-Two Legends-

Lanshiang, China

"Chris!?"

Chris lowered his gun a little in surprise. "Leon!? What the hell are you doing here?!"

What was telling about this moment? Neither man lowered his gun. They kept each other pinned there, staring down the barrel of their demise.

Friends? Not exactly.

"Lower the gun, Chris. She's a key witness. I need her."

"A witness!? Are you fucking kidding me? She's the one who did all of this!"

Leon had never heard Chris Redfield shout before. It rang around the room like a gunshot. It was desperate and loud and angry. He vibrated with rage so thick and wide it was nearly choking. There was nothing to reason with on that face.

"No!" Leon tried like hell anyway. "No. Not her. Simmons. The National Security Advisor."

"I LOST ALL MY MEN BECAUSE OF HER!"

Jesus. It echoed.

Leon figured, fuck it, and shouted back, "AND I LOST OVER SEVENTY THOUSAND, MEN! INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF SIMMONS!"

Chris took a step toward him. Leon's gun came up. "Don't! Don't, Chris. Don't. Lower it."

Chris shook his head, shaking with rage. "She's working for Neo-Umbrella. Umbrella. Do you know what that means!?"

Leon felt it shiver around him. He felt it arrow in his chest. But he said, softly now, "Yeah...Yeah, I do."

"And you're still going to protect this woman?"

They held gazes. There was so much Chris needed to know. So much they both need to say. Leon said, with feeling, "I am. I have to."

There was no time at all to explain the why. There'd never been trust between them. How did he explain it!?

The gun didn't move for either of them.

Leon tried, once more, "Please, Chris. Let me explain."

And then things shifted. They rolled. Because Jill was there now, she staggered and went to one knee. She said softly, "Chris?"

And Chris, horrified, returned, "Jill!?"

And the other man with Redfield shouted, "Captain!"

Leon felt like someone should finish the Rocky Horror Picture Show tableau and call, "Rocky!" But there was no time for humor.

The world flashed white light and sound. It went up in smoke. It was a bright flash and noise.

Ada Wong had thrown a flashbang.

There was a pop and a mechanical sound as she fired off the damn grapple gun. Her body whipped through the smoke and flipped to the floor. She ran away laughing while the other man with Redfield fired at her.

And then the kid cursed, "She's getting away!"

He took off after her.

As the smoke cleared, Leon Kennedy was the only person still holding a gun on the other. Because Chris Redfield…was holding Jill. They'd both run for her before the world caught fire around them.

And Chris Redfield had gotten there first.

Leon felt that shiver in his guts. And wasn't sure what it meant or if it meant a damn thing. Or if it was even the right time to worry about it.

Chris and Leon eyed each other across the catwalk.

Leon said softly, "If you take her with you, can you help her?"

Jill shifted in Chris' arms, "No! Shut up! Leon, don't be stupid!"

Chris adjusted Jill against him. The former S.T.A.R.S sniper was filthy and slick with sweat. They were all filthy, tired, and just trying to finish what they'd come here to do. Two pairs of blue eyes held above the woman's body they both loved.

Because maybe it was done there. Maybe it was never quite right. But that face said Chris Redfield loved the girl in his arms. And in the middle of the flash of light and sound, he'd beaten Leon Kennedy to her to snatch her up. And Redfield wasn't known for being fast.

Leon said softly, "I know you'll do the right thing here, Chris."

Chris volleyed his eyes over Leon's dirty face. And he saw it too. So there it was, Chris thought, Leon Kennedy loved Jill Valentine. What the fuck had been happening while he'd been drinking himself into oblivion? The world had erupted in viruses and insanity. In what universe did Leon Kennedy love Jill Valentine?! It didn't even make sense. So, Chris returned, "I'll get her out of here. You take care of Simmons. The B.S.A.A. will handle Ada Wong."

Jill shoved against his chest. He glanced down at her. She was so fucking pale. She was covered in blood. What in the hell had Kennedy let happen to her!?

She pushed again. "Put me down, Chris! Put me down."

He started after the man who'd run after Ada. She shoved at him. "Put me down, Chris! Damnit! Just do it."

There was little you could to argue with her once she got started. So, he set her down. She wavered, and he grabbed her arm to hold her upright. Ben hurried forward to help her.

Chris darted his eyes from her to the boy. Jill shook her head, "Not now. Now? I need a transfusion, but I don't have time for that."

They held eyes. He knew what she was asking for. He was a lot of things. But he knew what you had to do to finish the mission.

She said, "You're out of time here, Chris. Give it to me and find Ada Wong. Trust me to help him finish Simmons. Please."

Without another word, he nodded. He opened his hip pack and dug through it for a moment.

Jill glanced at Leon and said, "Do nothing. Ok?"

What kind of request was that?

He grabbed the back of her neck. Ben shouted in surprise, and Helena grabbed him back against her. Chris jerked Jill into him, adjusted her against his chest, and she nodded. They held gazes from inches away. His arm moved sharply. Jill gasped. Her body jerked as if he'd stabbed her. Because he had…essentially, her hands came up to plant against his chest.

The adrenaline zinged through her like a shot of liquid courage. It broke from her mouth in a small cry. She grabbed Chris' biceps and nodded. And she said, "Go. Get her! Stop her. Don't die on me."

He nodded and let her go. Over his shoulder, he instructed harshly, "Keep her safe. Or I'll bury you where no one will ever find you. I promise you that."

He ran down the stairs with a clang of metal and noise.

Jill turned to face Leon. He still had his pistol loose but ready in his gloved hands. Those hands that had brought her back. She moved toward him and shoved him. It was a good shove. It had him stumbling a little.

They held eyes. Both sets were blazing now.

And she whispered, "Stop trying to protect me. Stop trying to send me away. I will never leave you. Do you understand me?"

The silence spoke volumes. A little nervous by the tension between them, Ben said, "He has to p'otect you, Jill. His Mom made him p'omise. You have to keep a p'omise. You have to!"

Jill smiled at him and ruffled his hair, but she kept her eyes on Leon. He finally said, low and harsh, "I will take you hating me forever, Jill...if it keeps you safe. I held you in your fucking blood and watched you die. I will keep trying to protect you. Always. Forever. I promised my Mom I would."

Her mouth twitched. She narrowed her eyes.

And then she shook her head and let it go. Sneaky little shit that he was, he'd made her smirk at him when she was mad. God damn, Leon Kennedy...she fucking loved him.

Feeling better than she'd felt in days, Jill gestured with her head. "Hurry. Now. Let's get Simmons before my buzz wears off."

They ran down the adjacent stairs now. No time to worry about Ada. No time to worry about Chris. There was no time to worry about adrenaline shots to the heart or long sad looks between two people who'd once shared a bed.

Leon laughed a little at himself as they ran. Was he jealous of Chris Redfield?

Kind of. Yeah. Kind of.

It was a fool that wasn't. They were involved to a substantial degree. They were intertwined with each other's lives like snakes. But what had she said? Something had always been missing with them because Chris would never love her the way she needed.

He wasn't insane. He knew the rush of the last few days would fade. When they were safe and whole, and the fight was finished…would she still look at him like she had been? Or would she start wondering if something was missing?

Shit.

There was no time to worry about it.

Maybe Chris Redfield was the first guy that had loved her. Maybe that was true. But he wouldn't be the last. The last guy to love her? He was racing with her across the dirty pavement to try to save the world. He'd already knelt the blood and saved his.

Because she was there to race with him.

And the little boy between them was there to complete them.

And there was no time left to worry about what came next or what came before. There was only now. And now…was the time to destroy Derek Simmons.

They stepped through a door back into the muggy summer air. Ben was barely through the door, and a voice called, "Well…this is unexpected!"

Three guns turned to the man standing on the bridge above them. Guards with heavy assault weapons surrounded him. The train was rushing beside them, throwing light and sound in a quick chug of movement. Wheels sent up metal squeals into the stagnant night as the train cars barreled passed with a blare of horns and speed.

Derek Simmons was cast in shadow and flickering light as he grinned down at them in a pristine white suit. Helena shouted his name, holding her pistol on him.

The door opened again, and Sherry Birkin alighted from it with Jake in tow.

Sherry shouted, "Wait! Don't!" And rushed forward.

Helena hesitated, waiting.

Simmons said, "Ah, Agent Birkin, impeccable timing as always. Take these fools into custody, would you?"

Sherry glanced at Leon and back at Simmons. "They said you're responsible for this. For all of it. Tell me that isn't true."

Simmons shrugged with boredom. "In the interest of national security, some things are necessary, I'm afraid."

Leon spit at him between his teeth, "Can't see how killing the president is good for the country, you son of a bitch."

Sherry said softly, "The President is dead!?"

And Simmons chuckled, "Well, you can thank Leon for that, it seems."

Helena shouted, "God damn you, Simmons!"

And Simmons shrugged again and gestured with his hands, "Dispose of them, would you?"

The world slowed down. Jill grabbed Ben to her and leaped. Helena threw herself left. Leon went right. Sherry and Jake spun in beside him. And the bullets hailed down in a firestorm.

Sherry glanced at Leon from the crouch they were in.

She whispered, "No."

Leon shook his head at her. "You need to be more careful."

Jake snorted a little, "What's the plan here, big hero?"

Leon glanced beyond them at the far side of the area. Simmons had retarded the fire at them. Apparently, Sherry was worth protecting. Interesting.

"Can you get to that door?"

Jake looked over at it. "Sure. Why?"

"I need you to protect, Sherry."

"Why don't we just waste them all?"

Leon held his gaze, amused. "Christ. Was I ever that young and stupid?"

Sherry eyed him drolly. With a cough to clear his throat, Leon returned, "Right. Just…get her out of here."

Sherry queried, "What are you gonna do?"

Leon shrugged a little and said, "What else? Waste the fuck out of Simmons."

Jake snorted and laughed a little. "That's what I'm talkin about, man."

Bullets struck the wall beside them. Simmons called, "Can we get on with this, please? I have other things to do here."

Leon gestured with his head. Sherry offered him a tiny SD card. She pressed it into his hand. "This…is everything you need to stop Simmons. It's the C-virus. He wants it. Use it and destroy him."

Leon held her gaze. He finally nodded a little. "Thank you. I will. I'll put a call into FOS to get you guys some protection. You ready?"

Sherry nodded and braced. Jake gave Leon a grudging nod of respect.

"Good." Leon glanced at Jill and Helena. They nodded. "Then go!"

They spilled out and laid cover fire while Jake and Sherry raced for the far door. On the platform, Simmons instructed one of his men. "Alert the men outside about Birkin and Mueller."

He turned to leave his men to finish Leon Kennedy, and a J'Avo was there watching him. Simmons tilted his head, and the J'avo put a blowgun to his mouth and spit. The blow dart stuck Simmons in the side of the neck, and one of his men put down the offender. Simmons staggered, grabbing at the dart in his neck.

He jerked it out and stared at it.

C-Virus.

He whispered, "Damn you…Ada Wong…well played."

Helena shouted, "He's getting away! Leon!"

Jill put down the last of the men shooting at them, and they raced toward Simmons. He staggered and fell over the railing…right on top of the racing train beneath him.

Without any hope for it, Leon rushed the train beside them. He grabbed Ben and threw him like a dart. Helena leaped. Jill dove for it. And Leon pushed off.

Ben went right through the open compartment door and rolled. Helena grabbed on and spilled in after him. Jill caught the back edge of the train ladder and tossed her hand out.

She and Leon gripped their forearms as the train's speed tried to rip him free and send him spinning into the dark.

She looped her arm around the ladder and held on while he fought the rush of it to pull himself level beside her.

They held on until the train cornered and then climbed up the ladder.

Simmons was staggering atop the train. Finding their footing, Jill and Leon aimed down on him. Leon shouted, above the clackety roar of wheels and track, above the din of the wind that tried to smash into them and send them over the bridge into the water beneath.

"Give up, Simmons!"

And Simmons turned toward them, laughing. "You fools! You idiots! Do you come here to avenge the President? While that traitor runs free?"

Leon queried, "What traitor?"

"ADA WONG! Who knows what she has in store for the world! Why chase me? GET HER!"

Leon glanced at Jill. She shook her head. And he said, "Another team went after her…but you, Simmons? You're all ours."

Simmons roared his rage at them. His face was spilling through with mutation. Jill made a slight sound of distress.

"Had that idiot disclosed the truth of Raccoon City, the U.S. would have lost all credibility. It would have lost its authority. The global political fallout would have been catastrophic!"

Jill called back, "So to prevent one potential disaster, you create another? No matter how many people you kill in the process!?"

He shifted his eyes to her, "It's what we do! We protect the U.S. at all costs!"

Leon shouted back at him, feeling the burst of rage inside him like madness that had no end. "Not at all costs, you son of a bitch! Who are you to play god with other people's lives!?"

Simmons roared, "He was leading us into chaos! That fool had to be stopped!"

He staggered and went to his knees. He gasped, trembled, and whispered, "That fucking woman…that bitch…damn her…not to me…not me….not me…."

He screamed. It was horrible. It was awful. It was the wail of the damned. It was terrifying.

Jill shot him while he burst into flame. His body caught fire like he'd been doused in accelerant. The bullet spun him to the side, and his face split apart, throwing fluid and blood in a horrible tableau.

He was no longer Simmons. In a handful of seconds, he burst from the burning shell of his mortal form and leaped over them. He was a muscled monster the size of an elephant with the agility and naked muscle of a wolf. He roared from a mouth filled with fangs as long as a forearm.

The naked muscle that covered his body was sinew, and dripping ectopic fluid, and boney protrusions like armor surrounded the massive size of it. It crawled like a licker across the train's roof toward them now, impossibly fast.

Leon shot it once in its roaring mouth and rolled to miss losing his head to its swiping claws.

Jill drilled it in the ass as it swept its arm at him again.

It reversed, skidded, and threw sparks from the raped metal beneath those deadly talons into the sky.

It raced for her, and she threw herself into the open compartment beneath her. It leaped inches from where she'd been, roaring.

Leon dropped down across from her. They held eyes for a brief moment.

And the look on their face was the same.

How in the hell did they stop that thing?

The train raced into a tunnel. And the roof peeled back like a can opener had been taken to it. Simmons exploded down into the compartment with them, roaring.

Jill shot him in the face even as they retreated. They leaped into the next compartment and ran for it.

Helena and Ben were waiting as they hit the next one. Leon shook his head at them and grabbed the boy to him. Like a monkey, Ben clung as they ran.

Leon reached the last compartment and tossed him up through the hatch. The sound of Helena and Jill firing on Simmons chased them to the roof. When Ben grabbed him to pull him up, Leon shouted at him. "Listen to me! Listen, Ben! Keep running from that thing, do you hear me? Don't stop! Don't look back! What do we say!?"

"….leave you behind…."

"Yeah. Leave me behind. Go!"

They ran across the roof, and Simmons burst out six feet behind them. Ben let out a cry of fear and ran as fast as he could, stumbling under the wind and rocking the tug of the train. Leon spun back, giving him time to flee.

Simmons raced toward him.

Leon filled him with rounds from the Magnum, holding his feet easily even as the train pitched and tried to throw him off into the tracks beneath them.

He saw Jill and Helena leap up behind Simmons. They drilled him while he spun, reversed, and raced toward them. Leon reloaded and kept on shooting.

The train cornered hard, and Jill went to one knee. Simmons passed over her head as he leaped. She rolled. Helena spun left and kept on shooting.

The beast roared, staggered, and reverted to human form. Simmons' bleeding, leaking, horrible form was half-naked and spastically jerking on its knees.

Leon reached it first. He kicked it to its back and straddled it. And then?

Well, he was as good as his word.

He hammered the shit out of Derek Simmons with his fists. He drove a punch into that ugly face that echoed. He jabbed him twice, crossed, and smashed the other man down into the steel roof like he'd beat him to death. Someone was shouting with it.

Jill grabbed his bloody hand to stop him when he realized it was him.

She gave him calm eyes.

Helena stepped over his shoulder and shot Simmons between the eyes where he lay.

Jill held Leon's gaze over the body. "It's ok now. Ok? It's ok now."

Leon drew a ragged breath and climbed to his feet, nodding. He panted. Ben was watching him steadily.

He queried, "Is it over?"

And Derek Simmons got to his feet like strings had pulled him. Like a puppet pulled by a perverted marionette. He levered up and grabbed Leon's face in one bloody fist.

Jill shouted and was slapped away like she was nothing.

Ben screamed.

Helena tried to get a shot.

And Simmons just threw him. Like he was nothing. Like he wasn't a full-grown man. Like he was a puppet or a piece of shit or a baseball.

Up, out...gone.