LUIS SERRA

⸸ 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 ; 𓆚 The sorrows of this world are without number, study your heart & know this to be true. Incessant war, suffering, & man turns a blind eye to the atrocities created, the blood on their hands, even now. Your hatred, your grief, your agony, only I can relieve you of those burdens ! Like a babe in the womb, the subjects of my kingdom need only drift about in tranquility. Why would you rob so many poor souls of their salvation ?

α┊ #𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖌𝖆, 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐎𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐗𝐕 from ℝ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝔻𝔼ℕ𝕋 𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕃 𝟜 | ◥ Ω

ada and @red9 are on their third day of quarantine together, and what a week it’s been. their haphazard stumble off the helicopter earned them an overnight stay at the connections’ finest facility, their stretchers side-by-side as they raced down the hall.

“so much for room service,” ada had jested in place of her nerves. luis made a sound that was more death rattle than laugh.

after much poking and prodding, their care team tentatively sent her home while they worked whatever magic they could on luis. truth be told, when ada collapsed into bed that night she had no idea whether or not he’d pull through; the organization had never been particularly forthcoming, and given she’d compromised the sample behind their backs, she wasn’t in a position to push just yet. she could only hope that whatever small good she did was enough to keep him alive.

and lo and behold, there luis stood like some half-beaten lazarus on her doorstep the following morning, the two researchers behind him nudging him in. they explained it in the clipped medical terms they always use— while luis succeeded in ridding himself of his previous infection, the metabolic waste las plagas left behind over time had spun a thick web of fibrin throughout his veins, resulting in a strange mix of regeneration and hypercoagulability. in any other case this would’ve meant an eventual end ( and probable resurrection ) for the parasite’s host; in his, it buoyed him long enough for ada to drag him to shore.

which led to her part in this story. while ada had gotten rid of her own specimen before it could fully attach, her bloodwork showed slightly decreased protein c and s markers. it wasn’t as bad as luis’, of course, but given he’d gotten rid of the parasite with much more finality than she had, there was, in their opinion, reason to worry.

“... and luis?” she’d asked, side-eyeing the ashen man leaning on her counter.

one of the researchers— a tall blonde woman— looked just as hesitant as her. “he knows las plagas better than anyone. quarantining you two together allows for mutual monitoring of symptoms.” she turned fully to ada then, her dark green gaze threatening to sever her in two. “we trust you know what to do if it progresses, 1301.”

and so it began, two goldfish swimming lamely around one other in their small, barren bowl. this apartment is her least favorite by far, tucked in some distant neighborhood of munich ada can’t remember the name of. she doesn’t come to this city unless she has to, but if last night was any indication, they were lucky they did. the blood thinner they’d given luis apparently did a number on him— he’d fallen over trying to change his dressings, leading to a mess of bloodied gauze across her floor, bathtub, and yes, her sink. ada was already awake, just as she’d been every night since she got home. her chest throbbed with each breath she drew in, and though the visions had long since passed, it hadn’t lessened the migraine they left behind. nevertheless, when he dropped to the floor, she was close enough to stagger into the scene.

they stared at each other for one long, heavy moment— ada's hand on the doorknob, luis’ fingers splayed over his stitches— as if the both of them were waiting for her to turn. but then she silently kneeled at his side, ripping open a clean pack of dressings. “hold still.” she commanded, and he listened. ( she’d come to learn he always did. )

A part of him had begun to think, it would have been easier to die. That’s how it felt, at least, lingering at death’s door like he was an old friend. There was some truth to that sentiment, the way death seemed to follow him everywhere he went. The beast that seemed to breathe down his neck, waiting for the moment he’d slip up. To think, it was his kindness that almost killed him- something rare and unfamiliar by his standards, knowing the risks involved. It was her he had to thank, knowing she had no reason to save him. It was the amber she’d needed- he was merely dead weight. And still, despite all logic and reason–

He was alive. How he’d left the island, he couldn’t recall. Life came in bits and pieces in the days that followed- ebbing and flowing, small details through the serenity of dancing with death. How it felt like sinking, drifting slowly beneath darkened, murky water. Everything was distant, and the pain nonexistent. Light and colors would come and go, yet the grasp of reality was always just out of reach. At times, it felt almost easier to let go, until a voice would echo in the back of his mind- telling him to hold on. Ada. That was the first word that came from his lips, waking in a cold and clinical room. Blood would follow, a violent, raging, coughing fit that seemed to settle in his lungs. The rest came in a blur, vitals taken, questions asked, but in the end none of that mattered. What mattered to him, was knowing she was okay. His questions were soon answered, arriving at her door. 

He knew he wasn’t wanted, knew he was more of a burden than a blessing. Some things would never change in his life- knowing that to be true from the moment his mother passed a child. From then on, he only ever took up space. This time was no different. Why he’d try his best to recover in silence, and do what he could to stay out of her way. He didn’t want to invade her space, and if he had it his way, he wouldn’t have stayed at her place at all. With luck, he’d be gone within a week or two, and she’d never have to deal with him again. Unfortunately for her, his recovery wasn’t exactly easy. Try as he might to avoid her, there was only so much space for the two of them. The pain was worse before it got better, his healing a slow and painful process. Blood was a constant, and try as he might to tend to his own wounds- it was never easy to do alone. Thankful, for her kindness, even if he made a mess of everything he touched. 

He couldn’t recall how he’d even made it to bed, didn’t remember ever falling asleep. The days all seemed to blur together, waking up at times to learn a day or two had passed. Why he’d lay there, staring at the ceiling, that soft, lingering rattle of blood never seeming to go away. A cough would shake him, forcing him to slowly roll himself off the side of the bed. His chest ached to try and catch his breath, so loud in the otherwise silent space. “Mierde-” Unaware she was even there, until her voice would break through the otherwise vacant space. Surprised at the gesture, never expecting her to check or care- but the gesture was appreciated, even if he never admitted it aloud. 

“I’ve got to admit, I’ve seen better days…” His lighthearted tone still managed to come through, even as he’d wipe the blood he could taste from his lips. “Doesn’t even feel like I’m alive, if I’m being honest. Then again, if I was dead- I’m sure it would be a lot less painful than this…” A hand would raise to his shoulder, attempting to roll the muscles of his back, only to wince with sudden regret of doing so. “¡Joder-!”

RESIDENT EVIL 4 REMAKE (2023) ♡ dev. Capcom

ₓ ˚ .   ୭   ˚ ○ ◦ ˚     as always, some triggering content may be present! change any pronouns to better suit your muse(s) needs!   ˚ ◦ ○ ˚   ୧   . ˚ ₓ

why is it always my fault?

why do people call you that?

do you know anyone here?

how’s your wound?

are you worth a second chance?

after all we’ve been through, why?

when are you going to apologize to me?

you did this? for me?

will you promise me?

can’t you be on my side? just once?

what exactly do you do for a living?

do you even hear yourself?

sorry, what did you say?

did you mean what you said?

can i kiss you?

truth or dare?

are you comfortable?

what were they like?

what time do you want me to pick you up?

how can you say that to me?

how could you possibly think that was a good idea?

did you enjoy yourself?

why don’t you stay over?

why hire someone, when you can just do it yourself?

out of everything you could’ve said, why that?

do i know you?

you love me?

how old do you think i am?

why do they treat me like that?

have i ever given you bad advice?

do you want some company?

do you think last night was a mistake?

what are you in the mood for?

do i remind you of anyone?

where were you?

who did this to you?

can i have some cash?

tell me why i should believe a thing you say?

sorry, do you have the time?

why don’t you find out for yourself?

where do you think you’re going?

do you want one?

when am i ever wrong?

who do you think you are?

where are you going to go?

run that by me again?

i don’t know what to say?

can you kill?

why is it never your fault?

would you kill for it?

why did you do this to me?

can you be quiet?

what’s so funny?

why don’t you want to go home?

how are you so calm?

have we met before?

what was it like?

are you seriously asking me that right now?

what’s with the third degree?

you want me?

can you help me?

would you care for a dance?

are you sure you want to spend another night alone?

why do i have to apologize?

what am i supposed to do if you’re not here?

why would they do that?

do you want me to grab dinner?

can you help me bring these in?

how annoying can you be?

how do you think that makes me feel?

why didn’t you fight back?

what are you so afraid of?

can you tell me what happened?

you did this all by yourself?

how can i help you?

how do you sleep at night?

you’re sorry?

how do you keep a secret like that?

what’s going on?

we’re friends, right?

how about i take you home?

why won’t you just listen to me?

you wanna mess around?

what does that eleven mean?

when will you learn?

how could you even ask me something like that?

does it hurt?

why did you do it?

can you hear me?

do you have a ride home?

you’re afraid of the dark?

would you like to try?

why did you do that for me?

you really think i’m beautiful?

is it noticeable?

where did you get all that money?

where did you get this?

do you know what i did?

where did you go?

like what you see?

can i touch you? here?

how many people have you killed?

can i borrow your phone?

can you keep a secret?

do you want us to stop?

where have you been?

another round?

when’s the last time you had a full night’s rest?

do you really think that’s a good idea?

what does that have to do with anything?

have you eaten anything today?

why do you think you feel that way?

what happened to them?

what’s your problem?

you didn’t really think you were safe, did you?

have you come to apologize?

do you know who i am?

do you want to be alone?