Chapter 8: Home Sweet Home
The afternoon finally came when Leon was given the all-clear to leave. His dressings were removed, and he got himself dressed and slid on his leather jacket, the feeling of it comforting and familiar. It was different from the one he had last remembered donning in Tall Oaks, but wearing it felt just as natural to him.
He was also nervous about meeting Ada again. After last night's fiasco, he wasn't sure what was the best way forward. Navigating a marriage was entirely new to him. Whatever it was, the blonde was certain that Ada would not leave him over this. They've been through too much for over a decade to jeopardise their happy ending.
The door slid open to reveal his wife. She was dressed simply today, just a navy blue dress and a cardigan. Seeing her in a different colour was quite refreshing.
Leon made his way to her and looked into her eyes sincerely, "Ada, I want to apologise for my words last night. They clearly made you unhappy."
Having had the best night's sleep she had in a week, Ada was feeling more genial today. "It's fine," she beamed at him. "You were right that I needed a rest. I was knocked out the moment my head hit the pillow."
Exhaling a breath that he did not know he was holding, Leon relaxed and changed the subject. "By the way, when did I get this?" He pointed to the leather jacket draped across his body. "I like it."
The jacket was one of the many gifts from her and she was about to reply when there was a knock on the door. Reginald stepped in with a briefcase in hand, "Excuse me, but may I have a word in private with Mr. Kennedy before he leaves?" The older man asked as he set the case on the floor.
Ada was slightly irked when Leon's higher-up interrupted them. She pursed her lips ever so slightly and gave the director a curt nod, stepping out of the room to leave both men alone.
Leon eyed the stranger carefully, there was something familiar about his face… His gut feeling indicated that he was someone important.
"Agent Kennedy, you may not remember me but I am the director for the mission you were sent on which resulted in your amnesia. I am truly sorry for the outcome. I strongly urge you, for your own safety, that you remain low and recuperate in your home for the time being."
Director Martin couldn't give much away, not when his most prized operative had memory loss. Leon could be a liability but hinting that the blonde's life might be targeted would be enough to keep his head down.
"The system currently lists you as being on indefinite leave. Take it as a well-earned vacation. You will resume your work when you are deemed fit for duty again. Is that clear?"
The blonde better not be attempting to access the DSO database during his downtime. He always had an inquisitive mind and would search for answers if given the chance.
"Okay," Leon replied, feeling just slightly suspicious of the man. "Well, that's what I was planning to do anyway. Is there any reason why it might be unsafe for me to not keep a low profile?" He asked, hoping to get some idea of what had happened on the mission.
"Honestly, I think it's better that you don't remember." The man answered, causing Leon to scoff and turn away to gather his things. The agent was acting just as the director thought he would. "Now, is that clear?"
"Crystal, sir," Leon replied as he turned back around, looking the director right back in the eye. "Could you at least tell me if the mission was a success?"
Reginald nodded, "Of course. You always get the job done. Anyway, here are your belongings," he gestured to the briefcase. There were other pressing matters at hand… The data Leon retrieved was still being analysed and he had heard that Ingrid Hunnigan was in the midst of drafting a policy about field-readiness.
The older man stepped out and Ada shot him a steely gaze as she waited with one foot planted on the wall behind her. He ignored the animosity rolling off Leon's wife and continued moving forward. No words were exchanged between them and soon Ada was left alone in the corridor.
Leon did plan on resting, but he was going to find out what the director was not telling him. He carefully gathered his duffel and briefcase and headed out. "Alright, we're ready to go," he said to Ada chirpily but his facial expression looked stormy. Leon was attempting to hide it by being friendly, pretending that nothing was wrong.
It did not escape Ada's keen eye. She played along until they reached his Cadillac in the parking lot. "You remember this car, don't you? You've had it before I came along."
The blonde recognized his car as they stepped out into the lot. He nodded to Ada. "Yes, I do remember my car. I guess you should drive though, since I don't know the way."
"Everything alright, handsome?" She asked as they loaded his belongings into the trunk.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Leon said. "He just said I should take time to rest up, and they'll call me back once I'm fit for duty."
He got into the passenger's seat and Ada replied with an "Okay," deciding not to press the issue any further.
They began the drive with Leon mostly staring out the window. He recognized the places they drove past at least, though they entered a neighbourhood he had never been in before.
"Is this where we live?" Leon asked as he watched the houses pass by. "It's… nice."
Ada chuckled a little bit when her spouse mistook the surrounding neighbourhood to be where they lived. "No, handsome. We reside closer to the capital. It'll take another hour or so to get home."
"Oh," Leon murmured, feeling embarrassed. He looked out the side window some more, and he did feel like the surroundings were growing somewhat familiar, in a strange way. It all looked very normal to his eyes.
"Is there any food you're hankering for? You've not had any for a while," Ada asked when they passed by the heart of the small town that had a bunch of family restaurants beside the road.
His stomach growled slightly despite having oatmeal earlier. "I could go for a fat, juicy burger. But I should still take it easy with my food intake."
Ada hummed in thought, "I'll keep that in mind."
The majority of the ride was done in silence as Ada allowed Leon to take in all the sights. His thoughts were all over the place. He was heading home with Ada Wong, a woman he had pined for years. If this was a dream, he did not want to wake up from it.
However, he still felt pain from his bruises and the warmth of the Sun on his face. It was definitely real no matter how many times he pinched himself.
Soon, they were on the street that brought them home.
"This road takes us home, Leon. There will be a small apple sapling out front. Courtesy from your parents."
At the end of the main road, they turned and traveled down another slip road before stopping in the middle. They were outside a modest two-storey house.
"Here we are," Ada said as she thumbed the fob that activated the gates, allowing the car to drive into the garage. "I suppose you want to enter through the front door instead of the side. Be careful though, Ebony loves to pounce whenever we return home."
The blonde finally laid eyes on their house, and the sapling in the yard. He found it to be a gorgeous home, and he was surprised that they lived in a house this large. Leon nodded to Ada and got out of the car, collecting his bags before heading for the front door. He took a moment to examine the surroundings more closely before turning the door knob and opening it.
Compared to his small apartment downtown, the house was different in terms of size and Ada understood that Leon required time to process everything in their dwelling.
Once the door opened, Leon stepped inside and was met with the foyer. He set his belongings on the floor and continued to admire the internal decor. In only a few seconds, the blonde heard the pitter patter of little cat feet, and soon saw a small black cat scurry around a corner. Just as Ada said, Ebony bounded towards Leon and pounced on his foot, playfully biting at his pant leg and rolling on the floor.
"Uh, hello, Ebony," Leon said as he looked down, not moving as he watched the cat play. He was not sure if he should pet her, though he did kneel.
Not wanting to miss out on the action, Cobalt sprinted into the foyer soon after, affectionately walking in circles around Leon's leg and meowing loudly with need.
Ada could only smile at their antics. "Go ahead and pet them, Leon. They appear to miss you quite a bit."
Deciding he should not keep the cats waiting, Leon reached and petted both of them. Cobalt and Ebony nuzzled and purred against his hand as he stroked their fur, happy for the attention. The cats enjoyed the pets for a moment before they scampered off.
The blonde man stood back up and smiled softly at the little creatures. "They really like me," He said.
"Why wouldn't they? You showered them with affection on a daily basis," Ada replied as she listened to the cats run off to their designated kitty room.
Leon looked around a bit more, seeing where the foyer led. He glanced in at the living room and then saw the stairs. Suddenly, an image popped into Leon's mind.
"I remember something," he said, trying hard to recall the memory. "I remember moving a… desk? It was a real hassle too…"
Looks like Leon's amnesia would be temporary after all. Ada walked towards her husband and nodded, "Yes, we moved it into your office. I'll show you where it is."
Taking his hand, she directed him to a door beside the living room and twisted the knob. A desk, office chair, and a myriad of bookshelves greeted them. The walls were painted a soothing blue, his favourite colour.
Leon studied and examined the office, from the ceiling to the floor, soaking in every detail. He read the titles of the books on the shelves and then went to sit down in the chair by the desk. It felt quite comfortable, and the agent crossed his legs as he thought.
"Yeah, this is my office alright," He said after a while. "I remember where I put everything. Like… the stapler." Leon pulled open a drawer and sure enough, a stapler was in there. "I'm glad I can remember something, I just wish it was better than office supplies."
"You have to start somewhere. At least there's an improvement," Ada replied as he explored his little sanctuary. A pity he wasn't able to recall the fun times they had in his office.
"Are you hungry? Do you want to explore the house on your own while I make something for us? Or would you like to call for delivery to satisfy your burger craving?"
There was nothing else Leon could do except to rest and try to remember his past. She couldn't keep hovering over him like a helicopter spouse.
"Yeah, I am actually," Leon replied to Ada. "…and, I think I would rather you make something. Maybe it will help me remember more…."
The blonde then went to explore the rest of the house, opening the doors to various rooms and closets and the cat room. He also went outside to see the backyard and their personal gym. It was an unusually strange feeling; he could not remember anything about the house, and yet everything about it felt perfectly natural to him.
Leon picked up his bags in the foyer and went into what he assumed was the master bedroom. He was about to unpack when he spotted a golden ring on the bedside table. He slipped it on his finger, and it fit him perfectly. Leon realised this must be his wedding ring. He thumbed it a moment, thinking of the wedding photos.
While Leon was left to his own devices, Ada already planned a dish that would surprise him. She began to bring out the various sauces and seasonings, as well as the meat that she thawed out earlier.
A pot of water was brought to a simmer and she added in the ingredients, stirring it occasionally before bringing the heat up.
The aroma of meat and tomato wafted through the kitchen soon after and the cats couldn't help but be curious. Luckily a gate was affixed at the doorway to prevent pet mishaps in the kitchen. The felines mewed with curiosity. Something smelled good and they couldn't even see what it was.
Ada shook her head at their silly antics and prepared for the second phase of cooking.
One last thing Leon noticed on his bedside table before he left the bedroom was a wristwatch. He examined it for a moment before fastening it to his wrist, also finding it comfortable. It was then that he smelled the food cooking in the kitchen, and went downstairs to see what Ada was preparing. Unpacking could wait.
Leon saw the two cats pacing in front of the gate, and he gently shooed them away as he opened it and entered the kitchen.
"What are you making, spaghetti?" The agent asked. Leon began thinking that he might have remembered the little gate to the kitchen to keep Ebony and Cobalt out, as he had not given it a second glance or much attention when he saw it.
"With bolognese sauce," Ada replied as she grabbed a bundle of spaghetti and gently lowered them into a pot of boiling salted water.
"I'll be done soon. Perhaps you can set the table? You can take your time to re-acquaint yourself with where the utensils are," she added soon after as the spaghetti softened and began to fall into the water.
"Hm, my mom makes it with bolognese sauce too," Leon murmured as he searched for the silverware. He went through a few drawers under the counter before finding the right one, then went through the cupboards to find the plates and cups. It seemed that not everything would instantly come back to him.
"It is a pretty common meat sauce," Ada said, not wanting to ruin the surprise. It was indeed his mother's recipe that she was using and she thought it would help her husband's condition.
Ada gave Leon a quick glance while he moved around the kitchen and noted the extra accessory attached on his finger. "You're wearing your ring," she said with surprise as she was not expecting him to don it so soon.
Leon began setting their plates, cups, and silverware on the table. The blonde looked up when Ada mentioned the ring. "I found it by the bed. I figured I should wear it, since it is mine, right?" He was not entirely sure about wearing the ring so soon, but he wanted to at least get used to it again.
The raven haired woman listened to Leon's explanation about the ring, "Hm, that does make sense. I hope it's comfortable."
When the pasta was cooked al dente, she carefully strained it and proceeded to dump the noodles into the bolognese sauce. She stirred the pot, carefully ensuring that each strand was coated. Ada grated some parmesan cheese and stirred the contents of the pot once more.
Satisfied, she brought the pot to the table and ladled out their dinner onto the plates. "Hold on, there's one more thing," Ada took out several slices of cheese and crumbled them on top of the spaghetti. The cheese melted upon contact with the hot food.
"Mom said that's how you liked it."
"She did?" Leon asked, now even more curious. The spaghetti did look and smell delicious, and he was eager to have some. Leon poured tea into their glasses before sitting down and twirling the noodles around his fork. He made sure to get plenty of meat and sauce caught up before putting it in his mouth.
Leon chewed and savoured the spaghetti for a long moment. It did taste very familiar and nostalgic to his tongue. He finally swallowed and looked to Ada once more.
"This is my mom's recipe, isn't it?" The blonde asked his wife. "I guess she gave it to you? It's really good."
Ada was pleased that Leon enjoyed her cooking, "Thank you. She gave me a few family recipes of some dishes you like."
The raven haired woman carefully twirled her pasta onto her spoon and ate it up. Unbeknownst to her, a bit of sauce got onto her pale cheek as she continued eating.
"What would you like to do later? Should you rest some more to heal your injuries or do you have something else in mind?" She asked, noting that her husband still had some bruises here and there. Going out might cause a scene.
"I don't know. I guess I should rest…" Leon said before slurping up more noodles. It was then that he noticed the sauce on Ada's cheek. "Hang on a sec, you've got something on you."
Leon took his napkin and reached over to wipe the sauce from Ada's cheek. He felt her soft skin, and for a moment he was reminded of the times he had looked out for her in the past, when she was injured or unconscious. Leon could never make it up to Ada for all she had done for him, and even now she still looked out for him.
"Oh," Ada said simply as Leon's warm hand gently wiped away the sauce on her cheek. How long has it been since he touched her like that? She didn't realise she was craving for his touch.
"Thank you, Leon," she murmured as she sipped more tea. She had to control herself and stop herself from jumping on her amnesiac husband.
"Mm, maybe we could watch TV together, if that's okay…" Her husband replied to her after he was finally done cleaning her cheek.
"Sure," she took a sip of tea. "What do you have in mind? Netflix?"
"Netflix sounds good," Leon concurred and sipped some tea. "Do we watch Netflix a lot? Is there anything we were watching?" He asked, feeling a little awkward again. "We can always just browse and see what's on…" He focused back on his spaghetti. The situation was still strange to him, but he was trying to make an effort.
They finished their food, which Leon thoroughly enjoyed, sopping up the leftover sauce with some bread and washing it down with the rest of his tea. He helped clean and put away the dishes and walked out to the living room to turn on the TV. Cobalt jumped on the couch beside him and licked Leon's hand, earning the orange cat a pet and a scratch behind the ears.
"Okay, what do we have here?" Leon asked as he turned Netflix on, and was greeted by the assorted new releases and previously watched entries. It seemed he and Ada had viewed a variety of entries, including comedies, romance, action, and some cartoons and anime as well.
Everything felt almost normal, from sharing the workload to cleaning up the dirty dishes and relaxing on the couch. But the only thing that was missing was intimacy. Ada sat on the sofa beside Leon, not too near but not too far away from him either. Cobalt walked over Leon's lap to nestle between them and Ada petted the orange cat. In this situation, something light-hearted was recommended.
Not wanting to be left out, Ebony leapt up on the armrest beside Ada and chirped a mew. The black cat was rewarded with head and chin scratches.
"We can always watch comedy or cartoons. You can choose."
"How about this one?" The blonde pushed play on a Wes Andersen film and the movie began. They had not seen it yet but Ada had read reviews of this whimsical movie.
Leon was still very conscious of Ada sitting next to him. He wanted to be intimate with her, he knew that they were married and it would be perfectly fine, but still his unease persisted. Leon decided to pet Cobalt to distract himself, if only just a bit.
Settling deeper into the couch, Ada leaned back and relaxed and watched the movie unfold on screen. Ebony decided to make herself comfy on a human lap instead and Ada found herself being distracted by the black cat periodically.
The story and characters, while seemingly bizarre at first, turned out to be heartwarming and hilarious. Ada found herself chuckling at some over-the-top scenes.
"Their costumes are quite eye-catching, don't you think?"
"Yeah," Leon nodded in agreement. "I guess they must be authentic." He found himself smiling and laughing at the film, helping him relax. Cobalt jumped onto the head of the couch and laid down there, taking a little cat nap.
"They won an Academy Award for best costume design too," Ada replied and watched the heist of the painting play out on screen.
The blonde found himself glancing at Ada and he noticed Ebony was still on her lap. He reached out to pet the black kitty but wound up touching Ada's hand when she went to pet her first. Leon hesitated initially, but then took Ada's hand in his and looked back at the film. He held her hand silently, wondering what Ada would do.
Time seemed to freeze for that split second. Ada was stunned by his action but since he was not pulling away, she readjusted her grasp and laced their fingers together as they continued to watch the movie in silence.
He might not remember most of their married life together but they were still husband and wife. They could indulge in some displays of affection.
After a while, with the dark environment being so conducive for sleeping, Ada's eyes drooped. Her head slowly tilted downwards and she dozed off.
Leon noticed that Ada had not said anything for a while after he took her hand. That she did not pull away was a good sign. After a while, Leon felt he should say something. He looked to Ada and opened his mouth, but found that she was dozing off.
The blonde quirked a smile, finding it precious that Ada was comfortable enough in his presence to keep falling asleep. Seeing no harm in it, Leon put his arm around Ada and let her lean against him while the rest of the movie played. It felt right, having her with him like this, and Leon kissed the top of Ada's head. He inhaled the floral scent of her shampoo and felt comforted by it.
Ebony was asleep on Ada's lap as well and did not seem to have any care at all.
The raven-haired woman pressed her head deeper into the crook of Leon's neck and she briefly nuzzled his collarbone before sighing happily in her sleep. The warmth and comfort of his embrace was something she missed and sorely needed. If only this moment could last forever…
Leon felt something stir in his loins when Ada nuzzled him but he quickly tempered it. This was supposed to be a sweet, romantic moment. Plus, Ada was sleeping so peacefully. Leon did his best not to do anything that might wake her. He stroked her shoulder and held her close until the Sun went down and the end credits began to roll.
She kept on snoozing, her dreams were pleasant and calm. They were strolling hand in hand on a beach and enjoying each other's company.
Little Ebony shifted slightly on Ada's lap, exposing her belly full of jet-black fur. This was truly a moment of bliss for both the feline and its human owner. Leon took this opportunity to gently rub the cat's furry abdomen which elicited a purr from the feline, its paws kneading the air.
Leon knew they could not just sit here all night though; Ada would want to change and get ready for bed. Leon made a small cough and gently nudged his wife's shoulder, hoping to rouse her. "Hey, uh, movie's over," he said softly.
"Mm…" Ada whined softly as she shifted in his hold when he nudged her. Ebony began to stir on Ada's lap, turning herself over to be on her stomach. Claws were extended as the black feline stretched its lithe body. That finally brought Ada out of her stupor. "Ebony, no," she murmured sleepily and opened her eyes to realize that she was very close to Leon's face. His scent and the gentle look he was giving her were intoxicating.
But she couldn't act on her instincts right now.
Ada pulled away from him and Ebony jumped off her lap, "Sorry about that." She looked at the blank screen in front of them, "Did I miss the rest of the movie? How was it?"
She stretched her arms and popped the kinks in her neck.
Leon was disheartened when Ada pulled away from him. He nodded in reply, "Yeah. The rest was pretty funny, and heartwarming, and a little sad…" His voice trailed off a bit as he stood up. The blonde scratched Cobalt behind the ears, the orange cat still perched on the head of the couch.
"Sad? Which character died?" Ada asked, a little astonished that such a playful movie would contain moments of grief.
She reached over to give Cobalt a pet as well and the cat yawned before closing his eyes to nap some more. It was best that she left him alone.
"I don't want to spoil it," Leon replied.
Ada shrugged at his response. She could always read the synopsis and spoil herself if she had no time in the future to re-watch the movie.
"It's kind of late. I guess we should get some sleep," Leon said. "So, are we going to share the same bed, or…?"
Ada carefully considered Leon's question regarding sleeping arrangements before reaching a difficult conclusion.
"I do not wish to take advantage of the situation, handsome. It is best that I relocate to the guest room temporarily while you recover. I'll get some of my things."
She turned away from her husband and headed upstairs to her walk-in wardrobe that was within the master bedroom. "You could help me move my belongings, if you want," she called out from the stairs.
"Yeah, you're right," Leon mumbled and sighed when Ada was out of earshot, his eyes downcast and crestfallen.
"Be right there." He replied as he climbed the stairs. Leon went into the bedroom with Ada and began helping her move her things to the table where she had her duffel bag, saying very little. The government agent thought that things were going well, but there was still a big gap between him and Ada that needed crossing.
After handling her toiletries, Leon did take a moment to examine all the clothes Ada had in the closet. He recognized the ones she had worn before, in Raccoon City, Spain, China, and the Eastern Slav Republic. The blonde was a little surprised she had kept them, wondering if it was out of sentimentality.
"You kept all of these?" Leon finally asked Ada as he held her long red dress, his favourite.
Ada was stuffing her essentials into a duffel bag as she allowed Leon free rein of her wardrobe, letting him take his time with her belongings. She wondered if she made the right decision to move out of their matrimonial bedroom. It almost felt that they were on a break when in reality, her husband was only having amnesia.
His query interrupted her thoughts and she turned towards him, "Yes, I cherished the moments spent with you even if they were short. Doubt I'll be wearing them any time soon. Some are tattered."
The outfit she wore in Raccoon City was in bad shape and kept within a transparent garment bag. Even with all the grime and blood cleaned, the seams were frayed, and wearing it guaranteed that the dress would be ripped to shreds.
"I believe you have your own box filled with trinkets that I've given you over the years."
She knew that he kept the little teddy bear keychain and makeup compact. He had shown the box to her before.
"Oh, yeah, that…" Leon, once again, felt embarrassed that Ada knew one of his little secrets. That box of his was special, but of course Ada would know of it. It was not a big deal since they were married.
The two of them finished moving Ada's things into the guest room, neatly stowing them away. "Well, I guess this is goodnight," The blonde said. Leon felt slightly awkward, but still a little bit daring. "I'll see you in the morning, Ada." With that said, Leon gently took Ada's hand and kissed the back of it, believing it to not be inappropriate.
Ada's eyes widened slightly when Leon kissed the back of her hand and a warm feeling pooled in her stomach before spreading through her body.
Returning the favour, Ada leaned in and brushed her lips against his slightly scruffy cheek. It was a little chaste by their usual standards but given how awkward they were around each other right now, it was better than nothing.
Leon felt the same tingling sensation from earlier when he was watching the movie. No, he would not allow lust to take over him, not like this. He would just have to accept what was being given right now without asking for more.
"Good night, handsome." His wife said softly and saw him out of the guest bedroom door.
"Goodnight." Leon replied as he left the room. He sighed on his way back to the bedroom, full of mixed feelings. The agent hoped that another night's rest would help him remember more of what he had forgotten.
He padded around their room and adjoined bathroom, getting reacquainted with his surroundings. A whiff of Ada's perfume lingered constantly as he took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before he donned his sleepwear.
The blonde then finally opened his briefcase from the director, it contained his phone and cleaned clothes in a ziplock bag, and his firearm in a separate compartment. He fished out the phone and tried to switch it on. Nothing. It was either out of power or rendered useless. He hoped it was the former.
Placing his phone on the bedside table and shutting the briefcase, Leon slid under the bed covers and got comfortable, closing his eyes. The mattress was soft, but he could not help but wonder what it would be like if Ada was sleeping beside him. He drifted into slumber, awaiting what the next day would bring him and Ada.
The guest shower and bedroom felt strangely alien to Ada even though she was in her own house. It took her a while to find a sweet spot to relax under the blanket and she kept staring at the doorway, hoping that Leon would join her or maybe carry her back to their matrimonial bedroom.
But nothing transpired and Ada closed her eyes, drifting into an uneasy slumber.
Author's Note: One step forward, two steps back? Being home isn't all what it seems... There's still a rift between them and until Leon gets his memory back, it's best Ada keeps her distance.