"I'm sorry I did not inform you of such," Integra apologized," but you were certainly busy enough, and as was I."
"Sure," Leon said begrudgingly. It had been almost half an hour since the great chase around Hellsing headquarters that had ended mistakenly abrupt. Leon had been tempted to order a second round as he didn't believe that they met his qualifications, but Seras had argued that it was possible any vampire can get distracted. Following the end of test one, Leon had approached Integra, demanding to know what was going on in the cemetery.
"I don't understand what you are so upset about," Integra admitted while staring at Leon," I commissioned the stone for Zohall Mercer to be made almost the instant we arrived."
"Why wasn't I told?" Leon asked again, and Integra sighed, holding a hand to her eyes.
"You were going to be. Honestly," she said as Leon scoffed," I knew the stress of your situation and my own would make a bad time for an impromptu burial."
"Yes, it would!" Leon admitted, fired up, and pacing back and forth. Integra and Seras watched him, slightly concerned," is there anything slightly concerning me that you haven't told me about?"
"Mr. Kennedy, you will hold that tone when addressing me," Integra retorted, her temper catching with Leon's own," and no. This was the one thing I hadn't told you as yet."
"Sorry," Leon said quickly, rubbing his head," I didn't mean to snap. This hangover is-" and he closed his mouth and coughed," I mean headache is killing me."
Integra had instantly snapped to Leon at the word, and as Seras saw it, there was no way around the fury to come. Her eyes were wide and seemed to emanate a cold fire that tore whatever confidence Leon had out of his body and shred it before him.
"Please explain," Integra asked calmly.
"I… last night, while talking about Raccoon city," Leon started slowly," I had a few drinks."
"And?" Integra demanded angrily.
"Nothing else, boss!" Leon exclaimed. "I just had too many to drink." Integra either suspected something else was not being told or did not believe him. She eyed Leon inquisitively and he was certain she had suddenly developed x-ray vision.
"I want an oath from you, Mr. Kennedy," Integra stated strongly, stepping closer to him," you will no longer be drinking while under my service."
"I will no longer drink while employed at Hellsing," Leon said after a moment.
"The instant I find that your hobbies do not interfere with your abilities to operate as a special agent under my services, I will permit you to break that oath," Integra stated, and turned, her hair nearly whipping him in the face," until then you are to remain perfectly sober."
"Yes ma'am," Leon said, nodding.
"They're all yours," Integra mentioned to the crowd she passed by. The group of soldiers, which had been partially listening into the conversation, leaned back from Integra as she walked past them, afraid she'd snap at them too.
"That could have been worse," Seras sighed, watching Integra walk back to the manor," don't worry about it Leon." She turned to what she thought would be a slightly crestfallen Leon, but his eyes were frozen in a glare that would match Integras any day. He was simply staring at the ground.
"We're going to the shooting range now," he said with fury, and marched past a frightened Seras.
"Kennedy, really?" Wilson called out. "Not everyone needs a gun on them to kick some ass, you know," he said lazily. Leon stopped in his march, and slowly turned towards Wilson, who smiled at the, albeit furious, attention he was getting.
"I'll be the decider for that," Leon said," until then-"
"Did you decide for Zohall, too?" Wilson teased," I don't think that worked out for him, did it?"
The composure and control Leon was known for evaporated so quickly Seras felt it happen like a blast of heat. Wilson had pulled the string that woke the fury Leon held inside. Leon's face flushed a bright red, and his fists clenched.
"Oh shit, my bad," Jack laughed as several of the guys in the group 'ooh'd'.
"That's not cool asshole," Lars said, turning to face Wilson. As he was addressed by Lars, Jack laughed and pushed him back.
"Yeah, go back to your power-up station, cyborg," he said to Lars. The bullied man seemed to have enough of it, and lunged at the suited man. Several, including Amber, struggled to keep Lars back, while the others watched and shouted for them to calm down.
"You lot!" Seras shouted," that's enough! Calm down- Leon!" Seras shouted, as Leon very quickly approached Jack, who spotted the movement just before Leon was in his face.
"How about this, Wilson," Leon said, inches from him," I give you a personal exception examination. You prove to me that you don't need a pistol, and I let it slide. For good."
"Oh, I can't just pass that one up, can I?" Wilson said smoothly, smiling at the enraged man before him," what's my test? Multiple choice test about how cool you are?"
"Beat me," Leon stated," you beat me in a duel."
"What's the terms, then?" Jack said, smiling," 'cus I hope you got something interesting."
"None. No fatal injuries," Leon reminded him," all you have to do is make me surrender."
"Ahhh," Wilson said with a grin," I don't think you want to-"
"Otherwise, start moving towards the shooting range," Leon reminded him. Wilson's confidence faltered at the idea of failing the range, and instead stared at Leon.
"Where is this happening?" he asked. Leon turned, and waved the others to follow.
"Leon, stop for a second," Seras stepped closer to Leon as she ran past the others, just ahead of him," please? This isn't exactly what Integra wanted from you... entirely! I know you're upset, really sad about all of this?"
"Sad?" Leon asked her, his voice cracking. She stepped back; his eyes were almost pleading with her. "Seras, don't try to stop me."
"Why?" she asked," he's good enough to be in this organization, isn't he? Don't risk it," she begged," I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'll be fine," he shrugged off and stepped into the maze, heading for the center again. Seras shook her head, wondering what to do. Integra wouldn't come back down, she'd just tell her to cope with the situation herself. Walter might be able to get some clarity, but he was already so annoyed with the status of the days progress, she'd rather not start another person's wrath, and Alucard would laugh at this.
"Just let it be," a Frenchman's voice called in the back of her head," this will help the both of them."
"Not if they're bleeding out all over the place," Seras said out loud accidentally.
"Seras?" Amber asked as she walked past her, following the crowd inside," are you okay?"
"No," the vampire admitted," this is exactly what doesn't need to happen!"
"Stop him then," Amber said plainly.
"…I don't think I can," Seras said sadly.
The group surrounded the platform, where Leon stood, facing Wilson, who was taking off his jacket and tie. Leon's eyes never left Wilson, fixated on his target perfectly and unrelentingly.
"So, all I have to do is make you beg like a bitch?" Wilson said as he withdrew one of his knives," shouldn't be hard."
"Emmet," Leon called out, and the American Samurai nodded from the crowd," count down whenever you want to. Seras," Leon called to the nervous Seras," you're the referee."
"Just stop all of this, guys!" she begged them one last time, and both of them ignored her. Seras looked on Jacks shirt, where two belts looped around his shoulders to his waist belt; they held countless daggers and knives of various size and length. There must have been at least fifty on him just from the ones she could see. As Jack placed his jacket on the platform, she heard even more clanging of metal.
"Okay you two," Daisuke said, holding his hand up," three… two… one… go!"
Wilson made the first move, throwing on of his daggers right at Leon's shoulder. The first attack was dodged easily, but Leon didn't retaliate. Wilson laughed, and threw two at him again, each with his hand, and Leon stepped aside from them. Wilson ran to the side, now constantly throwing knives at him which expert precision and speed.
"Watch it!" one in the crowd shouted as a knife flew past them.
Leon stepped aside from each one, and ducked from a few. One particular evasive duck, and Wilson threw three, all from a one handed toss that moved to intercept Leon, wherever he should go. Yet it was Wilson who was stunned when Leon grabbed the one that he moved towards, with one hand, and let it fall to the ground, harmless.
"You talk such a big game, don't you?" Leon said," where's all that fire you had fighting Seras? Or do you like picking on people you think are smaller than you?"
"Fuck you!" Wilson grabbed two larger blades from his collection, and ran at Leon, holding the blades at his side. Once he was a foot or so from Leon, he held himself back and started slashing at the man. Leon, just like before avoided and dodged each attack like it was nothing.
Seras couldn't understand why he was doing this. Leon's tactics were efficient and straight to the point. He found a weakness in a strategy or opponent and exploited it to end the fight as quickly as he could. Just watching Jack attack and swing at Leon she spotted countless chances for Leon to engage and end this.
"Why isn't he?" she asked, and caught Amber's attention.
"What?"
"Leon fights to win quickly, and I think he could have by now. So what is going on?"
"I don't know," Amber admitted.
"Let me tell you," a dark voice muttered inside Seras's head.
"Master?" Seras said under her breath and inside her head.
"Leon is an agent. He works with precision, timing, and agility. But the man he is fighting is no longer a target. He is pain. He is a man who has insulted him, and a memory he holds to himself," Alucard explained slowly, as Seras watched the fight grow faster and faster.
"He's… not trying to win?" Seras asked mentally.
"Oh, he most certainly wont let himself loose, not against him," Alucard continued to explain," but he is following an example I have created when against a foe that thinks themselves too high in the clouds."
"… humiliation and overwhelming defeat," Seras said out loud, and Amber looked at her worriedly.
Jack was striking more viciously and angrily than he had before, growing tired of Leon's constant defensive position. He wanted a fight, not a repeat of his practice of Seras.
"Come on asshole!" Jack said, stepping away from Leon, motioning at him to attack. Leon stared blankly, and then moved forward, walking steadily at Jack, who laughed. "That's right, Kennedy! Come here!"
Jack again swung out at Leon. His arm was stopped before it ever reached Leon's body however. Leon had swung outward with his fist, catching Jacks arm in mid swing, and striking it with knuckle. Simultaneously, Leon lifted his foot, and kicked Jack powerfully in the chest, toppling him over and backwards. Jack swore and scrambled back to his feet.
"Your turn," Leon said harshly," and stop boring me. You don't want to learn to use a gun like a total newbie, do you?"
"FUCK YOU!" Jack screamed and charged forward, throwing his daggers and knives as he did. Leon avoided each one, and then charged back at Jack. Neither hesitated, and the fighting really began.
It became very clear that Jack had truly bitten more off than he could chew. He was fast and strong and furious with his slashes, but Leon was too; and he was calculating, thinking, and planning ahead of the fight. Wilson had countless attacks interrupted with an easily dodged punched to his face or gut, and couldn't seem to get any clear shot on Leon.
Leon flipped into a handstand and planted a kick into Wilsons face, staggering the man backwards for a moment. Then he charged, so fast the crowd might have seen a blur, and Wilson certainly didn't see it. Leon began to strike each area of importance that he observed Wilson using in the fight. The elbows, his torso, his knees, and back were all jabbed and struck. Wilson only spun wildly and whipped out at Leon enough for him to back off the assault.
The crowd could see Wilsons face, and several groaned. His nose was bloodied and his eye swollen horrible. A boot print was starting to swell in his skin, and he was breathing heavily. But Leon showed no signs of asking him to give up, and instead walked forward again.
"What are you going to do? Huh?" Wilson spat at him, stepping back, raising his shaking hands weakly into the air to defend himself," going to try and kill me? You said no fatality-"
Leon spun his leg under Wilson too quick to react to it. As he landed, one of his dueling knives fell aside, but he held onto the other. Leon spotted that, and quickly stomped on that arm. Wilson screamed and the knife fell aside.
"Jesus," someone said as Leon continued the fight; dragging the man by the collar to the center of the platform, and pulling him up.
"You should give in," Leon suggested strongly. Wilson had other plans though, as he quickly reached by his belt for a knife, and slashed at Leon.
"Leon!" Seras shouted. Leon had shoved the man away from him, only receiving a glance of a cut across his arm. It bled enough for Leon to wince.
"Gotcha," Wilson gasped. His nose then was broken, as Leon had jumped at him, and punched downward into his face. Wilson slammed into the ground, splattering blood everywhere, even into some of the onlookers faces. He struggled to push himself up.
"You want some help?" Leon asked, and yanked him up again, his arm still bleeding. So he lifted Jack up, and supporting him with one hand, and began to relentlessly punch Jack again and again. The face, the stomach, the face, the stomach- the pattern shook the air around the platform.
This was no longer a fight, but a brutal beat down; a display of anger.
Leon turned around, still grabbing Wilson, and let him go. Wilson was able to stand, and as Leon grabbed his shoulder, he began to once again punch the ever living crap out of that man. Only when the knife throwing man stumbled back, ready to collapse did Leon spin, and deliver a overly-powerful back kick to his chest, throwing him to the other side of the platform, where he slid to a stop.
Jack Wilson was bloody, purple, and bruised everywhere he could be. But as Leon walked closer, Wilson raised an arm.
"I'm done, you won," he begged, choking on his words. Leon reached for his holster, and undid the strap," hey, I'm- I'm sorry I said anything! I'll take your test! I'll fail it! What are you doing!?" Leon withdrew his gun as he grew closer, and Wilson started pulling himself away, fear evident in ever corner of his face. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
"Towers…" Leon growled, his eyes looking distant.
"LEON!" As Leon had gotten one step closer, Seras was suddenly there, between the broken Jack Wilson and Leon. Her eyes were wide and held as much fury as Leon's did. "You are DONE with this. He gave up. Put away your pistol," she said through gritted teeth.
With one more look at Jack, Leon did as he was told, and stepped back. Seras then turned, and bent down to Wilson, who had passed out.
"Shit," Seras cursed," he's out cold. Might have a few fractures on him from that fight, hell, just a broken bone might be a miracle!" she gasped as several others joined the platform to help," just give me a hand! We need to-"
Someone pushed past her, and with one bleeding arm, lifted the unconscious man onto his shoulders. Leon's eyes met with Seras', and they shared a significant look.
"When he wakes up," Leon said quietly," tell him he's good," and he turned and walked away. Seras sat down on the platform, trying to think.
"He's not going to kill him, is he?" Someone asked. Seras laughed.
"He's taking him to the medic. They'll both be fine," Seras said," you have no idea what our medic can do."
"I wasn't told we have a medic," Daisuke said with curiosity," where is he?"
"He's our butler," Seras stated, watching Leon climb the stairs with the man on his shoulders," Walter." She stood up fully and sighed. "Looks like I'll have to give you all the test myself. Let's go down to the range, okay?"
"Roger that," Lars said. Seras lead the walk, reminding herself to tell Walter that there was some blood that needed to be cleaned on the practice platform. She imagined, with a crooked smile, that Walter wouldn't be pleased with cleaning more blood. But she could at least tell him it would only be a one time thing.
She couldn't see anyone else challenging Leon again after that.
Over the next few hours, the group was quiet, and followed instructions as Seras gave them out. The shooting test went as Seras had hoped; they all had improved from what Leon had taught them; learning to predict the adjusted movements of the vampire and anticipate it. While not everyone was able to get their first shot as Leon had, they had taken his word seriously from the previous times.
"Everyone passes then," Seras said with a smile, and they all breathed easier," and I think that's enough for the day. Take a break," she said, eyeing the clock in the room. They were many hours ahead of their normal schedule.
"Leon's going to be okay," Amber said to Seras, who turned around to her.
"Sorry?" Seras asked distracted.
"Leon," Amber said again, slowly," he's going to be fine. I don't know about Jack, but honestly, I think he had it comin' to him."
"Maybe he did," Seras agreed half heartedly," but I don't think he deserved that-" Lars, from across the room, gave Seras a stern glance," well, maybe a little. Hopefully that'll shut him up a bit more."
"At least he can put up a fight," an elite named Jackson walked over briefly, waiting for the rest to leave," if that had been me, I would have been dead."
"Fighting Leon?" Seras asked.
"No, Wilson," Jackson admitted," he's pretty damn good. But god damn, Leon is..."
"Amazing," Seras said with a sad grin.
"I'm surprised he didn't join us afterwards," Amber added, looking towards the door where the tired and still shaken members of Hellsing Elite were departing," he only had a cut on his arm."
"Maybe Walter told him off… or told him not to do anything else," Seras said while easily imagining Walter nagging Leon, whose head was bent low with shame," I should go check."
"You make sure he's okay," Amber patter her on the shoulder and started to leave as well," make sure you're fine too, you hear?"
Seras mustered her best smile for her and nodded as she was left alone in the room. Now empty, she turned and leant against the bar facing away from the targets. She stared at the ceiling, wondering just how exactly she was going to talk to Leon. There was so much she wanted to tell him and ask him.
"When did you become such a mess?" she asked, almost a whisper. The vision of the French Mercenary walked into the room from the door, silently smoking a cigarette. "What is it, Pip?"
"You needed a moment to think, yes?" he asked. She scoffed.
"You're not going to help with that, you know."
"Oh don't do that," he said with a brush of his ponytail," I am just as much a part of you as I was that night," he stated, and she recalled the stated instance. The night he died, along with all but three members of the Wild Geese mercenaries, fighting against the onslaught of Millenniums forces.
"Then help me think, damn it all, and stop bothering me!" Seras cried out in exasperation. Pip sighed, breathing out a long trail of smoke.
"I think you should tell him how you feel about him," he said strongly, standing up full to face her. She blushed and stuttered.
"Wh-what? But," she felt nervous and already all sorts of bothered," but-"
"What is the worst that can come of it?" Pip asked, and she stood up, pacing nervously.
"He could say no! He could become angrier, or think I was just pitying him! Or- or, he could say yes, and want me right then and there!" she turned to him, suddenly scared of the prospect she was underlying," I'm not ready for that! I don't want to jump in his bed just because I really like him!"
"And I don't think I've prepared enough strategies to cover my eyes and ears while you do the naughty stuff," Pip admitted with a shudder.
"And… I don't think I really know exactly how I feel about him!" Seras admitted with a panic," what if- what if I just see him as a physically attractive man but I don't really know if I like him as who he is! How do I know!?"
"That's called dating, mignonette," Pip answered coolly. She groaned angrily. "You never dated, so I see why you are in such a state," he said as she continued to pace," but you must have confidence in yourself."
"I do!" she exclaimed," I do! I don't worry about myself! I'm worried about him!" she almost shouted, but as she looked at Pip, she realized he was looking at the doorway, where a quiet figure stood, watching her shout.
"Talking to the ghost man again?" Leon asked jokingly. "I don't think I can see him this time," he added as he glanced around.
Seras turned to him, crimson in the cheeks and aware of how her confidence she spoke of had vanished into smoke at his arrival. For Leon, catching her spilling her guts to her familiar, who was invisible, seemed almost normal these days. Had anyone else see that, Seras thought, they'd think she was going mad, or speaking to her invisible best friend.
"I… yeah," she admitted, holding her hands apologetically behind her back,"not... been sleeping well, so I've… yeah." He chuckled lightly, and stepped to the gun cabinet, and took out his favorite gun, and began to load it. "What're you here for?"
"I just owe everybody some of my own shooting," he stated as he loaded his gun and stepped towards the range, the ear muffs on his neck. "You should put some on, too."
"You don't have to prove you're a good shot," Seras said, feeling tenseness in Leon's words. He shook his head and moved to the console near the door. "You're the boss, so you're setting the rules."
"I need to make sure I can do this," he said with more intensity. Seras sighed, and walked towards him only for him to walk past her.
"Leon, come on," She sighed in exasperation.
"What?" he asked.
"You're just going to hurt yourself if you keep doing this!" Seras tried explaining to him, but he walked towards the cabinet again.
"Here," he tossed her one of the mufflers. She caught it, and held it loosely aside.
"You're punishing yourself more than you deserve!" Seras cried out, and Leon turned to her quickly.
"But I do need a form of punishment," Leon agreed with a frantic nod. Seras blinked.
"No, I didn't mean that quite like-"
"I should have been able to do something?" Leon asked her, his voice cracking slightly," maybe I just should have stayed behind and waited? Maybe he would have found his way back?"
"What?" She gasped, "Leon, the island sunk! He would have drowned!" Seras exclaimed.
"Then at least I would have had a body!" Leon shouted, and Seras took a step back, and Leon tossed his gun at the cabinet," I would know! I would know if he was dead at least! He could still be alive! Still wondering what happened! Still alive, and just lost in time! What does that make me?"
"Leon…"
"An asshole!" Leon jabbed a finger at himself," I should have stayed behind, and waited long enough to tell if he was coming back or not! What did I do instead?" he asked as he tossed his hands into the air, posing the question," I ran away. I fucking took off and left him behind."
"We… we had to leave," Seras explained softly, and Leon nodded, leaning against the bar.
"I could have disobeyed. I should have," Leon said, and Seras was shocked.
"Integra needed to come back! We had been gone for such a while that who knew what kind of attacks might have happened! Look at the archives!" Seras shouted at him. Leon didn't respond, simply staring at the wall blankly. A part of her knew he wasn't ignoring her, but regardless, Seras lost her restraint.
She marched over, and as he turned to look at her with empty eyes, she delivered a strong slap across the face. Knowing vampires, anyone seeing this would have thought Leon would lose a row of teeth, or maybe even snap his neck. All he did was blink with wide eyes. Leon stumbled to the side and collapsed to the ground, and she stood over him, glaring at him as he stared up at her.
"You…" she began," you…" Leon could only gulp," you are one of the most brilliant, strongest men I have ever come across in my life! You took on demons and monsters like they're nothing! You fight them to help your friends and family and… and you don't give a damn about what happens to you!"
"S-Seras?" Leon muttered.
"But this is not how Zohall would have wanted you to act when he died!" She roared at him with a powerful," you had a bit to be sad! There was a time you could show how hurt you are!" she blared while her eyes started to water," but that time is over! We have to keep marching! Zohall died fighting the one vampire that was holding the battle in the enemies favor! He died to save us!"
Leon had stood up, his wide eyes watching Seras closely and carefully, now very aware that she might try to hit him again.
"This-" she pointed to him," this attitude, all of this behavior you've been doing!? That's not the man Zohall looked up to!" Leon blinked, and Seras stomped her foot once more, cracking a tile," this isn't the man I fell for!"
"You- what?" Leon stuttered.
"But if you're going to keep acting like this around people who want your help," She spun around," then I can let you deal with the guys yourself! I don't… I don't care!"
"Wait!"
As Seras heard the voice, she realized she had stopped not from words belonging to Leon, but from her own, inside her head. Pip had shouted from deep within her, and she turned, to a very shocked, but sober looking man staring at her.
"Leon, we need a strong man," she said with finality. Leon watched her carefully, and his mouth opened slightly, a dawning look in his eyes. Then he groaned, and put his hands to his face, stepping towards the wall. "Oh!" Seras lost her anger and defiance at the sight of him holding his cheek as he lowered himself back down. " I'm sorry! I didn't want to hurt you!"
"You're okay," Leon said with a satisfied grin. Seras smiled back gently, and ruffled his hair.
"I think you'll live," she stood, and held a hand down to him.
"It's not going to slap me again, is it?" he asked as he looked to her hand.
"Of course not! That was just for making me deal with the exam…and frowning a lot," she said as she pulled him up. She smiled at him for a moment, and he returned the stare, a pleasant look about him now.
"I guess I should be going," Seras said, stepping over the thrown pistol and moving towards the door. "You'll tell us more about Raccoon City?" she asked before leaving.
"I think I owe at least that much to them. If they want to know more about their boss," Leon shrugged," I suppose it's only fair."
Seras smiled, and walked out of the door, leaving Leon to clean up the mess he had made. As she walked, she felt the ethereal man there, her un-living familiar walk next to her.
"Thanks for the pointer," she admitted to him, holding her hand face up to him.
"Just doin' my job," he said as he gave her a mild high-five," after all, you did all the heavy lifting. I didn't think you'd be capable of telling him how you felt."
Seras stopped, a dawning horror growing inside.
"I… oh god, I did tell him, didn't I?" she asked her French mercenary familiar, who put a hand on his forehead as he stared at her. "Oh… god damn it."
About time we settled that whole 'almost' relationship thingy... even though nothing solid has been established... DAMNIT.
And looky, I actually just uploaded another chapter! I guess I'm on a new frantic writing mood. I'm sure if you all understand that whole temporary obsession thingy that gets you fired up to write until 3 in the morning. Hopefully not temporary, or always at 3.
So, for those interested, what I consider the intro phase of book 2 is now over. Following a return to Raccoon city in the past, we'll be delving into the future, and finally returning to the enemy at hand. No more wondering what evils await our heroes!
(A necromorph bursts through EZB's door. EZB slowly turns his seat to face the being) Can I help you?
Necromorph: I'll swallow your soul!
That's a new feature. OH MY GOD A NECRO-(The undead monster assaults EZB, clawing him to little itty bitty fleshy peices) AAAGHGHLUOGHAAUUUUUGGGHHH...
