Thank you for all your support🥹 let me know if I need to take down any pictures/gifs that I may use as I get them online!
I try to follow everyone back as long as you’re 18+ and have it in your bio ✨ I’m also a current grad student who works full time so sorry if I take forever to get back to you and to update any fics!
Currently working on: Leon S. Kennedy, Zeno Wesker, Albert Wesker, Kirsh and Daryl Dixon.
If you’re bored, check out my Quotev account I made when I was 13 lolol. There are some good stories (I promise) and yandere reader inserts (that need updating, yikes) that I’ve made over the years 😂
Anyways, most of my content is 18+ but doesn’t always include smut, so MDNI! Some of the ‘in the work’ fics may or may not be posted. I’m still trying to figure tumblr out. Still don’t understand some things lol😭 Stay tuned!
I DO NOT age up or write for minors!! 🚫
Alien: Earth 18+🌶️✨
Synthetic Heart- Kirsh x Cyborg Reader
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Alternate Ending/ Standalone Fic
From Ashes, Born Anew- Kirsh x Hybrid Reader
Boy Kavalier turns you into a Hybrid. Neither you or Kirsh know how to appropriate react to this change but there is one thing Kirsh knows. You’ll always be his
Prometheus/ Alien Covenant 18+🛸🔥
David 8 x Cyborg Reader in the works (Yandere | Dark Themes | Body Horror)
Walking Dead 🧟♀️🩸
Daryl Dixon x Immune Reader in the works 👀. You’re soon to be Doctor tossed into a crazy world
The Boys 18+🦸♀️🌶️
Homelander x Supe Reader x Billy Butcher in the works 👀 (Dark Themes)
Scream 1996 18+🔪🩸
Billy Loomis x Reader x Stu Macher in the works
Games
Heart bound 18+ | Leon S. Kennedy x Reader- No matter how long you’ve loved Leon. You can’t compare to her. Heavy angst | Smut
Relax babe, I got you | Leon S. Kennedy x Reader
Nights Like This | Leon S. Kennedy x Reader in the works
Another life, same love | Zeno Wesker x Reader
Heimdall x Reader in the works
Yandere x Reader in the works 18+- All Rights Reserved
Sincerely, Mine | Yandere OC x Reader - (Uploaded on Quotev. Will be updated in second POV)
After all these years...he finally had you, even if you couldn’t remember him. You were beautiful. You were his. And he wasn’t planning on letting you go. So who were you to defy him?
Impulsive | Reverse Harem OC x Reader (Uploaded on my Quotev. Will be updated in second POV)
Being a newly widowed Doctor at the Moonlight Asylum for the criminally insane supernatural was terrifying enough. However, when you get involved in an ongoing investigation, you have no choice but to run and your close beloved patients are the only ones who could help you. The only problem...is that you're human and their impulsive behavior isn’t helping the situation. Let’s hope you can keep your sanity as you try to keep their lustful thoughts at bay while on the run. After all, it shouldn't be too hard for you right?
Masterpiece | Serial Killer OC x Reader in the works
A ‘humble’ serial killer who artistically rids society of filth curiously turns his sights on you.
“Calloused hands coaxing you into submission… I want to make you my art. I want you to writhe under my touch while I bask in your warmth, sending me on a high before the light leaves your eyes. That is what I think when I look at you. But how could I act on my innate desires when you plead so beautifully under my touch. Swooning me with words that rile me up. All you desire is to be set freed and I’ll be the one to do just that. You’ll be my masterpiece.”
Summary: After HUNK's fight with Leon leaves him gravely wounded and infected. You ignore his orders and save him instead. While searching an abandoned underground facility for a possible cure one argument changes everything.
Words: 5108
Dirt and ash clung to your skin as you dragged Hunk through the endless corridors of the underground facility. One of his arms was thrown over your shoulders while you struggled to keep him upright. Your boots scraping against the floor with every uneven step.
The corridors all looked the same.
Steel walls. Bright lights overhead. Every turn melted into another identical hallway until the entire facility felt like one endless labyrinth built to swallow people whole.
You tightened your grip around him when his knees nearly buckled again.
“Hunk.”
A rough breath crackled through his mask in response, barely conscious.
Still alive.
Barely.
Your eyes darted around desperately. Searching for any sign of a medical station, an emergency checkpoint. Anything that could help stabilize him before the infection or blood loss finished the job Leon had started.
Leon S. Kennedy.
The memory hit hard.
The clashing of steel.
The sound of metal cracking beneath the force of the fight.
The way Hunk had ordered you to leave without even looking back.
“Go find the cure.”
Cold. Direct. Like always.
“I don’t need backup against him.”
You hated how serious he sounded when he said it. At the time, you almost listened.
Almost.
Now his blood soaked through your gloves as proof of how badly that decision would’ve ended.
Another glimmer of movement caught your attention through one of the reinforced glass panels lining the corridor. Instinctively, your head turned toward it.
And for a moment, you saw yourself reflected back.
You barely recognized the person staring at you.
Dark veins crawled beneath the skin of your hand where it gripped Hunk’s armor. Twisting upward beneath your sleeve and disappearing beneath the collar near your throat. Thin black fractures spreading slowly beneath pale skin like cracks in glass.
The infection was getting worse.
For both of you.
Originally, you had come to this facility searching for answers. A cure. Anything that could stop whatever had been put inside your bodies before it consumed you completely.
Instead, everything had fallen apart the second Leon breached the facility.
Now the cure was nowhere in sight.
Hunk could barely stand.
And the deeper you moved into the underground complex. The more the walls around you seemed to close in.
A low groan escaped the man beside you when another wave of pain hit him. Your grip tightened immediately.
“Stay with me,” you whispered.
His head lowered slightly. Though whether he actually heard you or was simply trying to stay conscious. You couldn’t tell.
Then suddenly his hand caught your wrist.
Firm.
As good as could be in his situation. You stopped moving instantly.
His masked face tilted slightly toward you. His breathing uneven through the damaged filter.
“…Should’ve left me,” he rasped.
The words came out strained, broken apart by pain.
Your jaw tightened.
“Shut up.”
He gave a low sound that almost resembled a humorless laugh before another cough tore through him.
Blood stained the edge of his mask. Your stomach twisted.
No.
You weren’t losing him here.
::::
Your vision swam the second you pushed through the doors of the medical bay.
The harsh fluorescent lights overhead blurred together instantly. White smearing into white as dizziness crashed over you without warning. Pain rang violently through your skull. It was sharp enough to make your stomach twist.
Your footing faltered.
For one terrifying second, your knees nearly gave out beneath the combined weight of both you and Hunk.
“Shit–”
You slammed a hand against the nearest counter to steady yourself. Breath hitching as black spots crowded the edges of your vision. The infection burned beneath your skin. Those dark veins crawling farther up your arms with every passing hour. It felt like your own body was fighting against you now. Your muscles locking, the nerves screaming and balance failing at the worst possible moments.
You forced yourself to breathe.
Not now.
You couldn’t lose control now.
Beside you, Hunk let out a low strained sound as his body sagged heavier against yours. His boots dragged uselessly across the floor. Barely able to support himself anymore.
“Hold on,” you hissed through clenched teeth. More to yourself than him.
The medical bay around you looked abandoned in the chaos. Cabinets hung partially open, emergency monitors blinking silently in standby mode while overturned trays and shattered glass littered the floor. Someone had evacuated this place fast.
Your heartbeat pounded violently in your ears as you forced yourself forward again.
One step.
Then another.
Every movement felt harder than the last.
Hunk stumbled suddenly, nearly taking you down with him.
You grabbed at his tactical vest on instinct. Fingers holding tightly into the blood-soaked material as both of you lurched sideways. Pain exploded through your shoulder from the strain, but somehow you kept him upright.
Barely.
Your eyes locked onto one of the examination tables near the center of the room.
Almost there.
“Hunk,” you breathed heavily. “Stay awake.”
No answer.
His head hung low now. His breathing rough and uneven through the damaged mask. Blood streaked down the side of his armor with each dragging step.
Fear twisted painfully in your chest.
You pushed harder.
The second you finally reached the table. Your strength gave out completely.
Both of you crashed against the edge of it hard enough to rattle the metal frame before you managed to shove Hunk onto the surface. He collapsed heavily onto his back with a rough exhale while you caught yourself against the table. With your trembling arms barely keeping you upright.
For several seconds, neither of you moved.
The room spun around you.
Your hands shook as you gripped the edge of the table. Trying desperately to force your breathing under control. Every nerve in your body screamed from exhaustion. Everything blending together until you couldn’t separate one pain from another anymore.
Then your eyes lifted toward Hunk.
He was staring at the ceiling. Even now, one gloved hand still weakly clung to his weapon like instinct refused to let it go.
Something inside your chest ached at the sight.
Slowly, you reached forward and pulled the gun from his grip before setting it aside.
“You can stop fighting for five minutes,” you muttered hoarsely.
A faint sound crackled through the mask.
“...Not smart.”
You let out a tired scoff, shaking your head.
“Stop acting like you're invincible, idiot.”
No response. Whether he chose to ignore your outburst or simply lacked the strength to answer, you couldn't tell.
You swallowed hard and reached for another bandage.
“Seriously, Hunk.” A weak smile tugged at your lips despite everything. “I leave you alone for ten minutes and you're already halfway to the grave.”
The attempt at humor fell flat in the sterile silence of the medical bay.
Hunk didn't answer. His head slowly tipped to the side. For a moment, you thought he was simply resting his eyes.
Then his body went slack.
“Hunk?”
Panic immediately shot through your chest.
You grabbed his shoulder and shook him gently.
“Hey. Hunk.”
Nothing. His breathing was still there uneven, but there. Relief and fear crashed into you at the same time.
He'd finally reached his limit.
And judging by the way your vision blurred again when you straightened up. You weren't far behind.
:::::
It was difficult enough just to remain standing.
Every muscle in your body screamed in protest. Your head pounded relentlessly as you moved. The fact that you hadn't collapsed onto the floor yet felt nothing short of a miracle.
But none of that mattered. Not right now. There was only one thought repeating itself over and over inside your exhausted mind.
You needed to save him.
Nothing else mattered.
Not the pain.
Not the infection.
Not the fact that your own body was slowly failing you.
Only him.
The grumpy, stubborn and infuriatingly stoic man lying unconscious on the examination table.
He had to survive.
At any cost.
You forced your trembling hands to keep moving. Grabbing supplies from the nearby cabinets and working as quickly as your exhausted body allowed. Blood stained your gloves as you cleaned and dressed his wounds. Trying desperately to slow the blood loss he had suffered during the fight.
Every few seconds, you glanced back at him.
Checking his breathing.
Checking his pulse.
Making sure he was still there.
Still alive.
"You better not die on me," you muttered under your breath as you tightened another bandage around his side. Your voice sounded weak, barely louder than a whisper.
A shaky laugh escaped you despite yourself.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble I went through to drag your ass here?" The room spun slightly when you straightened up.
You grabbed the edge of the table immediately, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
It didn't.
For a moment, your gaze dropped to your own hands.
The dark veins had spread further. Even without looking in a mirror, you knew they had reached your neck by now.
Time was running out. For both of you. Yet somehow, the thought that frightened you most wasn't your own condition. It was the possibility of opening your eyes and finding Hunk wasn't breathing anymore.
Your fingers found his wrist again.
Pulse.
Still there.
Relief washed through you so strongly that it almost hurt.
"Good," you whispered.
Then, after a brief pause. Your hand stayed for a second longer than necessary.
"Because I'm not letting you leave me here alone, idiot."
:::::
Finally, you tied off the last bandage and let out a slow breath. The bleeding had stopped.
At least for now. You had done everything you could. The rest was up to him.
For a long moment, you simply stood there. Staring at the unconscious man stretched across the examination table. The steady rise and fall of his chest was the only thing keeping your own heart from stopping.
Relief hit you. He was still with you.
You swallowed against the lump forming in your throat and sank heavily into the chair beside the table. The silence that followed felt deafening.
Without the constant need to move, to think, to survive. The exhaustion crashed into you all at once.
Your limbs felt like lead.
Every wound you had ignored suddenly made itself known.
Minutes passed. Maybe more. You weren't sure. Every so often, your eyes drifted back to Hunk, waiting for some sign of movement. A twitch of his hand. A shift beneath the mask. Anything.
Nothing.
"Come on..." you murmured.
Your voice sounded distant.
"Wake up."
He didn't.
You rubbed a hand over your face and slowly pushed yourself to your feet. Maybe there was something else in the medical bay that could help.
Medicine. Research files.
Anything that could help him. You didn't even make it two steps. Without warning, your body finally gave out. One moment you were standing, the next your legs buckled beneath you.
You never felt yourself hit the floor.
Darkness swallowed you whole.
::::
When Hunk woke up, the first thing he felt was pain. It coursed through his entire body, sharp and relentless. Dragging him back into consciousness.
The second thing he noticed were the bandages wrapped tightly around his body.
Someone had treated his wounds.
For a brief moment, confusion clouded his thoughts as he stared up at the ceiling above him. The sterile smell in the air and the rows of cabinets surrounding him quickly told him where he was.
A medical bay. Memories of the fight returned in fragments.
Leon. The infection.
Blood. You helping him. Slowly, he pushed himself up. Immediately regretting the movement as pain shot through his ribs.
Something felt wrong. His hand instinctively moved to his face.
His mask was gone.
Cool air brushed against his exposed skin, sending an unfamiliar sensation crawling down his spine. It was rare for him to be without his mask during a mission. Over the years, it had become as much a part of him as his combat gear and weapons.
Yet now it sat somewhere out of sight. Removed while he had been unconscious. Which meant someone had been close enough to see him at his most vulnerable.
His gaze drifted over the carefully applied bandages covering his injuries.
There was only one person who could have done it.
You.
His eyes found you almost immediately. You were lying on the floor beside an overturned medical tray.
Motionless. For a moment, Hunk simply stared. The room was silent except for the hum of the lights overhead.
His eyes swept over the scattered supplies surrounding you. Then the bandages covering his own injuries. The conclusion was obvious.
You had treated him. Then collapsed. His jaw tightened.
Predictable. He had told you to continue searching for a cure. Instead, you had wasted time dragging him through half the facility.
Reckless.
Stupid.
His gaze stayed on your unmoving form.
...
Yet here he was.
Alive.
Slowly, Hunk pushed himself off the examination table.
Pain immediately flared through his side. He ignored it.
His boots hit the floor heavily as he steadied himself against the edge of the examination table. The room swayed for a moment before settling again. With a motion he picked up his masked and put it back on.
Still his attention never left you. You hadn't moved. The closer he got, the clearer the details became.
Pale skin. Shallow breaths. The dark veins spreading beneath your neck.
The infection had progressed.
You had spent what little strength you had left keeping him alive. A faint frown pulled at his features.
Why?
The question surfaced before he could stop it. It made no sense.
You had a mission.
A cure to find. A chance to save yourself.
Instead, you had chosen him.
His jaw tightened.
Illogical.
Slowly, he crouched beside you despite the protest from his injured ribs. His gloved hand found your neck. Your Pulse was weak but steady.
Relief came unexpectedly. He immediately pushed it aside.
You were alive. That was all that mattered.
For now. His gaze stayed on your unconscious form for a second longer than necessary.
Then he stood. The answer could wait. Finding a way to keep you alive couldn't.
::::
Hunk worked his way through file after file, scanning reports, test results and research notes.
Nothing useful.
Nothing about a cure.
Nothing that could help you. His look shifted toward you.
You hadn't moved. The medical bay had done everything it could for him. It wasn't enough. And staying here wouldn't change that.
With a low exhale, he shut down the terminal and crossed the room. Carefully, he crouched beside you. The dark veins along your neck had spread further.
His jaw tightened. This place was a dead end.
Without allowing himself time to reconsider, he slipped one arm beneath your knees and another behind your back. Then lifted you from the floor. You felt lighter than you should have.
Another thing he chose not to think about. Adjusting his grip, he headed for the door. The corridors beyond the medical bay were silent.
Only the distant hum of emergency systems accompanied him as he moved deeper into the facility.
Minutes passed.
Then–
A muffled explosion echoed somewhere far above. The floor trembled beneath his boots. Hunk's eyes narrowed.
Someone was still moving through the facility.
A weak sound pulled his attention away from the thought.
You. Your head shifted slightly against his shoulder. A faint groan escaped you.
Conscious. Barely.
Your eyes opened slowly. For several seconds, confusion clouded your expression. Then you realized who was carrying you.
"What are you doing?"
Your voice came out rough. Hunk didn't look down.
"Moving."
You frowned.
"Put me down."
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Flat.
Despite yourself, you almost laughed.
"Still taking orders badly, I see."
"Be quiet."
That earned the faintest hint of a smile from you. The effort clearly cost you.
You closed your eyes again. For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then another distant impact shook the corridor.
This time Hunk noticed a partially open security door ahead. Beyond it sat an office complex.
Executive level. Interesting. He pushed through the doorway. Unlike the rest of the facility, this area had been left largely untouched.
Expensive furniture.
A large desk overlooked a bank of monitors.
Someone important had worked here. Hunk immediately spotted a couch against the far wall.
Without a word, he carried you over and lowered you onto it. You shifted weakly, trying to sit up.
"Stay down."
"I hate it when you say that."
"I know."
Before you could answer, his attention shifted to the desk. Files.
Physical files. Dozens of them. Most were useless. Administrative reports. Personnel records. Financial documents. Then one folder caught his eye.
E.L.P.I.S.
Hunk's hand paused. Slowly, he opened it. His eyes moved across the pages.
Research notes. Test data. References to the infection. References to a prototype treatment.
A possible way to stop it.
For the first time since waking up, something changed in his expression. Behind him, you noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
The question made him glance over his shoulder. For a brief moment, your “eyes” met.
Then he looked back at the file.
"We might have a lead."
Outside the office, another distant explosion echoed through the facility. But neither of you paid it much attention. For the first time in hours, survival no longer felt impossible.
:::
Silence settled over the office once more. Hunk returned his attention to the file in his hands while you leaned back against the couch, letting your head rest against the cushions.
The exhaustion was still there. Every muscle in your body ached. The infection still burned beneath your skin. But for the first time since entering the facility, the panic had eased.
A lead. It wasn't much. Another rumble echoed through the structure, causing the lights above to flicker briefly.
Neither of you reacted. You watched Hunk from across the room. The concentration in his body language. The way he occasionally turned another sheet.
As if sensing your stare, Hunk glanced up.
"What?"
You immediately looked away.
"Nothing."
His eyes stayed on you for a second. Then returned to the file. Silence settled between you again. Strangely, it wasn't uncomfortable.
Minutes passed. You weren't sure how many. Eventually, the shaking in your hands eased enough that you trusted yourself to sit up properly.
Your gaze drifted toward the desk.
"What does it say?"
Hunk flipped another page.
"ELPIS was moved."
"Moved where?"
"Not sure yet."
You sighed.
"Of course."
Another page turned. You watched him for a moment before speaking again.
"You know..."
He didn't look up. A sign he was listening.
"You could have left me."
The page stopped turning.
Then–
"No."
Your brows furrowed.
"No?"
"No."
You stared at him.
"What does that even mean?"
Hunk finally looked up from the file.
"It means I wasn't going to leave you."
His tone remained as calm as ever. Matter-of-fact. As if that somehow explained everything.
You blinked.
"Why?"
"You were unconscious."
A laugh escaped you. Not because it was funny. Because it wasn't.
"That's your reason?"
"It was enough."
You leaned back against the couch, studying him. The more he spoke, the less sense he made. Hours ago, he had practically ordered you to leave him behind. Now he was acting as though abandoning you had never been an option.
"You told me to keep searching."
"I did."
"You told me not to waste time on you."
"I did."
You folded your arms.
"Then why is it different now?"
The page turned.
"I don't know."
The answer surprised you. Not because of what he said. Because it was probably the most honest thing you'd ever heard from him.
Silence settled between you again. For the first time since waking up, Hunk wasn't reading. His head remained fixed on the open file in front of him.
Yet somehow, you got the feeling he wasn't seeing a single word.
You watched him for a moment.
"That's a first."
His eyes remained on the file.
"What is?"
"You admitting you don't know something."
A faint pause.
Then:
"Hm."
You rolled your eyes.
Trust him to turn a rare moment of honesty into a one-syllable response. The corner of your mouth twitched despite yourself.
"You are unbelievably frustrating."
"So I've been told."
That almost made you laugh.
Almost.
Instead, you leaned your head back against the couch and closed your eyes for a moment.
The exhaustion was beginning to settle into your bones again.
Neither of you spoke for a while.
The only sounds in the office were the occasional turning of pages and the distant groan of the facility around them. You watched Hunk sort through the documents spread across the desk.
Page after page. Eventually, curiosity got the better of you.
"So?"
He didn't look up.
"So what?"
You rolled your eyes.
"The file."
A brief pause.
Then he slid one of the pages across the desk.
"ELPIS."
You pushed yourself forward slightly and scanned the document. Most of it was technical jargon.
Research notes. Test results.
Half of it barely made sense.
"What exactly is it?"
"A prototype."
"That sounds reassuring."
"It isn't."
You frowned.
"Glad we're on the same page."
A faint silence followed.
Then:
"It was designed to stabilize advanced infections."
Your eyes immediately returned to the file.
"And?"
"And nobody knows if it works."
"Great."
Another page turned. You let out a slow breath. For a moment, your gaze drifted from the document to him.
The thought stayed longer than it should have.
Finally, you spoke again.
"You really scared me, you know."
The words left your mouth before you could stop them. For the first time in several minutes, Hunk looked up. His expression remained hidden behind the mask.
Yet somehow you knew he was paying attention.
"When Leon got to you."
Your voice was quieter now.
"I thought..."
You trailed off. The words refused to come.
Hunk remained silent.
Waiting.
You looked away first.
"...Never mind."
For once, he didn't let it go.
"What did you think?"
You looked away. The question shouldn't have been difficult to answer. Yet somehow it was. You focused on the documents spread across the desk instead.
Anything but him. Anything but the memory.
"I thought you were dead."
The words came out quieter than intended. You laughed weakly and rubbed a hand over your face.
"Stupid, right?"
No response. Not that you had expected one.
"You always survive. Everyone says it."
The Grim Reaper.
Mr. Death.
The legendary operative who always came back. The man who survived impossible odds over and over again.
"But when I saw you lying there..."
You swallowed.
"I didn't know what I would've done."
The admission hung between you. Hunk remained completely still. You immediately regretted saying it.
"Forget it."
"I'm not dead."
You let out a short laugh.
"There he is."
"What?"
"The emotional support brick wall."
A pause.
Then, surprisingly:
"Hm."
You stared.
"Was that supposed to be a joke?"
"No."
That somehow made it funnier.
::::
Hunk closed the file in front of him. The sound seemed unusually loud in the otherwise silent office. His eyes settled on you.
Unreadable behind the mask.
"Why?"
You blinked.
"What?"
"Why did you stay?"
There it was again.
That question. You stared at him in disbelief.
"Seriously?"
His expression didn't change.
"You had a chance to continue the mission."
"Oh my God."
"You had a chance to find a cure."
You threw your hands up.
"HUNK—"
"You ignored a direct order."
This time there was no confusion in his voice. Only a statement.
A fact.
Like he was listing details from an after-action report. A disbelieving laugh escaped you.
"You still don't get it."
His gaze remained fixed on yours.
"I get it."
The answer caught you off guard. For a moment, you simply stared.
"Then why are we even having this conversation?"
Silence followed.
Then:
"You shouldn't have done it."
Your jaw dropped.
"What?"
"You put yourself at risk."
"I know."
"You nearly collapsed."
"I know."
"You could've died."
Something inside you snapped.
"And so could you!"
The words echoed through the office.
Neither of you looked away. Then Hunk spoke.
"I've accepted that."
The calmness in his voice made your stomach twist. As if he were discussing the weather. As if his own death meant nothing. You pushed yourself off the couch. Pain immediately shot through your body.
You ignored it.
"No."
His head tilted slightly.
"No?"
"No."
You took a step toward him.
"You don't get to do that."
His head followed your movement.
"Do what?"
"Decide your life doesn't matter."
The words left your mouth before you could stop them.
Silence.
Hunk didn't answer immediately. But he didn't look away either. And somehow that was worse.
Neither of you looked away. Then you moved. Closing the distance between the two of you in a few unsteady steps. Your body immediately protested. Pain shot through your muscles.
You ignored it. Hunk's eyes narrowed slightly behind the masked as you approached. Before you could reach him, his hand shot out and caught your wrist.
The movement was instinctive. Effortless. Stopping you in your tracks.
"What are you doing?"
His grip was firm. Steady. As though he expected you to collapse at any second. You tried to pull your arm free.
"Let me go."
"No."
The answer only made your temper flare further.
"Hunk—"
"Sit down."
The command hit a nerve. Something inside you finally snapped.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Your voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Are you giving me orders again?"
His grip tightened slightly.
"You can barely stand."
"And whose fault is that?"
You yanked your arm free before he could stop you. Then grabbed the front of his tactical vest. The fabric bunched in your fist as you pulled him toward you.
Hard.
For the first time all evening, Hunk felt genuinely caught off guard. Good. Because you were done being the only frustrated person in this room.
Because you were tired. Tired of the walls. Tired of the excuses. Tired of him acting as though what happened between the two of you could be reduced to mission reports and casualty statistics.
Your grip tightened on his vest.
"What is wrong with you?"
The question escaped before you could stop it.
Hunk's focus remained fixed on yours.
"What?"
You let out a disbelieving laugh.
"I nearly killed myself trying to save you. And you still keep asking why."
His jaw tightened behind the masked. For the first time all evening, he looked away. Just for a second. That was somehow worse. A frustrated sound escaped you.
"God damn it, HUNK."
Before you could stop yourself, your hand shot forward.
Your fingers caught the edge of his mask. Without hesitation you pulled it up and kissed him. Hard. The impact stole the breath from your lungs. Every emotion you'd spent hours trying to bury crashed into the kiss.
For a second, Hunks body stiffed. Then one hand closed around your waist.
Pulling you closer.
Not letting you pull away.
His lips crashed against yours with force. His grip remained firm and unyielding as he kept you close, leaving no room to think. No room to breathe as the kiss continued. The kiss was overwhelming.
There was nothing gentle about it.
His lips moved against yours with a fierce intensity, all restraint abandoned. As though something inside him had finally snapped after being held back for far too long. As though he had wanted this for longer than either of you cared to admit.
Your breath caught when the kiss deepened.
The anger that had fueled it moments ago melted into something far more desperate.
Your fingers found the straps of his mask, pulling it completely free before tossing it aside without a second thought. One hand slid into his hair, holding him close, unwilling to allow even an inch of distance between you.
Neither of you seemed capable of slowing down.
The world outside ceased to exist. None of it mattered. Not here. Not now. The movement happened almost instinctively. Before you realized it, you had settled onto his lap.
A low sound escaped him at the sudden contact. His hand immediately rose to your face. His palm cupped your cheek while his thumb pressed against the racing pulse beneath your jaw, holding you there as if he feared you might disappear the moment he let go.
For the first time all evening, Hunk wasn't thinking about the mission.
And neither were you.
Eventually, the kiss broke. Not because either of you wanted it to. Because breathing had become necessary. Your breath was heavy against each other. Both of you trying to process what just happened.
The office was silent.
The only sound was the faint hum of the lights overhead. Neither of you spoke. Slowly, you closed the small distance between you once more. This kiss was different. It was gentler and unhurried. There was no anger left behind it anymore.
Your lips stayed against his for a brief moment before you pulled away.
Then reality returned. The facility was shaking, followed by the groan of twisting metal.
You closed your eyes with a quiet sigh.
Of course.
Slowly, you slid off his lap. The sudden loss of contact felt strange. Neither of you acknowledged it. Hunk reached for his mask where it had fallen beside the desk.
For a second, he simply stared at it. Then he put it back on. The familiar black fabric hid his expression once more. The sight should have irritated you. Instead, it felt oddly reassuring.
Some things never changed. Hunk was the first to move. He reached for the E.L.P.I.S. file still lying open on the desk.
"The prototype is located in Sector Four."
You blinked.
A laugh escaped you.
"You seriously waited until after all that to tell me?"
His head shifted toward you. To tell you he was looking at your direction.
"Yes."
The answer was so completely Hunk that you couldn't even be angry. Another distant rumble shook the facility.
Both of you looked toward the door. The mission wasn't over. The infection wasn't gone. There were still answers waiting somewhere in the depths of the facility. But for the first time since arriving here, you weren't facing it alone.
Side by side, the two of you headed for the exit. Whatever happened next, you'd deal with it together.
I hope this isn’t considered too specific. I read your rules and know you don’t like fic-specific asks, which isn’t what I want, but I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this fandom. Would you ever do dividers for Resident Evil: Village? Specially Karl Heisenberg, his whole thing is having metal-bending type powers. My idea was like bloody metal gears or something? Sorry if this is too vague.
Even if you don’t do this, I just want you to know how grateful I am for you creating dividers as someone who absolutely hates trying to figure out Canva.
ahh I am sorry if the wording made you nervous! It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that I have limited time right now, and want to make things that anyone could pick up and use 💖 and omg yes i would love to make something for him!! sorry for the delay, but I hope this captures his vibe. I used your ideas and added in the classic logo & then his crest as well!
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.
They looked at each other unsure what to think. Not understanding. You leaned back slightly in the chair, ignoring the pull on your wrists.
“And trust me,” you added, “you really don’t want to be around when he decides to act on one.”
::::
He trained you to stay alive. How to think fast, move smart, and not freeze when it matters.
So when you get attacked in your shared home. You know he’ll show up. Even if he never really says how much you mean to him.
Words: 4886
You were standing in the kitchen, making yourself something to eat. The spoon moved slowly through the pot. Stirring the sauce as it thickened and swirled with every motion. Steam rose up gently, filling the space with a warm familiar scent that clung to the air.
Your eyes drifted to the clock on the wall. 23:46. It was late – too late for a proper meal maybe – but you were hungry anyway. Just something warm before bed. Something simple.
Music played softly in the background. Low enough to blend into the rhythm of the room. Your hips swayed faintly to the beat without you really noticing. The apartment felt calm in that late-night way. Dim lights and nothing demanding your attention.
The window was slightly open. A cool breeze slipped inside, moving through the kitchen and brushing lightly against your skin. It carried the fresh night with it.
For a moment everything felt relaxed.
But stillness at this hour always felt a little too good to be true. You paused for a second, spoon hovering above the pot. The music kept playing. Everything exactly the same as before but something felt… sharper than it should’ve.
You shook the thought away.
It was just a quiet night. You moved your hand to stir the sauce once more–
Then you stopped.
A sound cut through the room. Small at first. Almost nothing. Then louder.
A crack at the front door.
You froze. The spoon hovered above the pot, forgotten for a second as the music kept playing.
You listened anyway. Nothing followed. No footsteps. No movement. Just silence sitting too heavy in the walls.
“…Probably nothing,” you muttered under your breath. More to convince yourself than anything else. You turned slightly back toward the stove.
Then the second sound hit. Not a crack this time. A slow, deliberate shift. Like something pressing into the door again. Testing it.
Your stomach dropped instantly. This wasn’t the building settling.
You set the spoon down slowly. For a second, you just stood there, listening again. You were trying to understand what kind of something it was. Another faint shift at the door.
That was enough.
You moved.
Quietly, you stepped away from the stove. Your eyes scanning the kitchen in an instant. The room suddenly felt different. Every object more noticeable than before.
Your hand reached for the nearest thing you could use. A heavy kitchen knife.
You didn’t hesitate as your fingers closed around the handle. Music still played in the background. Almost insulting in how normal it sounded.
You turned it off. Silence hit immediately.
Now every sound mattered. You backed away from the kitchen slowly. Careful not to drag your feet. Eyes fixed on the hallway leading toward the entrance.
Hide first. Then see.
You slipped into the darker side of the room. Positioning yourself where the light didn’t fully reach you. Close enough to move fast. Hidden enough to disappear into the space.
Knife steady in your hand. Breathing controlled.
The front door stayed quiet.
And then–
A faint click from the door. Your entire body reacted before your thoughts could catch up.
One step.
Then another. The door opened slowly. Like whoever was entering already knew the space too well. That was enough.
You moved.
Fast.
Silent.
You crossed the distance in a heartbeat, slipping out of the kitchen shadow with the knife already raised. No hesitation. No second guessing. Exactly like he taught you.
Aim. Commit. End it quickly.
You struck. The blade came down in a clean movement. But the moment your attack landed, something was off.
No stumble. No real resistance. Just adjustment.
Effortless. Your wrist was caught mid-motion. Firm grip. Immediate control. Before you could even register the shift in power. Your arm was twisted – not painfully but decisively – redirecting your momentum instead of fighting it.
The knife slipped from your hand. Clattered somewhere out of reach.
“—”
You barely had time to inhale. Your balance was gone. A single smooth movement pulled you forward. Then turned you and your feet losing contact with anything stable as your body was guided down to the floor.
Controlled.
The floor met your back in a dull impact. Not hard enough to hurt. Just enough to stop you.
And then he was there. A steady weight above you, pinning your arms in place with practiced ease. One knee securing your movement, one hand keeping you grounded without pressing too much force.
Silence filled the space.
Then–
“…Good.”
His voice was calm. Close enough that you felt it more than heard it. Your breath hitched. Recognition hit a second later.
“…Hey, darling.”
The tension in your body didn’t vanish all at once. Frustration and relief colliding as you exhaled sharply through your nose.
You tilted your head slightly. And without thinking twice. You reached up. Your hand finding his face. His skin was warm under your fingers. He didn’t stop you.
Just looked down at you – expression steady, unreadable in that familiar way of his. You pulled him down just enough to press a quick kiss to him.
Then another. Small and short. Like a reset button after impact. Only then did he finally speak again.
“You hesitated,” he said. You let out a laugh. Still pinned beneath him.
“You’re heavier than I expected,” you muttered.
A pause.
“…That’s not what I meant.”
That earned the faintest change in his expression. It was almost nothing but enough that you knew he heard you.
You let out a breath, your fingers still resting lightly against his jaw.
“…So,” you murmured, glancing up at him, “how was work?”
A beat of silence. His expression didn’t change.
“Uneventful.”
You huffed quietly.
“Of course it was.”
Your hand slid down slightly, resting against his chest now. Holding yourself after the sudden adrenaline.
“Let me guess,” you added, a faint smirk tugging at your lips, “nothing went wrong. Everything went exactly according to plan and you didn’t break a sweat.”
Another pause.
“…More or less.”
That made you smile again.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
He didn’t react to that either.
But his grip shifted slightly – as he finally eased some of his weight off you. Though he didn’t fully let you go yet.
“You dropped your guard,” he said instead.
There it was. You sighed.
“Hi to you too.”
For a second, neither of you moved. He looked down at you. His eyes fully focused on you.
Then he moved closer.
His other hand caught your wrist – not tightly but firmly enough to guide it away from his face.
“You’re not focused,” he said quietly.
You blinked up at him.
“…Excuse me?” You said amused.
His expression didn’t change. “I knew where you would attack.”
That made a faint smile tug at your lips.
“Wow,” you murmured. “Did you come back from your mission just to roast me in my own kitchen?”
A pause.
His thumb pressed lightly against your wrist once. Checking.
“You hesitated,” he reminded again.
You let out a soft breath through your nose, still smiling.
“I didn’t hesitate,” you said. “I recognized you.”
Another beat.
Your fingers brushed lightly against his wrist now. Returning the touch like it was nothing new between you.
“That’s your fault, by the way,” you said casually.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Not in annoyance. In assessment.
“…Explain.”
“You make the same footsteps every time you come home,” you said. “It’s kind of predictable.”
That earned the smallest pause.
“…Noted.”
You hummed softly, almost satisfied.
Only then did he finally release you properly. Slow and controlled. Shifting back just enough to give you space to sit up.
You stayed close for a second longer than necessary.
Just enough time to breathe.
“See?” you murmured, smoothing a hand through your hair. “Progress.”
His gaze didn’t leave you.
“…Debatable,” he said.
That earned another laugh from you.
Before you could think too much about it. You leaned forward again and pressed a quick kiss to his jaw. Not teasing this time. A habit more than a statement.
You pressed your lips only for a second before pulling back.
He didn’t react outwardly. But his eyes followed you.
“…You’re distracting,” he said finally.
That made you smile.
“Good,” you replied lightly. “Then my guard’s not the only thing dropping tonight.”
A pause.
Then, as if deciding the moment was already over. He shifted fully back and straightened.
:::::::
“Great,” you muttered while glancing toward the kitchen. “My food’s definitely ruined now.”
Without waiting for a response you turned and walked back toward the stove.
The apartment felt normal again. Almost like nothing had happened. You reached for the pot, giving the sauce a quick stir. Checking the heat.
Behind you, you could hear him move towards you. Steps crossing the room. Always the same.
You glanced over your shoulder.
“You’re staying this time, or–?”
You let the question hang in the air. He stopped a few steps behind you.
“Tonight, yes.”
You nodded slightly to his answer.
“Good.” A small pause.
Then, softer: “I made enough for two.” Silence settled between you again.
“I’ll be gone tomorrow.”
Your hand slowed slightly in the pot. Not stopping. Just enough to show you heard him.
“City?” you asked.
“Yes.”
You hummed quietly, processing it without making a big deal out of it.
“How long?”
“Not sure.”
Of course not. You let out a breath. “Alright. Try not to get into trouble.”
:::::
Later that night, the apartment had settled into a stillness.
The lights were off. Leaving the room in soft darkness. Broken only by the glow slipping in from outside. Somewhere in the distance, the city still moved but it felt far away.
You lay in bed, the warmth of the blankets wrapped around you. Your body slowly relaxing after everything. Beside you, he hadn’t moved much since lying down.
You could tell he was still awake.
It was in the way he breathed. Like he wasn’t fully letting himself rest.
You moved slightly. The mattress dipping under the small movement. For a moment, you stayed where you were. Staring into the dark listening to that familiar breathing beside you.
Then you turned. Slowly, without thinking too much about it you moved closer to him. Your hand found him first. Resting against his chest. The fabric of his shirt was warm beneath your fingers.
You let yourself settle there.
Closer now, your head coming to rest just below his shoulder. Fitting into that space like it was something you’d done a hundred times before. Which you did.
For a moment, he didn’t react. Didn’t pull you closer. Didn’t move away.
Just…watched you silently.
Then, after a second, his arm shifted. It came to rest around you with enough pressure to keep you there. A controlled adjustment. Like he had simply accepted your presence.
Your fingers moved slowly against his shirt until they settled there. Holding onto that steady warmth without thinking. The silence between you wasn’t cold. Just your way of communicating.
“…You should sleep,” you whispered. Your voice softer now, already edged with exhaustion.
A pause.
“I will.”
You were not fully convinced but your eyes are already closing. Your breathing began to slow, matching his without effort. He didn’t move again. Didn’t adjust. Nor pull away.
Just stayed exactly where he was. His arm still resting around you. Outside, the distant sounds of the city blurred into the background.
Inside, everything felt Safe. And this time, when sleep finally pulled you under–
You didn’t fight it.
:::::
Morning came quietly.
Light filtered through the curtains, stretching across the room. You didn’t move at first. His arm was still around you. Exactly where it had been the night before.
For a moment, you just lay there, listening to his breathing—steady now. Awake.
Of course. You shifted slightly, enough to look up at him.
“You’re leaving.”
Not a question. A small pause.
“…Yes.”
You nodded faintly. No surprise.
Your hand rested briefly against his chest before you pushed yourself up. The warmth leaving with the movement. The room felt cooler immediately.
He was already sitting up behind you. By the time you stood. He was moving efficient. Like a switch had been flipped back on. You followed him out of the bedroom. Rubbing the last bit of sleep from your eyes as he started gathering his things.
Jacket. Gear. Everything in its place. You reached for it before he did. Picking up his jacket and holding it out to him.
He took it without a word. As he slipped it on you stepped closer. Your hands moving automatically. Straightening the collar, smoothing the fabric over his shoulders. A small habit. Unnecessary.
Still he didn’t stop you. Didn’t comment on your behavior.
Just stood there, letting you. When you were done. Your hands stayed for a second longer than needed. Then you leaned in and pressing a quick kiss to him.
Soft and short. A goodbye, nothing more. You pulled back but didn’t move away completely.
“Everything locked,” he said.
You huffed under your breath.
“I know.”
His eyes stayed on you.
“Windows.” You exhaled, just a little amused now.
“Yes.”
“Avoid routines.”
That made you pause for a second. Then a smile crossed your lips.
“Wow,” you said. “You really think I wasn’t paying attention?”
“…I think you get comfortable.”
There it was again. You shook your head to that.
“I’ll be fine.”
His eyes stayed on you a second longer. Then he gave a small nod.
“Stay alert.”
You rolled your eyes.
“Go,” you said softly. “Before you start to miss me.”
A brief pause. Then he turned.
By the time the door closed behind him, the apartment felt different.
The day went by slowly. It was late afternoon when you said goodbye to the cashier at the small store near your block. Grocery bags hung from your arms as you made your way home. The weight slowly digging into your fingers with every step.
All you could think about was getting inside, dropping everything and making something warm to eat. Maybe putting on a series afterward and falling asleep on the couch without meaning to.
A small smile tugged at your lips at the thought. A quiet weekend. Simple. Exactly what you needed.
“Where is my man when I need him?” you mumbled under your breath as you shifted the bags higher in your arms.
He would’ve taken them without effort.
Of course he would.
You reached your building a few moments later. Letting yourself inside before making your way up the stairs. The hallway was as still as always as you moved closer to your door.
Key in hand, you stopped right in front of it.
For a second, you just stood there.
Then you saw it.
The damage wasn’t obvious at first glance. But once you noticed it, you couldn’t unsee it. A faint mark near the lock. The frame slightly misaligned. Too subtle to be an accident. Too specific to ignore.
Your grip on the grocery bags tightened. Your expression changed almost instantly – tiredness fading into something sharper.
Awareness.
Slowly, you shifted one bag down and reached for your phone. Your fingers didn’t hesitate this time.
Did you finally bring me flowers?
Send.
The message left your screen.
:::::
Somewhere far away, Hunk’s phone lit up.
He read the message once. That was enough.
Without a single word to his team. He left and nobody questioned it. He was the leader, after all.
But everyone knew where he was going.
Home
:::::
Back at the apartment, you locked your phone and slipped it into your pocket.
Your hand immediately moved to your side. Your fingers brushing against the small knife concealed there. You didn’t draw it yet. Just made sure it was there.
Then you unlocked the door.
And stepped inside.
The silence hit you first. The door had barely clicked shut behind you when something moved—
Fast.
From your left. You reacted before you fully registered it. The bags dropped.
A hand shot toward you—aiming to grab, to restrain—
You pivoted sharply, body turning on instinct. Your arm came up, deflecting the grip while your other hand moved just as quickly—
The knife was in your hand now. No hesitation. You drove it forward. A sharp gasp—shock more than pain—as the blade caught fabric, skin. Not deep, but enough.
Enough to make him stumble back.
You didn’t wait. Step in. Elbow to the ribs. He folded slightly, breath leaving him in a rough exhale as you twisted out of his reach.
Space. Create space. Your eyes snapped up—
—and something slammed into your face.
Pain exploded across your cheek, sharp and immediate. Your head snapped to the side. Balance slipping for a split second as the impact rang through you.
Too slow.
You stumbled but didn’t fall. Instinct kicked in before the pain could settle. The second intruder stepped in, trying to follow up, to finish what he started—
You moved first.
Your hand shot up, catching his wrist mid-swing, twisting hard. His momentum worked against him as you stepped in close, closing the distance before he could recover.
Your knee drove up into his stomach. The air left him in a choked sound as his body folded forward.
You didn’t stop. The knife in your hand flashed again—quick and controlled—forcing him back. Forcing space between you.
He stumbled, disoriented, trying to regain his footing—
You shoved him. Hard enough to send him crashing back into the wall. A dull thud echoed through the apartment as he dropped.
Still.
For a second—
everything went quiet again.
Your breathing was heavier now. Faster.
Your cheek throbbed where he hit you. A dull pulse spreading under your skin.
But you were still standing. Still holding the knife.
Then more footsteps sounded behind you.
You turned just as they rushed you – no time to recover.
A hand tangled in your hair, yanking your head back hard enough to rip a sharp cry from your throat. Pain shot through your scalp, forcing your balance off as your vision jolted.
Before you could react, something slammed into your side.
Air rushed out of your lungs as you were driven forward, barely catching yourself before another strike followed. A rough grip caught your arm, twisting it back at an angle that made your shoulder scream.
You struggled—kicked—fought—
But they didn’t stop.
Didn’t hesitate.
Another blow—this time to your ribs—forcing a broken breath from you as your strength faltered for just a second too long.
And that was all they needed.
Something struck your head.
The world tilted instantly. Your vision blurring as your knees gave out beneath you. You barely felt yourself hit the ground. Your grip on everything slipping too fast to hold onto.
Your last thought flickered—
Save me
Then everything went dark.
::::
When you came to, it wasn’t gentle.
Your head throbbed first. Pulsing pain that made it hard to think. Your vision swam as you forced your eyes open, blinking against the dim light.
Wrong. Everything felt wrong.
Your arms–
You tried to move.
Nothing.
Your wrists were bound tight behind the chair. Rough material biting into your skin. Your shoulders protested immediately. Sending sharp pain down your arms as you tested it again.
Tied. Just Great.
You let your head fall back for a second. Breathing slowly through the ache before lifting your head. They were still there. At least two of them. Maybe more.
Watching you.
“Well,” one of them spoke up after a moment, voice rough, almost amused. “Look who’s awake.”
You didn’t answer right away. Just looked at him.
Silent.
“…You don’t talk much, do you?” he added, stepping a little closer.
A small laugh left you.
“Oh, I do,” you said, your voice quieter than usual but steady. “Just not when I don’t like the company.”
That earned a small scoff.
“Careful,” he muttered. “You’re not really in a position to–”
You tilted your head slightly, cutting him off.
“You should probably leave,” you said, almost casually.
A pause.
Then a short, humorless laugh.
“Yeah? And why’s that?”
Your lips curved faintly despite the situation.
“My boyfriend holds grudges.”
Another pause.
They looked at each other unsure what to think. Not understanding. You leaned back slightly in the chair, ignoring the pull on your wrists.
“And trust me,” you added, “you really don’t want to be around when he decides to act on one.”
::::
For a second there was silence. Then they started laughing at you.
Small at first and then louder. Filling the room with mocking tones.
“Did you hear that?” one of them scoffed. “Her boyfriend–”
The words didn’t finish. They just… stopped.
A dull thud followed.
The laughter died instantly.
“What the–”
No one had heard the door. But he was there. The second man turned too late and he dropped just as quickly as the first. His voice cut off before it could rise into anything more.
Panic settled into the room. Now they understood.
You barely had time to process what was happening but you could not hide a smile. One moment they had been laughing. Mocking you and the next. Two of them were on the ground, unmoving.
Then a hand grabbed you.
You were yanked back against the chair. Pain shooting through your shoulders as something cold pressed against your throat. A knife.
“Don’t move!” the last one snapped. His voice was unsteady and shaky. His grip tightening like it might give him control.
Your breath caught as the blade pressed closer. Just enough to remind you how little space there was between threat and action.
Your eyes lifted.
And found his.
Hunk stood a few feet away, completely still. Like he had all the time in the world. No wasted movement from him. Just that steady, unreadable look locked onto the man holding you.
“Back off,” the man stammered, trying to sound in control. Though the tension in his voice gave him away. “Or I swear–”
He didn’t finish.
Because Hunk moved.
Fast.
The man behind you tensed. The knife pressing closer against your throat as he tried to pull you back, using you as leverage.
Hunk closed the distance in seconds.
His hand shot out. Catching the man’s wrist before the blade could press any further. The grip tightened instantly before he twisted. With brutal force.
The man’s hold broke with a loud scream. His fingers losing the knife as it slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
He reacted too late. Hunk stepped in, forcing him away from you. Using his own momentum against him to keep him away from you. The movement was quick.
The man tried to resist, but he didn’t get the chance.
A short struggle.
Then nothing.
His body went slack and dropped to the floor beside the others. The room fell quiet again.
Only your breathing was heard now. Hunk didn’t look at the others. His attention shifted immediately to you.
He stopped in front of you, taking a second to look you over. Your face, the bruise forming along your cheek. The way your shoulders were pulled back by the restraints.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Not much.
But enough.
“Hold still,” he said.
His voice was low. He reached behind you, fingers finding the bindings at your wrists. There was a brief pause, then a quick motion as he cut through them.
The pressure released instantly.
Your arms dropped forward, the sudden freedom sending a sharp ache through your shoulders as the blood rushed back in.
Hunk’s hand came up without hesitation, steadying your arm before you could fully react. Just enough to keep you from losing balance.
“Easy,” he added. His grip stayed for a moment. Making sure you were stable before letting go.
His eyes moved over you again, more carefully this time.
Checking.
The bruise on your face. Your ribs. The way you held yourself.
“You’re hurt.”
“You should see the other guys,” you muttered. Your voice a little rough as you rolled your shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness.
Hunk didn’t react to the joke.
But his hand came up again. Fingers brushing lightly against your cheek. Careful. Like he tried not to be to ruff with you. He turned your face just enough to get a better look at the bruise forming there.
His touch was steady. Firm enough to keep you still, but not enough to hurt. For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
Just looked.
Taking it in. Then his thumb shifted slightly. Brushing just beneath your eye in a way that felt… softer.
“You should have left,” he said.
You huffed softly, leaning into his hand just a fraction.
“Yeah,” you murmured. “I know.”
There was a brief pause.
Then, without another word he pulled back. He moved to the bathroom to grab a cloth and a bottle of water, anything usable. He returned just as quickly.
“Sit,” he said, though you were already doing exactly that.
The cloth was damp when he pressed it gently against your cheek. The contact made you wince slightly. But his grip adjusted immediately. Trying to be more careful.
“Sorry,” you muttered.
He didn’t answer. But the pressure eased.
His attention stayed on you as he worked. Cleaning the small cuts on your skin, checking your ribs with careful movements. You watched him for a moment.
“You got my message,” you said quietly.
A small pause.
Then, a slight nod. You smiled faintly at that. Even if it pulled a little at the soreness in your face.
“Told you,” you added under your breath. “I make the best codewords.”
Another pause. His hand stilled for just a second before continuing. As if the words had registered somewhere deeper than he’d show. When he was done. He didn’t move away immediately.
Instead, his hand came to rest briefly at the side of your neck. His thumb brushing lightly against your skin. Not rushed. Just making sure.
::::
“You’re staring,” you murmured after a moment, your voice softer now.
His hand stilled briefly at your neck before he pulled it back.
“I’m checking,” he replied.
You laughted lightly, but didn’t argue. The apartment had gone quiet again. Not tense this time.
You moved. The exhaustion finally catching up to you now that everything had calmed down. Every movement reminded you of it. Your ribs, your shoulders and the dull ache behind your eyes.
Hunk noticed. Of course he did.
“Come on,” he said.
It wasn’t really a suggestion.
::::::
The bedroom was dim, the curtains half-drawn. Letting in only a faint trace of light from outside. It felt quieter in here. Safer.
You sat down on the edge of the bed first. Exhaling slowly as the tension in your body started to catch up with you. Now that everything had stopped, it hit harder. The soreness, the exhaustion, the adrenaline.
Hunk stayed near the door for a moment, like he always did. A quick glance around. Checking. Making sure.
Only then did he move further in.
You watched him as he pulled off his gloves. Setting them aside with the same calm precision he did everything else. Like nothing had happened.
Like this was just routine.
“…You’re bleeding too, you know,” you said quietly, nodding toward his hand.
He glanced down briefly.
“It’s not mine.”
Of course it wasn’t.
You huffed softly, shaking your head a little before easing yourself further back onto the bed. Every movement pulled somewhere, but it was manageable.
“You’re really bad at the whole ‘comforting’ thing,” you added after a second.
He didn’t respond right away.
Instead, he stepped closer. Stopping beside the bed. His gaze moved over you again.
“You’re talking,” he said. “That’s a good sign.” You let out a small breath that almost passed as a laugh.
“Wow. Reassuring.”
A faint pause. Then, without another word, he sat down beside you.
Close. Not distant anymore. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight. You shifted after a moment. Carefully, inching closer until your shoulder brushed against his side. Not asking. Just… doing it.
He didn’t move away. Didn’t comment. His arm came up a second later, settling around you – steady and firm, like it belonged there.
That was enough. You let yourself lean into him fully this time. Resting your head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was slow, unchanged, even now.
You focused on that. Let it pull you down. “…They were loud,” you murmured after a moment, your voice softer.
A pause.
“I know.”
Of course he did. Your fingers curled lightly into his shirt, grounding yourself there.
“You scared them.” Another pause.
“…Good.”
Simple. But it made you smile anyway. Silence settled again, but this time it was different. Not empty. Not tense.
Just quiet.
Your eyes were already closing.
“Told you,” you murmured. Half-asleep now, your voice barely there, “you hold grudges.”
His hand shifted slightly against your back, a small and steady motion. Not correcting you. Not denying it.
“I remember,” he said. Sleep took you not long after that.
He didn’t move.
Not until he was sure you were safe.
Summary: You feel it before it happens.
The danger. The pain. The warning you never asked for.
It keeps you alive.
It keeps him alive.
But this time, it almost breaks you. And when it’s over and your body finally gives in.
He’s still there. Protecting you.
Words: 5665
The steady thrum of the helicopter filled the cabin, vibrating through the metal floor beneath you and Leon.
Your head rested against the cold window, eyes closed as you steal a few moments of rest after the mission. The faint reflection in the glass showed Leon beside you. His gaze fixed on you rather than the darkness outside.
His hand held yours firm and gentle. His thumb drawing slow absent circles over your skin.
He sighed. The flight wouldn’t last much longer. Soon, you’d be landing. Straight into another assignment waiting at the White House. No real break. No time to recover.
It was better that you were asleep.
The last mission had been rough. Harder than most. And Leon already knew this night wouldn’t end anytime soon. Not until everything was handled so you both could finally go home.
If that even happened. His eyes moved on you, his grip tightening slightly. You had done an irreplaceable job at his side out there. You always did. And that was exactly what worried him.
Because no matter how capable or strong you were. You still had that same instinct he did.
To step forward first.
To take the hit.
To sacrifice yourself if it meant someone else would make it out.
He hated that.
Not because it was wrong. But because it meant you could be taken from him just as easily.
Leon’s jaw tightened faintly. He couldn’t lose you. Not like that. Not at all.
His protective instincts had never really faded. Not since the day he first saw you.
Back then, you had been something entirely different. Not an agent.
Just… someone who needed saving. And from the moment he pulled you out of that place. From those cold walls and sterile lights – something in him had refused to let go.
It didn’t make sense. You had been a stranger. But it hadn’t felt like it. It had felt like losing you would have meant losing something important. Something he hadn’t even understood yet.
Seeing you again after DSO training had been… strange. You weren’t the same person he remembered. You stood taller and stronger. Determined in a way that left no room for doubt. A rookie, officially – but not really.
Not to him.
God, he had tried.
More than once. Tried to talk you out of it. Tried to convince you to stay away from this life. From the danger and constant risk. The pressure that came with it. But you had made up your mind long before that.
And Leon had known it. So instead, he accepted it. He trained you. Took you on missions. Taught you everything he could – not just how to fight, but how to survive.
And you learned fast. Faster than he expected. Somewhere along the way, you stopped being someone he had to watch over–
and became someone he trusted to watch his back.
Someone he relied on.
Someone he–
Leon’s thumb stilled against your hand as your body suddenly jerked slightly against the window.
His eyes snapped back to you.
You were trembling. You were having a nightmare and he definitely knew what it was about.
::::
Darkness swallowed everything.
Cold metal beneath you.
The sharp sting of restraints digging into your wrists.
Flickering lights overhead, barely holding on.
Voices echoed around you. Distorted and distant.
“Hold her still.”
Your breath hitched.
No–
Not again.
You struggled. Panic rising fast and your pulse was pounding in your ears as shadows moved closer. A gloved hand reached for you
“No, wait!”
A sharp sting in your arm….
:::::
You woke with a gasp.
Your body jerked forward. Your breath uneven and your heart was pounding violently against your ribs as if trying to escape.
For a second, nothing made sense. You were sweating slightly as you tried to steady your breathing.
Suddenly, two strong hands came into your field of vision. Gently but firmly cupping your face.
You flinched, your body jolting again – until you realized it was just Leon.
“Hey—hey, it’s okay.” His voice was calm.
He shifted closer from the window seat, pulling you into his arms without hesitation. One hand stayed at the side of your face while the other wrapped securely around you. He was holding you against his chest.
“It’s alright,” he murmured again.
Before you could say anything, he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. The contact made something in you loosen. A quiet breath slipping past your lips as the tension slowly began to fade.
You closed your eyes, leaning into him. Letting his warmth anchor you back in the present.
“I’m sorry…” you mumbled under your breath.
Leon only tightened his hold slightly. His hand moving gently through your hair before he placed another soft, reassuring kiss there.
“You don’t have to be,” he said quietly.
You buried your face in his shoulder and your arms finally moving to wrap around his back holding onto him tightly. You needed this – needed the closeness – to calm yourself down.
Slowly, your breathing began to steady.
You knew you were already close to the White House. The last thing you wanted was to show up like a complete mess.
“The same dream?” he asked after a moment. Still holding you without letting go.
You nodded against him.
“Yeah… the same shit all over again,” you muttered. Your voice sounded tired.
Leon’s thumb moved gently along your cheek. Trying to make sure you know he is there for you.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” you whispered. Pressing a soft, grateful kiss to his cheekbone.
:::::
“We’ll be reaching the designated location soon,” the pilot called from the front of the helicopter. His voice cutting through the steady hum of the rotors. He glanced back briefly, his eyes scanning on the two of you for just a second before returning his focus to flying.
You were still holding onto your man. Your face half-buried against his shoulder when you slowly opened your eyes again. The lingering warmth of his embrace made it harder than it should’ve been to pull away – but you did.
You shifted back into your seat, straightening up. Though your hand remained in Leon’s. Your fingers stayed loosely intertwined. Like neither of you was quite ready to let go just yet.
Your gaze drifted over his face, taking in the small details. The faint tension in his jaw, the way his eyes were still fixed on you searching, making sure you were really okay.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. You gave his hand a light squeeze. A silent reassurance.
I’m okay. Don’t worry.
For a moment: he looked into your eyes – then a faint, almost tired smile tugged at his lips. Only then did he look away. His attention shifting toward the dark window beside him.
Outside, nothing but night stretched endlessly ahead.
“Five minutes,” the pilot added.
Five minutes until landing. Five minutes until whatever waited for you next. Your grip on Leon’s hand lingered just a second longer before relaxing slightly.
Another mission.
Another fight.
This life was tough but you were happy you were not alone in it.
You sighed softly as you leaned back into your seat, letting your head rest against it. Your gaze drifted to the window, watching the clouds pass by in slow, endless waves as the helicopter cut through the night sky.
For a moment, everything felt almost calm.
You closed your eyes again, just briefly.
A dull headache had started to form, pulsing faintly behind your temples. You had hoped to get at least a little sleep during the flight but that hadn’t really worked out.
Not with your mind the way it was.
Your thoughts began to blur, drifting somewhere between exhaustion and silence-
until the pilot’s voice cut through it.
“Almost there.”
You exhaled, shifting slightly in your seat – when suddenly a sharp chill ran down your spine. It hit you instantly, like being thrown into ice-cold water.
Your eyes snapped open, your body tensing as you tried to make sense of it, to catch what was going on.
But deep down… you already knew.
That feeling. The same one every time. The quiet, unmistakable warning that something was about to go wrong.
Something bad was coming. Your grip around Leons hand tightened without you even realizing it.
But he noticed. He always did. He knew you well enough to recognize the shift instantly. The tension in your body, the way your focus sharpened.
Something was wrong.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice low, already alert. You swallowed; your eyes still fixed on the view outside. The city lights passing far below, distant and indifferent.
“…Something’s wrong.”
Leon didn’t question it.
His posture straightened instantly, his free hand already moving toward his weapon as his gaze followed yours into the darkness.
The feeling only grew stronger the moment you landed. It didn’t fade. If anything, it tightened its grip around your chest.
You and Leon moved through the White House side by side. Everything looked normal.
Too normal. Agents passed by. Staff hurried through the halls. Quiet conversations echoed off polished walls.
But none of it eased the tension building inside you. You made your way toward the meeting room. Your steps slowing slightly without you meaning to. The closer you got, the worse the feeling became. Sharp and pressing, impossible to ignore.
Then–
Everything went dark.
A silence fell over the hallway for a second, before distant noise started to rise.
Your breath caught. Your hands began to go numb. A cold sensation spreading through your fingers as your entire body tensed.
It was happening. Your gaze snapped to Leon, your brows drawn together in clear worry. You didn’t even have to say it.
Something was very, very wrong.
You looked around, trying to make sense of what was happening.
A few people stood nearby, just as confused as you were – murmuring, glancing at each other. Waiting for someone to explain the sudden darkness.
Your gaze moved over them, one by one.
Nothing. No obvious signs. No movement out of place. Everything looked… normal. But you didn’t believe that for a second. Not with that feeling still clawing at your chest.
You started moving again, slow and cautious, your senses sharpening with every step. Leon stayed close behind you. His hand already resting on the holster of his gun, ready.
You reached for your own weapon as well, drawing it smoothly. Your movements precise and controlled.
“Stay sharp, darling,” you muttered under your breath as you followed Leon into the next corridor.
More people had gathered there. Agents, staff, security. They stood in small groups, looking around with growing unease. Waiting for orders or for answers. Some spoke in hushed voices trying to figure out what was going on.
You moved a little closer, your gun rising in front of you. Your grip steady despite the tension building in your chest.
Then–
Your breath caught. Your eyes snapped across the room, scanning again. Faster this time, more focused.
And then felt it crawling in your fingernails.
One person.
Your gaze locked onto him. A man standing slightly apart from the others. Shoulders tense, head lowered just a little too much. To anyone else, he looked shaken. Normal even.
But to you–
Something was off. Your stomach dropped. Your fingers tightened around your weapon.
“…Leon,” you said. Your voice barely above a breath as you stepped just a little closer to him. You didn’t take your eyes off the man.
“That one,” you murmured.
And not even a second later, he turned. Without warning, he lunged at another person whose back was turned. A sharp scream pierced the corridor as she was bitten hard in the neck. Blood spattered and panic erupted instantly.
Chaos broke loose.
People scattered in every direction, screaming and tripping over each other, desperate to escape. But you didn’t stop.
You moved forward with your weapon raised. Every sense on high alert, instincts screaming at you that this was far from over.
:::
By the time you finally reached the President, he was already being fitted into a protective vest. Tension written all over the room.
Jason was standing near a hidden safe behind a painting, pulling out weapons with practiced movements and handing them over to you and Leon.
“Sorry we’re late, Mr. President,” you said, your voice steady despite everything that had just happened.
“Everyone ready?” Jason called out as the last weapon was taken. A few quick nods and thumbs-ups followed. No hesitation. You moved out together, coordinated, pushing through the corridor toward the President’s safe room.
The halls were no longer quiet.
Gunshots echoed as you took down the infected along the way, each movement precise.
You stayed close to Leon, your gun raised as you turned another corner. Clearing it quickly before moving on.
By the time you reached the safe room, things had only grown more tense. You left Patrick behind and followed Jason further down the hall.
There was no time to slow down.
“We split up,” Jason ordered, his voice sharp and controlled as he looked between all of you. “Anything that moves – put it down. Don’t let anything get near the safe room.”
You nodded, tightening your grip on your weapon. With that, Jason and Shen May moved off to cover the sides, disappearing down separate corridors.
You and Leon exchanged a quick glance–
then turned and headed up the stairs together.
You peeked around the corner. Scanning the area carefully before giving Leon the signal that it was clear – for now.
Without hesitation: you both moved forward, quick and coordinated. Like it was second nature. It always was.
You cleared the next section together. Covering each other’s angles with practiced precision until you stepped into a large, open room.
The space was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the floor–
and filled with movement.
Zombies staggered in the room, slow but relentless.
You didn’t waste a second.
Both of you raised your weapons and opened fire. Taking down the zombies one by one with controlled shots.
You were finishing off another figure when that familiar feeling hit. Something was rushing straight toward Leon.
“Leon, tak–” you started, but the words caught in your throat as the zombie lunged at him.
“Shit,” you muttered under your breath. Adrenaline pumping as you sprinted forward, every instinct screaming to reach him in time.
With a precise kick you slammed into the zombie, knocking it off Leon. It hit the ground hard–
but you were already there. You planted your foot firmly against its throat, pinning it down as you raised your gun and fired.
One clean shot.
The body went still.
“Don’t you dare touch him…” you muttered under your breath. Your voice low and sharp before your attention snapped back to Leon.
You stepped toward him quickly. Reaching out and grabbing his hand, pulling him back up onto his feet.
“You okay?”
He steadied himself, his grip tightening briefly around your hand before letting go.
“Yeah,” he said, a little breathless. “I’m good.” His eyes met yours for a second longer than usual.
“Stay close to me,” he said, more serious now. You huffed lightly. “You were the one on the ground.” A faint smirk flickered across his face.
“Yeah. Not happening again.”
“Better not.” With that, you both raised your weapons again. Finishing off the last of the infected on the floor with precise shots.
You were trailing behind Leon as you walked down the underground hall where a large U-boat was waiting. You barely listened to what the captain was saying about it. How advanced it was, how reliable.
Your thoughts were somewhere else.
Still stuck on the last few hours, where you had to fight for your life once again. A zombie outbreak… in the White House.
It didn’t make sense. Something about all of this felt off. Your gaze shifted ahead, watching Shen May and Jason as they walked in front of you. You couldn’t quite figure them out.
It wasn’t that they weren’t capable agents – far from it. But something about them felt… suspicious.
You hadn’t brought it up to Leon yet. But maybe now you’d find the chance.
You picked up your pace just slightly, closing the small distance between you and Leon.
“Leon,” you said quietly. He glanced at you immediately, slowing just enough to fall into step beside you.
“What is it?”
You hesitated for a second, your eyes flicking ahead toward Shen May and Jason before lowering your voice a little.
“…Something’s off.”
That was all it took.
His expression shifted.
“Yeah?” he asked. You nodded slightly.
“I can’t explain it. But… them. This whole situation.” You exhaled. “It doesn’t feel right.” Leon didn’t brush it off. Didn’t question it anymore.
Instead, his gaze moved ahead, more focused now.
“…Alright,” he said after a moment. “We stay sharp.”
A small pause. Then his hand brushed yours.
Barely.
“Stick with me.”
Your fingers twitched slightly at the contact, but you didn’t pull away.
“Wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” you murmured. That earned you the faintest hint of a smile from him.
::::
You and Leon followed a few steps behind Shen May and Jason as they led the way into a small conference room aboard the submarine. The walls were bare metal, the lighting low and the hum of the engines thrummed through the floor.
Jason began explaining the plan, but as expected, most of it was vague. “We’ll investigate the source of the breach from here. That’s all you need to know for now.”
Shen May added nothing more than curt nods, her eyes scanning the room like she already anticipated trouble.
Leon leaned slightly toward you, whispering, “They’re not saying much.”
You nodded, your unease growing. “That’s… all they told us. Nothing concrete about the mission itself.”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Figures. Classified. Typical.”
The two agents finished their briefing, exchanged a few quick words with you and left without another glance. The door sealed shut behind them, leaving only you and Leon in the quiet room.
You exhaled, letting your shoulders relax just a fraction. The tension in the corridor had followed you in. But now it felt manageable. You glanced at Leon. His eyes, usually so guarded, softened as they met yours.
“Now that it’s just us…” you began, but your voice trailed off, unsure how to start.
He gave a small half-smile. “Yeah?”
You stepped a little closer, feeling the warmth of him beside you. “I don’t know… I just feel like there’s more going on than they’re letting on. I can’t shake it.”
Leon’s hand brushed against yours again, firm but gentle. “Then we watch each other’s backs. That’s all we can do right now.”
“Yeah. I count on you.” A light smile curved your lips. “By the way, darling… your jacket is suiting you well.” You reached out, letting your fingers trace over the leather. Moving slowly up toward his chest, then tilting your hand toward his face.
Leon’s eyes flicked down at your hand, then back to yours. The hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Is that so?”
“Yeah,” you murmured. “You look really handsome. You knew I love this jacket the most, didn’t you?”
He caught your gaze, a warmth lighting his eyes. “I might have guessed.” His hand moved up to your cheek. His thumb tracing gentle over your skin. “And I love that you notice these things.”
You leaned in slightly, heart fluttering. The hum of the submarine faded into the background. For a moment, it was just the two of you. The warmth of his hand, the quiet intimacy of a room suddenly too small.
You tilted your head, lips hovering just a breath from his. “Leon…”
His eyes locking with yours. Heartbeat pressing against yours.
And then–
A sharp metallic clang echoed down the hall, breaking the spell. Both of you froze.
Your chest tightened, an instinctive shiver running down your spine. That same low, uneasy pulse – the one you’d come to trust – spiked in your head. A dizziness teased the edge of your vision, and a sharp throb formed behind your temples.
Something was coming. Something bad.
You grabbed Leon’s arm, your grip firm. “Leon… something’s wrong,” you whispered, voice tight but urgent.
His eyes flicked to yours, instantly alert. “Where?”
Before you could answer, the lights flickered and dimmed, the hum of the submarine shifting into an uneasy vibration
“Let’s go. We need to find out what’s going on.”
You nodded slowly and fell in step behind him as you left the room. Your steps were cautious, each one measured as you tried to pinpoint the source of that nagging sense of danger.
As you both approached the U-boat’s control room. You ran into Jason again. The scene that greeted you made your stomach twist. Dead bodies sprawled across the panels, motionless and eerily silent. Your eyes flicked from shadow to shadow, scanning for anything that might still pose a threat.
Jason’s eyes moved over the bodies scattered across the control panels, his expression hardening slightly.
“…We’re not alone down here,” he muttered under his breath.
Then his gaze snapped to you and Leon, voice turning sharp and commanding.
“Anything that moves—take it out. Don’t hesitate.”
Leon gave a short nod. “Understood.”
You tightened your grip on your weapon, the unease in your chest growing heavier by the second.
“We split up,” Jason added. “Find any survivors.”
Leon didn’t argue. He just glanced at you briefly.
“You’re with me.”
“Always,” you answered quietly.
::::
The two of you moved out together. Stepping into a narrow corridor leading deeper into the submarine. It was too quiet.
Only the low hum of the engine filled the space but even that sounded… wrong now. Your steps slowed.
That feeling came back. Stronger this time.
A sharp pressure built behind your temples. Your breath catching slightly as your senses stretched too far, trying to grasp something you couldn’t yet see.
“Leon…”
He glanced back immediately. “What is it?”
“…I don’t know yet,” you murmured. “But something’s here.”
Then–
A faint sound. Scratch. You both froze. Another one.
Closer this time. Leon slowly raised his knife. Eyes scanning the dark corners of the corridor.
“…Hear that?” You nodded. Your ability spiked.
Not a warning–
A flood.
Your vision blurred for a second as the signal hit all at once. Too many movements. Too many directions. Your stomach dropped.
“Hun–”
Something moved. A rat darted out from the shadows.
Then another.
And another. The floor came alive.
A swarm burst forward, pouring out from vents, pipes, cracks in the walls. Filling the corridor in seconds. Hundreds of them. Their bodies overlapping, screeching, claws scraping violently against metal.
Your breath hitched.
Too much. Your ability spiraled out of control, trying to track every single one at once. Pain shot through your head.
Your knees nearly gave out.
“Hey – stay with me!” Leon grabbed your arm instantly, steadying you before you could collapse.
“I–” your voice broke slightly. “Too many… I can’t–”
The swarm rushed forward. Leon didn’t hesitate.
“Move!” He pulled you back fast, forcing your body to react even when your mind lagged behind. You stumbled with him, gripping onto his arm as he dragged you toward the next section.
The rats flooded after you. Fast and relentless.
“Up!”
Leon grabbed onto the overhead mesh and pulled himself up, then immediately reached down for you.
“Give me your hand!”
Your vision swam, but you forced your arm up. He caught you instantly, pulling you up beside him as the swarm rushed beneath your feet.
You clung to the metal above, your arms trembling. Not just from the strain, but from the overwhelming pressure in your head.
The rats piled below you, jumping trying to reach.
Your breath came uneven.
“Leon…”
“I’ve got you,” he said firmly. “Don’t look down.”
You squeezed your eyes shut for a second, trying to steady yourself.
Think. Focus.
Leon dropped down briefly, smashing a pipe open. Water began flooding the floor quickly, spreading across the metal surface.
Your eyes widened slightly despite the dizziness.
He grabbed a cable next cutting into it with quick precision.
“Hold on!”
He jumped back up beside you just as the exposed wire hit the water.
A violent surge of electricity shot through the flooded floor.
The swarm convulsed instantly.
High-pitched screeches filled the corridor as the rats thrashed, bodies jerking uncontrollably before going still.
Silence. Your ears rang faintly.
But your body–
Your body gave out. The tension snapped all at once.
Your grip slipped.
“Hey–”
Leon caught you immediately, one arm locking around you as you sagged against him. “I’ve got you,” he said, pulling you close and keeping you steady.
Your head dropped briefly against his shoulder, breath shaky.
“…too much…” you whispered. “It was everywhere…”
His hand moved to your back.
“I know,” he murmured. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”
You nodded weakly, holding onto him as your senses slowly calmed. Though the echo of that overwhelming feeling still stayed in your head.
:::::
Silence slowly settled over the corridor, broken only by the faint crackle of dying electricity.
Leon still held you close, his arms firm around you as if letting go wasn’t even an option. His eyes searched your face. Focusing on how pale you’d become, the worry in them impossible to hide.
There wasn’t much he could do.
Your ability – something you never asked for – was pushing you to your limits again and all he could do was keep you upright. Keep you close, hope it was enough. And he hated it.
Hated how helpless it made him feel.
His grip tightened slightly, almost unconsciously. Like if he just held on a little stronger, it might somehow keep you from slipping away. But it didn’t change anything. He couldn’t take the pain from you. Couldn’t quiet whatever storm was raging inside your head.
And that feeling–
It dragged him back.
Back to a place he never really left.
To Raccoon City.
To the chaos. The screams. The people he couldn’t save.
His jaw tightened.
Why did it always feel like this? Like no matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he fought, it was never enough. Why could he never protect the people that mattered to him… the way he was supposed to?
His gaze softened again as it fell back on you, his hand moving up to your face, thumb brushing gently over your cheek.
“…I’ve got you,” he murmured quietly, more to himself than to you. “I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
“I’m sorry, darling,” you whispered, your voice faint. “I’m holding us back again.” His expression tightened instantly.
“Hey–no,” Leon said. His hand cupping your cheek a little more securely. “Don’t say that.”
You let out a shaky breath, your fingers still gripping his jacket weakly. “I can barely stand, Leon… if this keeps happening–”
“It won’t,” he cut in gently. “And even if it does, we deal with it. Together.”
Your eyes flickered up to his. “I’m supposed to have your back… not slow you down.”
A quiet exhale left him. Almost like he was holding back.
“You are,” he murmured. “You always do.”
His thumb brushed over your cheek, slower this time. “You warned me. Back there… more than once. I’m still here because of you.”
Your grip on him tightened slightly at that.
“You don’t see it, do you?” he added quietly. “You think this–” his hand moved slightly. Gesturing to you, to the strain you were under “ –makes you weaker.”
You swallowed, saying nothing.
“It doesn’t,” he said. “It’s the reason we’re still standing.”
The words settled somewhere deep in your chest. Easing some of that tight pressure that hadn’t just come from your ability.
Your breathing slowly steadied. Your body still leaning into his but no longer on the edge of giving out.
“…still feels like I’m falling apart sometimes,” you admitted quietly.
His lips pressed together for a moment before softening again. “Then fall apart with me there and not alone.”
Your eyes softened at that, something warm flickering through the exhaustion.
“…you’re really not letting go, huh?”
A faint, tired smile tugged at his lips. “Not a chance.”
Your eyes slowly lifted to meet his again. He was already watching you. Every line of his face softened. As if you were something fragile he didn’t want to break.
A small, nervous smile curved your lips. You leaned in just slightly, keeping the movement gentle. He responded immediately. Closing the last space between you and your lips met halfway in a soft kiss.
Your hands moved naturally. Yours gripped the lapels of his jacket, feeling the warmth and texture beneath your fingers.
The kiss deepened just a little and his other hand slid to the small of your back. Pulling you closer. Your free hand threaded lightly through his hair, holding him with the same careful insistence he held you.
Your lips moved slowly against his, opening just enough to let his mouth nudge yours in tiny, teasing rhythms. The touch was electric, but soft.
Even as the kiss became more confident. Your hands stayed connected. His movements guided yours, every brush and pull a quiet conversation was an exchange of trust and care.
When you finally eased back, your foreheads rested together. Your hands stayed. His still on your cheek. Yours gripping his jacket. Both of you reluctant to break contact.
A soft, shy laugh escaped your lips.
“…I needed that,” you whispered.
Leon’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Me too,” he murmured. His arm still wrapped securely around your waist.
For a long moment, you simply held each other, letting the tension of the day slip away. Just for a while.
After a few quiet minutes, he whispered softly, “You ready to take down the bad guys with me again?”
You nodded slowly, a determined spark in your eyes. “Yeah… let’s take down these pieces of shit.”
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head. “That’s my girl.”
When you both finally made it home exhaustion hit you all at once. It settled deep in your bones.
After taking down Jason in his final form. You had barely been able to stand. The mission alone had been enough. The constant strain of your ability. The overload of it all had pushed you far past your limits.
At least it was over. For now.
You had already signed off for a few days of vacation. Not that it would last long. These days it felt like everyone was going B.O.W. shopping and somehow you and Leon always ended up right in the middle of it.
A quiet breath left your lips as you let yourself sink back onto the mattress in your shared bedroom. Your body relaxed instantly against the familiar softness. Muscles finally giving in after hours of tension.
For a moment, you just lay there, staring up at the ceiling. Letting the silence settle around you.
And this should be the time that you felt asleep. At least that was the plan. You just didn’t.
Your mind kept running.
Fragments of the mission flickered behind your eyes. The noise, the chaos and the overwhelming rush of your senses. Your head throbbed faintly. A dull reminder of everything you had pushed through.
You turned your head slightly, glancing over at Leon. He looked just as worn out, though he tried to hide it like always.
“…You sleeping?” you asked quietly.
He let out a small breath, shaking his head. “Not even close.”
A faint smile tugged at your lips. “Yeah… same.”
Silence fell again but this time, it felt restless.
You pushed yourself up slowly. Running a hand through your hair. “I don’t think I can stay in here right now.”
Leon looked at you, already knowing where this was going. “Yeah?”
You nodded, a small spark returning to your eyes. “Let’s go for a ride.”
There was a brief pause. Then the corner of his mouth lifted. “Thought you’d say that.”
::::
Not long after, you were outside.
The cool night air hit your skin instantly. It cleared your head just enough to make you breathe a little easier.
Leon’s bike stood waiting, dark and familiar under the dim streetlights.
He swung a leg over it first, then glanced back at you. “You good?”
You nodded, stepping closer before climbing on behind him. Your arms wrapped around his waist naturally. Your body pressing against his back as if it was second nature.
“Always,” you murmured.
The engine roared to life beneath you. The vibration humming through your body.
And then you were moving.
The city stretched out before you, streets mostly empty at this hour. Lights glowing softly against the night. The wind rushed past you. It was cool against your face, tugging at your clothes.
You leaned into him slightly, your grip around him tightening just a little. Out of comfort.
Leon’s hand briefly left the handlebar, reaching back to rest over yours for a second. Giving it a small squeeze before returning his focus to the road.
You smiled softly against his shoulder. The ride was smooth. Steady.
The sound of the engine. The rhythm of the road and the quiet understanding between the two of you. It was perfect.
You let your head rest against his back. Eyes half-closing as the tension slowly slipped away with every passing streetlight.
“…This helps,” you murmured.
Leon tilted his head slightly, just enough for you to know he heard you.
“Yeah,” he called back. “Knew it would.”
For once, there was nothing chasing you. Nothing waiting around the next corner.
Just the two of you, riding through the night and finally able to breathe.
they injected me with mental illness when i was a baby because they didn't like that i radiated moonlight and had stars inside my eyes. they were jealous of me.
