Chapter 1 - Unexpected Guest

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A pool of blood begins to cover the rusty metal ground as heavy breathing reverberates inside the now-ruined room. The fire is spreading, the temperature is rising, and the fog begins to make him dizzy. Giving in, he collapses amongst dead bodies, his eyelids grow heavier, his vision blurry, placing his bloody hand against one of the many wounds he is left with. He can smell the scent of death, counting down his last moments alive.

In all of a sudden, numerous steps begin to approach, voices from radios echo, and metallic boots thud against the iron floor, catching his hearing from the distance - yet, he's unable to react. All too soon, and a low laugh resonates as a specific, well-dressed man approaches the almost lifeless figure. Standing now atop him, the man raises his hand.

"Lower your weapons," he orders his soldiers as a weary cough comes out from the person's weak throat. The man then kneels down and observes the situation before him for a few quiet seconds. Another chuckle of mockery escapes him. "A pleasant surprise. Completely at my mercy," his smile fades, face contorting into a look of hatred.

The wounded person doesn't respond. His wheezing and heavy, exhausted breathing are all the only sounds begging for help he can make. The man then stands back on his feet, returning to his soldiers.

"Call in for air support. Check if he's infected."

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That was it...

Leon and Ashley were on the jet ski, right in the middle of the tranquil sea, after successfully escaping the island - the island Ashley was captured by the evil cult.

Both of them spend a moment and watch the sunset slowly rise as they try to catch their breath. Neither of them can still comprehend the past minutes - After the constant danger and the fear of death, they finally realize that she is free, and she can return to her home safely. Back to her father's worrying arms. 

Leon glances down at his filthy reflection in the water, allowing the soothing sounds of the gentle now-waves to calm his overstimulated senses. Meanwhile, Ashley that's seated behind him on the jet ski, looks at the sky, seconds before she looks over at him and offers a smile.

"Mission accomplished, right?" Ashley asks quietly. Leon stays silent for seconds before shaking his head in response. It's still far from over.

"Mission accomplished...when you're home safe." He finally replies, turning his head towards Ashley. Her smile widens the moment she met his gaze.

Just then, she slightly shifts, leaning to the side. "Thank you for saving me," she murmurs appreciatively, making Leon respond with a tired smile. He then turns his attention back to his current task, by starting the engine.

"Don't mention it."

"You know, I could put in a word with my dad," Leon frowns at her sudden offer. "Have you assigned to my detail, if you're interested?"

"You don't need me. You proved you can handle yourself. Even if you could use a lesson in knife safety." He jests, prompting a soft chuckle from Ashley. "Come on, let's go home." He finishes before bringing to life the jet ski. The sudden speed catches Ashley by surprise and she quickly grasps onto Leon's waist for support. 

Within seconds, the two of them left the destroyed, yet torturous place behind. Leon's final mission? Return Ashley back to her father's safe residence.

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- 2 Weeks Later -

....He trailed his fingers slowly against her arm, caressing her soft skin as he admired the view he was facing. His gaze lowered to his lover's head that was laid on his chest. Her eyes were closed, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

He couldn't take his eyes off her. He couldn't be more thankful that a woman like her would ever change his life for the better. He couldn't be anything else but madly in love with her.

After all the obstacles they went through, this whole scene seemed too good to be true. But there he is, lucky enough to experience a reality like this one.

At that moment, he knew that there was no limit to happiness. There was always room for more....

You sigh as you turn the final page of one of the thousand romance novels that are on your shelf. A wide smile was drawn on your face the whole time, not realizing how this book literally made you feel like you were in a relationship without even noticing it.

Aiden Connor. The main character of the romance novel you just finished, and another man to be added to your fictional-men crush list. A massive pet peeve of yours...

You could say that being a hopeless romantic was a toxic trait in this generation. Because romance is fading away so drastically. Dating apps are everywhere. Not real communication.

You look around you people settling for men or women for doing the bare minimum. Most of them cheat out of insecurity and pass it as something very common, expecting, and even...normal in some cases. Others make a one-night stand, or a simple hookup with just a random girl or dude they see and they like- let's not talk about commitment...in the smallest inconvenience, they get up and leave.

But what happens to the people who just...want to love...and be loved? What about the men and the women that still believe that true love exists? Where they want to go on cute dates and spend some time in each other's arms..Buy flowers for each other...cook their favorite meal- or just- even just do a few silly romantic stuff? What about those people who wait for the right one...the person who will be there for them through thick or thin. Why is actual love so..rare?

And why...do you have to be one of them? Instead of getting along with today's standards..why do still wait for Mister Right when he probably doesn't exist?

What if...you are the problem in this whole thing? What if your point of view towards love is....stupid?

What if, what if, why, and why...

With a deep breath, you close the book and get up from your bed, forcing those melancholic thoughts to abandon you. You hate how often they come back lately... 

Standing up, you walk over and carefully make space on the shelf in your library, pushing the book into its designated spot among your collection of romcoms-yes, you've categorized your romance novels, so you can easily choose the type that matches your mood...before sliding in your slippers next, and walk out of your bedroom—correction—dragging yourself out to the kitchen to eat the leftovers from your earlier meal.

Once reaching the kitchen, you open the pot, and the rich smell of red, sweet peppers and juicy mushrooms assaults your nostrils, making you literally drool. Your last real meal was last night, the shitty hospital food, and your breakfast was only a glass of orange juice. Impatiently, you reach for a nearby plate, filling it with a generous amount.

However, the moment you settle down and after literally your first bite, your phone goes off right beside you. You raise an eyebrow, watching the contact.

Sadie.

Taking a deep breath, you swallow your bite hastily and pick up the call with a pretentious tease. "And I was wondering when you were going to call,"

"Hello to you too...dumb bitch,"

You chuckle at her greeting as you chew, before setting the fork down. "Someone's moody today."

"I'm fucking pissed." She says — Not surprising at all, hearing this from her. "You're home?"

"Yeah, I'm eating some rice with mushrooms I cooked."

"I see.." a small silence comes from her end. "Aren't you gonna ask me what's wrong?"

You roll your eyes at her response. Classic Sadie. "What's wrong?"

Not even a seconds later, Sadie snaps. "Evan left for a three-day trip with his friends in Sweden. He'll be back on Sunday." 

Of course it would be about her new hookup/wanna-date-him situation. And from the tone of her voice, you can already figure that these two had an argument before that flight. 

Or...she argued by herself if you really think about the type of person she is.

"Let me guess, you didn't say your goodbyes on good terms," you speculate as you savor the first bite, just to hear her sigh a second later.

"Wanna meet up at Weekend's Bar? At 9." You close your eyes and exhale in despair because you surely do NOT want to go out. But she's your best friend, and she is going through a...difficult time, perhaps. "I'll tell you everything there."

"Yeah sure-" suddenly, your phone begins to vibrate against your ear. Pulling away, you see your mother calling you from the other line. "Hold on, mom's calling me."

"Okay."

You push a button and answer her call. "Hey mom, what is it?"

"(y/n), did you talk with Ava?" you hear your mom's voice from the other end, filled with irritation. Looks like everyone's on the edge today.

"No? Why?"

"Great...She was supposed to be at the hospital by 3. I have two patients that need stitching, and your sister is in her own world once again."

You listen almost impatiently to your mother's blabbering about your older sister being irresponsible once again, and the urge to hang up the phone seems so tempting because all you really wished for is enjoy your loneliness in peace. But looks like she's subtly asking you to pay a little visit to your parents' shit-ass hospital. "...Need me to come over?"

A second pass in silence, before your mother responds,"If it's possible. There isn't anyone else who can take care of it."

There is, but anyway.

"Okay. I'll be there in 15," you say before you hang up the call, and get back on the other line with Sadie. "Sads, I gotta go."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah...just got into an unexpected shift at the hospital," you say as you wipe your mouth with a nearby napkin, rising from the chair.

"You're kidding me right now?"

"What?"

"We said we'll meet at the bar. Can't you cancel it, by sending your sister?"

"That's why I have to go. Because it's my sister's shift and she disappeared."

Another exhale leaves Sadie. "Then, I suppose we're not on for tonight?"

"No, we'll be good. I'll be done by 8 hopefully..if you can come and pick me up from the hospital,"

"Sure, I will. But you're gonna have to pay for the gas. You're too far from my place."

Typical Sadie.

"Yeah, sure. See you soon."

"See you, babes," you hang up the phone before rushing toward your room and changing to something plain and simple, before taking your phone, wallet, and backpack, leaving the house.

----

"You haven't changed, Leon...You just think you have." Ada almost murmured, and soon enough, her words led to an awkward silence. Leon scoffed, looking to the side. Seconds pass with him being skeptical.

"....Have you changed, Ada? Or are you just doing all this to use me again?" Ada didn't reply for a bit and pointed her gaze at Leon.

"What do you think?" She asks, her question conveying his answer.

-

Leon shakes his head, breaking away from the past's recent memories, slowly sitting upright on his couch. Seeing Ada six years after the incident in Raccoon City when she was supposedly dead, Ashley and Leon's infection, the death of Luis, and many other innocent lives that have been lost inside that village continue to haunt his mind in an endless loop.

Rescuing the President's daughter has left a heavy impact on him. The insanity he had to face brought dark thoughts he didn't have before, leaving scars that are beyond physical.

With a deep breath, he glances at the clock next to his TV, that was murmuring in the background. The time is 7:45 P.M. Outside, the sky begins to absorb darker shades, and the moon already made its appearance.

He gets his body up while being in his comfortable clothing, a black tank top paired with black sweatpants, and makes his way toward the bathroom.

However, his steps halt in his tracks, every body muscle tensing as the sound of the doorbell, suddenly pierces the silence. His eyes narrow, fixating on the door. That's definitely a first, considering Leon's place is a guarded secret, known to no one except his agency, and visitors are far from forbidden due to his job as a secret agent, making this unexpected guest all the more concerning.

The doorbell chimes again, and without wasting any moment, Leon moves towards the hanger beside the entrance and retrieves out his gun from the holster beneath his leather jacket.

His palm reaches the doorknob, allowing his fingers to hug the metal in a tight grip. The barrel of his pistol faces upward, while a few second of tense silence engulfs the whole place. The quietude stretches heavily, until- 

The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until-

Ding dong

At the third ring and in one swift motion, Leon yanks the door open, his weapon dropping into position, aimed squarely at-

"...Luis?" Leon's eyes wide open, lowering the pistol once he notices Luis's startled by the weapon pointed directly at his face.

"Get that thing down, eh?!" Luis's thick Spanish accent fills the hallway as he immediately throws his hands up dramatically, genuine nervousness in his eyes at having a gun pointed at his face. "Is this how you greet all your friends, Yanqui?"

Leon's eyebrows soften lightly in relief, the tension leaving quite bit his healing body as he tucks the weapon away. However, a lot of things are not adding up: How is Luis actually alive, and how did he find Leon's place? Making Leon's agent instincts kick in.

"How did you find my place? Were you followed?" he begins to fire off the questions, stepping out to scan the empty hallway, his low-set brows already scrunching again in concern and vigilance.

"Relax, amigo. Your HQ gave me the address," Luis says, returning to his usual, playful manner, stepping inside already as Leon follows, closing the door with a click. "And don't worry, I arrived with utmost secrecy," Luis reassures him, his gaze sweeping across the inside of Leon's apartment.

Leon on the other hand, doesn't say anything, walking up to Luis to observe his form for a quiet moment. The disbelief is apparent on his features. Can he be blamed for that? Luis literally died before Leon's eyes barely two weeks ago. "You escaped...alive." he finally states, his voice a betraying amazement but suspicion as well. "How?"

"Ay, someone like me always has his ways," Luis says, a light smirk adorning his face. "I'm a biologist who survived too much already. I can always escape," he raises his hands in fake surrender, swiveling lightly. "And look at me, looking as good as you remember."

Leon raises an eyebrow at Luis' confident twirl. "That doesn't answer my question." 

Luis follows with a sigh. "Look, a good drink at a good bar would inspire me to explain everything, eh?" His eyebrows wiggle suggestively. "In need to find a good lady too, if you know what I mean."

Leon raises an eyebrow and offers a firm nod. "Okay, wait outside. I'll change and be out in a bit."

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You step outside the operating room, accompanying your last and very brave little patient. Her injured elbow is now wrapped securely with gauze, the stitches applied fresh. The patient's parents quickly stand up from their seats and hurriedly approach their daughter, once their eyes land on her.

"Momma!" The little girl calls out, her face lighting up as she sees her parents waiting in the white corridors. A soft smile appears on your lips the moment you see her rush towards them.

"Goodness, Lily!" her mother greets her kneeling with open arms, hugging her carefully. You follow suit, snaking your hands in your pockets to retrieve the small prescription pad.

"Does your arm hurt, sweetheart?" her dad asks worried, joining down to her level. The little girl just shakes her head.

"She was injected with anesthesia. Luckily, the pain will not bother her for the following 8 hours," you explain with a professional tone as you write down on the notepad the names of medications she will need for her healing process.

"Thank you so much. What about when the anesthesia wears off? Her stitches?"

"She'll be in some pain for the first two days, till the stitches settle in, but don't worry. The acetaminophen pills I've written down will ease it just fine. She can start taking it the next day, for a week," you say, delicately tearing the paper and extending it to Lily's father. "Just make sure to give her the dosage I wrote and only that specific pill. Avoid giving her aspirin."

"Alright," the father nods at your instructions as he studies the paper.

"Once the week passes, you will bring her back to me, so I can change her gauze, and see how the stitches are treating her. If she is not in pain anymore, she can stop the medication."

"Okay...that will do then," the mother says, expressing her gratitude. You respond with a welcoming smile.

"Say thank you to the doctor, Lily." Lily's dad prompts in a mild tone, holding her small hand.

"Thank you, Miss Doctor." Lily's sweet voice makes you smile.

"I am just a nursing student- but you're welcome, Lily."

That's your title at your parents' hospital. And you want it to stay that way, no matter the knowledge you apparently carry, to the point of giving prescriptions when it's your dad's job.

"You're one talented nurse then —and we're still very grateful for your job," the father states, his tone serious, yet his expression showing sincerity.

"Thank you, once again," the mother repeats as she takes Lily's bright blue jacket to drape it carefully over her shoulders, while her husband scoops their precious daughter into his arms.

"Let's go for some ice cream, shall we?" his playful suggestion makes Lily squeal in excitement. 

"Ice creaaam!"

In the meantime, you just stand there, watching them walk away in awe..and kind of envy the whole scene. This is something you wish you could experience yourself as a kid, but life had other plans for you. 

That's what a family is supposed to be like...not whatever you grew up with.

Exhaling tiredly, you decide to push the melancholy away and retrace your steps back into the room. Taking the phone in hand, you send a message to Sadie, letting her know your shift has ended and she can come over to pick you up.

However, the moment you're about to reach your medical room-

"(y/n)?" 

You turn around to see your mom approaching, and from the look on her face, she surely doesn't seem happy. Again. 

"What is it?"

She doesn't answer. Instead, she reaches past you, pushing open the door to your medical room with more force. "Inside. Now."

You sigh, stepping inside while she follows closely from behind. The moment the door closes, and she turns to face you, her arms cross, looking at you in disbelief. "What the hell was that?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Didn't your father and I explicitly tell you NOT to correct patients when they call you doctor?"

Your tongue pokes the inside of your cheek, feeling your own irritation growing. This conversation AGAIN. "That's what I'm studying, though."

"No, (y/n). If they call you doctor, you smile and nod. You say 'you're welcome' and move on. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble we could get into if someone reports this?"

She really can't be serious. Why did you have to be freaking born in this family? You scoff, walking over to clean your medical table. "Well, if you're so terrified of getting caught, maybe hire actual licensed staff instead of using me as your three-in-one employee."

"You know we're tight in money right now-"

"Or Dad knows exactly how much money it saves him."

Your mom's face hardens. Of course it would. All she does is kiss his ass any chance she gets. "You're being disrespectful right now. Dad isn't like that, and we both know it."

"And apparently, so do I." You sling your purse over the locker before you reach for the handle to retrieve your clothes. "Except I'm doing it without a license, without proper pay, and definitely without a choice in the matter."

"You do have a choice," she coldly states. "You can leave anytime you want."

Your jaw subtly works as you look away from her. She knows what she said and what she wanted to accomplish. She knows that other than your monthly payment at the hospital, you don't have any other income. And if you don't have an income, you'll have to move back to their place...which is something you definitely don't want.

Sighing in defeat, you head over to the medical chair and reach to clean the table. "Can I go now, then? Or do you want me to perform an open-heart surgery? Or an appendectomy, perhaps?"

Your mom shakes her head at your sarcasm and chooses not to reply. Instead, she opens the door and steps out, closing the door with the same force she opened it before, making you jolt.

Well. At least work and stress are over...time to relax.

----

8:01 P.M

Leon and Luis make their entrance to the Weekends Bar. The lights were on low volume, while people were chatting left and right. The air is filled with thick cigarette, making the place look foggy. The bar is loud with chatter, yet cozy with dark red colors hugging the walls and the wooden floor filling the place with warmth. The perfect place for Leon.

He spots two seats that were against the counter and suggests Luis take a seat there. With Serra's agreement, they both make their way towards, while the song Breathe by Blu Cantrell was playing in the background.

The two men remove their jackets, hanging them carefully on the small hangers beneath the counter. As they settle in, a figure approaches, catching sight of their presence. "What can I get for the gentlemen this evening?" The bartender asks.

"I'll have a beer," Leon replies, his gaze focused elsewhere, away from direct eye contact.

"Make them two, señor," Luis adds. The bartender nods, walking away from the two men, giving them their privacy. Leon leans in, his arms against the counter, relaxed, while Luis pulls out a packet of cigarettes, taking one, and placing it between his parted lips.

"So, how did you manage to escape?" Luis chuckles at Leon's persistent question as he lights up his cigarette.

"Still too persistent, eh? Chris Redfield," he pauses, taking a puff from his cigarette. "Do you know him?" he asks, blowing a plume of smoke. Leon's brows furrow at the mention of the familiar name.

"Have heard of him. He works for the B.S.A.A. for all I know," he speculates and Luis nods in confirmation.

"I was one lucky bastard, having him and his team find me, right after you left me," he mutters almost quietly in gratitude and luck. "The moment they found out I'm alive, they took me in and gave me the medical care I needed. So, to repay the favor-" their conversation gets interrupted for a brief moment as the bartender arrives with their drinks. Luis thanks him with a polite smile as Leon takes the bottle of beer in his hand. "I now work as a biologist, for Chris' team specifically."

Leon raises an eyebrow. "The B.S.A.A. were there? How did they know about the cult?"

"They didn't until they arrived," Luis says, flicking the ashes onto the tray. Leon's eyes squint in wonder. "His team were sent there to search for any remaining sample of the Plaga and destroy it. Later on, they found out about the Iluminados being the ones behind its creation. Now, they visit the ruins from time to time."

"Why? The island was burnt down." Luis facial expression changes after his question, showing pure concern, while his fingertips toy with the glass of his beer bottle. He glances around cautiously before leaning in, closer to Leon.

"Because the island may be burnt down, but someone, outside of that place, has a suitcase with Plaga injections," Luis murmurs.

Leon lowers his brows, knitting them together in confusion. "How do you know all this?" he asks.

Luis leans back, taking another drag of his cigarette. "From one of Redfield's most trusted operators. The rest is classified," he pauses, turning his body towards Leon, having his full attention. "Los Iluminados may be over...but there is someone that survived the explosion, holding a valuable bioweapon that can destroy humanity any moment..."

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