now, you take his order and close the cafe once he leaves.
\nHe was all you could think about on the drive back home. Those vibrant blue eyes which made you feel like you were gazing into the ocean or his peppery blond hair which suited him so perfectly or the shirt that he was wearing which clung to every muscle on his body. This was the first time in 27 years that you had felt this way.
\nEven when you were back home that's all you thought about. Effectively losing your sleep.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T12:39:49Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T12:41:50Z", "authors": ["justafujoshi2"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85346961", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85346961", "external_url": null, "title": "\u0418\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0442", "content_text": "", "content_html": "\u041e\u043c\u0435\u0433\u0430-\u0412\u0438\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440 \u0432 \u0442\u0435\u0447\u043a\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u0443\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0432\u0448\u0435\u0439\u0441\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e \u043f\u043e\u043e\u0431\u0449\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0441 \u0430\u043b\u044c\u0444\u043e\u0439-\u041b\u0435\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043f\u043e\u0431\u043b\u0438\u0436\u0435...
Words: 2569, Chapters: 1/1, Language: \u0420\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439
\u041e\u043c\u0435\u0433\u0430-\u0412\u0438\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440 \u0432 \u0442\u0435\u0447\u043a\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u0443\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0432\u0448\u0435\u0439\u0441\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e \u043f\u043e\u043e\u0431\u0449\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0441 \u0430\u043b\u044c\u0444\u043e\u0439-\u041b\u0435\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043f\u043e\u0431\u043b\u0438\u0436\u0435...
Words: 2569, Chapters: 1/1, Language: \u0420\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439
At Devil May Cry, in Dante's sitting room with Vergil and Leon playing chess.
\nVergil: checkmate.
\nDante: you're the king, Leon.
\nLeon: of course, I wish my wife and my daughter to come to see me.
\nDante: who's your daughter?
\nLeon: Well....I don't want to say that.
\nDante: come on, just tell me a truth. Don't you think about all those lies.
\nLeon: nothing.
\nDante: (silent anger) say it...
\nLeon: I don't care of your anger issues.
\nDante: oh really!? This is how-
\nLady opens the door, Trish, Patty and Ada arrives at the sitting room.
\nLady: We're here!
\nTrish: we brought some snacks.
\nPatty: Dad! (Hugged Leon)
\nLeon: how's your day, kid?
\nAda: I took her to the playground and I'll still watching her.
\nDante: She's your daughter?
\nLeon: Ada and I we're going to adopted her from the orphanage.
\nAda: And Leon decided to play the tea party with her.
\nTrish: Lady, are we going to tell him?
\nLady: (sighs) of course we can. We should tell him about-
\nDante: I hope Iridessa is coming to see me and all of us, I made a dinner for me and her.
\nLady: Dante.
\nDante: what is it, Lady? I made this dinner for her.
\nTrish: the truth is... Iridessa is not coming for dinner.
\nDante: she not invited to the dinner?
\nLady: you have to read this letter.
\nAda: they told me about her and now she decided to move on.
\nDante is the letter from Iridessa.
\n"Dear Dante, because I have to go back to my fairy friends waiting for me, I did I decided to pack up my stuff from my old house, you always make me smile and also helped, we're saving people from the lava, doing ice skating together, and then... We're singing together. The truth is... our relationship has no future, because I don't want to miss you, I have to move on. Your friend Iridessa."
\nDante: (smiles happily) Goodbye Iridessa, I hope your friends to see you.
\nVergil: I thought you crying?
\nDante: She's breaking up with me, Vergil.
\nLady: you're feeling happy?
\nDante heard that knocking from the window, he goes to see Iridessa is now on fairy.
\nIridessa: Goodbye, Dante. The son of Sparda. Also I called you Tony Anthony.
\nDante: You too, Iridessa. Have a nice day.
\nIridessa: yeah, I was feeling homesick, you're not going to miss me?
\nDante: of course, I'm not going to missed you. And now... And the most of all...thanks for the letter. Until then...I have to move on.
\nIridessa: that's a spirit. Bye everyone! Stay safe!
\nLady: Bye, Iridessa!
\nTrish: we won't missed you!
\nIridessa flies away from them and the others watching her flying.
\nDante: Bye Iridessa.
\nAt the Fairy Village, Iridessa arrives.
\nTinker Bell: My goodness!! Iridessa, You're back!
\nRosetta: our bestie!! Our sunflower friend. We're totally missed you in 3 years.
\nIridessa: I miss you guys so much, can we talk about it?
\nTinker Bell: of course.
\nAt night, the others are left, Dante goes to bed and looking at the window and the aurora from the night sky is glowing and he goes back to his bed and he sleeps peacefully and quiet.
", "summary": "At Devil May Cry, in Dante's sitting room with Vergil and Leon playing chess.
\nVergil: checkmate.
\nDante: you're the king, Leon.
\nLeon: of course, I wish my wife and my daughter to come to see me.
\nDante: who's your daughter?
\nLeon: Well....I don't want to say that.
\nDante: come on, just tell me a truth. Don't you think about all those lies.
\nLeon: nothing.
\nDante: (silent anger) say it...
\nLeon: I don't care of your anger issues.
\nDante: oh really!? This is how-
\nLady opens the door, Trish, Patty and Ada arrives at the sitting room.
\nLady: We're here!
\nTrish: we brought some snacks.
\nPatty: Dad! (Hugged Leon)
\nLeon: how's your day, kid?
\nAda: I took her to the playground and I'll still watching her.
\nDante: She's your daughter?
\nLeon: Ada and I we're going to adopted her from the orphanage.
\nAda: And Leon decided to play the tea party with her.
\nTrish: Lady, are we going to tell him?
\nLady: (sighs) of course we can. We should tell him about-
\nDante: I hope Iridessa is coming to see me and all of us, I made a dinner for me and her.
\nLady: Dante.
\nDante: what is it, Lady? I made this dinner for her.
\nTrish: the truth is... Iridessa is not coming for dinner.
\nDante: she not invited to the dinner?
\nLady: you have to read this letter.
\nAda: they told me about her and now she decided to move on.
\nDante is the letter from Iridessa.
\n"Dear Dante, because I have to go back to my fairy friends waiting for me, I did I decided to pack up my stuff from my old house, you always make me smile and also helped, we're saving people from the lava, doing ice skating together, and then... We're singing together. The truth is... our relationship has no future, because I don't want to miss you, I have to move on. Your friend Iridessa."
\nDante: (smiles happily) Goodbye Iridessa, I hope your friends to see you.
\nVergil: I thought you crying?
\nDante: She's breaking up with me, Vergil.
\nLady: you're feeling happy?
\nDante heard that knocking from the window, he goes to see Iridessa is now on fairy.
\nIridessa: Goodbye, Dante. The son of Sparda. Also I called you Tony Anthony.
\nDante: You too, Iridessa. Have a nice day.
\nIridessa: yeah, I was feeling homesick, you're not going to miss me?
\nDante: of course, I'm not going to missed you. And now... And the most of all...thanks for the letter. Until then...I have to move on.
\nIridessa: that's a spirit. Bye everyone! Stay safe!
\nLady: Bye, Iridessa!
\nTrish: we won't missed you!
\nIridessa flies away from them and the others watching her flying.
\nDante: Bye Iridessa.
\nAt the Fairy Village, Iridessa arrives.
\nTinker Bell: My goodness!! Iridessa, You're back!
\nRosetta: our bestie!! Our sunflower friend. We're totally missed you in 3 years.
\nIridessa: I miss you guys so much, can we talk about it?
\nTinker Bell: of course.
\nAt night, the others are left, Dante goes to bed and looking at the window and the aurora from the night sky is glowing and he goes back to his bed and he sleeps peacefully and quiet.
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T11:39:28Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T11:40:02Z", "authors": ["Pennie_Mae"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}, {"id": "tag:archiveofourown.org,2005:Work/85342936", "url": "https://archiveofourown.org/works/85342936", "external_url": null, "title": "\u196b\u1b61. \u22ee older .\u141f leon with a very obvious size kink .\u141f", "content_text": "", "content_html": "\u201cmhm, i don't think s\u2019gonna fit, baby,\u201d
\nteasing. leon\u2019s teasing. he has to be after he\u2019s spent hours slowly working you open. making you come on his tongue and fingertips, making you drip until your cunt is soaked and puffy, all so you can take him like you want to but he just keeps teasing you and it\u2019s torture
\nsoft sheets stick to your sweaty back where you're laid out in the middle of your bed with your thighs spread and held down by leon\u2019s large hands pressing into the backs of them. he looks huge towering over you, broad shoulders, rippling muscles and his big cock nestled against your aching and very empty pussy
\n\u201cit will\u2014you said so\u2014please,\u201d you babble mindlessly while you clench around nothing as if that will somehow prove that you\u2019re ready for him. if you aren\u2019t prepared by now then you simply never will be and the latter doesn\u2019t bare thinking about when you need him to fuck you so desperately
\nleon\u2019s big everywhere, it\u2019s no secret to anyone really, but his cock had to have been crafted by some kind of god. even as he\u2019s grinding along your core, there\u2019s more of him not touching you at any given moment because of his size. he\u2019s long and thick, a double whammy and more than you could have ever dreamt of
\n\u201ci don\u2019t know,\u201d leon hums, long and drawn out whilst he tips his chin to his chest to look at the spot where your bodies meet. his fingers brush over the backs of your thighs, soothing trembling muscles in a way that only he could manage to do while he\u2019s being so cruel, \u201cdon\u2019t want to split you in half, sweetheart,\u201d
\nyou moan wantonly at the idea of it. being fucked full and broken in two on his cock. you want it\u2014no, you need it. writhing against the sheets and begging is getting you nowhere, so you try a slightly different approach instead, \u201cjust the tip then, please,\u201d you whimper and tickle your nails against his wrists
\nfor the first time since he spread you wide, leon falters. a groan rumbles through his chest like thunder and his hips buck involuntarily, making his balls slap against your soft skin, \u201cfuck\u2014yeah, okay,\u201d he mumbles under his breath, like you\u2019re not supposed to hear it, and finally starts to pull his hips back
\nhis cock slips down the center of your cunt, aided by the sheer amount of slick that\u2019s coating your skin, and as the fat head of him slots against your hole, you suck in a harsh breath through your teeth. though, when leon still doesn\u2019t give you what you want, you release it in a whiny, \u201cplease, please, plea\u2014oh god,\u201d
\nbegs turn into sobs the second leon suddenly presses into you and stretches you around the tip of his cock. it aches in the best way possible and has your back arching away from the mattress as you fight against leon\u2019s hands to squirm and force yourself further down his length
\n\u201cnot god but close enough,\u201d leon grunts as you tighten like a vice, stuck somewhere between trying to pull him closer and push him out at the same time. he\u2019s struggling too and you know it, the urge to sink into you is written in the furrowing of his eyebrows and his cock is twitching with anticipation
\nit\u2019s not nearly enough to satisfy either of your needs though, just the tip of him was never going to be enough, but as your lips part and a beg for more sits right on the tip of your tongue, you look up at leon and see the smirk spreading across his face and you know exactly what it means straight away, \u201ci can\u2019t,\u201d you pout
\nleon shrugs, \u201cyou can and you will, angel,\u201d he rasps before he leans forwards slightly and spits directly onto your clit. you whine as one of his hands leaves your thigh and then moan when the calloused pad of his thumb spreads his saliva over where you\u2019re very sensitive, \u201ccome like this, then i\u2019ll fuck you, promise,\u201d
\nelectricity fizzles up your spine and shudders through your shoulders while you realise that he\u2019s going to drag this out even longer. he\u2019s going to make you come again and there\u2019s nothing that you can do about it\u2014not that you even want to try when you know that he\u2019ll make it feel so good
\nyour eyes pinch shut and your stomach tenses as his rough swipes turn into soft circles, going around and around your bundle of nerves, which causes your cunt to flutter around him. heat erupts in your stomach, a fire that\u2019ll build quickly because it always does when leon\u2019s the firestarter
\n\u201cyou\u2019re just too small sweetheart, need to make sure you can definitely take me,\u201d leon sighs condescendingly and you can feel his eyes on you, studying you, even though yours are still shut and you can\u2019t actually prove that he's looking at you but somehow, you just know
\nhe's good with his hands, he knows what he's doing, so the slide of his thumb over your clit is easy. all you have to do is lay there and take it, focus on the feeling that\u2019s already beginning to coil tight and you\u2019ll come in no time, especially if leon keeps talking filthy whilst burning holes into you
\n\u201cfuck\u2014wish you could see how tight you are, pretty little hole strugglin\u2019 to take just the head of my cock,\u201d leon murmurs as he ghosts his thumb down the center of your cunt. you huff over the loss of his touch but it\u2019s back within a second and it\u2019s devastating
\nhis fingertip still goes in a circle but this time he\u2019s tracing around the spot where your pussy is squeezing his cock. your delicate skin against his velvety skin, both wet and sticky with your slick and his precome as it leaks out of you. it\u2019s filthy and it makes your head spin
\nyou can\u2019t help but sniffle and rake vicious lines over his wrist, the one that you can still reach and dig your nails into while he teases, and he returns the touch with a bruising hold on your thigh which makes your eyes flutter open, \u201cruin me, break me\u2014please\u2014just do anything,\u201d you beg up at him
\nleon\u2019s cock kicks and his jaw clenches, \u201cyeah?\u201d he grunts afterwards and then his thumb is back on your clit and rubbing harsher, uneven, circles, \u201cfuck you full, make you bulge with my cock, mold your cunt to only take me, ruin you for everyone else?\u201d he rambles through deep growls
\n\u201cyes\u2014fuck yes\u2014you already have!\u201d you wail while your thighs tremble and your clit throbs under his assault. there\u2019s nothing nice in his movements anymore, it\u2019s devolved into a driven need that\u2019s dirty and abrasive and you love it even as it starts to become too much, too fast
\neverything in your body is screaming no as you hurtle towards another orgasm, the number of which is unknown because you lost the ability to keep count of them hours ago, but you can\u2019t stop and you won\u2019t stop while the ache in your stomach multiplies and your legs try to pull together, though leon won\u2019t let them
\n\u201cclose, angel?\u201d leon asks lowly and you could hear the smirk in his tone even if you couldn\u2019t see it. you nod frantically in response, unable to use any of your words because of him, \u201cyeah? you\u2019re doing so good\u2014fuck, you\u2019re so good, letting me use you like this,\u201d he groans, each word getting you closer
\nyour chest begins to heave, panting in short, desperate breaths as leon\u2019s thumb starts to swipe back and forth quickly over the tip of your twitching clit. you\u2019re right there, teetering on the edge, ready to let bliss take ahold as your brain turns to mush. you just need one final little push and then\u2014
\n\u201ccome baby, come for me,\u201d
\nit\u2019s such a simple order and yet, your body listens to it before you even have the chance to process it. the coil snaps and you choke on a sob while your entire body tenses and then shudders. your nerve endings burn in every part of your body, a white hot heat that spreads like a wildfire
\nsomewhere distant is leon\u2019s voice is ringing in your ears with a trickle of soft praises, \u201cthere you go, that feels better, huh?\u201d he coos and strokes featherlight hearts\u2014you think\u2014into the outside of your thigh. when he let them snap shut, you don\u2019t know, \u201cuh huh\u2014fuck look at you,\u201d
\naround his cock your cunt has clamped down and pushed him out, leaving your hole empty again but you can\u2019t find it in yourself to care when leon is wringing your orgasm for all that it\u2019s worth by still brushing sporadic circles over your clit until you knock his hand away with a heavy feeling hand
\n\u201coh my god,\u201d you whimper and then shiver through the last of the little aftershocks before you wriggle, \u201cyou promised,\u201d you whisper, your tone laced with exhaustion while you remind him of the deal that he made and make it known that you do still want him to fuck you properly
\nleon chuckles as he leans over you and kisses your bottom lip just once before he pulls away. it\u2019s sloppy and probably a little gross but it makes your cheeks flush anyway, \u201cready, sweet girl?\u201d he asks and nudges his cock against your wet little hole, barely letting himself slip inside before he pulls back
\n\u201cyes\u2014please!\u201d you blurt, much louder than you meant to but leon is far too focused on pressing into you to realise it. a silent gasp scratches your throat as he gives you back what you already had, the stretch is no longer there but your back still lazily curves away from your sheets over it
\nhe goes slowly, excruciatingly slowly. each centimetre of his length has your jaw dropping further, while you stare up at him with big, wet eyes. every vein that\u2019s strung around his cock drags against your fluttering walls and nothing else could ever compare to that feeling\u2014a feeling that only leon can give you
\nonce he\u2019s half way in, you quickly feel full. it\u2019s like your body simply has nowhere else for him to go because he\u2019s already occupying every space, filling every spot and grinding against it no matter how sensitive it is. that, however, doesn\u2019t stop your pussy from trying to pull him in
\n\u201csweeth\u2014fuck\u2014s\u2019like you\u2019re sucking me in,\u201d leon hisses through clenched molars. his muscles are starting to tense and any composure that he had is slipping away rapidly but he\u2019s held on for so long that you can\u2019t blame him, even if it is his own fault, \u201cshit\u2014oh my god, fuck,\u201d he groans
\nthe last inches of his cock seem to sink into you quicker than the first ones did. whether it\u2019s because you really are sucking him in or because he just doesn\u2019t have the capacity to go slowly anymore, you really don\u2019t care whilst your room gets filled with soft whimpers and deep grunts that sound like a song
\nthat is, until leon bottoms out and nails your cervix
\neverything goes fuzzy. your vision, your nerves, your veins. you\u2019re blindsided and blacking out whilst your pulse pounds against your eardrums and every colour of the rainbow bursts behind your eyes. you\u2019re frozen, stuck in your mind while an orgasm rips through your system like a hurricane
\nit feels like lightning in every one of your limbs, seizing sore muscles and forcing a wrecked yelp from your lips. you've never felt anything like it and you're not sure you'll ever get close to it ever again. it's like a high that you don't want to chase
\n\u201coh\u2014oh, are you coming, again?\u201d leon\u2019s asking but you can\u2019t reply more than a stiff nod and a shove at his hip because he was right, it\u2019s too much and you can\u2019t take him all at once. he goes easily though, pulling out of you carefully whilst he hums a sympathetic, \u201cgood girl,\u201d
\nlosing all of his touch at once is horrid but you're too overstimulated for him to risk giving you anything whilst you writhe underneath him and even though you hate feeling empty in the moment, you'll thank him for it later
\n\u201ctoo much,\u201d you slur your words after sometime. your heart is still thumping in your chest and your eyelids are too heavy to open but it\u2019s all made better by leon hovering over you and peppering soothing kisses to your burning cheeks, \u201ctoo much,\u201d you repeat, causing leon to hum and smile against your skin
\n\u201ci know baby, i\u2019m just far too big for you,\u201d
", "summary": "\u201cmhm, i don't think s\u2019gonna fit, baby,\u201d
\nteasing. leon\u2019s teasing. he has to be after he\u2019s spent hours slowly working you open. making you come on his tongue and fingertips, making you drip until your cunt is soaked and puffy, all so you can take him like you want to but he just keeps teasing you and it\u2019s torture
\nsoft sheets stick to your sweaty back where you're laid out in the middle of your bed with your thighs spread and held down by leon\u2019s large hands pressing into the backs of them. he looks huge towering over you, broad shoulders, rippling muscles and his big cock nestled against your aching and very empty pussy
\n\u201cit will\u2014you said so\u2014please,\u201d you babble mindlessly while you clench around nothing as if that will somehow prove that you\u2019re ready for him. if you aren\u2019t prepared by now then you simply never will be and the latter doesn\u2019t bare thinking about when you need him to fuck you so desperately
\nleon\u2019s big everywhere, it\u2019s no secret to anyone really, but his cock had to have been crafted by some kind of god. even as he\u2019s grinding along your core, there\u2019s more of him not touching you at any given moment because of his size. he\u2019s long and thick, a double whammy and more than you could have ever dreamt of
\n\u201ci don\u2019t know,\u201d leon hums, long and drawn out whilst he tips his chin to his chest to look at the spot where your bodies meet. his fingers brush over the backs of your thighs, soothing trembling muscles in a way that only he could manage to do while he\u2019s being so cruel, \u201cdon\u2019t want to split you in half, sweetheart,\u201d
\nyou moan wantonly at the idea of it. being fucked full and broken in two on his cock. you want it\u2014no, you need it. writhing against the sheets and begging is getting you nowhere, so you try a slightly different approach instead, \u201cjust the tip then, please,\u201d you whimper and tickle your nails against his wrists
\nfor the first time since he spread you wide, leon falters. a groan rumbles through his chest like thunder and his hips buck involuntarily, making his balls slap against your soft skin, \u201cfuck\u2014yeah, okay,\u201d he mumbles under his breath, like you\u2019re not supposed to hear it, and finally starts to pull his hips back
\nhis cock slips down the center of your cunt, aided by the sheer amount of slick that\u2019s coating your skin, and as the fat head of him slots against your hole, you suck in a harsh breath through your teeth. though, when leon still doesn\u2019t give you what you want, you release it in a whiny, \u201cplease, please, plea\u2014oh god,\u201d
\nbegs turn into sobs the second leon suddenly presses into you and stretches you around the tip of his cock. it aches in the best way possible and has your back arching away from the mattress as you fight against leon\u2019s hands to squirm and force yourself further down his length
\n\u201cnot god but close enough,\u201d leon grunts as you tighten like a vice, stuck somewhere between trying to pull him closer and push him out at the same time. he\u2019s struggling too and you know it, the urge to sink into you is written in the furrowing of his eyebrows and his cock is twitching with anticipation
\nit\u2019s not nearly enough to satisfy either of your needs though, just the tip of him was never going to be enough, but as your lips part and a beg for more sits right on the tip of your tongue, you look up at leon and see the smirk spreading across his face and you know exactly what it means straight away, \u201ci can\u2019t,\u201d you pout
\nleon shrugs, \u201cyou can and you will, angel,\u201d he rasps before he leans forwards slightly and spits directly onto your clit. you whine as one of his hands leaves your thigh and then moan when the calloused pad of his thumb spreads his saliva over where you\u2019re very sensitive, \u201ccome like this, then i\u2019ll fuck you, promise,\u201d
\nelectricity fizzles up your spine and shudders through your shoulders while you realise that he\u2019s going to drag this out even longer. he\u2019s going to make you come again and there\u2019s nothing that you can do about it\u2014not that you even want to try when you know that he\u2019ll make it feel so good
\nyour eyes pinch shut and your stomach tenses as his rough swipes turn into soft circles, going around and around your bundle of nerves, which causes your cunt to flutter around him. heat erupts in your stomach, a fire that\u2019ll build quickly because it always does when leon\u2019s the firestarter
\n\u201cyou\u2019re just too small sweetheart, need to make sure you can definitely take me,\u201d leon sighs condescendingly and you can feel his eyes on you, studying you, even though yours are still shut and you can\u2019t actually prove that he's looking at you but somehow, you just know
\nhe's good with his hands, he knows what he's doing, so the slide of his thumb over your clit is easy. all you have to do is lay there and take it, focus on the feeling that\u2019s already beginning to coil tight and you\u2019ll come in no time, especially if leon keeps talking filthy whilst burning holes into you
\n\u201cfuck\u2014wish you could see how tight you are, pretty little hole strugglin\u2019 to take just the head of my cock,\u201d leon murmurs as he ghosts his thumb down the center of your cunt. you huff over the loss of his touch but it\u2019s back within a second and it\u2019s devastating
\nhis fingertip still goes in a circle but this time he\u2019s tracing around the spot where your pussy is squeezing his cock. your delicate skin against his velvety skin, both wet and sticky with your slick and his precome as it leaks out of you. it\u2019s filthy and it makes your head spin
\nyou can\u2019t help but sniffle and rake vicious lines over his wrist, the one that you can still reach and dig your nails into while he teases, and he returns the touch with a bruising hold on your thigh which makes your eyes flutter open, \u201cruin me, break me\u2014please\u2014just do anything,\u201d you beg up at him
\nleon\u2019s cock kicks and his jaw clenches, \u201cyeah?\u201d he grunts afterwards and then his thumb is back on your clit and rubbing harsher, uneven, circles, \u201cfuck you full, make you bulge with my cock, mold your cunt to only take me, ruin you for everyone else?\u201d he rambles through deep growls
\n\u201cyes\u2014fuck yes\u2014you already have!\u201d you wail while your thighs tremble and your clit throbs under his assault. there\u2019s nothing nice in his movements anymore, it\u2019s devolved into a driven need that\u2019s dirty and abrasive and you love it even as it starts to become too much, too fast
\neverything in your body is screaming no as you hurtle towards another orgasm, the number of which is unknown because you lost the ability to keep count of them hours ago, but you can\u2019t stop and you won\u2019t stop while the ache in your stomach multiplies and your legs try to pull together, though leon won\u2019t let them
\n\u201cclose, angel?\u201d leon asks lowly and you could hear the smirk in his tone even if you couldn\u2019t see it. you nod frantically in response, unable to use any of your words because of him, \u201cyeah? you\u2019re doing so good\u2014fuck, you\u2019re so good, letting me use you like this,\u201d he groans, each word getting you closer
\nyour chest begins to heave, panting in short, desperate breaths as leon\u2019s thumb starts to swipe back and forth quickly over the tip of your twitching clit. you\u2019re right there, teetering on the edge, ready to let bliss take ahold as your brain turns to mush. you just need one final little push and then\u2014
\n\u201ccome baby, come for me,\u201d
\nit\u2019s such a simple order and yet, your body listens to it before you even have the chance to process it. the coil snaps and you choke on a sob while your entire body tenses and then shudders. your nerve endings burn in every part of your body, a white hot heat that spreads like a wildfire
\nsomewhere distant is leon\u2019s voice is ringing in your ears with a trickle of soft praises, \u201cthere you go, that feels better, huh?\u201d he coos and strokes featherlight hearts\u2014you think\u2014into the outside of your thigh. when he let them snap shut, you don\u2019t know, \u201cuh huh\u2014fuck look at you,\u201d
\naround his cock your cunt has clamped down and pushed him out, leaving your hole empty again but you can\u2019t find it in yourself to care when leon is wringing your orgasm for all that it\u2019s worth by still brushing sporadic circles over your clit until you knock his hand away with a heavy feeling hand
\n\u201coh my god,\u201d you whimper and then shiver through the last of the little aftershocks before you wriggle, \u201cyou promised,\u201d you whisper, your tone laced with exhaustion while you remind him of the deal that he made and make it known that you do still want him to fuck you properly
\nleon chuckles as he leans over you and kisses your bottom lip just once before he pulls away. it\u2019s sloppy and probably a little gross but it makes your cheeks flush anyway, \u201cready, sweet girl?\u201d he asks and nudges his cock against your wet little hole, barely letting himself slip inside before he pulls back
\n\u201cyes\u2014please!\u201d you blurt, much louder than you meant to but leon is far too focused on pressing into you to realise it. a silent gasp scratches your throat as he gives you back what you already had, the stretch is no longer there but your back still lazily curves away from your sheets over it
\nhe goes slowly, excruciatingly slowly. each centimetre of his length has your jaw dropping further, while you stare up at him with big, wet eyes. every vein that\u2019s strung around his cock drags against your fluttering walls and nothing else could ever compare to that feeling\u2014a feeling that only leon can give you
\nonce he\u2019s half way in, you quickly feel full. it\u2019s like your body simply has nowhere else for him to go because he\u2019s already occupying every space, filling every spot and grinding against it no matter how sensitive it is. that, however, doesn\u2019t stop your pussy from trying to pull him in
\n\u201csweeth\u2014fuck\u2014s\u2019like you\u2019re sucking me in,\u201d leon hisses through clenched molars. his muscles are starting to tense and any composure that he had is slipping away rapidly but he\u2019s held on for so long that you can\u2019t blame him, even if it is his own fault, \u201cshit\u2014oh my god, fuck,\u201d he groans
\nthe last inches of his cock seem to sink into you quicker than the first ones did. whether it\u2019s because you really are sucking him in or because he just doesn\u2019t have the capacity to go slowly anymore, you really don\u2019t care whilst your room gets filled with soft whimpers and deep grunts that sound like a song
\nthat is, until leon bottoms out and nails your cervix
\neverything goes fuzzy. your vision, your nerves, your veins. you\u2019re blindsided and blacking out whilst your pulse pounds against your eardrums and every colour of the rainbow bursts behind your eyes. you\u2019re frozen, stuck in your mind while an orgasm rips through your system like a hurricane
\nit feels like lightning in every one of your limbs, seizing sore muscles and forcing a wrecked yelp from your lips. you've never felt anything like it and you're not sure you'll ever get close to it ever again. it's like a high that you don't want to chase
\n\u201coh\u2014oh, are you coming, again?\u201d leon\u2019s asking but you can\u2019t reply more than a stiff nod and a shove at his hip because he was right, it\u2019s too much and you can\u2019t take him all at once. he goes easily though, pulling out of you carefully whilst he hums a sympathetic, \u201cgood girl,\u201d
\nlosing all of his touch at once is horrid but you're too overstimulated for him to risk giving you anything whilst you writhe underneath him and even though you hate feeling empty in the moment, you'll thank him for it later
\n\u201ctoo much,\u201d you slur your words after sometime. your heart is still thumping in your chest and your eyelids are too heavy to open but it\u2019s all made better by leon hovering over you and peppering soothing kisses to your burning cheeks, \u201ctoo much,\u201d you repeat, causing leon to hum and smile against your skin
\n\u201ci know baby, i\u2019m just far too big for you,\u201d
", "image": null, "banner_image": null, "date_published": "2026-05-22T10:52:27Z", "date_modified": "2026-05-22T11:27:29Z", "authors": ["flirtingfawn"], "tags": [], "language": null, "attachments": ["\n {\"url\": string, \n 'mime_type': string, \n 'title': strinrg,\n 'size_in_bytes': int,\n 'duration_in_seconds': int\n "]}]}