Leon kept a white-knuckle grip on the wheel as he cautiously pushed his overlander up the narrow road. He must have gone through thirty different scenarios in his head for how this meeting would go for the last four hours, but now he didn't dare think of anything but keeping his vehicle from going off the side of a mountain. He had started early, and now that it was late morning he was nearly there.
The path finally levelled off to a little clearing surrounded by trees, most of which had a few, scattered autumn leaves still hanging on. A small log cabin sat noticeably in the middle, with a beat-up little truck tucked beside it. He started to wonder if he'd actually been summoned up here to conveniently disappear.
He parked, cut the engine, and stepped out of the vehicle. Cold air crept around him, and he pulled his jacket tighter. He scanned the area, like he always did, before stepping through the crunchy leaves toward the door. There didn't seem to be any movement, no sounds he could make out. Had the letter gotten to him too late? Did he miss her after all that? He took a deep breath, and knocked.
A latch came undone on the other side of the door, and then another, before it creaked open and a familiar figure stood in the threshold.
Or at least, mostly familiar. Ada seemed smaller somehow, maybe because he'd mostly seen her in high heels, and now she was in…slippers? She was in slippers and a much more rugged outfit than he'd ever seen, and she was smirking at him.
"You certainly didn't waste any time, did you? I thought you'd have to wade through some paperwork to get a mysterious trip cleared."
Leon's breath condensed in a little cloud that looked exactly like his current thoughts at the moment. An ambiguous fog.
"This place… is really hard to find…"
"Well yeah, it's where I go when I don't want to be found, I thought that was obvious… come in, you're letting my warm air out."
She stepped back and let him walk past her, into a small, cozy space that might have had three or four separate rooms to it in total. Noticing her boots by the door, he slipped his off as well.
"Were you just…waiting for things to calm down? Why did you send that letter now, Ada? Who are you hiding from way out here?"
She closed the door and gave him a sly smile.
"Who am I not hiding from? Half the world's authorities and half the people tied with Umbrella want to find me, for several reasons. You can have a seat on the couch over there. Do you want coffee or tea?"
"Uh…coffee's good." He squinted suspiciously, never sure if she answered his questions completely or not, but he headed for the couch. A fire crackled in the fireplace while he sank into the couch, and Ada put a kettle on a gas stove.
"How's work been? I imagine it's been pretty non-stop for the BSAA." She leaned against the small kitchen counter, hand on her hip.
"It's been hectic, yeah. Everybody and their brother thinks they know somebody who might have been involved, or might still be. What about you? What have you been doing?"
She gave a little hum.
"I tied up some loose ends, kept the channels open I might need for later, and then decided to disappear for a bit. Take a little break."
She pulled the steaming kettle from the stove and started making coffee while Leon watched, head tilting a bit. After a few moments she handed him a mug.
He thought she would sit down in the chair across from him, or maybe on the other end of the couch, but no. She planted herself right next to him, one leg tucked under her, and one arm on the back of the couch.
He could see more little things he hadn't noticed before. She didn't have her signature red lipstick on, or any make up for that matter. Her hair was a bit longer than he remembered as well.
He must have been staring at her like she was an alien, however, because she gave a little laugh.
"You don't have to think of all your questions right now. We've got plenty of time. If… you're staying for a little while?"
He sipped his coffee, which had slightly more cream and sugar than he would have put in it, but his opinion wasn't asked.
"I've got a few days off before anybody starts getting worried. I packed my toothbrush and everything," he answered with a smirk.
She smiled back in her usual sly way.
"Good. Maybe you can help me out while you're here too, hm?"