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Another life, same love

Zeno Wesker x B.O.W!Reader

As a high ranking member in the criminal organization known as the Connections, Zeno never truly experienced anything real but when you arrive at the ARK as his new ‘partner’ he had no idea what to think of you. Though he had his reservations of your seductive manipulative nature and kept his distance from you he couldn’t help the subtle fascination that grew with each passing day and a memory of you he couldn’t quite hold onto. Time and time again he would seek you out only to gradually find out all the things you’ve been deprived of and reveal secrets neither of you knew.

Sitting in my drafts since MARCH. B.O.W Reader who finds out she’s a clone. Reader doesn’t quite understand real romance and intimacy or signs of abuse. Suggestive 18+ themes. Long emotional roller coaster ride. Mentions of Victor Gideon/Reader. 17k+. Elements of a past relationship with Albert Wesker/ past reader. Sorry for any missed mistakes, enjoy!

The quiet night had you filling out reports and periodically updating the higher-ups on the slow progress of Elpis and your various side projects. Most of the facility had long since retired, as you were content with the peace, waiting so you wouldn't see any humans others. Sleep didn't come easy, but in the hours you were awake, your productivity thankfully increased. However, a strange exhaustion had slowly been tormenting you the last couple of days, and you couldn’t understand why.

Well… you knew why, but he didn’t need to know.

You were lost in thought until fast approaching footsteps heading towards your private lab piqued your interest. Leaning your head slightly to the side, the soft hissing of your door sliding open reached your ears.

“Hello Zeno, I hope you had a productive business trip! I assume you’re having difficulty resting?”

“I’m fine.” His dismissive, snappy tone only fueled your curiosity as the scent of a delightful new cologne reached you. Albeit, a bit sharp for your senses, your mind couldn’t dwell on it as you automatically began assessing all the possibilities for the reason behind his subtle hostility.

Without tearing your eyes away from your screen, the clicking of your keyboard resonated throughout the room. You had to get these reports done, your father would be expecting them soon. “You seem…upset. Is that an accurate assumption?”

“I don’t need your pity. Why are you still here?”

Taking note that he ignored your question, you stored that small bit of information for later as you thought about how you were going to redirect him back to telling you the truth. But pity? That was something new. You never felt the need to pity him. For now you would mildly entertain the conversation.

“I don’t believe my observation was meant to pity you. More like-sympathize? Or understand?” You offered waiting for a moment. “Anyways…I have multiple reports to send in to our higher ups for review.”

“I mean why are you here still…at the facility.”

Oh?

The clicking of your keyboard came to a halt for just a moment before you quickly resumed typing.

”Have you already forgotten I was stationed here for my assignment to be here with you?” Silence took hold of your private lab once more to the point that you had nearly forgotten Zeno was there if it wasn’t for the pounding of his heart. “Is my presence here after so long still an issue for you?”

Was your presence here still causing him such distress?

You gazed at him for a moment, your fingers moving at an unprecedented speed to continue your reports. “Did you require my company Zeno?” The question lingered in the air far longer than you anticipated.

He despised the way ‘my company’ rolled off your tongue as if he had some ulterior motive to come to your lab. With a slight frown, all he did was stare at you from behind those sunglasses that did very little to conceal those mesmerizing eyes, carefully tracking your every move.

You were used to being scrutinized.

After all, you had been born and raised in one of the many of the Connections laboratories with a beautiful view of the ocean side on a private island your father owned.

Although you were alone most of the time, you learned that the serenity of nature inspired you to incorporate a sense of peace into your own life, despite the Connections wanting a spy and a weapon for their own personal endeavors. They were a criminal organization built on destruction, and your main objective was to remain loyal to their cause and fulfill your duties.

And they made sure you thoroughly comprehended that.

The soft, practiced smile you gave Zeno had him avert his eyes from you. “No.” He mumbled, reaching into his pocket to pull out his infamous lighter, which you had become acquainted with, and a cigarette.

Perhaps his nerves were getting to him?

You had made multiple notes on his habits as one of your current assignments was to ensure Elpis was on track and oversee the facility and its operations. No one could access Elpis at this time, so that was a laughing matter-a near insult which made it seem some members wanted you out of their labs, mostly in fear, after they had ‘accidentally’ terminated one of your specimens. From creation, you had a rather unique upbringing, with the ability to control bioweapons nearly similar to a neural hive mind, so you had grown a fair attachment to many of the specimens you cared for.

You called it love.

Others called it parasitic.

Sick.

Unnatural.

The Connections thought sending you away would be some sort of peace offering to appease you, which was a rather moronic attempt in your opinion, but you smiled regardless and agreed to go-not that you had a real say in the matter.

However, how was this suppose to appease you? Delegating you with more responsibilities in operations that had no correlation to your current work. It was suspicious to say the least. There were so many things they required you to oversee that didn’t align with your past objectives, but supervising Zeno at the facility was one of them.

He was one of those rarer individuals that made you experience…new things.

Want? Desire?

You didn’t know what to truly call it. You weren’t created with the same emotional variables as humans but you hypothesized that they hadn’t expected you to do your own countless hours of research in the middle of the night to comprehend the quiet feelings you often had to swallow down. When you had questions considering the implications behind the emotional impact of your research it was rather disappointing you didn’t have anyone to help you decipher them.

“Those feelings you are experiencing are merely fictitious. It is basic mimicry that has been developed into your upbringing for the seamless adaptation into society, my child.”

Your father-your creator, told you that when you were young.

“It is safer we don’t dwell on it and move forward.”

He was a brilliant retired scientist and now a Senior Executive within the Connections that had his hold on many powerful people and their money. You were the ‘pinnacle of his work’, he often told you.

Created from his own DNA and that of his deceased ex-wife, and cultivated with a unique strain of an aquatic parasitic specimen he had found many years ago, to create an impressive agent for their own work.

You.

You adored the enormous snake-like bioluminescent parasite, often finding comfort with it when you were alone as a child. You spent countless hours underwater-nearly drowning multiple times due to your ridiculous human lungs. You hated the skin you had but that’s where you felt free. Aside from that you were the only person, best of both worlds-‘human’ and monster- to pacify the parasite and communicate with it, which intrigued and frightened many, so naturally, you were valuable and had a target on your back.

You were a tool, some would say. Yet, you could never truly wrap your head around the idea of being just that when your father regarded you as his daughter.

Though there was a disconnect.

He had pictures of both of you hung up in the hallways and his office because most fathers loved their daughters, didn’t they?

They weren’t cruel yet praise their scientific breakthroughs?

They didn’t constantly remind them of not comprehending human nature, even if they were created with some of the same genetic makeup of human DNA. You believed your father loved you. You were his creation, he had raised and even gifted you your own lab, and a place to come back home to. Even allowed you to have 'friends'...even if they were just other specimens.

“Blood of my blood”, your father told you, “You will make me proud.”

Though it wasn’t praise but a demand.

He even had other members say he indulged you a bit too much, which you disagree with. It was far from the truth when he would berate you when you didn’t meet certain expectations, then later apologize in private. Then he would often remove you from wherever you were stationed within the blink of an eye, always seeming to keep you closer to home. It upset you when you were removed from your military-based operations. Then the field. Then your espionage work. Then your lab, and now you were here at the ARK. Though you admired your own work and enjoyed spending time by yourself, this place was different.

You were often given freedom when you successfully completed your previous missions but being sent very far away, from your work, your lab, your specimens, and the parasite you regarded as your mother figure for an assignment to this ruined city, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, deprived you of everything. So to ease your own mind, you often designated things to what felt like home.

And unfortunately, the closest thing that came to that was…Zeno.

You associated Zeno with the ocean.

The warmth of the sun on your skin.

The cold breeze on a hot day.

The easing tension in your muscles and bones when you crawled into bed after an exhausting day.

That peace you craved came naturally when you were with him. Maybe it was because both of you were created?

Though both of you had your own jobs, you had always welcomed him to join you in your lab. After all this time, you didn’t truly know everything about Zeno besides the fact that he was a clone of some sort of man named Albert Wesker the Connections had dealings with a long time ago, but it never stopped you from admiring him.

There was a pull towards him you couldn’t quite rid yourself of.

You were barely briefed on Zeno before your arrival, having to do your own research as you wanted to be prepared as possible to deal with the man you were going to be assigned with. You never had to watch over men like him but you knew you had to be careful.

But there was a certain level of excitement to finally meet another…bioweapon like yourself. A conscious being created in a lab with superhuman strength and abilities that was able to hold a conversation?

That was a dream.

Zeno’s calm demeanor when delegating orders to facility members at first had you disappointed, categorizing him with the rest of the men you had met in your life who believed they were superior above all else. Many of the staff seemed to be working under stressful conditions, and you absolutely could not have that.

Stress leads to mistakes, which resulted in delay in production and progress.

So when you had time, you would break them down with a soft smile or encouraging words, collecting valuable information that you needed relating to certain projects to ensure your Father had the upper hand and everything was running smoothly.

It was never anything cruel. It was just business.

Though your presence had drawn more attention and eyes- you couldn’t help that-people often forgot their place. And with a sweet smile and a gentle threat reminder to have them return to work, it never failed to yield positive results.

At heart, you were a gentle curious person most of the time, doing your best not to terrorize others because you knew what you were capable of. You knew people often feared you when they found out what you were or what you could do.

-

"Then may I ask why you’re here so late? Did you require something else from me? Or must I go down an entire list of questions in hopes of finding an answer?”

Zeno could feel your unrelenting gaze as you questioned him. And the underlying hint of sarcasm on your tongue that he desperately wanted to taste for himself. His pants strained. He knew now you were engineered as a bioweapon that preyed on weakness through manipulative or seductive means.

Before he thought you were another normal spoiled brat-dainty, easy, pretty until he found out the hard truth. Now it all made sense. He repeatedly convinced himself that was the reason each moment he felt weak around you.

Like your smile, it drew him in the moment he first met you.

A moment he kept close.

-

Zeno had received the news that one of the higher ups would be coming for a visit to the facility, which had everyone on edge. Apparently, they were displeased with the lack of progress of Elpis-as if it was his fault, and the latest shipment of bioweapons that had proven to be an ultimate failure in the field. And when he heard they were sending him a ‘partner’ it bruised his ego more than anything. They always wanted instantaneous results as if that hadn’t failed them in the past.

Zeno waited patiently for whatever Senior Executive would chastise him. He has been preparing for this moment, and the nicotine burning in his lungs did very little to ease his nerves. The downpour reflected the emotional turmoil he had been attempting to smoke away. Then the sounds of the helicopter in the distance reached his ears before it finally made its descent.

Putting out his cigarette, he fixed his cufflinks to greet whichever member was going to test his patience. However, when he saw the face of a man with a terrible scar stretching from his forehead and up into his hairline, it was a face… he vaguely recognized as a scientist that dealt with parasitic bioweapons.

The man was closely followed by security as they held an umbrella over his head, and judging by his demeanor, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy to mollify his concerns, already making him dread the interaction. He knew men like him rarely ever made an appearance at locations like this one.

Most of them found it beneath them, so why him?

But before Zeno could greet him, his eye caught you.

Exiting the helicopter, you refused any assistance and refused an umbrella to shield you from the rain. Your eyes traveled up to the skies, taking in the grey clouds and gloomy weather. In a somewhat immature manner, you purposely stepped through the puddles as your long coat hugged your frame.

Who were you?

For a moment, Zeno could barely register what the man had told him when he couldn’t pull his eyes from you. You were like a fleeting memory. Something he wanted to hold onto but continuously kept slipping through his fingers. Had he known you before? A certain yearning reverberated deep inside of him that he had no choice but to force away. “Doctor, I’m glad…you were able to make it during the storm.”

”Yes-yes.” The doctor said dismissively, looking over his shoulder to see you catching the rain within the palm of your hand.

Raindrops delicately fell in intricate patterns across your face, shaping your features, searing into Zeno's mind like nothing else had ever done before. It made him forget wanting to terminate the doctor right there on the spot for his dismissive attitude. “This is your-let’s say your temporary partner who will be overseeing the facility and operations, as you know. She will also be reporting and conducting her own research in a designated lab. One that I hope has been prepared prior to our arrival and accommodated appropriately. Come here child.”

Your father called you over like some lap dog, that didn’t sit well with Zeno but the idea you were his partner eased his nerves just a little bit. He’s never seen your face before, yet…he somehow knew you. It had to be some sort of test. Since when did this executive have a child? Did the other members of the Connections purposely withhold that information from him?

You paused for a moment, a slight disapproving look visible on your features. “Coming…father.”

Zeno’s eyes flicker over to you once more, catching your little too practiced smile. At this point, you were nearly drenched from the rain without a care in the world. Were you not worried about keeping up appearances?

With bated breath, he eyed your every move as you approached. The confident stride of yours and the way your heels echoed against the wet concrete commanded attention, including his, as security hurriedly made room for you.

Your father looked over your frame in disbelief at your ruined attire, but had not mentioned another word. You, out of all of the members of the Connections, were to keep an eye on him?

“Introduce your-"

”Hello Zeno. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Why did the world around him seem so muted when your eyes finally met his? Confusion filtered into his mind. What was this? Why couldn’t he breathe?

Shaking his hand, your cold touch sent an unfamiliar sensation rolling across his skin even through his gloves.

He was aware you were doing this for simple formalities but the closer he looked at you a suffocating feeling nestled deep in his chest. A confusing conglomeration of positive and negative emotions repeatedly flooded his mind but…remorse stood out the most.

Why would he feel remorse?

There was nothing he could have said besides, “Pleasure’s all mine.”

Neither of you noticed the way your father eyed both of you with an unknowing glint in his eyes before ushering Zeno to start familiarizing you with the facility. Your plastic smile remained as all of you entered the facility, with you glued- exceptionally a bit too close- to his side.

However, the lack of care to your father’s words intrigued him as you were idly looking around the facility in fascination yet boredom? Is this what entitlement looked like? Although, Zeno had no choice but to deal with this he didn’t have time to deal with this level of behavior. Then you proceeded to take out a notepad and began scribbling down notes.

What the hell could you possibly be writing down? Something to critique him on later? To scruntize him even more than the higher ups?

After the brief tour, you had barely looked up from your notepad to acknowledge either of them, just offering a ‘mhm’, 'of course’, or throwing in a ‘fascinating’ seemingly just for your own amusement. Zeno's reservations towards your apathetic attitude towards everything was beginning to get under his skin. Especially when all the scientists, researchers, and other staff were suddenly more productive upon you and your Father’s arrival.

And when your father departed, you barely acknowledged that either. It was amusing to see an executive unable to control his own child, but then Zeno remembered he had to deal with you himself for however long.

Bringing you to your personal quarters you’d be residing in he was even more perplexed by you. ”The doctor I presume informed you we will be meeting for a conference with the board in the next three months?”

Slowly taking in the room you placed your notebook neatly on a table almost as if you were searching for something. “He forgot to inform me I would be residing here for three months until then.” He noticed the way your shoulders deflated when you spoke as you continued to survey the room, looking in small crevices and corners. “No windows…of course.”

Were you assessing if you were being watched in your room?

There was a strange guilt that settled in his chest listening to you speak. “But yes, he did inform me of that conference.” You finally stopped pacing and stood in the middle of the room. Zeno understood the disappointment when people withheld information from him but there was nothing he could do to ease your mind.

”Good. If there is-” An alarm went off from your watch as you casually turned it off all while concealing a little yawn. Zeno paused for a moment observing the softness of it all. He had forgotten had easily people like you would grow fatigue. “If…there is anything-“

”I will find you and debrief in your personal quarters tonight.”

Huh? Had he heard that right?

Zeno blinked as if you were utterly insane. Debrief in his personal quarters? What were you planning? He had no intentions of staying at the facility tonight.

“I would advise against-“

With that you closed the door in his face not allowing him to finish his sentence. He stood there outside your door, tempted to knock on it once more, anger simmering just beneath the surface. Did you just dismiss him? And what the hell were you even on about? Did you think you could make a fool out of him? Invade his personal space whenever you liked?

Conjuring up a plan, he waited for you that night. He had no idea how you were going to locate him within the facility but he was not going to be pushed over by an unknown name, even if your father was one of the executives.

And when your knock finally came, he let you stand outside his quarters to teach you a lesson.

A moment passed.

Then another

And another.

After a while, he could sense you had not moved a single inch. Your patience was…utterly astounding. With a sigh, he finally answered the door as you flashed him a smile.

”Were you planning on having me stand outside your door all night? Not very gentleman like of you.” You playfully pointed out, seemingly more enthusiastic than earlier on in the day.

“You came to my private quarters uninvited.”

Puffing your lips and curling your hands behind your back you quickly corrected him. “I did inform you I was coming tonight for a debrief.”

For someone that showed little interest just earlier on in the day he was surely unimpressed by whatever you were planning.

“I don’t have time to play these games with you.”

You blinked once at him with curiosity, reflecting on your behavior from the day. Logically assessing the situation, he hadn’t known about you prior to this so it was obvious he would feel some sort of irritation at your presence so you had to play your cards right. Then again he also hadn’t know you were forced to come here and you were still grieving losing your specimen-your friend. Though it wasn’t his problem to shoulder you still wanted to make an effort to bond with Zeno.

And hopefully you could trust one another.

“You’re absolutely correct. I am what they call a…night owl and I didn’t consider how late it was-my apologies.” Bowing your head with an apologetic smile you continued. “Perhaps, we can reconvene in the morning to discuss certain matters?”

You were just going to give up so easily? And what matters were so important you needed to debrief about it in the middle of the night?

In his quarters.

Zeno’s brow unconsciously twitched. He expected an argument-some pushback but received none. As much as he wanted to hold disdain for your presence he couldn’t. Your eyes and sultry voice pulled him in causing the tension in his chest to tighten further and his resolve to crumble. Why was he having these conflicting emotions towards you? Why didn’t he want it to stop?

“That’s…fine.” He firmly spoke, ignoring the way your smile grew wider making him strangely…content. He was aware it was your job to pretend. To most likely spy on him and report back on all and any wrongdoings or lack of progression.

”Thank you, have a goodnight!” With that, you turned sharply on your heel, your hips swinging in a hypnotic rhythm that he had to forcibly tear his eyes away from. And just as he was about to close his door. “And Zeno?”

He reluctantly met your gaze as you looked over your shoulder. “You don’t have to pretend when I’m here.”

And with that, you left without another word.

Why…why did that sound familiar?

What did you mean he didn’t have to pretend when you were the one putting on this entire facade?

As if he would trust you.

You never brought up that conversation again. Days had turned into weeks and you had unexpectedly found Zeno when he less expected it. How was it you were so unusually quiet? Asking your questions in a reserved but enthusiastic manner before thanking him and disappearing back into your lab you allowed no other staff access to.

You were there all day and night, taking breaks at odd hours to explore the ruins of Raccoon City in the more safer areas. Many of those breaks, you extended an invitation to him. At first, he rejected you the first multiple attempts hoping you would give up until the day he sought you after a long day and found you weren’t in your lab. There was an urge to snoop around but even then he found nothing of interest. What the hell were you doing in this empty lab? But when he found no one had seen you, the urgency to search for you came.

That’s how you found yourself making your way to Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center much to Zeno’s dismay where he had no choice but to introduce you to Victor Gideon. Though you firmly believed your presence at the center made no difference, you still wanted to observe everything firsthand, forgetting you also needed it for your reports. Though you were incredibly bored and needed something productive to do you were interested in meeting the infamous doctor on his progress but maybe it would encourage Zeno to perhaps…spend time with you for closer observation spend his time more efficiently with the man he was investing so much money on.

And lo and behold as you predicted Dr. Gideon took a great liking to you. You couldn’t help that you had an affinity for the strange and peculiar as much as you did for water.

It was inevitable.

However, the center oddly made you feel ill, and the doctor had clearly been involved in his own…unique experimentations, you had to keep up your curious facade and charming smile. Your father lectured and warned you about interfering with certain affairs like his. Sometimes, humans disgusted you. At least your parasites never harmed each other for the greater good of the hive.

Humans were savages at best, yet you felt indebted to serve them.

“You are a fascinating creature. Perhaps you would allow me the time to examine you more closely under other…circumstances.” Victor purred.

The image of you giggling at that angered Zeno. As if Victor had not suggested something vile for his own sick amusement when he should be focusing on his own projects involving the latent strain of the T-Virus and Elpis.

“Oh Dr. Gideon, you sure do know how to make a lady blush, but my apologies, if only I had more time to spare, I would be able to indulge you.”

And there it was again.

Another vague memory of your face in the rain. Sadness blooming in your eyes as you stared up at him before it transformed to a black…casket. Nausea flooded his senses. Why the hell was he seeing this? He rid himself of that thought, allowing it to be replaced by disgust at you entertaining Victor.

“But I do expect a full report on your progress thus far on my next visit.” Snapping out of it, Zeno observed the way you charmed your way into people’s hearts and minds. “Then we can discuss anything to your heart’s content. Can you do that for me, Doctor? Or should I call you Victor?” That curve of your seductive smirk and your hand crawling up to give Victor’s arm a squeeze infuriated him like no other.

“Hm, whatever you desire. And of course-" Victor tilted his head, with a pleased sigh as the smacking of his lips echoed loudly in his office. “I do not intend to disappoint my benefactor or...you.”

You smiled, gently clapping your hands together. "Excellent. I’ll leave you to it. It was great to finally meet you.”

Watching you manipulate another man in front of his eyes made Zeno feel nothing but deep contempt. Especially with the way Victor arrogantly carried himself, but he was glad you rejected the fool.

Of course, both of you had to meet Victor once again who was distracted and completely enamored by your skin, your bone structure-that resilient look in your eyes. Dragging one of this fingers disgustingly down your arm in order to grab ahold of your hand and look at your fingers up close.

“There’s something unique about you.” Victor’s words rang in Zeno’s head to the point that they haunted him for the rest of the week.

Why was he so comfortable touching you?

How could you stand being touched by him?

Victor took pleasure in hearing about your projects, which you barely disclosed anything about but you indulged him with stories and scientific verbiage that had him eagerly wanting to learn more. Zeno knew all your tricks by now, or would like to think that he did. Very lightly did you tread on the topic of Spencer trying to obtain information that you would most likely report back to your father. The questions that you would often direct to him were now directed to Victor, who clearly enjoyed hearing you speak, enjoying the way you analyzed things, even if you had an unusual way to go about it.

Zeno never voiced it out loud but in private he warned Victor to keep his hands and perverse comments to himself.

“I’ll only say this once, Victor-keep that filthy tongue of yours between your teeth when she’s present.”

This effort was under the guise of you being an executive’s daughter but Victor was very adamant that you had no objections and he never crossed any lines, throwing it in his face he was a doctor after all, unlike him.

It had gotten to the point where Zeno decided to confront you later on. “You shouldn’t allow him to put his hands on you.”

The look on your face would've been mildly amusing if he weren't so furious. The way your eyebrows innocently curled in confusion, and you blinked at him with doe-like eyes, further softened his resolve. “You mean Dr. Gideon?”

Lighting a cigarette outside the center, he deeply inhaled the toxic smoke before continuing. “Victor has his orders and is at the center for one reason. None of which concern you.”

But they did concern you, hadn't they? Why had your interaction with Victor gotten under his skin? If you had know any better you identified his concerns as caring or some sort of jealousy, perhaps?

“Well it has been some time since there was some actually…progress? As the…man funding him I thought you would be the one who would understand. Considering you spend how much money behind him again?” You questioned him with a smile.

One that he didn’t take too kindly to.

Taking a deeper puff of his cigarette, he approached you with a heavy step, your hand already reaching out to stop him from getting too close. Not that you were intimidated in the slightest-you found his sternness rather attractive, but you wanted to minimize any misunderstandings. “But…at the end of the day. We are on the same side, Zeno. I only want to ensure we have some sort of progress by the end of the month. A little encouragement goes a long way, don’t you agree?”

No, he angrily thought.

The faint smell of tobacco on his breath heightened your senses as he stared down at that 'innocent' smile of yours, his voice dropping a bit with disdain as he leaned closer. “Then you see to it that’s the only thing you’ll be doing.”

From then on, although Zeno didn’t want to entertain the idea of you, he found himself pining over you in your absence. He couldn’t quite push you away yet, something was telling him he needed to keep his distance. It had been days since he last saw you and your absence grew ever more.

Yes, you had your own secret projects but why hadn’t you come to him? Why weren’t you asking random questions? Did his last interaction discourage you from wanting to speak to him? Or was it that he had once again rejected your attempts to have you join you on your frivolous excursions?

He had to find the answers himself.

But you were once again nowhere to be found, and when you hadn’t returned after waiting for you for hours, he decided to search for you himself. He had hoped you hadn’t found your way back to Victor, which would’ve essentially sent him into a blind rage. You weren’t in any of the safe zones of the city. It was dangerous to be wandering so far, so why the hell would you put yourself in harm’s way?

You couldn’t protect yourself.

He tracked down a vehicle that was unaccounted for just to see it abandoned and you nowhere in sight. With his heart pounding in his chest, he was ready to send a team out to go look for you, already dreading the possibility that you were dead or infected. The memory of that casket played in his mind, leaving his thoughts in shambles.

But when he found you overlooking the ruined city with your notepad that was always attached to your hip drawing away, his fear slowly dissipated. He hadn’t taken you for the artistic type. Adorned with a dazzling pearl necklace, you looked at peace, enjoying the nice breeze as the sun eased over the evening skies. His first initial reaction was to scold you, but you quickly spotted him.

”Zeno!” You greeted him with a smile. “I’m glad you decided to take me up on my offer.”

“What are you doing?”

“Admiring the sunset.” You obviously pointed out going back to your notepad. “I don’t have any color to make the city more…lively but I’ll remember it for later.” Suddenly, you turned to him with a small gasp as if you were struck with the most revolutionary idea. “Wait-now since you’re here, I’ll add you.”

“Add me to what?” The roughness in his tone sounding more agitated than he intended.

Raising your finger up, you told him to give you a moment. Your pencil moved effortlessly against the paper as your eyes flickered up to his every other second. “I knew it was missing a crucial component. And here!”

Flipping over your notepad, you sketched Zeno with the ruins behind him in such a short time. Hesitantly, he took the notepad, having no idea what to think of it. You sculpted details of himself that even he didn’t often think about. “It’s not my best work, but I think it’s a great piece to add to my collection.”

To your collection? In a way, Zeno…was honored.

Why did you find the need to draw him? He was keen to see your other drawings, but he missed his chance when your alarm went off, and you quickly took your notepad back, already making your way back to the ARK, telling him he should make the effort to join you more often if he was interested. He quickly followed behind, unsure if it was an attempt to worm your way into his personal affairs, but as much as he yearned for it, he wouldn’t allow such a weakness to get to him.

So he scolded you anyway and escorted you back to the facility.

“I know you’re intelligent enough to understand the dangers of the city. You’re a liability out there.”

Without missing a beat, you ignored him. “I always wonder if there was a way to salvage the city so the people who lost their homes could return. It’s like visiting a…tomb.”

Zeno’s eyes softened at your words. He knew the aftermath of the city didn’t concern either of you. “Did you hear me?”

Tilting your head, you drew your eyes from the window. “Yes. I’m capable of caring for myself, thank you.”

There was no anger in your voice, but he could see the gears going in your head.

“I have my doubts.”

You scoffed at him, the frown in your brow deepening before you caught yourself. With a soft smile, you resigned, leaning back in the car seat. “You’ll see.”

Zeno didn’t know if it was a threat or not, but you definitely demonstrated your ability to care for yourself. When he returned to the ARK after a week long absence, he decided he would shadow you in your lab, but found you overseeing another lab, completely enrapturing the scientists and researchers alike.

He wasn’t surprised at this point but what were you up to now?

“There was an error in measurements.” You quietly hummed, pointing out a mistake that was made. “Silly in nature for someone of your caliber-yes but nothing that can’t be corrected.” You gently encouraged one of the newer researchers. The jittery man had been nervously standing beside you, thinking you were going to punish him, but you quietly quelled his fears.

Why did you behave like this?

You were like a sore thumb amongst all these others. However, Zeno noticed it before anyone else. Someone was carelessly not watching their station and left one of the burners on causing one of the vials to implode on itself and set off an explosive chemical reaction.

And you were in the crossfire.

Undoubtedly, he knew he would be deemed responsible of harm that was done to one of the Senior Executive's only daughter. But he didn't want to see you get hurt. Using his speed to his advantage, he grabbed and shielded you with his body, pressing you against the closest wall.

Fire and smoke flooded the room, and slight panic among the staff ensued.

The sprinklers had failed to go off, and that was just another issue that needed to be rectified. Zeno had no time to dwell on that and instantly began assessing you for any damage-and damnit it, he saw a flash burn across one side of your face that had him carefully cradling your face. Guilt and an unrelenting rage simmered deep inside of him from not saving you in time, and he was going to take it out on the rest of the staff until he looked to see your bright eyes staring up at him with an…unusual color, and your wound already healing?

He was at a loss for words.

After all this time, was it possible you were like…him?

“Nice for you to join us, Zeno! I’m quite alright, thank you.” You smiled completed unbother by the entire ordeal. “Perhaps, you should direct your attention to the others? And the burning lab? I do believe a lesson in lab safety is required and…” Your eyes trailed down from his face and down his body. “And maybe put out the small fire on your no doubt expensive coat?”

Looking at you in disbelief, an insurmountable array of questions flooded his mind. Why would they send a bioweapon to watch over him? Why wouldn’t they tell him? Was this all a ruse to keep him in line? Why hadn’t you shared that information with him? How come he didn't know? Was this all to humiliate him?

Irritation and an unbearable warmth and protectiveness swelled in his chest. Is this the reason there was irritation when someone else tried to get close to you? Or when the scientists or Victor Gideon-that insufferable wretch- openly fawned over you? Is this why he was so drawn to you? To your power? To your intelligence? Was it the memories?

Memories of you, possibly knowing…him?

You must’ve known him. There was many things the Connections kept from him and maybe you were too.

He could clearly see your delicate face through the fogginess. Your sweet smile. Kind but tired eyes. There was a semblance of peace knowing he had found someone who was like him. As much as he kept his distance, there was an undeniable fondness he found himself having for you, luring him in with each passing glance. But now this possessive nature to keep you close and apologize for not saving you in time was practically clawing its way in his throat to voice that.

“You can proceed to remove your hands now Zeno.” You reminded him, as he immediately released you watching you walk through the flames to grab a fire extinguisher and put out the fire all while simultaneously lecturing the others.

Why did they really send you here?

-

“I don’t need anything.”

Picking up on the stiffness in his voice, you had to speak up. “Now that appears to be false, you did seek me out after hours.” You gently teased, subtly calling him out on his lie. “If you’d like, you may sit-" You gestured to a chair not too far from you. “But please think twice before lighting that cigarette inside here. I really don’t need the sprinklers going off at this exact moment. I’ll be done in approximately 83 seconds.”

Zeno rolled his eyes at your comment pocketing his lighter. You were always so technical. So robotic when you were working. Always seeming like a wise ass, even if it was unintentional. You were created for efficiency, so could he truly blame you?

Taking you on your offer, Zeno took a seat. A sense of dread flooded his senses when an air of familiarity swarmed his mind again. Watching you quietly work was the most he could do now during your stay at the facility. He knew the higher-ups had little faith in him.

The imitation of Albert Wesker.

Yet, you never compared him to that.

And just as you said, you sent in your reports and spun around in your chair to face him. “Now what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I came here for business purposes.”

Nodding gently at his statement you urged him to speak. “Then please continue.”

Zeno observed you for a moment more. Watching the way you crossed your legs, blouse and skirt ironed to perfection, stockings and heels on full display, which was unfitting for a lab, but he never questioned it. You tilted your head, waiting for him to say something. He had gotten into the strange habit of staring at you, but you wrote it up to him being so endlessly in thought.

“I can defend myself.”

You raised a brow, unsure what he was referring to. “Care to clarify?” What could he possible be referring to? Then realization dawned on you, followed by a soft laugh. “Oh, the conference you mean! I have no doubt you could have, and you did.”

“It's obvious they don’t trust me.” His confession had your smile faltering just a bit.

“Why…do you say that?”

Clenching his fist, you could hear the tension in the fabric of his glove. “Do you not feel the same way?”

Lately, you hadn’t really felt much of anything regarding the organization expect disdain. “They are driven by human emotion, and I am an...asset of the organization. Whether I want it or not.”

Something strange happened when you saw Zeno pull his gaze away from yours, making you disassociate yourself from the professional mindset that was driven into you. Your heart skipped a beat, and you wanted to comfort him. You always had a passion for others like yourself, especially him.

You were losing Zeno before he could really be vulnerable with you. “But-" Zeno's eyes met yours again. “I did not appreciate their tone. They had no reason to be scrutinizing you during a meeting like that. We were not there to discuss you. Or me. They were out of place in…my professional opinion and needed a gentle reminder.”

Zeno scoffed, he remembered your ‘gentle’ reminder. Both of you sat side by side during the meeting, but even before that, he couldn't stop thinking of you.

-

Zeno wouldn’t admit it aloud but after the lab incident he made the effort to get closer to you. It was small at first. He would have one of the lower level staff members bring you coffee or tea with a light breakfast but you continuously rejected it. Thats when you told him, you didn’t consume human food and were strictly on a nutrient injection diet you would administer to yourself every 72 hours for full efficiency.

For some reason, the thought that you couldn’t even eat food only had him imagining the worst of what they’ve done to you in the lab. It disgusted him, but he wasn’t surprised. The labs were the most successful yet terrible moments he could ever remember. And when he would visit you at night, he found out your alarm would go off to remind you to get rest throughout the day so you wouldn’t essentially collapse from exhaustion. Your face haunted him at night and he couldn’t bare the idea of you possibly killing yourself over work.

"You should’ve seen me in younger days. My father wanted to see how long I could go without sleep. He told me I needed to learn resilience when I had begged him to rest.” You laughed one time. “S.D.P they called it-the Sleep Deprivation Project, amongst others. Short but interesting time in my life. At times, I could have sworn I was hallucinating about…doesn’t matter, but I slept for two days straight and had a subarachnoid hemorrhage- brain bleed for short, but obviously my regenerative factor quickly healed me. I blame human genetics for those small issues, but I’ve never seen Father so concerned for my health. It was nice when he finally kept me company.”

Zeno looked at you as if you had confessed the most horrific story in all of creation. The smile on your face didn’t falter as you seemed enthusiastic about your own upbringing. If both of you were bioweapons, was it cruel? Or just more pawns in this bigger game? “That’s…tragic.”

”Tragic?” You blinked at him, not expecting him to say that. “No no it’s fine. I don’t require a full 8 hours and someone of our creation can withstand these strenuous periods of stress/activities, making us perfect for almost any situation. Although it was a frightening learning experience for the team but the results were interesting. We found out I couldn’t stay awake after 17 days if I was consistently on missions.”

"17 days?” Zeno questioned you, a bit taken aback by that revelation.

“Yes, only 17. The nutrient injections did help but not for long for those trials. Again, I blame human genetics for hindering further research-this body is so limiting.”

“You could’ve died.”

The hollowness in his voice haltered your thoughts for a moment. “No…with my regenerative abilities I would’ve been okay.” You offered with a warm smile.

“Would you have done the same experiments to others?”

”To others?”

“Yes.”

”I-of course not. I’m…I know the implications behind this so I volunteered to be the subject. It was the optimal choice.”

“I see.” Zeno mumbled, lighting another cigarette. He remembered your confused look, analyzing every micro expression on his face.

“It wasn’t all bad if you believe it’s a cause for concern. I learned that if I were home-bound, I was able to conserve more energy and lasted 29 days. Not by much, but overall, we decided that withholding sleep from a subject would not be the best outcome for efficiency. So over the years, we would slowly push to decrease the need for sleep but still incorporate it into my daily schedule, making me a...night owl!” You chuckled nervously, drawing in your notepad.

“I can get more work done without feeling fatigue so often. 20 minutes of rest every 4 hours over a 24 hours period or essentially two hours a night is where we’ve gotten. My father wanted me to stop the regimen but that can’t be undone so easily at this stage until I decide to put a hold on all of my projects which is not an option.”

Zeno knew how far men like your 'father' were willing to take things. His body was littered with invisible scars that sometimes kept him up at night. Yet, hearing you speak on your experience made him realize how inhumane they were.

At the end of the day you were just another weapon.

“I think…it was nice when Father kept me company during those harder days. We would…talk and somehow it made everything more-what’s the word?” Puffing out your cheek, you looked up towards the ceiling. “I guess it would be worth it? Bearable? But nowadays nothing seems like it except to just…work, but what could we do besides rebel in our small, little ways?”

Zeno never forgot that conversation.

He found himself enjoying the time with you and engaging in conversations of all kinds. That’s why it was so strange seeing you like this after he found out you were a B.O.W and did intensive research to look into you. Why would an executive allow his 'daughter' to go through such experiments? He was a doctor, but that couldn’t be the real motive behind it, could it? He had his suspicions about whether he was even your Father or if he truly used his DNA to create you. However, upon his search, it was difficult to find anything on you, and he had to secretly pull some strings just to find out you were once utilized for military combat on missions a couple of years ago.

But what changed?

He saw the footage, which more or less intrigued him than disturbed him, because you showed restraint against hurting others and showed an attachment to certain specimens. You were fast. Agile. Intuitive. And your abilities to control specimens through parasitic means were something to behold. Always, you carefully avoided harming humans and specimens alike but you had an issue with listening to authority out in the field. You were too combative with your team leader on every mission you were assigned and some unknown altercation had occurred. However, the data show there was 100% success rate in missions with you involved.

He couldn’t find how exactly you became a B.O.W, but Zeno found notes from a classified team of doctors and researchers stating you were too emotional and had grown attachments to team members in the past, and even showed signs of distress when certain team members died out on the field. When you told them you wanted to mourn them, they dismissed your claims, saying you weren’t able to differentiate between your feelings, and from then on, you stopped engaging with your doctors, making it difficult to further assess you.

He saw pictures of your bright smile, which didn’t seem as false as you practiced now. No one would ever know, but he kept a photo of you far from any prying eyes of you wearing a skin-tight combat suit that hugged you in all of the right places.

You excelled in everything, it was nearly impressive. But then, numerous times over, your father eventually pulled you out.

However, some more interesting data resulted from you terminating your caretaker in your younger days. The only human you had been known to dispose of due to possible signs of unknown abuse, but you refused to speak about it, making them unable to further investigate. Due to that incident, you had been labeled volatile under certain conditions and needed a higher level of security for surveillance, but the time you spent amongst him and others proved otherwise.

You always seemed perfect to him.

-

“I do hope this conference is of some importance and ends soon.” Brushing your skirt and adjusting your blouse, you made sure you looked presentable, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“I agree,” Zeno mumbled under his breath, the urge to pull a cigarette from his pocket just tingling at the tip of his fingers.

And before he could blink, you looked him over and stretched your hand up to adjust his tie ever so slightly. “There you go.” Your infamous smile flashed him once more before entering the board room.

It was harder to deny it, but he had experienced this before, hadn’t he? Another subtle memory with your face attached to it.

The way his heart sped up watching how you carried yourself with such confidence was unlike him. The gesture seemed too intimate to brush off as nothing. Why would you do that? Even now, you were too calm for his liking. He wondered if they had ever gotten into your head? Made you feel small? Made you feel like you were merely property? A failure? So many things you’ve done that made him feel like he mattered, and you never asked for anything in return, and continued on with your day.

The flashing of the presentation you had seen countless times played once again. Perhaps some data changed. Perhaps one of the newer specimens developed a unique mutation, but there was never anything new. How could they discuss new specimens when they terminated yours on unfair grounds just a couple of months back during a training session? You held onto that grudge-some would call it- and were indirectly showing signs of disobedience without overstepping any real boundaries.

Sitting beside Zeno, you pretended to take notes, drawing away in your notepad and writing thoughts on your future projects. It wasn’t until the conversation suddenly changed to him that they began berating him about his progress on Elpis.

About the ARK facility.

About Victor Gideon.

”I ensure you everything has been going as planned.”

”We have heard the same repetitive rhetoric from you. Albert Wesker would not have-“

“My apologies.” You calmly interrupted, your eyes immediately meeting the executive across the room. She was a bitter old woman who disliked you when she found out her son was trying to pursue you and accused you of being a parasitic leech in attempts to seduce him.

If only she knew you nearly made her plan funeral arrangements.

Your hand found Zeno’s thigh under the table, where no one could see, causing him to go rigid from your touch. A quiet gesture to show him you were going to take it from here. “This meeting has been ongoing for quite some time. May I ask how exactly does this correlate with today’s meeting?”

Calmly putting your hands together, you leaned on the table. That smile of yours irritating the executive sitting across from you. “I don’t believe we were speaking to you.”

”I did extend my apologies prior to speaking.” You gently fired back. Your father sat a couple seats down already rubbing his temple. “We came to discuss matters in respect to the development of whatever this is-“ You vaguely gestured to the screen. “Nothing we haven’t discussed numerous times before. Especially with very little progress from your team to back it up. Did you intend to waste our time by summoning us here? Or perhaps, you want to take on his role and construct a more comprehensive plan to produce better results? We would be more than thrilled to take suggestions.”

Zeno looked at you from his peripheral. What in the world could have possessed you to speak out of turn like this? Was this how you always were? Is this what they meant you were too emotional and combative with authority figures? He didn’t need you to speak on his behalf, but he couldn’t deny himself the satisfaction of watching the higher-ups scrambling to take control back.

“Careful now, child."

“No.” You pressed with a little shrug.

“Are you challenging me?”

Tensions rose when you withheld a small laugh. “I don’t believe there’s much of a challenge there Executive.”

Sniggers rang out around you that was quietly silenced with a glare. “This indecent display is disgustingly unbecoming of you.”

”Then perhaps we should proceed with the meeting?” That small smile of yours sickened her and before she could hurl another comment at you, your father silenced the both of you. The meeting proceeded as some of the other members were amused and others not so much. And all executive could do was stared daggers at you while you returned to your notepad.

You knew your father was going to give you a lecture later on but for now you didn’t care. She had no right to speak about Zeno in the matter she did. It was unnecessary. You knew about the undeniable pressure that was thrown upon his shoulders so what was the purpose of constantly reminding him? There was no value. You would chalk it up to a waste of company time. And if this persisted with your knowledge, you would to send another gentle reminder of how your skills in espionage worked quite efficiently within the organization as well.

-

“That was such an amusing meeting.” Leaning back in your chair, you reminisced on how it made you feel. “I could remember as if it was yesterday.”

“It took place yesterday.”

“And yet I’m still beaming from the outcome!”

Zeno sighed, “Why?”

“Why what?”

”Why even…say anything at all?”

Pursing your lips, you looked at him in bewilderment. “You were present in the meeting.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you heard what I said. Why more could be said about it?” The question was purely genuine, laced with a layer confusion of what Zeno was trying to look for.

“The only thing we were created for was to be weapons. Yet, you’re squeamish to certain experimentations, squandering your talents and apparently opposed to killing-your morality getting the better of you in the grander scheme of things. Tell me, did you feel that way when you terminated your caretaker.”

For once, Zeno saw the way you pulled back from him, regret quickly bubbling in his chest. “T-that is irrelevant to our current conversation-where did you get that information from?” Though you kept a calm facade, the pressure in your head intensified along with the unsettling pounding in your chest.

“I have my ways.”

“I assure you I only make decisions unless they’re absolutely necessary.”

"Is that so?”

Although a strange resentment settled over you towards Zeno’s statement bringing up your past he knew absolutely nothing about, you decided to let it go.

Uncurling your fists, you took silent deep breath. Maybe another day. “Zeno, what is this all about?”

“They sent you here to spy on me. To report everything.” Zeno firmly stated before his voice soften.

To get into my head.

To get into my heart.

To make me weak.

To taunt with me your face of someone Albert Wesker probably once knew.

To make me care about your existence.

“Why?” You took note of his posture sinking ever so slightly and the glazed over look in his eyes, even through the sunglasses and prescriptions, shielding away one of his most prominent distinguishable features. “All they see is an…imitation. All of my shortcomings. No matter what I do. You’re no different than them. All you see is a weakness you have to supervise and exploit.”

Silence washed over both of you.

“Do you truly believe that’s what I’ve been doing?”

“Yes. Anything else would just be you wasting your time and…mine. Why wouldn't you?"

Listening to the sound of his voice, there was pain. A pain you weren’t sure if you were the root cause of.

All this time, had he thought you were going behind his back?

You knew you weren’t entirely sure how to express your interest in him, but it was evident you had been doing a terrible job if your presence and actions were still causing him this much frustration.

Though it wasn’t in your design, you wanted to try for him.

For once in your life, he had made you feel something no other person had been able to. After countless nights and days together, did he really think you were trying to do all this just to hurt him? Is that why he was so angry? Did he really think you thought so low of him?

Never once did you gaze at his beauty and think him weak. It was quite the opposite that you ensured him he wasn’t alone, and you wanted to have him in your life.

“It’s simple, really.” You whispered, making your way to sit beside him, noticing the way his muscles tensed up when you got near and how he was… teary-eyed. Zeno knew it was a weakness. He adored the way you looked after him, but loathed the way you infiltrated his heart and mind so freely.

He wondered if you put that much effort into caring about him as a 'partner' just because it was your assignment or if you truly cared. And he was terrified to know the truth. He despised the way others looked at you. Despised how you were treated as if you weren’t superior. Despised the way Victor secretly wanted to assess you under his care. Despised you were here with him instead of living your life free of chains.

“May I?” Slowly, you reached up to remove his sunglasses. He flinched away from your touch making you resign until he let out a soft sigh and leaned into you. “There he is.” You smiled, watching you with softened eyes. You always wondered if he thought about you the same way you often thought about him.

“You do not deserve their cruelty.” You continued tenderly, using your thumbs to carefully dry the corner of his eyes. “Especially when they can’t even fathom or cannot control what we are. You may have been created from a deceased man’s genetic DNA or may have had his imprinted memories but you are Zeno. You are beautifully designed regardless of how or why they made you. You have your own heart and mind that makes you, you and no one in this life can take that from you. Besides, I think…you’re perfect the way you are. And I’ve learned to accept that I truly don’t really care if they think I don't have the emotional depth for it, but… I find myself appreciating and loving you all the same.”

And before he could say anything word, you placed a gentle kiss to his cheek. Physical affection was not lost on you but romance and intimacy was. You never experienced that and never imagined how others could forcefully push that upon others. It was a simple confession that held weight. You didn’t expect him to say he loved you back-that would be silly. This life you led wouldn’t never grant you that happiness. It may take time and maybe Zeno could finally understand what you meant when you when you told him he didn’t have to pretend from the very beginning.

You were always on his side.

“It’s late now. Maybe we should retire for the night. It’s been a long day.” You spoke, taking off your watch right before the alarm went off.

Flashing Zeno one more smile you were about to lead him out of your lab when he grabbed ahold of your arm, his fingers gradually tightening its hold on you.

“Is something wrong?” You looked at up, watching as he slowly rose from his seat. Zeno never intimated you in the slightest but now in the darkness of your lab and that menacing glower you weren’t sure what he was planning. “If I overstepped…I apologize.”

Hesitantly, he dragged his hand down your arm, testing your boundaries, gauging your reaction to his touch. He thought of the way Victor touched you and how those from your past hurt you and how he wanted to annihilate every single one of them. His hand found your waist, resting his hand there for a moment before pulling you in until you were flushed against him.

The idea of Zeno was something you had difficulty putting into words that didn’t sound like scientific jargon or nonsensical formulas that hopefully brought you to a solution. You couldn’t help but admire him. Gazing over his face to his single dangling cross-shaped earring that brought a unique sense of personality you rarely saw with anyone in the Connections, you felt a blurring warmth in your chest.

"No. I apologize if…I do.” With a hand under your chin, he lifted your head and placed the softest kiss on your lips. No man who ever tried pursuing you treated you with such reverence as this. It was always violent. Always forced until you had to put them down yourself.

The kiss was short lived yet one of the sweetest sensations you ever indulged yourself in. When he pulled away you drew your eyes elsewhere. Bashful was the first word that came to mind as your fingers grazed over your lips.

Zeno couldn’t deny himself the pleasure that was you. Your lips were a luxury he wanted to taste over and over again if you allowed it. Did Albert Wesker have someone like you in his past? Someone sweet and loving? Did he let her slip away? Was it a possibility that it was you? Or-

“I’m sorry.”

"No.” You smiled, placing a hand on his chest. You were well-versed in the arts of manipulation. Preying on the hearts of weak-willed greedy men who saw you as nothing by a past time.

Subtle seduction.

Soft words.

Utilizing your skills to get whatever the organization needed and leaving without a single trace, and perhaps leaving behind a trail of broken hearts, all while sabotaging rivals and obtaining company or military secrets. Although it wasn’t normal, you successfully completed every mission by subduing your targets.

You took pride in yourself not having to use your abilities to physical harm anyone unless absolutely necessary. You were superior than most and understood your strength and intelligence. But this was new. Nothing could have ever prepared you for Zeno. He was a breath of fresh air despite his prior reservations but you never held it against him.

Especially now when he looked at you with such desire and longing. A longing you’ve never seen in a man that wasn’t trying to take advantage of you. You knew your feelings weren’t fictitious. You knew it meant something but without proper care to guide you, you never could truly understand it and you never wanted to.

Not until you met him.

“I don’t know how to describe this feeling.”

I do, Zeno thought to himself, it’s love like you said. It’s admiration. It’s a weakness.

Yet, he wanted it all.

”But I do know, you’re the only one I want to experience this with….may I try that again?”

Zeno smirked through the heart felt moment. “You may.” He let you take the lead, your soft lips reaching up to meet his. It wasn’t as smooth as you liked causing heat to flare up across your face as you embarrassingly pulled away, bumping right into one your chairs.

This was something he wasn’t going to let you live down.

”Oops-my apologies. I…do hope you have a good night Zeno.” You fumbled over your words, feeling like you were making a complete fool of yourself. As much as you did your research on this, nothing frightened you like this.

“I can walk you to your room.”

Shaking your head, “N-no it’s okay, you don’t have to trouble yourself with that.” You said backing away, hiding your face in your hand.

Zeno looked at you in bewilderment, his hand reaching out to stop you. Was he scaring you? Or were you so inexperienced in matters like this that you didn’t know what else to do? Nonetheless, he found himself amused at this, his nerves immediately dying down.

“It’s no trouble.”

You were already halfway out your door when you stopped. The both of you needed to exit the same way and leave down the same hallway anyways but his voice calmed the storm brewing in your head.

“If…you want.”

-

This went on for weeks. It was an odd phenomenon how you became more reserved around him when both of you were alone. This only encouraged Zeno to make the efforts to corner you when you least expected, pretend he wasn’t teasing you, or steal a kiss when no one was watching before leaving you weak in the knees. He had become rather mischievously good at avoiding you. And he could see you were trying your best to keep up, to calculate when he was going to show up or attempt to surprise you, until one day he truly did.

“You want to take me where exactly?”

”Out of the city.” His voice was leveled watching you close your last report for the night. He could see the exhaustion in your eyes and he knew you desperately needed it.

“But…I’m not necessarily suppose to leave the facility without prior authorization.”

Zeno could almost laugh at that. “And that’s prevented you from leaving before?”

You concealed your smile, thinking about all the times you snuck away for your own curiosity and exploration. “An astute observation-fine. Let’s do it!”

It was a late-night helicopter ride and an hour away to a small city with a waterfront. You loved the water due to your unique biology. The dazzling lights of the lively atmosphere had you in awe as you watched people living their best lives. You could practically hear your father’s voice telling you that you weren’t one of them playing in your head over and over again. Your indoctrination into a life solely made to be used as a weapon was once thwarted by the beauty of the world.

”You should try it.” Zeno told you, pouring a glass of wine for you. You guys sat at the balcony of a quiet restaurant. The rest of the patrons had been cleared out, as you could tell, he had gone through the extra efforts to have you alone.

“I don’t have a peculiar taste for human…beverages or food.” You mumbled, thinking about how you were strictly relying on nutrient-supplied injections to keep your functioning throughout the week. Though the possibility of the drink being spiked lingered just vaguely in the back of your mind.

He brought the glass closer to you, picking up his own, he hadn’t forgotten you rarely consumed food, but he wanted you to experience something new. “Perhaps, it’ll surprise you. Give you a chance to expand your palette.”

You blinked at him, picking up the glass as he gently clinked his glass against yours. Sloshing the liquid around in the glass, you were hesitant to bring it to your lips. Though you had mimicked scenarios like this for many missions, you never actually consumed alcohol. You never understood the value of it. But after watching Zeno take a zip, he watched you with those keen eyes of his.

And when you finally took the first sip, the initial contact of the liquid…burned your tongue. There was an unbearable bitterness that you couldn’t escape from as you calmly struggled to swallowed it down.

Clearing your throat, you nearly gagged looking back at Zeno. “That was interesting.”

Zeno chuckled, “You didn’t like it.”

“No-I didn’t say that!"

”You don’t have to lie.” He said without a fuss, leaning on the table just a bit.

Why couldn’t you be normal? You felt nothing but embarrassment as you confessed, “It wasn’t the best.”

Zeno ushered someone from within the restaurant to remove your glass as you quietly thanked them. “Sorry.” You mumbled, feeling a bit childish.

”No need. We’ll find something you’ll like.”

A certain warmth rose up in your chest from his admission. It was a silly observation but the idea he was making the initiative to find something you would be able to consume was touching. No one ever cared that much to experience that with you.

“Thank you Zeno.”

The night went on smoothly, trying small things. Many things you didn’t like, but other things you didn’t mind so much. It was an exciting experience that had you genuinely smiling from ear to ear until you no longer had an appetite to continue where he took you for some fresh air.

“Each time I’m in my lab dealing with my own projects. I forget about the world around us.” You mumbled, taking his arm that he offered you. The both of you strolled along the quiet streets by the broad walk to see the moonlight dancing on the calm ocean’s waves. Zeno hung to your every word, enjoying the way you spoke about personal matters of the heart.

“I use to be thrilled to be sent out for a missions- not because it would make father proud or to prove to the higher ups I wasn’t as violate as they believed I was but because of moments like this. I would see something new. Feel something new. Father was adamant that what I was feeling wasn’t real. He hired the best psychiatrists to probe my mind for answers but he received no answers he liked. Then I remember I’m just an asset. Created for a purpose that wasn’t met to lead a normal life so maybe I shouldn’t feel that way. I think I’ve come to terms with that until…you came along.”

Zeno looked at you, your gaze fixated on the ocean. “Me?”

”Yes, you.” You hummed. “You’re the perfect example of a distraction. A possible conflict of interest that would prevent me from continuing tasks.” Your smile couldn’t reach your eyes at the statement. “I’m usually tasked to report such…distractions but I never have or will, especially when it comes to you. My loyalty could only go so far with my Father and I found it’s possible to pledge loyalty to other things. No one needs to know about us…if you wish and I won’t allow them to harm you in any way.”

You struggled to meet his eye. The confession was strange. Being honest was something that made you feel things you didn’t necessarily want to feel but welcomed. “I always wished someone would help me with these overwhelming thoughts in my head without trying to use it for some research. Then after a while I thought maybe I could find that solace…with you?”

“You can.” Zeno reached out for you, your hands slipping through his. Neither of you were the affectionate type before this. Deprived of that since creation. He never told you before but he had his suspicions of you for other reasons regarding Wesker. Memories that kept him up at night. The urge to hold you. The urge to claim you as his. The urge to search for you when you were out of sigh for too long. “It may take time but…you’ve made it clear you’re the one. I always felt it was a lapse…of judgement to have you so close but there’s moments in my memories.”

With a tilt of your head, you smiled. “Memories of me?”

“Memories of you and….him. And your face is there and I can’t seem to escape it.”

Zeno hated the way your smile fell. He never voiced that to you before.

You had known about Zeno and Albert Wesker but never once did you see information regarding yourself in Zeno’s memories. No notes. No labs. No warnings. Now it begged the question…were the Connections keeping secrets from you?

“My face in your memories?”

”Yes. They’re often sad. And I assumed he…he wasn’t kind to you.”

Blinking at Zeno in disbelief you grew worried keeping your voice leveled. “He? Are you referring to Albert Wesker?”

The hesitancy in your voice drew questions you didn’t want to know the answers to. There has been times you had dreamed about…Wesker.

Through exhaustion.

Though hazy hallucinations when you could no longer stay awake.

Through your own dreams.

You never knew why. You never questioned it. The concept of dreaming was a mystery to all of creation. The face of a man you never knew. His name felt like such a taboo on your tongue bringing him up in front of Zeno but you had to know.

Zeno gritted his teeth with a nod. “Yes, memories of him and you in what seemed like a lifetime ago.”

A lifetime ago? “I don’t think that true Zeno.”

”Isn’t it?” He gently questioned you. “The way they created me. Us. How they have you watching over me. The way we naturally seek one another. The remorse embedded in my very memory of you.”

”Zeno…” You whispered emphatically. “That’s not possible.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I never met Albert Wesker.”

Zeno looked at you, sympathy on his brow. If that’s the case then your father had most likely been lying to you longer than you realized. Even you didn’t know the full truth of your own creation. “I can’t put it all together but it’s no doubt you…”

“No, it can’t be. That would mean-” Your blood ran cold from the revelation. The lightheadedness that flooded your mind was unlike anything you’ve experienced since your youth.

No. No. No.

Not only had you been a created in a lab…were you a clone? Of someone Albert Wesker knew in his past? A past lover?

You swayed just a bit but Zeno was quick to catch you. “Are you okay?”

You couldn’t meet his eyes. Is this why he was so concerned about you? Always seeking your comfort because of a memory? Is that why you admired Zeno from the beginning. “I’m fine…I need to do some research.”

The pounding in your ears was astounding as you became nearly delirious. You hadn’t spoken another word as you and Zeno returned to the helicopter and made your way back to the ARK. You felt terrible leaving Zeno after he taken the time to take you out but you returned to your lab and logged into the Connections private network system.

You had searched through years of old employees and there was certain files even you were restricted from that you never considered checking. Over and over and over you tried but nothing worked until you used your father’s override code. It would certainly be flagged but that was the least of your concerns. You searched through countless records, countless employees until you came across an obituary with your name on it. It was filed under your father’s name but reading through the documentation your heart sunk.

You were able to find the account linked to your name under another alias. Your heart race as you logged onto to the inactive account and saw your face staring back at you. Black spots in your visions almost made you pass out, how could you not know? Why couldn’t you put those clues together? You rocked back and forth humming to yourself to calm your nerves.

There was so many locked files linked to the account that no one had access to until you came across a journal. You had no idea what the password could possibly be with only one attempt left. It was obvious someone had tried to get into the account numerous times but there was a hint relating to the beauty of the ocean.

You sat there for who knows how long until you touched the delicate pearls around your neck before removing it. It was a gift your father he had given you years ago but even then he seemed hesitant to give it to you. Then you looked through each pearl, assessing each one, one pearl at a time until you felt a small engraving and upon inspection it spelled out the word ‘Freedom’.

With a deep shaky breathe, you typed in the password only to have the screen go black and load in to see a video log dated back years ago.

You were in.

The pounding of your heart against your ribcage only escalated as there were hundred of notes and logs complied into different categories all signed off with your name.

Some were research.

Some were personal moments.

Some labeled…Albert Wesker.

Clearing your throat, the ones that caught your eyes was labeled,

‘My Last Note.’

The clamminess of your palms nervously had you clicking on the video and as clear as day you saw yourself. It was uncanny. It was made you feel ill but the sadness in her eyes? Or was it yours? Made you feel worse.

“The time is now 2:47 am. I’ve just returned from the lab under military supervision feeling…terrible.” With glazed over eyes, the woman painful swallowed looking over to the night sky holding her abdomen.

You recognized the room as yours.

It was your balcony.

It was your bed.

“My father has decided along with the Connections to keep me on ‘house arrest’ until they decide what to do with me. In other words, imprisonment until I decide to cooperate. At least it’s my room with the beautiful view so it’s not that bad. Anyways, I’ve spent the last couple years fighting for some sense of freedom. What they’ve been doing has been beyond atrocious. This ‘secret’ battle that has been ongoing since before I was born makes me sick to my stomach. Now, I could truly understand why mom left dad.”

“She was a brilliant hematologist that divorced him so I wouldn’t have to live my life in a criminal’s shadow being possibly hunted every day of my life. She got out of there and gave me everything I needed to succeed with very limited time for dad to see me. She hated talking about him but she told me that he destroys everything he touches. And anyone involved in the organization makes it… worse. I could clearly see that now. But after she died from unknown causes that the both of us were fighting so hard to cure…I couldn’t save her from…I had no one. Not until, Dad forced me to try to persuade Albert Wesker into personally joining his team. I thought I was doing good when I became successful. But even after my numerous doctorates and my work with a dream to help people, that died so quickly.

“I thought dad was bringing me along to do some good and he believed in my research and provided me everything I needed. Promising me to make the world we live in a better place but no…everything he did-they did just brought death and chaos. He took my benevolence parasite that I found when I nearly died and decided to use it. Just to stupidly weaponize it for evil? Figuring out it was one of keys to actually help improve human evolution-something that even Mr. Spencer himself couldn’t even do properly. I worked on it all of my professional life, using its properties to find a way to heal the terminally ill and he used it to…hurt people. He soon found out we formed a bond…and it obeyed my command. I figured we saved each other’s lives and we created what felt like a symbiotic relationship. We kept each other safe so after many years of me trying to hide the truth, dad confiscated it for his own agenda. I kept questioning how could I live with myself after that? So I had to find a way out-”

The woman chuckled reflecting your own smile.

“Al was there. ‘Picking’ up the pieces with more pretty lies. But I needed something or someone. Anything to keep myself from going insane. And I know he was so distant but there was those moment of us together where it felt like it was just us against the world. Dad wanted me to get close to him.”

The woman laughed again.

“But he didn’t…anticipate…how close. Dad despised everything about it but admired the ‘brilliance that was him’ and wished there was a way to make him more trustworthy and reliable to further push his agenda. But you know Al…always had his own plans. And I don’t know what was going on in dad’s head but he thought I was betraying him and the Connections. Of course I thought about it and of course Albert had tried persuading me several times that he would protect me from my father but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t work with either of them.”

-

A strange pounding in your chest came. Memories that didn’t belong to you, entangled in sheets with a man with piercing cat like reddish orange hues staring down at you in a moonlit room. “You are an exquisite seductress you know that.” An unfamiliar sensation hummed deep in your lower stomach simmering away as your body was involuntarily reacting.

You struggled to push the feeling away.

“Eyes of me.” The feeling of a firm hand gripping your chin to look up at him as your legs stretched wide around his waist. “This will always be mine. And mine only.”

The sensations that never belonged to you.

“Dad is a damn scientist for crying out loud-and he thought I was somehow giving away the organization’s secrets to a man who wanted to destroy the world…a world I wanted to build a future with him.” Tears flowed down her face, as she took a shaky breath and wiped the tears on her rolled up sleeve. “No one knew the Al I knew. Despite his undying passion for control and power. So I left him too…I had no choice and he needed to be stopped. I know he would never choose me over anything. I was just there…and after my license was revoked and I lost access to all my research I had nothing. Everything was taken from me. I had no evidence but I’m not stupid. I know it was the Connections. I know it was Dad’s idea to teach me a lesson but when I found that Dad made a clone of me…”

Your own breath hitched in your throat.

“I knew I no longer had a place in this world. There was no point in living anymore. Dad wanted to control me. Albert wanted me on his side just as an extension of more power. Connections just wanted my intelligence. I knew no one held any real love for me but creating a clone just to prove I’m replaceable? Just to prove that you could create life as a petty joke to get back at me? Just to try to find another way to control the specimen without me? But then I looked at the files-that poor…little girl. I wish I could save her but…I know I’m already sick. I’m a dying woman…dying from the same thing that killed my mother and I can’t even save myself. Even when Al found out how sick I actually was and told him I had no intentions of living forever just to have nothing he said he had no use for dying woman and he’ll sort it with or without me.”

Memories of Wesker, looking over documentation confronting you about your specimens and her sickness clouded your vision. The feeling of him grabbing your arm as he towered over as he scolded you about something you couldn’t quite make out.

“But…I’m going to go out on my terms. I’m not going to let them treat me or use that poor girl as spare parts knowing she’ll undoubtedly heal from. She has such a kind heart despite the torture they’ve been putting her through. She doesn’t know better yet but dad wanted to use her as my donor as if I’m not already too far gone. As if it wasn’t his people that most likely cultivated a virus…of apparently unknown origins to keep me under his thumb. They already started the preparation for surgery.”

“Dad thinks she’s the key to the next step to evolution and if I had known sooner…she’s proof that we could be better and create something to actually save humanity and rise above hatred despite what’s flowing in her blood. I’m not Spencer. I’m not some old fool who learned too late in life that we can’t continuously harm others to chase our own silly dreams of a human evolution and then change our minds last second but…if she can make a change anything is possible.”

“If she really is..me in lamest terms…perhaps there is hope to destroy this organization. It won’t be easy-nothing has ever been easy. But I just can’t live with myself any longer rotting away scared everything I created has essentially amounted to nothing. All my patients I couldn’t save. All that intent to do good destroyed. But…father is predictable to an extent. She’ll survive him with my serum I created from my specimen and I know he used it to help create her. All of the signs are there with a unique skillset different from other bioweapons I’ve seen. He desperately wanted to make a point. To create a version of me he could mold and weaponize and listen to his every order whenever I refused him. He’ll get want he wants for a time-more then I’d like to admit but they won’t be able to control her…not for long anyways. She’ll be too powerful and since she has my face I know that will slowly destroy dad deep down when…” She paused. “Dad always prided himself on family and ‘our’ work when he got a hold of me but I’ll think of her as a part of me that wants to live on-needs to. Still fighting for a world worth protecting.”

“Goodness me- I’m rambling, must be the nerves. I just miss thinking about the future I could’ve had if things were different. Believe it or not…Al talked about marriage and having a child to give his entire ridiculous empire to. Dad hated that idea but now I know Dad will never change except something drastic happens and Albert…my dear love will get himself killed one day. Heh-it’s sad I wish that he was here now. He knew that I would always come back to him. Crawl into his bed and although he would rarely express how he truly felt about anything he would wrap me in his arms burying his face in my shoulder… but he’ll get my letter. He’ll understand why I had to do what I needed to do and…maybe he’ll hate me for it.”

“And he’ll probably look for me, denying the truth until he realizes what happened. I don’t know how he’ll feel deep down but he’ll know that I wanted something better for all of us despite knowing people like him can’t be happy as they are because of the consequences of their own actions. Destroying humanity all in the sake for power…will be all for nothing if all the beauty of the world is shattered into ruin. We will have nothing. And then what? We can’t rebuild at that point. There will be nothing….but now I finally have an answer to my question: how can I live with myself? It’s simple-I don’t.”

The woman sadly shrugged, pulling off the same pearl necklace and set it aside. She picked up a picture frame and admired it for so long dragging her fingers over it before a broken laugh left her lips. “It was one of the more quiet moments of Al and I-” Flipping over the picture, it was a semi blurred photo of her and Albert Wesker lying next to each other. “He didn’t like photos but he allowed me to keep this one….I just wish I could revisit it again but-” The woman looked at her watch. “It’s 3:07 am. I have the only neutralizing serum they wanted to control the girl but I created a placebo-nutrient stimulants she’ll have to use every 72 hours. Make it seem like they’re in control. It’ll be funny the day she realizes no one will be able to stop her and I’m going to destroy the original.” She showed off a purple vial in her hand before pocketing it.

“And this-“ she pulled out a needle. “Is just to ease the pain you know. So I don’t feel anything. I know no one is ever going to see this so I don’t even know who I’m talking to at this point but if they do…I hope you find it. My clone…I want you to know I tried. I was not helping the organization for the love of it. They took everything from me and I had no choice at the end of it. Passing me along as if I’m…nothing. They even imprisoned me here. But they created something they’ll regret for the rest of their lives comprised of my own DNA and my specimen. And you’ll…be the change we need. I hope you are. Goodness-I really hope so.” With a sniffle, she looked over at the balcony. “I hope you can find some happiness one day in this rotten world. Don’t make my mistakes. And if all else fails…find the Wolf.”

The quiet waves of the ocean in the distance sent a quiet wave of dreaded serenity to wash over you. “This is me signing off one last time. And I can’t stopping thinking about it. I wish Albert was here to hold my hand and tell me it’ll be okay but we’ve moved on from that. I think…I’ll be okay. Far away from suffering when I get lost in the ocean…let’s just be better.” Then the woman stood up from a chair looking off towards the balcony with a smile, before taking a deep breath and disconnecting the video feed making your blood grow cold.

You sat there in silence watching the screen. Nausea formed in the pit of your stomach. For hours, you sat there going through video after video. Breeding projections. Cloning projections. Note after note. And nothing made you feel better. Not the ones addressed to the organization. Not the ones to your father. Not to ones addressed to Albert Wesker you never met and was long gone. You always wondered where your compassion for the specimens came from. Where your compassion to save people even when they didn’t deserve stemmed from. Now you had all the proof and evidence that that would be confiscated if they found out the truth. Finding spare USBs you downloaded everything from the account. They would surely confiscate your computer and probe you for the password to the account. And of course you’ll give it to them just so they could see everything was wiped cleaned with an inability to retrieve the data.

Tears blankly rolled down your face. You hadn’t realized you were crying. Not for yourself but a version of you that took her life. The one that essentially saved you. You saved yourself. The only one that thought about you and didn’t hate you despite everything. How had she suffered for so long? How was she sick? Your father-no that bastard often called you emotional but all of the executives were greed driven pigs. And Albert Wesker had one of the most kindest and brilliant person on his side and couldn’t see that. Had he truly been that blinded by his ambition? That version of you stated no one really knew him but you wished to know how he must’ve felt when you were gone.

What did he say?

What did your letter say?

Then your thoughts traveled to your lover. Did Zeno only pursue you because his faded memories were comprised of regret because of you. Did you subconsciously do the same? You didn’t feel real anymore. Had you ever? So many things in your life finally made sense. You wanted to follow in her steps but how could she when she hoped you would be the change.

It wouldn’t be easy so you decided to make a bold move. You called your creator through his deceased daughter’s account. At first, the call failed multiple times until a man answered. He was confused at first, his face growing pale.

“Put me through to my Father.”

The man gulped, “Ma’am…it’s late. P-perhaps we can-“

”Put. Me. Through. To. My. Father.”

You gave him a vague look and he immediately did as you asked. And after moment or two, your father answered the call with a sleepy look in his eyes. “Do you know what time it is…is something wrong?”

You opened your mouth to speak as your voice got caught in your throat. “My apologies. I forgot you need 8 hours of sleep to fully function.”

Your father sighed at your words, “Is something wrong? Did something happen at the ARK?”

Tapping your fingers impatiently, you barely could meet his eyes. The image of yourself. The image of Albert Wesker. Zeno. All flashed repeatedly in your mind. The door to your lab opened but all you could do is stare at your hands.

”Everything is accounted for.”

”So what’s wrong? Why are you upset? Why are you…wait-wait what account are you calling me from?”

Forcing a smile, you tilted your head. “You see the name as clear as day. Maybe you could tell me.”

Another sigh-more defeated left your father’s mouth as he ran a hand over his face. “Is this what you’re calling me over?”

”So I’m a clone?”

A beat.

“Was it not obvious at this point my child?”

“Obvious?” The laugh that echoed in the room even frightened yourself. “There has been many obvious things that occurred in my lifetime but being a cloned of your deceased daughter when she was alive- wasn’t one of them.”

”You-“ He angrily pointed at you. “Are treading on the thin ice. You have no idea-“

“That your daughter took her own life because she couldn’t trust the only men she had in her life? ”

“No-“

”No?” You tilted your head. “You didn’t drive her to that. You didn’t take away that light in her eyes?”

”I loved my daughter. I knew what she needed-“

“Did you? Then why did she take her life?”

You felt faint watching him. “You are being emotional right now. We will discuss this when you come back home-“

”Emotional? I didn’t create a clone of my daughter when she was alive as a joke and parade her clone around as my daughter pretending she didn’t kill herself. Then proceed to in enroll the clone in the-“ You looked over a file. That was hidden deep in the archive, associated with you and Zeno. It was sickening to say the least. “The B.O.W Breeding Program when she became of age. Now, that’s rich coming from you. What were you hoping to gain from that program? That I would be compliant and subject my body to that?”

”From a scientific perspective you will never know the depth of how important my daughter’s research was. My research. Yours. And as a father-“

”You’re a failure.” The dryness in your voice burned. “She loved you even after everything. Even after Albert. Even after what you did. And you decided to invest time into me only because you lost her and didn’t get the chance to use me to save her. You just created a thing! Pretending you cared about me. Then you thought you could fix things by attempting to raise me as your daughter…I’m assuming you thought it would keep me safe? Then you thought you could make amends but assigning me to partner with Zeno didn’t you? Thought it was would rectify all your wrongdoings and give me some sense of contentment that you deprived her? But aha- here’s the catch. If I decided to form a relationship with Zeno, you’d be able control both of us under one roof once again to push this agenda of yours aka your breeding program. Just like what you tried with Albert Wesker! You think you would be able create something new to see what we’ll make if your dreams came to fruition-“

“I’m sending a helicopter to take you home.”

“There is no home for me if you’re there.” You gritted your teeth, tears findings its way to your eyes as you tried calming yourself down. “You made sure to personally see to that. And I’ve grown tired of you.”

”Tired? I created you. I know what you need. I know what’s best for you. You would never know. Not you. Not her. Not even Albert Wesker who was just another dead man whose ambition was too great and got himself stupidly killed. The only leverage I had over that man is when my daughter died. I was distraught at her loss but seeing the way his smugness faded away was exceptionally satisfying. But at least he was useful in other ways. You will not survive on your own. Another monster waiting to get killed without my guidance.” You stared your father down before he decided another approach. “Fine…what…what can I do to make this up to you? You’re in a very emotional state right now and I know there is something we can come with a solution together. This is barely a minor setback my child with everything going on. I promise you.”

“You promise?” You smiled. As if he could sweep it under the rug again. As if he could hide the truth. “Actually…there is one thing one. I will be taking my specimens one way or another. I wish you didn’t survive Albert Wesker shooting you in the head-the real truth behind your scar. And I desire nothing more than for you then to live the rest of your life in guilt to the point it slowly eats you alive, deteriorates you sanity knowing you drove your wife away and killed your own child.”

“We can talk about-“

With a soft click, you disconnected the call, leaving only you to see your sad reflection in the black screen and from your peripheral Zeno standing off in the distance. Slowly, you rose from your seat-agitated and hands shaking as you aggressively pulled at your fingers unable to find the appropriate way to release all of the pent up tension and anger inside of you.

You safely secured the USB’s for later before grazing your fingers across the top part of your work laptop and crushing it between your fingers until the screen and device cracked under the pressure before you ripped it apart and chucked it straight into the wall, leaving behind a huge dent.

It wasn’t enough.

Nothing would ever be enough.

Grabbing the stool, you chucked it straight into one of the empty thick glass containments shattering it on impact. Your table was next then your neatly organized equipment. You didn’t realize you were breathing so heavily lost in your anger that you were standing there.

You’re too emotional.

You’re not human.

You can’t be so weak willed.

Youll never survive on your own.

Your feelings aren’t real.

You’re volatile.

Another monster waiting to get killed.

A soft hand on your arm pulled you out of your thoughts for a moment. Zeno. The urge to apologize for such brazen behavior was teetering on a fine line but you stood there unable to speak again.

“It’s okay.” Zeno spoke pulling you into his chest, placing a gentle hand to the back of your head to comfort you. He knew the frustration all too well. The disappointment of knowing your existence was temporary and made for servitude.

”No…it won’t.” Thoughts of your past self? Original self? The real you? That woman replayed in your head over and over again. The guilt of existing already consuming your wellbeing. However, the anguish you were feeling wasn’t because of yourself but her. “I was created as a mere joke. My existence meant nothing from the beginning.” Zeno looked at you as you pulled away.

You’ll be the change we need.

Let’s be better.

I miss Albert.

I hope you finds some happiness.

Don’t make my mistakes

Find the Wolf.

“You know that’s not true.” Zeno spoke to you.

“It is.” You looked down at your hands, thinking about how much you’ve done in their name. All of the unwanted advances you dealt in the name of missions. The quiet abuse you shouldered alone. Your undying loyalty. “He loved to brag amongst colleagues that I am proof of his work-father and daughter with every successful mission or projects. If his daughter didn’t kill herself, they would’ve kill me long ago and use me however they pleased.”

“I feel ill. He use to tell me that my emotions were fictitious. Unreliable. Detrimental to my mission. But was I always destined to have this attachment to you because of her? I have no memories of her exactly but memories of Albert Wesker-nothing of her besides her DNA. And yet, I look at you-I’m aware you’re not him. I will never compare you to him but my mind is unable to comprehend the depth of this for my own sanity. I just wanted to experience love for myself without-” Your lips wavered, looking over your hands. “Without feeling like a monster. Without feeling like- I don’t know. I can’t process this.”

”Do you remember what you told me the first time I came to your with my own reservations?”

His hand tightened around your wrist, stopping you from pacing across the room. “No.“

”You’re lying.”

“H-how about I lying?” You spat, your question painfully simmering in your chest from his accusation. Zeno held your chin, raising your head to look at him.

“I know you remember.” He looked at you for a moment, seeing your gaze flickering in between his eyes. “Now, you need to take a moment to think.” He knew that the physical contact between two of use had been your ultimate language of understanding and your words of comfort sealed all the unspoken moment between the two of you.

Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath to calm your nerves. “My apologies, I do remember.”

”Then tell me.” He whispered. His thumb gently rubbed across your cheek encouraging you to continue. Those blackened eyes of his pierced yours as you found yourself grabbing his hand. You concluded you needed some sort of comfort as you spoke. You were being vulnerable. Something you rarely did.

“I told you, that being a clone or having another memory imprinted on you does not define you. You are you. You may have been made from his genetic DNA or even imprinted memories of a deceased man but you are Zeno. You are beautifully designed regardless of how they made you. You have your own heart and mind that makes you, you and no one in the life can take that from you. And I…love you all the same.”

His heart leapt when you recited word for word what you told him weeks ago. Though he never was able to say those words back to you, you never held it against him. He worshipped you above all us and in this cutthroat business he knew the implications of what attachments could costs. What love meant.

”Then why are you allowing their ignorant ideologies of you to affect you so much?”

“The same reason, it affects you. We know we were created this way, yet the secrets they keep and the way they act as if we’re nothing…I should have known better. Nothing in my life has been..real. Everyone has been chasing a memory of me and maybe I have been too...”

Zeno gazed at you with grief etched in his eyes. After all the nights you shared with one another. After you defended and accepted him with warm smile, wiping his tears when it became too much for him with kindness he never was able to reciprocate at times.

“Do you truly think I only pursued you because of a mere memory?”

That loathing in your heart from that question only made you feel weak. The way he spoke to you with same kindness and connotations in your voice as you had done for him. Weakness was a term that wasn’t in your design yet that’s what remained in your mind when you were at your lowest. “I rather you tell me.”

Zeno said nothing else before he gave you a gentle kiss you couldn’t fully commit to. The way his heart yearned for you drove him to near madness. Despite knowing they would use it against him, he hadn’t let that prevent him from comforting you. You wouldn’t explicit state you were hurting. Hurting from betrayal. Hurting from their words. Hurting from the lies.

He just wish he wasn’t the one that led you to that conclusion you were a clone.

He was so sure you knew him. So sure of that you only pursued him because of whom he was cloned from and for the Connections. Though there were times, he desired to confront you about the overwhelming memories of you he couldn’t. Now the only thing he longed for was you.

And he wished he wasn’t a clone of the man who had shared a relationship with the woman you were cloned from.

But he didn’t think of you as that. Not even now.

Not ever.

“There are vague memories of your face. Emotions I can’t decipher. Warmth. Remorse.” He spoke gently, stopping you from pulling away. “An empty casket…which I ran a hand over more times than I count. But there was a never a moment where I felt the need to pursue you based on a memory. I wanted to understand it but not at the cost of potentially harming you.”

Staring down at the ground littered with broken glass, you listened to him. “For so long, I firmly believed you were too good to be true to look after my well being. Another deceptive trick sent by higher ups to keep me in line. Checking in with me numerous times and preventing anyone from discussing him in front of me. I thought you were too precious to be here. Too delicate to be apart of this world we were brought into. I thought you needed protection…but I found I needed you.”

Slowly your eyes met his. Your eyes were as safety net. Yet, there was some peace knowing he would come back to you at the end of the day. Made him understand he could be himself around you. Made him want to help you understand intimacy and romance on a level he no longer wanted to pursue elsewhere. He knew the implications of love when it came to you. He knew you would be his one weakness. And he desired it anyways. Even if Albert Wesker was superior to him…he missed out on one of the most beautiful things known to man and he wasn’t going to repeat his mistakes.

“I sought you time and time again because you’re the closest thing…I had to joy and peace. I’m not going to stand here and pretend it doesn’t bother me to see you like this because of them…. I’m with you. Even if they had their ulterior motives of bringing us together-“ Zeno paused to hesitantly remove his sunglasses clearing his throat. You always enjoyed seeing his full face when the both of you were alone. There was a certain beauty that made you want to get lost them for hours.

“I love you.”

Your eyes widened at his confession and Zeno took note of the way your pupils dilated in awe. The anger that was on your brow softened and that glazed over look in your eyes brightened. A gentle smile found its way on your face as you finally wrapped your fingers around his pulling yourself closer.

“Do you actually mean that?”

“I do.”

For a moment, you looked away, a little soft sniffle echoing in the room as you couldn’t stop your smile from growing as you took a few steps back to fully look at him.

“You know…I love you too.”

”Can you show me?” Spinning you back into his arms, Zeno mused watching how bashful you became when his flirtatious comments or questions got to you.

Leaning up, you placed a sweet kiss right on those soft lips of yours, making him melt right into your touch. You both deserved a sense of love in this cruel world. And Zeno wasn’t going to let you slip from him.

“If…you have no plans on returning back to them. Come home with me.”

Dread and excitement festered inside of you by his words.

“You know, he’ll come searching for me.” You stated in a matter of fact tone, raising your hand up his chest to fix his collar. “You know how relentless they can be.”

”Let them come.” You blinked up at him unsure if he knew what he was truly getting himself into by taking you in. “I’ll deal with them.”

”Are you sure?”

”Do I look like I’m not?”

With another smile, you gave him a nod, “Okay. I trust you. You won’t be alone anyways.”

Those words gave him strength like no other as he offered you his arm. You immediately accepted, allowing him to guide you out of the lab, avoiding broken glass and chemicals. “I apology for ruining the lab. That was…unbecoming of me.”

“The lab is just a room.”

You nodded to yourself, “As for our date, I apologize for ruining it. Is there a way we can redo it?”

Zeno smirked at himself. He already had plans to worship you and show you what true devotion meant as long as you allowed him to. “We can do it as many times as you like.”

You leaned on his arm, “I would appreciate that.”

"Then you’ll have it.”

This was far from over but you two were going to do every possible thing within your power to keep each other safe. Zeno was going to make sure of that. Unlike anyone else could do. Unlike your Father. Unlike Albert Wesker.

He could do the impossible with you by his side.

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