Chapter 17 - Cold Replacement

----

"This is the team's new doctor, Leon. Hercules Hamasaki."

Leon's cautious gaze remains fixed on the new member of the team, while Claire maintains a respectful distance. You on the other hand still try to comprehend this guy's name. Hercules...Hamasaki? What kind of a name is even that?

Hercules, standing before you. A surprisingly tall guy, almost the same height as Chris and Leon's.

His face carries stories of battles fought, carved in the form of deep scars, one and most obvious extends along his jawline. His monolid eyes radiate a blend of dark brown verging on hazel color, intently scanning your form. His short, dark hair is neatly slicked and parted, and his Asian facial features complement his muscular physique, emphasized by strong cheekbones and a well-defined jawline. He takes two steps towards you and slowly extends his hand. As he does, his shirt sleeve rides up, revealing a heavily tattooed arm.

"Pleasure to meet you," he speaks up, his voice deep and soothing.

You hesitantly offer your hand, shaking his in return. With a slight nod, you break the contact. Hercules shortly glances at Leon next to you before taking a step back. Meanwhile, Chris keeps a watchful eye on you, but his expression reflects..relief that you're here.

"Hercules has been aiding the Greek Forces since the age of 16," Piers begins to report to the present members of the team. "Three years later, he was transferred to the U.S. and served at the A.M.S.F as a soldier. Simultaneously, he pursued his medical studies. Now, at the age of 29, he is one of the greatest military doctors in Japan. He arrived this morning, to assist us in completing our mission, and provide the medical care we were seeking for the past 5 days." 

God. This dude is surely way better than you, and you got all the way back here, just to see yourself being replaced like that. This is too fucking embarrassing to experience.

"Now that I have answered to your question, Leon, time to answer Chris'," Piers says, turning to you. "What are you doing here, (y/n)? As I recall, you abandoned the mission five days ago."

Of course, he would remind you that and in front of everyone. Worst thing? Unfortunately, Piers is often right, this instance included. You crave to slip into a closet and vanish from view. The situation is almost too much to bear, but you have to finally stand up for yourself and try to explain your position, what you felt that horrific day. Just like how you managed to do with Leon.

You open your mouth, seeking words to convey your feelings. Yet, not a single word manages to come out. How can you make him understand? Piers, too, is a highly capable soldier familiar with dealing with such situations, almost on a daily basis.

"She is here because I asked her to," Leon speaks up instead, stepping firmly by your side. He subtly meets your gaze before addressing Piers, "Consider it her reentry."

"Reentry?" Piers echoes, a faint scoff escaping his nostrils. "Well, that's considerate of both of you. But as you've just heard, her services are no longer required. Hercules will take over her role."

"And as I recall, I am the head of this team," Chris interjects, stepping into the conversation, and making his presence known. "You're not authorized to make decisions of this volume without my permission."

"We're beyond seeking permissions now, Captain. This is a matter of life and death. The whole world's future. Infectors have already begun to spread. We've already lost a valuable week when we were on the verge of identifying the cult's location," Piers counters, stepping closer. "So yes, I'll take matters into my own hands." 

"You're speaking nonsense. In case you've forgotten, having two doctors was part of our initial plan when we undertook this mission," Chris reminds him, his gaze locking with Piers'.

"And Hercules has the qualifications to fulfill the roles of not one, but ten doctors within the team," Piers asserts. 

"Don't test my patience, Piers-"

"Shall I remind you of his capabilities?"

"His skills are indeed exceptional, and I don't reject his services, but (y/n)'s assistance is also needed."

No, it's really not at this point..

"Japan's most skilled military doctor-" Piers says deliberately, emphasizing the term 'military'. His message is more than clear. He wants you out.

"And (y/n) is extremely well-studied to the medical field and performed her first surgery at only 21 years old. But this isn't a competition, Piers. It's a matter of life and death, just as you stated," Chris responds, turning toward Piers. "Right now, we need them both on this team. We'll be more secure without a doubt."

"Captain-"

"This is my final word on the matter, Piers." Chris' tone remains persistent yet managed. For now.

You, Leon, Claire, and Carlos stand in silence, observing the argument between the two men. Hercules, still across from the four of you, remains silent, holding his professional demeanor. And you, standing there, not doing or saying anything, can't escape the feeling that you've let everyone down. Mostly Chris. You feel like pure shit. This entire mess is a result of your actions. If you hadn't left in the first place...but then again, since you've made the decision to return, you're obliged to stay. 

It was stupid to listen to Leon and come back. Why do you always fuck up?

The temporary silence finally ends as Chris turns to you. "(y/n), lead Hercules to the operating room and show him around." With that command, you nod and adjust your bag on your shoulder, leading Hercules to the room. 

Truth is, one thing you didn't expect is to be accepted back to the team just like that. With only Piers complaining.

--

"The rest of you, return to your tasks," Chris commands. Claire acknowledges with a nod, making her way to the table, while Carlos heads toward Luis' empty laboratory. Leon, wordlessly, fixes Piers with a stern look before he abandons the base first.

The moment Piers and Chris are left alone, Piers approaches him. "You are making a big mistake-"

"Allow me to make it in peace," Chris interrupts mockingly, his brows furrowing in frustration as he strides towards the central table of the main room in the bunker. "I accepted Hercules without knowing about his full background because I trust you, Piers. You have to trust me too. Hercules will be a first aid help during our primary mission and unexpected side quests, and (y/n) will do the operations inside the base. Both of them will remain on the team, and that is final."

"This is exactly what you said last time," Piers countered, keeping pace with Chris. "Listen, nothing personal against (y/n) but once she saw the infector she ran off, without giving a shit about the team!" He snaps back. "Can't you understand that she will never be ready for something like this? Can't you fucking get that you're setting her life in danger this way? Only by including her-"

"Then you're relieved of her protection. I'll take over," Chris coldly declares. "I'm tired of having this same argument repeatedly." His voice slightly rises. "She's back, and I won't stop her because I wanted her to return," he continues, taking a step closer. "This discussion is over."

Piers clenches his jaw, his anger mirroring Chris's. "This girl will get us all killed. Mark my words!" Piers points a finger towards the operating room before storming out of the base.

Chris watches every movement. The moment the doors slide shut, he strikes his hand against the table. Claire slowly walks up to him and leans against the wooden table, her arms slowly crossing. 

"Need me anything, Chris?" Is the only thing she utters, her gaze offering a subtle source of comfort.

Chris shakes his head in response, allowing Claire to exit the base. He sighs deeply, his head dropping forward, eyes fixed on the floor, before slowly lifting to gaze at the closed door of the operating room.

"Hercules..."

----

 "This small cabinet contains gauzes, cottons, and alcohol for immediate application in cases of severe wounds," you explain, swinging open the cabinet doors. "Directly opposite, all the medical tools are organized inside those drawers," Hercules observes your movements attentively, his eyes conducting a thorough inspection around the operating room.

"As you can see, I have the sterilization furnace right here," you continue, indicating the device. "And on the right side inside that counter, you'll find readily accessible first aid kits, in case of unexpected exigencies."

Hercules remains silent, absorbing all the information about where everything is located and how the room is organized. You follow his gaze as heavy silence hangs in the thick air. Do you really have to share this room with him? Jesus Christ this day barely started and you want it to end so desperately.

"Pretty tidied up setup," Hercules comments. You nod lightly. "I imagine its organization has served you well."

"Yeah, I suppose it has," you mumble, still trailing your gaze along with his. "And I'm surely far from complaining. It helped me a lot with studying too. Immediate access to the base when I was researching about the parasite, the cult or- any other task they have given me in general..." Hercules gives you a firm nod, lapsing into quiet contemplation for a few seconds.

"So, you performed your first surgery at 21?" he inquires, smoothly moving to another subject. He leans against your desk, arms crossed, subtly showcasing his well-defined biceps. His eyes remain locked on you, empty of any hint of warmness.

"I was working with two other surgeons, of course," you correct. "But yes."

"That's still pretty impressive. Especially for someone of your age," he says. His remark though, makes you raise an eyebrow. However, you decide to disregard it. "It's not the most common thing to hear something like this."

"Uh, thanks..I guess." Hercules doesn't say anything, taking one final look around. Taking a deep breath, he places his palms against his thighs.

"So, which military did you serve with before working for the B.S.A.A's team?"

"None," you state. Hercules's eyebrows twitch lightly in surprise. "This is, let's say, my first job in this particular field."

"That's odd..." he mutters. "In such missions, they usually take the most qualified military doctors— no offense-"

You feel your irritation rising. If he's gonna start acting like Piers...

"Well," you begin, your voice showing a ting of frustration, "I'm only a doctor who seems to be qualified enough to be here," Hercules listens. His comments? To himself. "My job is only to provide medical care inside the base. Nothing more. Nothing less."

You walk on thin ice here. After what happened a few moments ago, you should be far from talking back and saying all that stuff to Hercules. You had fled when the team needed you most, and that hardly proved Chris right.

You can now only be thankful enough for him to accept you back.

"But you have done more than that," Hercules finally says, and surprisingly, he doesn't press further on why you left the team. "You've done your research as you mentioned, about the cult, the parasite..." he leans a bit. "So, clearly, you did more than just your job as a doctor. And the team seems to trust you a lot, by the time you hold such valuable information."

You don't say anything for a bit, looking at him for a few moments. "Well, since I work for them one way or another, it's necessary to be informed." Hercules takes the hint and nods.

"Anyways," he exhales slowly before standing back to his feet. "How about we go for a drink, tonight? So you can fill me in on everything you know?" he boldly suggests. Charm and strictness dance around his words and tone, his eyes searching yours for affirmation. However, his request certainly catches you off guard.

"I thought Piers had provided you with a full report by now," You reply, remaining professional with him. 

"Well, as you heard back there, I arrived this morning. I haven't had the time for a full report. He gave me a brief overview, but I believe I might need your help. Just as I'm certain you'll need mine in the future." He doesn't smile at all, yet his gaze is not threatening. "So, what do you say?"

A drink. Alone. Is this invitation professional, or something else? Because no matter though- how..well..handsome Hercules appears to be, you certainly are not interested in him in that way. But still, you are unsure of the intention behind his bold request. So the best option in situations like this? 

Give a diplomatic answer.

"I really appreciate the invitation but, I think it's best if I provide you with all the information you need inside the workplace. Having conversations like this outside the base can be quite risky, you know," You explain, and Hercules nods understanding.

"I hadn't considered that. I suppose we can do that," you nod in response, walking towards the chair of your desk and taking your bag.

"Great. We can meet a bit later because I have to go. I will be back in two hours." Without letting him ask for further explanation, you sling the bag over your shoulder, push open the operating room door, and leave Hercules alone.

The training awaits, and the thoughts begin to consume you. There's no way in hell you will give sensitive information to him. Not without Chris' consent first.

----

Slowly pushing the door of the training room open, you find Leon adjusting his dark grey bag on the concrete bench. The sound of your arrival catches his attention, and he turns his head to face you. You approach him, idly toying with the strap of your bag out of awkwardness.

"Hey, I hope I am not late," you greet him.

Leon simply shakes his head in response. "We'll start with the moves I taught you in the first session. I want to see your muscle memory," he states, methodically removing his tactical gear—boots, holster, tactical belt, and the rest. No greetings or other pleasantries. "Get changed and we'll begin."

You nod, proceeding towards the small, partially constructed locker room. Leon hadn't uttered a single comment about the conflict between Chris and Piers, nor about the new partner already. He focuses solely on your training and the mission ahead. So you will do the same. You will not mention a thing...

After changing into more comfortable attire, you walk out of the locker room to find Leon already in his own change, and holy fuck God shows no mercy today. There he stands, moving the gym mat to its designated spot, his tactical gloves covering his palms. His tight turtle neck tank top clings to his sculpted torso, emphasizing his broad shoulders, bare biceps, and forearms with subtly visible veins. The black fabric outlines his abs and chest. 

That strange surge of arousal flickers in you, but it quickly fades, being replaced by the lingering unease from a light hangover and the nervous tension from your earlier encounter.

You swallow your discomfort and clear your throat, forcing your gaze back to his face. Leon letting go of the mat, it lands on the floor with a loud thud. Maintaining his stern gaze, he gestures towards the mat.

"Come on," he urges with his tone low. You walk up to him, and together, you position yourselves in the small makeshift training area. Leon stands opposite you, both of you now in exercise clothes.

His usual stoic demeanor takes over once more as you are alone. As if yesterday, the meeting between the two of you never happened. Your conversation...his comfort..

He begins to circle you, considering your form for any potential vulnerabilities. "You ready?" he asks, giving no room for further delay.

Without waiting for your response, he grabs your left arm, swiftly turning you around. Your back collides with his chest, and with practiced precision, his bare arm wraps around your neck, holding firmly without applying pressure— simulating an attacker's hold.

"Break free," he commands calmly yet firmly, as a momentary wave of panic and surprise grip you.

You quickly regain your focus, recalling Leon's techniques: Solar plexus, instep, nose, and abdomen or groin.

Executing the technique, you successfully break free. Leon stumbles backward a bit but quickly regains his footing. "Again." He says unexpectedly. "This time use a bit more strength." 

Well shit...looks like the 'We'll start off easy' lasted only for the first session.

Nodding, he resumes his position, and once again, you repeat the process. Breaking free successfully once more, Leon gives a nod before stepping back. "Good. One more time."

For the final demonstration, he reiterates the hold: arm around your throat, his head beside yours, his gaze penetrating your face, as if awaiting your execution. This time, treat it as a genuine assault. Once finished, Leon withdraws, allowing you to reposition yourself directly across from him. He adjusts his tank top before speaking, "Now, we will address the rear bear hug hold. I remember this one took some time for you to grasp, so once we're certain you've committed this technique to memory, we'll proceed to breaking free from front holds."

"Okay," you reply before he moves right behind you once again. Suddenly, looking under you, you see Leon's arms slowly snaking around your torso. His hand locking on his wrist, tightening slowly around you, and securing you against his chest. "Go," he almost whispers. 

The poor execution begins, spreading out your legs to keep your balance as Leon attempts to pin you down on the floor. But this fucking hold is too difficult to break free from. You strain against his embrace, struggling to find leverage. Leon immediately notices. 

"Focus. Use your hip." He instructs with a very low grunt. You try to drive your hips inward, but the situation just becomes a tangled mess. You let out a small groan of frustration as he gradually increased the pressure, both of you now in a writhing struggle.

His grip around you remains firm and controlled, still imitating the attacker's force, but without crossing any boundaries. Yet, you still struggle to break free effectively. Leon's eyes shift from your face to your body, noting your continued movements.

"Stop. Your stance is off. You need to spread your legs further." He advised, loosening his grip and allowing both of you to reset your position. "Let's try this again."

You inhale deeply, making a conscious effort to focus and clear your mind of your current troubles. A moment later, Leon takes hold of you once more. Fully committed to the session now, you begin to execute the technique. Your hands grip his tense forearms, your legs spread, and your hips thrust toward his center. With a stomp on his foot and a 'decisive' headbutt, Leon finally breaks his grip and gives an affirmative grunt of approval.

Sighing you glance at the floor. You feel oddly uneasy today. Pressured. As if everything is against you and you only disappoint. This...is what you feel from the time you first got here. Bringing your hands to your hips, your mind really can't help but travel back to what happened at the base with Piers and Hercules. With him in the mix, his worth seems to overshadow yours. You don't envision him as a partner, but rather as competition.

And all of that thanks to fucking Piers, and to your own dumbass.

"That's good," Leon's soft praise pulls you back to the present. A small pause hangs between you, both of you slightly winded. Leon's hand reaches your shoulder. It surprises you, making you look at him. "You're doing good. We got this, remember?" A sudden yet sweet comfort comes out of his pale lips, making the negative feelings that shower you, slip away with his soothing words, through his grumpy face and deep voice.

You tiredly smile at him and lazily nod. "Thank you." You suddenly say, looking into his eyes. Leon drops his hand from your shoulder. "For listening to me yesterday. On why I felt the need to leave- all those days when I had to hold it to myself it felt like-"

"Hell." He echoes, the word carrying a depth of understanding. He knows. He understands. You nod once again. Leon breaks eye contact for a brief moment, before returning his attention back to you. "Don't mention it." Stepping back, he relocates the mattress before stepping onto it. "Let's continue. We don't have much time."

Nodding, the two of you get yourselves together and stand right across from each other. It matters a lot more, knowing that you have Leon now by your side as a partner.

It makes you feel safe..

----

"Enter." His voice echoes sternly within the confines of his office. The guards push the doors open, revealing Ada poised at the entry. She delicately makes her way into the room and the doors close firmly behind her. "Fill me," he demands.

"The team now has two doctors," Ada informs. "The nurse- returned." Her final report elicits a sarcastic chuckle from him.

"Is that so?" He asks, gracefully tapping his fingers on his desk. "And who made the honors to join the Sinfuls?" He sneers, mocking the team's name.

"I have no intel about the individual."

"Well, find out." He commands firmly. Ada gives him a professional affirmative nod, as her gaze remains steady, observing him rise from his seat. "The plan begins to fail. The situation unfolds into a darker path and the syringes are decreasing," he pauses, clenching his fists. "You need to find a way and send the team there before Saddler uses all of them."

"You can consider it done," Ada reassures him. "By tomorrow, the suitcase will be in this office."

"Kennedy and the nurse too. Do not forget your side quest," he stands up, slowly approaching her. "Remember. That team is nothing, but pawns."

----

"Wait, so you're like half Japanese, half Greek?" Carlos asks visibly surprised, leaning forward. Hercules nods affirmatively with a faint grin playing on his lips as he idly twirls a pen in his hand. The two of them seem to have the base to themselves for the moment. "Greek mother and Japanese father?" 

Hercules shakes his head, reclining in his seat. "No, the opposite."

"And what's with your name then?"

"Long story short, my parents never got married so I got my mother's surname." Carlos shifts in his seat, spreading his legs and resting his hand on the table's surface. A light chuckle breaks out from his throat.

"Sheesh, brother. You surely are one of a kind."

"Yeah, a rare blend, but we exist," he casually responds. Carlos nods, scanning Hercules' appearance.

"That would explain your unique features, I suppose. Majestic Asian traits on a Greek God-like physique," he jests. Hercules lets out a low chuckle, his lips barely curling upwards.

"Well, consistent training played its part as well."

Their conversation abruptly halts with Luis' sudden entrance. Both Carlos and Hercules turn their heads toward the biologist. "Relax, relax, I'm—" Luis's words cut short as he spots Hercules seated at the table. He arches an eyebrow and light smirk draws his lips in surprise. "Who's the señor?"

"Luis, this is Hercules Hamasaki, the team's new doctor. Hercules, meet our biologist, Luis Sera," Carlos introduces, closing his laptop.

"Sera," Hercules repeated, his expression devoid of a welcoming smile. "Encantado de conocerte, (Nice to meet you,)" 

Luis' brows furrow, his surprise evident at the language exchange well concealed. "Si, yo también.. (Yes, me too)." He replies, leaning against the doorframe of his laboratory. "What kind of wind blew you here?"

"A wind called Piers Nivans," Hercules says, rising from his seat and adjusting his white shirt.

Luis scoffs, reaching for his pocket. "He really went ahead and did it, didn't he?" he asks quite amused absently toying with his lighter's lid. "And, are you good at your job, senor?"

"I'm not a person of words. My actions will show," Hercules stated, giving Luis a cool stare. Glancing back at Carlos, he let his hands fall to his sides. "If you excuse me now, gentlemen, If not needed anymore, I'll make my way to the operating room."

Luis nods lightly as he and Carlos watch Hercules enter the operating room. As the door closes, Luis turns to Carlos. "That's one friendly bastardo," he murmurs, still looking at the closed door. His gaze soon wandered, scanning the room before settling back on Carlos.

"Where were you? I've been waiting for you in the laboratory since morning." Carlos asks.

"Made a stop at Wiskays," Luis replies, moving further into the main room. He discreetly scan his surroundings, ensuring they are alone. "Where's everyone?" 

"Chris is with Piers outside, acting like a married couple, Claire is at the B.S.A.A's operating room to get the final results from the Ganados since you weren't here, and Leon is with (y/n) in the training room." Luis's face lights up at the mention of her name and the unexpected news. He chuckles mischievously, igniting his lighter before closing it with a satisfying click.

"Senorita is back, eh?"

----

The second training comes to an end for the day, leaving both of you panting and drenched in sweat once again–a welcome discomfort, considering the growing urge to vomit with each passing second.

From now, alcohol is officially blacklisted...

You move towards the concrete bench, allowing your exhausted form to collapse onto it. Your elbows find their place on your knees, and your gaze fixes the floor as Leon picks up the mattress to return it to its spot. You close your eyes, focusing solely on the sounds of Leon's steps and the subtle noises accompanying his movements. Then, the sound of a zipper fills the air.

"Are you alright?" His voice reaches you from a distance, pulling your attention.

 You offer a sluggish nod, your lungs still desperate for oxygen. "Yeah, just worn out from yest-" You raise your head, and your eyes lock onto an unexpected sight. Leon's bare, broad back, swiftly changing shirts, under the impression that you aren't watching. However, to you, everything seems to move in slow motion and lord have mercy, those droplets of sweat glistening on his impressive back muscles. The ends of his damp, blonde hair-

You immediately look back down and shut your eyes, pretending you didn't see anything the moment he puts on his tee. "-worn out from last night..I overdid it with the drink and-..yeah." You finish, keeping your head low.

"The conversation needed it," Leon explains before you hear his steps drawing nearer. Still, you don't dare to raise your head, only allowing your eyes to flutter open. Suddenly, you see Leon's hand extending his water bottle to you, noticing your uneasiness. "Here."

"Thanks," you murmur, accepting the bottle and taking small sips to ease the nausea.

"Just be more careful with alcohol next time. It can drag you mentally and physically a lot." He advises, placing his bag beside you on the bench and tucking in his sweat-soaked shirt.

"Yeah," you awkwardly chuckle. "mentally...I will agree on that." You add as last night's images briefly resurface. 

You sit still for a bit, observing Leon as he adjusts his snug, black t-shirt and then fastens his tactical belt around his hips. Fuck you runnin', he looks incredible in your eyes; he was rapidly becoming your primary distraction once again.

A captivating one to say at the very least.

"The next session will be tomorrow," Leon announced, retrieving his shoulder holster and strapping it on. That back of his, good lord. It had already become your favorite feature of his. "Same time. We lost a lot of time with everything that happened the past week." 

"Okay," you agree with a nod, watching him slip on his shoes, and finally, he takes his bag. After one more sip of water, you follow suit, standing up and grabbing your bag before heading into the locker room.

A few minutes remain, before face your cold replacement once again.

----

The isolated base soon gets filled with activity. Chris located at the table, flipping through pages of documents. Piers without talking, settles beside him. Carlos is already in his own position as Claire walks out with Luis from the laboratory. Hercules is sitting also at the table, observing the way every member of the team keeps themselves occupied.

Shortly thereafter, the final members, Leon and (y/n), enter the base. Both of them carrying bags on their shoulders, and both having lightly damp hair. Hercules takes in the sight as Claire seats herself at the table. Chris raises his head, noticing their arrival, and gestures for the two of them to find their seats.

"(y/n), Leon. Have a seat." he calmly requests.

--

"I won't detain you all for long. Just want to make some announcements." 

You and Leon exchange a brief glance before making your way over to the table. You set down your bag and took your usual seat, between Claire and Luis. Your attention then falls on his smirk, playfully swiveling his chair.

"Bienvenida de nuevo, mi hermosa rosa... (Welcome back, my beautiful rose.)" He says in a quiet seductive tone, leaning closer. "La forma en que tu sudor baja por tu cuello...(The way your sweat rolls down your neck..)," he pauses, his eyes lowering to your neck. "Te colmaré de mi encanto y afecto, solo di la palabra. (I will shower you with my charm and affection, just say the word.)"

You offer a light nod in response, once again without a clue of what he said, but letting him express his classic delirium. A chuckle leaves Luis as he breaks eye contact, shaking his head.

Turning your head towards Claire, you catch Leon stoically staring at you. For the first time, he averts his gaze, returning his attention to Chris. You follow his line of sight and take a deep breath, as a brief silence settles in the bunker. To Luis's right, Hercules sits in silence, his stern professionalism masking any emotion, shifting his gaze between you and Leon. This is so fucking weird. What the hell is going on?

"As you can all see, (y/n) is resuming her role as our team's doctor as of today," Chris starts. Shit this is awkward. Because he definitely broke the news of your resignation, days ago. The fact that no one commented on that statement was a small relief, but it still...

You. Want. To. Die.

"Alongside her will be Hercules Hamasaki, one of the finest military doctors in Japan," Chris continues, summarizing Hercules' impressive background. "With our mission targeting Saddler and his cult, both of their roles will be crucial. However, there will be a slight change in their respective duties. Hercules will handle first aid during missions, while (y/n) will perform surgical operations inside the base."

So Hercules will put the bandage, and you will put the needle. That works...

"Once we've finalized preparations for tomorrow, Piers, Leon, Carlos, and Hercules will visit Vinderline for further investigation," Chris pauses, taking a deep breath, "Let's only hope that no infectors come along the way." 

Stillness falls upon the table. Everyone, including you, struggle to focus on Chris's words, each for their own reasons. Chris simply nods, removing his hands from the table's surface and adopting a professional demeanor as he furrows his brows. "That is all. You're all dismissed."

With that, the members rise from the table, the familiar scene playing out as they spread to their separate tasks. Glancing at Chris, you slowly stand up and approach him with light worry.

"Chris, can I talk to you for a sec?" You quietly request. He gives a firm nod, before following you to a quiet corner. Turning for a moment your head, you see Hercules making his way inside the operating room. "Hercules wants me to give all the research I did for the cult, the parasite...Saddler." I whisper the final name. Chris frowns lightly. "In general, everything the team knows."

He doesn't say anything for a bit, absorbing the information you gave him. Glancing at the same direction, he then turns back to you.

"That won't be necessary. We're already aware of our objectives, and hopefully..." he pauses, looking at the main room. "We're reaching the end. His role will only cage what I mentioned earlier." He turns back to you, leaning closer. "Can I count on you and trust you to keep this information to yourself?" Chris asks. From his words though, it's clear he doesn't want you to share anything beyond the essentials with Hercules. You don't understand why. After all, Piers brought him in, so he should be someone the team can trust, right?

You only nod at his request, not wanting to drag this subject further and ask him questions. Chris' gaze linger on your for a second. "Thank you. You may return to your duty..and I hope you stay this time."

Okay....ouch.

You nod once more and return to the operating room in silence. As you approach the door, you see Leon engrossed in classified documents. You take a deep breath and close the door before you. When you turn around, Hercules is ready and eager to hear the information you have gathered from the past months.

As for you, time to get used to him between your legs.

----

The abandoned and half-destroyed church chimes with their growling, and their Spanish prayers. The Ganados praise his name and presence as he watches them from beneath him. A devilish smirk appears on his face, his voice echoing in their minds, moving them like pawns.

Dipping a finger in a mother's blood, he slowly draws a cross on the crying newborn's forehead.

"Rise in the name of Lord Saddler. Little lamp. You have accepted the gift." 

11 syringes are left...

It has began.

----

The hours luckily passed quickly, bringing you to the front door of your house. But oh...Today is a day you'll never forget. The training, the raw embarrassment that enveloped you upon your return to the base...and now the fact that you will have to share the operating room with Hercules. With another fucking individual. But that's all behind you now. This awful day is over. Time for you to finally relax, and lose yourself in the harmonious embrace of music.

Unlocking and swinging open the door, the soft glow of the television illuminates the room. Animated characters dance across the screen, and there, a familiar small figure with two neatly tied pigtails seems to be immersed on the screen. The jingle of your keys reverberates, catching the attention of the not-entirely-unexpected visitor.

Her head turns, revealing her identity...There she is,

"Auntie!" Irene exclaims, jumping from the couch. A wide smile appears on your face, feeling pure joy to see her after so long. Rushing towards you, she opens her arms, and you kneel down, welcoming her into your embrace. Swaying gently, you close your eyes, enveloped in Irene's familiar scent. After a few moments, you pull back, gazing at her pink dress adorned with cheerful teddy bears and flowers. Her adorable pigtails only heighten her cuteness, making you want to shower her with affection.

"Oh, I missed you," you whisper, savoring Irene's sweet presence. "What are you doing there?" Rising to your feet, you follow Irene into your living room, now transformed into her playground.

"I'm watching Tom and Jerry," Irene says, settling back onto the couch and reaching for one of her scattered Barbie dolls. A moment you wish you could relive yourself. Away from infectors, blood, and death.

"You're having the time of your life, I see." you chuckle as you sit on the arm of the couch, observing Irene as she manipulates her dolls. The comical sound effects of the cartoon provide the only soundtrack. In this hush, you notice something amiss.

It's been an entire day, and there's still no sign of Ava in the house—well, not in the living room or kitchen, at least. You haven't laid eyes on her since last night when Leon paid a visit, and she wasn't here upon your return. The same followed the next morning.

That dumbass better did not leave Irene alone in here.

"Irene, where's Mommy?" you ask, breaking the silence between you and your niece.

"She is in your room, sleeping." She replies. You furrow your brow before checking the time. 8:30 and Ava is already asleep? Since when?

"Hm, I see. I'll go and check on her and when I'll be out, I'll make us a little snack to eat." Irene's head swivels towards you, her eyes glowing with excitement. "How does that sound?"

"Yes!" Irene exclaims, raising her arms in excitement, leaving you in awe. Tending her hair, you rise from the couch.

Taking off your purse and your jacket, you make your way towards your bedroom. The closer you get, the more audible the sniffles become. Raising an eyebrow, you quietly approach the door, leaning in to listen. Ava is crying.

Pushing open the door, you find your sister sitting on the edge of your bed, her gaze downcast, her fingers toying with a tissue, and tear drops staining her forearms.

"Ava?" you speak gently, approaching her. She doesn't raise her head to meet your gaze. Witnessing your sister in tears is an unusual sight, and that means something serious must have happened, making your confusion and concern grow. You settle beside her on the bed, searching for her face amidst her hair. "What's wrong?"

"I'm such an asshole," she sobs softly. Her response leaves you even more puzzled.

"Why?" Ava doesn't respond. She only covers her face, her crying growing stronger. "Come on, Ava. Talk to me. What happened?" Still, she remains silent. You exhale deeply, settling on the bed. "Look, if you're not gonna tell me, how will I be able to help you?"

"You can't help. I fucked up badly.." Ava shakes her head, moving her hands away from her face to grab a tissue. Looking around, you see how she's left your bed in chaos.

"Great. I have your snots all over my sheets too," you murmur under your breath, pushing the used tissues aside with a grimace. Moving closer, you slowly place your hand on her shoulder. "Well, at least tell me what did you do. You know I'm not gonna leave this room until you tell me."

Ava takes a deep breath, wrestling with the decision to reveal what brought her to this state. She closes her eyes, tears streaming down. "I cheated on Aiden," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. Your eyes widen in shock.

"...What?" You ask in disbelief. You break contact with your sister, looking down at the floor lost. Ava cheated? What the fuck is going on lately? "When- With-..with who?"

"Does it matter?" Ava's voice cracks, finally looking up to meet your gaze.

"Of course it matters, because you're not that type of person," you immediately defend her. Ava scoffs with a bitter chuckle.

"Guess I am from now." Fucking hell...what Ava did is surely messed up, but seeing her in this state is even harder to bear.

"Please don't say that-"

"Why? I did it, (y/n). I had sex with someone else...do you understand that?" The room grows quiet, except for Ava's soft crying. "I fucking hate myself..." she sobs. "Thankfully Aiden was at work since morning," she looks back at you, her eyes filled with remorse. "I wouldn't bear to look at him after what I did,"

Looking back at Ava you can notice one thing in her words. She feels guilt- but not regret... "With who did you cheat on Aiden, Ava?" You repeat your question as your curiosity takes the best of you. Your sister looks at you, her face impassive before she gazes at the door.

"With someone I never stopped loving," she mumbles. You listen to her carefully, your heart aching. "Shit happened yesterday...we reconnected all of a sudden after years and-"

"And?"

"We were in his car, talking and...things escalated-"

"It happened.." you complete and Ava nods, more tears steaming down her face.

Car...looks like both of you had sex yesterday in a car. One physically and one mentally.

Pushing aside any thoughts, you solely focus on your sister's trouble. "Can I ask you a question?" You ask softly. Ava nods, looking back up to you. "Did you ever love Aiden?" 

Ava sniffs, looking away. "It's complicated,"

"That's not an answer." You lean back, letting out a deep sigh. You try to catch up, but you can't. "I don't understand, Ava...If you and Aiden are constantly fighting and you don't really love him, why are you still with him?" You ask. "Because being together only for Irene's sake, then trust me, you will only hurt her much more in the future."

Ava looks back at you and offers only three words that convey so much. "Mom and Dad." Goosebumps sweep over your body, your head falling back in shock after her quiet confession. What the hell has she been through herself?

It appears she's not living the life she desires either...

You gently offer her a comforting hug, your hand softly rubbing in small circles on her back. This gesture makes Ava cling to you tightly, breaking down in your embrace. All these years, you were completely blinded... or Ava managed to mask her emotions well. But the way she's broken down today only tells you that you both share the same feeling of pressure from your parents. They both sought the perfect image, and Ava chose their happiness over hers.

Pulling away, you wipe Ava's tears from her cheeks. "We will find a way to fix this. I promise." You reassure her, your thumb softly rubbing her forearm. "It is your decision on what you want to truly do. But Aiden has to know the truth-"

"No-" Ava panics.

"You can't hide it from him, Ava. It's not right." You pause, reaching for her hands as your eyes search for hers. "Do you prefer to live for mom and dad or for you and Irene?" Ava chuckles bitterly.

"You're one to talk.."

You frown at the comment. "What do you mean?" 

"...Why don't you ask yourself that question too, (y/n)? We're exactly the same on this," Ava's broken words hit you like a truck. Throughout your lives, you and your sister have been shadows of your parents' desires.

Time for this to change. Time for you, to change.

----

8:57 P.M

"Why did you become a nurse?"

Looking back at him, (y/n) furrows her brows lightly, taken aback by his question. Tracing the rim of her glass, she shrugs her shoulders. "To help people, save lives of course. This is the only thing that keeps me in this... shit-ass field," she replies with a hint of bitterness seeping into her voice.

-

"I want to find out what's happening here. And stop whoever's behind them." 

"Helping people like them...that's why I joined the force!"

-

 "The pregnant woman, the constant need to prove my worth to Piers, the parasite and all..." 

 "...Maybe I'm a coward at the end of it.. too weak for something like that."

"That's what I'm trying to do, Leon. Move forward,"

-

"To help people, save lives of course. This is the only thing that keeps me in this... shit-ass field,"

-

"We're beyond seeking permissions now, Captain. This is a matter of life and death. The whole world's future. Infectors have already begun to spread out. We've already lost a valuable week when we were on the verge of identifying the cult's location," 

-

"Thank you..For listening to me yesterday...all those days when I had to hold it to myself it felt like- hell."

-

"If I could just forget what happened that night, the pain - even for a second...This time, it can be different.."

-

"I want you to trust me, (y/n). We will beat this. Together."

-

"It has to."

--

"—Need another refill?" The bartender asks, the bottle poised in his hand, ready to serve. Leon quietly snaps back to reality, his gaze fixed on the dark brown wooden counter, forearm resting against it, sliding the empty glass towards the bartender.

As the glass is filled with Leon's usual preference, he takes a long sip of his neat whiskey. Wiskays bar appears extra quiet tonight, allowing Leon to drown in his sorrows once again, entangled in dark thoughts and future uncertainties. However, that foggy heavy cloud shatters when a hand claps his shoulder, causing Leon to turn his head.

"Drinking your problems away, Pancho?"Luis greets him with a grin, settling beside Leon on the stool.

"How many times do I have to ask you to stop calling me that?" Leon asks, irritation steaming beneath his tolerant gaze.

"Ay, come on. You know I love getting those crazy reactions out of you," Luis mocks, signaling the bartender for a second glass with the same drink as Leon's. Soon, he turns his attention back to Leon. "So, five days ago we had no doctor, and now we ended up with two, eh?" he smirks.

"Looks like it," Leon murmurs, looking down at his glass.

"Spoke with Claire right before I left the base. You are the reason behind (y/n)'s return," he leans closer. "How did you change her mind? Did you promise her a special overtime date with me?" Luis flirts, pointing at himself.

"No," Leon firmly replies. Without further words, he takes another sip of his drink. Luis wears a self-assured smirk before producing a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket. Grabbing one with his teeth, he tosses the box onto the counter. He lights the cigarette and takes a long drag.

"Not going to lie, I did not expect her to be back after all this-" he speaks up, exhaling the smoke while scanning the crowd. "Should've seen how she first reacted when she saw the pregnant Ganado... not to mention Hercules today being introduced as (y/n)'s replacement. If I were her, I wouldn't dare to return, especially after today." Leon lifts his head slightly, his eyes meeting Luis's, with an expression filled with unspoken guilt. Suddenly, Luis's tone brightens after noticing. "But it's obvious she wanted to return because she couldn't stay away from my charm," he jests before the bartender places the drink in front of him.

"Ah, that's more like it," Luis chuckles, turning back around. "Cheers, señor," he picks up his glass and clinks it against Leon's before taking the first sip. Leon says nothing. He quietly takes another sizable sip. "Speaking of Hercules, what do you think of him?"

Leon turns his gaze to Luis for a moment, his hand lightly gripping the glass. "Nothing." Luis lets out a low laugh.

"I'll take that as you don't like him. Not that I blame you," he leans against the counter. "But Piers brought him; he must be a trusted face with good experience."

"We'll see," Luis sighs, leaning close to Leon. 

"You seem troubled. What's worrying you, Pancho?"

Leon shakes his head. His mind is conflicted, trying to put the puzzle pieces together with how this story unfolds so drastically and so tragically. The forest. The Ganados. The cult. The Plaga...(y/n)-

(y/n)?

Leon closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose for a brief moment. "Those infectors we found back there," he starts, trying to shift the focus. His hand drops, thumb caressing the glass. "How did they end up in that place? How did they manage to survive in the middle of nowhere for so long?"

"I don't know. I really don't." Luis sighs, matching slowly Leon's worry. "But we will go back to that forest where we found the Ganados. Who knows, it might help us find answers. The sooner, the better."

Leon nods in agreement, returning his gaze back to the counter. It doesn't take long for his mind to return to its darker thoughts. The haunting memories of Raccoon City resurface. It feels like history will repeat itself if immediate action isn't taken. This time it has to be different. Clenching his jaw, he places the glass on the counter and retrieves some bills from his back pocket and tosses them beside his almost empty glass.

"Aye, what are you doing?" Luis asks.

"Going to Vinderline." Leon firmly declares, adjusting his jacket. Luis' eyes widen.

"Ay, ay, ay...Right now?"

"Right now," Leon repeats, looking back at Luis. "I didn't get to stop that son of a bitch four months ago, I'll do it now..." 

"But Chris gave the order-"

"Then I'm doing this alone." Leon interjects, his voice filled with raw determination.

Time to end this shit. For good.

----

Had huge writer's block on this chapter, so I'm sorry if it's bad.

Another mission coming on the next chapter...that will be the last? 

Have a great and lovely day, and remember...TAKE CARE OF YOSELF~!