A/N: This short Aeon one-shot takes place after the move Resident Evil Damnation. I highly recommend watching the CGI films. I had to revise it and re-upload it.
Thud!
Leon grunts as he leans on the door of his car. The only reason why he is convinced to join corporate parties is because of the consumable high end alcoholic drinks, not that he is picky, simply because it's free. Of course, being a well-known government agent has its pros and cons during an event. Saving the President's daughter surely puts him in an even bigger spotlight now compared to when he was just a rookie cop who survived the Raccoon city destruction. Not long after that, he crossed paths with a political controversy again during the Hardvardville Airport incident. Fortunately it was solved before it went out of hand.
Unfortunately for him, these events earned him excess baggage e.i. women.
"Shit." He curses as he accidentally drops the keys while trying to open the door. A low groan slips through his teeth as he attempts to open the door again.
Women. He doesn't seem to have luck on them. Ashley Graham may be the president's daughter but she is not subtle at all. She went as bold as asking him for a one night stand after they escaped the cult in Spain. She was not even hesitant or demure when she asked for a follow up regarding her offer earlier tonight. On top of that, SRT agent Angela Miller trails behind him as well. As if his list of regrets isn't long enough, an underwater mouth to mouth resuscitation to a fellow agent during the job would result in an uncomfortable situation with a hopeful but irritating SRT agent. Guess he just needs to wait until she gets tired of sending him texts and emails.
Wine drunk by the end of the event, he managed to escape the party. Now his only concern is how to get to his apartment safely. After all, regardless if he is sober or not, he doesn't have a good reputation when it comes to driving.
He sighs in relief as he settles on the driver's seat. Rubbing his palms on his face, a figure stopped him from closing the car door. "Need a ride, handsome?"
He puts his hands down but keeps his eyes closed. The voice that hauntingly lingers in his ears, makes him toss and turn, occasionally keeps him up every night if he won't drown himself in alcohol. That voice belongs to her.
"I'm not on agent duty. I don't have time for you, Ada." He puts the keys in and starts the car without looking at the woman in a red sleeveless collared blouse and black skirt.
"Surely you are not. Otherwise, you won't be this dashing in that coat and tie." She says as she observes him from head to toe. Still too pretty to resist and smells like roses. "Move over. I'm driving"
It sounded too good to be true. It's not the first time she offered to give him a ride or a helping hand. They have a habit of saving each other. That or they just have more luck in surviving when they are together. He sneered but moved over to the passenger's seat. The last thing he wants to get is a DUI record. Also, having Ada Wong as his designated driver was too tempting to reject.
As years passed by, he knew more than anyone that he shouldn't put his guard down. But despite Ada being a spy/assassin, there is something about their infrequent meetings that simply doesn't make him see her as the enemy. Even if she pointed the gun at him multiple times, he is certain that she won't pull the trigger. Not after it was proven without a doubt that she saved his life on multiple occasions. He loosens his necktie and unbuttons the top part of his shirt. He reclines his seat backwards and closes his eyes while she drives, assuming she already knows where he lives. Otherwise she won't confidently volunteer to drive.
She was supposed to be as far away as possible. They are not supposed to be seen together. She was well-aware of that since they saw each other in Spain. After almost 6 years, she was able to see him again, upfront and personal. It was easy for her to disappear out of the blue, it's her specialty. But convincing herself that she didn't grow attached to the rookie cop she met at Raccoon City was sadly not.
She is trained not to show any weakness and for her, empathy and affection are weaknesses. Once in a while, she'd steal a glance at the now government agent snoring at the passenger's seat. Leon Scott Kennedy has always been relentless and brave even if it was just his first day on the job when they met during the Raccoon City outbreak.
They reached their destination. She was pondering if she'll just leave him asleep in his car or drag him upstairs. After all, she always wanders off on her own and again, it wouldn't be the first for him to be left alone by her. She practically used and betrayed him just to get what she needed to accomplish her mission and survive. But the mere sight of him is mesmerizing. She turns off the engine and tosses the keys on his lap before leaving his car.
He opens his eyes as he hears the door close. He didn't fall asleep no matter how long he closed his eyes. When it comes to Ada, he tends to always cover his eyes and his ears to not see or hear how she conspires with the enemy. Even if all evidence is pointed against her, he chose to hold on to anything that can give him a reasonable explanation why she did what she did. He puts his keys in his pocket while trying to lick and swallow the dryness off his mouth and lips.
He whips his head to the side as his door opens. "Get out" She says and slightly brushes her hair to the side only for the harsh wind to shuffle the strands of her hair again. "I said get out. Get out before I change my mind."
He hops out of the car and clings his arm over her shoulder to gain some balance before closing the door. Arms crossed and eyes observant as ever, she guides him back into his apartment.
Deafening silence envelops them.
There is no need to wait for a cue or sign, she should get her ass off the bed and make her exit now. She overstayed her welcome. There were a few inches between him and her on the bed, he wasn't holding or grasping her at all. He is not talking but sure as hell not asleep either. They were both on their backs and catching their breath for what felt like hours already.
"What were you doing there?" He finally broke the silence with the questions he was probably dying to ask since he saw her earlier. She turned to her side, away from him.
"You know a normal person would sleep after having sex, especially if he wants to be sober the next morning." She could tell him she was trying to get a scoop or something but never admit that the highlight of her night was how delighted and entertained she is by his presence, even if it's just for a short time. She could never apologize for the times she cheated and lied to him. Thinking that saving him once in a while would be able to compensate for the deception she did. Oh how many times she just wants to bask in his company but it just can't.
"Would you still be with me the next morning?" Between being wine drunk and having after sex euphoria, he wasn't able to keep his mouth shut. Instant regret flooded him. He already knows what her answer will be.
"Ask me something else. What's my favorite breakfast? What type of music do I listen to? What's the most recent book I've read? Something you know I can answer for you, Leon."
He didn't say another word. How dare she barge in and disturb his night. He doesn't want to treat her like a past time. No. She is a higher caliber and far incomparable to other women. He just wants this game to be over but he doesn't even have an idea how to play it, what more to win? People can say he lost his mind. Yeah, he apparently did lose his mind for this woman. The more she ran, the more she chased her. It's like an unbreakable cycle. Always intends to finish the objective of the day and it is admittedly painful for him to be the last in her list of priorities.
She was waiting, unsure if for a question or any kind of reaction from him. When she felt his damped lips on her neck, she closed her eyes. The night is going to be longer than she assumed.
She didn't object when he went for another round behind her. It's actually in favor of her side since he won't get a glimpse of her expression whenever she whimpers in pleasure. When he finally exhausted all his energy and passed out, she gowa for her escape after stealing a last glance while he sl. Despite being unsure when they can see each other again, she left him.
"Where are going to get on with where left of that night?"
What night was she talking about though?
He goes to his kitchen to get another bottle of bourbon right after ending the call with Hunnigan. After his impromptu mission at Eastern Slav republic, he is determined to enjoy his vacation now more than ever. As he opens the cabinet, his thoughts wander back to the many, many nights that happened between him and Ada. After she gave him a ride home, their night escapes became more frequent than ever.
Was it when she asked him to lie down on his kitchen counter before she entertained herself with licking lime juice and salt off his torso before drinking tequila? Was it when his eyes were blind folded and his hands were tied to the bedpost while she teases him to the point that he had to beg her to stop sucking his cock and just ride it instead? Was it when they played strip poker before she watched him play with himself and didn't touch him until he was able to successfully masturbate? Was it when they took a shower together?
He looks down at the bottle in his hand. He does enjoy all their random night escapes but he hates the morning that comes after that because he knows she'll be gone. He knows he can't ask more from her. They can't go out and have dinner like normal people because of all the women who give him attention, he is madly and dangerously infatuated with an international wanted spy.
A knock on the door disturbs his train of thoughts. Frowning as he turns his head to the wooden door. He grits his teeth as fury bubbles in his insides. He just wanted his damn vacation, for goodness sake, he earned it. All he wants is to bask in his well-deserved free time. Air flows through his nostrils as he walks over to the door. Fist clenching and ready to punch whoever dared to disturb him but then he opened the door.
"Oh, great. You were expecting me." She says in an effortless seductive voice as she sees what he is holding. She moves past him with such grace after taking off her black leather coat and grabs the bottle from him. "Bedroom or kitchen?"
He nods towards the bedroom, not caring about his scattered clothes and empty shot glass he has been using since afternoon on his night stand.
It's still a mystery to him how she knows when he is home, what hotel he is staying at or what bar he is drowning his sorrows at. He didn't notice it was already night. Only her presence made him look at the clock to check the time. 8PM.
She spins his desktop chair to face him as he sits back on the edge of his bed. She puts the bottle down the small, round, wooden in between them.
"Well, pour it in so we can start." She leans back and crosses her legs.
"Why don't you pour it yourself? Booze is free but service is not."
"Why so grumpy, handsome? Don't you like the company?" She coyly smiled while filling the glass.
People tend to get tired of the game if it's played often. Questions are answered by another question. It's the cliché cat and mouse game. He wonders when it will be over or if he will live long enough to reach the finish line. As puzzling as Ada Wong is, there are times he was sure she wasn't able to wear her façade well.
On their hidden night outs, he would try to probe and try to make her confess something. Anything. He doesn't even know what he wants to get from her. Whether it would be spoken words or non-verbal cues. Anything that can convince him that he is not delusional about her.
He asked why she never gave up on saving him back at Raccoon City and she'd just reason out that she was just returning a favor. Back in Spain, she said she only helped him out because she needs to use him in order to get to the sample she needs.
"You triggered it. Didn't you?" He asks while she casually sips her drink. He wouldn't have escaped that lab at Eastern Slav Republic if she didn't intrude.
"Why wouldn't I? At least now you owe me one." She raises her eyebrows with pride before filling the glass again.
"Do you really mean it?" He scoffs and shakes his head while watching her.
"Leon, I always mean what I say. Otherwise, I wouldn't say it at all." She slides the glass to him.
Daylight drinking is a bad habit he knows he needs to quit. He already feels buzzed the moment he leaves his room earlier but he surely needs something stronger for tonight. He gulped down the contents of the glass and pushed it back to her. "Did you mean what you said in Raccoon City?"
She averts her gaze and lowers her sight to the glass. One shouldn't be too focused on Leon Scott Kennedy because his entirety is a distraction. A wonderful distraction that she has been accustomed to for a very long time. A charm that makes her vulnerable despite all odds.
"Let me refresh your memory just in case you bled out too much that time-"
"You need to loosen up. It must have been tough fighting those tyrants." She cuts him off as she fills the glass again before taking a drink with such calculated moves. She knows he has been observing her every night she visits him. She would stop if she could but the mere presence of Leon Scott Kennedy is just exhilarating.
It's true that she barely knew Leon because they just met during the Raccoon City incident but based on her first impression, Leon is the kind of cop who doesn't give up on anyone or anything. She knew he would insist on not leaving her. At that moment, she meant everything she said. She did love him. She still does. It's difficult not to. But she knows she must not.
"You know, one day. You're just gonna be tired of all this shit and all their shit." He is. He grabs the bottle and drinks directly from it.
If only he knows how it's distasteful it has been for her too. She can't just make a U-turn in the next few blocks, no. She is stuck in a never ending highway. Her only saving grace is a gullible Govt agent who seems to keep faith in her, a trait that makes her feel humane and keep her feet on the ground. They may be at the opposite sides of the road but she hopes one day they will soon be in both. Until then, she needs to keep moving.
Halfway through the bottle, he grabbed her hand and harshly pulled her to him, sealing a hard kiss on her lips. Then they both fell on the bed. But that's it. Both of them on the bed, his eyes closed and face buried in her neck.
Another set of surreal feelings make her heart thump as minutes pass by. Taking deep breaths in an effort to steady her heartbeat again, she tried to turn her body away.
Half-willingly prying his arms off her waist, she manages to shift her body around but his grip around her waist only tightens. His breathing echoes in her ears, sending shivers down her spine.
This bastard!
She was sure he was pretending to be asleep.
The sound of his breathing was like a nightingale that's entrancing her. It felt too inviting to ignore. After all, she is tired. Not just physically. Her gateway to the dreamland is about to doze off next to her. She already has a long list of misconduct so why not add another one and just accept his invitation?
He knows his own apartment, from what it looks like, sound and even smell of it. He opens his eyes as the ray of the sun gleams through his windows and to illuminate his room. He frowns. He was sure the curtain shut as shut. It's always closed.
The clock reads 7:13 AM. His body was telling him to just get some more rest and just call it a day already. As expected the other side of his bed is unoccupied once again. He sat up and got dressed in his shorts and white t-shirt. His attention is alerted by the cup on his desk. He stares at the cup of black coffee. It's still hot. He makes his way out of the room and finds her in his kitchen.
"Look who is finally awake."
Was he really awake though? Because seeing Ada Wong sitting at his kitchen counter, drinking coffee early in the morning feels like it can only exist in an alternate reality.
He could get used to this. A portion in his life with Ada Wong and a pinch of normalcy. There will always be a first for everything.
"I thought you already left this morning." He asks her while standing still, afraid that once he takes another step, everything might disappear like it's some kind of a dream.
"I haven't gotten what I came for yet." She shrugs.
What she is pertaining to, he doesn't care. He let out a small smile. He picked his poison, might as well savor it while it's still available.
"What's your favorite breakfast?"
She looks at him, dumbfounded by his question, rolls her eyes but couldn't contain the smile that formed on her red lips. "Banana pancakes with this decaf latte."
"Ok, then we'll make banana pancakes?" Half asking, half stating it. Hoping that even if her answer will be no, her eyes will still speak words she can never say out loud. Because he knows they can't have tomorrow or even later. But he just wants to cherish what they have today, treasure what they make now.
"Yeah, that sounds great."
He wasn't insane. In fact, he was well-aware of what he got himself into. His decision will only be bad if he regrets it. And he doesn't regret falling in love with Ada Wong. He is doomed to be the last person who will hold on to her. No matter how long it takes. Whether she knows it or not. Regardless if she will one day return the favor or not.
For now, he still doesn't regret anything about them at all.