"ETA five minutes!" The helicopter pilot looked over his shoulder at Chris and the brunet nodded. Him and his team were being deployed one block away from the park. Chris had no idea if Leon had hung around, but he assumed the man would be in the immediate area. He had called Chris out specifically, but why?

As the helicopter descended, possible scenarios flooded Chris' mind. If it came down to it, he might end up having to kill Leon. He just prayed he could get through to him before their time ran out. The government wouldn't be nearly as kind as he was.

Chris jumped down and landed on the grass, raising his semi-automatic rifle and scanning the area. One by one his men got out and followed him. A perimeter had been set up by the local police, keeping all civilians out of a 2 mile radius. His men took up the flank as he led the way to where Leon had last been sighted.

"I'm going to try and talk him down. While I do it, Richards and Harez will plant the explosives. Jackson will take up point on one of the buildings and scout the area. Smith and Williams with cover me. If I can't get through to him, you'll need to engage, but only with my signal, understood?" The men nodded and they neared the park. The area was deathly quiet and almost had a post-apocalyptic feel to it. Chris signalled to his men, the explosives team and sniper breaking off from the group and making their way to their AO's.

It didn't take long to find Leon at all, considering he wanted to be found. He was standing in the middle of Main Street, surrounded on both sides by popular stores and local business buildings. His back was to Chris, and the brunet wondered if he even knew of their presence. Chris was torn about whether or not he should raise his weapon at his friend.

"Chris. I see you got my message."

Leon slowly turned, focusing his gaze on Chris, his gold and green eyes unflinching. Leon unzipped his jacket and tossed it aside, opening his wings and letting them expand to their sixteen foot span. The metal on them reflected the light, making them shine. Chris held his breath, looking at the younger man in awe. Clad in a white dress shirt and black denim pants, he looked like an angel of death. Leon's lips twisted in the faintest of smirks. He was utter perfection. The wind ruffled his hair playfully, his eyes burning with cold malice. Every inch of him radiated power.

"What are you doing, Leon? This isn't like you."

"That's where you're wrong, Chris. You think you know me. You think you understand me. You don't know what I'm capable of, and that's why you're scared. Scared of something more than you. Better than you."

Chris narrowed his eyes at the younger man. What the hell? That wasn't Leon talking at all. He'd never put himself above someone else. Never value his life more important than that of someone he was saving.

"Leon, this isn't you. Wesker did something to you, I know it. You'd never kill innocent people. It's against everything you stand for."

Leon hesitated, his lips pressed together. There was only ten feet separating the two men. Had Chris gotten through to him somehow? No matter, he had to keep trying. He took a step closer, letting his gun hang loosely towards the ground and raising his free hand to keep his men back.

Leon began taking slow, graceful strides towards Chris.

"Stand down!" Chris yelled over his shoulder at his men, who had raised their own weapons and were aiming at Leon, tense and ready to fire. When he looked back, Leon was holding a pistol.

"Stop this, please. I know you don't want to do this. I can help you, Leon. Just put the gun down."

Leon looked down at his left hand. He didn't remember drawing his pistol. His hand trembled slightly. Chris took another step closer and he flicked the safety off.

"Stay back!"

"Listen to me Leon Kennedy!"

Leon's eyes widened at the sound of his name, the cold orbs filling with a flash of emotion. He blinked a few times, broken out of his trance.

"Chris…"

"Leon, thank god… I thought I lost you."

Leon gritted his teeth as a familiar electric pulse resonated through his body. He clutched at his chest, shaking his head back and forth.

"Chris..! Get it off..!"

Chris ran to aid his friend, his eyes widening. He could faintly make out the top of a red gem exposed at the opening of Leon's shirt. Wesker had actually betrayed Leon and taken advantage of him, controlling his mind and his body in the same way he had done to Jill. Chris growled under his breath. He was going to kill Wesker, and make sure he stayed dead this time.

Leon's hand raised and aimed the pistol right at Chris' head, his eyes burning brightly. He'd lost the battle, and had become victim to the control once more.

An ear shattering crack echoed around them, like the sound of a tear in the fabric of space. It was followed by a high pitched whine and the whooshing of air as it flew by Chris and exploded through Leon's left shoulder. Chris cried out as he watched the flesh of Leon's shoulder tear and blood spray from the large wound. Leon staggered back from the impact, a broken noise falling from his lips and his eyes widening in both shock and pain. Blood poured from the wound in crimson rivers, staining his shirt and pooling on the ground beneath him. The flesh and muscle was torn, almost completely obliterated in places. Only a few strands of muscle and sinew kept his left arm attached to his body, which hung limply at his side.

"Damnit I said stand down!" Chris yelled angrily into his earpiece. Leon lifted his head, straightening, his eyes going hollow once more. He spun so fast everything moved in slow motion before speeding up as he snarled, running towards the four story building the sniper had shot from. He moved so quickly he ran up the side of the building before flipping himself over the top using his good arm. He jumped on the sniper, tearing into his neck hungrily.

"Damnit," Chris cussed, "fall back. It's time for plan b." Chris turned and retreated along with the rest of his men. They made their way into one of the business buildings, which was several stories tall. They ran up the stairs, stopping at the vantage point on the top floor. The demolitions experts prepared, getting the detonator ready. Chris held out his hand, taking the binoculars from Smith and peering down at the street below, trying to spot Leon. It didn't take long before he located the man, who was casually walking down the street and flexing his inured arm. What the fuck? How was that even possible? Only minutes ago it had been nearly blown off, and now Leon was acting like the whole ordeal hadn't happened. Upon closer inspection, Chris noticed the skin that connected his arm and shoulder was completely unblemished.

'So Leon inherited Wesker's increased regenerative abilities as well.' He should have known. Chris scowled as he watched the man, who suddenly stopped walking. He licked the blood from his lips, his head turning up ever so slightly so he was looking right at Chris.

"Get down!"

All of the men hit the floor, out of Leon's view. There was no way Leon saw him. Right? He swore he saw the recognition flash in the agent's eyes when he looked up. It was like Leon looked right at him.

"Should we trigger the explosives Captain?" Harez asked quietly. Chris looked to the soldier and nodded. If their location was compromised, there was no point in waiting. Harez pressed the detonator as Chris peered out the window. Leon was still looking right at him, except with a smirk on his face.

The surrounding buildings erupted in an explosion of glass and brick, leaving large plumes of grey smoke that drifted into the air. Chris lost sight of Leon in the explosion, his vision obstructed by the dust and debris. It took a minute to clear, the dust slowly settling. Everything was destroyed or coated in layers of grime and rubble, making the street look like a victim of a post-apocalyptic war.

"Did we get him?" Williams asked, scanning the road.

"I'm not sure."

It was highly doubtful they killed Leon with a couple of small explosions, but Chris didn't voice his thoughts. He led his men back down into the street, guns in hand and safety off, as they fanned out and searched for their target. They scanned the devastation slowly, looking for any sign of the man. Chris was unsure if he should be worried or relieved that Leon wasn't a part of the wreckage. Suddenly a high pitched whining noise was heard, the decibels increasing by the second as it approached them. The sound of one of the soldiers screaming had the rest of the team turning before there was a small explosion, a ring of dust and rubble flowing outwards slowly. The hardly recognizable corpse of Williams lay in the center of the small crater created from the impact.

"Is it artillery?" Harez asked, looking around quickly in a panic. After only a few moments of silence the high-pitched ringing was back, causing the soldiers to panic and begin running in every direction. In ten second intervals they were being picked off, one by one. Chris spun on his heel, his eyes cast upwards as he tried to spot what was killing his men. Finally Leon appeared behind the last soldier, grabbing him and exposing his neck. He leaned down, biting into the delicate flesh and drinking from it, his burning gaze never leaving Chris' own. The soldier screamed and writhed uselessly, clawing at Leon's arms and face until he fell limp. Leon tossed the body to the ground, the scratches already healing quickly. Chris could make out the blood stained tips of Leon's bangs from so close. The blood of his dead comrades.

Leon reached out, extending his gloved hand towards Chris.

"Come rule this world by my side. It would be a pity if I had to kill you."

"I'd rather die!"

Leo's smirk grew. He pulled his hand back and let it dramatically fall to his side.

"Unfortunately for you, that's not going to happen any time soon."

"Do you even listen to yourself when you speak? You sound exactly like Wesker!"

"And if I do? What? Are you really surprised, Chris? Wesker treated me far better than you ever did."

"That's a lie and you know it!"

"Monster."

Chris' eyes widened and he pressed his lips together. It was a low blow, saying that, and Leon's words weren't directed at him. They were a reiteration of what Chris had said to him.

"Maybe you should stop acting like a monster and people won't think you're one!"

"You know I didn't mean that."

"Don't care. Really, I don't. Your deep-seeded jealousy must stop, Chris. It's become such an annoyance for me. I don't even like you."

Chris took a deep breath. That hurt, even if he knew it wasn't Leon talking. Not the real Leon. He was obviously trying to toy with Chris' emotions. Chris made stupid decisions when he was angry or upset. It would give Leon an even greater upper hand.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Only those fit for survival will be allowed to carry their genes into a new age."

"Would you stop it with that shit? You're really starting to piss me off."

Chris' words had Leon turning, his eyes gleaming playfully.

"Make me."

Leon took up a defensive stance, his hands held out in front of him, fingers curled. Chris didn't really want to fight the agent, he wouldn't stand a chance. Initially he had more brute strength than Leon, but the man was a master of several types of close quarters combat, as well as extremely flexible and agile. With his inhuman powers, he could swat Chris like a fly.

Never stopped you from fighting Wesker.

Chris scoffed softly at his inner monologue. Wesker was different. Leon was still his friend. And, once upon a time, his lover.

"Leon… you have to stop this… your virus, it's unstable. It will kill you." Chris pleaded.

Stall him.

"You know I can't do that Chris." Leon said matter-of-factly.

Chris tightened his hold on his gun.

"Don't make me hurt you Leon."

The agent smirked.

"For now."