Chapter 2
Author's Note
This chapter contains several "in jokey" references to resident Resident Evil games, if you are not particularly familiar with the games just roll with it.
Leon "Maybe we are just too different to be together" he thought while staring into the garage.
Inside set Leon's black, government-issued, black Chevy Suburban. Beside it was Ada's bright red BMW M5. Two extremely different cars for two extremely different people.
Maybe that's just the way it is. He was a cop turned secret service agent, drivin by a sense of duty and drive for justice. She was a "Corporate Security Consultant"... Or at least that is what their tax return said. It was no secret what she really did at work, hell, it was how they met. She worked for a private intelligence firm that specializes in stealing trade secrets and technology and selling them off. She worked on contract gathering specific information, or free lance infiltrating anywhere she thought was valuable and selling off the spoils to the highest bidder. Now, she was not assassin or gangster, but there was no denying what her work entailed. If someone got in the way of her objective, it was nothing to her to eliminate them. Not only would she kill in the name or work, there was no telling the countless lives that resulted from the information she stole. But Leon never complained, it has funded a huge portion of the kids' college funds and her boss has "leaked" enough information to my office to keep them on the "necessary evil" list.
Leon glanced down at their license plates.
His "LDR4PUS"
Her's "REDDR3S"
Leon "Hmmm, maybe we are not as different as I thought"
Leon was jarred from his daydream about his corporate spy wife by the Fed Ex driver walking up his driveway.
Driver "Mr Kennedy?"
Leon "Depends who's asking" he answered with the fake smile suburban life conditions into everyone
Drive "Haha, never heard that one before, I have a package here for you" Leon hadn't noticed the small box in his arms, no bigger than a box of kleenex.
Leon "I suppose you are going to need my autograph?" another dry, programmed response
The driver couldn't even be bothered to respond. He simply took his signature and handed over the box. Leon checked his watch and was surprised by how long he had been staring off into the garage.
Leon "Jackrauser, come on buddy, let's pick it up, we gotta get you to school!" he said as he threw the package into the passenger seat of the Suburban.
Jackrauser "I haven't even had breakfast yet" he responded was he walked out the door.
Leon "We can grab something on the w-...".
Jackrauser "...".
Leon "What….. What in god's name are you wearing?" Jackrauser had emerged from the house wearing camouflage pants, a black compression shirt, suspenders, and a red wool beret.
Jackrauser "Mom says I look very fashionable"
Leon "Yeah, and she also says she is 29 instead of 30 something" *checks watch in frustration* "whatever, let's just go" he said ushering him to the car.
Leon deftly navigated towards Jackrauser's school. Normally, the school run would be with all 3 kids but due to a massive outbreak of pink eye the twins entire grade has been excused as a quarantine measure. By Leon's standards, a school run with 1 kid instead of 3 qualifies as "excitement". His life has sunk into utter menontiny, everything is down to routine.
Put on the same suits, drive to the same office, work leads from the same sources, drop suits off at the same dry cleaners every Friday. Day in, day out, week after week, month after month. When he was first taken off field duty, it was a blessing. His boss new his second (and the unexpected 3rd) child was on the way and he shouldn't be galavanting all over the planet. But, years later, it has worn on him. When he looks in the mirror, he no longer sees the young federal agent in a leather jacket with frosted tips, he sees a seasoned agent and father wearing a suit… with frosted tips.
He pulled into the Blue Torch gas and convenience store to grab breakfast.
Leon "Pick something out for breakfast but be quick about it".
Jackrauser "Got it!".
Leon went about making himself a coffee and grabbing a danish. He walked up to the counter and placed them in front of the cashier. While he waited for Jackrauser his gaze wandered to newspaper rack. The top headline reads "Daughter of German Prime Minister still missing".
Leon absentmindedly mutters "A few years ago, I would be leading that investigation".
Cashier "What're ya buyin, Stranger?" .
Leom "Uh…the coffee, the danish and whatever the boy picks out" before finished speaking Jackrauser pushed himself between his dad and the counter.
Cashier "Is that all, Stranger?" he said while subtly pointing towards the counter.
Leon sighed in disapproval "Jackrauser Douglas Kennedy, you know darn well that beef jerky and root beer does not qualify as breakfast".
Jackrauser "But dad-".
Leon "But nothing, juice or milk, fruit or pastry, period".
Jackrauser "Getting soft, are we?" .
Leon "What?" .
Jackkrauser "What?" he replied while walking away to make a better selection.
Leon "Who does he remind me of? I can't quite place it…..".
Jackrauser returned with an orange juice and fruit cup.
Cashier "A wise choice mate!" .
Jackrauser "...dad?".
Leon "..." without a ward Leon pays for their purchases and begins walking towards the door
Cashier "Heh heh heh…. Thank you!".
Once they were back on they pulled out of the parking lot and got back on their way .
Jackrauser "... Dad? What was-".
Leon "I have no idea".
Jackrauser "...?".
Leon "I have never had less of an idea of what something was and I have personally fought gigantic plant, human, hentai monsters!".
Jackrauser "...".
Leon "...".
Jackrauser "What is Hent-".
Leon "Ask your mother!".
There was absolutely no speaking for the rest of the ride to school.
Leon pulled into the school's parking lot and joined the line for drop off. As they near the front of the line Jackrauser hops out.
Jackrauser "By Dad!".
Leon "Have a good day sport!" .
Jackrauser "Witness the power!".
Leon "What?".
Jackrauser "What?".
Leon "... Love you…".
Jackrauser "Love you dad, bye" before anything else could be said, he closed the door and started walking towards his classmates.
Leon watched as his son made his way towards school. It never ceased to amaze him that the same child he brought home from the hospital, was now walking to school. It was a miracle, as all children were….. And it was a miracle that Ada had given him. For all of their faults and disagreements, they had still worked together to create their beautiful children.
Leon "Maybe that is enough. Maybe our children are the only thing we need in common"
His contented mutering was interrupted by his phone ringing. It was from an unknown number but that was pretty common in his line of work so he picked it up like he would any other call.
Leon "Go".
Caller "what a strange greeting".
Leon "Look, either get to the point or hang up".
Caller "Open the package" Leon's heart skipped a beat.
Leon "What package ?" he could hear his own pulse pounding in his ears .
Caller "The box that arrived as you were leaving your house".
Leon "How did-".
Caller "Open the BOX!" just as the caller said 'box' there was a bang at the front of the car.
A child that looked to be about Jackrauser's age was standing before him wearing a bright red hoodie. His fist planted onto the hood. It was at that moment that Leon noticed the child was holding a phone to their ear and making eye contact with Leon. Without saying a word he began opening the box. Inside was a small velvet covered box, a little bigger than a deck of cards. He looked up, the child's eyes were still locked onto him.
Child "Go on….".
Inside the velvet box was a small teddy bear keychain with a single key attached.
Child "your past never dies, it will always catch up with you".
Leon "What?!" it was at that moment the child dropped the phone and shouted .
Child "Morir es vivor, " .
Leon screamed "STOP!" as the child turned and sprinted towards the large group of school children. Before Leon could get his door open there was a bright flash and an unbelievably loud bang.